Digital Commons Network^™

Emotions That Feel Bad Are Bad: An Investigation Into The Purportedly Positive Parts Of Negative Emotions, Christopher Colacchia

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

It has grown increasingly common to hold that some emotions that feel bad can be important to our well-being. This idea appears in “common sense” views, such as the view that it is important to feel grief after the loss of a loved one, as well as in sustained philosophical defenses, such as those written defending the value of anger for securing justice. I seek to push back on this idea. After preliminary clarifications, I defend the claim that an emotion’s feeling bad provides a prima facie reason to assign it a negative impact on our well-being on every plausible …

Essays On Industrial Organization, Hayley Wabiszewski

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Big pharma is increasingly using acquisitions to fill their R&D pipelines and the proliferation of the biotechnology industry has created a thick market of innovative target startups. This dissertation analyzes the dynamic equilibrium effects of biotech startup acquisitions by big pharma on drug innovation and entry. Using a novel dataset on 175 acquired startups from 2000 - 2018, I document several new facts regarding the R&D outcomes of acquired drug projects and entry behavior of startups in markets where acquisitions occur. Motivated by this evidence, I build a dynamic oligopoly model of the pharmaceutical industry featuring big firms and startups …

Women’S Participation In Kenya Dairy Cooperative Decision-Making Processes, Caroline Minoo Mukeku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women contribute immensely to the dairy production workforce in Kenya, yet they lack access and control over production services and resources. They are also underrepresented in the decision-making processes of dairy cooperatives. Constraining women from reaching their maximum potential diminishes their ability to influence and participate in societal change. Although researchers have investigated this issue, few studies have focused on this topic. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to describe barriers that prevent women from participating in decision-making processes in Kenya’s dairy cooperatives. The research question was focused on factors that inhibit women’s participation in decision-making processes in …

Pml::Rara And Gata2 Proteins Interact Via Dna Templates To Induce Aberrant Self-Renewal In Mouse And Human Hematopoietic Cells, Casey D S Katerndahl, Olivia R S Rogers, Ryan B Day, Ziheng Xu, Nichole M Helton, Sai Mukund Ramakrishnan, Christopher A Miller, Timothy J Ley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The underlying mechanism(s) by which the PML::RARA fusion protein initiates acute promyelocytic leukemia is not yet clear. We defined the genomic binding sites of PML::RARA in primary mouse and human hematopoietic progenitor cells with V5-tagged PML::RARA, using anti-V5-PML::RARA chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and CUT&RUN approaches. Most genomic PML::RARA binding sites were found in regions that were already chromatin-accessible (defined by ATAC-seq) in unmanipulated, wild-type promyelocytes, suggesting that these regions are "open" prior to PML::RARA expression. We found that GATA binding motifs, and the direct binding of the chromatin "pioneering factor" GATA2, were significantly enriched near PML::RARA binding sites. Proximity labeling studies …

The Variety Of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels In R/Etinal Neurons, Ji-Jie Pang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Alterations in intraocular and external pressure critically involve the pathogenesis of glaucoma, traumatic retinal injury (TRI), and other retinal disorders, and retinal neurons have been reported to express multiple mechanical-sensitive channels (MSCs) in recent decades. However, the role of MSCs in visual functions and pressure-related retinal conditions has been unclear. This review will focus on the variety and functional significance of the MSCs permeable to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, primarily including the big potassium channel (BK); the two-pore domain potassium channels TRAAK and TREK; Piezo; the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC); and the transient receptor potential channels vanilloid TRPV1, TRPV2, and …

