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Spectrum, Volume 55, Issue 11, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: SantaCon Shutdown -- The Senior Experience: President’s 63 -- Courageous Dialogue with the Ramos Institute -- Alumni Rediscover SHU with Monthly Tours -- Back-to-Back Conference Champions

2025-12-03 [Review] Lions And Tigers And Plot Holes, Oh My!: A ‘Wicked: For Good’ Review, Julia Pilch

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid Oil-Based Microdroplets: A Promising Novel Class Of Microdroplets, Ramiz S. Alejilat

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Droplet-based microfluidics has rapidly advanced numerous fields, including chemistry, biology, materials science, medicine, food science, and cosmetics. In these systems, fluorocarbon oil combined with fluorinated surfactants is the preferred medium for fluid encapsulation, offering exceptional stability and biocompatibility essential for sensitive biological and chemical processes. However, growing concerns about the environmental and biological risks associated with fluorinated chemicals have prompted a search for alternatives.

This study is the first to explore the use of unsaturated fatty acids derived from emu oil for microdroplet formation. We characterized droplet formation based on flow rates and the presence non-fluorinated surfactant at a certain …

Fall 2025 Student Scholar Symposium Abstract Volume, Chapman University Center For Undergraduate Excellence

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

No abstract provided.

Pathological Drivers Of Coral Diseases Across The Arabian Peninsula, Thierry M. Work, Greta S. Aeby, David Abrego, Jessica Bouwmeester, Emily Howells, Pedro Range, Maren Ziegler, Thor Jensen, Amanda Shore, Grace Vaughan, John A. Burt, Christian R. Voolstra, Radhouan Ben-Hamadou

All Works

Increasing trends of coral mortality are a challenge to coral reef management worldwide, and a need exists to identify the causes and pathways involved. Pathology is useful to help decipher potential causes of mortality in animals, because it illuminates agents associated with lesions and gives insights on the nature of how a host responds to said agents. To better understand the nature of threats facing corals in the Arabian Peninsula, we performed gross and microscopic pathology on corals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Among 321 coral fragments examined from 21 genera, tissue loss was the most …

Unconventional Binding Of Calmodulin To Chk2 Kinase Inhibits Catalytic Activity, Christopher R Horne, Tingting Wang, Samuel N Young, Toby A Dite, Hunter G Nyvall, Sushant Suresh, Katherine A Davies, Abner Gonzalez Castro, Vineet Vaibhav, Lucy J Mather, Laura F Dagley, Matthew J Belousoff, Gerard Manning, Anthony R Means, John E Burke, Janni Petersen, John W Scott, James M Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calmodulin (CaM) serves an essential role in eukaryotic cells as a Ca2+ sensor. Ca2+ binding leads to conformation changes in CaM that enable engagement of a repertoire of enzymes and the regulation of their catalytic activities. Classically, Ca2+-CaM binds to an inhibitory pseudosubstrate sequence C-terminal to the kinase domain in members of the Ca2+-CaM-dependent protein kinase (CAMK) family and relieves inhibition to promote catalytic activity. Here, we report an unexpected mechanism by which CaM can bind CHK2 kinase to inhibit its kinase activity. Using biochemical, biophysical and structural mass spectrometry, we identify a direct interaction of Ca2+-CaM with the CHK2 …

A Distinct Pp2a Subunit Regulates Local Protein Phosphorylation At The Axon Initial Segment, Andrew P Anderson, Sanghyun Kim, Allison J Melton, Xiaoyun Ding, Wei Zhang, Alexander B Saltzman, Anna Malovannaya, Matthew N Rasband, Yudong Gao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Protein phosphorylation plays a crucial role in regulating the cytoskeletal and membrane proteins at the axon initial segment (AIS). However, our knowledge of AIS-specific kinases and phosphatases is very limited. Here, we report the identification of a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) B55 regulatory subunit enriched at the AIS in mice: Ppp2r2c. Our results demonstrate that PP2A-B55 subunits exhibit substantial heterogeneity in their subcellular localization and function. Notably, the Ppp2r2c subunit is selectively concentrated at the AIS, and this enrichment is driven by its unique structure. Utilizing a microelectrode array system (MEA), we show that Ppp2r2c modulates neuronal activity during in …

