Digital Commons Network^™

Representation By Design: Mining The Source, Kris Heintz Nelson

Higher Education Resources

This unit is a hybrid, combining art history, studio instruction, and visual culture and has been interwoven into a freshman foundations drawing course where students are taught observational skills, use of media and process, and introduced to the creative processes of generating ideas and developing personal inquiry. The inquiry is intended to guide students to question dominant assumptions regarding representation and how artists engage in visual research.

Salt And Water Uptake In Nanocon!Nement Under Applied Electric Field: An Open Ensemble Monte Carlo Study, F. Moucka, D. Bratko, A. Luzar

Chemistry Publications

Permeation of electrolytes in nanoporous materials underlies many applications in energy and materials technologies. Wetting of apolar nanopores can be enhanced by electric !eld, attracting water and ions from unperturbed electrolyte bath. We study absorption of water and NaCl in the pores by Expanded Ensemble Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation, which implements particle insertions and deletions through incremental changes in particles’ coupling with the system. We determine the uptake of water and ions in the pores, and concomitant changes in pore thermodynamics, as functions of !eld strength in the pore and salinity in the external bath. Pressure increase and reduction …

Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Bulletin [2015], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Undergraduate bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2015-2016. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for undergraduate programs.

Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Bulletin [2015], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Presenting Precious Knowledge: Using Film To Model Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy And Youth Civic Activism For Social Studies Teachers, Hillary Parkhouse

Teaching and Learning Publications

In this paper, I examine the potential for developing preservice social studies teachers’ understanding of transformational resistance, Latin@ civil rights movements, and culturally sustaining pedagogy through a project using the film Precious Knowledge. This documentary depicts high school students in a Mexican American Studies (MAS) program using civil disobedience to protest Arizona’s ban of the program. The teachers prepared for the screening by reading and responding to scholarly articles on Latin@ school engagement and Chican@ student activism. After viewing the film and engaging in small group and whole class discussions, participants reported that they learned about current and past Chican@ …

Integrating Basic Research With Prevention/Intervention To Reduce Risky Substance Use Among College Students, Danielle Dick, Linda C. Hancock

Psychiatry Publications

Too often basic research on etiological processes that contribute to substance use outcomes is disconnected from efforts to develop prevention and intervention programming. Substance use on college campuses is an area of concern where translational efforts that bring together basic scientists and prevention/intervention practitioners have potential for high impact. We describe an effort at a large, public, urban university in the United States to bring together researchers across the campus with expertise in college behavioral health with university administration and health/wellness practitioners to address college student substance use and mental health. The project “Spit for Science” examines how genetic and …

Dpy-17 And Mua-3 Interact For Connective Tissue-Like Tissue Integrity In Caenorhabditis Elegans: A Model For Marfan Syndrome, Pauline Fotopoulos, Jeongho Kim, Moonjung Hyun, Waiss Qamari, Inhwan Lee, Young-Jai You

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Publications

mua-3 is a Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the mammalian fibrillin1, a monogenic cause of Marfan syndrome. We identified a new mutation of mua-3that carries an in-frame deletion of 131 amino acids in the extracellular domain, which allows the mutants to survive in a temperature-dependent manner; at the permissive temperature, the mutants grow normally without obvious phenotypes, but at the nonpermissive temperature, more than 90% die during the L4 molt due to internal organ detachment. Using the temperature-sensitive lethality, we performed unbiased genetic screens to isolate suppressors to find genetic interactors of MUA-3. From two independent screens, we isolated …

The Phosphorylated Prodrug Fty720 Is A Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor That Reactivates Erα Expression And Enhances Hormonal Therapy For Breast Cancer, Nitai C. Hait, Dorit Avni, Akimitsu Yamada, Masayuki Nagahashi, Tomoyoshi Aoyagi, Hiroaki Aoki, Catherine I. Dumur, Z Zelenko, E J. Gallagher, D Leroith, Sheldon Milstien, Kazuaki Takabe, Sarah Spiegel

