Digital Commons Network^™

Monitoring The Kinetic Evolution Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation Using Raman Microspectroscopy, Francesca Ravera, Esen Efeoglu, Hugh J Byrne

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) offers a powerful, non-destructive approach for in situ monitoring of dynamic biochemical processes within cells. However, the ability to reliably data-mine the spectroscopic signatures and their evolution and extract meaningful information can be challenging. Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) regression analysis is a powerful chemometric technique that can potentially address this challenge by deconvoluting the spectra into individual component spectra, each representing a specific biochemical species, and regressing the solutions against kinetic constraints. In this study, MCR-ALS analysis was performed on spectral data of differentiation process of mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes, carried out on two …

Trusted Professional Multi-Agency Transitions For Young People Facing Multiple Disadvantage – Learning From Co-Production By A Third Sector Partner In The Plymouth Alliance, Uk, Gemma Doyle, Sean Mitchell, Sue Hawley, Katy Krysiak, Felix Gradinger

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: This case study provides practice-based reflections on challenges and potential solutions for young people with multiple disadvantages across housing, substance misuse, mental health, criminal justice, and domestic abuse systems, informed by 4 local principles: trauma informed, learning based, an alliance commissioning ethos, and workforce development.Description: To improve the current experiences of 17–25-year-olds in service transition iterative insights drew from networking staff across sectors, clinical audit and following live cases, and appreciative enquiries with young people. This was conducted by a practitioner researcher in a local Young Person’s charity and was supported by peer researchers with lived experience and embedded …

Adult Congenital Heart Disease As A Career? Examining Encouraging And Deterring Factors In The Global Achd Survey, Katia Bravo-Jaimes, M. H. D. Osama Srour, Petra Jenkins, Raquel Luna-Lopez, Oktay Tutarel, Geetha Kandavello, Carlos-Eduardo Guerrero-Chalela, Edgar García-Cruz, Judith Ackerman, Amalia Elizari, Miriam Valdez-Ramos, Blanche Cupido, Dominica Zentner, Murad Almasri, Sabrina Phillips, Christopher Mcleod, Luke Burchill, Celia Kamath, Renee Bullock-Palmer, Jonathan Windram

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There is a global mismatch between the number of adults with congenital heart disease and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cardiologists, potentially impacting patient outcomes. This survey explores factors influencing trainees and cardiologists' career choices in ACHD.

METHODS: An online, anonymous global survey on demographics, ACHD as a career choice, encouraging and deterring factors assessed via a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions on recommending ACHD was distributed through targeted emails and social media. Responses meeting a 75% completion criterion were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Among 811 included responses, most were from women (53.5%), aged …

Emergent Strategies For Internationalization Amidst Disruptions And Uncertainty, Milad Mohebali, Angela Bryan, Jacob Jones, Yoko Iwasaki-Zink

Critical Internationalization Studies Review

No abstract provided.

When Culture Becomes Law: Mayan Heritage And The New Constitutional Recognition Of Collective Rights In Mexico, José Israel Herrera, Victor Manuel Colli Ek

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract. The constitutional reform of September 30, 2024 to article 2 marks a substantive change in the recognition of indigenous peoples as subjects of public law, with their own patrimony, valid normative systems and express right to conserve, protect and develop their cultural, material and immaterial heritage. This article analyzes the legal implications of this reform in the context of the Maya people, especially with regard to collective intellectual property, the right to prior consultation and the constitutional recognition of bioculturality. A critical reading of the new normative framework is proposed, with emphasis on its transformative potential for the territorial …

Community And School Programs, Policies And Environments Related To Child Dietary Intake:The Healthy Communities Study, Gail Woodward-Lopez, Alexander C. Mclain, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Natalie Colabianchi, Vicki Collie-Akers, Lorrene D. Ritchie

Faculty Publications

Background

To reverse the epidemic of unhealthy eating and related chronic disease in the United States, intervening early in life is essential.

Objective

Identify features of community- and school-based programmes, policies and environments related to child intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).

