Digital Commons Network^™

Global Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Higher Education In Physiology, Sean Mahajan, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the higher education sector worldwide in several disciplines, especially those in healthcare as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that require active, experiential learning via practical application of concepts centered around physiology. Dynamic instructional and technological interventions took place rapidly in an effort to minimize the adverse repercussions of moving away from traditional means of education in these critical scientific fields. COVID-19 necessitated administrators, faculty, students, and interns at colleges, universities, medical/healthcare science programs and residencies to pursue teaching, learning, and assessment of physiology courses/curricula through innovative strategies without compromising …

Influence Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Anatomy Higher Education Around The World, Sneh Patel, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disrupted the higher education sector worldwide in several disciplines, especially those in healthcare as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that require active, experiential learning via practical application of concepts centering around anatomy. Dynamic instructional and technological interventions took place rapidly in an effort to minimize the adverse repercussions of moving away from traditional means of education in these critical scientific fields. COVID-19 necessitated administrators, faculty, students, and interns at colleges, universities, medical/ healthcare science programs and residencies to pursue teaching, learning, and assessment of anatomy courses/curricula through innovative strategies without compromising …

Artificial Intelligence In The Efl Learning Process For Dominican Higher Education, Pedro J. Tavarez-Dacosta Dr., Fransheska Arias Reyes Lic., Ivanna Del Pilar Tavarez Vasquez Mag.

FDLA Journal

This research work, explores the important incidence that Artificial Intelligence has have in the development of modern higher education and education at all in our country, the Dominican Republic, before, during, and after the Sanitary Emergence brought by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Through this Documentary Research, we examine in details the case of the Dominican Republic as compared to those cases occurred in the international arena, as a means for reflection and understanding of this phenomena called Artificial Intelligence on its different modalities since Computerizing and Internet changed our lives, decades ago. It is the purpose of this work to bring …

Personality Features And Efl Learning Process Within The Dominican Society Context, Pedro J. Tavarez-Dacosta Dr.

FDLA Journal

Through this work we are focusing on discussing the relationship between the Traits of Personality and the performance of Students in EFL Learning (introversion/extroversion and other determining factors of the educational Process) within the Dominican´s Society context as largely perceived by Teachers of English as a Foreign Language. There have been a great number of international studies already published which had tried to explain the effects of such features of the student's personality, mostly introversion/ extroversion on the student‘s performance in foreign language learning, something , which from the teacher‘s perception have always been presumed as an unquestionable fact. Although …

Decoupled Image Retrieval To Augment Large Language Model Output, Pulkit Jain, Josh Ain, Sowmya Vijayaraghavan, Daniel Hirsch, Jason Fund

Defensive Publications Series

Augmenting textual responses from large language models (LLMs) with relevant images can present challenges at scale, for example, due to computational resources and latency that may be associated with some integrated multimodal models or co-embedding techniques. The disclosed method can address this by classifying a user query, for instance, to determine if it is "image-seeking." If a query is identified as image-seeking, the system can forward the query and associated metadata to multiple systems that can operate in parallel. For example, the query can be sent to an LLM for generating a text response and also to a separate image …

Subjective Excessive Daytime Sleepiness And Frailty Progression In Veterans Over 50 With Insomnia, Mona Amirmazaheri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Frailty is common in aging veterans and linked to adverse outcomes. This retrospective cohort study of 6,824 veterans with insomnia examined whether excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep treatments, and PTSD affected frailty progression over four years. Frailty was measured using a validated index, with models adjusted for demographics and comorbidities, including chronic coronary insufficiency. Manuscript 1 showed that a higher Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score (range 0-24) was independently associated with a higher frailty index (FI) (p < .001). A clinical threshold of ≥11 indicated EDS and greater odds of frailty worsening compared to scores <11 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.16, 95% CI [1.02, 1.32], p = .021). There was no significant interaction between ESS and time, suggesting that sEDS reflects persistently elevated frailty levels rather than accelerated decline. Manuscript 2 showed that nonpharmacologic sleep interventions were protective, while pharmacotherapy was associated with increased frailty risk. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia was associated with lower odds of frailty worsening (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI [0.19, 0.53], p < .001), and continuous positive airway pressure therapy also reduced risk (aOR = 0.55, 95% CI [0.39, 0.76], p < .001). In contrast, sleep medications were associated with increased odds of frailty progression (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.02, 1.32], p = .021). Manuscript 3 showed that PTSD was not associated with baseline frailty levels but showed a significant time interaction (B = 0.001, p = .008), indicating modest acceleration of frailty progression among affected veterans. Findings support positive social change through early sEDS screening and trauma-informed, nonpharmacologic sleep care to reduce frailty in veterans.

