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Culturally Responsive School Leadership: Implementation Of The New York State Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework In Predominantly White, Suburban High Schools, Steven M. Lysenko

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to investigate the practical application of culturally responsive school leadership in the implementation of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CR-S) Education Framework (Framework). This qualitative descriptive phenomenological study addressed the research question: What strategies are applied by high school principals in predominantly White suburban districts in the implementation of the NYSED CR-S Education Framework? Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and then coded using content analysis. The a priori themes included the four principles of the Framework, namely Welcoming and Affirming Environment, High Expectations and Rigorous Instruction, Inclusive Curriculum and …

Teaching And Assessing With Taxonomies, Tony Shannon

International Journal for Business Education

The development of taxonomies which articulate learning outcomes are necessary to disconnect the silos among educators, employers and learners (Mathews, 2019; Uranis et al.) What are taxonomies? A taxonomy is a systematic classification of objects. Why do they matter? Without systematic classification and coding it is difficult to compare or combine objects. How are they relevant to teaching and learning? In the years after the Second World War, educational psychologists saw the progress made in the biological sciences with taxonomies and started to apply them in education. Among the first to appear in the mid-50s was the work of Bloom.

The Impact Of Historical Narratives On Students' Nos Understanding And Science Motivation, Peng Dai

Dissertations

Scholars over the past few years have drawn attention to the enormous potential role historical stories can play in promoting student understanding of issues associated with the nature of science (NOS). Such stories, often referred to as “historical narratives,” are thought to do so by providing a rich historical context within which students are acquainted with how scientists in the past reasoned about scientific phenomena. Klassen (2009) developed a theoretical framework that identifies ten essential elements that must be present to qualify as a historical narrative. Only a few studies have empirically assessed the merits of Klassen’s framework, and in …

Reactive Oxygen Species And Weak Magnetic Fields: Unraveling The Mechanisms Of Planarian Regeneration And Tissue Growth, Luke James Kinsey

Dissertations

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in basic cellular behaviors such as apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation. These molecules once thought to be harmful byproducts of metabolism, are also required for many complex and ubiquitous processes like wound healing, development, and regeneration. This study investigates the influence of ROS on planarian regeneration, with a particular focus on ROS dynamics in stem cell-mediated tissue growth. Data reveal that modulation of ROS levels leads to changes in cellular behaviors and tissue growth outcomes. Inhibition of ROS accumulation blocks stem cell proliferation and tissue growth, preventing planarian regeneration, while partial ROS accumulation …

Effects Of A Self-Forgiveness Intervention On Recovery From Substance Use Disorders, Michael Saltzman

Dissertations

Previous research has highlighted the relationship between shame, guilt, and problematic substance use (Gueta, 2013; Luoma et al., 2019; McGaffin et al., 2013; Rahim & Patton, 2015). Self-forgiveness has been associated with positive outcomes for individuals in recovery with substance use disorders (SUDs), though only one prior study has explored the effects of a selfforgiveness intervention for individuals in treatment (Scherer et al., 2011). This study examines the effects of a self-forgiveness intervention on state shame and guilt, state self-forgiveness, and drug avoidance self-efficacy, and it is the first intervention study to focus on self-forgiveness for individuals with SUDs receiving …

$752,000 Usda Grant Will Help Researchers Prevent Food Contamination, University Of Dayton

News Releases

A pair of University of Dayton researchers are part of a $752,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help prevent Listeria and other contamination in food.

Western Water Network: A Case Study In Water Network Formation, Travis Warziniak, Robert Heinse, Alexander Fernald, Michael Gaffney, Kristiana Hansen, Bret Hess, Lyla Houglum, Ginger Paige, Qin Zhang

Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education

Increased water scarcity and drought frequency are creating water management challenges for many communities in the western U.S. In response, the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors sponsored a virtual summit in August 2020 to develop a framework for identifying and addressing the most pressing water issues in the western United States (the West). Summit attendees were research scientists, university extension specialists and professionals, and federal/state agency representatives with knowledge and expertise of water management in the West. The summit elicited opinions from 54 experts on pressing water issues and possible methods for addressing them. A follow-on survey of …

Auto-Resistance Toward Snake Venom Metalloproteases In United States Pitvipers, Kaleb Hill

Master's Theses

Analysis of natural snake venom inhibitors in snake blood began in the 18th century with the pioneering work of Fontana on European vipers (Hawgood, 1995). Serum resistance to conspecific and heterospecific venoms has subsequently been identified in many snakes, but results vary. Many of these snakes demonstrating resistance are either allopatric or distantly related, making the ecological explanation of this resistance unclear. Auto-resistance to one’s own venom for protection against self-envenomation has been suggested to be provided by endogenous serum-based protective molecules that bind to the venom components. Toxin resistance could develop in venomous organisms resulting from the physiological production …

