Digital Commons Network^™

Habitat And Environmental Risks Of Chagas Disease In Low-Income Colonias And Peri-Urban Subdivisions In South Texas, Bára Šafářová, Cecilia H. Giusti, Maria P. Perez, Italo B. Zecca, Ester S. Carbajal, Gabriel L. Hamer, Sarah A. Hamer

School of Medicine Publications

Both the planning and public health literature have discussed proximity to greenspaces as predominantly beneficial to health, based on studies mostly conducted in high-income regions. Understanding the health risks of proximity to greenspace and nature—where pathogens and wildlife coexist—is important, as nature-based solutions are increasingly called for to address complex urban challenges. This exploratory pilot study bridges planning and epidemiology approaches to develop a new method to analyze habitat and environmental factors associated with the risk of vector-borne Chagas disease in a low-income region, South Texas. Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America, where it affects between seven to eight …

Investigating The Relations Between Caffeine-Derived Metabolites And Plasma Lipids In 2 Population-Based Studies, Dusan Petrovic, Menno Pruijm, Belén Ponte, Nasser A. Dhayat, Daniel Ackermann, Georg Ehret, Nicolas Ansermot, Bruno Vogt, Pierre-Yves Martin, Jesus D. Melgarejo

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To investigate the relations between caffeine-derived metabolites (methylxanthines) and plasma lipids by use of population-based data from 2 European countries.

Methods: Families were randomly selected from the general population of northern Belgium (FLEMENGHO), from August 12, 1985, until November 22, 1990, and 3 Swiss cities (SKIPOGH), from November 25, 2009, through April 4, 2013. We measured plasma concentrations (FLEMENGHO, SKIPOGH) and 24-hour urinary excretions (SKIPOGH) of 4 methylxanthines-caffeine, paraxanthine, theobromine, and theophylline-using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We used enzymatic methods to estimate total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and the Friedewald equation for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol …

The Landscape Of Renal Replacement Therapy In Veterans Affairs Medical Center Intensive Care Units, Chandan Vangala, Maulin Shah, Natasha N Dave, Layth Al Attar, Sankar D Navaneethan, Venkat Ramanathan, Susan Crowley, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Outpatient dialysis is standardized with several evidence-based measures of adequacy and quality that providers aim to meet while providing treatment. By contrast, in the intensive care unit (ICU) there are different types of prolonged and continuous renal replacement therapies (PIRRT and CRRT, respectively) with varied strategies for addressing patient care and a dearth of nationally accepted quality parameters. To eventually describe appropriate quality measures for ICU-related renal replacement therapy (RRT), we first aimed to capture the variety and prevalence of basic strategies and equipment utilized in the ICUs of Veteran Affairs (VA) medical facilities with inpatient hemodialysis capabilities.

METHODS: …

On Inter-Organizational Trust, Control And Risk In Transboundary Fisheries Governance, Gordon M. Hickey, Hunter T. Snyder, Jasper R. Devries, Owen Temby

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Inter-organizational collaboration is often considered essential to transboundary fishery governance, due, in part, to the high levels of task interdependence, the remote and often treacherous conditions, and the limited levels of information available to any policy actor on resource status. In the high seas, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are responsible for sustainably managing highly migratory and straddling fish stocks through the implementation of ecosystem-based approaches and ensuring adequate inter-jurisdictional cooperation. A central question facing RFMO governance is therefore how to structure and sustain inter-organizational transboundary collaboration under high uncertainty? This paper presents the case of the North Atlantic Salmon …

Genetic Testing In Ambulatory Cardiology Clinics Reveals High Rate Of Findings With Clinical Management Implications, David R Murdock, Eric Venner, Donna M Muzny, Ginger A Metcalf, Mullai Murugan, Trevor D Hadley, Varuna Chander, Paul S De Vries, Xiaoming Jia, Aliza Hussain, Ali M Agha, Aniko Sabo, Shoudong Li, Qingchang Meng, Jianhong Hu, Xia Tian, Michelle Cohen, Victoria Yi, Christie L Kovar, Marie-Claude Gingras, Viktoriya Korchina, Chad Howard, Daniel L Riconda, Stacey Pereira, Hadley S Smith, Zohra A Huda, Alexandria Buentello, Patricia R Marino, Lee Leiber, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Christopher I Amos, Andrew B Civitello, Mihail G Chelu, Ronald Maag, Amy L Mcguire, Eric Boerwinkle, Xander H T Wehrens, Christie M Ballantyne, Richard A Gibbs

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in adults in the United States, yet the benefits of genetic testing are not universally accepted.

