Digital Commons Network^™

High School Students' Perceptions Of Banned Books, Carissa Hennen

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research study consisted of interviews with twelve students ages 14-18 at a Northeastern Ohio high school to determine their opinions regarding banned books and content restrictions in schools. With book bans increasing and becoming a divisive topic, many adult figures such as parents, politicians, educators, and school administrators have made their opinions known, but student perspectives are often disregarded. This study seeks to further the research on opinions of book bans by extending these questions to students to fill this gap in research and gain deeper insight into the perception of high school students in regard to school curriculum. …

Unity Two Dimensional C# Game, Nick Zajac

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My project is a 2-dimensional game that is being developed in the unity engine. This project includes animating objects, having them interact with each other, and having a goal the player will want to complete in the game. It will be a game that involves the player character moving around, attacking enemies, and dodging enemies. There will also be some challenges that involve maneuvering between platforms and enemies to progress in the game. At the end of the level, the player will encounter a stronger boss character. This character will have movement and attack patterns similar to the other minor …

Shalom: Health, Healing, And Wholeness In Biblical Perspective, Boubakar Sanou

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Health, healing, and wholeness occupy a central place within the biblical narrative, embodying God’s intent for the flourishing of the entirety of his creation. Grounded in the concept of shalom, Scripture articulates a holistic understanding of wellbeing that encompasses spiritual, physical, emotional, moral, and relational dimensions. These dimensions are interconnected, each influencing and shaping the others. In the context of an increasingly fragmented world, the biblical concept of shalom offers a firm framework for addressing the multifaceted challenges of health, healing, and wholeness. By embracing the holistic vision of health, healing, and wholeness, Christians are called to participate in God’s …

Healing The Trauma: Toward A Missiology For Contemporary Russia, Yuri N. Drumi

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

This article addresses the trauma of Stalinism from the standpoint of a missiological reading of Luke 4:16-21. This programmatic sermon of Jesus at Nazareth, whose meaning is unfolded in the larger context of Luke-Acts, is of primary importance for the current Russian culture, which is suffering from the consequences of a time when its culture was warped by the forces of the demonic realm. The rationale for using Luke-Acts in a post-Soviet theology of mission and the cluster of theological theses that underlie Jesus’ program of liberation are both foundational for a missiological paradigm intended for post-totalitarian Russian society.

Ecclesiological Meaning In Jesus’ Sabbath Healings, Sven Östring

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

The earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ was the full incarnation of his divine identity and mission. However, certain events and situations became windows that allowed his relationship with his Father and his divine mission to be revealed with clarity to those around him. In particular, Jesus saw in the Sabbath a unique and regular opportunity to reveal both his identity and his mission. Likewise, his opponents understood, with almost surprising accuracy and clarity, what he was communicating about himself from his religiously non-conforming actions on Sabbath. However, this was not just a minor ethical scuffle between a well-studied …

Is There A Future For The Missiological Study Of Worldview? Part 2, Paulo C. Oliveira

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

In Part 1 of this article, I revisited the foundational intellectual roots of the missiological worldview construct, described the concept, and presented an argument advocating for additional critical engagement in mission circles. In Part 2, the focus will be on probing the anthropological shift moving away from worldview studies, exploring some implications of this shift for missiology, and, finally, addressing—more directly—the question of the future of missiological worldview studies.

Residents Welcome: Marijuana Regulation And The Dormant Commerce Clause, Kennedy Dickson

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Infrastructure For The Energy Transition, Timothy Fitzgerald

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Cytosine Analogue 5-Azacitidine Improves The Accumulation Of Licochalcone A In Licorice Glycyrrhiza Inflata., Xiaoling Ma, Ningxin Jiang, Jingxian Fu, Yuping Li, Lijun Zhou, Ling Yuan, Ying Wang, Yongqing Li

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Licochalcone A (LCA) is a characteristic compound of Glycyrrhiza inflata with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor activities. However, G. inflata produces LCA in low quantities that does not meet the market demand. In this study, we found that DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacitidine (5-azaC) successfully improved the LCA contents in G. inflata seedlings. Transcriptome analysis revealed a series of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including transcription factors such as MYB, ERF, WRKY, and some structural genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis. However, whole genome bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) results showed little effect of the 5-azaC treatment on the alteration of DNA methylation on these genes, …

