Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Social Emotional Competencies On Virtual Students' Academic Success, Melanie Cheyanne Spence

Student Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study is that the effects of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies on academic achievement for virtual learners in a Grades 5-8 classroom are not well known. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of how the practice of SEL competencies by students influence their academic success in a virtual Grades 5-8 classroom. This qualitative narrative inquiry was based around Social Emotional Learning (SEL), a conceptual framework identified by CASEL as including five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The target audience was educational stakeholders who are …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Wetland Reserve Easements As Habitat For Birds In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley Of Eastern Arkansas, Colin K. Dobson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Globally, wetland habitats suffered major declines during the 20th century. In the 1990s, the United States government created the Wetland Reserve Program (later consolidated into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program), to combat the loss of wetlands. Despite success in attracting landowners, minimal monitoring of properties enrolled into the program (easements) has occurred. In this study, we monitored avian communities at easements, compared avian diversity at easements to agriculture and bottomland forests, and quantified microhabitat, site-specific, and surrounding landscape features at easements. We also studied the demographic rates of an indicator species of bottomland forests, the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) at …

"Using A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut" A Proposal To Re-Frame The Media Industry's Perspective On Generative Ai, Reace Barnett

Student Theses and Dissertations

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) continues to be a divisive topic in the media industry and there are concerns about technical challenges that may affect GenAI’s trustworthiness and reliability. As such, fears of degraded public trust in media products and services have arisen, and while we have a tendency to trust machines, it is clear that public attitudes toward automated decision-making are contentious. Previous research on machine cues found that they are associated with increased perceived objectivity and willingness to disclose information. Conversational GenAI may reduce political polarization, yet many people remain worried about risks such as bias, hallucinations, improper attribution, …

Natural Behavior Vs. Subjective Experience In Fish Welfare Assessments, Ronald G. Oldfield

Animal Sentience

Several commentaries on the Oldfield & Bonano (2024) target article proposed that natural behavior should play a larger role in assessing the welfare of fishes in zoos and aquariums. However, the natural-behavior concept of animal welfare has been widely criticized because natural behaviors do not necessarily improve welfare, and unnatural behaviors do not necessarily reduce it. I review the three major concepts of animal welfare — physical health, natural behavior, and affect/feelings — and argue that behavior patterns, whether natural or otherwise, should be evaluated according to their effects on health and subjective experience. Using the affect/feelings concept and the …

Assessing Rural Homelessness: A Mixed-Methods Case Study, Matthew J. Lyons

Faculty Articles

Rural homelessness represents a significant public health and human rights challenge, but research on homelessness in the United States has predominantly focused on urban settings. This case study describes a mixed-methods assessment of the prevalence, causes, and consequences of homelessness in a rural county. Through both surveys and interviews with stakeholders from multiple sectors (including both service providers and those experiencing homelessness), we built a rich picture of the scale and experiential dimensions of homelessness within the county. Here, we present our research methods, the main findings of each primary data collection arm, and the actionable conclusions drawn from the …

The Ecotoxicological Implications Of Switching From Fluorescent To Light Emitting Diode Lighting For Zooplankton Culturing And Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing, Orithea Z. Regn

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the global transition toward light emitting diode (LED) lighting, an understudied area is the impact on the culturing and testing of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing organisms, more specifically, the zooplankton species. Without comparison to the current lighting used for culturing and testing, it is unknown if there will be an impact on performance, which could affect effluent, regulatory, and product safety decisions. This dissertation investigated if culturing and reference toxicity testing using sodium chloride for Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, and D. pulex under LED lighting was comparable to fluorescent. Comparisons were made between two laboratories and by season, …

Efficacy Evaluation Of An Allopathic & Homeopathic Anthelmintic On Small Ruminant Parasite Loads, Kennon Leigh Harrington

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of an allopathic and homeopathic anthelmintic in sheep and goats naturally infected with internal parasites. Animals with a threshold of ≥1000 EPG (n=30) were enrolled. The allopathic group received a single 14.79 mL per 50 lbs. BW drench solution of Prohibit®. The homeopathic group received a mixed herbal aqueous suspension, 2x/day D1-D3, thereafter 2x/day once a week W1-W4. There was an effect of anthelmintic treatment (P=0.0234) and day (P=0.0116) on total EPG, but no interaction effect for treatment by day (P=0.2440). For Initial sampling, there was a weak correlative tendency between weight and …

