140816 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring and Characterizing Organic Chemistry Students’ Meaningful Engagement in Science Practices
No full textUndergraduate organic chemistry frequently engages students in key science practices such as analyzing and interpreting spectroscopic data and constructing explanations through reaction mechanisms. However, these activities are often framed as procedural tasks rather than as tools for constructing knowledge. As a result, students may develop incomplete understanding of these practices, making it harder for them to see how scientific knowledge is generated and to use them meaningfully as tools for sensemaking. To better understand how students take up these practices as epistemic tools, three qualitative studies were conducted in this dissertation to investigate how undergraduate organic chemistry students reason with empirical data, evaluate explanations, and navigate uncertainty through peer review.
In the first study, students analyzed percent yield data to evaluate competing mechanistic pathways. The findings revealed four distinct modes of data engagement, shaped by how students coordinated their conceptual knowledge with empirical data. These findings suggest that instruction should more explicitly support students in using data as a tool for evaluating and constructing scientific claims. For the second and third studies, students engaged in a peer review activity in which they evaluated competing explanations for an unexpected chemical phenomenon. The second study focused on how students selected and justified their chosen explanations. Analysis of ~440 student written responses and a subset of follow-up interviews revealed a range of epistemic criteria students used, such as explanatory depth, familiarity, and empirical alignment. This finding illustrated students’ epistemic considerations when evaluating scientific explanations and highlighted the ways they reasoned about what makes an explanation compelling. The third study examined how students engaged with peer review as they encountered conflicting perspectives. The findings demonstrated that peer review prompted students to reflect on their reasoning, revise their arguments, or reaffirm their ideas, depending on how they interpreted and responded to uncertainty.
Together, these studies illustrate how strategically designed activities can surface students’ epistemic thinking and support more authentic engagement with science practices in postsecondary science classrooms.
Advisor: Alena Moo
Study of AI Applications in Biomedical Data Acquisition, Communication, and Analysis: CEST MRI Acceleration and ECG Transmissions
No full textThis dissertation investigates the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical data acquisition, communication, and analysis to advance neurological research and to enable the early detection of cardiovascular conditions. Despite significant advances in imaging and physiological modalities, challenges persist. Imaging modalities, such as the chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST MRI) technique are challenged by a prolonged data acquisition time and high operational costs. In addition, physiological modalities such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors face constraints in providing uninterrupted signal monitoring which is crucial for the timely detection of premature cardiac abnormalities. The primary goal of this work is to lay the foundation for developing an AI-powered infrastructure to advance biomedical technologies. To address the prolonged acquisition time for the CEST MRI technique, we propose an innovative method to reduce the number of frequency offsets followed by data reconstruction. Likewise, we propose a unique system architecture that enables the division of biomedical data analysis among heterogeneous computing platforms. In the proposed architectures, deep learning algorithms are utilized for multiple functions, including detecting abnormalities in physiological signals and accelerating medical imaging. In the first study on CEST MRI, a methodological framework to optimize the number of frequency offsets followed by deep learning-based reconstruction is presented. The results show that the percentage of optimally selected frequency offsets can be as low as 10% of the total offsets. These findings have significant implications for the development of an efficient biomedical imaging method. In the second study involving a physiological modality, namely ECG, we present novel open-loop and closed-loop communication switch modes, a resource-aware machine learning approach, a sparse embedding technique, and a medical virtual chain framework. These components together facilitate secure and efficient real-time assessment of physiological signals. The simulation results of the R-peak detection algorithm, 2D- 2D-CNN-based analysis, and open-loop/closed-loop supervision demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method for deployment in telemedicine applications. Together, this dissertation presents original research that offers new insights into real-time biomedical data communication and analysis frameworks. The work has implications for basic science, clinical research, clinical theranostic applications, and remote healthcare. The findings of this study provide a solid foundation for future research by enabling the development of the proposed platform with a larger biomedical dataset, robust deep learning algorithms, and validation using experimental testbeds.
Advisor: Dongming Pen
Development and Evaluation of Supported Ionic Liquid Membrane and Porphyrin Frameworks for Carbon Capture Separation
No full textThe global urgency to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂ emissions has intensified the pursuit of energy-efficient separation technologies. Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes (SILMs) have emerged as promising candidates for CO₂ capture due to their tunable solubility-selectivity and low energy requirements. However, challenges such as mechanical instability, limited scalability, and trade-offs in transport performance have impeded their widespread adoption.
This thesis explores a systematic approach to designing and optimizing SILMs for enhanced CO₂ separation by tailoring polymer–ionic liquid interactions, processing conditions, and material architectures. A comprehensive set of studies were conducted using poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with varying molecular weights, different grades of PEBAX®, and green solvents like Rhodiasolv® PolarClean. Ionic liquids such as [EMIM][Tf₂N] were incorporated to fabricate SILMs, and their performance was evaluated using gravimetric sorption and various material and thermal characteristics techniques.
