Digital Commons Network^™

Microstructural Evolution And Precipitate Control In Boron-Doped Ni-Mn-Ti Shape Memory Alloys Via Thermal Processing, Na Liu, Marcia Ahn, Subrata Ghosh, Dipika Mandal, Bed Poudel, Wenjie Li

Biochemistry, Chemistry & Physics: Faculty Publications

Elastocaloric cooling, which leverages stress-induced phase transformation in shape memory materials, represents a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional vapor-compression cooling systems. Central to optimizing these materials is understanding how thermal processing history dictates phase formation, microstructure, and thermal properties. In this study, we investigated the (Ni50Mn31.5Ti18)99.8B0.2 compound synthesized via vacuum induction melting and arc melting, followed by water quenching. Induction melting results in needle-like, boron-rich precipitates within the martensite lattice. In contrast, vacuum arc melting promoted precipitate growth at the grain boundaries. The vacuum arc melting sample exhibits ~82% martensite phase fraction, a near-ambient transformation temperature of ~277 K, …

I Think You Overuse That Word: A Theoretical Examination From Multiple Lenses Of "Why Relational Beings Have Become Hesitant To Commit.", Rafe Karen

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper serves as a companion to a documentary film that explores the shifting landscape of modern relationships. The film presents personal narratives about dating, connection, and commitment, and the paper offers an experiential exploration of these themes, focusing on dating dynamics, social media, online dating, lack of connection, Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19), video games, and the effects of overwhelming choice. Drawing from existing literature and insights gained during the filmmaking process, the paper analyzes broader societal and psychological patterns shaping modern relationships. Using a combination of filmed interviews and direct observation, the study examines the lived experiences of individuals navigating …

The Evolution Of Science And The Transformation Of Human Understanding: Toward A Generative Framework Of Learning And Reality, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This essay argues that the development of science can be understood not as linear accumulation, but as a sequence of structural transformations in human understanding. Such a view aligns with a generative framework in which knowledge is not passively received or merely constructed, but emerges through dynamic interactions that reorganize cognitive and experiential structures. By situating this framework within the history of science, we can better understand both the nature of scientific progress and its indispensable role in human development.

Learning As Becoming: A Restored Gospel-Based Reinterpretation Of Scientific Discovery And Human Growth, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

For many educators of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, a persistent dissonance exists between the secular textbooks we utilize and the restored truths we cherish. Traditional science often presents the universe as a closed, material system where learning is merely the acquisition of data. However, as we align our academic pursuits with the light of the Restored Gospel, we discover that scientific inquiry is not independent of spiritual growth. Rather, it is a primary mechanism through which we experience a fundamental shift in our very nature—moving from "knowing" to "becoming."

Multidisciplinary Care In The Management Of Pleomorphic Dermal Sarcoma: A Single-Center Case Series And Review, Jaanvi Mehta, Leena Wardeh, Jayson Suriano, Rishob Dasgupta, Ramsay Hafer, Alexandra Elder, Safiyyah Bhatti, Jason B. Lee, Atrayee B. Mallick, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

European Geosciences Union Honors Bianchi, Unh Communications And Public Affairs

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Plant-Based Dietary Patterns Are Associated With Slower Epigenetic Aging, Hyunju Kim, Christina A Castellani, Jiantao Ma, Alexis C Wood, Audrey Ting, Morgan E Grams, Bing Yu, Kelly Ruggles, James S Floyd, Dan E Arking, Casey M Rebholz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Greater adherence to plant-based diets is associated with health benefits. Dietary intake can modify DNA methylation patterns, but it is unknown whether plant-based diets in a largely non-vegetarian population are associated with DNA methylation-based epigenetic aging measures. We examined the associations between 4 different types of plant-based diets indices (PDI) [overall PDI, provegetarian diet, healthy PDI, and unhealthy PDI] and epigenetic aging. We used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (N=2,810) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, N=2,056). PDIs negatively scored higher intake of animal products and positively scored higher intake of all or selected …

2026-03-20 Minutes & Appendices, Longwood University

Board of Visitors Meeting Minutes 1964-

No abstract provided.

