Digital Commons Network^™

The Antagonist Effect Of Pichia Kluyveri Against The Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus Flavus, Wafa Masoud

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

Aspergillus flavus is one of the main fungi that are known to produce Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). AFB1 has been detected in many food products and reported to be a carcinogenic. Using a biocontrol agent against A. flavus can safely eliminate or reduce the occurrence of AFB1 in food. Therefore, the effects of four yeast strains of Pichia kluyveri on the growth and spore germination of A. flavus were studied. In addition, the effect of exposure of A. flavus to the yeast’s headspace, as well as the effects of different headspace concentrations of 2-phenyl ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate, on the …

Covid-19 And Burnout Among Community Pharmacists In The West Bank – Palestine, Amjad H. Bazzari, Firas H. Bazzari

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a strong impact on the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers. However, the focus has been directed towards nurses and physicians compared to pharmacists. Here, the researchers investigated the prevalence of burnout among community pharmacists in the West Bank – Palestine during the pandemic and the associated COVID-19 factors. The study was conducted using a written questionnaire and the sample included a total of 70 pharmacists. The results showed a burnout prevalence of 45.7% with work-related burnout having the highest impact on both males (50%) and females (54.8%). The level of burnout …

Exploring Academic Perspectives On Immersive Scheduling In A Uk University, Rebecca Turner, Debby R.E. Cotton, Emily Danvers, David Morrison, Pauline E. Kneale

Professional Services

This study examined how academic staff responded to a cross-institutional change initiative to integrate immersive scheduling into the first-year undergraduate curriculum. Immersive scheduling, also referred to as block or compressed delivery, sought to create a supportive first-year experience, to ease students’ transition to university. Adopting an immersive approach is associated with considerable change as academic staff adapt their practice to accommodate the compressed time frame of modules and embrace learning and assessment methods associated with this delivery format. In this study, we undertook semi-structured interviews with 17 academics who were leading the development and delivery of immersive modules or supporting …

Trade-Offs In Rooting Strategy Dimensions Along An Edaphic Gradient In A Grassland Ecosystem, Yuguo Yang, Sabrina E. Russo

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1. Roots are essential to the diversity and functioning of plant communities, but trade-offs in rooting strategies are still poorly understood.
2. We evaluated existing frameworks of rooting strategy trade-offs and tested their underlying assumptions, guided by the hypothesis that community-level rooting strategies are best described by a combination of variation in organ-level traits, plant-level root:shoot allocation and symbiosis-level mycorrhizal dependency. We tested this hypothesis using data on plant community structure, above-and below-ground biomass, eight root traits including mycorrhizal colonisation and soil properties from an edaphic gradient driven by elevation and water availability in sandhills prairie, Nebraska, USA.
3. We found multidimensional trade-offs …

Study Of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Menopausal Women In Basrah City, Weaam Al-Mahfooth

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is well-recognized worldwide. It is common in older adults, especially in women. Vitamin D deficiency is the most underdiagnosed medical condition in menopausal women. There are few epidemiological studies on the vitamin D status of menopausal women in Basra City, Iraq.  Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among menopausal women in Basra City and its correlation with various factors that lead to vitamin D deficiency in menopausal women.  Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 menopausal women in the age group 46–65 years attending the …

Serological Survey To Detect Antigens That Cross-React With Covid-19 Antibodies, Ahmed N. Mnahi, Abdulelah A. Almyah, Zuhair Al-Shaheen

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan City and has since spread worldwide, infecting over 600 million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an emergency in public health in January 2020 due to reports of new coronaviruses in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Aim: The study aims to screen bacterial antigens for cross-reactivity with COVID-19 antibodies using indirect ELISA and to detect cross-reactivity between vaccinated and unvaccinated healthy individuals and various bacterial types (Gammaproteobacteria, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteria, in addition to Staphylococcus aureus) either sonicated or non-sonicated. Methods: ELISA is a method for detecting unknown samples …

Scaffold-Based 3d Cell Culture Models In Cancer Research, Waad H. Abuwatfa, William G. Pitt, Ghaleb A. Husseini

Faculty Publications

Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures have emerged as valuable tools in cancer research, offering significant advantages over traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems. In 3D cell cultures, cancer cells are grown in an environment that more closely mimics the 3D architecture and complexity of in vivo tumors. This approach has revolutionized cancer research by providing a more accurate representation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and enabling the study of tumor behavior and response to therapies in a more physiologically relevant context. One of the key benefits of 3D cell culture in cancer research is the ability to recapitulate the complex interactions …

The Ecological Responses To Hydroperiod Of Wetland Plant Species Determined By Manipulated Soil Surface Elevation (Marsh Organs), Brandon Wolff

