Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Influencing Driving Confidence In Older Adults, Jill Linder, Beth Ann Walker, Elizabeth Moore, Anne Hegberg

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: It has been determined that both confidence and cognition impact driving performance and self-regulation. While it is known that cognitive decline impacts driving safety and that decreases in driving confidence can lead to self-driving regulation, further research is needed to determine whether cognition, demographics, and driving routines are associated with driving confidence.

Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional design study using a convenience sample of 100 older adults was conducted to determine if individual factors are related to daytime and nighttime driving confidence.

Results: Multiple regression indicated that four variables predicted daytime driving confidence, including cognition, driving at …

Informing Modifications To Social Participation And Navigation (Span) For Adolescents With Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs, Nicole Porter, Gary Bedell, Jason Getzler, Megan Mueller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Social anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health challenges of adolescence and profoundly impacts social participation. This study obtained adolescent and parent feedback to inform a future modification of Social Navigation and Participation (SPAN) for use with adolescents with social anxiety incorporating pet dogs.

Methods: The study had two phases: Phase 1 included interviews with adolescents with social anxiety (n = 8) about their social participation experiences, strategies, pet dogs, and thoughts on a proposed intervention to promote social participation; and Phase 2 included on-line survey completed by the adolescents and their parents (n = 14) assessing …

Artificial Intelligence: Analysis And Guidelines For Scholarly Writing, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Challenges Of Building Specifications For Essential Oils: An Industry Perspective, Brett Smith

Oxford ICSB

The rise in essential oil popularity is creating unprecedented demand worldwide. With the increased demand, the worldwide supply chain is challenged with maintaining consistent quality standards. Some essential oil producers may be motivated to use new and innovative methods to alter their products to meet quality standards and extend their current oil supplies. Climate change is also affecting growing season conditions, leading to changes in essential oil composition compared to past harvests. These factors create challenges for industry in establishing updated quality and commerce specifications beyond traditional ISO, AFNOR, and pharmacopoeia standards for essential oils. To meet these supply chain …

Characterization Of Ashwagandha Using A Multi-Detector Approach, Vincent Sica

Oxford ICSB

Botanicals are complex mixtures that present unique analytical challenges. A multi-detector chromatographic approach can provide accurate, constituent-based data to ensure proper identification and quantification of botanicals. These data are often used to help drive in silico safety assessments to identify suspected toxicants and assess the potential for deleterious effects using structure activity relationships. To showcase this approach, ashwagandha extracts were characterized to determine authenticity and to guide the necessary toxicological studies. To ensure the full constituency of the extracts are evaluated, a multi-detector system (UHPLC-PDA-CAD-HRMS) was employed and subjected to a comprehensive chemical constituent identification (CCID) process. All of the …

Understanding Plant To Extract Ratios Of Botanical Extracts And Their Implications In Product Labeling, Maria Monagas, Thomas Brendler, Josef Brinckmann, Steven Dentali, Stefan Gafner, Gabriel Giancaspro, Holly Johnson, James Kababick, Cuiying Ma, Hellen Oketch-Rabah, Pilar Pais, Nandu Sarma, Robin Marles

Oxford ICSB

Dietary supplement current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) in the U.S. requires the establishment of quality parameters for each component used in the manufacture of a dietary supplement to ensure that specifications for the identity, purity, strength, composition, and limits on contaminants are met using scientifically valid methods of analysis. However, specifications for botanical extracts (including fungal and algal extracts) routinely include additional data that are not amenable to verification through analytical methods. Such descriptive information may include Plant to Extract ratios, which are ratios of the quantity of botanical article used in the manufacture of the extract to the quantity …

Optimization Of Bisguaiacol F Synthesis Via Microwave Assistance, Jessica Bryant

Liberty University Research Week

Bisphenol A (BPA, 4-[1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]phenol) is a monomer utilized to produce epoxy resins and in thermal printing processes. Two primary problems are posed by the production of BPA: It is environmentally and toxicologically damaging. If a molecule that mimicked the properties and structure of BPA yet lacked its toxicologically damaging effects could be manufactured from renewable sources these concerns could be greatly reduced. One such monomer is bisguaiacol F (BGF, 4-[(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-2-methoxyphenol). While BGF mimics BPA, typical reaction mechanisms require a laborious workup resulting in diminished yield and purity. We hypothesize that utilizing microwave assistance in the synthesis of BGF will ultimately …

The True History Of Aloes And Beyond, Ben-Erik Van Wyk

Oxford ICSB

The recorded history of aloes dates back thousands of years, with early recordings in the Papyrus Ebers (ca. 1550 B.C.) and in Dioscorides’s Herbal (1st cent. A.D.). Aloe has been used as a two-in-one medicine, not only by early explorers but also as a material of strategic military importance, with the yellow juice effective against the stomach problems of an army on the march and the white juice (gel) used to treat the wounds of battle. Aloe vera is the correct name for the “true aloe”, as the specific epithet “vera” indicates. The origins of the plant are shrouded in …

