Digital Commons Network^™

Touching The Earth: A Black Buddhist Perspective On Connecting With And Healing Ourselves And Our Ancestors, Kaira Jewel Lingo

Journal of Contemplative Inquiry

Ancestors inform so many aspects of our experience. We are our ancestors. In the Plum Village Vietnamese Zen Buddhist tradition, we speak of three kinds of ancestors: familial, spiritual, and land ancestors. I reflect on my own connection to my familial ancestors as a Black bi-racial descendant, and explore the Plum Village practice of Touching the Earth, which supports us in healing the intergenerational trauma passed on to us by all of our many kinds of ancestors as well as strengthening and celebrating the intergenerational resilience and excellence that our various ancestors have gifted us with. I share and explain …

Reclaiming De-Natured Blackness Through Kigandan Epistemological Nature Journaling, Feisal Kirumira

Journal of Contemplative Inquiry

The goal of this paper is to autobiographically explore de-naturing of Blackness through Eurocentric schooling, and re-naturing of Blackness through Kigandan epistemological nature journaling. I define racial de-naturing as the anthropocentric abuse of nature by European colonizers who viewed themselves as being above other-nature in order to dehumanize Black Bodies as sub-human forms of other-nature. I suggest that anti-Black racism was borne out of anthropocentrism as a means of sustaining and legitimizing colonial domination of Black bodies and their lands. Black Ugandans, whose indigenous religions are inseparable from nature-worship, had to be subjugated and transformed to legitimize Whiteness. Scientific racism, …

Rising Up Rooted: Black Wisdom As Emancipatory Contemplative Practice For Resilience, Healing, And Liberation, Shelly P. Harrell

Journal of Contemplative Inquiry

Black wisdom is offered as a transformative, liberatory, and healing resource with particular applications for disrupting the five dynamics of oppression—dehumanization, disconnection, destruction, delusion, and disempowerment. Cultural wisdom is a key element of emancipatory contemplative practice which intentionally centers strategies for decolonizing inner life. The integration of Black wisdom into contemplative practices can provide an ancestral and experiential connection to a sense of belonging and “home,” as well as establish an empowering foundation from which personal and collective liberation can flourish. Black wisdom can be incorporated into contemplative practice through cultural expressions (music, African proverbs and symbols), applications that utilize …

Rhythms And Archetypes Of Contemplation: An Afro-Boricua Experience, Anthony Cruz Pantojas

Journal of Contemplative Inquiry

A critical appropriation of the prophetic imagination can orient us to emergent strategies for a more interdependent commons. Given the precarious times of the Anthropocene in which we are living, a contemplative hermeneutic that responds to enduring oppressive relational practices is necessary. This reflective treatise expounds on three archetypes that underpin the exploration of an Afro-Caribbean experience that is also a contemplative practice: the Barril de Bomba, Bomba, and Flamboyán. I argue these archetypes as poetics can orient us to new relational possibilities.

Development Of Multidisciplinary Care Model With Participatory Action Research For Heart Failure Clinic In Bangkok, Thailand, Usasiri Srisakul, Warawut Umpornwirojkit, Supaporn Pattanasan, Apichot So-Ngern, Charlermsri Pummangura, Sarawut Siwamogsatham

Journal of Health Research

Background: Quality of care improvements is a challenge when resources are limited. In this participatory action research (PAR) study, we created a multidisciplinary care model (MCM) for heart failure clinic at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, and evaluated quality performance measures and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Using the PAR framework, this study included: 1) identification of problems and planning solutions with providers, 2) development of the MCM, 3) implementation of the MCM, 4) evaluation of quality process and outcome measures among heart failure patients at the follow-up conducted 6 months after implementation of the MCM, and 5) post-MCM survey.

Results: Information …

Mindfulness And Indigenous Knowledge: Shared Narratives About Reconciliation And Decolonization In Teacher Education, Karen Ragoonaden, Tina Fraser, Ross Hoffman, Brenda Hebert

Journal of Contemplative Inquiry

This article discusses how shared narratives about mindfulness practices and Indigenous knowledge advance the reconciliation and the decolonization of Teacher Education curricula. We, the authors, experienced the beneficial impact of our personal mindfulness practices in nurturing and cultivating the harmonious balance of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of the self. Within the context of the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action (2015), we observed the connections between mindfulness practices and local and place-based teachings of First Nation and Métis First Peoples in Northern British Columbia and in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Our experiences are informed by …

Drawing As A Practice Of Compassion, Rich Curtis

Journal of Contemplative Inquiry

In this reflection I discuss methods of teaching the visual art discipline of drawing as an awareness practice grounded in compassion through service learning projects. With my background in both drawing and performance art, I integrate a focus on process, material, and conceptual meaning-making. As the only professor of art in a humanities division, I focus on strategies that introduce students with little or no art background to the idea of using creativity to mindfully raise awareness of marginalized and under-served populations.

