Digital Commons Network^™

A Multicase Study Of Local Church Leaders' Perceived Impact On Reducing Inequity In Majority-Minority Urban Schools, Kenslio Ojentis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multi-case study was to explore the local churches’ perceived impact on reducing education inequity in majority-minority urban schools in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. In this research, education inequity is generally defined as the lack of academic resources such as school funding, experienced teachers, and technology in a community that has been historically excluded. This study was guided by social capital theory as it relates to education and how they influence community and parental involvement levels and investments that impact educational success. The research questions are as follows: (1) How do local …

The Nurse's Lived Experience Of Transferring Nutrition Knowledge To Patients: A Descriptive Phenomenology, Kendrah Lynne Cunningham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study aimed to gain insight into the nurse’s lived experience of transferring nutrition knowledge to patients. Nurses play an important role in assisting the patient to become more proficient in health and nutrition literacy to make proper choices related to their nutrition. It is necessary to evaluate the lived experience of the nurse in transferring nutrition knowledge to patients. There is a gap in the literature on nurses’ experience in providing nutrition knowledge to their patients. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study examines the lived experience of nurses in transferring nutrition education to their patients. This was …

Faith Comes By Hearing: Impact Of Expository Preaching In The Worldview Of Young Adults At Sda Church Plants, Kenneth Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this thesis, expository preaching is proposed as the mechanism to communicate a biblical worldview to Adventist young adults (people ages 18 to 40). This thesis project engaged the young adults of two Adventist church plants: Refuge Church and Triumph Church. The project consisted of preaching Adventist biblical theology through expository sermons, with the thesis that it would be interpreted as a worldview by young adults. The preaching series delivered salvation history, broken down into eight pericopes, and used the Great Controversy as its metanarrative. The goal of each sermon was to expound the assigned passage and its place on …

Perceived Problems And Advantages Associated With Teaching Band In Rural Northern New York, Joseph Charles Ianaconi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teaching instrumental music in rural northern New York presents unique advantages and problems for music educators. While most research highlights obstacles to teaching in a rural area, this study identifies the unique positive aspects of working in this environment. Educators often overlook the opportunities and benefits within small, rural schools. Directors and students can define and find success in multiple ways within these rural band programs. This qualitative study examines the opinions, feelings, and experiences of those who teach band in rural northern New York. The research focuses on the perceived advantages of directing an instrumental ensemble in a rural …

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 …

The Cost Of Creating Therapeutic Relationships: A Phenomenological Study, Robert D. January

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how licensed counselors address vicarious trauma and burnout when working with individuals exposed to trauma. This study involved ten licensed professionals from diverse settings including clinics, private practices, and non-profit organizations. Constructive Self-Development Theory guided this study, which defines how traumatic experiences influence a person’s sense of identity. This theory is particularly relevant to this qualitative study because it explains the challenges faced by professional counselors who interact with trauma survivors and acts as a guide toward solutions for preventing counselors from experiencing vicarious trauma and burnout. Snowball sampling was used …

Bedford Springs Resort: A Political And Social Annex Of Antebellum America: 1840-1860, Sara Grace Davis-Leonard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Antebellum America has been described as a period of turbulence for the nation as the North and the South grew farther apart through sectionalism. While voters relied upon the increasing partisan press to inform them of debates in Washington and the often-deliberate decision to forgo the ultimate decision on slavery, in private politicians forged friendships through social events such as parties and dinners. When the Congressional session ended in early summer, politicians often accompanied by their families would travel north to Saratoga Springs or west to the much cooler climates of the mountain resorts: Bedford Springs, White Sulphur Springs, Warm …

Student Perspectives Of Global Citizenship Within A Virtual Exchange

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Emerging Scholar

Synthesis, Characterization, And Bslt Test Of Pyrazoline And Pyrazole Compounds From Chalcone Using Microwave Irradiation, Siska Elisahbet Sinaga, Matius Paundanan, Yum Eryanti

