Digital Commons Network^™

Charlotte Dickerson, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Oral history recorded for the Bronx African American History Project on August 26, 2020 with Charlotte Dickerson, who grew up in the United Workers Cooperative Colony, or the Allerton Coops, during the 1950s and 1960s. Her mother, Dr. Angie Dickerson, was an African American human rights, peace, and African independence activist as well as a member of the Communist Party U.S.A., the Civil Rights Congress, the World Peace Council, the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, and other organizations. In her oral history, Charlotte speaks about her childhood in the Coops with her mother, father Buddy, and brother …

Librarians On-Call: A Review Of Search Tools Utilized By Fourth Year Medical Students On A Mock Call, Celeste Perez, Brandon Kennedy, Katie Prentice, Sonya Fogg, Jennifer Stockton, Bronwyn Sutherland, Lara Oulette, Sandra Desjardins, Beatriz Varman, Tracy Ashby

Library Staff Publications

OBJECTIVE: A team of medical librarians were given the opportunity to observe the medical readiness of fourth year medical students (MS4s) for finding evidence-based clinically relevant information (drug choice, patient care, etc.) during an on-call simulation. For this initial analysis, we observed the search tools utilized by MS4s when asked to recommend treatment for simulated patients.

METHODS: 10 librarians were asked to evaluate 1 module of a simulation required of 240 MS4s as a gauge of their readiness to be residents on call. A Night On-Call Simulation program was used to record their responses & online navigation. The MS4s attended …

Fostering Sustainability Literacy And Action Through Language Education: Perspectives And Practices Across Regions, Maria-José De La Fuente, Odette Gabaudan, Kiley Kost, Owain Llewellyn, Pilar Molina, Seth Peabody

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This activity report explores the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in language pedagogy, focusing on its potential to equip students with both linguistic proficiency and the competencies needed to address complex global challenges. Rooted in the context of TU (Technical University) Dublin’s commitment to embedding sustainability in Higher Education curricula, the activity report builds on insights from a 2023 roundtable discussion convened by two of the authors in collaboration with CercleS and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) on the occasion of its first Research conference. Featuring perspectives from scholars in sustainability and language education, …

The Echo: October 27, 2025, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Validation Of A Prognostic Nomogram For Locally Advanced Oropharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy With/Without Systemic Therapy, P. Bossi, R. Gili, S. Calza, L. Licitra, M. Maddalo, A. Bacigalupo, L. Belgioia, J. Cacicedo, N. Facchinetti, A. Garcia Castano, M. Oliva, P. Bonomo, G. Sanguineti, P. Franco, A. Argiris, A. Psyrri, E. Orlandi

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), exhibits diverse prognostic factors influenced by demographic and lifestyle variables. Prognostic nomograms, such as the one developed by Fakhry et al., incorporate clinical and biological markers to predict overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in OPC patients. However, their applicability to European populations remains unverified. This study aimed to externally validate Fakhry's prognostic nomogram in a large European cohort of locally advanced OPC patients treated with definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with or without systemic therapy.

METHODS: This is a retrospective external validation study conducted on 805 OPC patients …

Surface Chemistry-Dependent Binding Interactions Between Kraft Lignin And Polyelectrolyte-Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Akinsola, Samuel Lohse

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

This study investigated the relationship between gold nanoparticle (AuNP) surface chemistry and the binding affinity of unfractionated kraft lignin to polyelectrolyte-coated AuNPs. Specifically, fluorescence quenching titrations were employed to determine lignin’s binding affinity (K_a) to different charged polymer surfaces displayed on 90 nm citrate-stabilized AuNPs, (poly(allylamine hydrochloride)) (PAH), polyacrylate (PAA), and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). AuNP–lignin conjugates were characterized by UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy, ζ-potential analysis, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The characterization data showed that the size, surface charge and aggregation state of the lignin–AuNP conjugates depended on the original surface chemistry of the AuNP, in conjunction …

The Volume And Characteristics Of Research On Gastrointestinal Symptoms In ‘Natural’ Peri- And Postmenopause:: A Scoping Review, Naomi Shaw, Rebecca Abbott, Clare Pettinger

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Menopause has been linked to an array of symptoms, often with adverse effects on quality of life, work and relationships. Despite evidence of economic and social impacts, and a growing population of menopausal individuals, there are significant gaps in knowledge regarding menopause. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in peri- and postmenopause are areas of uncertainty that warrant further investigation.

