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This Seeming Chaos: Finding Home In The Archives Of Memory. A Work Of Creative Nonfiction., Ann Walton Sieber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

“This Seeming Chaos: Finding Home in the Archives of Memory” is a family memoir in the form of creative nonfiction, exploring how personal and public histories intersect. Through the lens of her family history, the author explores how historical events continue to reverberate in contemporary life. The work moves between past and present, weaving together historical documentation, narrative scenes, and personal reflection. It examines how trauma and resilience pass through generations, and how understanding one’s ancestors can lead to self-understanding. The author employs multiple narrative techniques, including direct address to ancestors, present-tense historical scenes, and documentation of her own journey …

Women’S Mud Cloth Skirt (Bogolanfini), Abigail Jane Westhead

Department of Anthropology

The Bogolafini mud cloth is made by and for the Bamana people. This mud cloth is made to be a woman's skirt. It shows through art of the many patterns, the Bamana culture, history, folklore, values, and everyday life of the Bamana People

Pseudomyxoma Peritonei: Exploring An Unusual Clinical Presentation – A Case Report, Mallak Al Naabi, Salim Al Busaidi, Amwaj Al Shahi, Maha Al Shaibi, Khalid Al Shamousi, Abdullah Al Alawi, Mohammed Al Hosni

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare clinicopathological condition characterised by mucin-producing peritoneal and omental deposits with an estimated incidence of 1--2 cases per million per year. We report a 42-year-old female patient who presented to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2023 due to a 7-year history of chronic diarrhoea associated with progressive abdominal distension over the past 2 years. Her assessment was significant for ascites. No neoplastic lesions were found on the upper and lower gastrointestinal scopes. A diagnostic ascitic tapping revealed a free flow of gel-like thick, yellowish fluid. A diagnostic laparoscopy showed a perforated appendicular …

Development Of Parapneumonic Effusion In A Patient Using Kratom, Emma Glover, Morgan Kiryakoza, Nader Mina

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: “Kratom” refers to both Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia, and to its products, derived from the tree’s leaves, which are marked as an herbal supplement. Kratom is an herbal supplement with both opioid and stimulant-like effects. While there are no approved uses for kratom by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is frequently used by individuals to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings (especially related to opioid use), pain, fatigue, and mental health disorders. Furthermore, because kratom is unregulated, it can contain contaminants, including heavy metals and harmful bacteria. This case details the development of parapneumonic …

Investigating The Ability Of The Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor Nomifensine To Reverse The Effort-Related Effects Of Tetrabenazine In Female Rats, Vivien Daytree

Honors Scholar Theses

Anergia, lassitude, and psychomotor retardation are core symptoms of motivational dysfunction that often accompany Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors effectively alleviate mood and anxiety symptoms, they remain relatively ineffective at alleviating motivational deficits. Compounds that elevate extracellular dopamine (DA) have shown promise in addressing these symptoms. Bupropion, a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), increases DA and is effective at attenuating motivational symptoms in patients. Another NDRI, nomifensine, has demonstrated potential antidepressant properties in preclinical research. Effort-based choice tasks, such as the FR5/chow choice task, serve as animal models for studying motivational dysfunction. Rats choose between exerting effort …

How Individual Differences In Cue Weighting Influence The Link Between Memory And Speech In Noise Perception, Ava Buckmir, Anne Marie Crinnion, Emily Myers

Honors Scholar Theses

Listening to speech is challenging, particularly when there is background noise or ambiguities in the speech signal. Numerous factors impact our ability to understand speech, including age, cognitive processes, and contextual information. But how do we account for these challenges? The types of cues we use may aid us in perceiving ambiguities in speech. Some individuals may rely on semantic cues (higher-level cues), such as how words relate to each other, or they may rely on acoustic-phonetic cues (lower-level cues), such as the durational information in the speech signal itself. But why do individuals differ in the types of cues …

Negotiation, Expression, And Microlanguage: The Processes Of Student Welfare And Identity In High School English Language Arts Classrooms, Jencarlos Feliciano-Ponce

Master's Projects

In this study, I will explore negotiation and expression as processes that educators can utilize (or continue to intentionally engage with) to empower the student body of the current high school English classrooms to counteract current pressures and negative trends in ELA. Negotiation and expression are not topics that should be explored in only a single ELA unit, either. The small moments that students experience with language, culture, and power all culminate to the processes explored in this research study; they guide English educators in their lesson instruction, curriculum design, and student engagement. By managing negotiation and expression as undercurrents …

Effects Of Spatial And Temporal Variability On Bacterial Diversity And Community Composition In Roof-Harvested Rainwater Across Central Virginia, Jade M. Riddle

