Digital Commons Network^™

Columns Fall 2024, Southern Adventist University

Alumni Newsletter

Features information about summer events, department updates, Missions, and Homecoming.

School Of Nursing Newsletter Fall 2024, Southern Adventist University

Southern Nursing - School of Nursing Newsletter

The Fall 2024 issue of the newsletter features information on the Fall 2023 NCLEX pass rate, Giving Day success, and alumni recognitions.

Cc Magazine Fall 2024, Connecticut College

Alumni News/Connecticut College Magazine

No abstract provided.

Population Genetic Analysis Informs Dispersal Capacity In Representative Marine Trematodes From Family Microscaphidiidae And Family Paramphistomatidae, Randi Leigh Barton

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In marine and terrestrial systems, life history drives the distribution of organisms and informs the spatial scale of population connectivity. Nearly all bony reef fishes and invertebrates have a bipartite life cycle with a planktonic larval stage, which increases the organism’s dispersal capacity, and concludes with a relatively non-dispersive adult phase. While many studies have identified the relevant spatial scale for studying population structure in fishes and invertebrates, few have done the same for parasitic taxa, which have even more complex life histories with a higher diversity in the range of dispersal strategies they use. Parasite taxa differ in (1) …

Medical Students’ Self-Perceived Knowledge And Clinical Comfort With Genetics In Pakistan, Maheen Arshad, Angela Trepanier, S Shahrukh Hashmi, Rizwan Naeem, Saqib Mehmood, Myla Ashfaq

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pakistan has a high rate of genetic disorders and neonatal mortality concurrent with noted lack of genetic counselors and geneticists. To meet the needs of the patient population, the responsibility of providing clinical genetic services falls on general and specialty physicians. However, their education regarding these essential services is not standardized in medical school curricula nor has it ever been evaluated. The purpose of this work is to describe the self-perceived knowledge, clinical comfort, and perspectives of Pakistani medical students toward their medical genetics' education. A web-based survey was distributed electronically to medical schools around the country. The survey comprised …

Molecular Architecture And Functional Dynamics Of The Pre-Incision Complex In Nucleotide Excision Repair, Jina Yu, Chunli Yan, Tanmoy Paul, Lucas Brewer, Susan E Tsutakawa, Chi-Lin Tsai, Samir M Hamdan, John A Tainer, Ivaylo Ivanov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is vital for genome integrity. Yet, our understanding of the complex NER protein machinery remains incomplete. Combining cryo-EM and XL-MS data with AlphaFold2 predictions, we build an integrative model of the NER pre-incision complex(PInC). Here TFIIH serves as a molecular ruler, defining the DNA bubble size and precisely positioning the XPG and XPF nucleases for incision. Using simulations and graph theoretical analyses, we unveil PInC's assembly, global motions, and partitioning into dynamic communities. Remarkably, XPG caps XPD's DNA-binding groove and bridges both junctions of the DNA bubble, suggesting a novel coordination mechanism of PInC's dual incision. …

Superior Antitumor Immune Response Achieved With Proton Over Photon Immunoradiotherapy Is Amplified By The Nanoradioenhancer Nbtxr3, Yun Hu, Sébastien Paris, Narayan Sahoo, Qi Wang, Qianxia Wang, Hampartsoum B Barsoumian, Ailing Huang, Jordan Da Silva, Célia Bienassis, Claudia S Kettlun Leyton, Tiffany A Voss, Fatemeh Masrorpour, Thomas Riad, Carola Leuschner, Nahum Puebla-Osorio, Saumil Gandhi, Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, Jing Wang, Maria Angelica Cortez, James W Welsh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent findings suggest that immunoradiotherapy (IRT), combining photon radiotherapy (XRT) or proton radiotherapy (PRT) with immune checkpoint blockade, can enhance systemic tumor control. However, the comparative efficacy of XRT and PRT in IRT remains understudied. To address this, we compared outcomes between XRT + αPD1 and PRT + αPD1 in murine αPD1-resistant lung cancer (344SQR). We also assessed the impact of the nanoparticle radioenhancer NBTXR3 on both XRT + αPD1 and PRT + αPD1 for tumor control and examined the tumor immune microenvironment using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq). Additionally, mice cured by NBTXR3 + PRT + αPD1 were rechallenged with …

