Melody Madlen Video Interview

Melody Madlen talks about growing up on a farm in Illinois. Her family were sharecroppers. She was first generation of her immediate family to finish college. She was a guidance counselor before going back to get her PHD from Carbondale, hten she taught at Baylor in Texas.https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cwura_interviews/1317/thumbnail.jp

Sites 45CH01104 and 45CH00402 Determinations of Eligibility, Chelan County, Washington

This Master of Applied Science (MAS) project report assesses the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of archaeological sites 45CH01104 and 45CH00402 near Wells Dam in Chelan County, Washington. Field investigations conducted in 2024 included pedestrian surveys, subsurface testing, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) analysis to gather data on site conditions and potential cultural features. Site 45CH01104 was characterized by pre-contact lithic and fire-cracked rock (FCR) scatters and is recommended as eligible in this report for the NRHP under Criteria A and D due to its association with Indigenous subsistence activities and its potential to yield important archaeological information. It is recommended that sites 45CH00277 and 45CH01104 be merged to one site based on shared cultural materials and spatial proximity. Site 45CH00402 was impacted by significant erosion and historical disturbances and lacked sufficient integrity and identifiable features to support eligibility under any NRHP criteria. Despite extensive investigation, the site no longer retains characteristics that convey its historic or cultural significance. The project results emphasize the need for ongoing site management and preservation strategies to safeguard the archaeological value of smaller sites, particularly for their ability to represent Indigenous history and subsistence patterns along the Columbia River

Ensemble Learning for MRI-Based Brain Tumor Classification: A Weighted Voting Approach

MRI is essential for detecting and diagnosing brain tumors, where accurately distinguishing glioma, meningioma, and pituitary tumors is vital for effective treatment planning. However, tumors\u27 complex morphology and MRI imaging variations present significant challenges for reliable classification. Deep learning models, particularly Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and ResNet architectures, have demonstrated impressive performance in medical image analysis but often struggle with generalization across different datasets. On the other hand, traditional classifiers such as Support Vector Machines (SVM) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) leverage handcrafted features like Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG), which can effectively capture structural details but may lack the adaptability required for diverse imaging conditions. This thesis presents an ensemble-based voting system that integrates multiple single classifiers, leveraging their complementary strengths to improve brain tumor classification accuracy. The system combines traditional machine learning and deep learning classifiers with the custom CNN model (CNN-MRI), ResNet101, and DenseNet121 trained on grayscale MRI images. At the same time, ResNet50 and Xception utilize edge-detected images to enhance feature extraction. SVM and KNN using HOG features are also incorporated to capture shape and texture details. A weighted voting mechanism determines the final classification, assigning higher influence to models with greater individual accuracy. Image processing techniques are applied to improve input quality and optimize model learning. Balance Contrast Enhancement (BCET) enhances the color contrast between different MRI components, such as tumors, tissues, skull, and fluid, making key structures more distinguishable. K-means clustering then segments these components, ensuring more precise separation. Finally, Canny edge detection filters out irrelevant pixels, preserving only the edges of essential structures to highlight tumor boundaries more effectively. Experimental evaluations conducted on both the Figshare MRI dataset and the Kaggle MRI public dataset validate the effectiveness of this multi-model ensemble approach. The proposed method has demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving over 99% accuracy across two benchmark datasets. Compared to previous studies using the same datasets, this approach ranks among the most accurate and reliable solutions for brain tumor classification. These results highlight the effectiveness of the ensemble voting system, reinforcing its potential for real-world medical applications where AI-driven diagnostics can enhance accuracy, consistency, and clinical decision-making

