Digital Commons Network^™

Wind Symphony: March 30, 2025, Anthony C. Marinello Iii, Christopher Bulding, Galina Kiep, Jillian Kouzel

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

March 30, 2025

Sunday Afternoon

4:00 p.m.

Memgb-Diff: Memory-Efficient Multivariate Gaussian Bias Diffusion Model For 3d Bias Field Correction, Shuo Li

Faculty Scholarship

Bias fields inevitably degrade MRI that seriously interferes the diagnosis of physicians for accurate analysis, and removing it is a crucial image analysis task. Generative models (such as GANs) are used for bias field correction, and outperform traditional methods, however are hindered by the high cost of data annotation and instability during training. Recently, the diffusion-based methods have excelled over GANs in many applications, and they are powerful in removing noise from images, while the bias field can be regarded as a smooth noise. However, it is a challenge to directly apply to 3D bias field correction due to sampling …

The Impact Of Distributed Resistance Training Using Sandbag Arm Resistance On Enhancing Speed Specific Strength Endurance And 1000m Performance In Advanced Level Kayaking Athletes, Muyed Abdul Latif Ali, Ali Abdul Latif Ali

Modern Sport

This study aimed to design distributed resistance training exercises utilizing sandbag resistance for the upper limbs in advanced level kayaking athletes and to investigate the impact of this training approach on speed strength endurance and 1000 meter kayaking performance. The researchers employed a single group experimental design with a sample of 10 advanced male kayakers (mean age: (22) years; body mass: 81 kg). An (8) week training program (3sessions/week) was implemented, incorporating pyramid shaped intensity progression using sandbag weights ranging from 500g to 2kg. Performance metrics were evaluated through pre and post intervention tests, including a 45 seconds kayak sprint, …

Psychological Influence Of Acne Vulgaris Among Female Students Of University Of Poonch Rawalakot Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Pakistan, Faryal Hanif, Ahmed Hussain, Ehsan Ali, Muhammad Rasheed

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of acne vulgaris among female students at the University of Poonch, Rawalakot, and to evaluate its impact on their quality of life using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to August 2022, involving a total of 2000 female students. Out of these, 400 individuals were clinically diagnosed with acne vulgaris, indicating a prevalence rate of 20 %. The participants completed the DLQI questionnaire, which evaluates the psychological and social effects of dermatological conditions. The data obtained were analyzed to assess the influence of acne on various …

Becoming A Network Of Networks: G20 Interfaith Forum, Marianna Richardson

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Outcomes Of Surgically Implanted Impella Microaxial Flow Pumps In Heart Failure-Related Cardiogenic Shock, Jacob Abraham, Mark Anderson, Scott Silvestry, Edward G Soltesz, Masahiro Ono, Kanika Mody, Fardad Esmailian, Arman Kilic, Rupinder Bharmi, Rothy Chhim, Roberta Bogaev-Chapman, Gundars J Katlaps, Ismael Salas De Armas, Mani A Daneshmand, David J Kaczorowski, Duc Thinh Pham, Danny Ramzy, David D'Alessandro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) are increasingly treated with high-profile microaxial flow pumps (Impella 5.5), but little is known about the indications and outcomes of this support strategy in patients with CS due to heart failure (HF-CS).

Objectives: We sought to describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients with HF-CS treated with Impella 5.5.

Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective, multicenter observational study of patients with CS who had been implanted with an Impella 5.5. Adverse events, in-hospital survival rates and 6- and 12-month survival rates were analyzed in the total cohort and between patients treated with …

Caplacizumab Use In Immune-Mediated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: An International Multicentre Retrospective Cohort Study (The Capla 1000+ Project), Camila Masias

All Publications

Background: The anti-Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) nanobody caplacizumab is licensed for adults with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) in association with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and immunosuppression. However, whether caplacizumab reduces mortality, and its optimal timing of initiation, is not completely settled.

