Digital Commons Network^™

“I Missed My Other Oncologist”: Established Relationships As Barriers And Facilitators To Accessing Car-T And Autologous Transplantation, Zachary A. K. Frosch, Clark Meshack, Caitlin Meeker, Asya Varshavsky-Yanovsky, Rashmi Khanal, Michael Bromberg, Ashwin Chandar, Emmanuel Quien, Jordan Carter, Shazia K. Nakhoda, Marcus Messmer, Charissa Montgomery, Jason A. Incorvati, Nadia D. Ali, Michael J. Styler, Carolyn Y. Fang

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) can provide significant clinical benefit, but are not equally available to all patients. Oncologist continuity and trust are important to patients, and may act as barriers to receipt of therapy. However, detailed data are lacking on the mechanism by which these might affect receipt of therapy, or how this barrier may be overcome.

METHODS: We conducted a qualitative interview study with patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) or multiple myeloma (MM) eligible for or treated with ASCT/CAR-T. Participants were recruited from a multi-site academic …

The Mediating Role Of Self-Efficacy And Symptom Distress In Cancer Patients, Kailei Yan, Hsiao-Lan Wang, Brent Small, Victoria Marshall, Amanda Elliott, Danielle Tometich, Theresa M. Beckie, Susan C. Mcmillan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Cancer symptoms significantly impact the quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients (Almståhl et al., 2019; Bashir et al., 2020; Nayak et al., 2019). Self-efficacy plays a key role in managing symptoms and improving QOL (Cox-Martin et al., 2020; Erickson et al., 2021; Frensham et al., 2020; Thieser et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2019). Symptom distress, defined as the suffering from symptom occurrence, predicts QOL in cancer patients with symptoms (Badana et al., 2019). However, it is not clear whether self-efficacy and/or symptom distress mediate the effects of symptoms on QOL. This study seeks to explore if and how …

Mucosal Melanoma: Mechanisms Of Its Etiology, Progression, Resistance And Therapy, Sofie-Yasmin Hassan, Thomas W. Flanagan, Sarah-Lilly Hassan, Sybille Facca, Youssef Haikel, Mohamed Hassan

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare, aggressive cancer whose incidence has increased continuously over the years. This subtype of melanoma arises from melanocytes on hairless surfaces, typically in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and urogenital tract. The most common sites of occurrence include the head and neck, the anorectal region, and the vulvovaginal region, while the rare sites of MM are the urinary tract and the upper and lower GI tract, including the esophagus, duodenum and the gallbladder. MM arises in melanocytes of the ectodermal mucosa that originate from neural crest cells and migrate through embryonic mesenchyme to their …

Digital Neuropsychology And Social Anxiety: The Effect Of Observer Presence And Personality On Stress And Cognition, Ava M. Dixon

Master's Theses

This study examined how observer presence and social anxiety influence stress and cognitive performance during neuropsychological assessments, focusing on the potential benefits of unsupervised digital testing environments. Eighty university students were randomly assigned to observed or unobserved digital neuropsychological conditions and completed assessments of social cognition and executive functioning and questionnaires of social anxiety and personality. Participants also completed measures of state anxiety and heart rate variability at baseline and after cognitive tests. The findings indicated that observation led to higher subjective anxiety, but it did not produce significant interactions with social anxiety on stress or cognitive performance. Post-hoc analyses …

Using Mixed Reality-Driven Virtual Coach Technology In Promoting Mobility Among Older Adults, Michael Joseph S. Dino, Ma. Kristina Malacas, Rommel Hernandez

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Objective. Physical inactivity among older adults remains a global burden, leading to a variety of health challenges and even mortality. This study evaluated the impact of a novel virtual humanoid coach-driven physical exercise program among older adults.