Compassion Fatigue And Daily Spiritual Experience Among Mental Health Male Technicians In Locked Facilities, Felicia Mar'shae Davis Ramsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health provider’s ongoing exposure to clients’ traumatic experiences can cause increased compassion fatigue. Due to negative implications on mental health professionals’ work and personal life experiences, researchers have increasingly studied burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress. The study included a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to interview mental health providers across specialties and regulations to acquire understanding of professionals lived experiences of compassion within their personal lives, work lives, and spirituality. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of compassion fatigue in male mental health technician and how they use …

Ambient Air Pollution And The Sex Ratio At Birth: A Systematic Review And Narrative Synthesis., Ursula Gazeley, Hallie Eilerts-Spinelli, Jasmin Abdel Ghany, Ana Bonell, Joshua Wilde

Publications, Reports and Presentations

Ambient air pollution is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as stillbirth, miscarriage, and preterm birth. However, its effects on the viability, implantation, and survival of conceptuses-largely unobserved before the clinical detection of pregnancy-remain poorly understood. Shifts in the sex ratio at birth (SRB) provide a sensitive, population-level indicator of sex-biased conception and pregnancy loss. This systematic review examined whether maternal exposure to ambient air pollution before conception and during pregnancy is associated with deviations in the SRB. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Health from inception to 12 February 2025 for observational studies assessing both ambient air pollution exposure …

Ai-Assisted Spectral Fingerprinting Of Mg-Doped Zno Tracer Phosphors: Tuning Photoluminescence Emission And Investigating Lifetime Via Sol-Gel Synthesis Parameters, Thomas M. Brandte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plastic sorting remains a major driver of recycling costs, and existing infrared (IR) optical identification systems cannot determine material prominence or quality, nor reliably identify dark polymers [1]. This work explores a PVA-stabilized sol–gel and thermal synthesis route for magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg:ZnO) as a tunable photoluminescent tracer phosphor.

Lattice-defect control forms the foundation of phosphorescent emission tuning, enabling unique spectral fingerprints to be generated based on synthesis parameters—Mg molar ratio (Mg%), PVA mass (g), and calcination temperature (°C). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra (400–850 nm) were analyzed using Gaussian peak fitting and principal component analysis (PCA), reducing hundreds of spectral features …

Radiomics For Dynamic Lung Cancer Risk Prediction In Uspstf-Ineligible Patients, Morteza Salehjahromi, Hui Li, Eman Showkatian, Maliazurina B Saad, Mohamed Qayati, Sherif M Ismail, Sheeba J Sujit, Amgad Muneer, Muhammad Aminu, Lingzhi Hong, Xiaoyu Han, Simon Heeke, Tina Cascone, Xiuning Le, Natalie Vokes, Don L Gibbons, Iakovos Toumazis, Edwin J Ostrin, Mara B Antonoff, Ara A Vaporciyan, David Jaffray, Fernando U Kay, Brett W Carter, Carol C Wu, Myrna C B Godoy, J Jack Lee, David E Gerber, John V Heymach, Jianjun Zhang, Jia Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Non-smokers and individuals with minimal smoking history represent a significant proportion of lung cancer cases but are often overlooked in current risk assessment models. Pulmonary nodules are commonly detected incidentally-appearing in approximately 24-31% of all chest CT scans regardless of smoking status. However, most established risk models, such as the Brock model, were developed using cohorts heavily enriched with individuals who have substantial smoking histories. This limits their generalizability to non-smoking and light-smoking populations, highlighting the need for more inclusive and tailored risk prediction strategies. Purpose: We aimed to develop a longitudinal radiomics-based approach for lung cancer …

A New Low-Rate Stable Hydrogel Cathode For Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries, Roya Rajabi, Shichen Sun, Jamil A. Khan, Morgan Stefik, Kevin Huang

Faculty Publications

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are attractive candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to the abundance, low cost, and intrinsic safety of Zn metal. However, their practical application is hindered by poor cycle stability, especially at low current densities, due to cathode dissolution and limited electrochemically active sites (EAS). Herein, a hydrogel-based cathode comprising ammonium vanadate, carbon black, and a Zn-ion-conducting carboxymethyl chitosan–acrylamide hydrogel matrix doped with Zn(ClO4)2 is reported. This design establishes a continuous Zn-ion-conducting network, thereby maximizing EAS density throughout the electrode volume. The ZIB with the hydrogel cathode exhibits outstanding cycling stability, with 77% capacity retention after 2000 …

