Digital Commons Network^™

Va Dent J October, November And December 2013

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Toward A Metric For Disciplinary Learning In The Age Of Ai: The Unblooms™ Metacognitive Awareness Scale And Discernment Rate In Ai-Mediated Learning, Tina R. Austin

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Telling students to “reflect on their own thinking” has become insufficient in AI-mediated learning environments. When students are rewarded for polished outputs, cognitive offloading to AI tools becomes rational, and traditional snapshot assessments (single-moment evaluations of task completion) produce false signals about whether durable learning has occurred. This problem is sharpened by the broader shift in AI learning tools toward Socratic tutors, study modes, Khan Academy's Khanmigo, and agentic systems that can shape the learner’s process over time. Lodge and Loble (2026) distinguish beneficial cognitive offloading, which frees working memory for intrinsic learning, from detrimental outsourcing, which bypasses the cognitive …

Faculty Engagement Practices With Building A Community Of Care, Cathryn Walker, Richard Penny, Lynne Orr, Kathleen Norris, Judith Blakely

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Faculty in a virtual online university benefited from employing elements of the community of care, community of inquiry, and social determinants of health frameworks to strengthen a sense of connection and to develop a community of care in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article presents an overview of practices at one university related to the design, implementation, and benefits accruing from employing strategies anchored in these frameworks. During 2022, two years after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, university leaders approached a team of faculty members to facilitate a dialogue series to enhance relationships among faculty, given the …

The Relationship Between Female Pelvic Dimensions, Birth Weight, And Number Of Live Births, Allison P. Sears

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This study investigates the relationship between birth weight, female pelvic dimensions, and number of live births. Pelvic inlet and outlet dimensions were recorded using three dimensional models from a sample of 30 females from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database (NMDID). By taking an approach closely informed by pre-existing anthropological and obstetrical literature, this study examines the potential relationship between female individuals’ birth weight and reproductive characteristics in adulthood, as well as the influence of these variables on the number of live births these females delivered during the course of their lives. The results suggest that there is a weak …

Differential Effects Of Amiloride And Benzamil On Salt Taste Physiology And Behavior: The Case For Phasic Responses In The Generation Of Sodium Appetite, Amyra M. Issa

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The current experiment aims to investigate the relationship between the early phasic portion of salt taste transduction and sodium appetite. Prior research has identified two salt transduction pathways: a sodium-selective pathway, which is inhibited by amiloride or benzamil, and a non-selective pathway, which is insensitive to these blockers (Breslin & Spector, 2008). When presented with sodium solutions, sodium-depleted mice exhibit a behavior termed the “sodium appetite,” which results in voracious sodium consumption. The prevailing theory is that this behavior depends on neural activity of sodium-selective neurons (Breza & Contreras, 2012; Roitman & Bernstein, 1999). While previous studies have demonstrated that …

Rna G-Quadruplexes Function As A Tunable Switch Of Fus Phase Separation, Jenny L. Carey, Miyuki Hayashi, Emily A. Welebob, Laura R. Ganser, Huan Wang, Kerry Buckhaults, Jacquelyn A. Depierro, Zheng Shi, James Shorter, Sua Myong, Aaron R. Haeusler, Lin Guo

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Fused in sarcoma (FUS) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to support essential cellular functions, but aberrant phase transitions promote toxic aggregation in neurodegenerative disease. Short RNA oligonucleotides can reverse this behavior, yet the structural determinants that govern RNA activity remain poorly defined. Here, we identify RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) as tunable structural motifs that potently modulate FUS LLPS. rG4 activity depends on its concentration and is modulated by rG4 length and stability: increasing repeat number switches rG4s from inhibitor to nucleator of FUS assembly, whereas chemical modifications that stabilize rG4 enhance inhibitory function and render these activities resilient to ionic perturbation. …

High Densities Of Large Herbivores Rapidly Disrupt Ecosystem Integrity, Jennifer A Krumins

