Digital Commons Network^™

Fluoxetine Reveals Nuances To Memory Task Interpretation In An Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mouse Model, Maximiliano Pino, Rohaam Ooi

Liberty University Research Week

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease characterized by poor blood-glucose regulation. DM patients are 2x more likely to develop cognitive decline, depression, and anxiety. While research reliably reports cognitive dysfunction, preclinical studies have noted heightened freezing behavior in the fear conditioning test (FCT),which is traditionally indicative of improved memory. It is suggested that this is mediated by a depressive-like phenotype, whereby animals are expressing heightened reactivity to the negative stimuli, not improved memory. ​ Based off prior research, this study tested depression-mediated sensitivity to aversive stimuli using an antidepressant, fluoxetine (FLX), to modulate the relationship between FCT results and depressive-like …

Formalin-Induced Neuropathic Pain In Mice, David Mendes

Liberty University Research Week

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition of the nervous system often associated with inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and chemotherapy-induced damage. Current therapies are ineffective, highlighting the need for improved preclinical models. Neuropathic pain in mice has been modeled using invasive procedures such as spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and chronic constriction injury (CCI), which require survival surgery. In contrast, this study investigates the use of subcutaneous formalin injection as a non-surgical, reproducible alternative for modeling chronic pain in mice. Formalin is known to produce a biphasic pain response and has been used to model nociceptive pain. Recent studies …

Pcr Mapping Of Leu2 In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae To Identify Deleterious Mutations, Emily Bayliss

Liberty University Research Week

The LEU2 gene, a 1095 bp sequence, encodes 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, an enzyme which plays a critical role in the leucine biosynthetic pathway.1 In the context of a three-part undergraduate genetics lab, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, baker’s yeast, was used as the model system on which the students performed genetic recombination because of the model’s high efficiency and simplicity. The yeast strain (EAY 235), which contained a deleterious mutation, was given to the students. The students were tasked with integrating the LEU2 gene as a linear fragment into the yeast genome through homologous recombination, and the results were scored for 235 LDO transformants. …

Characterization Of Endogenous Sas3 In C. Neoformans Via Co-Immunoprecipitation, Kayla Riggleman

Liberty University Research Week

The predicted amino acid sequence of Something About Silencing 3 (SAS3) gene in Cryptococcus neoformans suggests that it contains a putative Histone Acetyltransferase (HAT) domain. Its role as a response/transcriptional modulator is further implied by its upregulation that is associated with Cryptococcal meningitis. Thus, there is a possible etiological correlation between SAS3 activity and cryptococcosis infection. To date, it has been determined that recombinant SAS3 does not display HAT activity on recombinant histones in vitro. Current experimentation is seeking to ascertain its endogenous role. This may point to the idea that endogenous SAS3 requires post-translational modifications before it is active, …

The Expression Of Insr-β, Insr-α, And P300 In Palmitic Acid And Glucose Treated Hepg2 Cells, Grace Mutesa, Caroline Wethington

Liberty University Research Week

Type II diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects 500 million people across the world and is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Complications associated with diabetes include cardiovascular disease, eye damage and kidney disease. Insulin resistance occurs due to defects in the insulin signaling pathway. Here we explore different modalities of inducing insulin resistance in HepG2 cells, as part of a larger study to develop treatments to reverse insulin resistance. We used a dose response to find out what concentration of glucose, palmitic acid (PA), and insulin each treatment is required to induce insulin resistance. We used …

George Van Brugh Brown To Susan Niemcewicz, February 26, 1806, George Van Brugh Brown

Liberty Hall Collection 1800s

George Van Brugh Brown wrote Exmouth, Devonshire, England to Susan Niemcewicz in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Susan would likely be surprised when seeing the address of George’s letter. He and his wife, Elizabeth, left Bath in January. Elizabeth’s complaints have continued nearly the same. When she thinks about the distance between herself and all of her friends, it falls naturally upon her spirits, which have kept up most wonderfully when considering the long and tedious illness she endured. The physicians would not allow her to see people, and the room was kept quiet so that their friends were prevented from being …

No One Likes A Mad Woman: The 'Big Reputation' Of Rebekah Harkness, Kimberly Weaner

