Digital Commons Network^™

Serum Factors In Primary Podocytopathies, Edward J. Filippone, John L. Farber

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

Primary podocytopathies, including minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), are caused by a circulating factor or factors injurious to the podocyte. An immunologic origin seems likely based on responsiveness to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents, including calcineurin inhibitors targeting T-cells and rituximab targeting B-cells. Potential non-antibody-mediated circulating factors have been identified, including cardiotrophin-like cytokine 1, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, and angiopoietin-like 4, among others. More recent research supports a primary antibody pathogenesis, with anti-nephrin antibodies found in a significant percentage of cases. Such antibodies also predict recurrence after transplantation. Other potential antigenic targets besides nephrin include …

The Evaluation Of Variants Within Eight Collagen Genes Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1, Col5a1, Col11a1, Col15a1, Col22a1, And Col27a1 And A Risk Of Non-Contact Knee Ligament Rupture In Elite Handball Players: A Case-Control Study, Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik, Andrzej Mastalerz, Aleksandra Bojarczuk, Monika Johne, Alison V. September, Aleksandra Garbacz, Katarzyna Komar, Ewelina Maculewicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Knee ligament ruptures are common injuries among athletes. While most previous studies examined single collagen gene polymorphisms, few have investigated haplotype-level associations across multiple genes, particularly in elite handball players. Materials and methods: This case-control study analyzed variants in eight collagen genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1) in 103 elite Polish handball players with non-contact knee ligament rupture and 226 matched controls. Results: The COL22A1 rs11784270 CC genotype was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.88, p = 0.01), with the strongest effect in the …

Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals Novel And Differential Circular Rna Responses Underlying Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Regulation In Porcine Alveolar Macrophages, Jiuyi Li, Oluwaseun Adeyemi, Laura C. Miller, Yongming Sang

Food and Animal Sciences Faculty Research

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses in the swine industry. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of stable non-coding RNAs, are increasingly recognized as regulators in immune responses and host–virus interactions. This study investigated the genome-wide circRNA responses in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), key cell targets of PRRSV, following treatment with a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine or two interferon (IFN) subtypes (IFN-α1, IFN-ω5). Using RNA sequencing, we identified over 1000 differentially expressed circRNAs across treatment groups, revealing both conserved and distinct expression profiles. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that circRNA-associated genes are significantly enriched …

Proceedings Of The Ursinus Colloquium On Liberal Education: Liberal Arts On Offense, Stephanie Mackler, Allison E. Carey, Matt Kozusko, Mark Schneider

Ursinus Colloquium on Liberal Education

About • Liberal Arts on Offense: Introductory Remarks • Questions Posed to the Alumni Panel • Panel Remarks from Session One: Offensive Liberal Arts • List of Participants

A Few Millimeters Of Bone: How Male Supremacists Leverage Scientific Sexism To Reinforce Misogynistic Ideologies, Robin O'Hanlon

Publications and Research

In recent years, male supremacist actors have reinforced their misogynistic worldviews by using narrative strategies centered on authoritative “common sense” and scientific “fact.” This paper presents a thematic narrative analysis of The Incel Wiki and the Wiki4Men, representing the first formal analysis of the wiki for the men’s rights organization A Voice for Men. The analysis indicates male supremacists use techniques including misappropriation of scientific information, manipulation of statistics, and leveraging pseudoscientific information to develop their narrative strategies of supremacy. The most consistent narrative strategies of scientific sexism on the wikis are male victimhood, denial of inequality between men and …

Comparison Of Authentic Urine N-Ethylpentedrone Metabolites To Predicted In Silico And In Vitro Human Hepatocyte Metabolism, Gloria Daziani, Omayema Taoussi, Diletta Berardinelli, Giulia Bambagiotti, Marilyn A. Huestis, Francesco P. Busardò, Jeremy Carlier

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Synthetic cathinones are the second most common class of substances belonging to the category of new psychoactive substances (NPS). N-ethylpentedrone (NEPD) self-administration was reported, making it important to elucidate its metabolic pathway to improve its detection. NEPD is often taken together with other substances; confidently identifying its intake is important for accurate toxicological analysis and understanding its toxicity. NEPD metabolism was studied following incubation with human hepatocytes and analysis by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry paired with Compound Discoverer software (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Prediction of possible metabolites was performed with the online software GLORYx. In vivo NEPD metabolism was evaluated by …

