Digital Commons Network^™

Deep Learning In Fetal, Infant, And Toddler Neuroimaging Research, Jenna H Chin, Madeleine K Wyburd, Vladislav Ayzenberg, Laurie Bayet, Berkin Bilgic, Emily M Chen, Yuting Chen, Áine Dineen, Shohei Fujita, Janelle Liu, Yohan Jun, M Catalina Camacho, Lilla Zöllei

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into everyday tasks and work environments. However, its adoption in medical image analysis has progressed more slowly due to high clinical stakes, limited availability of labeled data, and substantial variability in imaging protocols and population. These challenges are further pronounced in the field of fetal, infant, and toddler (FIT) neuroimaging, where datasets are especially scarce and subject to large amounts of anatomical variability. However, deep learning (DL), a specific method within machine learning, which is itself a subfield of AI, has emerged as a powerful framework to adapt to the challenges of medical …

Predictors Of Delayed Recovery In Ambulatory Advanced Endoscopic Procedures, Zoilo K Suarez, Alexandria Lenyo, Philip M Frasse, Derek J Platt, Thomas Hollander, Talwinder Nagi, Michael Dedonno, Vladimir Kushnir, Juan Reyes Genere

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of data evaluating patient-related outcomes of advanced or complex endoscopy (ACE) through the post-anesthesia recovery course. Yet, gastrointestinal distress following ACE can occur commonly, and this may impact recovery length of stay and the approach to post-anesthesia care. This study aimed to describe post-procedural symptoms in patients undergoing ACE and identify factors that influence recovery time and course.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of patients who underwent ambulatory ACE. Procedural-related symptoms, recovery time, dismissal rate, and adverse events (AE) were recorded. Factors associated with extended recovery time were analyzed using multiple regression …

Impact Of Self-Reported Anxiety On College Students’ Academic Performance And Physiological Responses, Rita Mitchell

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Going to college may seem like the next obvious step for some graduating high school students, while for other students, it is not part of their plan. Even though some high school students have their college experience planned and are prepared to start this journey, their experience can drastically change. A myriad of problems for the new and upcoming students can arise, with one of those problems being generalized anxiety. High school provides students with structured eight-hour days, lunch breaks, and teachers who make sure they attend class. College, on the other hand, does not provide students with these luxuries. …

Examination Of Heart Rate Response To Performance Errors In Competitive Division Iii Field Hockey, Olivia Muir

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research examines the relationship between heart rate and performance outcomes in competitive DIII field hockey match play. In particular, the research examines the players of the Lynchburg Field Hockey Team, with a focus on player errors. Real-time heart rate data were collected using Beyond PulseTM monitors and synchronized with game footage from the SpiideoTM platform. Player errors were then identified using Spiideo’sTM AI software, and the corresponding heart rate values were recorded, spanning from 3 seconds before and 3 seconds after the player error occurred. The maximum heart rate for each player was also calculated using the equation: HRmax …

Assessing Aesthetic Responsiveness Among Patients In A Free Clinic Setting, Jack E. Pitts

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Art therapy has been increasingly recognized as a complementary intervention in healthcare settings, with demonstrated benefits for stress reduction and overall biopsychosocial well-being (Liu 2022; Magsamen, 2014). However, limited research has explored aesthetic engagement within medically underserved and economically disadvantaged populations. This study uses the Aesthetic Responsiveness Assessment to examine the relationship between art and patients receiving care at the Central Virginia Free Clinic in Lynchburg. The survey consists of 14 Likert-scale questions assessing individuals’ cumulative aptitude across three domains: aesthetic appreciation, intense aesthetic experience, and creative behavior. There was an additional 15th qualitative question that assessed the desire for …

Natural Convection Of Cuo-Water Nanofluid Flow Along A Vertical Plate With Variable Thermophysical Properties And Discrete Heat Sources, Nepal Roy, Ioan Pop, Rama Subba Reddy Gorla

Faculty Publications

Effects of discrete heat sources along a vertical plate are of practical importance due their occurrence in electronic devices. For growing demand of electronic appliances and their advancement, cooling processes of them must be improved. As usual fluids have limited heat transfer, nanofluids made by dispersing nanoparticles into them are utilized to enhance thermal performance. However, flow characteristics and heat transfer of a nanofluid for discrete heat sources along a vertical plate need to be explored. For this reason, this study analyzes the natural convective heat transfer and flow behaviors of CuO-water nanofluid induced by discrete heat sources along a …

Radiation Protection Factor Research: The Keystone For Conventional-Nuclear Integration (Cni), Andrew W. Decker

