Digital Commons Network^™

Cracking The Shell: A Corpus-Based Analysis Of The Functions Of Shell Nouns In American Legal Contracts, Geoffrey T. Julian

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The forms and functions of shell nouns (SN), semantically abstract nouns that can package and characterize complex segments of discourse, have been documented in academic discourse and L2 English writing (e.g., Aktas & Cortes, 2008; Benitez-Castro & Thompson, 2015). The abstract nature of SNs lends itself to use where vague language might be favored to allow for a variety of contingencies (Benitez-Castro, 2015). Thus, SNs have also been found to be present in legal language where some of these functions are desirable (Ren et al., 2019). The present study examines the use of SNs in a corpus of 2,700 US …

Empowering Digital Fluency: A Course-Based Strategy For Practical Ai Tool Integration In Higher Education, Melissa J. Brooks

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This course was designed to introduce students to a range of AI tools while enabling hands-on experience in their practical application. Students were required to explore multiple AI tools across domains such as content generation, data visualization, video production, note-taking, and accessibility. The course culminated in a final project where students selected and applied an AI tool (or set of tools) to create a resume, a cover letter, and a presentation about themselves and how they anticipate the use of AI in their chosen Industry. Tools recommended were Jenni.AI, ChatGPT, Slide bean, Canva, Grammarly, Gamma, Synthesia.AI, and Perplexity, Otter.AI. One …

Practicing Disciplinary Role-Play With Ai: Bioinspired Innovation Meets Business Strategy, Christine R. Rodriguez

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students use Blackboard’s AI Conversation tool to rehearse their team’s innovation pitch with a simulated investor. This role-play activity prepares students to confidently communicate scientific ideas in business contexts and strengthens final group presentations.

Inferring Disease Progression Networks To Predict Comorbidities, Nolan Stuessy

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Translational Ultrasound-Photoacoustic Imaging For Quantitative And Functional Cancer Diagnosis, Yixiao Lin

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, underscoring the need for imaging technologies that provide both structural and functional insights into cancer biology. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI), which detects ultrasonic signals generated by optical absorption, combines the strengths of both modalities, achieving optical contrast with ultrasonic resolution and depth. When co-registered with ultrasound (US), the hybrid US-PAI platform offers a unique combination of high-resolution anatomical and functional imaging that can improve cancer diagnosis, characterization, and treatment monitoring. This dissertation explores the clinical translation of US-PAI through innovations in imaging system design, computational analysis, and clinical validation across three major cancer …

Exploring The Role Of Human Pioneer Factors On Hiv Transcription Through Rna Interference Screening, Zachary Comella

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses

Per the World Health Organization, approximately 40 million individuals live with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) worldwide. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) against HIV limits viral replication but does not eradicate the virus. This is mainly due to the presence of long lived CD4+ T cells harboring transcriptionally silenced integrated proviruses, hidden from the immune system, which are, however, ready to reinitiate a spreading infection as soon as treatment is interrupted. To develop novel strategies to block virus reactivation without treatment, a deep understanding of host factors contributing to HIV transcriptional regulation is needed. Pioneer factors (PFs) are a unique type of …

From The Margins To The Center: The Transformative Promise Of Philosophy For Children, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Megan Jane Laverty, Joe Oyler

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

What began as an innovative idea in the late 1960s—the recognition that even very young children are philosophically disposed—is no longer considered novel. While philosophy for children has transitioned from a fledgling initiative to a worldwide movement, it remains on the margins of education. In this article, we look back at key initiatives that have advanced its growth before looking ahead to what can move philosophy for children to the center of education. We consider the introduction and development of materials that invite children into philosophical spaces, the community of philosophical inquiry as a model of teachers' and children's philosophical …

Citizen's Rare Plant Watch 2025 Recap, Nora Dunkirk

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank and Plant Conservation Program

Citizen's Rare Plant Watch (CRPW) is a community science program which takes volunteers out to visit populations of rare and threatened Oregon native plant species. Volunteers assess their health and viability, update the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC) state database for rare species, and help contribute to data driven management decisions throughout the state. Housed at Portland State University, this program is open to the public and attracts plant lovers from diverse backgrounds. Each spring, CRPW trains volunteers on methods of data collection, and this year we implemented new technology using Survey123 to streamline population assessments. We focus on species …

Liahona Project Data Set 5 Up To 2025, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This document is a collection of highlights extracted from more than 800 articles from the Japanese online Liahona magazines, spanning from the beginning of 2024 to the end of 2025. Each article was individually checked to extract inspirational principles and highlights from personal experiences, serving as a resource to develop Spiritual Proficiency and build the foundation for Wits Psychology (With the Spirit Psychology). The document is 61pages long.

