Digital Commons Network^™

Elementary Science Teachers' Experiences: A Case Study On The Use Of Science+Cyber Curriculum, Laurie Salvail

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The field of science education in the United States has undergone a major reform since 2015. A little more than twelve years ago, work began on constructing a framework for elementary, middle, and high school science education. This framework emphasized the shift from science being merely a memorization of facts to experiences that include science and engineering practices applied through crosscutting concepts and focused on core ideas in the field of science. With new standards teachers also have to overcome a) not having adequate time available to devote to science instruction b) lack of updated instructional materials aligned to the …

The Preeminent Biblical Role Of The Father: A Qualitative Action Research Project, Frank Wilhelm Heilmeier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Fathers have a biblical role to teach their children commandments, statutes, judgments, and God's Law. The father's duty to teach his children should be handed down from generation to generation. The assumption is that fathers do not teach their children as God commanded. When fathers do not teach their children, they risk becoming an absentee father which leads to fatherlessness, ultimately ending in a broken home. To address this issue and offset this risk, a qualitative action research project was conducted. This intervention implemented two small group training sessions for fathers with children ages six and under. The sessions were …

A Phenomenological Study Of Church Revitalization In Coastal North Carolina, Paolo Engle Santos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors and ministry leaders share the important responsibilities of church growth and revitalization. This research focused on overcoming decline and moving towards a season of strength and multiplication. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore church growth and revitalization within Southern Baptist churches in coastal North Carolina. The theory guiding this study was Rainer's (2020) central thesis about revived churches, which suggests that churches must adapt to cultural shifts and actively engage with the changing world. The study sought to gain insights into the perspectives and mindsets of full-time pastors and ministry leaders regarding numerical expansion, spiritual awakening, …

Setd3 Is A Mechanosensitive Enzyme That Methylates Actin On His73 To Regulate Mitochondrial Dynamics And Function, Vaibhav Deshmukh, James F Martin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mitochondria, which act as sensors of metabolic homeostasis and metabolite signaling, form a dynamic intracellular network that continuously changes shape, size and localization to respond to localized cellular energy demands. Mitochondrial dynamics and function depend on interactions with the F-actin cytoskeleton that are poorly understood. Here, we show that SET domain protein 3 (SETD3), a recently described actin histidine methyltransferase, directly methylates actin at histidine-73 and enhances F-actin polymerization on mitochondria. SETD3 is a mechano-sensitive enzyme that is localized on the outer mitochondrial membrane and promotes actin polymerization around mitochondria. SETD3 loss of function leads to diminished F-actin around mitochondria …

Media Road To Violence: A Process Of Racialization Of Rohingya Ethnic Minority, Md Didarul Islam

Communication ETDs

ABSTRACT

This dissertation examines how ideologically loaded news media representations advanced the complex and ambiguous process of racialization of the Rohingyas, an ethnic Muslim minority in Myanmar. This study first interrogates the dominant patterns in news sourcing and thematic emphasis in the coverage of Rohingya; secondly, it sheds light on how these representations contribute to reproducing dominant ideologies and power relations. I selected two English-language newspapers published in Myanmar: The Global New Light of Myanmar and the Myanmar Times. I applied the notions of media representation (Hall, 1997), ideology (Althusser, 2007), and racialization (Garner & Selod, 2015) as the central …

3d Printing Of Local New Mexican Soil Material: Improving Durability Properties By Assessing Traditional Methods Towards Alternative Sustainable Construction, Daiquiri Devon Zozaya

Civil Engineering ETDs

3D printing (3DP), or additive manufacturing, represents a dynamic and swiftly advancing manufacturing method in which diverse materials are deposited layer by layer through computer-controlled processes, creating intricate geometries. This technology has demonstrated success in various construction applications, including the construction of bridges, bus stop stations, and even residential homes. Nonetheless, the predominant application of 3DP in construction relies heavily on cement due to its robustness, convenience, and ease of use. Regrettably, the cement sector is a substantial source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for approximately 8% of worldwide CO₂ emissions. Investigating all facets of carbon emissions reduction is …

