Digital Commons Network^™

Clinical, Genetic, And Familial Features Of Pot1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome, Courtney D Dinardo, Jennifer Croden, Hiam M Abdel-Salam, Tapan Kadia, Matteo Molica, Alexandre Bazinet, Prithviraj Bose, Abhishek Maiti, Fadi Haddad, Jan Burger, Hagop Kantarjian, William Wierda, Nitin Jain, Alessandra Ferrajoli

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Protection of telomere 1 (POT1) tumor predisposition syndrome (POT1-TPD) is a hereditary leukemia syndrome that is identified in ∼5% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and is characterized by a predisposition to other cancers, including gliomas, melanomas, and angiosarcomas. This study reports clinical and genetic characteristics of a large cohort of individuals with POT1-TPD.

Materials and methods: Individuals with pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline POT1 variants referred to the Hereditary Hematologic Malignancy Clinic at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center were included. Individuals with variants of uncertain significance were included if found to have telomeres >90th percentile of …

Control Arm Overperformance In Phase 3 Oncology Clinical Trials, Ansel P Nalin, Pavlos Msaouel, Adam J Grippin, Ramez Kouzy, Joseph Abi Jaoude, Timothy A Lin, Avital M Miller, Noah S Meimoun, Ethan B Ludmir, Alexander D Sherry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), anticipating control arm outcomes is important for power calculations and enrollment goals. Unexpected overperformance of the control arm can underpower RCTs. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of control arm overperformance in phase 3 oncology RCTs.

Methods: The authors conducted a meta-epidemiological study of two-arm, superiority-design, phase 3 oncology RCTs. They reviewed articles/publications and protocols for power calculations, justification, and outcomes. Control arm performance was measured as the ratio of observed control arm outcomes relative to pretrial estimates, and overperformance was defined as a 10% improvement.

Results: In total, 385 …

Beliefs Of Beginner Pedagogical Researchers About Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis, Kálmán Sántha

The Qualitative Report

This paper explores how computer-assisted qualitative data analysis appears in the beliefs and practical work of beginner researchers. The paper outlines the advantages of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis for beginner researchers, identifies the problems that may arise during this process, and discusses the topics where software capable of analysing multi-coded data can be utilised. The investigation was conducted through structured interviews. The text corpora were processed using a combined method that incorporated theory-driven deductive and data-driven inductive processes.  The following were discussed: advantages and problems with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis, and topics where software for analyzing qualitative data can be …

Does Increasing Human Impact Across The Holocene Result In Simplification Of Vegetation Composition And Diversity Across Europe? A Pollen-Based Spatio-Temporal Approach, Caterina Röhm, Maria Antonia Serge, Ralph Fyfe, François Gillet, Laurent Marquer, Agnès Lagnoux, Thierry Klein, Didier Galop, Florence Mazier

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Land use and climate change are the primary drivers of current biodiversity loss, but have had different impacts on biodiversity across the Holocene epoch. To enhance our understanding of current changes in diversity and its impact on ecosystem functions, knowledge of long-term interactions between vegetation diversity, land use change, and climatic change is crucial. Grid-cell estimates of quantified regional vegetation cover (RV_est) based on pollen data from 1607 sites across Europe, transformed using the REVEALS (Regional Vegetation Estimates from Large Sites) model, have been used to explore spatiotemporal changes in vegetation and regional diversity during the Holocene (25 …

Emerging Trends In Photocatalyst-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks For Pfas Degradation, Ahmad Najafidoust, Roham Ghanbari, Javad Farahbakhsh, Ratish Permala, Stefan Iglauer, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent pollutants in the environment that pose significant health hazards due to their strong chemical resilience and widespread industrial use. Traditional treatment techniques, such as adsorption and reverse osmosis, often struggle with drawbacks like high energy requirements and limited effectiveness against both short- and long-chain PFAS compounds. Among the innovative degradation methods, photocatalysis has gained attention as a viable solution, especially when coupled with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs are particularly suited for this purpose due to their high surface area, customizable structures, and superior light absorption properties. This review highlights the latest developments …

Adolescent Math Anxiety: Teachers' Grouping Approach At The Intersection Of Multiple Student Identities, Dara Shifrer, Hannah Sean Ellefritz, David Hernandez-Saca, Allison Roda, Karla Santana Martinez

