Digital Commons Network^™

Unraveling The Influence Of Structural Complexity,Environmental, And Geographic Factors On Multi-Trophicbiodiversity In Forested Landscapes, Ayanna St Rose, Kusum Naithani

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multi-trophic diversity is often overlooked in land management decisions due to the absence of cost- and time-effective assessment methods. Here, we introduce a new method to calculate a combined terrain and canopy structural complexity metric using LiDAR data, enabling the prediction of multi-trophic diversity-a combined diversity metric that integrates diversity across trophic levels. We selected 34 forested sites of the National Ecological Observatory Network to test the model by using observed data on plant presence, beetle pitfall trap, and bird count to calculate multi-trophic diversity. Our results show that multi-trophic diversity increases with increasing structural complexity, but this relationship differs …

Tailor-Designed Oxalic Acid-Crosslinked Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan Biodegradable Films For Active Food Packaging Applications, Reem Hazem Fathy Anwar Elaasar

Theses and Dissertations

Food packaging plastic waste is posing great threats to ecosystems, human health, and the planet's overall sustainability; therefore, research has been directed towards the fabrication of biodegradable food packaging materials. In this study, active and biodegradable oxalic acid (OA) crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan (CS) composite films of different weight ratios were synthesized via the solvent casting technique and their food packaging properties were investigated. Owing to its water resistance and antibacterial superiority, the composite film with the ratio of OA chemically crosslinked PVA/CS 80:20 was elected to be coated with green tea extract (GTE) to ameliorate its antibacterial and antioxidant …

Promoting Equity: Embracing Food Justice In The Transformation Of The Food Systems For Bipoc Communities, Frank Yeboah Adusei

Journal of Extension

The food justice movement addresses systemic food inequities impacting BIPOC communities, rooted in civil rights and environmental justice movements. It advocates for fair access to culturally relevant food, combating food deserts, and promoting food sovereignty. Recognizing intersectionality, it emphasizes collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers. This study aims to understand BIPOC communities' challenges and effective strategies, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts for lasting systemic change. Extension professionals face challenges but can contribute through equity-focused strategies, community engagement, and partnerships, advancing food justice and fostering inclusive food systems.

The New American Farmer – Extension Engagement With Urban Agriculture And Food Systems, Margaux S. C. Robinson, Kc V. Cunningham, Jeffery A. Young, Nicole D. Breazeale, Kenneth R. Jones, Julie N. Zimmerman

Journal of Extension

Extension’s evolving role in urban food production will require intensive reflexivity and ongoing collaboration. Extension educators around the country have already made progress in engaging with both the social and horticultural sides of urban agriculture. Designed appropriately, urban food systems hold the potential for healthy food access, community and environmental resilience, and economic prosperity (Rangarajan & Riordan 2019). Moving forward, we offer recommendations for Extension staff to apply within their institutions and beyond. Specifically, we urge Extension to prioritize the following: 1) mediate the rural/urban dichotomy, 2) tackle structural and institutional power dynamics, and 3) intensify strategies for community resilience.

A Persian-Period Building From Tel Ya‘Oz (Tell Ghaza) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–24*; English Summary, P. 203), Orit Segal, Raz Kletter, Irit Ziffer

'Atiqot

Thirty-nine samples of Persian-period wares were selected for analysis, and five petrographic groups were identified. The overwhelming majority of the assemblage was of non-local provenance. Several ranges of import were discerned, and it seems that the import-trade-exchange patterns at the site were oriented overseas or toward the Phoenician coast.

The Kurkar And Hamra Genesis Of The Northern Hill Of Tel Mikhal (Tel Michal) (Pp. 127–130), Eldad Barzilay

'Atiqot

The geological environment of the site is composed of mobile sand, kurkar, hamra and grumosols (swelling and cracking clay soils) sediments of the Quaternary Hefer formation.

