Digital Commons Network^™

198 - Genetic Variation And Endosymbiont Incidence In The Introduced Ant-Mimicking Spider, Myrmarachne Formicaria, Milo Miller, Brooke Sikora, Brenna Dunn

GREAT Day Posters

We examined the genetic and endosymbiotic diversity of the ant-mimicking jumping spider Myrmarachne formicaria, a spider native to Eurasia whose presence in North America has expanded over the past several decades. Non-native populations often exhibit reduced genetic diversity, so patterns in genetic diversity may help demystify their number of and source of introduction events. Prior sequence analysis of several mitochondrial genes revealed little genetic variation within M. formicaria across most European and North American populations. One of this study’s aims was to sequence two nuclear genes, 28S rRNA and Histone H3, to expand the number of genetic loci available for …

204 - Examining The Relationship Between Emotion Regulation Ability And Cannabis Use Frequency, Nicolette Faller

GREAT Day Posters

Emotion regulation is known to play a role in substance use behavior (Weiss, et. al., 2022), but the relationships with cannabis are not yet widely studied. This analysis examines how emotion regulation (ER) ability, measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) 18 (DERS-18; Victor & Klonsky, 2016) is related to cannabis use frequency, measured by the Drug and Alcohol Frequency Questionnaire - Cannabis Use (DFAQ-CU) (DFAQ-CU; Cutler & Spradlin 2017). The hypothesis stated lower ER ability is a predictor of higher cannabis use frequency. 153 participants completed an online questionnaire including these measures, and the data were analyzed …

228 - Investigating Metabolic And Hormonal Modulation In Female Apoe4 Mice: Insights For Sex-Specific Alzheimer’S Research, Annabelle Laibe, Allison Bechard

GREAT Day Posters

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) disproportionately affects females, with estrogen loss after menopause contributing to cognitive decline and metabolic dysregulation. The APOE4 genotype is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD and may interact with hormone fluctuations to exacerbate neurodegeneration in females. I am starting a project to test the role of estrogen in AD-related behaviors using APOE4 knock-in mice, which carry the high-risk AD allele. This female-focused study uses a mouse model to explore ovarian hormones in the context of AD risk. To begin, I assessed baseline estrous cycles in thirteen 8-month-old female APOE4 knock-in mice using a vaginal lavage …

254 - “Ship Fever”: Contextualizing Epidemic Typhus In Mid-19th Century New York, Audrey Ryan

GREAT Day Posters

Epidemic typhus is a disease caused by the bacteria R. prowazekii, and spread through the vector of human body lice. Historically, typhus outbreaks have been associated with “social maladies”: poverty, war, natural disasters, and other factors that bring about the overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions where typhus spreads most easily. In a study I conducted last year, I learned that between 1847 and 1850, 17.5% of the 169 adult deaths in the Monroe County Poorhouse were attributed to typhus (also called “ship fever”). In a sample of 205 people buried in Mount Hope Cemetery (Rochester's general population) during the same …

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Existence Of Maximal And Minimal Weak Solutions And Dinite Difference Approximations For Elliptic Systems With Nonlinear Boundary Conditions, S. Bandyopadhyay, T. Lewis, Nsoki Mavinga

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Works

We establish the existence of maximal and minimal weak solutions between ordered pairs of weak sub- and super-solutions for a coupled system of elliptic equations with quasimonotone nonlinearities on the boundary. We also formulate a finite difference method to approximate the solutions and establish the existence of maximal and minimal approximations between ordered pairs of discrete sub- and super-solutions. Monotone iterations are formulated for constructing the maximal and minimal solutions when the nonlinearity is monotone. Numerical simulations are used to explore existence, nonexistence, uniqueness and non-uniqueness properties of positive solutions. When the nonlinearities do not satisfy the monotonicity condition, we …

Characterization Of A Drosophila Crc 3-Hit Model Using Genetic Approaches, Sydney E. Anderson

Honors Theses

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, resulting in the deaths of over 50,000 people every year (American Cancer Society, 2023). The similarities shared between mammal and Drosophila melanogaster anatomy within the intestinal tract make Drosophila a great model for studying colorectal cancer. This study will investigate tumor characteristics of a Drosophila CRC model generated by modulating three genes within the key Hippo pathway to create a 3-hit model: p53, RasV12, and APC. The gene combination in the 3-hit model closely emulates how CRC presents in humans and is therefore important to …

Estimating Disease Transmissions With Assortative Mixing By Vaccination Status, Jacob D. Biesecker-Mast