Prospective Insight Into The Role Of Benzyl Propylene Glycoside As A Modulator Of The Cgas-Sting Signaling Pathway In The Management Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Pancreas Animal Model, Reda Albadawy, Amany Helmy Hasanin, Sara H. A. Agwa, Shaimaa Hamady

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Drought Affects Sex Ratio And Growth Of Painted Turtles In A Long-Term Study In Nebraska, Larkin A. Powell, Ellen P. Dolph, Charrissa R. Neil

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Climate forecasts suggest the Great Plains of North America have increased risk of droughts during global warming. Environmental factors have potential to influence turtle populations in aquatic habitats through temperature-dependent sex determination and influences on food availability. Long-term studies are critical to evaluate the influence of climatic variation on turtles. We used a 12-year set of mark-recapture data collected from painted turtles (Chrysemys picta, n = 162) in a pond in Keith County, Nebraska during 2005–2016 to assess variation in sex ratio and growth dynamics. Southwest Nebraska experienced two periods of drought during our study (Palmer Hydrologic Drought …

Plant Breeding Advancements With “Crispr-Cas” Genome Editing Technologies Will Assist Future Food Security, M. Ahmad

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Genome editing techniques are being used to modify plant breeding, which might increase food production sustainably by 2050. A product made feasible by genome editing is becoming better known, because of looser regulation and widespread acceptance. The world’s population and food supply would never have increased proportionally under current farming practices. The development of plants and food production has been greatly impacted by global warming and climate change. Therefore, minimizing these effects is crucial for agricultural production that is sustainable. Crops are becoming more resilient to abiotic stress because of sophisticated agricultural practices and a better understanding of the abiotic …

Measuring Crime And Deviance: Law Enforcement Off The Pavement, John M. Marks Jr., Jason M. Callegari, Yeokil Cho, Carl M. Williams, Jennifer Taylor-Innerarity

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

This study operationalized quantitative measures of crime and deviance through the categorization of coding narrative violations as a specific section of the law. The aggregate number of violations in the game and fish, waters of the state, ports, and watercraft, and conservation and natural resources categories, which make up the majority of the total violations, suggests that these laws may be a priority for law enforcement or that there are many people violating these rules. However, without more information it is difficult to say what is significant about the data without more context. The difference in citations and warnings between …

Gyno-Gerontological Discourse And The Dearth Of Old Women Narrators In British Fiction 1790-1860, Lavender Elisabeth Earnest

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the remarkable dearth of old woman narrators in British fiction between 1790 and 1860, both documenting their under-representation and explaining it as, in part, a product of a wave of medical discourse disparaging the physical and mental vitality of post-menopausal women. Regarding methodology, I perform a random sample upon a corpus of first-person novels published in the period and categorize each according to the gender and age of the narrator. This analysis exhibits, unsurprisingly, that most narrators in the dataset are either in the first half of their life, male, or both. Old women represent only a …

Doing Urban History In The Global South, Anwesha Ghosh

Popular Media

Excerpt: Since a little over a decade now, the Global South has emerged as a subject of serious critical inquiry. To be sure, the terminology is neither unambiguous, nor is it without its own set of complications. Yet, over time, more and more scholars have embraced it as a way to distance themselves from the brazen underpinnings of Western civilizational and developmentalist metrics. The skeptic may attribute this to a mere shift in perspective—that instead of delineating the world into the Modern West and the Languishing East, the hyperdeveloped societies of EuroAmerica and the underdeveloped societies of Africa, Asia, and …

Panicked Legislation, Catherine L. Carpenter

Journal of Legislation

No abstract provided.

Christoph Wagner, Cello [And] Joanne Kong, Piano, Department Of Music, University Of Richmond

Music Department Concert Programs

No abstract provided.

Allopregnanolone Effects On Inhibition In Hippocampal Parvalbumin Interneurons, Xinguo Lu, Peter Lambert, Ann Benz, Charles F. Zorumski, Steven J. Mennerick

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Allopregnanolone (AlloP) is a neurosteroid that potentiates ionotropic GABAergic (GABA

Delivering Computer-Based Training Within State Prisons, Kunal Jha

Theses and Dissertations

Internet-connected devices are ubiquitous, and our built environment allows us to tap into formerly impossible solutions. As our world increasingly depends on technology to operate, one demographic cannot gain exposure to internet-connected devices or web-based educational programs: incarcerated individuals. The Department of Justice reports that 5 out of 6 State Prisoners are arrested and returned to prison within nine years of their initial release. Research shows that education is a pathway to reducing the U.S. prison population. Individuals who participated in any educational program are 43 percent less likely to return to prison.1 Prisons in the United States often partner …

