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Clonal Plants' Traits And Responses Following Fire Disturbance In Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems In The Colorado Front Range, Raymond Erskine

Master's Theses

Mountain ecosystems are currently experiencing increasing impacts of disturbances (e.g., wildfire) due to global changes in climate and land use, leading to significant changes in vegetation composition and landscape dynamics. Clonal plants, characterized by their vegetative reproduction strategies, offer a range of ecologically important traits to cope with disturbances. However, clonality is often excluded in studies of post-fire vegetation dynamics in mountain ecosystems, and our knowledge of the ability of clonal plants to respond to differing disturbance regimes is limited. Therefore, I examined the response of understory vegetation following fire disturbance in burned and unburned ponderosa pine stands of the …

Every Student Deserves A Struggle: Planning For The Implementation And Differentiation Of High Cognitive Tasks, Kaitlyn Jones, Kaitlyn N. Jones

Honors College Theses

The work of Mary Kay Stein and Margaret Smith is foundational to cognitive research in education. Most other works in the field branch out from their work in one way or another. One of their most influential contributions was their system for classifying tasks according to cognitive demand or the type of thinking the tasks requires students to engage in. Memorization tasks or tasks that involve procedural work without making deeper connections are classified as having low cognitive demand. On the other hand, tasks involving procedures with connections and “doing” mathematics tasks are viewed as having high cognitive demand. Research …

Curriculum Response To An Evolving Society: An Analysis Of Family And Consumer Sciences Education At Murray State University From 1928 To 2023, Lauren Ervin

Honors College Theses

This research aims to identify and explore the changes in the family and consumer sciences (FCS) education program at Murray State University from 1928, when the major was first offered, until 2023. The following questions were answered:

• What are the notable changes in Murray State University's FCS education program, involving curriculum, from 1928 to 2023?

• What are the notable themes, topics, and changes to the overarching FCS field from 1928 to 2023?

• How have the events in society and the FCS field influenced the FCS Education program at Murray State University?

The researcher noted the changes in the Murray State …

Getting The Dunce Cap: Examining The Effects Of Authority And Rejection On Self-Esteem, Chloe Whitfield

Honors College Theses

Social rejection has been defined as any instance in which an individual is excluded socially or fails to maintain a social relationship (Jiang & Ngai, 2020). To describe the tendency to worry about, anticipate, and overreact to social rejection, the term rejection sensitive was coined (Feldman & Downey, 1994). The present study was specifically interested in rejection sensitivity and its various influences on behavior and self-esteem, especially in an instance of receiving rejection from a person of academic authority (i.e., a professor). The study was also interested in identifying recurring personality traits in rejection-sensitive individuals. After completing an online pre-test …

Comparative Evaluation Of Clinical Presentation And Management Of Equine Asthma By Climate Region, Tacey Davis

Honors College Theses

Equine asthma, including both mild and severe forms, is a prominent respiratory disease impacting the health and performance levels of affected horses. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a broad equine population, analyzing various disease aspects in relation to prevalence and severity across the nine climate regions in the United States. The methodology followed a survey-based research design, utilizing convenience and voluntary response sampling methods. Data collection involved 86 respondents across these regions. Quantitative and qualitative questions explored prevalence rates, diseases manifestation, risk factor of age, seasonality components, and diagnostic and management strategies from …

Culvert Design And Roadway Restoration Of Cavett Road At Damon Creek, Kevin Harvey

Honors College Theses

Cavett Road is a small, two lane rural road located in Kirksey, Kentucky. This road faces the issue of flooding during light-to-moderate rain, posing risk to those who use the road, especially those living along Cavett Road. This flooding is also capable of washing away the surface of Cavett Road and the adjacent banks and soil wall of the creek, creating a risk of erosion and soil subsidence. To reduce the risk of flooding and erosion and improve roadway function, this project outlines a potential solution using newly-installed reinforced concrete box culverts and soil fill above them to improve the …

The Use Of Laja In Construction In Ancient Mesoamerica: A View From The Southern Gulf Lowlands Of Veracruz, Mexico, Lauren Smith

Honors College Theses

The archaeology of the southern Gulf lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico is notable for its research pertaining to the Olmec culture (Jaime-Riveron 2016; Loughlin 2012; Pool 2006). The region was home to the Colossal Olmec Heads: large, easily identifiable sculptures crafted from the volcanic rock of the Tuxtlas Volcanic Field. The use of volcanic resources in such grand presentations may instill a bias in the research of some archaeologists, but it is important to consider how these and other volcanic resources might have been used in everyday life (e.g., Jaime-Riveron 2016: 86). The consolidated volcanic ash in this region is referred …

