Digital Commons Network^™

A Mission In Trouble—Vietnamization And The U.S. Navy, Edward J. Marolda

Naval War College Review

The troubled, expensive, and ultimately failed “Vietnamization” of the U.S. Navy’s assistance to the Republic of Vietnam demonstrates the pitfalls of imposing the American “way of war” on a partner without considering local needs or sustainability.

A Forgotten Dimension Of Naval Diplomacy—The Production Of Social Capital In The National Interest, Nell Bennett, Adam Lockyer

Naval War College Review

Naval diplomacy is a key noncombat mission for fleets to engage in as they communicate their nations’ broader political objectives. Most literature focuses on how different platforms affect this communication but neglects the social dimension of naval diplomacy and how personal relationships supplement and impact the strategic landscape.

Development And Participatory Communication, Jacob Srampickal S.J.

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Book Review For Hoebeke, E. Richard, James R. Labonte, And Kent E. Loeffler. 2024. Adventive Weevils Recorded From North America: A Review And Illustrated Manual For Their Identification (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea, Excluding Scolytinae). The Coleopterists Society Special Publication 5: 1-603, 226 Color Plates., Wayne Gall

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Book Review for Hoebeke, E. Richard, James R. LaBonte, and Kent E. Loeffler. 2024. Adventive weevils recorded from North America: A review and illustrated manual for their identification (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea, excluding Scolytinae). The Coleopterists Society Special Publication 5: 1-603, 226 color plates.

Flowers Of Black-Seeded And Yellow-Seeded Oilseed Pennycress (Thlaspi Arvense): Abundance, Timing, And Potential Insect Visitors, Frank Forcella, Riley Ellarson, Russ W. Gesch, Alex Hard, Nicholas J. Heller, Sarah Jandricic, M D. Marks, Yesuf Mohammed, William L. Perry, Winthrop B. Phippen, Lucas M. Roberts, Samantha Wells, Tad L. Wesley, Julia Zhang

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Pennycress is being developed in the Midwestern USA as a new oilseed crop that provides numerous ecosystem services. These services include being an early spring source of pollen and nectar for flower-visiting insects. Most past research on pennycress flower visitors used wild genotypes of pennycress. All wild genotypes have seed coats that are black, which occurs because of high levels of proanthocyanadins (PACs). Concentrations of PACs are minimal in newly developed genotypes with yellow-colored seed coats. However, little is known regarding flower abundance and timing nor insect visitation preferences for black-seeded genotypes (BSG) or yellow-seeded genotypes (YSG) of pennycress. Flower …

“Feels Good Man”: How One Amphibian Became A Weapon Of Mass Disinformation, Samuel Stiller

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the “Pepe the Frog” meme to explore the significance of memes as a medium of disinformation with particular emphasis on how the psychology of anonymity affects how disinformation is disseminated.

The Effect Of Temperature And Vegetative Substrate On The Short-Distance Dispersal Behavior Of An Invasive Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) To A Protected Dune Thistle, Alyssa S. Hakes, Tina Czaplinska, Monica Paniagua-Montoya

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The invasion of a seed-eating weevil, Larinus carlinae (Olivier, 1807) poses a threat to the persistence of native Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), a federally-threatened plant in sand dune communities of the western Great Lakes. At Whitefish Dunes (Sturgeon Bay, WI. USA), seed predation by weevils is higher for thistles surrounded by native marram grass (Ammophila breviligulata) than for those located in sandy habitats. In this study, we observed how the local abiotic and biotic environment affects the short-distance dispersal behavior of L. carlinae. Weevils were captured on site and individually released on the sand approximately …

Occurrence Of Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila Suzukii) In Wild Berries In Forested Areas Of Marquette And Keweenaw Counties, Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, Alexis M. Shatrau, Erika I. Hersch-Green

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive fly that targets unripe soft-fruits causing premature ripening, dehiscence, and rotting. While the presence of SWD in agricultural systems is well-documented, much less is known about the host range of SWD in wild areas, especially in more northern latitudes where colder temperatures and short summers are thought to restrict their life-cycles and limit population growth. In 2019 and 2020, we collected wild berries from two counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with long, cold winters, to determine the prevalence, host range, and seasonal/temporal variation of SWD. We found …

