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September 25, 2025, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

The Prospector, September 25, 2025, Utep Student Publications

The Prospector

No abstract provided.

Increasing Tree Size Across Amazonia, Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, Rebecca Banbury Morgan, Roel Brienen, Emanuel Gloor, Simon L. Lewis, Kyle G. Dexter, Everton Almeida, Edmar Almeida De Oliveira, Esteban Álvarez-Dávila, Atila Alves De Oliveira, Ana Andrade, Simone Aparecida Vieira, Luiz Aragão, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Eric Arets, Luzmila Arroyo, Gerardo Aymard-Corredor, Olaf Banki, Plinio Barbosa De Camargo, Jorcely Barroso, Lilian Blanc, Foster Brown, José Luís Camargo, Wendeson Castro, Victor Chama Moscoso, Jérôme Chave, Ezequiel Chavez, James Comiskey, Antônio Carlos Lola Da Costa, Jhon Del Aguila Pasquel

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Climate change and increasing availability of resources such as carbon dioxide are modifying forest functioning worldwide, but the effects of these changes on forest structure are unclear. As additional resources become available, for example, through CO₂ fertilization or nitrogen deposition, large trees, with greater access to light, may be expected to gain further advantages. Conversely, smaller light-suppressed trees might benefit more if their light compensation point changes, while bigger trees may be the most negatively impacted by increasing heat and drought. We assessed recent changes in the structure of Earth’s largest tropical forest by analysing 30 years of Amazonian …

Enhanced Prediction Of Condensation Pressure Drop In Mini And Microchannels Using Physics-Assisted Machine Learning, Farshad Barghi Golezani, Jiayuan Li, Forouzan Naderi, Alexander Meylikhov, Logan M. Pirnstill, Issam Mudawar, Chirag R. Kharangate

Faculty Scholarship

Reliable prediction of frictional pressure drop during condensation in mini‑ and microchannels underpins both thermal management effectiveness and overall heat transfer performance in compact two‑phase heat exchangers, cold‑plates, and on‑chip cooling loops. Excess pressure loss burdens pumps, raises electrical consumption, and can destabilize flow, whereas under‑prediction risks temperature overshoot and premature dryout. Conventional empirical correlations and flexible machine-learning models can lose accuracy once channel size, working fluid, or operating conditions stray beyond their testing range. This study uses a physics‑assisted machine‑learning framework that overlays an XGBoost residual learner on the Kim–Mudawar separated‑flow correlation to achieve high fidelity and robustness in …

Trajectory Of Iron And Red Cell Parameters In Moderately Anemic Iron-Deficient Pregnant Women Receiving Daily Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation: A Prospective Cohort Study, J. P. Akshaykirthan, Manjunath S. Somannavar, S. Yogeshkumar, M. S. Deepthy, Umesh Charantimath, Amaresh Patil, Mrutyunjaya B. Bellad, Richard Derman, Shivaprasad S. Goudar

Global Health Articles

Background/Objectives: The objective is to study the trajectories of hematologic and biochemical markers in moderately anemic pregnant women receiving oral iron supplementation throughout pregnancy. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from August 2021 to September 2023 involving 315 pregnant women from rural areas of Belgaum, Karnataka, India, with hemoglobin levels between 7.0 and 9.9 g/dL and serum ferritin < 30 ng/mL and/or TSAT < 20%. Participants received iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) as per Anaemia Mukt Bharat guidelines. Blood samples were collected to measure various hematologic and iron markers and compared across each visits. Results: We report a complete adherence rate of 95.3% for iron and 97.8% for folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy and also observed significant improvements in hemoglobin (9.36 (8.55, 9.74) to 12.03 (11.49, 12.72)) g/dL, hematocrit (29.93 ± 2.87 to …

Kenyon Collegian - September 25, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Solutions For Linear Fractional Differential Equations With Multiple Constraints Using Fractional B-Poly Bases, Md. Habibur Rahman, Muhammad I. Bhatti, Nicholas Dimakis