Safety And Tolerability Of Letetresgene Autoleucel (Gsk3377794): Pilot Studies In Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Mehmet Altan, Gilberto Lopes, T Jeroen N Hiltermann, Ramaswamy Govindan, Liza C Villaruz, Emiliano Calvo, Martin J Edelman, Muhammad Furqan, Joel Neal, Enriqueta Felip, Jennifer W Carlisle, John V Heymach, Róisín Eilish O'Cearbhaill, Marjorie Zauderer, Michael Chisamore, Ellie Corigliano, Ioanna Eleftheriadou, Stefan Zajic, Ben Jenkins, Sophia Goodison, Sunil Suchindran, Natalia Ramos-Hernandez, Nidale Tarek, Adam J Schoenfeld

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and antitumor response of letetresgene autoleucel (lete-cel), genetically modified autologous T cells expressing a T-cell receptor specific for New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1)/LAGE-1a shared epitope, alone or in combination with pembrolizumab, in HLA-A*02-positive (HLA-A*02:01, HLA-A*02:05, and/or HLA-A*02:06) patients with NY-ESO-1- and/or LAGE-1a-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Patients and methods: Study 208749 was a single-arm study of lete-cel alone. Study 208471 was a multiarm study of lete-cel alone or in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer.

Results: More than 2,500 patients were …

Developing Sustainable Medical Tourism: A Framework In The Perspective Of Developing Countries, Abel Ansporthy Mamboleo Dr.

Journal of Sustainability and Resilience

This study reviewed the literature to develop the framework for sustainable medical tourism in developing countries. According to the findings, the development of a sustainable tourist destination necessitates the involvement of various stakeholders and adherence to sustainability principles. The framework suggests five essential tasks for sustainable medical tourism development. It contributes to the knowledge of sustainable medical tourism by suggesting the framework for analysing a specific situation for the development of a medical tourist destination. It provides a better understanding of sustainable medical tourism operations by integrating medication, travel, hospitality, and tourism. Moreover, it contributes to the sphere of medical …

Attitudes Toward The Continued Protection Of Grizzly Bears Under The Endangered Species Act, John A. Vucetich, Jeremy T. Bruskotter

Michigan Tech Publications

In January 2025, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published a proposed rule to continue protecting grizzly bears in the contiguous United States under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed rule and guidance for how the public can comment on the proposed rule can be found at this link: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2025-01/usfws-proposes-update-grizzly-bear-esa-listing-management

In January 2025, we implemented a web-based survey designed to assess the attitudes of residents of the contiguous United States, as they pertain to the appropriateness of continuing protection of grizzly bears under the ESA. A large body of prior research indicates that individuals’ attitudes toward species protections can …

Life Among The Sand Grains, Will M. Ballentine, N. G. Roberts, M. K. Yap-Chiongco, K. M. Halanych, K. M. Kocot

Biology Faculty Works

Have you ever played with sand at the beach? Did you know you were also playing with thousands of tiny animals? The sand in the ocean is home to many small creatures called meiofauna, but you can only see them under a magnifying glass or microscope. Meiofauna are so tiny that sand grains seem like boulders to them. Meiofauna are too small to move these boulders, so they wriggle through spaces between them. Living in such tight spaces has led them to evolve long, skinny body shapes like worms. They also have special body parts to grip sand grains and …

An Investigation Of Travel Distance And Timeliness Of Breast Cancer Treatment Among A Diverse Cohort In The United States, Swann Arp Adams Ph.D., Ms, Face, Oluwole Adeyemi Babatunde, Whitney E. Zahnd, Peiyin Hung Ph.D., Karen E. Wickersham Phd, Rn, Nathaniel Bell Ph.D., Jan M. Eberth Ph.D.

Publications

Travel to and from distant cancer treatment facilities can place a significant burden on cancer patients, particularly rural and minority survivors. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to examine the association between patient travel distance and delays in types of treatment for breast cancer (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy) and treatment delays. Using a novel linkage between the state cancer registry and administrative data from Medicaid and a private insurance plan, 2155 BC patients were successfully linked to create the cohort. ArcGIS was used to geocode all case residences and treatment facility addresses and calculate network distance between …

Evaluating The Generalisability Of Region-Naïve Machine Learning Algorithms For The Identification Of Epilepsy In Low-Resource Settings, Ioana Duta, Symon M. Kariuki, Anthony Ngugi, Angelina Kakooza Mwesige, Honorati Masanja, Daniel M. Mwanga, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Ryan Wagner, J Helen Cross, Josemir W. Sander W. Sander