Synthesis, Characterization, And Biological Potentials Of Chalcones Derivatives, Acer Juma Hamad, Hamdia Hateem Jawad, Kadhim Abdulwahid Aadim

Baghdad Science Journal

This work aims at synthesizing chalcone derivatives using Acetophenone and benzaldehyde derivatives as the primary components. The chalcone compounds [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] have been produced through Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction, which involves combining benzaldehyde derivatives (such as 4-bromobenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-(dimethyl amino)benzaldehyde, and o-Nitro benzaldehyde) with acetophenone or its derivatives. This reaction takes place when an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and ethanol are combined at room temperature. The generated products were examined employing carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ¹³C-NMR, proton nuclear magnetic resonance ¹H-NMR, ultraviolet (UV), and infrared (IR) spectroscopic techniques. Each compound was tested to determine how …

Combatting Desertification Scientifically: Where Feasible, Where Necessary, Bojie Fu, Yanxu Liu, Shuai Wang, Yijia Wang, Guipeng Cui, Yue Guo

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

China has made remarkable achievements in combating desertification, achieving “zero net growth” in land degradation. With the goal of scientifically improving the relationship between humans and nature in drylands, the continuous exploration of new concepts, methods, and pathways for scientific desertification control will contribute to advancing the harmony between humans and nature in China’s drylands. Based on the definitions of desertification, ecological restoration baselines, and the contributions of nature to humans, we clarified the scientific implications of “controlling desertification where it is feasible and necessary”. We discussed the shift in China’s desertification prevention and control direction from “humans advancing while …

High-Capacity Nations Can Unlock Momentum For Quality Marine Protection, Fabio Favoretto, Joy A. Kumagai, Catalina López-Sagástegui, Deirdre Brannigan, Alex Driedger, Jennifer Sletten, Claire Colegrove, Timothe Vincent, Virgil Zetterlind, Paolo Guidetti, Octavio Aburto-Oropeza

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Summary.Highly and fully protected marine protected areas (HF-MPAs) deliver the strongest ecological outcomes, yet they cover just 3.8% of the ocean, and annual gains have stalled. We combine ProtectedSeas regulatory classifications with coastal habitat maps for corals, mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes to track HF-MPAs and minimally/lightly protected MPAs (ML-MPAs) from 2000 to 2025 and overlay results with governance-based enabling conditions. HF-MPAs remain rare even in high-capacity countries that host most mapped coastal habitats and 39% of the global upgrade gap. Upgrading ML-MPAs in this small cohort—especially in overseas territories—offers immediate habitat protection gains and a visible pathway toward 30 × …

Science Challenges And Solutions To Support Implementation Of The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, Claire L. Szostek, Angus Atkinson, Victor Martinez-Vicente, Ana M. Queirós, Peter I. Miller, Kerry L. Howell, Rebecca C. Millington, Susan Kay, Matthew Faith, Karen Tait, Elizabeth Talbot, Andrew Rees, Chris Lyal, Jeff Ardron, Matthew Frost

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement provides a new opportunity to consolidate and achieve global marine environmental goals. Here we focus on how science and technology will support its implementation. We provide an overview of existing scientific knowledge and methods that are scalable to Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). Reviewing data gaps, challenges and opportunities, we outline solutions and a roadmap focused on enhancing resources and capacity.

Survival Politics On A Working Waterfront: Rules Change Faster Than Prices In The South Texas Shrimp Fishery, Owen Temby, Anthony R. Lima

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

In 2024–2025, the U.S. and Texas governments raced to save Gulf shrimp. Texas passed a truth-in labeling law for food service in restaurants. Federal agencies added antidumping and countervailing duty orders and new tariffs. This case follows Brownsville and Port Isabel, where dock prices slid while boats and crews aged. We frame the response as survival politics: urgent and improvised moves to keep a livelihood going even when imports set the price. Using legislative hearings, agency notices, local reporting, and port records, we show that rules reset faster than prices. Inventories, contracts, and supplier substitution delay any lift at the …

