Digital Commons Network^™

Using Natural Products In Patients With Cancer: More Than Chemotherapy, Gailen D. Marshall

Oxford ICSB

The fundamental goal of cancer therapy is to cure the cancer. However, the approach to that goal is complicated and varies depending upon the type and stage of the tumor as well as the clinical characteristics of the patient. Cancer treatment focused on killing the tumor has considerable comorbidities associated with each therapy. Common side effects such as systemic immunosuppression, bleeding, anemia and specific organ-based pathologies each have their own significant morbidity/mortality risk. The use of natural products, both as direct antitumor agents and as moderators/mitigators of side effects of antitumor agents has a long history. Recent studies seek to …

Socio-Legal Framework For Vulnerability: Using Public-Private Partnerships As A Tool For Disaster Management, Latisha Nixon-Jones

Pepperdine Law Review

As disasters continue to grow in size and intensity, the question arises: can governments effectively meet local and regional disaster response and recovery needs? This Article examines the history of utilizing public-private partnerships (PPPs) to enhance government functions in disaster management. The primary objective of this Article is to assess whether involving private entities in governmental roles is an effective strategy for building resilient communities and ensuring public safety, particularly for vulnerable populations. Existing literature focuses on the financial and logistical aspects of PPPs with mere mentions of legal importance. To address these failures, this Article proposes a novel socio-legal …

Create @ State 2026, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Create@State

Proceedings for 2026

Music Enhances Theta Brainwave Activity Regardless Of Tuning Frequency, Robert Somerville, Davis Raz, Jettson Yarborough, Luc-Shalom Kouame

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Itpa R178c Assays Via Hplc, Jared J. Reisnouer, Wally D. Pines

2026 Symposium

Two of the major nucleotide bases in DNA and RNA (Adenine and Guanine) are derived from the purine Inosine Monophosphate (IMP). IMP may occasionally form the noncanonical nucleotide Inosine Triphosphate (ITP) within the cell and become incorporated into DNA during replication, leading to potentially lethal errors. To combat this, human cells produce the “housekeeping” enzyme Inosine Triphosphatase (ITPA) to revert ITP to IMP. A mutation of this protein that replaces the 178th amino acid Arginine with Cysteine (R178C) is associated with a fatal infantile encephalopathy. Previous assessments of enzyme-substrate binding and catalysis for ITPA variants have been run at a …

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Guatemala: A Systematic Review (2015–2025), Haley Gebhard, Alexandra Mixan, Manasvi Shiyani, Shaira Neupane

Liberty University Research Week

Breastmilk provides ideal nutrition for infants during early life, supporting physical growth, development, and long-term health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding protects against infant illness and child malnutrition by ensuring a consistent source of energy and nutrients.1 The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding, which means no other liquids or solids except medicines or supplements, for the first six months of life to reduce negative health outcomes for infants and children.1 Only about 44% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed through six months of age, well below the WHO global nutrition target of 70% by 2030. In Guatemala, chronic …

Mental Health Consequences Of Climate-Related Hazards: A Us Case Study., Perseverance Nothando, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: The planet has warmed considerably over the past four decades, leading to more extreme weather events like floods, fires, and hurricanes. In the U.S., the number of climate-related disasters has surged, affecting approximately 1.7 billion people between 2010 and 2020. Projections suggest that by 2050, the U.S. population impacted by climate-related disasters could double, with a quarter of the population affected annually. Research indicates that 25% to 50% of people exposed to extreme weather events are susceptible to negative mental health consequences, such as anxiety and PTSD. This underscores the urgent need to address the psychological impact of climate …

Everything You Know About The Piano Is Wrong, Khuong Vo

Liberty University Research Week

The idea of treating the piano as an instrument capable of evoking the timbres of other instruments through variations in touch, articulation, and key velocity is a common practice in the collaborative pianist realm. However, solo pianists can learn from this approach to take their musical expression further. The focus of this study is Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 9 in D major by Sergei Rachmaninoff, examined alongside its orchestral arrangement by Ottorino Respighi. As the final piece of Op. 39, the étude is a virtuosic showpiece characterized by dense textures, vivid imagery, and a largely unified rhythmic character. Its rich …

Mythological Literature And The Metamodern Turn: An Augustinian Analysis, Elyse Penton, Brady Cullins, Dennis Nicholson, Nathan Redford

