Digital Commons Network^™

Innovator - Fall 2025

Innovator

06 - Message From the President

08 - Time Machine

10 - News

24 - Nureed Saeed ‘99

28 - Cell Mates

32 - Robert C. Sergott, MD

36 - Working Smarter

42 - Question & Innovate

44 - Alumni Impact

48 - Leeor Gal ‘19

50 - Class Notes

56 - In Memory

58 - Trivia

Innovator - Fall 2023

Innovator

06 - Get to Know Jefferson's Interim President

08 - Leadership Announcements

10 - Time Machine

14 - The Nexus

22 - Climate Change on Your Block

30 - Humana and Jefferson

34 - Question & Innovate

38 - Caffeinated Creativity

42 - Alumni Impact

46 - Ram RoundUp

50 - Brotherhood's Enduring Legacy

56 - Class Notes

60 - In Memory

62 - Trivia

Biosensors For Biomedicine, Drake O'Leary

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This project investigated the use of engineered bacterial reporter systems to detect cellular stress responses associated with antibiotic activity. While constructs were successfully introduced and tested against known antibiotics, the reporter consistently produced a blue signal across conditions, limiting the ability to distinguish specific stress responses. This suggests issues such as leaky expression, insufficient regulatory control, or lack of specificity in the reporter design. Although results were inconclusive, this work highlights key challenges in developing reliable biosensors and provides a foundation for future optimization. Improving signal specificity and reducing background expression will be critical for enabling accurate characterization of antibiotic …

Optimizing Duckweeds Harvesting Strategies To Maximize Nutrient Recovery And Its Role As A Phytosensor In Different Water Sources While Maximizing Sustainable Biomass Growth, Basma Ghannam

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis is concerned with determining the optimal water treatment and harvesting strategy for Lemna minor duckweed plants. The main objective of this thesis is to examine how duckweed plants grow in terms of biomass, photosynthetic activity, leaf morphology, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and their efficiency in nutrient removal from different water sources. The methodology of the study included assessing duckweed in three water samples including tap water, saline water, and greywater and three harvesting strategies, including low, medium, and high harvesting intensities to determine their growth and nutrient removal efficiency. The results of the study showed that L.minor grown …

Asphalt Pavement Rejuvenation Investigated By Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry, Catherine Skaggs

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Asphalt is a relatively inexpensive material commonly used for road pavements; however, asphalt ages from exposure to oxygen and UV radiation, leading to loss of elasticity, which leads to cracks and potholes. To slow or reverse asphalt aging, pavement preservation treatments are in use. It’s unclear whether these treatments truly rejuvenate the pavement structure or merely offer a short-term benefit. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry is an analytical technique that uses the recovery of excited nuclear magnetization as a parameter to gain insights into molecular environments. Recovery-time distributions gathered from asphalt materials show differences between regular and rejuvenated asphalt samples, …

Quantifying The Impact Of Mobile Distractions On College Students' Attention Performance, Sonipriya Paul, Jessica L. Bolton, Ashwin Ashok

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

This research identifies that it is important to understand how humans sustain and recover attention to their primary activity amid mobile device interruptions. In this paper, we present our key findings and insights from an user-study based measurement of attention performance of graduate students. Ten participants (graduate students) independently completed attention tasks in an office environment (with no background noise) while receiving periodic messages (distraction), with continuous data recording on a wearable electroencephalography (EEG) headset. The attention tasks were designed in line with the standard GO/NO-GO test from psychology domain. Our experimentation included three variations of the GO/NO-GO test and …

The Lost World Of Thomas Jefferson, Daniel Boorstin

Hannah Arendt Marginalia - All

Boston : Beacon Press, 1960.

