Digital Commons Network^™

Host, Microbiome, And Parasite: How Apicomplexan Microorganisms Interact With Gut Microbiota, Senia Bu, Andrew T. Ozga

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It functions in immune system regulation, digestion, and protection against pathogens. Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., are major pathogens that can significantly disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in microbial composition and function. This review explores the bidirectional interactions between Apicomplexan parasites and the gut microbiome, focusing on how these parasites influence microbial diversity, immune responses, and host metabolism. It examines the mechanisms by which infection-induced inflammation, altered …

From Infection To Restoration: A Case Study On Dental Extraction In The Maxilla Anterior, Melanie Ramirez

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

A dental implant is a restorative surgical procedure that serves as a solution to replace missing teeth that imitate the function, sensation, and appearance of natural teeth. The objective of this dental case study is to examine the diagnosis, treatment, and post-operation of a patient with a history of tooth loss and infection in the anterior maxilla. This case follows a 55-year-old patient, Jorge Marquez, name changed for confidentiality, who presented a severe tooth abscess on tooth #10 on the anterior maxilla which had previously undergone root canal treatment (Figure 1B). Radiographic evaluations illustrated the severity of the abscess the …

Targeting Wnt-Driven Metabolic Adaptations In Cancer: Integrating Glycolysis, Glutaminolysis, Ido1-Mediated Immune Evasion, And Therapeutic Delivery Strategies, Eric Flores-Hernández, Grace Binder, Kuo-Ching Mei, Nydia Tejeda-Muñoz

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

The Wnt pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling cascade that regulates a wide range of fundamental cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, polarity, migration, metabolism, and survival. Due to its central regulatory roles, Wnt signaling is critically involved in the pathophysiology of numerous human diseases. Aberrant activation or insufficient inhibition of this pathway has been causally linked to cancer, degenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, and developmental abnormalities. Wnt signaling drives cancer progression by reprogramming metabolism and promoting immune evasion. Wnt-driven tumors exhibit enhanced aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), glutaminolysis, and macropinocytosis, which support rapid proliferation and help maintain redox homeostasis under nutrient-limited …

A 6-Month, Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Of The Targeted Management (Team) Intervention Vs. Enhanced Treatment As Usual Among Ugandans At Risk For Stroke, Carla Conroy, Joy Yala, Christopher J. Burant, Shirley Moore, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background Among low and middle-income countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, the stroke burden is severe, with increasing trends in stroke incidence, prevalence, and mortality. Aims This 6-month, prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared a novel stroke risk reduction approach (TargetEd manAgeMent Intervention (TEAM)) vs. Enhanced Treatment as Usual (ETAU) in 247 Ugandans at risk for stroke. Methods Participants, enrolled across 3 Ugandan sites, were adults with high stroke risk. The primary outcome was a change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included changes from baseline to 6 months on diastolic BP (DBP), serum lipids, …

Exploring The Mediating Role Of Autonomous Motivation Between Basic Psychological Needs And Burnout Among Counselors-In-Training, Meredith Si Snieckus

Dissertations - ALL

Burnout is a pressing concern among counselors-in-training (CITs), threatening not only their well-being but also the quality of services they provide. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ryan & Deci, 2017), this study investigated the relationships among basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPNS), autonomous motivation (AM), and burnout in a national sample of CITs enrolled in Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited counseling programs. Specifically, it examined whether AM mediates the relationship between BPNS and the three dimensions of burnout, emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and diminished personal accomplishment (DPA), as conceptualized by …

Innovative Approaches To Estimating Sessile Oak Stem Volume: Comparing Additive Models And Ensemble Machine Learning, Maria J. Diamantopoulou, Abbas Şahi̇n, Ramazan Özçeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sessile oak is an important deciduous forest tree species across Türkiye and Europe. Estimating individual tree and stand volumes is essential for growth and yield models, as these predictions play a critical role in assessing forest management, economics, and fire risk. In pursuit of this goal, nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR) was used for the simultaneous fitting of stem volume components, and compared to three ensemble machine learning techniques: gradient boosting regression (GBr), XGBoost regression (XGBr), and random forest regression (RFr). NSUR accounts for correlations between error terms across different equations, leading to more efficient parameter estimates than if each …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Online Engagement: A Social Exchange Theory Approach To The Baking Industry’S Use Of Social Media, Abagail Sweeney

