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Dislike on the Ballot: Analyzing Negative Voting in Modern American Presidential Elections
Full text linkSince the 1990s, U.S. political discourse has become increasingly polarized, with growing negativity in political attitudes. Scholars have found that, while voters’ opinions of their own party have remained relatively stable, their views of the opposition have become more negative. Although negativity in politics is often seen as detrimental, it significantly influences voting behavior. This study explores negative voting patterns in the 2024 election, using an exit poll of 816 Lewis and Clark County voters. Results indicate that around one third of county residents voted primarily against the other presidential candidate, with higher rates among self-identified independent voters. Specifically, independents who voted for the Democratic candidate (Harris) displayed stronger negative voting tendencies than those who voted for the Republican candidate (Trump). These findings suggest that negative partisanship influences voter behavior differently across the electorate
Relations between Social Media Usage and College Students’ Creativity
Full text linkSocial media influences diverse aspects of life, from opinions on current events to popular entertainment (Shearer et al., 2024). Creativity underlies problem solving, innovation, communication, and learning which are all necessary aids in human advancement (Khalil et al., 2019). Thus, understanding differences in college students’ creativity based on social media use can provide insights into how thought processes may be affected by social media. Carroll College students will complete the Alternative Uses Task (Guilford, 1967), a divergent thinking assessment as a measure of creative thinking. Participants will be given two minutes to write as many uses as possible for a given object, repeating the process three times. The objects are a shoe, paperclip, and nail file. Students will also self-report on their social media account ownership and usage, including most-used apps, via their phone’s screen time data function. Independent samples t-tests will be conducted to compare creativity scores between students who report social media account ownership and usage and students who do not. If there is not a sufficient sample of social media non-user students, then groups will be created based on time spent using social media apps. It is anticipated that social media’s creativity flexibility (variation in responses), fluency (number of responses generated), and elaboration (response complexity) scores will be higher than those of the non-social media users, but average originality (response novelty) scores will be lower in the social media users compared to the non-social media users, with social media users having higher overall divergent thinking scores
Infection Prevention: CHG Wipe Bathing vs Other Methods
No full textHospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant financial and moral burden on the healthcare system. Introducing infections to patients compromises their health, which directly contradicts the principle of nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is the principle of “do no harm,” which is a cornerstone in modern medical practice. One strategy for reducing HAIs is the implementation of daily bed baths using chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) containing wipes. This practice aims to minimize the growth and presence of pathogenic microorganisms on patients’ skin, thereby reducing HAIs. For this project, HAIs are defined as nosocomially acquired infections not in incubation at the time of hospital admission including bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and others. This project examines whether daily CHG wipe bed baths, compared to other methods, significantly reduce HAIs among adult ICU patients. Through a review of current scientific literature and clinical findings, this project evaluates the efficacy of CHG bathing in preventing infections, identifies patient outcomes, and explores barriers to implementation. This project aims to provide nurses, providers, and other healthcare personnel with insights into best practices for adult ICU patient hygiene, strategies to enhance infection prevention, and methods to improve patient safety
The Tension that Does not Exist Between John Paul II and Augustine: Love and Responsibility and De Doctrina Christiana
Full text linkUpon a first reading of St. John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility and St. Augustine’s De Doctrina Christiana, the modern reader may be suspicious that the twentieth century pope is describing love in a new way, a way that seems almost contrary to Augustine’s fourth century teaching on divine love. Afterall, John Paul II’s statement that a person is not to be treated as an object for use and Augustine’s teaching that humans are to be used sounds outright contradictory. It is most likely not the case that the two works are actually contradicting each other, as John Paul II makes reference to De Doctrina Christiana in Love and Responsibility, and various Augustine scholars show that Augustine does not mean “use” in a modern utilitarian sense–differing from “use” being closer to a utilitarian definition in Love and Responsibility. After having shown that the two works are not in fact contradictory, the question remains of what exactly John Paul II is doing by making it seem as if their teaching is contradictory. John Paul II's Kantian application of the word “use” is only possible upon the arrival of Kant’s personalistic imperative later in history. Additionally, John Paul II in his pastoral theology continually returns to the idea of engaging the present culture with the Gospel. As such, John Paul II synthesizes Kant’s language and Augustine’s teaching to reinterpret Augustine’s theology so that we in this age may better receive the Church’s ever-ancient and ever-new teaching
