Digital Commons Network^™

Situating Black Death And Grief Within The Context Of Ancestral Veneration, Chris Z. Sanders

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

Death and grief are an ever-present phenomenon in the Black community. Starting with the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade and chattel slavery; then transcending into mortality rates; police brutality; gun violence; and just living while Black. Statistically, Black Americans die at higher rates than white Americans at nearly every age. As a result, the Black community has always had a very intimate and ambiguous relationship with death and grief. In response to this relationship, the Black community has created our own way of mourning through the formation of unique funeral and vigil traditions, the establishment of Black-owned funeral homes, the preservation of …

Blood On Their Hands: Settler Colonial States In The Arctic, Mer M.

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

The Arctic is currently the most rapidly warming region in the world. Modern-day media has been transfixed by the image of the poor polar bear, eeking out a difficult living as the sea ice they depend on has been melting. What often remains outside of the frame, however, are the more complex questions about how we got to this point of extreme climate change. Linking the genocidal histories of Indigenous assimilation in the Arctic to the modern-day ecological crises plaguing the region introduces the state as an overlooked climate polluter. While Arctic communities are all on the frontlines of climate …

Sankofa In Action: Reclaiming Our Future, Adisa Preston

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

Pan-Africanism has been one of the responses to the systematic and brutal efforts by colonial powers to negate the worth and humanity of African peoples. Emerging in the Caribbean and the United States in the 19th-century, it flowered with the independence movements of the 20th. Historian Kwame Anthony Appiah defines Pan-Africanism as “a political project calling for the unification of all Africans into a single African state to which those in the African diaspora can return” (Appiah 1992, 174).

Pan-Africanism sought to heal the catastrophic ruptures of slavery, throw off the shackles of colonialism, and to fight the racist ideologies …

Weaving Resistance: Indigenous And Mestizé Women In Peru’S Political Uprisings, Isabella Benjamin-Quintana

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

This qualitative research paper investigates how race, gender, and political agency intersect in the lived experiences of Peruvian Indigenous and Mestizé women as they engage in political organizing and protest. This paper focuses on their roles, perspectives, and experiences during the 2022–2023 popular uprisings in Peru, highlighting the unique challenges and contributions of these women in a period of intense social and political upheaval. This paper first uncovers what catalyzed these movements into action, particularly after the impeachment of Peru’s former President, Pedro Castillo. Then this paper will explore race and gender construction in Peru, through pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial …

The March Toward Indian Black Solidarity, Tara Marella Weber

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

This essay explores Indian Americans’ nuanced identity, privilege, and historical relationship to Black Americans. Today, Black and Indian American racial identities are often isolated from one another due to the effects of White Supremacy and Anti-Blackness within the Indian American diaspora. This paper assumes that complicity and conflict are not the end, but anti-racism and solidarity are possible within the diaspora. The paper will begin with a brief explanation of terms and phrases concerning my paper. I will attempt to answer two major research questions: What systems were put into place by White Supremacist Institutions to position Indian Americans as …

Contrasting Ideologies Of Schooling In The United States, Dalia Davidson

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

Schools can be a mirror of society and the drivers of social change (Durkheim 1951). The contrasting ideologies of reproducing and resisting social hierarchies shapes public schooling in the United States. Yet, teachers, administrators, and curriculum writers often take an ahistorical approach to solving inequalities in schools. For my paper, I used a historical analysis, literature review and my experience interning in public schools to contextualize the contrasting ideologies of schooling and the role they play in shaping current outcomes of public education. I argue that when students of color are struggling in school, teachers are conditioned to blame families …

In Vitro Screening Of Potential Inhibitors Against Barmah Forest Virus, Karthika Raj Peringoth

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Full Issue: Fall 2024

DePaul Magazine

In DePaul Magazine's fall 2024 issue, DePaul’s new men’s basketball coach draws up plays for a revitalized hoops program, the DePaul Art Museum provides a home for marginalized artists and social justice, environmental sustainability initiatives cultivate community equity, and career changers get trained to teach in high-need public schools.

