Digital Commons Network^™

Forget-Them-Nots: Ageism, Autonomy, And Dementia In Speech-Language Pathology, Grace Bailey

Graduate Publications

The following qualitative single-case design study investigates the manner in which autonomy is negotiated and supported in dementia care with particular emphasis on communication. Observational data and semi-structured interviews provided raw data that was coded, themed, and interpreted to better understand how decisions were made among the patient with dementia, the caregiver, and her healthcare team. Results fell into two themes where autonomy was limited or autonomy was active, illustrating the continuous negotiation process. Findings indicate that autonomy is relational, directly affected by the individual, their care team, and their corresponding prejudices. Findings also indicate that the removal of autonomy …

First High-Quality Genome Assembly Of Umbelopsis Nana Isolated From Forest Soil, Ryuka Iizuka, Tomohiro Suzuki, Nozomu Watanabe, Javier F. Tabima, David Hibbett, Yoko Katayama, Makoto Yoshida

Biology

Species of the genus Umbelopsis are ubiquitous soil saprotrophic fungi known for their role in ecological nutrient cycling and biotechnological potential in lipid production. Here, we present the genome assembly of Umbelopsis sp. strain THIF13, which is characterized by its capability to produce carbonyl sulfide. Using PacBio Sequel long-read data, a high-quality genome assembly was generated comprising 18 contigs totaling 27.2 Mb, which is larger than other Umbelopsis genomes, with an N50 of 1.77 Mb. Notably, 16 contigs were flanked by telomeric repeats at both ends. The assembly showed high completeness, with 98.1% complete Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs and 11.15% …

Structural Basis Of Anthocyanin-Mediated Modulation Of Il-2, Il-17, And Tnf-Α: A Docking And Molecular Dynamics Study, Andrey Bogoyavlenskiy, Adolat Manakbayeva, Timur Kerimov, Igor Yershov, Madina Alexyuk, Pavel Alexyuk, Vladimir Berezin, Vyacheslav Dushenkov

Publications and Research

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring flavonoid pigments widely distributed in plants and are recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their potential immunomodulatory effects remain poorly characterized, particularly regarding their direct interactions with key signaling cytokines. In this study, a set of selected anthocyanins was investigated using a hierarchical computational workflow targeting three major pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Molecular docking analyses identified primulin and antirrhinin as the most favorable binders, forming stabilizing hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions within predicted cytokine interaction interfaces. To further assess the stability of these …

Alabama Prairie Reconstruction: Comparing Management Pathways For A Southeastern Landscape, Cecelia R. Geyer

Theses

Southeastern prairies are highly biodiverse yet increasingly threatened by land-use change, fire suppression, and habitat fragmentation. These disturbance-dependent systems rely on periodic fire and grazing to maintain plant diversity and ecosystem function. This study evaluates prairie restoration strategies by testing predictions from the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis and the Patch Mosaic Burn Hypothesis. The study site was divided into three treatments: prescribed burned only (B), prescribed burned with mowing (BM) to simulate grazing, and an undisturbed control (C). A standardized mix of native plant seeds was broadcast across all treatments. Ecosystem health and function were evaluated using plant community diversity and …

Navigating Pre-Conception Agreements In Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Comparative Analysis Of Judicial Approaches And The Case For A Uniform Statutory Framework In Ohio, Sydney Meadows

University of Dayton Law Review

No abstract provided.

Panorama Spring 2026, Southern Adventist University

Panorama Parent Newsletter

This printed issue of Panorama includes information on student success, a mission spotlight, and an update on student life.

Columns Spring 2026, Southern Adventist University

Alumni Newsletter

The Spring 2026 issue of Columns features articles about Southern's new mission statement, living memoirs, and a new student led ministries.

Muscle Atrophy After Acl Reconstruction Involves Molecular Mechanisms Beyond Unloading, Alexander R. Keeble, Gonzalez Velez Sara, Nicholas T. Thomas, Allison M. Owen, Austin V. Stone, Darren L. Johnson, Julián Candia, Luigi Ferrucci, Marco Narici, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden, Brian Noehren, Martino V. Franchi, Christopher S. Fry

Physiology Faculty Publications

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) leads to profound muscle atrophy and weakness that remain resistant to rehabilitation. Although early recovery typically involves a brief period of limb unloading, the degree to which disuse alone accounts for muscle pathology after ACLR remains unclear. Here, we leveraged publicly available RNA-seq datasets of muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis obtained 7 days after ACLR or 10 days after unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS), each with matched control limbs, to directly compare disuse-driven and ACLR-specific early transcriptional responses. Despite similar periods of reduced loading, substantial transcriptomic divergence was identified using both intersection and interaction bioinformatic …