Understanding The Environmental And Genetic Influence On Fluctuating Asymmetry And Developmental Instability In Primates, Ashly N. Romero

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the impact of environmental factors on the development and perpetuation of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and sought to understand the role evolution may play in the FA exhibited in two primate populations: the free-ranging Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and the Southwest National Primate Research Center olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis). Demographic, ontogenetic, secular, external, and genetic factors were examined. Specifically, this dissertation investigated FA over all ontogenetic stages, across decades, between sexes, in association with ecological catastrophes, and with tooth pathology to try and tease apart factors that may influence FA and developmental instability. This dissertation …

Developing A Simple Strategy For Roadside Spring Water Disinfection In Central Appalachia, Hannah Patton, Leigh-Anne Krometis, Ben B. Faulkner, Alasdair Cohen, Erin Ling, Emily Sarver

Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education

Several studies have highlighted issues of unreliable access to safe drinking water in the Appalachian region. In some cases, residents turn to roadside springs as a practical, and culturally valuable, drinking water source. However, public reliance on roadside springs for potable use can present concerns, as bacterial contamination of spring water has been documented throughout Appalachia. This study aimed to 1) develop a simple, low-cost protocol using household bleach to inactivate total coliform and E. coli in untreated roadside spring water; 2) provide educational materials at local roadside springs to inform users of this simple treatment strategy; and 3) assess …

Circadian Rhythm In Design: An Application Of Circadian Rhythmic Elements To The Ridgedale Mill, Jesse Hayes

Honors Theses

Through the study of the phases of circadian rhythm and by applying associated environmental cues, can a building further promote health and well-being through design? This study argues that by applying design elements associated with each phase of the circadian rhythmic cycle to a built environment, overall human health and well-being are increased. Research shows, that if the circadian rhythm is disrupted “metabolic syndrome and obesity, premature aging, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, immune deficiencies, hypertension, and abnormal sleep cycles develop” (Brainard, 2015, p. 1). Furthermore, if the circadian rhythm is promoted through environmental cues it benefits the body by supporting the …

An Analysis Of Skylight And Alternative Applications In The Adaptive Reuse Of The Ridgedale Mill, Robyn Wood

Honors Theses

Designing sustainably, at its core, holds the health and wellbeing of the users of the space and the price of ongoing maintenance and installation costs in balance with environmental wellbeing. With each of these points playing a major role, spaces can be designed to be healthy and affordable while also benefiting the overall functional health and efficiency of the space. A key method in designing sustainably is the incorporation of natural daylight within a space to provide general lighting in an energy efficient way and to positively impact the atmosphere of the built environment. For the users of the space, …

Surrogacy In The Equality State: Lessons From The Code Of The West, James Bell

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

An Overview Of Risk Factors For Neural Tube Defects And An Investigation Within South Carolina, Lucy Pulliam

All Dissertations

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital anomalies that affect both the morbidity and mortality of infants worldwide. Inadequate levels of the vitamin folate in women during early pregnancy have been shown to be a risk factor for NTDs. Recent efforts to ensure adequate folate intake in mothers have been helpful in reducing but not eliminating NTDs. This dissertation examines additional risk factors for NTDs as possible focus areas for decreasing NTD occurrence.

Chapter Two and Chapter Three are literature reviews conducted to explore select factors associated with an increased risk of NTDs and how these factors may affect folate availability …

Epitranscriptomic Regulation In Breast Cancer And Pcb-Induced Liver Disease., Belinda Petri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post-transcriptional RNA modifications including N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulate mRNA stability, splicing, and translation. My research examined m6A in two disease models: breast cancer (BCa) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Acquired resistance to endocrine therapies (ET) develops in approximately 20% of BCa patients with estrogen receptor α positive (ER+) tumors following treatment. The mechanisms by which tumor cells evade ET are not completely understood. Using a cell line model, we investigated the role of an m6A reader protein, HNRNPA2B1 (A2B1) that is upregulated in ET-resistant ER+ BCa cells. Stable overexpression of A2B1 in ET-sensitive MCF-7 cells (MCF-7-A2B1), results in ET resistance, …

