Digital Commons Network^™

Networked To Work?: An Analysis Of A Community College Workforce Development Program, Cynthia Finley, Kim E. Bullington, Mitchell Williams, David Ayers

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Barriers to education and training can have a generational impact on socioeconomic status and economic development. Post-traditional students have been shown to experience a variety of barriers to education and family sustaining employment. Social capital has been shown to help alleviate some of the barriers for students resulting in stronger economic outcomes, such job retention, and higher wages.

The purpose of this case study was to determine if the Network2Work model at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) can affect outcomes for students from low socio-economic backgrounds by comparing Network2Work outcomes to non-Network2Work noncredit industry training outcomes. The research compared outcome …

The Relationship Between Periodontal Disease Of Feline And Oral Core Microbiome, Ziyao Zhou

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The microbiome of the oral cavity is complex with the average adult harboring about 50 to 100 billion bacteria which represent about 200 predominant bacterial species. There are a large number of microbes in the oral cavity of the feline, normally beneficial to oral health and safety maintenance. However, when the balance of bacteria lost, it may occur feline stomatitis and periodontitis, which seriously endanger local oral health. Environmental implication, feeding model, age and genetic factors may be main factors affecting oral composition of microbiome. Filifactor alocis, Porphyromonas gingivals, Tannerella forsythia and their interactions are main pathogen that …

Successful Transcatheter Edge-To-Edge Mitral Valve Repair Via Minithoracotomy In Canine Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease: Case Report, Anusak Kijtawornrat, Pasakorn Brikshavana, Suphanut Kulabsri, Varit Wijitratanagorn, Nilubol Booncharoensombat, Phanupong Chinnabrut, Wutti Bunjerdsuwan, Natrada Rujivipat, Nakkawee Saengklub

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) for the correction of mitral regurgitation (MR) due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stage B1 in a dog by a hybrid intervention technique via minithoracotomy was first reported in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The dog did not show any clinical signs related to congestive heart failure (CHF). Physical examination revealed systolic murmur grade III/VI. Electrocardiographs were recorded and showed normal sinus rhythm. A thoracic radiograph revealed normal size and shape of the heart (VHS 10.9) and diffuse bronchial pattern in the lungs. A definitive diagnosis of MMVD was made by echocardiography. The dog …

Multidrug-Resistance In Escherichia Coli And Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated From Broiler Chickens In Eastern Thailand, Suttitas Tongkamsai, Wachirawit Chatmontee, Kulchai Nakbubpa

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Broiler chickens have been suggested as an important source of antibiotic resistance Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). The coinfection of multiple species of bacteria provides a specific ecological niche for the plasmid-mediated exchange of antibiotic-resistance genes. However, there is limited information about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates from broiler chickens. This study aimed to isolate E. coli and K. pneumoniae from broiler chicken farms in Thailand by observing the antibiotic resistance profiles and detecting the coexistence of these two bacteria. A total of 26 E. coli and 29 …

2024 December 17 - Medical Student Education Committee Minutes, Medical Student Education Committee, East Tennessee State University

Medical Student Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Approved Courses 12-17-24, Angela Brock

Individual Course Committee (ICC)

No abstract provided.

Seeing Red In The Bluegrass: How The Democratic Party Lost Kentucky’S Voters, D. Stephen Voss, Corrine F. Elliott, Sherelle Roberts

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Editor’s Note: This article received the David Hughes Memorial Award at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Political Science Association. It is published as it was submitted at the time, prior to the 2023 gubernatorial election.

The Persistence Of Duchenne Vs Becker Muscular Dystrophies: Vive La Difference?, Eric P. Hoffman

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Pmp2+ Scs Maintain The Survival And Functioning Of Large-Caliber Motor Axons, Mikolaj Kozlowski

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by selective neuronal vulnerability, a phenomenon in which a specific pathology induces the death of a particular subpopulation of neurons. For example, selective neuronal vulnerability in the peripheral nervous system results in sensory, motor, or mixed peripheral neuropathies. While the intrinsic differences between neuronal subtypes cannot fully explain the basis of selective neuronal vulnerability, it is plausible that it partially stems from neuron extrinsic mechanisms such as the malfunction of distinct Schwann cell (SC) subtypes. Recently, we identified an exciting subpopulation of myelinating SCs characterized by the expression of Adamtsl1, Cldn14, and Pmp2 (hereafter referred to …

