Digital Commons Network^™

A Guide To Breaking Seed Dormancy Of Common Wetland Plant Species, Samantha R. Kurkowski, Rae Robinson, Sandra E. Johnston, Montana M. Horchler, Adrienne E. Ernst, Margaret D. Haney, Karin M. Kettenring

All Current Publications

This guide was developed from a series of seed dormancy break and germination experiments conducted over 4 years with 41 species. The purpose of this guide is to synthesize the information we learned through these experiments and present the findings for those interested in breaking seed dormancy, such as land managers, restoration practitioners, and wetland researchers. Ultimately, we hope this guidance catalyzes further wetland restoration throughout the Intermountain West.

China’S Revised Arbitration Law, Jillian Farrell

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

Historically, China has been an undesirable venue for arbitration amongst foreign parties. Chinese arbitration institutions had been quasi-governmental, creating concerns about institutional bias and the perception that Chinese arbitrators exercised “ambiguous flexibility” in their decision-making. Chinese courts also had a reputation for not enforcing arbitration awards. Although there has not been empirical data to suggest that Chinese Arbitration proceedings are always biased, the provisions of China’s Arbitration Law itself alongside individual’s experiences painted Chinese Arbitration as unfair and unenforceable.

The print edition of the issue has also been released. This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Conflict …

Higher Education Cybersecurity: A Vulnerability Assessment Of The U.S. South’S Institutional Websites, Zachary W. Taylor, Vivi Vo

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As technology continues to advance, it is critical to understand how higher education institutions protect digital information of their stakeholders including students, faculty, and staff through cybersecurity measures. Although conceptual research has articulated various aspects of cybersecurity, no empirical research has explored the cybersecurity of higher education (.edu) websites through a vulnerability scan of these websites via an open PortScan and analysis. To fill a critical gap in the literature, this study conducted a vulnerability scan and open PortScan and analysis of all higher education websites in three of the lowest-income states in the United States: Louisiana (n=112), Mississippi (n=52), …

Messages And Misogyny: A Creative Intervention Portraying The Embodied Experiences Of Internalized Misogyny, Margaret Janse Van Rensburg

Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Understanding Film Tax Credits In Nevada And Nationally, Michael J. Brown, David F. Damore, William E. Brown Jr.

Policy Briefs and Reports

This policy primer provides an overview of Nevada’s transferable tax credit program for film and other productions and reviews articles, reports, audits, and studies of film tax credits as a tool for economic development in the United States. This review considers a significant body of work analyzing the use of film tax credits in support of economic development. Studies and state audits often show that because film tax credits do not create the number and quality of full-time jobs necessary to merit their costs and do little to stimulate other related industries, they are a poor financial choice for state …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Evaluation Of A Brief Intervention To Enhance Trauma-Informed Attitudes Among Educators And School Mental Health Counselors, Cheri Shapiro, Courtnie Collins, Kara Foster-Lee, Tristan Collier

Publications

In-service training efforts to support trauma-informed and trauma-responsive practices in school and mental health settings have proliferated in recent years. Despite these efforts, a limited number of measurement instruments with known psychometric properties exist to evaluate the impact of professional training efforts on attitudes toward trauma-informed care.  One exception is the ARTIC Scale, developed to assess attitudes related to trauma-informed care among both educators and human services professionals.  Using the ARTIC-35, this pilot, pre-post, single group study examined changes in trauma-informed care attitudes among a sample of elementary school educators and school mental health counselors who underwent a brief training …

Exploring Definitions And Frameworks Of Information Diplomacy: A Scoping Review Protocol, Bethany S. Mcgowan, Tuomas Harviainen

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Information diplomacy is an emerging concept that bridges information science, public diplomacy, and global communication. Although increasingly cited in scholarly and policy discourse, the term lacks definitional clarity and theoretical consensus. A systematic mapping of its explicit usage across disciplines is needed to support conceptual coherence and guide future applications.