Initial Responses Of Carabidae (Coleoptera) To Intensive Biomass Harvesting And Soil Compaction In Aspen Stands Of The Huron-Manistee National Forest, Oscoda County, Michigan, Robert Haack, Robert E. Acciavatti, Robert L. Davidson, Toby Petrice

The Great Lakes Entomologist

During the 1990s, the United States Forest Service implemented several studies to measure the impacts of organic matter removal and soil compaction on forest productivity in forest ecosystems throughout the country. One site was in northeastern Lower Michigan on the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Oscoda County. This site was dominated by mature quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata Michx.) growing on sandy loam soils. The three organic-matter removal treatments at the site included: 1. stem-only harvesting (SOH); 2. whole-tree harvesting (WTH); and 3. whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (FFR). The three soil compaction …

Susceptibility Of English Oak (Quercus Robur) To The Twolined Chestnut Borer, Agrilus Bilineatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): Observations From Michigan, Robert A. Haack, Richard W. Blank

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The twolined chestnut borer, Agrilus bilineatus (Weber), is a native North American buprestid beetle that normally infests oak (Quercus) trees stressed by drought or defoliation. However, during the 1980s and early 1990s, A. bilineatus preferentially infested English oak (Quercus robur L.) trees that initially appeared healthy at two experimental plantings in southern Michigan as well as on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus in East Lansing, Michigan. At both experimental plantings the English oaks were intermixed with native white oaks (Quercus alba L.) and had a border of native northern red oaks (Quercus rubra L.). …

Snake Tail, Robert Loeffler

Lines from the Middle of Nowhere

Snake Tail by Robert Loeffler English, Writing Concentration, Undergraduate

Lines From The Middle Of Nowhere - Volume 2021 Full Issue, Lines Editorial Staff

Lines from the Middle of Nowhere

No abstract provided.

Chlorophyll Concentration And Its Impact On Electrospun Acrylic Nanofibers, Zainab Jassim, Mohammed Akraa

Baghdad Science Journal

This study explores the properties of electrospun nanofibers of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blended with chlorophyll, which have potential applications in photovoltaic manufacturing. Different chlorophyll concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 wt.%) were added to the electrospinning solutions of PMMA and acetone. After the electrospinning procedure and the evaporation of acetone, the fibers contained the chlorophyll concentrations of (0, 0.31, 0.63, 0.94, 1.25, and 1.56 wt.%). Rheology, Fourier Transformation Infrared Radiation, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy characterized the resulting fibers. The results revealed that chlorophyll increased the solution's viscosity and decreased the nanofibers' diameter up to 0.8 wt.%. …

Treatment Of Contaminated Soil With Norm Of Oilfields By Chemical Extraction Method, Zaidoon H. Ibrahim, Asia H. Al-Mashhadani

Baghdad Science Journal

Contamination of soil with naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) is a common problem in oilfields leading to costly remediation and disposal programs, where ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra are the most important radionuclides. This study focuses on treatment of the contaminated soil with NORM to reduce the activity concentration within the allowable limits, that reflect to minimize the risk to workers, the public, and the environment. The study investigated the chemical treatment of two soil samples by a leaching batch test using single and sequential methods with diluted organic and inorganic acids (HNO₃, HCl, C₆H_{8 …}

Preparation And Characterization Of Nionps Sensor Prepared By Different Q-Switched Nd: Yag Laser Parameter: Energy Pulse And Wavelength, Noha. H. Harb

Baghdad Science Journal

In this research, a thin film of nickel oxide was produced by a Q-switched Nd:YAG fundamental laser and third harmonic generation on the porous silicon substrate at different pulse energies. To explore how laser pulse energy and wavelength affect Nickel Oxide thin film characteristics and are used for gas sensor applications. In this investigation, an Nd: YAG laser beam with a wavelength of 1064 and 355 nm, 400 pulses, and a repetition rate of 3 Hz was utilized to deposit NiO on porous silicon substrates. The crystal structure of the deposited films was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The UV-visible …

Studying The Effect Of Temperature On The Electrical Properties Of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Doped With Lithium Chloride, Laith M. Rasheed, Ali N. Sabbar

Baghdad Science Journal

This article explores the electrical properties of a polymer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) doped with lithium chloride (LiCl). In general due to their low electrical conductivity, polymers are common for used as insulating materials. PMMA is one of the polymers that have been widely used in electrical and insulating applications due to its distinguished electrical, dielectric, and optical properties, especially after being impregnated with some materials. One of the key objectives of this study is to develop electrical devices using enhanced polymeric materials. The experimental procedure involved preparing thin film samples using the casting method under normal conditions. PMMA polymer was …