Longwood Senior Theses

Increasing global water scarcity has sparked interest in more sustainable water sources such as rainwater harvesting (RWH). Because these systems utilize roof-runoff for collection, they can easily be contaminated with environmental bacteria from animal feces and leaf litter, potentially degrading water quality. Thus, questions remain about the safety of harvested rainwater for human use due to the limited understanding of the microbial communities contained within it. To date, there is little published research on the microbiomes of rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) within the continental United States. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial diversity and community composition of RWHS across …

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (Ssss): A Short Review, Anmar M. K. Al-Maamori, Zahraa M. Altaee, Noor Mahommoud Naj, Rafflaa S. Hussien

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is a skin problem characterized by the formation of blisters. It primarily affects newborns, young children, and adults with pre-existing medical conditions. This condition is caused by an infection from the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The cause of this case is the breakdown of desmoglein-1, a protein in the skin, due to the action of exotoxins. This results in the outer layer of the skin's cells peeling off. The SSSS is caused by the dissemination of toxins throughout the body, leading to a widespread rash and a severe manifestation of symptoms. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome …

Preparation And In-Vitro Evaluation Of Transferosome-Based Gel Of Meloxicam, Mayssam Hussein Mohammed Ali

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Objective: The present study aimed to enhance the effectiveness of meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), through topical application using vesicular drug delivery systems, focusing on several innovative formulation strategies. These strategies aim to improve the drug's solubility, skin permeation, and overall therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. Method: A phospholipid bilayer made from egg lecithin and surfactants (Span 60 and Span 80) in varying ratios was used to develop a transferosome dispersion via a thin film method. This blend was then combined with the polymer Carbopol 934 to form a gel. The evaluation included both the transferosomal vesicles …

Sounds Of Hidden Agents: The Development Of Causal Reasoning About Musical Sounds, Minju Kim, Adena Schachner

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Listening to music activates representations of movement and social agents. Why? We test whether causal reasoning plays a role, and find that from childhood, people can intuitively reason about how musical sounds were generated, inferring the events and agents that caused the sounds. In Experiment 1 (N = 120, pre-registered), 6-year-old children and adults inferred the presence of an unobserved animate agent from hearing musical sounds, by integrating information from the sounds’ timing with knowledge of the visual context. Thus, children inferred that an agent was present when the sounds would require self-propelled movement to produce, given the current …

Community Stakeholders’ Perceptions On Growing A Nonprofit Donor Base Through In-Kind Donations, Brittany A. Heine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Northern Virginia alone, over 90,000 people are food insecure. The USDA has reported strong correlations between food insecurity and negative health outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine community stakeholders’ perceptions on engaging in strategic partnerships with Organization X using in-kind donations as a strategy to decrease the organization’s expenditures and grow its donor base. 14 community stakeholders were chosen through purposive sampling and participated in semi structured interviews. Using the conceptual framework of the unified theory of revenue generation for nonprofits, interview questions were developed to determine the variables that impact a stakeholder’s decision …

A History Of Omics Discoveries Reveals The Correlates And Mechanisms Of Loading-Induced Hypertrophy In Adult Skeletal Muscle. 2024 Camps Young Investigator Award Invited Review, Toby L. Chambers, Kevin A. Murach

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Since the early 2000s, omics approaches to study skeletal muscle hypertrophy consequent to loading (e.g., resistance exercise) have expanded dramatically. Beginning with genomics and transcriptomics, there are now omics datasets from hypertrophying skeletal muscle spanning methylomics, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics, with further integration of single cell/nucleus-specific omics, among others. The purpose of this review is to explore the history of leveraging omics to enable understanding and discovery with respect to loading-induced hypertrophy in adult skeletal muscle. We elaborate on key historical and contemporary studies and findings, highlight specific examples where omics discoveries led to a mechanistic understanding of skeletal muscle growth, …

Art Historical Research Of The Intercession Of Christ And The Virgin, Attributed To Lorenzo Monaco, Lauren Watts

Curiosity

This research examines The Intercession of Christ and the Virgin, a painting attributed to Lorenzo Monaco. The painting is tempera on canvas, and is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This research looks at the painting through a phenomenological lens in context of its original site, iconographic themes, and feminine spirituality. The research posits that the painting’s intercessory figures—Christ and the Virgin Mary—construct a narrative amplifying themes of feminine spirituality, challenging the misogynistic structures of quattrocento Florentine ecclesiastical culture while remaining within the bounds of contemporary orthodoxy. Studying the painting at Metropolitan Museum facilitated in-depth visual analysis, supplemented by …

2025 Lynn University Commencement Program, Lynn University

Commencement Programs

The commencement exercises program for Lynn University's class of 2025. The ceremony, held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the Palm Beach Convention Center, included all graduating students (undergraduates and graduates).

