Digital Commons Network^™

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Turkish Journal of Botany

No abstract provided.

The Militia Ii: Armed Self-Defense, The Second Amendment, And The Citizen, Marcus Armstrong

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Multiple Pathways Of Social Impairment For Youth With Symptoms Of Adhd: A Novel Model Of Serial Mediation, Ewald Michael Wefelmeyer

Dissertations (1934 -)

The current study sought to explain the heterogeneity of social impairment among youth with symptoms of ADHD with the goal of potentially improving a clinician's ability to identify and support those children. A novel model of the relationship between the disorder and social impairment was proposed with serial mediators of parental/family functioning and emotion regulation. It was anticipated that a higher level of ADHD symptoms would lead to more impairment among aspects of parental/family functioning, which would predict more emotion dysregulation which would subsequently predict poorer social functioning. Structural Equation Modeling yielded little support for the overall model and no …

Community Survey Report: The Rebuild Survey Conducted In Response To The January 2025 Palisades Fire And Eaton Fire In Los Angeles County, Andrew J. Whelton, Cristiane Ferrarezzi, Lauryn Spearing, Anna Hoover, Mónica Palomo, Caitlin Proctor, Jianxi Su, Joseph Toland

Resilience to Emergencies and Disasters

No abstract provided.

Exploring Students' Perceptions Of Genai Tools In Higher Education: A Case Study, Dina Mansour Tbaishat, Maha Waleed Elfadel

All Works

As artificial intelligence transforms the educational landscape, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools have become influential in enhancing learning experiences. Despite their growing presence in higher education, limited research explores how university students, especially learners in non-Western contexts, perceive these tools. This study investigates students' perceptions at a university in the UAE, focusing on five dimensions: perceived benefits, institutional support, technological self-efficacy, ethical considerations and user satisfaction. The findings reveal that students generally expressed strong agreement regarding the benefits of GenAI, demonstrated a clear sense of ethical awareness and felt confident in their technological abilities. While satisfaction levels were generally high, …

Chronic Poppers Maculopathy: Case Report And Literature Comparison Of Chronic And Acute Use, Francesco Cappellani, Caterina Gagliano, Jose S. Pulido

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

RATIONALE: Alkyl nitrites ("poppers") are recreational substances known for their vasodilatory and euphoric effects. Increasing evidence links them to a vision-threatening condition termed poppers maculopathy, characterized by foveal yellow spots and outer retinal changes on optical coherence tomography. While most reports describe acute exposure, little is known about long-term consequences. This case describes one of the longest documented durations of chronic poppers use, combined with a literature review to contextualize the clinical spectrum.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 68-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression presented with progressive central vision loss in both eyes persisting for at …

Financial Inducements In Gambling Marketing: An Information Disclosure Proposal To Inform Gamblers Of Their True Economic Value, Philip Newall, Dominic Cortis, Jamie Torrance

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Financial inducements such as free bets are frequently-used gambling marketing offers which temporarily improve a gambler’s usual pattern of risk and potential return. Previous research has shown that there are up to 15 distinct types of financial inducements in common use, and that gamblers frequently misunderstand inducements’ play-through requirements and other complex terms and conditions. The Australian government has therefore recently banned play-through requirements for inducements shown to new customers, and the Great British regulator the Gambling Commission has recently announced a maximum play-through requirement of 10 times. The present work describes an alternative and yet potentially complementary approach based …

Ground-Based Modeling Of Deep-Space Risks To The Spleen And Intestine In Mice, Edith Nathalie Pineda Sotomayor

Theses and Dissertations

Deep-space missions, such as those planned for the cis-lunar space and Mars, pose unique challenges to astronaut health due to prolonged microgravity (MG) exposure and low-dose chronic irradiation (CIR). Understanding the impact of these stressors on secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and intestine, is crucial for ensuring crewmembers' well-being, given the impracticality of conducting this research with human samples. Using a ground-based facility, we exposed C57BL/6 female and male mice to CIR (1.74 Gy at a dose rate of 0.0029 Gy/h) and/or simulated MG (SMG) via hind limb unloading (HLU) for one month. Spleen and intestinal tissues were …

