Digital Commons Network^™

Soil Biogeochemical Properties Remain Altered Following Cessation Of Long-Term Simulated Nitrogen Deposition In A Temperate Forest, Jennie Ellen Wuest

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient in terrestrial ecosystems and the transformations it undergoes mediated by microbes in soil are central to N cycling. While rates of atmospheric N deposition due to anthropogenic activity increased dramatically with the industrial revolution, government regulations in the late 20th century resulted in a reversal. Rates of atmospheric N deposition remain well above pre-industrial levels, but the last two decades have seen a steady decrease in areas such as the Northeastern United States. To investigate the potential for soil recovery from long-term N addition, we measured a suite of soil biogeochemical properties in a …

Age-Induced Changes In Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Dna Synthesis, Quantity, And Quality In Genetically Unique Rats, Robert V. Musci, Jordan D. Fuqua, Frederick F. Peelor Iii, Hoang Van Michelle Nguyen, Arlan Richardson, Solbie Choi, Benjamin F. Miller, Jonathan Wanagat

Health and Human Sciences Faculty Works

Mitochondrial genomic integrity is a key element of physiological processes and health. Changes in the half-life of the mitochondrial genome are implicated in the generation and accumulation of age-induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, which are implicated in skeletal muscle aging and sarcopenia. There are conflicting data on the half-life of mtDNA, and there is limited information on how aging affects half-life in skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle mtDNA synthesis rates would decrease with age in both female and male rats concomitant with changes in mtDNA integrity reflected in mtDNA copy number and mutation frequency. We measured mitochondrial genome …

Stacked Energyscapes: Conceptualizing Fossil Fuel And Renewable Energy Entanglements In Low-Carbon Transitions, Tyler Harlan, Jennifer Baka

Urban and Environmental Studies Faculty Works

Energy transitions are often characterized as discrete progressions away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, typically in different geographic spaces, which result in “winning” and “losing” communities. Policies have been enacted to encourage renewable energy investment in “losing” fossil fuel extractive communities. Such conceptualizations do not sufficiently consider how fossil fuel extraction and renewable energy intersect with and shape each other in these spaces. We introduce the term “stacked energyscapes” to better characterize these interactions. Rather than replacing a fossil fuel-based energy system, we argue that renewable energy is “stacked” atop it, entangling their sociotechnical “energyscapes” together in ways that …

Paper-Recorded Ecg Digitization Method With Automatic Reference Voltage Selection For Telemonitoring And Diagnosis, Liang Hung Wang, Chao Xin Xie, Tao Yang, Hong Xin Tan, Ming Hui Fan, I. Chun Kuo, Zne Jung Lee, Tsung Yi Chen, Pao Cheng Huang, Shih Lun Chen, Patricia Angela R. Abu

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

In electrocardiograms (ECGs), multiple forms of encryption and preservation formats create difficulties for data sharing and retrospective disease analysis. Additionally, photography and storage using mobile devices are convenient, but the images acquired contain different noise interferences. To address this problem, a suite of novel methodologies was proposed for converting paper-recorded ECGs into digital data. Firstly, this study ingeniously removed gridlines by utilizing the Hue Saturation Value (HSV) spatial properties of ECGs. Moreover, this study introduced an innovative adaptive local thresholding method with high robustness for foreground–background separation. Subsequently, an algorithm for the automatic recognition of calibration square waves was proposed …

The Returns To Education Over Time And The Effect Of Covid-19, Harry Anthony Patrinos, Angelica Rivera-Olvera

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

This paper examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the returns to education in the United States. Using data from the Current Population Survey 2011-2022, the analysis reveals that, after a period of decline, returns to education increased significantly because of COVID, particularly for men and those with university education. The returns to university for men increased by 1 percentage points. The results underscore the importance of continued investment in education to mitigate the adverse effects of future crises.

Individual And Cultural Differences In Compassion, Noticing Suffering, And Well-Being: Consequences Of Wanting To Avoid Feeling Negative, Birgit Koopmann-Holm, Alexandra Beccari, Monet Oosthuizen

Psychology

Although people across the globe experience suffering, some individuals find it difficult to respond to others' distress because they might not know what would be most helpful to that person in that particular situation. For instance, would a response that focuses on the silver lining or one that acknowledges the suffering of the other person be more compassionate and helpful? In this paper, we demonstrate that the construct of avoided negative affect (ANA), the degree to which people want to avoid feeling negative, can predict individual differences and explain cultural variations in several aspects of compassion. Because ANA is a …

Return To Play Time After Achilles Tendon Rupture In Professional Soccer Players, Oyinkansola Mudasiru, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: Achilles tendon ruptures are severe injuries that drastically affect the careers of athletes. These ruptures typically occur during matches, often due to dorsiflexion of the ankle during passes or when tackling. Professional athletes tend to have surgical repair quickly with the goal of returning to their sport as fast as possible.

