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The Effectiveness Of Oral Alpha-Lipoic Acid In Improving Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms In Type 2 Diabetes Patients, Sandy Sameer Ahmed, Ali Shakir Dauod, Mazyar Jabbar Ahmed

Al-Qadisiyah Medical Journal

Background and Objectives: Nearly half of patients with diabetes are affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) during their lifetime. The potential neuroprotective effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) have generated interest, as in diabetic patients these may enhance microcirculation and nerve function, offering a promising therapeutic option. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of oral ALA supplementation in improving symptoms of DPN. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out at Layla Qasem Specialized Diabetic Centers in Erbil, Iraq, between February 1 and June 30, 2024. A total of 100 patients with type 2 diabetes and confirmed DPN were enrolled (50 …

Care Navigator Role In The Management Of Patients' Access At A Mental And Behavioral Health Clinic, Bernadine Grinage

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Bernadine Grinage has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Sue Bell, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Diane Whitehead, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025 Abstract The practice issue cited by clinical staff of a rural mental and behavioral clinic (RMBHC) was fragmented versus holistic care, increase emergency room (ER) visits, inadequate access and patient attrition rate …

Black Nurses In Leadership Roles: Resources And Opportunities Needed For Advancement, Patrick W. Petty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of diversity in healthcare management is a social issue that can lead to increased implicit bias and adverse effects on patient care and quality. This study examined the underrepresentation of Black RNs in leadership roles within healthcare. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceptions of Black RNs in leadership regarding the opportunities and resources they need for advancement, as outlined in three research questions. A sample of 10 BSN nurses responded to 10 semi-structured interview questions, grounded in critical race theory. Codes were developed from responses, resulting in nine themes and 16 sub-themes, …

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Practice On External Factors That Impact Management Of Chronic Hypertension In African American Patients, Stella Ngozi Paul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral staff education project was developed to address a significant gap in nursing practice, specifically the limited knowledge of outpatient clinical staff regarding cultural, social, and health literacy factors that influence the management of chronic hypertension in African American (AA) patients. Through this project, I aimed to equip clinical staff with evidence-based, culturally competent strategies to promote equitable, patient-centered care. This project was guided by the following practice-focused question: Can an evidence-based practice educational session on how external factors impact the management of chronic hypertension in the AA population enhance staff knowledge and understanding? Using the analysis, design, development, …

Ending Gender-Based Sexual Violence On Canadian Campuses: Peer Educator Perspectives, Jason A. Laker

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) remains a pervasive problem in higher education, disproportionately affecting marginalized students and undermining their safety, well-being, and academic success. Post-secondary institutions (PSIs) increasingly rely on peer educators (PeerEds) to deliver prevention and response programs, leveraging their shared student experience to foster trust and engagement. This study explores the motivations and experiences of GBSV PeerEds in Canada and the United States, revealing how personal trauma, institutional critique, and allyship drive their involvement. Findings highlight the emotional labour, secondary trauma, and systemic constraints PeerEds face, alongside their contributions to campus culture and advocacy. The study critiques institutional …

Water Quality And Plankton Diversity Of Ahi River, Ohiya, Umuahia, Nigeria, Emeka Donald Anyanwu, Egor Katkov, Udeme Effiong Jonah, Amarachuku Ezinne Oji, Immaculate Chiamaka Enwereuzo

Journal of Bioresource Management

The plankton diversity of large and urban rivers has been extensively studied in Nigeria while small rural rivers that harbour rich aquatic biota receive little attention. The composition, abundance, and distribution of plankton of a rural river were assessed in relation to some physicochemical parameters. The study was carried out between May and October 2023 in 3 stations using standard methods. The physicochemical results were: temperature (25.2-27.0^oC), flow velocity (0.15-0.46 m/s), transparency (14.0-78.5cm), depth (51.0-105.0cm), pH (5.6-7.8), electrical conductivity (66.0-98.0 µS/cm), total dissolved solids (33.0-49.0 mg/l), turbidity (0.1-1.7 NTU), dissolved oxygen (3.2-6.4 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (1.0-2.7 mg/l), …

Towards Computational Methods In Medical Data Analysis: From Speech And Text To Imaging, Kristin Qi