This scoping review aims to identify, analyze, and synthesize existing definitions, frameworks, and applications of the term information diplomacy in scholarly and gray literature. The review will explore how the concept has been articulated across domains such as international relations, information policy, and communication, focusing exclusively on sources that explicitly …

Defect-Driven Degradation Of Mxenes In Aqueous Environments And Mitigation Strategies: Insights From First-Principles, Ana Maria Stratulat, Valentina Nesterova, Vladislav Korostelev, Majid Beidaghi, Vadym Mochalin, Konstantin Klyukin

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

MXenes have attracted considerable attention due to their tunable surface chemistry, high electrical conductivity, and ease of solution processing, making them promising candidates for a wide array of applications. The inherent tendency of MXenes to degrade under environmental conditions constrains their compositional diversity and limits certain practical applications. Our computational study shows that degradation of defect-free Ti₃C₂Txis kinetically limited, whereas common defects markedly lower the activation barriers for water attack. Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations (AIMD) combined with thermodynamic analysis, we show that titanium vacancies VTiact as active sites for the protonation of subsurface carbon …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes (10/28/2025), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

Ameliorating Effect Of Haematococcus Pluvialis Powder On Lps-Induced Barrier Damage In Hok Cells, Xie Jinmei, Chen Cailian, Zhang Yong, Zheng Yunjian, Xie Xi

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the protective effect of Haematococcus pluvialis (H.pluvialis) powder on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oral epithelial damage. [Methods] The effects of different doses of H.pluvialis on the viability of human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) were assessed. In LPS-induced HOKs, changes in the tight junction-associated proteins ZO-1 and Occludin, mitochondrial morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial superoxide (MitoSOX), and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) were evaluated. [Results] Compared with the LPS model group, high-dose H.pluvialis significantly upregulated the expression levels of Occludin and ZO-1 to 151.56% and 170.52%, respectively (P < 0.05), and promoted their membrane localization. In addition, H.pluvialis markedly improved LPS-induced excessive ROS and MitoSOX production, the reduction in MMP, and the increase in MPTP in HOKs. [Conclusion] H.pluvialis may alleviate LPS-induced barrier damage in HOKs by improving mitochondrial dysfunction and reducing oxidative stress, suggesting its potential as a functional food for oral mucosal barrier repair.

Extraction And Antioxidant Activity Evaluation Of Functional Peptides In Hongjun Tofu, Feng Yueqing, Xia Min, Lin Xiaoyu, Liang Tingyu, Liu Guo, Qiu Yuanxin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the properties of functional peptides in Hongjun Tofu. [Methods] Functional peptides were extracted from Hongjun Tofu by ultrasound-assisted water extraction. The crude peptide content was used as the evaluation index to investigate the effects of extraction time, pH, extraction temperature, and solid-liquid ratio on peptide extraction. Single-factor and orthogonal experiments were designed to optimize the extraction process, and the antioxidant activity of the obtained functional peptides was evaluated. [Results] The optimal extraction conditions were 35 minutes extraction time, 55 ℃ extraction temperature, pH 11, and a solid-liquid ratio of 1∶40 (g/mL). Under these conditions, the crude peptide …

Research Progress On Active Ingredients And Functions Of Hericium Erinaceus, Wang Kaixuan, Lin Junfang, Guo Liqiong, Zhou Fenglong, Wang Na, Zhong Jingru

Food and Machinery

Hericium erinaceus has a long history in China as a medicinal and edible fungus. With delicious tastes, it also contains various active ingredients. In the current era of increasing emphasis on dietary health, Hericium erinaceus can be an ideal choice for a balanced diet. Based on previous research, this paper comprehensively summarizes the active ingredients contained in Hericium erinaceus, including terpenes, ketones, ergothioneine, and polysaccharides. The specific types and different active functions of corresponding ingredients are elaborated, while the prospect is also given on the future development of active ingredients.

