Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying Single, Compound And Cascading Climate Extremes: Implications For Agricultural Resilience In California, Shahryar Fazli, Wenzhao Li, Rejoice Thomas, Surendra Maharjan, Mohammad Sina Jahangiri, Andre Daccache, Hesham Morgan, Mohamed Allali, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

As climate change intensifies, extreme weather increasingly threatens California’s Central Valley (CV), a vital agricultural region exposed to rising risks from heatwaves (HW), droughts (DR), and compound extremes. These events disrupt crop productivity and broader processes like water demand, pest dynamics, and soil stability, posing systemic risks. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of HW, coldwaves (CW), DR, excessive rainfall (ER), and their compound (e.g., HWDR) and cascading forms from 1951 to 2025, using NOAA nClimGrid-Daily data. We assessed trends in frequency, intensity, and duration over long-term (1951–2025) and mid-term (1981–2025) periods. Results show increasing HW and DR in the …

A Machine Learning Framework For Classifying Lipids In Untargeted Metabolomics Using Mass-To-Charge Ratios And Retention Times., Christelle Colin-Leitzinger, Yonatan Ayalew Mekonnen, Isis Narvaez-Bandera, Vanessa Y. Rubio, Dalia Ercan, Eric A. Welsh, Lancia N F Darville, Min Liu, Hayley D. Ackerman, Julian Avila-Pacheco, Clary B. Clish, Kevin Hicks, John M. Koomen, Nancy Gillis, Brooke L. Fridley, Elsa R. Flores, Oana A. Zeleznik, Paul A. Stewart

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: The identification of unknown metabolites remains a major challenge in untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This process typically depends on comparing mass spectral or chromatographic data to reference databases or deciphering complex fragmentation in tandem mass spectra. While current machine learning methods can predict metabolite structures using MS/MS (MS2) data, no approaches, to our knowledge, use only mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and retention time (RT) from LC-MS data.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential of using the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and retention time (RT) from LC-MS data as standalone predictors for metabolite classification and propose a modeling framework which …

Soil Ph Analysis Of Pig Decomposition In Southeast Nebraska, Camryn Nelson, William Belcher

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigated the effects of a decomposing pig carcass on soil pH in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem of Southeast Nebraska, using pigs as proxies for human decomposition. The experiment spanned 171 days, encompassing decomposition stages from fresh to advanced decay. Soil samples were collected at regular intervals from four cardinal directions (north, east, south, west) and distances (0, 33, 66, and 100 cm) from the carcass to analyze changes in pH over time. Results indicated that decomposition significantly influenced soil pH, with the most dramatic changes occurring on the south side of the carcass, where the pig burst. pH …

Extraction And Optimization Of Flavonoids From Elaeagnus Pungens Thunb And Its Potential Impact On Blood Plasma Cholesterol In A Mouse Model, Qunqing Lu, Haozhe Liu, Xinxin Zhang, Nourhan Nassar, Ibrar Khan, Haji Gul, Zaigui Wang

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Elaeagnus pungens Thunb is a significant source of flavonoids with biological function. This study aims to develop orthogonal tests and alkali alcohol extraction methods for extracting flavonoids from leaves of E. pungens. The levels of factors in the orthogonal test were determined by pre-experiment, and the physiological efficacy was verified by the in vivo test. The results indicated that the optimal extraction yield was 4.07% when the solid-to-liquid ratio was 1:40, the concentration of ethanol was 60%, the extraction temperature was 80℃, and the extraction time was five h. The alkalialcohol extraction results demonstrated that the extraction yield of …

Secularization And Women's Rights Navigating The Legal, Economic And Social Impacts Of Gender Roles And Modernization In The United States, Isabella Rivera

Political Analysis

Isabella Rivera is a senior graduating in May of 2025 pursuing a dual Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religion through the Honors Program. Her research focuses on secularization in the United States, with a particular interest in its impact on women’s rights and religion, the central theme of her senior thesis. Inspired by the complex relationship between secularization and gender dynamics, she set out to examine how this cultural shift affects women, while also exploring the religious dimensions of this interplay. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding the intersections of politics, faith, and social change. …

Ai At Work: A Panel, Rich Busby, Lindsey Herlehy, Ashley Ott, Andrew Reif

Professional Learning Day

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how we work, teach, and collaborate. In this panel discussion, four IMSA staff members from different departments will share how they’re using AI in their daily roles—from streamlining workflows and enhancing communication to supporting teaching, learning, and operations. Join us to explore practical examples, lessons learned, and emerging ideas for how AI can help us work smarter and more creatively across the academy.