The Grizzly, October 23, 2025, Renee Washart, Julia Picklo, Nathaniel Nerone, Erin Ewing, Caitlin Cunnane, Kate Adams

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Opportunities in Motion • Spooky Spectacles and Enchanting Art • In the Blood: A Visceral Scarlet Letter Stage Adaptation • The MAA Fortnightly Question • Greetings From Ireland • The Best and Worst of C-Store (In My Humble Opinion) • An Injured Athlete's Experience: Emma Reinert • Bears' Players of the Week • Field Hockey Fights to Keep Season Alive

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 4, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Interleukins 35 And 39 Levels In Women Infected With Cytomegalovirus, Maryam Adnan Juma, Zahra’A Abdulraheem Ahmed

Baghdad Science Journal

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common latent virus that can cause severe disease in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Interleukins (ILs) are crucial for cell-to-cell communication and facilitate precise regulation of the immune response. The current study aimed to evaluate serum IL-35 and IL-39 levels in Iraqi women with CMV, particularly in pregnant women, and investigate their potential involvement in CMV infection and pregnancy. Serum samples were obtained from 115 women (age range:15–29 years), including CMV-infected pregnant women, uninfected pregnant women, CMV-infected non-pregnant women, and healthy non-pregnant women. IL-35 and IL-39 levels were measured using ELISA kits. Statistical analyses were performed …

Sensitive Cloud Point Extraction Method For Determination Of Salbutamol Sulfate In Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Ghadah Fadhil

Baghdad Science Journal

The cloud point extraction (CPE) methodology was utilized to produce a simple, highly sensitive, and environmentally friendly method for preconcentrating and evaluating salbutamol sulfate (SAL) in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Triton X-114 was used as a surfactant to recover the product result from the diazotization coupling between SAL and diazotized 2, 4-dichloroaniline (DCA) by the cloud point extraction process. The product was extracted with non-ionic surfactant micelles and then spectrophotometrically detected at a wavelength of 445 nm. Under ideal conditions, the calibration curve’s linearity (r = 0.9947) ranged from 0.1 to 5.0 μg. mL^–1 of SAL. The results showed …

Using An Old Assay In New Ways: Differential Scanning Calorimetry Characterization, Quantification, And Interaction Analysis Of Whey Proteins, Charity Conlin Jennings

Theses and Dissertations

Whey proteins including β-Lactoglobulin, α-Lactalbumin, Immunoglobulin-G, Serum Albumin, Lactoferrin, and Lactoperoxidase each have unique biological properties spanning anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral activities as well as deliver essential nutrients to the human body. In the past decade, there has been a large focus on extracting these individual proteins for their use in foods and supplements. In order to best extract these proteins and prepare them properly in foods and supplements, an understanding of how they behave and denature in different environments is necessary. However, there is insufficient knowledge of their thermodynamic properties and potential interactions in varying conditions. Additionally, there are …

Object Play In Tsimane Children: Implications For Sex-Specific Division Of Labour, Ava Moser, Michael D. Gurven, Hillard Kaplan, Benjamin C. Trumble, Jonathan Stieglitz, Paul Hooper, Daniel Cummings, Adrian Jaeggi, Kathelijne Koops

ESI Publications

Sex-specific division of labour and the associated use of different subsistence techniques by males (e.g. hunting) and females (e.g. gathering) has played an important role in shaping human societies. Skills needed in adulthood are practiced in play during childhood and object play has been proposed to foster tool-use skills necessary for adult subsistence techniques. Here, we investigated sex differences in the ontogeny of object play in Tsimane children in Bolivia to understand its potential role in shaping gender-specific adult roles. We used observational data (>80,000 scan samples) from nine Tsimane communities collected between 2002 and 2007. We analysed age …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Studying The Biological Activity, Thermal, And Physical Properties With The Evaluation Of Pharmaceutical Release Of New Derivatives From Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Zahraa Mokhtar, Sana Hitur Awad

Baghdad Science Journal

In this research drug polymers, have been prepared by substituting drugs to polymers backbone, which raised interest as a result of the benefits systems possesses, which includes the gradual release of the application of the drug, ease of application, delivery of the drugs in certain (specific) local, prolong the period of drug douse, reduce the potential and common side effects, and decrease the toxicity. This work included ring opening of PVP with ethylene glycol then substitution with different drugs (Salbutamol and Ribavirin, Phenylephrine, Theophylline, Sulfamethoxazole). All prepared drug polymers were identified by FT-IR,¹H-NMR, and UV. Spectroscopes, thermal analysis …