Neddylation Maintains Oocyte Quality By Stabilizing Mitochondrial Transcription, Avery A Ahmed, Tessa E Steenwinkel, Bethany K Patton, Peixin Jiang, Matthew D Meyer, Jaspreet K Rishi, Mei Leng, Alexander B Saltzman, Elizabeth S Anaya, Momal Sharif, Laurie J Mckenzie, Laura Detti, Anna Malovannaya, Sean M Hartig, Stephanie A Pangas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Age-related decline in oocyte quality increases the risk of infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key contributor to this decline. Here, we report that oocyte-specific deletion of Uba3, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the E1 NEDDylation-activating complex, causes sterility in mice. Fully grown, germinal vesicle–stage Uba3 conditional knockout oocytes exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, including elevated reactive oxygen species, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and depletion of mitochondrially encoded RNA transcripts. Proteomic analysis identified alterations in mitochondrial-associated proteins, including enrichment of mitochondrial matrix and respiratory chain components and reduced abundance of electron transport chain complexes. These defects were associated …

Contribution Of Animals To Biomedical Advancements In The Current Era: A Narrative Review, Leena Rajathy Port Louis, Mani Rajarathinam, Prithiviraj Nagarajan, Divya Sekar, Nisha Perumal

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Animal research has played a major role in the development of vaccinations and therapies for illnesses such as tetanus, polio, meningitis, hepatitis, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. For every prescription drug available today, animal testing and research have contributed immensely. This narrative review aims to explore the contribution of animals to biomedical advancements in the current era, which involved a search of peer-reviewed literature using electronic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. In current biomedical research, animals help develop new treatments for long-term illnesses such as cancer, HIV, and Alzheimer’s. Animals also aid in the …

Anti-Inflammatory Activities Of Muntingia Calabura L. In Monosodium Urate-Induced Acute Gout Arthritis: Regulation Of Nlrp3 And Il-1Β, Nita Parisa, Eva Rianty, Nia Savitri Tamzil, Debby Handayati Harahap, Veny Larasati, Bintang Arroyantri Prananjaya, Theodorus Theodorus

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Acute gout arthritis, which is caused by hyperuricemia, is a common inflammatory joint disease, leading to monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition. These crystals trigger inflammation, causing pain and significantly impairing the patient’s quality of life. Colchicine is commonly used to treat and prevent acute gout arthritis, but it has several side effects. Cherry tree (Muntingia calabura L.) leaves, which possess anti-inflammatory properties, show promise as an alternative treatment. The potential benefit of the leaves may be due to the flavonoid content.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory activities of cherry tree leaves in an MSU-induced acute …

Microwave-Assisted Extraction Optimization And Bioactivity Assessment Of Flavonoid-Rich Extract From Lantana Camara L. Leaves In Zebrafish Epilepsy Model, Prem Kumar B R, Shwetha Krishnamurthy, Gouri Nair, Sundara Saravanan Kamatchi

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Lantana camara L. (Verbanaceae) is known for its bioactive compounds and has been reported for its potential therapeutic applications. Flavonoids from natural sources are acknowledged for their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, suggesting a possible role in seizure management.
Objectives: This study intended to optimize the microwaveassisted extraction (MAE) of flavonoid-rich extract from L. camara L. leaves utilizing a designof- experiment approach and evaluate its antiepileptic property using the zebrafish model.
Materials and Methods: Four solvents (ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and water) were initially used, with ethanol yielding the highest total flavonoid content (TFC). A central composite design was employed …

Samannachan: A Thai Traditional Herbal Recipe With Cytotoxic Potential Against Breast, Cervical, And Ovarian Cancers, Perika Monkanna, Srisopa Ruangnoo, Pakakrong Thongdeeying, Arunporn Itharat, Pranporn Kuropakornpong, Reawfang Sriyom, Apinya Wiboonwattanakit, Kanyarat Namphonsan, Paponpachara Pibanpaknitee, Neal M. Davies

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Samannachan (SMC) is a Thai traditional herbal recipe that has been used since 2005 at Khampramong Temple, Sakon Nakhon, to treat more than 6,000 cancer patients. However, scientific evidence supporting cytotoxic effects remains limited.
Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the SMC recipe and its ten herbal components against breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer cells compared to normal cells.
Methods: Cytotoxic activity was assessed using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay on breast (MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231), cervical (HeLa), and ovarian (SK-OV-3) cancer cell lines, as well as on non-cancerous human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Both aqueous …

Effect Of Rotating Cylinder On Boundary Layer Behavior And Aerodynamic Performance Of Naca 0015 Airfoil, K. Suresh, Inamul Hasan