The commencement speaker was Brandon Busteed, CEO of BrandEd.

Second Language Acquisition For Adults, Sara Santos Costa

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The process of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) has been explored by several scholars, who start with fundamental questions such as: “Does second language acquisition work in the same way as first language acquisition?” “What are the differences in the processes each individual experiences?” “Is it possible to become fluent in a second language at an older age?” This paper aims to show some key research conducted on this topic and provide a clear understanding of the processes that second language learners face.

This paper will delve into three main approaches to SLA: Behaviorist Theory, Universal Grammar (UG) and Interactionist Theory. …

Nucleocytoplasmic Regulation Of Epithelial Transitions, Carly Krull

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nucleocytoplasmic transport fundamentally regulates cellular phenotype and function across tissues in the body. In epithelial tissues, various processes—including embryogenesis, tissue repair, and cancer invasion—require cells to go from a homeostatic, mostly stationary and solid group to a fluidlike migratory collective. Underlying this tissue destabilization are two physical transitions: the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the unjamming transition (UJT). EMT comprises the loss of cell-cell junctions, front-back cell repolarization, and elevated migration. In contrast, UJT preserves cell-cell junctions, but cell elongation and migration fluidity more significantly increase. While nucleocytoplasmic transport forms the basis of EMT, UJT has only recently gained recognition, and …

Witch Aesthetics In Film Music & Sound, 1927-2024: A Queer Feminist Analysis, Lisa Pollock Mumme

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The witch persists across long spans of time and location. She is an unruly archetype, existing to trouble boundaries and power. However, the witch also emerges as a character with whom people identify, emphasizing her incredible flexibility as a signifier. I establish my intervention in the study of the witch as a cultural figure from the standpoint of sound and music studies. Based on my study of more than 140 films between 1927-2024, I argue that the witch is a profoundly musical and sonic creature, particularly as markers of her presence and power. I build on Carol Clover's work on …

Crispr/Ncas9-Edited Cd34+ Cells Rescue Mucopolysaccharidosis Iva Fibroblasts Phenotype, Angélica María Herreno-Pachón, Andrés Felipe Leal, Shaukat Khan, Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA is a bone-affecting lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by impaired degradation of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin 6-sulfate (C6S) due to deficient N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme activity. Previously, we successfully developed and validated a CRISPR/nCas9-based gene therapy (GT) to insert an expression cassette at the AAVS1 and ROSA26 loci in human MPS IVA fibroblasts and MPS IVA mice, respectively. In this study, we have extended our approach to evaluate the effectiveness of our CRISPR/nCas9-based GT in editing human CD34+ cells to mediate cross-correction of MPS IVA fibroblasts. CD34+ cells were electroporated with the CRISPR/nCas9 system, …

Correlation Between Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection And Cancer Development: A Comprehensive Analysis, Fernando Cisneros, Blake Martin, Shizue Mito

School of Medicine Publications

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly prevalent pathogen primarily recognized for causing chickenpox during primary infection, and herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, upon reactivation. While post-infectious complications of VZV, such as encephalitis, pneumonia, and post-herpetic neuralgia, are well-established, recent large population-based studies suggest that HZ may increase the risk of occult cancers. This has sparked discussions on the need for cancer screening in patients with HZ to improve early diagnosis and prognosis. However, the specific types of cancers most strongly associated with VZV reactivation have not been systematically identified, and the subsequent cancer risk remains inconclusive. Emerging evidence …

Relightable Hair Appearance Modeling, Yang Zheng, Leonidas John Guibas, Delio Aleardo Vicini, Dominik Thabo Beeler, Menglei Chai, Yuxiao Zhou

Defensive Publications Series

Systems and methods are proposed for providing relightable hair appearance modeling that generates photorealistic hair. Accurate representation of human hair is significantly important in generating images that digitize humans. However, the manner in which light affects human hair makes accurately capturing human hair very challenging. Methods and systems proposed herein address this challenge by using a two-stage architecture that first captures light parameters and then utilizes a light-aware model that reconstructs the remaining details of hair. The system generates photorealistic hair and can be used in many applications including virtual reality, digital fashion, entertainment industry, and more.

