Digital Commons Network^™

Glacial Progress: Thawing The Path To A Law School In Alaska, Kathrine Coonjohn

Alaska Law Review

My contribution to this symposium is clear: to advocate for the establishment of an Alaskan law school. As the only state in the nation without one Alaska keenly suffers the repercussions of this absence. The resulting void creates shortages of legal professionals, reduces opportunities for continuing legal education, cultural and community disconnection, and contributes to brain drain. Further, it undermines the state's legal infrastructure and limits access to justice. Despite significant logistical and financial hurdles, including the high costs of establishment and sustainability concerns, the need for a local legal institution is undeniable, and this need will only grow more …

Self-Esteem, Test Anxiety, And Resource Use In College Students With Adhd And Adhd Symptoms, Haley Mcbride

Theses - ALL

College students with ADHD face several challenges in pursuit of higher education, including lower self-esteem, higher test anxiety, and increased risk for negative academic outcomes (lower GPA). Despite these challenges, a surprisingly small proportion (e.g., 54.4%) of this population utilize resources that could benefit them (e.g., disability accommodations, academic supports, medication, therapy). This study aimed to substantiate findings regarding lower self-esteem and higher test anxiety in college students with elevated ADHD symptoms and investigate self-esteem and test anxiety as factors associated with resource use for students with ADHD diagnoses. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4,195 undergraduate students (278 with …

Importance Of Social Support During Pregnancy For Girls With Limited Education, Mairo V. Bello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social support signifies a system that provides for family, relatives, and friends or is derived from external sources such as social services or health promotion networks and can reduce depression and increase well-being. Absent from the literature was the understanding of the significance of social support for young women with limited education aged 18-25 on the journey from conception to the postpartum period in Nigeria. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the individual perception, attitude, and social support received by young women with limited education during pregnancy in Wudil LGA of Kano state in northern Nigeria were examined. The study addressed …

Disgusted Judges And Domestic Violence, Jessica Miles

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

I Want To Love How I Do Learn: A Phenomenological Study Of Adult Learners With General Learning Disabilities And Their Goals For Postsecondary Education, Diana Muller Katovitch

Dissertations - ALL

A subset of individuals with learning disabilities is currently prevented from accessing postsecondary education; these individuals experience general learning disabilities, or GLD (Greenspan, 2017, p. 117). GLD is not a formal disability category in K-12 special education; individual students might not be eligible for academic supports and accommodations in K-12 or in postsecondary education based on this description. Individuals with GLD encounter significant barriers both accessing and finding success in postsecondary education. Qualitative research involving adults with GLD is lacking in available literature, as is theoretical analysis of their experiences. My research is a phenomenological study based on the experiences …

On The Use Of Introspection In The Study Of Consciousness, Yaojun Lu

Dissertations - ALL

For the past half century, introspection has once again become a trusted source of knowledge in the study of consciousness. Some philosophers reflect on their own consciousness to draw metaphysical conclusions; some psychologists hypothesize observable regularities of consciousness by collecting introspective reports. They operate under the doctrine that first-person perspective provides a privileged access to the conscious mind. This dissertation is a critical examination of the use of introspection in the scientific and metaphysical study of consciousness. I first develop classic criticism of the privileged access, with a diagnosis of the failure of introspective psychology and a reflection on the …

Mediating Roles To Develop Literacy Skills: A Formative Research Project Exploring Planning Tools Which Support Co-Practice For English Language Learners, Deborah Ann Moriarty

Dissertations - ALL

ABSTRACT Mediating Roles to Develop Literacy Skills: A Formative Research Project Exploring Planning Tools Which Support Co-practice for English Language Learners Educators are often required to mediate many factors while engaging in the act of literacy instruction. It is an insurmountable task to maneuver varied approaches, curricular expectations, achievement goals and overall system dynamics while teaching. This is confounded when teachers are differentiating to meet the needs of English language learners. The additional support of both literacy and English as a New Language (ENL) consultant teachers is intended to assist classroom teachers with this important work, however, collaboration becomes yet …

Mormonism Through The Lens Of Translation Studies, Gabriel González Núñez

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

Most religious movements often have an invisible relationship to translation. This is the case for major religious traditions, such as Christianity. Among the Christian denominations, Mormonism is perhaps particular due to a quite visible relationship with translation. As a religious tradition that is very much rooted in and experienced through translation, it has caught the eye of translation scholars who have studied it to theorize on the nature of translation. However, much of this scholarship seems somewhat uninformed as to what scholars in the field of Mormon Studies have also been exploring regarding translation. And the opposite seems to also …

A Protection Or A Barrier? A Scoping Review Of Boundaries In Teacher-Student Relationships, Joseph Russell R. Santos