Preventive Treatment With A Cd73 Small Molecule Inhibitor Enhances Immune Surveillance In K-Ras Mutant Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia, Lincoln N Strickland, Wendao Liu, Usama Hussein, Nicolette Mardik, Xian Chen, Tingting Mills, Lana A Vornik, Michelle I Savage, Shizuko Sei, John Clifford, Holger K Eltzschig, Powel H Brown, Zhongming Zhao, Florencia Mcallister, Jennifer M Bailey-Lundberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immunoprevention is an emerging consideration for solid tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We and others have shown that Kras mutations in genetic models of spontaneous pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), which is a precursor to PDAC, results in CD73 expression in the neoplastic epithelium and some populations of infiltrating immune cells, including macrophages and CD8 T cells. CD73 is an ecto-enzyme that converts extracellular adenosine monophosphate to adenosine, a critical immune inhibitory molecule in PDAC. We hypothesized inhibition of CD73 would reduce the incidence of PanIN formation and alter the immune microenvironment. To test our hypothesis, we used the KrasG12D; …

Coordinated School Health 2023-24 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Education.

Coordinated School Health

No abstract provided.

Cerebrovascular Disease Is Associated With Alzheimer's Plasma Biomarker Concentrations In Adults With Down Syndrome, Andreas Engvig, Karl Trygve Kalleberg, Lars T. Westlye, Esten Høyland Leonardsen, Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Consortium

Neurology Faculty Publications

DNA methylation age (MA), brain age (BA), and frailty index (FI) are putative aging biomarkers linked to dementia risk. We investigated their relationship and combined potential for prediction of cognitive impairment and future dementia risk using the ADNI database. Of several MA algorithms, DunedinPACE and GrimAge2, associated with memory, were combined in a composite MA alongside BA and a data-driven FI in predictive analyses. Pairwise correlations between age- and sex-adjusted measures for MA (aMA), aBA, and aFI were low. FI outperformed BA and MA in all diagnostic tasks. A model including age, sex, and aFI achieved an area under the …

Kaupa Letters: Volume 12, Issue 1, Korean American University Professors Association

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Reimaging A Downsized Korea: Anticipating And Preparing For Four Scenarios, Paul Hong

KAUPA Letters

As South Korea confronts persistently low birth rates and the inevitable demographic shifts that follow, this research reimagines the future of a downsized nation. By exploring four distinct scenarios—Stable Growth, Dynamic Transition, Status Quo, and Falling Trap—this study seeks to uncover how Korea can strategically leverage its human and natural resources to enhance the quality of life amidst these challenges. Drawing from historical context and expert insights, the research shifts the narrative from one of potential decline to a forward-looking exploration of opportunities for sustainable growth and resilience. The scenarios presented guide policymakers and stakeholders in navigating demographic transitions, ensuring …

Abstinence Beliefs In Early Adolescence And Sexual Risk Behavior Two Years Later, Shristi Bhochhibhoya, Briana Edison, Elizabeth R. Baumler, Christine M. Markham, Susan T. Emery, Melissa F. Peskin, Ross Shegog, Robert C. Addy, Jeff R. Temple, Dennis E. Ready

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction

The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate and sexually transmitted infection rates among developed countries. One common approach that has been implemented to reduce these rates is abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that advocate for delaying sexual intercourse until marriage. These programs focus on changing adolescents' beliefs toward abstinence until marriage; however, it is unclear whether adolescents' beliefs about abstinence predict their sexual behavior, including sexual risk behavior (SRB). An alternative approach may be encouraging youth to delay their sexual debut until they reach the age of maturity, but not necessarily until marriage.