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Publications

Estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-negative breast cancer is clinically aggressive and does not respond to conventional hormonal therapies. Strategies that lead to re-expression of ERα could sensitize ERα-negative breast cancers to selective ER modulators. FTY720 (fingolimod, Gilenya), a sphingosine analog, is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prodrug for treatment of multiple sclerosis that also has anticancer actions that are not yet well understood. We found that FTY720 is phosphorylated in breast cancer cells by nuclear sphingosine kinase 2 and accumulates there. Nuclear FTY720-P is a potent inhibitor of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) that enhances histone acetylations and regulates expression of …

Dual Action Of Mir-125b As A Tumor Suppressor And Oncomir-22 Promotes Prostate Cancer Tumorigenesis, William Budd, Sarah J. Seashols-Williams, Gene C. Clark, Danielle Weaver, Valerie Calvert, Emanuel Petricoin, Ema A. Dragoescu, Katherine O’Hanlon, Zendra E. Zehner

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Publications

MicroRNAs (miRs) are a novel class of small RNA molecules, the dysregulation of which can contribute to cancer. A combinatorial approach was used to identify miRs that promote prostate cancer progression in a unique set of prostate cancer cell lines, which originate from the parental p69 cell line and extend to a highly tumorigenic/metastatic M12 subline. Together, these cell lines are thought to mimic prostate cancer progression in vivo. Previous network analysis and miR arrays suggested that the loss of hsa-miR-125b together with the overexpression of hsa-miR-22 could contribute to prostate tumorigenesis. The dysregulation of these two miRs was …

Screening And Brief Intervention For Alcohol Misuse In Older Adults: Training Outcomes Among Physicians And Other Healthcare Practitioners In Community-Based Settings, Constance L. Coogle, Myra G. Owens

Forensic Science Publications

Screening and brief intervention (SBI) is increasingly available to older adults who engage in at-risk drinking. This study examined the extent to which SBI training influenced the willingness of healthcare providers in a community-based hospital and other clinical settings to promote the implementation of SBI. Ninety-three healthcare practitioners (primarily physicians, nurses, and social workers) who attended SBI training were asked about their intentions to apply the information in their professional practice, as well as their enthusiasm about recommending the training to others in their profession. Although there were no differences among the professions in terms of commitment to apply the …

Elucidating The Role Of Injury-Induced Electric Fields (Efs) In Regulating The Astrocytic Response To Injury In The Mammalian Central Nervous System, Matthew L. Baer, Scott C. Henderson, Raymond J. Colello

Anatomy and Neurobiology Publications

Injury to the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) induces astrocytes to change their morphology, to increase their rate of proliferation, and to display directional migration to the injury site, all to facilitate repair. These astrocytic responses to injury occur in a clear temporal sequence and, by their intensity and duration, can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the repair of damaged CNS tissue. Studies on highly regenerative tissues in non-mammalian vertebrates have demonstrated that the intensity of direct-current extracellular electric fields (EFs) at the injury site, which are 50–100 fold greater than in uninjured tissue, represent a potent signal …

Chemokine Function In Periodontal Disease And Oral Cavity Cancer, Sinem Esra Sahingur, W. Andrew Yeudall

Periodontics Publications

The chemotactic cytokines, or chemokines, comprise a superfamily of polypeptides with a wide range of activities that include recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection and inflammation, as well as stimulation of cell proliferation. As such, they function as antimicrobial molecules and play a central role in host defenses against pathogen challenge. However, their ability to recruit leukocytes and potentiate or prolong the inflammatory response may have profound implications for the progression of oral diseases such as chronic periodontitis, where tissue destruction may be widespread. Moreover, it is increasingly recognized that chronic inflammation is a key component of tumor …

Critical Appraisal Of Dabigatran In The Treatment Of Deep Vein Thrombosis And Pulmonary Embolism, Kelechi C. Ogbonna, Dave L. Dixon

Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science Publications

Objective

To compare the safety and efficacy of dabigatran to warfarin for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease comprised of two conditions: deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. VTE is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with an annual incidence estimated at 1–3 cases per 1,000 individuals. This incidence increases with age from 0.1 per 1,000 in adolescence to eight per 1,000 in those 80 years of age and older. As the proportion of patients 65 years of age and older expands, the number of patients presenting with …

Liver X Receptor-Dependent Inhibition Of Microglial Nitric Oxide Synthase 2, Julie R Secor Mcvoy, Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Unsong Oh

Neurology Publications

Background

The nuclear receptor liver X receptor (LXR) exerts transcriptional control over lipid metabolism and inflammatory response in cells of the myeloid lineage, suggesting that LXR may be a potential target in a number of chronic neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases where persistent microglial activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis.