Polymer Microstructures For Advanced Biomanufacturing, Tongyao Wu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With the continued growth of the biopharmaceutical industry, the demand for scalable, robust, and resource-efficient platforms for large-scale mammalian cell culture is amplified. Recent developments in microfluidic technology, such as precise control of the microenvironment, showed the potential to improve the performance of cell culture systems. However, constrained by scalability and operational efficiency, applying such approaches to large-scale cell culture and biopharmaceutical production presents challenges. This dissertation addresses these challenges through three independent but conceptually related technological developments. First, a roll-to-roll (R2R) fabrication process was developed for the scalable production of hollow microcarriers (HMCs). HMCs provide three-dimensional microenvironments suitable for …

Distribution Of Some Antibiotic Resistance Genes Among Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Isolated From Patients Lying Icu In Al-Najaf /Iraq, Ghufran Rajab Taher, Ahlam Kadhim Alyasseen

Baghdad Science Journal

Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant nosocomial pathogen, affecting immunocompromised and critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The emergence of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) poses a threat due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics. This study investigates the prevalence of carbapenemase-encoding genes among CRAB isolates from ICU patients at AL-Sadder hospital/ Najaf. Eight sputum specimens were collected from ICU patients suspected of A. baumannii. The isolates were identified through morphological, biochemical tests and the Vitek 2 Compact system. Antibiotic sensitivity was determined by the Vitek 2 Compact system (using AST card). only 5 A. baumannii isolates have been …

Protective Effect Of Boswellia Carterii And Gum Arabic (Senegalia Senegal) On Induced Arthritic In Male Rats, Basma Ali Jasim, Alia Hussein Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

The study aims to use natural substances like Senegalia senegal and Boswellia carterii to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a painful disease affecting joints and making movement difficult, , The two plants were used to treat the symptoms of induced arthritis in male rats by using the complete freund's adjuvant method. A group of thirty adult male rats was used in this study, divided into six groups, with five rats for each group. The 1st group was the negative control (without arthritis induced and without treatment); the 2nd group is the positive control group (with arthritis induced and without any treatment); the …

Volume 60-1 Full Issue, Ryan Brown

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

No abstract provided.

“I’M So Hungry”: Assessing Stem Sensemaking Through Data-Informed Writing, Bailey Nafziger, Alesia Mickle Moldavan, Katie Brkich

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

To engage elementary learners in the complex task of STEM sensemaking, teachers must entice and inspire learners to ask questions, explore, and communicate their findings. This article shares a 5E/3D lesson designed and taught in our elementary science methods courses to model how preservice teachers can integrate literacy and mathematics into a science investigation for STEM sensemaking. We modified a traditional lesson on bird beak adaptations to have a differentiated, interdisciplinary writing component justified by data. We discuss why data-supported literacy is a non-negotiable in science education reforms and how teachers can differentiate tasks to make scientific writing more approachable …

Who Feeds On Whom? Identifying Ticks Feeding On Mammal, Brenna G. Albright, Christina Espada, Mykenna Zettle, Abbey Jones, David T. Gauthier, Holly Gaff

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Study of tick-host association is critical to understanding host-pathogen ecology. Collection of ticks from mammalian hosts is difficult because of permitting, cost, and time considerations, particularly for medium and large mammals. The ODU Tick Research Team has been collecting ticks from mammals since 2010 using a combination of serendipitous sampling from roadkill and donations from veterinarians, hunters, and wildlife rehabilitators. In this work, we quantify the association between Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes keiransi and various mammalian hosts in Virginia. Ixodes scapularis (deer tick or blacklegged tick) is the primary vector of the Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi s.s.) in …

Targeting Hypothalamic Oxidative Stress And Neuroinflammation: A Novel Neuroprotective Role For Annona Muricata Seed Extract In Aluminium- Induced Alzheimer-Like Neurodegeneration, O. A Bamgbose, O. D Akanji, P. B Fakunle, D. O Taiwo-Ola, K. O Odubela, E. O Olayemi, B. A Akanbi, B. M David

