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Intercontinental Variation In Population Genetics And Life-History Traits In Native And Invasive Populations Of The Aquatic Plants Myriophyllum Spicatum And Myriophyllum Sibiricum, Anastasia V. Mozharova

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Biological invasions pose significant threats to freshwater ecosystems worldwide, and understanding their evolutionary, genetic, and biogeographic drivers is essential for effective management. My dissertation integrates microsatellite and ITS rDNA data to examine the dynamics of both invasive and native populations of two closely related aquatic plant species, Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) and M. sibiricum (Northern watermilfoil).

Myriophyllum spicatum is native to Eurasia, where it inhabits a variety of freshwater aquatic habitats. Since its introduction to North America in the mid-20th century, it has become highly invasive, forming dense underwater mats that outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and degrade water quality. …

Cybercrime Regulations In The National Criminal Code, Josua Sitompul

Indonesia Law Review

In early 2023, Indonesia promulgated the National Criminal Code, which will be effectively enforceable in 2026. The promulgation is considered a historical milestone in the development of Indonesia’s criminal law that has strategic consequences for the criminal justice system in Indonesia. This new code repeals criminal provisions from 29 different acts, including the Electronic Information and Transactions Act (EIT Act). Policymakers inserted and developed new concepts into the new code, one of which is the concept of cybercrime. Employing a doctrinal legal research method, this article analyses the approaches used in the new code to regulate cybercrime. The results showed …

Empowering Youth In A Changing Climate: Design, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Salt Marsh Summer Science Program, Dan Levesque

Graduate Masters Theses

Climate change presents not only environmental challenges but also emotional challenges for today’s youth. This thesis documents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a field-based summer science program aimed at empowering adolescents with coastal salt marsh ecology while addressing climate change emotions and science identity development. The program, based in a Massachusetts salt marsh, was adapted from existing public environmental curricula and guided by place- and experience-based learning principles. Over Spring and Summer 2025, 13 students (ages 13-18) participated in extra-curricular field trips, hands-on research activities, and reflective discussions about the environment and the emotions it brings forth. Pre- and …

Shaping The Landscape: Analyzing Enclosure Types, Farm Productivity, And Resource Use In Viking Age And Medieval Iceland, Chiara M. Torrini

Graduate Masters Theses

Enclosure walls, constructed during the Viking Age and Medieval periods, were a common feature of early Icelandic agropastoral farmstead infrastructure. These walls divided the landscape and created discrete areas, often protecting grass grown in homefields. Harvesting grass for fodder was essential to support livestock, especially cattle, through the winter. Enclosure walls were built with various combinations of turf, stone, and grass sod, which were generally cut, gathered, or excavated close to the wall’s location. Data was collected for this project and combined with substantial previous archaeological work, which all take advantage of common volcanic tephra layers (including Hekla AD 1104), …

How What We Feel Is Associated With What We Hear Early In Development: The Role Of Vision In Audio-Tactile Association, Shibo Cao

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Sound-shape correspondences, also known as bouba-kiki effect, is the preferential mapping of nonsense sound like “baluma” to rounded abstract shapes while mapping nonsense sound like “takete” to spiky abstract shapes. Such association was seen for auditory and visual stimuli (AV), and auditory and tactile stimuli, which are touched but not seen (AT). Literature comparing typically-developing and early-blind adults showed AT association differ as a function of level of visual experience, and similar finding was also found comparing typically-developing adult and children. Specifically, typically-developing younger children benefited from prior AV experience of abstract shapes and nonsense sounds. While these findings suggest …

Netrin-1 Promotes Pancreatic Tumorigenesis And Innervation Through Neo1, Hiroki Kobayashi, Yosuke Ochiai, Junya Arai, Masahiro Hata, Feijing Wu, Masaki Sunagawa, Tadashi Iida, Taisuke Baba, Ermanno Malagola, Takayuki Tanaka, Zhengyu Jiang, Ruth A White, Xiaofei Zhi, Jin Qian, Quin T Waterbury, Ruhong Tu, Biyun Zheng, Yi Zeng, Hualong Zheng, Puran Zhang, Shuang Li, Leah B Zamechek, Jonathan S Labella, Takahiro Sugie, Atsushi Enomoto, Holger K Eltzschig, Carmine F Palermo, Iok In Christine Chio, Kenneth P Olive, Timothy C Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Nerves can regulate tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, clarification of the role of axon guidance molecules in tumorigenesis, innervation, and metastasis is required to better understand the tumor-promoting functions of nerves. Using murine KrasG12D-mutant pancreatic organoids, we screened axon guidance molecules and identified netrin-1 upregulation. Netrin-1 was also upregulated in vivo during pancreatic tumorigenesis in humans and mice. Mutant KRAS and β-adrenergic signaling upregulated netrin-1 and its receptor NEO1 in epithelial cells in part through the MAPK pathway. Ex vivo culture of celiac ganglia showed that netrin-1 promoted the axonogenesis of sympathetic neurons through nerve NEO1. In the Pdx1-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D/+ model, …