Chimica et Natura Acta

Pyrazole is an organic compound, classified as an alkaloid, featuring a heterocyclic five-membered ring structure composed of three carbon atoms and two adjacent nitrogen atoms, forming an endocyclic double bond. Pyrazole has various biological activities, such as antibacterial, anticanc er, antiinflammatory, antidepressantion, and antioxidant. Pyrazole 2-(5-(4-chlorophenil)-1-phenil-1H-pyrazole-3il)phenol (TFP-2OH-4Cl) was synthesized via oxidative aromatization reaction of pyrazoline 2-(5-(4-chlorophenil)-1-phenil-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-3-il)phenol (PF-2OH-4Cl) with glacial acetic acid. Chalcone, pyrazoline, and pyrazole were synthesized using the microwave at 180 W at 85oC. The purity of the compounds was monitored on TLC plates, melting point, and HPLC analysis. The structure of synthesized compounds was confirmed by UV, FTIR, …

Tempe Kedelai Hitam (Glycine Soja) Dan Kacang Buncis Putih (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Sebagai Pangan Fungsional Antioksidan, Sri Yadial Chalid, Anna Muawanah, Nani Radiastuti, Sofia Ade Putri, Fitriah Hartiningsih, Tarso Rudiana

Chimica et Natura Acta

Kedelai hitam dan biji kacang buncis mengandung senyawa flavonoid dan fenolik yang berpotensi dikembangkan sebagai pangan fungsional antioksidan. Campuran kedelai hitam dan biji kacang buncis putih 1:1 difermentasi dengan ragi tempe 0,2% (b/b) dan angkak divariasikan sebesar 1; 1,5; 2% (b/b) dengan waktu fermentasi 0, 12, dan 24 jam. Jumlah angkak dan waktu fermentasi optimum ditentukan berdasarkan karakteristik tempe dari uji organoleptik meliputi warna, bau, dan tekstur tempe oleh 25 orang panelis. Tempe diekstrak menggunakan aseton 80% (v/v) dan diukur aktivitas antioksidan dengan metode 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) serta total fenolik dan total flavonoid. Hasil uji organoleptik menunjukkan bahwa fermentasi selama 24 …

Perbandingan Kadar Magnesium Pada Air Minum Dalam Kemasan (Amdk) Menggunakan Metode Spektrofotometri Dan Kompleksometri, Edy Agustian Yazid, Abdul Wafi, Roihatul Zahroh, Nurul Azizah

Chimica et Natura Acta

Magnesium (Mg) merupakan salah satu mineral penting dalam tubuh yang memiliki fungsi memelihara kesehatan jantung, tulang, mengatur kadar gula darah hingga membantu mengatasi stres. Kebutuhan magnesium diantaranya dapat dipenuhi melalui Air Minum Dalam Kemasan (AMDK). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui perbedaaan kadar magnesium pada AMDK menggunakan metode spektrofotometri dan kompleksometri. Melalui perbandingan kedua metode tersebut dapat diketahui aplikasi metode yang lebih praktis dan efisien. Penentuan magnesium secara spektrofotometri dilakukan dengan mengukur terbentuknya senyawa kompleks Mg-EBT menggunakan spektrofotometer visibel pada panjang gelombang maksimum 530 nm. Hasil penelitian kadar magnesium pada AMDK metode spektrofotometri didapatkan kadar antara 1,5-19,45 mg/L, sedangkan dengan …

Nitrogen Determination In Leaves Palm Oil Using The San++ Scalar Continuous Flow Analyzer Following Wet Digestion With 50ml Dilution Sulfuric Acid: Testing And Validation, Wakhid Khoirul Umar, Helen Arwendah, Etik Sustiyani

Chimica et Natura Acta

Nitrogen is a crucial macronutrient for the growth of oil palm plants. Insufficient nitrogen can lead to chlorosis in young leaves, causing them to turn yellow and impede growth. To determine the nitrogen content in oil palm leaves and estimate the required fertilizer amount, a test must be conducted. In this study, the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC) standard method was employed to measure nitrogen levels. The method's performance procedure has undergone changes. The test results displayed a high correlation coefficient (r) of 99.99% and a % relative standard deviation (RSD) value of 1.8541%. The RSD value is below 2/3 …

Studi Potensi Senyawa Antioksidan Dari Kulit Jeruk Nipis (Citrus Aurantifolia) Secara In Silico, Rustaman Rustaman, Regaputra Satria Janitra, Annisyaban Fatiha Azzahra, Farhan Azhwin Maulana, Fauzian Giansyah Rohmatulloh, Wanda Destiarani, Ari Hardianto, Muhammad Yusuf, Iman Permana Maksum