(Trans)Forming The “Epidemic Of Violence”: Lgbtq+ Police Liaisons And Transgender Victimization, Autumn Sanford

Georgia Criminal Law Review

Over the past twenty years, police departments across the country have instated LGBTQ+ liaisons in response to overwhelming rates of violence against the transgender and gender non-conforming community. Despite the creation of this position, rates of transgender victimization remain the same, with transgender people still being 2.5 times more likely to experience violence than a cisgender person. At-lanta Police Department’s LGBTQ+ liaison has existed since 2004, however, in this time, nearly twenty brutal mur-ders of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals have been reported in Atlanta, with three high-profile kill-ings occurring in 2023 alone. Based on these findings, this Note argues …

Ai And Neuroscience: Hope, Humbug, Or Hype, Dr.Ashwin Mohan

Professional Learning Day

This session explores the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and neuroscience. Through case studies, interactive discussion, and hands-on exploration, participants will gain an understanding of AI as a Co-Scientist, as well as how insights from neuroscience have and continue to inspire design of AI approaches. Attendees will explore practical applications where AI and neuroscience already meet (such as brain–computer interfaces, mental health technologies, and cognitive modeling); consider ethical, societal, and educational implications of merging these two powerful domains and aim to distinguish between genuine advances, exaggerated claims, and common misconceptions.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells As Cornerstones Of Regenerative Medicine: Mechanisms, Applications, And Future Perspectives, Hasan M. Agha, Mohammed A. Abdalqader, Jantson Hoh, Yacoub Wassouf, Khudhur Abbas Ahmed Al-Saadawi, Amjad Abdulhadi Mohammed, Muneer Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Regenerative medicine is a multidisciplinary domain focused on restoring, repairing, or replacing damaged tissues and organs by harnessing the body’s inherent healing abilities with sophisticated biological and technical techniques. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become fundamental among many stem cell types because to their self-renewal, multipotency, paracrine signaling, and immunomodulatory capabilities. Their therapeutic adaptability has been shown in orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurological, dermatological, and immune-mediated illnesses, underscoring their clinical significance. Nonetheless, obstacles like donor heterogeneity, senescence during in vitro growth, restricted engraftment, and regulatory impediments persist in limiting repeatability and broad clinical use. Recent advancements are enhancing the capabilities of MSCs …

Evaluating The Pros And Cons Of Common Dental Polymers In Dentistry: Review, Ali Kadhim Wadday, Sukaina Tuama Ghafel, Lina M. Shaker

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Dental polymers play a central role in modern dentistry, offering versatility in applications ranging from removable dentures and prosthetic frameworks to implant abutments and bioactive scaffolds. Common materials like PMMA, PEEK, and nylon are valued for their formability, cost-effectiveness, and aesthetic properties, while emerging biopolymers including chitosan and alginate offer promising biocompatible alternatives. However, both conventional and bio-based polymers exhibit limitations in terms of chemical stability, mechanical wear, and microbial adhesion. Recent advancements in polymer science have expanded the material palette through innovative biopolymer formulations and advanced surface engineering techniques such as antimicrobial coatings and nanocomposites, introducing novel solutions for …

Community College Students’ Perceptions Of Access And Barriers To Mental Health Supports, Kevin Paul Kuntz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this project study was that community college students are graduating at lower rates than the national average, despite the on-campus mental health services in place in the Midwestern United States. Grounded in Tronto’s framework of institutional ethic of care, the purpose of this study was to explore students’ perceptions of their access to and barriers to receiving mental health support in community colleges. For this basic qualitative design, 10 students who attended at least one semester at one community college were interviewed. The semistructured interviews were coded and thematically analyzed with the following themes emerging: Students …

Eksplorasi Seni Dalam Mengasah Pemikiran Kritis Di Pojok Baca Parudongka, Abellia Anggi Wardani

