Digital Commons Network^™

Ethical Issues Involved In Solid Organ Xenotransplantation., Daniel J Hurst, Chris Bobier, Luz A Padilla

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Xenotransplantation (specifically, genetically modified pig-to-human transplant of organs, tissues, or cells) clinical trials are set to begin in the United States after decades of pre-clinical studies and recent decedent and compassionate use investigations. This article provides a primer on the key ethical issues attendant with this emerging therapy. We explore four central areas of concern: (i) the use of animals to meet human transplant needs, as well as their welfare since they are housed in non-natural conditions, (ii) the risk of infectious disease transfer from the porcine graft to the human recipient, known as xenozoonosis, (iii) patient selection criteria for …

The Indiana Statesman, September 18, 2025, Indiana State University

Student Newspaper

Indiana State sued by American Civil Liberties Union; Campus mourns passing of Kaylynn Lucas

Molecular Analysis And Biochemical Profiling Of Bacteria From Domestics Dogs Saliva: A Pilot Study, Hadba Al-Amrah, Asseel Alotiby, Badriyah Aljuhani, Hadeel Huri, Noha Al Garni, Reem Aljedani, Zeina W. Sharawi

The Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Science

Microbiota is the collection of microorganisms living in a particular environment, such as the dog’s saliva. The aim of the present work was the detection of bacteriome that plays a crucial role in various ecological processes and has a significant impact on the health and functioning of their host organisms. We collected saliva samples from five dogs. After that, identify the unknown bacterial species by inoculating samples into the Swapped Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) and MacConkey (MAC). In addition, These bacterial isolates were identified by using morphological characteristics, biochemical tests, and partial sequencing of their 16S rRNA gene.Results] appeared in …

Montana Kaimin, September 18, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Aprender Inglés En La U-Diversidad: The Case Of Colombian University Students With Multiple Marginalized Identities Disrupting Colonial Language Policies And Curricula, Maure Aguirre-Ortega, Yenny Chavarría, Claudia Gutiérrez

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Required to learn English, Black, Indigenous, Migrant and Rural Colombian university students often find themselves oppressed by a colonial curriculum that overlooks their intersecting marginalized identities. Drawing from decoloniality and intersectionality, this paper discusses how coloniality and students’ plethora of identities converge in the English classroom and engage in a dance of oppression and resistance. Mediated by participatory dialogues, results of this (case) study indicate that engaging these minoritized students in a collective initiative to decolonize the English classroom enabled them to a) value the social, cultural, and linguistic identities of their territories b) reflect on the implication of colonial …

Gc Minutes Sept 18, 2025, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Gc-Ms-Based Metabolomics For Understanding The Metabolite Profile Of Mopane Worm (Gonimbrasia Belina) And Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L), Mpho Sebabiki Maleke, Tumisi Beiri Jeremiah Molelekoa, Jonathan Wilkin, Xi Feng, Moira Ledbetter, Oluwafemi Ayodeji Adebo

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Edible insects are nutritious, having high levels of protein, essential amino acids, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. In areas where sorghum is a primary crop, mixing this gluten-free grain with protein-rich insect powder provides a novel approach to making nutrient-rich products. Understanding the sorghum and mopane worm flours' metabolomic changes during bioprocessing can however, enhance their nutritional value and food safety. The research investigated metabolite compounds that are found in raw and processed (fermented, malted (sorghum), and ultrasonicated) mopane worms and sorghum. In the study, sorghum grains were traditionally fermented and malted at 35°C for 48 h and ultrasonicated for …

September 18, 2025, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Rat Somatic Genome Editing Enables Er+ Breast Cancer Modeling, Wen Bu, Tobie Lee, Meenakshi Anurag, Yunfeng Ding, Ruixin Xu, Lillian He, Alexandria Z Bu, Chandandeep Nagi, Carolina Gutierrez, Susan Hilsenbeck, Chonghui Cheng, Bing Zhang, Shixia Huang, Jianming Xu, C Kent Osborne, Arun Sreekumar, Eric Chang, Chad J Creighton, Xiang Zhang, Yi Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genetically engineered mouse models have advanced cancer research but often fail to capture key features of certain human tumors. Rats, with distinct physiology and tumor biology, offer a powerful alternative, yet their use has been constrained by technical barriers to genome editing. Here, we report efficient somatic genome editing in rats, enabling both Indel and substitution mutations. We then apply this approach to model estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, which accounts for ~70% of human cases but remains poorly represented in mice. The resulting rat tumors reproduce hallmarks of human ER+ breast cancer, including ductal histology, hormone responsiveness, and immune-microenvironmental …

