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Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

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Sustaining Temporal Peace: A Worldview For Sustainable Living Inspired By Saint Augustine's Philosophy, Joseph Emmanuel D. Sta. Maria

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

My paper aims to use the philosophical resources of Saint Augustine’s thought, particularly as found in the City of God, in order to sketch a basic worldview which can educate and lead people towards living lives that promote sustainable development. Specifically, I wish to show how Saint Augustine’s concepts of order, rightly ordered love, and temporal peace can serve as material to create a rough metaphysical framework in which human beings are understood to be an integrated part of a greater whole which is the earth. The ethical corollary of this framework is that human beings should act in such …

Nakaparsuaan, Kadagaan, And Panaglunit Ti Daga: Climate Justice And Environmental Ethics In Ilokano Life, Aurelio S. Agcaoili

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

The work offers an interpretation of the world as understood and being lived until today by Ilokanos. Such a reading involves the plumbing into linguistic and cultural data as proofs of an inchoate philosophy that has been preserved in the minds of the Ilokano people and which continues to guide their conduct. The world, understood as the physical environment, peoples, and communities, is linked back to the problem of social justice and stewardship of living and nonliving things, to the issue of who calls the shots in the unethical exploitation of these resources, and to the lessons that can be …

Harnessing 360-Degree Video To Prompt Users To Think Along With Pro-Environmental Campaign Messages, Mincheol Shin, Heejae Lee

Mass Communications - All Scholarship

Three-hundred-and-sixty-degree videos visualized through virtual reality (VR) technologies are recognized as an effective tool for fostering positive attitudes towards environmental stewardship by immersing users in persuasive storytelling narratives. However, a lack of an overarching framework hinders the understanding of its role in promoting prosocial environmental behaviors, particularly its effects on information processing and behavioral intentions. Notably, recent studies have suggested that feeling transported into a VR environment (i.e., presence) could positively bias message evaluation and the way people process information by activating heuristics connected to immersive experiences (i.e., the bias hypothesis of the heuristic-systematic model). Drawing on this proposition, this …

Benchmarking Pretrained Models For Speech Emotion Recognition: A Focus On Xception, Ahmed Hassan, Tehroom Masood, Hassan A. Ahmed, H. M. Shahzad, Hafiz Muhammad T. Khushi

Business Faculty Publications

Speech emotion recognition (SER) is an emerging technology that utilizes speech sounds to identify a speaker’s emotional state. Computational intelligence is receiving increasing attention from academics, health, and social media applications. This research was conducted to identify emotional states in verbal communication. We applied a publicly available dataset called RAVDEES. The data augmentation process involved adding noise, applying time stretching, shifting, and pitch, and extracting the features zero cross rate (ZCR), chroma shift, Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), and a spectrogram. In addition, we used many pretrained deep learning models, such as VGG16, ResNet50, Xception, InceptionV3, and DenseNet121. Out of all …

Unbridled Advertising Of Female Cosmetic Genitoplasty Procedures In The Absence Of Health Policymaking In The World: An Argumentation, Elham Azmoude, Nahid J. Shoorab, Samira E. Zagami

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Fruit And Seed Of Date On Childbirth Stages And Pregnancy Complications, Fatemeh A. Rahnemaei, Zahra A. Kashani, Mohammadamin Jandaghian-Bidgoli, Farinaz Rahimi, Farzaneh Zaheri, Fatemeh Abdi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This review aimed to investigate the effects of date fruit products on childbirth and pregnancy-related complications. MeSH keywords were systematically searched in scientific databases, and 16 articles were reviewed. It was found that consuming 7 date fruits (average of 80 g) per day for 2–4 weeks before the estimated date of delivery leads to a better cervical dilatation at admission or improvement of Bishop score, a decrease in the need for induction or stimulation of labour and an increase in effective uterine contractions, which, in turn, decreases the duration of pregnancy and the different stages of labour. Additionally, date fruit …

Diagnostic Test Accuracy Of The Years Algorithm For Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sean R. Te Haara, Helena De Rezende, Chao Wang

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the YEARS algorithm in excluding pulmonary embolism, as well as to compare the utilisation of advanced imaging modalities between the YEARS approach and standard clinical practice. Eligible studies were identified from multiple databases spanning July 2017 to September 2022, following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for diagnostic accuracy reviews. A total of 10 studies, involving approximately 14,000 participants, were included in the analysis. The YEARS algorithm demonstrated a sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 93–98%) and a specificity of 50% (95% CI: 33–67%). Additonally, the risk ratio …