Restoration Of Sfrp3 Preserves The Neural Stem Cell Pool And Spatial Discrimination Ability In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Chia-Hsuan Fu, Jin Park, Umberto Tosi, Francisco A Blanco, Manuel Silva-Pérez, Kavitha Muralidharan, Jason C You, Minjung Lee, Gabriel S Stephens, Xiaohong Zhang, Yi Zheng, Helen Scharfman, Kimberley F Tolias, Jeannie Chin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have an increased incidence of seizures, which worsen cognitive decline. Using a transgenic mouse model of AD neuropathology that exhibits spontaneous seizures, we previously found that seizure activity stimulates and accelerates depletion of the hippocampal neural stem cell (NSC) pool, which was associated with deficits in neurogenesis-dependent spatial discrimination. However, the precise molecular mechanisms that drive seizure-induced activation and depletion of NSCs are unclear. Here, using mice of both sexes, we performed RNA-sequencing on the hippocampal dentate gyrus and identified differentially expressed regulators of neurogenesis in the Wnt signaling pathway that regulates many aspects of …

Resolving The Mysteries Of Brain Clearance And Immune Surveillance, Jonathan Kipnis, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Recent advances are transforming our understanding of brain fluid dynamics, highlighting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow as a key process in brain waste clearance. While debates persist regarding its anatomical pathways and regulatory mechanisms, certain core principles have become widely accepted. CSF influx occurs primarily along periarterial spaces, solute clearance follows multiple routes, and glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems are functionally connected. Brain clearance is influenced by vascular pulsation, neural activity, and sleep. Immune cells at brain-border niches both monitor solute efflux and modulate flow, linking brain clearance to neuroimmune interactions. A deeper understanding of brain clearance could unlock new therapeutic …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Program Percontohan Pengendalian Rabies Berbasis One Health Di Wilayah Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Marheni Ni Wayan, Sutarsa I Nyoman, Made Subrata

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Rabies continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Bali Province, Indonesia. The Dharma Program, a rabies control initiative based on the One Health approach, has been implemented in multiple areas of the province. Sustaining and expanding this program requires an economic evaluation that compares the cost burden of rabies under scenarios with and without program implementation. This study was conducted in two pilot villages: Sanur Kaja (SKJ) and Sanur Kauh (SKH). Cost data were obtained from activity reports, published literature, and structured interviews with program managers. Benefit values were estimated using scenario modeling, which included treatment costs, post-exposure …

Exploring The Potential For Data Storytelling Practices In Healthcare Communication, Shafaq Zehra, Naomi Jacobs, Dan Richards

IASDR Conference Series

The key challenges associated with the design of doctor-patient communication mainly include time constraints, cultural and language barriers and health literacy of the patients accessing care. The implications of the gaps in effective doctor-patient communication may lead to lack of compliance to treatment, weakened rapport building and lack of trust in the healthcare services. This paper qualitatively explores the context of the challenges associated with doctor-patient communication from a health care provider perspective. The main themes identified by in-depth interviews with clinicians were issues related to lack of trust, validity of patient’s information, lack of patient engagement and empowerment, and …

Reimagining Speculative Design For Inclusion: An Narrative-Based Prototype For Civic Participation, Sandy Claes, Gitte Vande Graveele, Erica Bol

IASDR Conference Series

Speculative design has the potential to foster civic reflection but often remains inaccessible to broader audiences due to its cultural and conceptual complexity. This paper presents a research-through-design (RtD) exploration of how speculative design can become more inclusive by embedding reflection into the narrative experience itself. We redesigned INWARDS, a policy-oriented speculative artefact, by segmenting one of its films and integrating plain-language prompts at key narrative moments and reframing participation as introspection by triggering lightweight, personal reflections. The resulting prototype was deployed in a semi-public setting to explore spontaneous engagement beyond design- savvy audiences. We contribute (1) a design-led exploration …

Co-Living With Intelligent Artifacts: An Experiential Participatory Speculative Design Method, Boyu Zhang, Jiaxin Xiao, Li Zhang

IASDR Conference Series

With the advancement of artificial intelligence and robotics, intelligent artifacts are increasingly integrated into human life. Traditional user-centered design approaches focus on optimizing interaction experiences but often overlook potential ethical issues. This study employs a participatory speculative design approach, engaging the public in co-constructing future scenarios to foreground ethical reflection at the early stages of the design process. Building on this approach, we propose an extended model of the Experiential Future Ladder and implement it through a workshop involving eight Chinese youth participants. Thematic analysis identifies three categories of ethical issues in future human–intelligent artifact interactions: dilemmas between emotion and …

