Digital Commons Network^™

Wildfire And Water Security: Post-Fire Erosion And Sedimentation Threaten Utah's Reservoirs, Quinn Olpin, Kendall Becker, Scott Hotaling, Aish Chandrasekaran, Patrick Belmont

All Current Publications

As an arid state with limited water, Utah relies heavily on reservoir storage to maintain its water supply throughout the year. This vital water storage, however, is increasingly at risk due to contemporary wildfires. Wildfires pose a risk to water storage because after vegetation burns, erosion typically increases. Eroded soil can be carried by rivers and deposited into reservoirs where it accumulates as sediment, reduces water storage capacity, clogs dam outlets, and degrades water quality. Identifying which watersheds are most vital to maintaining Utah’s water supply, are most threatened by wildfires, and are most prone to high levels of post-fire …

Scarna1 Expression Levels Affect Alternative Splicing Of Mrna, Madeleine Brown, Brittnei Earl, Michael Filla, Nataliya Kibiryeva, James E. O'Brien Jr., Douglas C. Bittel

Student Publications

Our previous research identified 12 small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) with reduced expression in the right ventricle in infant patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Likewise, we showed that there were significant changes in mRNA processing in the RV in these patients. ScaRNAs play a crucial role in the biochemical maturation of spliceosomal RNAs (pseudouridylation and 2′-O-methylation). We showed that variations in scaRNA1 levels resulted in changes in alternative splicing in human cells. To investigate further the role that scaRNAs play in mRNA processing, we examine here the impact of knocking down scaRNA1 in quail myoblast cells (Coturnix japonica, a well-established …

Deformation And Earthquake Potential On The North America - Caribbean - Cocos Triple Junction In Guatemala, Jeremy Maurer, Andreas Eckert, Qiaoqi Sun, Jonathan Obrist-Farner

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The triple junction between the Cocos (CO), North American (NA), and Caribbean (CA) tectonic plates in Guatemala is a region of high seismic risk and includes many large faults and historic earthquakes. Previous analyses of the tectonic system have been overly simplified, resulting in discrepancies between geologically derived and geodetic models of fault slip rate. This study leverages available geodetic, seismic, and geologic data to develop new strain rate maps and faulting models for the region. We find that locking on the regional faults matches historic reports of large earthquakes and that multiple minor fault segments are active and accommodate …

Graduate Student Paper: Aging In A Changing Japan: Gendered Adaptation To Changing Family Structure, Miki Izu, Clayton Chalmers

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Although Japanese seniors are very healthy, research shows that they are not very happy. Compared to seniors in other developed countries, Japanese elders have lower ratings of subjective well-being and are increasingly alone. This paper argues that changes to Japanese family life help explain why Japanese elders are struggling with low subjective well-being. Specifically, declining marriage rates and declining rates of elders living with their children (co-residency) have made it harder for elders to get the support they need. Moreover, the effect and the adaptations to these changes are not equal between men and women. While elderly Japanese men are …

The Sodium-Glutamate Antagonist Riluzole Improves Outcome After Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Results From The Riscis Randomised Controlled Trial Analysed Using A Global Statistical Analytic Technique, Michael G. Fehlings, Karlo M. Pedro, Mohammed Ali Alvi, Ali Moghaddamjou, James S. Harrop, Ralph Stanford, Jonathon Ball, Bizhan Aarabi, Paul M. Arnold, James D. Guest, Shekar N. Kurpad, James M. Schuster, Ahmad N. Nassr, Karl M. Schmitt, Jefferson R. Wilson, Darrel S. Brodke, Faiz U. Ahmad, Albert Yee, Wilson Z. Ray, Nathaniel P. Brooks, Jason Wilson, Diana S-L Chow, Elizabeth G. Toups, Kevin E. Thorpe, Jiaxin Huang, Peng Huang

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) clinical trials typically rely on a single primary endpoint to assess drug efficacy. This strategy fails to adequately capture the full impact of treatment in heterogenous neurological conditions like SCI. A more patient-centric analysis requires assessment of neurological function, functional capacity, and quality of life, incorporating meaningful patient-reported outcomes. The global statistical test (GST) addresses this challenge using a unified statistical conclusion regarding the superiority of a treatment strategy over another by evaluating multiple trial endpoints simultaneously.