Avian Adaptation To Thermal Gradients, Justin Wheeler Baldwin

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Life on Earth has adapted to extremely different temperatures worldwide. However, across distant branches of the tree of life, animals in similar temperature environments often share similar phenotypic traits. Specifically, traits that bear on the ratio between an individual’s surface area (e.g. appendage length) and its volume (e.g. body size) are particularly important for temperature regulation and are codified in canonical biogeographical rules. Although these global patterns of finding larger-bodied (Bergmann’s Rule) and shorter-limbed (Allen’s Rule) animals in colder regions are widely upheld, they also show substantial variation. It remains poorly understood why some animals conform to these biogeographical rules …

N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (Nmda) Receptors Control Calcium Signaling In Striatal Neurons To Guide Value-Based Learning, Alex Legaria Macal

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play an essential role in neuronal function. Activation of NMDARs leads to calcium influx into postsynaptic neurons, which regu?late many fundamental aspects of neuronal physiology including synaptic plasticity, gene expression, and excitability. In the striatum, the input region of the basal ganglia, NM?DAR activity has been shown to regulate physiological function of striatal neurons, such as synaptic plasticity and excitability, and they also modulate behavior, particularly op?erant learning. However, there are many fundamental questions about the signaling and effects of NMDARs in vivo that have yet to be resolved. Moreover, the link between the physiological and behavioral …

Understanding Sequence Determinants Of Functional Protein Dynamics Using Biophysical Simulations And Experiments, Upasana Lakshmi Mallimadugula

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mutations in the sequence of proteins associated with a disease often increase its risk or severity. They can also be a barrier to developing effective therapeutics for such diseases. One way in which mutations affect function is by altering dynamics that elude structural studies. Observing these changes requires methods that can report on movements of the protein on various timescales and is an ongoing challenge in biophysics and biochemistry. In this study I will use both experimental and computational techniques that can report on such dynamics to explore how small sequence changes shift the conformational landscape and consequently the function …

Electrostatic Drug Loading And Photo-Accelerated Release: Exploring Viologen-Based Materials As Drug Carriers Across Nano, Micro, And Macro Scales, Jovelt Marie Dorsainvil

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intellectual Gaps: As the drug delivery field evolves, various release methods present distinct advantages and limitations, influencing the choice of platforms for specific applications. However, a significant gap persists in the field. At present, there are few drug delivery systems comprised of a stable carrier to help avoid premature breakdown in circulation before reaching the target site, a reversible loading mechanism that ensures the cargo is not released until required, and a biocompatible strategy that enables precise spatiotemporal control over cargo release. Intellectual Merit: This research resulted in the development of new cationic, viologen-based drug delivery system capable of electrostatic …

Analysis Of Public Opinion Polls About Covid-19 Vaccines: Theoretical And Policy Implications For Vaccine Communication And Campaigns To Address Vaccine Hesitancy, Muhammad Ittefaq, Hong Tien Vu, Ali Zain, Tayyeb Ramazan, Gary L. Kreps

School of Communication Studies - Faculty Scholarship

This study analyzed 1432 questions asked in 19 surveys (N = 43,014) on COVID-19 vaccines between January 2020 and August 2022 using dimensions including (1) information sources about COVID-19 vaccine, (2) information about the access, effectiveness, and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine, (3) COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (i.e. false perception, skepticism, and vaccine refusal), (4) motivations to get the COVID-19 vaccine (i.e. to perform routine activities, convenience, incentives, influences, and travel requirement), (5) false perceptions caused vaccine refusal, and (6) intentions to get vaccinated. Our results show that vaccine refusal was rampant throughout the pandemic and mostly attributed to the …

Resilience And Risk In Delinquents Of Color, Carla Victoria Alves

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This study examines the interplay of risk and resilience factors influencing the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system. A mixed-methods design integrates qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with youth, families, and community stakeholders and quantitative data analysis of existing statistical information on juvenile delinquency rates and resource availability. The study employs the Eco developmental framework to explore the influence of systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and family dynamics as risk factors alongside protective factors such as strong family support, culturally relevant interventions, and community-based programs. The findings highlight the complex interplay between these factors across multiple ecological …

Understanding Gravitational Lensing Using General Relativity, Sophia Macqueen Pooler

