Digital Commons Network^™

Transfer Learning With Resnet Architectures For Leukemia Detection From Microscopy Images, John Fayek

Liberty University Research Week

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer, accounting for approximately 30–34% of childhood cancer diagnoses. Early detection is critical for improving survival outcomes; however, many resource-limited settings lack access to advanced diagnostic technologies such as flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis. Manual microscopy remains widely used but is time-consuming and subject to inter-observer variability, limiting diagnostic efficiency and consistency. This study evaluates the effectiveness of transfer learning using pre-trained ResNet architectures for automated classification of leukemia cells from microscopy images, with a focus on the impact of model depth and fine-tuning strategies. Using the C-NMC Challenge dataset (10,661 …

Bitten: A Survey Of Tick-Borne Diseases, Maggie Milhorne, Sara Grant, Tristan Davis, Alan L. Gillen

Liberty University Research Week

Tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the United States, particularly in the region of Central Virginia. Ticks carry parasites (Babesia), bacteria, viruses, and toxic sugars (alpha-gal) that can be transmitted during blood meals. Lyme disease, caused by the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in the Eastern United States. Symptoms are flu-like with a characteristic bullseye rash (erythema migrans). Recently, the prevalence of Alpha-gal syndrome has risen in Central Virginia, marked by an allergic response to the alpha-gal sugar molecule, which is present in red meat. Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills is credited with discovering Alpha-gal syndrome and …

Exploring The Mandelbrot Set In Real Algebras, Shane Weimar

Liberty University Research Week

The Mandelbrot set is a fractal in the complex plane. Its boundary is chaotic, and very difficult to determine completely. In recent years, mathematicians have put considerable effort into understanding the Mandelbrot set, since understanding the Mandelbrot set would give insight into how fractals and chaos work in general. However, very little research has been conducted into the Mandelbrot set in abstract algebras. This research will categorize some of these algebras and compute the Mandelbrot set in them.

When Microbiology Meets Public Health: Exploring Metabolites From Dictyostelium Discoideum For Infection Control, Rebekah Figuereo

Liberty University Research Week

Background: The social amoeba, slime mold, formally known as Dictyostelium discoideum, produces novel chlorine-containing antimicrobial compounds that can be used to improve antimicrobial resistance by targeting and preventing bacterial spread by inhibiting bacterial growth. This bridges microbiological discoveries with public health applications, thereby strengthening infection control strategies. Current research connects the slime mold to infection recovery/intervention/control.1

Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles, biochemical databases, and experimental findings was conducted. Scientific databases featured PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Chemical Abstracts Service, ScienceDirect, and Scopus.

Results: Metabolites produced by Dictyostelium discoideum demonstrated antimicrobial activity by inhibiting bacterial growth, including …

National Trends And State-Level Correlates Of Medications For Opioid Use Disorder Utilization Among Treatment Admissions In The United States, 2014-2023, Prince Osei Sarpong, Emmanuel Owusu, Manasvi Shiyani, Michael Ago Tetteh, Naa Komley Commey

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) reduce overdose risk and improve retention in care, yet implementation at treatment entry remains uneven across the United States. Study objectives and hypotheses: To examine national and state-level patterns in MOUD use at treatment admission from 2014 through 2023 and to identify state-year characteristics associated with higher utilization. We hypothesized that MOUD use would vary substantially across states and would be lower in state years with greater structural disadvantage.

Methods: A repeated cross-sectional ecological study was conducted using the Treatment Episode Data Set-Admissions public use file. The analytic sample included adult admissions from …

Development Of A Teaching-Laboratory Protocol For The Separation Of Adulterant Compounds Caffeine And Quinine Used In Illicit Drugs, Rachel Boktor

Liberty University Research Week

Adulterant compounds are added to illicit drugs to dilute their potency, mimic their effects, and cheapen production. Adulterants caffeine (21%) and quinine (20%) are most frequently combined with fentanyl. Despite their prevalence, there is limited empirical literature on the physical separation of adulterant mixtures. This study aimed to develop a traditional bench-scale separation scheme for isolating legal adulterants from a binary mixture. We hypothesize that differences in water solubility and extraction behavior of caffeine and quinine would enable their separation into distinct fractions. The separation scheme involved selective dissolution, gravity filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, drying, and solvent removal. Following physical separation, …