Theses - ALL

This study investigates how organizations in the baking industry use social media to engage with consumers. Social Exchange Theory was applied to understand the dynamics in online interactions. A content analysis of the social media accounts for Insomnia Cookies, Lady M and Cake Bar was done for the months of January 2024 through March 2024. The platforms analyzed were Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube. Engagement was measured through likes, comments, shares and sentiment analysis. Post type was also observed to see what the users engaged with the most. The findings revealed that the number of active platforms did not …

Multiaxial Expansion Of 4d-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Scaffolds Via Programming Via Printing (Pvp), Verona Hendricks

Theses - ALL

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) offer unique opportunities for engineering responsive medical devices that can adapt to changing anatomical environments. However, most SMP-based systems are limited to uniaxial deformation which restricts their ability to conform to complex geometries found in soft tissue applications. Moreover, 3D approaches to print and program SMPs have demonstrated printed parts that can contract, but printed parts that can expand after printing has not been demonstrated to date. This work presents the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a 4D-printed SMP scaffold capable of controlled expansion along all three orthogonal axes (x, y, and z). Utilizing a method …

Using Chatgpt-Generated Practice Exam Questions In Medical Education, Jack Paradis, Currey Zalman, Makayla Schissel, Geoffrey Talmon, Kari L. Nelson

Medical Student Research Showcase

Background: As artificial intelligence expands in medical education, large language models like ChatGPT have shown potential for efficiently generating practice questions (PQs). A 2023 needs assessment at our institution found that all first-year medical students used PQs, with 75% reporting they always use them when available. To support active learning and exam preparation, we utilized ChatGPT to generate PQs for the historically challenging Circulatory and Respiratory Blocks of the M1 year. Our pilot study aimed to (1) examine the process of developing PQs using ChatGPT, (2) evaluate the impact of ChatGPT-generated PQs on exam performance, and (3) assess student satisfaction. …

A Framework For Advancing And Strengthening The Veteran Entrepreneur Ecosystem, Rosalinda V. Maury, Adam Pritchard

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is designed for funders, program leaders, and policymakers working to build stronger veteran entrepreneurship ecosystems. This paper brings together insights about veteran entrepreneurial ecosystems from Military Entrepreneurship Forum (MEF) roundtable conversations, the National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (NSMAE), and other entrepreneurship research. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, this paper lays out a set of components that communities can use to strengthen their own ecosystems. Veteran entrepreneurship is a lens into broader questions of economic mobility, local resilience, and civic leadership. But systems matter. With veteran-serving organizations facing revenue declines and donor fatigue, coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystems are a …

Ectopic Adipose Tissue In Subsistence Populations With Minimal Coronary Disease, Large Left Atria, And Very Low Rates Of Atrial Fibrillation, Randall C. Thompson, Benjamin C. Trumble, Daniel K. Cummings, Angela D. Neunuebel, Paul L. Hooper, Samuel Wann, Adel H. Allam, Frances Neunuebel, Benjamin D. Gans, Samantha I. King, Edmond Seabright, Caleb E. Finch, Margaret Gatz, Kenneth Buetow, Michael I. Miyamoto, Guido P. Lombardi, M. Linda Sutherland, James D. Sutherland, Christopher J. Ward, Madeleine J. Lee, Ashna Mahadev, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, David E. Michalik, Chris J. Rowan, Tianyu Cao, Jonathan Stieglitz, Cameron M. Quick, Gregory S. Thomas, Jagat Narula, Damini Dey, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan

ESI Publications

Background

Methods

Putting It Together, Bit By Bit: Partimenti For Guitarists, James Renwick

Soundboard Scholar

A review of Fenaroli's Musicali per i principianti di cembalo [Naples, 1775], edited for guitarists by Nicola Pignatiello, with translations of Fenaroli’s text by Robert Gjerdingen (Independently published, 2023), PDF available online.

