Digital Commons Network^™

A New Take On Gamer Grading, Cynthia Smyser

Professional Learning Day

My version of Gamer Grading turns earning points into fun.   Students earn level-ups and side quests. Points earned cannot be lost which helps anxious or struggling students. Points earned by accomplishing extra units add additional motivation.  An entire system for grading and rewards for all grades will be presented. Come find out how to add another layer of fun to your classroom!

Conditions Affecting Mental Health - Definition And Strategies, Crystal England

Professional Learning Day

This session will empower educators and staff to recognize, support, and respond to teen mental health needs. The topics covered are Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, OCD, ADHD, and Panic Attacks with evidence-based prevention and crisis strategies. Inclusive DEI insights, classroomready tools, and student resources ensure every learner feels seen and supported.

Why Are There Microscopes In The Art Room?, Joyce Symoniak

Professional Learning Day

During this presentation we will explore how working cross curriculum enhances learning within the visual arts, science and mathematics. We will discuss how the visual arts curriculum can be created in order to bond with STEM courses for student success. Through exploration we will discuss how collaboration within these courses can be used to solidify cross curriculum understanding and learning.

Integrating Neuroscience And Technology: Experiential Learning Through Muscle-To-Robot Systems, Dr. Ashwin Mohan, Dr. Mark Carlson

Professional Learning Day

In this interdisciplinary module, participants engage in hands-on exploration of neuroengineering by recording and interpreting electromyographic (EMG) signals to control robotic devices, bridging human physiology and technology. Through guided experimentation, they investigate neural pathways, signal processing, and biofeedback to understand brain-machine interfaces. The module highlights real-world applications of neuroscience, engineering, and computer science in biomimetics, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity through experiential, technology-driven learning.  *It would be helpful for participants to have the Spike Recorder App from BackyardBrains downloaded on a laptop*

You Can't Beat The Classics! Adding Scientific Rigor To Elephant Toothpaste And Baking Soda Volcanos, Dr. Zachary Conley

Professional Learning Day

Students love watching and filming chemical reactions. In this interactive lesson we will discuss how to turn classic demonstrations into NGSS aligned, inquiry driven student learning opportunities.

Integrating Neuroscience And Technology: Experiential Learning Through Muscle-To-Robot Systems, Dr. Ashwin Mohan, Dr. Mark Carlson

Professional Learning Day

In this interdisciplinary module, participants engage in hands-on exploration of neuroengineering by recording and interpreting electromyographic (EMG) signals to control robotic devices, bridging human physiology and technology. Through guided experimentation, they investigate neural pathways, signal processing, and biofeedback to understand brain-machine interfaces. The module highlights real-world applications of neuroscience, engineering, and computer science in biomimetics, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity through experiential, technology-driven learning. *It would be helpful for participants to have the Spike Recorder App from BackyardBrains website downloaded on a laptop*

Disease Detectives: An Exploration Of Foodborne Epidemiology Activities, Dr. Zachary Conley

Professional Learning Day

An interactive workshop presenting lessons utilizing inquiry-based and problem-centered learning to introduce basic concepts of epidemiology. In particular participants will engage in group discussion and interactive elements to explore foodborne illnesses and the science used to track them. Our hope is to present lessons, which in addition to sharpening scientific skills will present unique career pathways to students.

Experiential Cooperative Learning Methods For Science And Math, Dr. Thomas Juliano

Professional Learning Day

Tired of students mindlessly copying each other's homework?  In this workshop, experience what it is like to "chunk up" concepts or problems for a unit, giving each student a unique voice and inherent motivation to share with others in the class. The presenter will draw from experience with a physics curriculum; however, this technique can be applied to other sciences, math, and most any other academic discipline. *Participants may bring a laptop to this session*

Csi: Costa Rica--Turning Phenomena Into Engaging Biology Storylines, Cassandra Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

Immerse yourself in a problem-based storyline and work to solve the case of a mysterious illness that has taken over a Costa Rican village. Experience an accelerated student journey as you ask questions, build and revise models, analyze outbreak data, and design investigations. We’ll connect the activities to NGSS performance expectations and explore how anchoring instruction in compelling phenomena increases understanding, engagement, and authentic scientific reasoning.