Stem Cell Therapy For Canine And Feline Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease, Seth Clark

Honors College Theses

This research aimed to statistically analyze the relationship between stem cell therapy and chronic renal failure in a sample of canine and feline patients. Stem cell therapy is a burgeoning field in both human and veterinary medicine, seeking mainly to better understand disease incidence and repair damaged tissues, such as those involved in spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer’s disease. In relation to veterinary medicine, prior research suggests that stem cell therapy has potential to be an effective tool against diseases such as acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. This project examined how autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells affected the …

Obscured To Outspoken: Buchi Emecheta, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, And Akwaeke Emezi As Case Studies In Nigerian Feminism, Ava Chuppe

Honors College Theses

Though about two decades separate their ascents to global renown, Buchi Emecheta and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie represent two figureheads of the women’s literary tradition in Nigeria. While Adichie has embraced the “feminist” label to describe her work, Emecheta has proven more reluctant, divulging issues with the Western variety of the movement—namely, its deconstruction of the family. Nevertheless, Emecheta and Adichie engage with issues such as maternity, familial turmoil, and political unrest in the contexts of colonial and postcolonial Nigeria, respectively. In doing so, both writers demonstrate the unique manifestations of patriarchy brought about by colonial rule. In Emecheta’s novel The …

The Experiences Of Postsecondary Students With Disabilities Utilizing One Stop Student Services: A Grounded Theory Approach, Ivan Noe

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The number of students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions of higher education continues to rise. With it, it is necessary to understand better how they experience their institution beyond curricular spaces. Presently, there exists a gap in the knowledge of how these students experience co-curricular support, including assistance with enrollment services through one stops. This study sought to understand the multiple ways in which this population of students experiences the one stop at one of three four-year public research universities in California. This qualitative research study utilized the constructivist grounded theory methodology and methods to aid in the emergence of …

Influences Of Cultural Capital And Internationalization On Global Competence: Evidence From China’S Higher Vocational Education, Yiying Teng

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore global competence-based pedagogy in higher education. Under the umbrella of cultural capital theory and internationalization framework, a systematic literature review analyzed and synthesized 26 empirical studies pertaining to global competence education in postsecondary education from 2013 to 2022. The review revealed a research gap highlighting the lack of exploration into global competence pedagogy among students in higher vocational education. To address this gap, the present study focused on a sample of 1,504 participants recruited from a Chinese vocational university situated on the eastern coast of China, encompassing both 3-year college students and …

Selective Partitioned Regression For Accurate Kidney Health Monitoring, Alex Whelan, Ragwa Elsayed, Alessandro Bellofiore, David C. Anastasiu

Computer Science and Engineering

The number of people diagnosed with advanced stages of kidney disease have been rising every year. Early detection and constant monitoring are the only minimally invasive means to prevent severe kidney damage or kidney failure. We propose a cost-effective machine learning-based testing system that can facilitate inexpensive yet accurate kidney health checks. Our proposed framework, which was developed into an iPhone application, uses a camera-based bio-sensor and state-of-the-art classical machine learning and deep learning techniques for predicting the concentration of creatinine in the sample, based on colorimetric change in the test strip. The predicted creatinine concentration is then used to …

Carl Schmitt’S Loneliness And Hannah Arendt’S Action, J. Lynne Nelson

Philosophy Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Scholarship As Fun, Thomas Schultz

Dalhousie Law Journal

One theme that traverses much of Pierre Schlag’s work is a sense of profound humanity—the idea that thinking and writing about the law can and should be a deeply, genuinely human activity—an activity for which we can, and should, break up many of the barriers that stand between us, between who we really are, and what we think and write. It is an activity for which we should put aside our pretences and insecurities and the attached formalisms and exaggerations behind which we so often hide, and which in the end constrain our humanity so much, as they take on …

Un Ésprit Sérieux, Pierre Schlag

Dalhousie Law Journal

It was a sunny day when we all met in a classroom at McGill University The gathering went on all day and at the end someone proposed writing up the discussion as essays. Hence, this collection.

