EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE SISTERS LIFTING AS WE CLIMB NETWORK: EXAMINING THE ORGANIZATION’S IMPACT ON BLACK WOMEN

This phenomenological case study examines the role of empowerment within the “Sisters Lifting as We Climb Network” through the experiences of Black women participants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Utilizing in-depth semi-structured interviews, the research investigates the organization\u27s origins, evolution, and social support mechanisms that foster empowerment, as well as participants\u27 experiences with programs and activities over the past nine years. Additionally, the study identifies areas for organizational improvement to further enhance participant empowerment. The findings of this research support the empowerment theory framework by clarifying the preconditions, processes, and outcomes of empowerment within the Network, which fosters sisterhood and enhances participants\u27 self-efficacy and collective agency, ultimately improving their quality of life and communities. Emphasizing the development of culturally tailored programs designed for and by Black women through a Black feminist theory lens (Collins, 2000), this study highlights the critical role of social support networks in addressing challenges faced by marginalized populations in urban environments. This dissertation contributes to the discourse on community support and systemic equity, offering insights into effective empowerment and advocacy strategies for diverse communities

Isolation and Bioassay of Linear Veraguamides from a Marine Cyanobacterium (Okeania sp.)

Marine cyanobacteria have gained momentum in recent years as a source of novel bioactive small molecules. This paper describes the structure elucidation and pharmacological evaluation of two new (veraguamide O () and veraguamide P ()) and one known (veraguamide C ()) analogs isolated from a cyanobacterial collection made in the Las Perlas Archipelago of Panama. We hypothesized that these compounds would be cytotoxic in cancer cell lines. The compounds were screened against HEK-293, estrogen receptor positive (MCF-7), and triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells as well as against a broad panel of membrane-bound receptors. The planar structures were determined based on NMR and MS data along with a comparison to previously isolated veraguamide analogs. Phylogenetic analysis of the collection suggests it to be an Okeania sp., a similar species to the cyanobacterium reported to produce other veraguamides. Veraguamide O shows no cytotoxicity (greater than 100 μM) against ER-positive cells (MCF-7) with 13 μM IC against MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells. Interestingly, these compounds show affinity for the sigma2/TMEM-97 receptor, making them potential leads for the development of non-toxic sigma 2 targeting ligands

Aiding Counseling Services to Increase Cultural Knowledge about Black and LGBTQ+ Populations

OBJECTIVES: The capstone project I would like to undertake is the creation of a quality improvement plan for the counseling and social work department of The Children’s Home to help them expand to reach vulnerable populations. A quality improvement plan, along with graphics reflecting the current data about mental health, will be delivered to The Children’s Home which they will be able to use in future projects and grant applications. METHODS: The methods and research will be based on the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Counseling Needs Assessment conducted by The Children’s Home in August 2024 to learn about the mental health and counseling services needs of the Pittsburgh community. In addition, I shall review literature to look for evidence-based solutions related to expanding counseling services and for general background research about mental health in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. RESULTS: At the conclusion of this project, a clear and well-researched plan for how to best proceed with expanding the counseling services to reach vulnerable populations will be given to The Children’s Home. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: This project would be an integral building block for The Children’s Home to continue their efforts to reach the populations that need counseling services but do not have access to them because of barriers

The Protective Role of Resilience in Indirect Aggression Perpetration and Victimization

This study examines the relationship between resilience and indirect aggression, specifically relational and social aggression, utilizing a sample of 104 females aged 18–22. Indirect aggression, characterized by behaviors such as social exclusion, gossip, and manipulation, is associated with significant emotional and interpersonal difficulties. Using a theoretical basis that includes gender schema theory, social learning theory, and social information processing theory, this study investigates whether resilience has a significant relationship in both the perpetration of and victimization through the use of indirect aggression. Participants completed self-report measures, including the Adult Resilience Measure – Revised and the Young Adult Social Behavior Scales for both perpetration and victimization. Linear regression analyses revealed significant negative associations between resilience and all forms of indirect aggression, suggesting that higher resilience is linked to lower involvement in both perpetrating and experiencing these behaviors. These findings underscore the potential of resilience-building interventions to reduce the prevalence and impact of indirect aggression and offer insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying these social dynamics

Ultrasensitive Characterization of Native Bacterial Biofilms via Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Solid-State NMR

