Digital Commons Network^™

Are You Lost? Developing A Map (Metadata Application Profile) For Your Institutional Repository, David Advent, Connor Murphy

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Developing a MAP (Metadata Application Profile) for your Institutional Repository.

Supply Chain And Analytics Students Help Business Tackle Ai And Operations Challenges, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Community-Based A1c Screening Initiative To Improve Diabetes Risk Identification Among People Experiencing Homelessness, Rebecca Drake, Deedee Long, Mariita Carter

Student Works

Abstract

Purpose: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) experience high rates of undiagnosed diabetes yet face significant barriers to preventive screening. This quality improvement project aimed to improve access to diabetes screening for PEH through on-site hemoglobin A1C (A1C) testing in a trusted community setting.

Methods: On-site A1C screening was implemented at the Utah County Food and Care Coalition (F&CC) using a low-barrier, community-based approach. Screening was conducted during routine service hours and integrated into existing workflows. Process, outcome, and balancing measures were used to evaluate feasibility, reach, and unintended effects.

Results: The intervention primarily supported identification of diabetes risk and referral …

Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With Ret P.V804m, Eml4-Alk Fusion, And Braf V600e Positivity, Jacob Beiriger, Leonard Estephan, Lubna Zuberi, Stacey Gargano, Elizabeth Cottrill

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Multifocal papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) can arise from independent primaries with discordant drivers in parallel clonal evolution rather than a single-clone pattern. We present a 31-year-old female with multifocal PTC harboring 3 distinct oncogenic alterations: a germline RET p.V804M mutation, low-frequency EML4-ALK fusion, and BRAF V600E mutation. The RET and ALK alterations were identified in a midpole nodule, whereas BRAF positivity was seen in a separate lower pole tumor. Ultrasound revealed multiple right-lobe thyroid nodules; the dominant 2.1-cm lesion was hypoechoic with calcifications. Fine needle aspiration revealed Bethesda III cytology, prompting thyroid lobectomy and an ipsilateral central neck dissection was …

Innovate Springfield's Ben Hage Named Director Of Illinois Wesleyan Petrick Idea Center, Ann Aubry

Press Releases 2020-2029

No abstract provided.

Faculty Advisory Committee Minutes Of The Academic Senate 2026-04-24, University Of Dayton. Faculty Affairs Committee

All Committee Minutes

Approved minutes of a meeting of the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate of the University of Dayton.

Milk Matters: Milk Fat Impact On Phthalate Exposure, Vivika Arocho, Tanya Pach, Erika L. Doctor

Student Publications and Presentations

Phthalates are plasticizers added to plastics to improve flexibility. Research has shown that phthalates impact human health through endocrine disruption as well as posing a risk of cancer. Food packaging made of plastics has the potential to cause an increased risk of exposure. Milk packaged in plastic has previously been found to have contamination with phthalates due to the extended contact with the packaging material. However, the amount of phthalate leeching has not been addressed for variation in milk fat. Other packaging components such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have shown variation in leeching based on the amount of fat in …

Reading The Rings: Experimental Techniques In Shark Vertebral Analysis, Lily Drons, Destiny Perez, April A. Watson

Student Publications and Presentations

As a part of an ongoing archaeological research project, our goals aim to determine a general range of the age and size of sharks from South Inlet Park based on vertebrae recovered from an archaeological excavation. On these vertebrae are distinct ring structures which represent growth periods to identify the estimated age and size of the sharks when they were alive. Beginning this project, we cataloged different shark vertebrae and took measurements for comparison. Current findings have already narrowed down the two major types of vertebrae: lamnoid and scyliorhinoid and present the possibilities of species which have those vertebrae. As …

From Resilience To Risk Reduction: The Role Of Cognitive Reframing In Problematic Drinking, Brandon Li, Melissa Lehman, Patrick J. Cooper

Student Publications and Presentations

Prior research suggests that resilience is associated with the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal, and that these strategies are linked to lower levels of problematic drinking. However, it remains unclear whether resilience is related to problematic drinking directly or indirectly through specific emotion regulation processes. This study examines associations amongst resilience, cognitive reappraisal, and problematic drinking in a sample of 188 college students. Correlational analyses indicate that resilience is not significantly associated with problematic drinking. In contrast, resilience is positively associated with cognitive reappraisal, and cognitive reappraisal is negatively associated with problematic drinking. A mediation …

