Digital Commons Network^™

The Coffee Connection: Anti-Diabetic Potential Of Coffee-Derived Compounds And Their Underlying Cellular And Microbial Mechanisms, Emily Bayliss

Liberty University Research Week

Type II Diabetes (T2D) is characterized by chronically elevated fasting blood glucose resulting from insulin resistance. Epidemiologically, there is an inverse relationship between habitual coffee consumption and risk of T2D (1-3). While this relationship warrants further study, compounds naturally occurring in coffee may possess anti-diabetic potential. Matairesinol (MA), a coffee-derived polyphenol, has been shown to be effective in mitigating weight gain and fat mass accrual which are associated with T2D (4). Enterolactone (ENL), the metabolite of MA, has demonstrated the ability to act on L6 myotubes increasing basal glucose uptake while hindering triacylglycerol uptake in HEPA1-6 cells as well as …

Curcumin Promotes The Inhibition Irs-1 S1101 Phosphorylation While Restoring Insulin Signaling And Phosphorylation Of Pras 40 And Rps6., Rachael De Klerk, Davis Raz, John Zelenka

Liberty University Research Week

The search for natural compounds that elicit medicinal effects has increased over the years as synthetic compounds often carry adverse side effects. p300, an acetyltransferase protein recently found to negatively impact the insulin signaling pathway when overexpressed, has often been targeted in research using a synthetic compound called C646. However, curcumin, a natural compound, has been shown to also inhibit p300. Curcumin has been theorized as a potential treatment for diabetes, however the connection between its ability to inhibit the excessive expression of p300 seen when consuming a high fat diet and its ability to restore insulin signaling has never …

The Development Of Year One Students' Reading Ability In A Curriculum Using Monster Phonics Scheme In The Uae, Sara Berrandjia

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study explores the impact of the Monster Phonics program on the reading development of Year 1 students in Al Ain, UAE. Reading proficiency is a fundamental skill in early education, and phonics instruction plays a crucial role in literacy acquisition. Monster Phonics, a color-coded synthetic phonics program, has been increasingly adopted in classrooms, yet its effectiveness in multilingual settings remains underexplored. This research aims to investigate how students' reading ability develops in the context of a curriculum using the Monster Phonics scheme. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative assessments pre- and post-tests on grapheme recognition, word reading, and …

Vaccine-Based Immunotherapy Delays Murine Tumor Growth And Prevents Metastasis, Andrew Brola, Cade Wycoff, Sarah Light, Seth Neumeyer, Tatfiq Ahmed Fahmi, William Wycoff

Liberty University Research Week

Cancer persists as a leading cause of death globally, and metastatic disease contributes to a large proportion of cancer deaths. Tumor-specific vaccines may be viable immunotherapeutic options for eliminating malignant cells. Since endogenous retrovirus reactivation has been demonstrably linked to tumor metastasis, we propose a novel method to exploit these viral particles in murine tumor models. Methods: Two experiments were conducted. The first experiment included thirty C57BL/6 mice inoculated with MC38 tumor cells. When tumors were palpable, five mice were vaccinated with MC38 infected cells (infect-10), 4T1 cells, BT-20 cells, or 4T1 supernatant (MMTV), while ten mice served as unvaccinated …

Improving The Work-Life Balance Of The High School Marching Band Director: A Case Study, William Holmes

Liberty University Research Week

Although many studies have been conducted on high school marching bands, research has yet to be completed on the impact of the number of after-school marching band rehearsals. High school band directors frequently rehearse after school to raise student proficiency and perform at a high level for football games, community events, and marching band competitions. Directors who demonstrate high rehearsal efficacy can reduce the number of marching band practices to avoid negatively impacting the lives of the adults and students involved while maintaining student achievement. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological case study investigated the effects of reducing the frequency of secondary …

Effect Of The Cystic Fibrosis Drug Elexacaftor On The Murine Lower Esophageal Sphincter May Explain The Gerd Symptoms Of Patients, Xena Sawyer

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by over 2000 different mutations in the CFTR anion channel. Trikafta is a lifesaving, highly effective triple drug combination consisting of two trafficking correctors (Elexacaftor and Tezacaftor) and the channel potentiator Ivacaftor. However, these drugs produce significant side effects, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. Elexacaftor has significant off-target effects on various potassium channels which could explain some of these adverse events. Therefore, we sought to characterize the enteric motility effects of Elexacaftor using a …

Food Is Medicine - A Preliminary Analysis Of Cardiovascular Disease Programming In Rural Populations, Aariyana Britton

