Digital Commons Network^™

Combining Network Modeling And Experimental Approaches To Predict Drug Combination Responses, Deepraj Sarmah

All Dissertations

Cancer is a lethal disease and complex at multiple levels of cell biology. Despite many advances in treatments, many patients do not respond to therapy. This is owing to the complexity of cancer-genetic variability due to mutations, the multi-variate biochemical networks within which drug targets reside and existence and plasticity of multiple cell states. It is generally understood that a combination of drugs is a way to address the multi-faceted drivers of cancer and drug resistance. However, the sheer number of testable combinations and challenges in matching patients to appropriate combination treatments are major issues.

Here, we first present a …

Developmental Effects Of Chronic Low-Level Arsenic Exposure In Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells And In Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, M. Chiara Perego

All Dissertations

Arsenic is an environmental contaminant commonly found in food and drinking water. Exposure to arsenic during embryonic development has been linked to reduced muscle growth, disrupted muscle development and locomotor activity, impaired neurodevelopment, reduced IQ, impaired memory and learning deficits. While the mechanisms responsible for developmental changes following in utero exposure to arsenic are not well known, one possibility is that arsenic might disrupt proper cellular differentiation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which arsenic exposure could alter stem cell differentiation into neurons.

First, we continuously exposed P19 mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to 0.1 μM (7.5 ppb) …

Bilateral Tensions, The Trade War, And Us-China Trade Relations, Ka Zeng, Rob Wells, Jingping Gu, Austin Wilkins

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article constructs a measure of geopolitical and economic tensions in US-China relations based on the sentiment expressed in major US news media and utilizes it to analyze the impact of bilateral tensions on US imports from China between 2002 and 2019. Our results suggest that bilateral tensions have had a negative effect on US imports. Additional analyses of the impact of bilateral tensions for industries with varying levels of supply chain linkages to China suggest that, contrary to expectations, they have more disproportionately affected industries highly integrated with the Chinese market. This pattern continues to hold during the trade …

Sam's Story, Anna Michelle Reid, Jennifer Vazquez

Computer Science and Software Engineering

We are exploring presenting mental health topics in video games through the eyes of an axolotl named Sam. Sam goes about his day to day life facing many difficult challenges regarding their mental health. This is an educational game to inform about different mental health symptoms and what they may look like.

Imagineering Engineering Education: Learnings From The Case Of Disney And Applications To Industry 5.0, King Harold A. Recto, Juan Jeffrey Consignado, Romano Q. Neyra

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

With a market valuation of $238.9 billion, Walt Disney is among the most prosperous and influential entertainment corporations in the world. Being a company that puts high premium on creativity, it pioneered the concept of Imagineering and technology-based projects such as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). As Industry 5.0 transforms the society, the demand for Imagineering is felt but Imagineers are just produced on-the-job and may not be very efficient. To understand Imagineering better, the authors embarked on a case study of where it began, in the Walt Disney Company. This technique was also used to identify Disney's …

Flying In Our Sleep, John Strauss

Graduate Thesis Collection

Flying In Our Sleep is a one-hour radio / podcast production of a story in which “Teens wake to discover they’re drafted into an army of killer robot drones and must outwit their deadly AI overlords in a desperate bid to escape.” This partly ironic summary sets the tone for an adventure story for Young Adult audiences with thoughtful elements around the meaning of consciousness, personality, and friendship. The project also includes a paper, “The Art of the Fiction Podcast,” that explains how the show was produced, and argues that digital media has a place in literary writing programs to …

Callery Pear Allelopathy Study, Michaela J. Woods, Jonathan T. Bauer, Dena Schaeffer, Ryan W. Mcewan

Five Rivers MetroParks Collaboration Data Archive

No abstract provided.

Cover, Title Page, Table Of Contents, Administrative Information, Black Catholic Theological Symposium

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

No abstract provided.

Sunset, Kimberly Flint-Hamilton

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

Letter from the Editor

Review — Olga M. Segura, Birth Of A Movement: Black Lives Matter And The Catholic Church, Laryssa D. Herrington

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

No abstract provided.

Review — Edward K. Braxton, The Church And The Racial Divide: Reflections Of An African American Bishop, Craig A. Ford Jr.

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

No abstract provided.

Review — Lisa Allen, A Womanist Theology Of Worship: Liturgy, Justice, And Communal Righteousness, Kim R. Harris

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

No abstract provided.

Welcome: Notes On The Church As A Community Of Reception, Joseph S. Flipper

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

The Second Vatican Council affirmed the retrieval of communion ecclesiology and the significance of the local church. Correlating with its communion ecclesiology, questions arose concerning the reception of conciliar teaching. According to Yves Congar, in accordance with the essential conciliarity of the church, reception is a creative process of discernment and assimilation. Black Catholics following the council similarly developed a theology of the local church and a theology of reception. I argue that US Black Catholic theologians and pastors described reception as welcome of the Word of God and hospitality toward those who bear the Word.