Building Cartographic Models To Evaluate The Water Quality Of The Euphrates River Stream Extending Between The Al-Shinafiya And Al-Nasiriyah Cities In Southern Iraq Relying On Gis Technology And Water Quality Indices, Heba Sahib Dakheel, Raheem Hameed Al-Abdan

Baghdad Science Journal

The current study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Euphrates River in the area extending from Al-Shinafiyah to Al-Nasiriyah by studying the qualitative characteristics of the river and knowing the quality of its water, and that’s using the model Canadian(CCME WQI) and Weighted Arithmetic Index, the origin of the water is then classified according to the Piper and Schuler- Solen methods, and it turns out that all elements of the physical and chemical properties are high. As for the Canadian model, the index values range between (62.2–74.7), the highest value recorded for site (4), which is It is …

Ephedra Intermedia Alleviates Ethanol-Mediated Gastric Ulcer In Rats By Anti-Inflammatory And Antioxidant Mechanisms, Morteta H. Al-Medhtiy, Mohammed T Mohammed, Mohammed M. Hussein M. Raouf, Ayman M. Al-Qaaneh, Ahmed A. J. Jabbar, Musher Ismael Salih, Rawaz Rizgar Hassan, Abdullah Othman Hassan, Mahmood Ameen Abdulla, Shilan Farhad Mamand, Marwa M. Ameen, Parween Abdulsamad Ismail

Baghdad Science Journal

Ephedra intermedia has been used as a traditional therapy for various health purposes including gastric disorders. To validate its traditional use, we investigated the acute toxicity and the gastro-protective effects of E. intermedia leaf extract (EILE) in ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly separated into 5 groups: normal control (A) and ulcer rats (B) received orally 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); C, rats ingested with omeprazole 20,mg/kg; D and E, rats ingested …

Association Of Adipoq +45 T/G Polymorphism With Circulating Adiponectin Levels And Obesity In Iraqi Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Rihab Alrikabi, Da’Ad A. Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

The dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines contributes to insulin resistance which is the main feature of the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aimed to examine the potential association of circulating concentrations of adiponectin- anti-inflammatory adipokine- and the ADIPOQ (rs2241766 T/G) polymorphism with obesity and the risk of developing GDM in the Iraqi population. 50 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM and 50 healthy pregnant women who were attending the Pregnancy Care and Maternal Medicine Outpatient Departments at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical city, Baghdad/Iraq were enrolled in this study from December 2022 to …

Diversity Study Of Several Domesticated Rice (Local Cultivars) Cultivated In The Middle And South Of Iraq Using Ngs Technology, Raffal Ali Saloom, Ali Mohammad Moner

Baghdad Science Journal

Due to the importance of the rice crop in Iraq, this study was conducted to determine the origin of the major varieties and understand the evolutionary relationships between Iraqi rice varieties and other Asian rice accessions that could be significant in the improvement of this crop. Phylogenomic analysis has been applied to clarify the relationship among rice species. Five varieties of Oryza sativa were obtained from the Agricultural Research Department in Iraq, (Amber33, Dijla, Ghadir, Baraka, and Black rice), and the whole genomic DNA was sequenced utilizing Next Generation Sequencing platforms based on DNA nanoball (DNB) technology. Sequences of 26 …

Synthesis Characterization And Adsorption Of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride On Sio2 Nanoparticle For Drug Delivery, Asmaa H. Hammadi, Noor Hadi Aysa, Fattima Al-Zahra Gabar Gassim

Baghdad Science Journal

In the present study, Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), polyethylene glycol 5%, and HCl 0.001,N are used to chemically create silica nanoparticles (SiO₂,NPs). The manufacturing of nano silica-gel doxorubicin (DOX) loaded silica nanoparticles (DOX/SiO₂), which is commonly applied as part of the drug delivery systems in cancer therapy, was done using the sol-gel method. The morphology and surface content of the produced DOX/silica loaded nanoparticles were studied using different techniques including the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy spectrum. The synthesized DOX/SiO₂ has a diameter of 38,nm. The isothermal …

The Student Movement Volume 109 Issue 15: Lifting Every Voice, Andrew Francis, Audrey Lim, Addison Randall, Melanie Webb, Joey Carrion, Katherine Pierre, Lexie Dunham, Amelia Stefanescu, Madison Vath