Method. A non-randomized (quasi) experimental research was conducted in two community senior centers. The recruited participants (n = 130) were primarily female older adults with a mean age of 66.40 and agreed to be purposively assigned to either experimental or control groups. Trained healthcare providers performed health assessments at three time points using valid and reliable tools. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and RM-ANOVA were …

Exploring Variations In Emotional Intelligence And Burnout Among Nursing Students, Carrie Ann Bailey, Lynn Beeler, James Lewis

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this research is to further validate a clinician language centric self-assessment of emotional intelligence and burnout to determine if there is a difference in the subscales that measure Emotional Intelligence between the accelerated baccalaureate student nurses (ABSN) and the traditional baccalaureate student nurses (BSN). Junior level traditional BSN students and first semester ABSN students were recruited and surveyed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Scale of Emotional Functioning in Medicine. Demographic data was also compared between the two groups. Data was analyzed using Independent-Samples Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: The two groups of students were significantly different …

Clinical And Demographic Profiles Of Pediatric Burn Patients: A Descriptive Retrospective Analysis, Gifty Osei Berchie, Susanna Aba Abraham, Christiana Okantey, Benjamin Kofi Anumel

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Burn injuries are a leading cause of preventable mortality and disability among children, with approximately 96,000 pediatric cases globally each year (Asefa et al., 2024). In low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, children account for nearly 90% of burn cases, with those under five being most vulnerable due to developmental factors, lack of supervision, and domestic hazards. Socioeconomic challenges such as overcrowded living conditions and inadequate safety measures exacerbate the risk (Mok et al., 2023). Burns are primarily caused by scalds from hot liquids, contact burns, and flame injuries linked to unsafe cooking practices and improper storage of …

Perceived Parental Relationship Quality And Adolescent Conscious Bias: Important Links Between Affect, Agency, Gender, And Race/Ethnicity, Amanda Terrall, Michael J. Merten, Thulitha Wickrama

General Human Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Guided by attachment, social cognitive, and ecological systems theories, this study examined the direct and indirect effects of perceived parent-adolescent relationship quality on youths' conscious bias toward individuals facing socioeconomic or minority-related challenges.Methods Data were collected from 702 U.S. 18-year-olds via Qualtrics online panels. Measures included parent relationship quality, negative affect, human agency, and conscious bias (disregard for minority experiences and blaming attitudes).Results The findings revealed that strong parent-teen bonds indirectly influenced conscious bias through psychosocial wellbeing. However, while negative emotions were universally influential, the impact of human agency varied depending on gender and race/ethnicity.Discussion Study findings underscore the …

How Human Personality Will Change With The Use Of Artificial Intelligence, John Mayer

UNH Personality Lab

INTRODUCTION: Human personality changes in response to new habits, situations, and maturation, among other causes. As people interact with artificial intelligence (AI), their personalities are likely to change, from their emotional responses to their self-concept.

METHODOLOGY: This theoretical account draws together empirical studies of how personality changed in response to past technological innovations, changes in personal interactions observed in people’s AI usage, changes that arise from the use and disuse of cognitive skills, and works on the self-concept. Research reports in the review were selected according to their relevance and quality.

THEORETICAL STATEMENT: While AI becomes increasingly human-like, humans increasingly …

Menopause And Motherhood: Shaping Women’S Lived Experiences, Michelle M. Ness

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Motherhood is a multifaceted role influenced by various transitions during midlife, including changing relationship dynamics with children and significant others and the onset of menopause. Mothers often shift from hands-on caregiving to an advisory role with their adult children during this time. This shift coincides with hormonal changes associated with menopause, exacerbating physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. The hormonal changes associated with menopause profoundly impact women's emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships, potentially increasing susceptibility to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Additionally, the increased demand for balance between family responsibilities and professional …

Red Midge Larvae Are An Invertebrate Alternative Diet To Beef Liver For Planarian Husbandry, Jonah Pacis , '25, Danielle Ireland, Evangeline Coffinas, Jerome Sheehan, Kate Sun , '27, Eva-Maria S. Collins