Liberty University Research Week

This paper examines the complex legacy of American socialite Rebekah Harkness (1915-1982), exploring how her reputation was shaped by both public scrutiny and her philanthropic contributions to the arts. While Harkness is often remembered for her scandalous personal life and extravagant behavior, this research argues that her cultural impact, particularly through the establishment of the Harkness Ballet and Harkness House for Ballet Arts, deserves deeper scholarly attention. This study reveals how Harkness navigated high society expectations while pursuing artistic ambitions that, despite her tumultuous personal life and controversial public image, led to significant contributions to American dance culture through her …

How Much Is Too Much?, Ellie Shoemaker

Liberty University Research Week

This paper examines the question of whether or not the court has a right to intervene on a prosecutor’s decision that was made within their discretion and analyze it to ensure it was made in “good faith.” This issue comes from a circuit split in the 10th circuit regarding plea agreements, United States v. Doe. The defendant appealed the first verdict and one of the grounds on which Doe appealed was that the prosecutor acted in bad faith when they refused to file a substantial assistance motion. While this decision was within the prosecutor’s discretion, the court is still faced …

Continuity In Colonization: A Comparative Study Between Hampton And Jamestown, Virginia, Regarding Their Occupation And Its Impact, Chandler Lilley

Liberty University Research Week

It has been widely circulated that Jamestown, Virginia, is the oldest permanent continuous English settlement in the New World. Not all parts of that statement are true. Locals of a place no more than half an hour down the road would contest that claim, saying that the city of Hampton better fits the criteria. What do those qualifiers mean, and which settlement deserves the title? Based on an examination of primary and secondary sources, both settlements will be compared with the qualifiers oldest, permanent, continuous, and English. To be oldest, the founding of the current location of the settlement must …

From A Certain Point Of View: The Portrayal Of Autism In Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time", Lillian Mcsweeney

Liberty University Research Week

This paper investigates the development of Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a contemporary murder mystery novel featuring an autistic central character. The novel was well received; in 2003 it earned several awards including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and Whitbread Book of the Year, and in 2004 it placed top ten in YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. Critics attribute the book’s success to Haddon’s insightful portrayal of an autistic central character, while Haddon himself has stated that he wishes the book wasn’t held up as an example of an autistic narrative, and …

Shaping Wartime Illinois: Dwight H. Green’S Re-Election Campaign Of 1944, Cole Klicker

Liberty University Research Week

The 1944 Illinois gubernatorial election was a pivotal moment in the state’s political history, taking place amidst the broader context of World War II. Despite Illinois voters supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth presidential term and electing a Democratic senator, they diverged at the state level by re-electing Republican Governor Dwight H. Green. This raises the central research question: What factors contributed to Dwight H. Green’s successful re-election campaign in 1944, and how did his political strategies, governance, and alignment with 1940s Republican values shape the outcome of the election? This study explores Green’s ability to navigate the complex political environment …

Julian Niemcewicz To Susan Niemcewicz, February 7, 1806, Julian U. Niemcewicz

Liberty Hall Collection 1800s

Julian Niemcewicz wrote from New York, New York to Susan Niemcewicz in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Julian had yet to receive Susan’s answer to his letter and feared he would not get it until after the mail departure. Julian's trinkets on board the vessel were causing him a world of trouble. The day before was spent obtaining the permit to bring them to the public store. Two vessels were going to Hamburg and by then Julian planned to have already sent a dozen bottles of liquor and the trinkets. Julian saw Mr. Rutherford and was informed that he had no apprehensions …

Research Week 2025, Michael Schueth

Research Week

Welcome to Undergraduate Research Week at Collin College!

This week celebrates the innovative research and scholarly work of our undergraduate students across all disciplines. From our informative webinars to Cultivating Scholars, our student poster presentation, the week offers opportunities to explore new ideas, share discoveries, and connect with fellow researchers and faculty mentors.

We invite all students, faculty, and staff to participate in these events designed to highlight the importance of undergraduate research in academic and professional development. Whether you're presenting your work or simply curious about your peers' projects, your engagement helps foster our college's culture of inquiry and …

Cultivating Scholars 2025, Elizabeth Hamner

Research Week

Cultivating Scholars is an interdisciplinary event promoting undergraduate students and their special interest topics. It is a research-based setting meant to imitate a professional conference. Students work with Faculty Mentors to conduct a high-quality project and present it to the community.