Strategies For Expressing Chinese Patriotic Sentiment In National Brand Food Packaging : A Case Study Of Wahaha Brand, Huang Shujie, Huang Jun

Food and Machinery

The article begins by interpreting the essence of patriotic sentiment as a sense of community with a shared destiny, which can be shaped into perceptible expressions through rich design elements. By introducing the theories of collective unconsciousness and brand archetype, it deduces a three-dimensional expression path for the brand archetype of patriotic sentiment in food packaging design from three dimensions of symbol, function, and narrative. Through a systematic analysis of Wahaha's food packaging, the study verifies how the expression strategies of symbol triggering, function empowerment, and narrative construction activate and materialize the brand archetype. It points out that national brands …

Adherence To Integrative Care, Oncology Healthcare Utilization, Opioid Use And Hospitalization, Eran Ben-Arye, Dan Greenberg, Noah Samuels, Ana Maria Lopez, Tzahit Simon-Tuval

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Research on the relationship between integrative oncology (IO) programs and dispensing of chemotherapy agents and supportive care drugs, and hospitalization rates is limited. The present study examined these outcomes in chemotherapy-treated patients with cancer, comparing patients highly adherent to integrative care (high-AIC) to those with low adherence (low-AIC). Data from patients with cancer treated with taxane and/or platinum-based agents participating in an ongoing prospective, controlled pragmatic trial were examined retrospectively. Patients were referred to an IO consultation and weekly treatments at 3 medical centers in Northern Israel, with high-AIC defined as attending ≥4 sessions at 6 weeks; low-AIC, 0-3 sessions. …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Microplastic Pollution In Marine Ecosystems: Sources, Impacts, Andstakeholder-Based Solutions, Seren Acarer Arat

Turkish Journal of Biology

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles of anthropogenic origin with a size range of 1–5000 μm. Marine MP pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant global environmental challenge. MPs, which enter marine ecosystems from land- and marine-based sources, pose physical, chemical, and biological risks due to the adsorption of various pollutants and the formation of biofilm layers. MPs are found in various organisms from lower to higher trophic levels of the marine food web. The negative effects of MPs on marine organisms depend on their abundance, their characteristics, and the exposure time of organisms to MPs. MPs can adversely affect various …

Application Of Biological And Green Nanomaterials In Wastewater Treatment: Techniques For The Effective Removal Of Dyes, Heavy Metals, And Organic Pollutants, Emi̇ne Sena Kazan Kaya, Zeynep Ci̇ğeroğlu, Tansel Kemerli̇ Kalbaran, Başak Temur Ergan, Zeynep Mi̇ne Şenol, Meral Yildirim Yalçin

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Wastewater from industrial, agricultural, and residential sources poses significant environmental and public health risks due to the presence of dyes, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. Conventional treatment methods are often inadequate for the complete removal of these pollutants. Therefore, the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient treatment techniques has become increasingly important. The aim of this review is to evaluate the application of biological and green nanomaterials in wastewater treatment and to compare their effectiveness against different types of pollutants (dyes, heavy metals, and organics).

Materials and methods: This review provides detailed information on the removal of …

A Review Of Deep Learning Architectures For Plant Disease Detection​, Yasi̇n Kaya, Ercan Gürsoy

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The rapid advancement of deep learning (DL) has revolutionized plant disease detection by enabling highly accurate, image-based diagnostic solutions. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of DL-based methodologies for plant disease detection, systematically structured around the key stages of the modeling pipeline, encompassing data acquisition, preprocessing, augmentation, classification, detection, segmentation, and deployment.

Materials and methods: The review focuses on evaluating convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures such as VGG, ResNet, EfficientNet, and DenseNet across diverse experimental contexts. Classification strategies are categorized according to their integration of visualization techniques (e.g., saliency maps, Grad-CAM) to enhance model interpretability, emphasizing the pivotal role …

Green Carbon Dots In The Era Of Ai: Sustainable Synthesis, Intelligent Drug Delivery, Advanced Diagnostics, And Bioimaging, Emi̇ne Sezer, Fulden Ulucan Karnak, Si̇nan Akgöl

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Green carbon dots (GCDs) are a rapidly developing class of nanomaterials that are revolutionizing various scientific disciplines due to their unique optical properties, low toxicity, and sustainable synthesis. This review offers a comprehensive roadmap for the field, emphasizing the synergy between GCDs and artificial intelligence (AI).

