Digital Commons Network^™

Safe-Haven Ignorance: The Epistemic Refugee, Purya Rabet

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

This paper engages with the emerging field of ignorance studies. Per feminist critique, the classic “X knows that p” formulation in epistemology fails to account for the subjectivity and situatedness of X. Building on feminist and critical race theory contributions, this paper puts forward a positive theory regarding resistance to belief-revision. The inquiry concerns the relationship between X’s ignorance and X’s self. This paper interrogates defensive reactions to knowledge and their connection to the narrative sense of self. It introduces “safe-haven ignorance”—a psycho-sociopolitical defense mechanism—which occurs when an individual becomes hostile toward knowledge that contradicts their established self-narrative. This contradiction …

Revealing The Role Of Saccharibacteria (Tm7) In The Oral Cavity And Its Potential Applications In Fighting Gum Disease, Tyrese Ostin-Bordeaux

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

This study explores the physiology of TM7, a mysterious microbe, in preventing gum disease. A literature review of 42 articles examines TM7's interactions with other microbes, deeming the microbe's behavior could help modulate pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity as a probiotic.

Who's Afraid Of Femininity? An Examination Of Hegemonic Masculinity And Envy, Shiloh R. Frost, Emily Shafer

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

The woman's rights movement has made strong progress over the past years, yet strict attitudes on how men and women should behave persist. Manhood is defined as being the polar opposite to womanhood, as any expression of femininity is treated as a threat to its dominant position within gender hierarchy. Research has shown that while women have managed incorporate traditionally masculine roles into womanhood, the same has yet to be done for manhood — specifically in the case of cisgender and heterosexual men. In fact, societal wide disdain towards the femininities persists despite attempts to challenge the gender hierarchy. This …

Social Emotional Learning With Children And Social Cognitive Therapies Used In Treatment For Schizophrenia: What Is The Relationship Between Them?, Lynette Marie Lubiak

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

Why has mental illness in our children let alone society increased so significantly? In this paper I am doing a lit review to understand the need for a structured lesson plan of Social Emotional Learning (S.E.L.) and incorporating some techniques of social cognitive therapies for our children. This will be understood by comparing social cognitive therapies in Schizophrenia treatment that rewires healthy neural pathways from miswired neural pathways that are not functional in schizophrenia and the impact on a person with schizophrenia having difficulties to integrate into society while coping with their illness. I will do this by analyzing Theory …

Phenotypic Characterisation Of Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli Clinical Isolates And Their Susceptibility To Targeted Bacteriophages, Shauna K. Hurley, Laura O'Connell, Michael Callanan, Aidan Coffey

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Abstract:

Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is the one of the biggest threats facing humans and animals in the 21^st century. This has been caused by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics leading to the desperate need for innovative therapeutic alternatives. Research is ongoing regarding the use of bacteriophages as a possible viable antimicrobial agent. However, various limitations exist which hinder their use including their narrow host range. This limitation poses a significant threat to the development of phage therapies as it requires phenotypic characterisation of clinical isolates to ensure compatibility between strains and phage. This study outlines phenotypic characterisation of …

Selecting For Less: How Much Methane Can We Truly Breed Away?, Sean B. Crowley

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background

Genetic selection has potential to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle, but a key challenge is determining how much of the genetic variation in methane traits is independent of traits already targeted in breeding programs, such as feed intake and growth.

Methods

Methane and carbon dioxide emissions were recorded in 1,700 crossbred, indoor-fed beef cattle using Greenfeed systems. Performance data included feed intake, metabolic liveweight, average daily gain, carcass weight, and ultrasound and skeletal traits. Genetic parameters and correlations among traits were estimated using animal linear mixed models to quantify the independence of methane-related genetic variation.

Results

Daily methane …

Exploiting Genomics To Advance Genetic Gain For Reproductive Traits In Sheep, Mujibur Rahman

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Poor reproductive performance has a negative impact on the profitability of sheep production systems with the number of lambs reared highlighted as a key driver of farm profitability. Nevertheless, the genetic improvement of reproductive traits in sheep has been constrained by their low heritability and pleiotropic nature. Understanding the underlying genetic architecture can improve genomic prediction estimates and enhance genetic gain.

