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The Current - Volume 36 Issue 1, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Professional And Occupational Identities Of Nicu Occupational Therapists, Lindsay M. Marquardt, Karen Park

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapists in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provide specialized care, including infant positioning, feeding, handling techniques, and anticipatory guidance. While the American Occupational Therapy Association has outlined the role, little research has explored how therapists perceive their own occupational and professional identities in this highly specialized setting. This study explored the perspectives of NICU occupational therapists to better understand how their roles and identities are shaped within the NICU environment. A mixed-methods descriptive design was used. Data was collected through an electronic survey including Likert-scale and open-ended questions, with optional 30-minute follow-up interviews. Snowball and convenience sampling were …

Palpation Characteristics Of An Instrumented Virtual Cricothyroidotomy Simulator, Melih Turkseven, Trudi Di Qi, Ganesh Sankaranarayanan, Suvranu De

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Cricothyroidotomy (CCT) is a critical, life-saving procedure requiring the identification of key neck landmarks through palpation. Interactive virtual simulation offers a promising, cost-effective approach to CCT training with high visual realism. However, developing the palpation skills necessary for CCT requires a haptic interface with tactile sensitivity comparable to human fingers. Such interfaces are often represented by plastic partial mannequins, which require further adaptation to integrate into virtual environments. This study introduces an instrumented physical palpation interface for CCT, integrated into a virtual surgical simulator, and tested on 10 surgeons who practiced the procedure over a training period. Data on haptic …

Comprehensive Study Of Imidazole-Based Hydrazones: From Design, Synthesis, And Characterization To In Vitro And In Silico Antiproliferative Activity Analysis, Ömer Di̇lek

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The aim of this study was to synthesize novel imidazole-cored hydrazones and investigate their cytotoxic activities against human breast and lung cancer cell lines using in vitro and in silico techniques. For this purpose, 5 novel compounds (6 and 7a–7d) were synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated against human lung (A549) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. All synthesized compounds had higher cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells (IC50 < 9.262 μM) than the control drug cisplatin. However, their cytotoxic activity against A549 cells (IC50 > 2.605 μM) was lower than that of cisplatin. Except for compound 7d in the A549 cell line, …

Cardozo School Of Law And Yu Global Launch Online Master’S In Labor And Employment Law For Non-Lawyers, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law, in partnership with YU Global, has launched a fully online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) in Labor and Employment Law designed for non-lawyers in fields such as HR, compliance, and management. The 30-credit program equips professionals with legal knowledge to strengthen compliance and advance their careers, offering flexible online coursework taught by leading New York City scholars and practitioners. With a focus on real-world application, the curriculum covers topics such as employment discrimination, workplace investigations, and social media/privacy issues. Dean Melanie Leslie and Dr. Danielle Wozniak emphasized the program’s value in providing professionals with a …

The Professional And Occupational Identities Of Nicu Occupational Therapists, Lindsay M. Marquardt, Karen Park

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapists in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provide specialized care, including infant positioning, feeding, handling techniques, and anticipatory guidance. While the American Occupational Therapy Association has outlined the role, little research has explored how therapists perceive their own occupational and professional identities in this highly specialized setting. This study explored the perspectives of NICU occupational therapists to better understand how their roles and identities are shaped within the NICU environment. A mixed-methods descriptive design was used. Data was collected through an electronic survey including Likert-scale and open-ended questions, with optional 30-minute follow-up interviews. Snowball and convenience sampling were …

A Content Analysis Of Podcasts Exploring The Experiences Of Nba Players And Mental Health, Joanna D. Hedin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black male athletes are at a greater risk of not seeking treatment for their mental health issues due to cultural stigmas and expectations. The purpose of this qualitative secondary data research study was to understand the experiences of Black NBA players regarding their mental health and the sociocultural factors that influence their decision making regarding participation in mental health services, as revealed through podcast appearances. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was applied in this study to suggest that learning is an integral part of the social process and that culture contributes to how and what one learns. This study asked about what …