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

This study presents an innovative numerical method for solving linear fractional differential equations (LFDEs) using modified Bernstein polynomial bases. The proposed approach effectively addresses the challenges posed by the nonlocal nature of fractional derivatives, providing a robust framework for handling multiple initial and boundary value constraints. By integrating the LFDEs and approximating the solutions with modified fractional-order Bernstein polynomials, we derive operational matrices to solve the resulting system numerically. The method’s accuracy is validated through several examples, showing excellent agreement between numerical and exact solutions. Comparative analysis with existing data further confirms the reliability of the approach, with absolute errors …

Detection Method For Escherichia Coli Using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Targeting The Yhav Gene, Muktiningsih Nurjayadi, Anisa Fitriyanti, Royna Rahma Musie, Gusti Angieta Putri, Puan Aqila Azizah, Helzi Angelina, Grace Grace, Ananda Indah Putri Sihombing, Agus Setiawan, Jefferson Lynford Declan, Gladys Indira Putri, Dandy Akbar Juliansyah, Siti Fatimah, Ayu Berkahingrum, Irma Ratna Kartika, Fera Kurniadewi, Vira Saamia, Shyi-Tien Chen, Bassam Aboemolak, Hesham Ali El Enshasy

Makara Journal of Science

Escherichia coli is a foodborne pathogenic bacterium that can cause diarrhea, while yhaV is a virulence-associated gene linked to the toxin–antitoxin system in E. coli. This study was aimed at evaluating the confirmation, specificity, and sensitivity of a yhaV gene primer using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The yhaV-targeting PCR successfully amplified a DNA fragment with an amplicon length of 207 bp (base pairs) under an annealing temperature optimized to a range of 54 °C to 62 °C via gradient PCR. The PCR using the primer pair produced a consistent Ct (cycle threshold) of 14.14 ± 0.05 and showed …

Effect Of Red And Blue Light On Lipid, Protein, Carbohydrate, And Pigment Contents Of Navicula Sp., Sofyan Maulana, Aulia Setyo Nurul Hida, Ismia Wulandari, Siti Mudrikah, Dedy Kurnianto, Khusnul Qonita Maghfiroh, Ria Amelia, Tia Erfianti, Renata Adaranyssa Egistha Putri, Irika Devi Anggraini, Septhian Marno, Eko Agus Agus Suyono

Makara Journal of Science

Light quality critically modulates the physiology of diatoms, influencing photosynthetic efficiency and metabolite synthesis. This study examines how monochromatic red (620–750 nm) or blue (450–495 nm) light affects the biochemical profiles and pigment production in Navicula sp. versus white light (control). Cultures were grown in sterile f/2 medium, and biomass was tracked via OD₆₈₀. Biochemical analyses included lipids (Bligh and Dyer method), carbohydrates (phenol-sulfuric acid assay), proteins (Bradford assay), and pigments (spectrophotometric quantification). The growth dynamics were modeled using logistic and Gompertz equations. No significant differences in OD-based growth rates, carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids content were observed with …

Illustrations For A Scientific Review Article Publication : Human Stem Cell-Derived Organoids, Sunghwan Bae

Theses

This thesis explores the role of scientific illustration in improving the comprehension of complex scientific concepts. It traces the historical development of illustrations in scientific literature and examines their functions in both research and review articles. The central contribution of this work is the development of twelve vector-based illustrations that elucidate the applications of human organoids within a review article context. These visuals transform intricate ideas into clear, engaging representations, supported by extensive research and verification to maintain scientific accuracy. The thesis concludes by addressing the future of scientific illustration, advocating for reader-oriented design approaches and the use of innovative …

The Complete Leader: Relationships Between Leader Identity, Efficacy, And Psychological Well-Being And The Influence Of Gender And Leadership Level, Michelle I. Benami

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Contributing factors to a leader’s psychological well-being and their ability to be fully functional, mature, and self-actualized, are highly under-researched. This study examined the relationship of leader identity and leader efficacy on a leader’s psychological well-being. The study also explored whether a leader’s gender and leadership role level influenced their leader identity, efficacy, and psychological well-being. Participants were 165 working organizational leaders from a variety of industries, ages 19-72 years old with 1-40 years of leadership experience. Data was collected via online self-report survey using the Leader Self-Identity, Leader Efficacy Questionnaire, and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being scales. Analyses revealed leader identity …

