Digital Commons Network^™

Untethered Spiritual Care: Fortifying Warfighter Fitness In The Era Of Great Power Competition, Charles R. Bruner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As the operational paradigm shifts from the large counter-insurgency missions of the Global War on Terror to agile combat employment characterized by untethered operations in potential locations such as the Pacific Theater, robust spiritual fitness will become increasingly more vital. Those most at risk for spiritual wounding and moral injury due to their experiences will be Airmen assigned to small, forward-deployed Mission Ready Airman (MRA) teams who must generate combat aircraft in austere locations with minimal supplies and far from support, including religious and spiritual support. This research project examines the problem of providing effective, robust point-of-care spiritual support without …

Spartan Daily, November 13, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 35

Developing A General Ai Model For Integrating Diverse Genomic Modalities And Comprehensive Genomic Knowledge, Zhenhao Zhang, Xinyu Bao, Linghua Jiang, Xin Luo, Zheyu Zhang, Jing Yin, Meiqi Zhao, Yichun Wang, Annelise Comai, Joerg Waldhaus, Anders S Hansen, Wenbo Li, Jie Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have vastly expanded the availability of diverse genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic data, presenting the opportunity to develop a general AI model that integrates comprehensive genomic knowledge into a unified model. Unlike previous predictive models, which are typically specialized to certain tasks, our general AI model unifies a wide range of genomic modalities, such as nascent RNA and ultra-high-resolution chromatin organization, within a multi-task architecture. Using ATAC-seq and DNA sequences as inputs, we incorporated diverse genomic modalities as output, and the model exhibits strong generalizability across different cell types and tissues in all tasks we trained. …

The Unfolded Protein Response-Novel Mechanisms, Challenges, And Key Considerations For Therapeutic Intervention, P M Quan Mai, Tam-Anh Truong, Sai Kumar Samala, Bhoomika Muruvekere Lakshmisha, Prapannajeet Biswal, Khadijeh Koushki, Prudhvi Chand Mallepaddi, Geraldine Vijay, Sunil Krishnan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an evolutionarily conserved, synchronized, and orchestrated process triggered by eukaryotic cells in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. UPR restores the ER's capacity to handle large protein loads within it, and still fold and process these proteins accurately. Many recent studies have documented the non-canonical roles of the UPR, outside of protein quality control, in the context of lipid metabolism and the immune system in cancer. Cancer cells have been known to hijack the UPR to promote survival and evade immune surveillance. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Objectives: Here, we critically …

Exploring Student Perceptions Of Higher-Education Social Media Presence: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Through The Lens Of The Theory Of Interactive Media Effects, Bobby Mikel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As higher-education institutions (HEIs) compete for prospective students in an increasingly saturated digital environment, effective communication on social media has become both essential and challenging. Guided by the cybernetic communication tradition and the theory of interactive media effects (TIME), this qualitative descriptive study explored how students perceived and engaged with social media content produced by HEIs. The study utilized a qualitative survey to explore students’ perceptions of social media content produced by an HEI in the southeastern United States. Additionally, a content analysis of social media posts was conducted to examine how the HEI engages with students. Findings revealed that …

Cold Forged: A Theological Reckoning In Narrative Silence, Craig Steven Wright

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the construction of testimonial fiction as an act of moral resistance and theological witness, developed through a creative manuscript (Cold Forged) that embodies a cruciform narrative structure modelled on Isaiah 53 and the Book of Job. The project interrogates institutional betrayal, memory as liturgy, and the intersection of silence and suffering, situating itself within a literary genealogy that includes Flannery O’Connor, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Cormac McCarthy, and C.S. Lewis. The critical paper will explore the aesthetics of theological realism in trauma narrative, and the artist statement will defend the cruciform architecture of narrative silence as an ethical form.

