Digital Commons Network^™

Detection Of Mthfr C677t Genotyping For Spina Bifida Defects Using Arms-Pcr Technique, Halah Kamal Al-Qazzaz, Zahraa F. Al-Khero, Hameed Husham Hameed

Baghdad Science Journal

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are complex structural deformities in newborn infants. These defects are caused by a blend of genetic and environmental factors in the abnormal phenotype. The current study aims to determine the genetic variation polymorphism for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T rs180133 genotyping and to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a DNA sample of Spinal Bifida (SB) and compare it with control newborn children. Blood samples were collected from newborns (50 children under one year old) (25 cases of spinal bifida (SB) and 25 controls). The DNA was extracted and amplified by the tetra ARMS-PCR technique (Amplification Refractory …

Executive And Audit Committee, Minutes Clemson Board Of Trustee,S 2025 April 25, Clemson University Board Of Trustees

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Blue Notes, April 25, 2025 (Issue 2025-07), Illinois State University, Department Of Chemistry

Blue Notes

Newsletter of the Illinois State University Department of Chemistry

Analysis Of The At-Risk Mental Health Of Military Children And Proposed Intervention Plans To Be Implemented By Mental Health Professionals, Claire E. Anderson

Senior Honors Theses

Mental health for military children is an unseen life-threatening epidemic that must be brought to the attention of Americans. The statistics surrounding the mental health of the average military child are alarming and saddening. Access and knowledge of mental health resources for military children may significantly decrease the high percentage of military children who experience poor mental health. To raise awareness, increase research findings, and support military children well, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the problem both presently and historically, to be aware of current resources in place, to understand current and past policies surrounding the …

A Sacramental Model For Digital Ecclesiology: Theological Retrieval For A Mediated Church, Caleb J. Atha

Senior Honors Theses

The widespread proliferation of digital technologies has opened the door to new ecclesiological questions and challenges for the Christian denominations that have integrated these technologies into their community life and liturgical practices. American evangelicalism is proposed to be especially susceptible to the aforementioned challenges due to its ecclesiological emphases and general posture towards digital media. Using Marshall McLuhan’s seminal insights in media theory, this work argues that the role of digital media in the church shows a significant congruence with Christian sacramental theology. The concept of the digital church is analyzed through McLuhan’s tetrad framework and its weaknesses are highlighted. …

Examining The Economic Impact Of Jesus, Carter F. Slyker

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis examines the economic impact of the person of Jesus and applies economic theory to the historical and biblical accounts of his ministry on earth. The study will consider the social and economic conditions of the first century Roman Empire within the context of Judea and Galilee, while focusing on key issues including poverty, social hierarchy, and taxation. It will explore three primary aspects of Jesus’ ministry to assign economic impact: the crowds he drew, the miracles he performed, and the principles he taught. These acts challenged the societal and economic norms of that culture and positively impacted communities …

Factors Associated With Quality Of Intrapartum Care In Kenya: A Complex Samples Analysis Of The 2022 Kenya Demographic And Health Survey, Lilian Nuwabaine, Earnest Amwiine, Quraish Sserwanja, Joseph Kawuki, Mathius Amperiize, Angella Namulema, Ahmed Sarki, John Baptist Asiimwe

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

The provision of quality intrapartum care increases women’s utilization of skilled birth attendants in health facilities and improves maternal and newborn health. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the quality of intrapartum care using the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).