Building Connection With Community Reads: Opening Up A Learning Community During Isolation And Beyond, Hannah Mendro, Alyssa Berger, Carina Bixby, Joanne Chern, Kat Wyly, Laura Dimmit Smyth

All Things Open

Community Reads at the UW Bothell/Cascadia College Library is a program open to students, staff, and faculty across both our communities with the goal of facilitating conversation around topics of social justice and equity. We use a shared reading (a book, essay, or short story) that aligns with a greater theme as the basis of our programming, but build out from our reading in many different ways. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and more than a year of virtual learning, the team has focused on providing multiple creative entry points into our readings and discussions, prioritizing alternative ways …

Mechanical Testing & Characterization Of Zk60 Magnesium At Various Temperatures, Derek Works

Liberty University Research Week

Magnesium is a lightweight structural metal used everywhere from industrial equipment to bioengineering. It is often mixed with other metals to create alloys with certain desirable characteristics. To better implement these alloys, an accurate understanding of their behavior and structure is necessary. This project will investigate the behavior of magnesium alloy ZK60. Mechanical testing will provide results describing the behavior of the material at various temperatures. The mechanical testing will be conducted using the Instron static loading machine and furnace attachment at the Center for Engineering Research & Education (CERE) to apply compressive force to the magnesium specimens at temperatures …

One-Class Modeling For The Authentication Of Actaea Racemosa And Evaluation Of The Variation Between Botanical Reference Materials, James Harnly

Oxford ICSB

One-class modeling based on soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) is a simple but powerful method for comparing the chemical composition of botanical materials using non-targeted chromatograms (GC, LC) or spectra (IR, MS, NIR, NMR). The methodology is available on any commercial chemometric platform. Authentication is based solely on the characteristics of the botanical material of interest. Detection of adulteration is determined for each variable and requires no identification of adulterants. Some highly characterized botanical reference materials (BRMs) may account for species, cultivar, and year and location of harvest while more generic BRMs may have minimal characterization. All of …

Cryptology For Christ: Steganography, Evangelism, And Closed Access Countries, Christopher Jaus

Liberty University Research Week

Digital steganography is rooted in the ancient practice of hiding messages and has evolved dramatically with technology. In the Christian worldview, modern technology's ethical application is rooted in the creation mandate, where Genesis 1:28 commands mankind to subdue the earth and have dominion over it. The Bible tells of examples where God directly instructs time-period specific technological application. For example, in Exodus 36, two men were charged with the task of using their technological skills to create objects for the purpose of housing the unique presence of God. Exodus 36:1 says, “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the …

Assure 2023: Gambusia Vs. Blackspot Disease Study, Garrett Bohrnstedt

Liberty University Research Week

Mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) are commonly found in local freshwater habitats and are highly regarded as an effective biocontrol agent for unwanted mosquito larvae. While an effective biocontrol, G. holbrooki and many kinds of freshwater fish are afflicted by various parasites (e.g. Blackspot). Blackspot is a disease caused by Schistosome-like parasites (flatworms) such as Uvulifer ambloplitis. U. ambloplitis cercariae attach to the muscle tissue of the fish, transform into black spot metacercaria, and secrete a hyaline cyst around themselves. The host fish deposits black pigment around the cyst and the parasite is visible as a black spot. While it is …

Characterization Of The Aspergillus Flavus Rdia Gene With A Rdi1∆ Mutant Of C. Neoformans, Nicholas Jones

Liberty University Research Week

Several members in the Aspergillus genus produce aflatoxin, the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen known. Regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis has been studied for several decades as this mycotoxin is currently regulated by the USDA. While all the biosynthetic steps have been characterized, much remains to be elucidated regarding the regulatory network controlling its production. Expression data show that A. flavus rdiA clusters with the aflatoxin pathway-specific transcriptional regulator aflR. Deletion of rdiA resulted in increased septation interval and branching as well as severely decreased AF production. The ∆rdiA mutant phenotype is similar to the rdi1∆ mutant of C. neoformans and …

Influence Of Scp1 On Cryptococcus Neoformans Virulence, Carleigh Warsing

Liberty University Research Week

Cryptococcus neoformans is the highest ranked pathogen on the Fungal Priority Pathogen List (WHO). Cryptococcal disease begins as pneumonia, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and develops into meningoencephalitis with a 41-61% mortality rate. While most commonly contracted by immunocompromised individuals, infections in immunocompetent individuals do occur. Treatments often produce severe side effects and increased resistance is a developing concern. Our research aims to identify a gene that can be targeted for more effective antifungal therapies. The SCP1 gene is involved in pH regulation and virulence in C. neoformans. Our research hypothesiszes that the SCP1 gene is crucial for the adaptation of …