Apoe Ε2 Potential Protection Against Long-Term Consequences Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Rebecca Faith Mesidort, Kimberly Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter the quality of life, often resulting in cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, or death. There have been no biological advances to resolve the long-term consequences of TBI. The APOE ε2 gene is widely known as a neuroprotectant for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. However, the biological mechanisms of how APOE ε2 protects the against neurodegeneration is unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate APOE ε 2’s response to an environmental stimulus that leads to neurodegeneration, TBI and further investigate APOE ε2’s biological mechanisms. After inflicting blunt force trauma to our model organism …

The Effect Of Forever Chemicals From Paper Cups On Planarians, Sara Miller, Erika L. Doctor

Student Publications and Presentations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals added to products like paper cups, Teflon pans, and muffin tins to make them water-resistant and durable. PFAS have been a growing concern for the human health and the environment due to their migration into the beverages and foods we consume. PFAS have been linked to various health issues such as cancer, immunotoxicity, and thyroid disturbances. The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of PFAS leaking from paper cups into water and their impact on planarians through three different experiments: optimization of PFAS detection, determination of leaching PFAS from …

Resilience And Emotional Eating: Gender Differences In Undereating, Tinei Nyakuyedzwa, Patrick J. Cooper

Student Publications and Presentations

Emotional eating refers to eating in response to emotional states as opposed to hunger and is linked to stress, which is important for college students who experience unique stressors (e.g., academic, social, and interpersonal) in their college experience. It is also often found to be more prevalent in women, but not always. During the COVID-19 pandemic, females and males reported similar levels of emotional eating, but for different reasons: female emotional eating was linked to isolation and/or extra care-giving responsibilities, whereas male emotional eating was linked to reward seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there …

Optimizing Glycerin Concentration For Xerostomia Treatment Via Refractive Index Measurements, Angelina Pologeorgis, Khalique Ahmed

Student Publications and Presentations

Xerostomia is also commonly referred to as dry mouth, this is a condition that is characterized by a reduced salivary flow that can negatively impact things like overall oral health, swallowing, or even speaking. The current artificial saliva substitutes vary widely in their composition, physical chemical properties, and effectiveness, many or the products available now as treatment do not disclose the concentrations included in their ingredients. Glycerin is a known saliva substitute that is frequently used due to its abilities to retain moisture. The optimal concentration of glycerin is required in order to best mimic natural saliva. The purpose of …

Autonomous Motivation And Campus Mental Health Services Utilization, Vishwa Shukla, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Mental health services are available across U.S. universities, yet many Generation Z students experiencing psychological distress do not make use of them. Researchers have identified stigma, limited mental health literacy, concerns about confidentiality, and negative past experiences as possible explanations for low engagement. Students move through several stages when using services, including initiating help-seeking, attending appointments, and continuing over time. Existing models tend to focus primarily on external barriers, giving less attention to internal motivational factors that influence whether students decide to engage at all. Self-determination theory offers a framework for examining this issue. When students do not see help-seeking …

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation And Visual Recognition Recovery After Stroke, Ivy Westfall, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Every year, many stroke survivors experience challenges that go beyond movement. In addition to physical weakness, changes in thinking and vision can last long after the stroke. Most rehabilitation programs focus first on balance and motor skills. As a result, problems with visual recognition and interpretation can go unnoticed. When the temporal lobe is damaged, a person may not be able to recognize familiar faces, everyday objects, or even well-known places, even when they can see. Virtual reality (VR) has become a growing tool in stroke recovery. By immersing patients in interactive, goal-directed visual environments, VR may engage neuroplastic mechanisms …

Catalase Activity In The Presence Of Pure Flavonoids, Emily Weems, Erika L. Doctor