Differences In Students' Self-Esteem, Prosocial Behaviors, Classroom Climate, And Participation In Read To Dogs Programs: A Quantitative Comparative Study, Kimberley Anna Brush

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This anonymous quantitative quasi-experimental pre-post-test study was designed to determine differences in students' self-esteem, the performance of prosocial behaviors, and teachers' perceptions of the overall classroom climate after participating in Read to Dogs (RTD) programs in elementary and middle schools in East Central, New Jersey. Students with reading difficulties have higher incidences of low self-esteem and self-concept, depression, and anxiety that result in internalizing and externalizing behaviors that impact the classroom climate for all students socially and academically. Student participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and teacher participants completed the grade-appropriate version of the …

Systemic Interindividual Dna Methylation Variants In Cattle Share Major Hallmarks With Those In Humans, Wen-Jou Chang, Maria S Baker, Eleonora Laritsky, Chathura J Gunasekara, Uditha Maduranga, Justine C Galliou, Joseph W Mcfadden, Jessica R Waltemyer, Bruce Berggren-Thomas, Brianna N Tate, Hanxue Zhang, Benjamin D Rosen, Curtis P Van Tassell, George E Liu, Cristian Coarfa, Yi Athena Ren, Robert A Waterland

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: We recently identified ~ 10,000 correlated regions of systemic interindividual epigenetic variation (CoRSIVs) in the human genome. These methylation variants are amenable to population studies, as DNA methylation measurements in blood provide information on epigenetic regulation throughout the body. Moreover, establishment of DNA methylation at human CoRSIVs is labile to periconceptional influences such as nutrition. Here, we analyze publicly available whole-genome bisulfite sequencing data on multiple tissues of each of two Holstein cows to determine whether CoRSIVs exist in cattle.

RESULTS: Focusing on genomic blocks with ≥ 5 CpGs and a systemic interindividual variation index of at least 20, …

Detachable Clip-On Horn For Wearable Device Audio Amplification, Tim Gladwin, Jesse Lippert, Rajiv Gomes

Defensive Publications Series

Audio output from speakers of compact wearable devices such as a smartwatch, is often of poor quality due to various reasons such as small form factor, impedance mismatch, etc. This disclosure describes a detachable clip-on horn that can be coupled to a wearable device such as a smartphone to improve audio output. The horn can be magnetically coupled utilizing pre-existing magnets on the wearable device, or by other suitable mechanisms. The utilization of a tapered horn coupled to the device improves impedance matching between the device speaker and open air, providing a smooth transition for sound waves from the small …

Available Building Technology As A Tool For Developing Construction And Structure Systems., J. Q. . Nader Ibrahim Ismael

Journal of Engineering Research

The research aims to study the impact of available building technology in each era in the development of the constructional thought and implementation techniques used and its impact on the development of different types of buildings, through the emergence of different types of buildings and the development of buildings types in terms of shape and height, through the development of building materials used Whether construction materials or finishing materials, as well as used construction techniques and equipment, and the impact of all on the development of construction thought and construction systems through different eras . The research also represents an …

Using Recycled Materials Towards Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Building In Hot Regions – A Review, Mai W. Madkour Hosny A. Dewer, And Shaimaa M. Refaat

Journal of Engineering Research

Due to population growth and increased urban activity, there is a rise in waste production, which poses health and environmental risks. Additionally, the extraction and transportation of natural resources to places of employment require significant energy consumption, and the world has therefore moved to seek new alternatives away from traditional construction methods by recycling building materials such as concrete, brick, glass, wood, etc., or using new building materials such as rice straw, plastics, corks, etc., taking into account architectural design. The research is aimed at demonstrating that recycled materials have the potential to perform a better environmental performance by preserving …

Heritage Preservation In Egyptian Villages And Centers, Azza Elsakka Ahmed Abdalwahaab , Ebtehal Fady Shareef

Journal of Engineering Research

Heritage holds deep significance as a collective memory and a source of pride for any society. However, in today's world, it has evolved beyond its symbolic status and emerged as a crucial factor in human development across various dimensions. Preserving and restoring heritage has thus become an urgent issue that demands extensive cooperation between governments, international society, and community associations.

