Digital Commons Network^™

Lived Experience And Disability Justice In The Family Regulation System, Sarah H. Lorr, L. Frunel

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Annual Report Of The Wally Cordes Teaching And Faculty Support Center For The Year Ended…, 2022, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Wally Cordes Teaching And Faculty Support Center

Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center Annual Report

No abstract provided.

The Rise Of 5g Technology: How Internet Privacy And Protection Of Personal Data Is A Must In An Evolving Digital Landscape, Justin Rabine

Catholic University Journal of Law and Technology

No abstract provided.

Energy Grid Decarbonization: A Tale Of Resistance And Compliance In Florida, Rachel Tennant

Mitchell Hamline Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice

No abstract provided.

Rationalization Of The Laboratory Diagnosis For Good Management Of Malaria: Lessons From Transitional Methods, Neguemadji N. Ngaba, Imteyaz A. Khan, Namrata Hange, Maria Kezia Lourdes Ligsay Pormento, Manoj Kumar Reddy Somagutta, Ajay Kumar, Youssouf Abdelkerim, Alarangue Djindimadje, Samia Jahan

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Introduction. Malaria is an endemic disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In clinical practice, the main concern is the overdiagnosis of malaria leading to inappropriate drug prescription without laboratory confirmation. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate clinical examination reliability compared with translational laboratory methods of malaria diagnosis. Methods. The study was conducted in Goundi Hospital among hospitalized patients over a seven-month period. Patients were interviewed, and malaria tests done included the Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smears. Diagnostic accuracy was analysed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Results. Among 1,874 participants, 674 (35.96%) patients had positive Giemsa-stained …

Prevalence, Determinants And Outcomes Of Traditional, Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use For Hypertension Among Low-Income Households In Malaysia And The Philippines, Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva, Benjamin Palafox, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Fadhlina Ab-Majid, Farnaza Ariffin, Dina Balabanova, Mohamad-Rodi Isa, Nafiza Mat-Nasir, Mazapuspavina My

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) is used to treat a broad range of conditions. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), TCAM use is particularly common among those with low socio-economic status. To better understand the patterns and impact of TCAM use on the management of non-communicable diseases in these populations, this study examines the prevalence and characteristics of TCAM use for hypertension, its determinants, and its association with hypertension management outcomes and wellbeing among low-income adults in two Southeast Asian countries at different levels of economic and health system development, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Methods

We analysed cross-sectional …

‘Doing’ Hypertension: Experiential Knowledge And Practice In The Self-Management Of ‘High Blood’ In The Philippines, Gideon Lasco, Alicia Renedo, Jhaki A. Mendoza, Maureen L. Seguin, Benjamin Palafox, Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva, Dina Balabanova, Martin Mckee

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Patients’ embodied experiences do not always correspond to the biomedical concepts of particular diseases. Drawing from year-long fieldwork in the Philippines that involved semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and digital diaries, we examine how individuals ‘do’ hypertension through their embodied experiences and the knowledge and practice that emerge from them. Drawing inspiration from Annemarie Mol’s work on the notion of ‘multiplicity’ of disease, our analysis was informed by a commitment to privileging patients’ embodied experiences and the multiple ontologies of hypertension. We find that for patients diagnosed with hypertension in the Philippines, symptoms enact illness; patients rely on their …

‘Loob’ And ‘Labas’: Spatial Constructions Of Safety And Risk Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic In The Philippines, Gideon Lasco, Michael L. Tan, Vincen Gregory Yu

Development Studies Faculty Publications

This article argues that local constructions of risky and safe spaces, as articulated by the notions ‘loob’ (inside) and ‘labas’ (outside), informed popular and political responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, leading to an overemphasis on staying at home and, conversely, a general avoidance or fear of outdoor spaces that was at times reinforced by public health authorities. Practices and policies related to the pandemic response rendered this binary opposition between ‘loob’ and ‘labas’ visible, from regulations concerning the use of personal protective equipment to restrictions of access to outdoor spaces. While this emergent …

Bs Accounting, 2022-23, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Experimental Investigation Of Asphaltene Deposition And Its Impact On Oil Recovery In Eagle Ford Shale During Miscible And Immiscible Co2huff-N-Puff Gas Injection, Mukhtar Elturki, Abdulmohsin Imqam

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

One of the challenges in extracting oil from unconventional resources using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques is the low primary recovery rate, which is caused by the ultra-small permeability of these resources. Consequently, it is essential to investigate gas injection methods to produce the trapped oil in shale formations. However, the injection process can cause asphaltene depositions inside the reservoir, leading to plugging of pores and oil recovery (OR) reduction. There has been limited research on using gas injection techniques to improve oil production in tight/unconventional resources, although carbon dioxide (CO2) and gas-enhanced oil recovery methods have been used …