This study will utilize large-scale genomic and phenotypic datasets to enhance genetic gain in sheep reproductive traits through four approaches: 1) to determine the effect of inbreeding depression on reproduction, 2) to identify causal variants impacting reproductive performance through …

Sports And Physical Activity Of Poles In The Context Of Good Health And Well-Being As A Sustainable Development Goal, Elżbieta Biernat, Monika Piątkowska, Robert Podstawski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Investing in physical activity (PA) is vital for achieving sustainable development goals. We examine PA trends in Poland using data from Eurobarometer surveys conducted in 2013, 2017, and 2022. In 2022, 64.6% of Poles did not participate in sports, and 41.8% did not engage in non-sport PA. There is a concerning trend of increasing inactivity in sports (Chi²_2022/2017 = 34.64; p < 0.001; Chi²_2017/2013 = 56.98; p < 0.001) and non-sports PA (Chi²_2022/2017 = 18.3, p < 0.01 and Chi²_2017/2013 = 16.95, p < 0.01). Participation in sport and PA is influenced by individual, inter-personal, environmental, political, and global factors. Notably, there is an upward trend in interpersonal (e.g., club membership, volunteering), environmental (e.g., PA in parks/nature, at home), and political (e.g., dissatisfaction with local government actions) factors. Government intervention is crucial and requires: (1) establishment of an institution for leadership and advocacy of PA, (2) adoption of a cross-sectoral approach for a coordinated change, and (3) increased in-vestment in monitoring systems to track the impact of interventions. These actions are essential for fostering a more active and healthier population in Poland.

Psycho-Analysis Will Not Save Us: Reflections On The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis, Victor Dubitans

Middle Voices

Generation Z (born between 1997 – 2012) is characterized as having both unprecedented mental health awareness and unprecedented mental distress. An apparent contradiction with troubling implications for the mental health field: Either the response to the mounting crisis has been insufficient or the field forms part of the problem. Taking seriously Wilks’ (2023) criticism of “therapeutic overreach” of the contemporary mental health field in the lives and development of youth, this paper attempts a selfanalysis and moral inventory about the field’s potential complicity in the crisis and in the history of hysteria. Lacan’s writings on the “analyst’s discourse” are considered …

An Evaluation Of The Monospot Test To Diagnose Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Infectious Mononucleosis (Ebv-Im), Patrick Naughton

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

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Abstract

Aim

To calculate the performance characteristics of the Clearview^® IM II Monospot [heterophile antibody (HA) test] to determine Infectious Mononucleosis associated with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV-IM) in clinically suspect patients.

Methods

The laboratory results of 420 patients tested for HAs over a two-year period (2018-2019) in a single testing centre in Ireland were analysed. A novel multivariant test (reference) model was designed to determine true positive and negative EBV-IM cases. A cohort of 50 Monospot results were compared against this reference model and the test’s performance characteristics determined.

Results

The Monospot test proved reasonably specific but insensitive …

Uncompelling Uniformity, Jacob Sandler

Florida Law Review

When the potential for a circuit split arises, courts face competing values in determining the best course of action. A circuit may strive to balance consistency, predictability, uniformity, and correctness, among other values. But balancing uniformity and correctness is beyond the circuit’s remit; to engage in it frustrates the constitutional structure and congressional design of the federal judiciary. In other words, it is an illegitimate form of adjudication. Contemplating uniformity between circuits throws courts into the world of policymaking, a domain rightly reserved for the political branches.

By prioritizing uniformity, courts not only overstep their bounds but also introduce additional …

The Effect Of Finasteride On Parity Rates In Drosophila Melanogaster, Trey Bruno, Carly Turner, Michael Guildin, Carol Mitchell, Dominic Sandell, Alesha Fleming

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Finasteride has been used to treat male pattern baldness and benign prostate hyperplasia and could potentially treat female pattern baldness and polycystic ovary syndrome. The impact on reproduction in female patients who are taking or have taken finasteride is unknown. Using drosophila melanogaster as a model, this study was designed to investigate the impact of finasteride on female fly reproduction and their offspring. The female flies in this study will be fed dosage equivalents of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 5 mg of finasteride, along with a control group of females who consume no finasteride. The flies will be allowed …

Updates In Cryopreservation And Assisted Reproductive Techniques, Maha Abd Aljabbar Al-Sammak

