Digital Commons Network^™

Islam & Interfaith Dialogue: Innovative Diplomacy Between The United States And Islamic Republic Of Iran, Kristyn Rohrer

Honors Student Research

This meta-communicative study provides an analysis of global interfaith dialogue as it pertains to peace and conflict, with a primary focus on Islam. The Islamic Republic of Iran and United States have a complicated history. Their diplomatic relationship is rife with manipulation, radicalism, and a disregard for human dignity. Currently, the US is imposing hundreds of sanctions and restrictions on Iran, from nuclear energy to medicine, as a result of President Trump’s decision to back out of the Iran Deal. However, other forms of dialogue are affecting positive relations between the two countries. Interfaith dialogue between North American Mennonites and …

Ua45/6 Commencement Program, Wku Registrar

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program listing graduates.

Heterochromia, John Tavares

Westview

This short fiction, with a dystopic vision, is set in a future Toronto, devastated by social unrest and a nuclear disaster, while the action of the story explores a retired librarian’s conflict with a repressive censorship authority.

Evaluating The Legality Of Age-Based Criteria In Health Care: From Nondiscrimination And Discretion To Distributive Justice, Govind Persad

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

Recent disputes over whether older people should pay more for health insurance, or receive lower priority for transplantable organs, highlight broader disagreements regarding the legality of using age-based criteria in health care. These debates will likely intensify given the changing age structure of the American population and the turmoil surrounding the financing of American health care. This Article provides a comprehensive examination of the legality and normative desirability of age-based criteria. In the Article, I defend a distributive justice approach to age-based criteria. Rather than viewing age as a personal characteristic akin to race or religion, the distributive justice approach …

Holy Cross Magazine, Vol. 53, No. 1, Winter 2019, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

Theodore V. Wells Jr. ’72 Receives Honorary Degree
By Evangelia Stefanakos

Syllabus: Stranger Things — Gothic Old and New
with Jonathan Mulrooney, professor of English
By Meredith Fidrocki

For Us, For Others, For Action
Alumni reflect on a half-century of mission and personal impact of the Black Student Union
By Melissa Shaw

Black Student Union Celebrates 50 Years at Holy Cross
Nearly 300 alumni and current students spent a weekend honoring the group’s history and influence
By Jane Carlton

Examining the Political Machine from the Inside-Out
Thanks to political veterans Tim Bishop ’72 and Peter Flaherty ’87, Holy Cross students …

Pharmaceutical Territories: Contested Pharmacopoeias And Environmental Debates In Brazil, Kerri Brown

Anthropology Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 30 years, emergent global health and trade policies have transformed "traditional medicine" into a contested biomedical endeavor. Brazil has been particularly affected by these policies due to its vast biodiversity and numerous labelled as traditional. As a result, the country has implemented strict intellectual property laws, has begun to invest in federal research on medicinal plants and other forms of traditional medicine, and in 2009 established its National Program of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapeutics based on the World Health Organization's traditional medicine program, integrating medicinal plants into Brazil's national healthcare system. This multi-sited ethnographic project compares the …

Hydrodynamic Analysis Of Underwater Glider With Diamond Wing In Unsteady And Nonuniform Flow Field, Chen-Wei Chen, Zhuo Feng, Xu Liang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this study, the hydrodynamic performance of a proposed underwater glider (UG) that utilizes a diamond wing was analyzed and its gliding ability in undersea environments with both steady and uniform and unsteady and nonuniform oceanic currents optimized. The flow field around the UG was analyzed using the software package RANS CFD. Under conditions where the current varied linearly both with water depth and time, the UG exhibited harmonically heaving and pitching motions, with a constant acceleration incident flow. The dynamic lifting and drag forces acting on the diamond wing and the dynamic heaving force and pitching moment acting at …

Multifunctional Nanocomposites Based On Bacterial Cellulose, Qisheng Jiang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cellulose is biodegradable, renewable, and abundant in nature thus cellulose (or paper)-based products can be inexpensively produced and recycled. Among cellulosic materials, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) draws a special research attention due to the inherent three-dimensional nanofibrous structure, excellent mechanical flexibility, high purity and well-defined surface chemistry, and cost-efficient, scalable and environment-friendly synthesis. BNC can be biosynthesized by Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which is the most characterized BNC producer among various microorganisms. BNC is composed of highly pure cellulose nanofibrils, produced from well-defined dextrose through biochemical steps and subsequent self-assembling of the secreted cellulose fibrils which has the dimension ranges from 25 to …

