Digital Commons Network^™

Dendroarchaeological Analysis Of Charcoal Fragments From The Byzantine Street In The City Of David, Jerusalem, Mordechay Benzaquen, Dafna Langgut

'Atiqot

The excavation of the Byzantine Street in the City of David, Jerusalem (Area S2) yielded several hundred charcoal fragments from multiple loci, of which 200 specimens were analyzed at the Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Ancient Environments at Tel Aviv University. Preservation was generally good to moderate, and all identified taxa belong to the local Mediterranean Israeli flora. The assemblage is characterized by low taxonomic diversity and is overwhelmingly dominated by conifers, with Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress) and Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) comprising nearly 90% of the analyzed material, suggesting that most of the charcoal derives from construction timbers commonly used …

Historical Development Of Vaccines And The Public's Response, Kristen Montgomery, Samantha Prince Bsn, Rn, Melissa Ealey Bsn, Rn, Jarrad Morelock Bsn, Rn, Shelby Johnson Bsn, Rn, Kokeshia Crosby Bsn, Rn, Stephanies Himes Bsn, Rn, Theresia Hinton Bsn, Rn

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: Vaccines, which have become one of the most important medical accomplishments in the prevention of communicable diseases, have a history that dates to the use of variolation as early as the 11th century. The purpose of this study is to explore the historical development of vaccines and to determine the characteristics that emerged when new vaccines were developed.

Aims: The specific aim of this study is to understand if all vaccines have been received about the same by the general public or if there are certain different or diverse characteristics associated with the introduction of different vaccines.

Methods: A …

The 3-D Apparatus Of Local Ticks: A New Insight Into The Mechanism Of Sensing Hosts And Their Storage Of Pathogens, Sara Grant, Tristan Davis, Maggie Milhorne, Zipporah Nedlock, Jonathan Marks, Alan L. Gillen

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Characterizing B1 B-Cells In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Alyssa Canelo, Victoria Pacheco

Liberty University Research Week

This project tests the hypothesis that developing antibodies specific to zebrafish CD5 and IgM will enable the reliable identification and characterization of B1 B-cells in zebrafish. B1 B-cells play a critical role in autoimmunity across species, yet their functions remain poorly characterized in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish are widely used as a developmental and immunological model organism due to their genetic similarity to humans as well as their transparent embryos. The lack of species-specific antibodies has hindered the study of B1 B-cells in zebrafish.

This project seeks to develop and validate antibodies against zebrafish CD5 and IgM. This will be …

Building Resilience: The Influence Of The Format On The Effectiveness Of News Literacy Messages, Patrick F. A. Van Erkel, Peter Van Aelst, David N. Hopmann, Claes H. De Vreese, Joren Van Nieuwenborgh

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Although academic interest in news literacy messages (NLM) has grown, many questions about them remain unresolved. First, it remains unclear how the format of the NLM influences its effectiveness. Second, we still know little about their long-term effectiveness. To answer these questions, this study conducted a two-wave experiment in Belgium. We compared NLMs in the format of a text, an infographic, and video. We also manipulated elements in the false news article that participants had to evaluate. Our findings show that NLMs are effective and that the effects remain over a middle-long period of two weeks. Second, we find that …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Quality Of Care In Hospital Settings, Sophia Callahan

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The Microbiome In Gynecological Cancers: Implications For Diagnosis And Treatment, Precious Adeoye Oyedokun, Bobola Timothy Oyeleke, Onigbinde Oluwanisola Akanji, Abraham Ololade Oyelaran, Kehinde Philip O, Grace Bosede Akanbi, Philip Olagbede Oyedokun, Marvelous Dasola Oyedokun, Chikezie Chinelo Naomi, Oyeniran Oluwatosin Imoleayo, Roland Eghoghosoa Akhigbe