The Student Movement V. 109 (2024-2025)

HUMANS

Lead Chaplain Jose Bourget Tells AU Goodbye, Andrew Francis

Theology Professor Named a Finalist for Christianity Today's 2024 Book Awards, Andrew Francis

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Legal Implications of AI In Hollywood (Part Two), Audrey Lim

Music Department Hosts Annual Festival, Addison Randall

A Black History in Music: James Brown, Melanie Webb

NEWS

The War in Ukraine: Trump Administration Pushes for Negotiated Settlement, Joey Carrion

IDEAS

Black History is More Than a Month, Katherine Pierre

PULSE

Berrien County's Nauseating Namesake, Andrew Francis

How to Fight the SAD Feeling, Lexie Dunham

Why You Should Visit the Writing Center, Amelia Stefanescu …

The Building Resistance Against Viral Entities (Brave) Innovation Center, Zhongde Wang

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Molecular Mechanisms Of Niemann-Pick Type C: Investigating Gene Expression, Lipid Metabolism, And Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Fibroblasts, Sarah Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) is a progressive lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of lipids, particularly cholesterol, within cells, leading to severe neurological manifestations and developmental issues. This study employs RNA-seq to compare gene expression profiles between fibroblasts derived from a healthy individual and a patient with the NPC1 mutation. A total of 12,978 genes were analyzed, revealing 191 differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment analysis disclosed significant associations with biological processes related to development, lipid metabolism, embryonic organ development, vascularization, and neuroinflammation. Additionally, the connection between mitochondrial function and lysosomal impairment was explored, revealing that NPC1 mutant fibroblasts …

Pharmacological Interventions For Negative Symptoms In Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review Of Randomised Control Trials, Lorenzo Moccia, Francesca Bardi, Maria Benedetta Anesini, Sara Barbonetti, Georgios D Kotzalidis, Sara Rossi, Romina Caso, Flavia Grisoni, Giuseppe Mandracchia, Stella Margoni, Tommaso Callovini, Delfina Janiri, Marianna Mazza, Alessio Simonetti, Silvia Montanari, Gianna Autullo, Giovanni Camardese, Maria Pepe, Marco Di Nicola, Vassilij Di Giorgio, Fabio Conti, Gabriele Sani, On Behalf Of The Gemelli Repsy Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: While positive symptoms of schizophrenia are often satisfactorily controlled, negative symptoms are difficult to treat, persisting despite treatment. Different strategies have been devised to deal with this problem. We aimed to review drug treatment for negative symptoms of schizophrenia in controlled trials of marketed drugs.

Methods: We searched the PubMed database and the resulting records' reference lists to identify eligible trials using schizophrenia[ti] AND "negative symptom*"[ti] as a search strategy. We determined eligibility through Delphi rounds among all authors.

Results: On 11 February 2025, we identified 1485 records on PubMed and 3 more from reference lists. Eligible were 95 …

The Mutational Landscape And Functional Effects Of Noncoding Ultraconserved Elements In Human Cancers, Recep Bayraktar, Yitao Tang, Mihnea P Dragomir, Cristina Ivan, Xinxin Peng, Linda Fabris, Jianhua Zhang, Alessandro Carugo, Serena Aneli, Jintan Liu, Mei-Ju M Chen, Sanjana Srinivasan, Iman Sahnoune, Emine Bayraktar, Kadir C Akdemir, Meng Chen, Pranav Narayanan, Wilson Huang, Leonie Florence Ott, Agda Karina Eterovic, Oscar Eduardo Villarreal, Mohammad Moustaf Mohammad, Michael D Peoples, Danielle M Walsh, Jon Andrew Hernandez, Margaret B Morgan, Kenna R Shaw, Jennifer S Davis, David Menter, Constantine S Tam, Paul Yeh, Sarah-Jane Dawson, Laura Z Rassenti, Thomas J Kipps, Tanja Kunej, Zeev Estrov, Simon A Joosse, Luca Pagani, Catherine Alix-Panabières, Klaus Pantel, Alessandra Ferajoli, Andrew Futreal, Ignacio I Wistuba, Milan Radovich, Scott Kopetz, Michael J Keating, Giulio F Draetta, John S Mattick, Han Liang, George A Calin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The mutational landscape of phylogenetically ultraconserved elements (UCEs), especially those in noncoding DNAs (ncUCEs), and their functional relevance in cancers remain poorly characterized. Here, we perform a systematic analysis of whole-genome and in-house targeted UCE sequencing datasets from more than 3000 patients with cancer of 13,736 UCEs and demonstrate that ncUCE somatic alterations are common. Using a multiplexed CRISPR knockout screen in colorectal cancer cells, we show that the loss of several altered ncUCEs significantly affects cell proliferation. In-depth functional studies in vitro and in vivo further reveal that specific ncUCEs can be enhancers of tumor suppressors (such as ARID1B) …