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

The transmigration program in Parudongka Village, which began in 2016, has brought forth a young generation facing limited infrastructure, including restricted access to learning resources. This condition underlies the establishment of Pojok Baca Parudongka as an art-based literacy space. The purpose of this study is to encourage critical thinking, foster the courage to ask questions, and enhance reading interest through interactive literacy activities. The research employs Freire’s (1968) cultural action theory framework, which emphasizes dialogue, praxis, and critical consciousness as means to achieve educational liberation. In addition, it adopts Conde’s (2021) art-based approach focusing on narrative inquiry, visual storytelling, and …

Altered Effort And Deconditioning Are Not Valid Explanations Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Todd E. Davenport, Carmen Scheibenbogen, Mark A. Zinn, Mary Dimmock, Janet Stone, Karl J. Tronstad, Øystein Fluge, Jonas Bergquist, Staci R. Stevens, David Tuller, Uta Behrends, J. Mark Van Ness, Mark A. Vink, Luis Nacul

Pacific Faculty Work

No abstract provided.

2025-10-17 Agenda Book, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

Agenda booklet for the Board of Regents meeting of October 17, 2025, which includes the minutes of the meeting held on August 8, 2025.

Bull Shark (Carcharihinus Leucas) Chondrocranium, Nicholas Burchett, Michelle Bassali, David W. Kerstetter, Roman Devlin

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Mini Journal Club For Undergrad Molecular Biology, Kimberly D. Rowland

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Students must engage the primary literature as individuals with confidence and reliability to pursue post-graduate careers in research and medicine. To help address this issue in a junior- and senior-level molecular biology lecture, an active-learning based Mini Journal Club is implemented for the duration of the course. After a viewing and discussion of a typical large-format journal club on video, the students each choose their own literature review “adventure” within set parameters. Class time is given to select and provide justification for choosing two original research articles that are interpreted and presented, after which the students analyze and organize their …

Secondary Posttraumatic Stress Education Within Graudate Counseling Programs, Brandi S. Colesanti Phd

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

Secondary posttraumatic stress is a known occupational hazard for mental health counselors. Affecting approximately 49.5% of practicing counselors, it is a normal reaction to indirectly experiencing graphic stories (Lanier & Carney, 2024). Due to underdeveloped coping skills and limited experience working with traumatized individuals, counselors in training are especially vulnerable to its impact. Extant literature contains studies exploring the effects of secondary posttraumatic stress on graduate students, made and recommendations for self-care, resilience strategies, and therapeutic interventions to be integrated into graduate counseling curriculum to mitigate symptoms. Although studies demonstrated the effectiveness of these recommendations on symptom mitigation, no formal …

Aging By Design, Bruce Vermeer

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"While we may be tempted to see aging as a loss, let us receive it as a gift that refines our faith, strengthens our witness, and deepens our longing to dwell forever with the Lord."

Posting about a ­­­­­­­­healthy perspective on getting older from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Aging by Design

The Relationship Between Income And Race With The Utilization Of Oral Health Services Among Older Adults, Mishael Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral health disparities continue to present a significant public health challenge for older adults in the United States, particularly among racial minority and low-income populations. Despite national discussions around healthcare equity, there remains limited empirical insight into how race and income influence dental service utilization among Medicare beneficiaries. In this quantitative, cross-sectional study, the extent to which these demographic factors predicted oral healthcare utilization, using nationally representative data from the 2021 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, was assessed. Guided by the social determinants of health framework, chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and negative binomial regression were performed to analyze the data. …

Exploring The Black Woman Experience Related To Sexual Practice, Sexual Identity, And Sexual Expression: A Qualitative Study, Ashley V. Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study revealed the complex interplay between personal identities and social constructs, focusing on Black-identifying women and their lived experiences with sex, sexuality, and sexual expression. Over centuries, societal influences depicted Black women as hypersexual, simultaneously exposing them to criticism, shame, and judgment for their sexual expression and meaning-making related to sex and sexuality. Consequently, Black women remain a high-risk demographic for unsafe sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections. Using intersectionality theory and Black feminist theory, this study explored how Black-identifying women give meaning to sex, sexuality, and sexual expression as they shape the Black feminine experience. I sought to …

