Olfactory Rhetoric: Sniffing Out Environmental Problems

Introduction: Rhetoric comes to its senses -- Proposing a sensory rhetorical approach to environmental problems -- Is it pepper spray or Sriracha sauce? -- Something smells fishy at the Salton Sea -- Nasal rangers at the Blue Ridge Landfill -- Launching a call to senseItem embargoed for five year

Dispelling Fantasies: Authors of Color Reimagine a Genre

Item embargoed for three year

Siren's Downfall

100 years after a killing gone wrong, Elora finds herself a forced prisoner upon Siren’s Downfall. But when her own secret agenda gets blurred between love and hate, she must confront her past or risk being consumed by it. With forbidden secrets, a mistaken death, and a lover’s fury firing at her from all sides, Elora must navigate the stormy waters of the sea, while fighting back the monsters that threaten to devour her. With nowhere to turn and no one to trust, one thing is for sure, everyone’s a target aboard the Hunters’ ship. In this thrilling Dark Fantasy, fate is tested. Lines are drawn. Revenge is the goal. In the end, Elora must decide if it’s worth a watery grave.No embargoAcademic Major: Englis

Differences in College Major Choice by Sexual Orientation

Midwest Economics Association 2025 Best Undergraduate Presentation, Runner UpThis study examines whether LGBTQ+ Americans, specifically those in same-sex couples, differ from heterosexual individuals in their college major choices and how these choices affect earnings. Using 2009–2022 American Community Survey data, it finds that gay men are more likely to choose majors in Arts and Humanities and less likely to enter STEM or Business fields, while lesbian women are overrepresented in Arts, Humanities, and STEM but underrepresented in Business and Education. Gay men are significantly more likely to select female-dominated and lower-paying majors, while lesbians' choices show a weaker pattern towards male-dominated majors. In the sample, gay men earn 26% less than straight men, while lesbians earn 20% more than straight women. An Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition shows differences in major choices accounting for a 5.1% income reduction for gay men, accounting for 20% of the wage gap between gay and straight men. Differences in major choice contribute to a 2.7% reduction in income for lesbians. Differences in returns to majors were not significant except for Medical Sciences for women. Overall, major choice plays a meaningful but partial role in LGBTQ+ wage disparities.No embargoAcademic Major: Economic

Bansk Beauty Hair Care: Developing Methodology for Quantifying the Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture

Course Code: ENR/AEDE 4567This report develops a methodology for assigning monetary value to Bansk Group’s investment in regenerative agriculture through the sourcing of East African shea butter. Bansk, a consumer-focused private investment firm of beauty brands Amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique, sources shea from a Ugandan farm employing regenerative practices in partnership with the NGO Forested. To quantify the environmental and social benefits of this investment, we identified four key attributes: carbon sequestration, soil health, pollination, and community development. We selected relevant and feasible indicators were to measure each attribute. Using these indicators, we created input and output tables that allow Bansk to estimate the value created by their investment. This methodology provides a replicable framework for future valuation of climate investments, helping Bansk better demonstrate ESG outcomes, support investment decision-making, and enhance its sustainability portfolio.Academic Major: Environment, Economy, Development, and SustainabilityAcademic Major: Sustainable Agricultur

Investigating Synergistic Effects of PRMT5 Inhibitors Paired with BH3 Mimetics in Double-Hit Lymphoma