Differential Effects Of Macrophage Subtype-Specific Cytokines On Fibroblast Proliferation And Endothelial Cell Function In Co-Culture System, Phillip Mcclellan, Thomas R. Wong, Sara Hijaz, David R. Fletcher, Ozan Akkus, Tracey L. Bonfield, James M. Anderson, Adonis Hijaz

Faculty Scholarship

Macrophages are involved in several critical activities associated with tissue repair and regeneration. Current approaches in regenerative medicine are focusing on leveraging the innate immune response to accelerate tissue regeneration and improve long-term healing outcomes. Of particular interest in this regard are the currently known, four main M2 macrophage subtypes: M2interleukin (IL)-4,IL-13, M2IC, M2IL-10, M2non-selective adenosine receptor agonists (NECA) (M2IL-4,IL-13 → M2(NECA). In this study, rat bone marrow-derived macrophages (M₀) were polarized to each of the four subtypes M2IL-4,IL-13 → M2NECA and cultured for 72 h in vitro. Luminex assay results highlighted increased production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) …

Rapid Mapping Of Spinal And Supraspinal Connectome Via Self-Targeting Glucose-Based Carbon Dots, Yasin B. Seven, Elif S. Seven, Emel Kirbas Cilingir, Komal Parikh, Mehmet Aydin, Edward K. Luca, Jayakrishnan Nair, Roger M. Leblanc

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

The spinal cord is a highly dynamic network, playing significant roles in the vital functions of the brain. Disorders of the spinal cord, such as spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are associated with neurodegeneration, often resulting in morbidity and mortality. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a major challenge to imaging and therapeutic agents because less than 2% of small-molecule drugs and almost no large-molecule drugs can cross the BBB. Furthermore, spatial spectroscopy studies have shown highly heterogeneous BBB crossing with significant accumulation at the unintended brain regions. Thus, targeting systems that can cross the BBB at the …

Framework For Assessing Sustainability In Industry 4.0: Supply Chain Optimization, Manufacturing Processes, And Energy Consumption Reduction, Mohamed Abouhawwash, Nebojsa Bacanin

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Decision making has uncertainty problems in evaluation process, so to overcome uncertainty existing fuzzy decision-making approaches, the neutrosophic set is used to solve incomplete data. Interval valued neutrosophic numbers (IVNNs) are used in this study to solve uncertainty problems. The IVNNs are used with the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods. MCDM method is used to deal with different criteria and alternatives. This study proposes an MCDM methodology for assessment sustainability in industry 4.0. Twenty cases and ten alternatives are used in this study. The criteria weights are computed using the average method. The alternatives are ranked using the ARAS method. …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 1 - September 18, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 1 - September 18, 2025. 20 pages.

Kenyon Collegian - September 18, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Bioresources And Bioproducts: A New Open Access Journal, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Greetings to the bioresource and bioproducts community! I will serve as the Editor-in-Chief to collaborate with you as we promote the aims and scope of this new MDPI journal [1], with the help of its distinguished Editorial Board, by publishing Special Issues, Topics, Topical Collections, and Editorials, and by providing high-impact scholarship through the outstanding published work of each of our contributors.

Spartan Daily, September 18, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 12

Ws-Fall: Fall Detection Attention-Based Approach Using Wifi And Inertial Data Modalities, Alaa Elmor, Bilal Arain

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

According to the World Health Organization, 37 million falls occur every year which leads to sever injuries that require medical intervention. In addition, more than 600,000 people end up dying due to falls making them the second cause of accidental injury fatalities worldwide. Specifically, the elderly are more prone to fatal falls. Therefore, fall detection systems are needed to allow medical professionals to intervene in such cases. Various wearable and non-contact fall detection devices have been developed recently. Since non-contact Wi-Fi-based methods are widely available and non-intrusive, they are gaining popularity. In this paper, we propose a state-of-the-art fall detection …

Mymoney: A Program That Leverages Digital And Artificial Intelligence Tools For Improving The Financial Wellbeing Of Hispanic Families, Luisa Blanco, Kamila Campos, Jessica Gonzalez, Jorge Macias

School of Public Policy Working Papers

Abstract: Our Community-Based Digital Intervention (CBDI) MyMoney was designed to meet the informational needs and promote behavioral change among Hispanic adults. We leverage Digital and Artificial Intelligence (DAI) tools to provide participants access to content that is linguistically and culturally tailored and structured to be delivered in short, accessible modules. MyMoney program provided an introductory experience to financial education with a mobilephone based approach, offering a four-week experience for improving money management skills. We conducted an extensive quantitative and qualitative data analysis of participants’ and stakeholders’ program experience and perspectives, which provides important insights for the design, evaluation, and implementation …