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Teachers’ Growth Mindsets In Low, Middle, And High Socioeconomic Schools, Molly Bettencourt-Courtright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if a significant difference exists among teachers’ growth mindsets among those teachers employed at low, middle, or high socioeconomic status schools. This study is important because teachers’ growth mindsets have an impact on students’ academic achievement through factors such as motivation and self-efficacy. Research has demonstrated the correlation between belonging to a low socioeconomic status and poor academic achievement or learning. Therefore, this study adds to the literature regarding the effects of teachers’ growth mindset by examining the differences in mindset among teachers employed at low, middle, and high socioeconomic …

U.S. Navy Spacecraft Recovery Operations, 1957-1961, Marc Robert Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to highlight U.S. Navy efforts during early space recovery operations. The space recovery mission was new to the United States’ Cold War Navy, and in many cases its space recovery forces learned through trial and error, beginning with Jupiter missile nosecone recoveries in 1957. The study examines the collaborative efforts between the U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to locate and retrieve Project Mercury astronauts and space capsules after they traveled into space and splashed down in the ocean. It identifies technological aides on which recovery forces led by the U.S. …

A Phenomenological Study On The Influence Of Teacher Perceptions On Play-Based Learning, Courtney Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of implementing play-based learning for teachers at early childhood settings in Georgia. The theory guiding this study was Jon Dewey’s theory of experiential learning, as it addressed the significance of children learning through play. The Central Research Question was: What are the experiences of teachers implementing play-based learning in early childhood settings in Georgia? A qualitative methodology approach utilizing transcendental phenomenology was taken to describe the lived experiences of 13 teachers implementing play-based learning. The setting included early learning centers and schools in Georgia. A combination of snowball …

Divine Intervention: The Effects Of Repairing Attachment Insecurities With God On Ptsd Symptomology In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Erica M. Duckworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma occurs when an individual under the age of 18 survives a perceived life-threatening event. To circumvent future danger, numerous developmental changes occur in response to fear, manifesting in a multitude of symptoms. A culmination of symptoms results in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a debilitating condition that arises from the hypervigilance of the brain and body to environmental stimuli. A recurring state of fear can lead to isolation, negatively affecting social interactions. Expectations of relationships, also known as attachment styles, reflect the bonds created between a child and a parent or caregiver. The quality of this foundational relationship can …

Secondary Teacher Experiences Of Classically Taught Students’ Social-Emotional Development: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Kirby Elizabeth Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the experiences of 7th-12th grade educators at George Washington Academy who teach solely through classic literature and primary accounts of historical and social significance, focusing on their perceptions of their students’ social and emotional development. The theory that guided this study was Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, which provided a framework for appropriate social-emotional development across all ages. The central research question was, “What are the experiences of secondary (7th-12th grade) educators who utilize classic literature and primary accounts of historical and social significance regarding their students’ psychosocial development?” The phenomenological …

A Phenomenological And Transcendental Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Mental Health Practitioners Acquiring The Competencies To Become A Sandtray Therapy Practitioner, Deborah Kay Webb-Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological, transcendental study was to describe the lived experiences of 16 mental health practitioners in North America who acquired competencies through various training programs or certification courses to proficiently integrate sandtray therapy as a cross-theoretical approach. Through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, participants described how they developed the competencies and standards to integrate sandtray therapy as a cross-theoretical approach with diverse populations, while also engaging in dialogue about the need for greater governance and regulation of training programs. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Husserl’s theory of transcendental phenomenology and the …

Design, Optimization, And Development Of Ripk1 Degraders With Improved Pharmacokinetic And Pharmacodynamic Properties, Dong Lu, Xin Yu, Hanfeng Lin, Ran Cheng, Bin Yang, Min Zhang, Jingjing Chen, Feng Li, Xiaoli Qi, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pharmacological degradation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) offers a compelling therapeutic strategy to overcome its scaffolding role in tumor resistance and to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies. In this study, we report the discovery of a novel RIPK1 degrader, LD5097(24b), developed through systematic optimization of its precursor compound, LD4172—specifically refining the linker, RIPK1 warhead exit vector, and VHL ligand components. LD5097(24b) exhibits potent and selective RIPK1 degradation, triggering rapid and efficient downregulation of RIPK1 and significantly enhancing TNFα-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Compared to LD4172, LD5097(24b) demonstrates markedly improved metabolic stability and pharmacokinetic properties. In …

Genetic And Embryonic Transcriptome Analyses Reveal The Molecular And Developmental Basis Of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome, Na Chen, Xi Cheng, Sen Zhao, Hengqiang Zhao, Chenglu Qin, Yaru Zhang, Xijuan Lin, Qing Li, Yuan Wang, Jia Kang, Jing Yu, Jianbin Guo, Qianqian Gao, Jiali Duan, Yuchen Niu, Jianzhong Su, Zhihong Wu, Terry Jianguo Zhang, Wanlu Liu, Pengfei Liu, Shan Deng, Nan Wu, Lan Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) is characterised by aplasia of the uterus, cervix and upper part of the vagina. The genetic aetiology remains incompletely understood.

