Digital Commons Network^™

Determination Of Initial Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (Hbsag) Cutoff Index (Coi) Threshold For Reporting Hbsag Reactivity, Piya Wongchampa, Arkom Chaiwongkot, Rangsima Reantragoon

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) commercially-available screening test suggests a confirmatory testing in all cases that are reactive, but this will take a long time to reporting of results and increase the total test cost.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between cutoff index (COI) values of initial HBsAg screening test and their corresponding confirmatory neutralization results in order to identify a COI value for distinguishing samples that truly need confirmatory neutralization testing.

Methods: A retrospective study of 72,496 HBsAg screening test results using the Elecsys HBsAg II kit of patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red …

Organizational Executions And Policies On Workplace Health Promotion: A Cross-Sectional Study In Thailand, Taechit Taechamanodom, Pornchai Sithisarankul, Jate Ratanachina

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The workplace, as an environment, exerts a profound impact on the health and well-being of the workforce, thereby assuming a pivotal role in both economic prosperity and societal advancement. Within organizational contexts, the human resources (HR) department assumes a pivotal role in the holistic care and administration of the workforce, encompassing multifaceted dimensions of health and well-being.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the executions and potential of workplace health promotion policies in workplaces in Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among the human resources (HR) executives and personnel across listed 814 enterprises located in Rayong province and …

Fieldwork Learning Opportunities For Trainees In Behavior Analysis: A Survey Of Current Practices, Madison Crandall, Clare Liddon, Regan Weston

Thomas C. Hunt Building a Research Community Day

Individuals seeking certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®™) by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®™) must meet certain eligibility requirements. In addition to passing the BCBA examination, students are required to complete supervised practical fieldwork. In accruing fieldwork hours, trainees must be provided with the opportunity to complete unrestricted activities. The BACB defines unrestricted activities as “…those that are most likely to be performed by a BCBA,” and requires that 60% of fieldwork hours are comprised of these activities (BACB, 2022a). Fieldwork hours may be accrued across a number of different host sites (e.g., hospital units, schools, community locations, …

The Future Of Professional Sports’ Audiences: How Organizational Cultures And Social Media Usage Impact Mlb’S Ability To Appeal To Younger More Diverse Fanbases, Alexis Clancy

Honors Projects in Management

Professional sports organizations are continually attempting to broaden their fanbases and appeal to different groups. Major League Baseball (MLB) has particularly struggled to attract younger more diverse fans. Current literature has focused on the ability of social media and front office representation to cultivate social identification and organizational commitment to broaden existing fanbases across all American professional sports. The purpose of this study is to identify how MLB clubs are adapting to combat a diminishing fanbase and how to effectively diversify their reach. Qualitative research was conducted through twenty interviews of MLB and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) front office employees. …

Andrews University Pre-Professional Students Preparedness For A Future With Artificial Intelligence, Zachary Alignay

Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence technology has advanced considerably over the past four years. With such rapid technological development, the question has to be asked if students are adequately educated on the implications and abilities of artificial intelligence. Are Andrews University pre-professional students prepared for future careers with artificial intelligence? To approach this question, a survey of students across multiple perspectives was conducted to sample if there was a consensus, or lack thereof, on the perception of ethics regarding artificial intelligence, to ask students how using artificial intelligence has changed their education, what purposes it can be used or cannot be used, personal …

Lab Grown Meat Consumer Perception Analysis, Taya Power-Thornton, Taylor Graham, Sarah Kinghorn, Alyson Guerricabe, Miranda Robson, Tyler Winkler

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Concerns have grown in recent years about the environmental impact and greenhouse emissions of the meat production industry and meat consumption. Attempts are under way to grow meat in labs from existing meat cells without having to additionally harvest animals and have recently been approved by the FDA. We have collected data from 252 survey respondents from the Northwest to explore consumer perceptions about such lab-grown meat products. Preliminary findings in the data display a generally positive attitude and a moderate level of confidence in the safety of lab-grown meat. Lastly, our findings suggest that businesses may be able to …

Surface, But Not Age Impact Lower Limb Joint Work During Walk And Stair Ascent, Thomas A. Wenzel, Nicholas L. Hunt, Amy E. Holcomb, Clare K. Fitzpatrick, Tyler N. Brown

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

During common locomotor activates, such as walk or stair negotiation, older adults exhibit unfavorable lower limb biomechanical changes, including diminished joint torque and power, and proximal mechanical work redistribution that may increase their fall risk. To investigate age-related differences in lower limb work, twelve young (18 to 25 years) and 12 older (> 65 years) adults performed a walk and stair ascent task on a normal, slick, and uneven surface. For each walk and stair ascent trial, synchronous 3D marker trajectories and GRF data were collected. Stance phase positive limb and joint work, and relative joint work were submitted to …

A Classic Delphi Study: To Identify And Describe How Elementary School Teacher Leaders Create And Foster A School Culture That Supports Social-Emotional Learning, Nicole Lindemuth

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the strategies that elementary teacher leaders use to create and foster a school culture that supports the five Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) competencies (self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, self-management, and responsible decision making). An additional purpose was to identify what teacher leaders perceive to be the most effective strategies for creating and fostering a school culture that supports these social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies.

