Digital Commons Network^™

Functional Requirement For Dicer Helicase Arginine Methylation In 26 G Sirna Biogenesis And Oocyte Meiotic Program, Nick Newkirk, Shin-Yu Chen, Tokiko Furuta, Kenneth A Trimmer, Leilei Shi, Sabrina Stratton, Hongyuan Li, Xiaodong Cheng, Mark T Bedford, Swathi Arur

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Spatiotemporal regulation of Dicer is essential for small RNA biogenesis and fertility, yet how its helicase domain is controlled remains unclear. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we identify a regulatory role for the arginine-rich GRARR motif within helicase domain motif VI of DCR-1. Mutating conserved arginines in this sequence disrupts maternal 26 G endo-siRNA production, impairs oocyte meiosis I and II, and reduces fertility. Biochemically, an asymmetrically dimethylated DCR-1 GRA[R495*]R peptide enhances interaction with ERI-5, a tandem-Tudor protein in the ERIC complex, while loss of DCR-1(R495) diminishes this interaction in vivo. Genetically, eri-5 deletion phenocopies the dcr-1 R495K mutant, supporting a functional …

Psychosocial Characteristics Of North American Male Cannibals, Sheila A. Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal cannibalism is a rare form of violent offending that remains understudied despite public attention. This gap limits understanding of the psychosocial characteristics and life experiences of individuals who engage in cannibalistic behavior. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychosocial characteristics within the life experiences of North American males who engaged in cannibalistic behavior and identify common themes. Grounded in social control theory and self-control theory, the study examined how weakened social bonds and diminished self-regulation may relate to extreme deviance. The guiding research question focused on identifying common psychosocial characteristics within this population. A descriptive phenomenological …

Awareness, Protest, And Action: Women Science-Fiction Writers As Writer Activists, Carolyn Nolte

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Following the end of World War II, science-fiction literature, which was mostly dominated by white male writers, experienced an increase in stories written by women writers. Of these postwar stories written by women, the three women writers in this dissertation imagined how their present-day experiences informed the future by exploring their concerns about humanity’s collective trajectory. By analyzing how their stories dramatize possible future social, psychological, biological, and environmental harms, this dissertation argues that these women writers’ works distinguish them as writer-activists, a concept I borrow from Rob Nixon’s work Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor.

I …

Illinois Valley Central High School Wind Ensemble And Symphonic Band: April 21, 2026, Matthew Chapman, Lauren N. Bobarsky, Colby Powers

School of Music Programs

This is the one hundred and eighty-fourth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

April 21, 2026

Tuesday Evening

8:00 p.m.

Resuscitating Old Methods: How Executions By Nitrogen Hypoxia Violate The Eighth Amendment, Hannah Caldwell

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Historical Claims And Environmental Harms: How Historical Analogues Can Be Utilized To Show Injury-In-Fact In Environmental Cases, Julia Landi

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Computational Fluid Dynamics For Airfoil Selection, Nathan John Geurink

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Intertwined History Of American And Japanese Animation, Kate Elizabeth Godfrey

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Place We Live Which Does Not Exist, Jonathon Parker Yontz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Place We Live Which Does Not Exist is a collection of stories examining the intersection of trauma and catharsis through a psychologically manufactured underground environment. By inhabiting the perspectives of multiple characters, each story builds toward a collective reality that exists parallel to our present. As the shortsightedness of hedonistic expression is shown, the viability of escapism as panacea is questioned, exploring the ends of a society increasingly dependent on reclusive tendencies.

Piloting A Scalable Workflow To Identify Drivers Of Mammalian Aging Using C. Elegans, Ariella Lucia Coler-Reilly Colasanti

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The aging population in developed countries has prompted experts to warn of the impending “silver tsunami” of older adults poised to overload already strained healthcare systems. Advanced age is the primary risk factor for most chronic diseases, and the vast majority of the elderly population is diagnosed with at least one such condition, if not several. The field of geroscience has emerged to study the processes responsible for age-related decline and devise methods to reduce this burden. A major branch of geroscience is the genetics of aging, including examining gene expression changes over time as well as exploring how genetic …

Investigating The Intra-Host Relationships Of The Microbiota At Multiple Sites, Ariel Jose Hernandez-Leyva

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The human body hosts an abundance of microbial communities that, through complex and multi-faceted interactions, interface with host physiology and help govern health and disease. Many of these interactions are beneficial and help maintain host homeostasis or contribute to the metabolic capacity of the host. Some are detrimental, potentially inducing or further exacerbating disease. All are complicated by the vast diversity of microbes that comprise the microbiota at any given site. Identifying microbes or microbial functions that influence health and disease for study and potential use as biomarkers is tantalizing, though difficult. The vast diversity of potential community compositions, redundancy …

Create @ State 2026, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Create@State

Proceedings for 2026

Exploring The Antimicrobial Properties Of Spotted Lanternfly Contaminated Honey, Davanna Mcclellan

