Digital Commons Network^™

A New Angle On Using Mist-Nets To Capture Wintering Grassland Birds, John A. Muller, Erin H. Strasser, Nuwanthika Nagode, Jeremy D. Ross

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

A Summary Of The Nabb Survey Results, Michael Bishop

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

2024 Atlantic Flyway Review (Spring Migration), Aaron Given

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Summary Of The 2024 Western Bird Banding Associastion Annual Meeting, Danielle Kaschube

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Inaugural Caribbean Flyway Review, Daniele Ventura Del Puerto, E. A. Buckmire

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Biological Reinforcement Learning Simulation For Natural Enemy -Host Behavior: Exploring Deep Learning Algorithms For Population Dynamics, Komi Mensah Agboka, Emmanuel Peter, Erion Bwambale, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study introduces a simulation of biological reinforcement learning to explore the behavior of natural enemies in the presence of host pests, aiming to analyze the population dynamics between natural enemies and insect pests within an ecological context. The simulation leverages on Q-learning, a reinforcement learning algorithm, to model the decision-making processes of both parasitoids/predators and pests, thereby assessing the impact of varying parasitism and predation rates on pest population growth. Simulation parameters, such as episode count, duration in months, steps, learning rate, and discount factor, were set arbitrarily. Environmental and reward matrices, representing climatic conditions, crop availability, and the …

Body Composition In Recurrent Prostate Cancer And The Role Of Steroidogenic Genotype, Neha Venkatesh, Rebecca S Tidwell, Yao Yu, Ana Aparicio, Amado J Zurita, Sumit K Subudhi, Bilal A Siddiqui, Sagar S Mukhida, Justin R Gregg, Paul G Corn, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Jennifer L Mcquade, Daniel E Frigo, Patrick G Pilie, Chad Huff, Christopher J Logothetis, Andrew W Hahn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hormone therapy (HT) to treat prostate cancer is reported to cause adverse changes in body composition. Clinically, interpatient body composition changes are heterogeneous, but the biological and clinical determinants of body composition toxicity are unknown. Herein, we test the hypothesis that inherited polymorphisms in steroidogenic genes are associated with differential changes in body composition after HT. Men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (BCR) who received 8 months of LHRH analog (LHRHa) +/- abiraterone acetate (AAP) were eligible if they had: i) CT imaging of L3 prior to and after treatment; and ii) nucleated cells collected. Cardiometabolic co-morbidities were retrospectively extracted. …

Contemporary Approach To The Diagnosis And Classification Of Myelodysplastic Neoplasms/Syndromes-Recommendations From The International Consortium For Myelodysplastic Neoplasms/Syndromes (Mds [Icmds]), Fnu Aakash, Savanah D Gisriel, Amer M Zeidan, John M Bennett, Rafael Bejar, Jan Philipp Bewersdorf, Uma M Borate, Jacqueline Boultwood, Andrew M Brunner, Rena Buckstein, Hetty E Carraway, Jane E Churpek, Naval G Daver, Amy E Dezern, Fabio Efficace, Pierre Fenaux, Maria E Figueroa, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Steven D Gore, Peter L Greenberg, Elizabeth A Griffiths, Stephanie Halene, Christopher S Hourigan, Tae Kon Kim, Nina Kim, Rami S Komrokji, Vijay K Kutchroo, Alan F List, Richard F Little, Ravindra Majeti, Aziz Nazha, Stephen D Nimer, Olatoyosi Odenike, Eric Padron, Mrinal M Patnaik, Uwe Platzbecker, Matteo G Della Porta, Gail J Roboz, David A Sallman, Valeria Santini, Guillermo Sanz, Michael R Savona, Mikkael A Sekeres, Maximilian Stahl, Daniel T Starczynowski, David P Steensma, Justin Taylor, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Andrew H Wei, Zhuoer Xie, Mina L Xu, Robert P Hasserjian, Sanam Loghavi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Myelodysplastic neoplasms/syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of biologically distinct entities characterized by variable degrees of ineffective hematopoiesis. Recently, 2 classification systems (the 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid tTumours and the International Consensus Classification) further subcharacterized MDS into morphologically and genetically defined groups. Accurate diagnosis and subclassification of MDS require a multistep systemic approach. The International Consortium for MDS (icMDS) summarizes a contemporary, practical, and multimodal approach to MDS diagnosis and classification.