Generated Wills And Responsible Ai Use In Estate Law, Collin Peters

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

Generative AI tools have been increasingly used by corporations and individuals to create documents quickly and cheaply based on short human inputs. The coming of widely accessible and cheap-to-use generative AI tools introduces the possibility of firms or lay testators using AI to generate wills. However, the risks of using AI to generate wills are largely unexplored and have not received much regulatory attention nor discussion in the literature. As a result, the question of how to manage the risks of AI-generated wills in a way that ensures their safe, accessible, and productive use has largely gone unaddressed. This article …

From Software To Models: Rethinking Open Source In The Age Of Generative Ai, Dana Beldiman

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

Open-source software (OSS), a form of distributed and collaborative software development rooted in the ethos of early computer science, has evolved into an essential component of modern digital infrastructure. This article asks whether open source will assume a similarly transformative role within the emerging technological paradigm of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Generative AI differs fundamentally from software: its constituent artifacts, architectures, generative capacities, and deployment contexts are distinct and substantially more complex. Despite these differences, foundation models continue to be released under licenses originally designed for software, which may not constitute a valid transfer of rights in the generative AI …

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: A Narrative Review Of Disparities Between Black And White Women In The United States And Strategies For Improvement, Lynne Li, Jessica Schlewitt

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an inflammatory syndrome of the upper female reproductive organs caused by infection, most commonly via Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis, spreading to one or more reproductive organs. With PID responsible for many of the major morbidities of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain, the urgency is high to mitigate the impacts of untreated PID, especially in higher-risk populations. This paper discusses the current disparities in PID diagnosis, treatment, and management between Black and white women and proposes interventions to reduce health inequalities involving PID. To conduct this narrative review, …

Comparing Mercury Accumulation And The Macroalgal Microbiome Between Coastal And Estuarine Populations Of Sea Lettuce (Ulva Spp.), Shelby Cora Penn

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in marine environments. Most research on mercury cycling in the ocean focuses on pelagic food webs, leaving a gap in knowledge regarding macroalgal-based food webs. Seaweed from the genus Ulva is globally distributed in marine and brackish habitats, accumulating metals and toxins with minimal impact on the host. While the mechanisms behind Ulva's tolerance to marine pollution are unclear, studies suggest that the macroalgal microbiome may play a crucial role. This study investigates how collection location influences mercury uptake and bacterial community composition in Ulva. Estuarine and coastal Ulva were exposed …

Evaluation Of Prosthetic And Orthotic Technologies Using Ai Technology, Iris Reyna, Samerial Brown, Gary Guerra, Ed Khu

Posters - 2026

Individuals with lower limb prosthetics have amputations and abnormal limb motions, which poses a high risk of injury when doing everyday activities. In this field, evaluation of individuals' prosthetics are done through biomechanical analysis and gait analysis. This analysis is used to study human movement and evaluate the mobility and quality of life of amputee patients as well as determining the modifications, positioning, and alignment needed to ensure stability with prosthetic and orthotic technologies (Kumar & Bhowmik, 2024). Trunk flexion has importance to the study because of its impact on lower limb kinetics, kinematics, the increase of ground reaction forces, …

The Association Between Apoe Ε4 Carrierships And The Detection Of Amyloid Positivity Using An Alzheimer's Disease Proteomic Blood Test In Asymptomatic Down Syndrome, Lubnaa Badriyyah Abdullah, Fan Zhang, Melissa Petersen, James Hall, Benjamin L. Handen, Mark Mapstone, Brad Christian, Elizabeth Head, Sigan Harley, Howard Andrews, Joseph H. Lee, Dana Tudorascu, Christy Hom, Shahid Zaman, Adam M. Brickman, Diana Rosas, Annie Cohen, Jordan P. Harp, Frederick Schmitt, Lauren Ptomey, Jeffrey M. Burns, Ira T. Lott, Florence Lai, Charles Laymon, Carlos Cruchaga, Sid O'Bryant, Beau M. Ances

Neurology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates plasma-based proteomic profiles for predicting amyloid positivity in adults with Down syndrome (DS) and examines the impact of apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) on test performance. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 290 adults with DS were analyzed using single molecule array (SIMOA) technology to measure plasma amyloid beta (Aβ)42, Aβ40, neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau phosphorylated at threonine 181, and total tau. Amyloid burden was quantified using Pittsburgh Compound B and (18)F-florbetapir Aβ positron emission tomography. Support vector machine analyses were conducted with biomarkers as predictors and age, sex, and APOE ε4 …

The Effects Of Cannabis Use On Physical Activity, Nitya Chiru, Brionna L. Smith, Karen L. Cropsey, Elizabeth K. Lee

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Poster Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences

Improving Cannabis Sativa's Phytoremediation Capabilities Of Forever Chemicals Through Microbial Inoculations, Tyler S. Jolin

All NMU Master's Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants that pose ecological and human health risks due to their resistance to degradation and potential for bioaccumulation. Phytoremediation has emerged as a potential strategy for mitigating PFAS contamination, and plant-microbe interactions may influence contaminant uptake and transport within plant systems. These studies investigated microbial inoculation methods and examined whether Bacillus subtilis could influence the uptake and distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in hydroponically grown hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Plant height and stem diameter growth rates and biomass accumulation were compared across treatments with and without PFOS exposure and microbial inoculation. PFOS …

News From Hope College, Volume 57.3: Spring 2026, Hope College

News from Hope College

No abstract provided.