Double Hit lymphoma (DHL) is an aggressive B cell malignancy and comprises 6% of diagnoses among lymphoma cases which is estimated to reach ~2000 cases annually in the US. It primarily affects adult males in their late fifties and sixties and poses unique clinical challenges as it lacks a definitive standard of care. DHL has a poor prognosis with an overall survival ranging from 22%-43% over the span of 1.4-5.0 years. An initial response to standard chemotherapy is commonly observed, but relapse is inevitable, and to date there is no cure. DHL has a poor prognosis due to the aggressive nature of the disease and older patient demographic, which can limit their options for intensive treatment regimens. The lack of effective treatment options and inevitable fatality of a DHL diagnosis emphasize the paramount need for novel therapeutic strategies for DHL. Our group, Baiocchi Lab, was the first to identify the overexpression of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) as a key driver of DHL pathogenesis. PRMT5 is an enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of arginine residues on histones and many key proteins for cell cycle progression and survival. This post-translational modification results in the silencing of tumor suppressor genes which contributes to cell transformation and cancer. In our work to explore the effects of PRMT5 inhibition and its potential to reprogram DHL cells, we have discovered that combining PRMT5 inhibition with Bcl-2 inhibition results in synergistic cell death. BCL-2 family proteins can be broadly categorized as pro- or anti-apoptotic and their relative abundances and binding interactions determine if a cell will live or die. The synergy observed between PRMT5 inhibition and Bcl-2 inhibition in other DHL cell lines made us curious about what other effects PRMT5 causes and what is the underlying reasoning for this synergy. We hypothesized that PRMT5 inhibition lowers the apoptotic threshold in DHL by modulating levels of BH3 family proteins to favor a pro-apoptotic state. Major experiments done to unfold our hypothesis were: MTS assay, which visualized our combined treatment results to see if synergy was present; Western blotting, to probe for what mechanisms were causing the synergy; and Immunofluorescence Microscopy, which allowed us to visualize changes in FOXO1 localization in DHL cell lines upon PRMT5 inhibition. Further investigation led us to believe that this upregulation in expression is because, in DHL, PRMT5 is inhibiting FOXO1 localization into the nucleus where it serves as a transcriptional factor for BH3-domain proteins. MTS assays showed that combined treatment induced synergy, especially in dosage concentrations high in PRT808 and low in Venetoclax. Western blotting revealed significant changes in abundance of pro-apoptosis proteins and BCL-2 family proteins with PRMT5 inhibition. IF confirmed upon PRMT5 inhibition via PRT808 treatment, FOXO1 is capable of localizing into the nucleus at greater quantities. In summary, we have successfully unveiled key characteristics of DHL and began the groundwork on the journey to create a specific, effective, and targeted therapy for DHL. Let alone amongst all DHL lines, within DHL cell lines that share a differentiation state, ABC or GBC, there are profound differences in their responses to treatments and phenotypes. This further emphasizes the importance of characterizing DHL to have a greater understanding of how we can target it effectively on a case-by-case basis.Undergraduate Research ScholarshipNIH MARC T34No embargoAcademic Major: Molecular Genetic

Exploring High School Biology Teachers' Engagement with Primary Scientific Literature

Human Experience (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)Primary scientific literature (PSL) is a cornerstone of scientific communication, yet its integration into high school science classrooms remains poorly understood. Our study determines how teachers define PSL, how teachers use PSL, and teachers' motivations and challenges for teaching using PSL. Through an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, we combined survey data from a validated instrument with semi-structured interviews to analyze teachers' definitions, instructional practices, motivations, and challenges. Teachers consistently characterized PSL as peer-reviewed, original research published in credible journals, though their implementation varied widely. Instructional strategies included group analysis and adapting content for accessibility, though challenges and alignment with curriculum standards emerged as barriers. Teachers also emphasized a need for structured resources to support effective PSL integration. These findings highlight the gap between educators' recognition of PSL's value and their capacity to implement it consistently. Addressing this gap requires targeted professional development and curated instructional tools to reduce barriers and empower teachers to leverage PSL as a dynamic, inquiry-based learning tool. By bridging these challenges, PSL can enhance science education by immersing students in the practices and discourse of real-world research.No embargoAcademic Major: Biolog

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Effects of Power Wheelchair Usage and User Maintenance on Power Wheelchair Failures