Biology Faculty Works

Freshwater planarians are an emerging model for toxicology and neuroscience because of their amenability to rapid behavioral screening and remarkable ability to regenerate a cephalized nervous system. As invertebrates, planarians can help reduce the use of vertebrates in research; however, laboratories typically maintain planarians on diets of homogenized organic beef or chicken liver, raising ethical concerns with feeding a vertebrate diet. Organic liver is difficult to obtain, and preparation methods vary, introducing intra- and interlaboratory variability. Here, we show that Dugesia japonica planarians can be maintained for over a year on commercially available red midge larvae (RML), a natural prey …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of An Implementation Strategy To Enhance Use Of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Approaches In Elementary Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Timothy J Walker, Derek W Craig, Christopher D Pfledderer, Matthew Lee, Kempson Onadeko, Emma E Saving, John B Bartholomew, Maria E Fernández

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Classroom-based approaches are an evidence-based way to improve children's physical activity; however, they are inconsistently implemented in schools. We developed MAGIC (Movement for Academic Growth In Classrooms), a multifaceted implementation strategy that consists of leadership training, teacher training, and a monthly newsletter to improve use of classroom-based physical activity approaches. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of MAGIC among elementary school teachers and leaders.

Methods: We used an embedded, convergent mixed methods design. We provided the MAGIC implementation strategy to a partner elementary school. We then administered surveys to teachers to quantitatively examine …

Developing Ehealth Interventions To Improve Diabetes Management In Emerging Adulthood: Qualitative Formative Study, April Idalski Carcone, Deepika Baskar, Aishah Mahmood, Karen Macdonell, Susan Eggly, Samiran Ghosh, Colleen Buggs-Saxton, Steven J Ondersma, Deborah A Ellis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Emerging adulthood is a high-risk period during which many with type 1 diabetes demonstrate suboptimal diabetes management and glycemic control. There is a need for effective, scalable interventions designed specifically for this population. Technology-based approaches are readily accessible to this age group. Furthermore, interventions consistent with self-determination theory-which posits that the fulfillment of psychological needs for autonomy, self-efficacy, and relatedness promotes intrinsic motivation for change-may resonate well with emerging adults' developmental needs for establishing independence and autonomy, and growing their social network.

Objective: This study aimed to enhance the potential relevance, sustainability, and efficacy of 3 self-determination theory-informed mobile …

Adolescent Sexting: An Exploration Of Teacher’S Perspectives Of The Relationship And Sex Education (Rse) Based Curriculum, Grace Byrne, Leigh-Ann Sweeney, Sinead Tobin

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Sexting has emerged as a normative aspect of adolescent sexual exploration in Ireland and internationally. While much attention has been given to the risks and negative aspects of sexting, contemporary literature highlights the potential positives associated with adolescent sexting. Within this precarious context, little is known about the attention sexting commands within formal education of adolescents in Ireland. To better understand teachers’ perspectives of the positionality of sexting within Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum in Ireland, the researchers employed a qualitative interpretivist approach in interviewing eight RSE teachers actively delivering sex education in Irish secondary schools. Teacher’s narratives were …

Apocalypticism And Prognostication In Early ShiʿI Literature, Mohammad Amin Mansouri

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Arts and Humanities

This article studies the origins of Jafr, an apocalyptic, eschatological and occult book attributed to the first Shiʿi imam, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 661). While it remains unclear whether Jafr was ever physically composed, it became associated with lettrism (ʿilm al-ḥurūf) in medieval Sunni and Shiʿi literature. Jafr gradually evolved into a crucial component of Islamic occult traditions and influenced various cosmological theories as well as the letter-magic practices of prominent Sunni and Shiʿi occultists. Despite its historical significance, confusion regarding Jafr’s roots, authorship and content in Shiʿi sources from the third to fifth centuries AH …

Transdisciplinary Perspectives On Ai: The Fourth Annual Conference Of The European Culture And Technology Laboratory, Connell Vaughan, Ioana Madalina Moldovan, Silivan Moldovan, Noel Fitzpatrick

Books/Book Chapters

The fourth annual conference of the ECT Lab+ was hosted by Technical University of Cluj-Napoca over two days in October 2024 at the Cluj Innovation Park. The conference brought together experts from the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Technology, and other fields to discuss and reflect on the advent of Artificial Intelligence and how the associated technologies are transforming how we live, work and study. Under the title Transdisciplinary perspectives on AI: Alternative Histories, Current Practices and Possible Futures the conference moved beyond simplistic technophila and technophobia to consider whether we can co-evolve with these new technologies which combine machine learning …