Not Taking "No" For An Answer: The Interactional Organization Of Accepting And Refusing Childhood Vaccination In The Netherlands, Robert Prettner, Hedwig Te Molder, Jeffrey D. Robinson

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

Communication-intervention strategies for reducing vaccine hesitancy have been primarily based on survey and interview data. Virtually absent is an understanding of how vaccine hesitancy is organized interactionally in its primary, natural environment of medical consultations between parents and healthcare providers. This article uses conversation analysis to describe the sequence organization of the action of providers soliciting parents’ vaccination intent. We demonstrate that parents’ acceptance is “preferred” and sequence-closure relevant and that refusal is “dispreferred” and sequence-expansion relevant. Regarding vaccine refusal, we describe three different sequence-expansive actions, including soliciting an account, cautioning about the consequences of vaccine refusal, and “keeping the …

Adam And The Names, Saqib Hussain

Theological Studies Faculty Works

This paper examines the naming episode in the Quran's Adam story, in which God teaches Adam “the names, all of them”, to counter the angels' objection to the creation of the human creature on the basis that he will “spread corruption … and will shed blood”. I try to show that the traditional understanding of this narrative in Western scholarship, which connects it ultimately to the Genesis 2 episode in which Adam names all the creatures of the land and sky, fails to do justice to a close reading of the quranic text itself. Instead, I argue for an alternative …

Novel Cuprotosis-Related Gene Signature: A Prognostic Indicator And Regulator Of The Glioma Immune Microenvironment, Dongming Gao, Youyuan Bao, Wenyin Shi, Lei Li, Liang Gao

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Background: Glioma is a primary malignant brain tumor with a poor prognosis. Glioma-related biomarkers need to be identified to enable the personalized treatment of and predict the prognosis of glioma patients. Cuproptosis is an unusual mechanism of cell death, and is closely associated with disease progression and the immune-microenvironment of the tumor. However, the function of cuproptosis in glioma is still unclear, therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the role of cuproptosis-related genes in gliomas.

Methods: We examined the relationship between cuproptosis and glioma using the clinical and expression data of glioma tumors from The Cancer Genome …

Advance Care Planning In Rehabilitation: Training Nurses And Social Workers To Facilitate Discussions, Celeste Christiansen

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Patients and healthcare workers fail to hold advance care planning (ACP) discussions. Social workers perceive a lack of time and feel unprepared to hold ACP conversations.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Do patients in acute inpatient rehabilitation (P) who receive education and resources about ACP from trained nurses and social workers (I) accept and participate in ACP (O) compared to prior standards of care (C) while on the rehabilitation unit (T)?

Evidence: The public and healthcare workers have limited knowledge of ACPs and their role in these discussions. People are more likely to hold …

Characterization Of Silicon Carbide Low-Voltage N/P-Channel Mosfets At High Temperatures, Hui Wang, Pengyu Lai, Affan Abbasi, Maksudul Hossain, Asif Faruque, Alan H. Mantooth, Zhong Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

SiC-based n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs fabricated by Fraunhofer IISB SiC CMOS technology are characterized from room temperature up to 300◦C. The behaviors of these low voltage devices including the short-channel effect (SCE), p-type ohmic contact with high resistivity, and the low channel mobility due to the SiC/SiO2 interface are presented. A thorough analysis is performed to understand the cause of low channel mobility, with TCAD simulations specifically on p-channel MOSFET, providing an insight into the impact of channel length, interface traps, and contact resistivity on device performance. The analysis in this paper is important in the comprehension of the low-voltage …

A Critical Analysis Of Michael Shermer’S: Can We Be Good Without God?, Emily Conaty

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This critique of a chapter in Michael Shermer’s The Science of Good and Evil analyzes the rhetoric behind his argument that morality is possible without belief in God. It examines Shermer’s language, tone toward opposing views, and the ethical implications of his approach.