Early Host Defense Against Virus Infections, Søren R. Paludan, Thomas Pradeu, Andreas Pichlmair, K. Brad Wray, Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen, David Olagnier, Trine H. Mogensen

Presidential Fellows Articles and Research

Early host defense eliminates many viruses before infections are established while clearing others so they remain subclinical or cause only mild disease. The field of immunology has been shaped by broad concepts, including the pattern recognition theory that currently dominates innate immunology. Focusing on early host responses to virus infections, we analyze the literature to build a working hypothesis for the principles that govern the early line of cellular antiviral defense. Aiming to ultimately arrive at a criteria-based theory with strong explanatory power, we propose that both controlling infection and limiting inflammation are key drivers for the early cellular antiviral …

Improving Immunization Rates In Children Under Two Years Of Age In Linn County, Kansas Through Nursing Education, Heather L. Webber

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Immunizations are one of the most beneficial preventive health measures available to children under two years of age. Failing to receive these preventative immunizations during these crucial years could result in the child developing serious diseases that may lead to long term disability or even be fatal. By increasing immunization rates, children will be more protected against common childhood diseases which will allow them to grow and thrive. The purpose of this scholarly project was to identify ways to improve vaccination rates in children under two years of age at specific clinics in Linn County, Kansas, using healthcare professional education. …

Improving Nursing Deployment Readiness, George Mcenroe

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Improving Air Force Nursing Deployment Readiness

Abstract

Background. Air Force nurses must be prepared for deployment to support military missions on short notice. During deployments, they may be asked to practice in demanding and austere wartime environments. The required competencies for deployment include the care of multi-trauma patients, mass casualty care, and military-specific skills.

Problem. Air Force nurses are required to maintain an annual Comprehensive Medical Readiness Program (CMRP) checklist, a list of clinical skills based on their nursing specialty. Assessing and maintaining deployment readiness is an ongoing challenge. The Air Force does not currently use any …

California's Bracero Program: Racializing And Legalizing Mexican Transportation, Samuel S. Cao

Center for the Arts and Humanities: Student Fellows Program

This paper re-examines California’s Bracero Program (1942–1964) through the critical lens of transportation, arguing that it served not merely as a logistical necessity but as a crucial site of systemic exploitation and racialized harm. While scholarships often focused on other aspects of labor abuse, this piece centers on transportation-related injuries, culminating in the tragic 1963 Chualar accident, as a potent manifestation of racial capitalism and state neglect. Oftentimes, privatized transportation infrastructure contributed to both the physical vulnerability and symbolic dehumanization of Mexican laborers, as a direct result of agribusiness’s pursuit of profit. By reframing mobility as a key mechanism of …

2024-12-13, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

2024 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2024 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Cyperus Blepharoleptos Maxent Ecological Niche Models, Samuel A. Schmid, Maxwell G. Gebhart, Gray Turnage

GRI Publications

Invasive species are one of the foremost threats to global biodiversity and predicting where they can inhabit is of primary concern for researchers and resource managers. Ecological niche models (ENMs) are a useful tool for addressing this problem. This study focuses on Cyperus blepharoleptos (Cuban bulrush), an aquatic sedge that is invasive in the southeastern United States. To model the ecological niche of C. blepharoleptos, 1,137 records were compiled from North and South America and partitioned into training and testing data. Five BioClim variables (BIO1, BIO7, BIO12, BIO14, and BIO15) were selected as environmental variables for modeling. Using Maxent, 12 …

Understanding Anatomy & Physiology Students’ Knowledge And Perceptions Of Learning Sex And Pleasure, Yaileen Velazquez

Honors Capstones

Undergraduate anatomy & physiology (A&P) is an opportune place for future healthcare providers to learn a diversity of topics related to human health and function, including sexual health. However, the current undergraduate curriculum and instruction in A&P classes do not support students in achieving a high level of understanding of sexual health, including sexual anatomy and physiology. Previous studies have shown that college students obtain a mean score of lower than 65% in sexual knowledge tests, with the lowest mean scores on sections concerning sexual anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Weinstein et al., 2008). Sexual pleasure is an important …