Methods: This international, multicenter retrospective cohort study recruited patients from 2018 until 2023 and data collection took place from January 1st to June 30th 2023 in the participating centers. One thousand and fifteen patients were treated with daily TPE, immunosuppression with corticosteroids ± rituximab, and caplacizumab (caplacizumab group), which was compared to historic controls treated with TPE and …

Video Discharge Instructions Increase Patient Understanding For Office-Based Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Study, Jenna Bates Maffei, Jeffrey J Song, Gal Saffati, Mohit Khera

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Health literacy significantly influences healthcare outcomes, with poor literacy leading to worse quality of life, increased mortality, and higher readmission rates. Recent efforts to improve post-encounter education include structured teach-back methods, patient preference assessments, and standardized discharge instructions. Studies in emergency departments have shown that incorporating video discharge instructions enhances patient understanding and retention of care information. To address the gap in urology, this study aims to evaluate patient comprehension and satisfaction with video discharge instructions following clinic-based vasectomy procedures.

Methods: We performed an Institutional Review Board approved (#H-51614) unblinded randomized controlled study with written consent from each participant. …

Metrics, And How It All Came About, Harold E. Padelford

The Geographical Bulletin

Surveying? Just use the laser beam for a measuring device; accuracy of one mm to a range of eight km. But why the need for accuracy and what is a meter? The use of the meter as the basis of all linear measurement has been a matter of controversy for several centuries. Some few nations oppose the adoption of the metric system, most nations have adopted it wholly. No effort will be made here to analyze the controversy. However, the controversy leads one to wonder why and how the metric system came into existence. The purpose of this article is …

Predictors Of Caregiver Satisfaction With The State Of Rhode Island Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants And Children, Ophelia Mensah

Oral Presentations

Background and Objectives: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been linked to positive health outcomes. However, caregiver perspectives on WIC in Rhode Island remain unexplored. This study examines factors influencing caregiver satisfaction with WIC. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 163 caregivers receiving WIC services (online or in-person) in Rhode Island was conducted using a selfadministered questionnaire. Data included sociodemographics, WIC experiences, service awareness, 20 and satisfaction ratings (customer service, appointment duration, overall satisfaction) on a 3- item Likert scale. Ordered logistic regression identified predictors of satisfaction. Results: The mean caregiver age was 30 years; …

Empathetic Teaching: Why Authentic Blind Representation In Curricula Matters, Olivia Thomakos

Oral Presentations

Understanding the lived experience of blindness is challenging for sighted individuals. While literature can provide insights into this experience, many portrayals are written by sighted authors who rely on metaphor or their own fears of blindness. For blind authors, the challenge of connecting with sighted readers is compounded by the fact that reading itself is performed differently by sighted and non-sighted individuals. This essay explores how authentic authorship can foster empathy and understanding of blindness, and how introducing students to literature with genuine blind representation in school curricula can positively influence perceptions of blindness. Mark Paterson's article "Blindness, empathy, and …

Isabel Walkup, Soprano

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

Isabel Walkup, Soprano

Brenda Brent, Piano

Senior Recital: March 29, 2025, Elli Ji, Lu Witzig, Gina Russell, Holly Peters, Daniel Ota, Kendra Chaney, Dr. Jillian Kouzel, Mrs. Kristine Mertens

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

March 29, 2025

Saturday Afternoon

5:00 p.m.

Cytosimplex: Visualizing Single-Cell Fates And Transitions On A Simplex, Jialin Liu, Yichen Wang, Chen Li, Yichen Gu, Noriaki Ono, Joshua Welch

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Summary: Cells differentiate to their final fates along unique trajectories, often involving multi-potent progenitors that can produce multiple terminally differentiated cell types. Recent developments in single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic measurement provide tremendous opportunities for mapping these trajectories. The visualization of single-cell data often relies on dimension reduction methods such as UMAP to simplify high-dimensional single-cell data down to an understandable 2D form. However, these dimension reduction methods are not constructed to allow direct interpretation of the reduced dimensions in terms of cell differentiation. To address these limitations, we developed a new approach that places each cell from a single-cell dataset …