Faculty Publications

This article briefly describes Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) vehicle Radiation Protection Factor (RPF) research and explains its critical role in enabling future Operations in a Nuclear Environment (ONE) and Conventional-Nuclear Integration (CNI) on behalf of the US Department of War (DoW).1 As such, the background and practical utility of RPF values is discussed, as well as the justification for renewed Army and DoW investment into RPF research to enhance Joint military planning, survivability, and lethality on tomorrow’s nuclear battlefields. Advances in DTRA RPF research directly strengthen US strategic and extended deterrence efforts and support all Agencies and Departments responsible …

Transcending Shelves And Seashells With The Writing Of Gloria E. Anzaldúa, Dr. Inmaculada Lara-Bonilla

LAII Events

Dr. Lara-Bonilla explores how Gloria E. Anzaldúa understood writing as an embodied, transformative practice that dissolves boundaries between the physical, the intellectual, and the spiritual. Drawing on her archival and posthumous work, it reflects on how her experimental, genre-crossing approach challenges academic conventions and invites new ways of thinking, feeling, and writing. Tracing a long-term engagement with her work, the talk narrates how Anzaldúa’s commitment to preserving lived, “poematic” experience has reshaped Dr. Lara Bonilla’s own scholarly and creative practice, pushing it beyond institutional limits toward more expansive and responsive forms of expression.

The Impact Of Counterfeit Luxury Bags On Brand Value And Consumer Perception, Mckenna Steinau

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

With the rise of technology and innovation in the 21st century, the luxury market, more specifically the luxury handbag market, is shifting due to a rise of counterfeit products. These counterfeits are no longer cheap knockoffs that are simple to tell they are fake, but rather are high quality “superfakes”. Superfakes give consumers access to the luxury appearance and persona without the full cost, which is where the appeal lies. This challenges leaders of the luxury handbag market, such as Chanel, Gucci, and Goyard, as it negatively affects their exclusivity, authenticity, and brand value. Since resale and counterfeits blur the …

A Word From The Writing Team (April 2026), Pam Walter, Mfa, Laura Deloretta, Phd

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Prioritising Follow-Up For People With Suspected Epilepsy Using A Digital Eeg Biomarker, Rohit Shankar, John Terry

Peninsula Medical School

Lengthy waits for follow-up testing are common for people with suspected epilepsy. This delays diagnosis, prolongs uncertainty and increases seizure risk. Initial EEGs are frequently inconclusive, yet follow-ups are often dictated by referral date, and there is no established method for risk-based prioritisation. Here, we tested whether an established digital EEG biomarker could help prioritise those most likely to have epilepsy for expedited follow-up EEG testing. We analysed 196 normal non-contributory (non-diagnostic) initial EEGs collected from six National Health Service (NHS) sites in England. From these recordings, we extracted eight previously validated computational features that quantify the likelihood that the …

Partisan Differences In Risk-Taking In A Simulated Pandemic, Jan K. Woike, Sebastian Hafenbrädl, Patricia Kanngiesser, Ralph Hertwig

School of Psychology

Responses to COVID-19 in the United States were split along partisan political lines throughout the pandemic. People on the political left tended to take the medical threat more seriously and were more likely to adopt preventive health behaviors than those on the political right, resulting in clear differences in state-level policies and health consequences. Here, we examine the origins of these differences, investigating whether they are based on interindividual differences or in party dynamics. Two groups of participants (N=819), who had voted either for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in 2016, played the Transmission Game. Players made repeated decisions in …

Evidence Base To Inform Health Service Configuration For Abortion Provision: The Sacha (Shaping Abortion For Change) Multi-Component Study, Kaye Wellings, Rebecca S. French, Annette Aronsson, Paula Baraitser, Sharon Cameron, Caroline Free, Louise Keogh, Maria Lewandowska, Patricia Lohr, Rebecca Meiksin, Ona Mccarthy, Clare Murphy, Wendy Norman, Melissa Palmer, Jennifer Reiter, Natasha Salaria, Rachel Scott, Jill Shawe, Sally Sheldon, Geoff Wong

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Significant changes to the nature and context of abortion provision are taking place in the United Kingdom. Empirical evidence is needed to guide efforts to respond to these changes. Objective(s): To provide an evidence base to inform optimal configuration of health services and systems in response to current and future changes in abortion provision in the UK. Design and methods: Observational study comprising five integrated components: (1) a realist review to generate evidence to guide optimal abortion provision and a scoping review of interventions aimed at preparing non-specialist health professionals to provide abortion care and support; (2) country-based case studies identifying transferable …

Conflict As Catalyst: The Role Of Conflict In Creating Political Space For Women, Christie S. Warren