From Trauma To Transformation: A Cognitive-Embedded Design Framework For Responsive Healing Environments, Xiujun Chen, Ziyuan Jiang

IASDR Conference Series

Post-conflict architectural interventions often overlook survivors’ altered cognitive and emotional landscapes. This paper introduces cognitive-embedded design—a framework that reconceives architecture as an active participant in collective healing. The study adopts a speculative, research- through-design approach integrating conceptual inquiry with spatial and technical prototyping. Using the redesign of Sarajevo’s Grbavica Market as a case study, it demonstrates how sensor-driven spatial systems can support trauma recovery when orchestrated through Judith Herman’s three-phase model and 4E cognition principles. The project integrates responsive boundaries, bio-adaptive narratives, and culturally rooted craft spaces that attune to healing rhythms while preserving user agency through community governance. While …

Aesthetic Responses And Ai Anxiety: Experimental Analysis Of Public Perception Toward Ai Artworks Across Different Styles, Rui Xu, Yen Hsu, Xinyan Wang, Hanlin Mi

IASDR Conference Series

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can reproduce various art styles by deep learning to efficiently produce stunning artworks that seem artistic and arouse emotional resonance among the audience. However, do these AI artworks go beyond the levels of human artists in the present era, will the AI artworks go beyond the levels of human artists in the future, and will these artworks undermine the status of anthropocentrism and trigger anxiety? In response to these questions, experiments were launched to check the representative artworks at different times. In this paper, the experimental research method and the data analysis method were applied to …

A Study Of The Application And Experience Differences Between Embodied And Non-Embodied Interactive Ar In Cultural Tourism, Qijun Gao, Bingjie Gao, Hanyin Zheng, Shaohua Xue

IASDR Conference Series

The widespread application of Augmented Reality (AR) technology in cultural tourism has made the optimization of user interaction a key factor in enhancing the overall experience. This study takes the Gongtan Ancient Town in Chongqing as a case study to conduct a comparative analysis of embodied and non-embodied interactive AR in cultural contexts. A within-subject experiment with 36 participants was conducted, combining quantitative evaluations (UEQ-S scale, cognitive dimension ranking, and comparative scoring) and qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. This mixed-method approach enabled a systematic comparison of emotional, cognitive, and usability- related differences between the two interaction modes. The results indicate …

Xrecycle: A Gamified Xr System For Enhancing Youth Engagement And Learning In Plastic Recycling, Yuhao Li, Mingming Wang, Hanzhe Bao, Yuhao He, Tiantian Lo, Henry Duh

IASDR Conference Series

This study proposes XRecycle, a physical-digital (phygital) gamified system that integrates extended reality (XR) technologies with game-based learning mechanisms to address challenges in engaging youth in plastic recycling within high-density cities like Hong Kong. The system merges tangible devices made from locally recycled plastics with immersive virtual environments, forming a multi- layered framework of main tasks, side quests, and reward feedback. A mixed-method study with 20 participants validated the system ’ s effectiveness in enhancing circular literacy and sustaining behavioral motivation. Quantitative results revealed significant improvements in knowledge retention and engagement. Qualitative feedback suggested that participants were particularly drawn to …

The Social Dynamics Of Campus Spaces: An Ethnographic Study Of Lived Experiences And Student Agency., Sabahat Ali Khan, Anandhu Pm, Ravinder Kaur, Saurabh Tewari

IASDR Conference Series

This ethnographic research explores the everyday lives and social relationships of student spaces at IIT Delhi, with reference to how institutional design, student’s agency, and material environments co- produce campus life. Drawing on theoretical frameworks including Foucault’s disciplinary power, Lefebvre’s spatial triad, Tuan’s emotional geographies, and the research reveals that campus spaces are dynamic, contested sites where formal planning meets everyday student practices. Through fieldwork, observation, and interviews, the research records the negotiation of space, emotional connections, and the contributions of non-human actors. Findings demonstrate that students actively reinvent formal spaces, infusing them with memory and routine influenced by emotional …

Failing Through Play: Integrating Iterative Design Methods To Foster Creativity In Primary Education, Fernanda Fontes, Wonjoon Chung

IASDR Conference Series

Creativity is one of the essential skills to navigate the complexities of the 21st century. In this exploratory research, we investigate how design can enhance current pedagogical methods in primary education to foster creativity in problem-solving activities. Using a case study method, we conduct semi-structured interviews with educators to understand their approaches, motivations, and the barriers they face when employing these activities in their classrooms. We also verify the iterative methods currently incorporated into these activities. Our analysis suggests that crucial elements of the design creative process, such as iteration and problem-finding, are often overlooked. Furthermore, the concept of “iteration” …