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder involving oxidative stress and neuroinflammation beyond classical hippocampal pathology. The hypothalamus, a key regulator of metabolic and neuroendocrine homeostasis, remains comparatively underexplored in experimental AD models. This study investigated the effects of aqueous Annona muricata seed extract (SSE) on hypothalamic oxidative injury in an aluminium chloride (AlCl₃)-induced Alzheimer's disease–like model in Wistar rats. Adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 5): control, AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg), SSE alone (200 mg/kg), AlCl₃ + SSE, and AlCl₃ + donepezil (10 …

Of Epistemes And Insects: How Drosophila And Butterflies Shape Our Understanding Of Radiation Risk, Donna M. Goldstein, Magdalena E. Stawkoski

Faculty Publications

This paper explores the complexities of extrapolating insect data to understand nuclear exposure effects on humans. Within radiation research, animal studies are invaluable tools for understanding biological effects of radiation exposure. However, data are often employed selectively, exposing unsettled science in extrapolating animal data to human radiation effects. Here we focus on our understanding of the genetic effects of radiation exposure, and how the debates about the long-term effects on humans were molded by research carried out on the model organism known as Drosophila; disagreements among scientists occurred within the constraints of research on this model organism, creating what …

Closing The Loop: Experimental Validation Of Ai Predicted Ternary Complexes To Enable Rational Design Of Cdk8-Targeted Degraders, Li Zhang, Jia Zheng, Rebekah Martin, Jing Li, Zachary T. Mack, Hao Ji, Eugenia V. Broude Ph.D., Igor Roninson Ph.D., Mengqian Chen Ph.D., Campbell Mcinnes

AI Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Is A Gender-Neutral Income Tax Feasible—Or Desirable?, James Alm, Yvette Lind

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

It is increasingly recognized that the individual income tax leads to disparate treatment by race, ethnicity, and gender, even when the statutory tax code is written in a race-, ethnicity-, and gender-blind way. Partly in response to these disparate treatments, there have been many suggestions for moving the income tax to more neutral treatments of taxpayers. In this paper, we focus on a specific aspect of these reform efforts: making the individual income tax gender-neutral. We first examine the many sources of gender non-neutrality in the income tax. We argue that gender non-neutrality arises largely because of deviations of “income” …

The Combined Effects Of Art Therapy And Yoga On Stress In Graduate Students, Wen-Fang (Tiffany) Tsai

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Graduate students experience disproportionately high levels of stress, and when this stress becomes chronic, it is associated with adverse psychological and physical health outcomes. While yoga and art therapy have independently demonstrated potential in reducing stress, their combined effects remain underexplored. This quantitative study employed a two-group experimental design to investigate the synergistic effects of an integrated art therapy and yoga intervention on stress reduction and flow enhancement. Graduate students (N = 23) were randomly assigned to either the integrated intervention or an active control group receiving yoga only. Participants received three weekly 50-min sessions, with pre- and post-intervention …

Periodontal Biomarkers In Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, And Clinical Implications, Max Foroughi, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition increasingly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) beyond shared risk factors. This review evaluates evidence linking periodontal inflammation to cardiovascular outcomes and identifies periodontal biomarkers with potential relevance for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including studies published between 1990 and 2025. Epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic studies examining associations between periodontal disease, inflammatory and microbial biomarkers, and cardiovascular outcomes were included. Biomarkers were categorized as inflammatory cytokines, acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress markers, lipid mediators, and microbial indicators. Evidence regarding periodontal therapy and …

Sepsis-Triggered Proteolysis Of Profibrinolytic Annexin A2 Associated With Microvasculopathy-Related Organ Dysfunction, Hana I. Lim, Michael Bender, Huigen Chen, Frances M. West, Julio Lanfranco, Dena Almeida, Katherine A. Hajjar

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disorder marked by dysregulated inflammation and coagulopathy. Annexin A2 (A2), a profibrinolytic protein, assembles plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator on cell surfaces, thereby maintaining vascular patency. However, its role in human sepsis has remained poorly defined. We investigated whether A2 undergoes qualitative or quantitative modification during human sepsis with associated end-organ dysfunction. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma were collected from 65 patients with sepsis and 27 healthy controls. A2 expression and integrity were evaluated with cell surface plasmin generation using immunoblot and fluorometric assays. Both A2 integrity and plasmin generation were significantly reduced in …