Michigan Tech Publications

Gynecological malignancies such as cancer of the cervix, ovary, endometrium, vulva, and vagina pose a severe global health burden. Although conventionally attributed to genetic mutation, hormonal imbalance, and chronic viral infection, including high-risk human papillomavirus, recent evidence suggests that the human microbiome plays a central role in their pathogenesis and development. This review summarizes existing evidence that microbial dysbiosis, specifically the depletion of beneficial Lactobacillus species and overrepresentation of anaerobic organisms such as Fusobacterium, Atopobium, and Sneathia, is implicated in carcinogenesis pathways. These include chronic inflammation, immune modulation, loss of epithelial barrier integrity, microbial metabolite toxicity, and estrogen metabolism by …

Improving Pneumococcal Immunization Counseling In Children With Systemic Lupus Erythematous, Sarah Dettmann

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face elevated risk for invasive pneumococcal disease, yet fewer than 10% are estimated to be current on pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) recommendations.

Local Problem: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to develop and implement a standardized pneumococcal immunization screening and counseling process in a pediatric rheumatology clinic.

Method: Three consecutive PDSA cycles guided implemention across a nine-week intervention period using a pre-post quasi-experimental design.

Interventions: A multicomponent strategy was employed, including a PCV decision algorithm, EHR Smart Phrase, PCP referral template, and patient education brochure.

Results: Pre-implementation PCV counseling was documented …

Integrated Vaccine Bundle Procurement Framework, Ming Zhu

Theses

Childhood vaccination is among the most effective public health interventions, yet ensuring affordable access in low-income countries (LICs) remains challenging. Centralized procurement agencies such as UNICEF and Gavi purchase vaccines antigen-by-antigen through competitive tenders which is a practice that fails to capture the affordability gains attainable by coordinating vaccine products into optimized bundles tailored to each child’s complete immunization schedule. This study develops an Integrated Vaccine Bundle Procurement Framework that shifts the unit of procurement from the antigen level to the vaccine product level. The framework formulates the procurement as the construction and selection of child-level immunization bundles, feasible sets …

2026 Urs Program, Kate Votaw

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Final URS Program
April 24, 2026

Ginsenoside-Based Theranostic Agents For Alzheimer's Disease: Implications For Brain Penetration, Cellular Uptake, And Anti-Aging Effects, Hak Soo Choi

Oxford ICSB

Red ginseng and its bioactive constituents, ginsenosides, have long been associated with neuroprotection and anti-aging effects, yet their limited ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and poorly characterized biodistribution have hindered therapeutic translation. To address this, we developed a library of “ginsenoprobes” by conjugating major red ginseng components (Rg1, Rg3, Rb1, Rh2, Rk1, Rg5) and red ginseng extract (RGE) to a zwitterionic near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore (ZW800-1C), enabling real-time tracking of their fate in vitro and in vivo. All ginsenoprobes were purified to >95% homogeneity via preparative HPLC and rigorously characterized for optical properties, including molar extinction coefficients and dye-to-ginsenoside …

A Patient-Centered Framework For Overcoming Barriers In Tuberculosis Care, Owen Newman, Ethan Jerome, John Meade

Liberty University Research Week

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, yet it is both preventable and curable. The disease disproportionately affects populations living in poverty, with significant global impact:

1.23 million deaths in 20241

10.7 million new infections globally1

80%+ of cases in low- and middle-income countries1

~50% of TB households face costs >20% of income1,2

This study argues that TB persists due to social determinants, such as poverty, malnutrition, and stigma, rather than medical limitations alone. We propose a three-domain framework that maps where standard medical care fails the individual: systemic infrastructure, economic burden, and psychosocial isolation. By addressing these three …