Kcnq1/Kcne1 Interaction In The Cardiac Iks Channel And Its Physiological Consequences, Jiajing Xu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Dynamic conformational changes of ion channel proteins during activation gating determine their function as carriers of current. The relationship between these molecular movements and channel function over the physiological timescale of the action potential (AP) has not been fully established due to limitations of existing techniques. We constructed a library of possible cardiac IKs protein conformations and applied a combination of protein segmentation and energy linearization to study this relationship computationally. Simulations reproduced the effects of the beta-subunit (KCNE1) on the alpha-subunit (KCNQ1) dynamics and function, observed in experiments. Mechanistically, KCNE1 increased the probability of “visiting” conducting pore conformations on …

Molecular Basis Of Class Ib Drug Interactions With The Nav Channel Macromolecular Complex: A Route To Personalized Medicine For Cardiac Arrhythmia, Wandi Zhu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The heart rhythm is precisely controlled by the electrical impulse that propagate in the cardiac tissue. In single cardiomyocytes, the electrical activity generated by action potentials (AP). Cardiac NaV channels (NaV1.5) carry a large influx of Na+ that mediates the initiation and propagation of the AP in both atria and ventricles. Disruption of NaV1.5 function by genetic variants or external factors can result in deadly arrhythmias, such as long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome. Thus, NaV channels are import therapeutic targets. The class I antiarrhythmics are the modulators of the NaV channels. Although they have been used clinically for over …

Mechanisms Of Calcium Phosphate Mineralization On Biological Interfaces And Their Engineering Applications, Doyoon Kim

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

All living organisms utilize phosphorus (P) as an essential component of their cell membranes, DNA and RNA, and adenosine triphosphate. Bones, in addition to bearing loads, play an important role in balancing P levels in our bodies. In bones, a network of collagen templates and calcium phosphate (CaP) nanocrystals builds hierarchical levels, from nano- to macroscale. Within this architecture, the thermodynamic properties of CaP minerals are influential. Despite the importance of nucleation, growth, and crystallization in collagen structures for tissue development, little kinetic study of these processes has been conducted due to the limited in situ techniques for monitoring these …

Information-Based Analysis And Control Of Recurrent Linear Networks And Recurrent Networks With Sigmoidal Nonlinearities, Deslin Menolascino

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Linear dynamical models have served as an analytically tractable approximation for a variety of natural and engineered systems. Recently, such models have been used to describe high-level diffusive interactions in the activation of complex networks, including those in the brain. In this regard, classical tools from control theory, including controllability analysis, have been used to assay the extent to which such networks might respond to their afferent inputs. However, for natural systems such as brain networks, it is not clear whether advantageous control properties necessarily correspond to useful functionality. That is, are systems that are highly controllable (according to certain …

Rare But Recurrent Ros1 Fusions Resulting From Chromosome 6q22 Microdeletions Are Targetable Oncogenes In Glioma., Monika A Davare, Jacob J Henderson, Anupriya Agarwal, Jacob P Wagner, Sudarshan R Iyer, Nameeta Shah, Randy Woltjer, Romel Somwar, Stephen W Gilheeney, Ana Decarvalo, Tom Mikkelson, Erwin G Van Meir, Marc Ladanyi, Brian J Druker

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

PURPOSE: Gliomas, a genetically heterogeneous group of primary central nervous system tumors, continue to pose a significant clinical challenge. Discovery of chromosomal rearrangements involving kinase genes has enabled precision therapy, and improved outcomes in several malignancies.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Positing that similar benefit could be accomplished for patients with brain cancer, we evaluated The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) glioblastoma dataset. Functional validation of the oncogenic potential and inhibitory sensitivity of discovered ROS1 fusions was performed using three independent cell-based model systems, and an

RESULTS:

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight that CNS tumors should be specifically interrogated for these rare intrachromosomal 6q22 microdeletion …

169th Commencement, Fall

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Virtual Communication Platforms In Academically Supporting Post-Secondary Students, Eldora M. Fosmire

