Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Transformation Strategies Used By Church Leaders To Increase Revenues And Meet Budgetary Goals, Lee Riley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies to use digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals can negatively impact small rural church leadership capabilities. Small rural church leaders who struggle to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals are at high risk of business instability. Grounded in the diffusion of innovations theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective digital transformation strategies used by small rural church leaders to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Participants were eight small rural church leaders who had effectively used digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Data were collected …

Strategies For Reducing Cost Overruns On Government-Funded Infrastructure Projects In Jamaica, Owen Whitely

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cost overruns involving government-funded infrastructure projects have the potential to lead to adverse economic and social outcomes. Project managers and government administrators are concerned with cost overruns as they often lead to delays, resource misallocation, and decreased public trust. Grounded in the theory of constraints, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies project managers use to reduce cost overruns for government-funded infrastructure projects in Jamaica. Participants were five project managers working on large-scale infrastructure projects with experience effectively mitigating cost overruns in Jamaica. Data were collected through in-depth semistructured interviews, government documents, and public records. Five …

Modernism’S Mythic Mothers: Queering Motherhood Through Classical Matrilineage, Samantha Marie Lepak

Dissertations

I position this dissertation at the intersection of modern/contemporary literature, queer/feminist theory, and ancient Greek classics in the hopes of better understanding the spaces in which they meet, engaging with writers from the late modernist era to the present in order to highlight the connections between theories, themes, and practices of queerness from the modernists forward. Using the work of H.D. and writers following in her footsteps, I argue that exploring adaptations of Greek classics written primarily by female and gender-variant authors from the modernist era forward illuminates the extent to which the classics enables writers to “think queerly,” considering …

Maternal Access For Depression In Rural Environments, Simone Parlier

Dissertations

Significance –As many as 25% of birthing persons experience postpartum depression (PPD) within the first year after childbirth making this one of the most common postpartum disorders. PPD is prevalent, incapacitating, and treatable. The first step is identifying those at risk. Rural birthing persons are understudied, and may have unique predisposing characteristics as well as geographic challenges for optimal detection and treatment of PPD. Purpose -The long-term goal is to improve the health of rural families. Using The Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms, the purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional research was to describe the prevalence of PPD in rural birthing persons …

Ethnicity Through Education: An Analysis Of The Influence Of Formal Education On Ethnicity In Garo Hills, Samirkumar Benedict Talati

Dissertations

In recent decades, the positioning of ethnic groups within the educational context has emerged as an important area of scholarly investigation. The structural, institutional, and local contexts often determine how ethnic groups shape their ethnicity. This study draws from panethnicity and social ontology frameworks to examine ethnic consciousness and the processes of solidarity-building across subgroups within the Garo community in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya. The unequal distribution of educational resources has led to socioeconomic disparities and class formation within Garo society, creating a growing divide between the educated and uneducated Garos. While acknowledging the diversity among subgroups, this study …

Returning To Simplicity In Early Daoist And Ancient Greek Thought, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Alfailakawi

Master's Theses

Underlying both the voluntary simplicity and minimalist lifestyle movements is the sentiment that living a simple life leads to tranquility. Despite purported instances where tranquility is experienced through simple living (Hitz, 2020), one can identify instances where, despite living simply, one does not experience tranquility. If living simply is not sufficient for tranquility, what is? In this project I argue that “simplicity” is the inner condition necessary and sufficient to experiencing tranquility. While some argue that simplicity is a practical virtue (Compte-Sponville, 2001; Gambrel and Cafaro, 2010; and Martin, 2012), I argue that simplicity, what is linguistically defined as the …

Inactivation Of The Fusobacterium Nucleatum Rnf Complex Reduces Fada-Mediated Amyloid Formation And Tumor Development, Timmie A Britton, Ju Huck Lee, Chungyu Chang, Aadil H Bhat, Yi-Wei Chen, Rusul Mohammed Ali, Chenggang Wu, Asis Das, Hung Ton-That

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Gram-negative anaerobe Fusobacterium nucleatum is an oral oncobacterium that promotes colorectal cancer (CRC) development with the amyloid-forming cell surface adhesin FadA integral to CRC tumorigenesis. We describe here molecular genetic studies uncovering a novel mode of metabolic regulation of FadA-mediated tumor formation by a highly conserved respiratory enzyme known as the Rnf complex. First, we show that genetic disruption of Rnf, via rnfC deletion, significantly reduces the level of fadA transcript, accompanied by a near-complete abolishment of the precursor form of FadA (pFadA), reduced assembly of FadA at the mature cell pole, and severe defects in the osmotic stress-induced …