I’d like to take a moment of gratitude to express heartfelt thanks to all the participants. And especially to Vincent Forray and Jean d’Aspremont for organizing the event, and to Genevieve Renard Painter and Liam McHugh-Russell for bringing this collection over the finish line. I don’t know whether the intellectual generosity of the participants was because of Canada, or Montreal, or McGill, or the …

The Atlanta University Center’S (Auc) Robert W. Woodruff Library’S Growing Partnerships And Outreach To Support Its Annual International Games Day, Patrice Williams, Bryan A. Briones

Georgia Library Quarterly

International Games Day (IGD) is one of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library's most popular annual outreach events. The library's IGD transformed from a one-day event for its AUC community members to come visit, socialize, and play a few rounds of table-top card and board games into a two-day event with broader gaming and e-sports networking opportunities which has been very well-received.

Royston Public Library Receives National Grant To Make The Library More Accessible To Patrons With Disabilities, Maggie West, Darcy Calia

Georgia Library Quarterly

The Royston Public Library has been awarded a prestigious $10,000 grant as part of the Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities initiative, spearheaded by the American Library Association (ALA). This grant aims to enhance accessibility and community engagement for individuals with disabilities in small and rural libraries. The Royston Library plans to host community conversations to gain direct patron input into the best use of these funds. Ideas include utilizing the grant to develop tailored programs, including Sensory Storytime sessions and Quieter Storytime sessions with interactive elements. Furthermore, the library could improve physical accessibility by enhancing the garden …

News Briefs Spring 2024, Georgia Library Quarterly

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Multifunctional Surfaces By Ultrafast Laser Multiscale Surface Structuring, Kewei Li

All Dissertations

Surface structures are crucial for regulating surface functions, including self-cleaning, surface coloration, and anti-fouling, which are of significance in various applications such as prolonging the lifetime of the solar cells, anti-counterfeiting marking, and enhancing the vessel’s performance. Ultrafast laser technology emerges as a revolutionary approach for surface structuring, distinguished by its exceptional precision, high throughput, versatility across materials, and remarkable processing efficiency. Despite the intensive study in the ultrafast laser surface structuring area, the fundamental mechanisms accounting for the ultrafast laser-induced surface structures are still not well understood. The correlation among laser processing parameters, surface structures, and surface functions remains …

Coffins And Conditioner, Mackenzie Scott

Graduate Thesis Collection

Coffins and Conditioner is part one of a modern fantasy story follows a latine, nonbinary hairdresser named Mura Saiz whose entire clientele consists of supernatural entities like werewolves, vampires, and fae. When a fight breaks out in their salon and catches the attention of a new surveillance program meant to destroy those very same supernatural entities, Mura realizes that they must give up their own peace of mind and physical safety to protect their clients. During their journey, Mura must learn how to juggle the secrets they keep within the salon with their now-suspicious chosen family while also making time …

Lived Musical Experiences Of Autistic Adults, Anetta Fortner

Graduate Thesis Collection

This research set out to explore the relationship between autistic individuals and music. Current research on autism and music education focuses primarily on the accounts of teachers, parents, and other stakeholders, and does not center autistic voices. The following research questions guided this study: (1) What can we learn from autistic adults, specifically those still involved in music, about their lifelong experiences in music and music education? (2) What insight can we gain from these experiences to create more inclusive environments for autistic individuals? To answer these questions, autistic adults who self-identified as still involved in music completed a short …

Length Of Time Differences Between Genders In Factors Of Movement From Suicidal Ideation To Suicidal Action, Carina Anderson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While women are more likely to take suicidal action, men are more likely to die of it. This difference has been partially, but not completely explained by the methods of suicide generally chosen by men and women. While this and other factors have been explored, there is no conclusive answer for the difference in death rates. Research suggests that men and women make decisions differently, and if these differences contribute to variations in their movement from suicidal ideation to suicidal action, we might expect to see these differences reflected in the amount of time it takes men and women to …

Exploring The Development Of Intercultural Competence Within Efl Teachers In Thailand, Chelsea Cullen-Tran

Doctoral Dissertations

English has become a significant element in Asian countries for many reasons. A few of these reasons derive from colonialism to wanting English for international exchanges. To start understanding the complexity of English and its specific role in Asia, one must analyze English’s functionality and significance. English in Thailand has and continues to play an important role. The acquisition of English has evolved from a way to resist colonialism to now being a mandatory class, starting as early as primary school, in an attempt to keep up the international demand and use of English. This shift has prompted Thailand to …

For The Love Of Black Children: Towards Black Liberatory Educational Subversion, Tamra Gertrude Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations

