Digital Commons Network^™

The Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) Of Egypt, Gregory A. Evans, S. Abd-Rabou

Insecta Mundi

The Egyptian fauna of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) is reviewed and an illustrated key to the 30 genera and 54 species is provided. Phenacoccus madeirensis Green is reported for the first time in Egypt. A new genus, Ezzatacoccus Evans and Abd-Rabou, is described and illustrated with Amonostherium arabicum Ezzat, 1960 designated as its type species. Octococcus salicicola Priesner and Hosny, 1935 is reinstated as a valid taxon and transferred to Misericoccus Ferris, new combination. Ripersia cressae Hall is transferred to Maconellicoccus Ezzat, new combination and Planococcus lindingeri (Bodenheimer) is transferred back to Formicococcus Takahashi, revised status.

Dielectric/Impedance Spectroscopy For In-Line Measurement Of Moisture Content, Sophie Zhou

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Pharmaceutical production requires strict moisture content control in order to ensure quality, stability, and efficacy of medicinal products. Moisture content can be manually tested but a rapid and reliable solution for real-time moisture content monitoring was necessary to improve overall efficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This research delved into the practicality of using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a dependable technique to determine moisture content. By investigating the electrical properties of materials, we established a robust connection between shifts in electrical properties with variations in moisture levels. We employed an equivalent circuit model to unveil the underlying mechanism which provided valuable …

Cascading Effect Of Recent Fires On Moth Abundance Alters Pollen Transport Networks In Rosemary Bald Habitats, Karma Kashmir Thomas

Theses - ALL

Fire frequency and severity have increased dramatically due to anthropogenic activity including historic fire suppression leading to fuel build-up. Investigating the influence of fire and fire-related characteristics (frequency, severity, spread, etc.) on organisms and their ecosystem services is therefore of high importance. This work is especially pertinent for arthropods, which constitute a large portion of global diversity and offer important ecosystem services, including pollination. Existing literature has demonstrated the susceptibility of many Lepidoptera to fire, but this has been variable across studies, underscoring the need to consider how fire-related variables impact survival. In addition, there continues to be a global …

Cascading Effect Of Recent Fires On Moth Abundance Alters Pollen Transport Networks In Rosemary Bald Habitats, Karma Kashmir Thomas

Theses - ALL

Fire frequency and severity have increased dramatically due to anthropogenic activity including historic fire suppression leading to fuel build-up. Investigating the influence of fire and fire-related characteristics (frequency, severity, spread, etc.) on organisms and their ecosystem services is therefore of high importance. This work is especially pertinent for arthropods, which constitute a large portion of global diversity and offer important ecosystem services, including pollination. Existing literature has demonstrated the susceptibility of many Lepidoptera to fire, but this has been variable across studies, underscoring the need to consider how fire-related variables impact survival. In addition, there continues to be a global …

Biodegradable, And Biocompatible Hybrid Double- Network Cryogel Scaffold For Cartilage Regeneration, Zining Yang

Theses - ALL

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are utilized in tissue engineering to address various unmet medical needs. Cryogels, are macroporous, crosslinked gel networks that are formed by gelation of precursor monomers/polymers under sub-zero conditions. Several studies demonstrate the potential of cryogels, as 3D scaffolds for culturing cells and controlled delivery of potent growth factors while improving upon limited porosity and restricted nutrient exchange that is characteristic of conventional hydrogels. Many current studies utilize free radical polymerization for designing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and alginate based cryogels resulting in formation of non-biodegradable networks. Here, we designed a hybrid double- network cryogel made of alginate and …

Development Of Telodendrimer Nanocarriers For Daptomycin Delivery, Hao Yue

Theses - ALL

The immune system plays a crucial role in fighting pathogens, but infections can occur if the immune system is unable to overcome them, leading to severe damage and death. Antibiotics and drug delivery techniques have helped save countless lives and improve the quality of life for patients. Daptomycin (Dap) is a powerful antibiotic used to treat gram-positive bacterial infections. However, its hydrophobic nature limits its effectiveness, and it requires the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+) for activation. In this study, a series of telodendrimer (TD) nanoparticle delivery systems were synthesized to improve daptomycin delivery. The TD nanoparticle systems showed effective …

“Money For Food”: A Deeper Look At Food Insecurity And Class Privilege In Higher Education, April Lopez

