Digital Commons Network^™

Magnetic Nanoparticles Tethered With Zn–Dpa For The Removal Of Bacteria From Red Blood Cell Suspension, Tochukwu P. Okonkwo, Rajendra P. Gautam, Jacob B. Limburg, Breckin L. Forstrom, Bowen J. Houser, Aaron Rappleyea, Tyler P. Green, Joseph P. Talley, Alexander D. Daum, Stacey J. Smith, Karine Chesnel, William G. Pitt, Roger G. Harrison

Faculty Publications

Bacterial infections continue to drive the need for more effective and rapid methods for bacterial analysis. To address this, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as promising tools, especially when their surfaces are modified with bacteria binders. The bis-zinc–dipicolylamine (Zn–DPA) complex is known for its broad affinity to bacteria. We have synthesized MNPs via a thermal decomposition method, encapsulated them in silica, modified their surface with Zn–DPA, and tested their ability to remove bacteria. The MNPs retain their superparamagnetic properties and crystallite structure after being encapsulated. The MNPs coated with silica and Zn–DPA effectively bind and remove both Gram-positive and Gram-negative …

What Is Worthy Of Inclusion? An Assessment Of The Utility Of Content Selection Strategies At Institutions Of Higher Learning In Zimbabwe, Darlington Mutanda

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

The selection of content for university curricula is of the utmost importance, especially at universities where lecturers have choice in content selection. By contrast, in many jurisdictions, state school systems for primary and secondary schools have syllabi that must be followed to the letter. University teachers/lecturers can choose what to teach, and the selection of content can be based on several factors such as convenience (choosing to teach what one is comfortable with), expertise, research interests, ideology, by accident, or even what one was taught previously despite the dynamic change of knowledge. This means that the student can be impacted …

Barriers And Facilitators To Surgical Trainee Psychological Safety, Jennifer H Chen, Alyssa A Pradarelli, Julie Evans, Niki Matusko, Norah N Naughton, Roy Phitayakorn, John T Mullen, Lily Chang, Melissa Johnson, Thavam Thambi-Pillai, Jon Ryckman, Melissa Alvarez-Downing, Nell Maloney Patel, Sebastiano Cassaro, Felicia Ivascu, David T Hughes, Gurjit Sandhu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Although psychological safety has been shown to be imperative for effective learning, specific factors associated with its presence in surgical training have not been well characterized.

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators to psychological safety for surgical trainees in the clinical learning environment.

Design, setting, and participants: This qualitative study was conducted from February 20 to May 2, 2024, among 25 trainees in general surgery and 3 surgical subspecialty programs at 9 teaching hospitals-4 university-based, 3 community-based, and 2 community-based, university-affiliated hospitals.

Exposure: Participation in surgical training.

Main outcomes and measures: Participants were asked to share their perspectives and …

Encapsulation Of Disease-Causing And Commensal Mitis Group Non-Pneumococcal Streptococci, Daniel M Musher, Mathias Müsken, M John Hicks, Lesley Mcgee, Bernard Beall

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Mitis group non-pneumococcal streptococci (MGNPS), specifically Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus infantis and Streptococcus oralis, have recently been shown to cause pneumonia and/or bacteremia. These organisms often have capsular (cps) operons resembling those in pneumococci, and some express cps-generated polysaccharides that antigenically cross-react with pneumococcal capsular serotypes. But, to date, a series of MGNPS isolates has not been studied by electron microscopy (EM) for the presence of a capsule.

Methods: We studied 21 MGNPS; 11 were isolated from sputum and determined to have caused pneumonia, 3 were isolated from blood, and 7 were commensal isolates cultured …

Network Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Safety And Efficacy Of Pharmacological Treatments In Reducing Pain During Intrauterine Device Insertion, Ahmed Ashour, Ahmed H. Saad, Iman Elzahaby

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions in reducing pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of various analgesics and to rank their effectiveness. A total of 71 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 10,870 women were included. Data were sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and other databases up to September 2023. Analyses were performed using the Netmeta package in R, with results reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RRs), each with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Lidocaine 4% gel (5 mL) emerged as the most effective …