Objective: To present a scoping review to identify the return to play (RTP) rates following Achilles tendon rupture and whether these athletes achieve functional outcomes comparable to their pre- operative conditions.

Methods: 2 databases were queried; Google Scholar and PubMed using the search terms "Achilles tendon rupture" AND …

Ahrc 275.01: Clinical Experience Iii - Respiratory Care, Colleen Holmquist

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Anty 101h.03: Anthropology And The Human Experience, Erin D. Rosenkrance

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Comx 219s.51: Survey Of Children's Communication, Kimberly S. Reiser

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Chmy 123.H50: Introduction To Organic And Inorganic Chemistry, Julia Michelle Kotler

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Admixture Mapping Of Cognitive Function In Diverse Hispanic And Latino Adults: Results From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Rui Xia, Xueqiu Jian, Amanda L Rodrigue, Jan Bressler, Eric Boerwinkle, Biqi Cui, Martha L Daviglus, Charles Decarli, Linda C Gallo, David C Glahn, Emma E M Knowles, Jee-Young Moon, Thomas H Mosley, Claudia L Satizabal, Tamar Sofer, Wassim Tarraf, Fernando Testai, John Blangero, Sudha Seshadri, Hector M González, Myriam Fornage

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: We conducted admixture mapping and fine-mapping analyses to identify ancestry-of-origin loci influencing cognitive abilities.

METHODS: We estimated the association of local ancestry intervals across the genome with five neurocognitive measures in 7140 diverse Hispanic and Latino adults (mean age 55 years). We prioritized genetic variants in associated loci and tested them for replication in four independent cohorts.

RESULTS: We identified nine local ancestry-associated regions for the five neurocognitive measures. There was strong biological support for the observed associations to cognitive function at all loci and there was statistical evidence of independent replication at 4q12, 9p22.1, and 13q12.13.

DISCUSSION: Our …

Investigating Effectiveness Of Inverted Classroom In Undergraduate Statistics Education, Xin Ma, Jing Zhang, Petya Karkelanova, Michael C. Osborne, Anushka Karkelanova

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Data collected from an educational experiment were analyzed to investigate the effectiveness of an instructional reform referred to as the inverted classroom (learning activities traditionally taking place inside the classroom now take place outside the classroom and vice versa) in undergraduate statistics education. Students were taught the same statistics course in the inverted classroom (135 students) and the traditional classroom (135 students) over one semester. A small sample HLM (hierarchical linear modeling) approach was used to account for the data structure of students nested within 12 sections of the course and small sample sizes at both student and section levels. …

Reimagining Community Safety: Perceptions Of Policy And Practice In Five Cities, Patricia A. Cobar, Kathleen A. Tomberg, Fidel L. Osorio, Jeffrey A. Butts

Publications and Research

The John Jay College Research and Evaluation Center (REC) and the Urban Institute partnered with the National League of Cities to support five U.S. cities in reimagining public safety through the Municipalities Reimagining Community Safety (MRCS) initiative, funded by Wells Fargo. As the research lead, JohnJay REC conducted a three-wave survey to assess local stakeholder perceptions of public safety strategies, focusing on efficacy and equity. Findings provided insight into city-level approaches to crime prevention and community well-being, informing evaluations of MRCS’s impact across diverse urban contexts.

Clear Masks Do Not Prevent Gains During Dynamic Temporal And Tactile Cueing Treatment: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, Elizabeth Murray, Shelley L. Velleman, Geraldine Bricker-Katz, Donna Thomas

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

This study aimed to determine the outcomes and impact of Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) treatment when clear vinyl masks were worn. DTTC is one of the few evidence-based treatments for children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Given that DTTC relies on visual, auditory, and tactile cues, it was unknown if treatment gains would be demonstrated when masks were worn and how masking would impact the therapy experience for clinicians and caregivers.