Methods

Secondary data from the 2022 KDHS of 11,863 participants, who were selected by multistage stratified sampling, was used. Based on literature and the availability of indicators within the 2022 KDHS, the quality of intrapartum care was operationalized as receiving all the three clinical components of intrapartum care including a mother having a facility-based …

Using A Fourth-Generation Behavioral Theory To Develop Competencies In Doctoral Public Health Students About The Application Of Theory-Based Intervention Planning, Manoj Sharma

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Asynchronous teaching is gaining popularity all over the world and at UNLV. In asynchronous teaching, both pedagogical robustness and the building of content expertise, especially for doctoral scholars, are mandatory. Since 2021, I have taught Advanced Applications of Social and Behavioral Theories (HED 762-1001) to public health students aiming to develop concentration-specific competencies set by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The specific teaching techniques employed by me entail (a) the use of the fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to motivate students not only to acquire knowledge and skills but also lead them toward behavioral …

Enhancing Student Engagement And Support With A Discord Ticketing And Ai-Driven Faq System, Benjamin Cisneros, Jorge Fonseca Cacho

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

As the CS 202 Coordinator overseeing seven sections per semester, I introduced a Discord-based ticketing system to streamline student support and engagement. Traditional methods like office hours and email often created delays, whereas the ticket system allows students to receive timely help from any available TA, regardless of section. To further enhance accessibility, we added a public FAQ channel that displays resolved tickets, helping students quickly find answers without combing through chat logs. This approach supports learners with shorter attention spans and builds a shared knowledge base. Additionally, we are compiling these interactions to train an AI chatbot capable of …

The Power Of Connection: Fostering A Safe And Supportive Classroom, Michelle A. Arroyo

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

One of the most effective teaching practices is building strong relationships with students and creating a safe, supportive classroom environment. When students feel valued, respected, and comfortable, they are more likely to engage in learning, take risks, and persist through challenges. In my classroom, I prioritize getting to know my students personally, establishing consistent expectations, and fostering a culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. By emphasizing trust, encouragement, and open communication, I create a space where students feel safe to ask questions without fear, advocate for themselves, and develop confidence in their abilities. This approach is particularly …

Teaching With Roleplaying Games, Bryan Blankfield

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Roleplaying Games (RPG) offer a uniquely dynamic teaching practice. Educational RPGs invite students to roleplay as historical figures or character types navigating complex scenarios. My students have roleplayed as golden age hip hop artists, presidential campaign teams, and citizens debating for/against Maya Lin’s proposed Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1980. Any scenario is possible! The length of these games can span from one class period to an entire semester. It just depends on your objectives.

From Page To Perspective: Book Clubs & Book Reviews Enhance Learning In The College Classroom, Kim Nehls

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Incorporating book clubs and book reviews into my International Business Capstone course (UNLV BUS 498) offered a dynamic and fun learning experience that enhanced both academic development and personal growth. Following this assignment, students demonstrated strengthened skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and global awareness.

Using Game-Based Learning As An Active Learning Technique In Nursing Education Classes, Margaret Trnka

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

In nursing education it is essential to prepare the students for complex clinical settings. The use of active learning activities such as game-based learning combines nursing content with gaming to increase engagement, knowledge retention, and critical thinking. This poster presentation shares information on game-based learning, how to use it, where to gather more information on the topic, and resources to implement game-based learning in the classroom. Game-based learning offers students an engaging and active way to learn in not just nursing education but all areas of education. Game-based learning is a strong activity that promotes deeper learning in both didactic …

How Not To Teach With Technology: A Lighthearted Look At Educational Technology Pitfalls, Alethea Inns, Safiyya Bintali, Andrew Borts, Ted Weisman, Lindsay Erdem

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Educational technology can be both a catalyst for engagement and a source of unexpected chaos. The Do's and Don'ts of Teaching with Technology: A Lighthearted Look at Educational Technology Pitfalls distills insights from IT support tickets, faculty consultations, and student feedback into practical (and lighthearted) DOs and DON’Ts. This poster highlights four key areas of tech use in higher education: Choosing the Right Tools, Setting Expectations, Avoiding Tech Overload, and Designing Intentionally, complete with comic-style illustrations and real-world wisdom. A companion guide, available via QR code, expands on these themes with additional examples, citations, and strategies for designing tech-enhanced learning …

Leveling The Playing Field: The Power Of Pre-Class Structure In Inclusive Education, Andrew Kauffman