Synthesis Of New Compounds From Pyridazine Derivatives, And Preliminary Pharmacological Study, Mohammed Hasan Al-Dahlaki, Aya H. Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

There has been an increasing interest in the chemistry of pyridazine derivatives because of their biological significance. Pyridazine has been reported to possess variety of biological activities like antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-AIDS, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and antimicrobial, insecticidal etc. In our study, pyridazine derivatives were synthesized by starting with paracetamol, also known as para hydroxy acetanilide, which does not require a prescription. The reaction involved the use of metallic sodium and methanol as a solvent, resulting in the formation of para-hydroxy acetanilide sodium salt (p-hydroxy acetanilide sodium salt). Subsequently, compound p-hydroxy acetanilide sodium salt was reacted with 2-chloro ethyl acetate in Dimethylformamide …

Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, Cytotoxic Assay, And Antimicrobial Evaluation Studies Of Some Transition Metal Complexes Of Schiff Base Derived From Amoxicillin, Alya’A J. Ahmed, Amaal S. Sadiq, Enaam Fadil Mousa, Mahasin Alias

Baghdad Science Journal

Four metal complexes of Schiff base ligand were prepared. To characterize both the ligand and the metal complexes, various techniques were employed, including elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, molar conductivity measurements, magnetic moment determination, melting point, mass spectroscopy, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that the metal complexes formed have the formula [M(L)₂Cl₂]Cl_(n).H₂O, where L= Schiff base ligand and M=Cr(III), Rh(III), Pt(IV) and Au(III), n = 1, 2. Based on spectroscopic analysis, coordination with metal ions involves the ’N’ donor atom of N atoms of the imine and …

Study The Effect Of Saponin And Terpene From Alcoholic Extract Of Bacopa Monnieri Plant Cultivated In Iraq On Some Biological Aspects Of Drosophila Melanogaster Meigen (1830) (Diptera:Drosophilidae), Ruwaida A. Abd Al-Hussien, Soolaf A. Kathiar

Baghdad Science Journal

Drosophila melanogaster is an agricultural insect pest. The female pierces crops and lays eggs. Then, the eggs hatch, after which the larvae begin to develop inside the tissue, feeding on it and destroying it. This study, conducted from 1/11/2023 to 15/12/2024, aims to ascertain the impact of secondary chemicals, in the wild Bacopa monnieri plant cultivated in Iraq on the development of insect life cycle stages using different concentrations (2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 ppm) under laboratory conditions. The data revealed that the eggs had the highest mortality rates at 8000 ppm for saponin and terpene 78.666% and 74% respectively. The …

Silver Nanoparticles As A Potential Control Measure For Some Potyviruses Infecting Faba Bean And Potato Plants, Rehab A. Dawoud, Noha K. El Dougdoug

Baghdad Science Journal

The research investigates the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a foliar spray at a concentration (50 mg/ml) on faba bean and potato plants to stimulate systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and suppress bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) and potato virus Y (PVY). The application of AgNPs reduced the percentage of virus reduction infection (RI) and disease severity (DS). AgNPs (50 mg/ml) was more effective on BYMV-infected faba bean (9.75 and 10.50) followed by PVY-infected potato (14.50 and 18.25) for the percentage of reduction infection and disease severity respectively. The mechanism of AgNPs involves binding to viral protein coats, aggregating virus …

The Victims’ Experience: Emotional Spiritual Abuse In The Christian Community, Arianna Branae Dotson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In recent years, greater attention has been paid to the effects of sexual abuse within Christianity. There was a need for greater understanding of the psychological aspect of spiritual abuse within familial dynamics. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the phenomenon of emotional spiritual abuse that victims experience within Christian families. Using a theoretical foundation based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory and Bowen's family systems theory, this study focused on relationships within victims’ microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem. It also explored the concept of emotional triangles in times of conflict. The data source consisted of one-on-one participant interviews …

Mold Exposure And Cognitive Health During Menopausal Transitions: A Quantitative Analysis Using Secondary Data, Holly Jeannette Burns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mold exposure and menopausal transition have been independently linked to cognitive decline, yet their interaction among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations has not been well examined. This quantitative study is an exploration of how menopausal transition influences the relationship between mold exposure and cognitive health outcomes among women aged 40 to 60 living in low-income housing in the United States. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was used to guide the cross-sectional design using secondary data from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; N = 149). Weighted logistic regression and Hayes’ PROCESS (Models 2 and 4) were used to test associations …