Growth Plate Skeletal Stem Cells And Their Actions Within The Stem Cell Niche, Natalie Kiat-Amnuay Cheng, Shion Orikasa, Noriaki Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The growth plate is a specialized cartilage structure near the ends of long bones that orchestrates longitudinal bone growth during fetal and postnatal stages. Within this region reside a dynamic population of growth plate skeletal stem cells (gpSSCs), primarily located in the resting zone, which possess self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity. Recent advances in cell-lineage tracing, single-cell transcriptomics, and in vivo functional studies have revealed distinct subpopulations of gpSSCs, which are defined by markers such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), CD73, axis inhibition protein 2 (Axin2), forkhead box protein A2 (FoxA2), and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). These stem cells interact intricately …

Covid-19 Vaccination Coverage In Al-Qassim District, Iraq: Epidemiological Analysis (2021-2022), Murtadha K. Ibrahiem, Ghanim Aboud Jaber Al-Mola, Rafah Hady Lateef

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Vaccines against COVID-19 have been instrumental in preventing the spread and severity of the disease in the world. In Iraq, coverage and distribution of vaccines across regions have differed.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the coverage of three types of COVID-19 vaccines in Al-Qasim District, Babil Governorate, Iraq, in the years 2021 and 2022.

Materials and Methods: In a retrospective observational study, local health authority vaccination data were utilized. The study population was approximately 310,000 residents of three sub-districts. Monthly data for 2021 and 2022 were included for the quantity of vaccine doses (first and …

Early-Life Exposure To Organic Chemical Pollutants As Assessed In Primary Teeth And Cardiometabolic Risk In Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study, Vidya S. Farook, Feroz Akhtar, Rector Arya, Alice Yau, Srinivas Mummidi, Juan Lopez Alvarenga, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Roy G. Resendez, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children is limited. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the extent to which exposure to organic chemicals influences cardiometabolic traits (CMTs) in MA children. We recalled 25 children from a previous study and collected 25 primary teeth from them. Chemical analyses of the teeth were performed using established protocols. Target analytes included acetaminophen (APAP); 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), …

The Function Of Di-Methyl Fumarate In Immunobiochemical And Hematological Changes In Individuals Infected With Entamoeba Histolytica, Saif Mohammed Algebory, Zainab Ali Hussein, Sarah Suliman Mohammed, Alaa Ihsan Saymeh, Hayder Kareem Algabri

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Amebiasis can cause a number of symptoms, from infections that are passed on when someone touches something infected to serious illness.

Objectives: role of DMF on reducing Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) infection.

Materials and Methods: The study involved patients supplying E. histolytica-related symptoms. Diagnoses were confirmed using stool samples, and 10 mL of venous blood was obtained for antioxidant and immunological investigation. Groups: Control (uninfected patients), Normal medication (infected patients on normal medication), and Combination (infected patients getting standard treatment with DMF).

Results: Group 2 and 3 had lower red blood cell and haemoglobin levels than group …

Analyze The Mechanistic Role Of Lox-1 In Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review, Mohammed Algebory, Zainab Ali Hussein, Amira Shamseldin Mohamed Khalafalla, Emaan Mohammed Zina

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health concern that leads to illness and death. One of the primary risk factors for CVD is dyslipidemia, which can cause an elevation of oxidized LDL. Recently, the lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1 receptor), a transmembrane protein found in endothelial cells, platelets, cardiomyocytes, and other cells, has gained attention. LOX- 1 receptors are responsible for recognizing oxLDL, and overactivation can trigger pathways that cause tissue damage, including endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis, process under investigation involves the following: promotion of platelet activation and adhesion to endothelial cells; ADP-mediated aggregation; and the development …

"Our River Is Full Of Trash And Many Fish Die" Children's Voices From Pasuruan, Indonesia: Discursive Strategies In Positive Discourse Analysis For Sustainability, Bambang Prastio, Ahsani Maulidina, Agung Rinaldy Malik, Achmad Tantowi Azis

The Qualitative Report

Addressing river pollution and understanding the role of children in environmental conservation are essential for maintaining ecosystem health and sustainability. This study used positive discourse analysis to explore children's discourse about river pollution in Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. Data were collected using walk-and talk ethnographic interviews with 15 children aged 7 to 11 years. The findings reveal that these children employed five discursive strategies: (1) nomination: metaphor, comparison, and cultural practices; (2) predication: positive attitude in the forms of disposition and behavior; (3) argumentation: contrast and parallelism; (4) perspectivisation, involving a type of religious representation that includes references to the …