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Many students enter UNLV without prior instruction on effective learning strategies or class preparation, and their limited classroom contact hours further hinder the development of essential study and self-regulation skills. This challenge is particularly pronounced among students from underrepresented and underserved communities. To address this, I created structured pre-class activities designed to equip students with effective study habits and learning strategies that support their success both in and out of the classroom. Before each class session, students complete a “Pre-Class Guided Practice” handout, which includes an overview of the new material, clearly defined learning objectives, a QR code linking to …

Helping Students Frame Their Educational Experiences, Nathan Slife, Joseph Ervin

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

What separates a good instructor from a great instructor? One crucial aspect of a great instructor is their ability to help students frame their educational experiences. This framing assistance occurs for both good and challenging student experiences. Instructors play an important role in helping students understand their educational experiences. An instructor may not recognize that they have such a role. We encourage instructors to be intentional about their role in students’ framing.

When Realism In Testing Backfires: Lessons From An Unstructured Practical Exam Pairing, Jennifer Nash

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Physical therapists must adapt quickly and independently in diverse neurologic settings. To reinforce diagnostic readiness and self-sufficiency, students were not assigned partners in advance and received their exam schedule only on the day of testing. This format was designed to challenge adaptability under realistic conditions, promote independent preparation across all course skills, and reduce reliance on rehearsed teamwork.

Designing Futures: Embedding Life Design Into Second-Year Seminar, Janel Doll, Lauren Gatto, Chelsie Hawkinson, Anne Jacklin

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

In COE 202: Second-Year Seminar (SYS), students engage in Life Design to build purpose-driven academic and career pathways. We use design thinking to help students:

• Identify values, strengths, and goals
• Explore possible life and career directions
• Reflect on academic choices in relation to future plans

Life Design Portfolio — Includes:

• Worldview & Lifeview reflections
• Odyssey Plans
• Decision-Making Matrix
• Prototyping conversations and experiences

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply design thinking to life and career planning
• Demonstrate reflective decision-making skills
• Articulate personal and professional values
• Connect coursework to long-term aspirations

One-Page Rpgs: An Engaging Alternative To Group Ppts, Bill Doyle

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Looking to increase student engagement and interest, I added the one-page RPG as an option my HON 110 students have for their group project. Ideally, student-designed games help them think more carefully about class readings and related contexts and connect meaningfully to that material in ways that make the Honors College’s second-year seminar a more memorable, transformative experience. These games also help students better understand a potentially unfamiliar genre. Finally, because materials are shared outside of class, there is a reduced stress level related to conventional, in-front-of-the-class, end-of-semester group presentations.

No More Deer In The Headlights: Interview Practice With Ai, Helen R. Neill

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Ever had a student (or been the student) who froze like a deer in headlights during an interview? Been there. Whether it’s for a job, graduate school, or a conversation with a potential mentor, high-stakes interviews can spark panic. This teaching practice introduces AI-powered mock interviews to give students—both traditional and adult learners—a low-pressure space to prepare. Using AI, students rehearse:

• Informational interviews
• Job interviews
• Graduate school and assistantship interviews

Why it works: Students receive meaningful, low-stakes practice and instant feedback on tone, clarity, and content. They can revise, retry, and gain confidence with each round. This approach also supports …

Real-World Applications: Strategies To Inspire Students To Learn Calculus And Differential Equations Through Modeling, Aleksei Talonov

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Key elements of strategy to inspire students include:

• Pre-Class Preparation;
• Historical Context (Starting each lecture with a brief historical overview to provide relevance and context to the material);
• Interactive Real-Life Problem Solving (Discussing the main concepts of the lecture and collaboratively solving challenging problems);
• Proof Techniques (Demonstrating mathematical methods used to prove key statements from the current lesson);
• Real-Time Feedback.