Targeting Aldh16a1 Mediated Thioredoxin Lysosomal Degradation To Enhance Ferroptosis Susceptibility In Smarca4-Deficient Nsclc, Guoshu Bi, Jiaqi Liang, Yunyi Bian, Guangyao Shan, Shencheng Ren, Haochun Shi, Xiaolong Huang, Junkan Zhu, Qun Wang, Wei Jiang, Boyi Gan, Cheng Zhan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, holds promise for cancer therapy. However, the intricate link between ferroptosis and oncogenic mutations remains unclear. Here we show that SMARCA4, a well-established tumour suppressor whose deficiency is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to treatments, sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, SMARCA4 promotes chromatin accessibility and expression of ALDH16A1. Surprisingly, ALDH16A1 lacks ALDH enzymatic activity, but binds to the anti-ferroptotic oxidoreductase thioredoxin (TXN), facilitating its translocation to the lysosome and subsequent degradation. Meanwhile, ALDH16A1 directly inhibits TXN's oxidoreductase function by occluding its active site. We also show that …

Inhibition Of Mcl-1 And Mek Overcomes Mek Inhibitor Resistance In Triple-Negative And Inflammatory Breast Cancers, Mohd Mughees, Moises Tacam, Alex W Tan, Mary Kathryn Pitner, Lakesla R Iles, Xiaoding Hu, Emilly S Villodre, Bisrat G Debeb, Takahiro Kogawa, Bora Lim, Rachel M Layman, Wendy A Woodward, Naoto T Ueno, Debu Tripathy, Savitri Krishnamurthy, Yuan Qi, Lajos Pusztai, Jian Wang, Varsha Gandhi, Geoffrey Bartholomeusz, Chandra Bartholomeusz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The MAPK pathway can drive resistance in highly aggressive breast cancers. Our previous work showed that the MEK inhibitor (MEKi) AZD6244 (selumetinib) prevented lung metastasis in a breast cancer xenograft model. In clinical studies, MEKis as single agents have had only modest activity against solid tumors due to the onset of resistance. Using synthetic lethality siRNA screening, we identified myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) as a potential contributor to AZD6244 resistance. We hypothesized that MCL-1 promotes MEKi resistance in highly aggressive breast cancers and that MCL-1 inhibition overcomes AZD6244 resistance. We established two AZD6244-resistant cell lines: MDA-MB-231-R (triple-negative breast cancer) and …

Trends In Radiation Use From 2004 To 2020 Among Adolescents And Young Adults With Hodgkin Lymphoma, Kelsey L Corrigan, Amy M Berkman, Jillian Gunther, Clark R Andersen, Susan Wu, Amber Gibson, Branko Cuglievan, Miriam B Garcia, Gohar Manzar, Penny Fang, Brian De, Sairah Ahmed, Cesar Nunez, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, David C Mccall, Susan K Parsons, Michael E Roth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma has excellent survival rates in adolescents and young adults (AYA, diagnosed between ages 15 and 39 years). However, survivors are at risk of treatment-related late effects. Whereas radiotherapy (RT) de-escalation/omission has emerged as an approach to minimize late effects, no prior studies have evaluated RT use over time in AYAs with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified 40,717 AYAs diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma between 2004 and 2020. Differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed using a two-sample two-sided t test or χ2 test. RT use was summarized per year by frequency with …

Lived Experiences Of Transgender And Non-Conforming Individuals Related To Gender Separation Bathroom Policies, Patricia Ojea

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transgender and gender non-conforming population experiences discrimination when using public restrooms, but scholarly researchers do not know how the varying degrees of acceptance or rejection impact their daily lives. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the lived experiences of transgender and non-conforming (TGNC) adults to determine if bathroom legislation helps alleviate adversity experienced by this group. Kingdon's multiple-streams framework and Meyer's minority stress theory were the theoretical frameworks that served as this study's foundation. The research questions for this study focused on how the lack of enabling restroom policies in New Jersey impacts TGNC adults …

Genome-Wide Insights Into The Genes And Pathways Shaping Human Foveal Development: Redefining The Genetic Landscape Of Foveal Hypoplasia, Callum Hunt, Ha-Jun Yoon, Alvin Lirio, Kayesha Coley, Jun Wang, Nick Shrine, Jianming Shao, Gail D E Maconachie, Zhanhan Tu, Jonathan H Zippin, Pirro G Hysi, Christopher J Hammond, Omar A Mahroo, Mariya Moosajee, Michel Michaelides, Andrew R Webster, Ala Moshiri, Rui Chen, Martin D Tobin, Chiara Batini, Mervyn G Thomas, Uk Biobank Eye And Vision Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To define the genetic architecture of foveal morphology and explore its relevance to foveal hypoplasia (FH), a hallmark of developmental macular disorders.