Date: April 24, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Place: Collin College, Frisco Campus Conference Center

So Much More Than Summer Camp: The Importance Of Environmental Education At Nature Centers, Olivia P. Upton

Student Scholar Showcase

In conjunction with my Westover Honors Thesis, my Bonner Legacy Project focused on the development of environmental education curriculum and programming at Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center [CKBY]. Informed by a review of current climate education, lesson plans and activities were modified in collaboration with CKBY staff to be more climate-focused and aid in the development of systems thinking skills. Activities were compiled and edited to teach concepts, such as food webs, feedback loops, and the greenhouse effect, while also promoting team-building and critical thinking. Educational kits for each activity were created, which include all materials needed as well as a …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Providing Religious And Spiritual-Based Care For Patients Currently Receiving Palliative Care Services, Rachel Ann Bruce, Cynthia Dien, Kinnice Jordan Turner, Rebecca Kay Tisdale

Student Scholar Showcase

This literature review explores the effectiveness of providing spiritual and religious-based care to patients currently receiving palliative care settings. In the context of this research, palliative care is defined as the six month period before a person’s death. By examining peer-reviewed journal articles from 2020 to 2024, this literature review will incorporate findings from multiple studies (both qualitative and quantitative) in order to effectively compare and contrast spiritual and religious beliefs and practices for patients receiving palliative care. After thorough examination, collected research has demonstrated that individuals who receive both timely and frequent religious and spiritual-base care while on palliative …

Brewing Revolution: The Influence Of Cafés In Eighteenth-Century France, Ian Landry

Liberty University Research Week

The cafés of eighteenth-century France occupy a central role during this era. They were places that both the literate and illiterate flocked to in order to receive the latest news and debate about relevant current events and topics. The material disseminated from these places prompted discourse and ultimately shaped the public’s opinion. With this in mind, cafés deserve a more prominent role in the discussion on eighteenth-century French studies in general as well as the French Revolution specifically.

The Lynchburg Musketeers In World War I: From Guardsmen To Doughboys, Timothy Brophy

Liberty University Research Week

My research paper entitled “The Lynchburg Musketeers in World War I: From Guardsmen to Doughboys” is a textual and investigative study that traces the development of a local company of men from Lynchburg, Virginia that went from the National Guard to the U.S. Army before and during World War I. The Lynchburg Musketeers was a small militia organized in the fall of 1915 that became Company L of the National Guard’s 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment in the summer of 1916. My paper centers around the firsthand account of Edley Craighill, a member of the Lynchburg Musketeers, in his 1931 work, …

Bytes, Banter, And The Bible: An Interdisciplinary Account Of Objective Meaning, Cameron Bonin

Liberty University Research Week

The claim that the Bible has objective meaning is contested in a postmodern world. Many theologians and philosophers have sought to address this critique. One such philosopher is Nicholas Wolterstorff, who makes use of speech-act theory to defend authorial-discourse interpretation. His case is especially presented in his work, Divine Discourse: Philosophical Reflections on the Claim that God Speaks. But theologians and philosophers are not the only ones concerned with the nature of meaning. As such, the assertion that the biblical texts have objective meaning can be more persuasively defended when it is addressed by insights from multiple disciplines. In particular, …

Green Rush: The Rise Of Medical Marijuana In The United States, Dominic Wells

The Journal of Economics and Politics

No abstract provided.

Mommy, When Can I Have My Cookies?, Hayley Stewart, Samantha Desantis

Research Days

Current regret literature suggests a psychological difference in how people cognitively evaluate their own role in suboptimal outcomes regarding (in)actions taken. Initial studies report a robust action effect (Kahneman, 1982); however, subsequent studies have challenged these findings and suggest that the inactions elicit greater regret (Beike, Markman & Karadogan, 2009; Gilovich & Medvec, 1995). The concept of delayed gratification can provide a valuable lens through which we can understand these seemingly conflicting results. A classic study by Walter Mischel (1989) examined children’s ability to wait for a larger reward (e.g., two marshmallows) rather than settling for an immediate reward (e.g., …

Odysseus The Prince: An Analysis Of The Odyssey Through A Machiavellian Lens, Emily Baugh

