Digital Commons Network^™

Arabic Around Us: Exploring Everyday Life Group Project, Bret Windhauser

Open Educational Resources

Students will work in small groups to create a comprehensive and engaging project that explores a particular aspect of everyday life in an Arabic-speaking country. This could include food, traditions, daily routines, or an introduction to the language itself. By the end of the assignment, students will demonstrate their understanding of Arabic vocabulary, grammar, and culture through a creative project.

French 123 Assignment: Group Project, Jovensel Ngamaleu

Open Educational Resources

This assignment is a way to engage with the real world through the practice of French in various areas of everyday life, in order to improve oral and written language skills.

Understanding Enso Through Mathematical Models, Maria I. Sanchez Muniz

Open Educational Resources

This assignment introduces students to conceptual models of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and guides them through a structured investigation of their physical and mathematical foundations. Students analyze the recharge–oscillator and delayed–oscillator frameworks, explore how differential equations capture ocean–atmosphere interactions, and evaluate parameter-driven changes in oscillatory behavior. A key component of the work is the guided use of generative AI as a research tool: students employ AI models to locate peer-reviewed literature, interrogate model extensions, and refine their understanding of complex mechanisms, while synthesizing all final explanations in their own words. By blending classical climate modeling with modern AI-supported inquiry, …

Flm315.1.1 Creative Brief Example 2, Sae University College

Exemplars

A Creative Brief exemplar submitted as a component of Project 1 in FLM315 Client Based Productions.

Iphone-Based Image Refocusing, Katie Jeong, Daniel Niu

Electrical and Systems Engineering Capstone Design Projects

In this project, we show that we can change the focus of a picture after we take it by using real optical physics instead of fake software blur. Modern phones try to create “portrait mode” effects, but those results are often not physically correct. Our approach uses multiple photos taken from slightly different positions to figure out the directions that light rays came from in the scene.

To collect the photos, we move an iPhone sideways on a slider in small, precise steps. Since we know exactly how far the phone moved for each picture, we can track how objects …

Bayesian Learning To Reduce Cardiac Risk Of Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Based On Personalized Radiation Therapy Prescription, Ruitao Lin, Mei Chen, Xiaodong Zhang, Tianlin Xu, Ting Xu, Rachel C Maguire, Kelsey L Corrigan, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Joe Y Chang, Steven H Lin, Aileen B Chen, Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, Saumil J Gandhi, Matthew S Ning, Julianna Bronk, Stephen Chun, Ali Ajdari, Joshua S Niedzielski, Jinzhong Yang, Xinru Chen, Tinsu Pan, Qing H Meng, Anne S Tsao, Anita Deswal, Radhe Mohan, Zhongxing Liao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Radiation-induced heart damage is a significant concern in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that can have debilitating or life-threatening consequences. Current strategies focus on minimizing heart exposure, but individual susceptibility varies. Existing evidence also suggests that a uniform "one-size-fits-all" dosimetric constraint for the heart may not be optimal for all patients.

Methods and materials: We developed a prospective study using Bayesian continuous learning and adaptation to develop a framework for personalized adaptive radiation treatment (PART) to reduce cardiovascular adverse events among patients with locally advanced NSCLC. The trial includes a Bayesian personalized risk prediction model to …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In The Era Of Immune Checkpoint Blockade: What Do Patient-Reported Outcomes Reveal?, Alexandra M Dunker, Neha Malik, Kathryn J Krause, Emily Z Keung, Jason B Liu, Elise F Nassif Haddad, Neeta Somaiah, Heather G Lyu, Christina L Roland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment by providing durable survival gains, but understanding their effects on patient health-related quality of life (HRQL) is critical.

Methods: We performed a narrative review of cross-sectional surveys, early-phase trials, and large-scale phase II and III randomized controlled clinical trials assessing FDA-approved ICIs, including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, with emphasis on patient-reported HRQL. Validated HRQL instruments were summarized, and for pivotal trials, the positioning of HRQL outcomes as primary, secondary, or exploratory endpoints was taken …

Early Peripheral Blood Gene Expression Predicts 90-Day Outcomes Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Bodie Knepp, Garreck H Lenz, Frank R Sharp, Fernando Rodriguez, Huimahn Alex Choi, Aaron M Gusdon, Glen Jickling, Lara L Zimmermann, Ryan Martin, Jeffrey Vitt, Ben Waldau, Brandon J Cord, Alan Yee, Kwan Ng, Nerissa U Ko, Heather Hull, Bradley P Ander, Boryana Stamova

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical, radiological and machine learning studies have predicted 90-day outcomes following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The present study was designed to determine whether early changes in mRNA expression of immune, clotting and other genes expressed in peripheral blood can predict patient outcomes at 90 days after SAH and possibly provide insights into the molecular factors that promote good versus poor outcomes.

