Digital Commons Network^™

You're In The Army Now, John Henry Price Iii

Mighty Pen Project Anthology & Archive

An Army recruit plots to exact revenge on a bully Corporal everyone despises. How will he do it? Will he get away with it?

Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, offers veterans and their family members a customized twelve-week writing class, free of charge. The program encourages, supports, and assists participants in sharing their stories and experiences of military experience so both writer and audience may …

A Medal For My Cat, Margaret Serig

Mighty Pen Project Anthology & Archive

“A Medal for My Cat” chronicles the support and sacrifice that family provide to service members, as seen through the eyes of a cat. CiCi graduates from a PetSmart adoption program only to find herself enlisted as a lifelong wingman. She takes on her new role with gusto, usually leading the way, but sometimes… needing to stop and lick her wounds.

Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, …

Con Thien - The Ambush, Richard Michael Everington

Mighty Pen Project Anthology & Archive

This true story takes place just below the DMZ of South Vietnam, during the undeclared war years of 1967- 1968, at Con Thien. The Marine forward combat base had sustained constant artillery bombardment and enemy attacks for a year. The Marine’s newly acquired night vision scopes discovered that North Vietnamese recon teams were coming in at night to spy on the base. An ambush was put together to eliminate the enemy reconnaissance team and to get revenge from loses from the week before. The plot revolves around Rick and Smitty, two of the lowest ranking Marines in the platoon.

Articles, …

The Romanticization Of Human-Vampire Relationships: How 'Twilight' And 'The Vampire Diaries' May Prime Young Women To Accept Dating Violence, Natalie M. Bowen

UROP Posters

The first literary vampire can be traced back to 18th century Germany, with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem “Die Braut von Korinth,” but the stereotypical features of a vampire are traditionally accredited to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Modern vampires, such as Edward Cullen and Stefan Salvatore of the Twilight and The Vampire Diaries series respectively, have managed to win the hearts of teenage girls all across America with their sex appeal and charismatic nature. According to Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, individuals learn new behaviors by modeling and imitating the actions of those around them. This comprehensive literature review investigates the connection …

Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression In Androgen-Independent Clones Derived From The Mycap Pca Cell Line, Jessie L. Tignor, Melanie Sinanian, Richard Inho Joh, David Gewirtz, Jason Reed

UROP Posters

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a primary treatment strategy for prostate cancer (PCa), yet many tumors eventually develop androgen independence, leading to treatment resistance. To investigate the molecular changes underlying this transition, we analyzed differential gene expression in four androgen-independent (AI) clones derived from the Myc-CaP prostate cancer cell line using RNA sequencing. Gene expression profiles were compared to the parental Myc-CaP line, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using DESeq2 and edgeR. The AI clones exhibited significant downregulation of senescence-associated genes, including Ezh2 and lamin B1, suggesting a loss of senescence-related chromatin repression. Additionally, upregulation of Wnt pathway …

The Built Environment And The Systemic Agenda, Heciel J. Nieves Bonilla

UROP Posters

The built environment in the United States, characterized in large part by suburban sprawl and car-dependent infrastructure, has significant negative impacts on public health, economic mobility, and environmental sustainability. This paper examines the consequences of car-centric development, highlighting its role in exacerbating social and economic inequalities, increasing traffic-related fatalities, and contributing to climate change through excessive carbon emissions. The analysis reveals that a majority of Americans feel forced into car ownership due to inadequate alternative transportation options, leading to financial strain and adverse health outcomes, including obesity and air pollution-related diseases. The historical roots of these development patterns are traced …

Strengthening Critical Infrastructure For Equity And Resilience: Findings From The Environmental Justice Data Project, Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn Phd, Luisa Nazareno Phd, Emily Schreer, Amidu Kalokoh, Curtis Brown Mpa, Melvin Brown, Yali Pang Phd, Morgan Woodle Phd, Research Institute For Social Equity Rise