Materials and methods: We begin by detailing the sustainable synthesis of GCDs, highlighting green chemistry principles and the transformative role of AI in optimizing their production. Subsequently, we explore the critical characterization of GCDs, including their structural, optical, and biocompatibility assessment. The core of this study explores the diverse biomedical applications of GCDs, …

Applications Of Transfer Learning In Sunflower Disease Detection: Advances, Challenges, And Future Directions, Yonis Gulzar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a crop of high economic and nutritional importance that continues to suffer significant yield losses due to foliar diseases. Traditional image-based and laboratory detection techniques remain limited by subjectivity, cost, and scalability. Transfer learning (TL) has recently emerged as an effective approach to overcoming these challenges involving the reuse of pretrained deep models for plant pathology tasks. Presented here is a systematic examination of recent TL-based studies on sunflower disease classification to identify prevailing trends, research gaps, and future opportunities.

Materials and methods: A structured Scopus query was employed to retrieve peer-reviewed articles published between …

Principles Of Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture For Building Resilient And Resource-Efficient Food Systems, Ramazan Çakmakçi, Songül Çakmakçi, Muhammet Fati̇h Çakmakçi

Turkish Journal of Biology

As the demand for greater quantities of higher-quality food grows with population expansion, climate change, urbanization, and unsustainable agricultural practices accelerate the loss of arable land, ultimately threatening agricultural sustainability. Population growth necessitates a transition to nutritious, safe, and healthy food production systems that ensure higher yields, less reduced waste, improved social outcomes, and the integration of economic, social, and environmental sustainability principles. Urgent global challenges such as resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and climate change necessitate the protection of ecosystems and the sustainable use of natural resources. Agricultural systems must enhance food production and supply productivity, strengthen system resilience, and …

Artificial Intelligence In Medical And Biological Research: Promise And Perils Of Chatgpt And Deepseek In Advancing Healthcare, Mahmut Enes Kayaalp, Onur Gülteki̇n, Serhat Akçaalan, Hami̇t Çağlayan Kahraman, Hüseyi̇n Nevzat Topçu, Gülşah Kavrul Kayaalp

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, is being increasingly applied in clinical care, research, and education. The aim of this review is to examine how these tools may transform the conduct of medical and biological research and to define their limitations.

Materials and methods: A narrative synthesis of the literature was performed, encompassing studies published between 2020 and 2025. Peer-reviewed journals, systematic reviews, and high-impact original research articles were included to ensure an evidence-based overview. The principle applications, validation metrics, and clinical implications across orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, internal medicine, and the biological …

A Systematic Review Of Machine Learning In Heart Disease Prediction, Tathagat Banerjee, İshak Paçal

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of global mortality, prompting the need for advanced predictive tools. While machine learning (ML) offers a powerful solution, there are significant challenges to clinical translation. This systematic review synthesizes the current state of ML in heart disease prediction, evaluating algorithmic performance, data utilization, and key translational challenges.

Materials and methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of literature published up to 2025 was conducted. From an initial pool of over 2500 records, a rigorous screening process yielded 65 studies for in-depth qualitative synthesis.

Results: Analysis showed that ensemble learning models dominate prediction …

Flavonoids And Phenolic Compounds: A Promising Avenue For Neurodegenerative Disease Therapy, Tesli̇me Özge Şahi̇n, Özge Cemali̇, Merve Özdemi̇r, Şeri̇fe Ayten, Duygu Ağagündüz

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and ALS are characterized by a progressive loss of nerve cells, for which no definitive cure currently exists. These conditions share common pathological mechanisms, including chronic neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Flavonoids and other plant-derived phenolic compounds have recently attracted attention for the treatment of such conditions due to their antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. This review explores the neuroprotective mechanisms of flavonoids and evaluates their potential for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Materials and methods: A literature search of the Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases …

Hsa_Circ_0001776 Regulates The Progression Of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Through The Mir-1269b/Pten Axis, Yaoyao Wang, Xiancong Yang, Simin Rong, Xiaoxu Lan, Chenhui Ti, Weimiao Sun, Baohui Yin, Youjie Li, Yunxiao Sun

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant neoplasm arising from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. It is a common subtype of childhood leukemia and remains challenging to cure. Emerging evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of noncoding RNAs, play key regulatory roles in tumor biology. Among their various functions, circRNAs often act as ‘sponges’ for microRNAs (miRNAs), modulating gene expression posttranscriptionally. This study investigates the functional role and clinical relevance of hsa_circ_0001776 in AML.

