Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Risk Factors, Protective Factors, And Intervention Strategies For School Shooters, Emily Michelle Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 1,000 lives have been lost in school shootings in the United States. Many school shooters are current or former students ages 12 to 18, predisposed to risk factors (e.g., mental illness, bullying, trauma). Teachers have a crucial role in school safety, but their voices are underrepresented regarding school shooting interventions. Guided by the social ecological model, this generic qualitative research explored teachers’ perspectives of the risk factors, protective factors, and intervention strategies for school shootings. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 secondary education teachers from various states in the United States. The collected data were then thematically …

The Rider (2025-03-24), Rebeca Salinas

The Rider Archives

Vol. 10, No. 23

Ovarian-Specific Cyp17a1 Overexpression In Female Mice: A Novel Model Of Endogenous Testosterone Excess, Serene Joseph, Vaibhave Ubba, Zhiqiang Wang, Mingxiao Feng, Milan K Dsilva, Sofia Suero, Danielle Waheed, Nathaniel W Snyder, Xiaofeng Yang, Hong Wang, Joanne S Richards, Chemyong J Ko, Sheng Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Excessive androgen levels can severely affect female health. However, most existing models of androgen excess rely on exogenous androgen administration, which does not fully capture the effect of elevated local ovarian testosterone on reproductive and metabolic functions. Here, we report the development of a novel hyperandrogenic mouse model, Cyp17TM-625, generated by combining CRISPR-Cas9 and a Tet-On doxycycline system to induce Cyp17A1 overexpression in ovarian theca-interstitial cells. As a result, Cyp17TM-625 mice exhibited significantly elevated Cyp17A1 messenger RNA and protein levels, accompanied by increased testosterone concentrations without alterations in basal levels of estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, or follicle-stimulating hormone. These mice …

Chimes: March 24, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Knollcrest closes indefinitely, Commons offers new "all-day dining" experience by Addy Offutt

Budgets, diversity, and the future of scholarships and financial aid at Calvin by Ethan Meyers & Sarah Sparling

Service-learning trips return to Calvin by Steven Stachowiak

New statement on sustainability reinforces faith-based commitment to sustainability by Rueben Kok

"I had something else to say": Beth Allison Barr on her new book, Becoming the Pastor's Wife by Natasha Jayaputra

From unknows to icons: The stories that define March Madness by Zach Kerns

Using Glass Waste To Prepare A Type Of Bioceramic, Abdulrazzaq Hammal, Nawzat Nebghali

Baghdad Science Journal

Promoting sustainable living in the future involves efficiently managing waste to reclaim resources and convert them into new raw materials. There is a global focus on accelerating the utilization and recycling of waste to create valuable biomaterials, driving significant research efforts in this area. In this research, pure silica was isolated from glass waste and used in the manufacture of a type of bioceramic for medical applications. Several sequential stages were followed, starting with collecting samples of crushed glass and treating them physically (grinding, granular sorting), mixing the ground glass with NaOH in the following proportions (1:1), (2:1), and (3:1), …

Elevated Extinction Risk In Over One-Fifth Of Native North American Pollinators, Tara Cornelisse, David W. Inouye, Rebecca E. Irwin, Sarina Jepsen, Jonathan R. Mawdsley, Margaret Ormes, Jaret Daniels, Diane M. Debinski, Terry Griswold, John Klymko, Michael C. Orr, Leif Richardson, Nicole Sears, Dale Schweitzer, Bruce E. Young

Biology Faculty Publications

Pollinators are critical for food production and ecosystem function. Although native pollinators are thought to be declining, the evidence is limited. This first, taxonomically diverse assessment for mainland North America north of Mexico reveals that 22.6% (20.6 to 29.6%) of the 1,579 species in the best-studied vertebrate and insect pollinator groups have elevated risk of extinction. All three pollinating bat species are at risk and bees are the insect group most at risk (best estimate, 34.7% of 472 species assessed, range 30.3 to 43.0%). Substantial numbers of butterflies (19.5% of 632 species, range 19.1 to 21.0%) and moths (16.1% of …

Volume 36 Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

The Fall 2023 issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal (Volume 45, Issue 1) marks a significant moment in the journal’s history—it is the first full semester back on campus without interruption since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. This issue symbolizes a fresh beginning, a renewed appreciation for storytelling, and a commitment to fostering creativity in a post-pandemic world. Centered around the theme "The Power of the Painted Word," this edition embraces literature as both an art form and a force of expression. Featuring poetry, fiction, and essays from a dynamic selection of voices, this edition highlights resilience, artistic rebirth, and the …

Volume 23 Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal, published in Fall 2008, continues its engagement with literary millennialism, a movement initiated in the previous issue to redefine contemporary literature by merging Victorian Realist social consciousness with Modernist stylistic experimentation. Originally archived as Volume 23, Issue 2, the print edition is labeled as Volume 27, Issue 1. Due to necessary metadata adjustments in the digital archiving process, some volume and issue numbers in the online collection may not match those printed in the original journals.

