Sense Organs Commons^™

Somatic Prosthetics For Planetary Resonance, Disha Dharesh Kumar R

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates how industrial design can transcend extractive technological paradigms in favor of relational interfaces that foster planetary attunement. Framing the climate crisis as a 'crisis of imagination', the research challenges the Western bifurcation of nature and culture by drawing on Indic cosmologies- which recognize stones, plants, and ecosystems as conscious at different levels and participants in a shared cosmic field. By synthesizing research in Biosemiotics, Quantum Information Pansycishm, and Neuroscience, the project redefines intelligence as a distributed, more-than-human phenomenon.

The research materializes as a speculative design artifact: a device that functions as a somatic prosthetic for planetary resonance. …

Foveate, Dahlia Aggarwal

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates how textiles can unsettle visual assumptions, encouraging a perceptual shift. Through weaving, upholstery, and spatial installation, the work stages a tension between what a surface appears to be and how it is encountered by the body. Through woven pattern, tactile texture, and trompe l’oeil textile surfaces, perception is something negotiated rather than fixed: the eye anticipates one reality while the hand discovers another.

Drawing on a range of sensations gathered from observing landscape formations and textures, it translates enduring scale and material qualities into an interior landscape of woven surfaces and textile-based furniture. Rather than serving as …

The Myopia Epidemic: Integrating Genetic, Environmental, And Epigenetic Pathways To Define A Critical Window For Intervention, Pranavika Balaji

Undergraduate Research Posters

Myopia, or nearsightedness, has increased rapidly worldwide and is now a major public health concern caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Current understanding shows that too much near work, limited time spent outdoors, and prolonged screen use contribute to abnormal eye growth in individuals who may already have a genetic predisposition. At the molecular level, epigenetic changes and shifts in DNA activity, often influenced by environmental conditions, affect the signaling pathways that regulate eye development and may help explain why myopia is increasingly common among children. This paper synthesizes recent environmental, genetic, and epigenetic research to explain how these …

Vestibular Migraine And Ssri Withdrawal: A Case Report, Grace Fairchild, Sarah Redding, Ashley G. Flagge

Ashley Flagge Publications

Vestibular migraine (VM) has been described as a diagnosis of exclusion, with no one singular definitive assessment for diagnosis. It has been suggested that possible pharmaceutical intervention for VM can include antidepressant drugs, but this is potentially complicated by the fact that dizziness is a common side effect of both use and withdrawal for certain types of antidepressant medications. This article describes the case of a 56-year old with probable VM, who was previously diagnosed with depression and treated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Citalopram. Following discontinuation with no taper, the patient experienced a series of withdrawal side …

The Art Of Movement, Payton Hedderman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

I wanted to do this project for my Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone to showcase some of my skills and to articulate what I want to do with my degree. I want to go into Medical Illustration, and I want to make science easier for people to learn. To do this I want to take complicated subjects and remake them into simpler terms. For my capstone, I decided to take anatomy of the arm, leg, and abdominal organs and draw them on professional women athletes. I thought that expressing this anatomy in less of a clinical way is one strategy to make …

Soft Tissue Envelope Compromise Following Low-Side Motorcycle Accident: A Case Study And Literature Review, Steven A. Bolton, Ali Ahmad, Jonathan Rodriguez, Hooman Mir

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Purpose: This case report details a staged approach in managing a patient who presented to the ER with a displaced proximal second phalanx fracture, extensive soft tissue damage, and diffuse fracture blistering following a motorcycle crash. This case highlights that soft tissue damage may not always correlate with severe osseous injury.

Methodology: This case is a concurrent chart review of a 40-year-old who sustained a low side motorcycle injury resulting in a minimally displaced avulsion fracture of the medial 2nd toe proximal phalanx base with extensive soft tissue damage, fracture blisters, and lower extremity edema.