Insights Regarding The Role Of Administrative Support And Teacher Retention In A Suburban Arizona School District, Kristen Louise Tiffany

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that teachers are leaving the profession in an Arizona high school district (AHSD, a pseudonym), which might be due to a lack of administrator support. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of reasons they chose to remain in their positions as well as administrators’ perceptions on the support they provide to encourage teacher retention at AHSD. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, semistructured interviews were conducted with six administrators and 10 teachers from AHSD. Saldana’s pattern coding was used with the following themes emerging: Teachers …

A Decision Model For Enhancing Reaction Yield: Pd(Ii) And Pt(Ii) Metal Insertion To Free Porphyrin, Özay Özaydin, Emel Önal

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Chemical synthesis experiments are crucial for developing new materials, yet their inherent complexity and variability often lead to suboptimal results, causing significant resource and time wastage. This study proposes a novel decision support model to enhance the success rate of macromolecule synthesis experiments for sensor applications. The model leverages principles of experimental design and decision-making. We identified synthesis alternatives through a literature review and expert consultations, narrowing it down to 6 alternatives for metal salts, 3 for reactant mole ratios, 5 for organic solvents, 3 for reaction temperatures, and 4 for reaction times. Considering the time and cost constraints, this …

Selective Extraction Of Scandium From Other Rare Earth Elements Using A Hydrophobic Protic Ionic Liquid Composed Of Decanoic Acid And Toa, Pius Dore Ola, Reo Nishioka, Yoshiro Tahara, Michiaki Matsumoto

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly being used in advanced materials, but their extraction remains a major challenge. This is primarily due to their nearly identical ionic radii and similarity in chemical and physical properties. Therefore, this study aims to explore the use of a hydrophobic protic ionic liquid (PIL) composed of decanoic acid and trioctylamine (TOA) to selectively extract scandium (Sc) from other REEs using acid or salt as the extraction medium. In the acidic medium, the extraction efficiency of all tested REEs was inversely proportional to the acid concentration. Meanwhile, the extraction percentage of Sc was significantly higher …

Multimodal Emotion Detection And Analysis From Conversational Data, Abhinay Jatoth, Faranak Abri, Tien Nguyen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

—Emotion recognition in conversations has become increasingly relevant due to its potential applications across various fields such as customer service, social media, and mental health. In this work, we explore multimodal emotion detection using both textual and audio data. Our models leverage deep learning architectures, including Transformer-based models such as Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), Robustly optimized BERT approach (RoBERTa), Audio Spectrogram Transformer (AST), Wav2Vec2), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiL-STM), and four fusion strategies that combine features from multiple modalities. We evaluate our approaches using two widely used emotion datasets, IEMOCAP and EMOV. Experimental results show that fusion models …

Harnessing Metabolic Modeling And Artificial Intelligence For Next-Generation Bioproduction, Zhengyang Xiao

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Bioproduction in microbial hosts faces two main challenges: (1) unique metabolism of each species is difficult to generalize, and it requires precise quantification before metabolic engineering. (2) Past experiment data are fragmented in different studies, making it difficult to combine these non-standardized data for future experiment design. These challenges lead to high costs and risks in scaling up biomanufacturing processes, where R&D requires substantial budgets and iterative experiments are expensive. This thesis addresses both challenges through two research pillars. Part I uses 13C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) and genome-scale model (GSM) to investigate metabolic limitations in bioproduction hosts. In Escherichia …

Cationic Liposome Nanoparticles For Drug Delivery To The Inner Ear, Firas Al-Ashker

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapy drug associated with a high incidence of hearing loss, particularly in younger patients. This ototoxicity is linked to the drug’s long-term accumulation in the cochlea, where it can persist for years following treatment. Current clinical interventions, such as sodium thiosulfate (STS), offer partial protection against hearing loss but are limited by poor drug penetration into the inner ear. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a targeted drug delivery platform capable of overcoming anatomical and physiological barriers to reach the cochlea more effectively. Specifically, we aimed to design cationic liposome nanoparticles …