A major feature of this issue is the editorial preface by …

Volume 13 Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal presents a diverse and deeply reflective collection of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, with a strong emphasis on artistic identity, memory, and cultural reflection. Originally archived as Volume 13, Issue 2, this issue is actually Volume 18, Issue 1, covering Fall 1999. Due to necessary metadata adjustments in the digital archiving process, some volume and issue numbers in the online collection may not match those printed in the original journals.

A significant highlight of this issue is a special tribute to B.C. Hall, featuring the artwork "Journeys," which …

Volume 13 Issue 1

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal showcases a rich collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literary criticism, reflecting on themes of self-discovery, relationships, surrealism, feminist literature, and cultural critique. Originally archived as Volume 13, Issue 1, this issue is actually Volume 17, Issue 2, covering Spring 1999. Due to necessary metadata adjustments in the digital archiving process, some volume and issue numbers in the online collection may not match those printed in the original journals.

This issue features narrative experimentation and character-driven stories that engage deeply with memory, relationships, and social critique. Highlights …

Volume 10 Issue 1

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal offers a compelling collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literary criticism, highlighting a variety of literary styles and themes. Originally archived as Volume 10, Issue 1, this issue is actually Volume 14, Issue 2, covering Spring 1996. Due to necessary metadata adjustments in the digital archiving process, some volume and issue numbers in the online collection may not match those printed in the original journals.

This issue explores themes of memory, identity, relationships, humor, and the role of storytelling in literature. It features an engaging blend of narrative poetry, …

Volume 5, Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal represents a dynamic collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, translations, and visual art, showcasing a diverse range of voices from emerging and established writers. Originally archived as Volume 5, Issue 2, this issue is actually Volume 9, covering Fall and Spring of the 1990-1991 academic year. As part of the ongoing archival process, some volume and issue numbers in the digital collection may not correspond with those printed in the original journals. Despite these variations, the commitment of Nebo to fostering literary excellence and supporting the creative arts remains unwavering. This …

Fossil Leaf Cuticle: Best Practices For Preparation And Paleo-Co2 Analysis, Xiaoqing Zhang, Dana L. Royer, Carina E. Colombi, Juan Martin Drovandi, Jennifer C. Mcelwain, Gaëtan Guignard, Qin Leng, Barry H. Lomax, Nathan D. Sheldon, Rebekah A. Stein, Garland R. Upchurch, Yongdong Wang, Hong Yang, Richard S. Barclay, Ying Cui, Wolfram Kürschner, Joseph N. Milligan, Isabel Montañez, Jon D. Richey, Tammo Reichgelt, Gongle Shi, Selena Y. Smith, Margret Steinthorsdottir

Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department Faculty Journal Articles

Leaf cuticle is the waxy envelope that protects leaves from desiccation, UV damage, and abrasion. The cuticle encodes information about a plant's chemistry and leaf epidermal and stomatal cell morphology. Fossil leaf cuticle has been used to determine taxonomic affinities for almost two centuries and recognized in recent decades for its value in reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoclimates, especially atmospheric CO2. Fossil leaf cuticle preparation techniques are typically reported as single workflows tied to individual studies, starting with finding fossils in the field through the steps of preparing cuticle for chemical and morphological analysis, including decisions about type of microscopy and …

Retracted Vs Non-Retracted Obstetrical Randomized Trials: Which Quality Criteria Are Most Associated With Retraction For Untrustworthiness?, Sarah Lawson, Georgios Doulaveris, Kathryn Anderson, Carrie Bennett, Vincenzo Berghella

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Background

Randomized control trials (RCTs) are an essential pillar of scientific knowledge and medical practice, and their integrity has important implications for reliable systemic reviews and meta-analyses. However, the number of article retractions due to falsified data and scientific misconduct has increased in recent years. In response, the scientific community has pursued the creation of quality criteria that can be utilized to promote trustworthiness.