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Math anxiety represents a substantial barrier to many students’ math learning. In this paper, we apply interdisciplinary perspectives to data on over 13,200 ninth graders and their math teachers from the High School Longitudinal Study. Results suggest that being perceived as dis/abled relates to heightened math anxiety regardless of adolescents’ gender, or race and ethnicity. Our intersectional approach reveals that adolescents’ expressions of math anxiety do not always correspond with gender, racial, and ethnic stereotypes, with Black girls, Black boys, and Latine boys expressing relatively low levels of math anxiety. Finally, consistent with the principles of inclusion and universal design, …

A Damaging Mutation In Col6a3 Alters The Mechanobiologic Response Of Chondrocytes Derived From Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Zainab Harissa, Niek Bloks, Nancy Steward, Sara F Tufa, Douglas R Keene, Yolande F M Ramos, Ingrid Meulenbelt, Farshid Guilak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disease associated with genetic, biological, and mechanical risk factors that act, in part, to alter chondrocyte homeostasis. Our recent exome sequencing studies identified a damaging genetic variant in COL6A3, a monomeric unit of collagen type VI and a distinguishing component of the pericellular matrix (PCM) of articular cartilage, a transducer of mechanical and biochemical signals for the chondrocyte. To study the effect of this genetic variant, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived chondrocytes, genetically edited to harbor the COL6A3 mutation, were used as an in vitro model to investigate chondrocyte mechanobiology and pathobiology. The COL6A3 …

Expression Of Concern: The Innovative Technique For Obtaining The Solutions Of Jeffery Hamel Nano-Fluids Flow Problem, Haedir Abd Alrazak Namoos, Abeer Majeed Jasim

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: H.A.A. Namoos and A.M. Jasim, ``The Innovative Technique for Obtaining the Solutions of Jeffery Hamel Nano-fluids Flow Problem,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, Article 31. DOI:https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1303.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss3/31.

Reason for Expression of Concern:The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “The Innovative Technique for Obtaining the Solutions of Je ery Hamel Nano-fluids Flow Problem (Manuscript 1303)”. The journal has initiated an additional editorial assessment of the article’s methodology, data provenance, and reported outcomes to …

Expression Of Concern: Software Engineering Approach To Enhancing Privacy Protection: Automated Face Blurring Using Deep Learning In Arab Social Media, Yasmin Makki Mohialden, Nadia Mahmood Hussien, Mostafa Abdulghafoor Mohammed

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: Y. M. Mohialden, N. M. Hussien, and M. A. Mohammed, ``Software Engineering Approach to Enhancing Privacy Protection: Automated Face Blurring Using Deep Learning in Arab Social Media,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, Article 43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1317.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss3/43.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “Software Engineering Approach to Enhancing Privacy Protection: Automated Face Blurring Using Deep Learning in Arab Social Media (Manuscript 1317)”. The journal has initiated an additional …

Expression Of Concern: Quantum Machine And Deep Learning For Medical Image Classification: A Systematic Review Of Trends, Methodologies, And Future Directions, Eman A. Radhi, Mohammed Y. Kamil, Mazin Abed Mohammed

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: E. A. Radhi, M. Y. Kamil, and M. A. Mohammed, ``Quantum Machine and Deep Learning for Medical Image Classification: A Systematic Review of Trends, Methodologies, and Future Directions,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 2, 2025, Article 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1252.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss2/9.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “Quantum Machine and Deep Learning for Medical Image Classification: A Systematic Review of Trends, Methodologies, and Future Directions (Manuscript 1252)”. The journal has initiated …

Expression Of Concern: Ontology Features-Based Arabic Text Augmentation Using Word2vec, Enas Tariq Khudair, Onsa Lazzez, Mourad Zaied, Tarek M. Hamdani, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Habib Chabchoub, Adel M. Alimi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: E. T. Khudair, O. Lazzez, M. Zaied, T. M. Hamdani, A. T. Sadiq, H. Chabchoub, and A. M. Alimi, “Ontology Features-Based Arabic Text Augmentation Using Word2Vec,” Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, Article 40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421. 1302 Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss3/40

Editor's Note: The Expression of Concern (DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1386) regarding the Original Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1302) has been resolved. The publication timeline is as follows: Original Article → Expression of Concern → Resolution.