Chronology, Black Catholic Theological Symposium

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

Listing of BCTS annual meetings from 1978 to 2022

Review — Patrick Saint-Jean, The Crucible Of Racism: Ignatian Spirituality And The Power Of Hope, Alex Mikulich

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

No abstract provided.

Humor Writer Of The Month: Karen Chee, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop Blog

Karen Chee is an Emmy- and Writers Guild of America-nominated comedian, writer and actor. She's currently writing for season two of Pachinko and for Late Night with Seth Meyers. She's our Humor Writer of the Month for December.

Improving Student Satisfaction And Wellbeing In An International Baccalaureate Program: An Improvement Science Study, Michael Fisher

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This research aimed to improve student satisfaction and wellbeing in an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, located in the US Virgin Islands, through the implementation of an improvement science dissertation in practice (ISDiP). The study utilized a framework of Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) over the course of a 90-day improvement cycle. A networked improvement community (NIC) met throughout the cycle to develop a shared understanding of the problem of practice and context, develop a theory of improvement, collect data related to that theory, and make adjustments based on that data.

The NIC identified four primary drivers they believed would result …

Braving The Sea Change: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of How Counselors-In-Training Experience Their Interpersonal And Intrapersonal Relationships, Christopher Jess Ward

Dissertations

This interpretive phenomenological analysis asked counselors-in-training (CITs) to reflect on their connections with important others and with themselves, noting any changes which took place within said relationships over the course of counselor training. Seven CITs provided rich narratives around relational shifts and personal/professional development, bringing to the surface superordinate themes of (a) Insecurity and Confusion, (b) Growing Pains, and (c) Overcoming and Resilience. Superordinate themes were further divided into the following sub-themes: Insecurity and Confusion: Professional/Personal Identity Integration, Mental Health and Responsibility, Reassurance; Growing Pains: Relationship Imbalanced and Disequilibrium, Loneliness; Overcoming and Resilience: Ruptures and Repairs, Outright Benefits, Self-Prioritization. These …

Development Of Geoscience Interest And Identity Of Female First-Generation Undergraduate Geoscience Students, Dina London

Dissertations

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how female first-generation undergraduate geoscience students developed their situational geoscience interests into individual interests that, in turn, supported their geoscience identity and decision to become a geoscience major. The experiences of six female first-generation undergraduate geoscience students were used to explore how geoscience interests and geoscience identities developed over time. I analyzed three artifacts representing participants’ geoscience identity, geoscience interest development timeline, and transcribed interviews to explore emerging themes relating to interest and identity development. Participants described events relating to their situational geoscience interests, individual geoscience interests, and the formation …

Comparing Teacher Induction Programs, Catherine Teresa Linhardt

Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to provide a quantitative approach to the study of induction programs as a means to demonstrate their importance to lessening teacher attrition rates. The collection of quantitative data collected through an online Likert style survey was intended compare multiple induction programs and determine which induction program components are connected to increased job satisfaction and decreased teacher attrition. One school district agreed to participate in the online survey; 31 teachers completed it and were included in the results of the study. Due to unforeseen circumstances caused by COVID-19 and other uncontrollable factors, the study …

Exploring Formative Versus Summative Assessment Models On Creative Mindset Development, Dylan Patrick James Kriescher

Dissertations

The purpose of the current research was to explore how the repeated presentation of process-oriented feedback from multiple task attempts can help develop students’ growth mindset. A standard model of assessment practices often involves a one-time summative assessment at the end of a learning period. An alternative model involves the use of formative assessments as intermittent process-oriented feedback throughout a learning period. The use of formative assessment feedback may demonstrate growth to students, while this opportunity is not offered by the summative assessment model. Using elements of formative assessment and guided by Dweck’s (2006) conceptualization of growth mindset, this study …

“Ici On Chante En Français”: Giving A Voice To Cajun Culture, Tessa Espinosa

Dissertations

“Ici on parle Français” (“French is spoken here”) is a popular adage in South Louisiana and can be seen on signage and T-shirts in mom-and-pop stores throughout the heart of Cajun territory. This phrase reflects cultural pride and tenacity in a small but hearty group of people whose identity was nearly stripped away. Musical settings of Cajun French verse constituted a vital part of this culture. Why is this music important? It exists as historical preservation, a means to explore roots in a time when so many are rootless. These songs have been passed down through oral history for generations. …

Animal-Assisted Interventions In Supervision: A Collective Case Study, Connie Elizabeth Couch

Dissertations

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have been discussed in recent conceptual literature as having potential for positive implications when applied in supervision (Chandler, 2017; Jackson, 2020; Owenby, 2017; Stewart et al., 2015). However, there was limited empirical foundation or guidance for the integration of two distinct specializations (AAIs and supervision). The purpose of this qualitative collective case study (Stake, 2006) was to explore and understand the experiences of supervisors who have been implementing AAIs within the context of supervision. Specifically, this study addressed the following overarching research question and two sub-questions were addressed: Q1 Why are supervisors integrating AAIs into supervision? Q1a …