Methodology: This study used the Delphi method to collect data from elementary teacher leaders serving Grades TK–6 to identify their strategies …

Decoding The Digital Nexus: Investigating The Relationship Between Adolescent Technology Use And Suicidal Ideation/Attempts, Daniela Valdez, Vinita Sharma

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Use of technology has become integral to the lives of adolescents, especially in developed settings. The quality and quantity of screen time can significantly impact the daily experiences of adolescents, particularly concerning their mental well-being. The escalating rate of adolescent suicide in the United States presents a pressing public health challenge. Although there is early anecdotal evidence, the correlation between screen time and suicide, specifically ideation and attempts, remains underexplored. This study endeavors to investigate the relationship between technology use and suicide, focusing on ideation and attempts among adolescents. Conducting a systematic literature review, we are selectively incorporating peer-reviewed journal …

Investigating The Epistemology Of Ignorance, Justine Niyogushimwa, Michael Kreiter, Arthur Scarritt, Amelia Jobe, Chloe Otsuji, Danilla Kowalczuk, Niamh Winters, Lauren Sichenze, Karson Bird, Jeff Cates

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

In exploring the relationship between Neoliberalism and race in higher education, I use literature such as Charles Mill’s “Epistemology of Ignorance,” particularly the component of historical amnesia, as well as T. Elon Dancy II and his co-authors ``Historically white Universities and Plantation Politics: Anti-Blackness and Higher Education in the Black Lives Matter Era” to show the continuing legacy of Black folks’ objectification of American higher education. In this research project, I argue that white students engage in the epistemology of ignorance to avoid their responsibility to social justice with phrases like “I’m not the person to talk about this” or …

John Oliveira String Competition 2024 - Semi-Final Round, Elmar Oliveira, Angela Fiedler, Yu-Hsuan Feng, Giah Bush, Yilian Concepcion, Brenda Lorenzo, Niloufar Mirzanabi Khani, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Emin Huseynov

John Oliveira String Competition

No abstract provided.

Improving Prediction Of Solar Material Properties Through Software Engineering, Ryn Y. Oliphant, Eric Jankowski

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

It is possible to inexpensively generate electrical power from the sun with panels made from carbon-based molecules. The challenge is in finding the organic molecules that are both easy to make and efficient at catching light and converting it into power. It is therefore important to understand how charges move through these molecular systems, and we use kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to investigate these processes. Because the scientific software for performing kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of charge transport in organic materials is relatively new, there are open challenges with improving software performance, correctness, and generalizability. In this work, we focus …

A Hidden Obstacle To Restoration In The Sagebrush Steppe, Mikael Strix, Allison Simler-Williamson

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The sagebrush steppe is a unique ecosystem facing a number of threats to its native flora and fauna. Restoration efforts to counteract the effects of wildfires, invasive species, and anthropogenic disturbances are widespread, but success rates vary. A. tridentata, a keystone species of sagebrush, is the focus of numerous reseeding efforts. Unfortunately, many of the scattered seeds never germinate.

Little is known about how pathogenic fungi found in the soil might influence sagebrush seed germination rate. We want to know which fungal pathogens reduce A. tridentata seed survival, and how environmental conditions and overwintering influence seed-pathogen interactions.

Fungal isolates …

Inheritance, Property Reform, And The Language Of Original Sin In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House Of The Seven Gables, Elizabeth Shockley

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Throughout the body of scholarship on canonical nineteenth century American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, a recurring topic of interest is his relationship to radical reform projects of the Jacksonian Era (roughly 1828-1854), as well as his political views more generally. While Hawthorne’s personal connection to the utopian socialist commune Brook Farm in West Roxbury, Massachusetts has been thoroughly documented by biographers, the level of ambivalence regarding such socialist politics in his fiction remains a more open question which is continually debated by scholars. My research draws a connection between Hawthorne’s second romance, The House of the Seven Gables (1851), and the …

Development And Validation Of A Miniaturized Ball-On-Three-Ball Test For Biaxial Flexure Strength Of Technical Ceramics, Brandon King, Will Johanson, Adriana Lupercio, Jackie Stone, Andrew Nelson, Brian Jaques