Understanding The Experiences Of Biology Teachers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amber R. Collins

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic has caused the world to focus on the transition of learning environments that are more digital and virtual than any other time in educational history. Schools all over the world were required to adjust not only the mode of instruction, such as in virtual, hybrid, or in-person, but also create guidelines and procedures that reduce the amount of interaction between the teacher and the student (Garbe, Ogurlu, Uzeyir, & Cook, 2020). The research questions that guided this study were: 1) What are the experiences of five Biology teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic in transitioning to …

Evaluating Coal-Jatropha Curcas Composite Briquettes As Sustainable Fuel Alternatives, Amad Ullah Khan, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Abas, Zakir Ullah, Khan Muhammad, Farida Anjum, Aamer Sharif, Melkamu Tadesse Getachew

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coal is a major fuel source but raises environmental concerns. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing a composite briquette sustainable fuel produced from subbituminous coal and Jatropha curcas biomass. Briquettes were prepared with varying weight ratios of coal to J. curcas biomass (90:0–0:90) using corn starch as a binder. The influence of this ratio on the briquettes’ properties was comprehensively evaluated through proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The results revealed that increasing the J. curcas content in the briquettes gradually decreased the moisture content, ash content, and fixed carbon content while …

Employment Outcomes For Postsecondary Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities: A Secondary Analysis, Eric J. Anderson, Andrew Buck, Jessie Green, Diane Weinbrandt, Margo Izzo, Amy Shuman

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Individuals with disabilities do not access postsecondary education at the same rate as their peers without disabilities. This gap is unfortunate, as research shows that when students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) participate in postsecondary education, they have improved physical, social, and employment outcomes. To address these issues, colleges and universities have created postsecondary programs for students with IDD. While research on employment outcomes of these programs has been positive, there are conflicting results when analyzing which aspects of those programs are associated with positive employment outcomes. In this study we analyze data from 92 students enrolled in nine …

‘I Flip The Switch’: Aboriginal Entrepreneurs’ Navigation Of Entrepreneurial Imperatives, Admiral Manganda, Tanya Jurado, Jason Mika, Farah Palmer

Indigenous Business & Public Administration

Culture is integral to Indigenous entrepreneurs, but how culture manifests in their entrepreneurial processes is understudied. This paper explores how Aboriginal entrepreneurs in Perth, Australia navigate cultural and commercial imperatives in their entrepreneurial practice. The study uses an interpretive lens and thematic analysis based on Altman’s hybrid economy model (HEM) to explore how ten Aboriginal entrepreneurs managed commercially viable enterprises while meeting their cultural obligations and aspirations. The focus is on the convergence of the customary and market economies and entrepreneurs’ experiences of navigating the hybridity of that space. We find that Aboriginal entrepreneurs iteratively assess the complementarity of cultural …

Review Of In A Human Voice, Jean Keller

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Ordinary Whites In Apartheid Society: Social Histories Of Accommodation, Gary Prevost

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Christian Ethics And Business Leadership, Jon Armajani

The Journal of Social Encounters

This essay discusses the ethical principles of listening, community, stewardship, and interreligious and intercultural understanding with respect to business leadership. It opens by discussing definitions of ethics and their relevance to businesses and business leaders. It continues by providing a description of the consulting company Accenture’s ethical principles and practices, as positive examples. The essay provides Arthur Andersen and its work with Enron and WorldCom, both of which went bankrupt in the early 2000s, as examples of the failures that occur when ethical principles are not practiced. Then, the essay states that Christianity and the Benedictine tradition constitute a basis …

Peter Maurin As The New St. Benedict: A Review Essay, William J. Collinge

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Religious Bodies Crime Control Strategies In Lagos Slums, Nigeria, Lateef Adeyemo