METHODS: The RISCIS trial (Safety and Efficacy of Riluzole in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study) data was analysed …

Using Facial Recognition For Selective Pose Detection, William J. Parker

Master's Theses

Pose detection involves locating and identifying key body points for all individuals within a frame. This enables the ability to convert the pose into a digital format, which can then be recorded and analyzed for a variety of purposes. Advancements in the field have already opened applications in areas such as digital fitness coaches, fall detection, and virtual reality. Existing approaches primarily focus on tracking all detected individuals, which limits the practical applications when attempting to analyze a single or specific subject when there are other people in frame. Previous work has discussed integrating identification, but these approaches use identification …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Black Female Swimmers' Experiences Of Belonging, Felicity E. Passon

Master's Theses

Although swimming participation has grown in the United States, the experiences of Black female swimmers remain significantly underrepresented in academic literature. This study addresses that gap by exploring the lived experiences of Black women participating in Division 1 (D1) college swimming. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Black feminist thought, the research explored how Black female D1 swimmers experienced belonging in this underrepresented sport. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine D1 Black female swimmers, and six major themes illustrate the varied factors that shaped their experiences of belonging. Even with racially gendered barriers to inclusion, they identified strategies to foster …

Investigating The Complexity Of Language Acquisition For Linguistically Diverse Children, Krittin Srisajjakul

Master's Theses

Understanding the natural productions of children's early expressive language development is important to support their development. These natural productions may also be especially complex in children with diverse linguistic backgrounds. A challenge for clinicians is how to assess these natural productions for children’s early expressive language milestones. For example, what does it mean for children to say the same word in two languages and refer to the same concept (e.g., “water” and “agua”)? Or refer to two different concepts, (e.g., “water” and “leche” (milk))? By understanding how children’s expressive language connects to conceptual understanding, clinicians can better support language learning. …

Sirilla: Predicting Traffic Flow Via Stacked Decentralized Federated Learning, Andrew Selvia

Master's Theses

Billions of people today rely on traffic predictions to optimize their travels. Digital mapping services deliver accurate predictions by learning from vast troves of historical data. Impressive as these systems are, their assumptions do not always apply. They depend on an endless flow of sensitive user data to a central authority, a stable Internet connection, and trustworthiness on both sides of the traditional client-server model. This thesis explores a novel architecture which bucks those assumptions. In the proposed model, traffic data remains on edge devices which individually train models via federated learning. Beyond the obvious privacy benefits, this architecture enables …

Genotoxicity Assessment Of Conventional And Cad/Cam Denture Base Materials, Alanood Aldubayan

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Aim: In prosthodontics, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been widely used. Their biocompatibility and potential genotoxicity remain a concern due to the residual monomer release. Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) denture base materials have emerged and offered some improved mechanical and physical properties compared to the standard conventional heat-cured denture base material. However, their long-term biocompatibility remains unstudied. Therefore, this study evaluates the genotoxicity effects of conventional and CAD/CAM denture base materials on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Methodology: Disk-shaped samples were fabricated of six denture base resins, including heat-cured PMMA, milled PMMA, and four 3D-printed resins. HGFs were exposed to the …

A Multi-Modal Pelvic Mri Dataset For Deep Learning-Based Pelvic Organ Segmentation In Endometriosis, Xiaomin Liang, Linda A Alpuing Radilla, Kamand Khalaj, Haaniya Dawoodally, Chinmay Mokashi, Xiaoming Guan, Kirk E Roberts, Sunil A Sheth, Varaha S Tammisetti, Luca Giancardo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endometriosis affects approximately 190 million females of reproductive age worldwide. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been recommended as the primary non-invasive diagnostic method for endometriosis. This study presents new female pelvic MRI multicenter datasets for endometriosis and shows the baseline segmentation performance of two auto-segmentation pipelines: the self-configuring nnU-Net and RAovSeg, a custom network. The multi-sequence endometriosis MRI scans from two clinical institutions were collected. A multicenter dataset of 51 subjects with manual labels for multiple pelvic structures from three raters was used to assess interrater agreement. A second single-center dataset of 81 subjects with labels for multiple pelvic structures …

Anxious Traits Intensify The Impact Of Depressive Symptoms On Stigma In People Living With Hiv, Alexia Koukopoulos, Antonio Maria D'Onofrio, Alessio Simonetti, Delfina Janiri, Flavio Cherubini, Paolo Vassalini, Letizia Santinelli, Gabriella D'Ettorre, Gabriele Sani, Giovanni Camardese

