Dregs / Lessons From The Things Around Us, Juan-Manuel Pinzon

Theses and Dissertations

The writing in Lessons From the Things Around Us is in support of the work in my MFA thesis show, dregs. I detail the progression of my making and thinking over the last two years. I expand on the material and personal relationships that have manifested themselves in the work and influenced my approach to the things that surround me. Finally, I point to a more expansive definition of Craft, rooted in its material sensibilities, and the possibilities already present in the field that this definition creates.

Defiantly Childlike: Using Aesthetic Resistance To Heal, Sarah K. Reagan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines an alternative processing mechanism surrounding the act of healing after traumatic experiences in life. Using a methodology of iterative patterning and tool-pathing, a collection of inflatable garments and wooden mannequins analyzes defense mechanisms learned in early childhood development. This work highlights an essential body of recent scholarship that takes cuteification seriously to restore a childlike approach to mastering fear. This paper will review the definitions of cuteness and childlike humor and then describe how visual culture has implemented these components to subvert established power.

Evaluating Long-Range Transportation Plans For Mainstreaming Of Climate Adaptation Among Virginia Mpos, Sebastian L. Shetty

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the strides made towards addressing climate change through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies, it has become increasingly apparent that attempting to mitigate the crisis in such a manner alone is insufficient. This thesis joins a growing body of research on how our societies must adapt to a changing climate, contributing more evidence on common barriers to adaptation and how they might be overcome. Through an attempt to evaluate the progress made towards mainstreaming, or integrating, climate change concerns into five Virginia MPOs’ long-range transportation plans (LRTPs), this study provides support for prior hypotheses around the potential for MPOs …

Characterization Of Piezo2 Involvement In Stress-Induced Alterations To Gi Function And Nociception, Cristina Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder marked by visceral hypersensitivity and changes in bowel function.Visceral sensation is initiated in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by primary afferent nerves that detect and transduce chemical and mechanical stimuli into electrical signals which relay to the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this investigation was to characterize the role of Piezo2, a mechanically sensitive ion channel, located in nociceptive sensory afferents in the regulation of GI function in mice subjected to Water Avoidance Stress (WAS). Initially, body weight growth, colonic transit time, and somatic von Frey filament testing …

Periodic Trends In The Infrared And Optical Absorption Spectra Of Metal Chalcogenide Clusters, Alain Ward

Theses and Dissertations

We have investigated the Optical absorption, Infrared spectra, Binding Energies, and various other cluster properties to determine the existence of periodic trend for Transition Metal Chalcogenide Clusters ligated with CO ligands. We were motivated to answer the question of whether periodic behavior can be observed in properties of octahedral metal-chalcogenide clusters. We have used the Amsterdam Density Functional code to calculate the electronic structure of Transition Metal Chalcogenide Clusters using gradient-corrected density functional theory. We determined the existence of several periodic trends in properties of octahedral Transition Metal Chalcogenide Clusters TM₆Se₈(CO)₆. To investigate these …

Connections Exposed | A Library For The People, Stephanie Wilburn

Theses and Dissertations

MOTIVATION

The U.S. economy, democracy, and the health and happiness of citizens depends on maintaining social capital, the networks of bonds between community members. Social capital creates the trust that facilitates action and cooperation for mutual benefit. Since the 1960s, there has been a decline in-person socialization and social bonds both within and between demographic groups in the US resulting in reduced social capital (Putnam, 2000).

One measure to combat declining social capital is to create third places where incidental and repeated social interactions build and reinforce bonds between community members (Oldenburg, 1997).