Epac1 Deletion Attenuates Müller Glial Pathological Activation And Mitigates Retinal Neurodegeneration In Ischemia-Induced Retinopathy, Shuizhen Shi, Fan Xia, Zhongqiao Lu, Erick Palacios, Fang Mei, Massoud Motamedi, Xiaodong Cheng, Hua Liu, Wenbo Zhang

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Introduction: Ischemia-induced retinopathies, such as retinopathy of prematurity and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, are major causes of vision loss. Both pathological neovascularization and neuronal damage contribute to vision impairment in these conditions, yet current therapies primarily target neovascularization and may further compromise neuronal health.

Objectives: Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is a widely recognized second messenger regulating diverse physiological and pathological processes. Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) is a recently identified effector of cAMP signaling. This study aimed to investigate the role of Epac1 in ischemia-induced retinopathy and elucidate its underlying mechanisms using a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).

Methods: …

Prenatal Metabolomics Analysis And Fetal Congenital Anomalies And Genetic Conditions: A Review Of Current Literature, Sarah Araji, Onur Turkoglu, Mohamad Ali Maktabi, Tracy Ashby, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Library Staff Publications

Fetal congenital anomalies and genetic disorders complicate 3%-5% of pregnancies and can have a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes. Precise and individualized prenatal diagnosis is crucial for effective counseling and management. The identification of new biomarkers holds promise for enhancing prenatal screening, diagnosis, and prognostic counseling in affected pregnancies. Recently, metabolomics has emerged as a potential adjunct in the interpretation of genetic variants identified through genome-wide sequencing for rare genetic conditions. To assess the potential of metabolomic profiling as a functional assay capable of providing deeper insights into the pathological processes and genetic findings associated with prenatal congenital anomalies, we …

Metabolic Shifts In Murine Inner Ears Mimicking Erythrocytes And Plasma Reveal Diagnostics And Early Predictors For Age-Related Hearing Loss, Qi Guo, Zhenjiang Li, Cheng Luo, Changhan Chen, Xi Long, Yidan Wang, Qingfen Qiang, Fang Yu, Wuping Liu, Yujin Zhang, Rodney E Kellems, Yang Xia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a major public health concern, driven by the interplay of multiple factors. Here, we reveal spatiotemporal metabolic shifts in murine inner ears mirroring erythrocytes and plasma. Isotope-labeled glucose tracing demonstrates a metabolic rerouting favoring glycolysis over the pentose phosphate pathway, alongside downregulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, indicating impaired energy production and redox homeostasis. Accumulation of medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines further exacerbates lipotoxicity. Notably, age-dependent depletion of arginine, lysine, proline, and glycine disrupts the arginine-polyamine-urea cycle. Translationally, UK Biobank plasma metabolomics links omega-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, glycine, and albumin to ARHL resilience, while branched-chain …

Two Essays On Health And Health Behavior In China, Jiamin Tan

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

This thesis consists of two empirical studies on elderly mental health and on health behaviors. The first study investigates the long-term impact of childhood hunger on mental health in later life, using data from two nationally representative surveys in China. The study finds that childhood hunger exposure significantly increases the risks of depression and anxiety in later life. These effects are most pronounced among individuals exposed after age 5, suggesting that autobiographical memory formation plays an important role beyond socioeconomic and health pathways. The findings further indicate these impacts can be mitigated through economic interventions, such as welfare programs, and …

Figure Data For "Investigation Of A Stable And Saturated Reference Electrode Using Metal Chlorides And Oxides In Eutectic Licl-Kcl Molten Salts", Carlos Meija, Devin Rappleye

ScholarsArchive Data

This data set provide machine readable .csv files for the figures in the publication entitled "Investigation of a stable and saturated reference electrode using metal chlorides and oxides in eutectic LiCl-KCl molten salts" in Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Volume 58, Issue 1, January 2026, 103875).