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Despite medical advances, stigma remains a major challenge for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined clinical, sociodemographic, and psychological predictors of HIV-related stigma, and explored whether affective temperament moderates the impact of depression on stigma.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 97 PLWH attending a tertiary infectious disease unit in Rome, Italy. Participants completed a battery of validated psychometric instruments assessing depressive symptoms, anxiety, manic symptoms, mixed affective states, general psychopathology, impulsivity, and affective temperament. HIV-related stigma was evaluated using the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, which measures personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concerns …

Analysis Of Stress-Jump Condition On The Onset Of Thermal Convection In A Composite System Formed By An Anisotropic Porous Layer Underlying A Fluid Layer, Neetu Srivastava, Naveen Dwivedi, Ashok K. Singh, Nirmal C. Sacheti, B. S. Bhadauria

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

This paper investigates the onset of thermal convection in a bounded system comprising a horizontal viscous fluid layer of infinite extent overlying an anisotropic horizontal permeable layer saturated with the same fluid. It is assumed that this system is heated from below and cooled from above in the presence of internal heat generation. It is also assumed that the material parameters, such as viscosity and thermal conductivity differ between the layers, and that the Brinkman model is used to describe the flow in the porous region. An extensive linear stability analysis has been performed with an aim to determine the …

Preface, - Squjs

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

This Mathematics Special Topic Issue contains invited and selected papers presented at the International Conference: Recent Trends in Mathematics (ICM-SQU2024) held during March 6-8, 2024 at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Muscat, Oman. The conference was sponsored by SQU, the Oman Mathematics Committee (OMC), and Vodafone (Oman). The conference aimed to provide a platform for researchers, and academicians to present their work, share experiences, and discuss emerging areas in Mathematics. ICM-SQU2024 was inaugurated by Her Excellency Professor Rahmah Bint Ibrahim AlMahrooqi, the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and His Highness Sayyid Dr. Fahad Bin Al-Julanda Al-Said, the Vice-Chancellor of …

Ingenious Impulsiveness Of Environmentally Motivated Female Entrepreneurship For Sustainable Development, Saranya Senthilnathan, Chandrasekar Kaliyaperumal

Management Dynamics

Women's roles are crucial to the economic prosperity of any nation, with their participation in entrepreneurship being a key driver of sustainable development. This study focuses on the contributions of women entrepreneurs in India, highlighting their potential to advance economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The purpose is to examine the role of female entrepreneurs in promoting sustainable practices within the economy, society, and ecology. The study employs a descriptive research design to assess how integrating environmental factors into female entrepreneurship impacts the growth and sustainability of the Indian economy. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 355 …

Antibacterial Potential Of Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo Tapanuliensis) Food In Batang Toru Forest Against Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Typhi, Herna Febrianty Sianipar, Wahyu Widoretno, Luchman Hakim, Rezi Rahmi Amolia, Fatchiyah Fatchiyah

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Diarrhea is a common disease affecting orangutans, primarily caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi bacteria. To treat this disease, antibacterial food sources are essential as therapeutic agents for orangutans. The fruits consumed by Tapanuli orangutans include Campnosperma auriculatum, Agathis borneensis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Castanopsis argantea, and Aglaia tomentosa. This study aims to examine the amino acid and phytochemical components with potential antibacterial properties in these five fruit species and their inhibitory effects on E. coli and S. typhi growth through cell lysis, observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The samples were tested for amino acids, phytochemicals, vitamin C content, …

The Reluctant Heroes: How To Teach Younger Generations Every-Day Heroism Through Pedagogical Imagination, Jarema Drozdowicz

Heroism Science

This article explores the notion of pedagogical imagination in the context of its practical use in teaching young learners today. The idea of imagination is being presented through the lens of the existing concepts such as ethnographic, historical, and sociological imagination introduced in the social sciences and humanities by various authors. The educational setting of today’s digitalized reality is being understood here as a sociocultural sphere where different generations clash in their diverse abilities to learn and form specific skills that might help them to cope with difficult real life situations. The process of forming heroic behavior patterns is thus …

Can Breastfeeding Lower The Risk Of Childhood Leukemia? Insights From A Duhok Study, Iraq. Case Control Study, Bashar I. Mohammed, Akrem Mohammad Atrushi, Ibrahim A. Naqid, Eman Hussien Ali, Raad Ersan Omar, Kavi Mohamad Sadoun, Daveen Abdulsatar Muhammad, Baderkhan Ihsan Abdullah, Huda Hayder Mohammed, Elaf Firas Salim

