Digital Commons Network^™

Job-Search Experiences Of Ghanaian Immigrants In New York City, Samuel Obeng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Discerning Impact Of Secular Humanism On Pastoral Counseling, Stephen Ganschow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral care has existed in some form for generations, dating most precisely back to the New Testament writings of Paul, the Apostle. Religious people-helping approaches thus endured in some form until a dramatic shift occurred in the late 1700s, with the onset of the Enlightenment. This historic phenomenon resulted in an aggressive cultural adjustment to understand the self and its distresses apart from religious orientation, instead favoring a humanistic orientation. Yet, pastoral counseling has endured and adapted in an effort to remain a viable means of serving people in distress. In modernity, pastoral care and counseling now exists within a …

Ministry Satisfaction Of Volunteers Within The Environment Of The Local Church: The Role Of Servant Leadership And Organizational Commitment, Sheena Denise Hunley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In churches, it is imperative to attract, engage, and retain volunteers effectively to accomplish its mission. The impact church leaders have on volunteer satisfaction is undoubtedly far from well explored within the local church. This exploratory, qualitative case study examined the quality of church leadership’s influence on ministry satisfaction and sustained serving over time in lay volunteers. The case study took place in a non-denominational church located in East Tennessee. A central research question asked, how do lay volunteers experience satisfaction within the environment of local church and its leadership? Three research questions examined the areas of volunteer satisfaction and …

Gender Bias In Natural Gender Language And Grammatical Gender Language Within Children's Literature, Kaleigh Marie White Smolinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been much research on the connection between language and gender bias but there is little comparing natural gender language, grammatical gender language, and gender bias. This research is important because it can offer an understanding of gender bias and how these biases are reinforced in different languages. The purpose of this study is to understand how gender biases are represented in children’s literature in different languages. The research questions how gender biases are found in both natural gender and grammatical gender languages within children’s literature. Then questions if there are any differences in these biases. This study compared …

Employee Engagement In Public Sector Organizations, Rhonda Isler Dent

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Public Administrators recognize Employee Engagement (EE) as a significant component in fostering effective work environments in public sector organizations. EE is a recently established concept on Public Administration's agenda and the mantra for today's workplace, leading organizations to recognize the vested interest in measuring, observing, and increasing employee performance. Evidence suggests EE is vital to an organization's thriving in a competitive global market. The research study evaluated and measured the influences that affect EE in public-sector organizations. A quantitative method using the quasi-experimental design was used to answer the research question and address the corresponding hypotheses. The researcher used the …

Developing Health Ministries Beyond The Disparities In The Community, Tasha Renea Berry-Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an upswing in the lack of awareness concerning disparities and the lack of resources available in many of the neighborhoods in the Chicagoland area. The Washington Park and Bronzeville areas are two (2) communities among several others in the Chicago area that are considered to be low-income neighborhoods with minimal resources and an increasing concern of disparities. As a church in the community, it is vitally important we provide a place of hope and trust for people to come for help and refuge. Developing a service such as a health and wellness ministry …

Abusive Management And Workplace Trauma In The Mental Health Field: A Phenomenological Study, Amanda White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace trauma can take place in various forms including abusive supervision or management, workplace bullying, vicarious traumatization, violence, compassion burnout, and workplace stress. For the most part, the perpetrators of these incidents can either be strangers, peers, or management within the organization. The aftermath of workplace trauma can be detrimental to a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and cause work-related issues. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the personal experiences of those in the mental health field who have been traumatized in the workplace specifically by the management within the organization. This study was directed …

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (Pae) And Mild Adolescent Stress Induce Vulnerability To Mild Adult Stress In Mice, Justine Zimmerly, Anette Fernandez-Oropeza, Melody S. Sun, Clara J. Tomicek, Erik J. Balmer, Noah A. Castro, Shahani Noor, Andrea A. Pasmay, Ariana N. Pritha, Carlos F. Valenzuela, Daniel D. Savage, Erin D. Milligan

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This work presents the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on the development of anxiety-like behaviors in adult mice following mild stressors. Models of mild stress in adolescence and adulthood were utilized to unmask aberrant neuroimmune actions and subsequent development of anxiety-like behaviors in adult PAE offspring. The results indicate that PAE induces maladaptive stress responses mediated by neuroinflammatory processes in different brain regions.

