Digital Commons Network^™

A Scoping Review Of Maternal Active Smoking During Pregnancy And Low-Birth Weight, Naomi Sondang, Nindi Oktavia, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah Adnani, Lani Gumilang, Hadi Susiarno, Victor Abiola Adepoju

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Low-birth weight (LBW; < 2.5 kg) infants are at increased risk of early mortality, impaired growth, neuro-developmental delay and chronic disease later in life. Maternal behavior, especially cigarette smoking, remains one of the most modifiable determinants of birth weight. We therefore synthesized recent evidence on the association between active maternal smoking during pregnancy and LBW.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidance, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect for the period January 2020 to 31 January 2025 for English-language observational studies that quantified the relationship between active prenatal smoking and LBW. Risk of bias was appraised, and findings were summarized narratively.
Results: In total 26,650 papers were found and eight eligible studies (four cohort, three cross-sectional, one case-control) from Asia, Europe and the Middle East were included. Across all designs and exposure metrics—self-report, exhaled carbon-monoxide, urinary cotinine, and cord-blood DNA-methylation, active smoking was consistently associated with …

Neurology Residency Training In Pakistan: Current Status And Future, Bashir Soomro

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

Alarming Rate Of Hemorrhagic Stroke Showing An Urgent Need For Hypertension Control: A Retrospective Study From A Major Stroke Center In Sindh, Sana Ghous, Muhammad Hashim Kalwar, Muhammad Hassan Butt, Irfan Ali Vighio, Mehfooz Ali Shah, Javed Khurshed Shaikh, Mansoor Hassan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective:

Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for approximately 18–20% of the global stroke burden and is associated with high mortality and disability. It poses a significant challenge in low- and middle-income countries, where delayed presentation and inadequate risk factor control worsen outcomes. Hypertension remains the most important modifiable risk factor, particularly when poorly controlled. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke at a major stroke center and its association with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods:

This retrospective study was conducted at Sindh institute of cardiovascular diseases (SICVD) Sukkur over three months, from May to July 2024. …

N-Aryl Phenoxazines As Polymer Supported Photocatalysts, Mary Kathryn Hall

Master's Theses

In photosynthesis, the energy of sunlight is perfectly harnessed to facilitate the production of small molecules that are essential for plant life on earth. Inspired by this model of energy efficiency and simplicity, this work seeks to mimic that ability to use the energy in visible light to perform new and more efficient chemistries. Just like in photosynthesis, photocatalysts can act as chromophores absorbing light to excite electrons opening new pathways for previously untapped reactivity. Recent research has provided a wide range of small molecule reactions that are made possible or easier by the use of a photocatalyst. However, these …

Effectiveness Of Education On Increasing Training Likelihood: An Analysis In Relation To Physique Inflation, Reid J. Venable

Honors College Theses

Resistance training is a widely recommended form of exercise for enhancing muscular strength, improving metabolic health, and promoting overall quality of life. In addition to these benefits, perhaps the most popular reason for participating in resistance training is to achieve muscle hypertrophy and attain a desired or aesthetic physique. However, various factors such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs and social media have led to “physique inflation,” a cultural phenomenon in which exposure to highly enhanced or unrealistic body types shifts perceptions of what is considered a “normal” or attainable physique. As a result, many individuals avoid or delay resistance …

Strategic Business Planning For An Optometry Practice: A Comprehensive Approach To Market Analysis, Operations, And Growth, Molly Elizabeth Weber

Honors College Theses

This study is a comprehensive analysis of the field of optometry in order to develop a business plan which could be utilized to open a new optometry practice. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are all studied in order to gain a robust view and offer insights of how a business would fair in the field of optometry to allow entrepreneurs to make informed decisions in business endeavors involving practice operations, market terrain, and growth potential.