Space-Time Analysis Of Burgeoning Us Atrial Septal Defect Rates Driven By Cannabis, Albert Stuart Reece, Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Atrial septal defect (ASD) has become increasingly common in the USA and now affects 1 in 11.3 children in some places, but space–time analysis has not been applied to this emerging trend. ASD rate (ASDR) data were obtained from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network 2003–2020. Substance (cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, analgesics, cocaine) use data were obtained from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Income data were obtained from the US Census. Analysis was limited to the Non-Hispanic White population by technical factors. Time-sequential univariate and bivariate maps were prepared for both covariates and outcomes and their combinations. Spatial …

Comparative Evaluation Of Five Bacterial Strains For The Fermentation Of Camel Milk, Sifatun Nesa Ali

Theses

In this study, the comparative fermentation performance of lactic acid bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lb. helveticus, Lb. casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Camel Milk (CM) and Bovine Milk (BM) was investigated. Fermentations were carried out at 42°C for 48 hours, and was monitored through bacterial growth, titratable acidity, pH evolution, proteolytic activity, microstructural properties, and rheological characteristics. Although comparable bacterial viability was observed in CM and BM, acidification kinetics varied significantly between CM and BM (p < 0.05). Proteolysis was significantly higher in fermented CM than in BM (p < 0.001), with consistently greater o-Phthalaldehyde Assay (OPA) values in CM across all strains during fermentation (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy revealed more porous, loose protein matrices in fermented CM than in BM, which supports the rheological results showing weaker gel networks and lower rheological strength in fermented CM. Among the tested bacteria, Lb. casei demonstrated superior adaptability, enhanced viability, balanced acidification, and favorable rheological properties in both milks. Overall, the results of this thesis demonstrate strain-specific fermentation responses and support the possible suitability of different starter cultures for improving the technological performance of fermented camel milk products.

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

Theses

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 assess their growth and nutrient removal efficiency. The results of the study showed that L. minor …

Altered Pruning In A Generative Neural Network, Sara Momen

Honors Theses

This study examines whether altered pruning in a generative neural network leads to more restricted or repetitive outputs, using Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a cautious computational analogy rather than as a biological equivalence. A compact denoising diffusion probabilistic model (DDPM) with a U-Net backbone was trained on CIFAR-10, and pruning percentage was treated as the primary structural variable. Instead of relying on a single assumed baseline, the final implemented study evaluated 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 35%, and 50% pruning under controlled conditions: the same dataset, the same epoch budget, the same random seed, and 1,000 generated samples per condition. …

A Critical Narrative Review Appraisal Of The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines: Scientific Strengths, Conceptual Gaps, And Overlooked Dimensions Of Sustainability And Health Equity, Dimitrios Papandreou, Azza Alsuwaidi, Zainab Taha, Constantinos Giaginis, Georgios K. Vasios, Eleni P. Andreou

All Works

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines introduce an important shift in public health nutrition, emphasizing minimally processed foods, higher protein intake, greater inclusion of full-fat dairy, and a food-based advice centered on “real food” consumption. While several of these recommendations align with accumulating evidence, particularly the discouragement of ultra-processed foods and added sugars, substantial concerns remain regarding their internal coherence, population-level applicability, risk of misinterpretation, as well as environmental footprint. This critical narrative review evaluates whether the scope, emphasis, and framing of the new guideline components are proportionate to the strength, consistency, and context of the underlying evidence. Using a novel framework …

Global Epidemiology Of Cephalopina Titillator Infestation In Camels: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis (1980–2025), Temesgen Mohammed, Aboma Zewude, Tsegaye Shamebo, Layaly Hamdan, Atef Oreiby, Hazim O. Khalifa, Gobena Ameni, Bojan Gajic

All Works

Background – Cephalopina titillator (C. titillator) is the causative agent of camel nasopharyngeal myiasis and is widespread in camel-rearing regions worldwide, causing impaired health, reduced productivity, and economic losses. However, despite the veterinary importance of C. titillator, global epidemiological evidence remains limited and fragmented, and no comprehensive synthesis of prevalence data across camel-rearing regions has previously been conducted. The objective of this review was to estimate the global pooled prevalence of C. titillator infestation in camels. In addition, subgroup analyses were made to assess the effect of camel species, geographic region, and study period on the pooled prevalence of C. …