Call # : B878 .B6 1960

Contains marginalia, underlining, marginal lining and endpaper notes

PDF Information : 10.2 MB, 28 Pages

Validating Endosomal Antibodies For Use In Immunofluorescence Assays In A Cell-Based Model Of Prader Willi Syndrome, Hayden O'Dell

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare progressive metabolic disease characterized by a wide range of behavioral and cognitive defects, most notably severe hyperphagia. The disorder is caused by the complete loss of some paternally inherited genes on chromosome 15q11-q13, resulting in endocrine dysfunction and a loss of control over feeding behaviors. Among the deleted genes within this region is MAGEL2. Our lab recently characterized a paternally deficient MAGEL2 rat model of PWS, discovering a defect in pituitary secretory capacity that is consistent with the impaired vesicular trafficking and secretion observed in PWS patients. To further characterize the defects in vesicular …

Ai Adoption Tensions For Organ Procurement Organizations, Joely Grace Hall

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve efficiency in healthcare, yet its adoption remains limited, with only 22% of healthcare organizations having implemented domain-specific AI tools. Adoption may be especially complex in specialized domains such as organ transplantation, where ethical, legal, and operational challenges are dominant. This study examined factors influencing AI acceptance within Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), focusing on technological, organizational, and environmental contexts.

Semi-structured interviews with 16 OPO executives from 10 OPOs revealed key tensions shaping AI adoption. We identified five tensions that are holding back OPO leaders from AI adoption, (1) misconceptions, (2) training approach, (3) …

Community Dynamics In Urban Ponds Could Be Influenced By Artificial Habitats, Keagan Miller, Uma Adrianna Misra

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Urban ponds are subject to nutrient influxes from stormwater runoff, and blooms of harmful algae can develop in response. One management strategy includes deployment of Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) or floating mats of aquatic plants designed to maximize uptake of nutrients to plant biomass. An understudied component of these artificial systems is their potential to provide microhabitat for aquatic biota. This study focused on the intersection of aquatic insect communities and fish presence between natural and artificial habitat types. Insect communities were found to be weakly dissimilar between habitat types (ANOSIM: R=0.254, p=0.048). Specifically, Anisoptera and Zygoptera were absent or …

Cross Correlation-Based Physiological Synchronization For Multi-Modal Wearable Cognitive Stress Monitoring System, Fariha Alam, Nora Tin, Razvan Voicu

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Cognitive stress arises from sustained mental demand, information overload, or task complexity, and requires continuous monitoring for timely detection and intervention in real-world settings. It produces subtle physiological changes, including shifts in heart rate and autonomic activity that require continuous monitoring to detect reliably. Wearable sensors such as photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrodermal activity (EDA) enable non-invasive tracking of these responses. However, multi-modal sensor integration remains challenging, as hardware or software-level synchronization does not consider the physiological response delays. To address this, the study collected PPG and EDA sensor data from ten participants under two cognitive stress-inducing conditions. After preprocessing, heart …

Agripestdatabase-V1.0: A Structured Insect Dataset For Training Agricultural Large Language Model, Yagizhan Bilal Durak, Ashley Morgan-Olvera, Ahsan Ul Islam, Iftekhar Ibne Basith, Shahidul Islam, Syed Hasib Akhter Faruqui

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Agricultural pest management increasingly relies on timely and accurate access to expert knowledge, yet high quality labeled data and continuous expert support remain limited, particularly for farmers operating in rural regions with unstable or no internet connectivity. At the same time, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) has created new opportunities to deliver practical decision support tools directly to end users in agriculture through compact and deployable systems. This work addresses (i) generating a structured insect information dataset to be used for LLM training, and (ii) adapting a lightweight LLM model (<= 7B) by fine tuning it for possible future edge device uses in agricultural pest management. The textual data collection was done by reviewing and collecting information from available pest databases and published manuscripts on nine selected pest species. These structured reports were then reviewed and validated by a domain expert. From these reports, we constructed question-answer (Q/A) pairs to support model training and evaluation. A LoRA-based fine-tuning approach was applied to multiple lightweight LLMs and evaluated. Initial evaluation shows that Mistral 7B achieves an 88.9% pass rate on the domain-specific Q/A task, substantially outperforming Qwen 2.5 7B (63.9%), and LLaMA 3.1 8B (58.7%). Notably, Mistral demonstrates higher semantic alignment (embedding similarity: 0.865) despite lower lexical overlap (BLEU: 0.097), indicating that semantic understanding and robust reasoning are more predictive of task success than surface-level conformity to reference text in specialized domains. By combining expert organized data, well structured Q/A pairs, semantic quality control, and efficient model adaptation, this work contributes towards providing support for farmer facing agricultural decision support tools and demonstrates the feasibility of deploying compact, high-performing language models for practical field-level pest management guidance.