Core Planar Cell Polarity Genes Vangl1 And Vangl2 In Predisposition To Congenital Vertebral Malformations, Xin Feng, Yongyu Ye, Jianan Zhang, Yuanqiang Zhang, Sen Zhao, Judith C W Mak, Nao Otomo, Zhengye Zhao, Yuchen Niu, Yoshiro Yonezawa, Guozhuang Li, Mao Lin, Xiaoxin Li, Prudence Wing Hang Cheung, Kexin Xu, Kazuki Takeda, Shengru Wang, Junjie Xie, Toshiaki Kotani, Vanessa N T Choi, You-Qiang Song, Yang Yang, Keith Dip Kei Luk, Kin Shing Lee, Ziquan Li, Pik Shan Li, Connie Y H Leung, Xiaochen Lin, Xiaolu Wang, Guixing Qiu, Disco (Deciphering Disorders Involving Scoliosis And Comorbidities) Study Group, Kota Watanabe, Japanese Early Onset Scoliosis Research Group, Zhihong Wu, Jennifer E Posey, Shiro Ikegawa, James R Lupski, Jason Pui Yin Cheung, Terry Jianguo Zhang, Bo Gao, Nan Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Congenital scoliosis (CS) is the most common congenital spinal disorder caused by congenital vertebral malformations (CVMs), influenced by genetic and environmental factors and exhibiting diverse clinical presentations. Here, we identified the critical roles of Vangl1 and Vangl2, two core components in the Wnt/planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) signaling pathway, in vertebral development and in predisposition to CVMs in CS patients. We found that in Vangl mutant mouse models, the CVMs present in a Vangl gene dose- and gestational hypoxia-dependent manner. Our studies reveal a complex etiology of CS and its association with Wnt/PCP signaling.

Inclusive Cataloging: You Can Do It!, Luiz Mendes, Allison Bailund, Julie Renee Moore

Digital Initiatives Symposium

Inclusive Cataloging—or Critical Cataloging; or, Ethical Cataloging; or, Reparative Cataloging—is predicated on the assumption that diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice (DEIAJ) are central to the work of catalogers. The presenters will introduce the central tenets of inclusive cataloging and some practical approaches for reparative metadata projects. Attendees will acquire an understanding of inclusive cataloging and approaches to adopt inclusive and reparative descriptive practices in their work at their institutions.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Teaching Poetry To Med Students? A Conversation With Owen Lewis And Abriana Jetté, Owen W. Lewis M.D., Abriana Jette

Journal of Creative Writing Studies

A Narrative Medicine curriculum is now generally part of medical education to promote capacities for reflection, observation, engagement, and empathy. The impact of this curriculum is furthered when students are given specific arts training in a limited, but focused, way. This paper details the approach of an intensive poetry reading and craft course embedded in a broader Narrative Medicine curriculum

100 Prompts For Healing Used In The Treatment Of Addiction, Eric A. Kreuter Ph.D.

Journal of Creative Writing Studies

Abstract

As demonstrated in the work with incarcerated females and adult men in a residential drug and alcohol treatment program as well as aftercare work with alumni of the author’s creative writing program at St. Chritopher’s Inn and other treatments programs the use of creative writing enhances long-term recovery and relapse prevention. Active participants often cite the transformational benefit of writing used in critically triggering life situations.

384-Interest Groups And Democratic Legitimacy: Analyzing The Influence And Impact Of Interest Groups On Elections/Results, Pamela Flores

GREAT Day Posters

James Madison warned the American government that the establishment and/or expansion of factions will lead to the deterrence of Democracy. Factions or interest groups, as they will be referred to as in this research, have illustrated biased tendencies when it comes down to their decisions making. Simply put, people within a specific interest group will pursue their own interests and exclude any actions or decisions that may benefit the opposition. In this research we will explore the effects interests’ groups bias and how it has affected American Democracy through actions taken by voters themselves, such as assigning blame, making limited …

291-Resting State Neural Activity, Empathy, And Their Association With Internalizing Symptomatology, Maxwell Mesi

GREAT Day Posters

Resting state neural activity has been shown to impact trait empathy, but the impact of these activation patterns on empathy processes associated with psychopathology is unclear. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, blood-oxygenation levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are measured during a resting-state and while the participants are completing emotion-recognition tasks. After collecting resting state data, we will administer a Theory of Mind task, the Frith-Happé Animations Test, in which participants will classify interactions between two animated triangles as mental, physical, or random. Correctly identified mental interactions will be followed by asking which emotion best fits each triangle. Next, we will …

