Digital Commons Network^™

Seven Properties Of Highly Effective Problems, Thomas Ales, Kevin Peterson, Constantine Roussos

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

In an effort to provide more critical thinking opportunities in their courses, instructors are embracing the power of problem- and project-based learning (PBL). In this paper we address the importance of problem quality when utilizing PBL. We list seven important properties that a high-quality problem should have. We conclude with an example of a problem that possesses all seven properties.

Familial Consequences Following Deconversion: Perceived Parental Openness, Intrinsic Religiosity, And Impact Of Familial Repair, Michaelia R. Conway

Master's Theses & Other Graduate Student Works

This January 2024 Master of Science in Psychology thesis at Lipscomb University looks at how previous research on deconversion from a Christian religious background to atheism indicates that individuals experience negative social consequences with family, friends, and community groups when they disclose that their beliefs have changed (Marriott, 2015); (Dollinger, 2018). Past research has shown that mothers are impacted by their emerging adult child’s deconversion (Marriott, 2015). Studies also indicate that parents who are extrinsically religious and less open to new experiences are more likely to dismiss their emerging adult child’s worldview (Marriott, 2015). These findings are all derived from …

Eliciting The Effect Free Roaming Cats Have On Native Hawaiian Wildlife Using Stable Isotope Analysis, Erin Salano

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

This study measured the concentration of the stable isotopes Carbon and Nitrogen within the tissues of free-roaming and indoor cats on the Hawai’ian islands. This study aimed to determine whether cats are consuming more human provisioned or wild food sources and whether their diet is having a negative impact on endemic species; with a focus on assessing impacts on conserved bird populations. We hypothesized that human provisioned food sources have higher levels of carbon due to the amount of corn fillers within them, while wild food sources are more Nitrogen rich. We found that indoor and feral cats sampled from …

Navigating Asynchronous Online Learning: The Impacts Of Active Learning And Assigned Group Work On Student Motivation, Belonging, And Inclusion, Shea Elisabeth Carr

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Motivation, belonging, and inclusion are all critical factors for student success but can be difficult to support in asynchronous online courses. Active learning and required group work have been shown to increase student motivation in in-person and synchronous online courses, but little is known about their impact in online asynchronous settings. This dissertation aimed to 1) evaluate the effect of active learning on student motivation in an online asynchronous setting and 2) evaluate the impact of assigned group work on student motivation and perceptions of belonging and inclusion within the context of an online, asynchronous physiology laboratory course. It was …

Co-Divergence Of Lemur Hosts And Gut Microbiomes Across Multiple Evolutionary Scales, Mariah E. Donohue

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

This dissertation bridges micro- and macroevolutionary approaches to understand the co-diversification of animal hosts and their gut microbiomes at different evolutionary timescales. I examined these dynamics using wild lemurs, a diverse Primate clade endemic to the island of Madagascar.

First, I tested the relative effects of host phylogenetic relationships, diet, and habitat in shaping the gut microbiome through deep evolutionary time and across distinct microbial kingdoms. I designed a natural experiment sampling feces from rainforest and dry forest lemur communities with similar phylogenetic assemblages and considerable variation in dietary strategy. Then, I amplified and sequenced two metabarcoding genes, the V4 …

Lost In Translation: The Limits Of Explainability In Al, Hofit Wasserman-Rozen, Ran Gilad-Bachrach, Niva Elkin-Koren

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, regulators are increasingly turning to legal measures, like "a right to explanation," to protect against potential risks raised by AI systems. However, are eXplainable AI (XAI) tools-the artificial intelligence tools that provide such explanations-up for the task?

This paper critically examines XAI's potential to facilitate the right to explanation by applying the prism of explanation's role in law to different stakeholders. Inspecting the underlying functions of reason-giving reveals different objectives for each of the stakeholders involved. From the perspective of a decision-subject, reason-giving facilitates due process and acknowledges human agency. From a decision-maker's perspective, …

Consumer Justice: Do Europeans Know Something We Do Not?, Magdalena Tulibacka

Emory International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Comparative Reasoning In Court Rulings In The Aftermath Of Dieselgate, Maria José Azar-Baud

Emory International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Strategies And Emerging Mechanisms In Managing Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm-Associated Antibiotic Resistance In Renal Catheters, Ahmed Fadhil Kadhim

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Strategies and mechanisms in controlling Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance to biofilm-associated with renal catheters are a serious concern. Renal catheters are widely used in hospitals for numerous urological disorders. However, they are the main cause of bacterial infections, especially P. aeruginosa, when used for a long time. The mechanism of biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa in renal catheters is complex and has not been efficiently managed. This review debates certain strategies and mechanisms associated with P. aeruginosa biofilm antibiotic resistance in cases with renal catheters, including the prevention of biofilm formation, eradication of biofilm, and reducing biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance and …