A Not-Quite-Assessment Of Assessing Autoethnography: Ekphrastic Compositions On Quality, Clarity, And (Un)Certainty In Autoethnography, Aaron Hoy

The Qualitative Report

Taking an ekphrastic approach, this essay responds to and reflects on my reading of Assessing Autoethnography: Notes on Analysis, Evaluation, and Craft by Andrew F. Herrmann and Tony E. Adams. It has three parts. First, I summarize the book’s central chapters and discuss their practical uses, especially as prompts for in-progress autoethnographies. Second, using clarity as a point of entry, I explore a tension I felt while reading the book—between the comforting utility of specific criteria and the marginalizing power of criteria themselves. Finally, I share a found poem composed in response to the book and reflect on the impermanent …

Paws Off My Image: Why Rights Of Publicity Should Be Expanded, Lauren Didelot

Journal of Intellectual Property Law

In our increasingly digital world, exposure to fame and fortune has become more accessible than ever, and many pet owners have taken advantage of this. The rise of “petfluencers” has called into question the extent of available rights of these celebrity animals’ owners to protect and maintain their pet’s commercial value, thus preventing instances of unfair enrichment from other’s exploitation of their beloved animals. This Note argues for the acceptance of an animal’s right of publicity. We begin with an exploration of the right of publicity itself and its current applications. Next, we will discuss the intellectual property rights currently …

Developing Pico, Research Questions And Protocols, Sandra Y. Desjardins

Library Class: Lunch & Learn

Whether you're a student, a physician, or a faculty member, every great research project starts with a clear plan. This session will walk you through the essential steps of turning a research idea into a structured plan using the PICO framework. We'll cover how to develop focused research questions and discuss the value of using established protocols to ensure your work is sound and reproducible.

Come learn the foundational skills needed for successful research in a welcoming and practical "Lunch & Learn" environment.

2025 17th Annual Student Center For Science Engagement Research Symposium, Student Center For Science Engagement

Student Center for Science Engagement Research Symposium

Student presentations in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, & Psychology

Panel 5 - Transnational Networks And Global Tax Governance, Amin Mawani, Shu-Yi Oei, Miranda Stewart

A. Cockfield Memorial Symposium

Chair: Amin Mawani (York University)

Shu-Yi Oei (Duke University), Transnational Actors and Networks in Global Tax Reform

Miranda Stewart (New York University/University of Melbourne), Are We Still Regulating Up? Transnational Networks and Global Cooperation in Tax Administration

Commentators: Lilian Faulhaber (Georgetown University); Angelo Nikolakakis (EY)

The Student Movement Volume 110 Issue 2: Week Of Prayer, Politics, And Purpose, Kara Shepard, Megan Constantine, Corinna Bevier, Melanie Webb, Joey Carrion, Isa Demoraes, Timi Olatunde, Aiko J. Ayala Rios, Ayanda Dewa, Nicoleta Cojan, Madison Vath

The Student Movement V. 110 (2025-2026)

HUMANS

What the Constitution Means to Me, Kara Shepard

Where Passion Meets Purpose: Senior Natalie Reid Reflects on Her College Years, Megan Constantine

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Art Around the City, Corinna Bevier

The Saxophone Reimagined: Cerus Quartet at HPAC, Melanie Webb

The TV Shows That Taught Me Spanish, Corinna Bevier

NEWS

TikTok Survives: Trump Administration Announces Deal to Save the Platform, Joey Carrion

Students Experience "Real Life, real God" at Week of Prayer, Isa DeMoraes

IDEAS

Being Adventist in the 21st Century, Timi Olatunde

Question of the Week #2, Aiko J. Ayala Rios

The Great Spanish Surge, Ayanda Dewa

PULSE …

Nanomedicine Targeting Ppar In Adipose Tissue Macrophages Improves Lipid Metabolism And Obesity-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction., Catherine C Applegate, Yifei Kang, Hongping Deng, Donglai Chen, Natalia Y Gonzalez Medina, Yuxiao Cui, Yujun Feng, Chia-Wei Kuo, Sayyed Hamed Shahoei, Hannah Kim, Hashni Epa Vidana Gamage, Matthew A Wallig, Erik R Nelson, Kelly S Swanson, Andrew M Smith