Investigating Ergothioneine as an Antioxidant Countermeasure to Microgravity-Induced Oxidative Stress in Tetrahymena thermophila
Full text linkAs human space exploration advances, there is an increasing need to investigate the effects of microgravity on cellular health and metabolic function. While extensive research has focused on the effects of microgravity on physiological systems, such as the circulatory and skeletal systems, its impact at the cellular level remains less understood. Microgravity has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to elevated cellular oxidative stress characterized by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These highly reactive molecules can induce cellular damage, compromising structural integrity and disrupting key metabolic processes. This study aimed to investigate the potential of ergothioneine, a stable antioxidant found in fungi, to decrease ROS in the cell and restore cellular metabolic function after exposure to microgravity. Using Tetrahymena thermophila as a model organism, the experiment assessed gene expression and cellular behavior changes in response to simulated microgravity, both with and without ergothioneine supplementation. Gene expression levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase), ATG8 (autophagy-related protein), and AAC1 (ATP/ADP translocase) were analyzed using RT-qPCR, while behavioral assays evaluated motility, ciliation, and phagocytosis. It was hypothesized that ergothioneine treatment decreases expression of SOD, ATG8, and AAC1, all while increasing motility, cilia regeneration, and decreasing phagocytosis. To test this hypothesis, cells were cultured in a microgravity simulator for 48 hours, with one group receiving ergothioneine treatment during the simulation. Additionally, a control group remained under normal gravity conditions without ergothioneine treatment; all groups underwent RNA extraction and RT-qPCR for gene expression analysis and behavioral assays
The Effect of Aromatherapy on Cancer Treatment Induced Nausea
No full textAbstract only.Patients receiving cancer treatment are subject to side effects ranging from moderate to severely debilitating. Recognized as one of the most common side effects of treatment, nausea and vomiting can have major effects on patients’ quality of life. Aside from severe discomfort, nausea and vomiting can contribute to fluid and electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, fatigue, weight loss, and other metabolic disturbances. Patients often utilize pharmacological treatment for the reduction of side effects, however there are non-pharmacological methods that have begun to gain popularity within the healthcare setting. The purpose of this evidenced-based practice review is to examine the effect of aromatherapy using essential oils on decreasing the incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cancer treatment, compared to patients who have not utilized aromatherapy. Common essential oils that have been previously studied include peppermint, ginger, and lemon scents, administered via inhalation. The results generated from this review can provide additional evidenced-based treatment modalities to cancer care. Aromatherapy can be used as a non-pharmacological option, limiting the number of medications patients would be prescribed. Nurses will be able to utilize these results and apply them to practice to reduce the burden of treatment induced nausea and vomiting. By identifying a cost effective, minimally invasive solution to these side effects, nurses can continue to provide safe and holistic care to cancer patients
The effects of homeopathic coca on membrane integrity in calcium stressed Tetrahymena thermophila
No full textAbstract only.Homeopathic coca has been lauded as a natural treatment for a wide variety of ailments, from treating altitude mountain sickness to relieving withdrawal symptoms in individuals addicted to cocaine. Given the varying results from studies investigating the veracity of homeopathic coca’s effectiveness on cocaine withdrawal, the goal of this study was to examine the effect of coca in a model organism that mimics the symptoms associated with withdrawal. To accomplish this, symptoms reported in cocaine addicts were induced in Tetrahymena thermophila through exposure to excess calcium cations and then subsequently treated with homeopathic coca. It was hypothesized that homeopathic coca would help maintain the integrity and functionality of cell membranes after the calcium-induced membrane stress. To investigate the cellular response of T. thermophila to excess calcium and homeopathic coca, behavioral assays were performed to assess metabolic function, motility, and responsiveness to a chemical stimulus. Furthermore, gene expression analysis was performed on the CAM1 and AMK1 genes using Reverse Transcription - quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). It was predicted that treatment with homeopathic coca would increase expression of CAM1 and AMK1, two genes involved in cross membrane transport and ciliary function. Behaviorally, it was predicted that T. thermophila cells would experience an increased linear speed, increased response to chemical gradients, and a faster recovery from deciliation after being treated with homeopathic coca. Understanding the mechanistic action of homeopathic coca in treating withdrawal symptoms in a model organism provides a basis for research on its effects in human patients
Perry Canyon Mine Closure: Surface Water Restoration
Full text linkPerry Canyon is an abandoned mine site 32 miles North of Reno, Nevada. The site faces environmental challenges within its stream system from historic copper mining activities. These include acidic drainage and erosion of acid-generating waste rock.