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Flow separation over airfoils at moderate and high angles of attack leads to a significant degradation in aerodynamic performance. Active boundary layer control using moving surfaces provides an effective approach to delay separation and enhance lift. In this study, the aerodynamic efficiency of a NACA 0015 airfoil equipped with a rotating leading edge cylinder is numerically investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Simulations are carried out for a range of angles of attack and cylinder surface speed ratios at low Reynolds numbers like Re = 1.2 x105. The rotating cylinder injects momentum into the boundary layer, promoting flow attachment on the …

When The Weeds Strike Back: Rethinking Aphis's Regulation Of Genetically Engineered Plants Post-National Family Farm Coalition V. Vilsack, Reagan Powers

Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

To Survive Pandemics, Look To Indigenous Life, Scott Pratt

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Philosophical Meditations On The Covid-19 Pandemic: What Have We Learned So Far?, Gregory Fernando Pappas

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

The Mask As Metaphor: Deweyan Reflections In The Time Of A Pandemic, Todd Lekan

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Before And After School: Pragmatic Lessons In Disaster Didactics, Myron Moses Jackson

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Editor's Introduction, Leonard J. Waks

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Regarding Vitamin D Among Adults In Western Libya: Assessment And Socio-Demographic Influences, Abdounasser Albasher Omar, Kawther Adaila, Mofida M. Alfaid, Abdurrahman M Sweidan, Ruqayah Kasheem, Samia Emhemmed Abadi, Abdulnabi Ali Abushita, Hafsa A. Alemam

Al-Bahir

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread public health concern, necessitating a clear understanding of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among populations. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess Libyan citizens' knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding vitamin D in the western region of Libya. This study was carried out between June and September of 2021. A questionnaire was distributed across the study area and the complete responses were 314, with 62.7% were females and 37.3% were males.  The scores were calculated as percentages and statistically tested. Additionally, the impact of some socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education level, job, and salary) …

Gold Medal Girl: Media Representations Of Aly Raisman During The Larry Nassar Scandal Through Lenses Of Whiteness, Vulnerability, And "Good" Patriarchy, Anna Mischelle Dean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This thesis analyzed two media texts about former Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman and how these texts constructed her identity during and after the Larry Nassar scandal. I analyzed these texts through the lenses of whiteness, vulnerability, and carceral feminism. Looking at how the media acts as a disciplinary apparatus in this case, I argue that women athletes’ bodies are portrayed as having a vulnerability to abuse that only the "good" patriarchy can address. I seek to show that the media use depictions of women’s vulnerability and need for patriarchal help to remind women athletes that, in cases of abuse, who …

An Untapped Resource: Exploring The Role Of Spirituality In The Psychological Healing Of African Asylum-Seekers From A Counselor’S Perspective, Brittany A. Duncan

Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how counselors perceive and integrate spirituality into the psychological healing of African asylum-seekers, a population facing compounded cultural, legal, and existential challenges. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study examined the lived experiences of eight counselors working with this population. Findings revealed that counselors’ personal sense of religion influenced their comfort and approach in broaching spiritual topics, with both positive (e.g., spirituality as a source of support and community) and negative (e.g., religion as a source of suffering) associations shaping clinical engagement. Many participants reported limited access to trainings geared towards increasing their cultural competence related to …

Ameliorating Chromium-Induced Stress In Maize Through Phosphorus And Melatonin Application, Zunaira Zafar, Shoaib Ahmad, Muhammad Akhtar, Shafaqat Ali, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Muhammad Ali Alshehri

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Chromium (Cr+6)  toxicity is a significant environmental stress factor that severely hampers plant growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate whether the combined application of phosphorus fertilizer and melatonin could alleviate chromium induced stress in maize  (Zea mays L.).  A foliar spray of melatonin (50 µM) was applied alongside two phosphorus sources—phosphoric acid (PA) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), each at 60% of the recommended rate. Two maize cultivars (FH-1046 and YH-1898) were grown under chromium stress (0, 15, and 30 mg kg–1) to assess treatment effects. The results demonstrated that FH-1046 plants treated with PA + melatonin under noncontaminated …

A Modular Saponin Adjuvant Platform: Development, Structure–Activity Relationships, And Applications, Di Bai

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT Saponin-based vaccine adjuvants have attracted considerable attention owing to the clinical success of QS-21, a potent immunostimulant capable of inducing balanced humoral and cellular immune responses, yet its widespread application is limited by supply constraints, chemical instability, and dose-dependent toxicity. To address these challenges, we previously developed two semisynthetic saponin adjuvants, VSA-1 and VSA-2, derived from abundant Momordica saponins through a single-step modification, which exhibit QS-21–comparable immunopotentiating activity with improved accessibility and stability. Here, we first performed a systematic structure–activity relationship (SAR) study of the VSA series using MS I as the lead scaffold. Modulation of the side-chain length …