Viral Etiologies Of Urinary Tract Infections: A Comprehensive Review, Husam Hussein Lazim

Muthanna Medical Journal

While urinary tract infections (UTIs) are predominantly caused by bacteria, this review highlights the significant and often overlooked role of viruses as etiological agents, particularly in immunocompromised populations. Viruses such as BK polyomavirus, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) can directly infect the urothelium, causing conditions like hemorrhagic cystitis, dysuria, and sterile pyuria that closely mimic bacterial UTIs. Other viruses, including JC polyomavirus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and SARS-CoV-2, are associated with urinary tract dysfunction through different mechanisms, such as asymptomatic viruria, neurogenic pathways, or post-viral inflammation. In contrast, systemic viruses like filoviruses and hantaviruses cause acute kidney injury …

Qs11 Reduces Kidney Damage In Renal Ischemia– Reperfusionn Injury Through Wnt Β Catenin Pathway Activation In Male Rats, Najah R.Hadi, Hyader Mohammed

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) constitutes a significant adverse consequence that may occur subsequent to renal transplantation, surgical interventions on the kidneys, or various pathological conditions that impair the perfusion to renal tissues. This pathological state engenders considerable injury to kidney parenchyma, which is mediated by the reparative processes. A comprehensive comprehension of transient ischemia and an investigation into the underlying mechanisms of RIRI, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and cellular apoptosis pathways, are imperative for the advancement of efficacious therapeutic strategies. In this study, the efficacy of a specific Wnt activator, QS11, which facilitates the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin …

Thermal And Photonic Stress Effects On Pharmaceutical Medications: A Medical Physics Evaluation Using In-Vivo Models, Ammar Alhasan

Muthanna Medical Journal

Pharmaceutical stability is critical to ensuring medications efficacy and patient safety, particularly in prehospital environments where medication are exposed to extremely environmental conditions. This study evaluates the influence of temperature and light on medication permanency, focusing on medications that are frequently used in Advanced Life Support (ALS) settings, and inspects the medical physics belongings of degraded on liver and kidney functions as well as hematological considerations. Guidelines from the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and Food and Drug administration (FDA) emphasize the significance of controlled storage conditions, nevertheless prehospital environments often exceed recommended temperature ranges (15–30°C). In vivo studies that compared fresh …

Purified Β-Glucan From Enterococcus Faecium As Antibacterial And Antibiofilm Agent Against Mdr Gram-Positive Wound Infections Causative Bacteria, Entissar Hussain Abdulhameed, Jehan Abdul Sattar Salman

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: The investigation focused on MDR- gram positive isolated from wounds infections and assessed their ability for biofilm formation. The effect of purified β- glucan produced from E. faecium on the growth and biofilm of MDR wound isolates was studied. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five samples were collected from hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq, resulting in the isolation of nine isolates of Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., which were grown, examined microscopically, biochemically, and identified by Vitek2. Their susceptibility to ten antibiotics were evaluated, and their capacity to produce biofilms were examined. The antibiofilm impact of pure β-glucan was evaluated after …

Biomarker And Age At Onset Endophenotypes Offer New Insights Into The Genetic Etiology Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Joseph Bradley

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) remains among the top 10 causes of death in the United States and is projected to affect nearly 14 million people by 2050. To this point, studies of Alzheimer’s genetics and endophenotypes have yielded a bounty of results that culminated in the first disease-modifying drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, in 2022. Most of the genetic studies for Alzheimer’s disease to date have been focused on late-onset AD or Autosomal dominant AD, leaving a critical need for studying sporadic early-onset AD (EOAD; ~10% of cases). Furthermore, the demand for clinical portability has created a need for high-sensitivity proteomic …

Media Valit Berbasis Powtoon Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Analisis Fungsi Musik Di Kelas Xi Mipa, Krista Bhakti Samudra, E.W. Suprihatin Dyah Pratamawati, Hartono Hartono