What Does Genius Look Like? Investigating Brilliance Bias In Ai-Generated Images, Juliana Shihadeh, Margareta Ackerman, David Loker

Computer Science and Engineering

Text-to-image models, like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion, have been shown to reinforce harmful biases, often perpetuating outdated and discriminatory stereotypes. In this study, we delve into a particular bias largely overlooked in generative image research: Brilliance Bias. By age 6, many children begin to internalize the damaging notion that intellectual brilliance is a male trait—a belief that persists into adulthood. Our findings demonstrate that popular image AI models possess this bias, further entrenching the misguided notion that exceptional intelligence is inherently male. This study calls for addressing brilliance bias in AI to ensure a more realistic representation of intellectual …

Prevalence And Characterization Of Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection (Pasc) In Rwanda, Fernand Rwamwejo, Vivianne Umuhire Niyonkuru, Gilbert Rukundo, Eric Remera, Edson Rwagasore, Les Sztandera, Ruranga Charles, Elizabeth Krebs

School of Business Faculty Papers

Objectives

Reliable, population-level estimates of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) remain scarce for sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to quantify PASC prevalence and identify associated factors among adult COVID-19 survivors in Rwanda.

Methods

A nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey (August-October 2024) sampled 3143 adults from the national COVID-19 registry. PASC was defined as new or persisting symptoms ≥3 months after acute illness and lasting ≥2 months. The prevalence was calculated, and multivariable logistic regression identified factors independently associated with PASC.

Results

Overall, PASC prevalence was 34%. Leading symptoms were back pain, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and reduced sexual desire. Higher odds …

Integrating Spot-Scanning Proton Arc Therapy With Functional Avoidance Strategies To Reduce Pulmonary Toxicity, Yingxuan Chen, Peilin Liu, Xiaoda Cong, Edward Castillo, Richard Castillo, Inga Grills, Craig Stevens, Xiangkun Xu, Xiaoqiang Li, Yevgeniy Vinogradskiy, Xuanfeng Ding

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Background and purpose: Functional avoidance radiotherapy has emerged as a promising technique using functional imaging to minimize pulmonary toxicity by reducing doses to functional lung. This study aims to investigate the potential dose-volume advantages of a novel spot-scanning proton arc (SPArc) therapy for functional avoidance radiotherapy with four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT)-based ventilation imaging.

Material and methods: Twenty-five patients from a prospective functional avoidance clinical trial treated with intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy were included. Robustly optimized intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and SPArc plans were generated in RayStation. Functional lung contour was derived from the 4DCT-based ventilation imaging and utilized as an …

Degradation Of Cobalt Chrome Molybdenum Hip And Knee Implants In Vivo And In Vitro, Peter William Kurtz

All Dissertations

Cobalt Chrome Molybdenum (CoCrMo) remains a popular material choice for femoral condyles in total knee arthroplasty and for acetabular liners in dual mobility total hip designs. CoCrMo has been phased out of conventional THA designs due to its correlation with adverse effects such as ALTR and ALVAL. It is less understood if the mechanisms (i.e. abrasive wear to the surface of the implant) that release metal ions into the surrounding tissue occur at similar rates as seen in conventional THA. Additionally, it is unknown what effect the secondary damage modes such as electrocautery damage and adhesive wear have on these …

Power Distribution Controller For Formula Sae Vehicles, Michael Yuen

Electrical Engineering

The Power Distribution Controller (PDC) is designed for low-voltage (12V) automotive applications, specifically Formula SAE vehicles. It aims to replace the current and outdated MOSFET-based system, which suffers from inefficiencies such as lossy current sense resistors and limited configurability. Instead, this new system uses a PROFET-based architecture controlled over the Controller Area Network (CAN) and an updated microcontroller, enabling intelligent power management and data logging.

Designed with FSAE regulations in mind, the PDC not only enhances the reliability of low-voltage systems but also provides a quickly adaptable solution to fuse boxes. It achieves this by providing firmware-adjustable overcurrent protection, incorporating …

Climate Change In The Courts: A 2025 Retrospective, Maria Antonia Tigre, Margaret Barry

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Drawing from cases collected in the Sabin Center’s Climate Litigation Database, this report offers insights into global climate litigation developments during 2025. This third installment in our year-end series provides a snapshot of how the field of climate litigation evolved over the course of the year. The report revisits significant rulings from around the world and connects them to eight illustrative themes: (1) climate change in international courts and tribunals; (2) environmental assessment and permitting; (3) non-compliance with climate commitments; (4) constitutional and human rights; (5) greenwashing and climate-washing; (6) corporate accountability cases; (7) standing; and (8) deregulatory suits.