Field-Base Exploratory Study Of Microbial Activity In Eight Potable Water Storage Tanks In Barbados, Katelyn M. Long

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There have been many initiatives to combat the global phenomenon of water scarcity. Potable water storage tanks have become widely known among water insecure countries and communities to provide adequate water quantity and quality for consumer use. Despite ubiquitous use in many low- and middle-income communities (LMIC), knowledge of microbial activity inside potable water storage tanks is limited. Barbados is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), labeled as a high income country, and also water scarce. The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has adapted potable water storage tanks for hundreds of residents as a solution to water quantity and water quality …

Diazirines And Oxaziridines As Nitrogen Transfer Reagents In Drug Discovery, Khalilia C. Tillett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic organic chemistry has long served as a driver of innovation in the drug discovery and development process. Given the prevalence of the nitrogen atom in small molecule drugs, improved methods for C–N bond installation are in high demand. Heteroatom transfer reagents such as oxaziridines and diazirines can be used to selectively deliver nitrogen atom(s) to organic compounds. Herein, I’ll describe my work utilizing Armstrong’s oxaziridine (TBDOT) in peptide backbone modification, and diazirines (TPD) in the development of a hydroamination reaction.

Peptide backbone N-amination has emerged as an attractive peptidomimetic strategy in the design of amyloid aggregation inhibitors. In addition …

Functional States Of Myeloid Cells In Cancer, Lilian Van Vlerken-Ysla, Yulia Y Tyurina, Valerian E Kagan, Dmitry I Gabrilovich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Myeloid cells, comprised of macrophages, dendritic cells, monocytes, and granulocytes, represent a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are critically involved in regulation of tumor progression and metastasis. In recent years, single-cell omics technologies have identified multiple phenotypically distinct subpopulations. In this review, we discuss recent data and concepts suggesting that the biology of myeloid cells is largely defined by a very limited number of functional states that transcend the narrowly defined cell populations. These functional states are primarily centered around classical and pathological states of activation, with the latter state commonly defined as myeloid-derived suppressor cells. We …

Nebraska Politics And The Environment: Framing Political Communication In The State Of Nebraska In Comparison To National Level Discourse, Samuel Taylor

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Environmental public policy has seen little change on the national level in recent decades due to Congressional gridlock. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have entrenched their opposing viewpoints, and their communication on the topic utilizes issue frames to help sway the public to see their side. On the Republican side, these issue frames take the form of the “scientific uncertainty” and “economic consequences” frames. This study, based on issue framing, surveys the communication of Nebraska’s Republican State Senators to determine if they utilize the same issue frames or if they diverge from their national counterparts. By analyzing recent …

Doing Urban History In The Global South, Anwesha Ghosh

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

The P323l Substitution In The Sars-Cov-2 Polymerase (Nsp12) Confers A Selective Advantage During Infection, Hannah Goldswain, Xiaofeng Dong, Rebekah Penrice-Randal, Muhannad Alruwaili, Ghada T Shawli, Tessa Prince, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Jayna Raghwani, Nadine Randle, Benjamin Jones, I'Ah Donovan-Banfield, Francisco J Salguero, Julia A Tree, Yper Hall, Catherine Hartley, Maximilian Erdmann, James Bazire, Tuksin Jearanaiwitayakul, Malcolm G Semple, Peter J M Openshaw, J Kenneth Baillie, Isaric4c Investigators, Stevan R Emmett, Paul Digard, David A Matthews, Lance Turtle, Alistair C Darby, Andrew D Davidson, Miles W Carroll, Julian A Hiscox

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The mutational landscape of SARS-CoV-2 varies at the dominant viral genome sequence and minor genomic variant population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an early substitution in the genome was the D614G change in the spike protein, associated with an increase in transmissibility. Genomes with D614G are accompanied by a P323L substitution in the viral polymerase (NSP12). However, P323L is not thought to be under strong selective pressure.

RESULTS: Investigation of P323L/D614G substitutions in the population shows rapid emergence during the containment phase and early surge phase during the first wave. These substitutions emerge from minor genomic variants which become dominant …

Results Of A Pilot Study For A Pharmacy Discharge Review In Neurosurgical Patients: A Quality-Safety Initiative, Jessica Greenwood, Michael Mcdermott

All Publications

Objective A multidisciplinary collaboration between the neurosurgical team and the pharmacy was established to conduct a pilot study in which discharged neurosurgical patients from a community hospital would receive medication reconciliation services and counseling by a pharmacy specialist to determine the impact on patient safety, readmission rates, and medication compliance. Methods Pharmacists reviewed discharge medication reconciliations of neurosurgical patients to address any discrepancies with the nurse practitioners or physicians prior to discharge and provided discharge medication counseling to the patient/families at the bedside. The service was provided on weekdays during the eight-hour pharmacist shift in addition to other daily responsibilities. …