Method:

A sequential mixed methods design was used to study the efficacy of DTTC treatment in children with CAS when clear masks were worn. The …

Building Services Engineering September/October 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Limit Theorems For L-Functions In Analytic Number Theory, Asher Roberts

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

We use the method of Radziwill and Soundararajan to prove Selberg’s central limit theorem for the real part of the logarithm of the Riemann zeta function on the critical line in the multivariate case. This gives an alternate proof of a result of Bourgade. An upshot of the method is to determine a rate of convergence in the sense of the Dudley distance. This is the same rate Selberg claims using the Kolmogorov distance. We also achieve the same rate of convergence in the case of Dirichlet L-functions. Assuming the Riemann hypothesis, we improve the rate of convergence by using …

2024/2025 University Of The Pacific San Francisco Catalog, University Of The Pacific

Catalogue, Bulletin, Catalog

2024/2025 academic catalog for the San Francisco campus of University of the Pacific

Bidirectional Associations Between Mental Health Disorders And Chronic Diabetic Complications In Individuals With Type 1 Or Type 2 Diabetes., Maya Watanabe, Evan L Reynolds, Mousumi Banerjee, Morten Charles, Kara Mizokami-Stout, Dana Albright, Lynn Ang, Joyce M Lee, Rodica Pop-Busui, Eva L Feldman, Brian C Callaghan

Health Services and Informatics Research

OBJECTIVE: To determine bidirectional associations between the timing of chronic diabetes complications (CDCs) and mental health disorders (MHDs) in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a nationally representative health care claims database to identify matched individuals with type 1 or 2 diabetes or without diabetes using a propensity score quasirandomization technique stratified by age (0-19, 20-39, 40-59, and ≥60 years). CDCs and MHDs were identified using ICD-9/10 codes. We fit Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying diagnoses of CDCs or MHDs to investigate their association with the hazard of developing MHDs or …

Interplay Of Magnetic Impurities And Superconductivity In Topological Materials, Didier Ndengeyintwali

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The interplay of superconductivity and magnetism has been a long-standing topic of interest since the discovery of superconductivity. In recent years it has been shown that topological superconductivity, which has promising applications such as in topological quantum computing, could result from such interplay. Motivated by the later results I study the effect of magnetic impurities in superconducting doped topological insulators, such as Iron based topological superconductors. I show that topological character of parent materials could lead to modifications in the structure of magnetic impurity induced in-gap states. Moreover, the superconductivity induced interaction between magnetic impurities in doped topological insulator would …

Black Horror Film And The Role Of Mood In Race Perception, Nicholas P. Whittaker

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Contemporary discussions of black or antiracist art are often haunted by an air of pessimism. This pessimism rests on the intuition that art cannot change the political realities of antiblackness and/or our relationships with blackness. In this dissertation, I resist this hegemonic view by arguing that black horror films generate a particular, politically-valuable aesthetic experience. Specifically, they allow us to experience blackness and black people as unintelligible. This, I argue, runs counter to everyday experience of blackness; when blackness appears unintelligible, we lose the sense of satisfied comprehension that characterizes our everyday experiences of it. I argue that these films …

44ti/44sc Generator Development And Radiolabeling Optimization For Medical Applications, Christine E. Schmidt-Kennelty

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in scandium-44 (⁴⁴Sc) for medical applications due to its favorable decay properties. With a relatively short half-life of 3.97 hours and high positron branching ratio of 94.3%, ⁴⁴Sc is an ideal candidate for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. However, producing ⁴⁴Sc without an on-site cyclotron limits access, as its short half-life makes it impractical to ship to more remote locations.

To address this issue, ⁴⁴Ti/⁴⁴Sc generators have become a focal point of research, providing an onsite source of⁴⁴Sc. Despite their potential, current …

Design And Characterization Of De Novo Photoactivated Charge Separating Proteins, Paul M. Molinaro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Light activate charge separation can provide high energy electrons for a variety of chemical processes. Reaction center proteins serve as a scaffold for small molecules that serve as “hopping” sites for electrons. Previous reaction center designs are four helix bundles that bind at minimum two metalloporphyrin’s: a zinc porphyrin serves as a light activated electron donor, mimicking chlorophyl, and a heme molecule serving as the acceptor. The efficiency of these designs is hampered by the enhanced relaxation of the singlet excited state of zinc porphyrin molecules due to spin-orbit coupling with the paramagnetic heme acceptor. The optimal design would contain …

Brain Injury And Psychosocial Trauma: Outcomes Among Justice-Involved Individuals, Mahathi D. Kosuri

