Digital Commons Network^™

Adsorption And Recovery Studies Of Cadmium And Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents From Aqueous Solutions, Liang Feng

Theses and Dissertations

The use of low-cost biowaste adsorbents for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions offers significant environmental benefits and demonstrates strong potential. This study evaluated luffa peels and chamomile flowers as low-cost biosorbents for the adsorption and recovery of Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions in both batch and column modes. To enhance adsorption capacity, the biosorbents were treated with 0.4 M HNO3 or 0.4 M NaOH. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization showed that surface OH, C=O, CO and COO groups played a role in the adsorption process. Batch adsorption studies indicated an order of adsorption capacity as follows: …

Examination Of School Professionals’ Knowledge Of Selective Mutism And Other Childhood Mental Health Disorders, Alisa Gudz

Theses and Dissertations

Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder characterized by the consistent failure to speak in specific social situations, despite the ability to effectively communicate in other settings. School professionals play an important role in identifying and supporting students with SM; however, previous studies suggest that knowledge of SM among school professionals is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine school professionals’ knowledge of SM compared to their knowledge of two other more common childhood disorders – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). This study investigated whether knowledge of ADHD or SAD was a stronger …

Beyond The Border: Analyzing The Role Of Unjust U.S Policies In Shaping The Migrant Crisis In New York City., Elvita Bouzy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how unjust and dysfunctional U.S. immigration laws have shaped the migrant crisis in New York City, particularly during the 2022-2024 influx of migrants, through the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT). It explores how racialized immigration policies, systemic inequities, and rising nativism have intensified challenges faced by migrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and other marginalized regions. The study examines political opposition and media portrayals since the mid-1980s that hindered immigration reform, exposing a flawed system lacking adequate legal pathways. This inadequate framework has fueled discrimination and worsened asylum seekers' hardships. Driven by nativist sentiment and …

Our Morality Or Your Morality? An Exploration Of The Influence Of Group Membership On Moral Judgment And The Moderating Influence Of Theory Of Mind, Phoebe Flora Dadson

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explores the interaction between social group membership and moral judgment in decision-making. This interaction is also assessed through the moderating value of Theory of Mind (TOM), encompassing both affective and cognitive empathy. This research hypothesizes that 1) there is an association between TOM and decision-making in morality, 2) group membership, expressed as adherence to political ideology, influences moral judgment, 3) a higher frequency of utilitarian choices in other beneficial moral dilemmas is expected to be correlated with a stronger association with political group ideals. The sample population is comprised of college students at St. John’s University (N …

Broad And Specific Parenting Practices’ Effects On Toddlers’ Prosocial Development: A Three-Month Longitudinal Study, Cassandra Cheeseman

Theses and Dissertations

Prosocial behaviors typically emerge by age two and are associated with positive social and behavioral outcomes. Caregivers shape toddlers’ prosocial behavior development through broad (i.e., general warmth and sensitivity) and specific (i.e., social and material reinforcement) parenting practices. However, current research findings are mixed due to differences in toddler age, parenting practices studied, and the tendency to aggregate prosocial behaviors into one category. This aggregation approach overlooks the unique neurocognitive correlates, skills, and developmental trajectories of individual prosocial behaviors. To address these gaps, the current study investigates how broad and specific parenting practices relate to helping, sharing, and comforting, both …

Barriers To Success In Higher Education For Second-Generation Caribbean American Men, Leonard S. Breton

Theses and Dissertations

While the United States may be progressing, second-generation Caribbean American men, those with at least one foreign-born parent (US Census Bureau, 2016), are a population that, despite literature addressing benefits and detriments of their cultural experiences, still warrants continued examination through empirical testing (Lyttle et al., 2011). These students have a range of factors that make them nontraditional students. Challenges such as racism, sexual and ethnic identity, and generational status in this country can be compounded when cultural perspectives of immigrant families are factored in. Caribbean American men are guided by learned behaviors and cultural traditions that influence training and …

Sleep’S Impact On Music Processing In The Developing Brain, Rigel Leonard Baron

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep plays a crucial role in human development, particularly in early childhood. While its influence on brain function is well documented, the relationship between sleep and auditory processing in the developing brain remains underexplored. The present study aimed to investigate how sleep duration impacts cortical responses to music, focusing on children aged 5 to 10. Using a six-feature passive listening oddball paradigm, analysis was conducted on event-related potentials (ERPs) across six music conditions: intensity, location, pitch, rhythm, slide, and timbre. Participants were divided into two groups based on average sleep duration (more or less than 10 hours per night). ERP …

Understanding The Inequities Of Academic Programs And Student Achievement In Post-Covid New York State, Erwin Bernal