American K-12 schooling is one cog in a system of structural racism, with antiblackness as a foundational pillar (Brown University, 2015; Dumas, 2014; Dumas & ross, 2016). Within the structurally racist institution of education, Black students are most likely to experience criminalization, adultification, invisiblization, ostracization, and tokenization in school settings (Brown University, 2015; Bryan, 2020; Epstein, Black, & Gonzalez, 2017). For Black students in suburban schools, especially, the antiblack messaging can be more consistent and direct, having deleterious effects on their development (Chapman, 2017; Ferguson, 2002). Centering my work inside a suburban school district via a Black women-founded-and-run non-profit, this …

Emergence: Social Movements, Law Enforcement, And Defending The Sanctity Of Life, Diana Elizabeth Aroche

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the aftermath of national social movements advocating for police reforms and accountability, with San Francisco emerging as a pivotal city at the forefront of criminal justice and policing transformations. Rebuilding community trust and implementing substantive police reforms aimed at preserving lives has proven to be a formidable challenge. The convergence of interests among all stakeholders, driven by a shared commitment to dismantling institutional racism and implementing reforms that fostered trust with communities of color and law enforcement, played a pivotal role.

A significant aspect of this reform process has been the development of social movement convergence, where …

Simvastatin Induces Autophaghy-Mediated Cell Death In Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells, Jessica Allagoa

Theses (2016-Present)

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. Due to the limited effectiveness of current anticancer drugs, ongoing research has extended towards alternative drug categories for potential treatments. Recent findings indicate that statins possess the ability to suppress tumors across various cell types. Traditionally, statins are known as a class of cholesterol-lowering agents and function by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. However, statins can also suppress cell proliferation and ultimately lead to cell death, which includes Type I apoptosis-induced cell death or Type II autophagy-induced cell death. Autophagy is …

Foxo1 Inhibitor, As1842856, Induces Cell Cycle Arrest And Reverses Anticancer Drug-Induced Cytotoxicity In Osteosarcoma Cells, Antanay Hall

Theses (2016-Present)

Forkhead box class O (FOXO)-1 transcription factor controls cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and other cellular activities; FOXO1 has also been implicated in cell cycle regulation. This research project aims to determine the contribution of FOXO1 to cell cycle regulation and response to anticancer drug treatment in osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer, with most cases occurring in people younger than 30 years old. The study explores the impact of FOXO1 inhibitor AS1842856 on the cytotoxic effects of anticancer drugs in CCHOSD, Hos, and LM7 osteosarcoma (OGS) cell lines. Following chemical inhibition of FOXO1 and anticancer drug treatment, …

Inhibition Of Foxo Induces Oxidative Stress In Osteosarcoma, Kai K. Brown

Theses (2016-Present)

Redox homeostasis is a balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and neutralization by antioxidants. Oxidative stress (OS) results when the generation of ROS exceeds the neutralizing capacity of endogenous antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species are generated during cellular processes such as mitochondrial activity or metabolism of drugs. Expression of endogenous antioxidants is driven by redox-sensitive transcription factors; therefore, redox-sensitive transcription factors are essential for the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. There are several redox-sensitive transcription factors that contribute to the expression of endogenous antioxidants. These redox-sensitive transcription factors include nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factors (Nrf-2), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), activator protein-1 …

Investigating The Role Of Mybl1 Gene Variants In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Ayah Alnakhalah

Theses (2016-Present)

Several years ago our laboratory identified the MYBL1 gene as over-expressed in a subset of triple negative breast cancer cells. Since then we have applied a number of different approaches in an attempt to better define the presence of the gene in these cancers. There is clear and convincing evidence both by other investigators and from experimental observations in our laboratory that alternate splice sequences of a gene can code for variants with different biological roles. We are considering such a duality for the MYBL1 gene in breast samples. The first step towards these studies requires careful analyses of the …

Experimental Analysis Of Mybl1, Vcpip1 And Ubxn2b In Triple Negative Breast Cancers, Fawaz Opeyemi Ibikunle

Theses (2016-Present)

The focus of our laboratory is to characterize triple negative breast cancers. In a previous study we identified six genes over-expressed in a subset of the cancers. MYBL1 was one of the genes. MYBL1 is a strong transcriptional activator responsible for regulation of genes associated with cell cycle signaling, differentiation and apoptosis, all processes that drive cancers. Because of MYBL1’s involvement in processes key to cancer pathogenesis, in an earlier study, we knocked down the MYBL1 gene in efforts to identify genes that were either directly or indirectly associating with the gene to affect the triple negative breast cancer processes. …