Cad System For Early Diagnosis Of Diabetic Retinopathy Based On 3d Extracted Imaging Markers., Ahmed Sleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation makes significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology, addressing the segmentation of retinal layers and the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The first contribution is a novel 3D segmentation approach that leverages the patientspecific anatomy of retinal layers. This approach demonstrates superior accuracy in segmenting all retinal layers from a 3D retinal image compared to current state-of-the-art methods. It also offers enhanced speed, enabling potential clinical applications. The proposed segmentation approach holds great potential for supporting surgical planning and guidance in retinal procedures such as retinal detachment repair or macular hole closure. Surgeons can benefit from the accurate …

New Species Of Dryolestoid From The Late Cretaceous Allen Formation And Implications For South American Faunal Diversity., Brigid Erin Connelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dryolestoids are extinct cladotherians mammals from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. I describe a collection of dryolestoid specimens from the Late Cretaceous localities of Cerro Tortuga (Allen Formation), Anfiteatro 1, and Shining (both La Colonia Formation) from Patagonia, Argentina. Using comparative morphology, I identify a new species of meridiolestidan dryolestoid based on eleven specimens across both formations. The new species’ recovery from La Colonia Formation represents the first dryolestoid connection between the two approximately contemporaneous formations. The species’ morphology may represent an ecological shift within Meridiolestida from insectivory to herbivory, showing a transition in characters between the plesiomorphic sharp-toothed meridiolestidans …

Building An Affirmative Lgbtq+ Leadership Paradigm: An Autoethnography., Joshua D. Covington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is an autoethnography written in the form of layered accounts with a theoretical framework of queer theory. It was based on my journey as an LGBTQ+ individual and educational leader. The purpose of this study was to utilize my experiences as an LGBTQ+ educational leader to investigate the conditions that supported and limited my self-efficacy as an LGBTQ+ educational leader. Furthermore, this study investigated what things my experiences could teach us about building an affirmative LGBTQ+ leadership paradigm. My autoethnography was written as three significant stages of my life. The first stage was my experience with education as …

The Role Of E-Liquid Constituents In E-Cigarette-Induced Cardiac Arrhythmia And Autonomic Imbalance., Cory Kucera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Accumulating evidence indicates that exposure to electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) promotes sympathetic dominance and electrophysiologic instability in the heart, potentially culminating in arrhythmogenesis. E-liquids contain various formulations of nicotine and flavorings, but the effects of specific e-liquid constituents and their concentrations on e-cig-induced autonomic imbalance and electrical dysfunction are unresolved. To that end, we tested the hypothesis that e-cigs modify cardiac autonomic balance and ventricular arrhythmogenesis in mice dependent on e-liquid constituent type and concentration. Methods. Using a crossover design and a serial exposure regimen, ECG-telemetered male C57BL/6J mice underwent whole-body exposure to e-cig aerosols generated from e-liquids containing different …

Characterization Of The Immunoglobulin Lambda Chain Across Diverse Human Populations., William Gibson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The adaptive immune system relies on a diverse set of over one hundred immunoglobulin (IG) genes across three genomic loci that are variably combined to form antibodies (Ab). The IG Lambda locus is one of two loci which encodes the IG light chain. The complexity of the IGL locus severely limits the effective use of standard short-read sequencing, limiting our knowledge of population diversity in these loci. We leveraged single molecule real-time (SMRT) long-read sequencing in conjunction with IGL-targeted DNA capture to develop the method IG-Cap for accurate and high-throughput sequencing of the IGL locus. We benchmarked this method using …

Inhibition Of Ras As A Novel Therapeutic Approach In Luminal B Breast Cancer., Raphael Ngozichi Jigo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historically, the RAS oncoprotein has not been implicated in breast cancer due to less than 1% of breast cancer cases bearing oncogenic RAS mutations. Recently, however, it has been reported that greater than 60% of Luminal B breast cancer cases have a decreased expression of negative RAS regulators RASAL2 and DAB2IP. Thus, in many Luminal B breast cancers, RAS remains in a constitutively active state without mutation, in turn driving oncogenesis. To date, there are no FDA-approved direct inhibitors of wild type RAS. We have developed a direct RAS inhibitor that acts on wild type RAS using in silico drug …

Does Cognitive Reflection Support Children's Math Learning?, Diana A. Sanchez

University Honors Program Senior Projects

A basic knowledge of mathematics is required for many social and economic opportunities. Thus, understanding the variables related to children’s math learning is of utmost importance. This study explores the role of cognitive reflection on children’s mathematics learning. Cognitive reflection is the tendency to reflect on and override an inaccurate gut response. Only recently has a measure of cognitive reflection been available for use with school-aged children. Young and Shtulman (2020b) found children’s cognitive reflection was an excellent predictor of children’s mathematical equivalence understanding (i.e., knowing the equal sign means “the same as”). Research has not yet established whether cognitive …