INVESTIGATION OF COLORIMETRIC TRENDS IN RARE-EARTH CO-DOPED YPO₄

From detectors in scientific instrumentation to medical imaging devices and nuclear monitoring systems to LEDs seen in consumer products, phosphors are utilized in a myriad of applications experienced by both the general public and scientific community alike. For many phosphor applications, emission color and intensity are notably important features to consider. When phosphors are co-doped with rare-earth activators, the ability to predict emission intensity and color output becomes challenging due to competition kinetics and energy transfer between the dopants. During this study, correlation between trends in co-doped phosphor excitation and color output were analyzed to interpret optical behaviors originating from interdopant energy transfer and spatial separation through intercalation of co-doped activators. Color coordinates, excitation intensity trends, and excitation intensity ratios were obtained for crystalline Y1-x-yPO4:Tbx,Smy, Y1-x-yPO4:Eux,Tby, and Y1-x-yPO4:Eux,Smy (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.08 and 0.005 ≤ y ≤ 0.08) by utilizing vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation spectroscopy. Through implementing energy transfer models established from prior studies, the color coordinate, excitation, and interdopant energy transfer behaviors of these co-doped phosphor systems were examined. From the co-doping of Eu3+, Sm3+, and Tb3+ into YPO4, energy transfer from Tb3+ was observed to occur to Sm3+ and Eu3+, while no energy transfer was observed between Eu3+ and Sm3+. Additionally, it was determined that the color coordinates generated from the co-doping of activators will shift linearly between the “pure” color coordinates of the single doped color coordinates of each activator. Furthermore, the accessible color coordinates of the co-doped phosphors are heavily dependent on the excitation wavelength

Menstrual Cycle Phase Effects on Exercise Thermoregulation and Performance in the Heat

Hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle (MC) may influence physiological responses. This study examined whether thermoregulatory measures differ across MC phases, and if these changes impact running performance in the heat. Ten eumenorrheic adults completed two treadmill runs in simulated conditions (wet bulb globe temperature 31.7 ± 1.4°C) during early follicular (EF) and midluteal (ML) phases. First 45min was a constant self-selected light pace followed by a 15min performance test for distance. Core temperature (Tc), mean skin temperature (Ts), heart rate (HR), perceived exertion (RPE), thermal perception (THERM), and comfort perception (COMF) were assessed every 5min. Sweat perception (SP), sweat loss (SL), fluid consumption, session RPE/THERM/COMF, and distance covered (DIST) were measured at completion. Serum samples were assayed for estrogen and progesterone to confirm MC phases. Phase × time ANOVA assessed physiological and perceptual measures. Paired t-tests assessed phase differences in session RPE/THERM/COMF, SP, SL, and DIST. Results indicated that Tc, Ts, HR, RPE, THERM, and COMF showed main effect of time (p \u3c 0.001 for all), while only HR showed main effect of phase (p = 0.022, ηp2 = 0.50). COMF showed a phase-time interaction (p = 0.046, ηp2 = 0.19). Tc was higher during ML at baseline and across the bout despite no main effect of phase (p \u3e 0.05). No differences were observed for SP, SL, fluid intake, session perceptions, or DIST (EF: 1.69 ± 0.28mi, ML: 1.69 ± 0.35mi) (p \u3e 0.05 for all). Overall, Tc, HR and COMF are elevated in ML, with perceived discomfort becoming more pronounced across time, but do not influence exercise performance in the heat. Athletes may continue to exercise per usual without concern of phase effects

Catherine the Great\u27s Impact on Noblewomen: A Study of Enlightened Femininity During the Russian Enlightenment

Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796) changed Russia’s social and cultural life, allowing women to use traditional forms of female networks to record their ideas of enlightened femininity. By emphasizing selfless motherhood, Orthodox piety, and responsible morality, female memoirists recorded how the Russian Enlightenment influenced their roles within their families, communities, and court. Eighteenth-century Russian historiography has investigated Catherine’s Enlightenment reforms extensively, particularly her ability to harness masculine and feminine portrayals of her rule to fulfill her ambitions. This thesis focuses on four female memoirists that were impacted by Catherine’s reforms and the rhetoric of enlightened femininity that was introduced into Russia during her reign

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: Risk Assessment in Collegiate Female Athletes Using the REDs CAT2 Tool