Extended Survival With Pancreatic Carcinosarcoma: A Case Report And Literature Review, Tian Xiao, Claire Browne, Morgan Black, Celia Marginean, Elena Tsvetkova

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pancreatic carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy that can mimic pancreatic adenocarcinomas in presentation but often has different disease biology and different responses to conventional treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Case reports have documented a 5-year overall survival of approximately 13% only if the disease is caught at an earlier stage and is amenable to multi-modality treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In the advanced stage, treatments do not often provide benefit, and patients may decline rapidly. There are currently no studies demonstrating survival benefits with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic carcinosarcoma, owing to both the rarity and the often …

Factors That Influence Female Orthopaedic Surgeons' Decision To Pursue A Career In Sports Medicine: A Mixed-Methods Study, Nichelle M Enata, Katherine M Gerull, Ahmed Hanafy, Mary K Mulcahey, Derrick M Knapik, Matthew V Smith

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Despite the increased percentage of women in medical school and in orthopaedic residency programs, the percentage of women pursuing careers in sports medicine has only increased 3% over the past decade.

PURPOSE: To investigate the experiences and perceptions of female orthopaedic surgeons about sports medicine, identifying factors influencing career interest in this surgical subspecialty.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

METHODS: A mixed-methods approach, combining an online survey and qualitative interviews, was utilized to compare the clinical experiences and personal perceptions of women in orthopaedic sports medicine with women in other orthopaedic subspecialties. Surveys were distributed to members of the Ruth …

Smartphone Attachment In Emerging Adults : Impacts On Mental Health Through Basic Psychological Needs, Jialin Xiao

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

In the digital era, smartphones have become integral to daily life, fulfilling various emotional needs. Mirroring human attachment, past studies have found people can develop three types of attachment to smartphone: secure (comfortable, dependable connection), anxious (intense emotional reliance with separation anxiety) and avoidant (preference for independence from one’ s phone) attachment. However, little is known about how these types of smartphone attachment relate to mental health over time. Moreover, the mechanism underlying the relationship between smartphone attachment and mental health is unknown. To fill these gaps, based on the attachment theory, this study examined the longitudinal associations between smartphone …

Innovations In Developing Hots Ipas Essay Questions For Fifth Grade Elementary School Students, Adyatma Nugrahsanto Wicaksono, Siti Faizah

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The development of High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions in Science and Social Studies (IPAS) for fifth-grade elementary students is a crucial step toward improving education quality. These questions go beyond testing memory by fostering critical, analytical, and creative thinking skills aligned with modern educational demands. Employing the 3D model (Define, Design, Develop) the study systematically develops HOTS based questions tailored to learning objectives and student needs. The process integrates cognitive levels C4-C6 of Bloom's taxonomy, emphasizing analysis, evaluation, and creation to enhance higher-order thinking. Validation results show that these HOTS-based questions are "Highly Relevant," achieving scores of 92.86% for …

Teachers' Difficulty Factors In Implementing Differentiated Learning In Geography Subjects, Aulia Nindy Fadila Gastama

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The implementation of differentiated learning in geography subjects provides benefits for teachers and students. On the other hand, teachers still have difficulty implementing differentiated learning elements. This research aims to analyze the factors related to teacher difficulties in implementing differentiated learning in geography subjects. The research method used descriptive qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. The informants used were geography teachers of SMAN Malang City. Data analysis was conducted by 1) data reduction, 2) data presentation, and 3) conclusion drawing. The results showed that geography teachers in Malang City State Senior High School faced difficulties in implementing differentiated learning. In content …

Targeted Depression Screening For At-Risk High School Students: An Integrated Review, Joseph Calub