Research Institute for Social Equity

In 2023, the Research Institute for Social Equity, an institute of the Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, partnered with Resilient Virginia to explore the impact of climate change and degradation due to disasters and environmental hazards on the critical infrastructure in and around historically marginalized and underserved communities in the Richmond and Southside Virginia areas. During the study period, 2023-2025, the research team conducted both primary and secondary research in three Virginia localities: Charles City County, the City of Emporia, and a portion of the City of Richmond. Secondary research included a thorough …

Attention's Loop: A Sculptor's Reverie On The Coexistence Of Substance And Spirit, Elizabeth King, Katherine Wetzel

Attention's Loop

This is a book about attention and memory. I am a sculptor, so it is also a book about size, dirt, artifice, work, and eye. The text is a set of stories and interruptions that pile up to make a play of overlapping loops. My organizing principle is the image of the round-trip, so one may open the book and step into it at any point. Most of Katherine Wetzel’s photographs are of a single sculpture. It is a self-portrait, a particular kind of round-trip, and it is small: one-half life-size. Called Pupil, it is jointed and movable, and …

Department Of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University: Historical And Personal Reflections, Richard A. Glennon

VCU University History Books

This book presents a historical account of Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Medicinal Chemistry, compiled and recollected in 2025 by Professor Emeritus Richard A. Glennon. Included are personal reflections alongside a historical overview of the department's origins and faculty, as well as newly developed programs and initiatives.

Inherited Wounds: Navigating Intergenerational Trauma Through Cooperative Play, Ayza Sheikh

Theses and Dissertations

'Strength' for Pakistani women is often defined as compromise, sacrifice, and silence. This definition has shaped intergenerational struggles in which women's self-narratives are constructed through suppression. Inherited Wounds seeks to address the trauma of suppression by creating a safe space for expression that fosters reflective and emotion-driven dialogue between Pakistani mothers and daughters.

Using interactive storytelling and embodied play, I developed a choice-based, narrative-driven video game and accompanying gesture-based controller. The game unfolds across childhood, marriage, and motherhood, mirroring the cycle of intergenerational struggle. Navigating choices in the game requires physical, intimate cooperation. The game uses the protagonist’s life as …

An Adaptive Method For Covariate Balancing In Block Randomized Clinical Trials, Ren Rasnick

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical trials are randomized in part to limit allocation bias, but also to ensure comparability between treatment arms for a baseline variable of concern. Comparable with regard to a baseline variable of concern is necessary for the validity of statistical methods. However, comparability is not guaranteed for trials of any size and is even more likely in trials with < 200 total participants. We propose a new method for adapting the allocation of participants in a sequentially allocated two-armed study with a small sample size to better ensure comparability.

The proposed method calculates the expected final imbalance (lack of comparability) based on the current participant values. Unlike several other methods, our method ensures the final desired sample size for each treatment arm, utilizes the expected final imbalance, increases comparability between …

Substrate Preference And Foraging Behavior Of Two Declining Warblers In Appalachian Shrublands, Samantha Fishman

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Shrubland and early successional habitats (ESH) support a diversity of wildlife, including many declining songbirds. However, nonnative shrubs increasingly dominate these habitats, potentially altering habitat quality by influencing prey availability. Habitat quality can be assessed by observing foraging behaviors of songbirds and identifying preferred and avoided substrates as well as testing the predictions of optimal foraging theory; specifically that birds will maximize their energy gain relative to the costs. We examined foraging behaviors of Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera; GWWA) and Chestnut-sided Warblers (Setophaga pensylvanica; CSWA) in ESH on private lands in Virginia with varying amounts …

Accurate Body Weight Class Prediction From Mirna And Gene Expression In Blood And Saliva Samples, Kimberly Lettner

