Digital Commons Network^™

Becoming-Religion: Re-/Thinking Religion With A.N. Whitehead And Keiji Nishitani, Kenneth C. Masong

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

For Whitehead and Nishitani, a rethinking of religion necessitates a rethinking of the metaphysics that underlie one’s concept of religion. The dynamism of religion is unveiled only within the metaphysical grounding of an ontology that accommodates the philosophical preference of “becoming” as an ultimate category of reality. The novelty of Whitehead’s theory of religion lies in the process metaphysics that is presupposes. For him, religion, like the whole of reality, is inherently developing and evolving. What Nishitani offers is a rethinking of Western understanding of religion by way of an Asian speculative approach grounded in Zen Buddhism. He argues that …

An Inquiry Into The Historical Development Of Philosophy In Japan, Kelly Louise Rexzy P. Agra

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

What is Japanese Philosophy? This paper will address this question, not by giving a survey of the works of Japanese philosophers or a definition of the subject matter of Japanese philosophy, but by attempting to present how it emerged as a distinct philosophical tradition—by sketching the controversies that gave rise to its formation; the social, intellectual, and historical factors that paved the way to its development; and the revolution of thought which finally gave it the title “Japanese philosophy.” I will argue that Japanese philosophy was born not because Japanese thinkers desperately wanted a philosophy that they could call their …

Creating A Homemade Mobile Augmented Reality Game In A Community College Library: An Open Source Approach, Carrie Jedlicka, Mark E. Eaton

Publications and Research

Librarians at Kingsborough Community College created a mobile augmented reality activity for new students, to orient them to the library space and to provide a fun, welcoming experience. Rather than using a commercial app, the librarians built the activity using open source tools and resources already at-hand, specifically AR.js and A-Frame (both JavaScript libraries), and LibGuides. Based on student feedback, librarians found that participants enjoyed the activity and that it helped familiarize them with library locations and services. This project demonstrates that librarians have the capacity to build their own open source augmented reality activities in-house.

Japanese-English Translation: Critical Consciousness In Crisis, By Miki Kiyoshi, December 1928 (Excerpt Of §1); Published In Kaizō, January 1929; Translated By Christopher Southward, November 2024: 「危機における理論的意識」、三木清著；1928年12月著作；『改造』1929年1月号発行； 2024年11月南方クリストファー訳, Christopher Southward

Comparative Literature Faculty and Student Scholarship

Critical Consciousness in Crisis, by Miki Kiyoshi, December 1928 (Excerpt of §1) Published in Kaizō, January 1929; Translated by Christopher Southward, November 2024

「危機における理論的意識」、三木清著；1928年12月著作；『改造』1929年1月号発行；2024年11月南方クリストファー訳

Common Liver Conditions, Robert W Steele, Ryan T. Fischer

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Fischer shares his expertise on genetic liver diseases affecting children. Explore the latest advancements in diagnostic techniques and treatments, including genetic screening and their impact on transplant outcomes. Tune in to understand the relationship between genetics and pediatric liver conditions in 2024.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Safeguarding Ecological Knowledge From The Effects Of Climate Change: An Archival Approach, Daena Jean Carrillo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Creating resources that facilitate the preservation of community-based archives and ecological knowledge in the Louisiana coastal region is integral to its survival amongst the effects of climate change. Research and records created and stored within the Louisiana coastal region have a higher predisposition to the drastic and pervasive effects of climate change and natural disasters. Modern archivists can insert themselves into the work of climate change action through their advocacy of safeguarding collections that have been created by communities and individuals through raw scientific and observational data and unpublished research. Just as archivists continue to frame their professional work around …

Why Is Fish Welfare Still So Neglected?, Caroline M. Maia

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano (O&B) address an important problem in the field of fish welfare, one that calls for greater attention from scientists and practitioners. O&B show that fish welfare, particularly at the psychological level, is under-investigated. They focus mainly on zoos and aquaria, but their concerns extend also to other domains, including fish farming. Fish are sentient animals; priority should be given to their welfare in all environments where they are under human care.