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Teacher-student relationships have differing potentialities in terms of importance and challenges, therefore implying the need for more effective navigation by placing healthy boundaries. However, the impact of this relationship and the boundary itself for both teachers and students need to be recognized to determine how they should be navigated. Doing so can give teachers and students healthier and more meaningful classroom experiences that align with the sustainable development goal of achieving optimal well-being and quality education. To examine the perceived importance and challenges of boundaries in teacher-student relationships, a scoping review was conducted. Eleven (11) out of the 29 studies …

Self-Agency As A Strategy In Emergency Remote Learning Among Filipino Grade 10 Students, John Cris C. Tababa, Paul Andrei C. Apo, Golden Grace R. Gammaru, Audrey S. Manaay, Kathrin Anne N. Nadua, James Fhonzy Angelo S. Fontillo

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

The Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic significantly influences students' educational attainment as they actively find and rationalize knowledge obtained from emergency remote learning. As a response, the agency or the ability to regulate one’s learning provides the students with the ability to believe in themselves. Still, it also necessitates the deliberate consideration to create a plan of action and modify it as required to achieve one's objectives. This study obtained knowledge from emergency remote learning (ERL) experiences of Filipino Grade 10 Students in their Social Studies class. The researchers employed a phenomenological approach to understand the self-agency practices of Grade 10 …

Citation Practices Of Contrasting Cultures In Q1 Journal Articles, April Rose C. Gonzales

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Citation is a distinguishing feature in research writing that every researcher must include to ensure credible ethical research. Citing sources is necessary as it provides credit to the original author, refers to previous findings, sets credibility, and enables sustainability of the topic. However, studies least consider culture as an element that influences citation beliefs and practices. Most literature holds a lack of language proficiency as the culprit for poor citation skills. Drawing from Hofstede's Cultural Dimension theory (2011) and Lewis’ (2006) Cultural Behaviour in Relation to Writing, this study explores the influence of culture on citation practices with the hope …

Defining The Social Licence Of Large Language Models In Healthcare, Robin L. Pierce, Jack Gallifant, Ashley Cordes, Amelia Fiske, Matilda Dorotic, Mataroria Lyndon, Shrey Jain, Joe Zhang, Judy Gichoya, Leo Anthony Celi

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

As Large Language Models (LLMs) continue to grow and evolve, the ethical, social, and legal challenges they present, especially in terms of data use and sharing, come sharply into focus. Particularly in high-risk domains like healthcare, where the sensitivity of data is pronounced, and the ramifications of data leakages or misuse are profound. These licenses, envisioned to address the complexities introduced by LLMs, still grapple with barriers that hinder their full potential: notably, the absence of authoritative regulatory bodies, ambiguities in defining what constitutes 'sufficient public benefit', issues of data sovereignty, and dilemmas surrounding responsibility and liability. Herein, we delve …

Graduate Competencies Under The Thai Qualifications Framework For Higher Education In Educational Administration, Sumet Ngamkanok

Journal of Education Studies

This research aimed to 1) study graduate competencies under the Thai Qualifications Framework for higher education in educational administration; 2) develop indicators for developing graduate competency for higher education in educational administration, 3) create a competency development manual for graduates under the Thai qualifications framework for higher education in educational administration. Research instruments included a semi-structured interview form for collecting data and experts interview conclusions to develop indicators and create the questionnaire for evaluation and focus group. There were three stages of the research procedures: 1) studying competency components of graduates under the Thai Qualifications Framework in educational administration; 2) …

Reform Of Laboratory Courses Teaching In Higher Education To Enhance Sustainability In The Post Covid-19 Era, Bin Zhu, Simin Xing

Journal of Education Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many difficulties and challenges to laboratory courses, but also promoted the development and prosperity of various teaching methods and made the position of laboratory instruction in higher education contemplated deeply. On the other hand, the monotonous and constant teaching materials and the formalized and theorized examination form have resulted in students' inertia and perfunctory attitude toward the experiment learning. Facing unpredictable futures and students' indifferent mentality, we urgently need to redesign the curriculum to enhance flexibility and resilience, meanwhile, ameliorate educational achievements. It is an important guiding principle of curriculum design to utilize diversified teaching …

Beyond Bindis, Bhajis, Bangles And Bhangra: Promoting Multiculturalism In Primary Schools In Predominantly White British Places, Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Twenty-first-century education as a powerful means of knowledge will possibly be shaped by the emphasis it places on having classrooms that are race-conscious and multicultural. The present article is based on a doctoral study that explores an under-researched area: experiences and understanding of multiculturalism in mainstream primary schools situated in the predominantly White places of Southwest England. The study was underpinned by a sociocultural theoretical framework; data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the adult participants, students’ classroom activities, and documentary analysis of school displays. The article focuses on the data generated from the students’ classroom activities. Findings show differences …