Correlates Of Health-Related Quality Of Life In Primary Caregivers Of Perinatally Hiv Infected And Hiv Exposed Uninfected Adolescents At The Kenyan Coast, Patrick N. Mwangala, Derrick Ssewanyana, Paul Mwangi, Esther Chongwo, Carophine Nasambu, Vincent A. Kagonya, Gaia Scerif, Charles R. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Mothers and other primary caregivers play a crucial role in looking after perinatally HIV infected, and HIV exposed uninfected adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Day- to-day caregiving in the context of limited instrumen- tal support and added biomedical risk (HIV seropositivity) may expose these caregivers to adverse states of health. Unfortunately, very few studies have examined their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our study documents the HRQoL profile, and associated factors in primary caregivers of perinatally HIV infected, perinatally HIV exposed but uninfected and HIV unexposed/uninfected adolescents aged 12–17 years at the Kenyan Coast.

Methods: This was a …

Psychosocial And Mental Health Challenges Faced By Emerging Adults Living With Hiv And Support Systems Aiding Their Positive Coping: A Qualitative Study From The Kenyan Coast, Moses K. Nyongesa, Carophine Nasambu, Rachael Mapenzi, Hans M. Koot, Pim Cuijpers, Charles R. J. C. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, there is little data on the challenges faced by young people living with HIV tran- sitioning into adult life. Adapting the socio-ecological framework, this qualitative study investigated the challenges faced by emerging adults living with HIV from a rural Kenyan setting. Additionally, the study explored support systems that aid positive coping among these young adults.

Methods: In April 2018, in-depth interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 22 young adults living with HIV (12 females), 18–24 years old, from rural Kilifi, coast of Kenya. Data were analyzed thematically using NVIVO 11 software.

Results …

Promoting Education For Sustainability Through Place-Based Education: A Student Led After-School Program, Briana Lafratte

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Climate change is an unprecedented issue in that it is not only local, but also exists globally and impacts all of life on Earth. Without youth advocates and agents of change, the future progress of climate justice will be futile. However, before being able to become activists and allies for sustainability, students will need to understand the root causes of climate change, especially locally. This research focuses on the promotion of local sustainable resources through place-based education with the ultimate goal of engaging students firsthand in the need for critical environmental stances as well as how to become climate advocates. …

A Comparison Of Fruticose Ground Lichen Composition, Morphology, And Photosynthetic Properties From Open And Closed Pinus Rigida Stands In The New Jersey Pine Barrens, April Wallace

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Ground lichens colonize disturbed soils as pioneer biota, often due to plant removal, but can be replaced successionally by woody plants, like shrubs. Succession may lead to abiotic and biotic changes that impact ground lichens and facilitate their decline as ground cover through effects on morphology, photosynthetic activity, and reproduction as they are overtopped by plants. To understand how the presence of shrubs may influence the community structure of terricolous fruticose lichens in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a field study was carried out to assess species composition and differences in microclimate abiotic variables in shrub covered and open canopy …

Evaluation Of Psychiatric Disorders In College Students At West Chester University: Underlying Genetics And The Effect Of Covid-19, Madison James

West Chester University Master’s Theses

The world is facing a mental health crisis and one of the most vulnerable groups are college-age young adults. The crisis has only been exacerbated by the Sars-CoV2 pandemic (commonly referred to as COVID-19). One way scientists are attempting to deal with the increasing prevalence of psychiatric disorders is through studying their genetics using genome wide association studies (GWAS). Scientists have begun to uncover genetic variants associated with the development and potential treatments for these disorders. This thesis followed a cohort of diverse, college-aged young adults from West Chester University of Pennsylvania both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The …

Investigating The Development Of Alcohol Tolerance By The Opportunistic Pathogen Staphylococcus Aureus, Vaughn Perveiler

West Chester University Master’s Theses

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the use of alcohol-based antiseptics by the general public has greatly increased. While this form of antimicrobial is effective in stopping the spread of both bacterial and viral infections, little research has been conducted in the development of alcohol tolerance by microorganisms or its mechanisms. In this study, experimental evolution was conducted on four separate strains of Staphylococcus aureus to determine if tolerance can develop towards moderate to high concentrations of ethanol. Once ethanol tolerance was established in the evolved populations, whole genome sequencing was performed to identify the potential mutations responsible for the observed …

Development Of Hemic Neoplasia In The Soft-Shell Clam (Mya Arenaria) Along The East Coast Of The United States, Nicole B. Seitz