Faculty Publications

Although the benefits associated with the presence of women in political decision-making positions are uncontested, global statistics relating to the number of women in political leadership roles paint a disappointing picture of underutilized resources. While rights-based advocacy, quotas, and economic incentives are commonly posited as effective strategies to increase the number of women active in public spaces, several studies have shown that the law alone is not sufficient to bring about changes in gender norms unless the underlying structural constructs that perpetuate inequalities privileging dominant groups are addressed first. Conflict, especially when driven by rejection of those inequalities, can hasten …

When Birth Control Turns Biliary: A Rare Case Of Profound Hyperbilirubinemia From Oral Contraceptives, Taiwo Ajani, Aura Calderon, Jose J. Loayza Pintado, Nayiri Derian, Catherine Matos, Ivan Mogollon, Andres Suarez Parraga

School of Medicine Publications

Oral contraceptives (OCs) are extensively utilized and generally considered safe (reference); nonetheless, infrequent hepatobiliary complications such as cholestasis and hyperbilirubinemia have been documented, particularly among individuals with a genetic predisposition. We present a case involving a 19-year-old female who exhibited significant conjugated hyperbilirubinemia shortly after the commencement of OC therapy. Comprehensive investigations ruled out alternative causes, and the findings from liver biopsy, in conjunction with the clinical context, indicated an estrogen-induced cholestatic injury, likely revealing an underlying Dubin–Johnson syndrome. This case underscores the critical necessity of acknowledging hepatic adverse effects associated with estrogen as well as the influence of genetic …

Predictors Of Total Hip Arthroplasty Among Patients With Chronic Comorbidities: A Multivariate Analysis Of A Medically Underserved Region, Blake C. Martin, Manoj Peiris

School of Medicine Publications

Background

THA is a common orthopedic procedure that is expected to increase in the coming years. Obesity and osteoarthritis are major factors that increase the risk of individuals requiring THA. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a distinctive health professional shortage area with high rates of obesity, arthritis, and diabetes. This study aims to examine the relationship between chronic medical conditions and the need for THA in this at-risk, medically underserved population.

Methods

This investigation employed a retrospective chart review encompassing patient records from January 1, 2018, through January 1, 2025, using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley electronic …

Trends In Meningioma-Related Mortality Among U.S. Adults: A Cdc Wonder Analysis From 2000 To 2023, Tirath Patel, Rai Muhammad Umar Khan, Fatima Hussain, Meer Murtaza, Muhammad Shayan Tariq, Abuzar Khan, Sara Aleem, Maryam Athar, Sharoz Shahid, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors in the United States, comprising nearly 41% of central nervous system tumors. While the majority are benign, atypical (World Health Organization Grade II) and malignant (Grade III) subtypes are clinically significant due to their aggressive biology, higher recurrence, and increased mortality risk. Despite their burden, national mortality trends and demographic disparities in meningioma-related deaths remain underexplored.

Methods: We conducted a population-based analysis of meningioma-related mortality among U.S. adults aged ≥65 years from 1999 to 2023 using the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (WONDER) …

Platelet Rich Plasma Injection Treatment Outcomes In Patellar Tendinopathy, Hunter M. Butler, Aamir Ahmad

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) refers to the processed product of autologous peripheral blood with a concentration of platelets higher than baseline. This product has garnered interest for 30 years as a potential method of regenerative medicine. PRP injections have shown to be an effective treatment for patellar tendinopathy. However, some concerns remain with regards to empiric treatment of tendinopathy with PRP injections.

Objective: This article aims to investigate the outcomes of platelet rich plasma injections in patients with patellar tendonitis.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) online database. The …

Adultification Of Black Girls, Melanie Thompson

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Core Elements Of Policy Solutions, Audrey Morrissey

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Closing Remarks: Eyes Wide Shut, Sex Trafficking Of Women And Girls In The Black Community, Stephany Powell

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

1st Place Contest Entry: "Examining Experiences Of Search Committee Members For Deans Of Colleges Of The Arts", Connor Bogenreif

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

This is Connor Bogenreif's submission for the 2026 Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Research Prize, which won first place. It contains their essay on using library resources, a summary of their research project on the experiences of search committee members for deans of colleges of the arts, and their bibliography.

Connor is a student in the Ph.D. in Education program at Chapman University. Their faculty mentor is Dr. Doug Havard.

3rd Place Contest Entry: "Examining Physicians’ Behaviors Regarding Buprenorphine Prescribing For Opioid Use Disorder", Khashayar Eshtiaghi

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

This is Khashayar Eshtiaghi's submission for the 2026 Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Research Prize, which won third place. It contains their essay on using library resources, a summary of their research project on physicians' behaviors regarding buprenorphine prescribing for opioid use disorde, and their bibliography.