Micro And Nano Plastics: Contaminants In Beverages And Prevention Strategies, Chang Ma, Karna Ramachandraiah, Guihun Jiang

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

The widespread use of plastics in beverage packaging has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in beverages, which poses significant environmental and health hazards. This review explores the sources, entry pathways, and risk factors for MPs and NPs in beverages, emphasizing their toxicological profiles and harmful effects on human health and the environment. Methods for detecting MPs and NPs in beverages are discussed, highlighting the need for standardized testing protocols. Furthermore, future solution strategies, challenges, and preventive measures for mitigating MP and NP contamination in beverages are proposed, including advanced filtration systems, the development of alternative …

Reflections On The Teacher Evaluation Process: Experiences Told By K-12 Teachers, Trinicia S. Murphy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In education, it is essential for stakeholders like district leaders, teachers, and government officials to collaborate and create a plan of action that would support K-12 instruction. Collaborations as such have been used for decades by policymakers and researchers to express philosophies, values, and beliefs about education to make improvements and/or push for change. Therefore, the educational system will continue to evolve with current and upcoming research findings. For example, evaluating teachers effectively has been one of the most controversial topics in education. According to Boyd (1989), teacher evaluations were constructed to measure teachers’ competences and promote professional development. Today, …

Characterizing West Florida Shelf Reef Fish Communities Using A Scientific Echosounder, Edmund A. Hughes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The advancement and application of non-invasive fisheries survey technologies, such as the scientific echosounder, have significantly enhanced our understanding of fish populations and their habitats, more recently in regions where traditional sampling methods are limited, such as complex reef habitats. This research, conducted as part of the Continental Shelf Characterization, Assessment, and Mapping Project (C-SCAMP) on the West Florida Shelf, leverages acoustic and visual technologies to investigate the distribution of fish densities, fish target strength and length relationships, and the relationship between seafloor topography and fish biomass distribution.

The first study compared reef fish densities estimated from near-concurrent acoustic (Simrad …

Bridging Blobs: The Transformative Communication System, Philip Pham

Theses

In an increasingly interconnected world, language diversity can pose significant barriers to communication and understanding. "Bridging Blobs: The Transformative Communication System" introduces an innovative solution towards overcome these challenges. This thesis presents an immersive and interactive technology experience designed to seamlessly translate both spoken and sign languages and foster clear communication by visually demonstrating relationships between individuals using English and/or American Sign Language. The system integrates into various social and physical spaces, from bars to museums, creating dynamic displays that celebrate the richness of human language and culture. Interactive screens showcase animated sequences, representing inclusivity and collaboration. Powered by cutting-edge …

Tale Of Transitions: Experiences Of A First-Year Ph.D. Asian Student In America, Aakash Kumar

The Qualitative Report

This autoethnographic account narrates my transition as a first-year Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University, USA. Employing Kurt Lewin’s Change Model, I have structured my narrative around three phases: (a) unfreeze, (b) change, and (c) refreeze. The unfreeze phase details the process of unlearning, adjusting to American academic practices, and the initial cultural shock intensified by homesickness. The change phase describes embracing a new identity, integrating into campus and cultural life, and overcoming academic challenges. Lastly, the refreezing phase involves consolidating new beliefs, perspectives, and skills, solidifying the transition to becoming a more confident and competent scholar. This autoethnographic account …

Γ -Aapeptides Targeting Amyloid-Β Pathway And Neural Repair For Alzheimer’S Disease Treatment, Ning Shen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and progressive neuronal degeneration. Despite extensive research, no treatments have been able to effectively halt or reverse the progression of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of two novel γ-AApeptides, HW-C9 and 125-6b, in AD treatment, assessing both their individual and combined effects. HW-C9 was designed to inhibit Aβ aggregation, while 125-6b was developed to promote neuronal growth and repair. Initially, the therapeutic effects of HW-C9 and 125-6b were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that HW-C9 …

Isolation And Characterization Of Lignin From Oil Palm Shells Using A Precipitation Method With Sulfuric Acid And Polyaluminum Chloride As Coagulant, Eny Kusrini, Ria Yolanda Arundina, Anwar Usman, Resti Marlina, Bambang Subiyanto, Volkan Degirmenci, Nofrijon Sofyan, Yudan Whulanza