Evaluation Of The Posterior Segment Of The Dromedary Camel’S Eye Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (Sd-Oct), Amine Berghiche, Djallal Eddine Rahmoun, Nassiba Reghaissia, Allaoua Chaouki Bentazir, Mohamed Kamal Merai Abdel Maksoud

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The dromedary camel possesses unique ocular adaptations enabling survival in harsh desert environments. This study aimed to characterize the posterior segment of the dromedary camel’s eye using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundus photography. Fourteen healthy adult camels were sedated and imaged. High-resolution OCT images enabled clear visualization and measurement of the retina, choroid, and sclera. The retina exhibited well-defined layers, including the retinal pigment epithelium, photoreceptor layer, plexiform layers, and nerve fiber layer. Mean thicknesses of the retina, choroid, and sclera were 267 ± 2.54 μm, 299 ± 3.15 μm, and 155 ± 2.74 μm in the right …

Archives And Children's Knowledge, Elliott Kuecker, Ashley Rockenbach

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

This article argues for the importance of collecting works created by children—not just about and not just for—in formal archival collections. Framed through the ideas of legitimate knowledge and epistemic injustice, this piece combines notions important to children’s rights activists and childhood studies scholars with the role archives can play in preserving children’s knowledge through child-created materials. The authors describe how researchers struggle to find work created by children within archives, impacting the ability to create child-centered research that centers children’s views of the world as prominently as adult views of the world. Some collections that do include child-created materials …

Pick Me Please! Interactive Ways To Teach Natural Selection (Hs-Ls-4), Dr. Zachary Conley

Professional Learning Day

Participants will examine a combination of free simulations and practical activities useful for teaching natural selection standards. Ideally participants will leave with a small toolbox of lesson starting points for phenomenon or inquiry driven activities.

Presentations Of Cutaneous Disease In Various Skin Pigmentations: Tinea Corporis, Braden Van Alfen, Navya Peddireddy, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Christian Scheufele, Garrett Furth, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Tinea corporis is a common superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. It typically presents as well-defined, pruritic, annular papules and plaques with central hypopigmentation. The differential diagnosis includes pityriasis rosea, nummular dermatitis, plaque psoriasis, tinea versicolor, granuloma annulare, and discoid lupus. This article compares different presentations of tinea corporis in various skin types as classified by the Fitzpatrick scale. Recognizing varying presentations of tinea in patients of different skin tones will aid in early and appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

The Sp-26 Protocol: A Pathogen-Agnostic Standard For Intracellular Mechanical Neutralization, Jon S. Gossett

Defensive Publications Series

Title: The SP-26 Protocol: A Pathogen-Agnostic Standard for Intracellular Mechanical Neutralization

Author: Jon Sterling Gossett This disclosure establishes the SP-26 Protocol, an industrial-inspired engineering standard for the mechanical termination of both viral and bacterial pathogens. By shifting the neutralization mechanism from biochemical interference to solid-state biomineralization, the protocol creates a mutation-proof hardware-lock against replication. All information in this disclosure is a theoretical engineering standard and requires empirical verification. The protocol utilizes engineered hematopoietic units to divert standard phagocytosis and viral entry into a peripheral Synthetic Virus-Containing Compartment (S-VCC). Once sequestered, the unit initiates a mass-triggered petrification event that encases the …

Using The Misinformation Exposure-Trust Framework For Audience Segmentation: Predicting Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among U.S., Jing Zeng, Jinxu Li, Nan Yu, Xi Cui, Anli Xiao Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study examines whether individuals’ exposure to and trust in COVID-19 vaccine misinformation can be used to segment audiences and explain variations in vaccine hesitancy and health beliefs. Using k-means clustering, a survey of 819 U.S. college students (March–May 2021) identifies four subgroups based on combinations of high or low misinformation exposure and trust: misinformation-shielded (low exposure, low trust), misinformation-vulnerable (low exposure, high trust), misinformation-resistant (high exposure, low trust), and misinformation-accepting (high exposure, high trust). These subgroups differ significantly in political ideology, vaccine hesitancy, and health beliefs. The misinformation-shielded subgroup reports more liberal views, lower hesitancy, and higher perceived efficacy, …

Equity In Enhancing Family Planning Access In Rural Municipalities Of The Philippines, Jean Rachel D. Ang, Meljun R. Banogon, Teodoro Lloydon C. Bautista, Wendy D. Besa-Ang, Macario A. Felicen Ii, Jovine M. Martin, Hermie Alexander D. Sia, Jaeron Den D. Topinio

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Fertility trends in the Philippines have decreased over the years, driven by improved implementation of family planning (FP) practices and programs. However, regional and urban-rural disparities remain evident. Based on the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the general fertility rate (GFR) in urban areas is 57 per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, compared with 72 per 1,000 in rural areas. This study determined the factors affecting fertility rates in selected municipalities in the second to fourth-income classes, namely Candoni, Jamindan, Moalboal, Palapag, San Miguel, and Sibalom. It utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study design involving 180 women of …