Methods: We performed gene-level and gene set-level burden analyses based on exome sequencing/genome sequencing data from 727 probands with MRKHS and 2504 female control individuals. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on human and mouse embryonic metanephros at different developmental stages. Genetic and transcriptomic data were integrated to prioritise suboptimal genetic signals, identify relevant cell types and determine key developmental stages. Potential digenic inheritance was assessed and prioritised using coexpression patterns from scRNA-seq data.

Results: We …

Effect Of Chronic Heat Stress On Duodenal Epithelial Barrier Integrity In Low- And High-Water-Efficient Broiler Chickens, Lulu Liu, Elizabeth S. Greene, Brooklee Roach, Sara Orlowski, Sami Dridi

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Heat stress (HS) has long posed a significant challenge to the poultry industry due to its adverse effects, such as depressed feed intake, decreased growth performance, and increased water consumption. Water efficiency (WE, conversion of water intake into body weight gain), although often neglected, is a key economic and production trait that is significantly affected by HS. Recently, we selected two broiler lines for high WE (HWE) and low WE (LWE) and showed a differential hypothalamic expression of genes involved in water homeostasis regulation. As the gut also plays a significant role in water absorption, the present study aimed to …

Development Of Artificial Intelligence-Based Learning Media Using Powtoon Animation With A Joyful Learning Approach To Support Ppl Activities For Pre-Service Ppg Students, Zihan Novita Sari, Evania Yafie, Muhammad Alfan, Qorry Armen Gemael, Paundra Wangsa Fajar Kusuma

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to create adaptive and engaging instructional media, its application in the teaching practicum of pre-service teacher education students remains suboptimal. During field teaching practice, most pre-service teachers still rely on conventional methods and non-interactive media, resulting in learning that is teacher-centered, less engaging, and unable to accommodate diverse student needs. This condition leads to limited student participation, low classroom interaction, and ineffective delivery of material. Therefore, the development of AI-based learning media is necessary to support more interactive, personalized, and meaningful teaching practices aligned with 21st-century learning demands. This study aims to develop …

An Unusual Case Of Common Terns Nesting On A Rooftop In Ontario And An Attempt To Relocate The Colony, David J. Moore, Jeffrey N. Costa, Alexis L. Stupich

Ontario Birds

A variety of gull and tern species have adapted to urban environments by nesting on rooftops and other human-made structures. Previous reports of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) breeding on rooftops have generally involved small numbers of nests (≤25). Here, we report an occurrence of an unusually large number of Common Terns nesting on a rooftop in Port Credit, Ontario, in 2013. A complete survey of the roof was conducted on 31 May, when 1,011 Common Tern nests were counted. A similar number of breeding pairs used this roof in 2014, but the site was largely abandoned by 2015, due to …

Full Issue, Ontario Field Ornithologists

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

The Breeding Status Of American White Pelicans In The Canadian Waters Of The Laurentian Great Lakes, David J. Moore, Sara C. Pereira De Souza, Maya Da Silva, D.V. Chip Weseloh

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Ontario Field Ornithologists

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Is The Double-Crested Cormorant A Likely Disperser Of The Japanese Chaff-Flower To The Lake Erie Islands, Ontario?, Ronald I. Orenstein

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Distinguished Ornithologist 2022: Erica Nol, Douglas C. Tozer

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

The University Of Guelph’S Arboretum Winter Bird Count, 1980-2022, Brandon P.M. Edwards, Alan P. Watson, Chris G. Earley

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Loafing And Sleeping Behaviour Of Trumpeter Swans, Harry G. Lumsden, Gerry Markhoff, Gary Lane, Allan Scott

Ontario Birds

An observational study of loafing and sleeping behaviour of Trumpeter Swans was conducted in southern Ontario throughout the year in 2018 and 2019. Like other birds, these swans have the ability to close down one brain hemisphere at a time during rest, which is indicated by eye closure. We quantified rates of closure of eyes during sleeping bouts for both breeding and non-breeding swans. Single eye closure varied in frequency, duration and in terms of which hemisphere was shut down. Increasing duration of eye closure over time indicated an increased sense of security with surrounding in one mated pair. Proportion …

Bibliography

Episteme

No abstract provided.