Invasion And Metastasis In Cancer: Molecular Insights And Therapeutic Targets, Yongxing Li, Fengshuo Liu, Qingjin Cai, Lijun Deng, Qin Ouyang, Xiang H-F Zhang, Ji Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The progression of malignant tumors leads to the development of secondary tumors in various organs, including bones, the brain, liver, and lungs. This metastatic process severely impacts the prognosis of patients, significantly affecting their quality of life and survival rates. Research efforts have consistently focused on the intricate mechanisms underlying this process and the corresponding clinical management strategies. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the biological foundations of tumor metastasis, identification of pivotal signaling pathways, and systematic evaluation of existing and emerging therapeutic strategies are paramount to enhancing the overall diagnostic and treatment capabilities for metastatic tumors. However, current research is …

Impact Of Biocontainment On Small Animal Pet Performance Adapted For Bsl-2/3 Infectious Disease Imaging Research, Isabella Salerno, Nadia Benabdallah, Amanda Fears, Ryan Unnerstall, Lindsey Hauck, Sergey Komarov, Linda Cox, Hanwen Zhang, Kevin Poenicke, Joseph Aromando, Yuan-Chun Tai, Timothy Wencewicz, Deborah J Veis, Daniel L J Thorek

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Biocontainment protocols are critical for conducting infectious disease (ID) research, particularly when using small animal models in biosafety level (BSL) 2/3 environments. This study evaluates the impact of poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) containment vessels on the performance of preclinical positron emission tomography (PET) systems. We tested containment vessels designed with varying wall thicknesses (3, 6, and 9 mm) to simulate ID imaging facility equipment and protocols. Through the use of multicomponent phantoms and in vivo mouse models of Staphylococcus aureus infection, we assessed key performance metrics including count rate, image quality, activity recovery, and spatial resolution.

RESULTS: The results indicate …

The Bacterial Microbiome Modulates The Initiation Of Brain Metastasis By Impacting The Gut-To-Brain Axis, Matteo Massara, Michelle Ballabio, Bastien Dolfi, Golnaz Morad, Vladimir Wischnewski, Eleni Lamprou, Joao Lourenco, Stéphanie Claudinot, Hector Gallart-Ayala, Rui Santalla Méndez, Annamaria Kauzlaric, Nadine Fournier, Ashish V Damania, Matthew C Wong, Julijana Ivanisevic, Nadim J Ajami, Jennifer A Wargo, Johanna A Joyce

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Brain metastases (BrMs) are the most common brain tumors in patients and are associated with poor prognosis. Investigating the systemic and environmental factors regulating BrM biology represents an important strategy to develop effective treatments. Toward this goal, we explored the contribution of the gut microbiome to BrM development by using in vivo breast-BrM models under germ-free conditions or antibiotic treatment. This revealed a detrimental role of gut microbiota in fostering BrM initiation. We thus evaluated the impact of antibiotics and BrM outgrowth on the gut-brain axis. We found the bacterial genus Alistipes was differentially present under antibiotic treatment and BrM …

The Effects Of Major Abdominal Surgery On Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Respiration In Relation To Systemic Redox Status And Cardiopulmonary Fitness, Jia L. Stevens, Daniel Martin, Helen Mckenna, Magdalena Minnion, Andrew Murray, Martin Feelisch

Peninsula Medical School

More complex surgeries are being performed in increasingly sicker patients, resulting in a greater burden of postoperative morbidity. Delineating the metabolic and bioenergetic changes that occur in response to surgical stress may further our understanding about how humans respond to injury and aid the identification of resilient and frail phenotypes. Skeletal muscle biopsies were taken from patients undergoing hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery at the beginning and end of the procedure to measure mitochondrial respiration and thiol status. Blood samples were taken at the same timepoints to measure markers of inflammation and systemic redox state. A sub-group of patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing …