Digital Commons Network^™

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Skeletal And Non-Skeletal Challenges In Adulthood, Jannie Dahl Hald, Bente Langdahl, Lars Folkestad, Lena Lande Wekre, Riley Johnson, Sandesh C S Nagamani, Cathleen Raggio, Stuart H Ralston, Oliver Semler, Laura Tosi, Eric Orwoll

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a Mendelian connective tissue disorder associated with increased bone fragility and other clinical manifestations most commonly due to abnormalities in production, structure, or post-translational modification of type I collagen. Until recently, most research in OI has focused on the pediatric population and much less attention has been directed at the effects of OI in the adult population. This is a narrative review of the literature focusing on the skeletal as well as non-skeletal manifestations in adults with OI that may affect the aging individual. We found evidence to suggest that OI is a systemic disease which …

Aging-Associated Mechanisms Of Atrial Fibrillation Progression And Their Therapeutic Potential, Shuai Zhao, Aaron M Johnston, Chi Him Kendrick Yiu, Lucia M Moreira, Svetlana Reilly, Xander H T Wehrens

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, with a particularly high prevalence in the elderly. As the global aging population rapidly expands, it is increasingly important to examine how alterations to the aging heart contribute to an increased AF susceptibility. This work critically reviews the key molecular mechanisms that may underpin the complex association between aging and AF. Moreover, we identify emerging novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention that may be able to prevent and/or improve the current treatment paradigms for age-related AF. This review contributes to a holistic understanding of the intricate relationship between aging and AF.

Smart Heuristics In Business Relationships: Toward A Typology, Jochen Reb, Nilotpal Jha

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a typology of heuristics in business relationships. We distinguish between four categories: (1) general heuristics used in the context of a business relationship but that may also (and are often) used in other contexts; (2) relational context heuristics that are typically used in a relational context; (3) relational information heuristics that rely on relational information and (4) genuine relational heuristics that use relational information and are applied in relational contexts. Design/methodology/approach – We draw on existing literature on heuristics and business relationships to inform our conceptual paper. Findings – We …

Harry Potter And The Pedagogy Of Hogwarts, Rachel Cepe

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Education plays a critical role in the academic and personal development of children. Harry Potter spends seven years as a Hogwarts student; while he navigates school, he fights against a growing evil force that threatens day-to-day life. This paper applies different educational theories to each year to examine how Harry adapts to the ever-changing conditions at school to be successful. In the first year, the application of attachment styles theory introduces Harry to a suppressed part of his identity. In the second year, applying intrinsic motivation theory reveals the cultivation of curiosity. In the third year, the locus of control …

Discrimination Against Wayuu Women As A System Of Collective Violence Against The Wayuu Indigenous People In Venezuela And Colombia / Errata Wayuumuin Sumuin Tu’ Wayuu Jiertkaa Jutuma’A Milia’An Jauhtu’U Jumaika’A Heka Jumana’A Tuu Wuomain Eh Venezuerraka Musia Colompianaka, Dayanna Palmar Uriana

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

I wanted to shed light on the situation of Indigenous women in Colombia and Venezuela, focusing specifically on the situation of Wayuu women living in the northern border of both countries. The identity of an Indigenous woman carries a dual burden—defined by both gender and ethnicity—that determines living conditions and access to rights within a worldview rooted in a collective sense of belonging to an Indigenous people. As a Wayuu Indigenous woman and a human rights researcher, my objective was to identify forms of discrimination by listening to Wayuu women in the territories of both countries. This approach allowed us …

Exploring The Pathway Of Far-Right Radicalization In The Age Of Neoliberalism, Biko Koenig

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

This paper examines the complex relationship between young white men and the rise of far-right extremism in contemporary American politics, particularly in the context of the MAGA movement and its implications for political violence. The January 6th riot serves as a stark example of how mainstream political affiliations can rapidly devolve into radicalization, as evidenced by the profiles of participants who often lacked formal ties to extremist groups yet shared a commitment to conspiracy-laden narratives and grievances. By framing these shifts within the broader socio-economic landscape marked by neoliberal decay, I explore how feelings of inequality, alienation, and powerlessness serve …

La Discriminación Hacia La Mujer Wayuu Como Sistema De Violencia Colectiva En El Pueblo Wayuu En Venezuela Y Colombia, Dayanna Palmar Uriana

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

Quería sacar a la luz la situación de las mujeres indígenas en Colombia y Venezuela, tomando en consideración la situación de las Mujeres Wayuu que habitan la frontera norte de ambos países. La identidad de una mujer indígena soporta una carga contenida en el género y la etnicidad que determina condiciones de vida y acceso a derechos dentro de una cosmovisión de vida colectiva de pertenencia hacia un pueblo indígena. Como mujer indígena Wayuu e investigadora en temas de derechos humanos mi objetivo fue identificar formas de discriminación mediante la escucha de mujeres Wayuu en territorio de ambos países, de …