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Depression in high school students is underrecognized because symptoms can present not only as mood issues but also behavioral or academic problems. This integrated review examined literature from 2010-2015 using PsycInfo, ERIC, CINAHL, and PubMed to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted depression screening for students referred for behavioral, academic, or social concerns. Studies meeting inclusion criteria assessed targeted or clinically referred screening methods, with a focus on validated tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire modified for Adolescents (PHQ-A). Findings indicate that targeted screening effectively identifies depressive symptoms in at-risk students and is more feasible in resource-limited schools than universal …

Ddx219.2 Social Media Content Creation Example 6, Sae University College

Exemplars

This project involved creating a cohesive suite of social media content tailored to the student’s chosen creative project. The work is exemplary for its consistent visual style, platform-specific content design, and alignment with the strategic goals defined earlier. Additionally, the student demonstrated strong collaborative skills by providing thoughtful, constructive feedback to peers, reflecting both creative and professional growth.

Measuring Arctic Ground Squirrel Adult Neurogenesis In Caudal Hippocampus Using Dab/Dab-Ni Enzyme-Based Immunohistochemistry, Vy L. Nguyen

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Unconscious patients who are resuscitated after cardiac arrest often have a poor prognosis for neurological recovery and are routinely treated with therapeutic hypothermia as a standard of care. This intervention aims to reduce the risk of death and minimize brain damage. However, results from the Targeted Temperature Management 2 (TTM2) trial in 2021 indicate that cooling does not improve neurological outcomes in these patients. This finding raises questions about the neurological benefits, particularly regarding neurogenesis, of the rewarming phase of therapeutic hypothermia, as well as the effects of repeated cooling and rewarming cycles. Neurogenesis has been largely overlooked in therapeutic …

Ligand Substitution Versus Dna-Binding Affinity : ǂB Syntheses, Structures, And In Vitro Anticancer Activities Of Pt(Ch₃)₂I₂{2,2'-Bipy-N,N'-(Ch₃)₂} (N,N' = 4,4'; 5,5'; 6,6'), Shadrach Stitz

Chemistry and Biochemistry

In chemotherapeutic treatment for leukemia, the drug cisplatin is highly effective. However, there is an immense need for cisplatin analogues that are more clinically viable. Cancer cell assay studies have shown that the platinum(IV) complex Pt(CH₃)₂I₂{2,2'-bipyridine} exhibits significant anticancer activity against the human breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1, with an EC50 (effective concentration 50%) concentration of 6.1 μM— substantially lower than that of cisplatin (16.4 μM). To explore the unknown structure-activity relationship between DNA binding and anti-cancer activity, three isomers — Pt(CH₃)₂I₂{2,2'-bipy-n,n'-(CH₃)₂} where n,n’ = 4,4’; 5,5’; 6,6’— were synthesized. The intent was to demonstrate decreased cytotoxicity as complex-DNA steric …

The Wnba And Activism: A Case Study Of Power Of The Dream, Jakki Padilla

Communication

This thesis looks at how WNBA players used their platform to stand up for social and political change during the 2020-2021 season. This research focuses on the documentary Power of the Dream (Porter, 2024), which follows the Atlanta Dream and other WNBA players during a time of a global pandemic, racial injustice, and an election year. Guided by public relations scholars Bernays (1961), Curtain and Gaither (2007), Ciszek (2015) for my methodology. By using the Cultural-Economic Model (CEM) (Ciszek, 2015) and understanding their five interconnected components to guide understanding of activism in sports. By using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, …

Gwich'in Athabascan Storybook For Primary Classrooms: Integrating Alaska Native Language And Culture Into Language Arts Curriculum, Lin Vandyke

Education

The problem addressed by this project is the lack of high-quality children’s literature that accurately embodies Alaska Native culture, specifically Gwich’in Athabascan culture, that can be used in primary classrooms. The significance of this topic is the need for materials that Alaska Native students can connect with on a personal level and that can create a greater understanding of Native culture for all individuals. The work was completed in July of 2025. The important implications of this project are the availability of an easy-to-use storybook and connected resources to read with students and have quality discussions about Athabascan language and …

Alaska Earthquake Center Quarterly Review January-March 2025, Heather Mcfarlin, Will Dienstfrey, Alexandra Farrell, Beth Grassi, Stephen Holtkamp, Nate Murphy, Elisabeth Nadin, Carolyn Parcheta, Angelica Stabs, Michael West

Alaska Earthquake Center Reports

This series of technical quarterly reports from the Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC) includes detailed summaries and updates on Alaska seismicity, the AEC seismic network and stations, fieldwork, our online presence, public outreach, and lists publications and presentations by AEC staff. Multiple AEC staff members contributed to this report.