Methods: We applied deep-learning algorithms to quantify foveal pit depth from central optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans in 61,269 UK Biobank participants. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using REGENIE, adjusting for age, sex, height, and ancestry. Rare coding variants (frequency < 1%) were analyzed in an exome-wide rare-variant association study (RVAS). Candidate genes were prioritized using integrative mapping; pathway, cross-ancestry, and genetic-correlation analyses were exploratory.

Results: GWAS identified 126 sentinel variants, including 47 novel associations. Integrative mapping prioritized 129 putative causal genes, with 64 not previously implicated in foveal biology. Enriched pathways included retinoic acid metabolism (e.g., CYP26A1), photoreceptor differentiation …

Effects Of Acute Caffeine Ingestion On Physical Performance And Skill Execution In Volleyball Players: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Raoof Negaresh, Shihab Aldin A. Al-Riyami, Alireza Paahoo, Rastegar Hoseini, Juan Del Coso

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(6): 922-948, 2025. It is well established that oral caffeine administration (3-9 mg/kg) is ergogenic, enhancing numerous aspects of physical performance including strength and power. However, the extent to which these effects translate to volleyball-specific skills remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of acute caffeine ingestion on performance outcomes in volleyball-specific actions. A systematic review of published studies was conducted using scientific databases from their inception through December 2024 (registered in PROSPERO, CRD420251006314). We included studies with blinded crossover experimental designs that compared caffeine ingestion to a placebo …

Healing The Sacred: The Fight To Restore Onondaga Lake And Honor Indigenous Land, Adam Dj Brett, Betty Lyons Hill

International Journal on Responsibility

The Onondaga Nation is petitioning the Organization of American States (OAS) for land rights to Onondaga Lake, a notoriously polluted body of water in Central New York State. The Onondaga Nation is one of six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois), and Onondaga Lake is the sacred site where Gayanashagowa, the Great Law of Peace, was established. As Keepers of the Central Fire, the Onondaga Nation bears the responsibility of maintaining unity and peace within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This article examines the history of the lake, its significance to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the consequences of its desecration through …

Make It Pink: Superman, Pink Kryptonite, And Fandom, Tom Ue, Kristofer Starzomski-Wilson

Proceedings from the Document Academy

This paper explores several representations of pink kryptonite. In Doug Murphy’s animated short film True Colors (2017), Superman (Jason J. Lewis) transforms into a woman when he’s exposed to this substance. This short, as we have shown elsewhere (2025), offers a useful lens for examining the perpetuation and the critique of gender stereotypes in superhero media: Superman may be equally capable regardless of his sex, but the film pokes fun at, rather than celebrates, his transformation. Pink kryptonite rarely appears in the canon. A single panel in Supergirl (2003) has received perhaps the most sustained attention. Tom Ue’s archival work …

How Subversive Is Shipping Really? An Analysis Of Heteronormative Elements In Same-Sex Relationships Focused On German-Language Anime And Manga Fan Fiction, Saskia Dreßler

Proceedings from the Document Academy

This study investigates whether German-language fan fictions featuring lesbian and gay characters within the anime and manga domain can be regarded as genuinely queer. It situates these fan works within the specific traditions and practices of German fandom. Employing qualitative content analysis, the research examines two prominent fandoms, Naruto and Sailor Moon, focusing on the presence of heteronormative narrative patterns in fan fiction with queer protagonists. The study analyzes which aspects of the original media are adapted and how these adaptations shape the portrayal of queer identities. Furthermore, fan comments are examined to assess the extent to which readers …

An Exceptive Account Of ‘Unless’ Clauses: Corpus Evidence, Wajed Al-Ahmad

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This paper provides corpus evidence to demonstrate that ‘unless’ clauses function like exceptive constructions (ECs). It adopts Galal et al. (2019) classification of ECs into two categories: paradigmatic ECs (connected/regular exceptive) and hypotactic ECs (free exceptive). The current analysis applies this classification to ‘unless’ clauses to examine their behavior. Corpus evidence shows that unless clauses consistently occupy a fixed position relative to their antecedent, similar to paradigmatic ECs. However, the two constructions differ in that ‘unless’ clauses occur before the antecedent regardless of the position of the consequent (the statement), whereas paradigmatic ECs occur after the antecedent. Additionally, unless allows …

A Content Analysis Of Pronunciation And Spelling Activities In Action Pack Ten, Sana’ Al-Smadi, Ruba Bataineh, Mohammad Al-Hawamdeh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