Our focus, given the contamination and erosion issues in Perry Creek, is to propose a streambank stabilization design for surface water restoration. This solution involves regrading the stream channel, laying erosion control fabric, and applying riprap to prevent further erosion. Additionally, a riparian buffer of native vegetation will be established to stabilize the area and reduce pollutant runoff. Working alongside a chemist at The University of Nevada, provisions are also being made for a water treatment system. This design aims to provide a sustainable, cost-effective solution to mitigate environmental risks while allowing natural processes to improve groundwater quality over time. The closure plan includes ongoing maintenance and monitoring, with regular water testing and erosion surveys to ensure the system's long-term stability and ecological health
Object Detection Using OpenCV in Low-Visibility Environments
Full text linkObject detection is crucial to autonomous vehicles’ ability to navigate environments and avoid collisions. In developing the “Snowbot” autonomous snow plow robot, we will employ the tools from Python’s OpenCV package to attempt to clean images from the live camera feed so that OpenCV models can correctly identify objects to avoid (OpenCV Documentation, n.d.). Snowbot is intended to operate in a low-visibility environment where snow, clouds, and other vision impairments will obscure objects, people, and animals. A successful Snowbot should be able to use OpenCV object detection models to detect common obstacles and interface with other programs to determine a path that avoids collisions with obstacles. In this thesis, we will lay out a workflow for image cleaning, object detection, and object tracking for Snowbot’s navigation system. Reliably identifying and tracking objects is critical to Snowbot's safety and functionality
Examining the Effects of Oleuropein on Oxidatively-stressed Tetrahymena thermophila
Full text linkOleuropein, an active ingredient in olive leaf extract, is marketed as a homeopathic antioxidant supplement; however, its effect on gene expression and behavior has not been well studied. This study investigated the effectiveness of oleuropein as an antioxidant in oxidatively stressed Tetrahymena thermophila. It was hypothesized that there would be a change in the expression of genes related to alleviating oxidative stress along with a change in behaviors associated with metabolic activity and motility. The genes examined in this study were GPX1, which codes for an enzyme that protects cells from oxidative damage, and GST9, which codes for a detoxification protein. The behavioral assays employed assessed cell growth, cilia regrowth, and cell motility, illustrating oleuropein’s impacts on cellular metabolism. There were three treatment groups for this study: one control exposed to neither oleuropein nor hydrogen peroxide, another exposed to only hydrogen peroxide to induce oxidative stress, and a third that was exposed to both hydrogen peroxide and oleuropein. During the treatment period, cells were counted to determine growth rate and were subjected to the motility and deciliation assays 48 hours after culturing. Furthermore, expression of GPX1 and GST9 was assessed via Reverse-Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Because it was hypothesized that oleuropein treatment would act as an antioxidant, it was predicted that there would be decreased expression of the antioxidant-related genes, GPX1 and GST9, along with the exhibition of normal metabolic and motility-related behaviors in the oxidatively stressed cells treated with oleuropein