Digital Commons Network^™

Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein Level Among Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Rezan Hussein, Sherwan Salih

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is diagnosed when free thyroxine (fT4) level is normal and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level is elevated. The prevalence of SCH is 3-15%. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is an adipokine secreted from adipose tissue. It has a role in the regulation of lipid storage, oxidation and lipolysis. Atherogenic indices of plasma are lipid ratios that are used in predicting cardiovascular events. They include atherogenic index of plasma, Castelli’s risk indexes I and II and atherogenic coefficient. Objectives: The study was aimed to evaluate serum A-FABP level among SCH patients compared to a control …

Comparative Study Between Ablative Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Combined With Topical Steroid Versus Topical Steroid In Treatment Of Alopecia Areata, Sara Mohsen, Husam Salman

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Alopecia areata is a common disease that affects the psychological well-being of the affected individuals. No single treatment option is proved to be effective and safe in its management. Laser-assisted drug delivery is a new method for the management of different dermatological diseases. fractional laser could can act by inducing T cell apoptosis, increasing blood flow and promoting telogen to anagen transitions.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of fractional carbon dioxide laser-assisted topical steroid delivery in the management of alopecia areata.Patients and methods: A total of 20 patients with (108 patches) of alopecia areata with two or more nonadjacent patches …

Pediatric Cochlear Implantation In Otitis Media With Effusion : Surgical Difficulties And Outcomes, Mohammed Zaidan, Yaseen Sakran

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract:Background: Cochlear implantation is the surgical procedure of choice in patients with otitis media with effusion ,which is a common childhood disease, and this procedure may be associated with some surgical difficulties in the presence of such condition.Objectives: To evaluate the surgical difficulties and outcomes in pediatric cochlear implantation in the presence of otitis media with effusion .Patients and methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted in AL- Yarmouk teaching hospital /Baghdad/Iraq during 2022 on a sample of pediatric patients candidates for cochlear implant who divided into 2 groups , normally aerated ear group(A) and persistent Otitis media with effusion group(B) …

Ocular Hypertension And Glaucoma In Vogt Koyanagi Harada Syndrome, Ola Abbas, Faiz Shakarchi

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome is a multisystem disease of autoimmune etiology, affecting melanocyte-containing tissue such as the uvea, ear, skin, and meninges.Objective: is to determine the incidence of glaucoma and ocular hypertension in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome at a referral center in Iraq.Methods: A prospective case series study, included patients diagnosed with Vogt Koyanagi Harada syndrome which was performed at the uveitis clinic in Ibn AL-Haitham teaching eye Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq from April 2021 to February 2022 (10 months). Detailed general and ophthalmic history was obtained and detailed ocular examination including best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and slit lamp …

Vitamin D And Carboxy-Terminal Cross-Linking Telopeptide Of Type-1 Collagen In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome And Their Relation With Hyperandrogenism., Aya Badri, Nazar Haddad

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Key features such as hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, and obesity can affect bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Vitamin D is linked to reproductive health, metabolic changes, and mental well-being in PCOS patients.Objectives: To assess the relationship between vitamin D, CTX (C-Telopeptide of type 1 collagen), and testosterone levels in women with PCOS.Patients and methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 78 women with PCOS and 82 healthy controls. Serum testosterone and vitamin D levels were measured using a COBAS® e411 analyzer, while CTX …

Diagnostic And Predictive Value Of Serum Anti C1q Antibody In A Sample Of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematous, Israa Sukker, Faiq Gorial, Aida Al-Derzi

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

AbstractBackground: Anti C1q antibody is the most studied between antibodies directed against a component of the complement system. AntiC1q antibodies are present in patients with lupus, who often have high clinical disease activity. The aim is to assess Diagnostic and predictive value of serum anti C1q antibody in patients with SLE, to evaluate the correlation between serum anti C1q antibody with sociodemographic and clinical characteristic of SLE patients.Materials and methods: A total of 35 SLE patients and 35 apparently healthy individuals were selected as control group in the current study. Serum level of anti C1q antibody was detected by ELISA …

Herding Cats: Reflections On Designing And Implementing An Interprofessional Education Simulation, Valerie M. Wright, Antony Joseph

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

No abstract provided.