OBJECTIVES: Following JBI guidance, this scoping review aimed to systematically map research on GI symptoms in 'natural' peri- and postmenopause, exploring the volume and conduct of research, and variables investigated that could influence symptom experience.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies assessing GI symptoms (constipation, …

Friends In Our Lives: Perspectives Of Young People Who Participated In A Professional Mentoring Program, Kristian Jones, Karryn Satchell, Lakindra Mitchell Dove, Julissa Muñiz, Erik Hulman, J Mark Eddy, Kevin Haggerty, Deborah Cohen, Martie Skinner, Koren Hanson

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mentoring programs are popular interventions to support holistic development for young people. One specific model of mentoring that has emerged over the past few decades in the United States is professional mentoring. Research has illustrated that this model of mentoring may be particularly helpful for young people who could benefit from extra support in their lives that a volunteer mentoring program does not have the capacity to provide. Despite the emerging utilization of professional mentoring programs, little is known about the ideal characteristics of a professional mentor and young people's experiences in these professional mentoring programs. This study interviewed 12 …

An Affinity For Alignment: Spontaneous Convergence Of Stance-Taking In Topical Conversations, Carmen Tu, Stacey Zoutis, Steven Brown

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Alignment in stance-taking is a foundational behavior in conversation, but few studies have quantified the degree to which conversationalists converge in their attitudes toward a topic. We attempted to quantify this convergence in terms of three parameters related to alignment: intensity (low to high), prevalence (percentage of time in alignment), and content (use of open-ended versus closed-ended statements). To examine the utility of these parameters, we compared the content of conversations between unacquainted dyads in either a free conversation condition or a topical condition in which the individuals were mismatched for their attitude toward the topic to maximize disalignment between …

Buttigieg, Newsom & Ocasio-Cortez Lead Democrats, Vance Far Out Front For Gop In Early Look At 2028 Nh Primary 10/27/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

In a very early snapshot of the 2028 presidential primary contests in New Hampshire, Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsom, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lead among likely Democratic primary voters, while JD Vance enjoys a considerable lead over prospective rivals for the 2028 Republican nomination. A bipartisan majority in New Hampshire support a state law requiring the state's presidential primary to be held before any similar contest. Approval of President Trump's handling of foreign affairs has ticked upward in the state, and a majority say Trump deserves a lot or some credit for his role in negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas …

Vance Dominates Gop Field In 2028 Vt Primary Snapshot As Ocasio-Cortez, Newsom & Buttigieg Lead Among Dems 10/27/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Looking far out ahead to the 2028 presidential primaries in Vermont, Vice President JD Vance is the early leader on the Republican side, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, and Pete Buttigieg head up the Democratic. Approval of President Trump's job performance is unchanged among Vermonters. A majority of Vermonters believe Trump deserves at least some credit for his role in the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, however most state residents believe the ceasefire will not last. Most Vermonters blame Congressional Republicans and President Trump for the shutdown of the federal government, but a majority believe Congressional Democrats bear at …

Newsom, Ocasio-Cortez & Buttigieg Early Leaders For Maine 2028 Dem Primary, Majority Support Vance For Gop 10/27/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

In an early look at the 2028 presidential primary season, Gavin Newsom, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, and Pete Buttigieg are the early leaders among likely Democratic voters in Maine. On the other side, JD Vance holds a wide early lead over his potential rivals for the Republican nomination. Approval of President Trump's handling of foreign affairs has increased since August. Most in the state believe Trump deserves at least some credit for his part in the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Mainers generally blame both parties in Congress and President Trump for the current federal government shutdown.

How Sociologist Paul F. Lazarsfeld Became An Influencer: 80 Years Of Opinion Leader Research, Amelie Duckwitz, Hermann Strasser

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

Surface Roughness And Microbial Adhesion On Four Provisional Prosthodontic Restorative Materials, Ola Al Hatem, Joe C Ontiveros, Donald M Belles, Maria D Gonzalez, Ransome Van Der Hoeven

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Pharmacological Profiling In Cll Patients During Pirtobrutinib Therapy And Disease Progression, Shady I Tantawy, Burcu Aslan, Ganiraju Manyam, Lakesla R Iles, Natalia Timofeeva, Neetu Singh, Nitin Jain, Alessandra Ferrajoli, Philip A Thompson, Keyur P Patel, Sai Prasad Desikan, William G Wierda, Varsha Gandhi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Pediatric Vs Adult Invasive Aspergillosis In Cancer And Hematopoietic Transplant Patients: Insights From A Matched Cohort At A Tertiary Cancer Center, Saliba Wehbe, Ramia Zakhour, Ray Hachem, Ying Jiang, Hiba Dagher, Roseen Salman, Anne-Marie Chaftari, Issam I Raad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, including those with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. While adult IA has been well characterized, data on pediatric populations remain limited, and potential age-related differences are often overlooked in current management guidelines.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study at a tertiary cancer center, evaluating IA cases diagnosed over a 31-year period. Pediatric patients (≤18 years) with proven or probable IA were matched 1:3 with adult IA cases based on year of diagnosis, underlying disease, and history of hematopoietic cell transplantation. We compared demographics, clinical presentation, …