Real-Time Camp Dynamics In Live Cells Using The Fluorescent Camp Difference Detector In Situ, Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri, Jordyn Margolis, Camelia Anicolaesei, Francisco J. Nuñez, Rennolds S. Ostrom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

cAMP Difference Detector In Situ (cADDis) is a novel biosensor that allows for the continuous measurement of cAMP levels in living cells. The biosensor is created from a circularly permuted fluorescent protein linked to the hinge region of Epac2. This creates a single fluorophore biosensor that displays either increased or decreased fluorescence upon binding of cAMP. The biosensor exists in red and green upward versions, as well as green downward versions, and several red and green versions targeted to subcellular locations. To illustrate the effectiveness of the biosensor, the green downward version, which decreases in fluorescence upon cAMP binding, was …

Oral Feeding Of Infants Who Require Noninvasive Respiratory Support: Retrospective Investigations, Carolyn Barnes

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

There is a dearth of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of orally feeding infants who require noninvasive respiratory support (NIRS). This dissertation investigates clinical practices surrounding orally feeding infants on NIRS. Manuscript 1 systematically reviews parameters impacting study of this practice. Findings emphasize the dearth of objective data surrounding this practice, and that additional research must be conducted before safety and efficacy outcomes of this practice can be established. Manuscript 2 retrospectively uses electronic health record data to describe which infant populations are orally fed during NIRS use, amount of NIRS used during infant oral feeding, changes in practice …

The Diamond, March 22, 2024, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Concern Emerges from Fall Chapel Series Involving Prophecy; Dordt Adds Agriculture Communication Major after Extensive Planning; Defender Track and Field Finds Success at Nationals
• News: Airband to Rock Dordt's Campus; Republican Club Creates Political Engagement; Streamlined Hiring Process Helps Dordt Grow; An Inside Look at Dordt's Housing Process
• Feature: Ten Days Off, Service Doesn't Stop; "The Two Roads" Bible Study Provides Campus Connection; Munson Earns Fellowship Award for Stage Management
• Opinion: Villeneuve Does It Again with "Dune: Part Two"; The Oscars Fulfilled Expectations and Held Surprises; The Superhero Genre Downfall Superheroes are not …

Investigating Anticipation For Alcohol In Mice Elicited By Cues Predicting Its Availability, Seth David, Dominic Furlano, Monserrat Orozco, David N. Linsebardt

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Non-expert summary:

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to premature deaths and high societal costs, often exacerbated by relapses triggered by alcohol-associated cues. This study employed a mouse model of binge alcohol drinking to investigate if such cues elicit anticipatory behavior. We found that over time, all mice became responsive to cues irrespective of fluid provided. Surprisingly, control males spent more time near their sipper than other groups during cues, despite only ethanol mice exhibiting craving-associated drinking patterns.

Abstract:

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to approximately 140,000 deaths and $249 billion dollars in societal costs each year. This is due in …

Neuron Specific Gene Family Members Nsg1 & Nsg2 Differentially Affect Long-Term Potentiation, Learning And Memory, Antonio D. Serrano Rodriguez, Amber Zimmerman, Sandy Wilson, David Linsebardt, Jonathan Brigman, Jason Weick

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Non-Expert Summary:

The neuron-specific gene family (NSG1-3) plays crucial roles in regulating the movement and processing of key proteins within neurons, particularly those involved in Alzheimer's disease and synaptic strength regulation. While NSG1 is known for its importance in proper synaptic function, NSG2's role is less understood. Surprisingly, deleting NSG2 selectively enhanced learning and memory, contrary to predictions. Electrophysiology experiments revealed NSG1 and NSG2 have opposite effects on synaptic plasticity, shedding light on their distinct molecular mechanisms.