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Early detection of cognitive decline and efficient medical image analysis remain critical challenges in healthcare. Traditional clinical assessments are infrequent and resource-intensive, while everyday speech data and unlabeled medical images remain largely unexploited. This dissertation develops computational methods integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence across speech, text, and imaging modalities to address challenges in medical data processing. For cognitive monitoring, this work first introduces methods using voice assistant systems to collect longitudinal speech data in home environments, demonstrating that incorporating historical session patterns significantly enhances detection of mild cognitive impairment. Building on this foundation, a framework combining large language model-driven …

Revisiting Underwater Image Enhancement For Object Detection: A Unified Quality–Detection Evaluation Framework, Ali Awad, Ashraf Saleem, Sidike Paheding, Evan Lucas, Serein Al-Ratrout, Timothy C. Havens

Michigan Tech Publications

Underwater images often suffer from severe color distortion, low contrast, and reduced visibility, motivating the widespread use of image enhancement as a preprocessing step for downstream computer vision tasks. However, recent studies have questioned whether enhancement actually improves object detection performance. In this work, we conduct a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of nine state-of-the-art enhancement methods and their interactions with modern object detectors. We propose a unified evaluation framework that integrates (1) a distribution-level quality assessment using a composite quality index (Q-index), (2) a fine-grained per-image detection protocol based on COCO-style mAP, and (3) a mixed-set upper-bound analysis that quantifies …

Top Stories Of 2025, New York Law School

NYLS Community News

No abstract provided.

The “Four Concentric Circles Of Russian”: Toward A Model, Timothy G. Reagan

Russian Language Journal

Braj Kachru suggested that one way of understanding the role and use of English around the world was to distinguish among three concentric “circles”: the inner circle, the outer circle, and the expanding circle. In this article, I will use Kachru’s model as the foundation for the development a similar model for positioning the Russian language in the contemporary world. The historical differences in Anglo-American linguistic expansion and Russian linguistic expansion lead to somewhat different divisions among speakers of the respective languages. The model proposed here has four concentric circles: an inner circle (consisting of the Russian …

Book Review: Water, Whiskey, And Vodka: A Story Of Slavic Languages., Ronald I. Kim

Russian Language Journal

There are more speakers of Slavic languages in Europe today than of the continent’s two other major Indo-European branches, Romance and Germanic. Yet over a generation after the end of the Cold War, despite economic growth, tourism, and steadily increasing cultural exchange, ignorance among North Americans and Western Europeans about the basic facts of the Slavic languages remains sadly widespread. Even from speakers of Slavic languages themselves one continues to hear all sorts of linguistic myths, such as that all Slavic languages sound essentially identical to Russian or, at the other extreme, nationalistic claims that Polish and Ukrainian are nothing …

Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Surveillance: A Delphi Panel Consensus, Juan Alban, R. Christopher Bowen, David A. Reichstein, Meredith Mckean, Jose Lutzky, Ezekiel Weis, Richard D. Carvajal, Susan Dulka, Brian G. Morse, Marcus O. Butler, Suthee Rapisuwon, Kevin B. Kim, Sanjay Chandrasekaran, Allison Betof Warner, Jonathan S. Zager, Bartosz Chmielowski, Sapna P. Patel, Leonel Fernando Hernandez-Aya, Zelia M. Correa, Leslie A. Fecher, Yana G. Najjar, Kamaneh Montazeri, Alexander N. Shoushtari, Asad Javed, Dan S. Gombos, April K. S. Salama, Katy Tsai, Frank H. Miller, Nikhil Khushalani, Rino S. Seedor, Evan J. Lipson, Sunil A. Reddy, Elizabeth Buchbinder, Shailender Bhatia, Anna Pavlick, Inderjit Mehmi, Thomas Aaberg, Alexandra P. Ikeguchi, Ivana K. Kim, Scott D. Walter, Arun D. Singh, Ryan J. Sullivan, Jacob S. Choi, Basil K. Williams, Marlana Orloff, Prithvi Mruthyunjaya, Megan D. Schollenberger, Namita Gandhi, J. William Harbour, Sunandana Chandra

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Uveal melanoma is a rare but aggressive intraocular malignancy that metastasizes in up to half of patients, most commonly to the liver, despite effective local treatment. In the absence of robust evidence, there are no standardized guidelines for post-treatment surveillance, resulting in wide variation in imaging modalities, frequency, and duration across physicians and institutions. This study aimed to develop expert consensus recommendations for surveillance strategies in patients with uveal melanoma.