Student Publications and Presentations

Catalase is an enzyme which catalyzes hydrogen peroxide into water and molecular oxygen. Flavonoids inhibit catalase, which allows for a buildup of hydrogen peroxide in our bodies that is important when we are sick. Pure flavonoids, like those found in colorful fruits and vegetables, will inhibit catalase by reducing the enzymes’ ability to break down hydrogen peroxide. The pure flavonoids that we looked at are hesperidin and naringenin, found in citrus fruits, and quercetin, found in vegetables like onions and hot peppers. Plant flavonoids are seen to inhibit catalase but are found bounded to compounds like sugars while pure flavonoids …

Active Coping Is Associated With An Increased Capacity For Resilience, Anna Kief, Patrick J. Cooper

Student Publications and Presentations

This study investigated the impact of various coping styles on emotional resilience in college students. Coping styles refer to the ways people respond to everyday stress or challenges. This study focused on five major coping styles: wishful thinking (hoping problems will get better on their own), goal-oriented coping (implementing action to overcome challenges), seeking support (asking peers for help), thinking-coping (analyzing situations and developing solutions), and avoidance (ignoring or escaping problems). It was hypothesized that goal-oriented, seeking, and thinking-coping styles would positively correlate with resilience, while wishful and avoidance coping styles would negatively correlate with resilience. Preliminary results show that …

Second Phase Cohort And Principal Component Analysis To Characterize An Adlerian-Drumming Intervention Among College Students, Charles Benayoun, Rebecca Schaffer, Rebecca Mesidort, Jacklyn Markovitz, Megan Ramsey, Jon Sperry, Félix E. Rivera-Mariani

Student Publications and Presentations

Group drumming is a rhythmic intervention with potential to modulate mood states and physiological arousal. Understanding which participant characteristics are associated with differential pre-session mood profiles may inform how individuals engage with such interventions. This study, which is a 2nd phase cohort, employed principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the latent structure underlying mood states, physiological biomarker changes, and demographic characteristics in a sample of college students participating in an Adlerian-based group drumming session. 31 Participants completed a pre-session mood survey and a social interest index. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before and after a 45-minute Adlerian-based group …

Effects Of Sublethal Bisphenol A On Planarian Phototaxis, Alexis Galindez, Emily Pintilie, Kevin Sosa, Cassandra S. Korte

Student Publications and Presentations

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common plastic found in many consumer products, including water bottles, food containers, and toys. Previous research shows BPA is an environmental contaminant with potential neurotoxic effects, including nociceptive behaviors in planaria flatworms. Planaria flatworms, such as Girardia dorotocephala, are valuable model organisms for studying neurotoxicity due to their simple but well-characterized nervous systems and measurable phototaxis or light response behaviors. Earlier experiments in our lab demonstrated that BPA concentrations of 1 ppm and higher caused high mortality and reduced movement. We were thus unable to measure phototaxis behavior at this higher concentration. This study investigated …

Planarian Exposure To The Herbicide 2,4- Dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D), Emily Pintilie, Alexis Galindez, Kevin Sosa, Cassandra S. Korte

Student Publications and Presentations

Widespread use of pesticides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) raises serious concerns about their effects on non-target aquatic organisms. In vertebrates, 2,4-D has been associated with neurotoxic outcomes such as impaired motor function and altered neurotransmitter activity. Planarians offer a valuable system for toxicological studies due to their well-characterized nervous system, regenerative capacity, and measurable behavioral responses. This study investigates the neurotoxic effects of 2,4-D exposure in the planarian species, Girardia dorotocephala, including assessment of nociceptive behaviors, survival rate, and phototactic responses. Worms were exposed to various concentrations of 2,4-D (0–100 mg/L) over multiple time points. Nociceptive responses such …

From Plastics To Pathways: Phthalates, Oxidative Stress, And Nervous System Function In Planaria, Destiny M. Perez, Cassandra S. Korte

Student Publications and Presentations

Phthalates are widely used chemicals added to plastics to increase flexibility and durability. Because they are not chemically bound to products, they can leach into the environment and contribute to human exposure through food packaging, plastic containers, and hygiene products such as lotions, shampoos, and fragrances. This widespread exposure has raised public health concerns because many phthalates are linked to endocrine disruption and have been associated with reproduction, developmental, metabolic, and neurological disruption. To investigate how phthalates may impact nervous system function, planarian flatworms will be used as a toxicology model. Planaria will be exposed to phthalates and then tested …