Tritium: Its Relevance, Sources And Impacts On Non-Human Biota, Maria Florencia Ferreira, Andrew Turner, Emily L. Vernon, Christian Grisolia, Laurence Lebaron-Jacobs, Veronique Malard, Awadhesh N. Jha

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tritium (3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is abundantly released from nuclear industries. It is extremely mobile in the environment and in all biological systems, representing an increasing concern for the health of both humans and non-human biota (NHB). The present review examines the sources and characteristics of tritium in the environment, and evaluates available information pertaining to its biological effects at different levels of biological organisation in NHB. Despite an increasing number of publications in the tritium radiobiology field, there exists a significant disparity between data available for the different taxonomic groups and species, and observations are …

Exploration Of Social Proximity And Behavior In Captive Malayan Tigers And Their Cubs, Aimee Holland, Elena Giulia Galardi, Martina Fabbroni, Anita Hashmi, Jerome Catinaud, Richard Preziosi, James Edward Brereton, Pastorino G Quintavalle

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The survival of endangered felids is becoming increasingly dependent on the successful management and breeding of reserve populations in captivity. While most felid species are reported to be solitary in the wild, increasing evidence suggests that some big cats have greater social plasticity than is currently acknowledged. This social plasticity allows felids to be sometimes socially housed in environments such as zoos and rescue centers. While the effects of such shared enclosures remain in question, many reports provide evidence of several welfare benefits of maintaining these large carnivores in pairs or even groups. Since 2019, Le Parc des Félins has …

Chatting And Cheating: Ensuring Academic Integrity In The Era Of Chatgpt, Dre Cotton, Pa Cotton, Jr Shipway

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The use of artificial intelligence in academia is a hot topic in the education field. ChatGPT is an AI tool that offers a range of benefits, including increased student engagement, collaboration, and accessibility. However, is also raises concerns regarding academic honesty and plagiarism. This paper examines the opportunities and challenges of using ChatGPT in higher education, and discusses the potential risks and rewards of these tools. The paper also considers the difficulties of detecting and preventing academic dishonesty, and suggests strategies that universities can adopt to ensure ethical and responsible use of these tools. These strategies include developing policies and …

The Student Movement Volume 107 Issue 22: Fulfilled: Au Presents A Story Of Redemption, Grace No, Caryn Cruz, Solana Campbell, Aiko J. Ayala Rios, Anna Pak, Gloria Oh, Alexander Navarro, Reagan Mccain, Abby Shim, Melissa Moore, Abraham Bravo

The Student Movement v. 107 (2022-2023)

HUMANS

Speaking Up With Women, Interviewed by: Grace No

What is it Like to Work at the Athletics Department?, Interviewed by: Grace No

What is Title IX?. Interviewed by: Caryn Cruz

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Currently: "Foreign" Film, Solana Campbell

Fulfilled: A Musical of Redemption, Aiko J. Ayala Rios

NEWS

KASA Banquet, Interviewed by: Anna Pak

Watchmen A Capella Concert: "Unstoppable: A Journey Through Self-Discovery", Gloria Oh

IDEAS

Charge It!, Alexander Navarro

Feminism is for Everybody. Yes-Even You, Dude!, Reagan McCain

Tick Tock... for TikTok?, Abby Shim

PULSE

Dorm Delicacies, Melissa Moore

How Have We Grown?, Abraham Bravo

What Do We …

Divination, Brannon Evans

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This document details my time developing a cross-discipline devised theatre experience. The piece explores the various ways we interact with technology. The start of the process was fueled by one simple question: “What can multi faceted collaboration look like (between peers– not just across disciplines, but through an equally shared devising process)?” Through this documentation, I will be able to reflect upon and learn from my experience as a facilitator, actor, and theatre maker.

This thesis will be broken into six different parts to outline the six stages I underwent while creating the piece: developing the team, source material exploration, …

Chatgpt As Metamorphosis Designer For The Future Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai): A Conceptual Investigation, Amarjit Kumar Singh (Library Assistant), Dr. Pankaj Mathur (Deputy Librarian)

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to explore ChatGPT’s potential as an innovative designer tool for the future development of artificial intelligence. Specifically, this conceptual investigation aims to analyze ChatGPT’s capabilities as a tool for designing and developing near about human intelligent systems for futuristic used and developed in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Also with the helps of this paper, researchers are analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of ChatGPT as a tool, and identify possible areas for improvement in its development and implementation. This investigation focused on the various features and functions of ChatGPT that …