LSU Master's Theses

As sea level rise, subsidence, and abandonment of natural deltaic processes due to a highly engineered Mississippi River continue to threaten Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, the need for a system-wide understanding of natural wetland land-building and preservation processes has never been greater. A key component of any wetland is the ever-changing water environment that periodically floods and dries the marsh platforms. The flooding depth, duration, and frequency, known as the hydroperiod, along with salinity and soil fertility are key determining factors of vegetation and marsh types at a particular location. Different types of vegetation will have different growth characteristics such as …

Deepbiomarker2: Prediction Of Alcohol And Substance Use Disorder Risk In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Patients Using Electronic Medical Records And Multiple Social Determinants Of Health, Oshin Miranda, Peihao Fan, Xiguang Qi, Haohan Wang, M Daniel Brannock, Thomas R Kosten, Neal David Ryan, Levent Kirisci, Lirong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Prediction of high-risk events amongst patients with mental disorders is critical for personalized interventions. We developed DeepBiomarker2 by leveraging deep learning and natural language processing to analyze lab tests, medication use, diagnosis, social determinants of health (SDoH) parameters, and psychotherapy for outcome prediction. To increase the model's interpretability, we further refined our contribution analysis to identify key features by scaling with a factor from a reference feature. We applied DeepBiomarker2 to analyze the EMR data of 38,807 patients from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to determine their risk of developing alcohol and substance …

Exploring The Role Of Information And Communication Technologies In Allergic Rhinitis In Specialist Centers: Patient Perspectives On Usefulness, Value, And Impact On Healthcare, Ivan Cherrez Ojeda, Jean Bousquet, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Monica Rodriguez Gonzales, Anna Bedbrook, Nelson Rosario, Benjamin Zepeda Ortega, Guillermo Guidos, Ulbio Alcivar Molina

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) improve patient-centered care and are routinely used in Allergic Rhinitis (AR), but patients' preferences and attitudes are unexplored. This study examines AR-related information preferences and ICT use by AR patients.
Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Ecuador from July to September 2019 in seven centers of reference for allergic disease. Participants were 18 years or older, diagnosed with AR and had access to ICT and the Internet. Descriptive and binomial logistic regressions were performed. A value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: 217 patients were included. 47% (n …

Digital Phobia: An Inquiry For Mapping The Unseen Dimension Of New Digital Anxiety, The ‘Digiphobia’, Amarjit Kumar Singh ,Library Assistant, Md. Arshad Ali , Professional Assistant, Dr. Pankaj Mathur, Deputy Librarian,

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: As technology continues to advance, individuals' interactions with digital platforms have become integral to daily life. Amidst this technological evolution, a novel concern emerges—Digital Phobia, hereafter referred to as “Digiphobia.” This phenomenon, although not previously explored in scholarly literature, necessitates an in-depth investigation due to its potential impact on individuals' well-being. Our research employs a two-step methodology to investigate its existence, implications, and manifestations.

Introduction: This research paper introduces and proposes the term "Digiphobia" as a comprehensive conceptualization of anxiety arising from interactions with digital spaces, applications, and environments. The proliferation of digital technologies has led to the emergence …

Ai Warfare And The Law, Bill Boothby

International Law Studies

AI Warfare and the Law, published as a full volume of International Law Studies, analyzes the legal implications of the introduction of AI technologies into the design of weapon systems and the potential use of AI in connection with military activities. It considers several discrete but related bodies of international law as well as significant aspects of domestic and human rights law. Its key aim is to work out how the law will impact the use of AI technologies and what AI technologies must be able to do if they are to satisfy legal requirements. A further purpose …

Reparative Description: Suggested Revisions Of Library Of Congress Subject Headings For Indigenous Peoples In The Sequoyah National Research Center Online Library Catalog, Mikaela Nicole Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

The Library of Congress (LOC) presents thousands of items in its online catalog and uses subject headings to link and relate items of the same subject matter, origins, or creator. Smaller libraries,archives, and other institutions use the subject headings provided by the LOC to easily link related materials within their own online catalogs. The Library of Congress Subject Headings are not inclusive and do not represent all Peoples. Subject Headings used by the Library of Congress may correctly represent a community, misrepresent by using other names than what the People choose to call themselves, or may not represent a People …

Pastoral Leaders’ Perception Of Obesity And Their Role Within Faith-Based Organizations, Darren D. Moore, Clinton E. Cooper, Charles Williams

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of pastoral leaders regarding obesity and health within faith-based organizations (FBOs). In this study, the authors focused on gaining additional insight regarding how pastoral leaders conceptualize and make sense of their roles in terms of health promotion within FBOs. Utilizing a qualitative research methodological approach, specifically Qualitative Description, authors administered a qualitative survey to 12 participants which yielded three emerging themes: (1) perceived scope, (2) understanding and use of resources, and (3) defining obesity through pastoral leaders’ perspectives. In the study, investigators discuss clinical implications and provide recommendations.