Challenging Truth, Exploring Fluidity, And Reclaiming Bodily Autonomy Through Revisited Personal Narratives, Peyton Lane Sibert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation explores and analyzes revisited personal narratives, which I define as layering perspectives or theorizing upon previously presented narratives. Specifically, I argue that revisited personal narratives are uniquely positioned to not only explore the intricacies of fluidity and truth within narrative but also deepen the insight into the perspectives of marginalized identities, thereby aiding in the deconstruction of cisheteronormativity and the reclaiming of autonomy—both bodily and narrative. Bodily autonomy refers to the freedom and ability to make choices about one’s own body and identity, including the right to not have one’s body violated, the right to access healthcare, the …

Cd5 Expression In Ctcl And Its Implications For Anti-Cd5 Car T-Cell Therapy, Leena Wardeh, Madeline Williams, Courtney Prestwood, Zachary Wolner, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas (CTCL) are a heterogenous group of T-cell malignancies in the skin and have poor treatment outcomes in advanced stages. CD5, a surface glycoprotein expressed on most mature T cells, has emerged as a promising target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in systemic T-cell lymphomas. However, its expression profile in CTCL and relevance for targeted therapy remain unclear. Notably, in CTCL, the cell surface expression of receptors, such as CD7 and CD26, tends to become downregulated on the surfaces of malignant T cells In this study, we analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from patients at …

Fluridone Use In Furrow-Irrigated Rice: Palmer Amaranth Control And Crop Response, Maria Carolina Souza, Jason K. Norsworthy, Pamela Carvalho-Moore, Amar S. Godar, Samuel B. Fernandes, Trenton L. Roberts, Thomas R. Butts

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rice cultivated under furrow irrigation faces weed management challenges due to the aerobic conditions that favor the emergence of terrestrial weeds such as Palmer amaranth. Fluridone was recently registered for use in rice production, offering an alternative site of action for Palmer amaranth control. Four site-years of field experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 in furrow-irrigated rice to assess Palmer amaranth control and crop tolerance to fluridone applied preemergence alone or with various postemergence treatments. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and four replications. The whole-plot factor was the postemergence treatment, while the …

Brewed Connections: Bringing Early Career Librarians Together Through Virtual Coffee Chats, Brandon Kennedy, Brianna Hales, Samantha Nunn, Sarah Villere, Alex Henigman

Library Staff Publications

Early Career Librarians (ECLs) thrive on collaboration, informal exchange, and community elements that have been challenged by remote and hybrid work. In response, an ECL task force developed and implemented a monthly Virtual Coffee Chat project aimed at fostering informal nationwide connections among ECLs and Library and Information Science (LIS) students interested or involved in health sciences. Hosts provided discussion prompts while also fostering an open forum to discuss challenges and current events such as: AI, systematic reviews, faculty conversations, organizational structures, and training challenges. This poster presents the design, launch, and impact of the ongoing Virtual Coffee Chat project. …

A Narrative Review Of Evidence, Safety, And Clinical Considerations In Taxane Chemotherapy For Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer, Jenny W. Zhang, Precious Ochuwa Imokhai, Danny Lee, Diana Hamdan, Trisha Mahajan, Satyam K. Singh, Amanda Brooks

Student Publications

The medical condition of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) requires oncologists to determine the best way to protect both the mother and the fetus during cancer treatment. The safety profile of taxanes, including paclitaxel and docetaxel, in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy remains unclear despite well-established anthracycline-based regimens (e.g., doxorubicin). High-risk breast cancer subtypes such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive disease require taxane chemotherapy as standard treatment in nonpregnant patients. Objective: This paper aims to gather available data about the safety, timing and fetal outcomes related to taxane chemotherapy during PABC, …

Correcting For The Inflated Adult Population Denominator In An English Nationwide Health Care Cohort: Database Analysis Study, Sudhir Venkatesan, Mark Joy, Gavin Jamie, Debasish Kar, Robert Williams, Xuejuan Fan, Wilhelmine Meeraus, Ruby S.M. Tsang, Kathryn S. Taylor, Sylvia Taylor, F. D. Richard Hobbs, Sneha N. Anand, Chris Robertson, Simon De Lusignan

Peninsula Medical School

Background:Electronic health care databases are widely used for epidemiological studies. However, they may contain inactive records of individuals no longer participating in the health care system. These inactive records create a methodological challenge as they systematically appear as unexposed with no recorded outcomes. Given the widespread health care system engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the English National Health Service (NHS), which hosts a national pandemic planning and research dataset with linkage to COVID-19 vaccination and emergency care data, makes it an ideal setting to identify the extent of overrepresentation due to inactive health care records and assess ways to mitigate …

Chan V. Encalada

All Decisions

In a nonpayment proceeding, the landlord's petition was dismissed. After a trial on tenant's counterclaims, the court found for the tenant, awarding a $20,000 rent abatement for breach of warranty of habitability due to conditions like damaged floors, mold, lack of heat/cooking gas, and pests. The tenant also proved harassment, receiving $1,000 in compensatory damages and $35,000 in punitive damages, citing the landlord's omission of essential services demonstrating intent or malice, including physical assaults. The court also ordered the landlord to correct all outstanding DHPD violations.

