Digital Commons Network^™

Methamphetamine Effects On The Striatal Neuroimmune System, Hillary Adelaide Wadsworth

Theses and Dissertations

Dopamine is thought of as the reward molecule of the brain, and while it does deal with reward, it is also associated with motivation and crucial for controlled movement. There are two main dopaminergic systems in the brain, the nigrostriatal system, which originates in the substantia nigra compacta and projects dopamine into the dorsal striatum; and the mesolimbic system, which originates in the ventral tegmental area and projects dopamine into the nucleus accumbens. While the mesolimbic dopamine system deals with motivation and reward, the nigrostriatal pathway underlies movement. Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and are incredibly dynamic. …

Mythology Of Autism: Pop Culture, Rhetoric, And Vaccines, Makenzi Strate

Theses and Dissertations

Myths are stories told to provide an explanation for the unknown, reflect cultural beliefs of populations that hold them, and lack scientific evidence to support these stories. Some myths, such as the myth that vaccines cause autism, are harmful toward the groups that they target. Popularized in 1998 with the publication of the Wakefield study, the myth that vaccines cause autism continues to spread and thrive today. To understand the widespread nature and detriments of belief in harmful myths such as this, I implement mythology rhetoric to examine how celebrity Jenny McCarthy utilizes elements of myth to persuade others to …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Aging Techniques On Cloning Fpga-Based Configurable Ring Oscillator Pufs, Jonathan Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are reconfigurable devices that are used in industries that often require increased security. Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) are a security primitive used on FPGAs for device authentication and key generation. However, the output of a PUF can be susceptible to changes in the environment, such as voltage and temperature, as well as changes in device performance that occur due to transistor aging. Previous work has shown that it is possible to induce targeted accelerated aging in order to intentionally change a PUF response, even to the point of cloning one PUF to behave like another. …

Durability Of Lightweight Concrete Bridge Decks In Utah, Lorenzo Eusebi-Diehr

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to document and compare properties of lightweight concrete and normal-weight concrete used for construction of bridge decks and approach slabs in northern Utah. The scope of work included field and laboratory testing to characterize concrete specimens obtained from three lightweight concrete bridge deck sites and the normal-weight concrete approach slabs at one of these sites, which were recommended by the Utah Department of Transportation for evaluation, as well as laboratory testing to characterize concrete specimens obtained through previous research on lightweight and normal-weight concrete bridge decks. For field testing, a distress survey was performed …

Advancing Global Flood Inundation Mapping From Srtm To Fabdem, Taylor James Miskin

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates how elevation and hydrography inputs influence flood extent accuracy using ARC (Automated Rating Curve), a raster-based flood inundation model. It focuses on how spatial resolution and vertical accuracy, reflecting the satellite mission from which each dataset was derived, and bare-earth processing of the DEM affect the accuracy of predicted flood extents. The assessment compares four dataset combinations--FABDEM with GEOGLOWS River Forecasting System Version 1(RFS1), FABDEM with GEOGLOWS River Forecasting System Version 2(RFS2), SRTM with RFS1, and SRTM with RFS2--across five study locations: the Suncook River in New Hampshire, North Fork Kentucky River in Kentucky, Nimishillen Creek in …

Teaching Information Synthesis In First-Year Writing: A Replication And Extension Study, Rachel M. Terry

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the challenges and strategies associated with teaching information synthesis to first-year college students. Synthesis, a higher-order cognitive skill described as "knowledge-transforming," is critical for academic success and informed engagement in an information-saturated society. However, many students enter college with underdeveloped foundational reading and writing skills, compounded by declining literacy rates and the prevalence of fragmented digital content consumption. This study builds on prior research in composition, education, and information literacy to address three key questions: (1) How do students understand synthesis? (2) What strategies do students employ when attempting to synthesize information? (3) What instructional implications arise …

Enhancing Holistic Patient Care Of Black Individuals Diagnosed With Hiv And Comorbid Chronic Conditions, Marc Fleming, Saharnaz Nejdat, Jon C. Schommer, Crystal K. Hodge

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Pharmacists can play a crucial role in delivering the holistic care model. Research suggests that HIV-positive African American patients particularly benefit from this approach compared to other communities. Typically, pharmacists in community pharmacy settings are limited in their access to a patient's medical record, preventing holistic care delivery.

Objectives

This study addressed the impact of access to medical records on a holistic patient care approach among pharmacists engaged in medication therapy management.