A Tobacco Treatment Training Program Expands The Number Of Healthcare Providers Trained To Use Evidence-Based Practices And Methods, Alex Hurst, Maher Karam-Hage, Jennifer Cofer, Mehwish Javaid, Diane Beneventi, Janice Blalock, Tiffany Winter, Paul M. Cinciripini, Ernest Hawk

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Tobacco-use disorder remains a global health challenge, despite declining rates, and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among special populations that disproportionally do not have access to comprehensive treatment services. The lack of trained providers and slow dissemination of new tobacco treatment knowledge are obstacles to accessing comprehensive evidence-based treatments. Less is known about the impact of specialized training programs on healthcare professionals' ability to effectively treat tobacco use. This paper reports on the evaluation of the tobacco treatment training program, training methodology, and the demographics of the specialists trained.

MD Anderson’s Tobacco Treatment Training Program (TTTP) …

A Case For Homiletical Aesthetics: The Adorned Rhetoric Of Martin Luther King Jr., Timothy Y. Rhee

Sermon Studies

Despite the growing support of aesthetics within the field of homiletics, undercurrents of suspicion remain, particularly in Western evangelical settings. The reasons for this suspicion are far-reaching, ranging from theological concerns to unmerited fears regarding the handling of Scripture. Given this background, the adorned rhetoric of Martin Luther King Jr. provides a compelling case study for the indispensability of homiletical aesthetics. This study briefly overviews King’s use of artful rhetoric, exploring its origins and sociotheological factors that compelled beauty and adornment in the pulpit. This paper will argue that aesthetics in Christian preaching should be considered essential, especially when addressing …

From Decay To Redemption: Exploring The Theological And Rhetorical Dimensions Of C.A.W. Clark’S “The Worms Got Him”, Daylan Woodall

Sermon Studies

The essay explores Reverend Caesar Arthur Ward Clark's sermon, "The Worms Got Him," as a remarkable representation of the black preaching tradition and a nuanced rhetorical masterpiece. Clark's vivid description of the Herod family graveyard, intricately woven with historical and biblical references, engages the audience in a nearly physical and moral journey. Through deft use of honed rhetorical techniques, Clark immerses the listeners in a journey through history and the Herodian graveyard, allowing them to witness the Herodian dynasty's moral decay personally.

South African Land Policy: The Legacy Of History And Current Options, Hans P. Binswanger, Klaus Deininger

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Unequal Interdependence: Towards A Theory Of North-South Relations, Ali A. Mazrui

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Media Portrayals Of Environmental Harms Committed In The Iraq War, Will Hoffman

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the context of contemporary climate debates, the accessibility of valid, relevant, and appropriate information to the public beyond the academic community is important. War and conflict are often overlooked contributors to environmental harm and climate change broadly. Given this, the present study seeks to understand how environmental harms are portrayed in newspaper articles covering war, to gain some insight on how this public opinion may have been shaped. I examine coverage of the Iraq War via a content analysis. Articles were gathered and analyzed using inductive coding, which allowed me to identify mentions of environmental harms, oil, and economic …

Framing The Future: How Ai’S Media Representation Is Redefining The Entertainment Industry, Alysar Tabet

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Change, particularly through technological advancement, frequently challenges established norms and prompts a reevaluation of preexisting frameworks, especially in dynamic sectors like entertainment. As such, in an era characterized by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), the representation of AI in media emerges as a pivotal narrative force. This paper examines the societal impact that the framing of AI in media has had within the entertainment sector, revealing its dual role in reflecting and distorting public sentiment, and fluctuating between two dominant narratives: the social progress frame and the Pandora’s box frame (Brewer et al.). The social progress frame depicts …

The Main Portal Of St. Mark’S Basilica: An Amalgam Of Venetian Pride And Success And Foreign Influence, Danielle J. Sung

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice stands as a testament to the city’s complex historical and cultural narrative, intertwining elements of conquest, religion, and artistry. This essay delves into the western façade of the basilica, focusing particularly on the main portal—richly adorned with Byzantine bronze doors, marble columns, and mosaics of the Last Judgement. These elements not only serve as relics of Venetian pride and power but also signify the city’s historical relations with the Byzantine Empire, especially following the Fourth Crusade. The façade’s elaborate decoration showcases Venice’s capability to integrate spoils of conquest with local architectural traditions, reflecting both a …

Partisan Politics And The Supreme Court: A Crisis Of Judicial Independence, Katie M. Cassady

Helms School of Government Undergraduate Law Review

Every nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States must undergo an extensive confirmation process to evaluate his or her qualifications to serve as a Justice. While the Founders designed the federal judiciary to be an independent institution, changes in the confirmation process and American political climate have resulted in increasingly polarized nomination and confirmation proceedings. This Comment will discuss the history of this process, focusing on the slim margins by which recently confirmed Justices have secured their seats on the federal bench. These contentious proceedings are exacerbated by outside influences such as the media and interest groups that …