METHODS: We developed the "HeartCare" panel of genes associated with CVD, evaluating high-penetrance Mendelian conditions, coronary artery disease (CAD) polygenic risk, LPA gene polymorphisms, and specific pharmacogenetic (PGx) variants. We enrolled 709 individuals from cardiology clinics at Baylor College of Medicine, and samples were analyzed in a CAP/CLIA-certified laboratory. Results were returned to the ordering physician and uploaded to the electronic medical record.

RESULTS: Notably, 32% of patients had a genetic finding with clinical …

Predicted Vitamin D Status And Colorectal Cancer Incidence In The Black Women's Health Study, Lauren E Barber, Kimberly A Bertrand, Jessica L Petrick, Hanna Gerlovin, Laura F White, Lucile L Adams-Campbell, Lynn Rosenberg, Hemant K Roy, Julie R Palmer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Observational studies, mostly among White populations, suggest that low vitamin D levels increase colorectal cancer risk. African Americans, who are disproportionately burdened by colorectal cancer, often have lower vitamin D levels compared with other populations.

METHODS: We assessed predicted vitamin D score in relation to colorectal cancer among 49,534 participants in the Black Women's Health Study, a cohort of African American women followed from 1995 to 2017 through biennial questionnaires. We derived predicted vitamin D scores at each questionnaire cycle for all participants using a previously validated prediction model based on actual 25-hydroxyvitamin D values from a subset of …

Bicuspid Aortic Valve In Pregnancy Complicated By Aortic Valve Vegetation, Aortic Root Abscess, And Aortic Insufficiency, Shan He, Christopher A Huynh, Yi Deng, Sandeep Markan, Anvinh Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A 39-year-old patient presented to our Labor and Delivery unit with fever and nausea in the context of recent bacteriuria. She was found to be in sepsis due to an incidental bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) complicated by aortic valvular vegetations, severe aortic insufficiency, and aortic root abscess, requiring an emergent cesarean section. Three days after delivery, the patient successfully underwent a mechanical aortic valve replacement and root reconstruction. In this case report, medical, surgical, and anesthetic management of parturient patients with BAV are discussed. The management of this congenital valvulopathy and vasculopathy is complicated by the extensive hemodynamic and cardiovascular …

Genetic Diversity, Structure, And Selective Sweeps In Spinacia Turkestanica Associated With The Domestication Of Cultivated Spinach, Sanjaya Gyawali, Gehendra Bhattarai, Ainong Shi, Chris Kik, Lindsey J. Du Toit

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) was used to explore the genetic diversity and structure of Spinacia turkestanica, and the selective sweeps involved in domestication of cultivated spinach, S. oleracea, from S. turkestanica. A total 7,065 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated for 16 Spinacia oleracea and 76 S. turkestanica accessions placed the S. oleracea accessions in one group, Q1, and the 76 S. turkestanica accessions, which originated from Central Asia, in two distinct groups, Q2 and Q3. The Q2 group shared greater genetic identity with the S. oleracea accessions, Q1, than the Q3 S. turkestanica …

Illinois State University, One Hundred And Sixty-Second Annual Commencement, December 2021, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Illinois State University
One Hundred and Sixty-Second Annual Commencement
December 2021

Associations Of High-Sensitivity Troponin And Natriuretic Peptide Levels With Outcomes After Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering: Findings From The Sprint Randomized Clinical Trial, Jarett D Berry, Vijay Nambi, Walter T Ambrosius, Haiying Chen, Anthony A Killeen, Addison Taylor, Robert D Toto, Elsayed Z Soliman, John W Mcevoy, Ambarish Pandey, Parag H Joshi, Stefan Blankenberg, Dalane W Kitzman, Christie M Ballantyne, James A De Lemos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hscTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) levels are associated with risk of heart failure (HF) and mortality among individuals in the general population. However, it is unknown if this risk is modifiable.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that elevated hscTnT and NTproBNP levels would identify individuals with the greatest risk for mortality and HF and the largest benefit associated with intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This is a nonprespecified post hoc analysis of the multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), conducted from October 20, …

Unmasc: Tumor-Only Variant Calling With Unmatched Normal Controls, Paul Little, Heejoon Jo, Alan Hoyle, Angela Mazul, Xiaobei Zhao, Ashley H Salazar, Douglas Farquhar, Siddharth Sheth, Maheer Masood, Michele C Hayward, Joel S Parker, Katherine A Hoadley, Jose Zevallos, D Neil Hayes