2026 Spring Quiz & Quill Magazine, English Department

Quiz and Quill

Table of Contents:

• Front Cover: The Patriarch by Rachel Malek
• Letter from the Editors by Freddie Borer & Wrenne Grone
• Running Out of Steam by Rachel Malek
• 10/20 by Julia Tenbusch
• An Ode to South Bend the Home That Never Was by Anna Leslein
• I Am Wanted by Maya Sivillo
• Two Decades and More... by Liticia Makhloufi
• Inner Conflict by Liticia Makhloufi
• June 14th by Grace McKenney
• No Expectations by Anna Leslein
• Ode to Carelessness by Gracie Barton
• Season of Gratitude by Julia Tenbusch
• Wired Words by Liticia Makhloufi
• Picking Bugs Out of Ayesha Erotica's Hair in the Backseat by …

An Overview Of Herpetofauna Surveys At Fort Leavenworth Military Reserve., Zane Smith, Sandra Guzman-Duran

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Herpetofauna surveys focused on Crayfish Frog, Spring Peeper, Eastern Tiger Salamander, Red-Bellied Snake, and Smooth Earth Snake were conducted concurrently with Bush Honeysuckle removal projects on the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation.  Survey techniques included coverboard arrays, adaptive hunt drift fences, traditional pit fall traps and visual encounter surveys and were conducted between May and August in 2024 and 2025. The survey effort resulted in the detection of one of the target species, the Smooth Earth Snake. Based on our survey results we are confident that the Crayfish frog and Spring Peeper do not occur on Fort Leavenworth Military Reserve, but …

When The Weeds Strike Back: Rethinking Aphis's Regulation Of Genetically Engineered Plants Post-National Family Farm Coalition V. Vilsack, Reagan Powers

Celebrating WCL Student Authors

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Moral Potency On Employee Fraud Motive In Organizations, John Kopalchick Iii

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study examined the drivers of employee fraud behavior. The theory of planned behavior served as the foundation for understanding how moral potency related to employee fraud motive. A sample of 102 auditors and audit-related professionals completed a survey on fraudsters’ behavioral traits. Using quantitative, nonexperimental methods, this study employed correlational and predictive statistical tests to examine the relationship between moral potency and employee fraud motive. Results showed no significant relationship between moral potency and employee fraud motive. The study filled a gap by applying quantitative methods, specifically the employee fraud motive scale, to understand employee fraud behavior in a …

A Care-Centred Approach To Ai In Education To Cultivate Academic Confidence And Motivation, Izabella Sabharwal De Bessenyey

The International Journal of Ethical Leadership Special Volumes

No abstract provided.

Casa Milá As A Sensory Laboratory A Neuroarchitectural Approach To Gaudí'S Modernism, María Beltrán Rodríguez, Chloe Sharpe, Alejandro Martínez González, Ivette Caldelas

Artículos científicos

This paper examines Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Milà (La Pedrera) through the lens of neuroarchitecture, exploring how form, light, and texture shape perception and emotional response. Integrating architectural analysis with neuroscience, it proposes an experimental framework combining EEG, eye-tracking, and behavioral data to assess spatial experience within immersive environments. By linking formal complexity to cognitive and physiological responses, the study reveals how Gaudí’s architecture transcends aesthetics to engage the brain’s sensory and emotional systems. The approach positions his work as a bridge between art, science, and urban creativity, expanding our understanding of architecture as a multisensory cognitive phenomenon.

2025-2026 Undergraduate Academic Honors, Concordia University, St. Paul

Academic Honors

No abstract provided.

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - April 2026, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Neuroplasticity And Motor Recovery After Stroke: How Timing, Dosage, And Behavioral Practice Shape Rehabilitation Outcomes, Seth Taukolo

Mentorship Program 2025-2026

No abstract provided.

Bard Observer Vol. 24 No.5 (April 2026), Bard College

Bard Observer, 2020 - 2029

No abstract provided.

