Digital Commons Network^™

Silent Stories: Exposing The Controversial Themes Behind Banned And Challenged Books, Catherine Chipongian

Masters Theses (Archived)

This study, titled Silenced Stories: Exposing the Controversial Themes Behind Banned, and Challenged Books, captures the recurring themes of characteristics in books that have been banned or challenged in various contexts. The research dives deep into the cultural and socio-political aspects that target censorship; many of the challenged and banned texts include I Am Jazz, The Lorax, and The Name Jar. The study identifies the common themes that have been perceived as controversial or improper, such as LGBTQ Identities, Cultural Heritage, Stereotypes among children’s books, and Social Justice. These themes have been censorship targets and are examined due to their …

Barry Conservation Camp Health Form, Andy Schafermeyer

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Uba1 Inhibition Sensitizes Cancer Cells To Parp Inhibitors, Sharad Awasthi, Lacey E Dobrolecki, Christina Sallas, Xudong Zhang, Yang Li, Sima Khazaei, Sumanta Ghosh, Collene R Jeter, Jinsong Liu, Gordon B Mills, Shannon N Westin, Michael T Lewis, Weiyi Peng, Anil K Sood, Timothy A Yap, S Stephen Yi, Daniel J Mcgrail, Nidhi Sahni

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Therapeutic strategies targeting the DNA damage response, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi), have revolutionized cancer treatment in tumors deficient in homologous recombination (HR). However, overcoming innate and acquired resistance to PARPi remains a significant challenge. Here, we employ a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen and discover that the depletion of ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (UBA1) enhances sensitivity to PARPi in HR-proficient ovarian cancer cells. We show that silencing or pharmacological inhibition of UBA1 sensitizes multiple cell lines and organoid models to PARPi. Mechanistic studies uncover that UBA1 inhibition not only impedes HR repair to sensitize cells to PARP inhibition …

Experimental Pain Sensitivity And Parental Pain Catastrophizing, Gourav Banerjee, Joel Brown, Alana Mcmichael, Arbi Ben Abdallah, Sarah Buday, Deanna M Barch, Thomas Baranski, Simon Haroutounian, Jacob Aubuchon, Hadas Nahman-Averbuch

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Variability in biopsychosocial factors can explain the interindividual variability in pain. One factor that can impact pain is the pain catastrophizing level. Interestingly, parental pain catastrophizing is related to the severity of the clinical pain of their children. This study explored whether parental pain catastrophizing is also associated with their children's experimental pain sensitivity.

METHODS: Forty-five healthy girls (mean age 12.07 ± 1.47 years) and one of their parents participated in this study. Parents completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) about their child's pain (PCS-Parent

RESULTS: No significant relationships were found between the experimental pain sensitivity measures and either …

Understanding Rare Genetic Variants Within The Terminal Pathway Of Complement System In Preeclampsia, A Inkeri Lokki, Michael Triebwasser, Emma Daly, Finnpec Core Investigator Group, Mitja I Kurki, Markus Perola, Kirsi Auro, Jane E Salmon, Java Anuja, Mark Daly, John P Atkinson, Hannele Laivuori, Seppo Meri

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Preeclampsia is a common multifactorial disease of pregnancy. Dysregulation of complement activation is among emerging candidates responsible for disease pathogenesis. In a targeted exomic sequencing study of 609 women with preeclampsia and 2092 non-preeclamptic controls, we identified 14 variants within nine genes coding for components of the membrane attack complex (MAC, C5b-9) that are associated with preeclampsia. We found two rare missense variants in the C5 gene that predispose to preeclampsia (rs200674959: I1296V, OR (CI95) = 24.13 (1.25-467.43), p value = 0.01 and rs147430470: I330T, OR (CI95) = 22.75 (1.17-440.78), p value = 0.01). In addition, one predisposing rare variant …