The Mechanism Of Sperm (Pro)Nuclear Migration In Plants And Animals, Yilin Zhang, Tomokazu Kawashima

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Gamete nuclear migration is a critical process during fertilization in flowering plants, yet its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent studies have highlighted the essential role of cytoskeletal elements, particularly F-actin, in directing sperm nuclear migration, contrasting with the microtubule-driven migration in animals. We summarize the process of sperm nuclear migration in plants and the involvement of Class XI myosin XI-G in Arabidopsis, along with the ROP8-SCAR2 pathway’s ARP2/3-independent mechanism for F-actin nucleation. We also provide a comparative overview of examples from sea urchins, C. elegans, mice and yeast contrasting these mechanisms with those in plants. Finally, we …

Welcome To The Fruit Farm: How Queer Farmers Are Shaping The Agroecology Of The Future, Alessandra Del Brocco

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

The question of sustainability has many different facets, but one of the most urgent issues is that of sustainable agriculture. Decades of agricultural policy demanded farmers go big or get out, more colloquially known as the government directive of the 20^th century to farm “fencerow to fencerow”. In the 21^st century, we now face a near-critical consolidation of farmland and decline in the overall number of farmers. If sustainability calls for a resilient, diversified agrisystem, how can we change direction at this point in the trajectory?

In this study, I demonstrate how queer farmers make valuable contributions to …

Investigating Hiv-1 Transmission To Human Cervix Using Reporter Virus Technologies, Dana Frances Indihar

All ETDs from UAB

Around 39 million people globally are currently infected with Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), more than half of whom are women. HIV-1 is a retrovirus that infects and depletes an individual’s immune cells, culminating in the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not managed with anti-retroviral therapies (ART). Most women acquire HIV-1 through heterosexual intercourse. However, the early mechanisms and virologic determinants of HIV-1 transmission to women remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate transmitted/founder (TF) HIV-1 representing two genetically and pathogenically distinct subtypes (A and D) in vivo have distinct replication phenotypes in an ex vivo cervical explant tissue (CET) …

Emerging Chromatin Regulators In Response To Heavy Metal Exposure, Wesley Saintilnord

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Environmental exposure to heavy metals poses significant threats to human health as they are associated with various developmental and chronic pathologies such as reproductive defects and cancers. Despite their profound risks, a comprehensive understanding of their disease-causing mechanisms is lacking. Most studies point to reactive oxygen species-induced DNA damage; however, their mutagenic potential is relatively weak suggesting the involvement of alternative mechanisms. One important, yet underexplored mechanism, is their ability to rewire the epigenome via DNA methylation and histone variant incorporation, leading to aberrant gene regulatory networks.

This study investigates the epigenetic mechanisms targeted by two ubiquitous heavy metals with …

Giving Voice To The Victims Of The Insurgency In Eastern Uganda In The Late 1980s And Early 1990s: A Phenomenological Research Study, Lawrence Egulu

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

After five years of protracted guerilla warfare, Uganda’s current President Yoweri Museveni capturedpower in January 1986, displacing the preceding regime that had been dominated by Northern politicians and Eastern Ugandans (army and police). Feeling humiliated, deprived, and out of government, several rebel insurgencies erupted, among which was the Uganda People’s Army in the Teso region. The experiences of the affected population at the hands of the army, rebels, and the Karamojong cattle raiders from the North East have remained largely unexplored, unheard, and undocumented outside of the region, and neither have how the victims made meaning of their conditions. The …

Digital Media Technology Major, Technology

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Digital Media Technology Minor, Technology

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Various Nanoplastics On The Inflammatory Response In Primary Alveolar Epithelial Cells, Eunice J. Pak

Theses and Dissertations

As plastic pollution begins to multiply in the environment and the workplace, gradual degradation of these plastics creates an unseen threat to biological health: nanoplastics. These nanoplastics are common in day-to-day life, and have been found in various internal organs of the human body. The biological and health effects of these nanoplastics are still widely unknown, and only recently has research focused on the impacts of these particles on human health at the cellular level.

