Plant-Assisted Synthesis Of Cobalt Oxide (Co3O4) Nanoparticles Using Ziziphus Jujuba And Capparis Decidua Extracts And Evaluation Of Antioxidant Activity, Muhammad Yaseen Khan

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

The plant-assisted synthesis method was employed to synthesize cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles using the Ziziphus jujuba (Z. jujuba) (Jujube, Chinese Date, and Red Date) leaves and Capparis decidua (C. decidua) (Karira, Kair, and Bare Caper) stem. The Co₃O₄ NPs were characterized by various techniques. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrum disclosed that Z. jujuba-based Co₃O₄ NPs had absorption peaks at 347, 384, and 423 nm. Whereas the C. decidua-based Co₃O₄ NPs showed absorption peaks at 327, 376, and 402 nm. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum showed the …

Laser-Ablated Au@Ag@Au Core-Double Shell Nanoparticles To Fight Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria, Ahmed A. Aktafa, Uday M. Nayef, Majid S. Jabir

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

This work involved synthesizing Au@Ag@Au core double-shelled structures in deionized water (DW) using various laser energies (300, 500, and 700 mJ). These compounds served as antimicrobial agents against two bacterial types: Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). The findings showed that bactericidal efficacy increased with higher laser energy. During production, a pulsed Nd-YAG laser synthesized Au@Ag@Au core-double-shell nanoparticles (NPs) in a 5 mL DW solution. The laser generated 250 pulses at energy levels of 300, 500, and 700 mJ. The device operated at a wavelength of 1064 nm. XRD analysis confirmed the crystal structure, …

Radiation-Driven Transformations In Polystyrene: Optical, Mechanical, And Morphological Insights Under High-Dose Gamma Exposure, Samah M. Hussein, Nahida J. Hameed, Evan T. Salim

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

The radiation sensitivity and the structure's stability of polystyrene (PS)-based polymers have been thoroughly investigated. The PS films were exposed to Gamma doses ranged between 10 to 30 kGy. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra showed a direct correlation between the dose of radiation and absorption. As the dose increases, the intensity of the absorption increases steadily, especially in the UV region below 400 nm. The exposed PS films to Gamma radiation demonstrated a linear response at wavelengths of 450, 650, and 850 nm. The response displayed a slight deviation of approximately ± 2, revealing a praised optical measurement. The optical band …

Synthesis And Characterisation Of Bioactive Glass 45s5 By Sol-Gel Method And Evaluation Of Biological Properties In Vitro, Khulood Haleem Yousif, Enas Muhi Hadi, Nehia Naema Hussein, Raid A. Ismail

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

Bone defects resulting from trauma or pathological events are among the most significant clinical, social, and economic problems. Bioactive glass (BG) is a possible alternative to inert graft materials. In this study, BG was fabricated from a SiO₂–CaO–NaO–PO₅ system using a new acid-catalyzed sol-gel method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the morphology of 45S5 BG powders, and their microstructural properties were investigated in detail. The common distinctive peaks of hydroxyapatite (HA) formation were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Bioactivity and degradation were evaluated by immersion in simulated body …

Synergistic Effects Of Resveratrol And Hydroxychloroquine Nanoparticles On Apoptosis And Autophagy Gene Expression In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells, Wasnaa H. Mohammed, Ghassan M. Sulaiman, Hamdoon A. Mohammed

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

The development of nanoparticles (NPs) has enabled their usage in numerous biological, physico-chemical, and functional biomedical applications, especially as anti-cancer therapy. In this study, a cancer-healing conjugate composed of resveratrol (RES) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was formulated via liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) covered with numerous layers of chitosan (+ charge) and hyaluronic acid (- charge), through a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method. The nanoparticle delivery drug systems based on lipids were used to assess therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility against the cells of cancer. Many procedures described the production of RES/HCQ-LbL-LCNPs, such as zeta potential (ZP) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, …

The Effectiveness Of Canva Based Dance Learning Media In Increasing Learning Interest Of Grade Viii Students, Maharani Prajustine Hakim, Agus Budiman, Saian Badaruddin

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to test how learning dance through the digital platform Canva affects the interest of students in learning dance at SMPN 2 in Bekasi City. This study uses a quantitative approach with a pre-experimental method through a one group pretest-posttest design. The research sample includes 39 students from class VIII.G, who were chosen through purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out by distributing a learning interest questionnaire that was given before and after the treatment was applied. The intervention included using Canva based learning media for the "Tari Piring" topic. It made use of interactive presentations, visual worksheets, …