The Diamond, October 17, 2025, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Raiders Stand Down - Dordt Football Defeats Northwestern for First Time in Program History; Dordt Data Breach Ongoing; Archive Artifacts - Hulst Library Receives Historical Religious Texts
• Feature: Small Bug, Big Bite - No-See-Um Season at Dordt; Music After Midnight; Staying Home; Dr. Dave Mulder Publishes Book on AI in Education; College Coffee Culture in Sioux County; Crossing Borders - Joe Bakker's Journey as an Online and In-Person Educator; Gen Z Men Trending Toward Christianity
• Politics: The Tylenol Debate - Does it Really Cause Autism?; The Federal Government Shuts Down; Students Anticipate Midterm Elections
• News …

International Consensuses And Guidelines On Diagnosing And Managing Coats Disease By The Academia Retina Internationalis (Ari), The Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society (Apvrs), And The Academy Of The Asia-Pacific Professors Of Ophthalmology (Aappo)), Meenakshi Mahesh, Nishant V. Radke, Rupesh Agrawal, Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam, Jyotirmay Biswas, Vishali Gupta, Mary Ho, Min Kim, Vinod Kumar, Shunji Kusaka, Wai Ching Lam, Vincent Y. W. Lee, Hai Lu, Francis L. Munier, Duangnate Rojanaporn, Chi Wai Tsang, Wei-Chi Wu, Yoshihiro Yonekawa, Peiquan Zhao, Mahesh P. Shanmugam, Dennis S. C. Lam

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Coats disease is a rare, retinal vascular disorder characterized by telangiectasias, aneurysmal dilations, and progressive exudative retinal detachment. Limited understanding of the disease warranted the need to identify controversial issues through an extensive literature search and a debate and discussion among international panels of experts.

METHODS: Extensive literature search was done on multiple aspects of the disease-classification patterns, disease, Coats-plus, and Coats-like response. Other key factors included the etiology, possible genetic patterns, relationship with other vascular disorders, the role of inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis, diagnostic features, and complications. Considering the varying treatment …

Association Between Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Obesity, And Diagnosis Of Covid-19 In Puerto Rico, Julian Rene Rivera Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The population of Puerto Rico has been heavily affected by chronic diseases; however, data remains limited on the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and obesity on the probability of COVID-19 diagnosis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the association between non-communicable diseases that included DM, obesity, hypertension, and COVID-19 diagnosis, controlling for age and sex and person exposure in Puerto Rico. The sample consisted of 1,463 participants who underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Results from adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses established that obesity OR …

Regorafenib Pulmonary Toxicity: A Case Of Cavitary Lung Disease And Ards Treated With Infliximab, Michael Dong, Mackenzie Kramer, Tanmay Gandhi, Gautam George

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

Regorafenib-induced pneumonitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are rare and poorly characterized toxicities. We describe a 43-year-old male with metastatic colorectal cancer who developed hypoxic respiratory failure after two cycles of regorafenib. Imaging revealed cavitary lung lesions and diffuse ground glass opacities. Despite antibiotics and high-dose corticosteroids, his condition deteriorated, requiring ICU admission and mechanical ventilation. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed bacterial pathogens, and he was treated for pneumonia. After multidisciplinary discussion, he was assessed to have regorafenib-induced pneumonitis as a major driver of his respiratory failure, and after limited steroid response, infliximab was administered with marked respiratory improvement. However, he …

Animal Behavior Observation As A Gateway To Scientific Inquiry For Non-Majors, April A. Watson

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Undergraduate science educators often face challenges when designing hands-on assignments that are both engaging and accessible for non-science majors. These challenges are heightened in today’s varied course structures, which may be in person, online, or hybrid, and in formats ranging from four to sixteen weeks. In compressed courses, the need for meaningful yet straightforward research experiences are especially pressing. At Lynn University, the Scientific Literacy course meets daily for two and a half hours over four weeks. To provide authentic research within this time frame, I implemented animal behavior observation projects. Students are introduced to ad libitum and focal animal …