Population Health, East Africa

Objectives: Approximately 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited resources and stigma hinder accurate diagnosis and treatment. Clinical machine learning models have demonstrated substantial promise in supporting the diagnostic process in LMICs by aiding in preliminary screening and detection of possible epilepsy cases without relying on specialised or trained personnel. How well these models generalise to naïve regions is, however, underexplored. Here, we use a novel approach to assess the suitability and applicability of such clinical tools to aid screening and diagnosis of active convulsive epilepsy in settings beyond their original training contexts. …

Healthcare Costs In The United States By Demographic Characteristics And Comorbidity Status, Naomi N Adjei, Allen Haas, Charlotte C Sun, Hui Zhao, Paul G Yeh, Sharon H Giordano, Iakovos Toumazis, Larissa A Meyer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Current, real-world healthcare cost information is needed to project future expenditures and inform policy. We estimated the healthcare costs for adults in 2019 in the United States by age, sex, race/ethnicity, geographic region, and comorbidity.

Methods: We aggregated and summarized the healthcare costs in 2021 US dollars using claims data derived from Optum's deidentified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, which includes inpatient, outpatient, and prescription claims for commercial and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries nationwide.

Results: A total of 9 227 901 adults were included in the analysis. The largest group represented was 71 to 75 years old (13%), female (53%), White …

Rezilient3: Randomized Phase Iii Study Of First-Line Zipalertinib Plus Chemotherapy In Patients With Egfr Exon 20 Insertion-Mutated Nsclc, John V Heymach, Helena A Yu, Benjamin Besse, Ying Cheng, Daniel Sw Tan, Li Wei, Volker Wacheck, Makoto Nishio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There remains a significant unmet need for effective and tolerable treatments for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (

Host Traits And Temperature Predict Biogeographical Variation In Seagrass Disease Prevalence, F.R. Schenck, J.K. Baum, K.E. Boyer, J.E. Duffy, F.J. Fodrie, J. Gaeckle, Torrie Hanley, C.M. Hereu, K.A. Hovel, P. Jorgensen, D.L. Martin, N.E. O’Connor, B.J. Peterson, J.J. Stachowicz, A.R. Hughes

Biology Faculty Publications

Diseases are ubiquitous in natural systems, with broad effects across populations, communities and ecosystems. However, the drivers of many diseases remain poorly understood, particularly in marine environments, inhibiting effective conservation and management measures. We examined biogeographical patterns of infection in the foundational seagrass Zostera marina by the parasitic protist Labyrinthula zosterae, the causative agent of seagrass wasting disease, across >20° of latitude in two ocean basins. We then identified and characterized relationships among wasting disease prevalence and a suite of host traits and environmental variables. Host characteristics and transmission dynamics explained most of the variance in prevalence across our survey, …

Spatiotemporal Trends In Anopheles Funestus Breeding Habitats, Grace R. Aduvukha, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Onisimo Mutanga, John Odindi, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Effective identification and control of malaria vector larval breeding habitats are crucial for the management and eradication of malaria. Despite its importance, the last decade has seen a decline in data availability and intervention efforts due to reduced attention and prioritization. This study addresses the geographic data scarcity concerning Anopheles funestus larval breeding habitats in a malaria-prone region of western Kenya. Employing a two-step methodological approach, we integrated multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and rule-based fuzzy logic analysis to evaluate the spatiotemporal similarity or divergence of these habitats. The analysis spanned a five-year interval, 2008, 2013, and 2018 with 2013 serving …

Under The Bay: Analysis Of Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Dive Behavior In The Urban San Diego Bay, Emily Carter

Theses

Sea turtles are air-breathing marine reptiles that spend their lives performing dives to travel, forage, and rest. Several dive types have been previously recorded for sea turtles, each type being associated with a different set of behaviors. U-dives, or Type 1 dives are widely characterized by extensive benthic periods preceded by and concluding with abrupt descent and ascent phases respectively (Minamikawa et al. 1997; Houghton et al. 2002; Seminoff et al. 2006). These dives are widely affiliated with turtle resting behavior though can be indicative of additional activities including benthic travel and foraging. Previous research of green turtle dive behavior …

The Zooarchaeological Assemblage From The French School On Yefet Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 513–527), Nimrod Marom

'Atiqot

A small assemblage of 158 identified animal bones was retrieved from Crusader- and late Ottoman-period contexts at the French School. The bone samples from both periods consisted mainly of cattle and caprines, as well as some pig, donkey, horse and chicken bones. The relative frequency of pig bones in the Ottoman period might point to a religious tolerance toward the consumption of equid and wild boar. This may attest to a poverty-stricken Muslim population, or to the presence of immigrants from the Maghrebi Islam.