Methods

The effect of LXR activation on microglia and central nervous system (CNS) inflammation was studied using a synthetic LXR agonist in cultured microglia, a microglial cell line and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of CNS inflammation.

Results

LXR activation inhibited nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible (Nos2 …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 92, No. 1, 2015)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Retention And Mentoring (Ram) Initiative, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Susan Digiovanni, Donna Gibson, Anne Hofler, Florence Johnson, Michael Southam-Gerow, Jenilee Stanley-Shanks

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

National and local surveys (e.g., COACHE, 2010; VCU Great Place Initiative, 2013) suggest that a primary reason for workplace dissatisfaction among faculty and staff is lack of adequate mentorship. Evidence also suggests that mentoring programs improve recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty and staff (e.g., Daley, Wingard, & Reznik, 2006). VCU and VCU Health currently have decentralized and isolated mentoring programs across campuses: a centralized mentoring program accessible to all employees does not exist to address faculty and staff professional development and networking needs. Our project sought to fill this gap. Specifically, we proposed to develop an online database designed …

Promotion, Education, And Marketing Of An Expanded Vcu Bike Share Program, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kellie Archer, Tom Arodz, Alison Breland, Dawn Crichlow, Tom Klug

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

We propose to help promote, market, and provide education about an expanded bike share program at VCU. The goal of the bike share program is three-fold: 1) improve travel between campuses, 2) encourage alternate transportation to reduce traffic and parking difficulties and 3) be a "green" initiative on the VCU campus. The expanded bike share program will include additional bikes and bike stations, managed by an outside company. Recently, VCU’s Office of Parking and Transportation has learned that they will be receiving funds for the program, and they are looking for assistance to promote, market, and provide education about the …

Ramsway Safe Path, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Stephen Barkley, Mary Beth Heller, Elizabeth Mcdaniel, Kelechi Ogbonna, Kendall Plageman, Angie Wetzel

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

RAMSWay promotes safety for students, faculty, staff, and visitors with a series of safe walkways connecting key locations, such as classroom buildings, gyms, libraries, residence halls, and parking decks, on Virginia Commonwealth University’s sprawling urban campus. RAMSWay paths are designed to be consistent with the theoretical framework referred to as CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). CPTED suggests that altering the physical design of communities or areas in which people congregate can deter criminal activity. CPTED-compliant landscaping and lighting, security features (e.g., cameras, ERTs phones), and increased police presence on the paths promote the sense of safety. Further, increased foot …

A Website To Help The International Students Experience (Wise), Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, David Allen, Agnes Chojecka, Tori Keel, Norma Ortiz-Robinson, Susan O'Shea

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

Our VCU campus has been steadily expanding its international student population and has become an increasingly global university community. We have identified together with GEO, the need to build tangible resources that can support faculty and staff to more effectively educate our international student population. The creation of online content to be added to GEO’s current webpage seems to best fit the existing need. Our project outlines a blueprint for this online content by means of identifying data and resources that should be included as well as determining cost, sustainability and feasibility plans. Ultimately, the goal is to pave the …

The Artfulness Initiative: Art As A Tool For Mindfulness, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Dvora Courtland, George Deeb, Sarah Golding, Arnold Kemp, Whitney Lovelady, Tito Luna, Molly Ransone, Mary Shelden

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

The purpose of the Artfulness Initiative is to help its users bring their minds back into the present through the use of arts-based practices as a way to reduce stress and burnout. In a nutshell, the Artfulness Initiative is website that houses a series of process-oriented art practices meant to help adults focus less on the stress of yesterday and tomorrow and focus more on being in the now. It’s important to note that the art process is more important than the product, and that no artistic aptitude or experience is required. The Artfulness website, which was built by ALTLab …

Dynamic Control Of Nanopore Wetting In Water And Saline Solutions Under An Electric Field, D. Vanzo, D. Bratko, A. Luzar