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Human-induced high densities of large wild herbivores may pose a threat to natural ecosystems, modifying biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Although the negative impacts on individual taxa and processes are well documented, a comprehensive understanding of how ecosystem integrity responds to high herbivore densities remains limited. This study addresses this gap through an extensive herbivore-density manipulation experiment conducted in two Mediterranean woodlands. We established two scenarios of high red deer (Cervus elaphus) density, representative of some protected areas (similar to 30 individuals.km(2)) and intensively managed hunting estates (similar to 90 individuals.km(2)). We monitored 38 metrics encompassing a broad spectrum of biodiversity …

Advancing Data Usability, Activity Modeling, And Stability Optimization In Computational Enzyme Design, Spencer Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

A grand challenge of computational biology is to computationally design, in a single pass, a protein sequence that catalyzes an arbitrary chemical reaction at a high rate under specified conditions [1]. This work details advances in three essential areas on the path to that goal: data quality, activity prediction and modeling, and stability optimization. The structure and implementation of the Allotrope Simple Model (a FAIR data format for many scientific instruments) was examined in [2], setting the stage for training deep learning models on high-quality experimental datasets from diverse sources. In [3], the limits of physics-based and deep learning tools …

Biologists Study Ways To Increase Food Production For Growing World, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – With the world population expected to approach 10 billion by 2050, scientists are searching for ways to feed that many people with fewer resources. A new review outlines scientific advances that could help make food production more sustainable and resilient.

Parental Effects In Fall Webworm, Emma Sellers, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Mayra Vidal, Dhaval Vyas, Gina Wimp, Mariana Abarca, Mattheau Comerford, Shannon Murphy

Data

The environment or experiences of a parent generation can impact the fitness of the next generation, a phenomenon known as parental effects. While a high-quality diet can directly benefit an individual and a low-quality diet can reduce fitness, a parental effect occurs only when there is a transgenerational response to these stimuli that manifests in the individual’s offspring. In dietary generalists, a parental effect could play an important role for offspring performance if the species experiences considerable variation in quality across host plants; positive parental effects may result from host matching between parents and offspring on high-quality host plants, whereas …

Microglial Swell1 Deficiency Drives Male-Specific Seizure Vulnerability But Paradoxical Neuroprotection Through Impaired Phagocytosis, Abhijeet S Barath, Aastha Dheer, Laura Montier, Mekenzie M Peshoff, Emily Dale, Flavia Goche, Thanh Thanh Le Nguyen, Mastura Akter, Fangfang Qi, Dimitrios Kleidonas, Lauren Harris, Sarah A Jewanee, Anthony D Umpierre, Dale B Bosco, Koichiro Haruwaka, Rajan Sah, Long-Jun Wu, Rongzhuo Hua, Tejaswani Datla

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

The discovery of genes encoding the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) has enabled detailed exploration of its cell type-specific roles in the brain. LRRC8A (SWELL1) is the essential VRAC subunit. We observed seizure-induced, subunit-specific changes in microglial VRAC expression and investigated its function using conditional KO (cKO) of LRRC8A in microglia. SWELL1 cKO mice exhibited a male-specific increase in kainate-induced seizure severity, yet showed paradoxical neuroprotection against seizure-associated neuronal loss. Mechanistically, SWELL1 deletion led to a cell-autonomous reduction in microglial density and decreased release of VRAC-permeable neuroactive metabolites, including taurine, GABA, and glutamate in culture. Additionally, impaired phagocytic kinetics and reduced …

Editorial: Plant Responses To Abiotic Stress: Unraveling Complex Mechanisms Through Genomics And Physiology, Mizanur Rahman, Takashi Asaeda, Md Harun Rashid

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Characterizing The Relationships Between Hydrology, Soil Biogeochemistry, And Green Ash Canopy Structure In Emerald Ash Borer-Affected Wetlands, Eva Switala