Materials and methods: Three AML cell lines and 22 peripheral blood samples were analyzed. Differential expression analysis of circRNAs in a GSE dataset …

Royal Jelly With Ellagic Acid Inhibits The Glycolytic Pathway And Induces Apoptosis Through Multiple Pathways In Colorectal Cancer, Tuğba Kul Köprülü

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Developing novel chemotherapeutics with high anticancer efficacy and low toxicity remains a critical challenge in oncology. Natural products have shown promise due to their multitargeted activity and favorable safety profiles. The present study investigates the combined anticancer effects of royal jelly (RJ) and ellagic acid (EA), two potent antioxidants of animal and plant origin.

Materials and methods: Royal jelly (RJ) and ellagic acid (EA) were applied to HT29 (ATCC HTB-38, Human colorectal adenocarcinoma), HCT116 (ATCC CCL-247, Human colorectal carcinoma) and BEAS-2B (ATCC CRL-3588, human bronchial epithelium) cell lines, and their antiproliferative effects were evaluated using a xCELLigence Real-Time Cell …

Differential Modulation Of Cisplatin Efficacy By Montelukast Sodium And Desloratadine In Lung Cancer, Seha Akduman, Büşra Yüksel, Di̇dem Teci̇mel, Ömer Faruk Bayrak, Di̇dem Seven, Fi̇kretti̇n Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Despite advances in treatment, achieving effective and durable responses with chemotherapy remains a significant challenge in lung cancer management. This study investigates the effects of montelukast sodium (MLS) and desloratadine (DES), alone and in combination with cisplatin (CIS), on cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and antioxidant gene expression in A549 and DMS114 lung cancer cell lines.

Materials and methods: Cells were treated with CIS, MLS, DES, and their combinations for 24–72 h. Cell viability was assessed via MTS assay; apoptosis and cell cycle progression were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of antioxidant-related genes (GPX4, GSR, GCLC) was …

Evaluating Sh-Sy5y Cells As A Dopaminergic Neuronal Model: Morphological, Transcriptomic, And Proteomic Insights, Eylül Ece İşlek Camadan, Mehmet Sarihan, Murat Kasap, Gürler Akpinar, Eli̇fcan Koçyi̇ği̇t

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line is a popular in vitro model for neurodegenerative disease research, especially Parkinson’s disease (PD) research, but its use is complicated by limitations like the persistence of neuroblastoma-like features, unstable differentiation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular stress. To address these limitations, this study tested a blended, nine-day differentiation protocol that sequentially applied all-trans retinoic acid (RA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP). By evaluating key neuronal, dopaminergic, and PD-related markers, the research aims to determine if these differentiated SH-SY5Y cells are a suitable model for studying PD.

Materials and methods: A blended …

Tumor-Specific Cytotoxicity Of Pyrazole-Based Chalcone Derivatives In Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines, Mehtap Tuğrak Sakarya, Hali̇se İnci̇ Gül, Hiroshi Sakagami, Junko Nagai, Yoshihiro Uesawa, Kenjiro Bandow

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Pyrazole-based chalcone hybrids are notable in medicinal chemistry for their potential biological activity, although their tumor-specific cytotoxicity and mechanisms remain unknown in OSCC cells. This first study of pyrazole-chalcone hybrids in OSCC cells explores the tumor-selective cytotoxic effects and underlying cell death mechanisms triggered by a series of 10 newly synthesized pyrazole-based compounds (MS1MS10) in OSCC cell lines. Material and methods: The cytotoxic effects of the compounds were assessed using the MTT assay on four human OSCC cell lines and three types of normal human oral cells. The tumor-selectivity index (TS) and potency-selectivity expression (PSE) were calculated, and active …