Identification Of A Fusobacterial Rna-Binding Protein Involved In Host Small Rna-Mediated Growth Inhibition, Pu-Ting Dong, Mengdi Yang, Jie Hu, Lujia Cen, Peng Zhou, Difei Xu, Peng Xiong, Jiahe Li, Xuesong He

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Host-derived small RNAs are emerging as critical regulators in the dynamic interactions between host tissues and the microbiome, with implications for microbial pathogenesis and host defense. Among these, transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have garnered attention for their roles in modulating microbial behavior. However, the bacterial factors mediating tsRNA interaction and functionality remain poorly understood. In this study, using RNA affinity pull-down assay in combination with mass spectrometry, we identified a putative membrane-bound protein, annotated as P-type ATPase transporter (PtaT) in Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), which binds Fn-targeting tsRNAs in a sequence-specific manner. Through targeted mutagenesis and phenotypic characterization, we showed …

Christian Beliefs About Salvation: Measurement And Associations With Mental Health And Well-Being, Anthony Edward Rose, Timothy B. Smith

Faculty Publications

Religious beliefs influence many behaviors and perspectives relevant to wellbeing and mental health. In Christianity, beliefs about how one attains salvation may be particularly relevant to psychology, but limited scholarship has considered cognitive aspects of religiosity. This study developed and evaluated a new measure of Beliefs about Salvation (BAS) that assesses affirmations of salvation (a) by God’s grace alone and (b) by God’s grace after human repentance/ordinances, as understood by different Christian denominations. We examined the association of the BAS with three measures of mental health and six measures of influences on religiosity. In a sample of 1556 predominantly members …

Highly Adaptable Dendrimer Gel Nanoparticles With Dual Targeting Of Upar And Ribonucleotide Reductase R2 For Better Retention And Improved Therapeutic Outcomes In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hsin Yin Chuang, Da Huang, Lin Qi, Vidit Singh, Anna Chernatynskaya, Yue-Wern Huang, Hu Yang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 15% of breast cancers and lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), rendering it unresponsive to hormonal or anti-HER2 therapies. Due to its poor prognosis and limited treatment options, there is an urgent need for targeted therapies. In this study, we developed highly adaptable polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-based gel nanoparticles with dual-targeting capabilities against urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and ribonucleotide reductase R2 (R2). These nanoparticles were designed to target both TNBC cells and cancer-associated stromal cells by leveraging uPA-uPAR interactions and delivering the antisense oligonucleotide …

Increasing Global South Knowledge Representation With Oa And Library Resource Sharing, J. Silvia Cho

Publications and Research

In this peer-review session, I present ideas to study and overcome barriers to digital interlibrary loan exchange with Latin America under Fair Use (and equivalent provisions). Materials published in Latin America and the Caribbean are more difficult to discover and access from the United States, creating silos and under-representation of points of view from these regions in Global North scholarship. Open Access is key towards overcoming barriers to access, but much of Southern knowledge continues to be in non-Open Access publications with traditional copyright. As a result, library resource sharing and interlibrary loan must facilitate a greater flow of Southern …

Parallel Use Of Low-Complexity Automated Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests On Respiratory And Stool Samples With Or Without Lateral Flow Lipoarabinomannan Assays To Detect Pulmonary Tuberculosis Disease In Children, Laura Olbrich, Bada Yang, Hayley Poore, Alia Razid, Brittney Sweetser, Mathias Weis Damkjær, Alexander W Kay, Johanna Åhsberg, Ruvandhi R Nathavitharana, Ian Schiller, Nandini Dendukuri, Andreas Lundh, Maunank Shah, Stephanie Bjerrum, Devan Jaganath

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Low-complexity automated nucleic acid amplification tests (LC-aNAATs) are molecular assays widely used to diagnose tuberculosis disease in children. The lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay (LF-LAM) is recommended for use amongst children with HIV. Previous systematic reviews have assessed the diagnostic accuracy of LC-aNAATs and LF-LAM separately in children, but in clinical practice the tests may be used concurrently, i.e. in 'parallel'.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the parallel use of LC-aNAAT on respiratory and stool specimens in children, and with LF-LAM on urine amongst children with HIV, versus each assay alone for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis disease.