Diversity In Harmony: Creating The Built Environment’S Future, Doaa Mustafa Hashim Abu Zaid Ahmed Albadri

Journal of Engineering Research

The research paper investigates the relationship between the architectural history , innovative design and artifical intelligence ( AI) in shaping the built environment of the future. It investigates architects' ongoing efforts to push past design limitations using AI, with a focus on the expressive capacity of historical architectural materials. It addresses the transformation nature of generative design, emphasizing an iterative process using AI tools. The research paper makes a link between generative design as well as emerging forms of architecture by referencing the Dancism Movement using AI Midjourney tool. A case study demonstrates DANCISM Movement patterns, redefining high-rise buildings by …

Optimized Gadolinium-Do3a Loading In Raftpolymerized Copolymers For Superior Mr Imaging Of Aging Blood–Brain Barrier, Hunter A. Miller, Aaron Priester, Evan T. Curtis, Krista Hilmas, Ashleigh Abbott, Forrest Kievit, Anthony J. Covertine

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The development of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) has been pivotal in advancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offering enhanced soft tissue contrast without ionizing radiation exposure. Despite their widespread clinical use, the need for improved GBCAs has led to innovations in ligand chemistry and polymer science. We report a novel approach using methacrylate-functionalized DO3A ligands to synthesize a series of copolymers through direct reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. This technique enables precise control over the gadolinium content within the polymers, circumventing the need for subsequent conjugation and purification steps, and facilitates the addition of other components such as targeting ligands. …

Empowering Female Voices In The Ela Classroom, Jacqueline Gurliaccio Vance

Dissertations

This study aims to understand how women’s voices can be empowered in a high school English Language Arts (ELA) class. Through the use of female authors and female protagonists in the classroom texts, this study seeks to understand if implementing female-driven texts enhances female students’ literary experiences, empowers the personal identities of female students, and shapes female students’ perspectives of themselves and their peers. This case study includes female students in twelfth grade AP Literature class.

A Stable Isotope Study To Investigate Water Movement In The Los Lagos Region Of Southern Chile, Kritan Subedi

Civil Engineering ETDs

The Los Lagos region in southern Chile, located in northwest Patagonia, features rain-fed agricultural lands, glacial lakes, forests, farmlands, and volcanic soils. This study investigates water movement within a micro-basin using stable isotope analysis and hydrological modeling over eight weeks. It aims to develop a conceptual model of water movement by elucidating interactions between precipitation, soil water, and streamflow. Findings highlight the critical role of deeper soil layers in sustaining streamflow during dry spells and indicate that soil acts as a buffer, maintaining hydrological continuity despite variable precipitation. Improved understanding of these dynamics can inform watershed management and water resource …

Characterising Mobility And Pressure Exposure In Community Dwelling Residents With Pressure Ulcers Using Monitoring Technology And Intelligent Algorithm, Silvia Caggiari, Nicci Aylward-Wotton, Bridie Kent, Peter R. Worsley

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aim: Individuals in the community with reduced mobility are at risk of exposure to prolonged lying and sitting postures, which may cause pressure ulcers. The present study combines continuous pressure monitoring technology and intelligent algorithms to evaluate posture, mobility, and pressure profiles in a cohort of community dwelling patients, who had acquired pressure ulcers. Materials and methods: This study represents a secondary analysis of the data from the Quality Improvement project ‘Pressure Reduction through COntinuous Monitoring In the community SEtting (PROMISE)’. 22 patients with pressure ulcers were purposely selected from 105 recruited community residents. Data were collected using a commercial …

Global Scoping Review Of Behavioral Interventions To Reduce Plastic Pollution With Recommendations For Key Sectors, Sohvi Nuojua, Deborah Louise Cracknell, Anja Heske, Sabine Pahl, Kayleigh J. Wyles, Richard C. Thompson