Liberty University Research Week

Though Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince is well known as a text that discusses leadership, the common perception of the type of leader Machiavelli espouses as effective and why has been distorted, resulting in a skewed and skeptical view of this text. The work examines and evaluates the character and leadership qualities of the famous Greek figure Odysseus in light of The Prince, demonstrating not only that he fits Machiavelli’s conception of an effective leader, but that the Machiavelli type, as demonstrated by the king of Ithaca, is truly effective in positions of authority. By viewing Odysseus as a whole person, …

Miracles In Medicine? A Review Of Neuralink's Blindsight And The Future Of Brain Computer Interface Technology, Thomas Yu

Liberty University Research Week

A study of the history of Brain Computer Interfaces and new technologies in the field, specifically Neuralink's Blindsight technology. Current developments and future implications are discussed.

To Parent Or Not To Parent: How Far Do Parental Rights Extend?, Emilie Das

Liberty University Research Week

American citizens have rights under the United States Constitution. However, not all rights appear in the written text of the Constitution. These rights are called fundamental rights, and they receive protection from constitutional amendments. Parental rights constitute a fundamental right protected by the Substantive Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, landmark cases discussing parental rights leave ambiguity as to how far this fundamental right extends. The circuit split between the Third and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Gruenke v. Seip and Fields v. Palmdale, respectively, demonstrates this ambiguity. Both decisions rely on Supreme Court precedent but …

The Boxer Rebellion And Missionaries: A Study Of Historical Context And Ideological Perspectives, Danielle Russano-Simpkins

Liberty University Research Week

The Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) was a pivotal anti-foreign, anti-Christian, and anti-imperialist uprising in northern China, shaped by the interplay of three key perspectives: imperial forces, missionaries, and the Boxers themselves. From the imperial viewpoint, the Qing dynasty initially opposed but later supported the Boxers, aiming to resist Western encroachment and preserve sovereignty amidst growing foreign aggression. Missionaries, representing Western religious influence, were perceived as cultural disruptors, fueling anti-Christian sentiment due to their perceived arrogance and interference in local affairs. The Boxers, a grassroots movement blending martial arts and spiritual beliefs, sought to expel foreigners and restore traditional values, believing themselves …

The King’S Antiquary: John Leland Between Destruction And Preservation, Christopher Dykes

Liberty University Research Week

This study examines John Leland's complex role as a royal commissioner during the dissolution of the monasteries. As the "King's Antiquary," Leland found himself caught between seemingly contradictory missions: participating in dismantling monastic institutions while simultaneously working to preserve their scholarly and cultural heritage. The research explores how Leland, educated as a humanist and appointed with a royal commission to survey England's libraries, navigated these competing loyalties through his extensive library tours, meticulous transcriptions, and ambitious documentation projects, including the Collectanea and De Viris Illustribus. Particular attention is given to Leland's nationalist motivations, evidenced in his concern about foreign scholars …

Exploring Internal Communication At United States Higher Education Institutions, Kimberly S. Marks

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Communication serves a crucial role in higher education institutions (Pineda et al., 2024) which can aid organizational performance when effective (Meirinhos et al., 2022). Change can also achieve necessary support through internal communication (Lemon & Towry, 2021) and higher education institutions are currently being challenged and require change (Abushawish, 2018). Although scholars (Johnstone & Schexnider, 2023; McClure, 2017; Moran, 2016) have named many sustainability strategies, Burukina (2021) indicates that internal communication plays a central role in higher education’s sustainability efforts. However, internal communication studies within higher education institutions remain limited (Burukina, 2021; Campbell, 2018; Clemmons, 2022). The purpose of this …

Cover And Forewords, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Forewords

Bicycling: A Review, A Pilot Study And Planning Implications, Brian Dyck

The Geographical Bulletin

Bicycling is a growing activity. It provides both a form of exercise and a means of transportation. Recent estimates indicate there are over 85 million bicycle users in the United States.' Renewed interest in bicycling has occurred in the last ten years.' Some of the major reasons for the growth in bicycling include the revival of social acceptability of adult bicycling, the emphasis on the need for exercise, the greater availability of leisure time, the provision of bike ways and a response to the "energy crisis". The growth of bicycling, however, has caused some crucial concerns. Two of the more …

Volume 12 Complete Issue, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 12 Complete Issue