Black Mothering: Experiences Of Black Mothers In Safety Conversations With Black Sons, Theresa Libios

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black mothers raising Black sons in the United States face the immense challenge of preparing their Black sons for a society where police violence pose significant threats to their safety. The critical safety conversations, commonly referred to as "The Talk," highlight the need for culturally informed interventions to address the psychological toll on Black mothers. This study explored the lived experiences of Black mothers navigating these safety conversations, with the goal of fostering empathy and developing culturally competent mental health services. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study, grounded in intersectionality theory, examined the interconnected influences of race, gender, and systemic oppression …

Climate Change Impacts On Dryland Ecosystems, Tanner Tainui Aiono

Theses and Dissertations

Dryland ecosystems are some of the most prevalent ecosystems on Earth and have recently shown stress indicators from climate change. These water-limited systems are vulnerable to increases in temperature and changes in precipitation, especially when looking at carbon cycling dynamics across biological sol crusts and vegetation mortality patterns. This dissertation aims to 1) evaluate how precipitation dynamics, vegetation location, and microclimate conditions influence biological soil crust carbon conditions, and 2) evaluate how topographic influences drive patterns of plant mortality during prolonged drought on the Colorado Plateau. Using high-resolution monitoring of long-term NEE chambers, we found that intermediately disturbed biocrusts are …

Development Of Sensing Capabilities For Agricultural Robotics, Carter Noh

Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural robotics is a rapidly growing industry with the possibility to revolutionize food production. Agricultural robots often require custom sensing solutions to perform specific tasks. Developing the appropriate sensing capabilities for an application is therefore an important step in the automation process. In this thesis I present two case studies in developing sensing capabilities for agricultural robotics applications. First, I introduce a sensor that can provide simultaneous measurements of force and position. The sensor was developed to enable high-throughput measurement of maize stalk stiffness on a robot platform. It uses multiple sets of strain gauges on a cantilever beam to …

Fsu Winter Commencement December 13, 2024, Fayetteville State University

Graduation Exhibit

Program for Fayetteville State University Winter Commencement December 13, 2024

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Denmark’S Depth Model Version 2.0 – Improved Compilation Of Bathymetric Data Within The Danish Waters, Giuseppe Masetti, Philip Sigaard Granding, Kasper Langdahl, Lasse M. Schwenger, Kristian V. Kristmar

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Denmark’s Depth Model version 2.0 (DDM v2.0) is the latest iteration of a Digital Bathymetric Model (DBM) for Danish waters, offering a grid resolution of 50 meters. The compilation integrates hundreds of survey datasets, including both modern and historical sources, as well as satellite-derived and crowdsourced bathymetric data. The model is referenced to Mean Sea Level (MSL) datum and – due to the adopted compilation process – is not designed for safety of navigation. DDM v2.0 is accessible through the Danish Geodata Agency's website and constitutes a significant contribution to the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Bathymetry initiative.

Identifying Opportunities For Nature-Based Solutions With Geospatialized Life Cycle Assessments And Fine-Scale Socioecological Data, Gabriela Shirkey, Annick Anctil, Ranjeet John, Venkatesh Kolluru, Leah Mungai, Herve Kashongwe, Lauren T. Cooper, Ilke Celik, Joshua B. Fisher, Jiquan Chen

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

As we increasingly understand the impact that land management intensification has on local and global climate, the call for nature-based solutions (NbS) in agroecosystems has expanded. Moreover, the pressing need to determine when and where NbS should be used raises challenges to socioecological data integration as we overcome spatiotemporal resolutions. Natural and working lands is an effort promoting NbS, particularly emissions reduction and carbon stock maintenance in forests. To overcome the spatiotemporal limitation, we integrated life cycle assessments (LCA), an ecological carbon stock model, and a land cover land use change model to synthesize rates of global warming potential (GWP) …