Theses - ALL

Assumptions around the class privilege of college students are misconstrued. Food insecurity rates among college students (between 20-50%) far outweigh the rate of food insecurity nationally (12%) (Dubick et al., 2016). With the rising cost of tuition, insufficient financial aid, and the growth of first-generation and lower income students entering higher education, an increasing number of college students are struggling to balance paying for tuition and basic needs such as food. This paper looks at how factors such as race, undergraduate year, first-generation status, and employment status impact a student’s likelihood of being food insecure. While most studies focus on …

A Machine Learning Approach For Assessing Human And Natural Impacts On The Current And Future Salinization And Alkalinization Of U.S. Freshwater, Beibei E

Theses - ALL

In previous studies, ongoing salinization and alkalinization in U.S. rivers have been attributed to inputs of road salt and effects of human accelerated weathering. Salinization poses a severe threat to human and ecosystem health, while human-derived alkalinization implies increasing uncertainty in the dynamics of terrestrial sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. A mechanistic understanding of whether and how human activities accelerate weathering and contribute to the geochemical changes in U.S. rivers is lacking. To address this uncertainty, we compiled dissolved sodium (salinity proxy) and alkalinity concentrations along with 32 watershed properties ranging from hydrology, climate, geomorphology, geology, soil chemistry, land use, …

Development Of Telodendrimer Nanocarriers For Daptomycin Delivery, Hao Yue

Theses - ALL

The immune system plays a crucial role in fighting pathogens, but infections can occur if the immune system is unable to overcome them, leading to severe damage and death. Antibiotics and drug delivery techniques have helped save countless lives and improve the quality of life for patients. Daptomycin (Dap) is a powerful antibiotic used to treat gram-positive bacterial infections. However, its hydrophobic nature limits its effectiveness, and it requires the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+) for activation. In this study, a series of telodendrimer (TD) nanoparticle delivery systems were synthesized to improve daptomycin delivery. The TD nanoparticle systems showed effective …

Methodological Analysis On Settler Territoriality And The Rise Of The Yellowstone Wild Bison Advocacy Movement, Red G.R. Burkett

Theses - ALL

Bison bison, also known as the North American Buffalo, are a keystone species of endemic megafauna in the Great Plains prairie ecosystem. Bison were driven nearly to extinction in the late 19th century when millions of buffalo were massacred by settlers in order to starve Indigenous civilians and force them onto federally-managed Reservations as a step in the centuries-long ethnic-cleansing of Turtle Island. Such genocidal methods were a primary tool in erasing the land claims of Indigenous nations and colonizing the territories of Indigenous communities who depended on bison as a primary source of food and materiel for social reproduction. …

From Tradition To Modernity: Craftsmanship Of Four Treasures Of The Study And The Evolution And Development Of Painting Techniques, Yuanjing Chu

Theses - ALL

This thesis delved into the evolution of Chinese painting styles, spanning from ancient times to the present, placing emphasis on both traditional art painting styles and contemporary illustrations. By closely examining the production process of the Four Treasures of the Study (ink, inkstone, brush, paper) and thoroughly analyzing the fundamental elements of lines, ink tones, and aesthetic conception, this paper aims to demonstrate the similarities and differences between ancient Chinese art and contemporary Chinese illustration and how tools of the time influenced stylistic evolution over time. Additionally, the author’s visual thesis integrates artistic techniques from the past with contemporary painting …

Communication Optimization In Intelligent Reflecting Surface Aided Wireless Systems, Yifei Xu

Theses - ALL

With the growing demand for high-speed networks, 5G cellular systems provide advantages by utilizing higher frequency bands and wide bandwidth, and supporting high data transmission speeds. However, with the move to operate at high frequencies, obstacles such as buildings in urban areas and other blockages lead to challenges regarding received signal quality in wireless communications. More specifically, high-frequency signals emitted by antennas at the 5G base station (BS) can only propagate over relatively short distances toward users’ devices before being blocked by dense buildings in the area or scattered in different directions. In order to enhance the received signal strength …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis Of Murine Renal, Aortic, And Cardiac Tissue, Sarah E. Grev, Luke E. Schepers, Jennifer Anderson, Craig J. Goergen

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a tool that provides detailed insight into objects invisible to the human eye. As the name suggests, an electron beam is used to create an image down to the nanometer scale. The beam focuses on the surface of a sample using lenses in the electron column. In this project, we use SEM to study three types of murine tissue. First, we examine the glomerulus, found in the kidney, that is primarily responsible for filtering blood. Following a left renal vein (LRV) stenosis, SEM is used to observe changes to the glomeruli. Differences in the left …

Investigations Of Dual-Electrolyte Layer Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells For Enhanced Electrochemical Performance And Longevity, Abdul-Sommed Hadi

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

A cermet anode comprising of yttria-doped barium zirconate, BZY and nickel, Ni is now the preferred choice of materials for use in proton conducting fuel cell (PCFC) anodes because of their influence on anode oxidation kinetics. The Ni grains, being in a solid solution with the BZY support, helps improve on the catalytic activity and conductivity, in addition to the relative stability of BZY in steam and hydrocarbon reforming environments, as well as BZY’s excellent protonic conductivity.