Human Cerebral Organoids Model Tumor Initiation And Infiltration In An Autologous Astrocyte-Supported Setting, Esther Schickel, Tamara Bender, Leon Kaysan, Simone Hufgard, Margot Mayer, David R Grosshans, Christiane Thielemann, Insa S Schroeder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Efforts to efficiently target brain tumors are constrained by the dearth of appropriate models to study tumor behavior toward treatment approaches as well as potential side effects to the surrounding normal tissue. We established a reproducible cerebral organoid model of brain tumorigenesis in an autologous setting by overexpressing

Identification Of Critical Brain Regions For Autism Diagnosis From Fmri Data Using Explainable Ai: An Observational Analysis Of The Abide Dataset, Suryansh Vidya, Kush Gupta, Amir Aly, Andy Wills, Emmanuel Ifeachor, Rohit Shankar

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) significantly improves quality of life, yet current diagnostic practices rely on subjective behavioural assessments. While machine learning models using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) show promise for objective diagnosis, existing approaches have critical limitations. High-accuracy models often neglect interpretability, increasing clinical distrust, while interpretable approaches frequently suffer from low accuracy and lack neuroscientific validation of identified biomarkers. Furthermore, no studies have systematically benchmarked which interpretability methods are most effective for fMRI data, hindering the translation of Artificial intelligence (AI) findings into clinical practice.

METHODS: In this observational study, we used the Autism Brain …

Ceuta, Melilla, And The Co-Construction Of Borders And Migrant Identities: Moroccan And Spanish Media Discourse, Farah Ali

Global Language Studies Faculty publications

Ceuta and Melilla are often the epicenter of political debates in Spain and Morocco, in part owing to their Spanish sovereignty being disputed by Morocco. This issue is further complicated by Morocco’s paradoxical role in migration to these cities, serving as a sojourn for migrants while simultaneously policing the borders that it protests. In this study, I use critical discourse analysis and media framing to analyze 200 Moroccan and Spanish news articles to highlight how migrant identities and borders are co-constructed. Findings show that borders are discursively constructed differently across countries and publication languages while also tied to migration, juxtaposing …

Blue-Shifted Ancyromonad Channelrhodopsins For Multiplex Optogenetics, Elena G Govorunova, Oleg A Sineshchekov, Hai Li, Yueyang Gou, Hongmei Chen, Shuyuan Yang, Yumei Wang, Stephen Mitchell, Alyssa Palmateer, Leonid S Brown, François St-Pierre, Mingshan Xue, John L Spudich

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Light-gated ion channels from protists (channelrhodopsins or ChRs) are optogenetic tools widely used for controlling neurons and cardiomyocytes. Multiplex optogenetic applications require spectrally separated molecules, which are difficult to engineer without disrupting channel function. Scanning numerous sequence databases, we identified three naturally blue-shifted ChRs from ancyromonads. They form a separate branch on the phylogenetic tree and contain residue motifs characteristic of anion ChRs (ACRs). However, only two conduct chloride, whereas the closely related Nutomonas longa homolog generates inward cation currents in mammalian cells under physiological conditions, significantly exceeding those by previously known tools with similar spectral maxima (peak absorption at …

Synoptic-Scale Meteorological Patterns Associated With Extreme Precipitation Over The Contiguous United States And Concomitant Seasonal And Regional Variability, Amy M. Johnson

Dissertations and Theses

Seasonal and spatial variations of synoptic-scale weather patterns concurrent to extreme precipitation days, defined as days above the seasonal 95th percentile of the daily precipitation distribution, are characterized over a 44-year period (1980-2023) for the Contiguous United States (CONUS). Using atmospheric reanalysis data and a grid-cell centered approach, we construct seasonal anomaly composite patterns for sea level-pressure (SLP), integrated water vapor transport, 500 hPa geopotential height (Z500), and 300 hPa wind speed. Atmospheric variables known to be important for extreme precipitation. By interpolating composites for each grid cell onto the same polar coordinate grid relative to the grid cell we …