METHODS: Peripheral blood was drawn after SAH and from vascular risk factor controls (VRFC) and RNAseq performed to measure mRNA expression. A mixed effects regression model identified potential predictors and machine learning algorithms derived the best predictors of …

Music For The Holidays: Belle Voix, University Glee And Concert Choir; December 7, 2025, Andrew Bruhn, Tim Fredstrom

School of Music Programs

This is the eighty-seventh program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

December 7, 2025

Sunday Afternoon

3:00 p.m.

Interview No. 1809, Marcos GarcíA Segundo

Combined Interviews

The interview begins with a brief introduction of who Marcos is and what he studies, which begins with how did start with dancing and for how long. Starting at 13 years and continuing to study for over 34 years. He later explains how folklore dances are mainly split between two forms, one from our distant ancestors who ruled the land first, and the one we inherit from other nations like Europe. Giving examples such as Mayan dances and how country came from Polca. Since some dances are more difficult than others, he explains how many of them are based on …

A Review Of Recent And Developing Studies Regarding Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (Pci): A Narrative Review, Bisher Alsabbagh, Azeez Shala, Joshua Rupert, Abdallah Elsayed

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

This comprehensive literature review synthesizes the most recent evidence and evolving clinical guidelines concerning percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from 2015 to 2025. The study integrates findings from 42 peer-reviewed trials, meta-analyses, registries, and international guideline statements issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and related societies. Results reveal a decade-long evolution in PCI practice marked by a shift from anatomy-driven to physiology and imaging-guided decision-making, supported by tools such as fractional flow reserve (FFR), instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Modern guidelines emphasize individualized, team-based revascularization …

Improving Communication To Enhance Health Literacy And Self-Management Of Heart Failure: Protocol For A Multimethod Study, Neda Karimi, Francesco De Toni, Walter Abhayaratna, Blake Askelin, Philip Currie, Karol Edge, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Elizabeth Fewster, Liza Goncharov, Nisha Jijo, Susy Macqueen, Nilufeur Mckay, Suzanne Raine, Amineh Rashidi, Christopher Rouen, Rosemary Saunders, Peter Schulz, Rhea Tecson, Diana Slade

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Self-care plays a pivotal role in the management of heart failure (HF). Health literacy and empowerment are considered the prerequisites of effective self-care. This project aims to improve self-management in people with HF by describing, analysing and enhancing the communication practices of clinicians and patients to support people with HF to increase their health literacy skills and participate in shared decision-making. Methods and analysis A multimethod research design incorporating an interview component, a concurrent mixed-methods component and a pilot intervention study is used. The study is currently being conducted at two Australian hospitals in metropolitan areas (one public and …

Experiences Of Non-Hispanic Black And African American Women With Postpartum Healthcare, Margaret F. Sposato, Claire Draucker, Jasmine D. Johnson, Kristin Tully, Julie Otte

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity are stark in the United States, especially for non-Hispanic Black and African American women who experience elevated rates of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity.^1,2 Effective postpartum healthcare is essential for optimizing birthing people’s health,³ yet little is known about non-Hispanic Black and African American women’s experiences with postpartum healthcare in the year following delivery. The purpose of this study was to describe non-Hispanic Black and African American women’s experiences with postpartum healthcare throughout the one-year postpartum period from their perspectives. For this qualitative descriptive study semi-structured interviews with …

Tennyson & Contemporary Science: Herschel’S Preliminary Discourse, A Book That Got Away, Patrick Scott

Faculty Publications

Discusses the rediscovery, provenance, and authenticity of the copy of John Herschel's Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831), with an ownership inscription by Tennyson dated 1843, and marginal markings on multiple pages, that was previously only known from a brief catalogue description for a 1924 auction.

Closeness, Conflict, And Achievement: The Role Of Parent–Child Relationships In Homeschooled And Public-Schooled Children, Celeste Gonçalves Tomaz

Honors Capstones

The parent–child relationship has been found to be a predictor of children’s academic and socio-emotional outcomes, with parent-child closeness linked to motivation and persistence (Mo & Singh, 2008; Silinskas & Kikas, 2022) and parent-child conflict associated with emotional and behavioral difficulties (Dotterer et al., 2008; Pinquart, 2017). The homeschooling context may increase these associations since children spend more time with their parents, who have caregiving and instructional roles (Padilla, 2021; Thomas, 2016). Even with growing research on academic and socio-emotional outcomes, few studies have examined whether the strength of the parent–child relationship is influenced negatively or positively by schooling type. …

The Reception Of Neurodiversity Represented Within Netflix’S Wednesday, Anna Stevens

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

This paper explores how neurodiversity is represented through popular media - particularly Netflix's show Wednesday - and aims to discuss the effects this representation could have in regards to how it's received by the public, as well as those who are neurodiverse.