From Screen To Street: Insights For Autonomous Mobility Design From Movies, Xinyan Yu, Tram Thi Minh Tran, Marius Hoggenmüller, Martin Tomitsch

IASDR Conference Series

Fictional media, such as movies, offer a rich speculative lens for exploring people’s interaction with and the societal implications of future technologies. In this paper, we apply this lens to the domain of autonomous mobility, mapping a speculative landscape to inspire the design of future autonomous mobility systems. We systematically examine 36 autonomous mobility systems depicted across 31 movies and construct a speculative landscape that reveals how these systems are imagined in terms of interaction design, agency, and their embeddedness within broader societal contexts. This analysis offers design researchers a resource for inspiration and critical reflection, highlighting opportunities to reimagine …

Effects Of Colored Pavement Line Density On Drivers' Visual Attention Patterns, Yunhui Wu, Sari Yamamoto

IASDR Conference Series

This study addresses concerns in shared space regarding low vehicle yield rates to pedestrians, safety risks, and challenges faced by vulnerable road users. We examine how the density of colored pavement lines influences drivers’ visual attention, specifically, fixation counts on pedestrians, in complex shared space scenes. Using an eye tracker (Tobii Pro Glasses 3, 100 Hz), we recorded the eye movements of 20 participants while they viewed 15 simulated driving videos with different marking designs. Results show that the optimal density correlates with road width: on 6-m roads, low-density markings are most effective; on 4.5-m roads, low density is effective …

Confucian Ritual Space As More-Than-Human Design: Reframing The Zaojing In The Forbidden City, Ning Gao, Yongsheng Tong, An Sui, Hui Zeng

IASDR Conference Series

This article explores the Forbidden City’s zaojing (coffered ceiling) as a case study in reinterpreting ritual space through a “more-than-human” design lens. Bridging Confucian cosmology with contemporary post-humanist design theory, we argue that the imperial Chinese ritual environment was inherently more-than-human-centric, embedding non-human agencies (cosmic forces, mythical beings, and natural elements) into architectural design. We begin by examining Confucian cosmology and imperial architecture, highlighting how the built environment embodied a cosmological order beyond human-centered needs. We then outline a theoretical framework drawing on more-than- human design principles and spatial semiotics to understand architecture as an active mediator between human and …

Cultural Manifestations Of Sketch Inhibition In East Asian Design Education: A Grounded Theory Approach, Zhenyu Ma, Wei Man

IASDR Conference Series

This study investigates the phenomenon of sketch inhibition in East Asian design education contexts through a grounded theory approach, exploring how cultural, institutional, and technological factors shape students' utilization of sketching as a design thinking tool. Through systematic analysis of in- depth interviews with 41 participants from China, Japan, and cross-cultural backgrounds—including design educators (n=11), industry experts (n=12), and students (n=18)—this research reveals unique manifestations of sketch inhibition distinct from Western contexts. The study employs rigorous open, axial, and selective coding procedures to construct a theoretical framework capturing the multidimensional nature of sketch inhibition in East Asia. Key findings indicate …

Educating For Longevity: The Role Of Immersive Technologies In Service Learning, Sheng-Hung Lee, Joseph Coughlin, Sofie Hodara, Maria Yang

IASDR Conference Series

As education adapts to the realities of a longevity society, new approaches are needed to engage learners in preparing for their long-term futures, particularly around financial well-being. This preliminary study explores how immersive technologies can enhance educational experiences in longevity planning by combining augmented reality (AR) with tangible artifacts, the Longevity Planning Blocks (LPBs). We designed and prototyped three longevity coaching experiences—using projection AR, tablet AR, and wearable AR—to investigate their effectiveness in communicating abstract longevity planning concepts. Nine Boston-based participants aged 35–45 engaged in a 30-minute coaching session using one of three AR modalities, followed by reflective feedback captured …

Perceptemo: Exploring How Generative Ai Affects Emotional Data Sensemaking On Human Perception For Academic Procrastination, Zitian Zhang, Yi-Ching (Janet) Huang