METHODS: A modified Delphi method was conducted across three iterative survey rounds between September 2024 and February 2025 using an online platform. Panelists included medical oncologists, ocular oncologists, radiologists, …

Perspectives Of Russian Language Educators On Meeting The Needs Of Heritage And L2 Learners In Mixed Classes, Maria Goebert

Russian Language Journal

In less commonly taught languages, such as Russian, heritage and non-heritage learners often share the same classes. Teachers in these settings must differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students. Online teaching adds an additional layer of complexity that instructors must address in their course design. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of 12 Russian language educators, working across various educational settings, on the language learning needs of heritage and non-heritage learners in mixed classes. It examines how these teachers adapt their instruction to support their students and meet the demands of different teaching modalities. The study also …

Dynamic And Stable Motivation Patterns In Intensive Second Language Learning: Insights From A Russian Summer Immersion Program, Dmitrii Pastushenkov

Russian Language Journal

Understanding what shapes student motivation is essential to improving second language (L2) programs. While motivation is among the widely studied individual differences (IDs) in second language acquisition (SLA), research has largely focused on commonly taught languages, limiting broader applicability. This mixed-methods study, grounded in Dynamic Systems Theory (DST), explores the motivational development of learners studying a less commonly taught language (LCTL), Russian, during an eight-week summer immersion program. Data were collected from 52 students across four instructional levels. Motivation was assessed through two brief online surveys, developed based on research by Gardner, Dörnyei, Lanvers, Thompson, and others, and administered during …

Why Russian? Language Choice And Enrollment In U.S. Universities, Emma Calderwood, Teresa R. Bell, Jennifer Bown, Grant H. Lundberg

Russian Language Journal

Russian language enrollments at U.S. universities have declined steadily since 2009 (MLA, 2023), yet little research has examined current student motivations for studying Russian, particularly after the 2022 escalation of the Russo–Ukrainian War. This study surveyed two groups: (a) students enrolled in any 101-level language course at University X and (b) students in Russian courses at six U.S. universities. Results show that motivations for studying Russian are primarily integrative—general interest in the language, desire to converse with Russian speakers, aspirations to travel to Russian-speaking countries, and previous Russian knowledge—rather than instrumental. Students who considered but did not choose Russian most …

Variability Of Individual Learner Trajectories In A Transformative Language Program, Victoria Hasko, Anastasiya Smith

Russian Language Journal

This qualitative multiple case study investigates how individual learner differences manifest and evolve within a transformative, proficiency-oriented undergraduate Russian language program. Drawing on complexity theory and transformative approaches to language education, the study explores how learners’ motivations, identities, and professional aspirations develop in a curriculum that integrates advanced language learning with long-term career planning. Three focal participants were followed longitudinally across their undergraduate trajectories, using a combination of standardized proficiency assessments and in-depth reflective interviews. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes shaping learner development: evolving orientations toward language learning, the curriculum as a transformative scaffold, emerging professional identities, and growing …

The Mediating Role Of Positive Psychology: Mindfulness And Learner Beliefs In The Russian Language Classroom, Kelly Knickmeier Cummings

Russian Language Journal

Language learning is an inherently emotional process, shaped by both positive and negative experiences that influence the individual difference of learner beliefs. This article explores the mediating role of positive psychology (PP) in second language acquisition (SLA), with a particular focus on mindfulness and its potential to reshape learner beliefs in the Russian language classroom. Drawing on theories such as Seligman’s PERMA model and Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory, as well as evidence-based interventions, the article argues that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) provide practical tools for cultivating positive learner beliefs and inclusive, growth-oriented classroom environments. Examples of MBIs—including practices of noticing, savoring, exploring …

Understanding The Fidelity And Specificity Of Dna Polymerase I, Bill R. Miller Iii, Andrew V. Yeager, Jake A. Collins, Alexis Blake, Elise Tate, Carol A. Parish, Eugene Y. Wu

Chemistry Faculty Publications

High-fidelity DNA polymerases employ complex mechanisms to catalyze template-dependent DNA synthesis while quickly discarding mismatches. Atomic-level structural details about short-lived states during nucleotide discrimination are necessary to gain insight into the kinetic checkpoints that contribute to fidelity. We performed microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of DNA polymerase I, large fragment, from Bacillus stearothermophilus (Bacillus fragment, or BF) in complex with a template guanine and a mismatched thymidine triphosphate to observe the early events in the process of selection against a mismatch. Although the nucleobases formed a wobble base pair early, the mismatched pair was blocked from fully entering the active site …