Ni-BZY based anodes, sintered onto a ~600-micron electrolyte-supported substrates of BZY, BCZY (yttria- and ceria-doped barium zirconate), and a BZY/BCZY dual electrolyte-layer substrate, …

Recognition Of And Response To Obstetric Emergencies: Developing A Virtual Competency-Based Orientation Program, Susan Morrison

Student Scholarly Projects

In order to improve outcomes in the perinatal setting, the development of a Virtual Competency-Based Orientation Program (CBO) toolkit is vital. Two toolkits, namely the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) and the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), have been identified as effective in enhancing perinatal outcomes. AIM is a national initiative focused on improving maternal health outcomes, promoting safer birth practices, and saving lives through the implementation of best practices. CMQCC is a multi-stakeholder organization in California committed to eliminating preventable morbidity, mortality, and racial disparities in maternity care. Both AIM and CMQCC CBO toolkits incorporate research, …

What's The Password? Account Sharing In The Context Of Passwordless Authentication, Daniel Taylor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Passwordless authentication methods are becoming increasingly available for online accounts. This research asks how people will share online accounts with friends and family when there is no longer a password to share. Research participants were introduced to passwordless authentication methods and asked how they imagine the account sharing process might work. They were then introduced to four different methods of passwordless accounts, and asked to evaluate them. Sharing a link to register an additional authentication method proved to be the most popular method of account sharing.

Office Of Equity And Inclusion Newsletter - August 2023, Office Of Equity And Inclusion, East Tennessee State University

Office of Equity and Inclusion Newsletters

No abstract provided.

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: July 2023, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Veteran employment trends and statistics among various demographics during July 2023.

The Association Between Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors And Mental Health Conditions, Elizabeth Wachira, Bhakti Chavan, Carolyn Nganga-Good, Caroline Kingori

Faculty Publications

Our findings highlight that individuals with mental health conditions reported more psychological distress. Specifically, feeling depressed, anxious, lonely, and hopeless were triggered and exacerbated as a result of the pandemic and may have long-term effects on general well-being and productivity. Therefore, our findings have important implications on the need to include mental health promotion as part of pandemic response efforts. This includes developing policies and allocating funding so as to ensure sustainable mental health interventions and support, public and provider education on the importance of screening for mental health issues.

Innate Immune System In The Context Of Radiation Therapy For Cancer, Boopathi Ettickan, Robert Den, Chellappagounder Thangavel

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Radiation therapy (RT) remains an integral component of modern oncology care, with most cancer patients receiving radiation as a part of their treatment plan. The main goal of ionizing RT is to control the local tumor burden by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis within the tumor cells. The advancement in RT, including intensity-modulated RT (IMRT), stereotactic body RT (SBRT), image-guided RT, and proton therapy, have increased the efficacy of RT, equipping clinicians with techniques to ensure precise and safe administration of radiation doses to tumor cells. In this review, we present the technological advancement in various types of RT methods …

Determination Of Optimal Block Margins For Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (Sbrt) Of Island-Type Lung Lesions With Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy (Dcat) And Acuros Xb., George C. Kozan

Masters Projects

Abstract

Introduction

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) has become a highly effective treatment option for patients with island-type lung lesions, offering precise targeting and minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. Acuros XB dose calculation algorithm has shown promising results in delivering high radiation doses with improved accuracy. Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy (DCAT) has shown promise with lesions that are uniform and non-concave. Combining Acuros and DCAT has potential to help when planning Island-type lung SBRT. However, determining the optimal block margins for this treatment approach remains a critical challenge to find a balance between tumor coverage and sparing of critical …

Initial Examination Of The Mental Health Disorders: Screening Instrument For Athletes, Brad C. Donohue, Jesse Scott, Grace Goodwin, Kimberly Barchard, Greg Bohall, Daniel N. Allen

Psychology Faculty Research

Introduction: There is a need to psychometrically develop assessment instruments capable of screening mental health disorders in athlete populations. The current study was conducted to determine reliability, validity and clinical utility of the Mental Health Disorders Screening Instrument for Athletes (MHDSIA).