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Learning in the Cultural Arts subject, particularly traditional music at SMA Negeri 1 Wates, still faces a gap caused by the use of unsuitable media. This condition has contributed to low student achievement, with many students failing to meet the minimum passing criterion of 75. This research and development study aimed to produce VALIT media—an animated video about traditional music ensembles—using Powtoon as a learning resource to improve student outcomes. The study followed R&D stages comprising identification of potential and problems, data collection, product design and planning, expert validation in content, media, and language, small-group trials, revision, second-stage validation, large-group …

Benefits And Challenges Of Documentary Video For Social Learning: A Systematic Review, Andhika Yudha Pratama, Evania Yafie, Daya Negri Wijaya, Heni Masruroh

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Social learning refers to the process of observation through which individuals acquire and refine behaviors. It plays a crucial role in helping individuals differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate actions. Documentary videos can enhance this learning process by providing observational opportunities through the figures depicted in the videos. This article reviews studies on the advantages and challenges of using documentary videos in social learning. A systematic literature review method was employed, incorporating 23 studies—18 focusing on the benefits and 5 addressing the challenges of documentary videos. The studies were collected from Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Wiley, and SAGE Journals. …

Molecular Detection Of Listeria Species From Diarrheic Human In Iraq, Sabah Adel Mahmood, Nagham Mohammed Al-Gburi

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Diarrhea is a serious global public health issue, especially in developing nations. The two categories most susceptible to infection are the elderly and children. L. monocytogenes is recognized as a causal agent of diarrhoea among the several bacterial pathogens linked to gastrointestinal illnesses. The current work was designed to investigate Listeria spp in diarrheal human stool samples in Baghdad City, Iraq.

Methods: One hundred stool samples from diarrheal patients were collected from private clinics in rural and urban areas. Listeria spp was identified by conventional culture methods using selective media, biochemical and CAMP tests, the Vitek 2compact system, and …

Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) And Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review Of Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, And Neuroprotective Potential, Elisha Rosalyn Rosdah, Eka Febri Zulissetiana, Irfannuddin Irfannuddin

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Cognitive decline, often a precursor to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, is a growing global health challenge. Green tea (Camellia sinensis), rich in bioactive compounds such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and L-theanine, has demonstrated promise in supporting cognitive function and reducing cognitive decline. This systematic review evaluated the recent evidence on the effects of green tea on cognition and its underlying mechanisms. The authors conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect for open-access articles published between January 2020 and April 2025. This systematic review included studies examining the impact of green tea on cognitive function in humans and …

Antioxidant Activity Comparison Of Peperomia Pellucida And Piper Crocatum Leaf Extracts Using The Dpph Method (In Vitro), Dyah Ayu Kinasih, Arifa Mustika, Marijam Purwanta, Nurmawati Fatimah, Nozlena Binti Abdul Samad

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth and Piper crocatum Ruiz and Pav are members of the Piperaceae family, which contains many active phytochemical compounds, one of which functions as an antioxidant. Antioxidants in the human body play a crucial role in protecting cells and tissues from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells through a process called oxidation. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of antioxidant activity in the two plants using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The processing was conducted from simplicial to extraction, using the maceration method with 70% ethanol solvent. …

Global Analysis Of Pyroptosis On Autoimmune Diseases: Bibliometric Study, Astri Dewayani, Kartika Afrida Fauzia

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Pyroptosis has gained increasing attention due to its role in immune responses and its implication in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Unlike apoptosis, pyroptosis is characterized by gasdermin D-mediated membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This bibliometric analysis aims to systematically explore trends, influential contributions, and emerging themes in the study of pyroptosis within the context of autoimmune diseases. Literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection covering publications from 2015–2024. A total of 1,271 English-language articles and reviews were analyzed using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer for performance metrics and network visualizations. Hotpots trend identification is …

The Effect Of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy On Perioperative Outcomes In Rectal Cancer Patients Following Stoma Reversal-A Retrospective Cohort Analysis, Mary Junak, Rosemarie Turk, Mohammad Afaque Alam, Eli Thompson, David Schaub, Joseph Gunderson, Anesu S. Masango, Srikar Kollipara, Andrea Moreno, Daniom Tecle, Valentine N. Nfonsam

