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A Historical-Discourse Policy Analysis Of Arkansas' Educational Policies: A Post-Marxist, Gramscian Perspective, Matti Izora Ibrahim

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

ABSTRACT A HISTORICAL-DISCOURSE POLICY ANALYSIS OF ARKANSAS’ EDUCATIONAL POLICIES: A POST-MARXIST, GRAMSCIAN PERSPECTIVE Matti Izora Ibrahim Few studies have explored the macro-level factors that influence education. This research examines how political forces shaping K-12 education in Arkansas connect to broader global political trends. Grounded in a post-Marxist, Gramscian framework, the research employs a Discourse-Historical Approach (Wodak, 2001) to examine the rhetorical construction of the language in Arkansas Act 327 (2023), commonly known as the LEARNS Act, and Executive Order EO 23-05, the executive order which preceded it. Accordingly, this research examines whether these policies reflect broader global political patterns by …

Comparative Study Between Laparoscopic And Non-Laparoscopic Surgeries On Blood Sugar Levels Intraoperative, Mohammed Abdul Hameed Younis

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Main object: This study aimed to assess the impact of laparoscopic and non-laparoscopic procedures on the blood glucose levels of patients at Baghdad Hospital and Al-imam ALI Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq.

Methodology: The study was conducted from 16 November 2023 to 2 March 2024. A total of 50 patients, aged between 15 and 58 years, were included in this study. There were 25 males and 25 females, all with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of either I or II. The patients were divided into two groups based on the type of operation they underwent, with each group …

Histological Changes Of Mesenteric Lymph Nodes Affected By Cadmium Chloride In Male Albino Rat: Experimental Study, Umalbaneen Hilal Hadi, Safa J. Al-Yassir, Warkaa M. Ali Alwattar

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal can be found in many sources, including cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes, batteries, contaminated water, plant-based foods, air, fertilizers, plastic toys, ceramics, soil and paints. the exposure to environmental factors may affect different body systems including lymphatic system.

Objectives: to investigate the effect of ingested cadmium chloride on mesenteric lymph nodes in rat.

Materials and Methods: twenty adult male albino rats were used in this study, which divided equally into two groups, on group served as control group administrated of tap water while the second group used as experimental group exposed to daily …

Automated Retinal Vessel Analysis: A Novel Model For Blood Vessel Detection, Segmentation, And Clinical Characteristic Quantification, Aws A. Abdulsahib, Moamin A. Mahmoud, Sally A. Al-Hasnawi, Ahmed Zeyad Almhanna, Jamal Kamil K. Abbas

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

This research enlightens into a fully automated model for segmenting blood vessels and extracting clinical features from retinal fundus images, which is vital for diagnosing ophthalmologic and cardiovascular diseases. The model utilises contrast enhancement, noise reduction, edge detection, and a method for reconnecting blood vessel branches. It extracts properties like tortuosity, girth, and length of blood vessels. The model's performance surpasses existing approaches, achieving high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative prediction values on DRIVE and HRF datasets. This innovation offers the potential to reduce specialists' workload, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and streamline the analysis of complex fundus images, ultimately …

Shohani Save Guard (Ssg): Dietary Supplement To Support Drug Addiction Treatment, Mohammed Mahdi Salman Ghadban, Taghreed Khudhur Mohammed

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Shohani Save Guard (SSG) is a scientifically formulated dietary supplement designed to aid in the recovery from drug addiction, particularly methamphetamine addiction. This study explores the biochemical and biological mechanisms through which SSG's natural ingredients, including KSM-66, Panax Ginseng, Bacopa Monnieri, Green Tea, Curcumin, and other essential vitamins and minerals, work synergistically to promote recovery. The paper also reviews recent studies supporting the efficacy of these ingredients and highlights their roles in reducing addiction symptoms and improving overall health.

Evaluating Chemical Security And Safety Levels In Tanning Factories At The General Company For Textile And Leather Industries/Leather Factory In Iraq, Fatima Khudhur Mohammed, Taghreed Khudhur Mohammed, Salwa Hameed Naser Al-Rubae’I

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Most of the chemicals produced and used today are beneficial, but some also have the potential to damage human health and the environment. To achieve the goal of allowing the use of chemicals for companies and factories, safety and security tools were used in the laboratories, and workers were trained on the dangers of chemicals. We studied worker exposure to hazardous chemicals and determined the prevalence of occupational skin diseases. As well as examining the availability of personal protective equipment. A questionnaire was used to determine the chemicals used, the ages of the employees, their educational level, and the extent …

2025 Craft Academy Senior Send-Off Program, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The Morehead State University 2025 Craft Academy Senior Send-Off Program from May 9, 2025.