Contextual Hardware Security Using Autonomic Physiological State Signatures, Sudeep Chauhan, Ehsan Nourbakhsh

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes techniques and architectures for securing a computing device against physically coerced access by utilizing dynamic autonomic physiological state signatures. Processing circuitry of a computing device (e.g., a primary computing device, a wearable sentinel device, or an industrial control terminal) continuously determines a dynamic physiological baseline from sensor data (e.g., heart rate, galvanic skin response, inertial data). A physiological baseline and anomaly engine utilizes a machine learning model, which accounts for contextual states such as active exercise tracking to filter false positives, to detect a distress state corresponding to a non-voluntary autonomic deviation relative to the dynamic physiological …

Differentiation Of Self As A Therapist Effect In Couple Therapy, Nathan D. Knebel

Theses and Dissertations

Murray Bowen proposed that a therapist's level of differentiation of self influences therapeutic effectiveness, particularly in clinically distressed relational systems. Although existing literature has demonstrated that therapist effects account for a meaningful portion of variance in couple therapy outcomes, differentiation of self has received limited empirical attention as a therapist-level predictor. The present article proposes a framework for empirically examining Bowen's hypothesis by investigating whether therapist differentiation predicts trajectories of couple relationship quality across treatment. Additionally, the article explores theoretical pathways through which therapists may increase their level of differentiation, assuming Bowen's hypothesis is supported.

Tectonic Influences On The Evolution Of Settlement Decisions In The Near East, Truett Koden W. Marr

Lawrence University Honors Projects

This study asks a fundamental question in archaeology: why do people consistently choose certain places to settle over others? Focusing on the Near East, it investigates how deep-time tectonic features, specifically fault systems, structure long-term settlement decisions by shaping water availability and ecological productivity. To address this, I integrate a large geospatial dataset of 1,023 archaeological sites with 9,075 mapped fault traces across 674 hydrological basins. Using statistics in R, I apply Poisson generalized linear models to test basin-level relationships between site density and fault density and conduct distance-to-fault analyses comparing archaeological sites to randomized controls. These analyses are further …

1 Billion Birds Lost: Mechanisms Of Window Collisions And Possible Mitigation Strategies At Lawrence University, Shoshana Schmit

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Windows are currently the largest killer of birds on the planet, with an estimated 1 billion birds dying from collisions annually. If birds that hit windows do not die on impact, they may either die elsewhere shortly afterwards, resulting in the number of carcasses at collision sites being a conservative estimate of the actual number of fatalities. During the day, proximity to foraging sites and reflectivity play crucial roles in the danger of windows, and during the night, artificial illumination emitting from windows disorients and inhibits navigational cues. To explore this topic on campus, I documented bird collisions at Lawrence …

The Gender Complex: A Survey Of Choral Educators, Anna Milton

Lawrence University Honors Projects

For this pilot study, I created a survey that was shared with choral directors around Wisconsin. The survey was filled out by 10 choral directors that have experience with single-sex choirs and that teach within Wisconsin. Participants that took the survey are from varying backgrounds, choral education experiences, and identities. This pilot study looks at how previous research lines up and does not line up with teachers in Wisconsin. The survey results explore the common denominators and disagreements found within the answers. This research and resulting paper examines current research, identifies what aligns with the practices of choral educators, who …

With A Great Teacher, 'You Never Know Who Will Change Your Life', Marisa C. Atkinson

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – After 35 years of encouraging students to think, question and discuss, University of Mississippi professor Robert Brown thinks it is time to retire.

Unveiling The Complexity Of Post-Roman Polity Formation In Pannonia Using Ancient Dna, Yijie Tian, István Koncz, Norbert Faragó, Corina Knipper, Ronny Friedrich, Deven N. Vyas, Levente Samu, Olga Spekker, Tamás Szeniczey, Tamás Hajdu, Balázs Gusztáv Mende, Péter Tomka, Ildikó Katalin Pap, Dávid Czigány, Rita Radzeviciute, Luca Traverso, Guido Alberto Gnecchi-Ruscone, Paolo Francalacci, Bernd Schöne, Gábor Tóth, Anna Szécsényi-Nagy, Petrus Le Roux, Kurt W. Alt, Zuzana Hofmanová, Walter Pohl, Johannes Krause, Tivadar Vida, Patrick J. Geary, Krishna R. Vereramah