When The Student Becomes The Teacher: Learning-By-Teaching As A Tool For Conservation Career Development, Ana Dixon

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Dixon, A. (2025). When the Student Becomes the Teacher: Learning-by-Teaching as a Tool for Conservation Career Development

This study explored the research question: How do teaching-centered conservation career development programs influence participants’ science identity and self-efficacy? The literature review includes context on STEM and conservation careers, social cognitive career theory, science identity and self-efficacy, and learning-by-teaching. Participants in the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s High School Assistant (HSA) volunteer and conservation education internship programs were given the option to complete pre- and post-surveys surrounding their participation in their respective summer program. These surveys measured individuals’ science identity, science and environmental self-efficacy, …

Costly Compliance: Stipulated Agreements In Oregon’S Nonpayment Eviction Cases, Colleen Carroll, Minji Cho, Lisa K. Bates

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

In Oregon, stipulated agreements are court-enforced agreements that dictate the terms and conditions under which an eviction case can be dismissed. Stipulated agreements are court-enforced agreements that landlords and tenants enter into during the course of the eviction process instead of going to trial. If all the terms of the agreement are not met, the landlord can seek a swift judgment of eviction against the tenant. These types of agreements are often touted as a successful form of post-filing eviction diversion; however, very little is known about the terms and outcomes of these cases.

Attribution As Architecture In The Digital Age, Laura A. Heymann

Faculty Publications

As technology changes, one thing remains constant: human creators seem to care about attribution, whether as creators or as audience members. Current U.S. law lacks the means for many creators to effectively address attributional interests, and experience has shown that top-down, imposed technological solutions can fail to gain the necessary buy-in and adoption. The best approach, examples suggest, is for platforms to think of attribution as part of the architecture of their systems, but to take their cues from user-developed, individualized solutions, which will not only be more responsive to user interests but also allow adaptation as interests change and …

Redefining Law In China, Zeming Liu, Benjamin L. Liebman

Faculty Scholarship

Although there is a growing body of literature on the role of law under authoritarian regimes, scholars have paid little attention to authoritarian legal ideology or conceptions of legality in contemporary authoritarian states. This Article presents the first in-depth study of the Chinese Communist Party’s recent novel attempt to introduce and implement an official legal ideology under the banner of “Xi Jinping’s Thought on the Rule of Law,” one which aims both to create a definitive theory of law and to offer a guide to China’s legal development. We examine four principal components of this legal ideology: the theoretical definition …

Integrating Lived Experience In Preprofessional Training In Speech Pathology And Audiology, Rachel Glade, Saira Hussain, Claire Wilkes, Christine Hunter, Faheema Mahomed-Asmail

Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background Incorporating persons with lived experience (PWLE) has proven effective in supporting preprofessionals in their training by providing authentic insights that foster empathy, compassion and critical thinking. However, limited research exists on its integration into audiology and speech-language pathology courses. This project aimed to determine the benefits of incorporating lived experience engagements into preprofessional audiology and speech-language pathology training.Method Preprofessional students enrolled for a course in adult auditory (re)habilitation and engaged with PWLE during scheduled class sessions. Six PWLE from different countries, each with unique hearing experiences and various hearing technologies, interacted with the students. Students reflected on their experiences …

The Natural Agent Of Change: The Therapeutic Power Of Play To Children Who Have Experienced Aces And Trauma, Jingyu Chen

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Senior Capstone

The power of play lies in its natural expression which children speak. When engaged in safe play, children are allowed to explore, comprehend, connect, and communicate in a developmentally appropriate way without criticism. Yet those who are impacted by ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experience) often find play foreign as they are stuck in survival mode, missing the developmental benefits of safe play. This paper examines the role of play in childhood development, explains the relationship between ACEs, trauma and play, and suggests that play is a natural agent of change that carries therapeutic power. The paper supports play as a medium …

