Digital Commons Network^™

Daily Locomotor Activity Declines With Tumor Growth And Disease Progression In Glioblastoma, Maria F Gonzalez-Aponte, Sofia V Salvatore, Anna R. Damato, Ruth Gn Katumba, Grayson R. Talcott, Omar H. Butt, Jian L. Campian, Jingqin Luo, Joshua B. Rubin, Olivia J. Walch, Erik D. Herzog

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that often progresses despite resection and treatment. Timely and continuous assessment of GBM progression is critical to expedite secondary surgery or enrollment in clinical trials. However, current progression detection requires costly and specialized MRI examinations, which, in the absence of new symptoms or signs, are usually scheduled every 2-3 months. Here, we hypothesized that changes in daily activity are associated with GBM growth and disease progression. We found that wheel-running activity in GBM-bearing mice declined as tumors grew and preceded weight loss and circadian breakdown by over a week. Temozolomide treatment in the …

Lung Epithelial And Alveolar Macrophage-Like Cell Interactions Significantly Modify Innate Responses To Bacterial Endotoxin With The Involvement Of Direct Cellular Contacts, Tnf-Α, Icam1 And Mcp-1, Connor Wood, Shagun Khera, Minjeong Woo, Vikram Sharma, Justyna Lopatecka, Frederic Coulon, Zaheer Nasir, Vincent Delorme, Simon K. Jackson, György Fejer

School of Biomedical Sciences

Introduction: Lung alveolar macrophages (AMs) and epithelial cells form the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens. Their interactions strongly influence innate immune responses in the lung, yet the mechanisms underlying this cross-talk remain incompletely understood. Methods: In this study, we established a co-culture system using a primary model of AMs (MPI alveolar macrophage-like cells) and MLE-12 alveolar epithelial cells to investigate innate responses and cellular interactions during bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TLR4 activation. Results: Cytokine and chemokine profiling revealed that co-cultures exhibited significantly enhanced proinflammatory responses to both LPS and TLR2 ligands—including IL-6, TNF-a, and MCP-1 secretion—compared with mono-cultures. Strikingly, …

Teaching Numeracy For Social Justice: Educational Equity, Esther Isabelle Wilder, Crystal C. Rodriguez, Caterina Shost, Eduardo Vianna, Frank Wang

Numeracy

The special collection, “Teaching Numeracy for Social Justice: Educational Equity,” focuses on how quantitative reasoning (QR) can function as a vehicle for equity, empowerment, and democratic participation. Building on a longstanding tradition that treats numeracy as inseparable from social justice, these contributions highlight how progressive pedagogies (e.g., active learning, authentic research, and equity-oriented assessment) have the potential to broaden access for students historically excluded from quantitative fields. The studies span a variety of conceptual frameworks, introductory and advanced quantitative instruction, and interdisciplinary applications, showcasing how inclusive QR practices can build confidence, agency, and real-world understanding. These articles demonstrate that when …

The Roles Of Mathematics In Teaching For Social Justice: A Framework For The College Classroom, Vivian Lim, Daniel Libertz

Numeracy

In this paper, we present a framework for understanding the multiple roles that mathematics can serve in the classroom towards social justice goals, developed through an analysis of 36 social justice mathematics curricular modules in college settings. The framework is grounded in Patricia Hill Collins's matrix of domination and consists of seven themes that represent the different roles mathematics can play: measuring inequality, illuminating conditions resulting in inequality, understanding the mechanisms of phenomena, challenging stereotypes and misconceptions, generating and evaluating solutions, communication and action, and criticizing quantification. Our framework supports the perspective that mathematics can serve important and distinct roles …

A Prescription For Ineffective Notice In Mhealth, Tatyana Norman-Webler

Akron Law Review

No abstract provided.

Private Equity And Non-Profit Status In The Us Healthcare System, Sam Halabi, Sanvi Belani, George O'Hara

Akron Law Review

No abstract provided.

Dying Well: Hospice Care As A Diminished Promise, Barry R. Furrow

Akron Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reconnect Or Disconnect?: Using Technology To Address Loneliness And Social Isolation For Aging Adults And Its Regulation, Laura C. Hoffman

Akron Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Archon, 1949 Edition, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated

Josie Green Washington Papers

A 1949 edition pamphlet called The Archon, an official organ of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Harmony Or Anarchy? Punk’S Legacy In Protest Music, Keen Simpson

Legacy

No abstract provided.

Never Mind, I’M Bored: An Examination Of The History Of Punk Rock In New York City During The 1970s, Tameshia Glass

Legacy

No abstract provided.

Just Be Nice, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The article "Just Be Nice" by Dr. Sarah Friend explores the increasing challenges of working with the public, particularly in high-stress professions like teaching and dentistry, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the decline in emotional intelligence, empathy, and social connection, as supported by research from Six Seconds and Jolanta Burke. The pandemic has led to significant personality changes, increased stress, and a rise in disrespectful behavior. Dr. Friend emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal physical, emotional, and mental well-being to counteract these societal challenges and improve overall quality of life.