Federal Courts, Class Actions, And The Jurisdictional Void, Courtney T. Welch

Fordham Law Review

To invoke the jurisdiction of a federal court, a plaintiff must satisfy the requirements of Article III. Among other things, Article III requires a plaintiff to have and maintain personal stake throughout the lifespan of the litigation. Though a simple premise, this constitutional requirement has a complicated history. This is especially true as applied to class action lawsuits, where plaintiffs bring claims both on behalf of themselves and other harmed individuals.

The U.S. Supreme Court has applied flexible rules to some—but not all—of Article III’s requirements in class actions. The breadth of this flexibility, though, is uncertain. Accordingly, so too …

Benefits Of Animal Assisted Therapy In Pediatric Inpatient Units: A Literature Review, Logan M. Shiflett

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this systematic review of literature was to establish if animal assisted therapy (AAT) is helpful in the reduction of stress for patients on pediatric inpatient floors. The PICOT question that led this review was: In pediatric patients, how does animal assisted therapy affect patient outcomes related to increased hospitalizations? The EBSCOhost database, as well as the Web of Science and CINAHL Complete information sources, were used to find relevant studies for this review that assessed the benefits and contraindications for AAT. Key terms such as “animal assisted therapy,” “pediatrics,” and “inpatient” were used to narrow down the …

The Dangers Of Ai In Academia -- Amalia Jiva, Ai In The Human World, College Writing Program, Sebastian Quesada, Jordan Barber, Aiden Needles

First Year Seminars in Project-Based Learning

No abstract provided.

Rapid Incorporation But Contrasting Stability Of Fertilizer Versus Litter Nitrogen In Mineral-Associated Organic Matter, Emma Bergh

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nitrogen (N) is abundant in agricultural soils during early spring due to both decomposing plant residues and initial fertilizer applications before peak crop uptake. This N is vulnerable to loss through leaching and denitrification, but a portion of this N can become stabilized in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). However, the short-term incorporation and long-term stability of different N sources within MAOM remain poorly understood. This study examined how fertilizer and litter derived N are incorporated and stabilized in MAOM using a three-week incubation experiment with 15N labeled fertilizer, rye root, and rye shoot additions to paired cropland and grassland soils. …

Potential Predictors Of Nonconductive Wood Column Volumes In Five Maple Species, Tanner Ryan Frost

Master's Theses and Capstones

Maple tapping guidelines rely on the understanding of nonconductive wood column (NWC) formation, but this process has only been studied in sugar maple and may be ineffective at advising producers in their tapping activities due to the variation in wounding between sites and the lack of research into alternative species more recently being brought to market. The goal of this study was to investigate sap sugar concentrations and sap yields as predictors of nonconductive wood column (NWC) volumes in five Acer species: sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red maple (Acer rubrum), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), and boxelder …

A Comparison Of Cultural Aspects Of Breastfeeding In The United States Vs Italy, Madison P. Wallace

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Healthcare systems internationally differ from policies, funding and resources available, and it is evident when comparing the United States and Italy. Participation in the Nursing Across the Lifespan study abroad program at the University of Arkansas Rome Center and Tiny Tusk Breastfeeding and Infant Support internship inspired a comparative exploration of breastfeeding practices in the United States versus. Italy. The United States has a mixed public- private insurance system, workplace policies and government assistance, while Italy has a universal healthcare system with a mandated maternal work paid leave to support breastfeeding mothers. Italy's program supports education and physical care needed …

Exploring Differences In Outcomes For Boys Vs. Girls In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Toddlers: Results From A Community Sample, Reese Norbie