Methods

Dietary intake of children 4–15 years old (n = 5138) from elementary and middle schools in 130 US communities was collected by survey (of parent and/or child) in 2013–2015. Features of community programs and policies (CPPs) and school environments were collected by staff surveys, direct observation, key informant interviews, and/or document review. …

Anti-Dirt Hand Sanitizer: A Zeolite-Enhanced Approach To Hygiene And Microbial Protection, Theo Uskoković, Evangelina Uskoković, Victoria Wu, Vuk Uskoković

Administration and Staff Articles and Research

Children love to play with dirt and their outdoor activities oftentimes make their hands heavily soiled. Meanwhile, improper sanitation of the hands prior to making contact with food or bodily fluids can result in potentially dangerous infection. In situations where handwashing is not available, hand sanitizers present a common cleaning agent of choice. However, as it is shown here, standard sanitizers, albeit acting effectively against skin microbes, do not have the ability to remove the dirt deposits off children's hands, where microbial colonies may remain protected against the antiseptic effect of the sanitizer. To circumvent this limitation, we designed and …

Responding To The Needs Of Dementia Care Partners: Recommendations For Policy Change At The State And Federal Levels., Walter D. Dawson, Jenn Reed, Allison Lindauer, Sherril B. Gelmon

Institute on Aging Publications

The need to optimize supports of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) care partners through policy innovation is high. This study sought to frame the care and support needs of multiple historically underrepresented populations who may be underserved and/or have difficulty accessing culturally specific services and determine specific policies that may reduce ADRD care partner burden and improve wellbeing. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews ( = 24) with leaders of organizations that support people living with ADRD and focus groups ( = 5) with dementia care partners from four communities historically underserved in the United States (Asian, Black, Indigenous, …

A User Experience Approach To Technical Editing Of Academic Library Digital Resources, Krista Sarraf, Danielle Daugherty, Morgan White, Madelyn Cruz

Library Scholarship

This paper reports on a teaching practice that integrates user experience and technical editing instruction to improve academic library digital content and support students' learning of technical editing as an exercise in user experience. Students, faculty, and academic librarians at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) worked to improve the accessibility and usability of their library's digital interfaces. The paper shares preliminary findings from a study of the teaching practice, exploring how a pedagogical framework for library and technical and professional communication partnerships can be designed, implemented, and evaluated to enhance student learning in technical editing and …

Improving Multilingual Competence In Higher Education: An Integrated Framework For Parallel Learning Of Two Foreign Languages, Aiym Kontek, Albina Dossanova, Galiya Kulzhanbekova

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to create a comprehensive framework for the effective organization of parallel teaching of two foreign languages in higher education in Kazakhstan, accounting for linguistic, psychological, didactic, and technological aspects.

Methods: We used theoretical (modeling, analysis, and generalization) and empirical methods (pedagogical experiment, testing, questionnaires, and methods of mathematical statistics) in the research. An original structural and content model of parallel learning was developed, including interrelated blocks for the integrated formation of speech activity skills and a lexico–grammatical base in each of the languages. The effectiveness of the proposed model was confirmed during the pedagogical experiment, which …

Galaxy Tales: A Data-Driven Approach To Emotional Self-Expression, Bing Chen

Theses

Galaxy Tales is a mobile application that transforms users’ social media activity into personalized planetary visuals, offering a novel way to document and reflect on life experiences. This project explores how data-driven design can create emotionally resonant and personalized representations of identity by extracting key elements—color, object shapes, and emotional atmosphere—from digital footprints. Grounded in psychological theories such as memory anchors and emotional attachment, Galaxy Tales enables users to form deep emotional connections with their virtual planets, turning abstract memories into tangible visual metaphors. The project also addresses current societal challenges, such as loneliness and emotional fatigue, by offering a …

Investing In Change: Understanding The Motivations And Impact Of Young Black Alumni Donors To Pwis In The South, Evante C. Topp

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Researchers have historically overlooked Black philanthropy in higher education discourse, particularly in relation to predominantly White institutions (PWIs). This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences, motivations, and giving behaviors of young Black alumni who donate to PWIs in the American South. Using critical race theory (CRT) and the philanthropic mirroring model as guiding frameworks, in this study I examined the intersections of racial identity, institutional engagement, and alumni giving

Through in-depth interviews with twelve participants aged 30–40, five key themes emerged: (1) undergraduate experiences as a catalyst for philanthropy, (2) philanthropy as both a monetary investment and a demand for …

Incidence Of Heart Failure Following Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery, Harrison S. Fellheimer, Mahaa Ayub, Gabriel I. Onor, Lauren O'Mara, Eric Tecce, Pedro K. Beredjiklian

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Previous literature suggests a relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and heart failure (HF), indicating that patients with CTS are more likely to experience cardiomyopathy. Amyloid deposition leading to CTS may be prodromal for the development of amyloid cardiomyopathy. We hypothesized that patients undergoing surgery for CTS would have an increased risk of HF compared to those who did not undergo surgery.