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Hemic neoplasia (HN) is a bivalve disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal hemocytes that invade solid tissue, similar to vertebrate leukemia, ultimately leading to death. High disease prevalence has been reported in many bivalve populations, yet disease etiology and development remain minimally understood. In this study, nine East Coast populations of soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) were evaluated between 2011-2012 to identify environmental and health factors associated with HN. PCA analysis and statistical testing were used to compare data at and between each population based on HN status. The percentage of organisms with terminal stage 4 HN (76-100% …

Evaluation Of Oasl And Herc5’S Role In The Non-Lytic Clearance Of Influenza A Virus From Club Cells, Steve Crisafulli

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a highly infectious pathogen responsible for causing severe respiratory illness and death in humans and animals worldwide. Due to highly effective strategies to negate host antiviral defenses, IAV leads to the death of nearly all infected cells. Furthermore, IAV induces high levels of genome-damaging oxidative stress within infected cells and suppresses the cellular mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism, thereby inhibiting expression of key antiviral genes, which further contributes to cell death. However, recent studies have demonstrated that a subset of respiratory epithelial cells, called club cells, are able to non-lytically clear IAV and continue to survive …

The Effect Of Ethanol On Cellular Movements And Development In C. Elegans, Caitlin N. O'Connor

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Neural tube development, which gives rise to the central nervous system, is vital to embryonic development. Neural tube defects, like spina bifida, are serious and common congenital defects which can result in life-long medical complications. Folic acid has been used as a preventative measure for neural tube defects and has appeared to decrease the occurrences of neural tube defects. However, the mechanism behind folic acid’s role in neural tube development is unclear. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that ethanol decreases the levels of folates and folate coenzymes in the fetal brain and downregulates folic acid metabolism genes. To better understand the …

Effect Of Metal-Containing Nanoparticles On Bacterial Biofilms And On The Microbiome Of Girardia Tigrina, Azar Saikali

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Anthropogenically-produced nanoparticles are a form of nanotechnology being used in industries including food and textiles. Humans and livestock are frequently exposed to metal-containing nanoparticles (MCNPs), that have been washed into streams and rivers, have been deliberately used in food packaging as antimicrobials, preservatives or for supplementation. The animal microbiome, which consists of a diverse community of microorganisms, provides a number of benefits to the host in terms of nutrition availability, immune support, and can influence behavior. Biofilms of diverse microbes may cause detrimental effects, for instance by causing dental diseases in humans. However, the scientific community has not reached consensus …

Compulsory Conformity In Modern Japanese Culture: An Exploration Of Asexuality In The Works Of Murata Sayaka, Kawakami Mieko, And Kamatani Yuki, Nicholas Colecio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis investigates the representation of asexual individuals in the works of Murata Sayaka, Kawakami Mieko, and Kamatani Yuki, all of whom are contemporary Japanese writers that portray near–suffocating social environments in their depictions of modern-day Japan. Their texts illustrate the augmented demands Japanese society places upon a cross-section of asexual and neurodivergent individuals. Despite the thematic and character–related similarities in their works, I argue that each author presents a unique interpretation of how these asexual individuals interact with—and try to integrate into—wider Japanese society and mainstream culture. Murata's texts demonstrate an unapologetically radical separatism by invoking an idealized queer …

Development Of An Hipsc-Cortical Neuron Long-Term Potentiation Model And Its Application To Alzheimer's Disease Modeling And Drug Evaluation, Kaveena Autar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is commonly characterized by a loss of cognitive function due to the deterioration of neuronal synapses from the presence of senile amyloid beta-42 (Aß42) plaques. Evaluating cognitive deficits caused by Aß42 using human cortical neurons poses a challenge due to sourcing difficulties, and the use of animal models to assess drug efficacy creates biological hurdles from lack of species translatability. Recent advances in induced-pluripotent stem cell technology have enabled the development of mature, human-based cortical neuron models. The development of an hiPSC-cortical neuron differentiation protocol facilitates the exploration of disease onset and functional analysis from a patient-derived …

Investigating Mobility Through An Oxygen Isotope Study Of The Medieval Cemetery At Kilroot, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Hannah Pytleski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Mobility is an important, multifaceted process involving complex interactions of culture, politics, and economics while also intersecting with individual identities, like religion, status, gender, and age. As such, a multitude of people from different origins can comprise a settlement or a community, which may be detectable through biogeochemical assessment. This study employs stable oxygen and carbon isotopic analysis to evaluate evidence for residential mobility within the early to late Medieval Kilroot cemetery (c. 6th to 16th centuries A.D.) at County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site is 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) east of Carrickfergus Castle and the surrounding town, which was …