Liberty University Research Week

This study aims to investigate how the antimicrobial properties of pure honey and spotted lanternfly contaminated honey differ. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species that has been in the U.S. since 2014. This species has wreaked havoc on many different industries, such as the agricultural and tobacco industries. However, the relationship between the lanternfly and the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) has not been researched. One facet of their relationship shows that honey bees will use lanternfly secretions called honeydew to make honey. Honey possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities due to the antimicrobial peptides present within honey …

Distribution Of Virginia Pollinator Insect Specimens From The Liberty University Natural History Collection, Sarah Gerringer

Liberty University Research Week

The Liberty University natural history collection contains a substantial number of preserved insect specimens taken from all over the state of Virginia, and which includes many families of pollinator insects. Pollinator insects play an important part in life on this planet, so the purpose of this study was to visually represent and evaluate historical pollinator habitat data. Information such as this can be used to both spread awareness of pollinator conservation and to provide a better understanding of where pollinators may be located. In this study, we compiled and examined location data from ten families of Virginia native pollinator insects …

Is Everything Awesome? Cultural Apologetics In A Metamodern Age, Alexander Lee, Dara Huamanchumo Ascanio, Isaiah Johnson

Liberty University Research Week

Contemporary apologists have emphasized that engaging with culture in an insightful and respectful way is a powerful tool for evangelism (Chatraw & Allen, 2018). In this vein, children’s media, born in a specific cultural setting, has a formative impact on upcoming generations, an avenue of influence that should be explored for its implications in apologetics. To do this, the research explores themes highlighting the transition between postmodernism and metamodernism by comparing the films Toy Story (1995) and The Lego Movie (2014). The project figures characters in Toy Story as representing the shift from modernism to postmodernism, while characters in The …

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Virginia: A Systematic Review (2015-2025), Haley Gebhard, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Tahirou Diallo, Treasure Nkemdilim James, Yiwei Huang

Liberty University Research Week

Breastfeeding has long been recognized as the optimal nutritional option for infants due to its extensive health benefits for both infants and mothers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding serve as protective factors infant morbidity and mortality.1 Despite the knowledge on breastfeeding and its significance to infant growth and development, breastfeeding rates remain suboptimal worldwide. Even in the U.S., public health has identified increasing breastfeeding rates as a national goal, especially targeting low-income areas. The purpose of this study is to systematically identify and evaluate studies examining breastfeeding practices and infant outcomes among the …

Rapid Challenges In Infectious Disease And Mosquito-Borne Parasite Detection, Carrington Vines

Liberty University Research Week

This project examines the diagnostic challenges facing "frontier" labs in regions like Lynchburg, VA, and rural Alaska. It contrasts the "Old Guard" (manual microscopy) with the "New Guard" (PCR/ELISA), highlighting a performance jump from 70% to 98% sensitivity. However, this precision is met by a "Financial Reality" check: costs spike from $10 to over $150 per test, creating a barrier for low-volume rural clinics. To bridge this gap, the study proposes Vector-Informed Care—using mosquito surveillance as an early warning system to deploy expensive molecular tools efficiently. Grounded in the biblical mandate of the "Watchman" (Ezekiel 33:7), this hybrid strategy ensures …

What Bombs Cannot Occupy: Memory, Heritage, And War In Ukraine, Dalton D. Conden

The Penguin Review

Air-raid sirens have become part of the daily soundscape in Ukrainian cities. They interrupt meals, classes, conversations, and sleep. When they blare, people gather what they can and move quickly sometimes to shelters, sometimes to basements, sometimes nowhere at all. Families lock their doors without knowing whether they will ever turn the key again. Children carry backpacks filled with whatever seemed important in the moment: a photograph, a stuffed animal, a book pulled hastily from a shelf. Around them, buildings that once anchored everyday life—churches, museums, historic neighborhoods— have been damaged or destroyed.

New Ways To Address The Plastic Problem, Andrew J. Hanna

The Penguin Review

Since 1950, the world has produced some 9.2 billion metric tonnes of plastic.1 Other sources place the total closer to ten billion metric tonnes Furthermore, nearly 500 million tonnes of new plastic are manufactured each year– a figure that's projected to increase to 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060.2 The environmental effects of all this plastic production and pollution are disturbing. Because most plastics are synthetic–meaning they contain "no molecules found in nature"– they can't decompose. Instead, they just break down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming microplastics (less than five millimeters (5 million nanometers) across) and then nanoplastics (less than …

Fighting For The Story: How Identity Shapes The Israel–Hamas War, Ana Lilia Zavala

The Penguin Review

The war between the state of Israel and the militant group Hamas is often portrayed in strictly strategic or material terms, from rockets and tunnels to ground offensives and massive casualties. Yet what truly lies at the core of the conflict in the Gaza Strip is not merely a struggle over territory or security, but a struggle of identities, narratives, and legacies of harm. From my constructivist standpoint, I believe that actors act not just because of “national interests,” but because of how they understand their own identity, how they interpret the other, and how normative structures shape their choices. …

The Digital Museum: Classical Reception In Animal Crossing New Horizons, Anna G. Kendall