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Despite years of progress, mutation detection in cancer samples continues to require significant manual review as a final step. Expert review is particularly challenging in cases where tumors are sequenced without matched normal control DNA. Attempts have been made to call somatic point mutations without a matched normal sample by removing well-known germline variants, utilizing unmatched normal controls, and constructing decision rules to classify sequencing errors and private germline variants. With budgetary constraints related to computational and sequencing costs, finding the appropriate number of controls is a crucial step to identifying somatic variants. Our approach utilizes public databases for canonical …

Patient-Derived Ipscs Link Elevated Mitochondrial Respiratory Complex I Function To Osteosarcoma In Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome, Brittany E Jewell, An Xu, Dandan Zhu, Mo-Fan Huang, Linchao Lu, Mo Liu, Erica L Underwood, Jun Hyoung Park, Huihui Fan, Julian A Gingold, Ruoji Zhou, Jian Tu, Zijun Huo, Ying Liu, Weidong Jin, Yi-Hung Chen, Yitian Xu, Shu-Hsia Chen, Nino Rainusso, Nathaniel K Berg, Danielle A Bazer, Christopher Vellano, Philip Jones, Holger K Eltzschig, Zhongming Zhao, Benny Abraham Kaipparettu, Ruiying Zhao, Lisa L Wang, Dung-Fang Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by poikiloderma, small stature, skeletal anomalies, sparse brows/lashes, cataracts, and predisposition to cancer. Type 2 RTS patients with biallelic RECQL4 pathogenic variants have multiple skeletal anomalies and a significantly increased incidence of osteosarcoma. Here, we generated RTS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to dissect the pathological signaling leading to RTS patient-associated osteosarcoma. RTS iPSC-derived osteoblasts showed defective osteogenic differentiation and gain of in vitro tumorigenic ability. Transcriptome analysis of RTS osteoblasts validated decreased bone morphogenesis while revealing aberrantly upregulated mitochondrial respiratory complex I gene expression. RTS osteoblast metabolic assays …

A Brief History Of Nearly Ev-Erything - The Rise And Rise Of Extracellular Vesicles, Yvonne Couch, Edit I Buzàs, Dolores Di Vizio, Yong Song Gho, Paul Harrison, Andrew F Hill, Jan Lötvall, Graça Raposo, Philip D Stahl, Clotilde Théry, Kenneth W Witwer, David R F Carter

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small cargo-bearing vesicles released by cells into the extracellular space. The field of EVs has grown exponentially over the past two decades; this growth follows the realisation that EVs are not simply a waste disposal system as had originally been suggested by some, but also a complex cell-to-cell communication mechanism. Indeed, EVs have been shown to transfer functional cargo between cells and can influence several biological processes. These small biological particles are also deregulated in disease. As we approach the 75th anniversary of the first experiments in which EVs were unknowingly isolated, it seems right to …

Deletion Of Type Viii Collagen Reduces Blood Pressure, Increases Carotid Artery Functional Distensibility And Promotes Elastin Deposition, Amanda L Mohabeer, Jeffrey T Kroetsch, Meghan Mcfadden, Negin Khosraviani, Thomas J Broekelmann, Guangpei Hou, Hangjun Zhang, Yu-Qing Zhou, Minyao Wang, Anthony O Gramolini, Robert P Mecham, Scott P Heximer, Steffen-Sebastian Bolz, Michelle P Bendeck

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Arterial stiffening is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease development and mortality. In elastic arteries, stiffening refers to the loss and fragmentation of elastic fibers, with a progressive increase in collagen fibers. Type VIII collagen (Col-8) is highly expressed developmentally, and then once again dramatically upregulated in aged and diseased vessels characterized by arterial stiffening. Yet its biophysical impact on the vessel wall remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Col-8 functions as a matrix scaffold to maintain vessel integrity during extracellular matrix (ECM) development. These changes are predicted to persist into the adult …

Biochemical And Immuno-Histochemical Localization Of Type Iia Procollagen In Annulus Fibrosus Of Mature Bovine Intervertebral Disc, Audrey Mcalinden, David M Hudson, Aysel A Fernandes, Soumya Ravindran, Russell J Fernandes

2020-Current year OA Pubs

For next generation tissue-engineered constructs and regenerative medicine to succeed clinically, the basic biology and extracellular matrix composition of tissues that these repair techniques seek to restore have to be fully determined. Using the latest reagents coupled with tried and tested methodologies, we continue to uncover previously undetected structural proteins in mature intervertebral disc. In this study we show that the "embryonic" type IIA procollagen isoform (containing a cysteine-rich amino propeptide) was biochemically detectable in the annulus fibrosus of both calf and mature steer caudal intervertebral discs, but not in the nucleus pulposus where the type IIB isoform was predominantly …