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers (PCIT-T) is an early intervention designed to address behavioral and emotional dysregulation in very young children by strengthening caregiver-child relationships and improving parenting strategies. Although previous research has identified sex differences in childhood behavioral and emotional presentations, little research has examined whether boys and girls differ in outcomes following PCIT-T treatment, especially with it being relatively new. The current study explored demographic differences, protective factors, and treatment outcomes among boys and girls receiving PCIT-T in a United States community sample. Participants included toddlers and caregivers receiving services from trained PCIT-T clinicians across the United States. …

National Security And Farmland Ownership: Livin’ Afida Loca, Jennifer Zwagerman

Buffalo Law Review

The brutal history of conflict over land demonstrates its importance for national security. Farmland in particular is in short supply and has appropriately been designated as “critical infrastructure.” However, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews foreign investment in farmland only if the farmland’s location is close to military or other sensitive sites. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) gathers information on specific types of foreign farmland investment yet is wholly removed from any type of national security review. While it might seem like a ban on foreign investment in farmland is an easy solution …

Suspending The Truancy Paradigm, Barbara Fedders, Lucy Carlson, Max Parker

Buffalo Law Review

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, school absences have skyrocketed. While racially minoritized, disabled, and low-income students have historically been, and remain, most likely to experience absence, white and affluent students’ rates of attendance have also declined. To respond to this new universality of student absenteeism, some policymakers have begun to seek alternatives to what we term “the truancy paradigm.”

We define the truancy paradigm as the range of coercive and often punitive interventions deployed by states and school districts to enforce compulsory attendance statutes. This paradigm, we argue, wrongly assumes (a) that strict enforcement of compulsory attendance laws …

Presumed Guilt: Epistemic Closure In Pregnancy Prosecutions, M. Eve Hanan

Buffalo Law Review

Criminal law and reproductive justice scholars are calling attention to the increase in prosecutions for pregnancy outcomes in the United States. Trace amounts of controlled substances in newborns are prosecuted as child abuse. Miscarriages are prosecuted as illegal abortions or homicides. This area of criminal law existed side-by-side with Roe v. Wade for late-term pregnancy outcomes. The Dobbs decision has further emboldened these prosecutions by removing the protections of the Due Process Clause from the pre-viability phase of the pregnancy.

Using a case study of a woman who was pressured to plead guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to eight years …

Exercise As A Treatment For Depression And Anxiety Symptoms In College Students, Ashley J. Fountain

ATU Honors Projects

Anxiety and depression have become increasingly prevalent among college students, with rates rising to levels that demand urgent and accessible treatment alternatives. Traditional interventions such as psychotherapy and pharmacological treatments, while effective for many, present limitations including high cost, side effects, and barriers to access. This paper examines exercise as a holistic, evidence-based treatment modality for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in college students. Recent research demonstrates that aerobic exercise, resistance training, and yoga each produce meaningful physiological and psychological benefits through mechanisms involving neurotransmitter regulation, reduced cortisol levels, and enhanced self-esteem. Studies comparing exercise with antidepressant medications show …

Incidence And Management Of Adverse Events Associated With Tebentafusp Treatment In Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Pooled Safety Analysis Of 410 Patients, Takami Sato, Marcus O. Butler, Sophie Piperno-Neumann, Jessica C. Hassel, Paul Nathan, Alexander N. Shoushtari, Piotr Rutkowski, Richard D. Carvajal, Jean-Francois Baurain, Max Schlaak, Josep M. Piulats, Ryan J. Sullivan, Sebastian Ochsenreither, Reinhard Dummer, John M. Kirkwood, Alexandra Ikeguchi, Anthony M. Joshua, Mark R. Middleton, Ramakrishna Edukulla, Constance Pfeiffer, Joseph J. Sacco

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

PURPOSE: We conducted an integrated safety analysis from three clinical studies of tebentafusp, a first-in-class ImmTAC bispecific T-cell engager, which can redirect T cells to target glycoprotein 100-positive cells, in metastatic uveal melanoma.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: HLA-A*02:01-positive patients with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma enrolled in three clinical trials (IMCgp100-01, IMCgp100-102, and IMCgp100-202) who received ≥1 dose of tebentafusp were included. Safety data were pooled to evaluate the profile, onset, and management of treatment-related adverse events (TRAE). Adverse events of special interest included cytokine release syndrome (CRS), acute skin reactions (ASR), and liver function test elevations. Primary prophylaxis with medications was …