Liberty University Research Week

As the saying goes, “you are what you eat.” Unhealthy diets are a major part in disease onset and prevalence in the United States. Although there is clear knowledge of what is considered a “healthy diet”, most of the population does not consume this on a regular basis. This study investigates the impact of food choices on individuals diagnosed with hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. Research determines how vital are healthy food choices in combating preventable diseases? (i.e, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) What we consume as humans play a key role in several bodily functions such as energy expenditure, growth, …

Je Dis ..., Lolonyo Edoh Kodjo Djamessi

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Je dis … est une collection de cinq poèmes qui aspire inspirer le lecteur au positivisme et l’espoir. Cette collection inclus : Ce jour-là, L’autoroute de la vie, Vingt vers, Sois unique, La foi et le travail. Vingt vers particulièrement, est une expression d’affection au Ghana, le pays natal de l’auteur métaphoriquement représenté comme un amant.

Le Corps : Prise De La Parole Du Corps Qui Devient Sujet Dans L’Écriture Sidéenne De À L’Ami Qui Ne M’A Pas Sauvé La Vie D’Hervé Guibert Et De Dans Ma Chambre De Guillaume Dustan., Sasha Aisha Craig

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

C’est à travers les ouvrages À l’ami qui ne m’a pas sauvé (1990) d’Hervé Guibert et Dans ma chambre de Guillaume Dustan que nous essayons de comprendre le monde de ceux qui ont été stigmatisé comme des fléaux de la société. Dans les années quatre-vingt-dix, les recherches avancent pour aider ceux qui sont atteints du SIDA mais seulement quelques-uns réussissent à se faire soigner. Guibert et Dustan nous font revivre leurs moments de désuétude où la société les rejettent. Cette recherche met en avant l’écriture sidéenne qui se veut souvent « crue » et parle par l’intermédiaire du corps qui …

Bleu Pour Toujours (Blue Forever), Macha Petre

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Since this short story is written in French, the abstract below is available in both English and French.

Bleu pour toujours (« Blue Forever ») is a short story blending poetry and science fiction. In the near future, war, pollution, and human activity have devastated our world. The blue sky exists only in history books or old photographs. Amid this gray, monotonous despair, an unnamed, ageless, and genderless character escapes one evening and makes unsettling discoveries. Something is stirring. Upon waking, they find everyone has vanished, and the laws of the universe have been upended. In place of the sky …

Translation And Migration, Utopia And Dystopia: Representations Of The Labor Of Cultural Mediation In Fictional Eastern Europe And The Real Us-Mexico Border, James L. Richie Iv

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

With the publication of Moira Inghilleri’s book, Translation and Migration (2017), the linguistic act of translation and the social phenomenon of migration have been linked in the world of interdisciplinary studies, yet this linkage may obscure the relevance of works in which only one phenomenon (translation or migration) is presented. A case study in which a work exploring migration can be contrasted with a work exploring the function of translation may reveal in one another the social forces that condition both practices. In Lucas Pope’s independently created video game Papers Please (2014), the player embodies a border patrol agent in …

Update, Steven Burton

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

An original short story that explores the intersection of technology, healthcare, morality, and familial relationships in another world.

Le Bénin Francophone: Une Étude Sur L’Angle Sociolinguistique, David Achodo

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Cette communication porte sur le paysage sociolinguistique d’un pays d’Afrique occidental–la République du Bénin (l’ancien Dahomey)–mettant en évidence l’interface complexe entre le français et les langues béninoises. Le prestige du français, en tant que langue privilégiée employée pour la communication interethnique dans de divers domaines du pays, rend son acquisition essentielle. Mais, en dehors des autres langues étrangères présentes parmi les membres éduqués de la population béninoise, les langues locales entrent en jeu avec le français, produisant ainsi trois variétés distinctes du français : le français standard, le français d’Afrique et le français snobé. Chacune de ces variétés possède des …

El Sonido Del Exotismo: Retratos De España En Carmen, Grace Quasebarth

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Este artículo examinará la “orientalización” de la identidad nacional de España, que resulta de la creación de estereotipos tanto creados en el extranjero como apropiados por la misma España durante el siglo XIX. Específicamente, voy a examinar la influencia de la ópera francesa Carmen de Georges Bizet (1875) en la creación de la imagen nacional española actual en la “Canción del torero” de dicha la producción de Ana Zamora para el Teatro de la Zarzuela de la zarzuela por el mismo nombre (1887) en 2014. Como obra plenamente romántica, hace hincapié en las características de ese movimiento cultura; por ejemplo, …

The Jacksons' Debate, Marcus Vinicius Neves

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

The Jacksons’ Debate” explores ethical dilemmas through an alien civilization considering human consumption. This philosophical sci-fi story examines sentience, moral responsibility, and societal progress from a unique perspective. Blending dark humor with social commentary, it challenges readers to reflect on human behavior and ethical decision-making in the face of necessity and scientific advancement.