Chimica et Natura Acta

Antioksidan merupakan senyawa yang dapat mencegah atau menghambat oksidasi molekul lain, yang pada makhluk hidup berperan dalam mempertahankan pertumbuhan dan metabolisme yang normal. Studi aktivitas antioksidan individual pada senyawa dari jeruk nipis telah dilakukan. Senyawa yang dipelajari difokuskan pada bergamottin, citropten dan asam klorogenat. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mempelajari hubungan antara struktur molekul dengan aktivitas antioksidannya melalui perhitungan secara kimia komputasi potensial ionisasi, electrodonating power, dan net electrophilicity. Seluruh perhitungan dilakukan menggunakan program komputasi Gaussian 09 Revision D.01, pada level teori APFD/6-31+G(d) pada keadaan muatan netral (deprotonasi, negatif), positif (netral), dan negatif (negatif dua). Hasil yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahwa …

The Impact Of Blood Cupping (Al-Hijama) On Serum Creatinine And Uric Acid Levels In Patients From Hadhramout, Yemen, Saleh Bin Sumaidea, Hassan Pyar Ali Hassan, Adnan Ali Bakaduem, Abdulrahman Omar Almashjari, Abdullah Shamlan Bashumail, Mohammed Saeed Blhamed

Chimica et Natura Acta

Cupping is a wonderful healing tool that has been employed for hundreds of years by numerous traditional folklore practitioners. Cupping treats many diseases including eliminating blood pollutants like uric acid and creatinine. The aim of this study to evaluate the impact of cupping on blood pressure, uric acid concentration, and creatinine levels. Sixty (60) random patient between the ages of (20 -70) years were selected, the blood samples were collected before cupping and after cupping for the evaluation. The result showed that the levels of creatinine and uric acid decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after cupping for both creatinine and uric acid. Moreover, the study showed that blood pressure decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after cupping. The result concluded that cupping has positive impact on health by modulating creatinine, uric acid blood levels and decreasing blood pressure.

When ‘Non-Instructional’ Librarians Teach: Navigating Faculty Status And Teaching Portfolios, Cailean Cooney, Wanett I. Clyde, Kel R. Karpinski, Junior R. Tidal, Nanette Johnson

Publications and Research

This article shares individual and collective experiences from five faculty ranked librarians with roles outside of formal instruction who are employed at an academic institution in the United States, and their approach to developing and embracing a teacher identity in the context of their professional trajectory. The article explores how the authors prepared to be evaluated against traditional classroom teaching for promotion by forming a cohort-based group to support “noninstructional” librarians to create a teaching portfolio, and how they approached teaching from liminal and, at times, tenuous positions and career stages. Authors conclude that the process challenged and expanded their …

Cultivating Equity: Harnessing School Garden Education As A Catalyst For Food Justice And Social Change, Maureen Madeleine Callahan

Dissertations and Theses

In the realm of critical pedagogy, state power, and food justice in school garden education, this internship reflection paper delves into the creation and impact of a unique video project. Collaborating with a school garden education organization and a local farm owned by a pair of queer, multiracial women near Portland, Oregon, the study aimed to present K-5 students with farming and environmental insights through a food justice lens. Central inquiries explored the intersection of school garden curriculum and farming knowledge, emphasizing community-building and cultural diversity, farmer-environment interactions, engaging young students, and creating a replicable video format. Rooted in critical …

Biomarkers Of Affective Dysregulation Associated With In Utero Exposure To Etoh, Nune Darbinian, Nana Merabova, Gabriel Tatevosian, Mary Morrison, Armine Darbinyan, Huaqing Zhao, Laura Goetzl, Michael Edgar Selzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) exhibit behavioral and affective dysregulation, including hyperactivity and depression. The mechanisms are not known, but they could conceivably be due to postnatal social or environmental factors. However, we postulate that, more likely, the affective dysregulation is associated with the effects of EtOH exposure on the development of fetal serotonergic (5-HT) and/or dopaminergic (DA) pathways, i.e., pathways that in postnatal life are believed to regulate mood. Many women who use alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) during pregnancy suffer from depression and take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which might influence these monoaminergic pathways in the …

Drivers Of Chronic Pathology Following Ischemic Stroke: A Descriptive Review, Grant W Goodman, Trang H Do, Chunfeng Tan, Rodney M Ritzel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and long-term disability in the world. Considered largely a disease of aging, its global economic and healthcare burden is expected to rise as more people survive into advanced age. With recent advances in acute stroke management, including the expansion of time windows for treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, we are likely to see an increase in survival rates. It is therefore critically important to understand the complete pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, both in the acute and subacute stages and during the chronic phase in the months and years following an …

Pain Management By Chemogenetic Control Of Sensory Neurons, Yize Li, Xin Ge, Ru-Rong Ji

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In this study, Perez-Sanchez et al.1 developed a chemogenetic method aimed at alleviating pain in mouse models while dampening excitability in human sensory neurons. This analgesic effect was attained through the introduction of human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and glycine receptor pore domain via virus-mediated expression in sensory neurons, forming a chloride channel. The activation of this channel was made possible by specific agonists. This study highlights the potential for treating clinical pain by gene therapy.

Interlaboratory Comparison Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Phage Susceptibility Testing, Krupa Parmar, Lauren Komarow, Damon W Ellison, Andrey A Filippov, Mikeljon P Nikolich, Joseph R Fackler, Martin Lee, Anjna Nair, Priyesh Agrawal, Pranita D Tamma, Maria Souli, Scott R Evans, Kerryl E Greenwood-Quaintance, Scott A Cunningham, Robin Patel, Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Standardized approaches to phage susceptibility testing (PST) are essential to inform selection of phages for study in patients with bacterial infections. There is no reference standard for assessing bacterial susceptibility to phage. We compared agreement between PST performed at three centers: two centers using a liquid assay standardized between the sites with the third, a plaque assay. Four Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages: PaWRA01ø11 (EPa11), PaWRA01ø39 (EPa39), PaWRA02ø83 (EPa83), PaWRA02ø87 (EPa87), and a cocktail of all four phages were tested against 145 P. aeruginosa isolates. Comparisons were made within measurements at the two sites performing the liquid assay and between these …

Neuromuscular Basis Of Drosophila Larval Rolling Escape Behavior, Patricia C Cooney, Yuhan Huang, Wenze Li, Dulanjana M Perera, Richard Hormigo, Tanya Tabachnik, Isuru S Godage, Elizabeth M C Hillman, Wesley B Grueber, Aref A Zarin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To escape from dangerous stimuli, animals execute escape behaviors that are fundamentally different from normal locomotion. The rolling escape behavior of Drosophila larvae consists of C-shaped bending and rolling. However, the muscle contraction patterns that lead to rolling are poorly understood. We find that following the initial body bending, muscles contract in a circumferential wave around the larva as they enter the bend, maintaining unidirectional rolling that resembles a cylinder rolling on a surface. We study the structure of motor circuits for rolling, inhibit different motor neurons to determine which muscles are essential for rolling, and propose circuit and biomechanical …

Mgmt Function Determines The Differential Response Of Atr Inhibitors With Dna-Damaging Agents In Glioma Stem Cells For Gbm Therapy, Vincent W S Leong, Sabbir Khan, Pratibha Sharma, Shaofang Wu, Riya R Thomas, Xiaolong Li, Sanjay K Singh, Frederick F Lang, Alfred W K Yung, Dimpy Koul

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The most prevalent cancer treatments cause cell death through DNA damage. However, DNA damage response (DDR) repair pathways, initiated by tumor cells, can withstand the effects of anticancer drugs, providing justification for combining DDR inhibitors with DNA-damaging anticancer treatments.

METHODS: Cell viability assays were performed with CellTiter-Glo assay. DNA damage was evaluated using Western blotting analysis. RNA-seq and single-cell level expression were used to identify the DDR signatures. In vivo, studies were conducted in mice to determine the effect of ATris on TMZ sensitization.

RESULTS: We found a subpopulation of glioma sphere-forming cells (GSCs) with substantial synergism with temozolomide …

Interleukin-17-Mediated Protective Cytokine Signaling Against Degeneration Of The Retinal Pigment Epithelium, Yan Chen, Sarah E Bounds, Xiang Ma, James Regun Karmoker, Yin Liu, Jian-Xing Ma, Jiyang Cai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Injuries to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retina often result in the accumulation of retinal microglia within the subretinal space. These subretinal microglia play crucial roles in inflammation and resolution, but the mechanisms governing their functions are still largely unknown. Our previous research highlighted the protective functions of choroidal γδ T cells in response to RPE injury. In the current study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing approach to characterize the profiles of immune cells in mouse choroid. We found that γδ T cells were the primary producer of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the choroid. IL-17 signaled through its receptor …