Advancing Louisiana's Cropping Systems: Sustainable Bioenergy Production, Cover Crops, And Technology Integration, Pedro R. Carrillo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The adoption of cover crops in Louisiana is lower than the national average, underscoring the need for region-specific research to address environmental challenges and demonstrate the short-term benefits of these practices within existing production systems. This research evaluated the integration of cover crops (CC) in energy cane (Saccharum spp.) and no-till cotton systems, focusing on their effects on soil health, nitrogen (N) management, and biomass production. Soil health indicators (SHIs), including enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, and urease), protein N, inorganic N concentrations (nitrate and ammonium), soil organic matter (SOM), and microbial community composition assessed through ester-linked fatty acid …

Disrupting Cell Death: Ferroptosis And Pyroptosis Inhibition In Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Via Modulation Of Gpx4 And Cgas Pathways By Deferoxamine And Octreotide,, Rasha A. Tawfiq, Yasmeen Attia, Hameis M. Sleem, Mai Ghoneim Dr.

Pharmacy

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a significant complication of liver transplantation, often precipitating postoperative liver dysfunction/failure. Given the rising global prevalence of end-stage liver disease, which necessitates liver transplantation, protecting against HIRI is crucial. Here, we investigated the effects of octreotide (OCT), a pyroptosis inhibitor, and deferoxamine (DEF), a ferroptosis suppressor, individually and combined in the HIRI model. Their impact on cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator-of-interferon (cGAS/STING) genes and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity was explored. Male rats (n = 4–5) were subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 3 h reperfusion and treated with OCT (75 μg/kg; 30 μg/kg, i.p. & …

Electrochemical Sensors For In Situ Monitoring Of Reactive Species During Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Based Therapies, Jonathan Thomas, Suneel Kumar, Gagana Karkada, Julia Sutter, Kristina Pattison, Jason Rainone, Dhruv Patel, Shashank Madhavan, Fred Krebs, Francois Berthiaume, Vandana Miller, Katharina Stapelmann

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) is emerging as a clinically relevant therapy for dermatological conditions such as actinic keratosis, warts, and chronic wounds. However, these therapies lack strategies to monitor CAP delivery in situ and to ensure delivery of an effective CAP dose without unwanted toxicity. CAP acts as a therapeutic agent in these biomedical applications primarily (but not solely) through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated at transiently high local concentrations. Here we demonstrate the use of bio-electrochemical sensors capable of real-time measurements of key CAP RONS: hydrogen peroxide and oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP). In in vitro scratch assays and …

Communities With Diverse Subsistence Needs Require A Variety Of Functional Tree Traits, Minoseheno Rakotovao, Cortni Borgerson, Kerry A. Brown, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Steig E. Johnson, Onja H. Razafindratsima, Ruth Mendum, Onjaniaina O. Andrianjatovo, Harisoa B. Ravaomanalina, Seheno Andriantsaralaza, Sheila M. Holmes

Department of Anthropology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Tree species preference is an understudied yet crucial component of sustainable forest management, as unsustainable harvesting can lead to non-random loss of functional traits. We examine wood resource preference across five regions of Madagascar's biodiverse eastern humid forests. We asked forest users in 19 men's and 19 women's focus groups to list their preferred tree species for common short- (charcoal, firewood) and long-term (house construction, furniture, tools) uses. We then measured functional traits of 260 preferred and common tree species: height, DBH, bark thickness, specific leaf area, wood specific gravity, and seed dispersal syndrome in the surrounding landscape. Using household …

Identification Of Predictive Pretreatment Biomarkers For Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response In Latino Invasive Breast Cancer Patients, Hedda Michelle Guevara-Nieto, Rafael Parra-Medina, Carlos A. Orozco, Sandra Diaz-Casas, Jone Garai, Jovanny Zabaleta, Liliana López-Kleine, Alba L. Combita

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Breast cancer (BC) exhibits significant heterogeneity in incidence and mortality worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard treatment for locally advanced BC; however, its efficacy varies by subtype. This study examined the gene expression profiles associated with NAC response in Colombian women with invasive BC. Methods: RNA sequencing of pre-treatment tissues from 58 patients (29 responders and 29 non-responders) identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each molecular subtype, and prognostic performance was evaluated using risk scores. Results: Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the immune system pathways in non-responders. Changes in cytokine target activity and immune cell populations were analyzed to …