Individual Dynamic Prediction For Cure And Survival Based On Longitudinal Biomarkers, Can Xie, Xuelin Huang, Ruosha Li, Alexander Tsodikov, Kapil Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To optimize personalized treatment strategies and extend patients' survival times, it is critical to accurately predict patients' prognoses at all stages, from disease diagnosis to follow-up visits. The longitudinal biomarker measurements during visits are essential for this prediction purpose. Patients' ultimate concerns are cure and survival. However, in many situations, there is no clear biomarker indicator for cure. We propose a comprehensive joint model of longitudinal and survival data and a landmark cure model, incorporating proportions of potentially cured patients. The survival distributions in the joint and landmark models are specified through flexible hazard functions with the proportional hazards as …

The Prognostic Impact Of Tumor Deposits In Colorectal Cancer: More Than Just N1c, Neal Bhutiani, Oliver Peacock, Abhineet Uppal, Chung-Yuan Hu, Brian K Bednarski, Melissa W Taggart, Arvind Dasari, Van K Morris, Harmeet Kaur, Scott Kopetz, Emma B Holliday, Prajnan Das, Y Nancy You, George J Chang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The identification of tumor deposits (TD) currently plays a limited role in staging for colorectal cancer (CRC) aside from N1c lymph node designation. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic impact, beyond American Joint Committee on Cancer N1c designation, of TDs among patients with primary CRC.

Methods: Patients who had resected stage I-III primary CRC diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 were identified from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) stratified by TD status and lymph node (N) status was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox proportional hazards …

Mimosa: A Resource Consisting Of Improved Methylome Prediction Models Increases Power To Identify Dna Methylation-Phenotype Associations, Hunter J Melton, Zichen Zhang, Hong-Wen Deng, Lang Wu, Chong Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although DNA methylation (DNAm) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous complex diseases, from cancer to cardiovascular disease to autoimmune disease, the exact methylation sites that play key roles in these processes remain elusive. One strategy to identify putative causal CpG sites and enhance disease etiology understanding is to conduct methylome-wide association studies (MWASs), in which predicted DNA methylation that is associated with complex diseases can be identified. However, current MWAS models are primarily trained using the data from single studies, thereby limiting the methylation prediction accuracy and the power of subsequent association studies. Here, we introduce a new …

Normal Breast Tissues Harbour Rare Populations Of Aneuploid Epithelial Cells, Yiyun Lin, Junke Wang, Kaile Wang, Shanshan Bai, Aatish Thennavan, Runmin Wei, Yun Yan, Jianzhuo Li, Heba Elgamal, Emi Sei, Anna Casasent, Mitchell Rao, Chenling Tang, Asha S Multani, Jin Ma, Jessica Montalvan, Chandandeep Nagi, Sebastian Winocour, Bora Lim, Alastair Thompson, Nicholas Navin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aneuploid epithelial cells are common in breast cancer

Wirelessly Actuated Microfluidic Pump And Valve For Controlled Liquid Delivery In Dental Implants, Yilan Xu, Honglu Lin, Boyang Xiao, Hutomo Tanoto, Joel Berinstein, Alend Khoshnaw, Simon Young, Yuxiao Zhou, Xiaoguang Dong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Enabling minimally invasive and precise control of liquid release in dental implants is crucial for therapeutic functions such as delivering antibiotics to prevent biofilm formation, infusing stem cells to promote osseointegration, and administering other biomedicines. However, achieving controllable liquid cargo release in dental implants remains challenging due to the lack of wireless and miniaturized fluidic control mechanisms. Here wireless miniature pumps and valves that allow remote activation of liquid cargo delivery in dental implants, actuated and controlled by external magnetic fields (< 65 mT), are reported. A magnet-screw mechanism in a fluidic channel to function as a piston pump, alongside a flexible magnetic valve designed to open and close the fluidic channel, is proposed. The mechanisms are showcased by storing and releasing of liquid up to 52 µL in a dental implant. The liquid cargos are delivered directly to the implant-bone interface, a region traditionally difficult to access. On-demand liquid delivery is further showed by a metal implant inside both dental phantoms and porcine jawbones. The mechanisms are promising for controllable liquid release after implant placement with minimal invasion, paving the way for implantable devices that enable long-term and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents in various bioengineering applications.