Voices In The Borderlands: Reimagining Identity, Cultural Belonging, And Dystopian Spaces In Anzaldúa’S Borderlands And Viramontes’S “The Cariboo Café”, Oralia G. Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Gloria Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera (1987) and Helena María Viramontes’ short story “The Cariboo Café” (1985) portray marginalized individuals navigating liminal spaces of identity, oppression, and survival. Borderlands/La Frontera and “The Cariboo Café” show how systematic violence and displacement shatter the self, pushing characters to navigate trauma in a dystopian space. Sonya, Macky, the café owner, and the grieving mother represent Anzaldúa’s concepts of borderland subjectivity, betrayal, and spectral haunting.

Sonya and Macky, two undocumented children, represent Anzaldúa’s borderlands subjects and reside in a state of nepantla, an in-between space of cultural dislocation. The café owner …

The Impact Of Cattle Grazing On Water Quality In Stoner Creek, Bourbon County, Ky., Logan Stigall

Honors Theses

This study aims to identify the impact of cattle grazing on the water quality of Stoner Creek, located in North Middletown, KY. Cattle grazing can impact water quality in numerous ways. In this study, water quality was examined using the following parameters: water temperature (°C), pH (SU), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), conductivity (μS/cm), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonies per 100 mL of water. Results show that Site 3 (Cattle access point) had the greatest average conductivity at 465 μS/cm. Sites 3 and 4 showed the highest turbidity. There was a strong positive correlation (r²=0.32, p=0.02) between conductivity and …

Understanding Temporal Changes In Leaf Traits Of Native Smilax Rotundifolia And Invasive Lonicera Japonica Using Long-Term Herbarium Records From Kentucky, Claudia Ebbecke, Claudia Ebbecke

Honors College Theses

Herbarium specimens are the most valuable, verifiable, and sustainable records to study the impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems. Temporal herbarium data can provide critical information on how species respond to changes in habitat conditions by tracking changes in species’ morphological and phenological traits. This study aims to use Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) to assess the impact of climate change on invasive and native plants. Leaf traits, such as leaf size and stomatal density are good indicators of plant’s adaptation to the changing environment. By examining changes in leaf traits …

Comparative Study On Nephrin, Transforming Growth Factor-Β And Some Biochemical Markers For Predicting Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy, Alyaa Kadhim Hliel, Huda Farhan Ahmed, Hiba Abdul-Hussein

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN), is a microvascular complication of the diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2 and the major reason of end-stage kidney disease, which is distinguished by an increase in urine albumin excretion (microalbuminuria) and/or a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or both. Microalbuminuria has limited diagnostic role in early-stage diabetic nephropathy, because renal damage usually occurs before proteinuria. Therefore, more sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed for early detection of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Materials and Methods: A case-control study involved 180 participants aged 40-≥70 years, 60 individuals were healthy, and 120 had type 2 DM. The participants were divided …

Coilin And Sumoylation Influence Parp1 Dynamics And The Dna Damage Response, Michael Hebert, Sara K. Tucker, Blaise C. Seale, David T. Brown

Cell and Molecular Biology Publications

Coilin is a nucleoplasmic protein that is enriched in some cell types in the Cajal Body (CB). CBs take part in the biogenesis of many different types of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) such as small nuclear RNPs. Coilin is known as the CB marker protein and is required for CB formation. The function of nucleoplasmic coilin is less understood, and has been shown to impact protein modification by SUMO, the small ubiquitin-like modifier. Additionally, coilin is recruited to sites of DNA damage caused by UVA exposure or expression of herpes simplex viral protein. PARP1, a DNA damage response protein, has been shown …

2025 Spring Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2025 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, May 9, 2025.

An Approach To Teaching Sight-Reading: The Station Technique, Aislinn K. L. Queen

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

The station learning technique is more effective than traditional teaching methods regarding academic achievement and student engagement. However, stations are not a typical method high school teachers use when teaching sight-reading in a choir classroom. This study investigated the implementation of the station learning technique in a high school choir setting. The participants were a single classroom of 17 students and two teachers. The data collection tools included student self-assessments, skill assessments, sight-reading rubrics, student and teacher surveys, and student and teacher focus group interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed and coded using the constant comparative method, and the quantitative data …

Osteoarthritis As A Multi-Factorial Disease: Exploring Piezo Ion Channels And Adipose Tissue As Therapeutic Targets, Erica Valentine Ely

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disease involving mechanical and inflammatory factors that affect both the joint and systemic environments. Despite its prevalence as a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide, no disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) are currently available. This dissertation focuses on exploring key targets and developing innovative tools to combat OA, addressing its mechanical and inflammatory drivers both independently and in combination. First, we investigated the role of mechanosensitive ion channels Piezo1 and Piezo2 in OA pathogenesis using a murine destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model. Our findings demonstrated that knocking out Piezo1, Piezo2, or both in …