Enhancing Muscle Health And Modulating Immune Response With Galectin-1 In Lgmd2b/R2 Models, Stefannia Esparza Pulido

Theses and Dissertations

Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2B/R2 (LGMD2B/R2) is a type of dysferlinopathy, a progressive muscle-wasting disorder caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene. Hallmarks of the disease include chronic inflammation, impaired muscle regeneration, and eventual muscle degeneration. Currently, no FDA-approved therapies are available for dysferlinopathies. Recombinant human Galectin-1 (rHsGal-1) has shown multiple roles in maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis, promoting muscle repair, enhancing myogenesis, and modulating inflammation by downregulating the NF-κB pathway. The ability of rHsGal-1 to modulate the immune response is particularly promising for therapeutic applications in patients with LGMD2B/R2. In this study, we evaluated the effects of rHsGal-1 in a …

Fifth Disclosure Statement

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

Navigating Market Volatility: Risk And Return Insights From Indian Mutual Funds, Davinder K. Malhotra, Rahul Singh, L. Ramani

School of Business Faculty Papers

This study evaluates Indian mutual funds using a variety of criteria, demonstrating a historical tendency of lower monthly returns and volatility when compared to benchmark indexes. This positive risk profile implies that it will appeal to investors who want stability. Despite COVID-19-induced market volatility, mutual funds persistently outperform benchmark indices in terms of average return per unit of risk, highlighting their potential as a dependable investment option for stability seekers. Furthermore, Indian mutual funds routinely beat benchmark indexes in risk-adjusted terms. Despite having a positive alpha, it lacked statistical significance, indicating a possible reliance on market volatility rather than managerial …

The Meatpacking Industry Needs Stronger Worker Protections And Enhanced Oversight, India Luxton, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern

Center for Policy Research

Meatpacking plants are hazardous workplaces with high injury rates and poor working conditions, negatively impacting the health of the industry’s predominately immigrant and refugee workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated ongoing concerns in the industry, including the problems associated with consolidation and concentration, worker safety, and poor public health outcomes. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from 39 interviews with local, state, and federal officials and bureaucrats, worker advocates, and workers to analyze meatpacking policymaking and oversight during COVID-19. The authors find that a lack of industry oversight and decreased regulation contribute to unsafe environments, and injustices …

Invited Perspective: Climate Change And Maternal Mental Health-Looking Beyond High-Income Countries, Andrea G Buchwald, Sarah Boudova

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

India’S Pride Marches Are Important Calls For Justice But Elitist – They Must Be Democratised, Swarupa Deb, Aniket Nandan

Popular Media

Dalit, non-English speaking, disabled and Indigenous queer people are still sidelined at these LGBTQIA+ events. This must change.

Evidence For Subsidence Rate Variation In The Newark Basin And Its Influence On The Deposition Of Fluvial Sediments Of The Stockton Formation, Jane L. Alexander, Sean T. Thatcher, Jay Tobon, Victoria Rivelli

Publications and Research

The Stockton Formation of the Newark Basin represents an exciting time in Earth history during the early stages of rifting of the North Atlantic, with rapid subsidence and sediment deposition. Much of the previous work on this formation has been done using drill cores, with development limiting surface exposure. While this allows us to build a full stratigraphic sequence of deposition, it has the potential to miss smaller-scale variability and sedimentary structures. It is also difficult to understand the three-dimensional geometries, architecture and relationships between the depositional elements from drill core alone. An outcrop in North Bergen, NJ that was …

Spatial Pattern And Differential Expression Analysis With Spatial Transcriptomic Data, Fei Qin, Xizhi Luo, Bo Cai Ph.D., Feifei Xiao, Guoshuai Cai

Faculty Publications

The emergence of spatial transcriptomic technologies has opened new avenues for investigating gene activities while preserving the spatial context of tissues. Utilizing data generated by such technologies, the identification of spatially variable (SV) genes is an essential step in exploring tissue landscapes and biological processes. Particularly in typical experimental designs, such as case-control or longitudinal studies, identifying SV genes between groups is crucial for discovering significant biomarkers or developing targeted therapies for diseases. However, current methods available for analyzing spatial transcriptomic data are still in their infancy, and none of the existing methods are capable of identifying SV genes between …

Changing Partners: Male Comradery And The Decline Of Homosocial Dance In American Film, Christopher Sparks