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leak after reversal of an ostomy is a significant complication in rectal cancer patients. The effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) on outcomes following stoma reversal are not well established. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of NCRT on outcomes in rectal cancer patients following stoma reversal. METHODS: We performed a [2005-2012] retrospective cohort analysis of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), including adult (≥18 years) rectal cancer patients who had elective stoma reversal. Patients were stratified into those who received NCRT and those who did not. Primary outcomes were anastomotic …

Gut Microbiome Metagenomics In Clinical Practice: Bridging The Gap Between Research And Precision Medicine, Henok Ayalew Tegegne, Tor C Savidge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Gut microbiome metagenomics is emerging as a cornerstone of precision medicine, offering exceptional opportunities for improved diagnostics, risk stratification, and therapeutic development. Advances in high-throughput sequencing have uncovered robust microbial signatures linked to infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and neoplastic diseases. Clinical applications now include pathogen detection, antimicrobial resistance profiling, microbiota-based therapies, and enterotype-guided patient stratification. However, translation into routine care is hindered by significant barriers including methodological variability, limited functional annotation, lack of bioinformatics standardization, and underrepresentation of global populations. This review synthesizes current translational strategies, emphasizing the need for hypothesis-driven designs, multi-omic integration, longitudinal and multi-center cohorts, and mechanistic validation. …

The Non-Reciprocity Of Cultural-Ecological Resilience In Eastern Sumba, B. Retang Wohangara

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Resilience is one key concept of culture and ecology. It highlights a particular system's adaptive and thriving capacities in facing various challenges. This research-based article investigates the reciprocity of cultural-ecological resilience in three traditional communities in Eastern Sumba. It starts with the examination of cultural resilience and ecological resilience using five and seven qualitative indicators, respectively. The last part of the discussion analyzes how culture and ecology reciprocate in the given communities. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method. Data are collected by conducting mini-ethnographic field research for interviews, documentation, and focus group discussions. Using the five and seven indicators …

From Chinese Folk Religion To Tridharma: The Trajectory Of Chinese Religion In Indonesia, Refan Aditya

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article explores the trajectory of Chinese folk religion and the institution of klenteng (Chinese temple) within the broader discourse of Chinese religion in Indonesia, spanning from the colonial period to the post-reform era. Employing a historical and anthropological approach, this study examines Chinese religious discourse through Chinese-peranakan publications from the colonial era. It presents contemporary practices of Chinese folk religion and temple life as part of that evolving discourse. Historically and anthropologically, Chinese folk religion has been deeply embedded in the religious life of Chinese communities. However, its resonance has gradually degraded under the dominating religious narratives, particularly due …

Untouchable Beauty Of Everyday Aesthetics In Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, Nindya Galuh Fatmawati, Agni Saraswati

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Wim Wenders, in his latest film Perfect Days (2023), presents an everyday aesthetic experience conveyed through a visually striking aesthetic characterized by a "peaceful" gaze. This study aims to explore the everyday aesthetics depicted in Perfect Days, which align with traditional Japanese aesthetics, specifically wabi-sabi. The analysis is framed using Todd McGowan's Cinema of Desire theory. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method to examine the subject and utilizes a Psychoanalytic approach for analysis. The findings reveal that object ‘a’ in Perfect Days is highlighted through mise-en-scène and music, as these two cinematic elements facilitate a moment of …

Roblox As Open Text: Identity, Meaning, And Ideology Through Eco’S Semiotics, Yuyus Rustandi, Nanang Sutisna

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This study examines Roblox as a digital cultural space that constructs and represents adolescent identity through Umberto Eco's semiotic approach. Roblox functions not only as a game platform but also as an open text comprising visual signs, social symbols, and complex narratives. This studi is based on a literature review from nine prior empirical studies, this research analyzes how avatars, virtual environments, Robux economy, and user communities shape diverse systems of meaning. Findings show that Roblox serves as a site for identity construction, simulation of social values, and reproduction of dominant discourses such as capitalism and gender performance. The study …

Gamesmanship In Civil Litigation, Edith Beerdsen

Georgia Law Review

In civil litigation, strategy is everywhere. Some of it is explicitly envisioned by rules of procedure, but other forms of strategy rely more on clever exploitation of gaps in the rules, sometimes through trickery, surprise, or psychological mind games. The role strategy plays in civil litigation is underexamined, which raises two concerns: first, this lack of attention entrenches strategy by default as a procedural value in competition with accuracy, efficiency, and other procedural values. Second, it amplifies the disadvantages experienced by unrepresented litigants. This Article builds on earlier work to examine how courts shape the space that litigants have for …