Expression Of Concern: Leveraging Machine Learning For Accurate Prediction Of Nba Player Salaries, Ye Cheng, Yan Song, Mingqi Wang

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: Y. Cheng, Y. Song, and M. Wang, ``Leveraging Machine Learning for Accurate Prediction of NBA Player Salaries,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, Article 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1275
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss3/1

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “Leveraging Machine Learning for Accurate Prediction of NBA Player Salaries (Manuscript 1275)”. The journal has initiated an additional editorial assessment of the article’s methodology, data provenance, and reported outcomes to confirm their reliability and reproducibility. This notice …

Expression Of Concern: Improving Road Safety Through Multimodal Deep Learning For Driver Drowsiness Detection, Hadel A. Hussain, Mohammed A. Subhi, Ahmed S. Al Tmeme, Ahmed D. Radhi, Marwan Ali Albahar

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: H. A. Hussain, M. A. Subhi, A. S. Al Tmeme, A. D. Radhi, and M. A. Albahar, ``Improving Road Safety Through Multimodal Deep Learning for Driver Drowsiness Detection,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 4, Article 12, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1330.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss4/12.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “Improving Road Safety Through Multimodal Deep Learning for Driver Drowsiness Detection (Manuscript 1330)”. The journal has initiated an additional editorial assessment of the article’s …

Expression Of Concern: Improved Harmony Search Algorithm For Sdn Controller Placement, Yousra Abdul Alsahib S. Aldeen, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Abeer E. Abed, Omar F. Hussain, Syed Hamid Hussain Madni

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: Y. A. A. S. Aldeen, A. T. Sadiq, A. E. Abed, O. F. Hussain, and S. H. H. Madni, ``Improved Harmony Search Algorithm for SDN Controller Placement,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 2, 2025, Article 12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1249.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss2/12.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “Exact Solutions of M-fractional Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation via Two Analytical Methods (Manuscript 1267)”. Exact Solutions of M-fractional: : : The journal has initiated an additional …

Expression Of Concern: Exact Solutions Of M-Fractional Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation Via Two Analytical, Nematollah Kadkhoda, Mojtaba Baymani, Maad M. Mijwil, Mostafa Abotaleb

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: N. Kadkhoda, M. Baymani, M. M. Mijwil, and M. Abotaleb, ``Exact Solutions of M-fractional Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation via Two Analytical Methods,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, Article 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1267.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss3/11.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in “Exact Solutions of M-fractional Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation via Two Analytical Methods (Manuscript 1267)”. Exact Solutions of M-fractional: : : The journal has initiated an additional editorial assessment of the article’s methodology, …

Expression Of Concern: Artificial Intelligence In Education: Mathematics Teachers' Perspectives, Practices And Challenges, Mohammad A. Tashtoush, Yousef Wardat, Rommel Al Ali, Shoeb Saleh

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: M. A. Tashtoush, Y. Wardat, R. A. Ali, and S. Saleh, ``Artificial Intelligence in Education: Mathematics Teachers' Perspectives, Practices and Challenges,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 5, no. 1, 2024, Article 20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/ijcsm.2024.05.01.004.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol5/iss1/20.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in ``Artificial Intelligence in Education: Mathematics Teachers' Perspectives''. The journal has initiated an additional editorial assessment of the article's methodology, data provenance, and reported outcomes to confirm their reliability and reproducibility.
This …

Expression Of Concern: A Lightweight U-Net Model For Accurate Skin Lesion Segmentation, Fallah H. Najjar, Karrar A. Kadhim, Farhan Mohamed, Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Asniyani Nur Haidar Abdullah

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR: F. H. Najjar, K. A. Kadhim, F. Mohamed, M. S. Mohd Rahim, and A. N. Haidar Abdullah, ``A Lightweight U-Net Model for Accurate Skin Lesion Segmentation,'' Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, vol. 6, no. 2, 2025, Article 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52866/2788-7421.1230.
Available at: https://ijcsm.researchcommons.org/ijcsm/vol6/iss2/1.

Reason for Expression of Concern: The Editors wish to alert readers to potential concerns regarding the reliability of the findings reported in ``A Lightweight U-Net Model for Accurate Skin Lesion Segmentation (Manuscript 1230)''. the journal has initiated an additional editorial assessment of the article's methodology, data provenance, and …

On Cartan’S Examples Of Isoparametric Hypersurfaces And Their Focal Submanifolds, Thomas E. Cecil, Patrick J. Ryan

Mathematics and Computer Science Department Faculty Scholarship

This paper is a survey of Cartan’s examples of isoparametric hypersurfaces in spheres and their focal submanifolds that were described in his fundamental work on the subject, which appeared in four papers [2]–[5] published during the period 1938–1940.