“Your Brain Isn’T All Backwards”: Asexual Young Women’S Narratives Of Sexual Healthism, Anna Sheppard, Emily S. Mann, Carla A. Pfeffer

The Qualitative Report

Scholarship on asexuality is a growing but underexplored area in the social sciences. In the U.S., asexual people (i.e., individuals who do not experience sexual attraction) navigate a society in which being a sexual person is regarded as a normal and even compulsory aspect of human health and subjectivity. Utilizing an asexual subsample from a broader study of queer young women, this article integrates Foucault’s theorizing around sexuality and repression with scholarship on healthism to examine how discourses of sexual healthism operate among asexual young women in the U.S. South. We argue that in rejecting theories of sexual repression and …

Akt Enhances The Vulnerability Of Cancer Cells To Vcp/P97 Inhibition-Mediated Paraptosis, Dong Min Lee, In Young Kim, Hong Jae Lee, Min Ji Seo, Mi-Young Cho, Hae In Lee, Gyesoon Yoon, Jae-Hoon Ji, Seok Soon Park, Seong-Yun Jeong, Eun Kyung Choi, Yong Hyeon Choi, Chae-Ok Yun, Mirae Yeo, Eunhee Kim, Kyeong Sook Choi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97, an AAA+ ATPase critical for maintaining proteostasis, emerges as a promising target for cancer therapy. This study reveals that targeting VCP selectively eliminates breast cancer cells while sparing non-transformed cells by inducing paraptosis, a non-apoptotic cell death mechanism characterized by endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria dilation. Intriguingly, oncogenic HRas sensitizes non-transformed cells to VCP inhibition-mediated paraptosis. The susceptibility of cancer cells to VCP inhibition is attributed to the non-attenuation and recovery of protein synthesis under proteotoxic stress. Mechanistically, mTORC2/Akt activation and eIF3d-dependent translation contribute to translational rebound and amplification of proteotoxic stress. Furthermore, the ATF4/DDIT4 axis augments VCP …

A Test Of The Pioneer Factor Hypothesis For Silent Gene Activation, Jeffrey Hansen

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Transcription factors (TFs) activate silent genes by binding to and opening heterochromatic instances of their motifs. While we rely on this process for cellular reprogramming, we have an incomplete understanding of which TFs are capable of recognizing inaccessible instance of their motifs and what parameters are important for this activity. My thesis work aimed to address these two questions. The leading model for silent gene activation is the pioneer factor hypothesis (PFH). The PFH states that pioneer factors (PFs) are qualitatively unique TFs that can bind to and open DNA and subsequently recruit non-pioneer factors (nonPFs) to activate expression. We …

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Of Cerebellar Astrocytes Across Developmental Stages And Brain Regions, Wookbong Kwon, Dong-Joo Choi, Kwanha Yu, Michael R Williamson, Sanjana Murali, Yeunjung Ko, Junsung Woo, Benjamin Deneen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system, and they play a crucial role in normal brain function. While gliogenesis and glial differentiation occur during perinatal cerebellar development, the processes that occur during early postnatal development remain obscure. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic profiling of postnatal cerebellar astrocytes at postnatal days 1, 7, 14, and 28 (P1, P7, P14, and P28), identifying temporal-specific gene signatures at each specific time point. Comparing these profiles with region-specific astrocyte differentially expressed genes (DEGs) published for the cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb revealed cerebellar-specific gene signature across these …

Biological Inspired Resource Allocation For Distributed Multi Agent System With Limited Knowledge, Julia Gorthey

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Swarm intelligence uses individual cooperation for improved community strength. However, some underwater swarm intelligence behaviors have capabilities for real-world applications that are underutilized. The application of biological-inspired design resource allocation to better methods of response management. Snapping shrimp colonies have a sophisticated approach to resource allocation under uncertainty. The snapping shrimp behavior will be the target for creating this algorithm for resource allocation based on a biological-inspired behavior. The research question this study will examine is how can the intruder response behavior of a snapping shrimp colony can be applied to model distributed resource allocation to show how factors such …

Impact Of Spaceflight On Fungal Antibiotic Susceptibility And Virulence, Lauren Wilson