Effects Of Maternal Overnutrition And Metabolic Challenge In Adult Life On The Histological Integrity Of The Liver And Intestinal Epithelium In Rabbits, Lucía Carolina Cano, Erika Navarrete, Pedro Medina, Juan Pablo Ochoa-Romo, Georgina Díaz, Rodrigo Montúfar-Chaveznava, Rosa María Vigueras-Villaseñor, Ivette Caldelas

Artículos científicos

Introduction: Maternal overnutrition during critical stages of embryonic development has been implicated as a major determinant of developmental and metabolic disturbances in offspring. Current data concerning how perinatal exposure to high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets, followed by re-exposure in adulthood (metabolic challenge), affects the metabolic regulation and structural integrity of the liver and small intestine, key organs of the gut–liver axis (GLA), are limited. Methods: Female rabbits were fed either a standard diet (SD) or a high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD) before mating and during gestation. The offspring on postnatal day 440 were challenged with an HFCD or SD for 30 …

Modelling The Balance Axiom In Flow Theory: A Physiological And Computational Approach In Steam Education, David Antonio Rosas, Natalia Padilla-Zea, Daniel Burgos

Artículos científicos

This paper addresses the axiom of balance in Flow Theory from a physiological-and-groupbased approach by a quasi-experimental study using mixed methods across two action– research cycles, each divided into pre-test, intervention, and post-test phases. The study involved 56 students in two control and two experimental groups attending robotics and design STEAM courses in natural settings, wearing Polar H10 bands. Each group participated in nine one-hour sessions, with the same instructor. While flow in control groups was measured with intuition-based teacher actions, in experimental groups the teacher received support from a synchronous physiological flow advisory system. Data from these groups were …

Leveling The Playing Field? Exploring The Moral Ambiguity Of The Private Attorney General Model, Nathan Heastie

Washington and Lee Law Review Online

Johnson & Johnson’s market cap is twice the GDP of Oklahoma. So, when Oklahoma hauled Johnson & Johnson and other behemoth pharmaceutical companies into state court for their participation in the opioid epidemic, Big Pharma’s resources created a David v. Goliath situation. Against all odds, Oklahoma stood toe-to-toe with Big Pharma and brought home more than $650 million in settlement funds.

Oklahoma’s success would be otherwise impossible without the assistance of three private law firms serving the role of “private attorneys general.” The State signed contingency fee arrangements with the firms, transferring the financial burden of litigation from the State …

Issue 477 December 2025, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

Featured Articles: "Proud Larry’s Owners Support Southern Culture."; "Families Anonymous Established in Water Valley."; "The View From The Balcony: The Worst Christmas Ever."

A Study Of Configuration Management Database (Cmdb) Adoption In It Service Management (Itsm) Implementations Within Nj Community Colleges, Fredrick Dande

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the adoption of Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs) in IT Service Management (ITSM) implementations within New Jersey (NJ) community colleges. Despite the well-documented benefits of CMDBs—such as faster issue resolution, improved compliance, and greater visibility across IT infrastructures—implementation success rates remain low. As technology continues to enhance production capabilities and expand access to information, the need for centralized configuration visibility has become critical. A CMDB provides a single system of record for IT assets and services, helping organizations manage outages, assess changes, maintain compliance, and improve asset tracking. This research used an online survey to collect data from …

The Essence Of Black Parenthood Amid Juvenile Justice Contact: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Through Historical Trauma And Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, Dana M. Wallace

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Traditional psychology was created by defining adaptive and maladaptive behaviors based on Eurocentric cultural norms. As a result, much of the research within the African American family utilizing Eurocentric ideologies and typologies has contributed to themes of inferiority and deficit-deficiency. This study attempts to move away from a deficit-deficiency model that assumes that because of the historical mistreatment of African American adults in this country, African American parents have developed competency deficits in areas necessary for the rearing/socialization process. In centering the African-ness of the Black family and utilizing Historical Trauma theory and Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome as contextual lenses, the …