Theses and Dissertations

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed the reality of learning loss which caused an extended period of online and hybrid learning. Questions about socioeconomic inequities between school districts also manifested. Through the guidance of the theoretical frameworks of John Rawls’ Theory of Justice nd the Hanover Research Toolkit for Systemic Implementation of Equity, this non-experimental study compared the demographics, academic programs, opportunities, and instructional practices of school districts at various socioeconomic levels in New York State. The methods used for this study included simple and multiple linear regressions. The study found that students who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, needs resource …

Analysis And Authentication Of An Optical Method For Early Detection Of Harmful Algal Blooms, Cody Schumacher

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The proliferation and frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs) attributed to eutrophication, storm events and a changing climate have been an increasing concern in both lotic and lentic freshwater ecosystems. Methods of detecting HABs have been explored through fluorescent measurement and sample analysis, but are often expensive and time-consuming. A novel smart device application is in development to detect HABs based on images captured and analyzed by machine learning algorithms trained to distinguish potential cyanobacterial blooms. The HABs App model accurately detected cyanobacteria in strong relationship with biovolume concentrations (R² = 0.996) within the Greenup Pool of the Ohio …

Evaluating Genetic Variation Of Brassica Tournefortii Gouan Collections Via Microsatellite Marker Analysis, Brian Alfaro, Thomas F. Turner, Diane L. Marshall

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Plants can differ in phenotypes, but genetic variation may not always reflect phenotypic differentiation. In this study, we tested if native, invasive and landrace population types of Brassica tournefortii Gouan diverged genetically. We performed this comparison by genotyping individuals derived from our own field collections (invasive populations) and from USDA accessions (plants from the native range and landraces). We used two polymorphic microsatellite loci to analyze allelic diversity (Question 1), genetic differentiation, admixture, inbreeding (Question 2) and evolutionary relationships (Question 3) of three population types and of 17 populations of B. tournefortii. Comparison of allelic diversity indices and observed …

Components Of Evolutionary Psychology Are Falsifiable, But Does That Make It A Good Theory? Commentary On Costello Et Al. (2025), David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

At the center of narrow evolutionary psychology’s theory lies the assumption that many human behavioral mechanisms evolved via natural selection. Although some components of this theory are falsifiable, its Lakatosian framework protects its core assumptions from falsifiability, even though most human behaviors probably do not require evolutionary explanations. Crucially, falsifiability is a necessary but insufficient quality of a good scientific theory, and the value of narrow evolutionary psychology (NEP) can be questioned on other grounds. NEP holds that only natural selection can create complex, functional adaptations, but natural selection is not a creative force; this process merely functions as a …

Dynamical Measures Of Developing Neuroelectric Fields In Emerging Consciousness, William Bosl, Jenny R. Capua Shenkar

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Seizure Monitoring By Combined Diary And Wearable Data: A Multicenter, Longitudinal, Observational Study, William Bosl, Tobias Loddenkemper, Solveig Vieluf, Sasagu Tomioka, Bo Zhang, Vaishnav Krishnan, Todd Grinnell

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Soil Amendments Alter Tree Growth And Wood Decay After Forest Thinning, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Martin Jurgensen, Chris Miller, Joanne M. Tirocke, Derek N. Pierson, Cole Mayn, Mark J. Kimsey, Haley C. Anderson

Michigan Tech Publications

Forest soil amendments are increasingly used in western US forests to dispose of unmerchantable woody residues, reduce wildfire risk, and improve soil properties. Our objective was to determine the effect of fertilizer and organic amendments on tree growth and organic matter decomposition after thinning. Treatments were a control, three single soil amendments (wood chips, fertilizer, and biochar), and one combined soil amendment (biochar + fertilizer), each applied after thinning a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laws) stand. After 10 years, amendment treatments had no effect on tree diameter increment (p = 0.600), but the biochar + fertilizer and wood …

Interferon-Gamma Receptor Signaling Regulates Innate Immunity During Staphylococcus Aureus Craniotomy Infection, Zachary Van Roy, Gunjan Kak, Rachel W. Fallet, Tammy Kielian

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

A craniotomy is a neurosurgical procedure performed to access the intracranial space. In 3-5% of cases, infections can develop, most caused by Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation on the skull surface. Medical management of this infection is difficult, as biofilm properties confer immune and antimicrobial recalcitrance to the infection and necessitate additional surgical procedures. Furthermore, treatment failure rates can be appreciably high. These factors, compounded with rapidly expanding rates of antimicrobial resistance, highlight the need to develop alternative treatment strategies to target and reverse the immune dysfunction that occurs during biofilm infection. Our recent work has identified CD4+ Th1 and Th17 …

Cd4+ T Cell-Innate Immune Crosstalk Is Critical During Staphylococcus Aureus Craniotomy Infection, Gunjan Kak, Zachary A. Van Roy, Rachel W. Fallet, Lee E. Korshoj, Tammy Kielian