Influence Of Demographics, Health, And Self-Objectification On Body Acceptance And Body Appreciation In Older Adults, Heather Russell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior research has examined the demographic, health, and activity factors influencing how young people, particularly young women, see themselves concerning body appreciation and acceptance. However, body appreciation and acceptance as perceived by older men and women have not been well-studied. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which gender, age, quality of life assessment of physical and mental health, physical activity, and self-objectification influence body acceptance by others and body appreciation in adults ages 55-75. Self-objectification theory (SOT) was the framework used to examine the influence of two aspects of self-objectification (lack of autonomy and invisibility) …

Exploring Effective Employee Engagement Strategies During Times Of Crisis In Small Social Assistance Nonprofits, Andrea Purnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Engaging employees during crises is an important issue in the nonprofit sector, where resource limitations constrain leaders’ options. Leaders of small assistance nonprofits are often concerned that disengaged employees may negatively affect productivity and organizational performance. Guided by the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore effective strategies used by leaders of small social assistance nonprofits in Northern California to enhance employee engagement during crisis situations. The participants consisted of eight chief officers and executive directors from small social assistance nonprofits in Northern California, all of whom had developed effective strategies to mitigate …

Conventional Cytogenetic Analysis Of Solid Tumor Abnormalities: A 25-Year Review Of Proficiency Test Results From The College Of American Pathologists/American College Of Medical Genetics And Genomics Cytogenetics Committee, Rachel K Vanderscheldon, Yang Cao, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Gene-Environment Interactions In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Insights From Mexican American Populations, Eron G. Manusov, Vincent P. Diego, Marcio Almeida, Jacob Galan, Auwal A. Bala, Marco Arriaga, Natasha Garcia-Rodriguez, Renee Hernandez, Satish Kumar, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent and complex condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This chapter explores the genotype-by-environment interactions that contribute to the development and progression of NAFLD in the Mexican American population. Using advanced genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics approaches, we investigated how specific genetic variants interact with environmental factors such as depression, acculturation stress, and social determinants of health, to influence NAFLD risk and severity. Our findings reveal significant genotype-by-environment interactions for key NAFLD-related traits, including HbA1c, AST/ALT ratio, and steatosis-controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). We also discuss the application of cutting-edge proteomic and transcriptomic …

Attachment-Based Intervention For Inattention, Hyperactivity, And Impulsivity: Does Relationship Matter?, Stephanie M. Ess

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While the prevailing notion attributes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) largely to a genetic response, there is increasing evidence of its multifactorial nature, involving both genetic and environmental factors, including the parent–child attachment relationship. Given the limitations of pharmacological and behavioral treatment methods, this study addressed the critical need for alternative ADHD interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity among toddlers approximately 48 months old in an attachment-based intervention group (n = 63), a control intervention group (n = 58), and a low-risk group not requiring intervention (n = 52). Grounded …

Exploring Effective Employee Engagement Strategies During Times Of Crisis In Small Social Assistance Nonprofits, Andrea Purnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Engaging employees during crises is an important issue in the nonprofit sector, where resource limitations constrain leaders’ options. Leaders of small assistance nonprofits are often concerned that disengaged employees may negatively affect productivity and organizational performance. Guided by the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore effective strategies used by leaders of small social assistance nonprofits in Northern California to enhance employee engagement during crisis situations. The participants consisted of eight chief officers and executive directors from small social assistance nonprofits in Northern California, all of whom had developed effective strategies to mitigate …

Staff Education Project Strategies For Reducing No-Shows, Ekop Graham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The staff education project addressed a gap in managing patient no-shows at a psychiatric clinic, where approximately 25% of scheduled appointments were missed. This issue severely impacted patient care continuity, delayed necessary treatments, and increased healthcare costs. The clinic’s practices of using reminder calls and emails had been insufficient in reducing no-shows. A literature review highlighted several effective interventions in imprvoing patient adherence and reducing missed appointments, such as facilitated appointment scheduling, personalized communication, and patient-centered strategies. The project aimed to enhance the nursing staff’s knowledge in addressing patient no-shows by educating them on causes, including logistical barriers and psychological …

Evaluation Of An Artificial Intelligence-Based Intraocular Lens Calculator: Ai-Based Iol-Optimized Formula, Li Wang, Hendrik Burwinkel, Nicolas Bensaid, Douglas D Koch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To evaluate the ZEISS AI IOL Calculator (ZEISS AI) and compare its accuracy in refractive prediction to the Barrett Universal II (BUII) and Kane formulas.