Liberty University Research Week

First articulated by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, metamodernism is a cultural sensibility emerging after postmodernism that describes an oscillation between modern sincerity and postmodern irony. Metamodernism is characterized by “informed naivete,” renewed emotional investment and a desire for meaning despite awareness of ambiguity. One significant feature of this cultural shift is the renewed presence of mythological narratives in contemporary literature and media. This research asks how metamodernism contributes to a resurgence of myth and how this phenomenon may be interpreted through an Augustinian “Inside Out” framework. Myth, as defined by folklorist Lauri Honko, is a narrative concerning …

Extreme Heat Exposure During Pregnancy And Adverse Birth Outcomes In Sub-Saharan Africa, Maame Yaa Okrah, Bright Agbotui, Naa Komley Commey, Raymond Suonyir, Yenigat Abate

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Extreme heat is an emerging issue in public health, given the rise in temperature globally because of climate change. Pregnant women are at risk of being adversely affected by extreme heat, as changes in body physiology during pregnancy compromise its ability to regulate temperature. Recent studies have shown that exposure to extreme heat is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited evidence. This study sought to examine the potential association of extreme heat exposure in pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This study undertakes …

Standing Firm: The Theological Significance Of Στήναι / Στῆτε In Ephesians 6:10–20, Angela Brown

Liberty University Research Week

Building upon prior research that examined the armor of God as an expression of divine empowerment in Ephesians 6:10–20, this study offers a focused syntactical and discourse analysis of Paul’s repeated use of ¿st¿µ¿ (st¿¿a¿ / st¿te). Particular attention is given to the aorist infinitive st¿¿a¿ (6:11, 13) within purpose constructions (p¿¿¿ t¿ d¿¿as¿a¿ ¿µ¿¿ st¿¿a¿) and the aorist imperative st¿te (6:14), evaluating their aspectual force and imperatival nuance. Rather than conveying punctiliar or once-for-all action, the aorist forms are interpreted within current verbal aspect theory as undefined in internal temporal structure but rhetorically urgent, summoning decisive, covenantal resolve. The …

Joy Under The Sun: Ecclesiastes And Existential Positive-Psychology, Alexander Lee, Clayton Hess

Liberty University Research Week

Christian counselors can benefit from theological research into effective counseling theory and practice. Biblical wisdom literature has been long overlooked as an effective tool in biblically-informed counseling. Biblical wisdom parallels recent trends in positive-psychology toward emphasizing holistic human flourishing (Hawkins, 2026). Further, interpretations of Ecclesiastes can parallel existentialism, with similar emphases on coherence and meaning-making (Keefer, 2019). In Lee’s (2012) discussion of Ecclesiastes, flourishing is pinpointed in qohelet’s treatment of joy. Lee develops a theology of enjoyment based on qohelet’s diagnosis of the human condition, his description of humanity’s position in relationship with God, and his meditation on injustice. In …

Vicarious Trauma And Compassion Fatigue Among Counselors Serving Law Enforcement Populations, Makayla Thompson

Liberty University Research Week

Approximately 98% of clinical therapists report treating clients who have experienced at least one traumatic event (Bride, 2007). Research has established associations between clinical work with trauma-affected populations and increased vulnerability to vicarious trauma (VT) and compassion fatigue (CF) among counselors (Armes et al., 2020; Rayne et al., 2020). VT refers to cumulative and enduring changes in a clinician’s cognitive schemas resulting from sustained empathic engagement with clients’ traumatic experiences (McCann & Pearlman, 1990). CF describes emotional and physical exhaustion that diminishes a clinician’s capacity for empathy and compassion, often understood as the cost of caring for those suffering (Figley, …

The Effect Of Hormonal Contraceptives On Acl Tear Incidence: A Critically Appraised Topic, Ellen Jones, Bethany Lyons

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Female athletes are at an elevated risk for ACL injuries due to fluctuating hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, along with anatomical and neuromuscular factor such as an increased Q angle, intercondylar notch size, joint laxity, muscular size, and landing mechanics. Hormonal contraceptives are widely used in female athletes not only for contraception but also to regulate menstrual cycle and menstrual related symptoms by stabilizing hormonal fluctuation. Fluctuations in menstrual hormones have also been shown to influence knee laxity, which is considered one of the strongest risk factors for ACL injury. This leads to the clinical question, “Do hormonal contraceptives …