Key findings include the identification of optimal PVDF molecular weight (180,000 g/mol) that balances crystallinity and sorption site density, and the use of PEBAX® RNEW with green solvents yielding highly CO₂-selective membranes. AI-guided latent space modeling further accelerated the prediction of high-performance SILM compositions. Additionally, porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and emerging 2D materials such as MXenes were explored as novel fillers to enhance membrane performance through synergistic sorption and transport mechanisms.
This work advances the fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships in SILMs and introduces scalable, environmentally conscious fabrication strategies. The outcomes support the development of next-generation membranes for carbon capture, aligning with global decarbonization and circular economy goals.
Advisor: Mona Bavaria
Functional Genomics of Phosphatidylcholine Biosynthesis in \u3cem\u3eSaccharomyces cerevisiae\u3c/em\u3e
No full textPhosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) is a prominent structural building block of cell and organelle membranes in animal, plant, and fungal cells and some bacteria. Due to its abundant nature in the plasma membrane and intracellular organelle membranes in eukaryotes, the biosynthesis of PtdCho must remain regulated to preserve the correct membrane lipid composition. Dysregulations in PtdCho metabolism can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, cell death, and the development of diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and hepatic diseases. Knowledge of PtdCho has remained limited to the genes involved in its three biosynthetic pathways (Kennedy (K), methylation (M), and acyltransferase (A)), despite the growing realization of PtdCho’s interconnectedness with numerous different biological processes. The observed inequivalence of the three redundant PtdCho biosynthetic pools in terms of associated cellular functions adds a further layer of complexity in the consideration of pathway-specific related biological processes. The goal of this dissertation was to genetically dissect PtdCho biosynthesis in terms of its coordination with other biological processes and modes of intracellular trafficking, and then correlate these findings within the context of antifungal research. The utilization of a novel PtdCho M-pathway inhibitor and implementation of chemical genetic screens, lipidomic analyses, and bioinformatic analyses with the model eukaryotic organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae aided in the accomplishment of this goal. The conducted research identified novel epistatic genetic interactions with the PtdCho biosynthetic M-pathway; trafficking mechanisms implicit in PtdCho biosynthesis via the A-pathway; and the corroborated antifungal effectiveness of PtdCho targeting and discovery of a novel antagonistic drug interaction between terbinafine and an M-pathway inhibitor. Collectively, the findings presented in this dissertation expand on the multifaceted roles of PtdCho beyond its basic function as a structural lipid and serve as a foundation for the continued elucidation of the exhaustive biological and molecular responsibilities of PtdCho.
Advisor: Wayne Riekho
Investigating Child-informed Considerations for Animated Picture Symbols Representing Emotion for AAC use in Children with ASD
No full textDevelopment of emotional competence is an important area of consideration when supporting individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Emotional competence includes skills related to identifying and communicating about one’s emotions. Individuals who use AAC may struggle to develop strong skills in emotional competence. One potential barrier to developing emotional competence may be access to symbols that facilitate understanding of the represented emotion. Emotions are abstract and challenging to represent in visual symbols. Additionally, evidence suggests individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have visual perceptual differences when viewing faces. Current emotion symbols are often depicted using isolated facial expressions, which may not match how individuals with ASD depict symbols. Further, many children struggle to identify symbols of abstract vocabulary items. Researchers have begun seeking children’s input in the conceptualization phases of design processes, as they are one of the critical stakeholders in AAC devices. Application of animation technology is a rising area of research in AAC may be beneficial in symbol representation. This study investigates aspects of static and animated drawings through qualitative methods. Sixteen typically developing (TD) children and six children with ASD drew and animated pictures of six emotion concepts across two continuums: calm – getting angry – angry; not happy or sad/neutral– a little happy – very happy. Results indicated both TD and ASD children used context, colors, and symbolic features within their drawings. Their facial features were similar; however, the ASD children frequently used different mouth shapes compared to TD children in the emotions of angry and neutral (not happy or sad). ASD children often used characters as the subject of their drawings, while TD children often used people as their subjects. Children in both groups often used complex animation (e.g., functional or “real-life” animation), over simple animation (e.g., draws attention to stimulus) across emotion concepts. Children were asked to rate the helpfulness of animation in showing emotions, with average ratings indicating it was helpful – very helpful.