2026 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Conference Program

Improving Advanced Practice Provider Knowledge Of Urinary Tract Infection In Geriatric Populations, Ashley Denise Lang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)in the geriatric population present unique diagnostic and management challenges. Improper classification and treatment plans contribute to increased morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality. This Doctor of Nursing staff education aimed to address a gap in Advanced Practice Provider knowledge regarding the differentiation of complicated versus uncomplicated UTIs in the geriatric population. Guided by the John Hopkins evidence-based practice model, a targeted educational intervention was developed and implemented. Evidence synthesis included 20 high-quality articles representing level 1-5 evidence. A pretest, educational PowerPoint presentation, and posttest were used to assess APP baseline knowledge and understanding of the education post-presentation. There …

Relationships Between Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders, Their Guardians, And Expressive Arts Therapy: A Literature Review, Sarah K. Unkefer

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review collects the comprehensive, current research around effective treatment of adolescents with substance use disorder (SUD) and explores ways to provide psychoeducation for the adolescent and their guardians to foster healthy relationships and open communication. This author explores the ways that expressive arts therapy influences treatment and long-term recovery of adolescents with substance use disorders (SUDs) by addressing familial communication and internalized stigma. Previous studies have shown that the current primary reaction from guardians is forcing abstinence, which often damages the adolescent-guardian relationship. Since this is one of the most important relationships in an adolescent’s projected recovery journey, …

Piloting A Scalable Workflow To Identify Drivers Of Mammalian Aging Using C. Elegans, Ariella Lucia Coler-Reilly Colasanti

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The aging population in developed countries has prompted experts to warn of the impending “silver tsunami” of older adults poised to overload already strained healthcare systems. Advanced age is the primary risk factor for most chronic diseases, and the vast majority of the elderly population is diagnosed with at least one such condition, if not several. The field of geroscience has emerged to study the processes responsible for age-related decline and devise methods to reduce this burden. A major branch of geroscience is the genetics of aging, including examining gene expression changes over time as well as exploring how genetic …

Investigating The Intra-Host Relationships Of The Microbiota At Multiple Sites, Ariel Jose Hernandez-Leyva

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The human body hosts an abundance of microbial communities that, through complex and multi-faceted interactions, interface with host physiology and help govern health and disease. Many of these interactions are beneficial and help maintain host homeostasis or contribute to the metabolic capacity of the host. Some are detrimental, potentially inducing or further exacerbating disease. All are complicated by the vast diversity of microbes that comprise the microbiota at any given site. Identifying microbes or microbial functions that influence health and disease for study and potential use as biomarkers is tantalizing, though difficult. The vast diversity of potential community compositions, redundancy …

Detection Of The Presence And Growth Of E. Coli Bacteria In A Droplet-Based Microfluidic System Using Laser Induced Fluorescence, Oshira Peiris

Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance is a biomedical event, wherein an infectious microbe becomes non-responsive to the dosage of a particular antibiotic due to previous overuse or overexposure. Currently, agar plate disc diffusion is used as the gold standard for detecting antimicrobial resistance. The possibility of miniaturizing and speeding up detection techniques for antimicrobial resistance is investigated in this thesis. Microfabrication techniques were used in developing two droplet microfluidic systems interfaced with laser induced fluorescence detection. Microfluidic devices were manufactured with different droplet generating geometries using poly-dimethyl siloxane, soft lithography and hydrophobic surface treatment. The microfluidic devices were tested for droplet quality using …

Using Geospatial Environmental And Income Variables As Predictors Of Diabetes In Appalachia, John Kunicki Huth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes remains disproportionately prevalent in Appalachia, and macroenvironmental contributors remain poorly understood. Guided by spatial epidemiology, this quantitative, cross-sectional ecological study examined whether county-level environmental factors including distance to mine, distance to landfill, distance to water, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, forest classification, distance to impervious surface, and median income were independently and collectively associated with diabetes cases per capita in West Virginia, used as a surrogate for Appalachia. Research questions addressed environmental predictors of diabetes cases per capita with and without controlling for median income. Publicly available county-level data from 53 West Virginia counties representing adults aged 20 …