IASDR Conference Series

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) demonstrates potential for supporting data processing and interpretation, limited research investigates how to support individuals in emotional sensemaking in the context of procrastination behaviors. This work introduces Percept Emo, a platform that uses generative AI models (image-to-image and image-to-video) to support people to make sense of and experience their emotional data. It transforms users' sketches of emotions related to procrastination into new visual representations. In a within-subjects experiment, we investigate how AI supports emotional data sensemaking and its influence on perceptions of procrastination by comparing three conditions: no AI, image-to-image, and image-to-video. Results showed that the …

The Impact Of The Visual Fidelity Of Externalized Ideas On Participants' Cognitive Actions And Co-Evolution: Focusing On Generative Ai-Supported Multidisciplinary Co-Design, Yeongsong Lim, Younjoon Lee

IASDR Conference Series

This study investigated the impact of the visual fidelity of externalized ideas, particularly when supported by generative artificial intelligence (GAI), on cognitive actions, co-evolution, and knowledge exchange in multidisciplinary co-design workshops. Although sketching has long served as a mediating artifact for collaboration, empirical validation is required to understand how GAI, as a visualization tool, reshapes design cognition and collaborative dynamics. A multidisciplinary co-design workshop was conducted, and data were collected through pre- and post-workshop surveys, video recordings, and post-interviews. A protocol analysis was conducted based on the participants’ verb aliz at ions during the workshop sessions, and the survey data …

Emotional Transition And Digital Continuity: Exploring Toy Hibernation In Family Households, Yoon Jung Choi, Hayoun Moon, Jaehoon Pyon, Myounghoon Jeon, Sang Won Lee, Chase Stabolepszy, Terry Grant

IASDR Conference Series

Product hibernation—when end-of-life products are kept but no longer used—poses a significant barrier to extending product lifespans within a circular economy. In households with young children, this challenge is particularly evident: toys are frequently outgrown but retained or ultimately discarded once deemed obsolete, even when fully functional. This paper presents findings from a mixed-method study involving interviews with ten families, a survey of 101 families, and an inventory analysis of thirty- three hibernating children’s toys. The study explores the reasons behind toy hibernation, revealing key motivational factors, as well as barriers to sharing when it has the highest value. Initial …

Hypnotic Futuring: Superflex And The Aesthetic Of Induction In Speculative Design Research, Troels Degn Johansson

IASDR Conference Series

This paper investigates how the Danish art collective SUPERFLEX make use of actual or mediated hypnotic situations in five key artworks: Experience Climate Change as an Animal (2009), The Financial Crisis (Session I-IV) (2009), Hotline til udkanten (“Hotline for the Peripheries” (2010), The Working Life (2013), and Inter species Café (2021). Drawing on concepts from speculative design, psychoanalytic theory, and affect studies, the paper argues that SUPERFLEX uses hypnosis not only as a therapeutic tool but also as a speculative strategy. Through sound, narrative, and immersive experience, SUPERFLEX induces altered states of perception that de-center normative thinking and open imaginative …

Understanding Imaginative Play And Physical Activity Through Tangible Design: A Longitudinal Evaluation Of The Bee Buzz Buddy, Yuehao Wang, Alethea Blackler, Bernd Ploderer, Nicole Vickery, Dannielle Tarlinton

IASDR Conference Series

This study explores the potential of the Bee Buzz Buddy prototype, a tangible interaction design, in encouraging young children’s indoor physical activity through imaginative play. It examines how such designs can support full-body movement and foster sustained engagement in physical activity. The prototype was tested in participants’ homes for two months, using a mixed-methods approach that included observations, parent interviews, and diary logs to assess its impact. Key findings show that while the prototype effectively promoted physical activity and movement skills development through imaginative play, long-term engagement declined over time. The study highlights the importance of metaphors and pretend scenarios …

Pairmotion: A Real-Time Ar System For Enhancing Bodily Expression And Creativity In Dance Novices, Kaiqing Huang, Jennifer Hu, Qiao Xiao, Liangliang Zhao

IASDR Conference Series

This paper presents Pair Motion, a novel real-time augmented reality (AR) system developed to enhance spontaneous bodily expression and creativity in dance novices. Unlike traditional dance systems that emphasize imitation, Pair Motion encourages beginners to explore movement freely through embodied interaction with a virtual dance partner. The system leverages cutting-edge AR and motion capture technologies, allowing users to engage with virtual content in real time. By combining the Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) framework to assess movement dynamics such as Flow (Bound), Time (Sustained), and Space (Indirect), we explore how Pair Motion enhances body awareness, emotional expression, and creativity Our approach …