The Journal of Social Encounters

In Lagos' slum areas, where crime and social instability are rampant, religious bodies are uniquely positioned to influence positive change. This study adopted a qualitative, cross-sectional approach, guided by social disorganisation and stakeholder theories, to examine their impact. Purposive sampling was used to select 61 participants for in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Findings indicate that religious bodies primarily engage youth through sermons and occasional events but lack structured crime control mechanisms. Key challenges include community resistance, limited police collaboration, resource constraints, and threats from violent youth. Furthermore, doctrinal concerns and fear of backlash hinder interfaith collaboration, with some …

Fratelli Tutti And Social Media: Solidarity And Social Networks Among Locals And Urban Refugees In Kampala, Uganda, Augustine Bahemuka

The Journal of Social Encounters

Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis’ social encyclical, exhorts all Christians and people of good will to cultivate a spirit of fraternity and solidarity with all people in need, regardless of socio-cultural or creedal or racial differences. He challenges us to broaden our perception of “neighbour” to even include those people whose plight we encounter via social media – our digital neighbours. This paper shows how the Association of Refugee Women in Uganda (AORW- U) has used social media to amplify the voices of urban refugees living in Kampala, thereby raising public awareness; attracting global and local partnerships; and creating healthy social …

Intergenerational Dialogue And Inquiry For Collective Healing, Social Justice And Communal Well-Being: A Reflection On Conceptions, Processes And Practices, Scherto Gill

The Journal of Social Encounters

This paper explores how intergenerational dialogue and inquiry (IDI) may help break the silence about past brutality and contribute to collective healing, social justice and communal well-being. The specific historical contexts that it is concerned with are transatlantic slavery and colonisation, and the continued legacies of contemporary racism. Global communities impacted by these tragedies often experience silence between the generations about the trauma resulting from the atrocity, often exacerbated by present day discrimination. In considering the case study of IDI in communities on four continents, this paper further analyses the processes involved in breaking the cycles of silence, and remembering …

From Hegemony To The “Regime Of Tolerance” In Muslim-Christian Relations: The Stakes Of The Pope’S Trip To Bahrain, Francois Mabille

The Journal of Social Encounters

Whilst not ignoring theological discussions on the subject of Muslim-Christian dialogue, the present analysis of Muslim-Christian or Muslim-Catholic relations will not be conducted from a historical-theological perspective. It will be limited to the political and geopolitical aspects of the work undertaken by the Holy See and Pope Francis since 2013. The argument put forward here is that since the beginning of the current pontificate, there has been a major change in the order of relations between Catholicism and Islam, which has had an impact on the international scene and should therefore be closely watched by states. This change corresponds to …

Monastic-Muslim Dialogue, William Skudlarek Osb

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Essay: Ibn Khaldun On Sufism, Eslam Elbahlawan

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Literacy For All: A Phenomenological Study On The Application Of Massachusetts Informational Reading Standards In Massachusetts Public High School Content-Area Disciplines, Abby S. Gillis

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of Massachusetts public high school content-area teachers with applying Massachusetts informational reading standards in their instructional practices to support reading development for all students. This qualitative study utilized data collected from six Massachusetts public high school content-area teachers through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The literature review applied the theoretical framework of SFL which focuses on the practice of studying texts through the social and cultural context of the text, in this case, in content-area curricular texts and resources. Themes focused on national and local informational reading standards, reading …

Occupational Safety Culture In Modern Aviation Maintenance, Sang-A Lee

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Aviation maintenance is paramount to the safety and efficiency of global air travel. Disturbingly, 2022 data revealed an unprecedented surge in severe injuries among aircraft maintenance technicians in the United States, prompting renewed scrutiny of the aviation maintenance occupational safety culture. In light of these developments, a systematic literature review was conducted to discern the influential factors shaping this safety culture, especially considering the industry’s rapid technological advancements. The review process involved meticulous key word searches, stringent article selection criteria, and qualitative data analysis software to interpret findings. From the synthesis of 35 peerreviewed articles, nine pivotal constructs emerged: (1) …