Methods

To address this question, we compare …

Open Access Publishing At Rowan University: Fall 2024 Workshop, Benjamin H. Saracco

Library Workshops

Scholarly publishing is an important part of a faculty member’s academic and scholarly lifecycle. With the rise of digital and open access publishing, however, it is important to have an understanding of open access especially in the context of the changing scholarly communication system. In this workshop, attendees will learn the current challenges in the scholarly communication system, understand the different pathways to open access and learn about the open access publishing opportunities that Rowan University Libraries has made available to Rowan authors via publisher agreements.

The Use Of Puffed Rice Biomaterial As An Insulation Layer: Characterization And Simulation Study, Nicolas Monje Mejia

Theses

Upon close examination in this study, the feasibility of utilizing puffed rice as an insulation layer for construction is explored. Regions that are warm and receive direct sunlight experience heightened temperatures, which can lead to structures trapping excessive heat, resulting in increased cooling demands, energy consumption, and higher costs all around. As revealed via findings from research conducted over time, puffed rice showcases immense prospects when employed as insulation considering its high level of percolation coupled with low thermal conductivity rates. Conversely, conventional materials tend to have better-quality properties like greater compressive strength than what one sees here, along with …

Shocking Sentences, John B. Meixner Jr.

Scholarly Works

Harsh recidivist sentencing penalties, like three-strikes laws, have been criticized heavily among both academics and practitioners on a number of different grounds. Most arguments focus on how sentences arising from these penalties are disproportionate—that there is no sensible relationship between the wrong committed and the sentence imposed. Those critiques are valid, but there’s another important problem with recidivist sentencing penalties that has been overlooked: they lead to sentences that are totally unexpected—indeed, shocking—to the defendants who face them. Many recidivist sentencing penalties cause large leaps in sentencing exposure that amount to exponential growth when compared with a defendant’s prior sentences. …

Fall 2024, John M. Pfau Library

Peacock – John M. Pfau Library Newsletter

In this issue:

• Rising Above the Flood: The Library Commons p.1-2
• The Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Cafe Saga p. 6
• Great Horned Owls and the Pfau Library p. 8 - 9

The Three Eras Of Australian Practice On Mpas: The Interaction Between National And International Law And Policy, Ethan Beringen, Nengye Liu, Michelle Mei Ling Lim

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Australia has attempted to position itself as a world leader in Marine Protected Area (MPA) practice through leveraging its significant national MPA network as well as its heavy involvement in the creation of high seas MPAs in the Antarctic. However, the quality of Australia’s domestic and international MPA practice have separately been subject to similar and convincing critiques. Despite this, little research exists which highlights how these two levels of law-making may interact regarding MPAs. Hence, the question to be addressed is: ‘How does Australia’s domestic and international MPA practice interact?’ Through drawing upon middle power theory to characterise this …

Feral Camel, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

No abstract provided.

Feral Donkey, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Donkeys (Equus asinus) were first imported in substantial numbers to Australia in 1866 by Sir Thomas Elder. They were used as pack and draught animals in outlying areas of Western Australia (WA) until the 1930s. They were eventually replaced by the motor vehicle, and unwanted donkeys were released to the wild, where they became feral. The first record of feral donkeys is from the Kimberley in the early 1930s, but it is possible they became feral much earlier.

Blackbird, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The introduced common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a pest in eastern Australia. It damages commercial fruit crops and may compete with native birds. The species is prohibited in Western Australia and individuals found here are destroyed.

The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in Western Australia (WA). For more information, see our website at dpird.wa.gov.au.

Feral Goat, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first animals to be domesticated, 8 to 10 thousand years ago. Archaeological work indicates the earliest attempts at domestication were in dry hills surrounding the Mediterranean basin. The ability of goats to utilise the coarse browse of mountainous areas made them suitable for domestication, in preference to sheep. With large-scale domestication of goats throughout the world, goats escaped and established feral goat herds on most continents. Overgrazing by goats has caused severe environmental damage, worldwide.