Preparatory Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of Ipc Infrastructure Vulnerability After Elc Funding Retrenchment: A Pilot Study Protocol, Komal Jessica Arsin, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Prince Osei Sarpong, Robyn Anderson

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential for preventing healthcare-associated infections and strengthening healthcare system preparedness. Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are particularly vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks due to high-risk resident populations and shared care environments. Federal programs such as the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) initiative have supported IPC workforce development and surveillance systems, but reductions in emergency funding may expose vulnerabilities in IPC infrastructure.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of conducting a mixed-methods evaluation of IPC infrastructure vulnerability among long-term care facilities in Southwest Virginia following ELC funding retrenchment.

Methods: A preparatory mixed-methods pilot study will collect …

Exploring The K-12 Educational Experiences Of First-Generation Hispanic Undergraduate Students, Stephanie Hernandez-Lopez

Liberty University Research Week

Research Question: This qualitative study examines how first-generation Hispanic undergraduate students perceive their K-12 educational experiences and how these shaped their transition into higher education. Method: Through semi-structured interviews with four participants, the research identifies recurring themes, including parental involvement, language barriers, access to resources, motivation, and preparedness for college. These insights contribute to understanding systemic factors behind the achievement gap and inform strategies for more equitable educational support. Conclusion: Overall, the findings show that first-generation Hispanic students’ college readiness is shaped by the combined effects of limited early academic rigor, inconsistent school–family communication, and assumptions about home academic support. …

Quantitative Stewardship Of The Great Commission: A Linear Programming Approach To Missionary Allocation In India, Isaiah Mellace

Liberty University Research Week

This project investigates how linear programming can be used as a decision-support tool to inform missionary allocation across unreached people groups in India. The central thesis is that quantitative optimization methods can help identify regions of greatest unmet need and minimize the number of resources required to complete the Great Commission. Prior work in operations research has demonstrated the effectiveness of linear programming for resource allocation problems in logistics, healthcare, and humanitarian aid; however, such methods have rarely been applied to missiological contexts. Using figures from Joshua Project’s South Asia data, a mixed-integer linear programming model was constructed with assumptions …

Exploring The Changes In First-Year Students’ Self-Regulated Learning From High School To College, Nancy E. Rodriguez, Anna C. Brady

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

During the first semester of college, students experience drastic changes in their independence, and learning strategies. This transitional period from high school to the first semester of college requires researchers to understand students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) processes during their first year. It is important to understand the connection between students’ experiences, learning strategies, and persistence in college. Knowledge on this connection can support funding for institutional resources like first-year seminar classes. These classes can improve students’ commitment for graduating on time, and academic achievement. For this reason, the proposed project aims to investigate students’ engagement in SRL by answering the …

Unmet Needs And Resilience In Internally Displaced Populations (Idps) In Nigeria: Evidence To Inform Humanitarian Interventions, Great Onyedika Okereke, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) face food insecurity, unmet healthcare needs, unsafe living conditions, and trauma, all of which may impact psychological resilience. Hopefulness can serve as a practical proxy for resilience, but few studies examine how cumulative unmet needs affect hopefulness among IDPs. This study explores the association between unmet need severity and hopefulness among IDPs in Nigeria to guide targeted humanitarian interventions.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey data from 98 displaced adults were analyzed. Hopefulness was a binary outcome (hopeful vs not hopeful). The main exposure was a cumulative unmet need score covering food insecurity, unmet healthcare, unsafe living conditions, …

“Welcome To The Next Level:” How Optical Media Revolutionized The Video Game Industry, Schuyler Ogden

Liberty University Research Week

The world of entertainment took the world by storm in the twentieth century, like a hurricane ravaging the gulf coast. The twentieth century brought many forms of entertainment that defined American culture. From sports like football and baseball, to radio shows, to television. Each one of these contributed their fair share of economic progress, but one that proved to have a great impact was the video game industry. Video games have changed drastically in its history, but not as big as the introduction of optical media in the early to mid 1990s, specifically CD-ROMs. CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc Read …

