Digital Commons Network^™

Appending Azobenzenes To Nitrosoarenes: Creating Reversible Light Control Over Monomerization, Austin Bennett, Michael Polito

Liberty University Research Week

This study investigates the synthesis and monomer/dimer (M/D) characteristics of both meta- and para-nitrosoazobenzenes (NOAB). Previous studies have shown that nitrosobenzenes can interchange between dimer and monomer forms under various conditions. Additionally, various substituted azobenzenes can isomerize from their cis- to trans- configuration via UV light exposure. We hypothesize that dimerization of nitrosoazobenzenes can be achieved and controlled via the use of UV light. Upon isomerization of the azobenzene (AB) group, and reduction of AB conjugation, the NOAB should equilibrate from its dimer to monomer form. We intend to synthesize both m- and p-NOABs and use NMR and IR spectroscopic …

Genotype-Dependent Cardiac Responses To Caffeine: Acute Electrocardiographic Effects Across Cyp1a2 Gene Variants, Ethan Pedersen

Liberty University Research Week

It is estimated that approximately 70% of individuals worldwide consume caffeine daily. A plethora of genes contribute to caffeine metabolism, out of which CYP1A2 is responsible for 90%. Two prominent CYP1A2 alleles are *1A and *1F which metabolize caffeine at fast and slow rates respectively. Retrospective research has demonstrated *1F possessing individuals are at an increased risk for nonfatal myocardial infarction. However, the acute electrocardiographic and physiological cardiac responses to caffeine across a range of doses remain poorly characterized. The goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the physiological changes of the heart, using an ECG, in individuals who …

Vitamin D Relation To Bone Mineral Density In Female Athletes: Critically Appraised Topic, Baylee Klindworth

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Vitamin D is important for overall bone health, muscle function, and injury prevention, especially in female athletes who may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency that are limited to sunlight exposure, high training demands, and dietary intake. In young female athletes and adults, the relationship between vitamin D and bone mineral density (BMD) is not clear. The purpose of this critically appraised topic is to review current evidence on the relationship between vitamin D levels and bone health in female athletes and adults. Methods: Four cross-sectional studies were included: Fields et al., Brännström et al., Lim et al., …

The Impact Of Minimum Age Policies On Concussion Incidences In Youth Tackle Football, Andrew Garrett, Colby Douglas Green, Colin Ropella, Josiah Schrock

Liberty University Research Week

This study examines whether raising the minimum age for participation in youth tackle football reduces the incidence of concussions and other brain injuries among young athletes. Concussions and long-term neurological conditions like CTE have become a growing concern in youth football, particularly given the sport’s widespread popularity across the United States. While various leagues have experimented with different minimum age requirements, it remains unclear whether delaying full-contact play meaningfully reduces brain injury risk or produces no significant difference in outcomes. Grounded in developmental exposure framework, which suggests that limiting contact during early developmental stages reduces cumulative head impacts over time, …

Utilization Of Parametric Insurance Bonds As Part Of Nepa Permitting Reform, Paul E. Traynor

Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal

No abstract provided.

Molecular Basis Of 24-Methyl Cholesterol As An Anti-Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma Agent In The Context Of Altered Cellular Glucose Metabolism, Josiah Chung, Merritt Smith, Zachary Wang

Liberty University Research Week

Cancer remains a major global cause of mortality, with kidney cancer representing a significant portion of newly diagnosed cases each year worldwide and in the United States. In Virginia alone, more than one thousand new kidney cancer cases are reported annually. The majority of these cancers are classified as renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounting for roughly 70% of diagnoses. ccRCC tumors exhibit substantial metabolic reprogramming that supports rapid proliferation and survival under fluctuating nutrient conditions. Because of this metabolic dependence, targeting pathways involved in glucose uptake and cellular energy production has emerged as …

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers For Sensitive And Selective Binding Of Pfoa, Nadia Costescu

Liberty University Research Week

This study aims to progress the synthesis of novel fluorinated polymers to detect poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. PFAS are released into the atmosphere as a result of industrial processes and consumer production, and are persistent in the environment. Bioaccumulation in animals and humans occurs through exposure via air, water, and soil, and leads to toxic health effects. Due to their resistance to environmental degradation, alternate methods are needed to detect and remove PFAS from the environment. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic polymers that are designed with regions that bind to specific molecules. They have shown …

Hedging Without Derivatives: A Regime-Aware Framework For Managing Downside Risk In Long-Only Portfolios, Whittman Brown, Birhanu Kramer, Carter Hall, Ryan Natelborg, Walker Lucas