Ecology & Evolution Faculty Publications

The transformation of the Roman world [fourth to ninth centuries common era (CE)], culminating in the Western Roman Empire’s fall, marked a fundamental transition in European history. Key questions persist regarding the regionally specific nature of this transformation. We generated a paleogenomic dataset to reconstruct post-Roman organizations in the Little Hungarian Plain at microregional resolution. Genetic and archaeological analyses of two Roman (n = 68) and five post-Roman (n = 246) sites reveal a rise in Northern European ancestry, reflecting large-scale population movements into this region. Moreover, despite post-Roman sites sharing similar genetic profiles, material culture, and burial …

Bap1 Loss Links Myc Activation, Stress Response Vulnerability, And Disease Progression In Kidney Cancer, Ilya Strunilin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

BAP1, a chromatin modifier, is a frequently mutated tumor suppressor in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Mutations in BAP1 are associated with a more aggressive and lethal disease. However, the downstream mediators of BAP1 loss in ccRCC oncogenesis are not well understood. To better understand mechanisms of BAP1-mediated tumor suppression, I have extensively characterized the very early transcriptional mediators of BAP1 loss in a postnatal kidney-specific genetic knockout model. Because VHL loss is the initiating event in ccRCC, we modeled Bap1 loss in a Vhl-deficient background. I have found that Vhl/Bap1 double-knockout cells of PT segment S2 strongly activate …

Defining Replication-Driven Vulnerabilities In High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancers, Natasha Maya Ramakrishnan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

High grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is an aggressive, highly lethal subtype of ovarian cancer. These cancers are typically diagnosed in later stages and are associated with poor patient prognosis. Additionally, HGSOC is characterized by numerous markers of genomic instability and defects in DNA repair pathways, vulnerabilities which have been exploited by the advancement of chemotherapy. Despite these clinical advancements, HGSOC remains a significant therapeutic challenge due to emergence of chemoresistance and limited targeted treatment options. Taken together, these factors highlight an ongoing need to study the development of HGSOC and its progression to identify more effective treatment opportunities. We …

Structure-Based Discovery Of Malate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors With Efficacy Against C. Parvum Oocysts, Ankita Bharatbhai Kheni

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cryptosporidium parvum, the etiological agent of Cryptosporidiosis (diarrheal illness) represents a significant global health burden, particularly affecting immunodeficient and pediatric populations. Since the parasite has a highly reduced mitochondrion and relies on glycolysis, enzymes such as C. parvum malate dehydrogenase (CpMDH), which are believed to be indispensable for parasite viability due to their pivotal roles in NAD⁺ regeneration and redox balance, remain largely unexplored as therapeutic targets. The present study employed a multifaceted experimental and computational strategy to evaluate the inhibitory activity of two lead-like and drug-like small molecules, referred to as compound 1.8 and compound 1.5, against the cofactor …

Patterns Of Brain-Wide Associations Reflect Socioeconomics, Scott Marek, Meghan Rose Donohue, Nicole R Karcher, Caroline P Hoyniak, Roselyne J Chauvin, Ashley C Meyer, John Miller, Andrew N Van, Anxu Wang, Noah J Baden, Vahdeta Suljic, Kristen M Scheidter, Julia Monk, Forrest I Whiting, Nadeshka J Ramirez-Perez, Samuel R Krimmel, Athanasia Metoki, Rebecca F Schwarzlose, Steven E Petersen, Joan Luby, Benjamin P Kay, Evan M Gordon, Timothy O Laumann, Deanna M Barch, Nico U F Dosenbach, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Previous brain-wide association studies (BWAS) have linked specific environmental and behavioral variables to brain variability. In this work, we mapped 649 variables to children's brains and compared the resultant BWAS maps with each other and with neurobiological reference patterns. Socioeconomic status (SES) showed the strongest brain-wide associations. The SES associations were strongest in motor and sensory but not cognitive regions, a pattern shared across many BWAS maps, including intelligence quotient (IQ). A single, common BWAS brain pattern existed across variables that was most reflective of a child's socioeconomics. Adjusting for SES weakened brain-IQ associations, eliminating the BWAS motor and sensory …

Metal Oxide Nanoparticle‑Integrated Phema Hydrogels: Morphology, Chemical Properties, And Biological Interaction, Venkateswar Rao, Collin Cox, Brandon Clark, Arushi Rai, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Madhuri Kango-Singh, Soubantika Palchoudhury

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Hydrogels offer attractive matrices for incorporating inorganic metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) to generate multifunctional hybrid materials, but challenges remain in scalable synthesis and correlating their properties to bio-interaction. Therefore, we report the synthesis and characterization of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) hydrogels, and pHEMA hydrogels encapsulating iron oxide or zinc oxide NPs, using a modified free-radical polymerization. Dose-dependent survivorship studies on Drosophila melanogaster revealed that both NP-embedded hydrogels are tolerated over a wide dose range (e.g., 50–200 mg), although ZnO NP-gels exhibit lower survivorship at some concentrations due to their inherent composition and a wider size distribution of iron oxide NPs.