Le Silence, Le Prédéterminisme Et La Sexualité : Le Cas De Thérèse Desqueyroux, Daniel E. Folger

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Le silence fait partie intégrante de l’histoire de Thérèse Desqueyroux. A Argelouse, née d’une famille dont la tradition exige l’effacement de l’individualité, elle n’échappe pas à cette répression en se mariant avec Bernard, ni en se sauvant à Paris. La nature inéluctable de son destin fait qu’elle est parfois comparée aux héroïnes tragiques Andromaque et Phèdre. Néanmoins, la parole de cette dernière possède un pouvoir que celle de Thérèse ne détient pas. Malgré la nature étouffante du mutisme imposé sur elle, le silence prend quelquefois un côté positif, notamment lorsque Thérèse est auprès de son amie Anne de la Trave. …

Culpa, Redención Y Determinismo: Una Lectura De El Llano En Llamas De Juan Rulfo, Cristina Gomez Sanchez

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Este artículo analiza tres relatos de El llano en llamas de Juan Rulfo —“No oyes ladrar los perros”, “Acuérdate” y “Diles que no me maten”— para explorar cómo los personajes lidian con la culpa y la búsqueda de redención. Se estudia cómo sus decisiones pasadas condicionan sus acciones y relaciones presentes, poniendo énfasis en las dinámicas de causa y efecto que estructuran sus destinos. Se investiga el determinismo social presente en estos relatos, mostrando cómo las condiciones rurales y las limitadas oportunidades afectan las posibilidades de redención de los personajes. A través de este análisis, se examina …

Portrait Of A Fascist: Identity And Independence In Joseph Roth’S Das Spinnennetz (1923), Braden M. Ross

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Three days before Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch, the last chapters of Joseph Roth’s Das Spinnennetz were published in the Viennese Arbeiter-Zeitung. Detailing the decent of World War I veteran Theodor Lohse into the nascent Nazi party, Roth’s novel could not have been more prescient—and yet, it remains the least well-known of his works. Das Spinnennetz is not only a work of great fiction, but an eerie cautionary tale more prophetic than Roth could have ever imagined. In this article, I examine the metaphor of the spider’s web and how ordinary people like Lohse futility navigate their search for individual meaning …

L'Ombre De Brooklyn, Sa'id Obey

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

No abstract provided.

Le Genre En Jeu : Le Corps Sexué Socialement Construit Dans La Dispute De Marivaux, Aubrey Lewis

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

La Dispute de Marivaux est avant tout une comédie en prose écrite pour explorer des thèmes tels que la vanité, la psyché humaine et l'amour-propre. Dans cet essai, j'explorerai un aspect souvent négligé de cette pièce—le genre et le sexe—en soutenant que le jeu délibéré de Marivaux avec le langage, l'intrigue et les enjeux de la pièce sont des interventions directes dans le discours sur le genre en tant que construction sociale. S'inspirant de l'ouvrage de Judith Butler "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution : An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory,” cet essai analyse La Dispute de Marivaux non seulement …

"Quiero Ser Hombre": Grito De Libertad Y Afirmación Feminista En La Obra De Carmen De Burgos Y Julia De Burgos, Lizely M. Lopez Cordero

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

A las escritoras Carmen de Burgos (España) y Julia de Burgos (Puerto Rico) las separa un mar, las clases sociales y el tiempo. Aunque ambas escritoras comparten un apellido que está lejos de parentesco alguno, el denominador común que las une es la transgresión. Una transgresión definida por su desafío a las normas sociales impuestas a la mujer y por penetrar esos espacios que les eran vedados, mediante su producción literaria y el activismo social y político. Las muestras claras de estos actos de transgresión y subversión quedan reflejadas en la última obra de Carmen de Burgos, Quiero vivir mi …

The Aesthetics Of Belonging And Longing For A Home In Toxi, Temitayo O. Babayeju

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

Robert Stemmle's film "Toxi" explores the challenges faced by Afro-German children in 1950s West Germany as they search for a place to belong in a society where most people look different from them. This essay examines their search for a home while considering the lingering effects of fascist ideology. Through a close reading of the historical, economic, and sociocultural state of West Germany in the 1950s, I examine key scenes in the movie that address the search for a Home for Toxi, while also analyzing society's reaction to her as seen in the Film. Central to this analysis …

