Matching Items (159)
Description
Undergraduate students taking Anatomy and Physiology may struggle with information overload due to constant memorization. The solution is to present the anatomical material in a more integrative manner. Traditional learning in the human anatomy labs requires students to be presented with the skin, bones, joints, and muscle systems throughout the semester. However, in the Human Anatomy and Physiology courses (BIO 201), students only spend 2.5 hours for the lab session in one or two weeks for each system. The traditional style used today is constructed systematically, but it does not combine the other systems and functions with it once presented to the students. As a result, the new approach will integrate the structures and functions of each system with the current one that is being introduced. The new approach is SiMoJi-B: Skin, Muscles, Joints, and Bones. SiMoJi-B will teach students the Skin, Muscles, Joints, and Bones systems following anatomical regions of the body each week. All systems are integrated using a layer visualization from the outer to the deepest layer. The integration is supported with human donor dissections. The integrative sequence will allow students to learn anatomy in a more interactive and dynamic way.
ContributorsKaroubi, Susan (Author) / Cevallos, Manuel (Thesis director) / Ferry, Lara (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Since its isolation from a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947, Zika virus (ZIKV) has spread into many parts of the world, causing major epidemics, notably in the Americas and some parts of Europe and Asia. The flavivirus ZIKV is primarily transmitted to humans via the bite of infectious adult female Aedes mosquitoes. In the absence of effective treatment or a safe and effective vaccine against the disease, control efforts are focused on effective vector management to reduce the mosquito population and limit human exposure to mosquito bites. The work in this thesis is based on the use of a mathematical model for gaining insight into the transmission dynamics of ZIKV in a population. The model, which takes the form of a deterministic system of nonlinear differential equations, is rigorously analyzed to gain insight into its basic qualitative features. In particular, it is shown that the disease-free equilibrium of the model is locally-asymptotically stable whenever a certain epidemiological quantity (known as the reproduction number, denoted by R0) is less than unity. The epidemiological implication of this result is that a small influx of ZIKV-infected individuals or vectors into the community will not generate a large outbreak if the anti-ZIKV control strategy (or strategies) adopted by the community can reduce and maintain R0 to a value less than unity. Numerical simulations of the model, using data relevant to ZIKV transmission dynamics in Puerto Rico, shows that a control strategy that solely focuses on killing immature mosquitoes (using highly efficacious larvicides) can lead to the elimination of ZIKV if the larvicide coverage (i.e., proportion of breeding sites treated with larvicides) is high enough (over 90%). Such elimination is also feasible using a control strategy that solely focuses on the use of insect repellents (as a means of personal protection against mosquito bites) if the coverage level of the insect repellent usage in the community is high enough (at least 70%). However, it is also shown that although the use of adulticides (i.e., using insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes) can reduce the reproduction number (hence, disease burden), it fails to reduce it to a value less than unity, regardless of coverage level. Thus, unlike with the use of larvicide-only or repellent-only strategies, the population-wide implementation of an adulticide-only strategy is unable to lead to ZIKV elimination. Finally, it is shown that the combined (integrated pest management) strategy, based on using all three aforementioned strategies, is the most effective approach for combatting ZIKV in the population. In particular, it is shown that even a moderately-effective level of this strategy, which entails using only 50% coverage of both larvicides and adulticides, together with about 45% coverage for a repellent strategy, will lead to ZIKV elimination. This moderately-effective combined strategy seems attainable in Puerto Rico.
ContributorsUrcuyo, Javier (Author) / Gumel, Abba (Thesis director) / Hackney Price, Jennifer (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
It is no surprise that crime has become an interest to people both nationally and globally. It is impossible to turn on a TV without hearing cable news talking about a bank robbery or a murder, or a political hearing of some sort. Crime TV shows are incredibly common—there are whole channels dedicated to just crime, and many prime-time TV shows deal with some form of crime, most often the law enforcement teams that interact with it. Movies and books about crime are also incredibly common—most movie theaters have at least one horror movie or psychological thriller on show at a given time, and books stores and libraries have entire sections about true crime and mysteries.
Crime has become an inescapable part of being a consumer and viewer in today’s society. The interest in crime, however, could not have just been created by the media or a few specific parties and gained the amount of attention that is has today. Crime has been of interest since ancient times, seen immortalized in art and literature with famous events like the death of Socrates and the assassination of Julius Caesar. However, only more modern advances in media and the growth in consumerism could have led to interest and commodification of crime as we see it today. Landmark cases like Ted Bundy and O.J. Simpson have contributed to the growth of the media landscape, but because of the cyclical nature of the news and consumer cycle, these cases would not differ much in the way that they would be covered today, even with the new methods of disseminating information that we have today, such as social media and news websites that are accessible by everyone. Crime as entertainment has been a product not just of the media and popular culture but also from American consumers who continue to give media and pop culture producers a consumer who wishes to view their content and to continue to further the interest in crime. Media and popular culture are not the only people to blame for the popularization of crime as a product; people in the United States, and globally, are just as much responsible for the creation of crime as entertainment.