Supporting Effective Online Teaching And Learning, Serena Scalzi

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Literature identifies numerous related concepts that support effective online education. These concepts include identity, mental models, social presence, motivation, social learning, self-regulated learning, communities of practice, cognitive load, and Universal Design for Learning. After a review of the literature, action research was conducted among participants from across the field of Online Education, including instructors, instructional designers, and embedded instructional technologists. This research collected and analyzed data regarding the practical application of these theoretical concepts, as well as the techniques, tools, and resources to support this application. The result of this action research project was a set of proven best practices …

Oh, The Lessons You'll Teach! Bringing Dr. Seuss Into Graduate Field Work, Megan Griffard

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Teaching Practice and the Need It Addresses

• Incorporated classic Dr. Seuss children's literature into graduate Educational Policy and Leadership field experience coursework.
• Used one story per class session to guide discussions and activities.
• Connected themes from four Dr. Seuss books to students’ real-world work on school improvement initiatives.
• Literature supported students’ year-long capstone projects, helping them

Co-Creating Learning Journeys, Yvonne Houy

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Viewing education as a journey of exploration and discovery, I invite students to co-create our path. As a “guide on the side,” I help students build a foundation while encouraging autonomy through co-creation—where students contribute to course design, content, assessment, and learning activities. This collaborative approach fosters deeper engagement, critical thinking, and meaningful learning. Research shows co-creation improves academic performance, skill development, and student-staff relationships. Instructors can support this by framing learning as exploration, modeling curiosity, building inclusive learning communities, and offering flexible, student-driven curricular choices that include research, topic proposals, and the creation of assessments based on co-developed content.

Thesis Equations: A Standard Formula To Help Craft A Thesis Statement, Meanna Williams

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Thesis Equations is an outlining method that can be used for writing argumentative papers. It proposes a formulaic structure that acts as a base for students to craft a simple thesis. Students need to know how to make a claim. With the emergence of AI use, and the decreasing knowledge of foundational practices, utilizing proper brainstorming and outlining skills persists to be a difficult task for student writers.

Metacognition, Erika Fulton, Tina Miyake

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Metacognition is thinking about cognition or thinking about thinking. It includes what you know about how your own cognition and cognition in general work. Metacognition also involves the judgments we make about our cognition and how accurate those judgments are. Metamemory and metacomprehension are the most studied areas of metacognition and refer to the judgments we make about our memory and about our reading comprehension, respectively.

Person Perception In Childhood And Adolescence, William Goulart, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Prior to the early 1970s little was known about how children viewed others. Previous research had focused on the types of thoughts children had about others, rather than how they arrived at and how to categorize these impressions. Additionally, it was assumed that understanding the development of impression formation in childhood would prove useful for understanding impression formation in adulthood.

Nursing Homes, Julian Garcia, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Nursing homes are a type of residential care that typically provide continual nursing care for elderly people. Residential care refers to long-term care given to either adults or children who stay in a residential setting rather than their own home. Individuals who benefit most from nursing homes are those who do not need to be in a hospital but cannot live independently or be cared for at home. While nursing homes are most typically associated with the elderly, younger adults with different physical or mental disabilities may also benefit from them. The services at nursing homes often vary depending on …

Childbirth Approaches, Michael Galobardi, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

There are various approaches to childbirth, apart from the typical approach of vaginal delivery (e.g., typically done in a hospital). Another approach is a cesarean, which can classified as either an emergency or planned procedure. In the case where an emergency cesarean is needed a vaginal birth would have been detrimental to health of the mother and/or the fetus. A planned cesarean is requested ahead of time due to medical indication or requested by the mother. When requested by the mother the delivery is considered an elective surgical procedure, since it was requested without any medical or obstetrical indication. Cesareans …

Empty Nest Syndrome, Kelsey Grodner, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Empty nest is a stage in development when children leave the parental home, thus leaving it “empty.” This stage occurs when children are at the age or point in life where they are ready to become independent and create a life of their own. Parents have various reactions to this change.  Many parents look forward to this transition and view it as a highly positive event, while others have a more difficult time and deal with what is commonly called the “empty nest syndrome.” Empty syndrome is typically considered a maladaptive reaction to this transition, however this significant phase of …