Create@State

My project examines how Animal Crossing: New Horizons brings the ancient body into a modern, digital world through its recreations of classical Greek sculptures. In the game, players can collect, study, and display famous works such as the Venus de Milo, Discobolus, and Nike of Samothrace in a virtual museum. These sculptures reveal how the Greeks represented beauty, strength, and divine movement through the human form. By interacting with them in-game, players connect with these ancient ideas of the body in a new way. The game’s system of real and fake artworks also teaches players to look closely and …

Purr-Spectives: Connections Between Feline Coat Color And Human Preferences And Perceptions In Northeast Arkansas, Tiffany L. Batchelor

Create@State

Felines have played an important role in the lives of humans for thousands of years. This study investigated perceptions of felines and feline demographics in Northeast Arkansas (NEA). For Study 1, data on phenotype and health conditions was collected from 2,305 patient files from three NEA veterinary clinics. For Study 2, an anonymous survey generated using Qualtrics was published through College of Agriculture social media accounts to gather opinions from cat owners on feline coat color and ownership trends. Study 1 identified up to 6 pattern-based and up to 18 color-based phenotypes per clinic and a total of 129 unique …

Prioritizing Health Over Aesthetics: Reforming Brachycephalic Breed Standards, Olivia Edwards

Create@State

Selective breeding has led to extreme physical traits in companion animals such as dogs and cats. They are characterized by their shortened skulls, creating their flattened faces. These breeds remain fairly popular due to their appearance, even though these animals present various health concerns.  I conducted this research at A-state to create awareness and educate those who are not aware of this issue, and for future pet owners. It argues that the continued promotion and recognition of these animals contributes to preventable health conditions and long-term suffering in affected animals. I analyzed reports on animal welfare, reviewed policy discussions and …

Skin Pattern As A Potential Monitoring Tool For Frog Populations, Lídize Sagarnaga Rivera, Virginie Rolland Dr., Lorin Neuman-Lee Dr.

Create@State

Skin pattern as a potential monitoring tool for frog populations

Population monitoring, which requires identifying individuals, is crucial for species conservation. Common techniques involve marking, which can harm animals and alter their behaviors. Natural markings are an alternative not yet explored for amphibians. Yet, the traditional method with elastomers (fluorescent implants) is invasive and not completely reliable—the tag may become lost or hard to see. The American green tree frog (Dryophytes cinereus) possesses naturally occurring and distinct golden dots on their dorsal side.  Therefore, we aim to assess whether patterns of golden dots on the skin of green …

Student Perspectives On The Selection And Suitability Of Emotional Support Animals, Ella G. Speer

Create@State

Emotional support animals (ESA) are classified as any species of animal that provides cognitive and emotional benefits for individuals struggling with mental health impairments (Ferrell, Crowley 2021, p. 561). Emotional support animals differ from service and therapy animals because there are no restrictions regarding the specie selection if the owner perceives their benefits (Ferrell, Crowley 2021, p. 561). Relaxed regulations on the specie of emotional support animals allow individuals the opportunity to choose any animal based on their perceived benefits (Pettable Staff, Fleming 2024). Recently, universities have implemented an emotional support animal policy to protect students who live on campus …

Amyloid Beta-42 Neurotoxicity In Drosophila Retinal Development, Shay O. Sims, Pierce Duncan, Malachi Abon, Jacob G. Smith

Create@State

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders globally. Thus far, the underlying mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of AD are innately elusive. Two hallmarks associated with the progression of AD exist, including Amyloid-Beta 42 (Aβ42) protein plaque formation and hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in neurons. Amyloid-beta is known to concentrate with other neuronal proteins as complexes form, including the cytoskeletal protein actin. However, whether actin contributes to neuronal decline in AD is unknown. To further understand the cellular cascades associated with AD, we investigated the role of cytoskeleton dynamics in modulating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation within …

Reframing Alpha-Gal Syndrome As A One Health Oral Health Risk: A Theoretical Model For Dental Safety And Policy Reform, Oyebolu Aderinola Akinkugbe, Akuchinyere Titus-Okpanachi, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Inc3vits Model: A Hybrid Architecture To Accelerate And Reduce Complexity For The Deepvariant Model For Variant Calling, Mustafa Al-Saffar, Sura Z. Al Rashid

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Deep learning has revolutionized genomic variant calling, yet the computational cost of current systems continues to limit scalability. We present a controlled efficiency study of DeepVariant-style pileup architectures under identical training and inference conditions, comparing architectural downsizing with a hybrid CNN–local attention design. Inc3ViTs pairs a streamlined InceptionV3 stem with a lightweight local attention head based on patch tokenization and windowed self-attention, enabling a direct comparison with a CNN-only reduced Inception baseline. Across whole-genome and whole-exome short-read datasets, Inc3ViTs reduces training time by ~40–50% and reduces inference runtime relative to the original DeepVariant. The CNN-only baseline indicates that most speedups …

Behind The Scenes - Anthony Cheung

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.

Vol. 1 Full Issue

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.