BioMed Visions Journal

Cryopreservation is a crucial part of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that has developed to maintain gametes and embryos viable for long periods of time. Recent technological developments, such as vitrification and innovative cryoprotectant that have significantly raised pregnancy success rates and enhanced embryo viability are highlighted in this review. The integration of state-of-the-art technology like single-cell sequencing is explored, and persistent issues with genetic stability and cryoinjury are addressed. The necessity for strong international regulations is emphasized in the discussion of ethical issues, especially those pertaining to the long-term storage and use of embryos. These developments are influencing the direction …

In Silico Screening For Computational Exploration Of Interactions, Synthesis, And Comparative Evaluation Of Novel Furan-2-Quinolone Derivatives As Potent Anticoagulants, Karm A. Khalaf, Noor A. Majeed, Adnan O. Omar

BioMed Visions Journal

There is an urgent need for the design and development of new and safer drugs for the treatment of (Blood coagulation). New derivatives of furan-2-qoinoline as anti-coagulation drug bearing furan, quinolone, were synthesized with the aim of developing new drug inhibitors (Factor Xa enzyme) respectively. In our study, synthesis of the new organic compounds derived from Furo-2-quinolone substituted by treated with ammonia derivatives like hydrazine, give K6, and (1-Amino-4,6-dimethyl furo[3,2-g] quinoline-2-one) K6 then react with Formaldehyde to form K6a. And evaluated their effects on coagulation in the docking (MCULE). then compared this compound, with the Rivaroxaban. compound give the result …

Experiences Of Mother-Special Educators With A Disabled Child: A Narrative Inquiry Analysis, Estyr Bomgardner

Theses and Dissertations

Women who are both special educators and mothers of one or more children with disabilities are uniquely positioned in both mothering and disability discourse. In narratives about mothering, having a child with a disability shifts the mothering discourse away from meeting the expectations of good mothering towards deficit-oriented perspectives of both the mother and their child. In narratives about disability, mothers are expected to align with broader societal views that disability is a problem that needs to be fixed. In this study, I used a narrative inquiry approach to ask mothers and special educators to share their stories about mothering, …

First-Year Experience Peer Mentors And Theory Of Generativity; A Generic Qualitative Study, Marie Haughton Flocco

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention is an intricate dilemma for all institutions of higher education. While college enrollment continues to increase, degree completion rates are not keeping pace. Research shows that most students who drop out of college do so during the first year of enrollment. In an effort to address student retention during the first year and ultimately increase completion rates, colleges and universities invest significant resources in what has become known as First-Year Experience (FYE). Peer mentoring programs, in particular, are often an essential aspect of FYE programming because of the successful outcomes reported by mentees. This generic qualitative study diverges …

From Assistance To Impact: The Expanding Role Of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants In Higher Education, Erin Measom

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is presented in a three-article format. It explores the evolving role of undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs) in higher education, with a particular focus on how they facilitate interaction, engagement, and student success in online courses. As higher education institutions expand online learning and seek innovative ways to enhance student support, UTAs have emerged as key players in bridging the gap between students and instructors. The first article provides a scoping review of the literature on UTAs, tracing their historical evolution and examining their expanding role. While traditionally viewed as logistical or grading assistants, UTAs are increasingly taking on …

Investigation Of Isobaric Mixing As A Mechanism For Boundary-Layer Cloud Formation, Jaemin Yeom, Nithin Allwayin, Virendra P. Ghate, Katia Lamer, Fan Mei, Raymond A. Shaw

Michigan Tech Publications

This study investigates the potential role of isobaric mixing in the formation of marine boundary layer clouds. Cloud formation theory emphasizes uplift and adiabatic cooling, but recent observations support the existence of small clouds forming at various altitudes, even below the lifting condensation level. Isobaric mixing of air with different thermodynamic properties can generate localized supersaturation. A Gaussian mixing model is employed to simulate this process, considering the correlation between temperature and water vapor. Cloud droplet size distributions from aircraft measurements show a persistent and prominent mode of small droplets at 9 (Formula presented.) m, and the size of this …