Setting: Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: The ZEISS AI IOL Calculator (ZEISS AI) is an artificial intelligence (AI) based IOL-optimized formula. The refractive prediction errors (PEs) were calculated in the entire dataset and subgroups of short eyes (axial length (AL) ≤ 22.5 mm) and long eyes (AL ≥ 25.0 mm). The standard deviation (SD), root-mean-square absolute error (RMSAE), mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error …

Skin Lesions, Weight Loss, And Facial Swelling After A Hand Injury, Yuriko Fukuta, Cindy Qinyang Wu, Todd Michael Lasco, Abdul Hafeez Diwan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Pleural Empyema: Etiology And Pathogenesis, Daniel M Musher, Sherwood Gorbach, Joshua Fierer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Matter Of Mccabe V. 511 W. 232nd Owners Corp.

All Decisions

This case involved a co-op resident (tenant) who sought to inherit her deceased partner's co-op unit. The co-op board denied the transfer, arguing that the tenant was not the deceased's spouse and therefore not eligible for automatic transfer under the lease. The tenant argued that the board's denial constituted discrimination based on marital status under the NYCHRL. The Court of Appeals affirmed the lower courts' decisions, holding that the NYCHRL's prohibition on marital status discrimination does not extend to unmarried partners. The court emphasized the plain meaning of "marital status" and the lack of legislative intent to extend protection to …

Nasopharyngeal Amelanotic Melanoma In Cat; A Case Report, Chutirat Torsahakul, Sujittra Thaipradist

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

A 10-year-old sterilized female DSH cat was referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University for diagnosis and treatment. She was quiet, alert, and responsive (QAR) and had a normal appetite. The clinical sign of upper respiratory distress with stridor had been presented for more than three months. Computed tomography (CT) and radiography examination were used for diagnosis, and the results showed a soft tissue mass in the nasopharyngeal region. The morphology and position of the nasopharyngeal mass were demonstrated by retrograde rhinoscopy, which was underwent a biopsy simultaneously. Histopathological examination indicated an amelanotic …

The Effects Of Dietary Level Of Mulberry Leaf Powder On Growth Performance, Carcass Yields, And Some Serum Lipid Levels In Pradu-Hang-Dam Chickens During Cool And Rainy Seasons, Sarawanee Khunmanee, Thuwanon Boonkerd, Thananon Junsuri, Winai Kaewlamun, Pachara Pearodwong, Kajohn Nitiwararak

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study aimed to determine the optimal concentration of mulberry leaf powder (MLP) supplementation and to evaluate the impact of different seasons on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood lipid levels of Pradu-Hang-Dam chickens. One-week-old chickens were assigned to three groups: a control group (without MLP) and two groups receiving diets supplemented with 0.5% and 1.5% MLP, respectively, over a 10-week period. The results indicated that during the cool season, the control group exhibited the highest feed intake, average daily gain, and superior carcass characteristics (P < 0.05). In the rainy season, chickens supplemented with 1.5% MLP achieved the highest feed intake, while those supplemented with 0.5% MLP showed the highest average daily gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 1.5% MLP group demonstrated superior carcass characteristics compared to the control group during the rainy season (P < 0.05). Analysis of blood lipid metabolism revealed that the group supplemented with 0.5% MLP during the cool season had the lowest levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein. In conclusion, the cool season is the most favorable for raising Pradu-Hang-Dam chickens in Thailand. Additionally, supplementing diets with at least 0.5% MLP during the rainy season can improve growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood parameters.