Gravitational Property Theory, Monika U. Ehrman

Georgia Law Review

Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein defined and redefined the field of physics. Their theoretical work on gravity is still considered a monumental discovery of their respective times. Although born centuries apart, the theory of gravity each advanced is still essential. Newton’s theory is applied on Earth and throughout much of the solar system, while Einstein’s theory is used in special environments, such as near black holes. Neither theory is discarded, but instead used where appropriate. Likewise, gravitational property theory proposes that simple property theory—the ad coelum doctrine—is still appropriate for simple property, like stationary or vertical objects. And complex property …

Studying The Properties Of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized By Laser Slow Burning Method In Liquid To Remove Heavy Metals, Mohammad R. Hantehzadeh, Elham Darabi, Hossein Algharghouli

AUIQ Conference Proceedings

Water contamination with toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb²⁺) and cadmium (Cd²⁺) poses serious risks to human health, plants, and ecosystems, making their effective removal a global challenge. Conventional treatment methods often exhibit limited efficiency; therefore, nanotechnology-based approaches are increasingly being explored. In this study, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticless were synthesized via electrospinning, a simple and cost-effective technique that eliminates the need for harmful chemical reagents. The nanocomposite was characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, and TGA analyses. The results demonstrated uniform nanoparticles morphology …

Nanomaterial Strategies For High-Performance Solid-State Batteries Beyond Lithium-Ion, Mahmoud Gharbavi, Salim Albukhaty

AUIQ Conference Proceedings

This is a comprehensive review of nanomaterial strategies for developing solid-state batteries in the future beyond lithium-ion technology. It discusses key challenges such as ionic conductivity, interfacial stability, and scalable manufacturing. Nanomaterials provide the ultimate means to control electrochemical processes at atomic scales, enabling solid-state systems with energy densities above 500 Wh/kg, enhanced safety from non-flammable electrolytes, and longer cycle life.

The review offers an in-depth analysis of advanced manufacturing methods, including suspension plasma spray (SPS), atomic layer deposition (ALD), and nano-level 3D printing for fabricating nanostructured components. Sulfide solid-state electrolytes demonstrate remarkable ionic conductivities of up to 10^{-2 …}

Rapid Detection Of Sheep-Specific Clostridium Perfringens Igg Using Silver Nanoparticle-Boosted Dot-Blot Assays, Ahmed Salam Jawad

AUIQ Conference Proceedings

Dot-blot immunoassay is a quick, simple, and low-cost technique for identifying target analytes in food, clinical diagnostics, and the environment with a visual inspection. For this purpose, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using a sodium borohydride compound. Synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vs spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential (ZP) tests. After that, SNPs were conjugated with anti-CLD N4-C. perfringens IgG. At the same time, the positive and negative C. perfringens samples have been determined using ELISA. Furthermore, PCR test was used for verification of C. perfringens. Consequently, dot-blot …

Utilization Of Biochar From Date Palm For Wastewater Treatment Technologies: Mini-Review, Atheel Alwash, Emad Yousif, Salam Mohammed

Al-Mustaqbal Journal of Sustainability in Engineering Sciences

Recently, recycling agricultural waste has gained great importance in the field of the biochar industry, as it is a sustainable and inexpensive material that can be used to get rid of environmentally polluting materials. Dates are one of the major agricultural wastes in Iraq and the Gulf countries, which include fronds, seeds, and trunks. The challenge of obtaining a green and clean environment is represented by the safe disposal of these residues. These wastes are promising materials for producing biochar products as efficient adsorbents with improved characteristic properties. The present article revises the synthesis of biochar derived from date palm …

Titanium Carbide-Enhanced Bioroot Sealer: A Novel Approach To Improve Root Fracture Resistance And Calcium Ion Release, Inaam Baghdadi, Belal J. Abutarboush, Mirvat Zakhour, Ziad Salameh

The Journal of Engineering Research

This in vitro study evaluated a novel endodontic sealer composed of BioRoot RCS modified with 1 wt.% titanium carbide (TC), sintered at 600°C. The investigation focused on calcium ion release and fracture resistance of treated teeth—two parameters critical for long-term success. Thirty extracted human mandibular premolars were assigned to three groups: control (unfilled), BioRoot RCS, and BioRoot RCS with TC. Following canal preparation and obturation, specimens were embedded in acrylic resin and subjected to vertical compressive load testing. Calcium ion release was quantified using inductively coupled plasma analysis at intervals up to 30 days. The BioRoot/TC group showed significantly higher …