Distribution Of Epidemiological Characteristics Among Drug Addiction Patients Admitted To Alqana Center For Social Rehabilitation, Ali Abdul Alkhudhur Murad, Atta Ah. Mousa Al-Sarray, Zeena Jamal Alkhazraji

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Drug addiction is a worldwide issue; 5.6% of the world's population aged 15 to 64 took drugs at least once in 2016. For the majority of medicines, younger individuals use them more than older people do. Drug abuse seems to be on the increase in several ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, particularly among young men aged 15 to 30. Illicit drug abuse account for around 14% of the overall health burden among young males. Younger individuals are also more prone to die from drug abuse issues. Aim: To assess the severity of problems related to drug …

Immunological Markers And Clinical Features With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In Iraqi Women Patients, Ali Yahya. Zeki, Ali Hussein. Al-Hafid, Haider Hafudh Humaish

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a complicated condition caused by the immune system attacking disease with unclear causes, affecting mainly women. It manifests with various symptoms and is diagnosed based on clinical and serological signs. Aims: To investigate the prevalence and the type of immunological and hematologic manifestations in SLE from pathologist's perspective. Methods: The study was done on 60 SLE patients and 60 controls from the Consulting Rheumatology Clinic in Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Baghdad City during the first half of the year 2024, from 25^th January 2024 until 25^th April 2024. Results: Marital state …

Cathepsin D And Its Relation With Lipid Profile In Coronary Atherosclerosis Patients, Israa Saad Salim, Walaa Ismael Jassim, Ahmed Saadi Hassan

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Coronary atherosclerosis is a long lasting and continuously evolving disease with multiple clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to stable angina, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure (HF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The onset and advancement of coronary atherosclerosis are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Objectives: The study aimed to find out if cathepsin D a good indicator to diagnose atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases and its relation with lipid profile. Materials and Methods: The study conducted with the participation of 150 subjects (100 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 50 healthy control). Age for all subject was in …

Secretor Status And Anxiety Are Risk Factors For Getting Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ola Amer Jasim, Khalid Mahdi Salih

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disease of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that affects 10-20% of the population worldwide and is distinguished by abdominal pain/discomfort and changes in bowel habits that is accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, or both. Control-based study was conducted on 50 Iraqi patients with IBS who were presented at private clinics for gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs), along with 20 healthy individuals matched in their age and gender to act as control group. The study lasted from November 2021 to May 2022 and aimed to determine the frequency of IBS subtypes among Iraqi patients, as well as the influence …

Complement Component C3 And C4 Levels In Juvenile And Adult Sle Iraqi Patients, Sahar S. Aldhahir, Izzat A. M. Al-Rayahi, Salwa S. Muhsin

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, with about 15-20% of patients being children. The causes of the disease are a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Complement C3 and C4 play a significant role in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease severity. Additionally, renal function tests are important for monitoring the disease, as the disease affects the kidneys in a large percentage of patients. Aim: The study was primarily conducted to compare complement C3 and C4 levels in Iraqi adult and juvenile patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Patient and methods: The study consisted of 70 patients, …

Economic Profitability Of Sustainable Buildings Industry, Mohanad Ibrahim Altuma, Hanadi Abdulridha Lateef, Ayad Abdulkhaleq Al-Yousuf

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The increasing global awareness of the Earth's deteriorating condition and the unpredictable effects of climate change has given rise to worldwide phenomena that impact several elements like the economy, agricultural security, water availability, and energy supplies. Buildings contribute significantly to the generation of greenhouse gases, as well as the disposal of pollutants and energy consumption. Therefore, they play a crucial role in addressing environmental issues.

Although sustainable buildings are widely acknowledged as a potential advancement, professionals in the property market still believe that the upfront costs of creating sustainable buildings are significantly higher than those of conventional buildings. This view …

Perceptions Of Young Members Of The Aeta Community About Their Intellectual Property Rights For Their Traditional Knowledge Systems: Uniquely Magbukun, Juan Kristopier D. Angeles, Xyra M. Angeles

Asia-Pacific Intellectual Property Management and Innovation Book Series

Traditional knowledge systems are innovative and practically address the needs of Indigenous peoples. In the past decades, efforts from various stakeholders have been made to acknowledge Indigenous peoples in policy debates on intellectual property (IP) dialogues. Sharing of ideas and community experiences was practiced among indigenous communities, such as the Aeta community of the Magbukun tribe in Bataan. The said Aeta community has long opened its door to researchers and nonlocals. However, due to the educational assimilation among the young participants, they formed this call for mimicry and recognition of their tradition that made them believe that both public and …

Stock Market Reaction On Patent Publications: Evidence From The Most Innovative Companies In The World, Meegoda Pathiranage Taniya Rashmi Sankalpana, Debeharage Athula Indunil Dayaratne