In this thesis, poly(methyl methacrylate) and three forms of polystyrene (carboxyl-modified, amine-modified, and neutral surface charge) have been tested on submerged primary C57BL/6 mouse alveolar …

Re-Programming Transcription Factor Function For Neuroscience Research Of Addiction: Investigating The Role Of Zinc Finger Proteins In Driving Cocaine Reinforcement In Mice, Joseph A. Picone

Theses and Dissertations

Administration of addictive drugs like cocaine or morphine initiates aberrant gene transcription within brain reward circuitry neurons, which contributes to the lasting behavioral maladaptations that define addiction. The drug-induced expression and function of key brain transcription factors (TFs) is one major mechanism through which these drugs are able to regulate transcription, and as a consequence, lasting damaging drug-related behaviors including compulsive drug use. The goal of this dissertation is to more fully understand the molecular mechanistic drug-specific actions of TFs within the rodent nucleus accumbens (NAc). The findings from these studies could serve as the basis to identify novel candidate …

Dysregulation Of Epigenetic Modifications In Inborn Errors Of Immunity, Zhongyao Xiao, Rongjing He, Zihan Zhao, Taiping Chen, Zhengzhou Ying

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are a group of typically monogenic disorders characterized by dysfunction in the immune system. Individuals with these disorders experience increased susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity and malignancies due to abnormal immune responses. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling, have been well explored in the regulation of immune cell development and effector function. Aberrant epigenetic modifications can disrupt gene expression profiles crucial for immune responses, resulting in impaired immune cell differentiation and function. Dysregulation of these processes caused by mutations in genes involving in epigenetic modifications has been associated with various IEIs. In …

Using Evidence-Based Scientific Research To Influence Dietary Behavioral Change: Taking A Look In The Mirror, Clifton P. Bueno De Mesquita, Ylenia Vimercati Molano, Lara Vimercati, P. Jacob Bueno De Mesquita

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Science can provide accurate information to society to inform decision-making and behavior. One contemporary topic in which the science is very clear, yet behavioral change has lagged, is climate change mitigation. Climate change scientists use evidence-based research to advocate to the public to adopt emission-reducing behaviors in various sectors such as transportation and food. However, scientists themselves often do not change their own behaviors according to the scientific consensus. We present a case study of a group of natural sciences PhD students, who, when presented with evidence and an opportunity for a behavioral change with implications for climate change mitigation, …

A Molecular-Informed Species Inventory Of The Order Ceramiales (Rhodophyta) In The Narragansett Bay Area (Rhode Island And Massachusetts), Usa, Thomas Irvine, Brian Wysor, Alicia Beauvais

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Narragansett Bay is an estuarine system in the western North Atlantic Ocean that harbors a diverse marine flora, providing structure, habitat, and food for native biodiversity. This area has been the center of numerous environmental, biological, ecological, and oceanographic studies; however, marine macroalgae have not been extensively examined using modern molecular methods. Here, we document the biodiversity of the red algal order Ceramiales based on DNA sequence comparisons of the 3′ end of the RuBisCo large subunit (rbcL-3P) and the universal plastid amplicon (UPA). Thirty-seven distinct species of this order were identified and validated with molecular data, including five new …

Analyzing The Role Of Slc25a32 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Mimansha Shah

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite advances in understanding its molecular pathogenesis, treatment options for HCC remain limited, highlighting the need for identifying novel therapeutic targets. This study investigates the role of SLC25A32, a mitochondrial transporter gene located on chromosome 8q22.3, in HCC progression. SLC25A32 is involved in the transport of tetrahydrofolate (THF) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) into mitochondria, playing a crucial role in one-carbon metabolism and redox balance. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated potential SLC25A32 knockout clones in the HCC cell line Huh-7. Quantitative PCR …

Shape Inverse Prediction Of Magnetic Field-Actuated Soft Robots By Neural Network Machine Learning, Lineth J. Perez Monsalve

Theses and Dissertations

Soft robotics has drawn tremendous interest in recent years because the compliance and motion of soft robotics enable biocompatibility and versatility for many applications, such as human-machine interaction, wearable and assistive devices, and health monitoring. This study introduces a novel predictive modeling approach using neural networks for shape control of magnetic soft robots. The robots are made of silicone materials embedded with hard magnetic particles, which respond to the external magnetic field provided by a ring-type of permanent magnet. These robots, free from physical connections to external devices, i.e., non-tethered actuation, hold significant potential for applications in healthcare, such as …

Role Of Human Intermediate Form Prl Receptor I-Tail In The Pathogenesis Of Breast Cancer, Shanwei Shen