Funding:

5R01NS116051-04

Eeg Acquisition Methods During The First Year Of Life: Unm Pilot Of Healthy Brain And Child Development Study (Hbcd), Alexandria Wiesel, Lidia Enriquez Marquez, Lawrence Leeman, Ludmila N. Bakhireva, James F. Cavanagh

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background:

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) is the largest multi-site longitudinal prospective study in the US. The national cohort is composed of local pregnant persons and children who continue with HBCD for 5+ years. HBCD seeks to examine brain and child development amongst substance and environmental exposures, social, cultural, and genetic influences.

Methods:

Repeated electroencephalography (EEG) assessments are performed throughout HBCD, starting at Visit 3 (3-9 months). EEG signals and corresponding stimuli are analyzed to measure event-related potentials (ERPs). EEG acquisition includes 4 age-adjusted tasks recorded via MagstimEGI 128 channel net, EKG lead, and Net Station Acquisition. Video …

Articuli Temporis: St. Augustine And Phenomenology On The Temporal Syntax Of God’S Self-Disclosure, Scott Roniger

Philosophy Faculty Works

In this essay, I articulate an Augustinian “philosophy of history” by highlighting some important texts sprinkled throughout St. Augustine’s writings, especially his City of God. I concentrate on Augustine’s claim that there are “joints of time” that structure God’s self-disclosure to us through sacred history, and I develop these Augustinian insights with the help of Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology. While Augustine enables us to see that God’s revelation is achieved in a sacred history that illuminates the deepest structure and order of the temporal flow of human events, Husserl’s phenomenology can be used to show that the structure and order of …

Sustainable Mining Challenges: Alaska Water Permitting And The United States Green Energy Transition, Morgan Pettit

Alaska Law Review

This Note addresses the myriad of legal and regulatory barriers new mining projects face in Alaska at present. These barriers have become increasingly important at a time when the United States has sought to bolster its domestic mineral supply chain. With over 100 newly located critical mineral deposits, Alaska may be the best place in the United States to establish further domestic sources of critical minerals. By streamlining the regulatory process at both the federal and state level, Alaska can better (1) protect domestic supply chains from global disruptions; (2) maximize the economic benefits of meeting increased global demand for …

Among The Rarest: Saving The Eastern North Pacific Right Whale, Elza Bouhassira

Alaska Law Review

The North Pacific Right Whale (NPRW) is perhaps the rarest, most endangered large whale species in the world. Only about thirty surviving individuals make up the eastern population, which lives in waters around Alaska. This note aims to highlight the crisis facing eastern NPRWs and the steps that can be taken to support the recovery of this rare whale. The paper first presents information on the history of the species and its importance. It next examines existing international and domestic U.S. legal regimes as well as a pending petition to revise NPRW critical habitat off of Alaska. Finally, it advances …

Uncovering The Lifeworlds Of College Students Who Are Food Insecure: An Interpretive Phenomenological Inquiry, Amber L. Kolesar

Dissertations

Food insecurity (FI) is a concern for many college students, and contributes to significant physical, mental, and academic stressors. Experts have described the need for qualitative research. A better understanding of the experience of FI among college students may help to inform future research and interventions to support students on their educational journey. This study sought to interpret the lived experience of FI, with specific focus on the sociocultural context in which students experience FI, and its' contributing factors. Incorporating the philosophical perspective of Merleau-Ponty, the researcher utilized interpretive phenomenological analysis to uncover the life-worlds of food-insecure college students.