Increased Mitochondrial Activity Upon Catsper Channel Activation Is Required For Mouse Sperm Capacitation, Juan J Ferreira, Adriana Cassina, Pilar Irigoyen, Mariana Ford, Santiago Pietroroia, Nikita Peramsetty, Rafael Radi, Celia M Santi, Rossana Sapiro

2020-Current year OA Pubs

To fertilize an oocyte, sperm must undergo several biochemical and functional changes known as capacitation. A key event in capacitation is calcium influx through the cation channel of sperm (CatSper). However, the molecular mechanisms of capacitation downstream of this calcium influx are not completely understood. Capacitation is also associated with an increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and several lines of evidence indicate that regulated calcium entry into mitochondria increases the efficiency of oxidative respiration. Thus, we hypothesized that calcium influx through CatSper during capacitation increases mitochondrial calcium concentration and mitochondrial efficiency and thereby contributes to sperm hyperactivation and fertilization capacity. …

The Pandemic Teaching Journey: Challenges, Lessons Learned, And Opportunities, Janice Garnett

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

This paper aims to highlight the challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education, pivoting from in-person to remote course delivery. The information shared is based on the experience of an instructor in the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), College of Education, Health and Human Sciences' Department of Educational Leadership. In addition, this document will explore how teaching and learning shifted during the pandemic and potentially reimagined for virtual environments focusing on the role of faculty and engagement of students, emphasizing professional students.

Forage Production From Perennial Vs. Annual Crop R~ On In Sandy Soils In Egypt, Z. Abdelhalim, O. Niemeläinen, I. A. Hanna, A. M. Rammah

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage production was studied on newly reclaimed sandy soil in Egypt trom perennial lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and two annual crop rotations. The cropping systems were: A) lucerne, B) berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) in the winter followed by pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br. Emend. Stantz.) in the summer and C) triticale (XX Triticosecale Wittm.) (forage cut + grain harvest) in the winter followed by maize (Zea mays L.) (grain + stover) in the summer. Mean annual dry matter yields (t ha^-1 ) were 20.65, 26.59 and 27.48 from A, B and C, respectively. However, …

Carry-Over Effect In Forage Rotations On Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil In Egypt, Z. Abdelhalim, O. Niemeläinen, I. A. Hanna, A. M. Rammah

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was carried out to investigate the carry-over effect of a preceding crop on the productivity of the following crop in various rotations in newly reclaimed lands in Egypt. The productivity of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), maize (Zea mays L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) in summer season were much higher following berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) or lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) than after wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in both years of the study. Soyabean was the best summer …

Direct Drilling Of Soybean In A Pensacola Bahiagrass Pasture In The Northwest Region Of Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil, R. B. Medeiros, J. Riboldi, J. C. De Saibro, J. E. G. Zambra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The response of methods of soil preparation (M₁=conventional tillage, and with notillage using the following herbicides M₂=50% Paraquat plus 50% Orizalin; M₃=50% Paraquat plus 50% Diquat and M₄=Paracol (20% Paraquat plus 20 Diuron)) and row spacing (E₁=17 cm, E₂=24 cm, E₃=51 cm and E₄=68 cm) on soybean grain yield direct drilled in an eight-year-old grazed sward of Bahiagrass cv. Pensacola (Paspalum notatum var. saurae Parodi) were studied in southern of Brazil. The results showed that direct drilling of soybean on Pensacola accompanied by …

A Uniquely Jesuit Approach To Engagement Through Social Media, Karl F. Kozlowski, Shawn M. O'Rourke

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Social media is a relevant and powerful instrument of communication in higher education, especially in the college age population. The use of social media in and out of the classroom on the college campus allows faculty to meet students where they are. Content shared by faculty on social media is a means to continue to educate our students and alumni outside of the classroom and build relationships regardless of geographic boundaries. Through the use of social media platforms, we can also continue to relay and demonstrate our Jesuit ideals. This engagement can help build a relationship between faculty and students …

Forage Quality Evaluation Of Chopped Elephantgrass Hay Through Intake And Digestibility Trial, E. M. De Aguiar, G. F. Da C. Lima, L. G. Da Paz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The research was carried out to evaluate forage quality of chopped elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) hay and to define a proper stage for cutting and haymaking of this grass. Chemical composition, voluntary intake, and apparent digestibility of the hays were studied at five different growth stages (30, 48, 63, 76, and 91 days). Twenty-five common wethers were utilized in a completely randomized experimental design. Dry matter (DM) voluntary intake was not different (P> 0.05) from 30 to 63 days of regrowth and from 63 to 91 days and comprised 3.9; 3.5; 3.2; 2.1; and 2.4% of animal liveweight, respectively …