Analysis Of Learning Mechanisms In Spiking Neural Networks With R(T) Elements And Memristive Synapses, Farhana Afrin

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

As Moore's law ends, the conventional von Neumann computer architecture with binary-coded data representation has reached its bottleneck because of having separate computing and memory modules. In this architecture, continuous power is required due to sequential processing, making it challenging to improve efficiency further. The human brain can be regarded as the most energy-efficient computer architecture. In the brain, data is represented as small voltage pulses as spikes. That is why the neural units are called spiking neural networks (SNN). In SNNs, energy is required only when there is a spike, making it more energy efficient than the von-Neumann computer …

Impact Of The 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown On The Concentration Of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds In A Uk Urban Atmosphere, Emmanuel Bernard, Rebecca L. Cordell, Robert S. Blake, Michael J. Wilde, Paul S. Monks

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The changes in air quality brought about by the COVID-19 lockdowns can provide valuable insight into how longer-term reductions in emissions might affect atmospheric composition. In urban Leicester UK, the 2020 COVID “lockdown” brought about several notable changes in atmospheric composition, including a considerable decrease (20–60%) in concentrations of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Given their varied emission sources and lifetimes, NMVOC data can give valuable insights into how behavioural change impact atmospheric composition. The total concentration of 48 NMVOCs at roadside (RS) sites decreased from a pre-lockdown (sampled 16th-24th March 2020) concentration of 181.3 ± 41.4 μg/m³ to …

Exploitative Labor In Los Angeles' Fashion Industry: A Path Towards Ethical Supply Chains, Magali Rodriguez

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This chapter explores exploitative labor practices within Los Angeles' fashion industry and proposes pathways toward ethical supply chains. The fashion industry, particularly in Los Angeles, relies on labor-intensive production, which often leads to low wages, unsafe conditions, and systemic inequality. The complexity of global supply chains, power imbalances, and consumer demand for cheap clothing contribute to the persistence of exploitative practices. More than half of garment contractors in Los Angeles fail to meet minimum wage standards. The chapter emphasizes the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ethical sourcing, which includes accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights. It examines …

Bactericidal Mechanism Of Peracetic Acid Against Salmonella Mediated By Reactive Oxygen Species, Mohammed Khalid Wheib Al-Doury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Peracetic acid (PAA) is extensively used as a bactericidal agent in poultry processing to reduce foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Despite its widespread application, the exact mechanisms underlying its bactericidal effects, particularly the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), remain incompletely understood. This dissertation examines the role of ROS in PAA-mediated bacterial killing and explores both genetic and metabolic factors that influence bacterial susceptibility to PAA. Findings from these studies have implications for enhancing the efficacy of PAA, thereby improving food safety practices in the industry.

The first study investigates ROS as a central component …

Public Health Implications Of State-Level Public Health Organizational And System Structures, Cameron Ferguson Hays

Dissertations

Public health thought leaders such as the Institute of Medicine and National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine have long been concerned about the lack of standardization among state-level public health systems (IOM, 1988; NASEM, 2023). However, little research studies these systems, their structures, and whether structural constructs affect population health outcomes.

This study attempted to examine the structural constructs that make up these systems and the impact of those constructs using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. Variables from management science were qualitatively extracted from materials describing all 50 state-level public health systems. Those variables were then analyzed using a …

Model Reference Adaptive Control For Mobile Manipulators And Beyond, Srivatsan Srinivasan

All Dissertations

In recent years, robotics has expanded into various sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, and household services, making the integration of autonomy a critical area of research. This shift aims to ensure safety and enhance the utility of autonomous systems. Traditionally, robotic applications focused separately on mobility, like automated guided vehicles, and manipulation, such as serial-chain arms in manufacturing. Today, however, we see a merging of these capabilities in the growing field of mobile manipulator robots that combine movement with purposeful interactive functionalities.

A typical mobile manipulator is a robotic arm mounted on a wheeled base. This thesis focuses on advancing control …

Real-Time Motion Augmentation And Synthesis For Animating The Hands And Eyes Of Virtual Humans And Avatars, Ryan Canales

All Dissertations

Virtual Reality (VR) enables users to interact within virtual worlds via an embodied virtual representation of themselves called an “avatar”. Because avatars are essential for immersive experiences, it is important to consider how altering or augmenting avatar motion affects virtual experiences. This dissertation aims to improve virtual experiences by addressing some of the many challenges in animating avatars and virtual humans.