Women In Leadership: A Case Study In Kern County, Lovetta A. Sebbern

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This instrumental case study explored the experiences of female leaders within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Division of Adult Institutions (CDCR’s DAI), a traditionally male-dominated environment. The purpose of the study was to understand how these women navigated career-related challenges and contributed to organizational effectiveness. Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided the study, James Maddux’s concept of imaginal experiences, and the framework of instrumental rationality. The central research question focused on how female leaders overcame career obstacles, supported by three subquestions addressing interview responses, observational insights, and document analysis. The study was conducted in Kern County, California, and included …

Egalitarianism: A Hermeneutical, Biblical-Theological And Logical Evaluation, Martin Nyanzu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are several sensitive and polarized issues confronting the church in our day, one of them has turned egalitarians and complementarians into warring camps – men and women’s role in the home, church, and society. The last twenty years have seen an intensification in egalitarian publications. However, a critical examination of egalitarian theology in some major works presents a concerning deficit in adhering to the principles of biblical theology, hermeneutics, and logic. This literary research is a biblical canonical survey of egalitarian theology based on existing scholarly perspectives among North American evangelicals. It is apparent that egalitarian biblical theology lacks …

Emotion Behind Casual Sex, Carla Thompson Ranalli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Health institutions have reported that women of middle-age continue to enjoy sexual activity. As such, women who engage in casual sex may or may not have developed emotional attachments to their partners, which may impact sexual gratification. Attachment theory proposes that attachment style is either secure or insecure, such as anxious or avoidant. This study investigated the relationship between insecure attachment style and sexual gratification among women between 40-50 years of age who engaged in casual sex. To answer these questions, the Adult Attachment Scale (AAQ) questionnaire was used to measure anxious and avoidant attachment, the Experience in Close Relationships …

The Covid-19 Pandemic And College Students' Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Mervin L. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and comprehend the lived experiences of college students at North Carolinian colleges and universities during the interruption and transitions of studies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This research used qualitative inquiry design and employed Schlossberg’s transition theory to guide the study. Schlossberg’s transition theory correlates with this research and phenomenological exploration because it underscores the varying abilities and incapacities of students to persist through their studies during challenging circumstances. The setting for this research was North Carolinian higher education institutions within Mecklenburg County which boast 17 colleges and universities within a 50-mile …

Exploring The Deficiencies Of Business Improvement Programs: A Qualitative Look Into Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, Eos, And Developing Hybrid Opportunities, Michelle Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative case study researched the deficiencies of three established business improvement programs: Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, and Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), to discern the possibility of a tailored hybrid improvement program. Utilizing data collected through semi-structured interviews from the experiences of twelve business leaders representing different industries. All of the leaders had five or more years of direct experience with one or more of the business improvement programs. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, applying Constructivist Grounded Theory. The analysis found that Continuous Improvement empowered employees and nurtured incremental changes, but it …

Public Safety Injuries: Treatment And Organizational Support Variations Experienced By Injured Employees, Patrick S. Daugherty Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Public safety employees work in an environment characterized by a greater risk of injury than the workplaces of employees engaged in other professions. The deterioration of trust in public safety workers has increased both the violence against them and their risk of injury, negatively affecting their retention and recruitment efforts. The effect is exhausted and overworked employees who answer an increasing call volume with less resources, resulting in greater stress and frustration. Frustration can be expressed with negativity and isolation toward accommodated employees while they attempt to recover from their injuries. This phenomenon raises the question of “What treatment variations …

Science Unleashed: The Influence Of Science Content Implementation Within Learning Management Systems, D'Aieriean Murray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative, phenomenological study addressed the factors secondary science teachers face in implementing the science content in online LMS while continuing to teach in traditional classrooms. The research addressed the adequate training secondary science teachers may or may not have received in LMS and technology integration into the classroom. Utilizing Bruner's constructivist theory (1966) concerning the virtual classroom to recognize the imperativeness of educators in curriculum development to answer the question, "How are science teachers' experiences regarding the effectiveness of LMS and online learning?" While conducting a literature analysis, the most frequent themes were faculty readiness, transitioning to online education …

Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselors’ Perspective Of Parental Engagement And Involvement, Dominique Rose Lynn Woods