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Access to the brain for treating neurological sequalae requires a craniotomy, which can be complicated by infection. Staphylococcus aureus accounts for half of craniotomy infections, increasing morbidity in a medically fragile patient population. T cells preferentially traffic to the brain during craniotomy infection; however, their functional importance is unknown. Using a mouse model of S. aureus craniotomy infection, CD4+ T cells were critical for bacterial containment, as treatment of WT animals with anti-CD4 exacerbated infection that was similar to phenotypes in Rag1-/- mice. Single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) revealed transcriptional heterogeneity in brain CD3+ infiltrates, with CD4+ cells most prominent that displayed …

Debating Member-Checks Of Exceptional Human Experiences, James Houran, Everton De Oliveira Maraldi, Beth M. Houran

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

This integrative essay reflects on member-checking and engaged research approaches in the study of exceptional human experiences (EHEs)—subjective accounts that often challenge conventional views of consciousness and physical reality. Member-checking, or inviting research participants to review data or interpretations, can improve credibility by aligning research with their lived experience. While benefits include transparency and insight, risks include confirmatory bias, emotional distress, power asymmetries, and logistical complexity. The evolving nature of EHEs further complicates participant validation. We therefore advocate a six-level "fit-for-purpose" system to balance rigor with ethical care and responsiveness. We also explore digital, asynchronous, and AI-assisted strategies to enhance …

Reproductive Autonomy In Immunological Intervention: Ethical Boundaries In Maternal-Fetal Immune Therapy, Marium Z. Rizvi

Journal of Health Ethics

Recent advances in immunology have broken barriers in reproductive medicine through immune-modulating therapies that support fertility and pregnancy. Treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and intralipid infusions are increasingly offered to patients with Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF) or Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL), conditions that result in miscarriages and failed IVF treatments (Pillarysetti et al., 2023). Maternal-fetal immunology reveals a delicate interplay between immune tolerance and defense: the maternal system must accept a genetically foreign fetus while preserving immunological protection. Disruptions in this balance are implicated in implantation disorders and pregnancy failure. As a result, immune-based therapies have emerged as promising …

An In Vivo Study Of Lns8801, A Gper Agonist, In A Spontaneous Melanoma-Prone Mouse Model, Tgs., Christina Marinaro, John Sauer, Christopher A Natale, Todd Ridky, Suzie Chen

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer that arises from the transformation of melanocytes, the pigment producing cells of the skin. In the year 2024 there will be approximately 10,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed and approximately 8,000 deaths attributed to melanoma in the United States. In this study we treated a group of male and female transgenic mice that spontaneously develop metastatic melanoma, TGS, with a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor agonist LNS8801 to assess the efficacy on disease progression. A second group of male and female TGS mice was also exposed to UVB irradiation to mimic …

Anti-Cancer Compounds Based On Natural Imidazole Compounds, Autumn Forsythe, Victoria Hardy, Kerri L. Shelton

CSU Tower Day

We are developing a comprehensive review on imidazole-based compounds of natural origin, the most common groups of compounds, and their properties, such as the imidazole ring. The intent of this presentation is to learn about the compound’s occurrence, general/predicted properties, and advantages. The review will be a fluid development comparing imidazole derivatives of natural origin with antinociceptive/lethal properties from the last 5 years. This review would include both purely extracted products but also those modified by synthesis.

Is Suicide Among The Elderly Population Warranted Or Preventable, Ericka King

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Undergraduate Poster 2nd place Winner

Growing old is perceived differently among world cultures. In some cultures, elders are revered and celebrated. However, in other cultures, growing old is dreaded and feared. Current Western culture depicts aging negatively through media, beauty marketing, and in general society. The elderly population is also a lost population as they are often forgotten about and overlooked. With aging comes with illness, depression, change in activities of daily living, financial stressors, isolation, societal changes, and death of loved ones, and eventually self. Chronic illness(es) can make it harder for the elderly to maintain …

Electronic And Regular Cigarettes Induce Transcriptional And Physiological Changes In Cardiomyocytes, Hesham Basma, Kajari Dhar, Jason Payne, Stephen I. Rennard, Brian D. Lowes

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is an important etiology for cardiac diseases and electronic cigarettes are increasing in popularity. In the current study, we assessed physiological and transcriptional changes in human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CMs) after exposure to electronic cigarette extract (ECE) and conventional cigarette extract (CSE).

METHODS: iPS-CMS were plated on multi-electrode array plates (MEA), electrical and contractile properties were determined by Maestro Edge and computer assisted video analysis (MuscleMotion). Transcriptional profiles were accessed by direct digital mRNA detection of heart failure targeted genes.