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

miRNA interference on protein abundance related to glucose uptake and lipid production has been evaluated in biomedical research and linked to metabolic disorders like severe obesity. The direct regulation of protein abundance caused by miRNAs on a person’s metabolism can lead to an increased weight and overall size. Body size, measured by BMI, provides additional physical descriptions that can be combined with hair color, eye color, age, and skin pigment to aid investigations of unidentified remains or unknown suspects not found in a database. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the miRNA expression of target biomarkers in dried …

Biodistribution And Method Validation Of Xylazine In A Mouse Model Using Liquid-Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry, Julia E. Perschbacher

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Xylazine is a nonopioid veterinary sedative and an α2 adrenergic receptor agonist. It emerged in the opioid epidemic as an adulterant of illicit fentanyl. As xylazine becomes more involved in fatal overdoses, it is relevant to elucidate its biodistribution post-exposure due to its exacerbation of adverse events, namely respiratory depression, as xylazine’s contributions to existing adverse effects of synthetic opioids is understudied. A bioanalytical method to quantify xylazine and select metabolites in tissue using LC-QToF was validated and applied to a preclinical mouse model in order to characterize xylazine’s biodistribution in whole blood and six tissues at a dose known …

Qualitative Method Validation Of Acid/Neutral Drugs Carisoprodol, Meprobamate, And Naproxen Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Kate O. Martin

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Meprobamate, carisoprodol, and naproxen are acidic/neutral drugs widely prescribed for muscle relaxation and inflammatory conditions, with frequent detection in forensic toxicology casework due to extensive clinical use. A method to qualitatively evaluate these compounds was developed to unify acid/neutral drug screening. This study incorporated blank blood, antemortem blood, postmortem blood, urine, and liver homogenate as representative biological matrices. Method validation was conducted in accordance with ANSI/ASB Standard 036 for Forensic Toxicology, encompassing key parameters including limit of detection (LOD), endogenous interferences, potential interferences, carryover, processed sample stability, and ionization suppression/enhancement. The validation was performed using the internal standards carisoprodol-D7, meprobamate-D7, …

Review: The Shape Of Power: Stories Of Race And American Sculpture, Jiaying (Gloria) Dai

Art Inquiries

The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture, co-curated by Karen Lemmey,

Tobias Wofford, and Grace Yasumura, ambitiously asked: How does American sculpture

intersect with the history of race in the United States?1 Positioning itself as the first major survey

exhibition of American sculpture in decades, this exhibition featured 82 sculptures created by 70

artists spanning from 1792 to 2023.

Corsets Off. Camille Claudel And Polish Women Sculptors Of The 19th Century, Beata Niedzialkowska

Art Inquiries

No abstract provided.

An Interview With Sharon Lee Hart, Mysoon Rizk, Sharon Lee Hart

Art Inquiries

No abstract provided.

Napoleon’S Corpse And The Subversion Of Historical And Political Authority, Alissa Rachel Adams

Art Inquiries

This article examines printed depictions of Napoleon Bonaparte’s exhumed corpse in conjunction with Romantic historical practice in nineteenth-century France. Current studies on history in the Romantic age emphasize Romantic historicism’s link to a widespread and frustrated yearning for direct access to the past that will settle the upheavals of the revolutionary period. This study considers how the corpse and its representations fulfill the desire for direct access to the past but, in doing so, also contributes to a proliferation of individual understandings of the past—and future. Through an analysis of representations of the corpse, their sources, and their connection to …

A Quantitative Examination Of The Role Of Relationship Status In Asexual College Students’ Sexual Victimization, Amanda Mollet, Wayne Black, Leslie Shelton

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

This exploratory quantitative study examines sexual violence among asexual college students using the Asexual Community Survey. We conducted analyses to examine the coercive tactics used by sexual violence perpetrators against asexual college students with a focus on examining statistical differences based on characteristics of students’ relationships. Findings revealed that across multiple forms of relationships, asexual college students’ relationship experiences were significantly correlated with experiencing higher levels of multiple types of sexual violence. The study challenges existing narratives of campus-based sexual violence while highlighting the unique and specific influences of power on sexual victimization within the context of asexual college students’ …