Gait Analysis In Rett Syndrome: Integrating Linear And Nonlinear Techniques, Dacia Martinez Diaz, Brock Futrell, Bernhard Suter, Charles S Layne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Rett syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly impairs bipedal postural control and walking ability. This study quantifies the gait characteristics of 22 females with Rett syndrome (divided into 3 age groups) and compares them with age-matched neurotypical females. Bilateral sagittal plane joint angles of the hip, knee, and ankle were analyzed. Measures included joint range of motion, stride time, peak angular velocity, angle-angle diagrams, phase portrait areas, and asymmetries. Results revealed reduced joint range of motion and angular velocity in individuals with Rett syndrome, as well as greater asymmetries in gait parameters reflecting disruptions in bilateral coordination. Phase …

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos 1 & 2

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 58 Nos 1 & 2

Combating Bullying And Incivility In Nursing Education Amid Global Faculty Shortages, Jennifer S. Graber, Jennifer L. Saylor, Rebecca Ivory

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: With the current nursing faculty shortage, incivility and bullying must be addressed to ensure the continuity of nursing faculty to educate the next generation of nurses. The academic setting should be a safe space for students and faculty at all levels to grow and even make mistakes.

Purpose: This case study explores the issue of incivility in nursing education using personal accounts from novice and seasoned nursing faculty and offers strategies for novice nurses, mentors, and leaders to manage incivility and create a healthy work environment.

Methods: An experienced faculty educator from a different institution independently reviewed a de-identified …

Through The Looking-Glass: A Window Into The New York Haitian Community, Margarett Alexandre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This research utilized a needs-assessment survey to collect data of services provided by 12 community-based organizations serving the Haitian immigrant community and the challenges faced by the community.

Background: New York City's Haitian Community is one of the largest in the United States. Dain & Batalova, 2023 reported a population of over 200,000 strong. While Haitians have a presence in all sectors, New York's Haitian community faces many challenges.

Methodology/Procedure: Twelve organizations completed the surveys addressing the needs-assessment and one focus groups session lasting 30-40 minutes. Prospective participants were heads of a not-for-profit organizations that provide services …

Loneliness, Technology, And Culture: Insights From Older Chinese Immigrants’ Experiences, Shao-Yun Chien, Oleg Zaslavsky, Basia Belza, Annie T. Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Loneliness and social isolation significantly impact the well-being of older adults, particularly immigrants from minority groups. Chinese immigrants are the third-largest immigrant group in the United States and may encounter unique challenges related to loneliness and social isolation due to life transitions. The prevalence of loneliness among older Chinese immigrants is 26%, significantly higher than in the broader aging population. Despite information and communication technology (ICT) interventions developed to address these issues, their effectiveness remains unclear, possibly due to neglecting the subjective nature of loneliness and the diverse backgrounds of participants, including racial and cultural differences.

Research Purpose: This …

Structure, Processes & Outcomes Of Sci Peer Mentoring: A Community-Engaged, Cross-Sectional Survey, Susan D. Newman, Martina Mueller, Marychris Pittman, Lindsey Elliott, Jonathan Sigworth, Bill Cawley, Marka Danielle Rodgers

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Peer mentoring is a vital resource for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), providing emotional support, practical advice, and guidance from others who share a similar lived experience (1,2,3). Additionally, peer mentoring is an important component of SCI rehabilitation and supports the role of the rehabilitation nurse in promoting effective self-management and independence after SCI. Research on the effect of community-based peer mentoring interventions' structure and processes on outcomes, as well as quality and effectiveness, is limited (4).

Aim: The primary aim of this study, informed by Donabedian's Model of quality assessment (5), was to describe the structure, processes, …

Anxiety And Sleep Disruption Among Icu Patients: A Scoping Review, Hyunji Kim, David Ryamukuru, Talia Brown, Deena Costa

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Anxiety and sleep disruption are common, interrelated symptoms among intensive care unit (ICU) patients.^1,2 These symptoms contribute to psychological distress, which can persist for months and impact the patients' recovery.³ Recent clinical guidelines from the Society of Critical Care Medicine highlighted anxiety as a key risk factor for sleep disruption.⁴ Thus, understanding the interplay of anxiety and sleep disruption and developing effective interventions to mitigate both are essential.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to identify existing literature that quantitatively examined anxiety and sleep disruption among adult ICU patients.