Procedures: Radiographic evaluation demonstrated no …

The Science Of Sound: Studying The Cognitive, Emotional, And Physiological Effects Of Frequency, Genre, And Music, Jett Yarborough

Senior Honors Theses

Music influences emotion, physiology, and cognition, yet little is known about how the frequency it is tuned to affects these influences. Prior research has shown that music tuned to 432 Hz can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. My colleagues and I conducted two studies to investigate this. Our research found that music tuned to 432 Hz promotes a significant increase in memory retention and induces a state of focus and relaxation. These results suggest that shifting from the standard tuning frequency of 440 Hz to 432 Hz could have a profoundly positive impact on our daily lives. …

Economics Of Corneal Cross-Linking For Keratoconus Treatment, Christopher J. Rapuano, Richard L. Lindstrom, Eric Donnenfeld, John P. Berdahl, Vance Thompson, David Kratochvil, John Carter

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

AIM: To optimize the real-world applicability of a health economic model estimating the cost-effectiveness of corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus in the United States.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A previously reported discrete-event simulation (DES) model was adapted to reassess the cost-effectiveness of corneal cross-linking (CXL) from the US payer perspective. The simulation of keratoconus progression, which is a key driver of model outcomes, was remodeled to more accurately reflect the real-world relationship between age and the rate of disease progression. All costs were updated to reflect 2025 values. We simulated 4,000 eyes of 2,000 patients diagnosed with keratoconus to …

Chronic Poppers Maculopathy: Case Report And Literature Comparison Of Chronic And Acute Use, Francesco Cappellani, Caterina Gagliano, Jose S. Pulido

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

RATIONALE: Alkyl nitrites ("poppers") are recreational substances known for their vasodilatory and euphoric effects. Increasing evidence links them to a vision-threatening condition termed poppers maculopathy, characterized by foveal yellow spots and outer retinal changes on optical coherence tomography. While most reports describe acute exposure, little is known about long-term consequences. This case describes one of the longest documented durations of chronic poppers use, combined with a literature review to contextualize the clinical spectrum.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 68-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression presented with progressive central vision loss in both eyes persisting for at …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Field Journal: The Excluded Middle, Carrie E. Kouts

Masters Theses

What does it look like to engage with organisms and landscapes at the periphery of anthropocentric value structures? How does one break the internalized myth that the “built” environment is excluded from the natural world? When does a hyper-mobile and hyper-commodified society confront the exponential crisis of animal death? Within this series of journal entries, field notes, collection observations, weird prose, and sensory musings, one will find questions on the nature of being human and the complex narratives of care we encounter in a world shared with more-than-humans. Each handwritten vignette and photograph from daily life weaves a non-linear and …

The Digital Glow: Effects Of Blue Light On Children And The Development Of A Children's Book To Raise Awareness On Eye Health, Mallory Easland

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

As digital screen use continues to rise among children, concerns about the effects of blue light on eye health, sleep patterns, and overall well-being have grown. Research suggests that prolonged exposure to blue light can contribute to digital eye strain, disrupt circadian rhythms, and impact cognitive development. This thesis explores scientific literature on the biological effects of blue light, specifically on children, examining both the risks associated with excessive exposure and strategies for mitigating its impact.

In addition to conducting a comprehensive literature review, this project applies research findings to the creation of an educational children’s book aimed at promoting …

Ocular Surface Glycocalyx In Health And Disease, Rafael Martínez-Carrasco, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The glycocalyx is a dynamic carbohydrate-enriched structure that forms a dense coating on the surface of animal cells, including those at the ocular surface. It plays a critical role in maintaining cellular functions and it has a significant influence in disease processes. At the ocular surface, glycoproteins such as mucins are essential for hydration, lubrication, and barrier protection. Proteoglycans and glycolipids contribute to cell signaling, and mediate interactions with pathogens. Alterations in the glycocalyx are implicated in a spectrum of ocular conditions, including dry eye disease, ocular allergies, infections, and systemic diseases such as Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and diabetes mellitus. …

Hooked On Sight: Teen With Eye Trauma, Anjeza Cipi, Emily Sealy

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

[Case presentation] A 14-year-old male with no prior ocular history presented to the emergency department after accidentally striking his left eye on a metal garden hook while on vacation. He experienced a brief flash of light but denied floaters, vision changes, pain, or diplopia. Visual acuity was 20/20 bilaterally with correction. Pupils were equal and reactive, intraocular pressures were normal, and extraocular movements were intact. The injury noted is seen in Figures 1 and 2. There was no evidence of scleral penetration or foreign body on slit lamp examination. Intraocular pressure measurements were deferred until globe rupture was ruled out …