The Need To Incorporate Polysubstance Use In Neuropsychopharmacology Research: Biological Lessons And New Opportunities, Max E. Joffe, Susan M. Ferguson, Nick W. Gilpin, Melissa A. Herman, Lori A. Knackstedt, Patrick A. Randall, Abigail G. Schindler, Mary M. Torregrossa, Jennifer A. Rinker

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Critical evaluation and refinement of animal models is essential for neuroscientists to understand complex physiological and pathological processes related to psychiatric diseases. In general, preclinical studies modeling drug dependence and problematic substance use have been limited to the administration of a single substance; however, there is a growing appreciation that this approach has failed to capture the complexities of humans and has stifled translational efforts. Polysubstance use represents the overwhelmingly common patterns of alcohol and drug use in humans. For example, epidemiological studies generally determine that between 70–95 % of individuals with alcohol use disorder use tobacco daily, and upwards …

Role Of Nano Edible Coating, Packaging, And Storage Temperature In Maintaining Color, Moisture Content, And Phenolic Compounds Of Straw Mushroom, Kiki Nuratni Sitompul, Syariful Mubarok, Kusumiyati

Jurnal Kultivasi

Straw mushrooms are among the most sought-after edible mushrooms, but their harvest is highly perishable due to their high respiration and transpiration rates, leading to a decline in quality during storage. The application of nano edible coating can cover the surface of straw mushrooms and maintain their freshness, while packaging and storage at low temperatures can maintain quality by inhibiting respiration and enzymatic activity. This study aims to evaluate the effects of nano edible coating, packaging types, and different storage temperatures on the color, moisture content, and phenolic compounds of straw mushrooms. The study was conducted at the Horticulture Laboratory, …

The Effectiveness Of Telemedicine As A Pivotal Tool In Providing Accessible Medical Care, Peyton Wilt

Honors Theses

Telemedicine has emerged as one of the most transformative innovations in modern healthcare, offering new opportunities to bridge long-standing gaps in access, quality, and continuity of care. Rural and underserved communities in the United States face persistent barriers to healthcare, including provider shortages, geographic isolation, limited access to specialty services, transportation challenges, and socioeconomic disparities. These structural barriers often delay diagnosis, disrupt chronic disease management, and worsen overall health outcomes. Telemedicine provides a mechanism to address many of these obstacles by enabling remote consultations, real-time monitoring, follow-up appointments, and access to specialty providers through digital platforms.

This thesis examines the …

Sustainable Polyaddition Path To Polyesters Via Catalytic Homocoupling Of Renewable Dicrotonate Monomers, Shabbir Asif, Mahsa Saeidi, Braden D. Pickle, Nicholas J. Tabbah, Michael L. Mcgraw

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The development of biorenewable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) chemistry has generated interest in crotonate-based monomers as versatile building blocks. Crotonates can be obtained through the pyrolysis of PHAs, offering both a sustainable end-of-life pathway for PHAs and a renewable route to crotonate monomers. This study presents a new polyaddition-type step-growth polymerization of dicrotonates in which alkene-functionalized polyesters are synthesized using potassium tert-butoxide as a simple base catalyst. The reaction proceeds rapidly at room temperature, achieving >99% conversion within seconds and requiring no byproduct removal. The properties of the resulting polyesters can be tuned via the choice of bridging diol, and the materials …

Conceptions Of Indigenous Child Development: Perspective Of Families And Health Professionals, Francisca Marquez-Doren, Camila Lucchini-Raies, Marcela Gonzalez-Aguero, Angelica Farías-Cancino

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction. The factors that deprive children of their rights are well known, and one of them is their belonging to indigenous peoples. Indigenous children in their early childhood are exposed to greater social inequalities, as they are born and develop in more unfavorable living conditions (Alarcón Muñoz et al., 2021; Pyerín & Weinstein, 2015). The percentage of poverty, deficits in education, social security and work is higher in indigenous early childhood (Pyerín & Weinstein, 2015). In Chile, children belonging to indigenous peoples account for around 14% of the population between 0 and 9 years of age, with the Mapuche, Aymara …

Nurses' Perceptions On Cyber Risk Disclosure To Cied Patients: Right To Know, Safety, And Well-Being, Leanne Torgersen, Stefan M. Schulz

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Subject Population: Nurses will be invited to participate in an online questionnaire to understand their perceptions of 1) whether cyber risk language should be included in informed consents, 2) what perceived barriers exist when communicating cyber risks to patients (people, process and/or policy); 3) how can nursing facilitate solutions in supporting patient advocacy, improving nursing practice standards, and influencing policy change.