Theses

The invasion of the emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis) has caused mass mortality of native ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), devastating forested wetlands in the northeastern United States. Fifteen years post-introduction, the long-term ecological shifts and "new normals" of these ecosystems remain poorly understood. This project characterized patterns in EAB-affected forested wetlands by evaluating soil characteristics, biogeochemical cycling, hydrology, and green ash canopy across 12 sites with varying initial ash presence. Results revealed a clear separation between biogeochemically active and less active sites. Hydrologic differences emerged as a key driver of biogeochemical cycling, with higher soil moisture significantly increasing rates …

The Effect Of Aquatic Pollution On (Green) Microbial Communities In The Greater Rochester Area, Francesca Molee

Theses

Retention ponds are built in urban and suburban areas to catch the polluted runoff that would otherwise go into highly-valued freshwater ecosystems like the Great Lakes. They therefore make ideal model ecosystems to consider the effect of chemical, common pollution on aquatic communities. To understand the impact this aquatic pollution on both microbial community composition alongside green microbial physiological stress response, water column and sediment microbial communities were sampled from three retention ponds, and three non-retention, created ponds. The first part of this study focused on the microbial community composition. Using 16s amplicon sequencing on and subsequent analysis using Qiime2, …

Comparative Study Of Green Synthesis To Prepare Tio2 Nanoparticles From Plant Shard Leaves Extract By Using Microwave Irradiation And Microjet Plasma, Zainab Fakhri Merzah, Zainab J Shanan, Tayser Sumer Gaaz

Baghdad Science Journal

Plant extracts have been widely investigated as a safer alternative for the green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles. This study presents a green synthesis approach using shard leaf extract assisted by microwave irradiation and microjet plasma for the preparation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential (ZP) analysis. XRD results confirmed the formation of the anatase phase of TiO₂ without detectable brookite or rutile peaks, indicating high phase purity. The crystal structure was …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Zinc Oxide (Zno) Nanoparticles: From Chemical To Green Synthesis, Kawa S. Sulaiman, Ayoub S. Karim

Baghdad Science Journal

The present research focuses on the synthesis and comparative analysis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) produced through two distinct methodologies: a traditional sol-gel procedure and a sustainable green synthesis route. The green synthesis approach utilized Laurus Nobilis leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical synthesis. To evaluate the structural, optical, and morphological properties of the resulting nanoparticles, both sets of samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), FTIR, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The XRD patterns confirmed the successful formation of a hexagonal wurtzite …

An Inf2-Dependent Actin-Mediated Step In Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Cluster Formation And Activity, Maite R. Zavala, Amrapali Ghosh, Suresh K. Joseph, Rajarshi Chakrabarti

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Intracellular calcium signaling plays a vital role in regulating various cellular processes including gene regulation, motility, metabolism, and cell death. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are a major cation channel that regulates stimulus-induced calcium release from the ER. While several molecular players regulate the activity of IP3R, its regulation by actin filaments was uncharacterized. Here, we show that actin filaments polymerized by the specific actin nucleator INF2 facilitate agonist-induced IP3R activity. Our results demonstrate that INF2-mediated actin filaments regulate the formation and/or stability of IP3R clusters on the ER that have been previously shown to be …

Toolkit For Multistate Disease Progression Simulation And Treatment Decision-Making Aid, Can Xie, Ruosha Li, Wael Saber, Jorge E Cortes, Nicholas J Short, Xuelin Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The optimal timing of a treatment within therapy lines can maximize its benefit while minimizing risks and side effects. Because patients differ in clinical and biological characteristics, personalized treatment planning can support physicians' decision-making. However, multistate disease progression complicates the comparison of treatment strategies, motivating the development of a user-friendly web tool for multistate disease progression simulation and treatment decision support. Microsimulation is a natural approach for comparing prespecified treatment-timing strategies, where it generates disease trajectories for a large number of virtual patients matched to an individual patient's observed data. In our framework, microsimulation is performed using a multistate …