Culture Wars In The Icu: When Medicine And Religion Collide, Ami Darby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overarching aim of this dissertation is to contribute to the research gap by investigating the experiences of Christian SDMs by asking two core questions: (1) Do covariates (Gender, Age, Education) and Religion predict satisfaction with care? and (2) Do covariates (Gender, Age, Education) and Religion predict satisfaction with decision making? This study contributes to the academic literature by addressing the gap in literature regarding the ICU experiences of Christian SDMs, and it extends John Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Theory (MST) to include its limitations in its failure to capture the political landscape within healthcare systems and the effect of institutional …

Understanding The Challenges And Needs Of Postpartum Soldiers In Fitness Training, Sarah Elizabeth Eaton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Postpartum females are consistently faced with unique challenges within the military setting. Prior studies have illustrated increased risks of musculoskeletal injury and psychological distress in military postpartum females due to insufficient recovery time and inconsistent unit support (Acton, 2021; Armitage et al. 2014; Darroch et al., 2023). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Army postpartum females, aged 18-45, who have delivered over 36 weeks, either vaginal or cesarean, who have given birth within the last two years, as they navigate the physical and psychological challenges of preparing for the Army Combat Fitness Test …

The Call (And Aftermath) Of The Void: Understanding Suicide Loss And Bereavement Processes Amongst Student Populaces, Saraha K. Brawner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Each year, over 800,000 people die via lethal self-harm, leaving behind millions of survivors to navigate qualitatively unique manifestations of grief. Despite the profound psychosocial and psychopathological effects associated with suicide loss, research addressing these experiences remains extremely limited. This quantitative survey study examined the relationship between suicide loss and grief-related distress among students, focusing on sociodemographic, psychosocial, and psychopathological factors influencing bereavement over time. It also explored how the individual learned about the suicide and expanded upon 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree relationships. Forty-one participants recruited from universities and mental health organizations across the United States completed a loss summary/death …

The Procrastinating Perfectionist: Examining Task Self-Efficacy & Procrastination Types On Life Task Performance, Michelle Lynn Capozzi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Perfectionism is a personality trait that can manifest either adaptively or maladaptively, typically developing during childhood and adolescence. Less research has examined perfectionistic adjustment issues in adulthood compared to childhood and adolescence. Research indicates that adult perfectionists tend to procrastinate on tasks related to academia and job settings. However, little is known about passive and active procrastination types among adult perfectionists when completing life tasks. Since self-efficacy can produce motivation, adult perfectionists may be more or less likely to procrastinate based on how they perceive their capabilities. This study examined how perfectionism types (maladaptive, adaptive, non-perfectionist) impacted life task performance …

Electro Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Etms) Effects On Pharmacoresistent Sleep Disorders Using A Quantitative Electroencephalogram (Qeeg), Sarah Diane Dean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following quantitative correlational study investigated the effects of eTMS on individuals with pharmacoresistant sleep disorders using a qEEG. This research measures the dimensions of anxiety, depression and quality of life (QoL) as it relates to untreated secondary diagnosis. Additionally, this research examines the activity level of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in relation to eTMS treatments. It was found that correlation with anxiety (rs = -.466, p < .001), depression (rs = -0.556, p < 0.001), quality of life (rs = -.436, p < .001), and sleep disturbances (rs = -0.452, p < 0.001), have a statistically significant negative correlation with dlPFC activity level. Finally, it was found that eTMS does have a statistically significant relationship with sleep disturbances as well as anxiety, depression and general quality of life (U (195) = 4647, p = .971). This is important to the field of neuroscience as it provided a more precise form of individualized neuromodulation through the use of a uncommon type of transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Proceedings Of The Cuny Games Conference 11.0, Robert O. Duncan, Grace Axler-Diperte, Joe Bisz, Christina Boyle, Devorah Kletenik, Carolyn Stallard

Publications and Research

The CUNY Games Conference combines workshops, idea exchanges, interactive participant presentations, playtesting, and playing tabletop games into a one-day online event to promote and discuss game-based learning. The conference focuses on creative pedagogy, such as playful learning activities or games, that teachers can use in the classroom every day. The conference is online and features interactive presentations by attendees, informal idea exchange sessions, and workshops by the conference organizers.