290-Concurrent Neural Activity Predicting Empathy Processing Task Accuracy And Symptomatology, Alexandra Young

GREAT Day Posters

Previous research has investigated the link between emotional processing and internalizing symptomatology. The current study aimed to identify unique patterns of neural activation in response to two different empathy-related tasks. In addition, this study examined whether specific profiles of neural activity and task performance were predictive of internalizing symptomatology. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was employed to assess concurrent neural activity by measuring blood oxygenation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during two cognitive tasks. The first task was the Frith-Happe Stimulus Set, which consisted of triangles interacting in various ways. This task measured Theory of Mind, which is one’s ability to …

278-Prevalence Of The Toxicokinetic Nature Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) On Human Development, Daniela Paolino

GREAT Day Posters

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were created in the 1930s with the desire to monopolize their durable hydrophobic nature, attained through the fluorine-carbon bonding in the alkyl chain, and was quickly utilized in innumerable consumer products (e.g: makeup, lotion, nonstick pans, food containers, carpets, and shampoos). It wasn't until 1970 when traces of PFAS were found in blood tests, that concerns about its ability to endure biodegradation started to arise. Today people are constantly exposed to PFAS chemicals, whether it be through dust build-up in their homes, the products they are consuming, or the water they drink. Its often unbeknownst …

267-The Role Of Yap And Pyap In Retinal Regeneration Of Zebrafish, Muwafaq Ibrahim

GREAT Day Posters

A remarkable feature of Zebrafish, not found in mammals, is their ability to regenerate their retinal cells. Even during the later stages of development in adulthood, this ability does not waiver. After sustaining damage to the retina, Humans are unable to recover, which makes studying the mechanism of Zebrafish regeneration of great importance and relevance. Understanding the differences could help further advances toward discovering cures for blindness in Humans one day. The Hippo (Hpo) pathway is a signaling pathway in animals that ultimately controls the size of organs by either promoting or inhibiting cell division. Activation of the pathway leads …

252-Long-Term Trends In Dominance Of Mustard Hill Coral In San Salvador Reefs, Michaela Cawley

GREAT Day Posters

Corals throughout the Caribbean have been declining in abundance for the past three decades, yet one stony coral species commonly known as Mustard Hill (Porites astreoides) has become more dominant. However, a recent study conducted in the Virgin Islands showed that Mustard Hill coral populations have declined. Our research team studied corals in previously surveyed reefs around San Salvador Island, The Bahamas, to determine the trajectory of Mustard Hill populations. Specifically, we wanted to know if the populations had changed since they were last studied in 2019. Data on coral species abundance and percent cover were collected at both Rocky …

248-Empathy And Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Investigating Human Altruism And Its Link To Pro-Environmental Behaviors, Anna Arehart

GREAT Day Posters

Through the empathy-altruism hypothesis, Batson predicts empathetic concern influences altruistic motivation, which may lead to helping behaviors (Batson et al., 2014). Environmental researchers borrowed this idea and have produced a rich literature showing that empathy is associated with pro-environmental behaviors (PEB). This poster describes an ongoing literature review of this area of research. Our preliminary results show that empathy and associated constructs consistently predict PEB, although these relations are often of modest size. However, the literature is somewhat theoretically confused with no overarching explanation of why these relations exist. We hope to remedy this in our review by examining whether …

245-Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations And Watershed Impacts, Aleigha Morrison

GREAT Day Posters

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOS) are defined as agricultural facilities where 1000 or more animals are born and raised for slaughter in the food industry. Animals are often raised in confined spaces. CAFOs can significantly impact watersheds due to the large quantities of manure they produce. Not only does CAFO manure contain both the artificial hormones and antibiotics they are given, but also excessive amounts of nutrients, bacteria, pathogens and other pollutants, some of which can contribute to eutrophication. The purpose of this project was to map CAFOs in New York State and to compare their locations with watersheds. Data …

235-Resting State Neural Activity Predicting Psychopathology And Neural Efficiency During Empathy Processing Tasks, Michelle Fitting