Effects Of Storage Temperatures On Quality And Phytochemical Properties Of The Hawthorn (Crataegus Azarolus L.) During Storage And Shelf Life, Ahmet Erhan Özdemi̇r, Oğuzhan Çalişkan, Safder Bayazit, Kazi̇m Gündüz, Nurdan Tuna Güneş, Zafer Karaşahi̇n, Derya Kiliç, Ramazan Bestami̇ Karahan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study aimed to investigate the effects of storage temperature on the quality and phytochemical characteristics in Sultan hawthorn cultivar during cold storage and shelf life. Fruits were stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 4 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) for 6 months in cold storage and were analyzed every month. In addition, hawthorn fruits were kept at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 75 ± 5% RH for 7 days, and their shelf life was investigated at monthly intervals. Weight loss, appearance, the incidence of physiological disorders and fungal decay, fruit skin color, firmness, …

Aligning Novice Special Educators Classroom Practices, Mentoring Support, And Needs With Discrit Classroom Ecology, Kaitlyn Stillwagon

Theses and Dissertations

This multiple case study investigates the alignment of novice special educators’ classroom practices, mentoring supports, and expressed needs with DisCrit Classroom Ecology. Situated in a large, urban city in the Northeast United States, this study centers the experiences of novice special educators and their mentors to examine this alignment to uncover gaps and best practices for improved mentoring support for novice special educators. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom artifacts, and teacher reflection journals. Thematic analysis using both deductive and inductive coding revealed that novice special educators demonstrated emerging entry points toward DisCrit aligned practices, particularly in the use …

Monitoring The Developmental Stages Of Calendula Officinalis L. Nutrients Efficacy Under Hot Weather Mitigation Through Nutrients In Haripur, Pakistan, Waseem Ahmed, Rafia Azmat, Shah Masaud Khan, Abdul Qayyum, Waseem Hassan, Adnan Noor Shah, Muhammad Hadi Abbas, Fatima M. Abbas, Tahani A.Y. Asseri, Ahmet Hakan Ürüşan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study examines the effect of different doses of N and P fertilizer on Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) during the hot weather in summer (May–July) in Pakistan. The aim was to determine whether fertilization can help minimize the impacts of climate change. During the summer peak seasons (May, June, and July), the trial was conducted in potted plants with different N and P application levels to monitor the quality and quantity of C. officinalis. The results showed that the interactive effects (N × P) gave higher values for plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight, leaf length, and number of …

Chemical Weed Control Strategies For Sweet Corn In Türkiye’S Diverse Production Areas, Zübeyde Fi̇li̇z Arslan, Ahmet Uludağ, Hüseyi̇n Güngör, Ti̇muçi̇n Taş, Emi̇ne Aydin, Martin M. Williams Ii

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sweet corn production in Türkiye is failing to match growing demand from consumers and the food industry. Weeds severely limit sweet corn production, yet only a single herbicide is registered in Türkiye. Due to labor costs, hand weeding is no longer affordable and growers are demanding cost-effective weed control strategies for sweet corn production. Nine treatments including preemergence (PRE) and/or postemergence (POST) herbicides were tested across the country’s diverse growing environments. Compared to the weedy control, all treatments increased the number of marketable ears. Only two treatments—s-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine followed by isoxaflutole plus cyprosulfamide plus theincarbazone-methyl and dimethenamid followed by …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

No abstract provided.