Methods

After a quality criteria checklist was created by a team of experts, retracted and nonretracted studies were evaluated for adherence to assess the checklist’s usefulness and identify potential pitfalls. Retracted studies published in obstetric literature …

Sexual Health In The Era Of Artificial Intelligence: A Scoping Review Of The Literature, Elia Abou Chawareb, Brian H. Im, Sherry Lu, Muhammed A.M. Hammad, Tiffany R. Huang, Henry Chen, Faysal A. Yafi

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

INTRODUCTION: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has witnessed significant growth in the field of medicine, leveraging machine learning, artificial neuron networks, and large language models. These technologies are effective in disease diagnosis, education, and prevention, while raising ethical concerns and potential challenges. However, their utility in sexual medicine remains relatively unexplored.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the status of AI in the field of sexual medicine.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted using MeSH keywords, including "artificial intelligence," "sexual medicine," "sexual health," and "machine learning." Two investigators screened articles for eligibility within the PubMed and MEDLINE databases, with …

Systematic Review Of Arab American Emerging Adults Mental Health, Sahar Al-Tweej, Sarah Kiperman

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This systematic review examines psychosocial factors influencing mental health in Arab American emerging adults, identifying both protective and risk factors. Utilizing minority stress theory, it highlights key determinants such as ethnic identity, religious involvement, and discrimination. Findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive interventions to address mental health disparities

Counseling Psychology & Social Justice In Challenging Times, Cassandra L. Hinger, Julia Phillips Ph.D., Tawanda Greer-Medley Ph.D., Sharon L. Bowman Ph.D., Hspp, Lmhc

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This roundtable serves as a space for students and faculty to process how recent legislative and institutional policies are affecting our roles as counseling psychologists. We will provide resources for advocacy and self/community-care to sustain us as we navigate and resist the policies that threaten the progress of our field.

Value-Based Healthcare Reimagined: A Mixed-Methods Study On Behavioral Health Clinicians' Perspectives, Amanda L. Strickland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how behavioral health clinicians perceive Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC), a model designed by Porter and Teisberg (2006) to improve outcomes relative to costs. While widely promoted in healthcare reform, VBHC poses unique challenges when applied to behavioral health settings. Using an explanatory mixed-methods design, this study first assessed clinicians’ awareness of VBHC through a survey of 23 licensed clinicians at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in Colorado. Quantitative findings revealed that one-third of participants were aware of VBHC with awareness differing by role prompting further exploration in a qualitative phase. Semi-structured interviews with eight clinicians provided deeper …

Development, Optimization, And Validation Of A High-Sensitivity Capillary Zone Electrophoresis System For Bioanalytical Applications, Aaron I. Mena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is a powerful analytical technique widely used for biomolecular separation due to its high resolution, efficiency, and sensitivity. This report presents the development and validation of a novel CZE system designed to improve modularity, reproducibility, and operational efficiency. The system integrates a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection method with a 488 nm laser, enhanced fluid control through a negative pressure system, and a user-friendly GUI for automated operation and data acquisition. Performance verification included pressure stability tests, fluorescence accuracy assessments, and electrophoretic reproducibility studies. Comparative analysis with a previous CZE iteration confirmed improved baseline stability, peak resolution, …

The Mediation Effect Of White Racial Affect On Color-Blind Racial Attitudes And Multicultural Counseling Competence, Noah Schieffer Scanlon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial bias is something that can impact many fields, including the field of psychology. There is growing research in examining the relationship between multicultural counseling competence and color-blind racial attitudes as well as other factors like White racial affect Few studies have examined the potential mediating relationship White racial affect may have on color-blind racial attitudes and multicultural counseling competence. To address this gap, this study provides insight into how White racial affect mediates the relationship between color-blind racial attitudes and multicultural counseling competence among white psychology trainees. This study also further examined the extent to which color-blind racial attitudes …

The Efficacy Of Psychological Interventions On Treating Post-Concussion Syndrome: An Integrative Review, Esther Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Post-concussion syndrome, which occurs when concussion symptoms last longer than 3 months, is an area not well researched and often misunderstood. Post-concussion syndrome lingers without research based, effective treatment options for full patient recovery. This review was conducted to find the efficacy of psychological treatment options for patients with post-concussion syndrome. Eight databases, libraries, a registry, and some grey literature were searched within the past five years. The search process was documented with the PRISMA flow diagram. Through the inclusion criteria, eleven articles were selected as the primary sources. These studies found that the psychological interventions tested showed small improvements …