The Nature Of Beauty And Its Objective Manifestation Serve As Evidence Of The God Described In The Bible, Michael S. Libby

Masters Theses

In exploring the concept of objective beauty in nature, a strong argument emerges for the existence of a divine creator as described in the Bible. This thesis, titled “The Nature of Beauty and its Objective Manifestation Serve as Evidence of the God Described in the Bible,” proposes that the intricate design and objective manifestation of beauty in the world are indicative of a higher transcendent being, prompting us to contemplate the profound mysteries of creation and the interconnectedness of aesthetics and spirituality. Through this lens of beauty, we are challenged to engage in a thought-provoking discourse that encompasses apologetics, philosophy, …

A Global Meta-Analysis Of Ecological Effects From Offshore Marine Artificial Structures, Anaëlle J. Lemasson, Paul J. Somerfield, Michaela Schratzberger, Murray S.A. Thompson, Louise B. Firth, Elena Couce, C. Louise Mcneill, Joana Nunes, Christine Pascoe, Stephen C.L. Watson, Antony M. Knights

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Marine artificial structures (MAS), including oil and gas installations (O&G) and offshore wind farms (OWFs), have a finite operational period. Selecting the most suitable decommissioning options when reaching end-of-life remains a challenge, in part because their effects are still largely undetermined. Whether decommissioned structures could act (sensu ‘function’) as artificial reefs (ARs) and provide desired ecological benefits is of particular interest. Here we use a meta-analysis approach of 531 effect sizes from 109 articles to assess the ecological effects of MAS, comparing O&G and OWFs to shipwrecks and ARs, with a view to inform their decommissioning. This synthesis demonstrates that …

People Behind The “Pings”; Limiting Authorship Threatens Collaboration In Telemetry, L. A. Hawkes, P. Davies, A. E. Hall, T. W. Horton, T. Stamp, M. J. Witt, E. V. Sheehan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Examining Science Faculty Experiences With Change When Transitioning From Traditional Laboratories To Non-Traditional Laboratories, Jessie Bostic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe science faculty’s experiences with change as they transitioned from using traditional laboratories to using non-traditional laboratories at postsecondary institutions. The theory that guided this study was the transtheoretical model of change, as it explains the processes of change the faculty may have gone through as they transitioned from using traditional laboratories to non-traditional laboratories. A transcendental phenomenological qualitative design was used with a sample of 10 purposely selected post-secondary science faculty members to answer the study’s central question: What are the shared lived experiences of science faculty transitioning from traditional …

Shaping Character: The Role Of Mythology In Society, Jaclyn Weist

Masters Theses

Throughout history, man has told stories. Some stories were written on walls, tablets, or bits of parchment. Others have been passed down to posterity through oral tradition. Every culture worldwide has a rich tapestry of legends and myths. It is my intent to demonstrate that these stories use the tools of character development within their various plot lines to both express and shape beliefs, superstitions, and life lessons. Whether they are religious in nature or simply trying to make sense of the world, these stories, myths, and legends have played a part in shaping society into what it is today.

The Quest For A Sensitive And Accurate Flash Radiation Model: Whole Abdominal Irradiation And Real Time Dosimetry, Noah J G Daniel

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the US, and more than 50% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy (RT), often in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. However, the fundamental limit on radiotherapy treatment efficacy is normal tissue tolerance. One potential way to overcome this limitation is through ultra-high dose rate radiation (FLASH RT). Compared to conventional radiotherapy (CONV RT), FLASH RT has been shown to be just as damaging to cancerous tissue but far more sparing of healthy tissue.

However, clinical translation of FLASH research has been obstructed by the failure of many labs to …

Aphid-Ant Relationships: The Role Of Cuticular Hydrocarbons And Different Chemical Stimuli In Triggeringmutualistic Behavior, Amged El-Harairy, Ahmed El-Harairy, Alaa Mahfouz

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

In ant-aphid interactions, various aphid species offer honeydew to the ant partner and increase their density by ant attendance, whilst others never attend ant species, in which case ants tend to treat them as prey. In this regard, ants should have the ability to distinguish myrmecophile aphid species from non-mutualistic species, so that mutualistic aphids will be accepted as partners rather than prey. Although ant-aphid interactions are now the focus of chemical ecology studies, the role of the different chemical stimuli in determining mutualistic interactions has not been completely clarified. Therefore, we have investigated the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of four …

A Composition Of Strategic Harmony: The Role Of Hymnic Elements In The Compositional Strategy Of Amos, Moegagogo S. Solomona