The Crosstalk Between Muscle And Adipose Tissue In Health And Disease, Chang Gui

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the crosstalk between adipose and muscle tissues in physiology and pathophysiology, particularly focusing on the therapeutic potential of muscle-associated adipose tissue in muscle regeneration. Adipose tissue, an endocrine organ, secretes cytokines (a.k.a. adipokines) that significantly and negatively impact muscle function in conditions like diabetes, obesity, and aging. Whether similar signals mediate communication between muscle and its adjacent adipose tissue through paracrine signaling is unknown, as is whether this communication is therapeutically modifiable. Understanding the interactions between adipose and muscle tissues could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for improving muscle regeneration and function. …

Impact Of Unconventional Gas Extraction On Tributaries Of Tenmile Creek, Greene County, Pennsylvania: A 12-Year Perspective, Christian L. Beall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of southwestern Pennsylvania has been central to a rapid increase in development for unconventional natural gas extraction in the past two decades. The continued monitoring of streams over their lifetime as extraction sites is pivotal to understanding the effects of fracking on local waterways and their ability to provide for wildlife and human use. Here, using multiple indices of biotic integrity (IBI), I perform analyses of fish and macroinvertebrate communities as well as water chemistry on two streams, Bates Fork (with shale wells) and Fonner Run (without), as part of a follow-up to work performed there from 2010-2012. Fish …

Alterations And Improvements Of The Photoacoustic Flow Cytometry Method, Nicholas J. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The emergence and proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria present a significant and growing challenge to global public health, with the potential to render many existing antibiotics ineffective. Infections caused by these resistant pathogens are difficult to treat, resulting in higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. A major obstacle in combating these infections is the slow pace of traditional diagnostic methods, such as blood cultures, which typically take 2-3 days to identify the causative bacteria and determine their antibiotic resistance profiles. This delay in diagnosis hinders timely interventions and appropriate treatment, further contributing to the spread of resistant infections. As such, there …

What Is Climate Smart Agriculture? : A Standardized Framework For Assessing The Effectiveness Of Climate Smart Agriculture Systems And Practices, Olivia G. Messerges, Trenton W. Ford

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences

The United States agricultural system is challenged with feeding a growing population, adapting to climate change, and minimizing environmental damage. In response to these challenges, the paradigm of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) was developed to describe practices that address these challenges as a comprehensive strategy to address climate change and increase food security.

Definitions of CSA vary, but surround three main pillars: increasing productivity, enhancing adaptation, and reducing emissions. However, no standardized framework exists to assess if practices or technologies identified as "climate-smart" produce the desired benefits. A standardized framework would enable producers, policymakers, and researchers to improve CSA implementation, policy …

Board Of Trustees Minutes, May 9 2025, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Flood Irrigation Vs. Pivot Irrigation On Groundwater Recharge, Tea Rainey

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Groundwater can be an important resource for river flow support, and this is especially true with the Big Hole River in southwestern Montana which is mainly fed by groundwater late in the summer season. Maintaining the source of groundwater is an important focus both for the Big Hole River Watershed Committee as well as local ranchers. Agriculture uses large quantities of water, and as technology advances many ranchers are turning to the use of pivot lines for irrigation. Historically, flood irrigation was used when surface water was available. Surface water sources include tributary streams as well as diversions from the …

Snowmelt Runoff Driven Hydropower Modelling Based On Spaceborne Remotely Sensed And Ground Weather Network Data, Ninad Bhagwat

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Identification of new optimal hydropower locations provides an opportunity to improve mankind's green energy portfolio by developing new hydroelectric plants, thereby decreasing the carbon footprint. Preliminary analysis of locating the optimal hydropower sites is generally the first step towards construction of a new hydropower plant. In this dissertation, I developed a parsimonious, yet robust tool to perform the preliminary analysis to locate optimal hydropower locations in any watershed using the remotely sensed Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Simulating the snowmelt-derived streamflow is crucial for water resources management in snow-dominated watersheds. The Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) is a lumped-parameter, temperature-index model that …

Militarism, Racism, And Environmental Destruction In Hawai’I: The Lasting Impact Of Colonialism, Belen González

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis explores the enduring consequences of U.S. militarism, colonialism, racism, and environmental destruction in Hawai‘i, demonstrating how historical injustices shape present-day struggles. Using the Marshall Islands as a comparative case study, this research connects the legacies of military occupation and ecological degradation to contemporary issues such as climate-driven disasters and systemic inequality. Chapter 1 examines the role of the U.S. military in Hawai‘i, detailing how occupation, weapons testing, and resource extraction have led to environmental devastation and public health crises. Chapter 2 traces the history of U.S. control, from illegal annexation to the restructuring of Hawai‘i’s economy and governance …