Reliability And Validity Of A Modified Version Of The Consumer Assessment Of Healthcare Providers And Systems (Cahps®) Clinician And Group Visit Survey 4.0 (Beta) For Ambulatory Behavioral Health Care, Jessica K. Jeffrey, Ron D. Hays, Randi Hissom, Mark Grossman, Samuel A. Skootsky

Patient Experience Journal

Patient experience is a fundamental indicator of healthcare quality. A patient experience survey that assesses telemedicine and in-person ambulatory behavioral health care is needed. This study aims to adapt the CAHPS Clinician and Group Visit Survey 4.0 (beta) to assess adult patient experience with ambulatory behavioral health services and its reliability and validity. Seven behavioral health subject matter experts (psychiatrists, therapists with master’s degrees, and primary care physicians) at an integrated delivery system aligned with an academic institution provided input to select a subset of items and make minor wording adjustments to the CAHPS survey. The adapted survey was administered …

Enhancing System-Level Quality Improvement Through Patient-Inclusive Teamwork: A Review, Shaik Mohiuddin

Patient Experience Journal

Engaging patients in quality improvement (QI) initiatives offers significant advantages, including increased patient satisfaction, improved outcomes, and the integration of creative insights from patient perspectives. This review synthesizes findings from 14 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on patient-inclusive teamwork in healthcare settings. Despite the recognized benefits, patient involvement remains limited due to cultural and professional barriers, logistical challenges, and the need for structured training programs. The review contrasts conventional provider-centered approaches with patient-centered models, emphasizing the importance of policy reform, organizational culture change, and supportive training to enhance patient engagement. Traditional QI strategies often overlook patient …

“Better Than Any Medicine:” Understanding How Therapy Dogs Support Patients Presenting With Mental Health And Substance Use Concerns In An Emergency Department Setting, Alexandria R. Pavelich, Colleen A. Dell, James Stempien, Holly Mckenzie, Aimee Hozack, Jane Smith, Alexis Rowsell, Janet Gunderson, Elizabeth Pease

Patient Experience Journal

In Canada, emergency departments have a large number of patients with mental health and substance use concerns passing through their doors. Our research aim was to assess the impact that therapy dog visits may have for patients presenting with mental health and/or substance use concerns to an emergency department based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Working alongside an active patient advisory group and community-based therapy dog program volunteers, our mixed method approach utilizing ethnography, surveys, and interviews showed that therapy dog visitation had a beneficial impact on both patients and staff, thus improving the overall patient experience. Our study displays how the …

Impact Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions On Patient Experience, Opioid Use, And Healthcare Utilization In Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Mixed Methods Trial, Julie R. Piazza, Alexander A. Brescia, Jessica N. Jenkins, Alexander J. Ivacko, Xiaoting Wu, Sara M. Jafri, Christopher J. Varlamos, James C. Piazza, Lindsay K. Heering, Stefanie L. Peters, Molly Dwyer-White, Bailey H. Brown, Faraz N. Longi, Katelyn P. Monaghan, Frederick W. Bauer, Varun G. Kathawate, Melissa C. Webster, Amanda M. Kasperek, Nickole L. Garvey, Claudia Schwenzer, Kiran H. Lagisetty, Michelle Riba, Donald S. Likosky, Jennifer F. Waljee, Nicholas H. Osborne, Mary E. Byrnes, G. Michael Deeb

Patient Experience Journal

Non-pharmacological techniques designed to reduce anxiety, pain, and healthcare utilization have shown effectiveness in pediatric and non-surgical adult populations; however, their application has not been widely evaluated among adult surgical patients. This study randomized opioid-naive adults undergoing first-time, elective cardiac surgery to receive either targeted interventions from a trained “comfort coach” or usual care. The primary outcome assessed was healthcare utilization, specifically measured as the number of days at home within the first 30 days post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative opioid use and patient-reported outcomes, collected via validated surveys. Additionally, 50 participants in the intervention group completed semi-structured qualitative interviews …

Cv: Christina Jeslis (Nursing), Christina Jeslis

Nursing Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.