Goats arrived in Australia with the first fleet. They were introduced to many areas by early settlers …

Do Parents Know Best: The Impact Of Parental Sleep Knowledge And Related Factors On Sleep In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Rachel Nicole Chavez

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep problems are a common concern reported by parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The prevalence of sleep disorders in those with NDD have been reported as high as 86% compared to 25% of typically developing children (Horwood et al., 2019, Robin-Shelton, 2016). These sleep problems can have detrimental effects on cognition, development, behavior, emotion regulation, and physical health. Existing research demonstrates a significant relationship between a child’s sleep disturbances and their parents’ sleep quality and level of parenting stress. This study aimed to identify the gaps in parental sleep knowledge and examined how parent sleep quality and parental …

Red Fox, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on the red fox in Western Australia (WA).

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a native of the northern hemisphere where it occurs throughout most of Europe, Asia, North America, and the northern coast of Africa. The red fox was first introduced to Australia (Victoria) from Britain as early as 1845 for hunting with foxhounds. Having become successfully established in Victoria by about 1870, it colonised most of mainland Australia over the next 70 years. Foxes are not found in the most northern regions of Australia, including northwest Kimberley.

In WA, the fox is a declared …

Rabbit Control: Fumigation, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Fumigation for rabbit control involves the introduction of poisonous gas into a warren. It is one of the best control methods to use where low numbers of rabbits live in a few widely scattered warrens. The threat to non-target animals is minimal. This factsheet should be read in conjunction with registered product labels and directions for use. Check the Department of Health, Western Australia website (health.wa.gov.au) for public health requirements for the use of phosphine fumigation.

Fumigation may be used in areas where access is limited, such as fence lines, around trees, and on riverbanks, but it may be difficult …

Performance Evaluation Of Ai-Based Healthcare Systems In The United Arab Emirates: A Comparative Analysis Of Diagnostic Accuracy And Predictive Capability Using Spss, Hamad Ismail

Theses

This research investigates the opinions and experiences of United Arab Emirates (UAE) healthcare personnel on artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology. Successful application and integration depend on a knowledge of the viewpoints of people at the front-line of patient care as artificial intelligence technology progressively enter healthcare contexts. Combining advanced statistical analysis with quantitative questionnaires using a mixed-methods approach, the study presents a whole picture of artificial intelligence opinions across several healthcare environments and UAE geographical areas. The study revealed a topography of opinions on artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector that is complicated. Though views varied widely based on their employment, …

Fall 2024 Inquiry Journal: Editorial Staff And Table Of Contents, Brigid C. Casellini

Inquiry Journal Fall 2024

No abstract provided.

Mixed Ligand Complex: Synthesis, Characterization, And Investigation Of Biomedical Activity, Elaf A. Mousa, Basim I. Al-Abdaly

Baghdad Science Journal

A new complex, CuCl2.2H2O (M), was synthesized to react with melatonin (L1) and one of the amino acids (L-cysteine, L2) in a mole ratio of (1:1:1) (M: L1:L2) to produce the metal complex. The synthesized complex was then characterized using spectral techniques including infrared (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TG), flame atomic absorption (AAS), micro elemental analysis (CHNS), melting point (m.p.) measurement, and determination of chloride. Octahedral geometry was proposed for the complex. The copper complex was paramagnetic and non-electrolyte. The synthesized complex was evaluated as an antibacterial and antifungal agent against Escherchia coli (G-) and Staphylococcus aureus (G+). fungus Candida. The …

October 2024 News, Office Of Sustainability

Office of Sustainability Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Phenotypic Variations In T. Repens (White Clover) Leaf Pigmentation, Danielle Sommerman '25, Chiamaka Nbubuokwu '27, Rose Keith

Annual Student Research Poster Session

There is a known variation in patterning amongst the leaves of variegated plants. The reasons as to why this polymorphism occurs has long been debated by botanists and biologists, but some hypotheses include thermoregulation, ultraviolet protection, and pollinator attraction among others (Kuo et al., 2024). We hypothesized that physical location may play a role in the leaf variegation of Trifolium repens (white clover). Starting mid July of 2024, we collected sample leaflets from multiple local populations from three distinct sites in Greencastle, IN. After collecting, we looked at the frequency of chevron presence as well as the size of the …