Chemistry Publications

Field-induced nanopore wetting by aqueous solutions, including electrolytes, provides opportunities for a variety of applications. Con!icting porosity requirements have so far precluded direct implementations of a two-way control: the pores have to be su"ciently wide to allow water in#ltration at experimentally relevant voltages but should not exceed the kinetic threshold for spontaneous expulsion in the absence of the #eld. Applicable widths are restricted below a few nanometers. Only a narrow window of #elds and pore geometries can simultaneously satisfy both of the above requirements. Accurate accounts of wetting equilibria and dynamics at nanoscale porosity require molecular level descriptions. Here we …

Innovating The 21st Century: Developing A Mobile App To Collect Student Service Activities To Assess Impact, Jennifer Jettner

Division of Community Engagement Resources

No abstract provided.

Automated Disc Kiosks, Kal Stankov, Allen Woods, Yaw Amoatin

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Our improved automated disc kiosks are designed with two purposes in mind: to improve the inventory management and agility of current automated media rental services and to simplify and consolidate the storage and distribution of installation media in an IT environment. The kiosks combine the ability to store and dispense optical discs (CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs, etc.) with the ability to burn newer content pushed out via a network connection from a company’s servers. Designed and built with commonly available components to minimize costs, the prototype consists of a Digilent Zybo FPGA board powered by a Xilinx processor. A tablet …

What Is Safe Cycling?, Blog 1, Valerie Russo, Hunter Berry, Shawn Rodis

Great VCU Bike Race Book Student Blog Posts

Student blog posts from the Great VCU Bike Race Book.

Virginia Commonwealth University Fall Commencement Program [2015], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Virginia Commonwealth University Commencement Program [2015], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 92, No. 4, 2015)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Effectiveness Of Cefovecin, Doxycycline, And Amoxicillin For The Treatment Of Experimentally Induced Early Lyme Borreliosis In Dogs, Bettina Wagner, John Johnson, David Garcia-Tapia, Nicole Honsberger, Vickie King, Catherine Strietzel, John M. Hardham, Thomas J. Heinz, Richard T. Marconi, Patrick F.M. Meeus

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

While Koch’s postulates have been fulfilled for Lyme disease; causing transient fever, anorexia and arthritis in young dogs; treatment of sero-positive dogs, especially asymptomatic animals, remains a topic of debate. To complicate this matter the currently recommended antibiotic treatments of Lyme Disease in dogs caused by Borrelia burgdorferi require daily oral administrations for 31 days or longer, which makes non-compliance a concern. Additionally, there is no approved veterinary antimicrobial for the treatment of Lyme Disease in dogs in the USA and few recommended treatments have been robustly tested.

In vitro testing of cefovecin, a novel extended-spectrum cephalosporin, demonstrated inhibition …

Identification Of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Against Meso-2, 6-Diaminopimelate Dehydrogenase From Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Victoria N. Stone, Hardik I. Parikh, Fadi El-Rami, Xiuchun Ge, Weihau Chen, Yan Zhang, Glen E. Kellogg, Ping Xu

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Species-specific antimicrobial therapy has the potential to combat the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance and alteration of the human microbiome. We therefore set out to demonstrate the beginning of a pathogen-selective drug discovery method using the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis as a model. Through our knowledge of metabolic networks and essential genes we identified a “druggable” essential target, meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase, which is found in a limited number of species. We adopted a highthroughput virtual screen method on the ZINC chemical library to select a group of potential small-molecule inhibitors. Meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase from P. gingivalis was first expressed and purified in …

Explaining The Frequency Of Alcohol Consumption In A Conflict Zone: Jews And Palestinians In Israel, Zohar Massey, Karen G. Chartier, Mary B. Stebbins, Daphna Canetti, Stevan E. Hobfoll, Brian J. Hall, Kerem Shuval

Social Work Publications

Experiencing stress and exposure to terrorism may have an adverse effect on health risk behaviors. Few studies have examined alcohol use among adults living in Israel under chronic, stressful terrorism-related conditions. In this study, we examined the relationships of demographics, past stressful events, and terrorism exposure to the frequency of alcohol use and the mediating roles of depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We used three waves of data from a 2007–2008 nationally representative sample of Jewish and Palestinian adults in Israel. We assessed past stressful events, in addition to direct and indirect exposures to terrorism. Results indicated that …