Synthetic Biology Enabled Modification Of Bone Cells And Impact On Bone Mineral Resorption, Dulce C. Hayes

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Development of a cell culture based bone model can contribute to biomedical research by producing a reproducible model system that mimics a bone remodeling disorder and reduces the use of animals in research studies. Synthetic biology was used to engineer osteoblast cell lines to alter a key protein in the RANKL pathway in efforts to control the bone remodeling process. Osteoblast cell lines, K7M2 and MC3T3-E1 Subclone 4 were engineered to express osteoprotegerin (OPG) and inhibit OPG expression, respectively. The upregulation of OPG expression was confirmed with Real Time PCR and Quantikine® Immunoassay. To identify the functionality of the engineered …

Cholesterol Regulation Of Egfr-Dependent Vasoconstriction In Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension, Rosstin Ahmadian

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Pulmonary arterial constriction and remodeling resulting from chronic hypoxia (CH) lead to increased pulmonary vascular resistance and resultant pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, sleep apnea, or in residents at high altitude. Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that CH augments vasoconstrictor reactivity to a variety of stimuli, including pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) stretch, membrane depolarization, and stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors. This effect of CH is mediated by a switch in PASMC signaling from Ca2+-dependent mechanisms towards a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2)-Rho kinase Ca2+ sensitization pathway that occurs …

Determining The Existence And Regulation Of Microlipophagy In Primary Brown And White Adipocytes, Sara C. Arenas De Leon

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Lipids are one of life’s four main macromolecules and provide essential functions to cells.

The degradation of lipid droplets and mobilization of lipids occurs through lipolysis. Emerging evidence demonstrates evidence of a selective form of autophagy in lipolysis. The process of microlipophagy has only recently been described, and many features of its regulation are still poorly understood. Our recent study showed that inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway by depletion of Raptor in adipocytes led to an influx of lysosomes and accumulation of lipid droplets within lysosome. Here, we expand on these previous findings. We were able …

Annual Report Of The Nominating Committee For The Academic Year 2022-2023, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

University Nominating Committee report including committee memberships, produced by the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Identifying Functional Enhancers For Fibrotic Gene Regulation In Liver Fibrosis, Parnaz Merikhian

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Liver fibrosis is characterized by progressive activation of proliferating and migrating myofibroblasts that lead to accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). These myofibroblasts most arise from activated liver-resident hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). There is an increasing number of patients suffering from liver fibrosis in developed countries including the United States, which is anticipated to continue to grow during 2023-2033 period. TGF-β1 is a key cytokine with a significant role in regulating cell differentiation and adhesion in liver fibrosis. TGF-β signaling triggers gene expression changes in HSCs, including that of fibrotic and EMT-related genes, which then functionally promote HSCs activation and fibrogenesis. …

2023-August-01-Kilaru Appointed To Faculty Fellow Role, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Aruna Kilaru as Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Biosciences.

Dr. Kilaru will continue to serve as Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. However, in her expanded role that begins on August 15, she will begin work to develop a thriving institute or center for innovation that will positively support bioscience-focused growth and opportunity for ETSU students and the region.

In addition to leading and managing a working group that will be charged with creating an institute or center for synthetic biology, she will lead and manage interdisciplinary research …

Molecular Characterization Of Compartment Boundary Formation During Epithelial Remodeling In Drosophila Melanogaster, Samia Parveen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The ability of epithelial cells to self-organize is crucial for the development of proper tissue structures and organs in multi-cellular organisms. Epithelia consist of inter-connected cells that form flat sheets, and specific groups of cells within these sheets are partitioned into distinct compartments via compartment boundaries (CBs). These CBs are specialized interfaces between cells characterized by stable, high-tension actomyosin cables, which act as fences to prevent movements between adjacent compartments during tissue reorganization. In the early Drosophila embryo, CBs are established in response to the asymmetrical localization of two cell-surface proteins the Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR) protein Tartan and the Teneurin …

Investigating The Localization Of Foxo4 Transcription Factor In U87mg Glioblastoma Cell Line, Millat Jahan

Theses and Dissertations

FOXO transcription factors perform diverse functions that have effects on significant biological processes like stem cell homeostasis, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell fate determination. This research focuses on FOXO4 that is differentially localized in U87MG glioblastoma cells where FOXO4 is targeted to the nucleus. This research is aimed at investigating the mechanism and localization of FOXO4 in U87MG cell lines. Using chimeric fusion construct, we have mapped regions within FOXO factors that can determine specific cellular localization patterns. Finding the mechanism behind specific nuclear localization of FOXO4 can produce innovative data to better understand the distinctive subcellular localization patterns in …