Remains Of The Late Roman To Late Ottoman Periods At Miska In The Southern Sharon (Pp. 85–98), Polina Spivak

'Atiqot

Ten squares were excavated in four areas (A–D) at Miska, revealing a long and detailed stratigraphic sequence, from the Late Roman to the late Ottoman periods. In Area A, a large refuse pit was revealed, containing a considerable amount of glass shards and debris of a glass furnace, dating from the Late Roman–Byzantine periods. Glass production was an important activity in the region of Miska, likely related to the local availability of sand and fuel. Miska served as a station in the Roman road system, which expanded during the Byzantine period, with the Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and …

An Omega-Type Scarab From Middle Bronze Age Burial Pit 204 In Ashqelon (Pp. 85–87), Daphna Ben-Tor

'Atiqot

An Omega-type scarab was found in Pit 204, the largest and best-preserved tomb in the cemetery unearthed in Ashqelon. It was found near a fragmentary skull and several bones of a young woman, together with a large assemblage of carefully positioned pottery vessels. The Omega-type scarabs are believed to have been produced in the Southern Levant in early Middle Bronze Age II (c. 1700–1640 BCE).

Petrographic Analysis Of Middle Bronze Age Ii Vessels From The Burial Pits In Ashqelon (Pp. 89–96), Anat Cohen-Weinberger

'Atiqot

Fifteen pottery vessels from the Middle Bronze Age II burial pits exposed at Ashqelon were chosen for petrographic analysis. Most of the vessels were made from local soils found in the vicinity of the site. A single amphora originated in Cyprus. Some of the vessels (Group B) might have been imported from Egypt.

A Crusader-Period Moat And Other Remains From Yafo (Jaffa), Yehuda Ha-Yammit Street (Hebrew, Pp. 19*–42*; English Summary, Pp. 257–259), Elie Haddad, Lior Rauchberger

'Atiqot

The excavation conducted on Yehuda Ha-Yammit Street in Yafo revealed the remains of three strata: graves from the Persian and Hellenistic periods; a Crusader-period moat; and late Ottoman-period wells. The moat, dated to the end of the Crusader period (thirteenth century CE), was hewn in the kurkar rock and lined with retaining walls. The finds retrieved from within the moat fill included potsherds and glass finds dated to the Crusader period. An Ayyubid coin of Al-Naṣir Yusuf II, found in a probe next to the moat’s southern wall, probably attests that the moat was destructed during Baybars’ conquest of Yafo …

The Geological Setting Of Ḥorbat Nevallaṭ (Pp. 131–136), Eldad Barzilay

'Atiqot

This report focuses on the geo-archaeological setting of Ḥorbat Nevallaṭ, emphasizing the karstic nature of the chalk and nari manifested in the excavated rock shelter (Area A) and caves (Areas A and B).

Tiberias, Aviv Hotel: Domestic And Industrial Pottery From The Abbasid And Crusader Periods (Pp. 193–216), Edna J. Stern

'Atiqot

This article presents the pottery from the Abbasid and Crusader periods uncovered in Area B of the Aviv Hotel excavations in Tiberias. The site is situated within the precincts of the Abbasid town, but outside the walled city of the Crusader period. The Abbasid-period assemblage consists mainly of types well-known in Tiberias, reinforcing other evidence concerning pottery production in Tiberias during this period. The pottery from the Crusader period (mid-twelfth–early thirteenth centuries CE) includes glazed bowls from the Aegean region, and possibly cooking ware and glazed bowls from Beirut. Among the imported glazed bowls are two examples of broad-incised sgraffito, …