Faculty Research 2025

Excess body fat leads to an overabundance of adipose tissue macrophages (AT MΦs) with altered phenotypes that play pathogenic roles in obesity comorbidities including diabetes and cancer. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are leading targets to modulate AT MΦ phenotype. Here, we developed a dextran-based nanomedicine that delivers PPARα/γ agonists to AT MΦs and improves obesity and diabetic phenotypes in vivo. Within 1 week of treatment, AT MΦs decreased and became lipid laden, while extracellular vesicles secreted from AT decreased and reduced in lipid content. Within 2 weeks, glucose tolerance returned to levels of lean controls, followed by weight loss and …

A Rural Ministry Helping Adults With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities Meet Their Vocational Goals: A Case Study Of The Canteen And Trading Post (Ctp), Julie Byford Harstin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study's purpose was to describe and evaluate the Canteen & Trading Post’s (CTP’s) approach to workforce education for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (AIDD) and CTP participants’ perceptions of AIDD’s employability in their rural community. A qualitative study method was used, including semi-structured interviews, arts-based research, and participant-observation. The guiding research questions for the study were: 1. How is the Canteen & Trading Post helping adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities meet their vocational goals?, 2. How are AIDD's needs for accommodation changing through their experiences at the CTP?, and 3. How is the CTP demonstrating AIDD’s employability …

Cfd Modeling Of Lateral Spillway Flow In End-Of-Bridge Deck Drainage, Serox Sukupayo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has established a new standard for bridge-deck drainage, which features a side-inlet positioned at the end of the bridge adjacent to the roadway. This inlet serves as a lateral weir or spillway, connecting to a riprap-lined flume or chute that extends down the embankment. The hydraulic performance of this standard - encompassing capture efficiency, bypassed flow, water spreads and depths on the pavement, flow depths and velocities in the flume, and the potential for embankment erosion - must be evaluated across a variety of bridge conditions, including longitudinal and cross slopes, as well as …

Fungal Palynomorphs From The Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian–Albian) Of Jangareddygudem Area Of The Chintalapudi Subbasin, Andhra Pradesh, South Part Of India, Harinam Joshi, Neerja Jha, Sarah Gonçalves Duarte, Sari̇ye Duygu Durak, Haytham Elatfy

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

A diverse array of thalli, fruiting bodies, spores, and other fungal structures has been observed in palynological samples collected from the sedimentary sequence MJR-11, drilled in the Jangareddygudem area of the Chintalapudi subbasin, Andhra Pradesh, southern India. The sedimentary sequence is dated to the Kimmeridgian–early Albian, based on palynology. However, the focus of the present work is on the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–early Albian). A well-developed and diverse fungal assemblage consistently occurred throughout most of the succession, together with predominant conifer pollen grains and highly diversified pteridophytic and bryophytic spores. Furthermore, the recorded palynomorphs suggest deposition under both continental and marine …

A Multifaceted Analysis Of The Genetic Origins, Growth, And Invasive Potential Of Introduced Floridian Sugarcane, Indy Hughes

Student Theses and Dissertations

Saccharum spontaneum L., wild sugarcane, is an aggressive invasive species, listed by the USDA as a Federal Noxious Weed (FNW). Despite this, S. spontaneum is used to create hardy, pest-resistant cultivars of domestic sugarcane. All cultivars have a small percentage of wild parentage, but the dosage is low to lessen the chance of inheriting undesirable traits. Saccharum spontaneum’s naturalized presence in Florida has been reported since 1993 and likely escaped from regulated sugarcane breeding facilities. The proximity of S. spontaneum populations to modern cultivars, grown intensively in the state, could potentially increase the risk of invasion. It is imperative to …

The Diamond, September 26, 2025, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Announcement of Future Construction Brings Mixed Emotions to Campus Community; Dordt Students React to Charlie Kirk's Assassination; Everything and Anything: A Look at the World of Dordt Fizz
• News: An Inside Look at the Atrium: Dining System Changes and Updates; Changes in Academic Calendar Lead to Reduced Finals Week; Gaming Guild Hosts Gaming Guild Olympics Throughout School Year; Retro & Roast Pop-Up; A Turning Point for Revival: Memorial Services Held for Charlie Kirk Across Nation and in Community; Adding Some Pizzazz to Performance Arts Center; Phishing for Trouble
• Feature: Faith, Family, and Farming: Another Fall …