The Church And Child Welfare: Exploring Faith-Based Support For Foster, Kinship, Adoptive, And Biological Families, Elizabeth Deagle

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Senior Capstone

The child welfare system relies on foster, kinship, adoptive, and biological families to provide care, stability, and permanency for vulnerable children. Despite their critical role, these families often face complex challenges, including trauma exposure, placement instability, caregiver burnout, socioeconomic and legal barriers, and limited access to supportive resources. Historically, churches and faith-based organizations have played a significant role in caring for orphaned and vulnerable children. This paper examines the unique contribution of the church and faith-based organizations in strengthening child welfare efforts across three dimensions: (1) biblical and theological foundations for caring for vulnerable children and families, (2) trauma-informed ministry …

Smokejumper Magazine, October 2025, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines

This issue of the National Smokejumper Association (NSA) Smokejumper Magazine, contains the following articles:

Message from the President; Silk Stories; Jumper Turned Forensic Pioneer; Wild Bill’s Hardest Two-Manner; Some Thoughts in Defense of Today’s USFS; Dick Tracy: Best Boss I Ever Had; The Youngest Smokejumper; Pioneer Smokejumping Pilots; The Down-to-Earth Smokejumper and His “Moon Trees”; To the Moon!; Smokejumpers Deserve More; NSA Honors Extraordinary Service at Reunion Banquet; Notes From the Ranks; How Spider Got His Name; A Question of Leadership; Legacy Firefighter Bob Wilken Retires; Three Minutes, Seven Seconds; Smokejumper Takes National Spotlight; Sounding Off; Odds and Ends; The …

Ruthless: The Revolution Of Gangsta Rap, Laci D. Lavoy

Theses

The popularization of gangsta rap in the United States was pivotal to the advancement of Black America following the close of the Civil Rights Movement. The ruthlessness of gangsta rap created a distaste of authority that became a catalyst for Black American unity and change. Artists quickly started writing songs that spoke out against issues plaguing Black and poor Americans, realizing the power of the microphone and the radio. These rappers created an awareness for White audiences that had not been present before and even created a space for White artists with shared experiences. Female rappers took this activism a …

Hiv And Lung Cancer: A Single Cancer Center Experience, Julia Palecki, Matthew Tucker, Andrew Bernstein, Garrett Melby, Tingting Zhan, Ida Micaily

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death in people living with HIV (PLWH) and disproportionately affects this group regardless of CD4 count. At the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC) at Jefferson Health, we treat an underserved PLWH population with LC and aim to study their clinical course, as they are often excluded from LC trials. We retrospectively reviewed 36 PLWH diagnosed with LC at Jefferson Health from 2016 to 2023. We found that 24 patients were male, 20 patients were Black, and that the median age of LC diagnosis is 66 years (range 38-83 years). 27 …

Mechanisms For The Age-Related Increase In Fatigability Of The Elbow Flexor Muscles In Healthy Adults, Blaine E. Arney, Andrew Kuplic, Mitchell D. Adam, Christopher W. Sundberg, Sandra Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

The mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles during dynamic contractions are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of supraspinal and contractile mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles. Twenty-eight young (23.2 ± 2.6 years; 14 females) and 32 older adults (72.6 ± 5.6 years; 15 females) performed 80 maximal velocity contractions at 20% of maximal isometric strength. Voluntary activation and muscle contractile properties were assessed before and immediately following the fatiguing exercise using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electrical stimulation. Fatigability (% reduction in …

Does Increasing Canopy Liana Density Decrease The Tropical Forest Carbon Sink?, Stefan A. Schnitzer, David M. Defilippis

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The ongoing decline in the American tropical forest carbon sink has serious ramifications for atmospheric carbon levels and global climate change. Increasing liana abundance may explain the decaying carbon sink because lianas reduce canopy tree growth and survival, which limits forest carbon storage. However, canopy lianas, not solely understory lianas, would have to be increasing for this hypothesis to be credible because canopy lianas compete especially intensely with canopy trees. We examined the change in canopy lianas over 10 years on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama to test two main hypotheses. (1) Canopy lianas are increasing on BCI. (2) Increasing …