Liberty University Research Week

This study evaluates regime-based allocation strategies for downside risk management in long-only portfolios. Traditional portfolio risk management relies heavily on derivative instruments like protective puts and futures to mitigate downside. However, student-managed portfolios operate under strict regulatory and educational constraints, and lack continuous oversight required for active derivative management. Academic literature on regime-switching models and tactical asset allocation demonstrates that economic regimes influence portfolio returns, yet practical implementation studies for long-only investors remain underdeveloped. Limited empirical work examines whether systematic allocation adjustments based on regime identification provide downside protection comparable to derivative-based hedging strategies. We seek to address the research …

Hope: A Vital Sign In Behavioral Health, Isaac Uehling, Alexis Lykins, Jade Gordon, Kelsey Messer

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Geographic Variation In Cardiometabolic And Nutrition-Related Health Indicators Across Rural Communities In Guatemala And Honduras, Grace Sibert

Liberty University Research Week

Chronic diseases and nutritional deficiencies are increasing public health concerns in rural and underserved communities in Central America, where limited access to preventive care and routine health screening contributes to undiagnosed risk. This study examined the prevalence and geographic distribution of cardiometabolic and nutrition-related health indicators across rural communities in Guatemala and Honduras. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of community health screening data collected from 2021 and 2023–2025. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, hemoglobin, and blood pressure. Overweight was defined as BMI 25.0–29.9, obesity as BMI =30, elevated blood glucose as =140 mg/dL, hypertension as systolic =140 …

Court Case

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Clipping on court case involving Judge A. L. Crouch and Mr. Borghesi, who was supposed to be hospitalized for observation. Mr. Borghesi was not admitted allegedly due to sheriff's deputies, Morning May 19, 1965.

Court Case

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Clipping on Judge A. L. Crouch ordering the arrest of Sheriff's Deputy Lee Sweet for contempt of court, June 10, 1965.

Election

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Clipping on which candidates will be running for County Clerk, 1962.

Re-Election

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Multiple clippings on Mel Faulk's plans for re-election for County Clerk, 1962.

Re-Election

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Letter to Warren C. Cowen with information about re-electing Ben Ramsey for Lieutenant Governor.

57th Legislature Roster

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Roster for the 57th Legislature with committees for the state of Texas for the 1961-1962 year.

56th Legislature Roster

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Roster for the 56th Legislature with committees for the state of Texas for the 1959-1960 year.

55th Legislature Roster

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Roster for the 55th Legislature for the state of Texas for the 1957-1958 year.

56th Legislature Roster

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Roster for the 56th Legislature for the state of Texas for the 1959-1960 year.

53rd Legislature Roster

Warren C. Cowen Papers

Roster for the 53rd Legislature for the state of Texas for the 1953-1954 year.

The Proceedings Of Great Day Volume 17, Liam Berger, Ella Singer, Gabrielle Houde

Proceedings of GREAT Day

From welcoming our new president to the excitement of A Whale of a Time festival, this was a year of collaboration and new allies expressing the spirit of the liberal arts. This issue of The Proceedings of GREAT Day highlights that same spirit through works addressing the role of religion in dismantling inequality, exploring the exciting world of knots and integrals, and investigating the past (and present) of our very own campus. Delve deeper into the GREAT work of SUNY Geneseo’s students in this year’s issue of The Proceedings of GREAT Day.

Evaluating Social Vulnerability In Livingston County, Ny, Charles Canero Iii, Daniel Noone

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Social vulnerability refers to the differential capacity of communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from adverse events such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, and economic disruptions. While national indices like the CDC/ATS-DR Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) offer standardized frameworks to quantify this concept, their application often overlooks critical intra-county disparities, especially in rural areas. This study applies the 2022 SVI dataset to analyze social vulnerability in Livingston County, New York—a predominantly rural county in upstate New York. We integrate geospatial analysis, correlation matrices, and Lasso-regularized regression to assess how vulnerability varies across census tracts and to identify …

Rochester Elementary Schools: Progress, Challenges, And The Path To Equity, Aimee Maoriello

Proceedings of GREAT Day

How does the first city in New York State to desegregate its schools now present one of the most segregated school districts in the nation? This capstone thesis investigates the persistent achievement gaps in Rochester’s elementary schools, examining the long-lasting impacts of redlining, blockbusting, and racial covenants on educational outcomes of young learners today. Since its incorporation in 1834, Rochester’s residential demographics have shifted dramatically, resulting in a diverse population. The post-WWII migration to northern cities contributed to an explosive growth in the Black population by over 2,000% in Rochester. This demographic shift—while vital to the city’s cultural fabric—created challenges …

"What A Mensch Does Is Fight For Justice:" Judaism, Activism, And Agency In The Civil Rights Movement, Ethan Harris