Crime has become an inescapable part of being a consumer and viewer in today’s society. The interest in crime, however, could not have just been created by the media or a few specific parties and gained the amount of attention that is has today. Crime has been of interest since ancient times, seen immortalized in art and literature with famous events like the death of Socrates and the assassination of Julius Caesar. However, only more modern advances in media and the growth in consumerism could have led to interest and commodification of crime as we see it today. Landmark cases like Ted Bundy and O.J. Simpson have contributed to the growth of the media landscape, but because of the cyclical nature of the news and consumer cycle, these cases would not differ much in the way that they would be covered today, even with the new methods of disseminating information that we have today, such as social media and news websites that are accessible by everyone. Crime as entertainment has been a product not just of the media and popular culture but also from American consumers who continue to give media and pop culture producers a consumer who wishes to view their content and to continue to further the interest in crime. Media and popular culture are not the only people to blame for the popularization of crime as a product; people in the United States, and globally, are just as much responsible for the creation of crime as entertainment.
ContributorsCooke, Emilie (Author) / Kobojek, Kimberly (Thesis director) / Gordon, Karen (Committee member) / School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
A cloud chamber allows the naked eye to observe the beta- particle track produced from certain radioactive isotopes. These cloud chambers can be used during radiation education, as they allow beta emitting isotopes to be seen. Within the apparatus, the white track that forms as a result of alcohol condensation, codenstates on the ions. These ions are left by electrons released from a radioactive isotope. In this experiment, a cloud chamber apparatus was placed under the conditions of a magnetic field. When a beta isotope is inserted into the chamber, the magnetic field should bend the beta-particle track. By measuring the radius of curvature of the electron tracks, the velocity is then observed. This velocity of the beta particle can then be used to calculate the kinetic energy, and ultimately can be utilized to identify the isotope.
The understanding of the methodology for identifying isotopes, nuclear waste cleanup can be effectively handled. In cases of environmental radioactivity, Geiger counters can only identify regions that are contaminated, as well as the number of radioactive particles per second within the region. Unfortunately they fail to determine the energy of each isotope. The identification of radioisotopes aid in the handling of cleanup and safety precautions.
This thesis focuses on the hardware and construction of the apparatus used, diving into electronics and particle physics. The software as well as future data collection and analysis will be conducted by Natjalia Bogdanovic, for defense in Spring 2020.
The understanding of the methodology for identifying isotopes, nuclear waste cleanup can be effectively handled. In cases of environmental radioactivity, Geiger counters can only identify regions that are contaminated, as well as the number of radioactive particles per second within the region. Unfortunately they fail to determine the energy of each isotope. The identification of radioisotopes aid in the handling of cleanup and safety precautions.
This thesis focuses on the hardware and construction of the apparatus used, diving into electronics and particle physics. The software as well as future data collection and analysis will be conducted by Natjalia Bogdanovic, for defense in Spring 2020.
ContributorsZand, Nicole Hanna (Author) / Tucker, Ross (Thesis director) / Lee, Robert (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Forensic science is the application of science to matters of law, especially criminal investigation and procedure. ForenSICK Science, on the other hand, is an educational YouTube channel. It was created in early 2019 after listening to two people on a podcast confidently preach surprisingly inaccurate information about forensic science. My goal in the creation of the channel was to give people the proper information regarding the practice. This goal grew to encompass several different fields including continued education practices, informal and nonformal learning, and combating “science speak.” Using YouTube as a tool in this journey was the first step in combating forensic inaccuracies.
ContributorsByrne, Mckenna Noel (Author) / Kobojek, Kimberly (Thesis director) / Wentzel, Bonnie (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Rexinoids such as Bexarotene have been developed as effective treatments of different diseases including lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. This is due to the widespread nature of the retinoid X receptor, which is the target of these drugs, throughout the body. However, Bexarotene is not infallible and has many negative side effects which limit the use of the drug to only a short period of time. This may be fine for chemotherapy, but rexinoids have been proposed to also be effective at preventing cancer as well. This is not currently possible with the side effects seen with approved rexinoids. Due to this, six novel rexinoids were created in hopes of reducing the side effect profile of rexinoids. The idea of dual agonism was also explored with two of the compounds created as well. All six of these compounds, after creation and purification, were sent off for in vitro and in vivo testing to confirm side effect profile and efficacy.