A One-Egg Wonder: Working To Cure Judicial Gender Bias And Increase Access To Pre-Embryos For Infertile Parties, Nicole Marks Kaufman

Cardozo Law Review

The first live birth of a child conceived from in vitro fertilization (“IVF”) happened in 1978. Today, over eight million children have been born through IVF procedures. The first dispute over the resulting pre-embryos was in 1990 when the Tennessee Supreme Court outlined a balancing approach with a presumption favoring non-use of the pre-embryos for courts to follow when resolving these matters. Numerous states have taken differing approaches—some have taken a contractual approach, others an approach requiring contemporaneous mutual consent before there can be a departure from the status quo, and very few state legislatures have directly addressed how to …

Carceral Apartheid: Centering State Responsibility For The Racial Order, Ion Meyn

Cardozo Law Review

Racial harms are often attributed to private ordering. But the power of White communities to subordinate communities of color is not a constellation of private acts independent of state violence. When scrutinized, acts of racial exclusion, segregation, and violence persist to the extent they are aligned with the political order and backed by the state’s violent guarantee. The knowledge that any resistance to these acts will be met with state retribution bristles in the background.

There are different ways in which state violence produces and reproduces the racial order: (1) direct violence; (2) a violent guarantee backing communal acts of …

Evaluation Of The Activity Of Arginase And Some Biochemical Parameters In Sera Of Patients With Acromegaly, Fatima Khazaal Malek, Salma Abdul_Rudha Abbas, Baydaa Ahmed Abed

Baghdad Science Journal

The objective of the present study was to study the effect of increasing Growth Hormone (GH) on arginase activity in sera of Iraqi acromegaly (ACRO) patients. Certain Vital biochemical parameters were measured such as Growth Hormone (GH), Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), Fasting Serum glucose (FSG), Urea, Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C). Eighty people between the ages ranged between of 25 and 65 were involved in this study, 40 of them were ACRO Iraqi patients and the remaining 40 were healthy controls. All participants were matched in age and sex …

Determination Of Human Hair Components By Spectrophotometric Methods For The Diagnosis Of Thyroid Diseases, Fatima H. Salih, Shaimaa S. Mahdi, Alaa H. Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

Human hair is a vital tissue, rich in minerals and vitamins that have an effective role in the production of enzymes, hormones and other substances necessary for normal growth, it is considered an indicator of any defect in the performance of body functions at all stages of life, so the use of hair in the diagnosis of diseases is a challenge in the clinical laboratory, as it will be easy to frequently monitor diseases, and it will have an impact on medical research and treatment. For instance, hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not secrete enough thyroid hormone into …

Deep Oxidative Desulfurization Utilizing Hybrid Keggin Catalyst With 1-Methyl-3-Octyl Imidazolium Hexafluorophosphate, Yasmeen Mundher, Hussein Q Hussein, Ban A. Al-Tabbakh

Baghdad Science Journal

Deep oxidative desulfurization is a crucial topic for environmental catalysis research for producing a low-sulfur diesel. One of the effective catalysts that have been used recently for oxidative desulfurization of the refractory sulfur compound from model diesel is Keggin-type polyoxometalate. In this work, a Keggin-type catalyst TBAPW11O39, model diesel, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 1- methy l-3-octyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (OMIM(PF6)) were tested under different reaction conditions. The sulfur compound dibenzothiophene (DBT) in model diesel was captured in ionic liquid (IL) and then oxidized to produce related sulfones with H2O2 as an oxidant using TBAPW11O39, in a batch reactor. The impacts of …

Right Truncated‏ ‏Of Mixed Komal-Weibull Distribution With Properties, Sairan Hamza, Bayda Attia Khalaf, Erum Rehman

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: Truncated distributions occur in many practical situations and predict real phenomena. Theoretical framework: this paper proposed a right-truncated mixed Komal-Weibull distribution on [0,1] with three parameters, and derived some of its properties. approach: To show the ability and behavior of this distribution, some mathematical properties are given, such as the likelihood distribution function, the cumulative distribution function, the reliability function, the hazard function, the properties of the kth moments, the variance, skewness, and kurtosis coefficients, the moment generating function and the distribution of order statistics. In addition, the maximum likelihood estimate is derived. Findings: the new distribution is flexible …

Strategic Planning For Investing In Mineral Resources In Anbar Governorate Using Swoc Analysis, Husam Firas Alkubaisy, Saja Fadhil Jawad Al-Dahlaki