Presence Of The Ade Multidrug Systems And Response To Triclosan Exposure In Acinetobacter Baumannii From Animal Origins, Sirawit Pagdepanichkit, Rungtip Chuanchuen

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Thirty Acinetobacter baumannii from animal origins were obtained from 210 animal carcasses submitted for post-mortem examination, including dogs (n=112), cats (n=45), rabbits (n=17), birds (n=15), pigs (n=7) and exotic animals (n=14). All the isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility with absence and presence of efflux inhibitors i.e. reserpine and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and expression profile of important six multidrug efflux systems (i.e. AdeABC, AdeDE, AdeFGH, AdeIJK, AbeM and AmvA). Fifteen isolates expressing different Ade multidrug efflux pumps were selected for determining transcription levels and regulatory mutations. A continuous in vitro exposure experiment with benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine and triclosan …

Exploring The Major Watershed Basins All Around The World: A Meta-Analysis For Basins Characteristics, Saad Mohammad Qurishi

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Analysis of major watershed basins in a global vision provides a crucial information on sustainable management of water resource throughout the Earth. In this review, a globally significant watersheds were reviewed including the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia), Yangtze River basin (Asia), Volga River Basin (Europe), Nile River Basin (Africa), Hudson Bay Watershed & Mississippi Basin (Canada/North America), and the Amazon Basin (South America). A detailed overview was performed on emphasizing climate, agriculture, hydrology, groundwater, and ecological aspects of the watershed basins, providing holistic knowledge in terms of their environmental and socio-economic impacts. This review explores the challenges which are encountered by …

Development Of A Hybrid Intelligence Algorithm To Estimate The Derivative Weight Of Dawakin Tofa Clay For Heat Storage, Abubakar D. Maiwada, Abdullahi A. Adamu, Umar D. Maiwada, Sani I. Abba

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

The accurate prediction of thermogravimetric properties is critical for evaluating the suitability of natural materials like Dawakin Tofa clay for heat storage applications, but traditional linear models often fail to capture the complex, non-linear relationships inherent in such datasets. This study develops a hybrid intelligence framework integrating Bilateral Neural Network (BNN), Kernel Support Vector Machine (KSVM), Step-Wise Linear Regression (SWLR), and Robust Linear Regression (RLR) to predict the derivative weight of Dawakin Tofa clay based on 5,030 experimentally obtained instances. Comprehensive data preprocessing, including normalization, feature selection, and dataset splitting (80% training and 20% testing), ensured high-quality inputs for the …

Quantum Computing For Health And Financial Decision-Making: Empowering Employees To Improve Life And Finance, Ramkumar Bharathan

Defensive Publications Series

Quantum computing offers a paradigm shift in computational power with the potential to revolutionize employee well-being and financial security. This paper explores the application of quantum algorithms, including VQE, QAOA, and QMC, in personalized healthcare, optimized financial planning, and advanced organizational resource allocation. We discuss the computational advantages of these algorithms over classical methods, address challenges of the NISQ era, and propose future research directions for realizing quantum advantage in enhancing employee lives.

“It’S Not Just Finding Them A Job”, (Re) Imagining Meaningful Employment And Economic Inclusion Among Forced Migrants: Narratives From Service Providers, Hanna Haran, Yesenia Alvarez Padilla, Jaclyn Kirsch, Arati Maleku

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Refugees and other forced migrants encounter numerous obstacles in securing employment that match their skills and qualifications. Building upon existing migration literature that explores integration into the United States labor market, this study investigates economic inclusion and the challenges and opportunities newcomers face in obtaining meaningful employment and utilizing their past education and work experience. We collected data through one-on-one interviews with service providers and community leaders (N = 11) engaged in refugee and forced migrant employment support, with over half (54.4%) identifying as migrants themselves. Data was analyzed using grounded theory techniques. The analysis yielded five overarching themes: (1) …

Book Review : The Digital Environment: How We Live, Learn, Work, And Play Now By Pablo J. Boczkowski And Eugenia Mitchelstein, Devi Swamy

School of Information Student Research Journal

The Digital Environment: How We Live, Learn, Work, and Play Now by Pablo J. Boczkowski and Eugenia Mitchelstein examines how digital technologies shape modern life, presenting the digital environment as a distinct sphere alongside natural and urban environments. Drawing on expert interviews, the authors explore its defining features—totality, duality, conflict, and indeterminacy—and their impact on society. The book highlights both the potential of digital tools to perpetuate inequities and their capacity to promote equity, offering insights particularly valuable to library and information science professionals.