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On The Concepts Of Culture, Education, And Language, Augusto Boal

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

No abstract provided.

On The Concepts Of Modern And Archaic, Augusto Boal

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

No abstract provided.

Joker Forum Theatre As A Classroom Teacher: Qualitative Research Data., Nadarajan Thambu

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

The task of maintaining the focus and interest of students on the teaching and learning process in the classroom is still a challenge for teachers of Moral Education subject. Students who do not pay attention, cannot understand moral values, accept and show commitment to them. The failure of students to focus will also fail the effort to produce moral human beings. Meanwhile, the role of theater in the field of education is also undeniable. Therefore, a form of community theater named Forum Theatre has been used as a pedagogy of teaching Moral Education among preservice teachers. In the context of …

The Very Fine Line: Utilitarian Aesthetics And Threshold Politics In Now You See Me Moria, Nik Rye

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

Now You See Me Moria (est. August 2020) is an international socially engaged art collective that brings visibility to the inhumane conditions of the Moria refugee camp, aiming to influence European Union migration policies. This paper examines the collective’s work across digital and physical gallery spaces, analyzing the role of utilitarian aesthetics in both image and process, and situating the project alongside the migratory journey of a specific member. The resonance of this initiative, and the actions it has catalyzed, reveals a societal push to disrupt the contemporary art mainstream in favor of an emergent movement that privileges lived experience …

This Is Theatre: Deconstructed Repetition And Theatre-In-Education During Covid-19, Subbah Mir

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

This project report is a practical application of deconstructed repetition model, I devised by merging Augusto Boal and Baz Kershaw, in an undergraduate Composition Writing class in Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, U.S. As the facilitator Deconstructed repetition means cost-effective repetition of personal and local stories for introspection in order to engage the community members, address the oppression, and celebrate the local culture. The four stipulations of the models are: avoiding the Western canon (or hegemonic voice), making the audience(s) see direct and indirect oppression, circumventing commodification while maintaining audience interest, and celebrating local culture instead of downright criticizing it. …

Isto É Teatro: Repetição Desconstruída E Teatro Na Educação Durante A Covid-19, Subbah Mir

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

Neste artigo, discuto o uso do círculo de narrativas (Roadside Theatre, 1999) denominado como um "modelo de repetição desconstruída" para o ativismo comunitário, capaz de conectar os problemas pessoais dos alunos com as questões sociais/comunitárias. Iniciei este projeto com um curso síncrono online de Redação de Textos para alunos de graduação. Ao final do semestre, os alunos participaram dinamicamente do ativismo comunitário por meio da exploração de questões socio-pessoais, o que levou a diversas iniciativas empreendidas posteriormente pelo Grêmio Estudantil da universidade. Este projeto foi conduzido para testar o Modelo de Repetição Desconstruída desenvolvido como uma ferramenta eficaz de ativismo …

Editors' Introduction To The 8th Volume Of The Pto Journal, Pto Journal Editor

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of The Squad By Christina Soontornvat And Joanna Cacao, Simon Boonsripaisal

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

The Squad by Christina Soontornvat and illustrator Joanna Cacao is a follow-up to the indie bestseller The Tryout (2022). The graphic memoir is written for educators, parents, and students in K-12. The illustrations are beautifully drawn, the dialogue is humorous, and the facial expressions describe how the characters are feeling. The main character, Christina, is now an 8^th grader in Texas. Set in the 1990s and the cover page shows her friends lifting her up as she strikes a cheerleading pose. Christina tries out for cheer again, encounter’s identity conflict, and grapples with her parents’ divorce. This review discusses …

Roles Of Nigerian Ulama In Politics And Nation-Building: The Controversy, Achievements And Recommendations, Abdulkadir Salaudeen, Saidu Ahmad Dukawa

Future Journal of Social Science

Religion and politics in Islam are not watertight compartments. In Islam, it is impossible to separate the state from religion because Islam is a state in the political sense and a religion in the spiritual sense. It is true that state-religion-separation is the norm in the secularist West. It is not true in Islam where state and Islam are indivisibly connected. Despite the interconnectedness between Islam and politics, a lot of people see participation of ulama in politics as an abomination due to the current of apolitical Islam that is sweeping across the circle of ulama. Focusing on Nigeria, this …

Orca Annual Report 2024-25, Msu Orca

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Quick Facts about ORCA in Academic Year 2024-25