Spatial Abilities In Aging Adults With Down Syndrome, Yingying Jennifer Yang, Romal Bhullar, Sonia Conde

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

INTRODUCTION

People with Down syndrome (DS) have a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Deficits in spatial abilities could serve as early indicators of AD. We examined age effects on visuospatial construction and visuomotor integration in DS and whether spatial tasks could distinguish various extents of cognitive decline in DS.

METHODS

We used the Alzheimer's Biomarkers Consortium–Down Syndrome project dataset, where 376 DS participants completed a series of cognitive measures.

RESULTS

Age effects were found in visuomotor integration but not in visuospatial construction. Both abilities declined with AD progression. While both abilities showed relatively poor discrimination between cognitively stable …

Integrating Future Factory-To-Factory (F2f) Manufacturing Through System Of Systems Engineering (Sose): A Framework For Capability Beyond Constituent Systems, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Hengtao Tang Ph.D., Anouar Hallioui

Faculty Publications

System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) is an emerging discipline focused on the design, integration, and evolution of metasystems—composed of multiple autonomous yet interdependent systems. These systems of systems (SoS) offer capabilities that exceed those of any individual constituent systems by enabling synergistic coordination, interoperability, and dynamic adaptation across diverse operational contexts. This study pursued three primary objectives: (i) to examine the role of integration in enabling emergent capabilities beyond those of individual systems, (ii) to explore SoSE as a framework for orchestrating Future Factory-to-Factory (F2F) Manufacturing, and (iii) to assess the implications of SoSE to address volatile, uncertain, complex, and …

Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Tissue Classification From Pathology Slide Images: Detecting Phenotypes Using Computer Vision, Chloe Martin-King, Ali Nael, Louis Ehwerhemuepha, Blake Calvo, Quinn Gates, Jamie Janchoi, Elisa Ornelas, Melissa Perez, Andrea Venderby, John Miklavcic, Peter Chang, Aaron Sassoon, Brian Rubio, Ghislaine Barrigan, Kenneth Grant

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Aims

Methods

Results …

Evaluating Celebrity Influence On Brand Attention, Emotion, And Memory, Noela Michael, Thomas Zoega Ramsoy, Ian Michael

All Works

This study focuses on the growing trend of celebrities being used as influencers in marketing, with firms investing substantially in celebrity endorsements. The study examines the effectiveness of celebrity influencers in destination marketing, comparing their influence with that of non-celebrity influencers. Neuroscience tools and methods were used to understand how cognitive and emotional factors impact consumer decisions and their likelihood to travel. The results show that employing a celebrity does not always increase audience engagement and attention toward the destination. The average person perceives the celebrity as a whole rather than focusing on one specific feature. Moreover, there were no …

Mobility, Migration, And Cultural Political Economy: Personal Narratives Of Immigration Policy, Max Crumley-Effinger

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This study embraces the opportunity to explore students’ immigration experiences from a cultural political economy (CPE) perspective, beginning with a review of literature relevant to understanding students’ perspectives of host nation international student mobility and migration (ISM) policy, followed by an outline of the CPE theoretical framework. The study’s methodology is presented, outlining how findings were obtained through a qualitative content analysis of interviews with 40 international students studying in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Findings are then presented through the words of study participants, highlighting how international students connect their ISM policy experiences with the local CPE contexts …

A Proposed Vision To Activate Smart Urban Growth Concepts For The New Egyptian Cities, Nirman M. El-Sayed, Mamdouh A. Al-Minshawi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Smart urban growth is the ideal solution to urban problems within the cities of the fourth generation in Egypt, and despite this, most of them depend on traditional urban thought without activating "Smart Urban Growth", which is known to maintain lands from deterioration and make societies suitable for living and providing the necessary services. The goal of research to set standards to activate smart urban growth as a thought that keeps pace with sustainable urban development and Egypt's 2030 vision, work to use the global smart cities approach and how they reach intelligence. While the research follows the "analytical" deductive …

The Heart Seat™: An In Home Cardiovascular Monitoring Device, Archana Venkataramani