Decolonizing Shipwrecks Through Considerations Of Indigeneity In Underwater Cultural Property Decisions, Chelle Haynes

Florida Journal of International Law

Under current international law, indigenous rights are not considered in ascertaining ownership of underwater cultural property. Indigenous people in Latin America and South America have faced long histories of colonialism, wherein their resources, property, and heritage were appropriated and taken by imperial powers. In this Article, I present the historical context of both the San Jose and Mercedes shipwrecks—Spanish colonial ships that were sunk in battle. I explore the history and legal decisions in both cases, while also considering how indigenous rights can be introduced into the current legal framework. Current international law concerning underwater cultural resources is primarily comprised …

The "Comfort Women" Reparation Movement: Between Universal Women's Human Right And Particular Anti-Colonial Nationalism, Ethan Hee-Seok Shin

Florida Journal of International Law

In this Article, I seek to place the “comfort women” reparation movement in East Asia’s broader colonial and post-colonial legal history. This Article will follow a largely chronological order with discussion of relevant legal points. Part II narrates the history of political and legal developments since the Imperial Japan period that set the stage for the “comfort women” reparation movement from the 1990s. In Part III, I will discuss the main legal issues concerning the Japanese reparation. Parts IV and V will explore and analyze the redress efforts at the U.N. human-rights bodies in the 1990s and the South Korean …

Looking Beyond R2p For An Answer To Inaction In The Security Council, Chelsea Koester

Florida Journal of International Law

This note identifies the veto power as the root of the ineffectiveness of the Security Council and examines ways in which this power is used to thwart international action both within and beyond the Security Council. It will then examine a fairly recent response to this inaction, the development of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, which argues that states have a responsibility to take action in the face of international crises, and evaluate how well poised this doctrine is to respond to this problem.

Trading In Human Rights: Questioning The Advance Of Human Rights Into The World Trade Organization, Sayed M. Zonaid

Florida Journal of International Law

The purpose of this Article is to demonstrate that while human rights considerations can play an important role in the World Trade Organization (WTO), such considerations cannot play an excessive role in WTO affairs. As a specialized international body devoted to trade, the WTO must accord its place of pride to trade. Unless the current framework of the WTO is modified, trade will and should be the focal point of the WTO’s energies. Indeed, for the sake of institutional integrity and continued stability, it is preferable for the WTO to retain its narrow focus.

Time For A Truth-Based Policy: Humanitarian Access To Children Living Without Family Care, Sara Dillon

Florida Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Amphibians And Reptiles As Prey Of Heteroctenus Junceus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), With A Summary Of Vertebrate Predation By Scorpions In The West Indies, Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera,, Ernesto Morell Savall, Rolando Teruel

Euscorpius

Vertebrate predation by scorpions has been scarcely documented in the literature. Contrary to large scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Hadrurus, Opistophthalmus, and Pandinurus from North America and Africa, which are capable of subduing even small rodents and bats, West Indian scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Heteroctenus, and Tityus seem to limit their prey to amphibians and reptiles. Herein we present new cases of a frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis; Hylidae) and three lizards (Anolis allisoni, A. ophiolepis, and A. sagrei; Dactyloidae) preyed upon by Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800), at the time we summarize all cases of vertebrate …

Revealing The Native Status Of Conyza Bonariensis: Specialization Of Insect Herbivores Associated With Conyza And Erigeron Spp. (Asteraceae) In Louisiana, Texas, And Mississippi, Carlos Wiggins

LSU Master's Theses

Flaxleaf fleabane [Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist] (Asterales: Asteraceae) is an annual herb which grows up to 1.0 m in height and is native to South America. Due to introduction and subsequent development of herbicide resistance, C. bonariensis has become a major agricultural weed in Australia. The purpose of this study was to catalog herbivorous insects associated with local populations of C. bonariensis in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi in order to establish comparisons with the Australian fauna and identify potential biological control agents. Leaves, roots, stems, and flowers of C. bonariensis were inspected for signs of insects and pathogens. Results …

The Effect Of Students-As-Customers Concept On The Quality Of Education At Universities, Abeer Ahmad Sherry

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

In the field of education, particularly in higher education, marketization refers to higher education institutions using marketing practices in their policy and academic service, and mainly by regarding students as customers. Several factors have shifted the perspectives toward the students-as-customers approach. The main causes are the increased competition, decreased government funding, and the increased cost of education. However, adopting the concept of students as customers resulted in a misconception of the relationship between universities and students and many reviews perceive it as degrading for the educational standards. The aim of this paper is to clarify the issue of whether students …