Al-Ameed Journal for Medical Research and Health Sciences

IntroductionThis study aimed to examine the association between breastfeeding practices and the risk reduction of childhood leukemia, and to identify the optimal breastfeeding duration for infant health. A case-control design was used, involving children aged 0–16 years diagnosed with leukemia and a matched control group without leukemia.MethodsData were collected on breastfeeding duration, type of feeding during the first six months, maternal characteristics (age, education, smoking during pregnancy, abortion history, birth control pill use), and child-related variables (sex, age at diagnosis, and birth order). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 27. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were …

Achieving Equity For International Medical Graduates: A Systematic Review, Sangeeta G. Saxena, Elizabeth Tisdell, Elana Farace, Thomas Godfrey, Betsy Aumiller, Esther Dell, Omrana P. Razzak, Bernadette N. Kumar, Kristin K. Sznajder

Public Health

Introduction: Foreign-born and foreign trained International Medical Graduates (FIMGs) face greater challenges in acculturation to their host countries than IMGs who train abroad and return to practice in their home country. As FIMGs are likely to fulfill a shortage of physicians in High Income Countries in the foreseeable future, we conducted a systematic review of literature to identify acculturation interventions that help FIMGs assimilate better in their host country health systems. This improves their productivity and satisfaction, allows health systems to be more accepting of FIMGs, and most importantly, enhances patient outcomes.

Methods: Following the PRISMA statement, we searched PubMed, …

Uptake, Distribution, And Activity Of Pluronic F68 Adjuvant In Wheat And Its Endophytic Bacillus Isolate, Anthony Cartwright, Mohammad Zargaran, Anagha Wankhade, Astrid Jacobson, Joan E. Mclean, Anne J. Anderson, David W. Britt

Biological Engineering Student Research

Surfactants are widely utilized in agriculture as emulsifying, dispersing, anti-foaming, and wetting agents. In these adjuvant roles, the inherent biological activity of the surfactant is secondary to the active ingredients. Here, the hydrophilic non-ionic surface-active tri-block copolymer Pluronic^® F68 is investigated for direct biological activity in wheat. F68 binds to and inserts into lipid membranes, which may benefit crops under abiotic stress. F68’s interactions with Triticum aestivum (var Juniper) seedlings and a seed-borne Bacillus spp. endophyte are presented. At concentrations below 10 g/L, F68-primed wheat seeds exhibited unchanged emergence. Root-applied fluorescein-F68 (fF68) was internalized in root epidermal cells and …

Mapping The Literature On Short-Selling In Financial Markets: A Lexicometric Analysis, Nitika Sharma, Sridhar Manohar, Bruce A. Huhmann, Yam B. Limbu

Department of Marketing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study provides a comprehensive assessment and synthesis of the literature on short-selling. It performs a lexicometric analysis, providing a quantitative review of 1093 peer-reviewed journal articles to identify and illustrate the main themes in short-selling research. Almost half the published literature on short-selling is thematically clustered around portfolio management techniques. Other key themes involve short-selling as it relates to risk management, strategic management, and market irregularities. Descending hierarchical classification examines the overall structure of the textual corpus of the short-selling literature and the relationships between its key terms. Similarity analysis reveals that the short-selling literature is highly concentrated, with …

Comparing Monophasic Vs. Biphasic Hyaluronic Acid Filler For Facial Enhancement, Kaitlyn M. Carr

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This capstone project aims to compare the efficacy, patient satisfaction, side effects, and longevity of results between monophasic and biphasic hyaluronic acid fillers over a 12-month period. A systematic literature review was conducted using three databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, and the library of Valparaiso University. Keywords included “comparison between hyaluronic acid fillers” and “monophasic and biphasic hyaluronic acid filler.” The search returned approximately 30,300 results on Google Scholar, 2 results on PubMed, and 365 results from Valpo’s database, with results filtered to include studies published in English since 2019 and with full-text availability. Exclusion criteria included studies involving participants under …

Efficacy Of Berberine In Glucose And Metabolic Control, Grace Poduch

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common chronic disease with significant complications if poorly managed. This study evaluated the effectiveness of berberine--the primary active compound in Rhizoma Coptidis-- compared to metformin, a widely used oral hypoglycemic agent, in managing blood glucose in adults with T2DM. It also examined berberine's impact on metabolic syndrome components, including prediabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and chronic inflammation.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed with keywords including "berberine", "Rhizoma Coptidis", "metformin", and "type 2 diabetes". Included studies were full-text, published in English since 2019, and involved adult humans with …