Design And Structural Optimization Of Acceleration Pipe For Mhd Accelerated Jujube Air-Suction Harvester, Yi Wang, Jing Nie, Jingbin Li, Longpeng Ding, Xuewei Chao, Xianfei Wang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The combination of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) acceleration technology and the negative pressure suction principle ensures the effective lifting and transport of jujube fruits, addressing the challenges of traditional harvesting methods and providing a new solution for improving jujube harvesting efficiency. This study focuses on the impact of key parameters, including pipe diameter, electrode plate length, and electrode positioning, on the performance of the MHD acceleration pipe through numerical simulations. The structural optimization of the MHD acceleration pipe in the air-suction jujube harvester aims to enhance airflow acceleration efficiency. The results from both numerical simulations and experimental studies indicate that: 1) a …

Exploring The Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Serbian And Selected European Bread Wheat Cultivars Through Ipbs-Retrotransposon Markers, Rada Šućur, Amjad Ali, Parnaz Mortazavi, Muhammad Tanveer Altaf, Muhammed Tatar, Muhammad Azhar Nadeem, Bojan Jocković, Velimir Mladenov, Sotirios Fragkostefanakis, Yong Suk Chung, Faheem Shehzad Baloch

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Bread wheat is a globally vital crop, sustaining millions and contributing to food security. The present study investigated the molecular characterization of 60 bread wheat accessions, using 12 interprimer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon markers, which yielded a total of 260 distinct bands. Out of the 260 bands, 42 were monomorphic while the remaining 218 (83.84%) were polymorphic, with polymorphism information content values ranging from 0.38 to 0.45. Genetic diversity indices, including Shannon’s information index (I = 0.01–0.53), effective number of alleles (Ne = 1.00–1.63), gene diversity (He = 0.0037–0.36), and marker index (MI = 0.31– 0.51), revealed moderate variability across …

The Status Of Agritourism In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Nerma Čolaković-Prguda, Jasna Hasanbegović, Irma Đidelija Čolaković, Lejla Škaljić, Nuray Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Agritourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a lot of potential benefit for economic growth and sustainable development in rural regions, as it incorporates local culture and natural beauty into the tourism offerings of the region. Tourism creates opportunities to diversify the economy, retain traditions, improve local income, and protect natural resources. This study covered Međugorje, Ilijaš, Rostovo, Vlašić, Bosanska Krupa, Neum, Olovo, Gornji Vakuf, Sarajevo, and Donji Vakuf. Agritourism can provide authentic experiences like learning about traditional agriculture, fruit harvesting, tasting local products, and environmental preservation in destinations like Međugorje and Neum. Ilijaš and Gornji Vakuf have potential in organic …

Transforming Fall Prevention Using A Systems-Wide Approach, Jessica Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project proposal targets fall reduction and injury prevention in a Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The initiative implements a non-restrictive, evidence-based fall prevention program that excludes side rails and bed alarms, emphasizing systematic patient safety and personalized care. Falls are a major safety concern at the VAMC due to ineffective traditional methods, inconsistent assessments, and reliance on restraints, contributing to high fall rates and increased healthcare costs. The project successfully achieved consensus from an interprofessional team on developing a comprehensive fall reduction program. Evidence indicates that removing restrictive devices enhances staff engagement and protocol …

Government Policies Influencing The Retainment Of Civil Engineers In Guyana's Public Sector, Gracelyn George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The low retention of civil engineers in Guyana’s public sector has impeded the execution of needed infrastructure projects in the country. The literature reviewed highlighted that there continued to be questions regarding why people leave engineering jobs. Moreover, there was a limited understanding of what societal attributes influenced the problem, while there continued to be a growing demand for civil engineers. The literature specific to government policies influencing the retention of civil engineers in the public sector was lacking, presenting an opportunity to expand the application of the policy feedback theory, which provided a lens for examining retention measures in …

Staff Education Project To Train Charge Nurses On The Use Of The Tsam Framework To Improve Leadership Competencies, Natoya Gaye Langley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this doctoral project was to improve charge nurse leadership competencies through education on the tiered skills acquisition model (TSAM), addressing challenges of high turnover, limited orientation, and compromised care quality in an inpatient psychiatric facility. The background reveals a two-year financial loss of over $1.8 million tied to staff attrition, highlighting the urgent need for a structured training framework. TSAM, a progressive, competency-based model, offers a pathway for deliberate skill acquisition, leadership growth, and enhanced role clarity. A staff education program was implemented with ten charge nurses, incorporating a pretest, PowerPoint training, scenario-based roleplays, and a posttest. …