Honors Theses

Many mathematical models of infectious disease assume the population is well-mixed, meaning every pair of individuals is equally likely to contact each other, potentially spreading the disease. In reality, populations are rarely well-mixed, and an important way in which they are not is assortative mixing, that is, when pairs of individuals who are similar are more likely to contact one another than pairs of individuals who are different. Failing to account for assortative mixing by vaccine status leads to biased estimates of important quantities that characterize disease transmission, including reproduction numbers. We expand on this by developing a model that …

Efficient Light-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production From A Cationic Mitochondrial-Targeting Bodipy Dye, Cynthia Bukirwa

Honors Theses

BODIPY dyes have demonstrated their effectiveness as photosensitizers due to their diverse reactivity and high selectivity. These dyes are highly versatile and can be modified to absorb light across the visible and infrared spectrum. This study introduces a red light-activated BODIPY dye capable of subcellular localization within the mitochondria, yielding high quantum yields of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The potential of this dye to serve as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent highlights its promise as an organelle- targeted phototherapeutic. The synthetic route for this dye, along with its characterization and evaluation through 1H NMR, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy, …

Original Sin Or The Lack Thereof Rousseau’S Philosophical Anthropology, Jane V. Carney

Honors Theses

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophical anthropology finds its roots in deeply theological territory. At the heart of his philosophy is the belief that man is essentially good but becomes corrupted by the influences of society. His strong belief in the innate goodness of humanity therefore led him to question Christian doctrines that appear to contradict that natural goodness. This then led him to object to the doctrine of original sin. Rousseau’s interpretation of original sin, and his subsequent rejection of it, shaped his broader political and philosophical thought, and is thus a vital piece of understanding Rousseau’s broader normative theory. Because he …

Step-Rate Manipulation For Improved Running Economy At A Performance, Noah Clemens

Honors Theses

The relationship between step rate (SR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) is non-linear, with an individual’s optimal SR minimizing VO2. Prior studies suggest highly trained runners do not self-select this optimal SR, though most research has focused on submaximal speeds. This study assessed whether highly trained male distance runners self-optimize SR at a performance pace. Twelve participants (22.5 ± 3.7 years) completed nine 4-minute treadmill trials at 4.96 m/s. The first trial was self-paced; remaining trials were metronome-cued (170–200 steps/min). VO2 was plotted against SR and modeled with a second-order polynomial to estimate optimal SR. Four participants were excluded due to …

Automated System For Photonic Integrated Circuit Measurement, Daniel F. Donnelly

Honors Theses

In recent years, with the advent of mature miniature semiconductor fabrication processes, the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) has emerged as a potential solution for the increased power consumption and bandwidth of conventional electronic computing technologies. As low-energy, optical devices, PICs serve to bring the solutions and advantages of optical technologies down to the form-factor of typical electronic microchips, including applications in telecommunications, high-speed computing, sensing, and quantum computing. However, despite the existing technologies for semiconductor fabrication, PICs, unlike their electronic counterparts, are exceedingly difficult to package and test, with each part of the process individually taking up roughly 30% of …

Investigating Tandem Propeller Performance In Multirotor Aircraft, Michael R. Foster

Honors Theses

Strategic placement of the rotors in a non-planar configuration can improve power efficiency in multirotor aircraft. To validate this concept, a custom-built multirotor was developed to conduct flight tests based on a prior wind tunnel study at the University of Dayton. The original study, conducted in the University of Dayton Low Speed Wind Tunnel (UD-LSWT), demonstrated that a negatively staggered rotor configuration with a vertical offset of 60% of the propeller diameter (0.6 d_z) maximized power savings of individual rotors tested in tandem configuration. Flight test data confirmed improved power efficiency in negatively staggered configurations, achieving up to …

Highly Conjugated Bodipy Dye Capable Of Generating Both Singlet Oxygen And Superoxide Radical Within The Phototherapeutic Window, Emily A. Hardie

Honors Theses

The synthesis of a new BODIPY dye using a one-pot synthesis provides absorption and emission within the NIR-1 region. The maximum absorption wavelength of this dye occurs at 645 nm with a molar absorptivity of almost 44,000 M^-1 cm^-1. By incorporating iodine into the ortho-position of the meso-phenyl substituent gives this dye the ability to generate both singlet oxygen and superoxide radical when irradiated within the phototherapeutic window of 600 nm to 850 nm.