With the reduction of accessible and inclusive …

An Exploration Of A Researcher-Instructor Partnership In Implicit Racial Bias Awareness And Mitigation In College Stem Classrooms, Jacqueline Johnson Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Seventy-six percent of all minority students who enter college with declared majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) do not graduate with STEM degrees. Black students represent 40% of minority attrition from STEM. Implicit racial bias was indicated as a contributor to the challenges faced by Black students. The purpose of this study was to explore whether a researcher-instructor partnership brought awareness to and the potential for mitigation of implicit racial bias in course delivery and instructor interactions with Black students in STEM classes. A case study design was used over three phases to gather survey, observational, and interview …

Shared Decision Making In Adolescence: The Role Of Race And Health Status, Mona L. Quarless

Theses and Dissertations

Youth participation in Shared Decision Making (SDM) is still a novel clinical practice with unique considerations. Moreover, though SDM has been touted as an effective model for patient-centered care it has largely been underutilized and under-researched in Black and Latinx adolescent populations. The current study examined the association of health factors that may relate to Black and Latinx adolescents, their families, and HCPs engaging in SDM. Specifically, I examined within-group racial differences in relation to health conditions (i.e., pain, obesity, mental health status) and SDM during adolescence. Measures of adolescent chronic pain, BMI status (overweight/obese), mental health symptoms (depression/anxiety), SDM …

Towards New Antimalarial Drug: Depolarization Of Liposomal Membranes By Aminooxoethylcarbamothioate In The Presence Of Fe3+ Ions, Aaron Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the efforts of scientists around the world 409,000 people died of malaria in 2019 alone. According to the WHO 90% of those deaths occurred in Africa. Despite the high number of available treatments, malaria continues to plague many parts of the world. This is due in part to drug resistance developed among mosquito populations as well as limited access to medicines that do work. Furthermore, when traveling to malaria prone areas, pretreatment with a chemoprophylaxis is common practice. However, often the side effects to malaria pretreatment are severe. A new approach to the treatment of malaria is a compound …

Mindfulness Training To Enhance Emotion Regulation In A Polarizing Political Context: A Multimethod Investigation, Hadley Rahrig

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. continues to show an upward trend in political polarization, perceived as a moral divide between liberal and conservative ideological groups. This moralization of political identity has contributed to the escalation of negative emotions (e.g., fear, anger, and hatred) directed towards political outgroup members. Although negative emotions are potent motivators of political intolerance, these emotions are nevertheless subject to regulation. Mindfulness offers a promising yet understudied emotion regulation strategy which may facilitate open receptivity towards opposing partisans. The present randomized controlled trial (RCT) examines the effects of short-term mindfulness training (MT) vs structurally equivalent Cognitive Reappraisal training (CT) on …

Sociodemographic And Injury Severity Characteristics As Predictors Of Functional Independence In Older Adults With Tbi Up To 10 Years Post Injury, Carmen M. Tyler

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidence rates have been increasing in recent years, with the greatest number of TBIs and the highest morbidity and mortality rates in individuals aged 80 and over. As average life expectancy continues to increase, the older adult population is expected to comprise nearly one-quarter of the U.S. populace by 2060. With the increased risk to a larger proportion of the U.S. population posed by TBI, the aim of the current study was to examine the roles of sociodemographic and injury severity characteristics as predictors of functional independence trajectories across 1, 2, 5, and 10 years after …

Sound Of Systems Music Therapy For Autism, Nishtha Chawla

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Sound of Systems- Impact of Music Therapy on Adolescents with Autism

“Music – The child of number and sound”.” --Iannis Xenakis

Motivation.

Music, a language that crosses cultures and can compel an individual to transcend time and space. It is an expression of the highest order and a gateway to connect to our divine source, it precedes all biases. Music therapy has been utilized in the Islamic world since the 8th century for its healing and therapeutic effects on the human soul, spirit, and body.