Management Of Stone Disease In The Spina Bifida Patient, Meghan F. Davis, Kyle L. Yu, Arun K. Srinivasan

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: This review provides a detailed overview of the specifics of presentation, diagnosis, and management of upper and lower urinary tract stone disease for individuals with spina bifida.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies highlight the significant burden of stone disease for spina bifida patients. Individuals with spina bifida require lifelong urologic care. They are more likely to have stone disease and have complications from management. This is a particularly salient issue for patients who have undergone bladder augmentation. Given the frequency and severity of these issues, it is critical that urologists be familiar with the nuances of stone …

Chimes: October 27, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Calvin's strategic planning process by Ashley Hamons

Public Health and Recreational Therapy programs phase out by Sarah Sparling

John Calvin's use of deception:A look at the French Reformation by McKenna Wilkinson

Men's soccer navigating roller coaster stretch, has eyes on MIAA tournament by Zach Kern & Hendrik Beelen

The hidden beauty of Calvin's organs by Ella Vanden Berg

Why 'religion'? A history of the department's name by Joe Toly

Signs, Symptoms, And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Melas: Measuring What’S Important From The Patient And Clinician Perspectives, Paolo Medrano, Benjamin Banderas, Marisa Brimmer, Lily Settel, Sari Berger, Alan Shields, Amy Goldstein, Amel Karaa, Austin Larson, Sumit Parikh, Fernando Scaglia, Karra Danyelle Harrington, Chris James Edgar, Pamela Ventola, Matthew Webster, Jennifer Chickering, Chad Gwaltney, Phebe Wilson, Chad Glasser

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a rare genetic syndrome mostly associated with pathogenic variants in mitochondrial DNA. As there is limited research on the life experience of patients with MELAS, this study aimed to develop an understanding of the patient experience of MELAS through qualitative interviews to identify, describe, and substantiate important and relevant signs, symptoms, and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) impact (S/S/I) concepts.

Methods: Clinician and patient interviews were conducted virtually using semi-structured interview guides. During 60-minute interviews with five experts in the United States, clinicians were asked for their perspective on …

A Novel Approach To Calculating Expected Total Fetal Lung Volume In Fetuses With Isolated Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia And Fetal Growth Restriction: A Theoretical Computational Simulation, Morcos Hanna, Jonathan Davies, Amaryllis Fernandes, Pamela M Ketwaroo, Amy R Mehollin-Ray, Roopali Donepudi, Alice King, Joseph Hagan, Sundeep G Keswani, Sharada H Gowda, Caraciolo J Fernandes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) often coexists with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The observed-to-expected (O/E) total fetal lung volume (TFLV) is used to assess CDH severity, predict outcomes, and direct fetal interventions. Expected TFLV measurements traditionally rely only on gestation age (GA). This simulation assesses how incorporating weight-adjusted GA norms affects O/E TFLV calculations in patients with isolated CDH and FGR.

Methods: A simulated dataset (n=1,005) utilized published mean fetal weight and TFLV references. Computer-generated variables included observed weights (3rd-10th %ile), O/E TFLV (10-65 %), and percent liver herniation (0-42 %). GA estimates were corrected by weight and used to …

Students As Informants: Methodological Considerations In Education Agent Research, Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Ying Yang, Rica Agnes Castaneda

Critical Internationalization Studies Review

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Medication Adherence In Primary Care Settings Through Staff Education, Sabita Bhusal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was an evidence-based staff education initiative addressing medication nonadherence in hypertension, a critical issue that contributes to poor health outcomes, uncontrolled blood pressure, preventable hospitalizations, and increased healthcare costs. The identified gap in practice was defined by limited staff knowledge, lack of structured training, and inconsistent application of evidence-based adherence counseling strategies. The practice-focused question was: In a primary care clinic, will an evidence-based staff education program on medication adherence increase staff knowledge? A structured training intervention was implemented and then evaluated for its effectiveness. Descriptive statistics and a paired t test comparing pre- …

Educator Perceptions On Preparing Students For A Biology I State Assessment, Lila Grooms

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that 9th and 10th grade students’ Biology I state assessment scores continued to decline in a suburban South Carolina school district. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore biology teachers’ perceptions of the low success rates on the Biology I state assessment and to identify recommendations for improvement. Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory provided the conceptual framework, emphasizing the role of social engagement and collaborative learning environments. Semistructured interviews with nine high school biology teachers were conducted and using Braun and Clark’s thematic analysis approach. Themes revealed that teachers are: (a) …