Methods and results:: 259 collegiate athletes completed the MHDSIA. Factor analysis determined a single factor with good internal consistency, and this factor was positively correlated with an established measure of psychiatric symptomology (Symptom Checklist 90-R), demonstrating its concurrent validity. An optimum clinical cutoff score (i.e., 32) was determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses to assist appropriate mental health …

Unh Researchers Tap Into Ai To Help Forecast Space Weather, Rebecca Irelan

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Development Of Air-Jetting System For Bioprinting Of Alginate Micro-Droplets, Nathan Lingenfelter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transplantation of organoids has been demonstrated to be a promising cure to many diseases including Type-1 diabetes. However, achieving consistent and robust derivations of mature organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is challenging. Cellular mechano-transduction, where mechanical stimuli is sensed and converted to biochemical signaling, has been proposed to overcome this challenge. This pathway relies on encapsulating hPSCs in a small volume of a biomaterial such as alginate, which has been widely used as cell encapsulation materials due to its biocompatibility and selective permeability. In this project, we focused on developing an air-jetting based technique to generate small and …

Early Identification Of Postpartum Depression Symptoms During The Antenatal Period Through The Utilization Of The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cherie Didier

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mental health disorder that negatively impacts maternal behavior and infant development. Despite a global incidence of around 12% (Ti & Curtis, 2019), current screening practices are inadequate. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG, 2018) recommends universal screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at least once during pregnancy. However, the project site in an obstetrical clinic currently does not screen during pregnancy. This quantitative quality improvement project in a Memphis, TN, obstetrical clinic used systematic data collection of EPDS scores of pregnant women and analysis to investigate the effectiveness of implementing …

Rounding With A Purpose: Reducing Falls In Geriatrics Residing In A Community Living Center, Ashley Wesson

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Falls among geriatrics continue to be a significant concern for healthcare organizations and one of the costliest healthcare problems attributed to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Falls rates in residential dwellings such as nursing homes and community living centers (CLCs) continue to rise despite fall prevention efforts.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was In geriatrics, age 65 or older, who reside in the Community Living Center (P), how does one-hour purposeful rounding (I), compared to rounding without structured set time intervals (C), affect fall reduction rates (O), within eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: In fifteen high-quality …

Evidenced-Based Practice Competency Assessment For Competency-Based Orientation Protocol To Improve Competency Level Among Medical-Surgical Nurses, Maryann Ornelas

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Within a 12-month period, high incidences of severe post-spinal surgical complications resulted in a host of concerns in this clinical site when patients either returned to the operating room for spine revision or increased the length of stay.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: "In Medical Surgical (Med-Surg) nurses (P), how would a Competency-Based Orientation (CBO) protocol with the inclusions of four critical elements of postoperative spinal care [POSC] (I) compared to the usual postoperative practice (C) enhance competency level in Med-Surg nurses when delivering postoperative practice at an inpatient setting (O) over 10 weeks …

Using Motivation To Assess Affective States Of Captive Red Kangaroos (Macropus Rufus) In Response To Visitor Presence And Crowd Size In A Walk-Through Zoo Exhibit, Julia King

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how visitor presence influences affective states of captive red kangaroos housed in a walk-through zoo exhibit by using motivation to consume a food reward in desired vs undesired locations and with/without an additional challenge feeder as a proxy for affective state, while considering individual variation and personality.

Age And Sex Of Wild Asian Elephants Observed In And Around Protected Areas In Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Leah D. Wersebe

Theses and Dissertations

This study observed the wild Asian elephant population in and around Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary and found a greater proportional presence of adults and subadults than calves and infants per observation, and a greater proportion of males than females outside of the protected area compared to inside the protected area.

The Effect Of An Elephant Conservation Education Program On The Knowledge Base Of Children In Thailand, Angela Larios

Theses and Dissertations

Habitat fragmentation and human-elephant conflict (HEC) are two factors that have caused harm to both Asian elephants and humans in Thailand. Think Elephants International (TEI) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to educate children on these issues to encourage more interest in and knowledge about elephant conservation in the youth of Thailand. TEI has developed a systematic education initiative and established a method for assessing the program’s efficacy using a pre- and post-survey. The current study analyzes student responses from one open-ended question from this survey collected both before and after the students participated in the TEI program. This …