Radial Glia Integrin Avb8 Regulates Cell Autonomous Microglial Tgfβ1 Signaling That Is Necessary For Microglial Identity, Gabriel Mckinsey, Nicolas Santander, Xiaoming Zhang, Kilian Kleemann, Lauren Tran, Aditya Katewa, Kaylynn Conant, Matthew Barraza, Kian Waddell, Carlos Lizama, Marie La Russa, Ji Hyun Koo, Hyunji Lee, Dibyanti Mukherjee, Helena Paidassi, E. S. Anton, Kamran Atabai, Dean Sheppard, Oleg Butovsky, Thomas Arnold

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Microglial diversity arises from the interplay between inherent genetic programs and external environmental signals. However, the mechanisms by which these processes develop and interact within the growing brain are not yet fully understood. Here, we show that radial glia-expressed integrin beta 8 (ITGB8) activates microglia-expressed TGFβ1 to drive microglial development. Domain-restricted deletion of Itgb8 in these progenitors results in regionally restricted and developmentally arrested microglia that persist into adulthood. In the absence of autocrine TGFβ1 signaling, microglia adopt a similar phenotype, leading to neuromotor symptoms almost identical to Itgb8 mutant mice. In contrast, microglia lacking the canonical TGFβ signal transducers …

Quantifying The Impact Of Workshops Promoting Microbiome Data Standards And Data Stewardship, Julia M. Kelliher, Francisca E. Rodriguez, Leah Y. Johnson, Simon Roux, Montana Smith, Ishi Keenum, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

The field of microbiome research continues to grow at a rapid pace, with multi-omics approaches becoming widely used to interrogate diverse microbiome samples. However, due to lagging awareness and implementation of standards and data stewardship, many datasets are produced that are not comparable, reproducible, or reusable. In 2021, the National Microbiome Data Collaborative launched its Ambassador Program, which utilizes a community-learning model to annually train a cohort of early-career researchers in microbiome data stewardship best practices. These Ambassadors then host workshops and other events to communicate these themes to their respective microbiome research communities. To quantify the impact of this …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On The United States Higher Education System, Phoenix Daniel Van Wormer

University Honors Theses

In the spring of 2020, colleges across the United States rapidly transitioned to online/remote learning during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Since then, online and remote learning have evolved into an integral component of higher education. This thesis examines the extent to which COVID-19-mandated remote and online learning impacted students pursuing higher education in the United States. By utilizing research that compares academic structures before and after the pandemic, I demonstrate how the shift to online and remote learning has changed teaching and learning methods. I also evaluate the impact of these changes on student performance and engagement, with particular focus …

Lower Cytoplasmic Expression Of Ddit4 Is Associated With Poor Prognosis In Gastric Cancer Patients, Masoumeh Dehghan Manshadi, Fatemeh Tajik, Leili Saeednejad Zanjani, Farideh Hashemi, Mandana Rahimi, Fahimeh Fattahi, Sadegh Safaei, Zahra Madjd, Roya Ghods

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4), also known as Redd1, Dig2, and RTP801 was identified to be upregulated in response to a variety of cellular stresses, including DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and energy stress. Several studies have discovered that dysregulation of DDIT4 involved in various cancers with paradoxical expression and roles. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the clinical significance and prognostic value of DDIT4 in different subtypes of gastric cancer (GC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the expression pattern of DDIT4 in GC tissues as well as adjacent normal tissue, we utilized immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray (TMA) …