Construction And Characterization Of Novel Mycobacterium Tuberculosis-Derived Triple And Quadruple Knockout Vaccines Against Tuberculosis, Omar Garnica, Raja Veerapandian, Kishore Das, Abhishek Mishra, Varsha Rawat, Areanna Carmona, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Jessica Chacon, Shrikanth S. Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly disease that claims the lives of over a million people each year worldwide. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine has long been used to protect against TB, but it produces variable effects across different populations and fails to protect against adult pulmonary TB. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative vaccines that can offer better protection. We have developed a strategy for the rational deletion of virulence-related genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to create hyperattenuation that also enhances immunogenicity. Previously, we generated both single (∆fbpA) and double knockout (DKO) (∆fbpA-∆sapM) mutants of …

The Putative Dash Complex Gene Dcm1 Influences Ph Adaptation And Virulence In Cryptococcus Neoformans, Cate Plaisance

Liberty University Research Week

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes lethal cryptococcal meningitis in immunocompromised individuals, such as the AIDS community or those who are undergoing cancer treatment. The yeast is responsible for around 19% of all AIDS related deaths annually and has been classified among the highest ranked fungal pathogens on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL). Antifungal resistance has stimulated increasing concern with C. neoformans. The primary route of infection is the inhalation of basidiospores from environmental reservoirs such as bird droppings and tree detritus. Germination of the basidiospores and survival of yeasts within the …

Vaccine Or No Vaccine? A Sudden Rise In Ancient Diseases, Krista Coipel, Atika Ali, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Naa Komley Commey

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction/Background: In recent years, numerous vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and polio, that were previously deemed controlled or eradicated have reappeared in different communities. The decline in vaccination rates, fueled by misinformation, obstacles to access, and vaccine hesitancy, presents an escalating threat to public health. This study investigates the connection between vaccination behaviors and the resurgence of these "ancient" diseases, within the framework of the Healthy People 2030 objectives.

Methods: Peer-reviewed journal articles, public health surveillance reports, and policy documents were systematically gathered through academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO and CDC/WHO repositories. Search terms employed included …

Rapid Challenges In Infectious Disease And Mosquito-Borne Parasite Detection, Carrington Vines

Liberty University Research Week

This project examines the diagnostic challenges facing "frontier" labs in regions like Lynchburg, VA, and rural Alaska. It contrasts the "Old Guard" (manual microscopy) with the "New Guard" (PCR/ELISA), highlighting a performance jump from 70% to 98% sensitivity. However, this precision is met by a "Financial Reality" check: costs spike from $10 to over $150 per test, creating a barrier for low-volume rural clinics. To bridge this gap, the study proposes Vector-Informed Care—using mosquito surveillance as an early warning system to deploy expensive molecular tools efficiently. Grounded in the biblical mandate of the "Watchman" (Ezekiel 33:7), this hybrid strategy ensures …

Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Efficacy And Reducing Urine Contamination Through Simulation In The Ed, Kimberley Strong

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Urine specimen contamination in emergency department settings contributes to diagnostic inaccuracies, unnecessary antibiotic use, increased healthcare costs, and decreased patient satisfaction. This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a simulation-based educational intervention on staff knowledge, self-efficacy, and urine specimen contamination rates among emergency department nurses and patient care technicians with less than six years of clinical experience in a rural Texas hospital. The aim of this project was to enhance knowledge and self-efficacy while reducing contamination rates over a six-week period. The project was guided by Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory as the theoretical framework, supported by Lewin’s Change Theory, …

Cosmopolitical Trans-Temporalities: Relational Landscapes, Shamanism And Indigenous Futurism In Southeast Asia, Ivan Tacey

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

In Southeast Asia, Indigenous worlds have long been shaped through entanglements with outsiders. But how do such relations intersect with shamanic, place-making, and mythopoetic practices? This paper explores how the cosmopolitical engagements of the Batek of Malaysia unsettle colonial mappings of land, history, and identity, while creating space to contest environmental degradation, economic marginalisation, and political exclusion. It traces how origin myths are tied to land claims, how animist imaginations echo pre-colonial and colonial encounters, and how cosmopolitical practices appropriate foreign imagery and transform traumatic histories. Rather than viewing Indigenous actors as locked in the past–or cosmopolitics as a clash …