Bd Prevalence In The Local Crayfish Population, Gibson Huff

Liberty University Research Week

Fungi are ubiquitous in nature and are essential for the overall health of ecosystems, affecting everything from water quality to the health of the organisms. Although many fungi play beneficial roles in nature, some fungi such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) can cause disease in the members of the ecosystem. This chytrid fungus continues to be a major contributor to global amphibian declines and lowers the quality of life of many other creatures (e.g., crayfish). As potential carriers of Bd, crayfish are a possible mobile microhabitat to move and persist the presence of Bd in aquatic ecosystems. This project investigated the …

The Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Mediates The Antineoplastic Action Of Decitabine, Andrew Brola

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in the antineoplastic effect of decitabine, a DNA demethylating agent. In vitro studies have shown that decitabine inhibits cancer cell proliferation by stimulating endogenous retroviruses which in turn activates the production of cytostatic interferon beta (IFN-β). We investigated the potential involvement of endogenous MMTV and the mouse IFN-β in the pharmacodynamics of decitabine using stable knockdown cell lines and MMTV hyper-infection. For the first time, we show that knockdown of MMTV or IFN-β in a mouse mammary cancer cell line (4T1) both rendered …

Quantitative Pilot Study: Impact Of Social Responsibility And Altruism Values On Rehabilitation Employee Satisfaction, Debra Beazley, Agnes Kim, Lori Bolgla

Asian Journal of Physical Therapy

Background: This study explores the association between physical therapist satisfaction in a rehabilitation private practice and perceptions of altruism and social responsibility in the workplace. Small private, for-profit businesses like therapy practices often embrace altruistic values and socially responsible cultures driven by close stakeholder relationships. Alignment between business culture and personal values is a stronger predictor of workplace and career satisfaction. Employees who perceive value alignment report higher job satisfaction and relatedness. Prosocial cultures, rich in altruism and social responsibility, foster job fit and reduce dissatisfaction and turnover. Physical therapy's core values, including altruism and social responsibility, are integral to …

Pricing Asian Options During Crises With The Impact Of Exogenous Events, Moath Ali Bakour

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Asian options are path-dependent options since their payoff is built on the prices of the underlying asset over a time period. The Asian option pricing problem is primarily subject to the prediction model for asset prices. The pioneer Black Scholes paper suggests a GBM- Geometric Brownian motion. The Black-Scholes formula suffers from several shortcomings. For instance, the GBM does not take into consideration crises. Another problem with the Black-Scholes model is that it does not deal with the impact of external events. This work aims at a suggested model that encompasses the impacts of crises and external events together. It …

Terrorism In Africa: An Analysis Of The Efficacy Of U.S. Counterterrorism, Max Yong

Global Tides

This paper seeks to identify whether United States aid to Africa has impacted violent terrorist activity on the continent. The existing literature has produced a range of critiques. Many have voiced concern about foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) growing and blame ineffective efforts by the U.S. for this reality. Instances of African nations, in the face of persisting security challenges from FTOs, turning to political adversaries of the U.S. for assistance is evidence of this sentiment. Furthermore, terror attacks since the onset of the U.S. Global War on Terror (GWOT) have only remained higher than in the previous era. Others have …

Une Investigation Des Raisons Pour La Continuation Ou L’ Abandon D'Études De Langue Dans Le Contexte D’Un Programme D'Étude À L’Étranger Du Modèle Île, Sydney Nystrom

Global Tides

Dans ce travail, nous investiguons l'étude de langues à l’étranger au niveau universitaire, particulièrement dans un programme île. En nous appuyant sur les interviews avec des étudiants, dans le texte, nous examinons les propos de cinq étudiants, participants à un tel programme à l’étranger, qui ont choisi soit de continuer avec leur étude de la langue française, soit de l’abandonner. Selon une analyse thématique de données qualitatives par une approche inductive, nous identifions trois thèmes communs dans l’analyse: l’influence du modèle des études à l’étranger, les raisons explicites pour l’étude supplémentaire de la langue française (ou le choix de ne …

“Let’S Look At What We Said”: The Figure Of Socrates As Antithesis To The Commodification Of Higher Education, Aurora Brande

Liberty University Research Week

In Plato’s writings, Socrates stands as the exemplar of wise teaching. However, Socrates often uses uncomfortable or offensive methods to bring his students face-to-face with their own lack of understanding, so that the person who ultimately confronts them is themselves. I challenge the ideals that drive the commodification of academia in the modern university and explore the pedagogy of Socrates as it can be applied within current educational philosophy. Drawing on Euthyphro and Phaedrus, both of which highlight Socrates as he pushes a student forward to catch their own glimpse of wisdom, I argue that in order to seek a …