Prediction Of Persistent Incomplete Occlusion Of Intracranial Aneurysms Treated With Woven Endobridge Device, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Mohamed Sobhi Jabal, Hasan Jamil, Hamza Adel Salim, Basel Musmar, Nimer Adeeb, Mahmoud Dibas, Nicole M. Cancelliere, Jose Danilo Bengzon, Oktay Algin, Sherief Ghozy, Sovann V. Lay, Adrien Guenego, Leonardo Renieri, Joseph Carnevale, Guillaume Saliou, Panagiotis Mastorakos, Kareem El Naamani, Eimad Shotar, Markus Möhlenbruch, Michael Kral, Charlotte Chung, Mohamed M. Salem, Ivan Lylyk, Paul M. Foreman, Hamza Shaikh, Vedran Župančić, Muhammad U. Hafeez, Joshua Catapano, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammed Said Besler, Yasin Celal Gunes, James D. Rabinov, Julian Maingard, Clemens M. Schirmer, Mariangela Piano, Anna L. Kühn, Caterina Michelozzi, Robert M. Starke, Ameer Hassan, Mark Ogilvie, Anh Nguyen, Jesse Jones, Waleed Brinjikji, Marie T. Nawka, Marios Psychogios, Christian Ulfert, Bryan Pukenas, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Thien Huynh, Juan Carlos Martinez-Gutierrez, Sunil A. Sheth, Diana Slawski, Rabih Tawk, Benjamin Pulli, Boris Lubicz, Pietro Panni, Ajit S. Puri, Guglielmo Pero, Eytan Raz, Christoph J. Griessenauer, Hamed Asadi, Adnan Siddiqui, Elad I. Levy, Deepak Khatri, Neil Haranhalli, Andrew F. Ducruet, Felipe C. Albuquerque, Robert W. Regenhardt, Christopher J. Stapleton, Peter Kan, Vladimir Kalousek, Pedro Lylyk, Srikanth Boddu, Jared Knopman, Stavropoula I. Tjoumakaris, Hugo H. Cuellar-Saenz, Pascal Jabbour, Frédéric Clarençon, Nicola Limbucci, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Aman B. Patel, David J. Altschul, Adam A. Dmytriw, Worldwideweb Consortium Collaborators

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

While the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device has transformed the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms, incomplete occlusion remains a significant challenge requiring better understanding of contributing factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on multicenter data from patients who underwent WEB device treatment for intracranial aneurysms between January 2011 and December 2022. Using machine learning models, Cox regression, and time-stratified analyses, we evaluated factors associated with persistent incomplete occlusion, defined as non-improving Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification grade 2 or 3 at final follow-up. Among 813 patients (607 with < 24 months follow-up, 206 with ≥ 24 months), machine learning analysis identified aneurysm height, Acom location, neck diameter, and pretreatment mRS as predictors of persistent incomplete occlusion. On Cox regression. larger aneurysm neck diameter (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.27, p = 0.027) and height (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.26, p = 0.017), and radial …

Synthetic Protein Mimetic Based Therapies For Neurodegeneration, Nicholas H. Stillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are crucial for the regulation of a majority of, if not every fundamental cellular process. Despite their role in regular biological processes, dysregulated and/or aberrant protein-protein interactions (aPPIs) are often related to the onset of disease including cancer, viral infection, and amyloid diseases. aPPIs have historically been deemed ‘undruggable’ due to their large surface area and lack of a binding cavity; however, today, more than 40 disease-related aPPIs have been targeted with small molecules and several of those have reached clinical trials.

A class of synthetic protein mimetics called oligopyridylamides (OPs) has been shown to inhibit disease-related …

Advancing Tka Biomechanics: From Joint Simulator To Boundary Condition Development, Yashar Ali Behnam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses four specific aims that collectively attempted to advance the experimental and computational analysis of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) components. The first study focused on the development of a novel whole knee joint simulator capable of simultaneous tibiofemoral and patellofemoral knee loading. This simulator employs custom fixturing to facilitate dynamic, unconstrained, muscle-driven PF articulation alongside controlled TF contact mechanics. Validation against experimental measurements showed strong agreement, demonstrating the simulator's potential as a valuable tool for future TKA design and surgical technique investigations.

The second study verified implant-specific physiological boundary conditions which accurately simulate activities of daily living using …

Determinants Of Knee Motion In Health, Disease, And Repair, Sean Edward Higinbotham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human knee joint is a complex and intricate structure, enabling a wide range of motions and facilitating various dynamic activities throughout a person's lifetime. The combination of the knee's complexity and its role as a primary load-bearing joint has made it susceptible to regular wear and tear, leading to pain and the development of Osteoarthritis (OA), to which, the only treatment currently is total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite TKA being a mature procedure, 20% of patients receiving a TKA are dissatisfied with their “new” knee. To reduce that 20% dissatisfaction and improve surgical outcomes, orthopedic companies are developing advanced …

Session Ia: Biology Presentation 3 - Beyond Weight Loss: The Effects Of The Glp-1 Agonist, Semaglutide, On Weight Care, Type Ii Diabetes Management, And Cardiac Function In Obese Patients, Amber Smith

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

Determining whether the drug Semaglutide, also known as Ozempic or Wegovy, is not only an effective treatment for weight loss, but also for management of type II diabetes and obesity-related heart failure, such as adverse cardiac remodeling and left atrial volume increase.