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The study aims to find the appropriate strategy to activate the role of mineral investment in achieving economic and social development in Anbar Governorate, and to identify the obstacles that prevent this through analyzing the internal and external environments that include strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. Theoretical Framework: Mineral wealth is one of the most important natural resources in our world. Its discovery and exploitation contribute to the development, growth, and advancement of economies globally, which positively impacts various aspects of economic, social, and political life. It is noteworthy that Iraq in general, and Anbar province in particular, possess …

Nadaraya-Watson Estimation Of A Circular Regression Model On Peak Systolic Blood Pressure Data, Rana Sadiq Nazer, Omar Abdulmohsin Ali

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The research aims to estimate models representing phenomena that follow the logic of circular (angular) data, accounting for the 24-hour periodicity in measurement. Theoretical framework: The regression model is developed to account for the periodic nature of the circular scale, considering the periodicity in the dependent variable y, the explanatory variables x, or both. Design/methodology/approach: Two estimation methods were applied: a parametric model, represented by the Simple Circular Regression (SCR) model, and a nonparametric model, represented by the Nadaraya-Watson Circular Regression (NW) model. The analysis used real data from 50 patients at Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital in Baghdad. Findings: The …

Examining The Activity-Related Correlates Of Latine Parent Support Of Adolescents In Organized Afterschool Activities, Fuko Kiyama, Sandra Simpkins

Journal of Youth Development

Objective: This study examined the relations between Latine parent perceptions of their seventh grade adolescents’ organized afterschool activity and their support of adolescents’ participation in these organized afterschool activities; and, whether these relations varied based on the organized afterschool activity’s ethnic cultural features.

Background: Although parent support bolsters adolescents’ success in multiple contexts, including organized afterschool activities, we know little about what promotes parent support. Method: Using data on Latine parent perceptions (N = 143) of their support (17 items), of organized afterschool activities (8 items) and ethnic cultural features (7 items), linear regression models were used to evaluate the …

Resilience And Grit: What They Are And Why They Matter For Youth Development Professional, Christine Wood, Claire Sponseller, Saundra Wever Frerichs, Mark W. Demorra

Journal of Youth Development

The challenges faced by youth can hinder them from reaching their full potential or help them grow and develop as they overcome their challenges. Grit and resilience provide young people with the skills, confidence, and perseverance to overcome challenges, pursue their goals and thrive. In this article, the authors examine the complex constructs that make up resilience and grit, draw connections to positive youth development practices, and propose a model of how these constructs can be enacted by youth development professionals in their work. The article offers specific educational practices that can support young people in developing the skills and …

Preparation And Study Of The Optical Properties Of Recycled Materials Of Polymethyl Methacryalate Doped With Different Ratios Of 4-(2- Pyridylazo) Resorcinol Monosodium Salt Hydrate, Zainab J. Sweah, Fatima H. Malk, Muhsen Chelab Muhsen, Baheya Abdulbaqi

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper presents an incoming method of developing a novel optical sensor using polymethylmethacrylate was reused with the presence of the ethanol-derived resin from Frankincense (1:1) (wt:wt%-(2-Pyridylazo) Resorcinol Monosodium Salt Hydrate) (azo dye) by solution casting technique. The prepared samples were Scanning Electron Microscopes(SEM),and studied by UV-VIS spectrophotometer for wavelengths 400-800nm, the absorbance increased; however, when it exceeded 7%, the absorbance value decreased, and the behavior was identical to that of the transmittance. The absorption coefficient and Extinction coefficient and optical energy gap at 5% is the best value. were also computed. Based on the results obtained the study was …

Identification Of Some Biochemical Indicators To Indicate The Contamination Of Some Fish Farms In Hilla City/ Iraq, Layla Mustafa A.A. Alkatrani, Zahraa Hussein Obaid, Jasim Mohammed Salman

Baghdad Science Journal

In order to establish the possibility of determined biochemical indicators of possible pollution in Al-Forat fish farm (A) and Hussein Ajimi fish farm (B) as well as wild fish samples as a control from Shatt Al-Hilla River (C). Oxidative stress factors and antioxidant enzyme activity were determined in common carp Cyprinus carpio blood serum from two fish farms. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) performance were chosen as pollution bioindicators, as well as Total Protein (TP) as a general bio indicator for fish health. Results showed an increase in all …