Pronunciation and spelling are crucial skills for any intelligible form of spoken or written communication. Both serve as important indicators—among others—that determine the quality of speech or writing. However, EFL learners often face challenges with these fundamental skills during real-life communication. This content analysis aims to examine whether pronunciation and spelling are adequately covered in the Student Book and Activity Book, the extent to which these activities are emphasized, and their focus within Action Pack 10. To achieve these objectives, a mixed-methods approach was employed, including the development of four content analysis sheets. Frequencies and percentages were used for analysis, …

The Effect Of Using The Snowball Strategy On Reading Speed Among Third Grade Students In Mafraq District Directorate, Noor Al-Khaza'leh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to investigate the effect of using the snowball strategy on the reading speed of third-grade students in Mafraq Directorate. The researcher employed a quasi-experimental design. The study was conducted on a purposive sample of 34 third-grade students from two selected schools. The experimental group consisted of 18 students, while the control group included 16 students. The results indicated that the use of the snowball strategy significantly improved overall reading speed as well as individual rapid reading skills. The effect size ranged from 16.3% to 33.5%. The study recommended using the snowball strategy in teaching reading skills and …

The Effect Of The Hot Seat Strategy On Listening Comprehension Skills In The Arabic Language Subject Among Ninth Grade Female Students In Jordan, Zikrayat Al-Amro, Raed Mahmoud Khodair, Khaled Al-Omari

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The study aimed to investigate the effect of the Hot Seat strategy on listening comprehension skills in Arabic among ninth-grade female students at Al Mazar Secondary Comprehensive School, under the Northern Mazar District Education Directorate. The participants consisted of 67 female students selected by the convenience sampling method. The students were divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Prior to the intervention, all students were pretested in listening comprehension skills at the beginning of the second semester of 2018/2019. The experimental group received training on listening comprehension skills using the Hot Seat strategy, while the control …

The Effect Of Using Semantic Maps On Vocabulary Learning Among Jordanian Efl 8th Grade Students, Bassmah Fraihat

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study investigated the effect of using semantic maps on vocabulary retention among Jordanian EFL 8th-grade students. The participants were 83 female eighth-grade students from two intact sections at Balleh Secondary School for Girls. One group was assigned as the control group, which was taught according to the guidelines of the teacher's book, while the other group served as the experimental group and was taught using a semantic map-based instructional program. The instructional program lasted for eight weeks during the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were collected using pre- and post-vocabulary tests. The findings showed statistically significant …

Psychometric Properties Of The Jordanian Picture Test From The Wexler-4 Intelligence Scale In Sign Language For The Deaf (Ages 6–16.11 Years), Samer Abu Drea, Farouq Al-Rawsan

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study focuses on developing and validating a Jordanian version of the WISC-4 intelligence scale in sign language for deaf children aged 6 to 16.11 years. The aim is to assess the psychometric properties, including validity and reliability, of this version to serve as a trustworthy tool for measuring the cognitive abilities of deaf children in Jordan using sign language, aligned with their linguistic and cultural characteristics. A descriptive approach was employed, and the sample consisted of 413 deaf children from various regions across the country. The results demonstrated that the Jordanian version exhibits high content validity, with strong correlations …

The Effect Of An Electronic Collocation-Based Instructional Program On Jordanian Efl Tenth Graders’ Word Knowledge, Marouf Assaf, Dina Al-Jamal, Ebtesam Rababah

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of an electronic collocation-based instructional program on Jordanian EFL tenth-grade students' word knowledge. Two sections of 25 students each, from a government school in Irbid, were randomly assigned as experimental and control groups. A word knowledge pre-test, which included a section measuring word meaning and another assessing word collocation, was administered to determine whether the two groups were homogeneous before implementing the program. Lexical collocations in Action Pack 10 were identified through a content analysis of selected reading passages, and these collocations were taught to the experimental group using Quizlet, a flashcard mobile application. …

Generalized Transversality Conditions For Fuzzy Quantum-Symmetric Variational Problems Via Granular Approach, Martin Bohner, Ewa Girejko, Agnieszka B. Malinowska, Linh Nguyen, Baruch Schneider, Tri Truong

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper investigates fuzzy q-symmetric variational problems with natural boundary conditions. Based on the relative distance measure fuzzy arithmetic and horizontal membership functions (HMFs), we propose novel concepts of differentiability and integrability for fuzzy functions on quantum geometric subsets of real numbers. Then, fundamental foundations of q-symmetric calculus of variations based on HMFs are provided. With the help of HMFs and granular q-symmetric differentiability, we derive necessary optimality conditions for fuzzy q-symmetric variational problems that depend on free endpoints. Moreover, sufficient conditions for minimizers of q-symmetric variational problems are obtained. Some numerical examples illustrating the proposed approach are presented.