The Art Of Teaching Tongues, Deborah Idowu

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

The poem describes the multifaceted role and experience of a language teacher through metaphors and imagery. The poem presents language instruction as both an art and a sacred duty, employing metaphors of a keeper of keys, shepherd, and smith to illustrate the teacher's diverse responsibilities. Through four-line stanzas with consistent rhyme schemes, the work progresses from describing the technical aspects of language instruction to revealing its deeper purpose of fostering cross-cultural understanding. An instructor's personal investment in teaching is portrayed through intimate first-person narration, while imagery of growth, construction, and transformation underscores the developmental nature of language acquisition. The poem …

A Data-Driven Recommendation System For Selecting The Appropriate Mode Of Learning And Instructional Tools Based On Course Characteristics, Ayisha Manzoor

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The rapid transformation of educational delivery methods during the COVID-19 pandemic required institutions to transition between online, hybrid, and offline learning approaches, creating both challenges and opportunities for educators and students. While online and hybrid learning modes ensured continuity, their effectiveness across different course types remained uncertain. This thesis addresses this gap by developing a data-driven recommendation framework that predicts Course Learning Outcome (CLO) achievement and recommends the most appropriate learning mode (online, hybrid, or offline) along with instructional tools based on course characteristics.

This study analyzed 100 undergraduate and postgraduate courses from the College of Information Technology (CIT) at …

38. Protest 2025. United Faculty [Article]

LGBTQIA+ Archive Class Projects

Citation: NI Staff. (2025, April 9). United Faculty cements opposition to higher education bills in statement. Northern Iowan, 3.

The National Cybersecurity Teaching Coalition: Expanding Cybersecurity Education Opportunities, Paul Wagner, Melissa Dark, Robert Honomichl, Filipo Sharevski, Sandra Leiterman

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The increasing prevalence of cybersecurity threats and the shortage of qualified professionals necessitate innovative solutions for cybersecurity education at all levels. Despite the expansion of post-secondary cybersecurity programs, employer dissatisfaction with graduates and a lack of standardized introductory curricula highlights the need for structured secondary education pathways. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Coalition (NCTC) and its National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) address this gap by equipping high school educators with the necessary knowledge and credentials to teach cybersecurity effectively. NCTA offers an 18-credit cybersecurity graduate certificate program to ensure teachers are competent and confident to develop and teach cybersecurity curriculum with …

Vision For The Future Of Oncology Physical Therapy: Apta Oncology’S Strategic Plan, Christopher M. Wilson, Emily Compagner

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

This article summarizes the 2024-27 strategic plan of the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy. The strategic plan consists of five strategic pillars — advocacy, engagement, education, collaboration, and research. Although the strategic plan is slated for another review in 2027, the 2024-27 strategic plan sets forth the key initiatives to advance the field of cancer physical therapy and oncology rehabilitation. This piece summarizes some key initiatives and how the academy and the profession will aim to achieve the APTA and APTA Oncology visions. For the full 2024-27 strategic plan of APTA Oncology, visit www.oncologypt.org.

Axillary Web Syndrome (Aws) In Absence Of Breast Cancer History Or Surgery: A Case Report, David B. Locke, Linda Koehler

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Background: Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is a complication of breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node removal. Cords are found within 2 weeks post-surgery in the axillary area of the operated side, and many extend down the arm or into the lateral chest wall. The purpose of this report is to present a unique case of idiopathic AWS, and to increase awareness of non-cancer related AWS in the medical community.

Case Description: A 39-year-old healthy female presented to physiotherapy with a 2-week history of a palpable tight cord in her left axilla without history of cancer or surgery. She sought …

The Therapeutic Effects Of A High-Velocity Resistance Training Intervention For Chemotherapy-Induced Polyneuropathy, Mariah Gleeson, Lori Boright, Elise C. Brown, Deborah Doherty

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy, also referred to as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), is a dose-dependent, neurotoxicity from known neuropathic agents (e.g., taxanes, platinums, and vinca alkaloids) causing damage to the peripheral nervous system. CIPN can present as sensory, motor, or autonomic symptoms, such as muscle weakness and balance impairments. Currently, there are no treatment or prevention methods for CIPN. The purpose of this case series was to assess the therapeutic effects of a high velocity resistance training (HVRT), or power training, in women diagnosed and treated for cancer, who presented with CIPN by measuring balance, functional performance, neuropathy, quality of life …

Importance Of Objective Assessment To Determine Physical Function In Persons Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Anne Swisher

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

No abstract provided.