Histone Deacetylases In Kidney Injury: Distribution, Injury-Specific Regulation, And Fibroblast Hdac1 Function, Huy Nguyen

ETDs from 2020-2029

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) through maladaptive repair and interstitial fibrosis. Epigenetic regulation has emerged as a critical factor of kidney injury responses, however the injury-specific and cell-type specific roles of histone deacetylases (HDACs) remain poorly defined. This dissertation investigates the regulation and functional significance of HDACs in kidney injury, with a particular focus on fibroblast HDAC1 as a mediator of interstitial fibrosis development following AKI. In my cisplatin-induced AKI model, a single dose of cisplatin caused a significant decline in kidney function in both male …

Mechanisms Of Cyst Initiation And Expansion In Polycystic Kidney Disease: Alterations In Tubule Flow Dynamics And P21- Driven Epithelial Reprogramming, Isis Thomas

ETDs from 2020-2029

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited disorder characterized by progressive cyst formation, kidney enlargement, and eventual renal failure. Mutations in PKD1 or PKD2 disrupt polycystin-mediated mechanosensory signaling in renal epithelial cells, altering calcium signaling, epithelial architecture, and cellular homeostasis. Although cyst expansion has historically been attributed to epithelial hyperproliferation or tubule pinching off to form a cyst that no longer remains connected with the tubule, the early physiological and molecular events that initiate cyst formation remain incompletely understood. This dissertation investigates how alterations in tubule flow dynamics and epithelial stress responses contribute to cyst initiation and …

Investigation Of Air Emissions With A Local Composites Industry, Chris White

ETDs from 2020-2029

Workers at an office space raised complaints about a sweet-smelling odor directly outside their building. After an initial assessment of the surrounding businesses and their processes, it was determined that the workers were most likely exposed to styrene emissions from a nearby composites company. This investigation utilizes multiple weeks of direct readings with a photoionization device and active environmental sampling with a charcoal tube and pump to confirm the styrene exposure hypothesis. Weather trends were also recorded to determine correlation between weather and exposure to the sweet-smelling chemical. The direct readings found an exposure maximum of less than 2 ppm …

Holding The Dying: Worldview, Community, And The Practice Of End-Of-Life Doula Care, Amy J. Shields

ETDs from 2020-2029

As populations age and chronic illness increasingly characterizes the final stages of life in the United States, end-of-life doulas (EOLDs) have emerged as non-medical practitioners who support dying people and their families through education, companionship, advocacy, and ritualized care. Drawing on a thematic analysis of 18 semi-structured interviews with practicing EOLDs across the United States, this thesis examines how EOLDs conceptualize a “good death,” navigate emotionally intensive work, and sustain themselves in an unregulated and often marginal professional landscape. Situating EOLD practice within anthropological scholarship on death and dying, the study highlights the ways EOLDs challenge dominant biomedical narratives that …

The Role Of 14-3-3 Proteins In The Pro-Inflammatory Response Of Microglia And The Neuronal Stress Response To Trichloroethylene Exposure, William Stone

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT This dissertation examines how 14-3-3 proteins, with a focus on the 14-3-3θ iso-form, regulate signaling pathways relevant to neurodegeneration. While tradition-ally described as molecular hubs that organize protein–protein interactions, our work reveals how 14-3-3 function is shaped by environmental insults, namely bac-terial and neurotoxicant exposures, and how its disruption contributes to disease-associated processes. Two complementary approaches were used, focusing on microglial inflammatory signaling and neuronal responses to an environmental neurotoxicant, to define a broader role for 14-3-3 proteins in disease associated pathways in the brain. Chapter I identifies 14-3-3 proteins as modulators of microglial activation. Disrup-tion of 14-3-3 interactions …

Small Rna Sequencing Identifies Tsrna-05020 As A Potential Regulator Of Cervical Cancer Progression, Cheng Peng, Cong Liang, Jie Liu, Yunlu Liu, Ping Liu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Cervical cancer (CC) is a malignant gynecologic tumor. Small RNAs derived from tRNA (tsRNAs) have been reported to play regulatory roles in tumor progression and suppression. However, the functional role of tsRNAs in CC remains largely unclear.

Materials and methods: Small RNA sequencing was performed on normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and CC clinical cell samples to identify differentially expressed tsRNAs (DEtsRNAs). qRT-PCR was used to validate the selected DEtsRNAs. The effects of tsRNA-05020 on HeLa cell proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition were assessed.

Results: Compared with the normal group, 215 tsRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in CIN tissues, …