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer continues to be the second most common cancer in women in the United States. The neuroendocrine hormone human prolactin (hPRL) plays an important role in normal mammary gland development and growth, stimulating normal breast tissue proliferation and differentiation. Considerable evidence has shown that hPRL is involved in the malignant transformation of human breast tissue. hPRL enhances viability, invasiveness, and proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. Evidence from epidemiologic and genetic studies also implicates role of hPRL in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Its cognate receptor the human prolactin receptor (hPRLr) is required for the action of hPRL. …

Fat And Water Content Effects Of Three Food Substrates (Ground Veal, Ground Beef, And Beef Liver) On Lucilia Sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Development And Mortality, Nicole Dailey

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Although temperature has been identified as the most important catalyst affecting blow fly larval development, other variables encountered by these species, such as the fat and moisture content of the food source, may have an impact on accurate estimations of the PMImin in forensic investigations. Thus, body composition differences between human carrion, such as variations in body fat and water percentages between younger and older individuals, or heavier persons, could affect blow fly developmental rates, and in turn cause over or under estimations of the PMImin. In this study, the weight, length, and development times of Lucilia sericata third instar …

A Comparative Analysis Of Swabbing Solutions For Sexual Assault Evidence: Direct Impact On Spermatozoa And Dna Recovery, Olivia Q. Kassie

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Forensic laboratories struggle with a backlog of sexual assault cases, prompting the need for effective techniques to develop consistent protocols and address scientific gaps. Challenges in recovering optimal DNA from assault evidence stem from factors like collection timing and sampling variables. Variations in lab protocols can lead to differences in DNA yields and profile success. This was observed in a state lab when protocols were developed allowing the use of acetone to swab sexual assault evidence. The use of acetone originated due to their case-routing protocols in multi-section cases involving latent fingerprints. While not necessary for sexual assault and porous …

Cellular Autofluorescence Signatures For Determining Time Since Deposition Of Whole Blood, Hannah Lamer

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Knowledge of the relative window of time that evidentiary biological material was deposited at a crime scene, referred to as the time since deposition (TSD), would help investigators determine which evidentiary items are most probative and assist with scene reconstruction. One commonly encountered body fluid at a crime scene is blood. Various methods for estimating TSD of bloodstains have been developed, but none to date have been validated for use in the forensic laboratory. Recently, flow cytometry measurements of cellular autofluorescence and size/structure have been investigated as a signature for TSD of saliva and touch epidermal cells. This study assessed …

Using The Microbiome To Assess The Health Status Of The Individuals Recovered From The East Marshall Street Well, Arian Karim

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

In 1994, during the construction of the Kontos Building on the Medical College of Virginia Campus, a well on East Marshall Street was discovered to contain artifacts and human remains of African descent. Upon archaeological analysis by the Smithsonian, the ancestral remains can be dated back to the mid-19th century, when grave robbing and the use of cadavers for anatomical purposes [BS1] in medical schools were common. The human oral microbiome is the second largest human microbiota, containing over 600 species of organisms. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome can lead to the overgrowth of pathogenic species, resulting in illness and …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Alternative Light Sources In The Search For Skeletal Remains, Oiivia L. Thompson

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Many search and recovery operations for human skeletal remains are unsuccessful due to difficulties recognizing bones in outdoor environments even when evidence indicates the last known whereabouts of a missing individual. Though the collagen component of bone is known to emit fluorescent, this property has not been leveraged consistently during skeletal remains searches. Thirty-six mock searches were completed in 5000 ft² zones of eastern deciduous forest by volunteers associated with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Pig and deer bones were scattered and partially concealed under brush and leaf cover. Pairs of volunteers were allowed up to one hour …

Opioid System's Potential Involvement In Ketamine's Cognitive And Antidepressant-Like Effects In Rats, Fan Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Depression stands as one of the most pervasive mental health challenges worldwide, including the United States. Conventional antidepressants typically display a delayed onset of therapeutic action (4-8 weeks) and lack efficacy in a substantial portion of patients (over 40% of depressed patients are treatment-resistant). The dissociative anesthetic ketamine, which is a glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, has emerged as a promising novel treatment due to its rapid and prolonged antidepressant effects, and it is especially beneficial for treatment-resistant depression. Nevertheless, the precise neurochemical mechanisms underlying ketamine’s antidepressant properties remain elusive, hampering the development of safer and more efficacious treatments. The present …