A Byzantine-Period Church At Ḥorbat Ḥadat (Hebrew, Pp. 93*–118*; English Summary, Pp. 141–143), Uzi ‘Ad, Orit Segal, Oren Shmueli, Rudolph Cohen

'Atiqot

Excavations at Ḥorbat Ḥadat revealed a church paved with colorful mosaic floors. Two phases of construction were discerned: an early phase, comprising a basilica-type church and a complex of adjacent rooms; and a later phase, when the plan of the church was altered and reduced in size. The construction of the church is dated according to a Greek inscription in a mosaic floor to the second half of the fifth century CE. It is plausible that the church belonged to a large agricultural monastery that was in use from the mid-fifth or early sixth century through the seventh or mid-eighth …

Byzantine- And Umayyad-Period Structures Near The Pools Of ‘Ein El-Jarab, Ḥammat Gader(Pp. 61–109), Moshe Hartal

'Atiqot

A salvage excavation conducted east of the hot water pools of ‘Ein el-Jarab, Ḥammat Gader, revealed building remains, comprising mosaic floors and flagstone-paved plazas, dating from the end of the Late Roman (Stratum 4), Byzantine (Stratum 3) and Umayyad (Stratum 2) periods. The buildings were apparently destroyed in the earthquake of 749 CE. The site was reoccupied in the ninth century CE, during the Abbasid period (Stratum 1). It seems that the structures and the plaza served the patrons of the hot springs, possibly as dressing rooms and as therapy spaces.

A Herodian-Period Staircase On Mount Zion, Jerusalem, And A Reevaluation Of The Remainsfrom Bishop Gobat School (Pp. 89–128), Amit Re’Em

'Atiqot

The excavation near Bishop Gobat School on Mount Zion exposed findings, which together with information gleaned from previous nearby excavations, permits a renewed discussion of three principal elements: a stairway, a dump and the ‘Rock Scarp of Zion.’ This article presents insights and suggestions regarding the existence of a stepped path that led to a gate in the First Wall; the identification of the dump that sealed the stairway as the Roman siege ramp that was piled up to besiege Jerusalem; and the dating of the ‘Rock Scarp of Zion’ to the Crusader/Ayyubid period, the twelfth to thirteenth centuries CE.

The Pottery Of The Islamic Periods From Kerem Maharal (Pp. 49–73), Katia Cytryn-Silverman

'Atiqot

The pottery assemblages from Kerem Maharal testify to a continuous settlement at the site from the Early Islamic to the late Ottoman periods, apart from a chronological gap between the late Mamluk and early Ottoman periods (fifteenth–sixteenth centuries CE). The earliest Islamic assemblage dates to the eighth century CE, and the latest assemblage was dated to the late eighteenth–early twentieth centuries CE and was related to the village of Ijzim, a settlement in the Haifa region during the late Ottoman and British Mandate periods.

Khirbat El-‘Umdan: A Site From The Chalcolithic Period (Ghassulian Culture) At Bet Shemesh (With A Contribution By Elisabetta Boaretto) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–12*; English Summary, Pp. 237–238), Ron Be’Eri

'Atiqot

A small excavation near Khirbat el-‘Umdan in the lower Judean Shephelah exposed stone floors bearing remains from the Late Chalcolithic period. The rich finds from the excavation comprise pottery vessels, such as V-shaped bowls, large basins, store jars, holemouths, churns and cornets, and a fragment of a zoomorphic figurine; groundstone vessels; flint tools, including many sickle blades; and a cash of three copper axes and a copper-alloy macehead. Also found were some 30 burned olive stones and animal skeletal remains. It seems that the settlement at the site existed for a short period in the first phase of the Late …

The Ottoman Building In The Boverel Quarter, ‘Akko (Pp. 187–191), Yael Alef

'Atiqot

The Ottoman (WIZO) building in the Old City of ‘Akko was documented by the author as a basis for its conservation. It is of the Central-Hall House type that developed in Lebanon from the iwan house, appearing in Palestine in the last quarter of the nineteenth century CE. Some 120 houses of this type were documented in the Old City of ‘Akko, comprising about 12% of the total number of houses in the Old City, and hence its significance in shaping the urban character of the city. No historical evidence was found for dating the WIZO House, and therefore its …