School of Psychology

End users of single‐use plastics can help minimize their contribution to plastic pollution via mindful purchasing and waste management. These behaviors can be impacted via behavior change interventions in various key sectors of society. This review set out to summarize recent (2015–2023) peer‐reviewed evidence on interventions aimed at changing the plastic consumption, recycling, and/or littering behaviors of individuals across four sectors: business and retail, tourism and leisure, schools and education, and communities. Systematic literature searches were conducted across multiple databases and resulted in the inclusion of 92 intervention studies. Information on intervention strategy and effectiveness was extracted, and the studies …

Transnational(Izing) African Communication: A Post-/Decolonial Approach To Nollywood And Globalization, Tomide Oloruntobi

Communication ETDs

In this dissertation, I examine culture and communication in transnational Nigeria, focusing on Nollywood and its industrial politics. Through a critical ethnographic examination of Nollywood’s reception among global and transnational audiences, I critique the evolving patterns of difference, power, and politics informing production, distribution, consumption, and performance/communication of otherness. With four composite dimensions of decoloniality: structural, epistemic, personal, and relational as theoretical foundation, I analyzed observations and interviews with 21 transnational Nigerians, online focus group discussions, user reviews, movies/series, and blogposts. I discuss the emergent themes of coloniality of space, mobility, and culture; re-making of racial otherness and hetero-patriarchy/normativity; cultural …

Embracing Social-Emotional Learning And Nurturing Character: A Systematic Review Of Intersectional-Eq Strategies For Educational Leaders, Leticia G. Candelaria-Archuleta

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded education beyond traditional academics, highlighting the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) and character education (CE) for positive youth outcomes. This study examined the role of educational leadership in implementing SEL and CE in schools through a term coined Intersectional-EQ. This study centered on a cutting-edge approach using grey literature, specifically doctoral dissertations, to capture current trends in unprecedented times. A systematic review through Covidence, guided by PRISMA and PICO frameworks, was conducted. Findings highlight the impact of leadership on SEL and CE through an intersectional lens. Future work is aimed to support holistic student growth by …

No Trace, No Waste? The Art Of Living In Trashscapes, Mădălina Diaconu

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

Humans have always striven to overcome their finitude by leaving traces. The phenomenology and hermeneutics of the twentieth century interpreted traces as meaningful sources for reconstructing the past and disregarded their materiality. This culturalist and retrospective approach nowadays has become untenable, as it is impossible to generate significative traces without producing waste as well. Waste itself forms a special category of trace that is unintentional and partly nocuous. Moreover, a final repository appears to have perversely fulfilled the dream of leaving ineffaceable traces that would survive humanity itself. In this new context, a future-oriented approach, one that would engage collectivities …

Feeling The Environment: Aesthetic Interestedness And Environmental Aesthetics, Roberta Dreon

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

Can aesthetic disinterest represent an adequate strategy to develop a sustainable attitude? While aesthetic disinterest plays a basic role in the Kantian foundation of aesthetics, (dis)interestedness has been a puzzling topic of discussion in the debate on environmental aesthetics and is becoming an increasingly pressing one, given the current worsening of the climate crisis.

The first part of this paper will explore the different meanings of the term as it is used within the debate on environmental aesthetics, either in support of or against the adoption of a disinterested attitude toward the environment. I will suggest drawing a distinction between …

Recovering Landscape And Landscape Beauty In Environmental Aesthetics, Paolo Furia

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

In this article, I will pin down some elements to recover the concept of landscape in the context of environmental aesthetics. Such insertion of landscape in environmental aesthetics entails the questioning of the dualism between nature and culture that still lays at the basis of much literature in environmental aesthetics. My argument will unfold in three steps: first, I will show how the original question of environmental aesthetics, as elaborated by Ronald Hepburn in 1966, presupposes a distinction between nature and culture rooted in the moral contempt for excessive modernization and urbanization. Second, I will criticize some theories, not all …

Landscape Education, Enskilment, And Aesthetics: Complex Skills For Our Time, Alberto L. Siani