Non-Invasive Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Of The Human Nucleus Accumbens Impacts Reward Sensitivity, Siti N Yaakub, John Eraifej, Nadège Bault, Mathilde Lojkiewiez, Elouan Bellec, Jamie Roberts, Noah S Philip, Amir Puyan Divanbeighi Zand, Alexander L Green, Matthew F S Rushworth, Elsa F Fouragnan

School of Psychology

Precisely neuromodulating deep brain regions could bring transformative advancements in both neuroscience and treatment. We demonstrate that non-invasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) can selectively modulate deep brain activity and affect learning and decision making, comparable to deep brain stimulation (DBS). We tested whether TUS could causally influence neural and behavioural responses by targeting the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) using a reinforcement learning task. Twenty-six healthy adults completed a within-subject TUS-fMRI experiment with three conditions: TUS to the NAcc, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), or Sham. After TUS, participants performed a probabilistic learning task during fMRI. TUS-NAcc altered BOLD responses to reward …

Rewilding Gender: Toward Relational Understandings Of ‘The Wild’, Kim Ward

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This commentary reframes gender and rewilding through a relational understanding of wildness. Moving beyond a binary lens of ‘the wild’, it examines how gendered relations shape rewilding's material, emotional, and epistemic dimensions. Centring relational wildness exposes how rewilding challenges masculine imaginaries of control and ownership while opening space for more equitable multispecies relations.

The 23rd International Medical, Pharmaceutical, Cosmeceutical And Health Science Symposium (Impachs), Sultan Qaboos University

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Clinical Pharmacist As Principal Investigator—2026, Dave L. Dixon, Leo F. Buckley, Raniah Aljadeed, William L. Baker, Samuel C. Greer, Amy Y. Kang, S. Casey Laizure, Abbie D. Leino, Robert Maclaren, Milap C. Nahata, Tien M. H. Ng, Elaine Nguyen

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) first described the role and history of the pharmacist as principal investigator (PI) in 2000. An update was published in 2010, citing evidence from NIH and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry that showed an increase in the number of individuals with a Pharm.D. degree engaging in pharmacist-directed research. The 2025 ACCP Publications Committee was charged with providing an update to the 2010 paper. Key findings include a substantial increase in the total amount of federal funding awarded to schools of pharmacy (SoP) between 2011 and 2023, a modest increase in the number of pharmacists receiving …

Sign Patterns Of Certain Infinite Products, Zeyu Huang, Timothy J. Huber, James Mclaughlin, Pengjun Wang, Yan Xu, Dongxi Ye

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The signs of Fourier coefficients of certain eta quotients are determined by dissecting expansions for theta functions and by applying a general dissection formula for certain classes of quintuple products. A characterization is given for the coefficient sign patterns for

(qi;qi)∞(qp;qp)∞

for integers i>1 and primes p>3. The sign analysis for this quotient addresses and extends a conjecture of Bringmann et al. for the coefficients of (q2;q2)∞(q5;q5)−1∞. The sign distribution for additional classes of eta quotients is considered. This addresses multiple conjectures posed by Bringmann et al.

‘The Truth Was, Most Biodiversity Was Redundant’: Caring About Mass Extinction In Ned Beauman’S Venomous Lumpsucker, David Sergeant

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This essay reads Ned Beauman’s Venomous Lumpsucker as exploring the gap that exists between caring about mass species extinction and taking meaningful action to prevent it. The novel, at first, undermines the conventional reasons for caring; however, one of its protagonists is then revealed as having become willing to die for the issue. Equally, the reason for this change proves strangely hard to locate. This essay argues that the real reason for caring about species extinction in Venomous Lumpsucker is connected to a transcendence of the self that aligns the novel with both science fiction and spiritual traditions; however, this …