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

While many consider college students to be digital natives, who are at ease with multiple forms of technology, many of these students do not adapt these skills for academic purposes. Retention concerns for college students often prompt support staff to seek out and adopt technology approaches to promote completion. This study provided a virtual learning platform to deliver academic support and sought to promote learning community interaction for rural and urban post-secondary students. A subset of vocational major programs that prepare students for employment after completion served as a participant pool. However, participants in the study chose not to use …

Social Media And Academic Performance: Assisting Academic Achievement For English Language Learners, Eduardo D. Moreno

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative retrospective, causal-comparative study was to examine what, if any, statistically significant difference existed between Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) mathematical and reading achievement of English Language Learners (ELL) in a school using Seesaw—a social media platform—and those in a school not using Seesaw in an elementary school setting in Northern California. The population of ELL third and fourth-grade students within each participating school was 52, for a total of 104 participants. All ELL students in this study come from Spanish speaking homes and were Spanish speakers. Collection of data occurred through the MAP Growth assessments. …

Arts Integration In The Public Elementary School General Education Classroom, Norma Quinones

Theatre & Dance ETDs

ABSTRACT

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Education’s Nations Report Card disclosed performance trends among fourth and eighth grade students in New Mexico. Fourth graders were significantly below the national average in math and reading, while eighth graders were also performing below the national average (U.S. Department of Education). How can New Mexico public elementary school students fulfill their learning potential? Extensive research shows that arts integrated instruction is associated with student achievement. It outlines arts integration as a multidisciplinary form of teaching across the curriculum to transform teaching and learning at the elementary school level to change such statistics. …

Alterations In Resting State Functional Connectivity Associated With Alcohol Use Severity And Impulsivity In A Community Sample, Elena R. Stein

Psychology ETDs

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is characterized by neurocognitive and behavioral impairments including the multidimensional construct of impulsivity. Increased impulsivity is both a risk factor for, and a consequence of problematic alcohol use. Individuals with AUD exhibit alterations in neural circuitry when compared to those who do not have AUD. These circuit-level changes in AUD may underlie the difficulties that these individuals experience with heightened impulsivity. The present study uses data-driven resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) methodology to examine the differences in intrinsic functional networks between individuals with AUD and those who are social drinkers (SD). Participants in this secondary data …

Spatial Exploration Of Trace Metals In Near-Surface Water And Soil In The Bolivian Altiplano, Lizzie Wilson

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

We analyzed soil and groundwater samples from the Bolivian Altiplano for trace metal concentrations, correlations and partitioning trends. Total digestion, sequential extraction and loss on ignition experiments were performed on soil samples. We ran aqueous samples on an ICP-MS. Results were analyzed to identify trace metal concentrations and find any significant correlations. We generated interpolated maps in ArcGIS to spatially analyze results. Results for elevated concentrations of interest were divided into sub-groups of organophilic metals, oxoanions and divalent metals and include vanadium, arsenic, selenium, zinc, nickel, lead, cobalt, uranium, copper and manganese. These elements are likely naturally sourced. We found …

Optical Micro-Seismometer Based On Evanescent Field Perturbation Of Whispering Gallery Modes, Jaime Da Silva

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes a light-weight, compact, and accurate optical micro-seismometer that could be used in many applications, such as planetary exploration. The sensor proposed here is based on the principle of whispering gallery optical mode (WGM) resonance shifts of a dielectric micro-resonator due to disturbances of its evanescent field. The micro-seismometer could be used in place of the traditional bulky seismometers. The design of a waveguide-resonator and mechanical structure to disturb the evanescent field are presented. A proof-of-concept a seismometer model that uses a 5µm ring resonator is numerically tested with actual seismic data. The results show that a WGM-based …

Illinois State University, One Hundred And Fifty-Ninth Annual Commencement, December 15, 2018, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Illinois State University
One Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Annual Commencement
December 15, 2018

Syntheses Of A Tin (Iv) Meso-Tetra(4-Pyridyl) Porphyrin Dichloride-Tetrachlorobis (Bipy)2 Ruthenium (Ii) Complex And Studies Of Photophysical Properties Of 1-Nitropyrene, Phillip Sharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Development of a photosensitizer that can work in both aerobic and anaerobic environments would increase the robustness of the cancer treatment known as photodynamic therapy. The development of a photosensitizer was first attempted by synthesizing a tin (IV) meso-tetra (4-pyridyl) porphyrin dichloride-tetrachlorobis (Bipy)₂ ruthenium (II) complex. The synthesize of the tin porphyrin was done by a method from literature and had a percent error of 31.58 and 37.31 when comparing the theoretical percentages of carbon (55.39) and nitrogen (12.92) meaning that photosensitizer was not synthesized.