Context: Alterations in energy intake (EI) and high exercise energy expenditure (EEE) may increase the risk of low energy availability (LEA) in Division II female collegiate ball sport athletes. Furthermore, chronic LEA can transition to problematic LEA, leading to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the current severity and prevalence of REDs using the REDs CAT2 Tool and the Female Athlete Triad using the FAT CRA in Division II collegiate female volleyball, basketball, soccer, and rugby athletes. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-seven, 18–24-year-old, Division II collegiate female athletes competing in volleyball, soccer, basketball, and rugby at Central Washington University. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants reported demographics; history of injuries, depression, and eating disorders (EDs); EDE-Q, LEAF-Q and DXA of the lumbar spine, hips, and whole body to determine REDs risk using the REDs CAT2 Tool and Triad risk using the FAT CRA. Results: 85.2% (n=23) of athletes had no or low risk of REDs (green), while 15% (n=4) had a mild risk (yellow) based on the REDs CAT2 Tool. No athletes had a moderate (orange) or severe (red) risk of REDs. 88.9% of athletes had a low risk and 11.1% were at risk for the Triad based on the FAT CRA. An elevated EDE-Q global score was the most prevalent primary indicator. An increased EDE-Q global, dietary restraint, shape concern, and weight concern scores Conclusion: Most ball sport athletes had no, or low risk of REDs based on the REDs CAT2 Tool, with similar results using the FAT CRA. However, nutrition education by a Registered Sports Dietitian is warranted for Division II NCAA athletes due to increased risk of DE in these athletes

Virtual Archives Tour CWU SPecial Collections and Archives

A brief tour of Central Washington University Special Collections and Archives Reading Room. Julia Stringfellow is the main narrator. Lily Bauer and Karen Valencia help describe some of the unusual artifacts in our collections. Marty Blackson provided the camera work

College of Business Celebrates 50 Years

Flyer celebrating the 50th anniversary of the College of Business at Central Washington University. Includes timeline of significant events and list of Dean\u27s. It also has a message from the Dean, Faiza Khoja.https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cwu_ephemera/1007/thumbnail.jp

THE ASSOCIATION OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN US ADULTS WITH DEPRESSION: NHANES 2011 - 2018

ABSTRACT Background: Vitamin D (VD), essential for bone health and various physiological processes, has been increasingly associated with mental health, particularly depression. Depression is the most common and prevalent of disorders regarding mental health. It is influenced by biological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. This study examines association and the interplay of both vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and depression among adults 18- 70+ residing in the U.S, focusing on disparities across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Methods: Data was taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018. The present study utilized a cross-sectional analysis included 7,981 participants aged 18 and older. VD status was classified as sufficient ( ≥ 50 nmol/L) or insufficient/deficient ( \u3c 50 nmol/L), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to evaluate an individual’s depression score. Chi-squared tests and t-tests were used for statistical analysis to evaluated the associations between serum VD levels, dietary intake, and depression, adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic variables. Results: Approximately 46.1% of participants had insufficient or deficient VD levels. Depression was significantly more prevalent among individuals with lower serum VD levels (p = 0.0004), particularly in females, younger adults, non-Hispanic Blacks, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Dietary VD intake showed no significant association with depression, suggesting that serum VD levels, influenced by factors such as sun exposure and VD metabolism, play a more critical role. Obesity and food insecurity were also strongly associated with both VDD and depression. Conclusion: VDD is strongly linked to a higher likelihood of developing depression, highlighting the need for targeted public health strategies to improve VD status, particularly in vulnerable populations. Interventions should include dietary supplementation, education on sun exposure, and addressing socioeconomic barriers. Further longitudinal studies are required to determine if there is any causality between the two, and to investigate any potential therapeutic benefits of VD in mental health management. By Joshua Yearout, THE ASSOCIATION OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN US ADULTS WITH DEPRESSION: NHANES 2011 – 2018, March, 202