Circadian Genes In Fruit Flies: What They Teach Us About Human Sleep And Health, Laney Wilson, Mia Gonzalez, Kimberly Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Circadian rhythms are cycles developed internally that influence the behavioral and physiological changes that happen daily. They occur in organisms as diverse as humans and fruit flies. They are the product of “clock” genes that set the rhythm and tune them in response to changes in the ambient light. In the present study, we aimed to determine the contribution of functional clock genes to the circadian regulation of movement of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. An equal number of wild-type flies (n = 5) and clock-mutant flies (n = 5) were placed in an incubator for 1 week to allow …

Volume Cxlv, Number 19, April 24, 2026, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Florida Tech Botanical Gardens Improvement: Raised Bridged Walkway Design, Peter Abdou, Logan Allen, Severiano Cartagena, Brennan Lackey, Miranda Schwartz

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Design a flood-resilient pedestrian system using hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to improve safety, accessibility, and environmental performance within the Botanical Gardens.

Lockheed Martin & U.S. Navy Air Pallet For Materials Handling, Samantha Ryan, Ryan Zerneke, Joshua Bible, Justin Conner, Brycen Haner, Nevan Juteram, Alexander Lacy, Gavin Lanka, Henry Lewis

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of this project is to design, manufacture, and deliver an Air Pallet capable of lifting heavy loads and positively engaging with the Drive Tractor for movement. This project was developed to address current maintenance hazards and difficulty, structural integrity concerns, and increase system reliability for our customers Lockheed Martin and the United States Navy.

3d Filament Recycler, Connor Easley, Stephan Jean-Baptiste, Armando Loynaz, Brody Paulk, Meagan Prouty, Tai Roberts, Jack Salcedo, Vanessa Tohorton, Alex Tremblay, Ruhaan Zaveri

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of the project is to design and manufacture an integrated system for the L3HSDC that can recycle 3D filament waste by shredding, heating, extruding, and spooling it.

Psi Epsilon Station, Ember Clark, Zac Hardin, Jasper Stevens, Cole Capawana, Carter Tomasky

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Thermodynamics is one of the first classes an engineer will take, where you no longer learn practical ideas; instead, the concepts become theoretical. All of thermodynamics culminates in one of the most important cycles, the Rankine Cycle. This can be very overwhelming for students as everything they've learned throughout the semester is now being put into one cycle. The primary goal is to design and build an operational Rankine cycle to demonstrate to students how it works and what each component does.

Variable Arm Reach Extender (Vare), Matthew Gorton, Adam Johnson, Kaleem Bocus, Quin Fredrickson, Vaughn Havins, James Koethe, Leira Maynard, David Mierzejewski, James Moore, Joonhyung Si

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Approximately 6.7% of the US population suffer from physical disabilities, producing the need for assistive devices. Amongst assistive equipment, reach-extenders have a 64% dissatisfaction rate..

The Matear System, Kylie Strong, Adel Siraeva, Julianna Bartus, Lilly Davies, Cameron Deen, Rayna Doty, Amiana Mata, Jack Minners, Matthew Skwiot

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The MATEAR attachment collects regolith simulant and uses compression and heat to form brick-like building blocks for sustainable infrastructure. It mounts to the Clearpath Robotics Husky A200 rover provided by the team’s faculty advisor.

Lockheed Martin & U.S. Navy Drive Tractor, Nicolas Czincila, Andrew Pestone, Santiago Florez-Tascon, Kalvin Long, Nick Norman, Joseph Phan, Ashlynn Redding, Brandon Ribeiro, Noah Rodriguez, Diana Viherek, Mckenzie Winder

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of this project is to design and manufacture a manually operated, pneumatic-assisted Drive Tractor system for transporting heavy loads with the Air Pallet. This project was developed to improve maneuverability, reduce operator effort, and increase system reliability within industrial environments for our customers Lockheed Martin and the U.S Navy.