Research Design: This cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed-methods research design incorporates a hermeneutical approach for the qualitative assessment. The objective is to understand how nurses view the relationship between advocating for patients’ right to know, ethical adherence in patient care, …

Kuntze Metabolite Profile And Antioxidant Activity Of Vincetoxicum Villosum (Blume) Kuntze, Anjeli Rama Sari, Aceng Ruyani, Lily Ismaini, Endah Dwi Hartuti

Chimica et Natura Acta

Vincetoxicum villosum belongs to the Apocynaceae family. V. villosum is often used as a traditional medicine for treating jaundice, gallstones, kidney stones, hepatitis B, and liver diseases. This study aims to determine the metabolite profile and antioxidant activity of V. villosum to provide new information and serve as a reference for its safe use as a medicinal plant. The methods used to determine the metabolite profile involved GC-MS, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH method. GC-MS analysis showed that V. villosum leaf extract contains n-hexadecanoic acid, phytol, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (Z,Z,Z)-, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol which have potential antioxidant activity. The …

The Activity Of Unripe Wood Apple (Limonia Acidissima Groff) Peel And Flesh Extracts In Inhibiting Diarrhe-Causing Bacteria, Idar Idar, Ika Kurnia Sukmawati, Dewi Kurnia, Tina Siti Nurjanah, Lestari Hutasoit

Chimica et Natura Acta

Diarrhea is characterized by having liquid stool more often than usual, typically occurring three or more times within a 24-hour period. While rarely fatal, it can disrupt daily life and is often treated with antibiotics due to pathogens like Bacillus cereus, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella typhimurium. An overgrowth of Escherichia coli can also be a contributing factor. Recent studies suggest that unripe wood apples may have antibacterial properties. This study evaluates the antibacterial activity of extracts from the peel and flesh of the fruit against the bacteria, as mentioned earlier. Using disk diffusion, microdilution, and bioautography methods, it was found …

Statistical Validation Of The Microplate Reader For Antioxidant Activity Measurement Using The Dpph Assay, Rismawati Rismawati, Dikdik Kurnia, Ersanda Hafiz, Muhammad Ihda H. L. Zein

Chimica et Natura Acta

Antioxidants research has been garnering increased interest among researchers, particularly in the fields of medicine and health, focusing on both natural and synthetic antioxidants. The DPPH method is the most used approach for antioxidant analysis due to its efficiency, simplicity, and accuracy. This study aims to validate the sensitivity of the microplate reader compared to UV-Vis spectrophotometer, both used for measuring absorbance in the DPPH antioxidant test. The samples used in this study include ascorbic acid, gallic acid, and quercetin standards. Statistical validation in the DPPH antioxidant test includes precision testing, T-test, and % recovery test. Based on the statistically …

Potential Of Chitosan-Encapsulated Mango Leaf Extract Oemulsion As Fruit Packaging, Panji Setya Utama Putra, Damar Rastri Adhika, Lia Amelia Tresna Wulan Asri

Chimica et Natura Acta

Fruits have a relatively short shelf life. One of the extensively researched preservation methods for fruits is edible coating. Edible coating is a method of coating food products with a polymer layer. Considering the environmental and sustainability aspects, edible coatings were synthesized from biodegradable polymers derived from polysaccharides. Chitosan is a widely developed and researched type of biopolymer due to its antimicrobial activity. In addition to antimicrobial activity, antioxidant properties are important in food packaging applications. Mango leaves (Mangifera indica L.) contain various secondary metabolites that play a role in antioxidant activity, such as mangiferin, gallic acid, flavonoids, and gallotanin. …

Study And Characterization Of Nitration Of Isovanillic Acid Derivatives Using Nmr And Mass Spectroscopy, Elvira Hermawati, Pipih Lutfi Sa'adah, Ade Danova, Didin Mujahidin, Iqbal Musthapa

Chimica et Natura Acta

Isovanillic acid and its derivatives serve as precursors in the synthesis of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which are used to treat cancer cell lines. A crucial step in this process is the nitration of isovanillic acid through nucleophilic aromatic substitution, resulting in 6-nitroisovanilic acid and its derivatives, which act as intermediates for forming a quinazolinone ring. However, this study revealed that direct nitration of isovanillic acid derivatives led to unexpected products, such as 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (1) and 4-(3-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)propyl)morpholine (4). Additionally, the optimal conditions for etherification of 2 with N-(3-chloropropyl)morpholine to produce 3 involved using Cs2CO3 in DMF and refluxing for …