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Miniaturized (~3 mm diameter) advanced technology nuclear fuels are of interest for their ability to simulate mechanical properties of their larger counterparts in a fraction of the time (2 years compared to 25 years). However, understanding the mechanical properties of these miniaturized samples is an important aspect of their development and qualification. In this study, a miniaturized ball-on-3-ball (B3B) fixture was designed to determine the traverse rupture strength (TRS) of right-cylindrical ceramics. Fixture revisions led to an optimal final design. Three technical ceramics were tested to validate the miniaturized B3B fixture, including high purity alumina (Al2O3), magnesia partially stabilized zirconia …

Stress Phenotyping Analysis Leveraging Autofluorescence Image Sequences With Machine Learning, Sruti Das Choudhury, Carmela Rosaria Guadagno, Srinidhi Bashyam, Anastasios Mazis, Brent E. Ewers, Ashok Samal, Tala Awada

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Background: Autofluorescence-based imaging has the potential to nondestructively characterize the biochemical and physiological properties of plants regulated by genotypes using optical properties of the tissue. A comparative study of stress tolerant and stress susceptible genotypes of Brassica rapa with respect to newly introduced stress-based phenotypes using machine learning techniques will contribute to the significant advancement of autofluorescence-based plant phenotyping research.

Methods: Autofluorescence spectral images have been used to design a stress detection classifier with two classes, stressed and non-stressed, using machine learning algorithms. The benchmark dataset consisted of time-series image sequences from three Brassica rapa genotypes (CC …

Clothing On Fire: Health Risk Assessment, Nikki Falcon

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Clothing fires are a significant public health challenge globally. Thousands of deaths and injuries occur each year from the ignition of flames in clothing. Approximately two million persons suffer burn injuries each year and over 100,000 require hospitalization. Young children and older persons are at greatest risk. Healthcare providers are frequently asked to provide recommendations for reducing such risks. However, information about the flammability properties of commonly used fabrics is generally not available. The objective of this study was to develop a simplified method for quantifying and ranking the flammability characteristics of various fabrics.

Effect Of Terrain Resolution On Rockfall Dispersion, Lucas Arsenith, Nick Hudyma

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Rockfall events are a geohazard that can pose a significant threat to infrastructure and life in mountainous areas. The trigger mechanism for these events varies but is usually due to undercutting of an existing slope, physical weathering including freeze/thaw cycles, anthropogenic factors such as excavation, environmental factors, and seismic events. Corrective measures are expensive and involve using nets, anchor bolts, or removing hazardous rock masses. Historically, two-dimensional modeling techniques have been used for sites where rockfall is a risk but these are limited in their functionality and accuracy. Three-dimensional modeling techniques are currently evolving and being used to accurately predict …

Investigating Neoliberalism In Higher Education, Danilla Kowalczuk

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Higher education and the ways students engage with it has been reduced as transactionary, evolving out of an environment more stratified by race and class. My research has been framed to look at how meritocracy has fueled student’s understanding of race and elitism to get them to consent to increasingly high cost commercialized education. This creates the issue necessary for investigation: students' increasingly transactional belief in higher education, buying a degree, makes them believe that the more they pay, the better off they are. In conducting interviews with university students, I aimed to measure their perceptions on deservingness, upward mobility, …

Superbowl Advertising Story/Non-Story Influencing People Liking Of The Ads, Kaushik Gadekari, Anne Hamby

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Super Bowl advertising is one of the biggest events of the year and many people like the ads more than the games themselves. Past research shows that advertisements adopting a story format are more persuasive. Separately, past research also shows that products can vary in the extent to which they are central (peripheral) to the advertisement. The present research examines if the format of the ad (narrative or non-narrative) and the nature of product placement (central or peripheral to the message) influences audience liking of the advertisement using a panel of USA TODAY ad meter responses. Our results suggest that …

Documenting Shared Human Experiences Of Loss And Grief, Emily Yuruki, April Masarik

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Every human experiences the world uniquely; however, there are also universal experiences that all humans share with one another, regardless of historical period or cultural setting. For instance, all humans experience loss and grieve those losses. The ways in which people mourn and cope may differ, but the experience of loss itself is part of the human condition. In a society where tensions and conflicts appear at the forefront of our minds, research that highlights commonalities rather than our differences is desperately needed.