Addressing The Burden Of Prematurity And Its Prevention In Developing Countries: Is It Time To Act Now?, Mahaveer Singh Lakra, Amar Taksande, Revat J. Meshram, Ashwini Lakra, Amit Kumar, Deepak Gandhi, Roshan Prasad, Mayur Wanjari

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Around 3.5 million preterm births occur in India annually, accounting for about 25% of all preterm births worldwide. Prematurity poses a significant burden world-wide but leaves a special impact on the families and health systems of low-socioeconomic countries where easy and universal access to adequate health services is compromised. Premature birth imposes a significant risk of neonatal death among all under-fives due to organ immaturity, sepsis, and respiratory distress syndrome. Efforts to address prematurity on a global scale involve a multifaceted approach, including improving access to quality prenatal care, enhancing neonatal care services, and implementing public health interventions to reduce …

Softchalk: Product Review, Claudia Vela-Hernández, Veronica Rodriguez

TxDLA Journal of Digital Learning

SoftChalk is a powerful content authoring tool designed to support self-directed learning (SDL) and student engagement. It enables instructors to build interactive, multimedia-rich lessons that are accessible across devices. This review explores SoftChalk's key features, including embedded quizzes, self assessment tools, and cloud-based access. It evaluates its effectiveness in enhancing student engagement and explores its system specifications, LMS integration, intuitive interface and flexible design capabilities. Whether used for language acquisition, portfolio creation, or ongoing professional development, SoftChalk proves to be a versatile and impactful tool in today’s digital education landscape.

Ignite Collaboration For Interactive Meetings, Kelli Erwin

TxDLA Journal of Digital Learning

This article explores how intentional design, inclusive facilitation, and purposeful tools can transform meetings into interactive environments that foster collaboration, creativity, and meaningful outcomes. Designed for educators, instructional leaders, and organizational facilitators, it provides practical strategies to elevate meetings through collaboration, interactivity, and purposeful design.

Trauma Therapy For Orcs: A Psychotherapeutic Consideration Of Orcs In Tolkien's Legendarium, Karen L. Pollock Ms

Journal of Tolkien Research

The complex, violent behavior of the Orcs can be understood through the lens of modern trauma psychology, specifically Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and the mechanism of Intergenerational Trauma Transmission.

CPTSD is a diagnosis often applied to individuals who have experienced prolonged, repeated, and inescapable trauma, particularly within an abusive or authoritarian environment. The foundational myth of the Orcs—that they were captured, enslaved, tortured, and physically and mentally mutated by Morgoth—perfectly aligns with a foundational, systemic trauma event.

The resulting Orcish behaviors align with the core symptom clusters of CPTSD including; emotional dysregulation,dissociation/distorted self-perception, disturbed relationships, and a lack of …

“It’S All Fun And Games Until Someone Loses An Eye (-Test): On The Presence And Consequences Of An Argument Scheme That Re-Works Our Notions Of Evidence And Support”, Matthew P. Brigham

Studies in Debate and Oratory

This essay explores an argument scheme commonly employed in sport communication, the “Eye Test,” which claims that a good faith watching of two teams or athletes, for instance, provides its own evidence as to which is superior. A distinction is drawn between a weak version of the argument, the earned eye test, and the strong version, the universal eye test. Focusing on the latter, which does not rely on expertise but claims that any individual should be able to see the proof of the argument, the essay explores a range of everyday and public sphere arguments that operate …

Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala – Overview And Mission

Vision and mission statements

No abstract provided.

How Not To Go Viral? A Covid-19 Handbook For Students

University press releases and calendars

No abstract provided.

Rubric-Based Evaluation For On-Brand Generative Media, Mohab Fekry, Cornelius Koch, Luka Stellwag

Defensive Publications Series

This publication describes a novel system and method for evaluating artificial intelligence (AI)-generated media, focusing on prompt adherence, technical quality, and brand alignment. The framework addresses challenges in current evaluation methods by employing dynamic, multi-component rubric generation and a multimodal, rubric-based evaluation and scoring process. This approach provides a scalable, reliable, and interpretable solution for comprehensively assessing generative media.