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

Environmental education is undoubtedly a pressing need in our time. Landscape education may be seen as something more restricted in scope and necessity, and more disengaged. However, as I will first argue, because of the intrinsically concrete, localized, aesthetic character of landscapes in their difference from environment, landscape education in fact can also be seen as a more complex and challenging concept that can be framed in terms of enskilment. Second, to better clarify this concept and highlight the theoretical and practical difficulties related to it, this paper will then turn to some Wittgensteinian ideas about learning, especially his concept …

On The Significance Of Eco-Phenomenology For Theories Of Sustainability, Kira Meyer

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

The Ecosystem Service Approach lays down the several ways in which nature contributes to the welfare of human beings. One important category of this approach is the cultural services that nature offers, which conform to the eudaimonic values in environmental ethics. The cultural services of nature are an important reason in choosing a concept of strong sustainability, as developed by Konrad Ott and Ralf Döring; eco-phenomenology is a method to immerse into these cultural-eudaimonic values and articulate them in nuanced ways. Our overall argument will substantiate the uncommon claim that eco-phenomenology is of focal significance to theories of sustainability.

Towards Addressing Mental Health In Rural Louisiana: Blueberry Supplementation As A Natural Intervention, Katy E. Venable

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Depression and anxiety are major public health issues; however, there is an unmet need for novel effective and accessible treatments, particularly in rural communities. Blueberries are an unexplored nutraceutical for these conditions due to their excellent nutritional profile, with particularly high levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins and benefits on mood, cognition, and health. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, randomized pilot study in a rural population. We employed a cross-over design to test the effects of 12 weeks daily ingestion of 24 g of whole freeze-dried blueberry powder versus placebo on symptoms of depression and anxiety in those diagnosed with depression …

Frugality. An Aesthetic Category For A Sustainable Art Of Living, Elisabetta Di Stefano

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

Climate change has necessitated the exploration of new interpretive models and aesthetic categories to understand our relationship with the environment. In response to this, the concept of frugality emerges as a potential paradigm for a sustainable art of living. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of frugality as an aesthetic category through the lens of the history of ideas, its connection to everyday aesthetics, and its implications for an art of living. By adopting a frugal lifestyle, individuals can establish a harmonious and respectful relationship with the environment, promoting a more sustainable future. This existential model has been …

An Aesthetics Of Minimal Resources: Affective Ecologies At The Encounter With Environmental Ethics In Alicia Barney’S Artistic Practice, Vanessa Badagliacca

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

The aim of this article is to present the early works created between 1975 and 1982 by Alicia Barney, a pioneer of environmental art in Colombia. The purpose is to highlight her ability to lead us Toward a Sustainable Attitude, the title of a conference held at the University of Venice (October 6-8, 2022), and also to claim how relevant these works remain in the current climate crisis within and beyond contemporary aesthetics debates. Taking on this approach, it will emerge that despite the attempt of the artist in some of her pieces to adopt a detached, scientific attitude …

Synergistic Control Of Muscle Activity During Challenging Locomotor Tasks, Alessandro Santuz

ISBS Proceedings Archive

This talk will explore the neuromotor control of challenging locomotor tasks using the concept of muscle synergies: modular sets of activation patterns that are common to functionally similar muscle groups and may exist to simplify movement control. I will argue that the structure of these synergies is largely conserved across different walking and running speeds, as well as in response to internal (e.g. aging) or external (e.g. uneven terrain) perturbations. The nervous system finely tunes the linear and nonlinear time characteristics of muscle synergies to cope with disturbances, rather than adjusting the relative muscle contributions, regardless of the nature of …

Musculoskeletal Analysis Of Two Basic Latin American Steps, Antonia Centrone, Francesca Di Puccio

ISBS Proceedings Archive

This study aimed to quantitatively define two basic Latin American steps (Basic Step and Lateral Step) through a biomechanical approach, providing the main events during each step cycle and the key kinematic features related to these movements. The participant was an instructor of the Italian Federation Sports Dance, who performed the movements in the biomechanics laboratory within the “Sport and Anatomy” center, equipped with an 8-camera Vicon IR system and two force plates. The kinematic variables were computed using two OpenSim models: the Rajagopal and the Thoraco-lumbar models. The major differences between the models were observed in the pelvic tilt, …