Beyond Nonspecific Low Back Pain - Identifying Mild Scoliosis In A Collegiate Diver: A Type 3 Case Study, Zoey Nelson, Ashley Sennett, John Coots

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Co2 Washout Performance Of Single-Prong And Dual-Prong High-Velocity Therapy, Robert Kacinski

Liberty University Research Week

Computational models were used to investigate the flow in the upper airway during high-velocity therapy delivered via a single-prong or a dual-prong cannula geometry. A temporally varying boundary condition was used to apply a realistic breathing cycle to the base of the trachea. The patient mouth was “closed” to specific percentages by modifying the cross sectional area of a plane in the patient mouth. The total amount of CO2 inhaled, which should be minimized, was collected as a measure of therapy effectiveness. The mass CO2 inhaled was calculated by subtracting the mass of CO2 present in the airway at the …

Where You Live Determines How You Heal: Transportation Barriers And Healthcare Access Across Lynchburg Census Tracts, Shaira Neupane, Alexandra Mixan, Claire Rau

Liberty University Research Week

Background: As a local priority in Centra Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment, transportation in Lynchburg revealed limitations disproportionately affecting low-income, uninsured, and low-vehicle-availability households, contributing to widening health disparities. To understand how these vulnerabilities compound spatially, we examined how income, insurance status, and vehicle availability intersect at the census-tract level to identify where transportation-related barriers to healthcare access are most concentrated.

Methods: We measured socioeconomic indicators, health outcomes, and transportation barriers of 23 census tracts in Lynchburg, Virginia, using ACS 2019-2023 (2024) and CDC PLACES 2019-2023 (2025) data. Composite tract-level vulnerability scores were generated using SAS and classified into high, …

Beyond Labeling: Examining Mpox As A Sexually Transmitted Infection- ¿A Literature Review¿, Rachel Williams, Ashlan Killeen, Eunice Onwuka

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction

Since 2022, Mpox outbreak trends have marked a shift in the epidemiology of the disease which has long been treated as a zoonotic infection. This is due to emerging patterns of cases of Mpox linked with sexual transmission, particularly in non-endemic regions reporting over 100,000 cases across 122 countries. This pattern has raised growing concerns regarding sexual transmission of Mpox necessitating further investigation.

Aim/Objective

This literature review examines current epidemiological, clinical/virological evidence to evaluate Mpox as an STI beyond labelling. and provides foundational context for a forthcoming systematic review examining priority populations affected during the 2022–2025 global outbreak.

Proposed …

Biostatistical Approaches For Early Identification Of Influenza Trends In The United States Using Cdc Surveillance Data, Marcos Oliva Rodriguez

Liberty University Research Week

The aim of this research is to utilize a biostatistical methodology for the purposes of identifying influenza trends during an early stage in the U.S. utilizing national surveillance data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) for the years 2010-2024. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) activity, along with other methodologies including: moving averages to smooth out fluctuations in ILI activity; autoregression models to evaluate temporal dependence in ILI activity; and threshold detection methods to determine when ILI activity reached epidemic levels. The results show that there are strong …

Extended Post-Discharge Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Colorectal Resection: A Marketscan Analysis Of 2017–2021 Surgical Outcomes, Bright Agbotui, Chelsea Mazonde, Grace Sibert, Great Onyedika Okereke, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Maame Yaa Okrah, Michael Ago Tetteh, Miebaka Favour Roberts, Nfn Dangpa Wandji Nana, Prince Osei Sarpong, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Raymond Suonyir

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major cause of preventable postoperative morbidity following colorectal surgery, with a substantial proportion of events occurring after discharge. Although professional guidelines recommend considering extended post-discharge prophylaxis (EPPx) for high-risk patients particularly those with malignancy, substantial comorbidity, or prolonged hospitalization national adoption remains inconsistent. Emerging real-world studies suggest that EPPx utilization is low; however, these investigations have largely focused on cancer-only cohorts or earlier time periods and may not reflect contemporary surgical practice, including increasing use of minimally invasive approaches and wider availability of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). As a result, there is limited understanding …

Bilateral Accessory Plantaris Muscles With Variant Origins And Insertions: A Case Report, Kingsley Ampong, Christian Furno, Faith Ekoh, Jack Kauffman