GREAT Day Posters

Resting state activity has been shown to be correlated with variations in trait empathy, and has also been demonstrated to predict symptomatology. Our study investigates how differences in resting state neural activity predict concurrent neural activity during cognitive tasks involved in empathy processing, as well as how this relationship correlates to well-being. Using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we monitored blood oxygen levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a resting state condition and while participants performed two empathy-related tasks. Resting state neural activity was measured by having participants look at a static fixation cross on a screen in front …

211-Fear-Inducing Stimuli And Emotion-Induced Blindness, Jeff Mounts

GREAT Day Posters

The current study examined how fear-inducing stimuli affected the processing of subsequent stimuli. Previous research has shown that emotional stimuli can disrupt the processing of other stimuli that appear shortly after emotional pictures (e.g., Emotion Induced Blindness). A rapid serial visual presentation task was used in which pictures of spiders and snakes served as fear-inducing distractors, and we measured participants’ ability to identify target pictures in close temporal and spatial proximity to these distractors. Distractors hampered target identification more when they appeared in the same visual field, supporting a spatio-temporal competition account of Emotion Induced Blindness.

179-Nesting Patterns Of Cavity-Nesting Bees And Wasps, Daniel Lemon

GREAT Day Posters

Cavity-nesting bees and wasps will lay eggs in hollow stems and other pre-made cavities and provision their larvae with food to overwinter until their emergence in spring. To observe the nesting patterns of these insects, we placed nesting boxes containing “bee tubes” made of hollow reeds in five locations around the SUNY Geneseo campus and photographed the tubes once a week over the summer as the tubes were gradually sealed off by insects to form larval cells. We took note of the type of material used to fill the tubes and then analyzed the trends in the phenology and site …

132-How Does A Genetic Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease And Alcohol Use Affect Memory In A Mouse Model?, Madison Forcier

GREAT Day Posters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. The prevalence of this disorder is expected to be on the rise, and affects a great number of people. APOE4 is a variant allele found to increase the risk of AD. In addition, the consumption of alcohol exacerbates the onset and magnitude of AD, while also having its negative effects on cognition, potentially by increasing neuroinflammation. We have a knock-in mouse model with the human APOE4 gene that will be used to test the effects of this gene (APOE4) by environment (alcohol) …

033-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Of Neurod4 Gene In Zebrafish, Juliana Flick

GREAT Day Posters

Neurod4 is a protein coding gene, also known as neurogenic differentiation 4. This gene prevails within the nervous system, specifically expressed in the brain. Neurod4 helps control any extreme, rapid growth of the photoreceptors in Zebrafish retina. Zebrafish have a similar, yet not identical gene to humans, thus, research done with zebrafish can correlate to how Neurod4 impacts human retinal neuronal development. Zebrafish used in this study are transgenic organisms, containing the Tg (neurod4: GFP). Transgenes are sections of genetic material used for genome modification of specific organisms. Zebrafish were genetically manipulated to express Neurod4. It is assumed that the …

Art And Math Via Cubic Polynomials, Polynomiography And Modulus Visualization, Bahman Kalantari

LASER Journal

Throughout history, both quadratic and cubic polynomials have been rich sources for the discovery and development of deep mathematical properties, concepts, and algorithms. In this article, we explore both classical and modern findings concerning three key attributes of polynomials: roots, fixed points, and modulus. Not only do these concepts lead to fertile ground for exploring sophisticated mathematics and engaging educational tools, but they also serve as artistic activities. By utilizing innovative practices like polynomiography—visualizations associated with polynomial root finding methods—as well as visualizations based on polynomial modulus properties, we argue that individuals can unlock their creative potential. From crafting captivating …

Diurnal Immune Cell Migration Patterns Characterized In The Spaceflight Environment, Angela Cebula, Marissa Burke, Erik Larsen, Kaylin Juarez, Carol Mitchell, Cassandra M. Juran, Candice G. T. Tahimic, Stephanie Tabares Ruiz, Janani Iyer, Stephanie Puukila, Siddhita D. Mhatre, Joshua S. Alwood, Marianne B. Sowa, April E. Ronca, Amber M. Paul