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Lignin has useful and significant properties such as stiffness, resistance to UV radiation, antioxidant, antimicrobial, high thermal stability, and high carbon content. Due to these properties, lignin can be used for several applications including wood adhesive, carbon-based material, and can be developed as a functional material composite. Isolation and utilization of lignin from lignocellulosic biomass offers significant opportunities in various now and future industrial applications mainly for development advanced materials. In this study, isolation and characterization of lignin from oil palm shells (OPS) was conducted. Lignin was isolated from OPS using the precipitation method with sulfuric acid and coagulation using …

Pedagogy: Teaching Practices Of American Colonial Educators In The Philippines, Isabel Pefianco Martin

Kritika Kultura

Filipino historian and essayist Renato Constantino wrote: “With American education, the Filipinos were not only learning a new language; they were not only forgetting their own language; they were starting to become a new type of American.” What specific strategies did the American colonizers use to create this new type of American? How did they use the public schools to produce their cultural clones? The answer may be found in the language and literature teaching practices of American colonial educators in the Philippines. This paper argues that the Anglo American canon of literature imposed on the Filipinos would not have …

Association Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus With Sensorineural Hearing Loss - A Population-Based Analysis, Marwin Li, Natalie Perlov, Jena Patel, Dev Amin, Ayan Kumar, Zachary D. Urdang, Thomas O. Willcox, Rebecca C. Chiffer

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus are more likely to develop sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) than non-diabetic patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: TriNetX US Collaborative Network (2003-2022).

METHODS: Electronic medical record data from the TriNetX US Collaborative Network was queried for subjects without prior hearing loss, defined using medical billing codes (ICD-10, CPT, etc.), who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus after January 2003. Patients were stratified by most recent HbA1c (8.0-13.9% or ≥14.0%) and by age at diagnosis (21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, ≥71 years). Primary outcome was …

Artificial Reefs As Management Tools, Tiff Raetzel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial reefs are attractive tools for fisheries management and reef conservation, as they can host large fish biomasses, including fisheries-important species, and they may supplement natural recruitment. Prior studies have established that artificial and natural reefs differ in habitat complexity and host both taxonomically and functionally distinct assemblages. These differences may impact how the reef types respond to environmental disturbance because ecosystem stability is dependent upon habitat structure, species composition, and trophic interactions. A question of management importance is whether artificial reefs host a less- or more-sensitive suite of species than natural reefs, and whether the assemblage is conducive to …

Evaluating The Safety Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors And Combination Therapies In The Management Of Brain Metastases: A Comprehensive Review, Vivek Mishra, Tulika Ranjan, Arun Maharaj, Manmeet Ahluwalia

All Publications

No abstract provided.

A Retrospective Analysis Of Thrombosis And Covid-19 Mortality In Rural Midwestern Population, John Dunton, Kaitlin Bierman-Macke, Taylor Little, Nicholas Zuk, Nova Beyersdorfer, Scott Goade, Kerry Johnson, Greg Stahl, Robert Arnce

Student Publications

Background

COVID-19 disease has caused a major global impact on health and mortality. This infection may predispose patients to thrombotic disease, caused by excessive inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation, and stasis. In this study, we compared mortality rates in patients admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of COVID-19, who also had the additional diagnosis of thrombosis with those who did not have thrombosis as an additional diagnosis.

Methods

This retrospective observational study compared mortality rates in patients admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of COVID-19, with and without thrombosis, as well as those patients admitted to the hospital …

Greenspace Variation And Its Effect On Telomere Length In The American Robin Dna, Valentina Rodriguez-Munoz, Elise Mittlestat, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Green spaces is a crucial component of our environment, and a contributor to relieving stress in human and wildlife health. Stress is one of the causing factors for a shorter lifespan in humans and other animals by directly accelerating the shortening length of the telomeres in our DNA. In this study we investigated to what extent urban vegetation explain telomere length in the American Robins Turdus migratorius living in the Louisville area. Specifically, we predicted that lower amount of vegetation will be associated with shorter telomeres. We caught the birds using mist nets, we collected blood samples, extracted DNA, and …