Liberty University Research Week

The plantaris muscle typically originates at the lower portion of the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and oblique popliteal ligament of the knee joint and inserts medial to the Achilles tendon at the calcaneal tuberosity. The function is unclear as it may be absent in some individuals. If present, the tendon is often mistaken for the tibial nerve, which is why it is known as the “fool’s nerve.” This case study involves the discovery of a bilateral plantaris muscle duplication in an 88-year-old Japanese woman during a routine cadaveric dissection. This deviates from the more common unilateral presence of …

Histological Quality Of Immersion Vs Intravascular Fixation Of Fresh Tissue, Andrew Hodges, Bright Danso, Gretchka Mair, Kingsley Ampong, Rebekah Satalino

Liberty University Research Week

Tissue fixation is a fundamental determinant of histological quality, preserving cellular architecture through protein cross-linking and enzymatic inactivation [6]. Among fixation approaches, intravascular (perfusion) and immersion methods differ significantly in mechanism and outcomes. Perfusion fixation rapidly distributes fixative via the vascular system, often producing more uniform preservation, whereas immersion fixation relies on diffusion, which may result in delayed penetration and heterogeneous tissue quality [5]. Despite these limitations, immersion-based preservation remains widely used in anatomical education and commercial specimen preparation due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness [2]. Reports suggest that fixation quality can influence analyses, including morphology, antigenicity, and staining reliability, …

Honoring Survivors’ Wholeness: Recommendations For University Offices Of Wellness, Maeve Jillian King

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Rates of child abuse are nationally significant, especially after considering how much violence goes unreported. Many college students have experienced sexual violence prior to arriving on campus, where incidents of sexual victimization are prominent. With this in mind, how can university offices of wellness support survivors wherever they are in their journey of survivorship? Previous research rarely considers both realities of victimization, but displays large concerns surrounding survivor’s mental health and educational obtainment. Additionally peer and social support play significant roles in survivor outcomes. This interdisciplinary literature review examines current university practices, mental health realities, and impacts of culture on …

Predicting Diabetes Using Logistic Regression: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Pima Indians Diabetes Dataset, Caroline Andrew, Ibrahim Aliu

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Introduction: Globally, Diabetes affects an estimated 589 million adults and caused approximately 3.4 million deaths equivalent to one death every six seconds, with type 2 diabetes accounting for most cases. The Pima Indians of Arizona have one of the highest documented prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes globally, making their population central to diabetes research. Although the Pima Diabetes Dataset has been widely used in predictive and machine-learning studies, few investigations have applied rigorous multivariable epidemiologic methods to quantify the independent contributions of key demographic and metabolic risk factors. This study aimed to characterize diabetes risk factors and quantify independent …

A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Medieval And Early Modern Iberian Dress, Kennedy Pemberton

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The 15th and 16th centuries represent some of the most historically significant years for the Spanish Kingdom. The Spanish Inquisition, consequent subjugation of the moors, and discovery and conquest of the Americas each display a unique strength and objective of the Spaniards within the late 1400s and early 1500s. As these events altered the world, so too did they alter forms of dress. The integration of Muslims into Spanish society opened the door for Moorish influence in certain elements of Spanish dress, especially regarding decorative elements like embroidery. The conquering of foreign lands provided a wealth of gold, gems, and …

What Is Philosophy For? Reading Wittgenstein After Cavell, Maggie L. Zhang

2026 Claremont Colleges Library Undergraduate Research Award

This literature review examines two major strands of Cavellian scholarship on Wittgenstein, arguing that their relative separation has obscured the insights each offers the other. Cavell’s “therapeutic” reading of Wittgenstein understands his philosophical project not as a theory of language but as an activity aimed at dissolving the philosophical fantasy of such a theory. This approach has been taken up along two largely distinct lines of inquiry: one focused on the Tractatus and the debate between substantial and austere views of nonsense, and another centered on the Philosophical Investigations and its relation to ordinary language philosophy, particularly in light of …

Chattla+ - Can Llms Write Correct Tla+ Specifications?, Eric Spencer

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

TLA+ is a programming language used by companies like Amazon and Microsoft to mathematically prove a system is correct via specifications. We evaluate 30 LLMs on 205 public TLA+ specifications, achieving only 8.6% semantic correctness. Model size doesn't predict quality, DeepSeek r1:8B outperforms it's 70B variant. ChatTLA+, our fine-tuned GPT-OSS-20B model, uses TLC model checking as a path toward reliable formal specification synthesis through reinforcement learning.