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Fungi are the most diverse organisms of the world and many different species form part of the normal human commensal microflora. The yeast Candida parapsilosis and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa are present in the human epidermis and can be opportunistic when immunocompromised scenarios are present. The tendency of yeast isolates to respond and adapt to environmental stress is associated with increased virulence such as resistance to antifungals, increased filamentation and increased fungal biofilm formation. The present research was designed to test the virulence related phenotypes of Candida parapsilosis and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa isolated from the International Space Station. Fungal commensals and fungal pathogens …

Creating Connections: Bed Bugs To Uav Swarms, Austen Pallen, Bryan Watson

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Modern aerospace systems need a new approach for swarm consensus that is distributed, operates with local knowledge, and uses simple agents. The overarching goal of our research is to advance our understanding of bed bug behavior and use this understanding to improve performance of aerospace swarms. The first step is to understand individual bed bug response to stimuli (CO2, heat, light) and individual neural characteristics, before considering group dynamics. The objective of this proposal to establish a collaboration between biologists and engineers at ERAU to design and implement a test platform to enable new data collection for bed bug movement. …

A New Biologically Inspired Consensus Algorithm Protocol For Multi-Agent Systems Based On Turtle Hatching, Austen Pallen

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

New technologies rely on multi-agent systems (MAS’s) and their ability to achieve consensus. Current distributed consensus approaches, however, have narrow applicability and are only resilient to a small subset of faults. Biologically Inspired Design may provide the inspiration needed to develop more applicable consensus algorithms. Our hypothesis is that if the biological behavior of synchronous turtle hatching is evaluated, then a more resilient and novel consensus algorithm can be developed, because current turtle hatching requires resilient consensus for species survival. To test this, an Agent-Based, ANYLOGIC model was developed based on the turtle behavior and tested against 1, 5, 10, …

A Systematic Literature Review And Functional Decomposition Summarizing Eusocial Insect Parasite Resistance: A Tool For Biologically Inspired Design, James E. Hand, Bryan C. Watson

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Resilience is a vital component of multi-agent systems, as a lack of resilience can easily lead to system failure. Resisting the effects of faulted agents can reduce system costs and downtime. Solving the problem of increasing system resilience is not an easy one, however, as some solutions require complex solutions. Eusocial insects face these challenges often, thus making them prime examples to find unique biological solutions to resilience. As such the central question of this work is: What behaviors in eusocial insects can be used to improve muli-agent system resilience to faulted agents? In this work the connection between eusocial …

Treatment Of Oil Refinery Wastewater Polluted By Heavy Metal Ions Via Adsorption Technique Using Non-Valuable Media: Cadmium Ions And Buckthorn Leaves As A Study Case, Salem Jawad Alhamd, Mohammed Nsaif Abbas, Mehrdad Manteghian, Thekra Atta Ibrahim, Karar Dawood Salman Jarmondi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study focuses on the removal of cadmium ions generated by oil refinery wastewater, employing an agricultural by-product. Buckthorn leaves, sourced from Baghdad and Diyala provinces, underwent preparation, including washing, drying, crushing, and sieving before being utilized in experiments. Batch experiments were conducted using simulated solutions to assess the impact of six key adsorption design parameters: pH, cadmium concentration, agitation speed, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The highest adsorption efficiency, reaching 94.4367%, was directly correlated with contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH value, and agitation speed, and inversely related to other variables. Morphological studies on the treated adsorbent, indicated structural …

Sandpiper Food Search Algorithm: A New Optimization Approach For Agents With Limited Knowledge, Jessica Christa Wira

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Optimization problems have become increasingly complex, stretching the limits of conventional methods such as convex optimization, Newton-Raphson method, and others. To address this challenge, numerous metaheuristic algorithms, often inspired by nature, have emerged due to their adaptability and robustness (for example, Gray Wolf Algorithm and Ant Colony Optimization). However, functions that are non-symmetrical or have unique profiles such as basins, valleys, or plates remain challenging for these algorithms. Moreover, most of these existing algorithms have global knowledge, which is unrealistic for some real-world problems such as underground mining and spacecraft trajectory. To bridge this gap, a new biologically inspired optimization …

Recent Literature - Compiled By C John Ralph, North American Bird Bander

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Significant Recoveries Of Banded Birds, Michael R. North

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

High Occurrence Of Foot Deformities In A Non-Breeding Population Of Chipping Sparrows, Eric I. Johnson

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Sex Using Wing Chord In Southern Vancover Island Populations Of Bewick's Wren And "Punget Sound" White-Crowned Sparrow, David M. Bell

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Influuence Of Audio Lure During Spring And Fall Migration In Southwestern Alberta, Canada, Cyndi M. Smith, Peter L. Achuff

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.