Methods

This was a sub-analysis of a randomized controlled trial of the impact of community pharmacist access to medical records during MTM for African Americans diagnosed with …

Finals Island, University Of Dayton

University Libraries Blog Archive

Can I pull you for a chat? Students can couple up with these Love Island-inspired events and services at Roesch Library.

Hand1, Partially Mediated Through Ape-Specific Ltr Binding, Is Essential For Human Extra-Embryonic Mesenchyme Derivation From Ipscs., Zukai Liu, Yuliana Tan, William F Flynn, Lili Sun, Ponthip Pratumkaew, Juliana Alcoforado Diniz, Nélio A J Oliveira, Justin A Mcdonough, William C Skarnes, Paul Robson

Faculty Research 2025

The specification of extra-embryonic mesenchyme (ExMC) is a prime example of developmental divergence between mouse and human. Derived from definitive mesoderm during mouse gastrulation, the human ExMC first appears at peri-implantation prior to gastrulation and therefore its human cellular origin, still unknown, must differ. In a human pluripotent stem cell model, we report that ExMC shares progenitor cells with trophoblast, suggesting a trophectoderm origin. This ability to form ExMC appears to extend to human trophoblast stem cell lines. We define HAND1 as an essential regulator of ExMC specification, with null cells remaining in the trophoblast lineage. Bound by HAND1, ape-specific, …

Expired, Cindy Tran

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

When The Sun Says Goodbye, Libby Stockton

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

Passenger Seat, Ian Gualtiere

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

Hypochondria, Craig Kurtz

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

Sleeper, Matthew J. Spireng

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?, Jason Ryberg

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

Times Tables, Hanna Boudreau

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

In The Backyard, Madelyn Young

The Alembic

No abstract provided.

A Comprehensive Guide To V2x Security: Protocol Analysis, Risk Assessment, And Emerging Innovations, Stefano Alessandro Blasoni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACT As Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication becomes an integral component of intelligent transportation systems, ensuring its security is critical for maintaining safety, privacy, and reliability on the road. However, research on V2X security is often overly specialized and complex, limiting more broad collaboration and public scrutiny from the wider cybersecurity community and the public. This lack of understanding affects the further collaborative efforts that could enhance V2X security and the V2X ecosystem. This thesis bridges that gap by applying fundamental computer security principles to V2X protocols, specifically Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) and Cellular V2X (C-V2X). It analyzes their security mechanisms, assesses …

Pfas Presentation 04/22/2025, Chad Pritchard , Ph.D, P.G., Jerusha Hampson, Emersen Slanga, Cadence Meier-Grolman

West Plains PFAS Fate + Transport Study

PFAS presentation given April 22^nd, 2025.

Spanish Education: Teaching Philosophy Learned From Best Practice And Student And Teacher Engagement., Olivia Anderson

Honors Theses

This honors thesis investigates best practices for teaching Spanish in K–12 settings by conducting qualitative interviews with Spanish teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The study focuses on identifying effective strategies and classroom activities that promote student engagement and language proficiency while examining how teachers continue to develop professionally. Conscious of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ (ACTFL) Five C’s—Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities—the research highlights communication as the central pillar of language learning. Through detailed classroom examples, such as “Mapa del Martes,” student-created cooking videos, and Kagan Strategies, the thesis illustrates how …

Prevalence Of Imposter Syndrome Among Undergraduate Students At Western Michigan University, Thomas Leasure

Honors Theses

Imposter syndrome (IS) is a psychological phenomenon that many people can experience throughout their life, especially for students pursuing higher education. It can be described as feeling unworthy of one's accomplishments, or being “found out” as a fraud. Certain demographics may suffer from imposter syndrome more than others, like students in STEM or first generational students. Thus, it is important to better understand the prevalence of imposter syndrome here at Western Michigan University. This issue was studied by conducting a survey among undergraduate students looking at demographic information and severity of imposter syndrome. The data was then coded and analyzed …

Phytochemistry, Antioxidant And Cytotoxic Activities Of Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis) Extract On Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Ade Arsianti, Isma Zahira Suhaima, Steven Gill, Ajeng Megawati Fajrin, Lince Dameria Nadapdap, Norma Nur Azizah, Hiroki Tanimoto, Shun Hirota

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women with a very high mortality rate. This cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Treatments for this malignancy are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, however those methods can cause adverse effects and quite expensive. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are also used to support those main treatments, one of them is herbal medicine. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is known to have various phytochemical components with antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and analgesic activities. This study is aimed to determine the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis extract towards …