Asia-Pacific Intellectual Property Management and Innovation Book Series

This paper examines the influence of patent information on the stock returns of the 13 most innovative companies in the world ranked in the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Annual Innovation Report. It considered distinct technological fields for adopting the event study methodology on 247 announcements from 2004 to 2022 for United-States-listed companies. The results reveal diverse market reactions, with companies displaying mixed positive and negative abnormal returns following patent publications. Our findings reveal varied cumulative abnormal return (CAR) values among firms, with statistically significant positive CARs observed for these companies in certain years, indicating market outperformance. The study also shows …

This Liquid Road Of Motion: The Interstate 35 Corridor Transformation, 1950-1995, Carl Friesenhahn

History - All Scholarship

This project examines the creation and renovation of Interstate 35 in Texas through the lens of cultural history and societal analysis. It begins with the highway’s formulation and predecessors, ending with the passage and immediate impact of NAFTA following over two decades of disillusionment. In this paper, the road is not solely viewed through the lens of state interests. Local and national concerns and powers balanced Texan interests in the course of the road’s creation and are therefore investigated in conversation with each other. This paper contends that the creation of Interstate 35 in Texas took a patchwork of state …

Development Of A Continuum Damage Constitutive Model And Simulation For Brittle Materials In Space Infrastructure Application, Luis Eduardo Deganis

Dissertations

The purpose of this work is to develop a continuum damage constitutive material model and apply it to structural response characterization of brittle materials for in-situ construction of space infrastructure. This research improves and expands the utility of the physics-based dominant crack algorithm (DCA) model in order to account for very low-strain rate phenomena in plain concrete structures. The DCA model is strain-rate dependent and has been effectively utilized for highly dynamic phenomena. The model has a strong basis in micromechanics and is able to capture the strain-softening response of brittle materials. The newly developed constitutive model can be easily …

Land-Atmosphere Interactions Over Cities : Urban Effects On Tree Canopy Temperature And Local Cloud Patterns, Thuy Trang Vo

Dissertations

Understanding land-atmosphere (L-A) interactions is critical for predicting Earth’s system and its functionality. This dissertation advances knowledge in three aspects involving L-A interactions at different scales. The first study asks how city-wide tree canopy temperatures vary diurnally, and what environmental factors and to what extent they contribute to its spatiotemporal variation. Despite the importance of urban trees’ surface temperature in assess-ing micro-climate interactions between trees and the surrounding environment, their diurnal evolution has been largely understudied at a city-wide scale. The research highlights the more important role of the greenspace coverage in controlling the daytime canopy temperature, while, surrounding buildings …

Temporary Protection For Ukrainians In The European Union: Why Now And When Again, Maryellen Fullerton

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Racing And Erasing Parental Rights, Cynthia Godsoe

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Kinship Care And Adoption Myopia, Cynthia Godsoe

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Cancer-Associated Secretory Phenotype: A New Frontier In Targeted Therapeutics, Xiaochao Tan, Guan-Yu Xiao, Priyam Banerjee, Shike Wang, Jonathan M. Kurie

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Oncogenic mutations activate secretory programs that drive tumor progression and represent therapeutic targets. The clinical relevance of CASPs is underscored by their prevalence, their linkages to specific genetic and epigenetic contexts, the proven efficacy of secretory blockade in preclinical models, and the availability of assays to identify vulnerable patient populations.

Carfilzomib-Loaded Ternary Polypeptide Nanoparticles Stabilized By Polycationic Complexation, Preye Mike Agbana, Ji Eun Park, Piotr G. Rychahou, Kyung-Bo Kim, Younsoo Bae

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Carfilzomib (CFZ) is a second-generation proteasome inhibitor showing great efficacy in multiple myeloma treatment, yet its clinical applications for other diseases such as solid cancers are limited due to low aqueous solubility and poor biostability. Ternary polypeptide nanoparticles (tPNPs) are drug carriers that we previ- ously reported to overcome these pharmaceutical limitations by entrapping CFZ in the core of the nanopar- ticles and protecting the drugs from degradation in biological media. However, preclinical studies revealed that tPNPs would require further improvement in particle stability to suppress initial burst drug release and thus achieve prolonged inhibition of proteasome activity with CFZ …

Cd8+ T Cell Metabolic Flexibility Elicited By Cd28-Ars2 Axis- Driven Alternative Splicing Of Pkm Supports Antitumor Immunity, G. Aaron Holling, Colin A. Chavel, Anand P. Sharda, Mackenzie M. Lieberman, Caitlin M. James, Shivana M. Lightman, Jason H. Tong, Guanxi Qiao, Tiffany R. Emmons, Thejaswini Giridharan, Shengqi Hou, Andrew M. Intlekofer, Richard M. Higashi, Teresa W. M. Fan, Andrew N. Lane, Kevin H. Eng, Brahm H. Segal, Elizabeth A. Repasky, Kevin P. Lee, Scott H. Olejniczak