​​Accessibility Of Online Health Portals​, Kailey A. Cooper, Nate Dolan, Carly Kreisa, Ayva Peterson, Lindsey Pinter, Helen Prow, Abagail Ripley, Amelia Torgerson

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Winona State University Nursing students partnered with Winona County Public Health to create education for clients related to accessibility, navigating online health portals, and addressing barriers to accessing portals. The project included a community assessment and literature review that outlines health portals and how they are accessed amongst different patient populations. As the healthcare world shifts from paper to online services, online health or patient portals have become increasingly common (Andreadis et al., 2025). Online health portals are used as a communication pathway between healthcare interdisciplinary teams and the patient. Information on these portals includes lab results, communication with providers, …

Public Health Book Club, Ashia Meister, James W. Durst, Ameila Beyer, Kelly K. Freymiller, Julia I. Kunz, Jaci M. Winchell, Josephine M. Sandquist, Chloe F. Sand

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Introduction: This project describes the development and implementation of a book club focused on population health topics to promote learning, discussion, and community engagement. A public library is a safe space to host book club meetings due to its non-intimidating environment. All members of the community are welcome to participate. A book club was hosted on campus for members of the nursing cohort to attend. With a focus on public health, these book clubs build awareness, critical thinking, and community engagement around population health issues. Purpose: The promotion of a book club can improve health literacy in the community by …

Health Education For Caregivers Of Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disability (Idd), Madison M. Conlin, Jack Lux, Megan Hesse, Sadie Olson, Violet Nelson, Christina Chao, Anna Peterson, Johanna Shubert

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Background: Winona State University nursing students partner with Home and Community Options (HCO) during their population health clinical experience. HCO’s mission is to “empower and support people with developmental disabilities,” with a vision of ensuring that all individuals thrive and are valued members of their communities (Home and Community Options, n.d.). The Healthcare Director at HCO identified a need for additional staff education related to common health conditions affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including arthritis, diabetes, and depression or other mental health concerns. In response to this identified need, nursing students developed evidence-based educational strategies to enhance …

Publishing Satori Literary Journal, Shaela Eriksen, Jade Mcelmury, Reagan Roesler, Camden Mcdonald, Jade Mcelmury, Elena Armstrong, Lydia Domaille, Jenifer Frick, Linda Hang, Eva Hodnick, Sarah Huderle, Dylan Jackson, Charlie Lund, Kendra Mcclure, Linda Moua, Callie Sahlstrom, Allen Wedekind

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This poster presentation will cover how ENG 324 created Winona State University's Literary Art Journal, Satori, and its companion, Irotas. Both journals feature works of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and photo submissions. Satori was created by students in the class who worked to solicit submissions and market the journal across campus.  This presentation will also cover the production process and the many logistical aspects of publishing a literary journal.

The process of soliciting submissions included a variety of social media and traditional formats to advertise the Satori submissions. While receiving submissions, the class studied the legal and production processes of book …

A Collaborative Approach To Strengthening Behavioral Strategies To The Arcadia School District, Mallory Arndt, Sada Stanley, Ariana Huntington, Erin Janiszewski, Syndey Graf, Josie Becker, Bailey Ripley, Dana Jones, Gabby Rinowski, Luke Garner, Hailey Schliep

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The School District of Arcadia is lacking mental health resources due to budget cuts from state and federal levels. Mental health needs have become a rising concern in recent years. With that, the guidance counselors, who traditionally supported students' emotional regulation and behavioral needs, became increasingly occupied with Academic and Career Planning requirements, leaving them with limited time to address students' mental health needs. To help address this need, Winona State University nursing students partnered with the district's guidance counselors to develop supplemental emotional management and decision-making skills-building videos that counselors could use during busy periods to support students' coping …