From Combustion Emissions To Neurotoxicity: Brain Health Risks Of Military Burn Pits Exposure, Katherine M. Eggers, Zoe A. Keller, Paul Barach, Julie M. Tomáška, Joshua P. Nixon, Janeen H. Trembley, Tammy A. Butterick

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Military burn pits used during post-9/11 U.S. military deployments functioned as uncontrolled combustion systems and were widely utilized to dispose of large volumes of outdoor waste by burning. Burn pits involved heterogeneous waste materials burned under variable temperature and oxygen conditions. These combustion environments generated complex, toxic, multipollutant airborne emission mixtures that included particulate matter (PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This narrative review synthesizes epidemiologic, experimental, and mechanistic evidence linking burn pit emissions to disruption of the lung–brain axis and adverse neurological outcomes. We specifically aim to address a critical gap in understanding how combustion-derived …

Fathers’ Footprints: The Role Of The Father-Son Relationship In Shaping Men’S Experience And Expression Of Anger In Egypt, Lydia E. Wassef

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

In many Egyptian families, the father holds a central position as an authority figure, a protector, and a provider, yet often remains emotionally reserved and relationally distant. The emotional legacy of paternal acceptance or rejection extends into adulthood, shaping patterns of emotional regulation. Particularly, the father-son relationship plays a fundamental role in shaping men’s experiences and expressions of anger. Within cultural contexts discouraging vulnerability and associating masculinity with strength and emotional restraint, anger may become one of the few socially acceptable modes of emotional expression for men. This study positions these dynamics within the cultural context of fatherhood in …

Determinants Of Corporal Punishment And Severe Physical Punishment In Egypt: A Mixed-Methods Analysis For Child Protection Policy, Marwa Moustafa Nassef

Theses and Dissertations

Corporal punishment (CP) and severe physical punishment (SPP) remain a major public health, child rights, and child protection policy concern. In Egypt, despite legislative reforms, survey-weighted analysis of the 2021 Egypt Family Health Survey (EFHS) 2021 (CAPMAS, 2022) reveals prevalence rates of 60.5% for CP and 27.4% for SPP among children aged 1–14 (author’s calculations using EFHS-2021, n=7623), yet evidence distinguishing the determinants of routine corporal punishment from escalation to severe physical punishment remains limited in low- and middle-income contexts. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, this mixed-methods study identifies key drivers of CP and its escalation to SPP among Egyptian …

Enhancing The Performance Of Brain-Computer Interfaces Via A Spatially-Aware Framework, Ahmed Ayman Eloraby

Theses and Dissertations

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) provide a non-invasive pathway for communication, with the P300 speller being one of the most established paradigms. Despite its practicality, EEG signals present inherent challenges, including low signal-to-noise ratio, high dimensionality, and limited spatial resolution. These characteristics complicate the extraction of discriminative spatial patterns, which are critical for accurate P300 detection and character-level decoding.

This thesis addresses these challenges through the development of AttenPCA-Net, a deep learning framework that integrates spatially-aware processing with dimensionality reduction. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is employed to reduce redundancy and noise while preserving the most informative components of the EEG …

Investigating Femoral Growth Stunting And Cortical Bone Deposition: A Bioarchaeological Case Study From 17th Century Transylvania, S. M. August Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study utilizes the World Health Organization’s growth stunting identification standards to investigate the possibility of growth stunting in a collection of subadult remains from Telekfalva, Transylvania, Romania. Length-for-age is estimated using femur length and dental development stage (Shaefer et al., 2009) and compared to the Maresh Standard Growth Data (Maresh, 1943, 1955, 1970). Growth stunting is identified in individuals who fall less than -two standard deviations from the expected femur length-for-age. Additionally, this research investigates a pattern of abnormal, multilayered cortical bone deposition seen primarily in individuals with growth stunting. The correlation between abnormal cortical bone deposition and growth …

Basic Bronchoscopy Competence Achieved During A One-Day Workshop For A Multidisciplinary Critical Care Team: A Simulation-Based Study, Jayakrishnan B, Saif Musabah Al-Mubaihsi, Hasan Al-Sayegh, Ahmed Zaher Al-Abri, Issa Saif Alqarshoubi, Jehan Al-Abri, Sami M Bennji

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Fibreoptic bronchoscopy has become a key procedure in critical care, transitioning from pulmonologists to intensivists. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-day simulation-based training programme in acquiring basic bronchoscopy skills.