The second type of chromophore that was studied was 1-nitropyrene do determine if it …

The Installation Of The Human: Whiteness, Religion, And Racial Capitalism, Benjamin Robinson

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

Over the past thirty to forty years, the academic study of religion has brought the category of religion into crisis, unveiling its Christian architecture and its formation as a settler-colonial category of European expansion. While the proliferation of research on the genealogy of religion has opened new and important vantages for study, we remain conflicted about what is at stake. In this dissertation, I argue that the modern-colonial construction of religion is organized by a racial-theological operation that categorically separates people into humans, subhumans, and nonhumans, by which the social, economic, and political inequalities of racial capitalism have been made …

Leveraging Grammars For Openmp Development In Supercomputing Environments, Samuel Hunter

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes a solution to streamline the process of using supercomputing re- sources on Southern Methodist University’s ManeFrame II supercomputer. A large segment of the research community that uses ManeFrame II belong outside of the computer science department and the Lyle School of Engineering. While users know how to apply compu- tation to their field, their knowledge does not necessarily extend to the suite of tools and operating system that are required to use ManeFrame II. To solve this, the thesis proposes an interface for those who have little knowledge of Linux and SLURM to be able to use …

2018 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Harding University Commencement on December 15.

Commencement Speaker: Joel Anderson

Decoding Complexity In Metabolic Networks Using Integrated Mechanistic And Machine Learning Approaches, Tolutola Timothy Oyetunde

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

How can we get living cells to do what we want? What do they actually ‘want’? What ‘rules’ do they observe? How can we better understand and manipulate them? Answers to fundamental research questions like these are critical to overcoming bottlenecks in metabolic engineering and optimizing heterologous pathways for synthetic biology applications. Unfortunately, biological systems are too complex to be completely described by physicochemical modeling alone.

In this research, I developed and applied integrated mechanistic and data-driven frameworks to help uncover the mysteries of cellular regulation and control. These tools provide a computational framework for seeking answers to pertinent biological …

Investigating Cyanobacteria Metabolism And Channeling-Based Regulations Via Isotopic Nonstationary Labeling And Metabolomic Analyses, Mary Helen Abernathy

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cyanobacteria have the potential to be low-cost and sustainable cell factories for bio-products; however, many challenges face cyanobacteria as biorefineries. This dissertation seeks to advance non-model photosynthetic organisms for biotechnology applications by characterizing central carbon metabolism and its regulations. Cyanobacteria phenotypes for bio-production are examined and their intracellular metabolism is quantified. Using isotopic labeling experiments, phenotypic relationships between biomass composition, central carbon fluxes, and metabolite pool sizes are investigated. Metabolic analyses of cyanobacteria led to new investigations of flux regulation mechanisms via protein spatial organizations or metabolite channeling. Metabolite channeling is further explored as a hypothesis to explain enigmatic labeling …

A Reparative Justice Approach To Assessing Ancestral Classifications Aimed At Colonization’S Harms, Susan K. Serrano

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

The Father Of Modern Constitutional Liberalism, John Lawrence Hill

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Corporate Social Responsibility To-Come: A Derridean Interruption Of Transparency, Robert Foschia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relation between rhetorics of transparency and organizational action. Digging into CSR literature from a philosophy of communication perspective, this project seeks to determine if corporate social responsibility delivers on the promises it makes of a better world.

Drawing on the work of Jacques Derrida, the research first lays out his often overlooked contribution to the philosophy of communication, and then moves towards possible applications in deconstructing the perceived benefits of CSR, particularly in its transparent nature. By looking at organizational life from the Triple Bottom Line, this dissertation peels back the underlying rhetoric of planet, people, …