Sociocultural Factors Influencing Excess Gestational Weight Gain In Pregnant Puerto Rican Women, Sonia O. Roselló Aponte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than 50% of women experience excessive weight gain during pregnancy or are overweight at the start of pregnancy, increasing their risk of short and long-term maternal and fetal complications. The literature highlights the relationship between sociocultural factors and excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) and the need to explore these factors in ethnic subgroups. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study, guided by Nola Pender’s health promotion model, was to explore the sociocultural factors that influence EGWG for pregnant women living in Puerto Rico. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants recruited from public and private prenatal clinics in Puerto …

Strategies For Addressing Junior College Attrition Among Female African American Nontraditional Students, Antweshia Hawes-Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female African American nontraditional students (25+ years with family and work demands) have high attrition rates, they leave degree programs before graduating, worsening socioeconomic disparities. This phenomenological study described their experiences with support services, which shaped student self-efficacy related to completing programs, and identified what changes were needed to improve support for higher graduation rates among female African American nontraditional students participating in 2-year degree programs offered by junior colleges. Guided by Bean’s industrial model of student attrition and Fishbein and Aizen’s importance of intention model, the study posed two research questions: What are the lived experiences of female nontraditional …

Community Factors And County-Level Cancer Screening, Prevalence, And Mortality, Alexandra R. Drake, Eric W. Christensen, Augusto C. Ochoa, William Small, Jinel Scott, Elizabeth Y. Rula

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE Cancer screening, prevalence, and mortality vary across US counties; the broad set of community factors associated with these differences are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To assess the relative importance of diverse community measures for explaining county-level variance in cancer screening, prevalence, and mortality rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This geospatial cross-sectional analysis across all US counties used random forest algorithms to estimate the relative importance of 24 community measures—including health behaviors and lifestyle, socioeconomic, and environment factors—as explanatory factors for cancer screening, prevalence, and mortality. For each cancer, county-level cancer screening and …

The C-Terminal Regions Of Trak Proteins Contain Miro-Independent Mitochondrial Localization Domains, Lili Mitchell, Kathryn E. Reda, Hijab Fatima, Claudia E. Vasquez, Omar A. Quintero-Carmona

Biology Faculty Publications

Current models suggest that MIRO GTPases anchor cytoskeletal motors to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). However, our previous findings indicate that the unconventional myosin, MYO19, interacts with MIRO weakly and that a MIRO-independent MOM-localizing domain interacts more tightly with the MOM. To test the hypothesis that other MIRO interactors may also have MIRO-independent MOM binding, we examined interactions between TRAK proteins (microtubule motor-mitochondria adaptor proteins) and the MOM via quantitative fluorescence microscopy and steady-state kinetic approaches. Using GFP-TRAK truncations expressed in MIRO1-2 double knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we identified a MIRO-independent mitochondrial-binding domain in the C-terminus of TRAK1 and TRAK2, …

Sequestration Of Plant Defenses By Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma Delicatula) And Effects On Avian Predators, Anne E. Johnson, Allison Cornell, Fang Zhu, Ashley E. Shay, Gabrielle Davis, Kelli Hoover

Biology Faculty Publications

Lycorma delicatula is a polyphagous phloem feeder, which is spreading rapidly in the U.S., and is a major threat to grapes, hops, and ornamentals. Among its hosts, L. delicatulaprefers Ailanthus altissima, an invasive tree from which it sequesters toxins, including several quassinoid compounds. We tested how these defenses affected predation by birds of nymphal and adult L. delicatula. Freeze-killed nymphs of each instar were reared with or without access to A. altissima and placed into cups on top of nest boxes occupied by house wrens (Troglodytes aedon). House wrens ate or fed their chicks a …

Graphene Screen-Printed Electrode For Wound-Related Biosensing, Chanyapat Sriviroch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring wound healing is critical for improving patient outcomes, especially for chronic wounds, which often have complications like delayed healing and infections. Current methods for monitoring wound healing are invasive and costly. Also, these methods have a limited ability to provide real-time, continuous data. This study seeks to explore a graphene screen-printed electrode (SPE) electrochemical biosensor that is non-invasive and efficient to constantly monitor wound healing in real time. This research study focuses specifically on the electrochemical detection of the Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE) and Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI), which is one of the most abundant neutral proteinases in …