The Effect Of Curcumin Powder And Cloves Oil On The Properties Of Fibers Produced By Electrospinning Technology, Areej Bouta, Ghazal Tuhmaz, Husain Bakr, Hoda Sharouf

Baghdad Science Journal

Electrospinning is a simple method for obtaining nanofibers. They possess distinctive ‎properties such as large surface area to weight and high porosity, which make them attractive for many ‎applications. In this research, the electrospinning technique was used to obtain non-woven mats of ‎fibers using polylactic acid (PLA) with the addition of curcumin powder and clove oil as natural ‎antibacterial materials. For the preparation of mats, a 10% polylactic acid solution was prepared in ‎a mixture of acetone and dimethylformamide. Natural materials were added to the ‎polymer solution in several concentrations of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10%. The viscosity of …

Spectrophotometric Determination Of 4-Ethylphenol Using Cloud Point Extraction In Different Water Samples, Alaa Mousa Imran, Saadiyah Ahmed Dhahir, Ahmed Jassim Muklive

Baghdad Science Journal

This study describes the development of an easy, inexpensive, accurate and fast spectrophotometric technique for the determination of 4-ethylphenol. The primary method involves converting 3-nitroaniline to the diazonium salt and then reacting with 4-ethylphenol in an alkaline medium. It is yellow in color and has a maximum absorption at 426 nm. It obeys Beer's law in a linear range of 5-12 µg mL-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9994 and a molar absorptivity 6.0024 x 103 L. mol-1. cm-1. Cloud point extraction was used to quantify trace amounts of phenol using TritonX-114 as a surfactants, and subsequently, a measurement procedure …

Intelligent System For Student Performance Prediction Using Machine Learning, Mustafa S. Ibrahim Alsumaidaie, Ahmed Adil Nafea, Abdulrahman Abbas Mukhlif, Ruqaiya D. Jalal, Mohammed M Al-Ani

Baghdad Science Journal

Accurately predicting student performance remains a significant challenge in the educational sector. Identifying students who need additional support early can significantly impact their academic outcomes. This study aims to develop an intelligent solution for predicting student performance using supervised machine learning algorithms. This proposed focus on addressing the limitations of existing prediction models and enhancing prediction accuracy. In this work employed three supervised machine learning algorithms: Random Forest, Extra Trees, and K-Nearest Neighbors. The steps of research methodology contained (data collection, preprocessing, feature identification, model construction, and evaluation). This paper utilized a dataset comprising 24,000 training instances and 6,000 testing …

Seedling Growth Of Primed Seed Under Drought Stress In Sorghum, Mohammad Omar Shihab, Jalal Hameed Hamza, William Serson, Andre Amakobo Diatta, Martin Battaglia, Maythem Al-Amery, Hail Z Rihan

Baghdad Science Journal

Drought stress is considered a limiting factor during the early growth stages of sorghum. An experiment was conducted under field conditions during the fall seasons of 2017 and 2018. The objective was to improve the growth of sorghum seedlings and their chemical properties to tolerate drought stress. Three variables were investigated: first factor cultivars (Inqath, Rabeh, and Buhoth70), second factor seed priming (primed and unprimed seed). Seeds were primed by soaking for 12 hours in a solution containing 300 mg L−1 + 70 mg L−1 of gibberellic (GA3) and salicylic (SA) acids, respectively, and third factor drought stress represented by …

Synthesis, Characterization And Antioxidant Study Of Some Metal Ion Complexes With Azo 1-(2,4,6-Trihydroxy-3-((3-Hydroxyphenyl) Diazenyl) Phenyl) Ethan-1-One., Areeg Malek Fadhel, Abbas Ali Salih Al Hamdani, Saad G. Mohamed

Baghdad Science Journal

During a diazotization coupling reaction, an azo dye-ligand (H4L) was formed by combining 3-aminophenol and 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone. This ligand was then allowed to react with several different metal ions (Mo (VI), Fe (III), Co (II), Cr (III), Ru (III) and Rh (III)), forming stable metal complexes with various geometries. The binding of the azo-dye group to the metal ions was detected through the M-N and M-O absorption bands in Fourier-transform-infrared, which indicated the involvement of nitrogen and oxygen. LC-MS spectra confirmed the molecular weights of the ligand and its complexes, and elemental analysis was also conducted. Electronic spectra were used to …