Methods: Following the scoping review guidelines from the …

Educational Services And Language Congruency In Low-Income Children Who Are Deaf Of Hard-Of-Hearing, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan, Jihyun Stephans

Research Colloquium

Background: Children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) are required by United States law to have access to educational services through the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). However, access to language-congruent providers, as well as supplemental services, varies considerably. Household income is associated with poorer hearing care access and outcomes in DHH children. We predict that access to supplemental, language-congruent DHH services is poorer in DHH children from lower-income homes.

Methods: This is a secondary, ad hoc exploratory study of DHH children aged 0-27 months enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (CT.gov: NCT04928209). Children were enrolled across all …

From Resettlement To Employment: Bridging Barriers And Empowering Refugee Women Through Workforce Training In Tampa Bay, Mikayla William, Haley Mendillo, Aileen Pinell, Brittany Gordon

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Approximately 12,425 refugees aged 18-60, resettled in Hillsborough County in fiscal year 2023, highlighting a need for targeted programs supporting refugees in building career skills and gaining confidence in navigating the job market. Refugee women face unique challenges as they integrate into the U.S. workforce, including communication barriers, limited work history, and adapting to workplace norms. A workforce readiness program tailored to refugee women in Tampa Bay provides essential career development tools, fostering economic independence and integration through culturally sensitive training methods. Over a two-day program, a structured curriculum was implemented to accommodate varying educational backgrounds and English proficiency levels. …

Machine Learning Insights Into Multilingual Children's English Reading Achievement: Evaluating The Predictive Power Of Kindergarten Factors On Elementary English Reading Achievement, Nam Nguyen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Existing machine learning research that examines factors influencing student’s academic achievement largely focuses on monolingual rather than multilingual students. To address this gap, we employ machine learning to analyze the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011) data of 3,542 nationally representative multilingual children from 970 U.S. schools, who were followed from kindergarten (Fall 2010) to 5th grade (Spring 2016). Our study models and compares the predictive power of six key factors in kindergarten (early reading ability, cognitive and language skills, socio-emotional skills, child characteristics, home literacy environment, and school/classroom characteristics) on English reading achievement across primary years. …

Comparison Between Aunp And Tio2np Nanocarriers For The Treatment Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Andrew Thomas, Vedant Patel, Rohit Borra, Joy Yang

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most fatal diseases in the world, leading to lung tissue damage and persistent inflammation. Patients with COPD are typically treated with a bronchodilator and steroids to alleviate bronchoconstriction and inflammation; however, the steroids have limited effects. Inhaled nanomedicine utilizes small agents that facilitate pulmonary-targeted delivery, which improves the absorption and potency of the medication. Over a century ago, Paul Ehrlich proposed the 'magic bullet' theory—targeting diseases precisely while minimizing side effects. Recently, nanomedicine has emerged to support Ehrlich’s theory by fostering nanoparticle drug delivery systems, such as gold (AuNPs) and titanium …

Gpcr-Mediated Mechanisms In Obesity: The Role Of Ghrelin And Glp-1 Receptors​, Ryan Singh, Tuana Cenberoglu, Jonathan Budlong, Jaclyn Alejandro, Andrea Weitoschova, Libin Ye

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate metabolism and transmit appetite cues throughout the brain and digestive system. Binding to GPCRs, ghrelin, and GLP-1 are ligands that influence hunger, energy balance, and insulin secretion. Understanding the relationship between GPCRs and ligands such as ghrelin and GLP-1 offers critical insights into treating metabolic disorders such as obesity, a growing issue in America. Our methodology involved a literature review using USF, NIH, and JSTOR databases. Search terms like “GPCR obesity,” “GLP-1 obesity,” and related keywords identified articles from 2000 onward, yielding 59 studies on GLP-1 and ghrelin in obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), initially …