From Policymaking To Legislation, The Need For A Secular Turn In Bioethics Discourse To Uphold, As A Function Of The Greater Good, Policy For Legislation Of Medically Aided Dying In The United States Of America, Scott Dyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A person’s right to self-determination is a central aspect of living in a democratic nation. Similarly, decisions regarding medical care are generally left up to the patient to determine what treatment is or is not appropriate. The same should apply to end-of-life care as well, especially when a patient desires to hasten his or her death via medically aided dying. However, due to the illegality of medically assisted dying in most of the United States, the right to a self-determined death is not possible for the majority of American citizens. One of the main reasons for this is due to …

Elementary Science Instruction: A Document Analysis Of Teacher Messaging Across Two Sets Of Curriculum Materials, Jessica Mary Whisher-Hehl

Dissertations - ALL

Elementary teachers are tasked with teaching multiple subjects within an instructional day. One mechanism to support this task is through strong curriculum materials, which lay out a course of instruction aligned with instructional standards. This is helpful when teachers are trying to teach to a new set of standards, such as the Next Generation Science Standards, which require a significant shift in instructional strategies. In cases such as this, educative features embedded in the curriculum materials can assist teachers in making the required shifts in instruction. However, sometimes the instructional time required by curriculum materials, especially in elementary science, is …

Survival Analysis Of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Based On Radiomics And Deep Learning Features From Ct Images, Zhennan Lu, Sijia Wu, Dan Ni, Meng Zhou, Tao Wang, Xiaobo Zhou, Liyu Huang, Yu Yan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To create a nomogram for accurate prognosis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) based on computed tomography images.

Methods: Eight hundred twenty-two ccRCC patients with contrast-enhanced computed tomography images involved in this study were collected. A rectangular region of interest surrounding the tumor was used to extract quantitative radiomics and deep-learning features, which were filtered by Cox proportional hazard regression model and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Then the selected features formed a fusion signature, which was assessed by Cox proportional hazard regression model method, Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic curves, and concordance index (C-index) …

Formulation And Characterization Of Biologics – From Sirna To Monoclonal Antibodies, Chinmay M. Jogdeo

Theses & Dissertations

Biologics are a rapidly growing class of therapeutics, encompassing a wide range of modalities, with gene therapy products and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) constituting the majority. Proper formulation and characterization of these complex therapeutics is crucial to ensure their safety and therapeutic efficacy.

This dissertation focuses on two main areas: the development of a novel renal-targeted siRNA delivery system and the assessment of structural and conformational stability of mAbs in a simulated subcutaneous (SC) environment.

The first part of this dissertation presents the synthesis and characterization of a novel renal-targeted polymer for selective siRNA delivery to injured kidneys. Inulin was modified …

The Creation Of Our Universe: How Science And Our Religious Beliefs Align, Dan Broadbent

Faculty Publications

This presentation describes the author's opinions about how the creation of our universe may align with theories of the multiverse and the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Developing Naturalistic Precision Functional Mapping For High-Density Diffuse Optical Tomography, Aahana Bajracharya

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Advancements in non-invasive imaging have enabled extensive research into higher-order cognitive functions of the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has provided valuable insights into brain networks underlying various cognitive processes. However, limitations such as confined environments and scanner noise pose challenges for fMRI to be broadly applicable across all demographics and experimental conditions, especially in speech and language studies. Because of this, there is a need for complementary techniques that can help understand the brain as it functions during everyday scenarios. High Density Diffuse Optical Tomography (HD-DOT) is an emerging functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based technique with comparative advantages over fMRI, …

Development Of Computational Imaging Pipelines To Advance Quantitative Co-Clinical Imaging And Pathology, Kaushik Dutta

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Deep learning driven computational methods have profoundly impacted medical imaging by advancing feature extraction, and by establishing a critical foundation for downstream image analysis and interpretation. Co-clinical trials are an emerging area of investigation in which a clinical trial is coupled with a corresponding preclinical study to inform the corresponding clinical trial to enhance translational accuracy and therapeutic development. Within this framework, quantitative imaging and pathology plays a fundamental role in both clinical and preclinical arms of co-clinical trials. Quantitative imaging enables enabling identification and validation of imaging biomarkers which are leveraged to predict therapeutic response, characterize disease phenotypes, and …

Pan-Cancer Analysis Of Rna Dysregulation, Somatic Mutations, And Matrix Stiffness Using Bioinformatics Approaches, Gongyu Tang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cancer is a complex disease driven by genetic mutations, epigenetic modifications, and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Understanding these intricate molecular mechanisms is crucial for advancing cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool to study cancer by providing comprehensive insights into gene expression, alternative splicing, and mutations at the transcriptome level. This dissertation leverages RNA-seq data to explore different dimensions of cancer biology through multi-omics integration and computational approaches. The research is divided into three main projects. First, I developed OncoDB, an interactive database to analyze gene expression, methylation patterns, and viral interactions …