Introduction/Background Around 80 million people globally use wheelchairs for mobility. Within 6 months of usage, 45- 88% of wheelchairs will break down. Powerchair users experience adverse consequences when their powerchairs fail. To prevent this, data-based tools need to be developed to predict when preventative maintenance should occur to avoid powerchair failures. Objectives The study objective is as follows: 1. Determine the correlation between power wheelchair usage with power wheelchair failures. Methods A 3-month longitudinal study with 2 study visits, one at the beginning and end. Recruited a convenience sample of 12 participants whose primary mobility method was a power wheelchair and were over the age of 18. Study visits took place at the Ohio State University’s Center for Automotive Research. At the first study visit, a sensor was installed on the participant’s power wheelchair to collect usage data between the first and second visit. Surveys were taken at both study visits to collect demographic, maintenance, failure, and wheelchair condition data. At the second study visit, usage data collected by the sensor was collected and downloaded to laboratory computers. Descriptive statistics and correlation were used in data analysis to evaluate the association between road shocks and failure frequency. Results/Current Status Initial demographic information was collected at the first study visit between October-December 2024. Seven males and Four females participated in the study. The average age of the participants was 35.36±16.29years. Second study visits were completed through January-March 2025. Strong and moderate positive correlations were found between shocks and failures as well as between these two measures, maintenance training and self-reported distance traveled per day (p<.05). Discussion and Conclusions Powerchair users’ demographics and usage data can be used to predict whether they are at high or low risk for powerchair failures. Clinicians can use this data to schedule follow-up, preventative maintenance and prevent future failures. Future studies must investigate demographics and usage more in-depth to conclude exact predictors.Rehabilitation Engineering Design LaboratoryA one-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Health Sciences Progra

Reimagining CGM Systems for Preventative Prediabetes Care – Buzz CGM System

Pediatrics and Family Health (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are becoming increasingly prevalent within the United States. However, research shows a lack of education about preventative treatments as well as a lack of motivation among patients to adopt those treatments. The Buzz Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System works to help prediabetics understand their condition, learn how to manage it, and acts as a motivational tool to promote proactive management of the disease. Research for this project began with a prompt from Battelle with a focus on exploring potential applications for implantable systems. From there I began secondary research looking into different types of media, existing technologies, as well as different conditions for application. After significant secondary research, I began looking further into diabetes. I completed surveys with responses from over 100 diabetic patients. After the surveys, I conducted multiple interviews with diabetics, therapists, and healthcare workers. With the information collected from the surveys and interviews, I run multiple formative assessments to test my findings and ideas for possible interventions. Through that research, I concluded that there is a lack of education as well as a lack of motivation among prediabetic and type 2 patients with respect to preventative treatments. Based on the insights I discovered through this research, I designed the system called Buzz. Buzz has both physical and digital components that work hand in hand. The reusable applicator was designed with sustainability in mind, and generates less waste than currently available products. The transmitter worn by the patient is equipped with an e-ink display controlled from the Buzz app, and displays graphics to express the patient’s style. The Buzz app also allows a user to view live glucose levels, set goals, earn rewards, customize the e-ink display, and interact with friends and other members of the prediabetic community. Buzz - take the sting out of prediabetes!Battelle Memorial InstituteNo embargoAcademic Major: Industrial Desig

Changing and Sustaining an Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Initiative for Same-Day Discharge with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Patients

Previous studies have demonstrated that same-day discharge (SDD) in cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) is feasible and safe. While SDD protocols have been successfully adopted at other hospitals within the system, they have yet to be implemented at a community tertiary care hospital in the southeastern United States of America. This evidence-based quality improvement (EBQI) initiative aimed to implement SDD protocol for patients receiving CIEDs to improve hospital throughput and reduce costs while maintaining safe, high-quality care. Using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model (JHNEP) and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement model, this initiative identified best practices for implementing SDD in CIED patients. Results demonstrated a reduction in length of stay and financial cost savings without compromising patient safety or care quality. After initiative implementation, there was a decrease in readmission rates, no deaths, a decrease in complications, and an increase in SDD in CIED patients. Return on investment $68,684 in cost savings achieved during the first 180 days of implementation, with potential for further financial benefits system-wide. This initiative highlights the use of evidence-based practice coupled with stakeholder engagement, staff education, and continuous process improvement while utilizing remote monitoring and telemedicine for post-discharge follow-up. These strategies have demonstrated that SDD for CIED patients is a safe, effective, and cost-efficient intervention, positively impacting both patient outcomes and organizational performance.A one-year embargo was granted for this item