Crime Prevention Professionals’ Perspectives On Using Cpted To Mitigate Targeted Violence On K-12 School Campuses, Bridgit C. Didier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Targeted violence in K-12 schools across the United States is a serious concern. These incidents not only endanger students and staff, but also cause lasting trauma and erode trust in schools. While existing measures may deter some violence, questions remain regarding their overall effectiveness. This study involved exploring perspectives of crime prevention experts on using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies to mitigate violence in K-12 schools. Although CPTED is recognized as effective in terms of reducing crime, research on its use in schools, especially from the perspective of crime prevention professionals, is limited. This generic qualitative study involved …

Newhouse Impact Magazine 2025, Newhouse School

Newhouse Impact Magazine

Showcasing the research and creative work of faculty, staff and students at the Newhouse School

Welcome To Hotel Thai: Labor, Love, And The Space Between My Mothers, Tripty Tamang Pakhrin

Theses - ALL

This thesis explores maternal labor, silence, and family boundaries through my experience of growing up at Hotel Thai, a restaurant and home located on the open border between Nepal and India. The hotel is run by my three parents: my mother, my father, and his first wife. My two mothers live and work side by side every day but do not speak to each other. Their silence is not emptiness, but a way of surviving and holding the family together. This paper discusses my film, performance, installation, and printmaking works to explore how care, memory, and labor are expressed without …

Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor 1: Implications For Precision Medicine And Rett Syndrome Therapeutics, Mackenzie Smith

Dissertations

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the gene coding for methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Currently, there is no cure for RTT and few effective treatment options to address the social, cognitive, motor, and respiratory symptoms that patients face. With the goal of identifying novel targets, our lab performed RNA-sequencing experiments in human autopsy samples and found decreased levels of the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. We have established that potentiation of this receptor in a Mecp2+/- mouse model of RTT rescues social, cognitive, and respiratory phenotypes, providing support for using drugs that act on …

The 10-Year Anniversary Of The Dissemination And Implementation Models In Health Interactive Webtool: History, Refinement, Use, And Guidance, Borsika A Rabin, Bryan Ford, Rachel G Tabak, Rebekah Gomes, Kera N Swanson, Sara Malone, Maggie Padek Kalman, Ross C Brownson, Russell E Glasgow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) are essential tools in dissemination and implementation (D&I) research, yet selecting and applying the most appropriate TMF is routinely a challenge, particularly for those new to the field. To address this need, we developed the

Calcium-Ion Transport In Gel And Solid Polymer Electrolytes: From Solvent-Solute Interactions To Molecular Simulations For Next-Generation Calcium Batteries, Xinlu Wang

Dissertations - ALL

Multivalent metal-ion batteries, especially calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) systems, are attractive alternatives to lithium-ion technologies owing to their high theoretical energy density, improved safety profiles, and abundant natural resources. Nevertheless, the successful commercialization of these technologies is impeded by challenges in electrolyte development, particularly related to cation solvation, ion transport efficiency, and interfacial stability. This dissertation addresses these challenges through comprehensive experimental investigations and molecular dynamics simulations of polymer-based electrolytes designed explicitly for multivalent cation conduction. In the first study, polymer gel electrolytes comprising poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and low dielectric solvents—1,3-dioxolane (DOL) and dimethoxyethane (DME)—with calcium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Ca(TFSI)₂) …

Bridging Gaps In Stem: An Evaluation Of A Stem Intervention Program And Its Impact On Degree Attainment And Career Pathways For Low-Income Undergraduate Students, Amanda L. Surman

Dissertations - ALL

Persistent disparities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degree completion and career attainment continue to disadvantage students from low-income, firstgeneration, and underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, despite sustained national efforts to diversify the STEM workforce. STEM Intervention Programs (SIPs) have emerged as promising strategies to address these inequities, yet limitations in SIP evaluation literature including the lack of comparison groups, limited longitudinal data, and minimal attention to psychosocial outcomes impede our understanding of their long-term impact. This dissertation uses a mixed-methods, three-project design to evaluate the Strategic Undergraduate STEM Talent Acceleration INitiative (SUSTAIN), a comprehensive SIP at a private, …