Va Dent J January, February And March 2026

Virginia Dental Journal

The January-March 2026 issue of the Virginia Dental Journal highlights key updates and initiatives from the Virginia Dental Association (VDA). It addresses Virginia’s dental workforce shortage with a proposed three-step legislative solution to expand access to care and strengthen the dental workforce pipeline. The issue features upcoming events, including the VDA Legislative Reception, Lobby Day, and the Virginia Dental Showcase. It also provides educational opportunities, such as the Dental Assisting II Program and the Virginia Dental Journal Excellence Awards. Advocacy updates focus on legislative efforts, Medicaid budget cuts, and AI regulations in dentistry. Resources for members include discounts through VDA …

A Case Study Of Faculty Composition And Workload In Sport Management Programs At Small-To-Medium-Sized Colleges And Universities, Joshua Greer, Nicholas Zoroya, Aimee T. Vlachos, Alan Ledford

The COSMA Journal

Sport management has transitioned from its origins in physical education to an established, business-oriented academic discipline, prompting new questions about how faculty composition and workload shape program delivery in resource-constrained contexts. This case study investigates faculty structures, instructional variety, and workload in sport management programs at small- to medium-sized U.S. colleges and universities, as defined by the Carnegie Size & Setting Classification. A mixed-methods survey of faculty (n = 61) was analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. Quantitative results indicated that core courses are primarily taught by full-time faculty, with most programs relying on one to three full-time …

The Archon, December 1948, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated

Josie Green Washington Papers

A pamphlet called The Archon, an official organ of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, from December 1948.

A Suite Of Thermal Switches For Surviving Extreme Thermal Environments In Space, Matthew I. Ralphs, Matt Jensen, Alexis Eames, Matt Sinfield

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Thermal switches are a key enabling technology for spacecraft operating in extreme thermal environments. Whether surviving the lunar night, managing intermittent high-power loads from deep space communication systems, or dealing with other extreme thermal environments, high-performance thermal switches allow critical missions to operate beyond conventional thermal design limits. This paper presents the development, testing, and performance of a suite of passive thermal switches designed for both spacecraft- and subsystem-level thermal control. The suite includes: (1) traditional in-line switch placed between sensitive components and radiators; (2) compact designs suitable for integration into standard bolted joint interfaces to modulate the conductance between …

Hypersonic Non-Equilibrium Cfd And Dsmc Model Comparisons With The Varda Reentry Capsule, Jack D. Crespo, Paolo Valentini, Ashwin P. Rao, Zach S. Davis

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Nonequilibrium aerothermodynamic modeling of the Varda hypersonic testbed capsule is conducted with direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers. Flowfield properties at the 78 km reentry trajectory point are extracted to compute line of sight spectral radiance using two radiative emission codes, namely HARA and NEQAIR. Computed spectra are compared to spectral radiance measured by an in situ optical emission spectroscopy payload flown on Varda’s W-2 capsule in 2025. Model comparisons to the experimental data reveal discrepancies between the HARA and NEQAIR radiative emission predictions in both overall magnitude and qualitative behavior. NEQAIR was found to …

An Investigation Of A Mach 15 Flow Over A Blunt Wedge Using First-Principles Potential Energy Surfaces: Influence Of Wall Temperature, Paolo Valentini, Zach Davis, Maninder S. Grover, Nicholas J. Bisek

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The simulation of a Mach 15 air flow over a blunt wedge is conducted using the direct molecular simulation (DMS) method. Due to partial dissociation of the air mixture at the imposed free stream conditions, the shock layer contains N₂, O₂, NO, N, and O. All potential energy surfaces (PESs) used to model the various molecular interactions only describe electronic ground states energetics. Thus, no electronic excitation is modeled. An isothermal wall boundary condition is imposed, with full momentum and energy accommodation. Two wall temperatures are considered in this work, namely 1,000 K and 2,000 K. …

2026 January 8 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

General Education Subcommittee Minutes January 8, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - December 4, 2025
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Adjourn: 9:30 am

Regional Anesthesia Utilizing Liposomal Bupivacaine, With Or Without Dexamethasone, Provides Excellent Pain Control And Minimizes Opioid Consumption Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, William L. Johns, Armen Voskeridjian, Benjamin Miltenberg, Rahul Muchintala, Christopher C. Dodson, Steven B. Cohen, John Salvo, Matthew Sherman, Michael G. Ciccotti, Sommer Hammoud

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Perioperative nerve blocks are commonly used for regional analgesia with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is a long-acting anesthetic agent providing up to 72 hours of nerve blockade. It is theorized that the addition of dexamethasone to LB (LB+dex) may prolong the analgesic duration.