Characterization Of Peg-Modified Composite Membranes For Microfluidic Oxygenator Applications, Nicholas C. Higgins, David G. Blauvelt, Shuvo Roy

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Microfluidic oxygenators promise to advance extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices with enhanced hemodynamics and low prime volume. We are developing a silicon-based membrane oxygenator that will offer improved gas transfer and fluid flow control. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been used to improve hemocompatibility by providing excellent resistance to protein adsorption. Here, we characterized a polyethylene glycol surface modification of composite silicon–PDMS membranes to evaluate their effects on microfluidic oxygenator properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle goniometry confirmed successful PEG attachment, evidenced by the presence of characteristic C-O bonds and increased hydrophilicity, which was stable for 2 weeks. …

Sex Hormones Influence Ormdl3 Expression: Implications For Sex-Associated Asthma Phenotype, Elisabetta Granato, Ida Cerqua, Antonietta Rossi, Maria Antonietta Riemma, Maria Chiara Monti, Giusy Ferraro, Barbara Romano, Maria Francesca Nanì, Danilo D'Avino, Martina Simonelli, Joshua Malo, Francesca Polverino, Bruno D'Agostino, Giuseppe Cirino, Fiorentina Roviezzo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Genetic polymorphisms in sphingolipid metabolism, particularly involving the orosomucoid-like 3 (ORMDL3) gene, have been associated with asthma risk. Notably, asthma prevalence and severity exhibit pronounced sex differences, emerging in childhood and persisting into adulthood. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this sexual dimorphism remain incompletely elucidated.

Objective: We investigated whether ORMDL3 contributes to sex differences in airway function and asthma-like features.

Methods: ORMDL3 expression was measured in lung tissues from healthy male and female human donors and in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) after exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 1 (Der p 1), or both. A murine preparation of …

The Formation And Dynamics Of Colonial “Lived Spaces” : Urban Space And Society In Colonial Hanoi, 1883–1916, Nam Khanh Hoang '25

Student Research

This study examines the nuanced experiences and perceptions of urban space among different social groups in colonial Hanoi in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by analyzing the French colonial agendas, as reflected through modern urban planning and practices, and its reception among the colonial urban inhabitants, as suggested through their responses to the Statue of Liberty—a colonial urban monument. While existing scholarship has often framed colonial cities as stages for consolidating imperial power, introducing Western ideals of modernity, and forming systems of oppression and exploitation against colonial subjects, it has often overlooked the perceptions and experiences of colonial …

Improving Hiv Knowledge And Attitudes Of The Youth In The Philippines Through Mobile Text Messaging, James Montegrico

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The Philippines has the highest HIV incidence rate in the Asia-Pacific region, with the highest incidence between the ages 15 to 34 years. There are low levels of HIV knowledge, negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS, and a lack of interventional studies to improve HIV knowledge and attitudes in the country. The high rate of mobile phone use and text messaging in the Philippines offers potential in using technology to address gaps in HIV knowledge and negative attitudes regarding HIV.

Purpose: This pilot study determined the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile text messaging (MTM) in improving HIV/AIDS knowledge …

Music For The Holidays: Symphony Orchestra, Civic Chorale, Treble Choir And String Project Sinfonia; December 6, 2025, Samuel Chen, John Koch, Mark Grizzard, Brandon Campos

School of Music Programs

This is the eighty-fourth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

December 6, 2025

Saturday Afternoon

3:00 p.m.

Music For The Holidays: Symphony Orchestra, Civic Chorale, Treble Choir And Philharmonia; December 6, 2025, 7:00 P.M., Samuel Chen, John Koch, Mark Grizzard

School of Music Programs

This is the eighty-fifth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

December 6, 2025

Saturday Evening

7:00 p.m.

Proteome-Wide Association Study Of Prostate Cancer Risk Across Populations, Hua Zhong, Jingjing Zhu, Shuai Liu, Chong Wu, Liang Wang, Seamus P Whelton, Catherine H Marshall, Michael J Blaha, Peter Durda, Xiuqing Guo, Craig W Johnson, Henry J Lin, Kent D Taylor, Russell P Tracy, Ronit I Yarden, Ani W Manichaikul, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Rajat Deo, Ruth F Dubin, Peter Ganz, Lang Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There is insufficient understanding of the molecular basis of prostate cancer (PCa) across different populations. We perform a large-scale proteome-wide association study (PWAS) to identify proteins with genetically regulated expression in plasma to be associated with PCa risk across populations. We develop genetic prediction models for expression of 1578, 1993, 1218, and 1390 proteins for African (n = 450), European (n = 758), Asian (n = 289), and Hispanic/Latino (n = 474) males, respectively, and evaluate associations of genetically regulated protein expression with PCa risk in 19,391 PCa cases and 61,608 controls of African population, 122,188 cases and 604,640 controls …