Cochlear Electrode Insertion Training Model, Sarah Powell, Kaelyn E. Kraley, Nathan J. Smith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Cochlear implant surgery is a delicate procedure performed by Otolaryngologists (ENTs) to implant an electronic device into the inner ear to provide a sense of sound for people who are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing. The current practices of training involve cadavers and 3D-printed models. Cadavers are commonly used but are expensive, single-use, and do not provide visual and haptic feedback, which are essential for medical students. 3D printed models are less commonly used and are hard to fabricate and not as realistic. If medical students are not properly trained for this delicate procedure, then risks are significantly increased …

Acute Exacerbations Of Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Robert M. Frederick, Kent Lam, Joseph K. Han

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Purpose of Review

We aim to highlight recent advancements on the evolving chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) phenotype: acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis (AECRS). We focused on studies that expanded the current understanding of its pathophysiology, patient characteristics, and disease burden.

Recent findings

Defining AECRS has been a topic of discussion for many years. A recent regulatory definition of AECRS in the literature incorporates a > 3 day requirement of worsened symptoms and an escalation of treatment. It is important not to rely on patient-reported rescue medication frequency as it was recently demonstrated these are only obtained for 1/3 of reported AECRS episodes. …

Corneal Transplants And Their Impact, Bianca Estrada

Honors Capstones

A corneal transplant, also called keratoplasty or corneal grafting, is a type of surgery where damaged or diseased corneal tissue is replaced by a healthy donor cornea. The first successful corneal transplant was performed in 1905 by Dr. Eduard Zirm, but since then, surgical advancements have developed greatly, leading to more beneficial outcomes. Corneal blindness is a major form of reversible blindness that is manageable with healthy donor cornea transplantation. Other recipients or possible candidates for corneal transplantation include those with keratoconus, Fuchs’ dystrophy, eye infections, or eye injuries. This remarkable surgery is now one of the most common transplant …

Dog Sniffing Biomechanic Responses In An Odor Detection Test Of Odorants With Differing Physical Properties, Lydia Burnett, Nicholas Hebdon, Pete A. Stevens, Monica Moljo, Lindsay D. Waldrop, Lauryn Degreeff

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Dogs are utilized in forensic science for their extensive scent detection capabilities. They are often considered the “gold standard” in field detection for targets such as illicit drugs and explosives. Despite their prevalence in the field, relatively little is known about how dogs interact with and transport volatile organic compounds through their olfactory system. In this study, two groups of dogs were utilized – Sport detection dogs (n=19) that participate in the National Association of Canine Scent Work and have achieved advanced standing through training and successful search competitions and law enforcement explosive detection dogs (n=8) which were included for …

A Protocol For Immunostaining Of Macrophages In Whole-Mount Mouse Cornea, Conjunctiva, And Lacrimal Gland, Saleh Alfuraih, Dhruv Patel, Wonsuk Choi, Karthikeyan Ramasamy, Rais Ansari, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The healthy lacrimal functional unit contains a resident macrophage population. Here, we present a protocol for immunofluorescent staining of macrophage markers, CD11b, F4/80, and CD206, in whole-mount mouse cornea, conjunctiva, and 50-μM-thick lacrimal gland section. We describe steps for dissection, fixation, permeabilization, and blocking. We then detail procedures for the detection and spatial localization of macrophages through immunostaining and confocal imaging. This approach circumvents the need to obtain thin tissue sections and acquire macrophage images from each tissue section.

Determining Spatiotemporal Regulation Of Actin Dynamics In Choroid Fissure Closure, Cristal Gonzalez

Master's Theses

There are several stages of development necessary for proper vision. During vertebrate eye development, early eye morphology progresses in three stages: optic cup morphogenesis, basement membrane breakdown, and tissue fusion. Eye development is an intricate collaboration between many cells and requires tissues to migrate and bridge together. The following research investigates the Danio Rerio eye development to understand the molecular regulation of choroid fissure closure (CFC). It is hypothesized that CFC requires temporal and spatial regulation of actin dynamics. We investigate this question using chemical inhibitors, cytochalasin D, an actin treadmilling inhibitor, and NSC23766, a Rac-GEF inhibitor of the actin …