Decolonizing Colombian Foreign-Language Classroom Assessments: A Meaningful Framework, Patricia Grillet Rodriguez

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In Colombia, foreign-language evaluation validity appears to be mainly related to the analysis of instruments, leaving aside students’ characteristics, affective schemata and expectations. Drawing from critical pedagogy, this study aimed at raising authenticity and meaningfulness in the development of valid foreign-language assessments in a higher education classroom. Framed in the sociocultural perspective, the teacher/researcher and her students obtained substantial gains by adapting a syllabus and evaluation system to better respond to the needs of their context. It was a collaborative process that implied contextualizing contents, establishing a concept of language ability, and including students’ voices in the design of assessments, …

Semilunar Valve Replacement With A Telescoping Arterial Trunk Valve, Edo Bedzra, Herra Javed, James E. O'Brien, Taufiek Konrad Rajab

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

A bicuspid aortic valve, from autologous tissue, with growth potential can be constructed using the simple, and reproducible telescoping arterial trunk technique.

Early Blood Pressure Targets In Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Ruba Sajdeya, N. David Yanez, Michael Kampp, Michael D. Goodman, David Zonies, Brandon Togioka, Andrew Nunn, Robert D. Winfield, Niels D. Martin, Anirudh Kohli, Toan T. Huynh, David O. Okonkwo, Roy A. Poblete, Emily J. Gilmore, Randall M. Chesnut, Aaron E. Bunnell, Tetsu Ohnuma, Mona Hashemaghaie, Miriam M. Treggiari

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Early blood pressure management is central to neurologic resuscitation of spinal cord injury; however, the role of augmented blood pressure is unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of augmented vs conventional blood pressure on 6-month neurologic outcomes after acute spinal cord injury.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter randomized clinical trial took place from October 3, 2017, to July 26, 2023, and assessed patients 18 years or older with spinal cord injury followed up for 6 months at 13 large US trauma centers.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were equally randomized to augmented (>85-90 mm Hg) or conventional ( …

Ai Test Modeling For Computer Vision System—A Case Study, Jerry Gao, Radhika Agarwal

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper presents an intelligent AI test modeling framework for computer vision systems, focused on image-based systems. A three-dimensional (3D) model using decision tables enables model-based function testing, automated test data generation, and comprehensive coverage analysis. A case study using the Seek by iNaturalist application demonstrates the framework’s applicability to real-world CV tasks. It effectively identifies species and non-species under varying image conditions such as distance, blur, brightness, and grayscale. This study contributes a structured methodology that advances our academic understanding of model-based CV testing while offering practical tools for improving the robustness and reliability of AI-driven vision applications.

Sensory And Chemical Characterization Of Upcycled Pomace- And Whey-Based Piquette Beverages, Dean G. Hauser, Rahul Sen, Scott R. Lafontaine, Chris Gerling, Luann M. Preston-Wisley, Timothy A. Demarsh, Samuel D. Alcaine

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Upcycling, or utilizing materials that would otherwise go to waste, enables the creation of novel products that offer sustainability advantages and generate additional value. This study evaluates the feasibility of producing alcoholic beverages using yogurt acid whey (YAW) and grape pomace (GP), byproducts of the dairy and wine industries, respectively, and compares them to commercial grape pomace beverages (piquettes) in terms of sensory attributes and chemical composition. Two YAW-GP piquettes were produced, and five commercial piquettes were obtained. Sugars and organic acids were quantified using HPLC-RID, and semi-quantitative volatile composition was determined using HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS. Descriptive analysis was conducted using a …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi As Key Drivers Of Plant Resilience: Mechanisms Of Stress Adaptation In Saline Environments, Rayna Elizabeth Koberstein

Dissertations and Theses

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a critical role in mediating plant responses to environmental stress, yet their ecological significance in saline wetland restoration remains underexplored. This greenhouse experiment investigated the effects of salinity, root-zone barrier type (solid, mesh, none), and neighboring species identity on AMF colonization and physiological responses in three native estuarine plants: Carex densa, Juncus patens, and Scirpus microcarpus. Results demonstrated species-specific physiological responses to salinity, with Juncus patens showing greater resilience in maintaining photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and percent cover at higher salinity levels, while Scirpus microcarpus exhibited a significant decline. Mesh barriers, which permitted …

Uav-Based Transport Management For Smart Cities Using Machine Learning, Sweekruthi Balivada, Jerry Gao, Yuting Sha, Manisha Lagisetty, Damini Vichare