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Gravitational lensing is typically modelled using thin-lens approximations which assume that the effect of the gravitational field of the intervening mass can be adequately described by the physics of an optical lens. In this project we derived equations to model how spacetime curvature alters geodesics available to light rays directly from the principles of general relativity and used these results to produce visualizations of these effects. We began with the Robertson-Walker metric to define a flat, unperturbed space time and determined a suitable mass density model for the galaxy cluster that will act as our gravitational lens. Employing this metric …

Water Quality Assessment Of Three Ponds In The Plaster Creek Watershed, Orin Daspit, Salome Giessmann, Kennedi Pepin, Andrew Slagter, Sydney Wagenmaker

Student Papers and Reports

Ponds are commonly found in urban areas serving as both an aesthetic and ecological feature. The water quality of these ponds can make important contributions to the overall health of the watershed in which they reside. This study analyzes three ponds within the Plaster Creek Watershed: the Southbridge Condominium Association Pond, the Calvin University Seminary Pond, and the Calvin University Ecosystem Preserve Kettle Swamp. This project aims to provide the Southbridge Condo Association with data that will inform future remediation actions. Using water samples collected over three days, E. coli, pH, nutrients, and total dissolved solids were measured in each …

Improving Clinical Information Extraction From Electronic Health Records: Leveraging Large Language Models And Evaluating Their Outputs, Kriti Bhattarai

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Accurate extraction of clinical entities and phenotypes from unstructured electronic health record (EHR) text is crucial for various clinical research tasks, including cohort identification, tracking temporal patterns in disease progression and deciding treatment course. However, this task remains challenging due to the complexity and ambiguity of medical language. This dissertation explores the application of advanced generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) models, such as GPT-4, GPT-3.5-turbo, Llama-3.1, Llama-3 and Flan-T5, for clinical entity and phenotype extraction from EHRs. Building upon these findings, this dissertation also investigates a hybrid approach where integration of external knowledge sources, such as Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) …

Exploring Teacher Strategies Regarding Multilingualism On Popular Social Media Platforms Such As Tiktok And Instagram, Victoria Raposo

Honors Program Theses and Projects

As a teacher, the scale of knowledge acquisition is endless. In an ever-changing world, social media becomes more prevalent every day. Not only does it become more popular and common with children and adults in their everyday lives, but there is even a social media uprising in the learning environment. English language learners benefit from social media use in learning in many ways, many of which will be discussed in this project. Teachers can also use social media for tips on teacher strategies, especially with ELs in their classrooms. This project will address the question of how social media can …

Examining Teachers’ Experiences In Fostering Social-Emotional Learning After Returning To In-Person Instruction In The Midst Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rosario Grajeda

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative phenomenological study examines how middle school teachers in Riverside County, California, support the social-emotional learning (SEL) needs of students as students returned to in-person instruction after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This qualitative study explores how Riverside County middle school teachers addressed students' social and emotional needs upon returning to in-person learning after COVID-19. Twelve teachers from local public middle schools (grades 6-8) participated in semi-structured interviews, answering ten questions. Data from interviews and artifacts were transcribed and analyzed using NVIVO software to identify recurring themes related to the study questions. Findings: The shared experiences of participants and …

Approved Programs 12-17-24, Angela Brock

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Exploring Simulations In Mathematics Teacher Education, Madelyn Williams Colonnese, Bima Sapkota, Carrie Lee, Liza Bondurant, Gregory Benoit, Grace Pai, Heather Howell, Erin Barno

CoE Publications

Practice-based teacher education has been suggested as one approach to help preservice teachers (PSTs) learn how to enact high- leverage teaching practices such as facilitating a whole class discussion (Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, 2017; McDonald et al., 2013). McDonald et al. (2013) suggested a learning cycle that includes four parts: 1) introduce the practice; 2) prepare for and rehearse the practice; 3) implement the practice with students; and 4) analyze the enactment to inform future cycles. The rehearsal within the learning cycle provides space for the PSTs to practice enacting the instructional practice while receiving feedback from the mathematics …

From Rural Fields To Urban Kitchens: Structural Change And The Decline Of Women's Work In India, Michael Peters, Pamela Torola, Lindsey Uniat, Fabrizio Zilibotti

Discussion Papers

India’s GDP per capita grew threefold between 1987 and 2019, coinciding with rapid urbanization. During this period, female labor force participation (FLFP) declined significantly. Consistent with this observation, we document a pronounced urban-rural participation gap, where FLFP is higher in poorer, rural labor markets. Using time-use data, we show that this is primarily driven by an extensive margin: in rural districts, women often engage in part-time activities, typically related to agriculture and informal family businesses. These activities are less common in urban areas, where some women take formal jobs, but a larger share withdraws from the labor market to focus …

Table Of Contents

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Table of Contents for Volume 7, Number 1 (2024)

A Personal Touch: Intergovernmental Organizations And The Mechanism For Mayor-To-Mayor Relationships, Matthew L. Howell

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Much of the research on intergovernmental cooperation starts with cities that are already in a relationship or are co-participants in an intergovernmental organization and then look at which relationships get developed into cooperative agreements. In this article, four potential methods by which local officials might form those precursor relations are tested. First, cities work within a network context where intergovernmental organizations might matter for several reasons. The intergovernmental organization might reflect similarity in the organizations, called homophily. Second and third, existing intergovernmental organizations may matter directly by serving as a social focus, or a Tertius Iungens. Finally, the professionalism of …

Factors Affecting State Budget Stabilization Fund Access, Jeremy Phillips, Lashonda Stewart

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Since their inception in the 1980s and early 1990s, budget stabilization funds (BSFs) have been seen as a way to avoid recurring crises like those experienced by states after the 1980-1982 recession. In hindsight, we may wonder if other motivations were not at play. For example, states with tax expenditure limitation laws (TEL) were more likely to adopt BSFs with less stringent deposit and withdrawal requirements. Previous research has suggested that TELs may have motivated some states to adopt BSFs. Although our analysis does not provide evidence of collaboration with these earlier findings, it strongly suggests that there are several …

The Impact Of Regional Attachment On Interpersonal Trust, Joel Turner, Jeff Kash, Scott Lasley

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

How much individuals trust others politically, and who they trust, remains an intriguing question for social science researchers. Previous research indicates that levels of political trust demonstrated by individuals often vary based on a variety of factors, such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, ideology, and partisanship. However, one area of political trust that has remained surprisingly unexplored has been the impact of regional identity, particularly among Southerners. My theory is that, similar to the manner in which the aforementioned markers work, Southern regional identity activates stereotypes regarding trustworthiness and, thus, influences inter-regional trust decisions. As a result, …

Hidden Outsiders On The Inside: Exploring The Impact Of Trust In Government On Trump Voters In 2016 And 2020 Elections, Philip (Hayden) Terry Iii

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

This paper investigates the relationship between trust in government and the likelihood of voting for political outsider candidates, focusing on Donald Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Existing scholarship notes that outsider candidates typically occur outside of the two major parties in the United States. These outsider candidates typically draw in protest votes, representing dissatisfaction with the existing political establishment. Voter calculations therefore changed once Trump became the Republican nominee for president, a major party. The theory that Trump acted as a third-party candidate within a major party is thus proposed. The central thesis posits that as individuals' political …

Trauma-Informed Care Within Neurodivergent Populations, Adrianna Black

Counselor Education Capstones

The recognition and understanding of what is commonly viewed as neurodivergent diagnoses have broadened significantly in recent years. However, the process of diagnosing individuals who may be considered both neurodivergent and have experienced a traumatic event has presented issues for people in the neurodivergent community. Applying trauma-informed care approaches in counseling will highlight the importance of considering how traumas influence clients’ past and current behaviors and their impact on access to services and meeting milestones within developmental stages. This paper will explore the minimal research on and the need for more research to be done on trauma-informed interventions used with …

Rorschach Profiles In Children: Cluster Analytically Derived Subgroups Based On The Revised- Comprehensive System Variables, Marissa Diaco

ETD Collection

This study examined the development of an empirically derived subgroups for Rorschach Comprehensive System - Revised (Exner, 1974; Exner, 2003; Fontan et al., 2022) protocols, consistent with Exner’s framework, in a sample of 2,727 children aged five–12 in a psychiatric inpatient setting. A cluster analysis of Rorschach variables (Constriction Index, Perceptual Thinking Index [PTI], Depression Index [DEPI], Coping Deficit Index [CDI], and D score) identified 15 distinct profile types. The resulting clusters were organized into distinct psychological dimensions, including Impaired Reality Testing (Clusters 6, 7, 10, 11, 12), Coping Vulnerabilities (Clusters 2, 5, 13), Constriction with Minimal Interpretive Yield (Clusters …