What Next? A Challenging Case Of Refractory Hypertension With End-Organ Dysfunction In A 33-Year-Old Male, Rezane Miftari Md, Shaun Abid, Anton Stolear, Irma Fotjhadi

Posters

We present a challenging case of a 33-year-old male with history of longstanding hypertension since high school, which progressed to RH complicated by severe left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

Novel Statistical And Topological Data Analyses Of 2d Electronic Images, Robert L. Paige, Vic Patrangenaru

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, novel statistical and topological data analyses of 2D images are developed. One considers methodologies based on the Region Covariance Descriptor (RCD) and Topological Data Analysis (TDA) rooted in the simplicial as well as cubical persistent homologies. These methods provide statistical methods for data from populations of complex data objects that are elements of non-Euclidean spaces. The 2D image data considered consist of pictures of two leaves—A and B—from the same tree, twenty of each leaf, from different perspectives. The novel statistical procedures developed are used for correctly determining that leaf A images and leaf B images are …

The Information Edge - Library Newsletter - September 2025, Sarah Burns-Feyl, Jennifer Rosenstein

University Library Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Learning In Virtual Environments With Varying Levels Of Sensory Information, Maryam Derayati Far

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

The sensory environment plays a critical role in shaping learners’ attention, engagement, and retention. This thesis investigates how varying levels of sensory input in virtual reality (VR) classrooms influence learning for two age groups—children and young adults—and explores how individual differences in sensory processing moderate these effects. Using immersive VR technology to simulate classroom settings, two experimental studies were conducted. Study One involved 60 children aged 6–15 years, recruited primarily through a university-run summer camp. Study Two included 57 undergraduate students aged 18–36 years, recruited through a research participation pool. In both studies, participants were randomly assigned to either a …

Risk Premia-Return Spillovers Among Commodity-Us Equity Markets, Marinela Adriana Finta

Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics

This study examines the risk premia-return spillovers of eight commodities (corn, soybean, wheat, copper, silver, gold, oil, and natural gas) and the U.S. equity market from 2008 to 2016. We define volatility, skewness, and kurtosis risk premia as the difference between implied and realized moments. Our results reveal an increasing trend in cross-market and cross-moment spillovers until mid-2012, with various announcements explaining these effects. Moreover, we document substantial cross-energy and cross-metal spillovers to the equity market and cross-return spillovers to risk premia. Higher-order risk premia also exhibit the highest effects on returns. In addition, we underline the prominent influence of …

Item 4: Assignment 1: Life In Puerto Rico Vs. The Mainland: Shopping At The Supermarket, Leila Rodriguez

Leila Rodriguez, Civic Engagement in/for Puerto Rico (English)

The Jones Act, a protectionist law which requires domestic water transport to be performed by vessels that are US-made, crewed, owned, and flagged, imposes inflated costs on consumers in Puerto Rico. To better understand how this translates into everyday impacts, in this assignment students compare the cost of a grocery run in Puerto Rico and the United States. To do this, they find the price of various products in two supermarkets: Pueblo, the largest grocery store chain in Puerto Rico, and Kroger, the second-largest grocery chain in the United States. Finally, they reflect on how their shopping habits might differ …

Item 2: Activity 1: Ethnocharette: The History And Imagined Futures Of Puerto Rico, Leila Rodriguez

Leila Rodriguez, Civic Engagement in/for Puerto Rico (English)

For this in-class activity, students work in small groups to conduct collaborative deep thinking on the history of Puerto Rico. To do this, they will first watch the Suncoast Emmy award-winning documentary, The Last Colony to learn about the history of Puerto Rico and its complex political relationship with the United States. Then, guided by the professor, they will use a modified version of the ethnocharette experimental pedagogy, developed by the University of California at Irvine’s Center for Ethnography, to understand, organize, and think more deeply about the themes of the documentary. Finally, they use this information to imagine possible …

Research On The German Jewish Writer Ruth Rewald, Hiltrudis M. Arens

University Grant Program Reports

I received a University Research Grant for the fall of 2024 that allowed me to travel to Germany to conduct research on the German Jewish writer Ruth Rewald (1906-1942), whose estate is archived in the Federal Archive (Bundesarchiv) in Berlin.