Proceedings of GREAT Day

While it is commonly known that the Jewish community was a major contributor to the United States Civil Rights Movement, much of the historiography focuses exclusively on the eventual fall of the Black/Jewish alliance. These gaps fail to encompass the unique nature of the Jewish activist experience, let alone their contributions in progressing African American equality. This project aims to provide insight into the nuances of Jewish involvement in the movement, as well as highlight how many Jews employed their religious traditions to inspire years of successful activism. Additionally, there is a call to action for public education to include …

The Role Of Actuarial Discretion In Discrimination In Auto Insurance, Michael Abrams

Proceedings of GREAT Day

In today's auto insurance industry, rate discrimination against people of color and lower-class individuals is rampant, but unseen by those outside of the industry. This is due to the proliferation of individualist perceptions of the operations of the auto insurance industry among social scientists and legal scholars in calculating insurance rates. It operates on the basis of risk calculation, backed up by actuarial measures that serve to single out minorities living in low-income areas. Driving history, insurance history, zip code, homeownership, and credit are among the most common measures used by insurance companies to calculate insurance rate, are shaped by …

Cholera, Community, And Commiseration: A Social Historical Look At The 1854 London Cholera Epidemic, Emily Meisenzahl

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Although people are most impacted by epidemics, a majority of the existing scholarship on Victorian London, public health, and the London cholera epidemics are based in political and economic history rather than lived, bottom-up narratives. The scholarship on the 1854 cholera epidemic, for instance, almost exclusively centers physician John Snow and largely ignores social history. Therefore, my thesis builds upon and contributes to these existing fields by focusing on the lived experience of the 1854 cholera epidemic among everyday urban residents. Through this paper, I intend to highlight how Londoners utilized letters and petitioning, Punch Magazine, and the “To the …

Icu Decision Tool Impact On Rebound Hyperglycemia, Daniel J. Donovan, Emily Highsmith, Sonya Khan, Michelle Horng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Hyperglycemia, defined as a blood glucose level ≥180 mg/dL in the hospitalized patient, is linked to negative outcomes including longer hospital stays, increased infection risk, and higher morbidity and mortality rates. In addition to critically ill patients with diabetes, hyperglycemia can develop in individuals without diabetes due to factors such as steroid use, continuous tube feedings, and an elevated stress response. Patients who have uncontrolled hyperglycemia are often placed on continuous insulin infusions (CII), but rebound hyperglycemia frequently occurs after CII discontinuation if the maintenance insulin regimen (MIR) is insufficient. Implementation of a MIR decision support tool integrated within an …

Metabolite Profiling Of Chamaelirium Luteum (False Unicorn) Roots And Related Commercial Products By Hptlc And Lc-Msms, Wendy Strangman, Wilmer Perera, Wilmer Perera

Oxford ICSB

Throughout history, medicinal plants have been used as herbal treatments in women’s health.  However, they remain poorly characterized at the chemical level, limiting standardization and safety assessment. Chamaelirium luteum (false unicorn), traditionally used for reproductive health in the Eastern United States, has previously been shown to possess both conventional steroidal saponins as well as more rare open-chain saponins whose bioactivities are largely unexplored. Incorporation of C. luteum into commercial products, and subsequent overharvesting of wild populations has increased the urgency for robust methods to verify authenticity and detect adulteration. In this study, we coupled HPTLC-based profiling with detailed LC-MSMS analyses …

Short Time, Lasting Impact: Teaching Pediatric End-Of-Life Care In One Day, Mckenzie Taliaferro

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Background: Pediatric nurses working in specialities that experience end-of-life, death, and post-mortem care, often feel unprepared for the emotional toll and lack adequate support systems (Camera et al., 2024). Nurses report feeling under prepared due to a lack of hands-on opportunities before graduation (Richoux, et al., 2022).  Pediatric death is a traumatic experience for families and nurses. Previous studies have shown that hands-on education increases nurses' confidence in caring for patients at the end of their lives (Cole & Foito, 2019; Noyes et al., 2023).

Method: A one-day, hands-on workshop on pediatric end-of-life was created and offered to nursing students …

Dynamic Structural Load Identification, Sam Kim

Liberty University Research Week

Structural Health Monitoring is a critical tool for analyzing infrastructure resilience. However, measuring dynamic external loads, such as wind, traffic, or seismic activity, remains a major engineering challenge. In order to address this “Inverse Problem” in structural dynamics, this study proposes a deep learning-based approach for structural load identification. To precisely reconstruct unknown force histories from vibration responses, a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture is created. Convolutional layers can filter raw data, and LSTM takes the refined features from the CNN and reconstructs the time-history force distributions. Combined, these two methods create an effective …