Bacterial biofilms are major contributors to persistent infections and antimicrobial resistance, posing significant challenges to treatment. However, obtaining high-resolution structural information on native bacterial biofilms has remained elusive due to the methodological limitations associated with analyzing complex biological samples. Solid-state NMR (ssNMR) has shown promise in this regard, but its conventional application is hindered by sensitivity constraints for unlabeled samples. In this study, we utilized high-sensitivity Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) ssNMR to characterize native Pseudomonas fluorescens colony biofilms. The ~75-fold sensitivity enhancement provided by DNP enabled structural characterization without isotope labeling or chemical/physical modification. We successfully collected 1D 13C/15N, and 2D 1H−13C, 1H−15N and 13C−13C ssNMR spectra within seconds, minutes or hours, facilitating the identification and quantification of biofilm extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Additionally, DNP ssNMR allowed quantitative detection of both flexible and rigid biofilm components by favorable freezing conditions. This study represents the first application of ultrasensitive DNP ssNMR to characterize a native bacterial biofilm, significantly expanding the capabilities of ssNMR for analyzing the composition and structure of a wide array of in vitro and ex vivo biofilms. The versatility of this approach will accelerate structure-guided efforts to combat infections caused by biofilm-forming microbes

Harrison Burckart\u27s Portfolio

This portfolio offers a glimpse into the curriculum of a student majoring in Finance and Data Analytics who completed what is normally a four-year degree in two and a half years. From pieces involving cultural appraisal to creative writing, self-reflection, and more, readers can come to appreciate the rich coursework involved in the student’s studies. These academic pieces show the student’s growing ability over four years to assess situations at hand, detect issues within them, implement change, and evaluate circumstances. More simply, these pieces show how involvement in the curriculum teaches students to think according to the professional process, regardless of whether the subject at hand is explicitly finance or data analytics.https://dsc.duq.edu/portfolios/1031/thumbnail.jp

Law Library Collection Development in the Time of GenAI

Collection development remains at the core of the library’s mission within each institutional framework. All law libraries, including those serving law schools, law firms, or governmental entities support legal research, and generative AI (GenAI) has revolutionized the interaction between librarian and the sources of legal research

Integrating Sensor Technologies with Conversational AI: Enhancing Context-Sensitive Interaction Through Real-Time Data Fusion

This article examines how sensor technologies (such as environmental sensors, biometric sensors, and IoT devices) intersect with conversational AI models like ChatGPT 4.0. In particular, this article explores how data from different sensors in real time can improve AI models’ comprehension of surroundings, user contexts, and physical conditions. Lastly, this article delves into the scientific principles supporting sensor technologies, data processing methods, and their fusion with generative models such as ChatGPT to develop adaptable, dynamic systems that engage with humans intelligently in real time. Some of the specific topics that are investigated include the science behind sensor networks and acquiring real-time data, how ChatGPT can analyze sensor data to generate dialogue that is sensitive to context, instances in healthcare (such as using wearable sensors along with AI chatbots for patient treatment), and smart homes (interaction with AI assistants driven by sensors). These subjects will prove advantageous for researchers in sensor technology as well as AI development, showcasing interdisciplinary progress in smart systems

Quiescent behavior in response to bacterial infection in C. elegans

Sickness behaviors serve an important role in recovery from infection. Using the WorMotel and a motivated displacement assay, we show that C. elegans engages in quiescent behavior following infection with Serratia marcesens , a bacterial pathogen. This quiescence is increased with increasing severity of the infection. Furthermore, we show this behavior is distinct from stress-induced sleep due to a lack of feeding quiescence and regulation by sleep-inducing neurons

USE OF MINDFULNESS TO PROMOTE THE SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS COMPETENCIES OF MASTER’S LEVEL COUNSELING STUDENTS.

This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-and-a-half hour training session for master\u27s students in counselor education. The training focused on using mindfulness to enhance spiritual and religious counseling competencies. Utilizing a pre-and post-test design, the quantitative study employed mindfulness to train master\u27s students with the aim of building and fostering spiritual and religious competencies in counseling. Historically, there has been a lack of research on the benefits of such specific mindfulness training related to this subject matter. The study targeted master\u27s level counselor students, with potential applicability to related fields such as psychology and social work. This study sought to uncover the outcomes of this training. The results and key findings will be discussed, along with recommendations for future research, limitations of the current study, and areas that warrant further investigation