Phased-Genome Assemblies Of Saltgrass Reveal Structural Dynamics And Genomic Basis For Extreme Salt Tolerance And Dioecy., Kashif Nawaz, Izamar Olivas Orduna, Dal-Hoe Koo, Francisco Molina-Freaner, Hester L. Bell, Mara Miculan, Victor Llaca, Judith Harrington, Sarah M. Eppley, Jesse Poland

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The climate crisis poses a critical challenge to agriculture, with freshwater scarcity becoming a major constraint on crop production. Harnessing halophytic adaptations for growth in saline environments offers a promising path for neodomestication of salt-tolerant crops. Distichlis spp. (saltgrass)-a genus of dioecious, halophytic C4 grasses in the PACMAD clade-thrives in extreme saline conditions, making it a compelling species to understand salinity tolerance and adaptation. Here, we present high-quality phased genome assemblies of four Distichlis genets, revealing an allotetraploid genome (576-610 Mb) with two highly syntenic but degenerate subgenomes, each exhibiting over 30% gene loss across orthologous pairs. Comparative genomic analyses …

Graph Neural Networks Predict Anti-Epileptic Treatment Response In Non-Lesional Infantile Epileptic Spasm Syndrome, Karen K. Wurzel

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Background: With an incidence rate of approximately three out of 10,000 live births, Infantile Epileptic Spasm Syndrome (IESS) is a rare form of epilepsy with about 2,000 to 2,500 new cases in the United States annually. Each year, thousands of infants and families face uncertainty, often requiring multiple medication regimens before finding an effective treatment. This thesis uses pretreatment structural brain connectivity data to train Graph Neural Networks (GNN) to predict antiepileptic drug response in infants with IESS, aiming to reduce the trial-and-error approach and improve care for those with IESS. Method: The dataset used in this thesis contains de-identified …

Immunoregulatory Effects Of Choerospondias Axillaris (Roxb.) B.L.Burtt & A.W.Hill Fruit Extract In Mice With Insights On In Vitro Mechanism, Ravi Gautam, Anju Maharjan, Jaehee Lee, Sujeong Yang, Jihun Jo, Manju Acharya, Daeun Lee, Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Saroj Lamichhane, Byungsun Min, Changyul Kim, Hyoungah Kim, Yong Heo

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris), a plant native to Nepal, has been traditionally used in Asian countries to treat cardiovascular conditions. However, its effects on immune regulatory function remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to in vivo evaluate the immunoregulatory properties of Lapsi fruit extract in mice on immunotoxic responses with analysis on in vitro mechanism for immune suppression, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Male Balb/c mice were intragastrically administered various doses of the extract for 21 days. In some mice, immune suppression was induced with cyclophosphamide, and subsequent immune recovery was assessed. In addition, RAW264.7 cells and THP-1-derived macrophages were …

Self-Clustering Of Three Cbx2 Molecules Drives Prc2 To Promote Facultative Heterochromatinization Of Polycomb Target Genes, Steven Ingersoll, Abby Trouth, J Carlos Angel, Xinlong Luo, Axel Espinoza, Joey Wen, Chengjie Zhu, Joseph Tucker, Kalkidan Astatike, Christopher J Phiel, Hatim Sabaawy, Tatiana G Kutateladze, Tao P Wu, Tingting Yao, Chao Lu, Srinivas Ramachandran, Xiaojun Ren

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Phase separation is increasingly recognized in facultative heterochromatinization of Polycomb target genes; however, the mechanisms underlying this process remain obscure. Using single-molecule imaging and tracking, we show that individual condensates in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) contain approximately 3 CBX2 molecules and numerous Polycomb repressive complex (PRC)1 and PRC2 subunits and indicate that the composition and dynamics of condensates are developmentally regulated. We reveal that CBX2 clusters PRC2 and controls the spatial distribution of both PRC2 and H3K27me3. Using genomic approaches, we demonstrate that CBX2 binds to condensate initiation sites, which are enriched for PRC2 nucleation sites. CBX2 deletion causes …