• 12 slots filled for Posters-at-the-Capitol
• 346+ students presented at Scholars Weeks with support from 110+ faculty members
• 28 grants awarded totalling over $23,000
• Dr. Kelly Taylor named University Distinguished Mentor 2025

A Survey Of Practice Models And Outcomes In Michigan Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Lamart Hightower, Elissa Kent, Vikash Kumar, Lauren Michie, Alysha King, Tekoa Marshall

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

The United States has a lengthy history of treating individuals experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) from an abstinence-only framework. Harm reduction practices have grown a large base of empirical support in other parts of the world and have become central to treating individuals with SUDs. Within the United States, however, a substantial number of residential SUD treatment programs that continue to perpetuate an abstinence-only framework, which creates a lack of access for people who seek a harm reduction approach—and who likely need it the most. In this study, 66 residential treatment programs in Michigan were examined to determine whether they …

Intervention For Struggling Learners In K-5 Social Studies: Exploring A Tiered Model Of Support, Joshua M. Duggan

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

The K-5 social studies curriculum introduces students to foundational knowledge in civics, geography, economics, and history. Social studies is also a vehicle through which students: (a) synthesize content knowledge which in turn supports reading comprehension, (b) learn about community structures around them, and (c) build social-emotional skills through an in-depth understanding of the human condition. Yet, instructional time allocated to social studies has decreased over the past few decades, and scores on national social studies assessments indicate that most students do not attain proficiency in acquiring social studies knowledge. Furthermore, there is an absence of a robust system of intervention …

Radiology Archives From Dr. Malik's Museum

Realia and artifacts (historical objects, artworks, memorabilia)

No abstract provided.

Oms 4 Early List Of Papers, Tim Lenz

OMS Early List of Papers

The June 10th list for OMS 4, compiled by Tim Lenz.

Medical Debt In The Mountain West, 2022, Kian Parikh, Lara Karaalp, Otoniel Ramos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents 2022 data on the prevalence of medical debt in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The Urban Institute report, “The Changing Medical Debt Landscape in the United States” includes data on medical debt estimates, hospital market concentration, as well as estimates of uninsured individuals, disabled adults, average household incomes, and racial compositions at the state and county level for the 50 states and Washington, DC. This fact sheet focuses on state-level differences on the prevalence of medical debt, as well as differences in the percentages of uninsured individuals and …

Notes On The Invariance Of Tautness Under Lie Sphere Transformations, Thomas E. Cecil

Mathematics and Computer Science Department Faculty Scholarship

An embedding ϕ : V → Sⁿ of a compact, connected manifold V into the unit sphere Sⁿ ⊂ Rⁿ⁺¹ is said to be taut, if every nondegenerate spherical distance function d_p, p ∈ Sⁿ, is a perfect Morse function on V , i.e., it has the minimum number of critical points on V required by the Morse inequalities. In these notes, we give an exposition of the proof of the invariance of tautness under Lie sphere transformations due to ´Alvarez Paiva. First we extend the definition of tautness of submanifolds of S …

St. Louis, Missouri’S Gayborhood And Washington, Dc’S Black Lives Matter Plaza: Revealing The Healing Potential Of Resistance Stories That Are Grounded In Place, Ryan R. Lindsay, Lotte I. Lent, Ackesha J. Patrick

Dissertations

Oppressed people resist, even when facing severe consequences for doing so. At the core of systemic oppression—genocide, slavery, racism, and sexism—is a drive to control and dehumanize. Resistance, however, can serve as a powerful act of rehumanization. From enslaved individuals fleeing plantations to LGBTQ+ individuals risking arrest to gather in mid-20th-century bars, resistance reclaims power and autonomy under oppressive regimes. This study applies South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) “four truths” framework—comprising forensic, personal, social, and healing truths—to the interpretation of contested heritage sites. We argue that sites commemorating resistance hold transformative potential for individual and community healing. Using …

Variable Natural Language Translator For Video Games, Gabriel Bernini, Cole Propach

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

In the field of video games, developers work to immerse players in a variety of ways. In one genre of video games, 2D exploration, or Metroidvania as its colloquially known, developers try to immerse players by letting them explore large worlds with the hope to overcome isolation. Often these worlds are sparse or dead worlds where the player is alone, but by exploring more of the world familiarity with the space is achieved and this isolation can be overcome. We hope to innovate in this genre by utilizing a new way to simulate and overcome this isolation, through language learning. …