Factors Influencing The Performance Of Farmer-Producer Organizations (Fpos) And Their Societal Impact In Tamil Nadu, Arjune S

Theses and Dissertations

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are formed mainly for the farmers to have better institutional access to acquire them. They are also under the inspiration of the director's abstinence and the incentive of getting more money. These are socio-psychological individual differences and thus of importance to markets, the perception of markets, and market relevance of group interaction. Self-esteem, attitude to participation in group activities, and willingness to participate in these types of activities are of some significance for his/her performance because they have an effect on their performance afterward.

Farmer social empowerment increased but not farmer economic empowerment did so much …

3d Bioprinting On Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds To Fabricate Myocardial Patches, Muthu Parkkavi S

Theses and Dissertations

Tissue-engineered three-dimensional (3D) myocardial patches offer superior and innovative treatment strategy for myocardial infarction (MI). Among the various scaffold fabrication techniques, electrospinning and 3D bioprinting have received great attention due to their ability to recreate native cardiac tissue mimetic characteristics. Despite several advantages, electrospun nanofibers have limitations in cell delivery due to random cell seeding, while bioprinting faces challenges in creating hydrogel constructs with ideal mechanical properties capable of supporting cardiac contraction/relaxation cycle. Hence in this work, hybrid myocardial patches were developed by converging electrospinning and bioprinting techniques.

Electrospinning of PLCL:PEOz (B73, 7:3 blend of poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (PLCL) and polyethyl oxazoline …

Comparative Analysis Of Copyright In Electronic Games And Its Impact On Personality Rights, Abhinaya R

Theses and Dissertations

In India and globally, the electronic gaming business is a rapidly growing and evolving sector both in terms of revenue as well as technological creativity. Over the last 20 years, the video game business has seen significant change. It has transcended borders and is no longer limited to a single or a few players played within a room. Modern video games, unlike their predecessors, include many distinctive visuals and other components are and closely compared to motion pictures.

Electronic games and their complexities present unique challenges to copyright law. In this research, the researcher explores and examines issues in the …

Biogenic Calcite Precipitation For Coastal Sand Stabilization: A Synergistic Approach Using Marine Bacteria And Natural Fibers, Aparna Gs

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal erosion, driven by natural forces such as waves, tides, winds, and currents and further intensified by anthropogenic activities like urbanization, climate change, and coastal infrastructure development, poses a significant threat to shoreline stability. Conventional erosion control methods, including jetties, embankments, and artificial reefs, often face limitations in sustainability and effectiveness. In this context, microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising ecofriendly solution for ground stabilization.

The present study investigates the potential of an indigenous ureolytic marine bacterium, Bacillus sp. N₉, isolated from the coastal sediments of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, for coastal sand stabilization. The strain was …

Bioprospecting Of Wheat Straw Pyrolysis Aqueous Phase To Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens, Srividhya K

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) significantly contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), primarily through the contamination of high-touch surfaces. Current disinfectants have drawbacks like high environmental persistence, ecotoxicity, and resistance development, prompting the need for environmentally friendly alternatives.

One potential approach is pyrolysis, during which the biomass components are broken down into solid, liquid, and pyro-gas. The aqueous phase of the liquid fraction is usually discarded as waste, but it contains a variety of organic compounds that have the potential for antibacterial and antifungal activity. The present study assessed the anti-infective and anti-biofilm properties of wheat straw pyrolysis …