Barriers To Breastfeeding In Marginalized Communities In The U.S, Naa Komley Commey, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method of infant nutrition, offering numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates in the U.S. vary significantly based on factors such as age, income, education, and race, because marginalized communities encounter various barriers that hinder breastfeeding success. Addressing these barriers is crucial for promoting breastfeeding as a public health imperative. This study aims to investigate the primary barriers to breastfeeding in marginalized populations in the U.S.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched using predetermined search terms for literature published between 2020 and 2025. The …

Impact Of Family On Child Nutritional Health: A Literature Review, Julia Randall

Liberty University Research Week

Background

The nutrition habits of children depend entirely on the influence of parents via imitation, which has many implications for a child’s health and well being. A review of literature can effectively understand current health status and direct intervention efforts to reach children through parental education.

Methods

Articles for the review were selected based on rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 19 articles for analysis. 149 articles from CINAHL Ultimate or ProQuest databases written within the last four years began the evaluation process, which utilized a PRISMA research reporting system (Moher et al., 2009).

Results

Through the development of …

Systematic Review On Tertiary Policies And Programs For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence In The U.S. (2020-2024), Brittany Carman, Haley Gebhard, Krista Coipel, Raymond Suonyir

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States, yet tertiary interventions supporting survivors remain understudied compared to primary and secondary prevention efforts. This systematic review identifies and evaluates existing tertiary prevention programs and policies addressing IPV in the U.S., focusing on their effectiveness in reducing IPV-related fatalities and promoting survivor recovery, safety, independence, and long-term stability.

Methods: This study systematically reviewed literature published January 2020-December 2024 across five leading journals using the Scopus database. From 861 initial results, 24 articles met inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines.

Results: Interventions clustered …

Reframing Treatment For Binge Eating Disorder: Integrating Physical, Psychological, Behavioral And Spiritual Domains To Improve Treatment Outcomes, Lily Carone

Liberty University Research Week

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder and is frequently treated using interventions designed for Bulimia Nervosa (BN and Anorexia Nervosa (AN). In fact, many programs treat clients with BED, BN, and AN in the same milieu with similar interventions. As a result, specific clinical issues are not addressed, so many clients with BED exit treatment prematurely with little to no improvement in symptoms. Traditionally, interventions for BED have been universally prescribed and include food exposure to decrease binges and cognitive behavioral therapy to improve negative self-image without addressing other important aspects of BED such as weight-related …

Annual Archaeology Update: The Valley Of Kings, Sophia Shapiro

The Penguin Review

There can be no contest for the Review’s annual archaeological highlight for 2025. Exactly one hundred years after Egyptologists discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun (King Tut) in the Valley of Kings, archaeologists discovered a series of steps buried by rockfall.

New Ways To Address The Plastic Problem, Andrew J. Hanna

The Penguin Review

Since 1950, the world has produced some 9.2 billion metric tonnes of plastic.1 Other sources place the total closer to ten billion metric tonnes Furthermore, nearly 500 million tonnes of new plastic are manufactured each year– a figure that's projected to increase to 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060.2 The environmental effects of all this plastic production and pollution are disturbing. Because most plastics are synthetic–meaning they contain "no molecules found in nature"– they can't decompose. Instead, they just break down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming microplastics (less than five millimeters (5 million nanometers) across) and then nanoplastics (less than …

The War On War: Desensitization's Effects On Society's Moral Fabric, Chelsea E. Johnson, Andrew J. Cudden

The Penguin Review

In an era of constant connectivity, violence is no longer distant or intermittent. Wars, political repression, mass shootings, and humanitarian crises now unfold in real time, shared instantly through twenty-four-hour news cycles and social media. Never before has global suffering been so visible. Yet this unprecedented access has failed to produce sustained moral urgency or collective responsibility. Instead, violence becomes increasingly utilised as fleeting content–viewed, shared, and then displaced by the next trending event. This paradox raises a pressing ethical question: how can a world more informed of suffering become so morally disengaged from it?