Khashayar is a student in the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy program at Chapman University. Their faculty mentor is Dr. Marc Fleming.

Short-Term Electricity Price Forecasting With Constrained Regressors, Mucun Sun, Li Zhang, Yifeng Gao

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The volatility of electricity price presents a challenge to market participants as their decision-making process are highly depend on the accuracy of price forecasts. However, there is growing empirical evidence of increasing price volatility and price spikes in electricity markets as a result of variable renewable energy generation, extreme weather events, and other factors. The distribution shift caused by spikes in electricity price data differentiates the forecasting tasks from other renewable energy sources. Moreover, the observations may be compromised by cyberattacks and thus not available in the testing phase. To this end, we propose a Similarity-Enhanced Electricity Decomposition Forecasting model …

Relational Victimization And Student Dropout Intentions: Examining The Impact Of Trauma And The Buffering Role Of Friend Support, Makaila Belk

Honors Theses

Universities prioritize strategies that improve student success, with graduation rates serving as a key indicator of institutional effectiveness (Kinzie & Kuh, 2017; York et al., 2015). Considering this, we examined peer relational victimization, an interpersonal stressor involving exclusion and reputational harm (Casper et al., 2020; You & Bellmore, 2012), as a predictor of dropout intention. Using archival data collected from undergraduate volunteers recruited from the University of Southern Mississippi (N = 291), we tested a moderated mediation model. We predicted that trauma-like symptoms would partially mediate the relationship between peer relational victimization and dropout intention and that perceived social …

Algorithm Performance In The Search For Hamiltonian Cycles, Chance Davis

Honors Theses

The Hamiltonian cycle problem is ubiquitous in both computer science and graph theory: Given a connected graph, a solution would either confirm the existence of a cycle which visits each vertex only once or its nonexistence. The importance of this problem, as well as its difficulty, is described in the Clay Mathematics Institute’s Millenium Prize Problems and Karp’s 21 NP-complete problems. Despite its “hardness,” solutions to the Hamiltonian cycle problem are desired in logistics, electronic circuit design, and network routing, among other fields. In this work, we benchmark a promising exhaustive enumeration algorithm on various graphs, including ones derived from …

Variable Hybridization Rates Between F2 Fundulus Notatus Females, Jordan Tanaka

Honors Theses

Hybridization between two related species has been widely observed and offers a lens into complex evolutionary processes. Endogenous and exogenous factors affect hybrid fitness and diversification, and pre-zygotic and post-zygotic barriers affect species’ ability to hybridize. Female mate choice is a pre-zygotic isolation mechanism which is known to be more significant than male mate choice in many species, a trend which is linked to females often investing more energy into offspring. Detailing the ways in which these mechanisms operate is integral to understanding hybridization on a larger scale. The species examined here, Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceous, are closely …

Rethinking News Classification Through A Multi-Dimensional Framework, Luana De Jesus Ferreira

Honors Theses

This thesis proposes a multi-dimensional framework for news classification that evaluates articles across three independent dimensions: headline accuracy, language neutrality, and content reliability. These dimensions produce both a continuous reliability score and a five-tier interpretive scale, while additionally classifying articles by genre and topic. To operationalize this framework, a structured annotation protocol was developed and applied to a dataset of 373 news articles drawn from 79 outlets spanning a wide range of contemporary media ecosystem. A binary Logistic Regression classifier trained on the ISOT Fake News Dataset was then evaluated against this dataset to examine how a model trained on …

Analyzing Antibody Immune Response In Α1,3galt-Ko Mice After Intranasal Vaccination Of Α-Gal Virus-Like Particle, Faith Brown

Honors Theses

In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of intranasal immunization with α-Gal-conjugated virus-like particles (VLPs) in an α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout (α1,3GalT-KO) mouse model that mimics the human immune response to the α-Gal epitope. The carbohydrate epitope galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) is expressed on the cell surface of several pathogens, including Leishmania species. This molecule is absent in humans and has emerged as a promising immunogenic vaccine target. α1,3GalT-KO mice were intranasally immunized with 10 μg either Qβ-α-Gal or Qβ per nostril and boosted twice prior to sample collection. Blood and lung lavage samples were used to evaluate the antibody response. The Qβ-α-Gal group developed …

Properties Design For George C. Wolfe’S The Colored Museum, Giavanna Vainisi

Honors Theses

This thesis details the properties design process for the University of Southern Mississippi’s Fall 2025 production of George C. Wolfe’s The Colored Museum. Through analysis of the script, research into the subject matter and playwright, and collaboration with the artistic team, this student designed and constructed effective properties for this production.