An Exploration Of The Contributions Of Parenting Styles And Peer Relationships On The Emotional Expression Of Second-Generation Indian-Americans, Smitha M. Kashi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation used a qualitative analysis methodology to study the contributions of parenting styles and peer relationships on the emotional expressivity of second generation Asian Indian-Americans. Seven participants participated in a 60 - 90 minute long semi-structured interview and the content was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Most previous research regarding this topic has been conducted on White American or European individuals and does not take into consideration the many intersectionalities that second-generation Indian-Americans hold. Many participants discussed the lack of direction they experienced in regards to learning about their emotions and disclosed that college and young adulthood provided …

Gardner-Webb Honors Achievements Of 2024 Summer And Fall Graduates, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

In Gardner-Webb University’s commencement ceremony on Dec. 13, former N.C. Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson challenged his audience of over 400 graduates to follow their dreams with all their hearts. Dobson, a 2005 GWU alumnus, served over 14 years as a North Carolina elected leader and recently became the president and chief executive o!icer at North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA).

The Fashion Regulation Fight, Eliot L. Force

Capstones

Fast fashion is a rising global phenomenon with terrible consequences for the environment and laborers across the world. In the US, fashion-specific environmental and labor regulation is practically non-existent at the federal level, but some individual states have begun proposing fashion regulation bills with the aim of curbing the industry’s harms. But in every state where these regulations have been proposed, powerful industry trade groups and companies have been fighting back against those proposed regulations, with much success, through lobbying. As climate change gets worse and the fashion industry’s practices remain unchanged, the need for regulation only becomes greater, but …

Stress Management Education Module For Nursing Students, Valentina Loreto-Ashley

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background. Stress refers to a state of mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Research indicates that stress negatively affects university students.

Problem. Researchers have found that 30% of undergraduate nursing students have symptoms of burnout resulting from an overaccumulation of stressors and 97.8% were at moderate risk for developing burnout.

Approach. An educational module consisting of a 15-minute YouTube videos was designed, developed, and implemented to increase awareness about stress, reduce feelings of anxiety, and identify integration potential of such a module in nursing education to promote student well-being. Participants completed an online survey before …

Using Genomics And Transcriptomics As A Tool To Understand Unique Phenotypes Of Hemipteran Insects That Are Relevant To Agriculture And Public Health, Hunter Kelly Walt

Theses and Dissertations

In the past couple of decades, advances in genomic sequencing technology have caused an unprecedented increase in biological data. Because of the quantity and size of these datasets, the need for biologists with computational expertise also increased, and using these large genomic datasets has revolutionized the way we can answer biological questions. In this dissertation, I apply genomic and transcriptomic data to answer questions about insects of the order Hemiptera that are relevant to agriculture and public health. My dissertation mainly focuses on stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), many of which are agricultural pests, and bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), which are …

Board Of Trustees Agenda, Dec. 13 2024, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

No abstract provided.

Development Of Novel Nanocarriers With Multi Modal Action Against Lung Cancer, Gayathri K

Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer ranks among the top causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The deteriorating environment and unhealthy lifestyle in the modern era has further contributed to the exponential increase in lung cancer incidence across the globe. Lung cancers fall under two major types based on the location of the tumour in the lung namely, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) which is more aggressive, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which is more prevalent. Late diagnosis has been a major cause for poor prognosis as the cancer is detected only in an advanced stage.

Conventional therapies like chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy against lung cancer …

Assessing Ecosystem Health Of A Completed Mitigation Bank Projects In California: Case Study Analysis, Alexandra I. Novoa

Master's Projects and Capstones

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, providing essential ecological functions. These functions include water purification, flood protection, shoreline stabilization, and more. Due to increasing urbanization and development, preserving wetlands is critical. Mitigation Banks combat the loss of wetland acreage from unavoidable development. Mitigation banks were developed to offset the adverse effects of development on wetlands. However, more research is needed on the effectiveness of these mitigation banks in restoring ecologically significant wetland acreage.

Key metrics, including soil health, hydrology, and microbial functionality, were analyzed from literature and restoration project reviews to identify opportunities for improving mitigation …