Beyond War Crimes, Anne-Marie Carstens

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Intermittent Hypoxemia And Brain Injury Biomarker S100b In Preterm Infants, Elie G. Abu Jawdeh, Linda J. Van Eldik, Jennifer Stevenson, Abhijit Patwardhan, Philip M. Westgate, Lina Chalak, Richard J. Martin, Henrietta S. Bada

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Abstract – Introduction: Intermittent hypoxemia (IH) is common in preterm infants and linked to brain injury. S100B is a glial-derived protein that rises early after neural injury and can be measured noninvasively in urine. We evaluated the relationship between IH burden and urinary S100B in preterm infants of ≤32 weeks’ gestation. Methods: Preterm infants of ≤32 weeks’ gestation were prospectively enrolled. Oxygen saturation was continuously monitored, and IH profiles were quantified using validated algorithms. Urine S100B was measured by ultrasensitive immunoassay and normalized for urinary creatinine. Infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage were excluded. Weighted Spearman correlations examined associations between IH …

Exosome Engineering For Blocking Gut Dysbiosis And Inducing Cell Death Mechanisms In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Ahalya Muraleedharan, Karthik Rangavajhula, Swapan K. Ray

Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor in adults. Emerging evidence endorses that gut dysbiosis contributes to GBM progression through the gut–brain axis (GBA), promoting inflammation and therapeutic resistance via abnormal short-chain fatty acid production and cytokine dysregulation. Exosomes, naturally occurring nanovesicles (30–150 nm), offer promising therapeutic potential due to their blood–brain barrier permeability, biocompatibility, and versatile cargo capacity. This review examines exosome engineering strategies for dual targeting: inhibiting alterations in gut microbiome and inducing regulated cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis and ferroptosis in GBM. We describe exosome engineering with detailed focus on cargo loading approaches …

Egain Tube Memristors Offering Reliable Switching On A Biological Time Scale, Yuriy V. Pershin, Liya Patel, Bapi Bera, Doug Aaron, Stephen A. Sarles

Faculty Publications

Memristive devices have been considered promising candidates for nature-inspired computing and in-memory information processing. However, experimental devices developed to date typically show significant variability and function at different time scales than biological neurons and synapses. This study presents a memristive device comprised of liquid-metal eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) contained within a mm-scale tube that operates via a bulk, voltage-dependent switching mechanism and exhibits distinct unipolar resistive switching characteristics that occur on a biological time scale (tens of milliseconds). The switching mechanism involves voltage-controlled growth and dissolution of an oxide layer on the surface of the liquid metal in contact with …

Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Chondocranium, Morgan Indyk, Sarah Hendricks, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Selectivity Modulation Of Small Cationic Membrane-Active Cyclic Peptides With Broad-Spectrum Activity Against Bacteria And Fungi, Sandeep Lohan, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Kaustav Das Gupta, Shakti Singh, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

To investigate how ring size and backbone flexibility influence antimicrobial potency and cytotoxicity, we synthesized a series of macrocyclic peptides of lead peptide p1 (c[Arg-Arg-arg-arg-dip-Trp-dip]) by incorporating Gly, 2-aminoethoxyacetic acid (EAA), or 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab). Two optimized peptides, 6b and 10b, retained broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive (MIC, 1.5–6.2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC, 4–25 μg/mL), as well as pathogenic fungi, while exhibiting enhanced selectivity for microbial cells. Their therapeutic indices (TI ∼407 and ∼394, respectively) were ∼2-fold higher than p1, indicating improved safety. Both peptides remained effective against Gram-negative pathogens beyond the reach of daptomycin, were rapidly bactericidal, and …

Achieving And Sustaining Treatment Targets In Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis In Indonesia, Fara Fauzia, Rudy Hidayat, Suryo Anggoro Kusumo Wibowo, Sumariyono Sumariyono, Faisal Parlindungan, Anna Ariane, Johanda Damanik, Abirianty Priandani Araminta, Suci Damaratri

Kesmas

Achieving and sustaining low disease activity (LDA) and remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains challenging. This study examined the rates and predictors of LDA/remission and sustained LDA/remission in an Indonesian RA cohort. A retrospective study of newly diagnosed adult patients attending a rheumatology clinic in 2020-2021 was conducted. Patients were followed for 12 months to evaluate achievement of LDA/remission, defined as DAS28-ESR ≤3.2, and those meeting the target were observed for an additional 12 months to evaluate sustained LDA/remission. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of time to LDA/remission and loss of LDA/remission. Of 166 participants, 91 (54.8%) achieved …