Quantifying Droplet Breakup Regimes In High-Speed Flow Fields With Diffuse Background Illumination, Joseph R. Kastner

Honors Theses

Understanding the dynamics of droplet breakup in high-speed flow fields is critical for many aerospace applications such as liquid fuel injection into high-speed crossflow or weather encounters with high-speed vehicles. In such applications, thermophysical properties such as surface tension, viscosity, etc. as well flow parameters (Mach number) will drive the droplet breakup regime. The objective of this work is to implement diffuse background illumination (DBI) to quantify sessile droplet breakup. A shock tube will be employed to simulate high-speed flow conditions by generating shock waves of various strengths. Both head on and side imaging will be implemented to provide further …

Gender In Math: The Short And Long Term Effects Of Bias In The Math Classroom, Kailey P. Peppard

Honors Theses

There are many different narratives that are thrown around regarding math with little ill intent but with little regard to the serious impacts that the phrases can have. The one that will be focused on in this project is the idea that “math is a male subject” or that men are inherently better at math than women. This project will attempt to draw a connection between the narratives and the fact that there is a significant lack of women in STEM fields or pursuing higher level math. By reaching out to both students and teachers, the goal is to learn …

Conduct, Discipline, And Punishment: Representations Of Early Modern Women In Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew And Much Ado About Nothing, Madeleine E. Onderak

Honors Theses

In early modern England (the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries), women’s natures and preferred conduct were frequently discussed in pamphlets, essays, ballads, and conduct manuals. This research project examines how early modern women are represented in William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing and the implications of such characterizations. Early modern literature defines virtuous women as good housewives, obedient, patient, chaste, wise, and pious; they should avoid vanity and submit to men. Early modern depictions of the ideal woman were influenced by the virtues emphasized in Christianity and Classical history and mythology. Women were encouraged to …

Ethical & Effective Federal Artificial Intelligence Policy, Liam J. Row

Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the defining achievement of our time, processing vast amounts of data, generating intelligent outcomes, and enhancing our efficiency. As such, AI has the potential for both great benefits and significant harms. First, I reviewed the five most significant and immediate problems posed by AI. After recognizing the problems, I conduct in-depth analysis on the current regulatory structures of the federal government. I examine seven different departments as well as certain state and international regulatory structures to determine what harms are already addressed, where the gaps exist, and where the new policy is necessary. Then, I briefly …

Experimental Investigation Of The Second-Mode Boundary-Layer Instability Over A Flat Plate With A Wavy Wall, Megan C. Sieve

Honors Theses

This study experimentally investigates the effect of wavy walls on the second-mode boundary-layer instability in the hypersonic regime. The experiments were performed in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Mach-6 Ludwieg Wind Tunnel on flat-plate test articles. Two different flat-plate test articles were used: a smaller test article used in previous studies and one larger that was constructed for these specific experiments. Findings include the initial test results of the larger test article without a wavy-wall insert and results from three different wavy-wall samples taken using the smaller test article. The initial larger flat plate test results showed that the boundary-layer …

“Almond Moms” And Their Influence On College-Aged Emerging Adults: An Investigation On Eating Cognitions, Behaviors, And Psychological Wellness, Rebecca E. Sutton

Honors Theses

The present study examines the potential psychological and behavioral impacts Almond Moms have on their college-aged children. Previous studies examining how parents influence disordered eating habits found that parental attitudes, specifically maternal attitudes, towards appearance, weight, and dieting are correlated with their children’s likelihood of engaging in disordered eating behaviors. It was hypothesized that college-aged students who report more experiences growing up with an Almond Mom will demonstrate more disordered eating habits and less positive body image. Impulsivity, socioeconomic status, and attachment were predicted to moderate the link between parental experiences and eating habits. Participants were recruited from introductory psychology …

The Correctional Responses To Covid-19: In Ohio, The U.S., And Across The Globe, Kendall E. Visco

Honors Theses

The United States has the largest correctional system in the world, and as a result, the system is vulnerable to various public health issues, the most recent being the COVID-19 pandemic. Correctional institutions across the country were unprepared for a pandemic of this scale, specific to supplies and regulations. As a result, tens of thousands of incarcerated individuals fell sick in outbreaks, and thousands more passed away due to complications. Regulations varied from institution to institution, and policies then and now are still unclear. To prepare for the future, understanding these policies is vital to better understand where successes and …

Electropolymerization On Ito-Coated Glass Slides Of A Series Of Π-Extended Bodipy Dyes With Redox-Active Meso-Substituents, Alexa R. Wright

Honors Theses

A two-step method was used to synthesize a series of meso-carbazole and meso-pyrene boron dipyrromethene (BDP) dyes without requiring the use of catalysts or oxidizing agents. The HOMO and LUMO energies are dependent on the extent of π-conjugation associated with the pyrroles as indicated by solution spectroscopic and electrochemical studies. Solution electrochemistry of the dyes in chloroform reveal film formation onto glassy carbon electrodes. Electrolysis of chloroform solutions of the dyes using indium tin oxide as the working electrode show, using UV / vis spectroscopy, the formation of films. The BODIPY structure for two of the dyes remains intact upon …