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Daily diurnal immune rhythm shapes biological pathways of organisms and closely aligns with optimizing energy usage in response to environmental light-dark cycles. Immune mobilization depends on diurnal signals to regulate immunity. In spaceflight, disrupted circadian rhythms and immune systems are noted. However, crosstalk between these systems has not been fully characterized. To fill this knowledge gap, we utilized a ground-based model of spaceflight to phenotype diurnal immunity in mice. For this, 24-week-old male and female mice were exposed to a combination of single-housed, acute 15cGy 5-ion GCRsim irradiation and continuous hindlimb unloading for 2 weeks on a light:dark [12hr:12hr] cycle …

Bridging The Digital Divide: Innovative Uses Of Qr Codes And Nfc In The Artistic Realm, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

In the rapidly evolving digital age, artists and creatives are increasingly leveraging QR codes and Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies to redefine the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. This article explores the diverse and inventive applications of QR codes and NFC in art installations, augmented reality experiences, interactive storytelling, performance art, and marketing campaigns. By incorporating these technologies, artists may create interactive, immersive, and personalized experiences which engage audiences in novel ways. Additionally, the article delves into the technological advancements enabling these innovative applications, including location-based personalization, machine learning, augmented reality, and the seamless interactions facilitated by NFC …

“Somebody’S Gotta Try And Go Forward”: Musical Identity And The (Re)Construction Of Authenticity In Hawai‘I And Mongolia, Heather E. Cook

Anthropology Honors Projects

Based on thirty-seven interviews with musicians and performers in Mongolia and Hawaiʻi, this ethnography explores the complex relationships between nationalism, cultural imperialism, hybridity, and conceptions of authenticity in the colonial context through the lens of folk music. Engaging with theories of practice and postcolonialism, I argue that within contemporary contexts of globalization and cultural imperialism, musicians and performers have formed a sense of musical and cultural identity dependent on nationalist conceptions of tradition, yet the notion of cultural authenticity no longer depends on the absence of Western influence, but on the cultural sovereignty of the artist and the agency of …

Breaking The Mold: Voters’ Perceptions Of Femininity In Campaigns, Margaret E. Ulrich

Political Science Honors Projects

I designed a two pronged study to explore the relationship between femininity in candidate self- presentation and voter perception. First, I presented a sample of U.S. voters a series of images featuring either feminine or non-feminine female professionals. I then selected two images from this study to design two faux print political advertisements, one featuring a feminine candidate and one featuring a non-feminine candidate to establish a treatment and control condition featuring similarly “attractive” candidates. Then, I showed a quasi-representative sample of 540 potential U.S. voters one of these faux political advertisements and asked a series of questions regarding the …

Exploring The Potential Of Soy-Based Materials: Sustainable Textile Design And Apparel Production, Kasandra Wright

Bumpers Research Symposium

The textile industry is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, particularly through water, energy, and chemical pollution. Soy-based materials offer a sustainable alternative due to their biodegradability, renewability, and reduced water and chemical usage compared to traditional textiles. However, the potential of soy materials in fashion design remains largely unexplored. This project aimed to investigate the feasibility and aesthetic potential of soy-based materials in fashion design, with a focus on creating sustainable soy textiles using batik techniques.

The completed soy textile design showcased a moth motif crafted through batik techniques. Vibrant colors and a distinctive texture were achieved through wax …

The Trial Of Abraham And The Trembling Of The Audience: Rereading The Aqedah, Michael Zhaohan Tang

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Honors Projects

This thesis reexamines the Aqedah narrative from Genesis 22:1–19, focusing on the conveyance of emotions and the portrayal of characters in a story that lacks explicit descriptions of thoughts and feelings. Approaching the text through a literary and narratological lens, I propose that through phraseological techniques like diction and parataxis and compositional strategies such as allusion and juxtaposition, the text captures the psychological depth of biblical characters, thereby enhancing its emotional impact on the audience. I dissect the narrative into eight scenes and within each scene, I conduct close readings to identify and analyze subtle lexical choices and rhetorical devices. …