Gathering Places: Indigenous Resources, Economies, And Diplomacy In The Northeastern Great Plains, 1650 – 1806 Ce, Matthew D. Busch

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Centuries before European arrival in the Great Plains region of North America, Indigenous exchange networks connected people within the continental interior to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf Coast. Throughout this vast Native Space, Indigenous peoples sought new resources and opportunities to create sustainable and successful lifeways by harnessing the spiritual, economic, and political power of place as they journeyed across the landscape.

The Coteau des Prairies centrally located between the Missouri, Mississippi, and Hudson's Bay watersheds within the Northeastern Great Plains represents a unique place of power. This imposing glacially modified landscape characterized by numerous lakes, fertile …

Hydatid Cyst In The Right Ventricle Leading To Tricuspid Stenosis And Heart Failure: A Case Report, Muhammad Sheraz Hameed, Syed Rafay Hussain Zaidi, Shafaq Saleem, Muhammad Ahsan, Sarah Rahman, Azeen Razzaq, Ali Iqbal, Muhammad Sohaib Alvi, Muhammad Usama Naveed

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Cystic hydatid infection is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus, most commonly involving the liver and lungs. Cardiac involvement is rare, accounting for less than 2% of cases, with the left ventricle being the most commonly affected site. Involvement of the right ventricle is extremely uncommon and may lead to life-threatening complications such as tricuspid valve obstruction and hemodynamic compromise.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of a 42-year-old patient who presented to the emergency department with exertional dyspnea, hemoptysis, chest pain, syncope, peripheral edema, and signs of right-sided heart failure. The patient …

First Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Tennessee Women By Month Of Conception And Urbanization Level: March 2021 – November 2021, Claudia Valenzuela, Anne K. Driscoll, Elizabeth Harvey, Heather Wingate

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination coverage was lower for the general population living in rural counties than in urban counties. In Tennessee (TN), COVID-19 vaccinations became available to pregnant women in March 2021. Little is known about rates of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy during the pandemic, or whether these rates changed or differed by urbanization level.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe COVID-19 vaccination rates among pregnant women in TN by month of conception and urbanization level.

Methods: COVID-19 vaccination data from the TN Immunization Information System and the TN Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers …

Infective Endocarditis Hospitalizations In Kentucky, 2008-2018: Spatial And Temporal Trends, Meera Marji, Steve Browning, W. Jay Christian, Richard Charnigo, Steve W. Leung, Anna Kucharska-Newton

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) hospitalization rates have increased significantly in the last decade, primarily due to the opioid epidemic. In 2016, Kentucky (KY) ranked among the top ten states for opioid-related overdose deaths, but limited data exist on IE trends in KY.

Purpose: This study seeks to examine county-level spatial and temporal trends in IE hospitalization rates in KY.

Methods: Hospital inpatient discharge data from 2008–2018 for KY residents aged 18 and older were analyzed. IE admissions and drug use status were identified using ICD-9 & 10 diagnosis codes. U.S. Census data calculated yearly IE hospitalization rates per 100,000 residents. …

How Do Individual And Environmental Covariates Impact The Immune Response Of Deer Mice In Western Montana, Rachel A. Throckmorton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Sin Nombre Virus (SNV) is an exceptional model system for studying wildlife disease because of how simple it is to capture, take samples, and obtain disease status from the primary host. Immune response is an important factor to consider when testing for SNV because it can affect susceptibility of the host as well as transmission of the virus. We examined individual and environmental conditions that may influence immune response and therefore possibly SNV transmission in wild populations. We investigated whether SNV infection status, reproductive status, sex, and season influenced immune response through examining total white blood cell (WBC) counts and …