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to describe Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselors' (TDTCs) lived experiences with parental engagement and involvement (PEI) for TDTCs, within their professional collaborations in Virginia. The study focused on a specific aspect of TDTC’s lived experience: their perspective of PEI. Several theories were reviewed as a foundation for research development. Bronfenbrenner's (1979) Ecological Systems Theory has been an essential component of the research, as it emphasized that a child's development involves multiple elements of their environmental and social systems. Stroul and Friedman's (1986) Systems of Care Theory provided a foundation for understanding …

A Study Of The Relationship Between The Stress Responses From Rehearsal Preparations For Music Ensemble Performance Evaluations And Performing Arts Adolescents’ Working Memory, Gregory Thomas Minter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The organization of memory retrieval is vital to the association between stress responses and negative educational achievements. These stress responses offer an opportunity to study the harmful consequences of prolonged strain on the developing brain, which may impair emotional restraint, self-control, and cognitive development. However, little research considers the fundamental notions of how stress responses from rehearsals for music ensemble performance assessments impact adolescent working memory. This mixed-methods study explored how rehearsal-related stress in music ensemble settings may affect adolescents' working memory. Participants included high school students in grades nine through 12 who participated in performing arts band ensembles. The …

Bridging The Gap: Does Individual Crossfit Open Performance & Event-Type Influence Crossfit Games Team Performance?, Anthony J. Mack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individual CrossFit Open (CFO) and CrossFit Games (CFG) performance factors, including physiological metrics, sex, competitive experience, and workout pacing strategies, are well established; however, there is a gap in the literature comparing CFO and CFG team performance. The purpose of this study was to examine whether individual CFO scores and event category (i.e., monostructural, gymnastics-skill, weightlifting, or work capacity) influence a team's final score at the CFG. Teams (n = 196) from the 2018-2024 CFG seasons were included in data collection. Data from CFO workouts (n = 28) and CFG team events (n = 62) were extracted from games.crossfit.com. Scores …

Approach To Ophthalmic Surgery Involving The Anterior Vitreous: A Clinical Practice Update From The American Society Of Retina Specialists, Matthew R Starr, Christina Y Weng, Lejla Vajzovic, Kevin J Blinder, Judy E Kim, J Michael Jumper

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

When encountering diseases of the anterior vitreous and peripheral retina (ie, the "middle segment" of the eye), vitreoretinal (VR) surgeons are specifically trained in surgical techniques for managing the vitreous and visualizing the peripheral retina during anterior vitrectomy, and therefore they are well equipped to address the complications of surgery involving the anterior vitreous space. This clinical update reviews and compares the current literature discussing techniques and patient outcomes related to complete pars plana vitrectomy versus incomplete, subtotal pars plana vitrectomy, and addresses the proposition of developing an abridged training curriculum for non-VR surgeons to acquire the knowledge and skills …

Probabilistic Intervals Around Population Forecasts: A New Approach With A Subnational Example Using Washington State Counties, David A. Swanson, Jeff Tayman

Publications, Reports and Presentations

Population forecasts produced by governments at all levels are used in the public sector, the private sector, and by researchers. They have been primarily produced using deterministic methods. This paper shows how a method for producing measures of uncertainty can be applied to existing subnational population forecasts while meeting several important criteria, including the concept of utility. The paper includes an assessment of the efficacy of the method by: (1) examining the change in uncertainty intervals it produces by population size and population growth rate; and (2) comparing the width and temporal change of the uncertainty intervals it produces to …

Lysosomes Signal Through The Epigenome To Regulate Longevity Across Generations, Qinghao Zhang, Weiwei Dang, Meng C Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The epigenome is sensitive to metabolic inputs and crucial for aging. Lysosomes act as a signaling hub to sense metabolic cues and regulate longevity. We find that lysosomal metabolic pathways signal through the epigenome to regulate transgenerational longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Activation of lysosomal lipid signaling and lysosomal adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or reduction of lysosomal mechanistic-target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) signaling increased expression of a histone H3.3 variant and increased its methylation on K79, leading to lifespan extension across multiple generations. This transgenerational pro-longevity effect required intestine-to-germline transportation of histone H3.3 and a germline-specific H3K79 methyltransferase, and was recapitulated by …