Actin Dysregulation Induces Neuroendocrine Plasticity And Immune Evasion: A Vulnerability Of Small Cell Lung Cancer, Yoojeong Seo, Shengzhe Zhang, Jinho Jang, Kyung-Pil Ko, Kee-Beom Kim, Yuanjian Huang, Dong-Wook Kim, Bongjun Kim, Gengyi Zou, Jie Zhang, Sohee Jun, Wonhong Chu, Nicole A Kirk, Ye Eun Hwang, Young Ho Ban, Shilpa S Dhar, Joseph M Chan, Min Gyu Lee, Charles M Rudin, Kwon-Sik Park, Jae-Il Park

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Capping protein inhibiting regulator of actin dynamics (CRACD) that promotes actin polymerization, is frequently inactivated in SCLC. However, the role of CRACD loss in SCLC is unknown. Here we show that CRACD depletion drives neuroendocrine (NE) cell plasticity and immune evasion in SCLC. Mechanistically, CRACD inactivation disrupts actin organization, leading to suppression of Yap1-NOTCH signaling and subsequent NE gene upregulation. Simultaneously, CRACD loss drives EZH2-mediated histone methylation via nuclear actin disruption, leading to repression of MHC-I genes and depletion of CD8⁺ T cells. Consequently, CRACD-downregulated tumors exhibit …

Strategies For Prolonging Ventricular Action Potential Duration Without Increasing Transmural Dispersion Of Repolarization, Candido Cabo

Publications and Research

Dispersion of repolarization results from a non-homogeneous recovery of excitability in cardiac tissue, and it is an important factor in arrhythmogenesis because it could lead to the initiation and maintenance of a variety of arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic agents that prolong action potential duration (APD) by selectively blocking specific ion channels (like IKr) often increase dispersion of repolarization, which could result in a pro-arrhythmic risk. In this report, using computer models of the action potential of human epicardial, mid-myocardial, and endocardial myocytes, we have identified strategies to prolong APD without increasing transmural dispersion of repolarization. The first strategy, which involves blocking several …

Hardships Increase As Households Rely More On Gig Work, Laura Brugger, Anthony J. Nixon, Amrita Kulkarni, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Gig work has grown substantially in the United States in recent years. Although research has examined the relationship between participation in the gig economy and hardship, few studies examine how households’ reliance on gig work relates to hardship experiences. Drawing upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage workers, this brief explores the relationship between the proportion of a household’s income from gig work and indicators of financial distress: bill payment difficulties, food insufficiency, budget constraints, blood plasma sales, reliance on alternative financial services such as payday loans, and usage of …

Opportunities, Challenges, And Realities Of Graduate Student Submissions In Institutional Repositories: One Librarian’S Reflection, Sierra Pandy

Journal of Graduate Librarianship

The role of an institutional repository (IR) is to provide open access publishing and archival services for the institution’s faculty, staff, and students. However, despite the wide range of benefits this creates for university researchers, it can be difficult to communicate that value to graduate students. This article will discuss and reflect upon the various challenges, successes, and opportunities we experienced while promoting and utilizing the IR for graduate students at the University of Wyoming during and after a major platform migration, and touch upon goals for the future.

Artificial Minds, Alien Experiences: Navigating The Uncharted Territory Of Ai Phenomenology, Kevin H. Smith

University of Memphis Law Review

This Article advocates for a fundamental shift in the way artificial intelligence (“AI”) consciousness is evaluated, moving beyond anthropocentric models that rely on human cognitive benchmarks. Traditional tests, such as the Turing Test, assume that human-like behavior is the ultimate criterion for consciousness, overlooking the possibility of novel, non-human modes of consciousness. Instead, this Article proposes a multi-dimensional framework that assesses AI systems based on their unique architectures and cognitive processes. By combining dimensions such as information integration, autonomous goal-pursuit, metacognitive self-modeling, affective motivation, social communication, counterfactual simulation, imaginative reasoning, and causal modeling, this framework provides a comprehensive and empirically …

Clearing The Legal Fog: Navigating Conflicting Interpretations Of The Speedy Trial Act And The Insanity Defense Reform Act For Mentally Incompetent Defendants, Bridgette Mcinroe

University of Memphis Law Review

Jane, a 32-year-old individual, is facing federal criminal charges for an alleged white-collar offense that has a maximum punishment of one year in prison. On March 1, 2019, the court decides to assess Jane’s mental competency to stand trial due to concerns raised in the initial proceedings. The court, relying on the standards set forth by the United States Supreme Court,1 initiates a hearing to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant a mental competency evaluation. After the competency hearing, the court concludes that there is a need for such a mental evaluation. Jane is then sent for an initial …

Tax Planning—A Service Or A Crime?, K. S. Carmichael

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.