In our first study, we addressed the lack of tactile feedback during virtual grasping by using visual feedback techniques. We augmented the avatar’s hand motion to remain outside virtual objects (“outer hand”) even when the user’s hand penetrated them. …

The White Peacock – A Masculinity Study, Katherine Pollert

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the feminist movement in England was making significant progress, effectively influencing the leading artists and scholars of the time to consider the nature of female oppression and to do their part to invoke change. Among these figures, D.H. Lawrence emerged as a provocative voice on gender and sexuality. To this day, his work remains a source of significant contention, often due to the controversial representation of gender and sexuality in his novels. For decades, feminist critics have debated Lawrence’s characterization of women, some accusing his work of misogyny, with others praising his careful …

Size Matters: The Characterization Of Telomere Function In Germ Cell Development In Danio Rerio, Jessica Macneil

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. According to the WHO, 48 million couples across the globe suffer from infertility and many couples turn to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to become pregnant. One readout of gamete quality and successful ART is telomere integrity because telomeres are necessary for chromosome movements during meiosis so that the segregation of chromosomes happens correctly. Telomeres are well known for their role in aging; however, they play an important and understudied role during meiosis. In meiosis, telomeres attach to the nuclear envelope (NE) via a protein chain spanning the NE that interacts with cytoplasmic motor proteins, …

Apocalyptic Vision: A Disturbing One?, Jake Van Wyk, David Platter

Pro Rege

This article is preceded by a photo of the Gallery Exhibition of Dordt University (2023), and followed by photos of several other works of Van Wyk, as well as his studio picture.

The Tale Of Mari, Anya Vaughn

Theses

The Tale of Mari is a mixed media animated documentary which follows the life of Mari Arakaki Gaskins. Shortly after moving to America in the 1970s, Mari began illustrating comic strips about a Japanese family, emulating the cartoons she saw in newspapers. She sent a letter to the creator of Garfield, Jim Davis, and included her comics. Davis sent her a response, and told her that her artwork was good. However, he believed that the strips were unlikely to be published, because comics about a young Japanese girl would not be relatable to American audiences. Mari grew up during a …

Tehran Is Ours, Hamideh Azimi

Theses

Tehran is Ours is a thesis film, mainly 2D animation, with some experimental and 3D parts. This film dramatizing the movement that is happening in Iran which is about women’s rights. 2D fluid animation represents the movement that never stops.

Type Unbound: An Exploration Of Typography, Ar, And Its Creative Power, Honey Ashvinkumar Gardharia

Theses

‘Type Unbound’ is a typographic poster series and campaign designed to celebrate typography, exploring its dynamic possibilities through Augmented Reality (AR) simulation. This project bridges traditional and digital design by allowing users to scan posters and experience typography that defies its static nature, coming alive with animations. Each poster focuses on a distinct theme and these themes showcase the multifaceted powers of typography, highlighting its ability to communicate, inspire, and transform. The animated interactions go beyond aesthetic appeal, serving as a means to understand what type can do—how it shapes rhythm, creates form, adds dimension, and alters perspectives. By combining …

The Role Of Customs Taxes In The Development Of The Industrial Sector In Iraq For The Period (2004-2022), Asseel Niaz Kamel, Dawood Abdul Jabbar Ahmed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The impact of customs taxes in supporting and protecting the domestic product and domestic industry. Conceptual framework: The paper dealt with the study of the role of customs taxes in the development of the industrial sector in Iraq, and the conceptual and theoretical framework of the industrial sector. Design /methodology /methodology: We analyzed the role of customs taxes in the development of the industrial sector in Iraq during the period 2004 - 2022. Results: The study resulted in a set of results,  most important of which lies in that the volume of customs tax revenues is low, and that's …

The Impact Of E-Commerce On Digital Marketing Hopes And Ambitions: A Case Study In Airline Reservation Offices In Iraq, Anas Maaroof, Abdullah Oğrak

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The current study aims to identify the impact of e-commerce with digital marketing in airline reservation offices in the Republic of Iraq. The study consists of two main variables: the independent variable that included e-commerce, which consisted of four dimensions: Business-to-Business, Consumer-to-Business, and Consumer-to. - Consumer, Business-to-Government, and the dependent variable represents digital marketing, the dimensions of which are: website design, social media marketing, search engine optimization, and email marketing. Theoretical Framework: Upon on Maaroof, A. (2021) This study highlights the importance of e-commerce and digital marketing, such as booking corners during digital transactions in airline reservation offices, as …

The Modern Trends Of Economic Relations Between Iraq And China For The Period 2010 -2023, Salar Hamid Awakhti, Pana Foad Abdulla Ahmed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The study aims to analyze and understand the economic relations between Iraq and China in the modern era, providing insights into their development, current status, and future prospects. It seeks to identify the key factors influencing these relations and to evaluate the impact of trade, investment, and geopolitical strategies on bilateral economic ties. Additionally, the study aims to offer a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities present in the Iraq-China economic partnership. Theoretical Framework: The study utilizes frameworks that explain bilateral economic relations, including theories on trade, investment, and geopolitical influence. It integrates insights and data from studies …