Memories Of Trees Past: Coexistence Implications Of Legacy Conspecific Density Dependence, Lukas J. Magee, Daniel J.B. Smith, David Bauman, Po-Ju Ke, Helene C. Muller-Laudau, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Jessica Shue, David A. Orwig, Sean M. Mcmahon, Stephanie Bohlman, Raelene M. Crandall, Ben Weinstein, Sergio Marconi, Jeremy W. Lichstein, James F. Gillooly, Robert Bagchi, Joseph A. Lamanna, Daniel J. Johnson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The Janzen-Connell Hypothesis posits that plant species diversity is maintained by a reduction in seedling survival near living conspecific trees relative to heterospecifics–known as negative conspecific density dependence (CDD). CDD facilitates coexistence if stronger than heterospecific density dependence (HDD). However, whether and how long CDD persists after trees die is unknown. In a three-year study across three forests, we monitored seedling survival near living and dead trees, both conspecific and heterospecific, across a seven-year chrono-sequence since tree death. CDD persisted for at least 5 years after tree death (‘legacy CDD’), and most species showed stronger CDD relative to HDD through …

The Effect Of Self-Efficacy And Commitment On The Retention Of Alternatively Certified Teachers, Lydia V. Leduc

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Teacher attrition has opened the doors for professionals from other fields to enter the teaching field by following an alternative path. Yet, the attrition rate of these alternatively certified teachers (ACTs) is higher than that of traditionally certified teachers (TCTs). The objective of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the effect of self-efficacy and commitment on teacher retention of ACTs in Northwest Florida. The participants in the study worked in several schools in the area. After interviews, responses were evaluated, and categories and codes were compiled. Analysis was then done on the frequency and quality of response data to …

Montebello Islands Marine Sediment Retains Nuclear Weapons-Derived Radionuclide Contamination 70 Years After Detonations, Madison Williams-Hoffman, Mathew P. Johansen, Piers Larcombe, David P. Child, Michael A.C. Hotchkis, Oscar Serrano, Paul S. Lavery, Sangeeth Thiruvoth, Pere Masqué

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Three nuclear weapons tests were conducted in the 1950s at the Montebello Islands, an Indian Ocean archipelago in NW Australia. Anthropogenic radionuclides were introduced into the surrounding waters, where little quantification of the marine environment has occurred since. Here, we assess the distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides and plutonium (Pu) atom ratios in marine sediment throughout the Montebello Islands and the Western Australian (WA) coastline. Surface sediment was analysed for ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ^{238,239,240,241}Pu and ²⁴¹Am, alongside ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios. The highest activity concentrations in sediment were from ^239,240Pu, …

Stochastic Modeling Of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Through Extreme Dust Conditions In Underground Mines Using Vector Parabolic Approach, Emmanuel Atta Antwi, Samuel Frimpong, Muhammad Azeem Raza, Sanjay Madria

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Post-disaster underground (UG) mine environments are characterized by complex and rapidly changing conditions, adding extra attenuation to propagating electromagnetic (EM) waves. One such complex condition is the extreme generation of dust and sudden rise in humidity contributing to extra attenuation effects to propagating waves, especially under varying airborne humidity and dust levels. The existing wave propagation prediction models, especially those that factor in the effect of dust particles, are deterministic in nature, limiting their ability to account for uncertainties, especially during emergency conditions. In this work, the vector parabolic equation (VPE) model is modified to include dust attenuation effects. Using …

Teachers As First Responders: Transferring Trauma-Informed Strategies Into The Classroom, Lauren A. Daley-Norris

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Research suggests that nearly two-thirds of students experience a traumatic event by the age of 16 (Elmore et al, 2023; Wall, 2021). Despite this prevalence, a standardized training module for trauma-informed care (TIC) in K-12 education remains absent. Existing studies primarily focus on school or district-wide implementations (Avery et al, 2020; Champine et al., 2022; Plumb et al., 2016). The quantitative, quasi-experimental within-subjects repeated measures research design was used to address the study’s topic. Two research questions were formally stated to address the study’s purpose. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze study data. Teachers (N = 12) …