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scholarship on the book of Amos has oft leaned in favor of a multilayered composition of the prophetic book, citing either post-exilic motifs or unusual thematic transitions as evidence. While most of the book of Amos is typically ascribed to the prophet himself, the attribution of certain portions to the work of later redactors brings into question the integrity of the message Amos seeks to convey, especially regarding a united theological message. Proponents of redaction claim that the portions in question would not have been part of the original composition due to their contents displaying post-exilic themes. Such a reconstruction …

Recreational Use Of Protected Areas: Spatiotemporal Insights From The Wikiloc Mobile App, Jorge Costa, Alberto Gomes, Martin Stokes, Miguel Saraiva

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Managing the rising number of visitors to protected areas (PAs) without compromising their environmental goals is a critical challenge that requires a complete understanding of how and when visitors use these spaces. Georeferenced data from fitness-tracking apps can provide detailed information about the visitor’s spatiotemporal behaviour inside PAs, but its potential is still underexplored. This study uses georeferenced data, from Wikiloc, to analyse the visitors’ spatiotemporal behaviour in Alvão Natural Park, Portugal. Our findings show that: 52% of the visitors’ use is concentrated around the Fisgas de Ermelo Waterfall; photos’ hotspots coincide with the waterfalls and viewpoints facing them; 2% …

Childhood Cancer Mutagenesis Caused By Transposase-Derived Pgbd5, Makiko Yamada, Ross R Keller, Rodrigo Lopez Gutierrez, Daniel Cameron, Hiromichi Suzuki, Reeti Sanghrajka, Jake Vaynshteyn, Jeffrey Gerwin, Francesco Maura, William Hooper, Minita Shah, Nicolas Robine, Phillip Demarest, N Sumru Bayin, Luz Jubierre Zapater, Casie Reed, Steven Hébert, Ignas Masilionis, Ronan Chaligne, Nicholas D Socci, Michael D Taylor, Claudia L Kleinman, Alexandra L Joyner, G Praveen Raju, Alex Kentsis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genomic rearrangements are a hallmark of most childhood tumors, including medulloblastoma, one of the most common brain tumors in children, but their causes remain largely unknown. Here, we show that PiggyBac transposable element derived 5 (Pgbd5) promotes tumor development in multiple developmentally accurate mouse models of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma. Most Pgbd5-deficient mice do not develop tumors, while maintaining normal cerebellar development. Ectopic activation of SHH signaling is sufficient to enforce cerebellar granule cell progenitor-like cell states, which exhibit Pgbd5-dependent expression of distinct DNA repair and neurodevelopmental factors. Mouse medulloblastomas expressing Pgbd5 have increased numbers of somatic structural DNA rearrangements, …

Slim Winnings For Tubby Taft: Utah And The Presidential Election Of 1912, Natalie Larsen

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Traveling on a special passenger train from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, Utah governor William Spry waxed uncharacteristically eloquent with the reporters who hounded him for his insights on the 1914 congressional elections. Sent by the roundly Republican newspaper the Los Angeles Times, the reporters were looking to see how the dust had settled after the humiliating Republican losses two years earlier in 1912. Democrat Woodrow Wilson won a resounding victory that year, while Theodore Roosevelc's Progressive Parry won eighry-eight electoral votes, and the incumbent president William Howard Taft limped away with a meager eight electoral votes. Considering …

The Effect Of The Destruction Of The Jerusalem Temple On The Jewish Perception Of The Sacrificial Cult: A Look At Pseudepigraphical, Deuterocanonical, And Rabbinic Texts, Allen Kendall

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Though many of us are somewhat familiar with today's modern world religions and with ancient religion inasmuch as it is portrayed in our own religious literature, we often do not understand how we got from the ancient world to the modern. For the most part we understand how ancient Jews worshipped in Jerusalem according to the Law of Moses and chat certain biblical practices have changed, but we are not aware of how this happened. This paper attempts to bridge that gap of knowledge by tracing the development of Jewish religious thought and practice vis-a-vis the sacrificial cult. Over the …