Urban–Rural Disparities In Metabolic Risk Factors For Hypertension Among The Elderly In Indonesia, Susiana Nugraha, Puri Wulandari

Kesmas

Hypertension remains a major public health challenge among the elderly in low- and middle-income countries. This cross-sectional study examined demographic and metabolic factors associated with hypertension among the elderly living in urban and rural areas of West and Central Java Provinces, Indonesia. This study included 1,920 adults aged ≥60 years who had resided in the study areas for at least six months, were able to communicate effectively, and provided informed consent. Data were collected between March and August 2023 using stratified multistage random sampling, structured questionnaires, and biochemical measurements. Multivariable logistic regression revealed distinct patterns of association across settings. In …

Factors Affecting Irritant Contact Dermatitis Among Horticulture Farmers In Semarang District, Indonesia, Maria Goretti Catur Yuantari, Haikal Haikal, Dewi Susanna

Kesmas

Irritant contact dermatitis is a common condition among farmers, but its underlying causes remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify factors associated with irritant contact dermatitis among horticulture farmers in Semarang District, Indonesia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 427 farmers using a validated, reliable structured questionnaire. The results indicated complaints of dermatitis related to contact with irritants. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and logistic regression. Analysis revealed that sex, personal hygiene habits, education level, and the number of pesticide types used were significantly associated with irritant contact dermatitis. Female farmers were less likely to develop irritant …

Differential Response Of Finger Millet Accessions To Contrasting Saline Water Levels And Irrigation Regimes Under Desert Conditions, Abidemi Talabi, Nhamo Nhamo, Sumitha Thushar, Prashant Vikram, Hifzurrahman Rahman, Mohammed Shahid, Neeru Sood, Malavika Sudheer, Dheeraj Thikkamaneni, Amna Almarri, Fatma Alsaffar, Deep Galani, Moyeez Alam, Sonia Goel, Rakesh K. Singh

All Works

Water salinity and scarcity constitute major limitations to crop production in arid and semi-arid regions. Introduction of nutritious and stress-tolerant underutilized crops is a promising approach for dietary enrichment, cropping system diversification, remediation of marginal and degraded lands, and building climate resilience. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of water salinity and managed water-deficit stress on grain and fodder yield, identify multi-trait ideotypes, and validate the stability and genetic gain in finger millet ideotypes over a 2-year period. A total of 80 finger millet accessions were evaluated under fresh water (0 dS/m) and two saline …

Volume Cxlv, Number 15, February 27, 2026, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Toward A Model Of Agentic Professional Learning: A Phenomenological Study Of Collective Efficacy Development, Stephanie Thomas

Education Dissertations

Collective teacher efficacy (CTE) refers to a faculty’s shared belief in its collective ability to take action and positively impact student outcomes in ways more influential than other predictive factors, including socioeconomic status or prior achievement. Research has shown that high levels of CTE are associated with improved student achievement as well as positive outcomes and productive behaviors among educators. However, limited attention has been given to how intentional design and facilitation of professional learning experiences could foster the development of CTE. Given the strong empirical evidence linking CTE with student achievement and the virtuous cycle, or bidirectional causality, between …

Engineering Human Microphysiological Models To Investigate Bacterial Extracellular Vesicle–Driven Endothelial And Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction, Louis P. Widom

Theses

Pathogenic bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are nanoscale particles derived from bacteria that contain pro-inflammatory cargo. During bacterial infections, BEVs provoke the host inflammatory response and may cause widespread damage. Furthermore, antibiotic treatment can boost BEV production and thereby increase the number of toxic signals traveling through the circulatory system. This is especially dangerous in brain blood vessels since evidence suggests that BEVs may destabilize the protective blood–brain barrier (BBB), resulting in neuroinflammation associated with cognitive decline and development of neurological disorders. Our understanding of BEV interactions with the host remains limited, necessitating the development of in vitro models to better …

Management And Prognosis Of Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review, Mayank Gupta, Sara Khan, Samantha Bunk, Anand S. Patil, Joan Stilling, Jaspal Singh, Sudhir Diwan, Michael E. Schatman, Anushka Bajaj, Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Steven Kosa

Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most common subtype of traumatic brain injury, where patients experience a multitude of symptoms from headaches to memory loss and mood changes. Consequently, there are known poor prognostic factors for mTBI that can impede recovery and alter management courses. This narrative review aims to synthesize and provide a critical assessment of the current diagnostic criteria, management, and prognostic factors for mTBI to inform practice guidelines. Methods: This study adopts a patient-centered approach, focusing on treating presenting symptoms and referring patients to specialists for abnormal exam findings as needed. These findings …