Pcos In The Southern United States: A Socio-Ecological Model Intervention, Gloria Ogunlade

Liberty University Research Week

The second verse of 3rd John emphasizes the importance of prospering in our health even as our soul prospers. When so many diseases and complications plague the body, it impairs the quality of life and contradicts the will and purpose of God which is for us to enjoy good health continually. God desires the well-being of the whole person—body, soul, and spirit. This aligns with the biblical concept that humans are created in the image of God and that God's original plan for humanity included physical health and harmony. Believers need to care for their bodies, recognizing them as temples …

The Relationship Between Imposter Syndrome, Household Income, And Level Of Education, Miebaka Favour Roberts

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Imposter syndrome has been documented in the literature as a challenge across all professional fields, for men and women. Imposter syndrome is defined as a state of high-performing individuals attributing achievements to luck and contingency rather than skill and merit. Those experiencing imposter syndrome often live in fear of being exposed as a fraud or losing credibility. Methods: The current study applies the Literature Matrix Method by Judith Garrad to aggregate and synthesize literature for three factors: Imposter Syndrome, household income, and educational level. Further, inclusion criteria for search terms included publication year (2019-2023), document type (Peer-reviewed), and language …

The Partiality Of The American Social Gospel Movement, Karen Caverly-Molineaux

Liberty University Research Week

Social gospel theology asked people to live their lives like Jesus, serving the poor and oppressed. Some major theological developers of social gospel were white church leaders such as Walter Rauschenbusch, John Commons, and Henry King – as well as black church leaders such as Reverdy Ransom. In 1908, the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ was established to unify American Protestants behind the Social Gospel (Social Christianity) Movement. Subsequently, the Social Gospel Movement was gradually reconsidered by Protestants in the mid- to late-1920s, and what followed was an era of return to Christian fundamentalism. This research project focuses …

Ai Propulsion Of Globalization, Aleksandra Drozd

Liberty University Research Week

The invention and continual growth of artificial intelligence (AI) on the global stage have significantly shaped the world’s economies, governments, societies and their cultures. The new industrial revolution and the subsequent race of the world’s leading powers have led to increased international joint efforts and exchange of information, simultaneously reducing barriers to trade and communication. Meanwhile, emerging technologies deploying AI have driven changes in human behavior and culture, and challenged the traditional nation-state model. Within the same time frame, the world stage has undergone profound transformations with a clear trend of globalization, the tightening of international relations and closer cooperation …

The Battle Of The Chosin Reservoir, Luke Chavez

Liberty University Research Week

Lake Changjin, also known as “The Chosin Reservoir” is located high in the Korean peninsula and is in modern-day North Korea. The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir took place on 25 November and lasted till 11 December 1950. The battle was between the Chinese Red Army and the 1st Marine Division alongside the 31st Regimental Combat Team of the 8th Army Division. The battle was part of the secret Chinese second advance to retake the Korean peninsula. The battle is regarded as the most brutal battle in American history. What led to the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir? Why is …

The Uss Liberty Incident: Accident Or Intentional Attack, Maximus Marlowe

Liberty University Research Week

My research examines the events surrounding the 1967 USS Liberty incident. In short, The USS Liberty incident was an attack by Israeli forces on a United States Navy technical research ship, USS Liberty, in international waters during the Six-Day War in 1967, leading to significant American casualties and controversy over the nature and motives of the attack. This incident has become rather controversial as many of the survivors of the Liberty, and US senior government officials involved share a differing view of the attack than the official explanation. When I first heard the story of the USS Liberty, I became …

Manumission, Willed, Or Buying Their Freedom - From The Colonization Of The New World To The Civil War, Patrick Burghardt

Liberty University Research Week

In 1782 an act of the Virginia General Assembly enabled the voluntary manumission (freeing) of thousands of slaves in the 80 or so years prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. The motivation of each slave holder to free their slaves varied from individual to individual and many of the "freedom documents" give some indication as to their thoughts, beliefs, and intentions. Though it is an unfortunate historical reality that slaves were treated as chattel property, this led to a documentation process in the court system that preserved these documents for future study. In 2022, Stephen Andrew Langland of the Helm School …

Nursing Student-Faculty Relationships Enhancing Student Well-Being, Violet Coleman

Liberty University Research Week

While attending a four-year residential nursing school program, many students experience feelings of stress and self-doubt. These feelings can impact student well-being and overall academic success. Stress and self-doubt are due to many factors such as grades, clinical experiences, and meeting expectations of the profession. Studies revealed that positive student-faculty relationships support a reduction in stress and self-doubt. Positive psychosocial and academic outcomes, motivated learning, and a greater sense of self-worth in academic abilities are closely related to student-faculty relationships according to the literature. The presentation question of interest addresses student-faculty relationships and the impact on student well-being in four-year …