Continuous Professional Development: A Case Study Of Foreign English Language Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development In Colleges In Asia, Chance W. Phillips

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This qualitative case study investigated the experiences of college-level EFL/ESL teachers in Asia. The research sought to identify the gaps in professional development experiences influencing teachers to be better educators, meeting the needs of the English language learners in Asia. Additionally, the research identified how the professional development experiences, or lack thereof, of the college-level EFL/ESL teachers impacted their pedagogical strategies and professional practices. Despite the demand for English language education across Asia, foreign English educators often face limited institutional and administrative support, as well as unequal access to professional learning opportunities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with foreign English language …

Navigating Law And Taboo: Sexual Expression And Healthcare Access Among Tunisian Women, Serafina Sqatrito

Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

Women’s sexual health within Tunisia exists at an intersection between progressive legal frameworks, while also reversely experiencing modesty linked to gendered expectations, as well as enduring sexuality expression as a cultural taboo. This study aims to investigate how Tunisian women across generations understand as well as navigate intimacy, healthcare access, sexual education, sexual expression, within this complex social and legal context. Using a qualitative method, this study conducted four semi-structured interviews with women aged between 18-65 living in urban areas of Tunis and La Marsa. The interviews focused on experiences of shame and openness surrounding sexual life, societal sexual pressure …

Asymmetric Interdependence In Tunisian–Algerian Energy Relations, Samuel Harlow

Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

This research interprets contemporary Tunisian–Algerian relations through the

lens of asymmetric interdependence, offering a nuanced analysis of the power

dynamics embedded in their energy relationship. Employing a disciplined

configurative case study design, the study systematically applies established

theories of asymmetric interdependence, particularly relative vulnerability and

the influence effect, to energy trade data, oil and natural gas infrastructure, and

patterns of fiscal and emergency assistance. The analysis demonstrates that

Algerian energy policy and financial support have contributed to an

interdependent relationship in which Algeria is relatively less vulnerable than

Tunisia, generating latent conditions for economic influence without asserting

that coercive instruments …

Educational Mobility And Agency For Young Women In Rural Tunisia, Ruth Righi

Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

This paper examines the educational agency of young women in rural Tunisia, particularly in Djerba, exploring the paradox between high educational attainment and limited economic empowerment. Despite consistently outperforming male peers academically, university-educated Tunisian women face significantly higher unemployment rates and entrenched gender roles that dictate their mobility. The central question is the extent to which young women in rural Tunisia possess the agency required to realize their educational goals and how they balance traditional expectations with personal aspirations. Using a qualitative methodology, questionnaires were distributed in Arabic to a small sample of three university students in Djerba. Centering the …

The Misapplication Of Western Political Systems In Tunisia, Lina Jemila Legesse

Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

This paper examines how the adoption of Western political system models has contributed to democratic backsliding in Tunisia following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution. While Tunisia was internationally celebrated as a democratic success story, this research interrogates the gap between institutional performance and popular legitimacy, drawing on a student survey and a qualitative interview with a civil society organization (CSO) leader. The findings suggest that democratic backslide in Tunisia cannot be reduced to authoritarian ambition alone, but must be understood as a response to institutional systems that failed to deliver stability, economic security, or meaningful participation. Respondents consistently prioritized material conditions …

Gender, Class, And Code-Switching Among Tunisian Youth, Evie Mount-Cors

Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

This study investigates how gender and social class influence the frequency and motivations for code-switching among young Tunisians. Following the French Protectorate (1881) and subsequent Arabization policies in the late 20th century, Tunisian youth are faced with a complex linguistic environment. This paper posits that the enduring legacies of prestige and gender norms drive variation in the frequency and motivation behind code-switching among Tunisian men and women. Based on a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews, this research examines how these social factors shape the function and meaning of language choice in post-colonial Tunisia. The findings suggest that social class creates …