In Silico Approach Of Flavonol In Hibiscus Sabdariffa As Proteasome Inhibitors Targeting The Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway, Nur Amalia Choironi, Syakhsiyatunnisa Galuh Prameswari, Hanif Nasiatul Baroroh

Chimica et Natura Acta

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer characterized by the abnormal proliferation of B cells that accumulate in the bone marrow. The proliferation of these cells depends on the role of the proteasome through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to degrade proteins that regulate the cell cycle, apoptosis, and stress response. The proteasome is the main target of proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Flavonoid compounds in Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers, such as isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetagetin, isorhamnetin, and astragalin, have the potential to act as proteasome inhibitors. The insilico study aims to determine the potential of these compounds as proteasome inhibitors based …

Exploring The Synergistic Effect Of Curcumin On Gelatin Films For Real-Time Pork Freshness Assessment, Risna Erni Yati Adu, Gebhardus Djugian Gelyaman, Kristoforus Wilson Kia, Emirensiana Oki, Maria Desi Silab, Angelina Knaofmone

Chimica et Natura Acta

A smart film based on hydromethanol-curcumin has been developed as a freshness detector for local packaged pork. It was fabricated using solution casting method by varying the curcumin content to determine its effect on the chemical, physical, mechanical and functional characteristics of the film. Film characteristics were determined using colorimeter, TGA, FTIR, SEM and bioactivity assay. Film response was analyzed in different pH buffer solutions, different acid base media and pork samples during the storage period. Film characteristics such as antioxidant, antibacterial activity and surface color was improved by increasing curcumin concentration. On the other hand, mechanical dan physicochemical characteristics …

Network Pharmacology Of Ki Encok (Plumbago Zeylanica Linn) Plant As A Treatment For Osteoarthritis, Mitayani Purwoko, Trisnawati Mundijo, Yoshiko Widyadi

Chimica et Natura Acta

One of the plants in Indonesia used by the community to treat gout or Osteoarthritis (OA) is the Ki Encok plant (Plumbago zeylanica Linn). However, it is currently unknown what active substances play a role in the therapy process for gout or OA and what the pathway is. This study aimed to predict the pharmacological mechanism of the active content of Encok leaves against OA disease. This study used an in silico experimental test. The content of active plant substances was extracted from IMPPAT and KNAPSACK. Then, the target proteins of all these active substances were searched for, including target …

Rare Epigenetic Alterations Are Conserved Across Hematopoietic Differentiation Stages After Mycobacterial Infection, Brandon T Tran, Pamela N Luna, Ruoqiong Cao, Duy T Le, Apoorva Thatavarty, Laure Maneix, Bailee N Kain, Scott Koh, Andre Catic, Katherine Y King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Infection leads to durable cell-autonomous changes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), resulting in production of innate immune cells with heightened immunity. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, termed central trained immunity, remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that infection induces histone modifications leading to changes in chromatin accessibility that are conserved during differentiation from HSPCs to myeloid progenitors and monocytes. We conducted genome-wide surveillance of histone marks H3K27ac and H3K4me3 and chromatin accessibility in hematopoietic stem cells, multipotent progenitor 3, granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, monocytes and macrophages of naïve and Mycobacterium avium infected mice. Interferon signaling pathways and related transcription factor binding …

Single Cell Spatial Profiling Of The Matrisome Identifies Region-Specific Adhesion And Signaling Networks In Glioblastoma, Arpan De, Santiago A Forero, Ali Pirani, John E Morales, Marisol De La Fuente-Granada, Sumod Sebastian, Jason T Huse, Leomar Y Ballester, Jeffrey S Weinberg, Frederick F Lang, Kadir C Akdemir, Joseph H Mccarty

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The human brain contains a milieu of extracellular matrix (ECM) components that promote normal development and physiology. ECM signaling pathways are often dysregulated in brain pathologies including the malignant cancer glioblastoma (GBM). Here, we used single-cell spatial transcriptomic platforms to map the expression of nearly 400 ECM genes in matching non-cancerous brain and GBM samples. At least four different GBM cell populations have been identified that show unique ECM expression profiles and spatial enrichment in distinct intratumor regions. Spatial mapping demonstrates largely non-overlapping expression signatures of ECM components in GBM stromal cell types, particularly in vascular endothelial cells and microglia/macrophages. …