021 - Inquiry-Based Dinosaur Trackway Lab For Eighth-Grade Students Focused On Identification, Diet, And Speed, Ashley Smith, Renee Dilaura

GREAT Day Posters

Imprinted dinosaur trackways from the Cretaceous provide insight into dinosaurs' movement, diet, and social behavior. This study develops a 40-minute lab for eighth-grade students to incorporate inquiry-based learning, promoting insight into the history of Earth. Using trackway data from Dinosaur Valley State Park, Texas, from Google Earth Pro, students examine footprints cut to scale to collect data on dinosaur diet, speed, and behavior. Based on the provided models and background information within the attached lesson plan, students will be asked to determine that theropods had narrow, three-toed prints, while sauropods had wider, rounded impressions. Students will count that bipedal dinosaurs …

064 - Children’S Onlooker Behavior With Siblings And With Friends At Ages 4 And 7, Alexis Bertrand, Alexa Morose, Emma Michalak-Brown, Jocelyn Pepe, Dr. Ganie Dehart

GREAT Day Posters

As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend interactions, we examined children’s onlooker behavior with siblings and with friends at ages 4 and 7. We analyzed the interactions of 65 white, middle-class American children with siblings and friends at ages 4 and 7. All sibling pairs were 15-30 months apart in age; half were same-gender, half mixed-gender. At both ages, dyads were videotaped at home in semi-structured situations during separate sibling and friend visits, playing with experimenter-provided toys selected to foster social interaction. The videotapes were transcribed and coded for social engagement at 10-second intervals. Our findings reveal …

207 - Mutations In The Reverse Transcriptase And Thumb Of R2bm Proteins And Their Impact On Nucleic Acid Binding, Michaela Cawley, Jordyn Farner, Meghan Geraghty

GREAT Day Posters

Have you ever wondered what causes diseases like hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, or even cancer? The culprit may be lying in your genome: Transposable Elements (TEs) are genetic elements that replicate and move positions within a genome. Almost half of the human genome is comprised of TEs, with 17% being a specific type of TE called Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINEs), which insert via Target Primed Reverse Transcription (TPRT). Studying these elements will lead to a greater understanding of both genome dynamics and genetic delivery tools. This study uses the R2 LINE element from Bombyx mori (R2Bm) which has an Open …

224 - Understanding The Influence Of Different Intermediate Filaments On The Morphology Of The Vulvar Cancer Cell Line, A431d., Avinash Gopal, Sara Mongelli, Abby Stevenson, Trinity Trojanowski

GREAT Day Posters

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSSC) is a rare yet aggressive cancer, primarily affecting women over 60, with early stages often masked by vulvar lichen sclerosis (VLS). VLS is typically treated with ultrapotent corticosteroids like clobetasol. Our previous work showed that clobetasol treatment of A431 vulvar cancer cells leads to a loss of the cell-cell junction protein E-cadherin and a gain of the intermediate filament protein vimentin. These changes are associated with an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process linked to cancer progression and the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype. Interestingly, A431D cells, derived from clobetasol-treated A431 cells, do not lose …

Married By Default, Erez Aloni

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This Article examines and critiques the global binary debate surrounding opt-in versus opt-out legal regimes for regulating unmarried cohabitants’ financial obligations upon separation. Using Canadian jurisdictions as a case study, it challenges the prevailing academic consensus that endorses opt-out systems as superior policy, based on assumptions that they are fairer, sufficiently preserve autonomy, enhance certainty, and particularly benefit women. Drawing on empirical research, the Article explores how couples engaged with British Columbia’s opt-out scheme. In-depth interviews suggest that default rules operate as quasi-mandatory, with opting out proving remarkably difficult. Moreover, the law often falls short of achieving the anticipated certainty …

In-Situ Rtm Videos, Tanner Garrett

ScholarsArchive Data

This data set contains videos of resin infusion experiments.

Early Assurance Program Outcomes For Matriculation Years 2019-2022, Anita Wilson, Phd, Aaron Douglas, Phd, Alisa Losasso, Md, Katherine Berg, Md, Kathleen Day, Ms, Bonnie Emilius, Ms, Michelle Calderoni, Steven Herrine, Md, Wayne Bond Lau, Charles A. Pohl, Md

JeffMD Academic Affairs

Purpose

The goal of the early assurance admission program is to find and recruit students with an interest in pursuing medicine as a career. Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) grants three types of early admission to students who meet the eligibility criteria from secondary and post-secondary institutions. This poster compares the performance of early admission students to the performance of a matched sample of traditional admission students.

University Of Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Department Of Music, University Of Richmond

Music Department Concert Programs

No abstract provided.