Core Grade 1: Overview Of The Core Grade Approach, Gordon Guyatt, Thomas Agoritsas, Romina Brignardello-Petersen, Reem A. Mustafa, Jamie Rylance, Farid Foroutan, Manya Prasad, Arnav Agarwal, Hans De Beer, M. Hassan Murad, Stefan Schandelmaier, Alfonso Iorio, Liang Yao, Roman Jaeschke, Per Olav Vandvik, Linan Zeng, Sameer Parpia, Rohan D'Souza, David Rind, Derek K. Chu, Prashanti Eachempati, Kameshwar Prasad, Monica Hultcrantz, Victor M. Montori

Peninsula Dental School

This first article in a seven part series presents an overview of the essential elements of the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach that has proved extremely useful in systematic reviews, health technology assessment reports, and clinical practice guidelines. GRADE guidance has appeared in many articles dealing with both core issues and more specialised and complex guidance, and it has evolved over time. This series of articles presents GRADE essentials, Core GRADE, focusing on the core judgments necessary to summarise the comparative evidence about alternative care options and to make recommendations that apply to the care of …

Consumer Willingness To Pay For Allergy Safe Foods, Julia Posillico

College Honors Program

For many individuals with food allergies purchasing allergy safe food is essential yet costly. Allergy safe food often costs more than its standard counterparts and is becoming increasingly important due to poor labeling regulations and increased recalls resulting from undeclared allergens. Understanding how much more consumers are willing to pay for allergy safe foods as well as what elements impact their willingness to pay such as the number of allergies, allergy severity, age, gender, and income is important. A contingent valuation approach was used to collect data which was analyzed using a multiple-variable linear regression model. The results reveal consumers …

April 22, 2025 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Taboo, Traditions And Social Media: A Qualitative Study Of Lgbtq+ Narratives In West Africa, Lilian Oluchukwu Onianwa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Amid state-sanctioned homophobia and cultural taboos, this study examines the motivations behind the continuous use of social media among LGBTQ+ individuals in West Africa. Grounded in Queer Theory and Social Identity Theory (SIT), it employs a qualitative research design to explore how digital platforms function as tools for identity development, self-expression, and community formation. Utilizing a Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) approach, this research contributes to the growing body of scholarship on LGBTQ+ experiences in digital Africa by offering a nuanced understanding of how identity and agency are negotiated within restrictive environments – and ultimately, the media’s role in shaping user …

Incalculable Harm: Analyzing The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Immigration Detention In Canada, Efrat Arbel, Molly Joeck

All Faculty Publications

This paper reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigration detention in Canada. Drawing on research spanning 2020 to 2022, we analyze how the pandemic impacted rates of detention, conditions of detention, and other related issues. Data released by the Canada Border Services Agency shows that despite an initial decrease in absolute numbers, Canada detained people at a higher rate after the onset of the pandemic than it did prior. Canada also held people for longer periods of time and relied more heavily on jails than dedicated Immigration Holding Centres. Conditions of confinement deteriorated significantly across all detention …

Actigraphy-Based Sleep Disruption And Diurnal Biomarkers Of Autonomic Function In Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, Harneet Walia

All Publications

Introduction Sleep architectural disruption is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, associated autonomic influences remain unclear and it is unknown if this detriment persists during wakefulness. We hypothesize sleep disruption and autonomic dysfunction have diurnal patterning in patients with paroxysmal AF. Methods We analyzed data from the Sleep Apnea and Atrial Fibrillation Biomarkers and Electrophysiologic Atrial Triggers (SAFEBEAT) study designed to examine paroxysmal AF and sleep apnea, including simultaneous collection of continuous electrocardiogram monitoring (Heartrak Telemetry®) and actigraphy (Actiwatch GTX) for 7–21 days. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures in time-domain (standard deviation of normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDNN), coefficient of variation …

Conversational Prayer, Anna Bennett

The Main Thing Devotional

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8, ESV.

Structural, Electrical And Sensing Properties Of Znfe2O4 Nanoceramics Synthesized By Solid-State Reaction Method, Enass Ahmad, Rasha Yousef, Abla Alzoubi, Nasser Saad Aldin

Baghdad Science Journal

Metal ferrite nanomaterials have emerged as promising materials for gas sensor fabrication due to their high surface area, which provides a large number of adsorption sites for gas molecules. In this research, a zinc ferrite nanoparticle-based gas sensor was prepared using the solid-state reaction method to achieve high sensitivity and a fast response time. The powder zinc ferrite was annealed at different temperatures within the range (500-700) °C for six hours. The optimum temperature for synthesis was 675°C. The structural properties of the prepared compound were studied using X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the compound crystallizes in a cubic …