Quantitative Genetic Analysis Of Baboon Facial Variation Challenges A Classic Papionin Trait, A. Thiebaut, C. C. Roseman, Michael Mahaney, Leslea J. Hlusko

Human Genetics Publications

The Linnaean family of monkeys that includes baboons, macaques, and mandrills (among others) is notably characterized by large, extended muzzles that vary in lateral nasal dorsum profile. In paleontological studies, this variation is referred to as the anteorbital drop (AOD). Here, we first devise a method to quantify this phylogenetic character. We then employ quantitative genetic analyses using a MCMCglmm model of facial variation in a captive, pedigreed baboon colony (n = 934), including admixed individuals derived from at least two Papio species, from the Southwest National Primate Research Center to assess the quantitative variation of the AOD, its …

Enhancing Sleep Quality Through Sleep Hygiene Education Among Adults In A Faith-Based Community, Denielle Earle-Thompson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Adults between 18 and 64 years of age require at least seven hours of sleep per night; however, many adults do not meet this recommendation, contributing to increased risks for chronic disease, impaired functioning, mood disturbances, and reduced quality of life. Poor sleep quality has been associated with weakened immunity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, and decreased daytime performance. Obtaining adequate, good-quality sleep is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. In faith-based communities, combining health education with spiritual support may provide a holistic approach that addresses both physical and emotional contributors to poor sleep.

Purpose

The purpose …

Bayesian Subgroup Learning Of Spatially Resolved Transcriptomics Data, Hou-Cheng Yang, Huimin Li, Guanyu Hu, Qiwei Li

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Recent advancements in spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) technologies have enabled the comprehensive molecular and spatial characterization of single cells, providing valuable insights into the cellular organization of tissues. SRT techniques, such as single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based methods (e.g., seqFISH, STARmap) and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based methods (e.g., spatial transcriptomics, 10x Visium), allow for the measurement of gene expression across large populations of cells or tissue spots. These approaches generate high-dimensional data that integrate both molecular profiles and spatial context, which is crucial for understanding tissue structure and function in areas like development, neuroscience, and cancer biology. Identifying spatially variable …

Butterfly Taxa Discovery Via Genomic Analysis, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Expanding a genomics-guided assessment of butterfly taxonomy, we integrate phylogenetic evidence from all protein-coding genes with morphological considerations to refine our understanding of butterfly systematics and discover new taxa. As a result, 2 subgenera, 39 species, and 5 subspecies are proposed as new (type species in original combinations or type localities are listed in parentheses): Erebia (Magda) magdalena uintana Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: Utah, Uintah Co.) in Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815; Myselasia rondea Grishin, sp. n. (Brazil: Rondônia), Myselasia pseudocrinon Grishin, sp. n. (Ecuador: Pastaza), Myselasia paramatuta Grishin, sp. n. (Ecuador: Morona-Santiago), Euselasia anapellos Grishin, sp. n. (Peru: Loreto), …

A Guide To Change Management Using The Sarah Model, Sara Kern, Sarah Barbrow, Sarah Jane Dooley, Sarah E. Lester, Sarah Over

Library Scholarship

Academic libraries are the heart of colleges and universities and, as such, are often centrally involved in and impacted by changes in the greater higher education landscape. For those working in these spaces, familiarity with strategies for managing change is essential to support yourself and others during especially turbulent times. The SARAH model, described below in bullet points with our modifications in brackets, offers a memorable way to understand responses to change, be they our own or others.