The Impact Of Air Pollution On The Cardiovascular System In American Robins: No2 Levels' And Ultrafine Particulate Levels' Correlation To The Ratio Of Immature To Mature Erythrocytes, Lauren A. Stine, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Abstract

Humans and animals, especially in an urban environment, are constantly ingesting air pollution. Since the industrial lifestyle is preferred or simply mandatory for many, the exact impacts of concentrated air pollution ingestion, especially on the cardiovascular system, needs to be unambiguous. It has already been seen that high levels of exposure to air pollution are correlated with increased rates of anemia in humans (Honda et al., 2017), (Morales-Ancajima et al., 2019), (Elbarbary et al., 2020), (Mehta et al., 2021). Further data indicates that air pollution ingestion may even directly cause some detrimental pro-inflammatory and oxidant-inducing effects on the cardiovascular …

North American Sucker Fish Diets In The Face Of Ecological Challenges (Catostomidae), Anesa Hozdic, Matthew Kolmann

The Cardinal Edge

Basic biological information, like fecundity, age at maturity, habitat occupation and range size, are critically important for conserving species under threat. However, funding for this sort of research is limited, especially for aquatic vertebrates like fishes, which have restricted ranges and are under threat from changes in land-use and watershed alteration. The suckers (Family Catostomidae) are freshwater fishes native to North America (and one species from China). Most species are presumed to be detritivorous, that is, feed on decaying plant and animal matter; however, the diet diversity of this family has never been analyzed at an evolutionary scale. Suckers are …

The Effect Of Prenatal Vape Exposure On Liver Gene Expression In Weanling Mice, Mindy Yin, Selma Podbicanin, Bella Fieger, Nina Pauig, Katelyn Chism, Lucas Georges, Isaiah Burciaga, Cynthia Corbitt, Rachel Neal

The Cardinal Edge

The use of E-cigarettes is a fairly recent phenomenon. Vaping is thought of as the “healthier” alternative to smoking cigarettes, yet we know little about the developmental toxicity of commercially available vaping products. The Barker Hypothesis (or the Developmental Basis of Adult Disease Hypothesis) proposes that developmental nutrient restriction or toxicant exposure increases the risk of diseases later in life such as cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, and metabolic diseases. In this study, adult female C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to Vuse™ Alto Golden Tobacco pods (5% nicotine) 4 days before mating and throughout gestation (GD19) for 1 hour/day each day. Offspring …

The Role Of Adhd As A Risk Factor In Alzheimer's Disease, Evelyn Fulmer

The Cardinal Edge

In recent years, the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has increased significantly. While these disorders initially seem unrelated, ADHD and AD pose similarities that indicate a more involved relationship between them. To understand this relationship, this review delves into the current research proposing ADHD as a potential risk factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease, examining genetic predispositions, shared risk factors, and affected mechanistic pathways that influence the aging process.

The Impact Of Chronic Stress On The Aging Process, Toriana Alfieri

The Cardinal Edge

Chronic stress can be characterized as a prolonged stressor that negatively impacts one’s life and has been associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and immune system suppression. Given that chronic stress undeniably impacts health as a whole, it is reasonable to assume that it may also affect the aging process. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the impact of chronic stress on the aging process with a specific focus on the 12 hallmarks of aging: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, disabled macroautophagy, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, …

Good Grief!: The Challenging Of Middle-Class Life By Youth Culture In Mafalda And Peanuts, Eden E. Baize

The Cardinal Edge

The politically and socially tumultuous world of the mid-20th century in both Argentina and the United States inspired the creation of two incredibly influential comic strips: Joaquín Salvador Lavado’s, also known as Quino’s, Mafalda in Argentina, and Charles Schultz’s Peanuts in the United States. These comics changed the popular conception of childhood in their respective countries by reflecting the cultural shifts which challenged existing social conventions like family organization. Primarily, however, the central theme of these works rested in the commentary on the growing middle-class and the role of younger generations in championing countercultural and antiestablishment movements against this expansion. …

Autoimmunity And The Epigenome, Jeffrey S. Miller Jr

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Mechanical Circulatory Support For Pediatric Patients: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Amani Ikram

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Vol. 9, No. 5, Glen Goodknight

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.

Vol. 9, No. 3, Glen Goodknight

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.