Theses

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common disorders, affecting an estimated 64 million people globally. Although heart failure incidence is stabilizing in some countries, prevalence is rising because of an aging population, improved post-myocardial infarction survival, and advances in treatment. High mortality, morbidity, reduced quality of life, and significant healthcare costs are results of heart failure (Shahim et al., 2023). Recurrent heart failure episodes are associated with an increased risk of death. Heart monitoring systems exist in several forms, including implantable cardiac devices, wearable and portable monitors, and remote patient monitoring systems. Each type differs in monitoring needs, …

Delivering Inclusive Cultural Offers For Social Prescribing: A Realist Evaluation Involving Older People From Global Majority Backgrounds And Cultural Sector Providers In The Uk, Debra Westlake, Kamal R. Mahtani, Geoffrey Wong, Jordan Gorenberg, Marta Santillo, Kerryn Husk, Sofia Vougioukalou, Ruthanne Baxter, Shoba Dawson, Caroline M. Potter, Harriet Warburton, Beth Mcdougall, Stephanie Tierney

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: Research shows cultural activities benefit older people's wellbeing, but little is known about why individuals from global majority (minority ethnic) groups engage less with the mainstream cultural sector, or how it could adapt to meet their needs and encourage engagement. The TOUS study (Tailoring cultural Offers with and for diverse older Users of Social prescribing) investigated the question: What tailoring is needed, how, when and for whom, to optimise cultural offers as part of social prescribing for older people (aged 60+) from global majority groups?. Methods: The TOUS study involved focused ethnographies with six cultural-sector organisations throughout the United …

Navigating Care And Self-Care: Understanding Latina Caregivers’ Prioritization And Engagement In Self-Care Practices, Denise A. Longoria, John M. Gonzalez, Romeo Escobar, Nelda Rodriguez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Introduction: Latina caregivers face significant physical and mental health risks due to the demands of caregiving. The decision to become a caregiver is often influenced by various factors including cultural values such as familismo and marianismo. It is essential that caregivers recognize the importance of self-care to prevent burnout. Without self-care, caregivers face an increased risk of stress, which can negatively affect physical and emotional health.

Methods: A qualitative approach using focus groups to explore Latina caregivers’ understanding and engagement in self-care.

Results: Findings suggested that participants understand the need for self-care; however, family and cultural needs were prioritized. When …

Safety Of Carotid Endarterectomy In The Elderly And Octogenarian Population: A Nationwide Study Including 80,000 Patients, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Joanna Roy, Basel Musmar, Wi Jin Kim, Michael Rizzuto, Nathaniel Ellens, Rabab Alshahrani, Victor Staartjes, Adrian Elmi-Terander, Ramachandra Tummala, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Gooch, Robert Rosenwasswer, Ziad Khabbaz, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an established procedure for stroke prevention in patients with carotid artery stenosis. While CEA is considered safe in younger patients, perioperative risks in octogenarians remain debated, with current guidelines classifying the procedure as "high-risk" in this patient population. This study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes of CEA across age groups and to assess whether comorbidity burden better predicts outcomes than chronological age.

METHODS: The ACS-NSQIP database (2013-2020), was used to identify patients eligible for inclusion. The cohort was stratified based on age <  60, 60-80, and > 80 years. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare …

Muscle Endurance Exercise Training Improves Health Factors In Middle Aged Individuals, Gregory Wallace

Doctorate in Kinesiology

This study examined the effects of an eight-week Muscle Endurance Exercise Training (MEET) program on body composition (BC), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and muscle endurance (ME) in healthy adults. Thirty-one participants (M_age = 39.03 ± 13.82 years) completed pre- and post-intervention assessments of body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), CRF via the 3-minute YMCA Step Test, and ME using push-up and sit-up tests to failure. Paired-samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to determine statistical significance. Results revealed no significant change in BMI (p = .103), while BF% (p = .020) and WHR (p = …

Characterizing Indoor Surface Voc Contamination After The 2025 Los Angeles Fires, Brett W. Stinson, Emily Lei, Elliott T. Gall

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We quantify volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from indoor surface swabs and portable air cleaner (PAC) filters collected in a home 30 days after the 2025 Los Angeles wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires. We calculate emissions for 17 fire-relevant compounds. Surface emissions exceeded those of clean controls, and emissions from a windowsill in a room without a PAC were ∼15× and ∼2× higher for benzene and toluene, respectively, than rates reported in the literature for comparable materials unaffected by smoke/soot. Particle filters installed in PACs at the start of the fire emitted aromatics at rates comparable to those reported in a …