METHODS: The TriNetX database was queried using the primary ICD-10 code for CTS to identify patients. Patients were included if they had surgical treatment for CTS, reported as endoscopic or open carpal tunnel release, or median nerve …

Varieties And Domains: A Syncretic Synthesis Of Law And Justice In India ( Including A Special Emphasis On Alternate Dispute Resolution), Amrith Bhargav B

Theses and Dissertations

From the abstract idea of Dharma that enabled the practice and sustenance of local custom and usage, law was defined without verbiage but in meanings and understandings. In the colonial age, law was constantly being defined and codified not just textually, but through projects of economies of politics, knowledge and power in a way that their transactional metrics produced social and cultural genres that changed India forever. In that state of play, lawyers and their associated players contributed to the emerging culture of power and dominance with their tool of making the law through cases and mainstreamed the colonial legal …

Pembrolizumab And Lenvatinib In The Treatment Of Recurrent Ovarian Carcinoma: A Single Institution Experience, Helen Toma, Rebeca Kelly, Chelsea Katz, Hannah Hong, Hannah Diasti, David P Warshal, Lauren Krill

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Advanced stage ovarian carcinoma has a poor prognosis with recurrence rates of over 80%, 5-year survival of 36-45%, and limited response to standard therapy. Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib are FDA approved for treatment of microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) endometrial and renal cell cancers. Early phase II studies have shown promising results in a variety of advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. We report on the clinical outcome of recurrent MSS/pMMR ovarian cancer patients treated with this therapy.

METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study, patients with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer treated with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib from January 2020 …

Liberalism And Lockdowns, D. Robert Macdougall

Publications and Research

Some authors have argued that liberalism cannot support lockdowns because it cannot engage in collective welfare-type reasoning. Others have thought that liberalism can justify lockdown measures, but that legitimate lockdown measures must be based on pre-legal moral principles that set acceptable limits to the imposition of risk or forbid contributing to collective harm. In this essay, I assess the overall relationship between liberalism and lockdowns. Against the first interpretation of liberalism, I argue in favor of the idea that lockdowns can be justified by liberalism. Liberalism protects the liberty of each and so can presumably protect persons from some kinds …

Family Caregivers’ Perceptions Of Quality Of Dementia Self-Care In Wakiso District, Uganda, Martha Sajatovic, Kylie Meyer

Faculty Scholarship

INTRODUCTION: In Sub-Saharan Africa, most people with dementia are cared for in the home setting (dementia self-care) with hardly any support from the formal health and social care system. The study explored family caregivers' perceptions of quality of dementia self-care. METHODS: A descriptive-exploratory qualitative study design was used. Data were collected through four focus group discussions with 48 family caregivers of older people with dementia, recruited from four villages of the Wakiso district in Uganda. RESULTS: Five themes emerged: (1) patience and understanding; (2) maintaining hygiene and cleanliness; (3) constant supervision and safety precautions; (4) personalized care by understanding individual …

Targeted Delivery Of Rapamycin Via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Pancreatic Cancer Cells Inhibits Cell Proliferation And Induces Apoptosis, Nawab Ali, Adeolu S. Oluremi, Christopher Baldwin, Nickolas Gustavison, Mujeebat Bashiru, Adeniyi Oyebade, Noureen Siraj, Raj Raghavendra Rao

Faculty Scholarship

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is aggressive and deadly; most PC cells overexpress an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR-targeting peptide (GE11) was conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for delivering rapamycin (Rap), an mTOR inhibitor that reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis. Biophysical techniques confirmed the conjugation. Rap loading efficiency was 41.5%, with sustained release at a lower pH. Conjugates showed higher uptake in PANC-1 cells than unmodified AuNPs. It also inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via pathways involving reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage, and caspase activation. This approach represents a promising nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategy targeting PC cells, utilizing GE11-EGFR interactions to minimize …