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Metabolic flexibility has emerged as a critical determinant of CD8+ T-cell antitumor activity, yet the mechanisms driving the metabolic flexibility of T cells have not been determined. In this study, we investigated the influence of the nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC) adaptor protein ARS2 on mature T cells. In doing so, we discovered a novel signaling axis that endows activated CD8+ T cells with flexibility of glucose catabolism. ARS2 upregulation driven by CD28 signaling reinforced splicing factor recruitment to pre-mRNAs and affected approximately one-third of T-cell activation-induced alternative splicing events. Among these effects, the CD28-ARS2 axis suppressed the expression of the …

Effect Of Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress On Regulatory T Cell Manufacturing For Clinical Application In Transplantation: Results From A Pilot Study, Roberto Gedaly, Gabriel Orozco, Lillie J. Lewis, Deepa Valvi, Fanny Chapelin, Aman Khurana, Giovanna E. Hidalgo, Aaron Shmookler, Aashutosh Tripathi, Cuiping Zhang, Joseph B. Zwischenberger, Francesc Marti

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The manufacturing process of regulatory T (Treg) cells for clinical application begins with the positive selection of CD25⁺ cells using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION)-conjugated anti-CD25 antibodies (spCD25) and immunomagnetic cell separation technology. Our findings revealed that the interaction of spCD25 with its cell target induced the internalization of the complex spCD25–interleukin-2 receptor. Accumulation of intracellular spCD25 triggered oxidative stress, causing delayed Treg expansion and temporary reduction in suppressor activity. This activation delay hindered the efficient generation of clinically competent cells. During this early phase, Treg cells exhibited elevated mitochondrial superoxide and lipid peroxidation levels, with a concomitant decrease …

Abnormal Regulation Of Mitochondrial Sphingolipids During Aging And Alzheimer’S Disease, Simone M. Crivelli, Zainuddin Quadri, Ahmed Elsherbini, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Patrick G. Sullivan, Wenbo Zhi, Pilar Martinez-Martinez, Stefka D. Spassieva, Erhard Bieberich

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

During pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mitochondria suffer alterations that lead to low energy production and reactive oxygen species formation. However, the mechanism of impaired mitochondria homeostasis in AD is not fully understood. We hypothesized that abnormal sphingolipid metabolism in mitochondria could be one of the contributing factors to mitochondrial dysfunction. Synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria were isolated from 5xFAD and wild type (WT) mice at 3 and 7 months using Ficoll gradient ultracentrifugation, and their function was analyzed using Seahorse assay. Additionally, mitochondria were ana- lyzed using mass spectrometry for proteomics and sphingolipidomics analyses. Sphingolipid levels were also determined in …

The Carboxy Terminus Causes Interfacial Assembly Of Oleate Hydratase On A Membrane Bilayer, Christopher D. Radka, Christy R. Grace, Hale S. Hasdemir, Yupeng Li, Carlos C. Rodriguez, Patrick Rodrigues, Michael L. Oldham, M. Zuhaib Qayyum, Aaron Pitre, William J. Maccain, Ravi C. Kalathur, Emad Tajkhorshid, Charles O. Rock

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The soluble flavoprotein oleate hydratase (OhyA) hydrates the 9-cis double bond of unsaturated fatty acids. OhyA sub- strates are embedded in membrane bilayers; OhyA must remove the fatty acid from the bilayer and enclose it in the active site. Here, we show that the positively charged helix- turn-helix motif in the carboxy terminus (CTD) is responsible for interacting with the negatively charged phosphatidylgly- cerol (PG) bilayer. Super-resolution microscopy of Staphylo- coccus aureus cells expressing green fluorescent protein fused to OhyA or the CTD sequence shows subcellular localization along the cellular boundary, indicating OhyA is membrane- associated and the CTD sequence …

Cognitive Decline, Aβ Pathology, And Blood–Brain Barrier Function In Aged 5xfad Mice, Geetika Nehra, Sasivimon Promsan, Ruedeemars Yubolphan, Wijitra Chumboatong, Pornpun Vivithanaporn, Bryan J. Maloney, Anusorn Lungkaphin, Bjoern Bauer, Anika M. S. Hartz

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) develop blood–brain barrier dysfunction to varying degrees. How aging impacts Aβ pathology, blood–brain barrier function, and cognitive decline in AD remains largely unknown. In this study, we used 5xFAD mice to investigate changes in Aβ levels, barrier function, and cognitive decline over time.

Methods

5xFAD and wild-type (WT) mice were aged between 9.5 and 15.5 months and tested for spatial learning and reference memory with the Morris Water Maze (MWM). After behavior testing, mice were implanted with acute cranial windows and intravenously injected with fluorescent-labeled dextrans to assess their in vivo distribution in the …