As of 2020, 1 in every 54 children is diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder …

Dungeons And Devised Theatre: A Study Of Tabletop Gaming And Its Application In Playwriting And Character Development, Sabrina E. Becker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of the connections and application of tabletop gaming in theatre. It looks at the initial process that was used in devising a play from tabletop gaming and also the applications of using tabletop gaming to further character development. This paper serves as a journal of first-hand accounts and interviews during this process so you may be inspired to build your own process either based in what you read here or discovering your own. There is a sample excerpt of the play to show what can be accomplished as well as other artistic works that came …

Considering Queerness - Actor Training's Issues And Alternatives, Jacob Leblanc

Theses and Dissertations

Educators in academic theatre programs, whether queer or non-queer, trans or cisgender, may not intentionally consider queerness in their pedagogical practices. What follows is an examination of current issues in academia that can affect queer students negatively and disproportionately. Anecdotal evidence is provided to demonstrate different issues that may be present in the classroom experiences of queer students. The Stanislavski system is critiqued through a contemporary, queer lens to locate possible shortcomings in the acting technique when it is applied by queer performers. Queer alternatives to the Stanislavski system are vetted and offered to queer students who might seek something …

Chronic Adolescent Stress As A Predictive Factor For The Risk Of Developing Ptsd-Like Symptoms In Adulthood, Grace K. Young

Theses and Dissertations

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a stress and trauma based psychological disorder that is defined by the DSM-IV as an anxiety disorder that affects approximately 7.8% of people in the United States. PTSD is when those who suffer a traumatic event have intense and distressing feelings, emotions, and memories for a prolonged period of time after the event. A prominent feature of PTSD is the impaired ability to properly extinguish a fear response after a dangerous trigger or stressor is no longer present, also known as safety learning. Stressors are threats perceived within the environment that activate a response within the …

It Takes A Muscle: Wholes, Holes, And Other Voids, Saar Shemesh

Theses and Dissertations

IT TAKES A MUSCLE¹

In the BELLY of the BEAST, the HUMAN

in the deep end of a SWIMMING POOL

in a GRAVE, looking up/out from within

at the base of a CRATER, ABYSS, PIT

the room as a CRADLE, INCUBATOR

architecture as MOTHER MOULD.²

____________________________

¹ Title is borrowed and abbreviated: Spectral Display, “It Takes A Muscle To Fall In Love,” 1982.

² For what American-English delineates as ‘mold,’ British-English uses ‘mould’ and is more specific in its technicality. The former doesn’t distinguish in spelling between mold (fungus) and mold (mould). I’m not particularly a fan of …

Shackled: To A Front-Row Seat Of My Own Horror Film, Dellil L. Mohammed

Theses and Dissertations

This document serves as internal view point, stemming from my experiences as a black muslim, first generation Ethiopian American, overall identity, and it’s disorienting implication on my interpretation of my view-self and the world. This is also informed by my struggling with the realities of type-1 diabetes and the sporadic and often inadequate support of the American health system. All of these intersecting experiences have led to me making work as an agent for advocacy, empathy and social justice. This work is also informed and dressed with the elements of horror, sci-fi, & fantasy. See and hear the voice in …

Characterizing Senescence Induction And Senolytic Sensitivity In Murine Lung Cancer Cell Lines, Rana A. Estaleen

Theses and Dissertations

While cancer patients often experience tumor reduction after receiving chemotherapy, tumors can eventually emerge from a state of dormancy. Cancer cells treated with the topoisomerase II poison, etoposide (ETO), enter senescence, which is a durable and prolonged cell cycle growth arrest. Different murine lung cell lines were screened for their levels of senescence induction by ETO, and those showed promising senescence induction were then treated with the senolytic, ABT263, to promote apoptosis. The hypothesis of this work was that non-small cell lung cancer cell lines will have different degrees of senescence and that the magnitude of the response to senolytics …

Plan Quality And Isotoxic Dose Escalation Investigation Using A 0.35t Mr-Linac System In Ablative 5-Fraction Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance-Guided Radiation Therapy (Mrgrt) For Primary Pancreatic Cancer, Robert Eric Hawranko