Controlling Hypertension In The African American Population Through Dash Diet Education, Tanya K. Mccaskill

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hypertension disproportionately affects African Americans, contributing to elevated risks of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure. Despite the well-established benefits of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, its adoption remains limited due to cultural, socioeconomic, and health literacy barriers. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally tailored DASH diet education intervention in improving nutritional knowledge among African American adults with hypertension (HTN). Using a quasi-experimental pre-post intervention design, 50 participants received a structured educational session during a single clinic visit, which included counseling, printed materials, and sample menus. The intervention was guided …

“It Felt Like Solving A Mystery Together”: Exploring Virtual Reality Card-Based Interaction And Story Co-Creation Collaborative System Design, Yaojiong Yu, Mike Phillips, Gianni Corino

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Virtual reality interaction design and story co-creation design for multiple users is an interdisciplinary research field that merges human–computer interaction, creative design, and virtual reality technologies. Story co-creation design enables multiple users to collectively generate and share narratives, allowing them to contribute to the storyline, modify plot trajectories, and craft characters, thereby facilitating a dynamic storytelling experience. Through advanced virtual reality interaction design, collaboration and social engagement can be further enriched to encourage active participation. This study investigates the facilitation of narrative creation and enhancement of storytelling skills in virtual reality by leveraging existing research on story co-creation design and …

Genes Encoding Multiple Modulators Of The Immune Response Are Methylated In The Prostate Tumor Microenvironment Of African Americans, Vinay Kumar, Tara Sinta Kartika Jennings, Lucas Ueta, James Nguyen, Liankun Song, Michael Mcclelland, Weiping Chu, Michael Lilly, Michael Ittmann, Patricia Castro, Arash Rezazadeh Kalebasty, Dan Mercola, Omid Yazdanpanah, Xiaolin Zi, Farah Rahmatpanah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Prostate cancer (PCa) is diagnosed at an earlier median age, more advanced stage, and has worse clinical outcomes in African American (AA) men compared to European Americans (EA).

Methods: To investigate the role of aberrant DNA methylation in tumor-adjacent stroma (TAS), methyl binding domain sequencing (MBD-seq) was performed on AA (n = 17) and EA (n = 15) PCa patients. This was independently confirmed using the long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) assay. Pathway analysis was performed on statistically significantly differentially methylated genes for AA and EA TAS. DNA methylation profiles of primary cultured AA and …

Accuracy Of Anthropometric Equations In Estimating Body Fat Percentage In Transgender Men Undergoing Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy, Barbara Buosi, Yana Barros Hara, Rodolfo André Dellagrana, Rafael Martins Da Costa, Mateus Rossato

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(1): 686-694, 2025. Transgender people may opt for the use of sex steroids and, in some cases, hormone blockers, which can lead to changes in body fat distribution. The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of anthropometric equations to estimate the body density (BD) of transgender men who are undergoing Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT). Four transgender men (25-32 years old), who had performed GAHT for at least six months and used the hormone testosterone cypionate participated in the study. The reference criteria for BD was air displacement plethysmography (ADP). In addition, BD …

Understanding Socio-Environmental Concerns About Bear Lake: Findings From A Community-Engaged Teaching Study, Stacia Ryder, Alexander Theophilus, Charlotte Emelia Williams, Elizabeth Brunner, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Mufti Nadimul Quamar Ahmed, Zubair Barkat, Nowrin Fatema, Jordan Rowley

Transforming Communities

In the western U.S., climate change is exacerbating already difficult situations in many lake systems, including Bear Lake, which spans the Idaho-Utah border and faces several environmental issues and a new wave of recreational development. In this research note, we discuss preliminary findings from community-engaged research aimed at assessing different concerns that scientists, residents, and community organizations have for Bear Lake and the surrounding communities. To do so, this project connects student research across three courses. Data collected through archival and interview research provides important insights into the socio-environmental concerns related to 1) ecological threats, 2) water management, quality, and …

The Influence Of "Ifbb Pro" Designation On Consumer Decision-Making In Online Personal Training Services: An Experimental Investigation, Zehua Hei, Alan Morse