Book Review: Creating Inclusive Libraries By Applying Universal Design: A Guide By Carli Spina, Katrina Williams

School of Information Student Research Journal

Creating Inclusive Libraries by Applying Universal Design: A Guide is a practical and useful resource for improving libraries so that they are accessible to the broadest range of people possible. The format is well organized, and the case studies illustrate principles in engaging and recognizable ways. A reader who starts with no knowledge of Universal Design would acquire a working knowledge and be able to assess their own spaces with the guidance provided through examples and checklists. Rather than focus on resources for disabled patrons, Spina encourages readers to adopt a reflective practice for considering the needs of all library …

Academic Librarians With Invisible Disabilities Carry An Invisible Workload That Limits Their Career Potential, Katrina Heiderich Williams

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Redefining Reference Services In The 21st Century, Johanna Tunon

School of Information Student Research Journal

The role of reference services in libraries has evolved significantly in the 21st century, driven by technological advancements and changing user needs. This paper explores how reference services have transitioned from traditional, desk-centric interactions to encompass a wide array of platforms and tools, including digital innovations and generative AI. The decline in reference transactions has prompted librarians to adapt, shifting focus towards more complex consultations and instructional roles, while also navigating the blurred boundaries between reference assistance and formal instruction. The paper also examines the updated definitions and limitations of reference services by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), …

Breaking News: The Presence Of The White Racial Frame In Partisan Cable News Networks’ Coverage Of Officers Killing Black Victims, Andrea C. Smith, Jonathan M. Cox

Journal of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

This study analyzes how two of the most popular and partisan cable news networks in the U.S., FOX and MSNBC, framed victims and officers in their coverage of cases where officers kill Black men. In addition, this work investigates how these networks discuss systemic racism. Using Feagin's white racial frame as a framework and critical discourse analysis as an analytical tool, the findings show that both networks exhibited anti-Black and pro-White framing within their reports. However, how these frames manifested differed across the networks, displaying differing similarities. Most notably, when counter-framing was present on MSNBC, they still perpetuated the anti-Black …

Closing The Literacy Gap: Correlation Of Chronic Illnesses On Reading Fluency, Nicolette Falvo

Education Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of chronic physical health issues on literacy fluency among students spanning Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. Chronic illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes, and sickle cell disease, can significantly hinder academic performance, particularly in literacy. This research seeks to explore how specific literacy interventions can improve reading fluency for students managing health-related challenges. Utilizing a single-subject design, the study will examine individual cases to determine the effectiveness of tailored literacy strategies. The methodology includes both a baseline assessment phase and an intervention phase. Baseline assessments revealed that students with chronic health conditions …

Investigating The Expression Of C-Myc And Birc5 In Trail And Pbox-15 Treated Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells, Corinne Kai Leng Chew, Hannah O'Toole, Daniela M. Zisterer, Seema M. Nathwani, Jade K. Pollock

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Purpose Metastatic prostate cancer is associated with poor survival rate and limited treatment options. Overexpression of c-Myc and BIRC5 has been reported in prostate cancer cells which contribute to the development of the tumour environment. The specific tumour receptor mechanism of the death ligand TRAIL (tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand) has attracted remarkable therapeutic interest. However, many cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL monotherapy. A novel microtubule-targeting agent, PBOX-15 is known to exhibit anti-tumour activity in cancer cell lines including those with multi-drug resistance. Previous studies demonstrated that PBOX-15 is capable in sensitising cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated cell …