Visualization Of Lysosomal Membrane Proteins By Cryo Electron Tomography, Bridget M Mcveigh, José J De Jesús-Pérez, Dirk H Siepe, Prerana Gogoi, Shrawan Kumar Mageswaran, Marian Kalocsay, Elaine M Mihelc, Vera Y Moiseenkova-Bell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lysosomes are essential organelles for cellular homeostasis and signaling, with dysfunction linked to neurological disorders, lysosomal storage diseases, and cancer. While proteomics has advanced our understanding of lysosomal composition, the structural characterization of lysosomal membrane proteins in their native environment remains a significant challenge. Here, we developed a cryo electron tomography workflow to visualize lysosomal membrane proteins within intact, native lysosomal membranes. We isolated endolysosomes by independently targeting two lysosomal membrane proteins, transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 and transmembrane protein 192, enriching organelles that exhibited the expected morphology and proteomic composition of the endolysosomal system. Sub-tomogram averaging enabled the structural …

A Metacognitive Strategy To Improve Lab Report Writing, Cassandra S. Korte, Melissa Lehman

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Laboratory report writing is an essential skill to the emerging STEM researcher. However, students report confusion regarding the structure of such reports and find the experience of writing to be frustrating. One mechanism to improve student success is through comparison and reflection— important metacognitive strategies. To that end, we implemented a pair of laboratory class assignments employing comparison and reflective strategies on lab report writing. In these assignments students are provided with examples of previous student writing and they compare the effectiveness of each report section for strengths and weaknesses. After completion of the comparison activity, students then examine their …

Cep76 Impairment At The Centrosome-Cilium Interface Contributes To A Spectrum Of Ciliopathies, Kamal Khan, Erika Tavares, Katherine Bishara, Aysegul Ozanturk, Leila Qebibo, Stephan Frangakis, Daniel G Calame, Isabelle Meunier, Béatrice Bocquet, Rafal Ploski, Mohammad Ayman Al Khateeb, Dana Marafi, Luke Mansard, Lena Damaj, Richard A Lewis, Farid Ullah, Thomas Arbogast, Jackson P Ogden, Madeleine Harion, Marjolaine Willems, Maha S Zaki, Tobias Bartolomaeus, Anne-Françoise Roux, James R Lupski, Malgorzata Rydzanicz, Rami Abou Jamra, Francis Ramond, Elise Heon, Lydie Burglen, Erica E Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dysfunction at the centrosome-cilium interface underlies a broad range of ciliopathies. Here, we identify biallelic variants in CEP76, encoding a centrosomal protein, in eight unrelated individuals presenting with neurodevelopmental, ocular, and variable additional multisystem features. Proband-derived fibroblasts and CEP76-depleted RPE1 cells display ciliary deficits, including impaired cilium formation and length, disrupted transition zone architecture, and impaired IFT88-mediated anterograde intraflagellar transport. Zebrafish cep76 mutants recapitulate key clinical phenotypes, and in vitro complementation assays confirm pathogenicity for all tested human disease-associated variants. Proteomics analysis identifies CEP76 interactors, including known partners CCP110 and CEP97, and highlights clinically and functionally relevant candidates, including …

Personalized Frontline Therapy In Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Integrating Circulating Tumor Dna For Real-Time Adaptive Treatment Stratification, Vasisht Karri, Samir Dalia

Student Publications

This review analyzed approximately 115 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025, focusing on molecular subtyping and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-guided approaches in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). Evidence was synthesized from retrospective cohorts, prospective clinical trials, and translational studies, highlighting how molecular heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and the tumor microenvironment complicate classification and treatment. While molecular subtypes such as MCD, BN2, EZB, A53, and ST2 have improved prognostication, their routine use in clinical practice remains limited due to cost, complexity, and restricted access to sequencing platforms. Tumor-informed ctDNA assays show promise for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring and adaptive therapy, …

Field Test And Evaluation Of A Smart Sprayer For Precision Weeding, Boyang Deng, Yuzhen Lu, Mark Siemens, Daniel Brainard

Symposium of Digital Agriculture

Weeds remain a major biological threat to agriculture, reducing crop yields and causing substantial economic losses. Conventional blanket herbicide applications are costly, environmentally damaging, and accelerate the evolution of herbicide resistance. Machine vision–based precision weeding offers a sustainable alternative by enabling site-specific weed localization and removal. This study advances plant perception through YOLOv10 detection models and leverages a 1-cm nozzle array to achieve precise weed targeting that maximizes treatment efficacy while minimizing crop contact. A dedicated weed–crop dataset curated from vegetable fields further enhances model performance. Field testing was conducted in a lettuce field, and it achieved an average 80.0% …