Entomo-Composting Of Plantain Stems Using Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Kl Njoku, Cj Okonkwo, Cd Okoye

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

Food safety and security are major global concerns. Given the growing global population and limited available resources, a sustainable and stable food supply is essential. An environmentally friendly soil amendment (compost) is required to improve soil fertility and food security. This study investigated the use compost of Black Soldier fly larvae as natural substitutes for artificial fertilizers. The research was conducted by feeding different proportions of Black Soldier Fly larvae either plantain stem or a mixture of plantain stem and with plantain stem and plantain stem mixed with cow dung for 21 days. The amount of nutrients in the compost …

Rollins Oral History Interview With Eltavious Johnson ’26 And Joseph Pool ’26, Eltavious Johnson, Joseph Pool, Wenxian Zhang

Oral Histories

Eltavious Johnson '26 ’28 MHR is a Bahamian-born higher education professional, musician, and community leader dedicated to building relationships that inspire growth and opportunity. A graduate of Rollins College with degrees in Communication Studies and Music, and beginning Graduate Studies in the Master of Human Resources program Fall '26, he currently serves in Institutional Advancement as a frontline fundraiser for athletics, connecting alumni, parents, and friends of the College to its mission and future. During his time at Rollins, Johnson served as Student Government Association President, represented students on the Presidential Search Committee, Managed the Rollins Men's Tennis team to …

Completions 2025-26, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

IPEDS

Welcome to the IPEDS Completions survey component. The Completions component is one of several IPEDS components that is conducted during the Fall data collection period. Itcollects the number of degrees and certifi cates awarded by fi eld of study, level of award, race/ethnicity, and sex. The reporting period for the Completions component is during the 12-month time period beginning July 1 of the previous calendar year and ending June 30 of the current calendar year; therefore, for this year’s Completions component, the reportingperiod is between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. The Completions component is also collecting the number …

Why We Should Care About Lgbtqia+ Aging, Breana Bietsch

Bridgewater Review

As a gerontological social worker, I aim to support the health of older adults. I want to dispel myths about ageism in our society, advocate for better health equity within our social systems, and support the dignity and worth of older adults in our communities. I also want our students, as well as broader fellow community members in our society, to understand that to respect people who are aging is to respect themselves. I always say to folks that describe their age, especially on their birthdays, that it is a new day, a new opportunity, a new age to grow …

2026 Commencement Program - Spring, Morehead State University. Registrar's Office.

Morehead State Commencement Programs

2026 Spring Commencement program for Morehead State University.

Investigating The Role Of Sk-3 Interval I401 In Gene Drive By Neurospora Spore Killer-3, Alexandra Spriggs

Senior Theses – Biological Sciences

Neurospora crassa is a fungus that has been used to study genetics, more specifically, meiotic gene drive through its spore killing abilities. Meiotic drive describes a process in which selfish genetic elements bias Mendelian genetics to increase transmission to their offspring, eliminating any alleles that are sensitive. The spore killing mechanism of Neurospora’s Spore killer-3 (Sk-3) is an example of how meiotic drive works through a poison-antidote model. The Sk-3 genetic element consists of both a killing (poison) gene and a resistance (antidote) gene. The location of the resistance gene has been identified while the killing gene has not. To …

Investigating The Role Of Interval I402 On Sk-3-Based Spore Killing And Gene Drive In Neurospora Crassa, Ellana Tobin

Senior Theses – Biological Sciences

Neurospora crassa is a useful model organism for genetic research due to its haploid life cycle and its ability to produce large numbers of sexual spores called ascospores. The haploid ascospores form within asci, which typically contain eight ascospores at maturity. However, selfish genetic elements known as meiotic gene drivers have been discovered in Neurospora fungi, and some of these alter the number of viable ascospores that form in each ascus. There are two known meiotic gene drivers in N. crassa: Spore killer-2 (Sk-2) and Spore killer-3 (Sk-3). Spore killing occurs when a killer strain mates with a sensitive …

Kenyon Alumni Magazine - Spring/Summer 2026

Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin

No abstract provided.