Novel Physical And Biological Applications Of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy, Danushka Seneviratne, Prapannajeet Biswal, Sunil Krishnan

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) is a high-LET radiotherapy, which distinguishes itself from traditional low-LET radiation, such as photons and protons, through its unique physical aspects, biological attributes, and the dramatically increased damage it causes within cellular DNA. Given its distinctive characteristics, it is expected to improve the therapeutic ratio of radiation treatments and enhance treatment outcomes in traditionally radiation-resistant tumor histologies. Despite these unique properties, much remains to be understood regarding the clinical use of CIRT before its full potential can be realized. In this review, we summarize the distinct advantages of CIRT with regard to its physical and …

Mental Health And Beliefs About Abortion Access Following Changes To Reproductive Healthcare Laws In 2022: Findings From Oklahoma, Munjireen Sifat, Laili K. Boozary, Tina N. Le, Julia Mcquoid, Brittany Zaring-Hinkle, Sarah Tonkin, Lizbeth Benson, Bingjing Mao, Motolani Ogunsanya, Ruosi Shao, Amy M. Cohn, Allyson Shortle, Darla E. Kendzor

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data was conducted to characterize beliefs about abortion access in Oklahoma, measure stress associated with the overturn of Roe vs. Wade (2022), and evaluate the potential relationship between post-Roe stress (PR stress) and mental health.

METHODS: From August through September 2022, adult Oklahomans (N = 1793) were surveyed about their sociodemographic characteristics, beliefs about abortion access, frequency of past-month stress related to the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, and mental health. Beliefs about abortion access were characterized overall and within sociodemographic groups. The relationship between PR stress and mental health was evaluated, and …

Knowledge Of Cpr And Code Status Discussions In Traumatically Injured Older Adults: Does Health Literacy Matter, Mokunfayo O Fajemisin, Ashna S Karpe, Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, Gabrielle E Hatton, Krislynn Mueck, Lillian S Kao, Martin L Blakely, Gina H Khraish, Aanand Naik, Shreyans Sanghvi, Jessica L Lee, Thaddeus J Puzio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Code Status Discussions (CSDs), CPR understanding, and health literacy is understudied in traumatically injured older adults. We hypothesized that traumatically injured older adults and their families would have limited understanding of CPR and code status, and that lower health literacy would be associated with reduced advance care planning knowledge. We surveyed injured adults ≥65 or their surrogates to assess baseline code status, health literacy, and CPR discussions. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. Among 201 respondents 55% had low health literacy. Only 38% had discussions about CPR, and 21% were asked about code status during admission. Surrogates similarly overestimated CPR …

My Research Journey Into Family Domestic Work: Methodological Reflections Of Conducting Research With Sister-Maids And Sister-Madams In Limpopo, Percyval Bayane

The Qualitative Report

Research has been conducted on domestic work in South Africa with studies focusing on domestic workers’ conditions during Apartheid and examining the little to no changes post-Apartheid. Domestic work in post-Apartheid South Africa involves the hiring of family and friends as domestic workers, and this is an under-researched area. As a young black man researching family domestic work, I was confronted with methodological challenges relating to negotiating access and conducting interviews with older black women hiring relatives and those working for family members as domestic workers. This reflexive paper reflects on my personal journey and experiences of conducting qualitative research …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of Captive Solar Power Systems For Tanzania’S Manufacturing Sector: Barriers, Opportunities, And Feasibility, Edson Uhale, Sarah P. Ayeng'o

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study provides a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of the barriers, opportunities, and feasibility of adopting captive solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Tanzania’s industrial manufacturing sector. Despite Tanzania’s high solar irradiation potential, averaging 4.5 to 7.0 kWh/m²/day, the uptake of captive solar systems remains minimal, with only 2.3 percent of surveyed firms currently using solar energy, primarily for non-productive uses such as security lighting. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 43 manufacturing firms in the Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions through structured questionnaires, supported by PVSyst simulations and financial modelling to assess two system configurations: grid-connected PV systems …

Integrated Vermicompost And Microbial Inoculation Enhance Growth, Yield, And Volatile Oil Composition Of Coriandrum Sativum L., Fatma Ahmed Fouad, Fatima A.A. Al Otaibi, Ahmed Ali Mahmoud