Coveting Relationships Over Association: The Church's Response To The Millennial's Exodus, Erik W. Switzer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project identified the reasons church-affiliated millennials in Tyler, Texas, have exited the church after reaching adulthood and have failed to return in significant numbers. To capture the reasons for this generational church exodus, area millennials were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. To participate in the survey, millennials must have regularly attended an Evangelical or Catholic church during childhood and adolescence and stopped attending church after age eighteen. The survey invitation was distributed through emails and the social media platform Facebook. The invitation contained an embedded hyperlink that directed participants to Survey Monkey. All survey results reside …

Traditional Vietnamese Music And Its Incorporation Into Christian Worship, Elijah Khang Chau

Masters Theses

The thesis addresses the concern of incorporating traditional Vietnamese instruments into Christian worship. Most worship done in Vietnamese churches in the US is primarily westernized, and it lacks cultural elements to reflect the Vietnamese culture. Another concern is that the younger generation does not know much about Vietnamese culture; this is an issue because many Vietnamese descents do not know which culture they belong to. The idea behind traditional Vietnamese instruments incorporated into Christian worship will encourage Vietnamese churches to use Vietnamese traditions to further God’s Kingdom so that the Vietnamese congregation can worship and glorify God in their native …

Healing Artists Through Art, Corey Aaron Cundiff

Masters Theses

Men die by suicide nearly four times more than women, with higher rates among artists. There has been an increase in the rate of suicide over the years, primarily linked to depression and mounting societal expectations imposed upon men. The prevalence of social media and the awareness that comes with indicates that the issue of suicide may never disappear unless action is taken. This paper examines the need for art therapy to counter depression among male artists. No longer do we need to rely strictly on medication and talk therapy to treat depression. Many art therapy techniques have proven quite …

Conscious Consumers: Understanding The Roles And Impacts Patrons Can Have To Make Ethically Minded Purchases That Affect Society, Mallory Sallstrom

Masters Theses

This thesis will examine the issue that patrons of large corporations are often unaware of how their patronage funds divisive corporate philanthropy resulting in an ethical dilemma for the patron. To better understand this issue, research was conducted through a series of research questions. After completing this research, a literature review was conducted in addition to case studies and visual analyses. Based upon the research, a visual solution was created to serve as a resource and tool to educate consumers about the philanthropic efforts of large corporations as it relates to their values and missions. The thesis visual deliverables include …

Extending Public Accessibility To The Mind: Designing Airports For People With Aphasia, Savannah Eloise Garzon

Masters Theses

Imagine traveling in an airport in another country. The language is entirely foreign, and all signs are written in text you cannot understand. You have ten minutes to make your connection. How do you find your gate? How do you ask questions? This hypothetical generation of panic is the reality for many travelers every day who suffer from aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder often caused by stroke or other brain injury that makes it difficult to communicate, read, and process numbers, especially in stressful environments like an airport. More than two million people in America suffer from aphasia and …

Musical Style In Selected Easter Cantatas By John W. Peterson, Youn Song Han

Masters Theses

John W. Peterson is one of the most celebrated American Christian songwriters between 1950s and 1970. He is the best-known for church cantatas such as Christimas, Easter, General, and Choral collections. Peterson's life, music style, and success will be addressed. Next, four Easter cantatas of his cantatas will be analyzed and compared: No Greater Love, The Glory of Easter, Hallelujah for the Cross, and It Took a Miracle. Specifically, there are introduction, his biographical information, historical and musical background in 1950s and 1960s, introduction of four Easter cantatas, analysis of four Easter cantatas, that is, music styles of four Easter …

Overview Of Urinary Tract Infection Caused By Bacteria, Ahmed Talib Abdulkarem, Shaimaa M.S. Zainulabdeen, Saif Mazeel Abed

Muthanna Medical Journal

Urinary tract infections [UTIs], a significant public health concern, can be brought on by a wide variety of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The high recurrence rates and evolving antibiotic resistance of uropathogens constitute a serious threat to the financial burden of these disorders. Pathogens in urine can be detected using a variety of diagnostic approaches, which are broadly divided into laboratory-based and point-of-care [POC] detection methods. Many research institutions and companies working in this subject have strived to establish a rapid and accurate pathogen identification because traditional approaches may be time-consuming. …