Advisor: Kevin Pit
Stratigraphy and OSL chronology of lunette deposits indicates that Nebraska’s rainwater basins formed by aeolian deflation between 39 and 25 ka
No full textHonors in Practice, Volume 21, 2025
No full textCONTENTS
Editorial Policy, Deadline, and Submission Guidelines
Editor’s Introduction, Emily Allen
2024 NCHC CONFERENCE REMARKS 2024
Presidential Address, Eddie Weller
2024 Founders Award Remarks Elizabeth Cole Beck, John Zubizarreta
RESEARCH ESSAYS
Read Yourself In: Enhancing First-Year Student Belonging through Place as Text Pedagogy, John Andrews
Campus Legends and Mysteries: Building Institutional Identity through Campus Lore, Viktoria Basham
Building Place-based Experiential Learning into the Honors Curriculum at Ohio University, Geoffrey L. Buckley, Nicole Finnicum, Michelle O’Malley, Jennifer Bowie, and Yolonda Youngs
Why the Museum Matters to Honors, Mimi Killinger How to Create a Self-Sustaining Meditation Garden, Heather Salazar, Lydia Barrett-Miller, and Kaitlyn Parisan
Honoring the Wellness Journey: An Evidence-Based Retreat to Build Stress Resilience in Honors Students, Sydney Tutuska, Alexandra Caldwell, and Jennifer Willford
Toward a Welcoming Classroom: Assessment of Student Perceptions of Writing Education in Introductory Honors College Courses, Hilary K. Snow
Honors Thesis Proposal Course Components, Lynn Stallings and Anete Vásquez
Honors Capstones and Self-Authorship: A Case Study, Chelsea McKeirnan
Envisioning Honors as Complex Problem Solving, Pat Akos and Nathan Hicks
Development of an Honors Leadership Academy Experience, Samantha Gregus, Chelsea Redger-Marquardt, Bobby Berry, Doug Stucky, Cindi Mason, and Kimberly Engber
Applications of Systems Thinking in Honors Education: The Justice Challenge, Rebecca C. Bott, Jonathan Kotinek, Timothy J. Nichols, Heidi Appel, Andrea Radasanu, and Joy L. Hart
GREAT IDEAS: WHAT WORKS IN HONORS
Honoring Careers: Developing Professional Aspirations in Honors Programs, L. Benjamin Boyar
Microcredentials for Honors Healthcare Students: Translating Academic Achievement to the Resume, Tina C. Melamed, Belinda Deal, and Steve Myers
Launching CUREs in Non-Traditional Settings: How One Honors Program Propels Primary Research for the Institution, Kathryn M. MacDonald
Assessment as an Act of Service: Connecting Data and Experiential Learning, Hannah Sairam and Amber Fallucca
Thinking Beyond Ourselves: Using Interdisciplinary Exploration and Speculative Scenarios to Understand the Human Experience, Shannon Kundey
Sharing the Stage with the Future: Humans and Robots Together at Last, Donna L. Clevinger
About the Authors
NCHC Publication Descriptions and Order For
A Guide to Cicada Wings of the United States of America
No full textThis guide was created for people who find cicada wings after a predator has eaten the body. It is nice to know what species of cicada was eaten. This guide will show some of the common species around the United States of America.
The template for the guide will be: Species, range, time of year, wing color, front/hind, wing length, and wing width.
All photos in the guide were taken by the author. The left wings of the cicadas are shown for easy comparison. If the specimen is too damaged then both wings will be shown
Commonly Encountered Insect Pests of Virginia
No full textForeword
The goal of this pamphlet is to provide an outline of over 50 commonly encountered pest species that occur in Virginia. Care was given to represent each category of pest. This is by no means an exhaustive list of insect pests in Virginia. However, the profiles chosen are reflective of data from insect inventories performed on military bases in coastal Virginia (Fort Eustis, Langley Air Force Base, and Camp Pendleton), sampling from counties in central Virginia, insect species diversity surveys performed in northern Virginia, annual species counts of vector surveillance data from the Virginia Department of Health, and information from the Virginia Department of Agriculture.
The vast majority of insects are beneficial or neutral, most are not pests. A pest, by definition, is an organism whose presence adversely affects humans; this runs the gamut from posing a risk to human health, imposing economic harm, or just mere aesthetic annoyance. Organizing insect pest species into defined categories helps lessen the subjectivity, allowing for prioritization of workload by order of importance and magnitude of impact.
Due to toxicity and environmental effects, there was a shift from using pesticides routinely as a first resort to current practices of using pesticides either once other control measures have been exhausted or sparingly, electing for the least hazardous option in conjunction with other control measures. One objective of integrated pest management (IPM) is to not rely on toxicants to control insect populations. Pest managers can utilize knowledge of pest species or type, pest life history, and environmental conditions to implement a variety of control measures to reduce pest populations. In my opinion, this is a more cognitive, rewarding approach. During my time as a pest manager, in nearly all cases, there were recommendations or corrective actions, often in the form of habitat modification or habit modification, that customers could accomplish to reduce or even eliminate the pest of concern. In almost no case, except perhaps rare special circumstances, is the solution solely pesticide application
Illustrated Key to Third Instar Larvae of Forensically Important Calliphoridae from Costa Rica
No full textForensic entomology in Costa Rica formally began by the end of the 1990s decade, however, the keys utilized to identify the species of Calliphoridae, the most important family of flies that colonize decomposing bodies in Costa Rica, are a compendium of work done by different authors that not include all the species present in the country, and are not adequately illustrated, which could make the analyses difficult for people without the proper knowledge of the carrion flies, or may lead to errors in the identification. The objective of this work is to put together a properly illustrated key for third-instar larvae of Calliphoridae, and update the current key used by analysts at the Forensic Science Department by adding species that were not previously included so that this new resource could be incorporated into the “Standard Operating Procedure for the Identification of Immatures and Adults of Flies” of the Forensic Biology Section, as an appendix