Methods: A one-day workshop was conducted at Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre, University Medical City, Muscat, Oman, in October 2024 with didactic lectures, small group skill stations, virtual bronchoscopy simulations and hands-on training using manikins and a novel, cost-effective, 3D-printed airway model. The pre-course knowledge of the attendees and their gain in skill were assessed with a 50-question survey tool.

Results …

Instagram Influencers And Egyptian Women: Links To Self- Perception And Behavior, Fatma El Sayad

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid rise of Instagram influencers has transformed the ways young women engage with media, shaping perceptions of appearance, lifestyle, success, and everyday behavior. This study examines how frequent exposure to Instagram influencers affects self-esteem, internalization of beauty and lifestyle ideals, perceived realism of influencer content, and behavioral and consumption habits among young Egyptian females. The study explores participants’ lived experiences, interpretations, and coping strategies in relation to influencer culture. Perceived influencer credibility emerged as a key factor for females to follow them, influencers viewed as relatable, specialized, and transparent were more likely to inspire adaptive behaviors, whereas those promoting …

Mapping The Neuroexposome: Integrative Analysis Of Dementia Risk Factors Through Multi-Omics And Environmental Profiling In The Egyptian Population., Mai Ahmed Saadzaghloul Othman

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Dementia represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of the twenty-first century, with the global burden projected to reach 153 million cases by 2050. Egypt, as the most populous Arab nation, faces a corresponding rise in age-related diseases, yet comprehensive data from low- and middle-income countries remain severely limited. The neuroexposome framework, integrating genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and metabolic alterations, offers a powerful strategy to characterize the complex interplay between internal and external risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease Related Dementias (ADRD).

Objectives: This thesis aimed to: (1) examine the distribution of APOE alleles …

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Managing Rainwater, Lawrence Krissek, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

Rainscaping can help solve drainage problems, reduce erosion, improve water quality, and conserve soil by effectively managing rainwater movement across the landscape. It can also provide environments with increased biodiversity while reducing the need for supplemental watering.  The details of rainscaping your garden are very site-specific, affected by the amount of space and money available, your garden’s physical and weather/climate characteristics, and your garden goals. This resource sheet addresses the use of natural methods to ensure efficient rainwater management.

Seeing A Future Where I Exist As Myself: An Exploration Of Suicidality As A Response To Sociopolitical Oppression In Transgender And Gender Expansive Populations, Alexander Ray Sequoia

University Honors Theses

Suicide is often considered a mental health issue alone. For Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people, suicide can be a response to erasure of self and living under oppression conditions. The sociopolitical climate in the United States (U.S.), has become more hostile for TGNC people, along with legislative action that criminalizes their existence. This project explores the intersections of identity and nuances of suicide and death. The present study consists of 14 semi-structured interviews. This study examined the intersections of gender and culture on suicide responses, highlighting the importance of culturally relevant and community-led support for Transgender and gender expansive …

The Gut Microbiome, The Gut-Brain Axis, And College Student Well-Being, Idi Mckay

University Honors Theses

This literature review examines how diet, stress, environmental exposure, and food accessibility may influence college students' mental health and academic performance through the gut microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). Current microbiome research often focuses on early childhood development, clinical disease populations, or older adults, while overlooking college-age students who experience significant social, environmental, and biological transitions. College students frequently face food insecurity, irregular eating patterns, chronic stress, inconsistent sleep schedules, and reduced access to nutrient-dense foods, all of which may influence microbial diversity and overall gut health.

This thesis explores how modern campus environments and lifestyle factors may contribute …

Fatherhood In Egypt: Identity Formation And Role Theory Perspectives, Mahmoud Nasr Gawdat

Theses and Dissertations

Fatherhood is a central yet under-researched dimension of family life in Egypt, particularly from a psychological and identity-based perspective. This study explores how Egyptian fathers construct and experience fatherhood through the lenses of identity theory and role theory. Using a qualitative research design, seven focus groups were conducted with 43 Egyptian fathers to examine the meanings they attribute to fatherhood, their perceived roles, challenges, support systems, and personal transformations. Thematic analysis revealed six interconnected themes: (1) describing the father’s role, (2) learning the father role, (3) social and cultural influences on the father role, (4) meaning of being a father, …