Endocrine Roles Of Vitamin D In Female Reproduction: Mechanisms And Clinical Implications, Azza Alsuwaidi, Fatme Alanouti, Dimitrios Papandreou

All Works

Vitamin D a fat-soluble steroid hormone signals through Vitamin D Receptors (VDRs) located throughout the ovaries, uterus, placenta, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland, influencing immune regulation and female reproductive physiology. This review of studies from 2013-2025 found consistent associations between low vitamin D status and various disorders in women of childbearing age. In Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), deficiency correlates with higher symptom severity, and evidence shows that supplementation significantly reduces total PMS scores, particularly improving mood-related domains. For uterine pathologies such as fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis, low vitamin D status is linked to increased risk and severity. Repletion trials suggest antifibrotic and …

The Intersection Of Social Desirability And Cultural Competence In Counselors: Broaching Sexual Topics With Sexually Minoritized (Lgb) Clients, Jareb Kinney

Dissertations

Mental health counselors increasingly work with sexually minoritized clients, yet limited understanding exists regarding how social desirability shapes counselors' perceived cultural competence and their willingness to broach sensitive sexual topics in therapeutic settings. This gap can obscure the subtle ways personal conditioning and professional performance pressures influence clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore how social desirability influences mental health counselors' experiences and perceived cultural competence when discussing sex-related topics with sexually minoritized clients. Guided by symbolic interactionism, the study employed a purposive and snowball sampling strategy to recruit ten mental health counselors with direct clinical experience serving …

Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data, Serge Tuyambaze

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Accurate estimation of terrestrial Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is critical for quantifying global carbon sequestration and understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle. While eddy covariance (EC) towers provide standard flux measurements, upscaling these measurements to continuous global coverage remains challenging due to the sparse distribution of flux towers and their small footprints. Remote sensing (RS), especially coupled with eddy covariance data, has been used to estimate GPP at the global scale. Different RS derived productivity models have been developed, including vegetation indices, light use efficiency (LUE) models, solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), dynamic global vegetation models (DGVM), and machine learning. One widely adapted …

Birdshot Chorioretinopathy: A Review Of Diagnosis And Treatment, Jill Gottehrer Od, Steven Follansbee Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Birdshot chorioretinopathy is a rare, bilateral chronic uveitis resulting in choroidal and retinal inflammation in the form of vasculitis, papillitis, and/or macular edema. For an accurate diagnosis, a thorough patient history, fundoscopic exam, and appropriate ancillary testing are necessary.

Case Report: A 49-year-old male presented to the eye clinic due to vitreous floaters in both eyes that had worsened over the last year. The patient was new to the clinic with no prior history of eye examinations. At presentation, a mild vitritis was noted along with small, multiple white dots in the posterior pole of both eyes. Ancillary testing, …

Bone Regeneration On Modified Implant Surfaces: A Systematic Review, Irfan Dammar, Ratna S. Dewi, Ira Tanti, Lisa R. Amir, Lilies D. Sulistyanti, Yuniarti Soeroso

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: To describe effective implant surface modifications (ISMs) that enhance bone regeneration.

Methods: This systematic review involved literature searches in the PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases to identify both in vivo and in vitro randomized controlled trials investigating bone regeneration on modified implant surfaces. The search was conducted using predefined population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and study design criteria, eligibility criteria, and relevant MeSH terms. Article selection followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram.

Results: Various ISMs were identified, including elastin-like polypeptides, hydroxyapatite, doxycycline, sandblasted large-grit acid-etched, and others. The average bone-to-implant contact (BIC) in experimental …

University Oral Hygiene Behaviors Compared To The National Population, Noura Naami, Jordan Monteiro, Trisha Jois

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Maintaining optimal oral health is essential for preventing dental caries, periodontal disease, and systemic complications. However, the combined effects of brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, which are common oral practices, remain incompletely understood. While each practice has been studied individually, there is limited data existing that evaluates how different brands and the frequency of use interact to influence the oral environment. In this study, we use a cohort of 40 university aged individuals to examine oral hygiene behaviors compared to the general U.S. population. In regard to flossing, national data suggests that this behavior is the least consistently utilized method of …

The Effects Of Gender Crime Congruency On Jurors' Decisions And Confidence, Elizabeth Avila

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A basic principle of the U.S. court system is that every individual has the right to a fair and unbiased trial. While this is the ideal, it is not always reality. Jurors come in with their own beliefs and attitudes before the trial starts. These preconceived beliefs can jeopardize the integrity of the trial. An example of these beliefs is gender stereotypes. Gender stereotypes can influence a juror's attitude towards a defendant, to either have a more negative or positive view on whether the defendant's gender matched the nature of their crime. This is called gender crime congruency. In this …