Discrete Element Method For Mining Industrial Applications: Solving The Clumping Problem Caused By Bulk Cohesive Particles In An Iron Ore Beneficiation Process, Shuang Liu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The discrete element method (DEM) is a widely used numerical approach for simulating and analyzing the behavior of granular materials in various applications. This research focuses on the iron ore beneficiation process, addressing the clumping issue in cohesive iron ores from existing crushing processes through a novel double-layered disperser design. The significance of this study lies in its potential to enhance the efficiency of the existing crushing phase and improve the linkage to subsequent purification stages that target smaller-sized iron ore pellets, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the ore beneficiation process and achieving significant energy savings. This research adopts …

Bone-Ivd Crosstalk And The Role Of Rage Signaling In An Ivd Injury Model, Remy Walk

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Low back pain (LBP) is the number one musculoskeletal cause of disability with a lifetime prevalence of up to 85%. The causes of LBP are multifactorial with potential contributions from factors such as tissue injury and degeneration as well as social economic and psychological factors. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is associated with 26-40% of LBP cases and in a 2015 meta-analysis, it was estimated that a total 403 million people suffer from symptomatic IVD degeneration. IVD degeneration is characterized by loss of hydration in the nucleus pulposus (NP), damage accumulation in the annulus fibrosus (AF) and calcification of the cartilaginous …

Defining The Chondrocyte “Mechanome”: How Mechanosensitive Ion Channels Trpv4 And Piezo1 Drive Changes In Gene Expression To Affect Cell Behavior And Cartilage Health, Daniel Raymond Palmer

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Chondrocytes, the only native cell population of cartilage, utilize mechanosensitive transmembrane ion channels to sense mechanical forces. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is activated by physiologic levels of load (resulting in ~10% tissue deformation) while PIEZO1 is activated by supraphysiologic levels of load (resulting in >50% tissue deformation). TRPV4 activation promotes the expression of a limited number of chondrogenic genes and the production of vital cartilaginous matrix proteins, while PIEZO1 activation drives cell death and senescence, cytoskeletal weakening, and production of catabolic mediators, which contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the path connecting activation of these channels …

Importance Of Social Support During Pregnancy For Girls With Limited Education, Mairo V. Bello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social support signifies a system that provides for family, relatives, and friends or is derived from external sources such as social services or health promotion networks and can reduce depression and increase well-being. Absent from the literature was the understanding of the significance of social support for young women with limited education aged 18-25 on the journey from conception to the postpartum period in Nigeria. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the individual perception, attitude, and social support received by young women with limited education during pregnancy in Wudil LGA of Kano state in northern Nigeria were examined. The study addressed …

Investigating Catalytic Conversion Of Lignin To Valuable Products, Jialiang Zhang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Lignin is a complex, random, and heterogeneous biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass. It has significant potential for conversion into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, its natural recalcitrant structure has made selective depolymerization challenging. This dissertation presents a detailed investigation into the mechanisms of lignin disassembly and structural evolution under various catalytic and solvent conditions. The research spans three key studies. In Chapter 2, operando magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study reaction pathways and kinetics of lignin model polymers during catalytic hydrogenolysis. We used a Ni-Al2O3 catalyst in methanol under high temperature and pressure, and …

Multimodal Representation Learning Frameworks For Modeling Progression And Heterogeneity In Alzheimer’S Disease, Sayantan Kumar

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, characterised by cognitive and functional impairments that disrupt daily activities. Different clinical modalities such as neuroimaging biomarkers, cognitive assessments, fluid biomarkers and genetic data provide unique and complementary information, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of disease progression and heterogeneity in disease characteristics. With recent advancements in computational capabilities, particularly in deep learning, multimodal representation learning frameworks aim to integrate diverse clinical modalities into a cohesive framework, capturing the most significant patterns within each modality. Existing data-driven multimodal representation learning frameworks in AD research have two major limitations. First, AD progresses …

Integrating Physics And Deep Learning For Transmission-Less Attenuation Compensation In Clinical Spect, Zitong Yu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Attenuation compensation (AC) is beneficial for visual interpretation and serves as a prerequisite for quantification tasks in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. However, conventional AC methods typically rely on a separate X-ray CT component, leading to multiple challenges. In this context, studies have shown that scatter-window projection data contains information to estimate the attenuation distribution. Furthermore, large amounts of SPECT emission data in both photopeak and scatter-energy windows and corresponding CT scans are available. The ability of deep learning (DL) to model complex relationships by leveraging large datasets motivates its use for transmission-less AC in SPECT. Building upon the …