Longwood Senior Theses

After the decline of the American movie musical genre in the late 1960s to early 1970s, there have been several attempts at reviving the genre and paying homage to movie musicals from the 1930s to 1950s. One such example, the 2016 film La La Land, received critical acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Although La La Land features numerous references to the 1952 movie musical Singin’ in the Rain and references to the song and dance film spectacles choreographed by Busby Berkeley in the 1930s, La La Land fails to portray spectacles involving multiple men singing and dancing together. …

Beyond Climate In Placencia, Belize: Navigating Environmental Change In The Anthropocene, Rory E. Mckenna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Examining opportunities for climate resilience requires an evaluation of lived experiences of environmental change which benefits from transdisciplinary perspectives. This research examines those experiences through the lens of anthropogenic change which allows for a critical focus on local conditions of environmental change specific to Placencia Village, Belize, over time. An anthropology of the anthropocene framing shifts the focus from the results of the global phenomenon responsible for climate change to the implications of local human-caused environmental change on natural systems, human-environment relationships and dynamics, and the future trajectories of these relationships. Through the use of interviews, go-alongs, participatory mapping, transdisciplinary …

Pediatric Renal Cell Carcinoma (Prcc) Subpopulation Environmental Differentials In Survival Disadvantage Of Black/African American Children In The United States: Large-Cohort Evidence, Laurens Holmes, Phatismo Masire, Arieanna Eaton, Robert Mason, Mackenzie Holmes, Justin William, Maura Poleon, Michael Enwere

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare but severe and aggressive pediatric malignancy. While incidence is uncommon, survival is relatively low with respect to acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), AML, lymphoma, ependymoma, glioblastoma, and Wilms Tumor. The pediatric renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) incidence, cumulative incidence (period prevalence), and mortality vary by health disparities' indicators, namely sex, race, ethnicity, age at tumor diagnosis, and social determinants of health (SDHs) as well as Epigenomic Determinants of Health (EDHs). However, studies are unavailable on some pRCC risk determinants, such as area of residence and socio-economic status (SES). The current study aimed at assessing …

Noujdi Receives 2024 Undergraduate Seed Award, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Ortiz Receives U Of M Justice, Equity, Diversity And Inclusion Award, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Energetics Of Mode-1 Internal Waves Interacting With Topographic Ridges Of Varying Height And Slope, Matthew R. Klema, Subhas K. Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Energetics of mode-1 internal waves interacting with topographic ridges are investigated using high-resolution two-dimensional simulations at spatial scales of m that span between classical laboratory-scale (m) and field-scale simulations (m). This paper focuses on the energetics of wave-Topography interaction, with emphasis on systematically examining the partitioning of the incident wave energy as a function of wave forcing and topographic parameters. Partitioning of energy into the transmitted, reflected and dissipated components is quantified as a function of wave Froude number (velocity amplitude of forcing and internal wave celerity), slope criticality, where topographic slope and wave characteristic slope, and the ratio of …

Targeted Variant Assessments Of Human Endogenous Retroviral Regions In Whole Genome Sequencing Data Reveal Retroviral Variants Associated With Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Vlad C Sandulache, Michael E Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is one of the fastest-growing cancers worldwide, lacking established causal factors or validated early diagnostics. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), comprising 8% of human genomes, have potential as PTC biomarkers due to their comparably high baseline expression in healthy thyroid tissues, indicating homeostatic roles. However, HERV regions are often overlooked in genome-wide association studies because of their highly repetitive nature, low sequence coverage, and decreased sequencing quality. Using targeted whole-genome sequence analysis in conjunction with high sequencing depth to overcome methodological limitations, we identified associations of specific HERV variants with PTC. Analyzing WGS data from 138 patients …

Mechanisms Of Memory-Supporting Neuronal Dynamics In Hippocampal Area Ca3, Jeffrey C Magee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hippocampal CA3 is central to memory formation and retrieval. Although various network mechanisms have been proposed, direct evidence is lacking. Using intracellular Vm recordings and optogenetic manipulations in behaving mice, we found that CA3 place-field activity is produced by a symmetric form of behavioral timescale synaptic plasticity (BTSP) at recurrent synapses among CA3 pyramidal neurons but not at synapses from the dentate gyrus (DG). Additional manipulations revealed that excitatory input from the entorhinal cortex (EC) but not the DG was required to update place cell activity based on the animal’s movement. These data were captured by a computational model that …