Explainable Large Language Model (Llm) Multi-Agent System Analyzer With Interactive Bayesian Reasoning Interface, Andrea Morandi

Defensive Publications Series

Conventional large language model (LLM)-based multi-agent systems suffer from a critical lack of transparency and explainability, making it difficult for users to understand why agents make specific decisions or how they interact with each other. To address these challenges, the techniques presented herein provide an Explainable LLM Multi-Agent System Analyzer that uses Bayesian networks to model agent interactions and provide an Interactive Explanation Interface with “Why” and “What If” capabilities. This system allows users to probe the multi-agent system’s decisions through natural language queries, generating explanations and simulations that reveal the underlying reasoning processes and causal relationships between agents.

Wearable Device As A Motion-Based Controller For A Game Application, Chang Yungsheng, Weihsiang Hung

Defensive Publications Series

Gaming on certain devices, for example mobile phones, can rely on on-screen virtual controls, which may result in a user's hands obstructing the display, accidental button presses, or inadvertent dimming of the screen. This disclosure describes a method for integrating a wearable device, such as a smartwatch, with a separate display device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, for game control. The system can use the wearable device's integrated Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to sense a user's physical motions, position, and orientation. This motion data may then be transmitted to the display device to serve as input for controlling …

A System For Bidirectional Reconciliation Between Generative Prompts And Document Edits, Quan Li

Defensive Publications Series

Some artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools can create a disconnect between initial prompts and a final document, as direct edits to generated text may break the link to the original instructions. This can make documents difficult to maintain or consistently regenerate. A disclosed method addresses this issue by introducing a bidirectional reconciliation process. An initial document may be generated from a set of source prompts. After a user directly edits the document, a reconciliation module can perform a semantic comparison between the original and modified versions. Based on identified differences, the module may infer a user's potential intent and generate …

Promoting Reproductive Knowledge Among Youth Through A Summer Health Camp, Adejoke Bolanle Ayoola, Esther K. Afolabi, Zach B. Devries, Stacy L. De Ruiter, Esther Idowu, Vanesa B. Blas

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Unplanned pregnancies are associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, admissions into neonatal intensive care unit and significant cost of care. A strategy to reduce unplanned pregnancy is to provide more accurate information on reproductive physiology and conception risk to increase young people’s understanding of reproductive changes and improve pregnancy planning. This study examined the effect of a summer Health Education And Leadership Training for a Hopeful future (HEALTH) camp on the reproductive anatomy and sexual health knowledge of camp participants

Methods: This is a simple descriptive pre- and post-assessment study. The one-week …

Nursing Students' Lgbtq+ Healthcare Knowledge And Attitudes: A Roadmap For Interventions, Judith Bacchus Cornelius, Charlene Downing, Ryan Michael Oducado, Evangelos C. Fradelos, Riksa Wibawa Resna

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: While awareness of LGBTQ+ health needs is rising, these topics remain underrepresented in nursing curricula, often due to limited faculty preparation and absence of standardized guidelines (Dalbey, 2023; Moore et al., 2023). This educational gap affects nursing students’ readiness to care for LGBTQ+ patients, particularly in non-Western settings, where cross-cultural research is limited (Ozcan et al,, 2021; Wang et al., 2022. This study examined nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward LGBTQ+ healthcare across five countries—the United States (U.S.), South Africa, the Philippines, Greece, and Indonesia.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted with 150 third-year undergraduate nursing students who …

Implementation Of A Multidisciplinary Educational Assessment To Enhance Pressure Injury Prevention, Olivia Paige Manning, Tamara Oliver, Anne Schoening

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: To develop and implement a multidisciplinary, role-specific educational assessment aimed at identifying knowledge gaps and training needs related to HAPI prevention among key inpatient care teams.

Background: Healthcare-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remain a significant challenge across inpatient settings, requiring collaborative, multidisciplinary prevention strategies. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that pressure injuries affect more than 2.5 million Americans a year resulting in 60,000 deaths. Education and role-specific knowledge among staff are critical components in addressing gaps in HAPI prevention.

Methods: A multidisciplinary HAPI prevention team at a midwestern Level I Trauma Center in partnership with Creighton University …