Spectrally-Based Color Calibration Of Microscopes For Birefringence Analysis, Olivia Feild

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The analysis of colors is omnipresent in forensics. While their use for macroscopic evidence such as soil sees a large amount of research, their correct handling is more challenging when observed under a microscope. Either for hairs or textile fibers, their color (from melanin, dyes or for birefringence analysis) is crucial in being able to compare between fibers found at a crime scene. Typically, color is quantified using a color space, such as RGB, XYZ, L*a*b*, and L*u*v*. Unfortunately, color is very subjective and often difficult to quantify accurately, even using digital detectors. Finding true matches of colors has been …

Fabrication Of Copper Nanoparticle/Graphene Oxide Composites And Reduction Of Copper Oxide Nanowires, Maged Elshatoury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The thesis reports the investigation of producing copper nanoparticle composites with graphene oxides (GO) using poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and copper nanowires through the reduction of copper oxide nanowires using hydrazine. It was discovered that PSS improved the dispersity of GO and increased the absorption of copper ions on GO. An electrochemical reduction of GO/PSS/copper ion dispersion produced copper nanoparticles on GO surfaces. Reducing copper oxide nanowires on copper foils using hydrazine was achieved at a temperature where copper nanowires maintained their nanoscale structures.

The Emotions, Emotional Labor, And Identities Of Korean Teachers Of English, Emily Puckett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Despite being an emotionally charged profession, there is a paucity of research on the roles of emotions and emotional labor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Khong & Saito, 2014; Kocabas¸-Gedik & Hart, 2021; Schutz & Lee, 2014; Zembylas & Schutz, 2009). Furthermore, these concepts and their link to identity formation in nonnative English-speaking teachers (NNEST) have rarely been investigated in local contexts (Song, 2018; Zhang & Zhu, 2008). In order to help fill this gap in literature, this exploratory qualitative study was conducted in Korea with three NNESTs of English employed in private after-school academies. Semi-structured interviews …

Fibropapillomatosis And Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 Dynamics In Juvenile Green Turtles Of The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Usa, Jake Kelley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor-forming sea turtle disease that mainly affects juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in coastal foraging sites. The cause of FP is unclear, but likely involves the putative pathogen chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). The overall dynamics of this disease are poorly understood, in part due to the difficulty of inferring disease and infection statuses of turtles without evidence of FP. In this study, I investigated the FP disease system in juvenile green turtles of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, USA, to better understand disease and pathogen dynamics. First, I developed a hierarchical model for predicting FP …

Signal Enhancement Techniques For Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy Using Fractal Plasmonic Structures, Guntis Rutins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Exploring phenomena occurring at the molecular level is critical to deepen our understanding of the living world. However conventional analytical tools are often limited in both spatial resolution and sensitivity. In this work we evaluate how fractal plasmonic structures can be developed for Surface Enhanced InfraRed Absorption (SEIRA) substrates to boost the infrared fingerprint signal of unknown single entities such as nanomaterials, virus or other biological systems. In this thesis, we present an overview of developments using light-matter interaction to push the limit of spatial resolution and sensitivity (Chapter 1). We discuss technological advances that allow nanoscale infrared spectroscopy despite …

The Use Of Stable Carbon And Nitrogen Isotope Analyses To Examine Diet, Life Course, And Social Identities Among The Meroitic Elite Of Sai Island, Sudan, Rachel Lotze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The focus of this thesis is to learn more about the diets and lives of Nubian individuals who lived on Sai Island during the Meroitic period (250 BC to AD 250) using an approach based in life history, gender, and social identity theory. These individuals were in buried the cemetery 8-B-52.B and they were part of the elite social class. Dietary analysis was conducted by analyzing the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes from bulk samples of human bone collagen. A total of 34 bone samples were analyzed, and 31 of those samples were determined to be well-preserved. These data were …

Analyzing Cut Mark Characteristics On Bone From Chopping/Hacking Tools: Implications For Forensic Analysis, Kelly Mcgehee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Sharp force trauma (SFT) is a mechanism of traumatic injury in which a tool with a pointed or slanted edge impacts the skin and/or bone, producing a penetrating cut mark. Current assessment of forensic and bioarchaeological contexts typically focuses on evaluating and interpreting traumatic injuries to bone due to cutting and stabbing using small, bladed tools, primarily knives and saws. Minimal research focuses on the damage inflicted by a larger class of chopping/hacking tools. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to experimentally evaluate and analyze macroscopic characteristics of chopping/hacking trauma inflicted on pig bones (Sus scrofa domesticus) to determine …