To showcase the common features of loss and grief, we will analyze hundreds of undergraduate students’ narratives, …

Utilizing Qualitative Coding To Pinpoint Challenges And Desired Outcomes In Blaine County’S Comprehensive Plan, Mackenzie Rhoads, Nikki Root, Haley Netherton-Morrison, Kelly Hopping

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Understanding how people feel about where they live can provide insights into community planning and ecological management. Rural agricultural communities in Idaho have been undergoing major socioeconomic change, which has created unique challenges regarding land use and quality of life for their residents. Community members' feelings and ideas about these challenges are diverse and important. To understand the specifics of these challenges, we analyzed the comprehensive plans from Blaine, Owyhee, and Teton Counties. Counties write comprehensive plans to map out their futures, which provides insight into challenges and changes rural communities face and their goals for their citizens and land. …

Exploring Nuclear Dynamics: Comparative Analysis Of United States And China Energy Strategies, Jake West, Joseph Mondragon, Emily Grabow

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Nuclear energy and technology have seen tremendous improvements in recent years by allowing more relaxed regulations on nuclear energy. The purpose of this research is to explore different nuclear technologies, policies, and waste management practices and how they differ between China and the United States. By seeing these differences, conclusions can be drawn about the relationship between government policy and nuclear energy advancement. Methods used for this research are from secondary sources such as scientific articles and primary sources in government institutions regarding nuclear energy and waste management policies, as well as new and developing technologies in both the United …

Coevolution Of Acoustical Physics And Compositional Practice, Aviana R. Smith

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The mathematical and physical properties that exist within music have been a topic of interest for cultural and scientific development for centuries. Composers have sought to use cutting-edge technological advances in their works to better suit the moods of their audiences, and the development of acoustical physics has similarly impacted the use of sound within performance. In the decades preceding the world wars, there were significant improvements in acoustical physics that allowed recital halls to filter outside noise and allow for internal propagation. This progress, made possible through the discoveries of Wallace Sabine, revolutionized compositional practices, including those of avant-garde …

On Artificial Intelligence’S Impact On Politics, Gabriel Mott

Critical Questions

Despite its prevalence in popular culture, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often misunderstood by the public. Usually trained by the wealth of data on the internet, AI models identify associations with words and images to create new content, whether text, audio, photo, or video. AI has already begun to take root in the political scene, with several deep fakes of politicians circulating and one scandal involving ChatGPT generating fake legal citations. Some politicians have already indicated their support for regulating AI, and some political precedent indicates it will likely move forward.

Is Campus Involvement A Possible Cure For Student's Mental Health Challenges?, Calvin Doerr, Eric M. Martin, Kelly Rossetto

2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

College is a period of change for students. With the increasing level of difficulty, the challenge of fitting into a new environment, and finding healthy relationships, it can be very challenging for students to feel like they belong. Without creating valuable connections on campus, students can develop feelings of loneliness. The group membership, or lack thereof, also contributes to student’s success in academics. In addition to these feelings, many students also suffer from perfectionism. Maladaptive traits of perfectionism are detrimental to student health, and students with these traits experience fewer connection difficulties when they are socially connected on campus (Rice, …

Aspects Of Pharmaceutical Networks, Hannah Rita Joseph, Afia L. Rahaman, Kaya Wilson

ENGL 1102 Showcase

The theme of our anthology is different drugs and processes of drug usage in the result how the various aspects of the pharmaceutical companies. We analyze the quality of health that Americans receive from certain parts of the health care industry. We have focused on informing and analyzing the increase of insulin prices, and how that affects Americans everyday lives. The delivery methods of medical cannabis, how each method is effective, and how they are administered. As well as pharmaceutical scams and how it affects elderly people, who rely on medication.

Dynamic Slideshow Creation Software, James Thomas Haywood

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Sexual Dimorphism Of Circadian Liver Transcriptome, Artem A. Astafev, Volha Mezhnina, Allan Poe, Peng Jiang, Roman Kondratov

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Sexual dimorphism affects various aspects of physiology, metabolism and longevity. Circadian clock is a master regulator of metabolism. Anti -aging dietary interventions reprogram circadian transcriptome in the liver and other tissues, but little is known about sexual dimorphism of circadian transcriptome. We compared circadian transcriptomes in the liver of male and female mice on ad libitum (AL) and 30% caloric restriction (CR) diets. We found that AL female mice had a larger number of oscillating genes than male mice, and the portion of the transcriptome with sex -specific rhythms displayed phase difference. We found that CR increased the number of …

Diagnostic Disclosure Using Script-Driven Imagery In Borderline Personality Disorder, Michelle Rodriguez

Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program Theses

Borderline Personality Disorder is a widely underdiagnosed psychiatric disorder associated with stigma and misinformation, both in the general public and clinical settings. Current diagnostic disclosure methods do not consider borderline-specific challenges, such as interpersonal hypersensitivity and emotion dysregulation. This has led to discrepancies in patient-provider communication approaches, perpetuating underdiagnosis and negative diagnostic experiences, impacting recovery outcomes and attitudes toward the condition. We seek to determine the efficacy of using script-driven imagery as a method of diagnostic disclosure and psychoeducation versus current practice for individuals newly diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Our randomized controlled trial will assess efficacy as the proportion …