RESULTS: Both ECE and CSE extracts significantly prolong beat period from baseline compared to …

The Involvement Of Camp In The Secretion Of Il-10, Jyanna J. Mendola

SURF Posters 2025

Schwann cells have been found to play a key role in inflammation and repair following nerve injury. During nerve injury, the myelin sheath becomes damaged, stimulating Schwann cells to secrete cytokines and initiate an inflammatory response. They begin the process of repair by stimulating macrophages to make pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-a), and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interleukin 10 (IL-10) which promotes healing and injury. Although it is clear Schwann cells play a role in nerve repair, there is still yet to be known regarding the exact mechanisms by which they do so. In vitro, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), …

Southern Adventist University Undergraduate Handbook 2024-2025, Southern Adventist University

Student Handbooks, Undergraduate

No abstract provided.

Ludwigia Hydrology Study, Rebecca E. Drenovsky, Rebecca Reicholf, Caryn J. Futrell*, Brenda Grewell*, Blanca Gallego-Tévar

Ludwigia Hydrology Study

Premise: Hydrological regime influences wetland plant species distribution and performance.Global warming and extreme weather events are magnifying flooding patterns, and understanding how invasive taxa respond across life stages (establishment vs. established phase) is important for predicting and managing their colonization and spread. Our objective was to measure flood trait responses at contrasting life stages in closely related congeners (Ludwigia peploides, diploid; L. hexapetala, decaploid; Onagraceae) differing in their invasiveness in the field.

Methods: In the field, we assessed phenological responses to seasonal hydrological changes, and in mesocosms, we assessed flood stress responses of establishing shoot fragments under deep-flooded, …

Analyzing Micrometeoroid And Orbital Debris Shield Performance For Sample Return Spacecraft, William P. Schonberg, Michael Squire

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sample-return missions typically seek to collect and return samples from extraterrestrial locations to Earth for analysis. The return of samples from certain locations in the solar system represents a potential hazard to Earth's biosphere from foreign microorganisms. One way this could occur would be a break-up of the returning capsule during entry (which would disperse the samples through the air) due to undetected damage to the capsule thermal protection system (TPS). As a result, missions that plan to return payloads from some destinations are likely to have certain design requirements for the TPS surrounding their returning capsules, which may include …

The Effect Of Two Common Herbicides On The Growth And Development Of Two Anuran Species (Boreorana Sylvatica And Dryophytes Chrysoscelis), Jerica Eaton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Amphibian populations have been declining globally since the 1950s. Many species that have experienced declines are viewed as 'environmental indicators' that reveal habitat degradation. Declines can be attributed to several factors, including chemicals used in agriculture, such as Roundup and Atrazine. Agrochemicals contaminate water bodies through runoff or leaching and cause alterations to aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the effects of herbicide usage on two wild anuran populations using wood frogs (Boreorana sylvatica) and Cope’s gray tree frogs (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) as a model. We determined the effect of the herbicides at two concentrations, a high concentration …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone: Evaluating Environmental Risks And Conflicts In Golf Course Landscapes, Meredith Boos

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

1) This review investigates the relationship between pesticide use on golf courses and in agriculture to determine whether the adverse health effects documented in agricultural settings also apply to golf course environments. While the negative health effects from agricultural pesticide use are well established, golf courses use pesticides with greater frequency and intensity, suggesting a potentially higher exposure risk for both workers and players.

2) This study proposes methods to quantify pesticide bioaccumulation on golf courses and adjacent lands. We hypothesize that areas surrounding golf courses will exhibit a spatial gradient of pesticide accumulation, increasing with proximity to treated sites …

Pgc-1Α Activation To Enhance Macrophage Immune Function In Mycobacterial Infections, Joel R. Frandsen, Zhihong Yuan, Brahmchetna Bedi, Zohra Prasla, Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Prabagaran Narayanasamy, Ruxana Sadikot

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are a heterogeneous group of environmental microorganisms with distinct human pathogenesis. Their incidence and prevalence are rising worldwide, due in part to elevated antimicrobial resistance which complicates treatment and potential successful outcomes. Although information exists on the clinical significance of NTMs, little is known about host immune response to infection. NTM infections alter macrophage mitochondrial capacity and decrease ATP production, efficient immune response, and bacterial clearance. Transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) is a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, influencing metabolism, mitochondrial pathways, and antioxidant response. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is a …

The Fear Of God: The Foundation Of The Divine Covenants Through The Blood Sacrifice And Meal Of Exodus 24:4–11 And 1 Corinthians 11:23–32., Matthew Taylor Propst

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

The Fear of God and its relevance to establishing the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is vital in understanding the nature of the role of sacrificial blood and meal in Exodus and 1 Corinthians. The Fear of God acts to establish and maintain proper covenantal relations with God and a covenant community’s cohesion. There is also an element where those that participate in covenants are required to live under its commandments by self-sacrificial behavior.

Chapter 1 introduces the issue of this thesis within certain parameters and boundaries alongside the purpose and objectives this issue wishes to address. Chapter 2 …