Earthworms, Slugs, And Salamanders: Community Interactions In A Massachusetts Forest, Emmalee Bent

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Earthworms (Order: Opisthopora) have several important ecological interactions with eastern red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus). For the salamanders, earthworms can be nutrient-rich, easy-to-digest prey, or ecosystem engineers of burrows. Indirectly, earthworms can be competition for other microinvertebrate prey species that salamanders prefer to eat. Red-backed salamanders are thought to be a critical player in forest food-webs and possible ecosystem indicator, as they are highly abundant, mid-level consumers that are very sensitive to their abiotic environment. These factors make understanding the interactions between earthworms and salamanders valuable for broader understanding of forest communities. To better understand the earthworm community present at a …

High-Throughput Echocardiography-Guided Induction Of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion In Mice., Florian Sicklinger, Niklas Hartmann, Attila Kovacs, Carla Weinheimer, Jess Nigro, Tobias Thiemann, Junedh M Amrute, David Schumacher, Moritz P Kornadt, Laura M Wienecke, Lennart Rompel, Johannes Fischer, John F Bachman, Olivia Bedard, Shibali Das, Tim C Kuhn, Mirko Völkers, Ralf P Brandes, Rafael Kramann, Nadia Rosenthal, Norbert Frey, Kory J Lavine, Florian Leuschner

Faculty Research 2025

BACKGROUND: Mouse models of myocardial ischemia with subsequent heart failure are common approaches to examine heart failure pathology and possible treatment strategies. We sought to establish a high-throughput approach for echocardiography-guided induction of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) in mice.

METHODS: After visualization of the left coronary artery with high-resolution ultrasound imaging and echocardiographic definition of the level of coronary occlusion, the left anterior descending artery was temporarily occluded with 2 micromanipulator-controlled needles. Functional and molecular changes were assessed and compared with commonly performed surgical techniques.

RESULTS: Echocardiography-guided induction of myocardial IR enabled standardized induction of myocardial IR injury with subsequent left …

Synthesis Of Sensitive Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing Acylated Cytosine, Adenine, And Guanine Nucleobases, Komal Chillar, Rohith Awasthy, Marina Tanasova, Shiyue Fang

Michigan Tech Publications

Background/Objective: Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing base-labile modifications such as N4-acetyldeoxycytidine (4acC), N6-acetyladenosine (6acA), N2- acetylguanosine (2acG), and N4-methyoxycarbonyldeoxycytidine (4mcC) are highly challenging to synthesize because standard ODN synthesis methods require deprotection and cleavage under strongly basic and nucleophilic conditions, and there is a lack of ideal alternative methods to solve the problem. The objective of this work is to explore the capability of the recently developed 1,3-dithian-2-yl-methoxycarbonyl (Dmoc) method for the incorporation of multiple 4acC modifications into a single ODN molecule and the feasibility of using the method for the incorporation of the 6acA, 2acG and 4mcC modifications into ODNs. Methods: …

Student Honors And Awards Program 2025, Communications And Marketing

UMM Honors and Awards Ceremony

Recognizing students who demonstrate academic excellence and enrich campus life

The Nil Ripple Effect: How Name, Image, And Likeness Reshapes Student-Athletes, Mental Health, And Fan Perception, Jaleah Walker

Honors Theses

The NIL Ripple Effect: How Name, Image, and Likeness Reshapes Student-Athletes, Mental Health, and Fan Perception examines the shifting dynamics of college athletics and how these changes affect student-athletes, fans, and institutions. The study explores the consequences of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and its effects on student-athletes' mental health and fans’ perception. Through interviews with athletes and analysis of current policies, this research highlights the mental, financial, and competitive pressures that NIL places on student-athletes. While NIL provides financial opportunities, it also demands brand management, public visibility, and performance consistency, often leading to heightened stress. Additionally, this study …

Student Perceptions Of Supports And Barriers For Transferring Quantitative Reasoning In Introductory Biology Lab Courses, Joelle Prate, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Quantitative reasoning is a critical skill in biology and has been highlighted as a core competency by Vision and Change. Despite its importance, students often struggle to apply mathematical skills in new contexts in biology, a process called transfer of knowledge. However, the supports and barriers that students perceive for this process remain unclear. To explore this further, we interviewed undergraduate students in an introductory biology lab course about how they understand and report the transfer of quantitative skills in these courses. We then applied these themes to the Step Back, Translate, and Extend (SBTE) framework to examine student …

Unspoken, Manuel Amaya

Undergraduate B.F.A. Theses in Studio Art

No abstract provided.