Global Sport Business Journal

The recent rising health awareness, social media occurrence, and digital access to fitness services promote the growth of online personal training. Drawing upon signaling theory, a recent rising group of trainers, “IFBB Pro” athletes, who are perceived as elite bodybuilders, often signal a high level of expertise and competency in fitness training. With content marketing as the background, posted content plays a key role in this process as social media platforms become increasingly popular for fitness professionals to market their personal training services and attract clients. However, scarce research exists to investigate how this designation influences consumer perceptions and purchase …

Accessible Art: Connecting Community Through Artistic Expression, Michaela M. Speers

Art and Art History Summer Fellows

I answered an important investigative question: How can we use art to connect our community? I illustrated, produced, and installed a “Mini Art Vending Machine” on campus to provide the Ursinus College community easy access to original works of art. I explored visual topics that would connect not only current students, but also prospective students, alumni, and members of the Collegeville community.

The Mini Art Vending Machine's permanent home is within Schellhase Commons. However, the machine will frequently move locations to further enhance events or to bring further exposure to the student artists. You can expect to see it at …

From Embarrassment To Prejudice: Online “Cringe Culture” As An Affective And Social Phenomenon, Maxwell Seebold

Sociology Summer Fellows

When scrolling through the myriad content found online, you’re bound to find something that leaves you with negative emotions strong enough that you cringe. While this is largely an involuntary response, “cringe” becoming an adjective, and therefore a label, occurs due to the conscious othering of a user for the nature or presentation of their content. This project conceptualizes cringe as a multidimensional phenomenon rather than a singular emotion, which allows us to more easily make sense of how online cringe specifically has morphed into what is colloquially known as “cringe culture.” Through analysis of academic literature (from disciplines ranging …

Straddling The Boundary Of Misleading Information Group: Exploring The Association Between Network Brokerage And Morality Expressions, Yiqi Li, Marina Mitiaeva, Ximeng Deng, Una Joh, Yafei Zhang

iSchool - All Scholarship

Existing misleading information studies mostly focus on either the message content or social network structures, overlooking the association between the content and structural factors. This research examines the role of brokers, the key network actors straddling between misleading and true/regular information groups. Content-wise, morality expressions are examined, which signal social media users’ expressions toward what is right and wrong. This research provides insights into the understudied relationship between network brokerage and moral expressions and identifies connections between moral foundation and network brokerage theories. Findings suggest that binding morality (i.e., authority and loyalty) is dominant among network brokers. Practical strategies are …

Digital Evidence As A Means Of Proof In Criminal Proceedings In The Uae, Dr.Khaled Ramadan Soltan

Faculty Peer-Reviewed Papers | بحوث هيئة التدريس المحكمة

This paper addresses key issues related to the admissibility of digital evidence—a pivotal concern in modern legal proceedings. The use of such evidence is fraught with challenges, particularly due to the rapid technological changes and heightened concerns surrounding electronic data privacy. In the criminal justice system, these challenges can impact the admissibility of evidence, its presentation in trial, and the charging and resolution of cases.

This study examines the difficulties of admitting digital proof before the UAE judiciary. Considering the trend towards the digital world as an alternative to the tangible world, interest is increasing in the extent of the …

Role-Playing For Learning: Enhancing Skills In Doctrinal Courses, Yael Efron, Nellie Munin

DRI Press

This book addresses the need that educators have to make theoretical concepts tangible. Teachers across various subjects and educational settings grapple with the challenge of communicating abstract ideas to diverse audiences while aiming to ignite curiosity and sustain engagement. The authors offer their insight into the method of role-playing in various law courses in a highly diverse class. The book contains thirteen simulations with teaching notes, along with the theoretical background for this method of teaching.

This is the first in a series of skills books published as part of Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s Laboratory for Advancing Dispute Resolution …

A Cancer Education Needs Assessment: Informing Middle-Aged Female Patients About The Relationships Between Obesity And Women’S Health Concerns In The Reproductive System, Breast, And Endometrial Health, Batul Mirza

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Obesity significantly impacts women’s health, particularly among middle-aged women, by increasing the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, endometrial, and reproductive system cancers. This study examines the educational needs of this demographic group regarding obesity-related cancer risks and explores effective intervention strategies. Obesity-induced mechanisms – hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance – drive cancer susceptibility, emphasizing the need for targeted health education. The study employs a qualitative design, which includes interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) and surveys of middle-aged women. The goal is to assess awareness, perceived barriers, and preferred learning methods. Findings suggest that with many …