ContributorsFrazier, Madison S (Author) / Wagner, Carl (Thesis director) / Marshall, Pamela (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Fingermarks have been used by law enforcement agencies to identify suspects in criminal activity. Although fingermarks remain persistent over time, the degradation pattern of latent fingermarks remains unknown. Previous studies examined the morphology of friction ridges on a two-dimensional scale, but recently 3D technology has been employed to examine how the height dimension degrades overtime. The Sa statistic was formulated to monitor the aging process of friction ridge heights from 6 donors. Fingermarks were deposited on two nonporous substrates (glass or plastic) and aged under dark or light exposure for 98 days. Pressure, time of contact, and treatment of finger prior to deposition were held constant while temperature and humidity were monitored throughout the study. Experimental variables included substrate and light exposure. Females exhibited slower degradation than males. For fingermarks deposited on glass, faster degradation was seen under light exposure. This finding was consistent for fingermarks deposited on plastic, but instrument contamination may have been possible. Slower degradation was seen on glass under both light exposures. This study indicates the Sa statistic is valuable for assessing fingermark degradation of friction ridges. However, due to a small sample size and variability in the rate of degradation between donors, genders, under different lighting and substrate conditions, the age of latent fingermarks cannot be determined at this time.
ContributorsGrasman, Simona Jun (Co-author) / Grasman, Simona (Co-author) / Kobojek, Kimberly (Thesis director) / Mancenido, Michelle (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The purpose of this creative project was to create a forensic science program that accommodated Diné Philosophy and Culture. Indigenous representation is a key factor in promoting the advancement of the native ways of life. This thesis provides a culturally aware program that assists students to learn about taboo fields within the restrictions of the cultural teachings and traditions. This thesis developed a week-long forensics program targeted to Navajo middle school students with the cultural restriction in mind. During this process, the most difficult was integrating not only the taboos but also the foundations. At the end of this project, the most significant way to create an outreach program for Navajo students is by utilizing the Diné philosophy teaching models. This project is important because to create an effective science community there has to be equal representation for it to grow.
ContributorsJohnson, Elisabeth (Author) / Kobojek, Kimberly (Thesis director) / Chadwick, Deborah (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Different tools have been developed by physicists to detect particle interactions, including one tool called a cloud chamber. A cloud chamber is a device that uses a supersaturated alcohol vapor to outline the paths of subatomic particles. It requires an adequate source of radiation, either background radiation or a radioactive element, that is placed inside the chamber and allowed to decay. The particles emitted from the decaying element form tracks, as a result of the condensation of the supersaturated alcohol. This condensation ionizes the particles as they are being emitted, which creates the visible track. In order to produce curved tracks, which are necessary for data analysis, a suitable magnetic field must also be applied to the moving particles. As these particles come into contact with the magnetic field, their tracks curve, allowing for measurements of the radius of curvature for each track to be deduced. The radius of curvature can then be used to determine the identity of the atomic nucleus that the emitted particle came from. Computer programming can be applied to this process to make it faster and more efficient. This thesis project involved the composition of a software that could control a cloud chamber apparatus set up to view the beta decay of Pb-210 and analyze the tracks produced by emitted electrons to determine their radius of curvature. By the completion of this project, a software was developed that could accurately detect tracks from test images and control several parts of a cloud chamber.
ContributorsBogdanovic, Natalija (Author) / Tucker, Ross (Thesis director) / Solis, Francisco (Committee member) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The Surfactant Protein-A family of proteins have long been observed to allocate immune responses in the lungs, although recent evidence has surfaced which suggests similar mechanisms involving these proteins may occur in the sinonasal epithelia. In this study, the regulatory effects of SP-A on the production of Mucin5AC (mucus) in the sinuses of wild-type (control) and endogenous SP-A knock-out mice were investigated. The effects of human transgenic SP-A knock-in polymorphisms 223Gln (“risk” allele) and 223Lys (“non-risk” allele) on Mucin5AC production were also examined. It was theorized that SP-A optimally regulates Mucin5AC production and thereby some degree of innate immunity. Through inhibition of the SP-A gene, it was hypothesized that an increase in mucosal response would be observed in the endogenous SP-A knock-out samples. Upon examination, these in vivo samples consistently showed an increase in Mucin5AC production upon challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain K when compared to wild-type sets of the same treatment. The upregulation observed in the knock-out samples likely represented an ineffective mucosal response to unchecked bacterial replication in the absence of lipopolysaccharide-competitive SP-A aggregates. Mucin5AC upregulation was also observed in the 223Lys (“non-risk” allele) samples, although expression directed by this allelic variant is considered to characterize a healthy response to bacterial aggression, as the recognition/binding site on the carbohydrate domain of this polymorphism allows the effective aggregation of SP-A, which thereby promotes primary immune response in infected sinonasal tissue. Further studies will elucidate the specific molecular pathways leading to inflammatory and immune responses in the sinonasal epithelia, research which might, in the future, permit the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the clinical setting.
ContributorsBombar, Dan (Author) / Noutsios, George T. (Thesis director) / Sandrin, Todd R. (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05