Digital Commons Network^™

Virtual Art And Non-Fungible Tokens, Lawrence J. Trautman

Hofstra Law Review

Fueled in part by the wealth recently created from digital currencies, major art dealers such as Christie's and Sotheby's have embraced the sale of non-fungible tokens attached to unique digital works of art. What are non-fungible tokens, how is this related to the blockchain, and what do we know about this rapidly evolving market for digital art? It appears that digital art can be added to the growing list of uses for blockchain technology now becoming a part of modern life. This Article proceeds in seven Parts. First is a discussion about the new and explosive market for digital art. …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Force Spun Polymeric Nanofiber For Drug Delivery And Tissue Engineering Applications, Salahuddin Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the development and characterization of polymeric nanofiber for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. In this study, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), Poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA), and Pullulan(PL) were used as the base polymers to develop the nanofiber. Bioactive components Oleanolic acid(OA), Oxymatrine(OM), and Salvianolic Acid(SA) were incorporated in PLGA, PVA, and PL, respectively, via solution mixing. The nano fiber systems were developed using the Forcespinning® method. Morphological, thermo-physical, and biological properties of the fiber mats were analyzed. The composite fiber system containing OA showed a very high drug loading efficiency. The composite fiber system containing high concentration of …

The Role Of Lncrna Uca1 In Colorectal Cancer Progression And Metastasis, Sophia M. Leslie

Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and it is the third most common cancer diagnosed in adults in the United States according to the American Cancer Society. We have identified lncRNA UCA1, a poor prognosis marker in CRC, responsible for increased proliferation and upregulating key genes related to glucose metabolism. Recombinant cell lines were generated to overexpress and knockdown UCA1 to establish the phenotype and to investigate the properties endowed in metastasis. A vital aspect of the metastatic progression is when the cell survives detachment from the extracellular matrix. At 36 hours of anchorage-independent stimulation, …

Can The Ummah Speak? Reexamining Genealogies Of Black Muslim Women Within The Black Freedom Movement Through The Examples Of Betty Shabazz And Clara Muhammad, Shameem Razack

Graduate Student Research Fellowship

No abstract provided.

Unsettling Graduate Social Work Education At Depaul University, Jovan Rivera-Lovato

Graduate Student Research Fellowship

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Instructional Perspectives Among Learning And Development Practitioners, Merzudin Selimovic

Dissertations

The instructional perspectives of learning and development practitioners have a critical impact on their learners. This study aimed to determine if a relationship existed between years of experience of a learning and development practitioner and how they score on the seven factors of Henschke’s (1989) Modified Instructional Perspectives Inventory (MIPI). The MIPI consisted of seven factors: 1) Teacher Empathy with Learners, 2) Teacher Trust of Learners, 3) Planning and Delivery of Instruction, 4) Accommodating Learner Uniqueness, 5) Teacher Insensitivity Toward Learners, 6) Learner-centered Learning Process (Experience-based Learning Techniques), and 7) Teacher-centered Learning Process. The MIPI is a revised version of …

Data Supporting The Roles Of Bap1, Sting, And Ifn-Β In Isgf3 Activation In Ccrcc, Lauren E Langbein, Eleonora Sementino, Zhijiu Zhong, Wei Jiang, Li Li, Joseph R Testa, Haifeng Yang

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The data presented in this article are companion materials to our manuscript titled "BAP1 maintains HIF-dependent interferon beta induction to suppress tumor growth in clear cell renal cell carcinoma" (Langbein et al., 2022), where we investigated the downstream effects of BAP1 (BRCA1-associated protein 1) expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cell lines and mouse xenograft models. In the manuscript, we showed that BAP1 upregulates STING (stimulator of interferon genes) expression and activity in ccRCC cells, leading to IFN-β transcription and activation of interferon stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), the transcription factor that mediates the effects of type I …

Lung Function And Atherosclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Multimorbidity In Rural Uganda, Rebecca F. Gilbert, Cody Cichowitz, Prossy Bibangambah, June Ho Kim, Linda C. Hemphill, Isabelle T. Yang, Ruth N. Sentongo, Bernard Kakuhikire, David C. Christiani, Alexander C. Tsai, Samson Okello, Mark J. Siedner, Crystal M. North

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of global mortality. In high-income settings, the presence of cardiovascular disease among people with COPD increases mortality and complicates longitudinal disease management. An estimated 26 million people are living with COPD in sub-Saharan Africa, where risk factors for co-occurring pulmonary and cardiovascular disease may differ from high-income settings but remain uncharacterized. As non-communicable diseases have become the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, defining multimorbidity in this setting is critical to inform the required scale-up of existing healthcare infrastructure. Methods: We measured lung function and carotid intima media thickness …

Raps Sheet, December 2022, Retirement Association Of Portland State

RAPS Sheet: Monthly Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Climate Justice And Racial And Gender Equity: Creating And Promoting Featured Collections, Sherry Buchanan

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

PDXScholar, the repository for Portland State University, showcases three main collections that are automatically curated based on filters – tags that collect and display the content: Climate Justice, Racial and Gender Equity, and COVID-19. In this presentation, I will give an overview of our featured collections, their development and promotion, including the criteria for inclusion, technical aspects, and impact. The Digital Commons automated collection tool and system configuration will be briefly explained.