Dual Time Cosmology, Mauro Montenegro

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Windshield Not The Rearview Mirror, Dan Fabricant

Oxford ICSB

We talk a great deal about the past at ICSB and while the history is important, we still need to skate to where the puck is going. We’ll tee up where we are and where we are going when it comes to: drug preclusion; federal preemption; state regulatory efforts; hemp/cannabis; electronic commerce platforms; claims; essentiality; and much more, like what you can do to affect real change for the future of the industry.

Assessment Of Total Cellular Protein Following Fatty Acid Treatment Using The Bca Assay, Carli B. Maguire

Create@State

Fatty acids can influence cellular metabolism and protein homeostasis, potentially altering total protein content within cell samples. Accurate quantification of total protein concentration is essential for standardization for further biochemical assays and ensuring reproducibility. In this study, adherent mammalian cells were treated with a defined fatty acid preparation under controlled culture conditions. Following treatment, whole-cell lysates were collected and total protein concentration was determined using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. The BCA assay is a colorimetric method based on the reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu¹⁺ by peptide bonds under basic conditions, followed by formation of a purple-colored complex between bicinchoninic …

Robust Thermodynamic Analysis Of Flexible Protein-Ligand Binding Using Statistical Mechanics, Mitchell Dulaney

Create@State

Understanding how proteins bind small molecules is essential for accurate computational modeling of biological systems. However, calculating binding free energy (delta G), enthalpy (delta H), and entropy (delta S) becomes unreliable when proteins are flexible, and ligands are between multiple binding positions. This motion causes traditional computational methods to produce inconsistent thermodynamic values.

A computational workflow was implemented that included docking to predict likely binding positions, molecular dynamics simulations to sample how the protein and ligand move over time, and statistical mechanics analysis to calculate thermodynamic quantities. A new theoretical framework was developed and implemented in a custom program to …

Ma(1) Or White Noise?, Orithea Regn, Ferebee Tunno

Create@State

This project provides an over of testing an MA(1) process confidence interval while keeping the margin of error to a minimum, even for small sample sizes.

Comparison Of Levels Of Bmi, Stress, And Depression Of Women During The Prenatal Period Relative To Their Activity Levels, Kalayna King

Create@State

This study aimed to analyze the relationships between activity levels, Body Mass Index (BMI), stress levels, and depression symptoms in obese pregnant women in Arkansas. Two separate exercise intervention studies were combined in this analysis to ultimately give a sample size of 293 pregnant women who were randomized into standard of care group (control) and an exercise group (experimental) (n = 115 and n = 178, respectively). Women in the control groups were instructed to independently continue to follow the physical activity guidelines recommended by their gynecologist, whereas the experimental groups participated in a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise …

An Exploratory Analysis Of Household Liquidity, Austin D. Murray

Create@State

We use data from the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to examine whether cross-sectional variation in household liquidity is explained by the precautionary motive. Household liquidity is measured using days’ liquidity held (DLH), defined as the ratio of liquid assets to daily expenditures. Descriptive evidence reveals substantial cross-sectional and time-series variation in household liquidity over the 2004-2022 sample period. Our multivariate results provide mixed support for the precautionary motive for household liquidity. Consistent with the investment dimension of the precautionary motive, household liquidity increases with expected future investment opportunities. However, contrary to the precautionary motive, household liquidity varies inversely with …

The Digital Museum: Classical Reception In Animal Crossing New Horizons, Anna G. Kendall

Create@State

My project examines how Animal Crossing: New Horizons brings the ancient body into a modern, digital world through its recreations of classical Greek sculptures. In the game, players can collect, study, and display famous works such as the Venus de Milo, Discobolus, and Nike of Samothrace in a virtual museum. These sculptures reveal how the Greeks represented beauty, strength, and divine movement through the human form. By interacting with them in-game, players connect with these ancient ideas of the body in a new way. The game’s system of real and fake artworks also teaches players to look closely and …

Prioritizing Health Over Aesthetics: Reforming Brachycephalic Breed Standards, Olivia Edwards

Create@State

Selective breeding has led to extreme physical traits in companion animals such as dogs and cats. They are characterized by their shortened skulls, creating their flattened faces. These breeds remain fairly popular due to their appearance, even though these animals present various health concerns.  I conducted this research at A-state to create awareness and educate those who are not aware of this issue, and for future pet owners. It argues that the continued promotion and recognition of these animals contributes to preventable health conditions and long-term suffering in affected animals. I analyzed reports on animal welfare, reviewed policy discussions and …