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Justice-involved individuals experience disproportionately high rates of both traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and psychosocial traumas. However, these traumas have yet to be conceptualized together, leaving a chasm of research on how they interact and influence this population. The current study was the first to measure the effects of TBIs as well as psychosocial trauma among justice-involved men, within the context of executive functioning, history of justice involvement, and recidivism. A sample of men (N=95) from a private correctional facility were given the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire (OSU-TBI-ID), the Lifetime Stressor Checklist- Revised (LSC-R), along with …

From Stars To Moons: Investigating Stellar Rotations, Planetary Interactions, And Exoplanetary Prospects, Rosario Cecilio-Flores-Elie

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The thesis is divided into two key sections. The first chapter presents the results of analyzing TESS light curves for 99 targets within the Carina-Near moving group. By deriving rotational periods, this analysis supports stellar age estimation, contributing to the broader efforts of the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen project in determining age parameters for 89 newly identified systems, including ultracool dwarf companions. These findings enhance our understanding of stellar rotation and evolution, offering new insights into the development of secondary co-moving objects like brown dwarfs.

The second chapter investigates planet-moon interactions within our solar system by examining mass ratios, …

The Truth And Other Fictions: The Nuance Of Truth In Medieval Literature, Mark-Allan Donaldson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation, “The Truth and Other Fictions,” is an exploration of the functional relationship between fiction and truth. It discusses truth as a type of nuanced information which may exist in a variety of forms (i.e., objective truth, narrative truth, emotional truth, cultural truth, etc.) and explores how these truths may be created or communicated through the medium of literature. The dissertation also explores how fiction, either narrative or structural, assists in said creation and communication of truth and in some cases is the necessary component to these processes. The Middle Ages and its literature provide the ideal staging ground …

Controlling Emotional Text To Speech Using Complex Adverbial Phrases, Zainab T. Akande

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study investigates the usage of adverbial modifiers from audiobook data as a resource for training speech synthesizers with a greater range of speech descriptions. The Tacotron2 text-to-speech (TTS) model was used for the purposes of this study. Utilizing the LibriTTS dataset, the Tacotron2 model is trained under two experimental conditions: one incorporating adverbial modifiers into the input text and the other without. The dataset preprocessing involves embedding descriptions using word embeddings and encoding speaker IDs with machine learning techniques. Additionally, the model architecture includes a prosody encoder inspired by prior research. Evaluation of the trained models involves subjective assessments …

Reviewing Inclusive Sex Education Curriculum: A Policy Analysis Of California’S Healthy Youth Act (2015), Patrick P. Buzzell

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study presents a critical policy analysis of California's Assembly Bill 329 (AB 329) regarding inclusive sex education, coupled with a series of coding phases of relevant data. AB 329, enacted in 2015, mandates comprehensive sexual health education in California schools, aiming to address the needs of diverse student populations, including sexually minoritized youth. The critical policy analysis examines the language, implementation, and potential impact of AB 329, considering its effectiveness in promoting inclusive sex education and mitigating disparities in sexual health outcomes among students. Utilizing CPA, textual and contextual elements of data related to AB 329 are scrutinized to …

Shear Viscosity Of Quasi One-Dimensional Bec Tubes And Entanglement Negativity Conditions, Camilla Polvara

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Shear Viscosity of Quasi One-dimensional BEC Tubes

We consider layered Bose-Einstein condensates interacting via contact intra-condensate interacions and dipolar inter-condensate potentials, both of which dominate intercondensate tunneling (which we neglect for simplicity). For this system, we compute the normal modes, we study its localization properties by numerically computing the inverse participation ratio, and we compute the inter-tube shear viscosity.

Entanglement Negativity Conditions

This project explores bounds on entanglement negativity using operator inequalities, building on the results of [1]. We are looking for a way to quantify entanglement, as an alternative to calculating the full negativity, which would otherwise require the …

Advancing Affective Computing: Emotion Recognition And Tracking Across Diverse Contexts (Varied Environments), Shao Liu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Affective Computing (AC) is an interdisciplinary field that recognizes, interprets, and processes human emotions. Emotions are complex, involving consciousness, physical sensations, and behavioral expressions, and are significant in various domains like mental health, human-computer interaction, and social security. Real-world applications of AC include monitoring drivers’ emotional states to improve road safety and understanding the emotions expressed by artists in visual arts. Traditional methods relying on facial expressions often fall short due to the nuanced nature of emotions, which vary across individuals, cultures, and contexts. Accurate AC systems require sophisticated, multimodal models to handle these variations and external factors like noise …