Best Practices For Hybrid Art Museum Programs For People With Dementia, Pooja Lalwani, Sujal Manohar, Jessica Kay Ruhle

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

The Reflections program at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University offers art gallery tours for adults with dementia and their care partners. Originally an in-person program, Reflections adapted to a virtual model during the COVID-19 pandemic and now utilizes a hybrid model with in-person and online programs. Surveys distributed to Reflections’ participants indicate the benefits of having both in-person and virtual options post-pandemic. Anecdotal survey data and participation statistics show high engagement and satisfaction with the current hybrid mode. Literature about hybrid art education programs for people with dementia remains limited. We offer best practices and insights for …

Lest We Forget- About My Mother, Cynthia Van Frank

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

"Lest We Forget - About My Mother" is a poignant visual essay comprising a series of small and medium-sized oil paintings that serve as a tribute to the artist's 93-year-old mother, who grapples with dementia. Through these paintings, the artist delves into their personal journey as a caregiver, reflecting on their mother's life, challenges, and the impact of memory loss. Each painting depicts significant objects from the mother's life, serving as touchstones to her past and symbolizing the richness of her experiences despite dementia's challenges. Knitting emerges as a recurring motif, embodying comfort and routine while conveying moments of resilience …

Pearl And Murray Greenberg Award Lectures, Linda J. Helmick, Margaret Walker

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

No abstract provided.

Journal Theme: Connections, Linda J. Helmick

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

No abstract provided.

Connections: Full Journal

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

No abstract provided.

Using Mixed Methods To Explore Forms Of Harassment For K-12 Bipoc Trans Students, Caroline Reale-Smith, Mario I. Suárez, Emma Mecham

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

Trans students of color face verbal and physical harassment all too often in educational settings. Using the 2015 United States Trans Survey, this mixed methods study explored the relationship between race and gender identity with regard to experiences with verbal and physical harassment in the K-12 setting. The quantitative phase investigated the extent to which race and gender identity predicted verbal and physical harassment, while the qualitative phase explored the types of harassment experiences for trans students of color. Quantitative findings highlight a higher incidence of verbal and physical harassment for Alaska Native/American Indian trans individuals and trans women, and …

Pedagogies Of The Home And Terquedad In Transgender Parenting And Teaching, Jackson M. Matos

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

This counter-narrative utilizes pedagogies of the home (Garcia & Delgado Bernal, 2021; Delgado Bernal, 2001) and terquedad, or intentional resistance against dominant group norms (Salas-Santa Cruz, 2020) to illustrate how I transmit home-based lessons regarding oppression and liberation to my children and to my college-aged students. It demonstrates the importance of vulnerability (Caraves, 2020) in sharing counter-narratives with both groups, and illustrates how resistance and terquedad can be utilized to actualize social justice. I describe how I, as a Puerto transgender parent and educator, use my body and lived experiences as text (Helton, 2020) for curriculum in my home and …

Commonwealth Times 2024-11-13

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

“We Don’T Do That”: Negotiating Graduate Education As A Bisexual+ Student, Kaity Prieto, Victoria B. Olivo

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

Bisexual+ people comprise the largest portion of the queer and trans community, yet there is limited research on bi+ subpopulations and a particular absence of literature exploring bisexual+ student identities and experiences. Much of the extant bi+ college student literature has centered on undergraduate experiences, leaving graduate experiences underexplored. Through this narrative inquiry study, guided by a queer theoretical framework, we sought to understand how bi+ graduate students navigate academic and professional contexts and how systems of power influence their identity negotiation narratives. Findings revealed pervasive bisexual+ erasure in academic contexts, pressure to conform to normative notions of professionalism, and …

Ink (2024)

Ink, 2008-

The student-run features magazine covering the fashion, art, music and culture worlds at VCU and in Richmond. Published annually in print and updated regularly online.