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates plan quality generated by an MR-Linac (MRL) treatment planning system (TPS) for 5-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of primary pancreatic cancer (PCa). In addition, an isotoxic dose escalation was investigated with the MRL TPS based on the stereotactic MR-guided adaptive radiation therapy (SMART) trial constraints. A clinical workflow was developed for adaptive and non-adaptive treatments with the MRL, on which a time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) analysis was performed to quantify clinical efficacy. Fifteen Pca patients previously treated with a conventional Linac were retrospectively re-planned for this study. Three plans were generated for each patient: using the …

Human Papillomavirus 16 E2 Regulates Host Cell Pathways Important For Cancer Progression And Treatment Sensitivity Which May Contribute To Cancer Outcomes, Christian Fontan

Theses and Dissertations

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causative agents in around 5% of all cancers, including cervical and oropharyngeal. A feature of HPV cancers is their better clinical outcome compared with non-HPV anatomical counterparts. In turn, the presence of E2 predicts a better clinical outcome in HPV-positive cancers; the reason(s) for the better outcome of E2-positive patients is not fully understood.

Previously, we demonstrated that HPV16 E2 regulates host gene transcription that is relevant to the HPV16 lifecycle in N/Tert-1 cells. One of the genes repressed by E2 and the entire HPV16 genome in N/Tert-1 cells is TWIST1. In these studies, we demonstrate …

Therapeutic Injectable Iron-Chelating Hydrogels, Debbie Campbell-Rance

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic Injectable Iron-Chelating Hydrogels for Improved Central Nervous System Regeneration

By

Debbie S. Campbell-Rance

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University 2021.

Director: Xuejun Wen, M.D., Ph.D., AIMBE Fellow, Alice T. and William H. Goodwin Jr. Endowed Chair Professor in Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Engineering and Medicine, Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering

Severe traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries are major global public health and socioeconomic problems in terms of mortality and morbidity. Currently there are two main lines of treatment under development for …

Multi-Modality Automatic Lung Tumor Segmentation Method Using Deep Learning And Radiomics, Siqiu Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Delineation of the tumor volume is the initial and fundamental step in the radiotherapy planning process. The current clinical practice of manual delineation is time-consuming and suffers from observer variability. This work seeks to develop an effective automatic framework to produce clinically usable lung tumor segmentations. First, to facilitate the development and validation of our methodology, an expansive database of planning CTs, diagnostic PETs, and manual tumor segmentations was curated, and an image registration and preprocessing pipeline was established. Then a deep learning neural network was constructed and optimized to utilize dual-modality PET and CT images for lung tumor segmentation. …

Modeling Of Patient-Specific Periaortic Mechanics And Pulmonary Artery Hemodynamics Based On Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences., Johane H. Bracamonte

Theses and Dissertations

Inverse modeling in cardiovascular medicine is a collection of methodologies that can provide non-invasive patient-specific estimations of clinical risk factors using medical imaging as inputs. Its incorporation into clinical practice has the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment planning with low associated risks and costs.

Herein, three different phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities were implemented as input data, displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE MRI) applied, and time-resolved velocity encoding phase-contrast MRI, in 1D and 3D, applied to pulmonary artery (PA) hemodynamics.

A model to account for the effect of periaortic interactions due to static and dynamic structures …

Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers For The Selective Extraction Of Analytes, Haley A. Mulder

Theses and Dissertations

Sample preparation is a critical steps in bioanalysis. Traditional methods such as solid-phase extraction and liquid-liquid extraction are laborious and ultimately incapable of properly separating target analytes from matrix and interferents. The co-extraction of these components interferes with the analytical instrument’s ability to properly detect and quantitate analytes. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic polymers that have been “imprinted” with a template analyte in a co-polymer system. MIPs are capable of selectively extracting analytes from complex biological matrices and can be employed in off-line, benchtop extractions or for on/in-line instrument extractions. MIPs offer faster and more selective sample preparation, leading …

Modulating Ketamine’S Locomotor Activating And Reinforcing Effects Through Drug Combinations, Tegshjargal Baasansukh

Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects approximately 280 million people worldwide. The standard of care for pharmacological treatment of MDD has been monoaminergic antidepressants (MAA). However, MAAs have serious clinical limitations including a relatively slow onset of action and up to 40% of patients failing to respond and being diagnosed as “treatment resistant”. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, was originally approved for use as an injectable anesthetic. In addition, ketamine has been shown to rapidly improve depressive symptoms in patients with treatment resistant depression. In 2019, (S)-ketamine was approved as a nasal spray (Spravato®) for patients with MDD and treatment-resistant depression in …

A Case Study Exploring How The Zero Barriers In Stem Education Professional Development Program Affects Attitudes And Confidence Toward Teaching Stem Content To Students With Disabilities, Alison Dossick

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to assess how the Zero Barriers in STEM Education professional development (PD) course affected teacher attitudes and confidence in teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content to students with disabilities. A convergent mixed-methods case study analysis was used. The research questions were devised by examining answers on a pre-survey and post-survey. Documentation included a full analysis of two pre- and post-surveys, teacher implementation logs, team action plans, program evaluations, and semi-structured interviews. Barriers included time to plan and implement the outlined strategies and administrative and colleague support. This research uncovered some of the difficulties of …

Connected: Exploring Automation To Activate Aging In Place Success, Hallie W. Gillespie

Theses and Dissertations

MOTIVATION: There’s no place like home. Technological advances are now allowing us to live and work from anywhere. Spatial divides are disappearing through remote connections, creating a dispersion of the nuclear family, traditionally the prevailing caregivers for seniors. Older adults are projected to outnumber children under eighteen by 2034, a first in U.S. history (Census Bureau, 2019). This is not specific to America; “globally the population is aging. Since 1980, the number of people aged over 60 has more than doubled in size and is projected to do so again by 2050 to 2.1 billion” (United Nations, 2017).

ISSUE: There …

Academic Health Science Centers And Health Disparities: A Qualitative Review Of The Intervening Role Of The Electronic Health Record And Social Determinants Of Health, Wies Rafi

Theses and Dissertations

Literature on the magnitude of negative health outcomes from health disparities is voluminous. Defined as the health effects of racism, environmental injustice, forms of discrimination, biases in science, and sociological or socioeconomic predictors across populations, health disparities are part of an ongoing and complicated national problem that health equity programs are specifically designed to address. Academic Health Science Centers (AHC) institutions are a complex and unique educational-healthcare ecosystem that often serves as a safety net for patients in vulnerable and lower-income communities. These institutions are often viewed as one of the most uniquely positioned entities in the U.S. with an …

The Injury-Induced Neurogenic Response And The Role Of Notch1 In Regulating This Process, Nicole M. Weston

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a prevalent problem with an estimated 5 million people suffering from chronic cognitive impairments long after the injury. Following TBI there is a series of pathophysiological changes in the brain including neurogenesis, an important response linking endogenous repair and regeneration. The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is a primary neurogenic region within the adult brain where neural stem and progenitor cells (NS/NPCs) reside. Studies using rodent models have shown that cognitive recovery after TBI is associated with new neurons generated from the DG. Thus far, in studies examining post-injury neurogenesis, the regulatory mechanisms, functional …

Supported Employment Services And Employment Outcomes For Low-Income Youth With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities: A Case Control Study, Hannah Seward Phd

Theses and Dissertations

Transition-age youth, ages 14-24 years old, with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face unique barriers to entering the labor force when exiting high school. These barriers can be even more severe if the youth is from a low-income background. Supported employment (SE) services may help this population overcome these barriers and be employed in competitive integrated employment (CIE) settings. SE provides an employment specialist to guide them through obtaining and retaining a job (McDonough & Whittenburg, 2020; Wehman et al., 2007). However, limited research has been done on the SE experiences and outcomes of transition-age youth with IDD (Wehman et …