Effective Strategies For Placing Underrepresented Women In Senior Management Positions: Shared Strategies, George Alexander Pegram Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underrepresentation of women in senior management positions within the tech industry poses a significant challenge in terms of organizational equity and effectiveness. Business leaders are concerned with this disparity, as it reflects systemic barriers to women’s advancement. Grounded in the people’s capability maturity model (P-CMM), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that senior executives in the Washington, DC tech industry use to promote women to senior management positions. The participants were eight senior women executives purposefully selected for their leadership roles. Data was collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: personalized …

In Vivo Direct Lentiviral Gene Therapy Improves Disease Pathology In A Mucopolysaccharidosis Iva Murine Model, Betul Celik, Estera Rintz, Shaukat Khan, Andrés F. Leal, Fnu Nidhi, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes the accumulation of keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin-6-sulfate in bone and cartilage. This results in progressive skeletal dysplasia, with no effective treatment available. Our study hypothesized that direct lentiviral vector (LV) gene therapy could produce active enzymes from transduced cells, impacting bone and cartilage lesions in MPS IVA. We developed LVs carrying the GALNS gene under three promoters: ubiquitous (CBh), collagen type II (COL2A1), and Mac-1 integrin subunit (CD11b). At the newborn stage and 4 weeks, Galns-knockout mice received intravenous injections at different doses (5 × 10^{9 …}

Lehr Names Newly Discovered Snake For Conservationist Jane Goodall, Julia Perez

Press Releases 2020-2029

No abstract provided.

Resist!: Sustaining Forest Carbon Sequestration And Wood Production After Insect Disturbance, Christopher M. Gough, Ben Bond-Lamberty, Robert T. Fahey, Catherine Mcguigan, Brandon C. Alveshere, Cameron Clay, Erin Darby Mcclain, Charles E. Flower, Kayla C. Mathes, Ariel Johnson, Lisa T. Haber, Kalyn Dorheim, Derek M. Johnson, Lucas E. Nave, Kerstin Niedermaier

Michigan Tech Publications

Disturbances from insect pests threaten ecologically and economically important goods and services supplied by forests, including wood production and carbon sequestration. We highlight the factors that influence these services’ resistance, a term quantifying the initial response to disturbance. Insects inflict damage through a range of mechanisms, prompting distinct plant physiological responses that scale to influence ecosystem processes and, with time, goods and services. The degree and timing of tree mortality and defoliation affect the amount of residual vegetation available to support compensatory wood production and influence carbon sequestration by changing rates of detritus-fueled decomposition. Compounding, or sequential, insect attacks may …

Harnessing Natural Product Compounds To Target Dormancy Survival Regulator (Dosr) In Latent Tuberculosis Infection (Ltbi): An In Silico Strategy Against Dormancy, Mandeep Chouhan, Mukesh Kumar, Vivek Dhar Dwivedi, Vivek Kumar Kashyap, Himanshu Narayan Singh, Sanjay Kumar

School of Medicine Publications

Dormancy occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) enters a non-replicating and metabolically inactive state in response to hostile environment. During this state, it is highly resistant to conventional antibiotics, which increase the urgency to develop new potential drugs against dormant bacilli. In view of this, the dormancy survival regulator (DosR) protein is thought to be an essential component that plays a key role in bacterial adaptation to dormancy during hypoxic conditions. Herein, the NP-lib database containing natural product compounds was screened virtually against the binding site of the DosR protein using the MTiopen screen web server. A series of computational analyses …

Vitamin D And Cognition: Demographic Disparities In Memory Recall And Word Intrusion In A Multiethnic Cohort, Juan Lopez-Alvarenga, Isabel Omaña-Guzmán, Oscar Rosas-Carrasco, Jose E. Cavazos, Michael C. Mahaney, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Vitamin D3 is essential for calcium metabolism and exerts pleiotropic effects, including neuroprotective activities in cognition. Its insufficiency has been linked to dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairments. The association between vitamin D3 and particular cognitive functions, including memory recall and word intrusion, remains imprecise, particularly among diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Objective

To examine the relationship between vitamin D3 levels with memory recall and word intrusion in individuals aged 60 and above, emphasizing demographic differences.

Methods

Data was collected from 2759 individuals in the NHANES 2011–2014 surveys. Cognitive performance was evaluated with the CERAD Word Learning, Animal Fluency, …