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

An eleven-treatment field trial examined the effects of different rates of vermicompost (vermi.) (100%, 75%, and 50% of the recommended dose) in combination with bio-fertilizers [Azotobacter sp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)] on the performance of Coriandrum sativum L. during the winter seasons of 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. The treatments comprised an unfertilized control and all factorial permutations of vermicompost level with Azotobacter and/or AMF inoculation (100% vermicompost, 100 % vermicompost + Azotobacter, 100% vermicompost + AMF, 100% vermicompost + Azotobacter + AMF, 75% vermicompost + Azotobacter, 75% vermicompost + AMF, 75 % vermicompost + Azotobacter + …

Spatial Variation Of Heavy Metals Uptake In Ashar Plant (Calotropis Procera) Organs: Implications For Air Pollution Mitigation In Riyadh, Mazen Fawaz Alraddadi, Mohammed Saba, Samir Gamil Al-Solaimani, Mansour Ahmed Alghamdi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and effective method that uses plants to reduce heavy metal pollution by absorbing and accumulating contaminants from the environment. This research focused on the native Al-Ashar plant and examined its potential as a bioindicator and agent for cleaning heavy metal contamination near a cement factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Soil and plant samples were gathered from sites at different distances from the factory (5 m, 50 m, 100 m), including a control site, and analyzed for metals such as copper, iron, manganese, chromium, cobalt, lead, and nickel.

The results showed elevated levels of these metals in …

Exploring U.S. Sports Marketing Strategies For Maximizing A Fluid Fan Base, Dylan Houseworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fluid fandom, characterized by consumers’ shifting allegiances across players, teams, and organizations, has become increasingly prevalent within the U.S. sports marketplace. Many U.S. sports marketing managers lack clearly defined, evidence-based strategies for effectively engaging fluid fans, creating uncertainty around how to maintain brand loyalty, competitive positioning, and long-term organizational viability. Grounded in Stryker’s identity theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies U.S. sports marketing managers use to engage and maximize a fluid fan base. A purposeful sampling of six sports marketing professionals from U.S.-based organizations was selected, with each participant required to have a …

Strategies To Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions In Small Restaurant Business, Aminu Hassan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain disruptions can impact the operational capability of small restaurant businesses, thereby affecting their financial health. Some small restaurant supply chain managers lack effective strategies to manage supply chain disruptions. Grounded in Oliver and Webber’s supply chain management theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small restaurant supply chain managers use to manage supply chain disruptions. The participants were 10 small restaurant supply chain managers located in Baltimore who effectively mitigated the effects of at least one significant supply chain disruption. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available documents and reports. Through …

Information Technology Managers’ Strategies For Securing Organizational Networks From Cyberattacks, Damilola O. Jibowu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cyberattacks increasingly threaten enterprise networks, creating significant risks to sensitive data and business operations. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies Information Technology (IT) managers use to secure organizational networks from cyberattacks. Participants consisted of seven experienced IT managers with a minimum of 5 years of network security management experience, purposefully selected through LinkedIn. The study was grounded in integrated systems theory, which emphasizes the interdependence of technology, processes, and risk management within organizations. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and document analysis to examine practical approaches to securing networks. Thematic analysis identified eight core …

Fostering Multicultural Education And Building Community Resilience In Post-Pandemic Schools In Southwest England, Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This article explores the complexities of practicing meaningful multicultural education in varied sociocultural landscapes, including areas with limited ethnic diversity. Highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic revealed deep-rooted structural inequalities, the article emphasises the need for education systems to address the specific realities of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. This is because the study findings reveal a lack of curricular representation of BAME communities, time constraints that prevent teachers from incorporating multicultural education into their daily routines, limited understanding around multicultural education among teachers, and a need for recruiting and retaining teachers from diverse communities. This article revisits existing …

Clinical And Molecular Analysis Of Atp7b Variants Identified By Next-Generation Sequencing In Iraqi Adults With Wilson Disease, Ruqayah G.Y. Al-Obaidi, Bassam M.S. Al-Musawi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to identify and analyse ATP7B variants in Iraqi adults with Wilson disease (WD) by long-read next-generation sequencing. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Poisoning Consultation Center at Ghazy Al-Hariri Hospital for Surgical Specialties and the Gastroenterology Consultation Clinic at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq. Unrelated patients with clinical and biochemical features suggestive of WD were recruited between October 2022 and October 2023. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Variants in the ATP7B gene were identified using long-read next-generation sequencing and then analysed by in-silico tools. Results: A total of 45 …