Religion And Spirituality As A Coping Mechanism For Racial Microaggressions: A Literature Review, Ashia Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial discrimination is still very prevalent in the United States. People of color continue to face racism despite efforts to eradicate it. Sometimes it comes in a more subtle form known as a microaggression which can be an everyday occurrence for many people (Lewis & Neville, 2015). This is a unique stressor in that it targets an aspect of an individual that cannot be changed, and it requires the individual to decide to either confront their offender or handle it in a different manner. The goal of this paper is to perform a literature review to investigate if African Americans …

Surviving The Seventies: How Ten East Texan Women Labored For Their Families, Emily B. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The 1970s were a period of political and social turmoil. Many women left the domestic sphere and entered public life to work, seek higher education, and pursue a career. Yet many factors worked against them. They entered a workforce that treated them poorly or went to a university with limited degrees for women. The seventies were also a time of social, cultural, and political upheaval marked by a deep recession in which quality jobs were harder to find and layoffs were common. This oral history project seeks to document the experiences of East Texan women during this tumultuous period. And …

The Cost Of Survival For Insulin-Dependent Diabetics, Nikol Nesterenko

UC Law Journal

Insulin, an injectable drug discovered about 100 years ago that now costs less than $5 to manufacture, is currently sold between $300 and $500 in the United States. The continuously growing price forces many insulin-dependent diabetics to forego their lifesaving medication, which can result in death. Although insulin manufacturers are a significant cause of insulin unaffordability in this country, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), such as CVS Caremark, OptumRx, and Express Scripts, are essential in the insulin market and pressure insulin manufacturers to provide higher rebates, leading to higher prices for consumers.

Some states have addressed this issue by passing legislation …

Social Media Impact On Small Brick And Mortar Businesses, David N. Bowles

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the implementation of various strategies and goals for small to medium brick-and-mortar enterprises regarding their use of social media. Drawing from primary data collection with small brick-and-mortar businesses within the greater metro area of Portland, Oregon, the value of social media is the ability of an organization to create a sense of value for their consumers while promoting positive relations and enhancing the consumer's ability to interact with an organization on a more personal level. Focusing on the implementation of various strategies and promotional efforts to increase the success of these small businesses and align their organizational …

Intersectionality Pertaining To The Disproportionate Rates Of Black Women In Prisons And Jails, Mackenzie Heller

University Honors Theses

The incarceration rates of Black women in America surpass even all other demographics. Yet, Black women are often not on the news when discussing prison rates in the United States. Rather we see Black men, Hispanic men, and so forth. While these people do make up large portions of the prison system they are seeing a decline in their incarceration rates. Black women are often pushed to the sidelines when discussing matters that can be seen as central to their livelihoods.

This thesis addresses the intersectionality that only Black women experience and how that affects their imprisonment rates and experiences …

Working Outside The Binary: Experiences Of Nonbinary Employees In The Workforce, Mordeky C. Dullum

University Honors Theses

Transgender issues in the workplace have only recently become a focus in research, and it is still new and understudied. Even less studied is the demographic of gender expansive individuals including nonbinary and gender non-conforming individuals. This qualitative study aims to explore and highlight workplace experiences for nonbinary people, with a particular focus on younger nonbinary people who experience less employment stability in more public facing jobs. Thirteen participants engaged in interviews where they were asked to describe their experiences dealing with discrimination, harassment and transphobia in the workplace, in addition to sharing their ideas for practical solutions or changes …

Making It Up As You Go Along, Elizabeth M. Williams

Visions in Leisure and Business

This article recounts the founding of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans, LA with a special emphasis on the obstacles that the organization faced and the commitment to overcome those obstacles through tenacity and creativity. The journey to the present goes from the concept and kitchen table brainstorming to a functioning and growing institution that has begun to be recognized within the industry. The obstacles include Hurricane Katrina, the BP Oil Spill, and the COVID 19 pandemic.

Slo Hard Seltzer, Abby M. Fahey

Graphic Communication

For my senior project, I created an alcoholic seltzer brand called SLO Seltzer. SLO Seltzer is marketed towards young adults of all genders ranging from the ages of 21 to 26 who are either currently living in San Luis Obispo or who have a personal connection to the area. I designed a unique logo, created eye-catching packaging prototypes, and developed a cohesive social media presence which encapsulates the business’ brand, goals, and values.

To complete this project, I began by researching the current alcoholic seltzer market to find out which business strategies have created the most successful brands and use …

An Exploration Into The Design Of A Portable Music Player For People With Alzheimer’S And Dementia, Jaxon V. Silva

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

An exploration into the design of a portable music player for people with Alzheimer's and dementia.

The Debate On Social Media Ethicality: How Social Media Affects Consumers And Marketing, Who Is Responsible For Malpractice, And How To Approach The Social Media Dilemma, Caroline Kolter

Senior Honors Theses

This research project will study social media usage and its positive and negative aspects, considering how social media positively impacts businesses and how it negatively impacts consumers. This approaches the ethicality of social media marketing and attempts to determine if using and taking information from users is ethical using personal experience to test whether social media strategies work. This study will weigh the pros and cons of social media, testing to find the best way to use social media to amplify its positives and mitigate its negatives, and concluding who is responsible for the damage done by malpractice.

Community In Culture: The Role Of Multicultural Education In Elementary School, Michaela Novack

Senior Honors Theses

Racism, bias, and discrimination plagues all areas of society, including the school systems. With the wrong perspective, diversity causes division, and it is impacting students, even in elementary schools. This thesis will examine research about the issue of racism and bias in elementary schools and suggest the solution of cultural integration experiences with practical strategies. It will demonstrate how cultural diversity in instruction encourages students to identify stereotypes, readjust their perspectives of culture, and identify and appreciate their cultural differences. This instruction can be achieved through a variety of methods including virtual field trips, diverse literature, and class activities. The …

Streaming Gender, Masculinity, And Race: Luke Cage's Impact On The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samual Madison Mcmillen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Streaming Gender, Masculinity, and Race: Luke Cage’s Impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe analyzes gender, masculinity, and race in Marvel’s transmedia universe. The analysis examines streaming television’s role in confronting social issues related to gender, masculinity, and race, such as systemic racism, white supremacy, and toxic masculinity. This study examines the impact of three Netflix series on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and The Defenders, as these series were Marvel’s initial use of streaming television. The character, Luke Cage, appears in each of these Netflix series, and while each series tells a story of its own, the …

Conceptual Framework, Derrick Manns, Bob D. Lee, David L. Groves

Visions in Leisure and Business

Resilience is an elusive concept and has many definitions. Most definitions are based upon position regarding achieving normalcy, advancement beyond normalcy, or anticipation of future positions. The definition that was used for this study includes the following elements: (The initial research was conducted by Mallak (1998). Goal Directed, Avoidance, Critical Understanding, Role Dependence, Information Sources, and Resource Access. This represents a transitional position and provides an ability to analyze problems and prescribe solutions for both the individual as well as the organization. It provides a framework for in depth understanding for future action, if such a pandemic happens again. It …

Covid Segmentation: Important Variables And Their Relationship To Resilience, Derrick Manns, Bob D. Lee, David L. Groves

Visions in Leisure and Business

Most of the data about the virus views it from a holistic perspective. It must be realized that the data must be segmented. In review of content on the internet and publications, a four COVID category system was developed: Impaired Illness to Death, Bad, Mild to Little or No Effect, No problem. Once these categories were identified the important variables in each of these categories were investigated. These variables were then related to the various dimensions of resilience. This type of information is needed in strategic planning and the development of programs for future crises.

Aging In Middleton: A Community Needs Assessment, Sue Berger, Caitlin Coyle

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Middleton. The content of this report is meant to inform the Middleton Council on Aging (COA), and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Middleton, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. Through a process of community engagement and mixed method data collection, the goals of this project are twofold: 1) to inform the planning and design of the future senior center space …

Title Ix: Transgender Students Vs America, Vanessa R. Martinez

Whittier Scholars Program

No abstract provided.

Linguistic Imperialism: A Critical Analysis Of English Hegemony And Its Effect On English Language Learners, Linley King

Honors Theses

This study uses previous research and qualitative data to determine how foreign language teachers can present English to learners as an international communicative tool while also preserving their native L1 identity amidst hegemonic cultural influences. Since becoming a lingua franca, the majority of English users are non-native speakers, and the findings of this study explain how English has globally spread to create distinctive linguistic groups among these speakers and the importance of promoting the equality of their English variations against the “standard” dialect used in current monolingual English language teaching (ELT) policies (Canagarajah, 1999; Duff, 2005; Schmitz, 2014). Responses from …

Sequential Frame-Interpolation And Dct-Based Video Compression Framework, Yeganeh Jalalpour, Wu-Chi Feng, Feng Liu

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Video data is ubiquitous; capturing, transferring, and storing even compressed video data is challenging because it requires substantial resources. With the large amount of video traffic being transmitted on the internet, any improvement in compressing such data, even small, can drastically impact resource consumption. In this paper, we present a hybrid video compression framework that unites the advantages of both DCT-based and interpolation-based video compression methods in a single framework. We show that our work can deliver the same visual quality or, in some cases, improve visual quality while reducing the bandwidth by 10--20%.

Algorithmic Elections, Sarah M.L. Bender

Michigan Law Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered election administration. Across the country, election officials are beginning to use AI systems to purge voter records, verify mail-in ballots, and draw district lines. Already, these technologies are having a profound effect on voting rights and democratic processes. However, they have received relatively little attention from AI experts, advocates, and policymakers. Scholars have sounded the alarm on a variety of “algorithmic harms” resulting from AI’s use in the criminal justice system, employment, healthcare, and other civil rights domains. Many of these same algorithmic harms manifest in elections and voting but have been underexplored and remain …

The Lead, December 2022, Lindenwood University

The Lead

The Lead is an electronic newsletter produced by the Lindenwood College of Education & Human Services.