The Beacon, September 26, 2025, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2025-2026

Club Spotlight: Raider Baking Club; North fireplace becomes place of worship; New album marks return of the red-head; “Downton Abbey Finale” overall success; Art and science combine at “Camera Obscura”; Preparation for 2025 music showcase; Surprise animal sightings around campus; Opportunities for college employment; Why the Apocrypha matters; Stop romanticizing all-nighters; NW Cross Country season looks promising; NW Golf places high as the season begins; Alumni Serves as interim e-sports director; The Black Hills: home of humility; The Emmy’s celebrate Hollywood stars

Lysosomal Lrrc8 Complex Impacts Lysosomal Ph, Morphology, And Systemic Glucose Metabolism, Ashutosh Kumar, Yonghui Zhao, Litao Xie, Rahul Chadda, John D Tranter, Ryan T Mikami, Nihil Abraham, Juan Hong, Ethan Feng, David R Rawnsley, Haiyan Liu, Gretchen Meyer, Abhinav Diwan, Rajan Sah, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lysosome integrates anabolic signaling and nutrient sensing to regulate intracellular growth pathways. The leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) channel complex forms a lysosomal anion channel and regulates PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, skeletal muscle differentiation, growth, and systemic glucose metabolism. Here, we define the endogenous LRRC8 subunits localized to a subset of lysosomes in differentiated myotubes. We show that LRRC8A affects leucine-stimulated mTOR; lysosome size; number; pH; expression of lysosomal proteins LAMP2, P62, and LC3B; and lysosomal function. Mutating an LRRC8A lysosomal targeting dileucine motif sequence (LRRC8A-L706A;L707A) in myotubes recapitulates the abnormal AKT signaling and altered lysosomal morphology and pH observed in LRRC8A …

The Addition Of Chinese Herbal Medicines Is Effective As A Prophylactic Treatment Against Dental Diseases For Sjögren’S Syndrome Patients: Insight From Real-World Database, Ching-Ya Juan, Wei-Jen Chen, Hanoch Livneh, Ming-Chi Lu, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Leadership, Learning and Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Objectives:

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the salivary glands and increases the risk of developing dental diseases (DDs). Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) represent a promising alternative strategy for SS treatment; however, the association between CHMs and DD risk has not been confirmed. In this retrospective, cohort-based, nested case-control study, we explored whether or not combining CHMs with routine treatments for SS can reduce the chance of DDs.

Materials and Methods:

In the beginning, we recruited subjects aged 20–80 years with newly diagnosed SS who were free of DDs between 2001 and …

Naming Chemicals: From Fear To Flourishing, Carl P. Fictorie

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"A closer look at the structure of chemical names will invite us into a deeper understanding of the chemical aspect of creation and enable us to be better stewards of creation."

Posting about the benefits of scientific knowledge from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Naming Chemicals

Legal Realism, Legal Positivism, And Determinacy, Dan Priel

All Papers

It is a commonplace that the legal realists argued that law is deeply indeterminate. According to this familiar account, the legal realists insisted that legal materials don’t constrain judges, who are therefore free to decide cases in almost any way they want. An influential argument has argued that the only way to explain this view is by showing that the legal realists presupposed a legal positivist theory of law. This Essay offers a different understanding of the relationship between realism, positivism, and determinacy, challenging this interpretation of the realists as both historically false and as philosophically unwarranted. I provide many …

Rights In The Eyes Of The Beholder: The Lived Hierarchy Of Rights In India's Democracy, Sehar Abdullah, Keerthana Satheesh, Prashant Narang

Socio-Legal Review

This paper examines how citizens in India perceive and prioritise fundamental rights, with particular attention to the six freedoms under Article 19(1) and the property right. While the freedoms of Article 19(1) remain central to democratic citizenship, the Forty-Fourth Constitutional Amendment of 1978 reclassified the right to property as a constitutional right under Article 300A. This shift prompts an important question: Does the diminished constitutional rank of property correspond to its place in popular hierarchies of rights? Our in-depth interviews with 26 respondents, whose livelihoods make them especially sensitive to changes in both categories of rights, reveal that citizens continue …