Preclinical Behavioral Assessments Of Mitraginyne, The Main Psychoactive Alkaloid In Kratom, Rachel Burroughs

Dissertations

Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is a medicinal plant indigenous to Southeast Asia and Africa with a long history of use for a variety of ailments, including diarrhea, pain relief, cough suppression, and amelioration of opiate withdrawal symptoms. Despite its status as an herbal remedy, kratom is banned in some countries due to a myriad of negative health risks. Preclinical psychopharmacology studies of mitragynine (MG), the main alkaloid of kratom, indicate it has opioid-like effects at higher doses and psychostimulant-like effects at lower doses. The current study utilized three rodent behavioral paradigms to evaluate the putative psychostimulant effects of MG. The specific …

Intersectional Identities Of Race And Religion Of African American Muslims And Their Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services, Cheruba A. Dhanaraj

Dissertations

African American Muslims have overlapping and interconnected identities of race and religion that can be conceptualized by the intersectionality framework to understand the complexities of barriers they face when seeking mental health services. African American Muslims have a higher risk of mental health issues due to systemic racism, racial discrimination, racial trauma, and Islamophobic discrimination. Yet, there is a lack of scholarly research or studies that focus explicitly on African American Muslims' specific mental health needs, barriers, and attitudes related to seeking mental health treatment.

This study sought to fill the gap in knowledge about attitudes toward seeking mental health …

What We Say Matters: Exploring The Importance Of Microaggression Language For Lgbtq+ Science Major Undergraduate Students, Madison L. Fitzgerald-Russell

Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study is to better understand the climate for LGBTQ+ science major undergraduates in their departments through a transformative queer theory lens and intersectionality. Prior research on campus and STEM department climates have demonstrated inclusion issues continue to persist for LGBTQ+ individuals in higher education. One of these issues is discrimination in the form of microaggressions. Microaggressions against LGBTQ+ individuals have been demonstrated to cause physical, mental, and academic harm. In the literature, there is limited information on how microaggressions impact students in particular STEM fields.

LGBTQ+ science undergraduates from public colleges and universities in …

Remote Sensing Application For Landslide Detection: Monitoring Along Eastern Lake Michigan (Miami Park, Mi), Guzalay Sataer

Dissertations

I assessed the nature and spatial and temporal patterns of deformation over the Miami Park bluffs on the eastern margin of Lake Michigan and investigated the factors controlling its observed deformation. Our approach involved the following steps: (1) extracting bluff deformation rates (velocities along the line of sight of the satellite) using a stack of Sentinel-1A radar imagery in ascending acquisition geometry acquired between 2017 and 2021 and applying the Intermittent Small Baseline Subset (ISBAS) InSAR time series analysis method; (2) generating high-resolution (5 cm) elevation models and orthophotos from temporal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys acquired in 2017, 2019, …

The Acculturation Process Of International Students In Cacrep Counseling Programs: A Grounded Theory Approach, Hanny Wuysang

Dissertations

International students bring diverse, multicultural perspectives to the U.S. postsecondary education system through their participation in higher education. However, in their adjustment to U.S. higher education, international students in counseling programs face barriers and challenges such as language differences, lack of support, microaggressions and discrimination, culture shock, and different perspectives on mental health treatment as compared to their home cultures. These factors can interfere with their daily personal and academic lives, yet there is often minimal support from their academic programs and host institutions. The growing number of international students in counseling programs increases the importance of understanding their acculturation …

Measuring The Economic Impact Of Recurrent Flooding On Workforce Productivity And Property, Joshua G. Behr, Wie Yusuf, George Mcleod, Sarah Stafford, Derek Loftis, Afi Anuar, Rafael Diaz

Presentations, Lectures, Posters, Reports

From the Executive Summary:

This research draws upon expertise across multiple disciplines and fields. Leveraged are natural systems data and social-behavioral data. The high-level objective is to advance our understanding of how very recent recurrent flooding has impacted residents within the City of Portsmouth, and then forecast these impacts under projections of sea level rise. While this research draws upon data for the City of Portsmouth, the findings may be generalized to the broader Hampton Roads region.

Underground Man: The Ever -Evolving Existentialist In The Fiction Of Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Wright And Ralph Ellison., Joseph Burton

Theses (2016-Present)

Existential philosophers Fyodor Dostoevsky and Jean Paul Sartre sought answers concerning man’s placement and subsequent importance in the universe. From a Eurocentric perspective, western man, his being, position, and influence emanate from the center of thought and existence in the western hemisphere. Dostoevsky’s existential crisis exhibited in the protagonist from his Notes from Underground, and Sartre’s concepts of facticity which gives man a direct philosophical link to his freedom, are two popular viewpoints of contemporary existentialism. However, French West Indian Frantz Fanon, counters the European tenets of existential philosophy as it pertains to black people. The conclusions reached in Black …