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Highlights: What are the main findings? A smart transport management system based on UAV data integrating advanced machine learning and deep learning techniques is proposed to enhance road anomaly detection and severity classification. The system employs a comprehensive multi-stage framework, integrating a high-precision obstacle detection model, six specialized severity classification models, and an aggregation model to deliver accurate anomaly assessment, enabling strategic, data-driven road maintenance and enhanced transportation safety. What is the implication of the main finding? A scalable and efficient solution is proposed to enhance road safety and optimize transportation management through intelligent anomaly detection and severity assessment. This …

Gaming The Endowment Tax, Christopher J. Ryan Jr., Christopher R. Marsicano, Ann F. Bernhardt, Rylie C. Martin

Florida Tax Review

The 2017 law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted a tax on private, non-profit college and university endowments for the first time. Institutions with at least 500 tuition-paying students and endowments of $500,000 or greater per student now have to pay a 1.4% tax on their endowments. But like all taxpayers, colleges and universities may be tax averse or seek reductions in their tax burdens. That is, colleges and universities may try to avoid the tax through taking action to ensure they do not meet the threshold. Such actions include increasing the size of their student …

Stream Temperature Responses To Summer Urban Rain Events Along The Savannah River, Joseph E. Wermter, Vivian L. Turner, Max K. Appelbaum, James M. Shepherd, Jacob Z. Lott

Journal of South Carolina Water Resources

The hydrological urban heat island (HUHI) is a recent facet of the urban heat island (UHI), describing thermal enhancement of bodies of water in response to urbanization. Although the forefront of this work has been studied for large Metropolitan areas, this effect on developing cities is currently unknown. To locally measure and quantify HUHI effects in a developing city, we utilized Multi-Radar Multi Sensor (MRMS) radar-derived rainfall data to estimate rainfall in the Augusta Metropolitan Area (AMA) and the Savannah Metropolitan Area (SMA), two developing communities adjacent to the Savannah River. We analyzed mean temperature trends of two stream gauges …

Nanovesicles Derived From Protocorm-Like Bodies Of Dendrobium Officinal Enhance Corneal Epithelial Repair And Reduce Inflammation In Dry Eye Disease Models, Bao Yuqing, Peng Chengyu, Zhang Fenglei, Zheng Yuqiang, Zhang Mingqi, He Wei

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) offer a promising, biocompatible therapeutic platform. In this study, we isolatednanovesicles from protocorm-like bodies of Dendrobium officinale (PLBs-NVs) and evaluated their efficacy in dry eyedisease (DED) models. PLBs-NVs protected human corneal epithelial cells against hyperosmotic stress, supportedwound repair, and inhibited inflammation in vitro. In a desiccating stress-induced DED mouse model, topical PLBs-NVstreatment significantly restored tear secretion, reduced corneal epithelial damage, and lowered levels of proinflammatorycytokines. These results suggest that PLBs-NVs are a safe, natural, and effective therapeutic strategy for DED, sup-porting their potential for future clinical translation in ocular surface disorders.

Protective Effects Of Jujube Seed Extract Against Oxidative Stress In Ht22 Cells And Its Sleep-Promoting Action Through Gabaergic Receptors, Seok Hyun Chung, Hyeongyeong Kim, Singeun Kim, Pan-Young Jeong, Hyowon Lee

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Jujube seed extract (JSE), rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, exhibits neuroprotective and sleep-enhancing properties.In vitro, JSE protected HT22 cells against oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and upregulatingantioxidant enzymes. In vivo, JSE increased non-REM sleep and delta wave activity in pentobarbital- and caffeine-induced sleep models. Spinosin contributed to these effects. Long-term JSE administration upregulated GABAA, GABAB, and 5-HT1A receptors in brain tissue. These findings suggest that JSE offers dual benefits in mitigating oxidativestress and promoting sleep through antioxidant defense and neurotransmitter modulation, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent.

Yi-Qi-Xuan-Fei Formula Ameliorate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease By Remodeling Lung And Intestinal Florase In Rat Models, Si-Si Han, Li-Yun Song, Peng-Tao Liang, Yin-Ying Wang, Yi Ying, Li Li, Jia-Li Yuan, Zhong-Shan Yang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by various pathologicallesions and an imbalance in the microflora. The Yi-Qi-Xuan-Fei Formula (YQXF) is a clinically effective formula withpharmacological potential to delay the progression of COPD. This study aims to explore the relationship between thetherapeutic mechanism of YQXF and the microflora in COPD. Our study found that YQXF reduces inflammatory injuryand inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue, repairs the intestinal mucosal barrier, and enhances immune function.Additionally, YQXF regulates the pulmonary and intestinal flora by increasing the abundance of Alloprevotella, Rose-buria, Oscillibacter, and Lactobacillus, while reducing the abundance of …