Digital Commons Network^™

Microeconomic Social And Resource Barriers To Music Education Expansion In Impoverished South Carolina Areas, Anna Susanne Holley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite much information in outreach in impoverished areas, research has yet to fully show the barriers to music education expansion in poverty-level South Carolina. This qualitative study is conducted using previous data for correlation through research analysis of social attitudes and resource-based barriers to participation rates and expansion of music education throughout South Carolina. Research discovered that impoverished students are much less likely to participate in music education and less than 25% of United States seniors, whether public or privately educated, are actively participating in music education programs. Lastly, statistics shows less than half of students with access to music …

Mirna-211 Maintains Metabolic Homeostasis In Medulloblastoma Through Its Target Gene Long-Chain Acyl-Coa Synthetase 4, Menglang Yuan, Iqbal Mahmud, Keisuke Katsushima, Kandarp Joshi, Olivier Saulnier, Rudramani Pokhrel, Bongyong Lee, Wathsala Liyanage, Haritha Kunhiraman, Stacie Stapleton, Ignacio Gonzalez-Gomez, Rangaramanujam M Kannan, Tanja Eisemann, Elayaraja Kolanthai, Sudipta Seal, Timothy J Garrett, Saed Abbasi, Kimberly Bockley, Justin Hanes, Prem Chapagain, George Jallo, Robert J Wechsler-Reya, Michael D Taylor, Charles G Eberhart, Animesh Ray, Ranjan J Perera

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The prognosis of childhood medulloblastoma (MB) is often poor, and it usually requires aggressive therapy that adversely affects quality of life. microRNA-211 (miR-211) was previously identified as an important regulator of cells that descend from neural cells. Since medulloblastomas primarily affect cells with similar ontogeny, we investigated the role and mechanism of miR-211 in MB. Here we showed that miR-211 expression was highly downregulated in cell lines, PDXs, and clinical samples of different MB subgroups (SHH, Group 3, and Group 4) compared to normal cerebellum. miR-211 gene was ectopically expressed in transgenic cells from MB subgroups, and they were subjected …

A Case For Offering An Associate Of Fine Arts In Music At Community Colleges In Rural Northwestern And Northern Regions Of North Carolina, Frieda Eakins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative method research paper with survey design identifies the need to implement an associate in fine arts degree in music at community colleges located in the rural northwestern and northern regions of North Carolina. A music degree would provide early college students with music courses comparable to those offered in traditional area high schools and greater accessibility for a diverse student population of community college students. At the inception of this study, early college high school programs in rural northwestern and northern regions of North Carolina did not offer music courses. Students in these programs relied on the community …

Beyond Sunday Morning: Communal Singing And Corporate Identity, Justin Aaron Mckinney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Corporate worship singing long aided congregants in growing their communal identity and theological understanding of biblical principles. While modern singing trends help congregants grow their theological understanding, modern church singing trends suggest songs are not encouraging growth in communal identity mimicking cultural values of individualism in corporate worship song lyrics. Historically, individual first-person pronouns represented the individuals alongside the rest of the church; but with a rise in cultural individualism, first-person pronouns now represent individuals independent of one another. This individualistic focus can lead congregants to conclude they do not need the church and to remove themselves from the body …

How Does Nurse-To-Patient Ratio Impact Patient Outcomes In Adults, 18 Years And Older, That Are Admitted To Hospitals Around The World: An Integrative Review, Bre' Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The field of nursing, known as the heart of health care, impacts individuals throughout every season of life: from the first cry to the last breath. It matters not how advanced the world might become; the calming presence of a nurse is irreplaceable. Considering the value of nurses, adequate work settings and staffing ratios is essential for care provision. Current practice is lacking, focusing heavily on patient satisfaction while staff contentment is not always addressed. Ratios are being increased, changing the way nurses provide care. The industry calls nurses into action to provide care that is efficient, effective, and safe. …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Benefits Of Duets In Private Trumpet Lessons: A Qualitative Survey Study Of University Teachers In South Carolina, Todd Edison Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While research exists surrounding trumpet pedagogy and utilizing duets in piano and string lessons, no studies currently focus on teachers’ perceptions of employing duets in private college trumpet lessons. Teacher perception is important because of the significant amount of trumpet duet literature available for teachers to implement as part of their curriculum to improve the dexterity and musicianship of their students. Ensemble skills, articulation, phrasing, style, transposition, and the introduction of piccolo trumpet and trumpets in other keys are important skills at all levels of trumpet performance. Trumpet teachers may utilize duets as a facet of their curriculum to teach …

Mass Incarceration In America: Where's The Church?, Michael J. Wing

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to mass incarceration, correctional facilities in America are dealing with unprecedented levels of overcrowding, staff shortages, violence, suicide, and widespread mental illness among inmates. Budget cuts and the corresponding loss of vocational, educational, and treatment programs have exacerbated such problems. Mass incarceration and its deleterious consequences are challenging the very soul of America, and the church has largely stood by and watched this tragic situation unfold over the last fifty years. This research project has explored some of the barriers that have precluded churches from taking a more intentional, active, and impactful role in doing something about the national …

The Psychological Impact On The Relational Partner Of Bpd-Diagnosed Persons, Carl Pendleton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) presents a complex mental health condition marked by a consistent pattern of instability in mood, self-perception, behavior, and interpersonal connections (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In romantic relationships, such intense and unpredictable emotions can make life particularly challenging for a non-BPD partner. This cross-sectional quantitative study aimed to investigate the psychological impact on non-BPD diagnosed romantic partners of individuals suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD). Self-reported assessments were collected online from participants (N = 77) to explore potential correlations between the non-BPD partner's history of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), their level of knowledge regarding BPD, religious practices, …

Examining The Predictive Weight Of Perceived Organizational Support And Job Embeddedness On Turnover Intention, Tyler J. Swansboro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Generation Z personnel are entering the workplace in monumental numbers. As this understudied population enters the work domain, the business environment will continuously struggle to adapt to their new perceptions, motifs, and thought processes. When these new workers enter the workforce, many will inevitably enter the leisure and hospitality industry. This specific industry has the highest turnover rate in America (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2022). To further the understanding of retention, this study was structured to explore the predictive weight of perceived organizational support (POS) and job embeddedness (JE) on turnover intention, to assess which construct was the stronger …

A Qualitative Study Of Media Dependency Theory On Tiktok Citizen Journalists, Jaron David Paschke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the problem with depending on citizen journalism for news updates on TikTok during Hurricane Ian. To accomplish that, three types of qualitative content analysis were deployed to answer three separate but related research questions. First, a conventional content analysis was used to determine if the communicative roles of citizen journalists differed from their mainstream media counterparts during a crisis. Second, a summative content analysis was used to determine how effective crisis communications from citizen journalists were when compared to those produced by the mainstream media. Lastly, a directed content analysis was used …

Choosing A Sophisticated, Robust, And Secure Programming Language, J. Simon Richard

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

This paper explores which programming languages maximize the quality and efficiency of software development projects requiring high levels of sophistication, security, and stability. Of the four languages discussed in this paper—C, C++, Java, and Rust—we conclude that Rust is the best for this application.

Bedside Diaries And Caregiver Journals: Plain Authors’ Accounts Of Medical Experiences, Jennifer Anderson

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Plain populations (Amish and some Mennonites) write nonfiction accounts of their medical experiences as a means of networking and sharing knowledge about medical conditions and care. These stories serve as a means of creating space to normalize the condition. These accounts are written in the form of medical dramas, “bedside diaries” (such as autobiographies and caregivers’ journals), and reference books. In this article, I propose that healthcare providers read bedside diaries and medical experience stories to learn how plain people process their medical experiences, utilize community support systems, and create meaning based on their faith and beliefs. A select bibliography …

Promoting Culturally Accessible, Community-Centered, Midwifery Care In The Rural Anabaptist Population Of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Cynthia Soulliere

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The experience of providing midwifery care in a rural Southwestern Ontario community is discussed, highlighting specific approaches to providing culturally accessible and community-centered care among the Old Order Anabaptists. Midwives in Ontario are primary care providers for perinatal care and the clinic described in this paper works primarily with families from Anabaptist communities. Success in providing culturally accessible care has come from community engagement and responsiveness to ways to improve access to healthcare in this region. Highlighted in this article are the scope of midwifery care in Ontario, home and hospital births, collaboration with other community agencies, and community-based genetic …

Mother’S Hope: A Residential Program Caring For Plain Mothers With Mental Health Challenges, Renee Bright, Naomi Raber

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Mother’s Hope is a culturally sensitive residential program of hope and healing for plain Anabaptist mothers struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. The home is situated in central Ohio and run by paid staff and Amish volunteers. While in residence, mothers get intensive attention from professional counseling and medical staff at nearby SpringHaven Counseling Center. This home is unique in that mothers are permitted to keep their infants with them in the home so that mother-child bonding is not interrupted while they receive mental health treatment. Several women, former residents at Mother’s Hope, shared their stories, which are included in …

Oil Therapy Massage As Complementary Care Of Burns And Wounds, Tristate Burn Care Team, Rosanna Hess

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Oil therapy massage is a part of the care of burns and wounds done by plain, lay caregivers in Amish and Mennonite communities across the United States and Canada. Oil therapy massage is used to manage scarring and to improve joint functionality and skin and tissue integrity. The purpose of this article is to describe oil therapy massage as a complementary part of after-burn care in the context of sociocultural values of plain populations in which caregivers are a part of the B&W movement. This article includes a brief description of the caring and sharing culture of plain peoples; a …

Attitudes Toward The Amish Held By Nursing And Social Work Students At A Midwestern University, Lora Wyss, Rosanna Hess

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

As Amish populations increase and move across North America, the likelihood grows that healthcare professionals will come into contact with them. No studies have been conducted to examine contact frequency with or attitudes of healthcare providers toward the Amish. The aims of this study were to examine attitudes toward the Amish among nursing and social work students attending a Christian liberal arts university in a Midwestern state, and, to determine the relationship between students’ cultural awareness, their knowledge of the Amish, their contact with the Amish, and their attitudes toward the Amish. The participants were anonymously surveyed using the Revised …

Vitamin D Status Of Anabaptist Children In Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Janis A. Randall Simpson, Natalee Miller, Taylor Hartwig, Jane Leach, Melissa Purdy, Emily Roth, Victoria Mok Siue, Cynthia Soulliere, Jacqui Tam, Ann Watt

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The objective was to determine vitamin D status of Old Order Anabaptist children in rural Southwestern, Ontario, Canada, given concerns of community healthcare professionals. Fifty-two children (2.5 months - 6.5 years) (56% female) were recruited. Finger prick blood spot (BSp) samples were analyzed for 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamins D2 & D3 (BSp25(OH)D). Three-day food records were evaluated using Dietary Reference Intakes and Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) (Bush, et al. 2007). Compared to national Canadian data: mean BSp25(OH)D concentrations (78±31 nmol/L) were similar; a slightly smaller proportion (0% vs 2%) were at risk of deficiency (<30 nmol/L) or had inadequate status (4% vs 7%) (<40 nmol/L); and 10% vs 1% had BSp25(OH)D higher than 125 nmol/L. BSp25(OH)D was significantly associated (r2=0.358; p=0.001) with total vitamin D intake. From food alone, vitamin D intake was 68±39 IU/day, lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 600 IU/day, and intakes were all below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of 400 IU. Even including supplemental vitamin D, 87% were below the EAR (total intake=213±194 IU/day). No children had vitamin D intakes greater than the Upper Limit. Servings of milk and alternates were 1.6±0.8/day (CFG=2/day). Unfortified farm milk was consumed by 88% of children and 89% received a vitamin D supplement. Results were comparable to recent Canadian data suggesting that most children have adequate vitamin D status. Nevertheless, these findings support the need to encourage appropriate vitamin D intake (from food and supplements) to achieve the RDA for Old Order Anabaptist children in these communities. [Abstract by authors.]

Health Beliefs, Health Practices, And Health-Seeking Behaviors Among Swartzentruber Amish In Clark County, Wisconsin, Courtney J. Schoessow

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Although the literature contains valuable information about Amish culture, few qualitative studies have been conducted on the health beliefs, health practices, and health-seeking behaviors of the Swartzentruber Amish, the most conservative group of Old Order Amish. The purpose of this study was to describe these dynamics for the Swartzentruber Amish of Clark County, Wisconsin. Utilizing the grounded theory approach, 25 participants were interviewed and seven themes were identified: shared decision-making is common in families; causes of illness are believed to be etiological or the will of God; home remedies are the first choice; preventive medicine is an unfamiliar concept; health …

Lessons Learned: Clay Lowery, Yasemin Esmen, Rosalind Z. Wiggins

Journal of Financial Crises

Clay Lowery was assistant secretary for international affairs at the US Treasury during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). His office was responsible for economic and financial diplomacy, international monetary affairs, debt strategy, global financial services, and US participation at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This “Lessons Learned” is based on an interview with Lowery in September 2019.

Lessons Learned: William B. English, Sandra Ward

Journal of Financial Crises

Bill English, a longtime veteran of the Federal Reserve Board, served as deputy director of the Division of Monetary Affairs from 2008 to 2010, a position that put him close to many of the critical decisions made in response to fast-moving developments at the height of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the subsequent recession. In 2010, he was elevated to the post of director of the division and secretary to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). Since 2016, he has been at the Yale School of Management, where he now is the Eugene F. Williams, Jr., Professor of the …

Lessons Learned: Michele Davis, Mercedes Cardona, Rosalind Z. Wiggins

Journal of Financial Crises

Michele Davis was assistant secretary for public affairs and director of policy planning under US Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr., from 2006 until January 2009. She had held the same job under Secretary Paul O’Neill from 2001 to 2002. Davis had returned to the Treasury after a stint in the George W. Bush White House, where she was deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for global communications from 2005 to 2006. Before working in the White House, she had been a senior VP at Fannie Mae. This “Lessons Learned” is based on an interview with …

Anatomy Of The Repo Rate Spikes In September 2019, R. Jay Kahn, Matthew Mccormick, Vy Nguyen, Mark Paddrik, H. Peyton Young

Journal of Financial Crises

Repurchase agreement (repo) markets represent one of the largest sources of funding and risk transformation in the US financial system. Despite the large volume, repo rates can be quite volatile, and in the extreme, they have exhibited intraday spikes that are five to 10 times the rate on a typical day. This paper uses a unique combination of intraday timing data from the repo market to examine the potential causes of the dramatic spike in repo rates in mid-September 2019. We conclude that, in large part, the spike resulted from a confluence of factors that, when taken individually, would not …

Everything’S For Sale: The Barmaid As A Figure Of Commodity In A Bar At The Folies Bergère, Erin Quirk

The Confluence

This paper explores the role of the barmaid in relation to commodity in Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies Bergère during the explosion of mass consumption that helped define nineteenth century Paris modernity. Building upon existing scholarship, I explore the figure’s role as a member of the emerging working class female, a possible prostitute and an advertising device, promoting the bar’s goods, along with the experience of the Folies-Bergère to the city’s inhabitants. This paper includes formal and iconographical analysis of the figure in relation to commodity as well as a cultural analysis of how these representations reflect attitudes …

Direct Relationships Between The Five Internal Senses: The Extremes And In-Between Of The Inner Experience, Sydnie Hoyt, Camryn O'Neal, Miranda Brannum, Sara Bagley

The Confluence

Inner experience of all 5 modalities were investigated to determine if there were correlations amongst them and how visual mental imagery and internal hearing were used in an applied story. Our sample (N = 137) completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ; Marks, 1973) and the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q; Andrade et al., 2013) to obtain trait measures of the different modalities within the inner experience. Results showed statistically significant positive correlations between each of the trait measures of the 5 sensory modalities (visual mental imagery, inner hearing, taste, smell, and touch). Based on their VVIQ total scores, …

An Investigation Into Dietary Fibre Intake, Bowel Function And Mood Among A Sample Of Irish Adults, Sophie Mulligan, Ellen Lynch, Suzanne Doyle

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Background

Previous studies have examined the relationship between dietary fibre intake and mood and bowel function separately, however, no cross-sectional study has yet explored the relationship between all three variables. This study examines the association between dietary fibre intake, bowel function and mood in a cohort of Irish adults at a university campus.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. An online questionnaire was distributed to staff and students of TU Dublin through email and publicised using posters. Three validated surveys were used in the design of the questionnaire, to assess dietary fibre intake, mood and bowel function. All staff and …

Regulation Of Mirnas In Obesity And Diabetes, Eva Maher, Ava O'Meara, Cathy Brougham

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related secondary disorders has increased dramatically in recent years. Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression has been linked to the development of obesity and its associated disorders. Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) are promising cell models of obesity, obesity-related inflammation and diabetes. Furthermore, miRNA expression profiles have emerged as promising targets for the novel treatment of diseases such as obesity. In order to enhance miRNA-based therapies, the miRNA expression profile of obesity and its related disorders must be monitored to further understand the underlying mechanisms of obesity and to identify novel targets.

Aim: The aim of …

The Potential Of Stem Cell Therapy In Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: A Review, Sorina Amarculesei, Ava O'Meara Cushen, Cathy Brougham

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. There are currently 2.8 million people living with Multiple Sclerosis worldwide, including 9000 people in Ireland, with a prevalence of 193 per 100,000 people. Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include sensory loss, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, spasticity, depression, optic neuritis, gait ataxia, diplopia, and loss of bladder control. Currently, there is no standardised treatment or cure for Multiple Sclerosis with many strategies focusing on symptoms. Stem cells have emerged as promising approaches for Multiple Sclerosis therapeutics. Clinical trials primarily focus on mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for Multiple Sclerosis. Furthermore, …

Tiny But Mighty, An Exploration Of Microbes And Plants As Sources Of Small Novel Bioactive Compounds Against Invasive Mycoses., Hannah Mai Peacock, James Anthony O'Connor

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Despite the high mortality rate involved with invasive cerebral mycoses, there is a relative lack of research available around antifungals capable of crossing the blood brain barrier.

In this study the metabolites of four plants (Crocus vernus, Miniature Narcissus (daffodil), Osmanthus delavayi and Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)) and two bacteria (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were extracted and assayed for antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thin layer chromatography and bioautography were then employed to assess the activity of the constituent components of sources showing antifungal activity.

Metabolites of S.epidermidis, and extracts …

Melittin: A Natural Component Of Honeybee Venom As A Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy, Niamh Donnellan, Anne M. Friel

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and while chemotherapy is the main approach there are many negative associations in current treatment procedures. These include lack of selectivity, side effects and drug resistance. The hallmarks of cancer are a fundamental concept which aids the development of new means to treat human cancers through the understanding of the acquisition of these hallmarks from cells.

Melittin is a major peptide component of bee venom which has shown to be efficacious as an anticancer agent in preclinical and animal models. Melittin has many biological functions including pore formation in the phospholipid bilayer …

Improving Prosocial And Academic Skills While Decreasing Challenging Behavior, Tom Clees

Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference

Youth with challenging behaviors such as noncompliance, aggression, self-injury, and deficits in academic engagement are at-risk for future school failure, including suspension and expulsion, mental health challenges, and incarceration (Alberto and Troutman, 2022; Kauffman, 2016). Low academic achievement, behavioral excesses and social skills deficits are predictive of each other (Gresham, 2016), and may create an escalating cycle leading to further antisocial responses (Kaufman, 2016). The literature provides considerable research on evidence-based strategies that have been associated with positive academic (on-task, task completion) and behavioral (increase in prosocial skills with decreasing challenging behavior) outcomes, among which include (1) self-directed interventions, or …