S - Shock or Surprise
A – Anger [Anxiety, Alert, or Anticipation]
R – Resistance or Rejection [Re-engagement, or Rationalization]
A - …

Assessing The Effect Of Chromolaena Odorata On Maize (Zea Mays L.) Growth And Yield In The Semi-Deciduous Forest Zone Of Côte D’Ivoire, Roger Bayala, Lisette Zeh Tokpa, Firmin Kouamé Konan, Kouamé Emile Ange Brou, Ambroise Casimir Laopé Siene, Pauline Amanko Ndouba, Nathanael A. Bogie, Sabas Sadaiou Yao Barima

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Chromolaena odorata is a dominant pioneer species in the successional vegetation following deforestation in humid and sub-humid tropical regions. Despite its prevalence, the specific interactions between C. odorata and subsequent food crops remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of C. odorata on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under varying nutrient regimes. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design to assess the interaction between shrub presence (present vs. absent) and fertilization (0 or 1× the recommended N–P–K rate). The results indicated that the presence of C. odorata significantly increased maize height, stem …

Colostrum Management For Dairy Calves: Key Practices For Calf Health And Performance, Drew Swartz, Jacob Hadfield, Kalen Taylor, Maggi Mathews

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides practical recommendations for dairy producers to improve colostrum management and support calf health and performance.

Program (Pdf), Department Of Orthopaedics

Dept. of Orthopaedics: Robert D. D’Ambrosia Lectureship & Research Day

Program with abstracts for the 22nd Annual Dept of Orthopaedics Annual Robert D. D’Ambrosia Lectureship & Research Day held June 20, 2026.

Vector-Borne Viral Diseases In Horses, Sunutcha Suntrarachun

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Vector-borne viral diseases are major threats to equine health worldwide. These infections are transmitted by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, biting midges, and horseflies, resulting in clinical manifestations ranging from mild febrile illness to severe neurological, respiratory, circulatory, or hematologic disorders with high mortality rates. Major equine vector-borne viral diseases include African horse sickness (AHS), equine infectious anemia (EIA), equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern: EEE, Western: WEE, and Venezuelan: VEE), West Nile virus (WNV), and Japanese encephalitis (JE). Each disease is caused by a distinct viral pathogen and transmitted by specific vectors that influence their epidemiology and geographic distribution. Transmission occurs through …

Reference Values For Intraocular Pressure In Collared Scops Owls (Otus Lettia) Measured Using Rebound Tonometry, Yun-Shan Chiu, Chau-Hwa Chie, Pin-Huan Yu, Chung-Tien Lin

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

In this study, we aimed to establish species-specific reference values for intraocular pressure (IOP) in clinically healthy collared scops owls (Otus lettia) using rebound tonometry. Twelve free-living owls were included, and twentyfour eyes were examined. All owls were physically restrained in an upright position without sedation. Intraocular pressure was measured in both eyes using rebound tonometry (TONOVET; iCare Finland Oy, Vantaa, Finland) in d mode. No significant difference in IOP was observed between the right and left eyes. The mean IOP values were 10.42 ± 1.24 mmHg (median, 11 mmHg; range, 8–12 mmHg) in the right eye and 10.75 ± …

Maternal Perspectives On Support Needs: Insights From The Fonofale Model, Sara Lani Ditto

Theses and Dissertations

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) explored the lived experiences of parents raising children with disabilities in American Samoa. Five participants across two focus groups shared their perspectives on navigating educational, healthcare, and community systems while supporting their children with disabilities. Using the fonofale model as a cultural framework, the study incorporated culturally responsive methodology including card sort activities to facilitate dialogue on potentially sensitive topics. Analysis followed the Nizza et al. (2021) IPA approach, progressing from exploratory notes to experiential statements, clustered themes, and finally overarching themes. Findings revealed four major themes: systemic burden on parents, structural and service gaps, …

I Will Defend My Self, Emily Ward Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines caregiving and motherhood as forms of load-bearing infrastructure. Cultural narratives often portray motherhood through sentimental images of joy, tenderness, and devotion, obscuring the structural labor that sustains family life. This project examines maternal labor as a largely unseen system of support that organizes family life while often remaining backgrounded. Caregiving reorganizes time, space, ambition, embodiment, and future orientation within maternal life. Through sculptural works using architectural materials and construction systems, such as oriented strand board, blueprint racks, metal armatures, and graph paper, the project visualizes caregiving as a structural condition. These materials reference the language of architecture …