Monoclonal Antibodies Or Cholinesterase Inhibitors? Cognitive Impact On Alzheimer’S Disease, Alexandra M. Herbert

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This research evaluates and compares the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) in reducing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. A structured literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and Medline, yielding over 6,000 articles. Studies were included if they involved Alzheimer’s patients, evaluated either mAbs or ChEIs, measured cognitive outcomes, were published since 2019, and were available in English with full-text access. Studies were excluded if they focused on non-Alzheimer’s populations, alternative therapies, or were published before 2019. Monoclonal antibodies such as aducanumab, lecanemab, and donanemab showed statistically significant improvements in cognitive scores; however, these changes were …

Affordable Ambient Particulate Matter Monitoring, Alexander H. Miroballi

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

The affordability of ambient air monitors has allowed the public to make informed decisions about their local air quality. The accuracy of these monitors, along with the accessibility of them to the general public is therefore important. While most low-cost monitors are not as accurate as EPA’s standards, they still perform comparably and with an accuracy that is acceptable for their purpose. The accessibility of these monitors is more varied as different ones have used different methods to improve their accessibility. We found that most of the monitors we analyzed were both accurate and accessible to the public, with cost …

Disease Modifying Drugs In Osteoarthritis: Structural & Symptomatic Outcomes, Peyton F. Weber

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: This capstone project aimed to evaluate whether proposed disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs), compared to placebo, can slow or halt structural joint changes and subsequently improve pain and function in adults with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO, focusing on studies published since 2019 that evaluated proposed DMOADs (lorecivivint, sprifermin, chondroitin, and glucosamine) versus placebo in adults with clinical or radiographic knee OA. Inclusion required reporting on joint space width (JSW), pain, and/or function. Studies involving pediatric or animal subjects, prior joint surgery, malignancy, and non-placebo comparators, or lacking structural or symptomatic …

The Efficacy Of Continuous Versus Luteal Ssri Dosing In Pmdd, Natalie Swierczynski

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This research aims to determine whether intermittent (luteal phase) or continuous selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) dosing is more effective in reducing symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). A structured literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Christopher Center Library database. Search terms included “PMDD,” “premenstrual dysphoric disorder,” “SSRIs,” “continuous dosing,” “intermittent dosing,” and “luteal phase.” Inclusion criteria were English-language studies involving adult women with full-text availability and examining continuous and/or intermittent SSRI use. Exclusion criteria included non-English publications, unavailable full texts, and pediatric populations.

Sixteen sources were selected: five empirical studies (randomized controlled trials and observational …

Best Practices In Pediatric Pain Management: Preventing Chronic Pain And Opioid Dependency Through Early And Non-Pharmacological Interventions, Ava Landmeyer

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This capstone project explores the relationship between pediatric chronic pain and the subsequent development of long-term adult chronic pain conditions. It aims to highlight the significance of non-pharmacological interventions, such as biofeedback, in pediatric pain management to reduce reliance on opioids and mitigate the risk of chronic pain in adulthood. The project also seeks to inform future healthcare providers of evidence-based, alternative approaches that complement or replace pharmacological treatments in pediatric populations.

Exploring The Relationship Between E-Cigarette Use And Copd Compared To Traditional Cigarette Users And Non-Smokers, Meryn Burk

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

E-cigarettes recently entered the tobacco market as a "healthier" alternative to cigarettes, although there is lacking data on their long term health effects. The objective of this project is to see if a relationship exists between e-cigarette usage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development compared to traditional cigarettes. The research done for this project was collected from Valparaiso University Library and Google Scholar. Keywords used to obtain information included "E-cigarette use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," "E-cigarette use and COPD development," and "E-cigarette and cigarette and COPD." Studies included in this project had the following criteria: e=cigarette use, current …

Exploring Therapeutic Potential Of Low Dose Naltrexone For Fibromyalgia Patients, Lauren Bartlett

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: This study aims to compare and evaluate current research on the use and efficacy of low dose naltrexone (LDN) in reducing pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and an Valparaiso University's library database. Search items included "low dose naltrexone" and "fibromyalgia." Studies were included if they focused on LDN treatment in FM populations, emphasizing symptom outcomes and safety profiles. Eligible publications comprised randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and clinical studies.

Results: Five studies met inclusion criteria: one randomized, double-blind trial, three systematic reviews, and one randomized, single-blinded clinical …