PURPOSE: To characterize pain control and opioid consumption with adductor canal block (ACB), interspace between the popliteal artery and capsule of the posterior knee (iPACK), and suprasartorial infiltration (SSI) regional anesthetic techniques utilizing LB after ACLR and to compare LB versus LB+dex.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. …

What’S My Name? Experiences Of Individuals With Traditional Hawaiian Names, Natalya N. Spotkaeff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is no systematic process of orienting non-Hawaiian educators to Hawaiian culture, as evidenced by name mispronunciation. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of individuals with traditional Hawaiian first names in a classroom environment. Critical race theory (CRT), especially the concept of microaggressions, was used as the framework for the study. Two research questions guided the study: What are the adult lived experiences with traditional Hawaiian first names encountered in academic settings during childhood? How do adults with traditional Hawaiian first names describe their experiences of race in the classroom? Semistructured interviews were conducted with …

A Comparative Analysis Of Rural And Urban Mental Health Counselors’ Burnout Levels During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Pietro Martucci

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially increased occupational demands on mental health counselors, intensifying burnout and threatening clinician well-being, workforce sustainability, and quality of care. Guided by Resiliency Theory, this quantitative cross-sectional study examined burnout among rural and urban mental health counselors during the COVID-19 pandemic, with geographic location serving as the independent variable. Participants included 108 licensed master’s- and doctoral-level counselors in the United States who provided direct clinical services in rural or urban settings between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021. Data were collected using an online survey that included a demographic questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Lgbtq+ High School Graduates’ Perspectives On Lgbtq+-Related Legislation, Thomas James Foley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) students’ social, emotional, and academic experiences and outcomes are not on par with their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Understanding how LGBTQ+ young adults experienced high school in a state with LGBTQ+-affirmative education legislation provides insight for counselors and educators to identify policies and practices that support positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ students. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how LGBTQ+-identifying high school graduates made meaning of their experiences in school as they related to LGBTQ+-affirmative education legislation. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used for the research methodology and data analysis process. Results included four themes: (a) …

Usa V. Christopher Texidor

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Ryan Mendoza

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Fluid Agency In Ai Systems: A Case For Functional Equivalence In Copyright, Patent, And Tort, Anirban Mukherjee, Hannah H. Chang

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) systems lack human-like consciousness or culpability, yet they exhibit fluid agency: behavior that is (i) stochastic (probabilistic and path-dependent), (ii) dynamic (co-evolving with user interaction), and (iii) adaptive (able to reorient across contexts). Fluid agency generates valuable outputs but collapses attribution, irreducibly entangling human and machine inputs. This fundamental unmappability fractures doctrines that assume traceable provenance—authorship, inventorship, and liability—yielding ownership gaps and moral “crumple zones.”

This Article argues that only functional equivalence stabilizes doctrine. Where provenance is indeterminate, legal frameworks must treat human and AI contributions as equivalent for allocating rights and responsibility—not as a claim …

Novel Repurposing Of Empagliflozin-Loaded Buccal Composite (Chitosan/Silk Fibroin/Poly(Lactic Acid)) Nanofibers For Alzheimer’S Disease Management Via Modulation Of Aβ–Ager–P-Tau Pathway, Samar A. Salim

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Background/Objectives: Empagliflozin (EMPA) was repurposed for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment via buccal delivery, exploiting novel nanofibers (NFs) integrating chitosan (Cs), silk fibroin (Fb), and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Methods: EMPA-loaded Cs/Fb/PLA NFs were electrospun in different formulations to optimize the formulation parameters. The optimized formulation was then investigated for its enhanced in vivo effect. Results: Optimized nanofiber diameters ranged from 459 ± 173 to 668 ± 148 nm, possessing bead-free morphology confirmed by SEM and satisfactory mechanical properties. EMPA was successfully well-dispersed in the polymer matrix as evidenced by FTIR, XRD, and drug content. The optimized NFs displayed a hydrophilic surface …

General Education Subcommittee Agenda, January 8, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - December 4, 2025
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Depth Courses and Engineering Discussion
• Additional Items
• Adjourn: 9:30 am

Combinatorial Synthesis Of Protein-Polymer Conjugates By Post-Polymerization Modification Of Poly(Pentafluorophenyl Acrylate)S, Emily W. Kish, Thatcher M. Lee, Alexis M. Ziemba, Ama Boamah, Bianca Figueroa, Margherita Piccardi, Carey E. Dougan, Sarah J. Moore, Maren E. Buck

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Combinatorial methods for preparing polymeric biomaterials enable the rapid identification of materials useful for many applications in science, medicine, and engineering. In the work described here, we demonstrate that side-chain reactive polymers can be used as templates for the rapid preparation of a small library of diversely functionalized protein–polymer conjugates. The activated ester polymer poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA) was modified postpolymerization with substoichiometric equivalents of three hydrophilic primary amines to yield a library of amphiphilic, side-chain reactive copolymers. These copolymers were then conjugated to two receptor-targeting proteins, holotransferrin (hTF) and an engineered fibronectin-based protein (Fn3), through amine-activated ester coupling. We investigated …