Possibility Of Benefiting From The Egyptian Experience In Implementing Agricultural Policies To Enhance Food Security In Iraq For The Period (2000-2018), Duaa Ali Abdul Husssein, Sabah Nema Ali

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The research aims to identify the challenges facing the agricultural sector in Egypt in light of the global food crisis and the role of agricultural policies in confronting them considering the available resources and the extent of benefiting from the banking experience in implementing agricultural policies to enhance food security in Iraq. Theoretical framework: The research dealt with the study of agricultural policies and their role in enhancing food security in Iraq by benefiting from the Egyptian experience. The research problem revolves around the fact that the agricultural sector in Egypt faces several challenges, including weak government support for …

Alternative Agrifood Systems And The Economic Sustainability Of Farmers' Cooperatives: The Chinese Experience, Zhanping Hu, Qian Forrest Zhang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Most registered farmers' cooperatives in China are de facto private enterprises; while many bring economic gains to farmers, they do not function as cooperatives. Among the small minority that started as authentic cooperatives, however, most struggled to provide economic benefits to members, unable to achieve economic sustainability. The failure of true farmers' cooperatives in China has been widely studied; the success of the few that did become economically sustainable, however, remains poorly understood. Using a sample of 70 farmers' cooperatives across the country and comparing three “extreme cases”—cooperatives that are both authentic and economically successful—with the rest, this study argues …

Using Simulations Of Future Extreme Weather Events To Escape The Resilience Trap: Experimental Evidence From Hong Kong, Terry Van Gevelt, J. Yang, K. N. Chan, L. Li, Fiona Williamson, B. G. Mcadoo, A. D. Switzer

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Hong Kong is a hyper-dense coastal city that has long learned to live with a potentially disastrous extreme weather event: tropical cyclones. This was largely a reactionary process, with investments in soft and hard infrastructure made in the aftermath of devastating tropical cyclones. While the experiences of devastating tropical cyclones remain strong in the collective memory of the city, Hong Kong's present-day resilience has led to complacency, especially among the general public. We suggest that Hong Kong may be caught in a resilience trap, where previous success in building resilience may be hindering the city's ability to adapt to the …

Positive And Negative Affect Differentially Predict Individual Differences And Intra-Individual Changes In Daily Cognitive Failures In Younger And Older Adults, Ysabel A. Guevarra, Nadyanna M. Majeed, Nur Eva Alisha Binte Mohamed Hisham, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

(1) Background: Cognitive failures, including lapses in attention, memory, and executive functioning, can negatively affect daily performance and well-being. Negative and positive affectivity have been implicated in cognitive functioning, yet their relationship with cognitive failures remains underexplored. This study investigates the impact of positive and negative affect on cognitive failures, using daily diary methods to examine both within-person and between-person associations in a sample of younger adults from Singapore and adults across the lifespan from the United States (US). (2) Methods: Participants (Singapore: N = 253, US: N = 1726) completed daily diaries over seven (Singapore) or eight (US) consecutive …

The Effects Of Casein Glycomacropeptide On General Health Status In Children With Pku: A Randomized Crossover Trial, Alex Pinto, Anne Daly, Camille Newby, Abigail Robotham, Simon Heales, Simon Eaton, Helen Aitkenhead, Kimberly Gilmour, Richard Jackson, Catherine Ashmore, Sharon Evans, Júlio Cesar Rocha, Fatma Ilgaz, Mary Hickson, Anita Macdonald

School of Health Professions

In PKU, it is suggested that casein glycomacropeptide based protein substitute (GMP) may have physiological advantage when satiety, oxidative stress, renal function and inflammation are considered. Its prebiotic properties may also help gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance. In children with PKU, a randomized/crossover trial comparing phenylalanine-free amino acids (AA) vs GMP as the single source of protein substitute for 12-weeks in each arm was conducted. There was a 4-week wash out period with AA in-between. At baseline and end of each intervention, blood and fecal samples were taken to monitor gut health, oxidative stress, renal function, inflammatory markers and plasma amino acids. …

The Rage, Fall 2024, Aspen Humphries, Savannah Moore, Lottie Taylor

The Rage Zine

The Rage zine is published in collaboration with Students Advocating Gender Equality and CCU Women's and Gender Studies. Volume 3, Issue 1.

Hands-On Training About Data Clustering With Orange Data Mining Toolbox, Janez Demšar, Blaž Zupan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Data clustering is a core data science approach widely used and referenced in the scientific literature. Its algorithms are often intuitive and can lead to exciting, insightful results that are easy to interpret. For these reasons, data clustering techniques could be the first method encountered in data science training. This paper proposes a hands-on approach to data clustering training suitable for introductory courses. The education approach features problem-based training that starts with the data and gradually introduces various data processing and analysis methods, illustrating them through visual representations of data and models. The proposed training is suitable for a general …