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Spectator 2026-09-19, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Class(Room) Culture: New Conceptualization And A Model Of Culture-Aware Teaching, Ravit Heskiau

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

As higher education becomes increasingly personalized and students’ individual identities are increasingly considered, this article explores the concept of classroom culture as part of assessing, embracing, and shaping each class’s shared characteristics as a collective. I define classroom culture and explain why it is paramount for educators to understand the unique cultures of their classes and actively assess them, striking a balance between supporting classroom culture and shaping it. Following a critical literature review, I demonstrate the application of commonly used cultural frameworks from the organizational culture literature to higher education classes. Specifically, I expand on how they can help …

Possible Fluid Contributions From Active Faults To Mercury Distribution In Surface Sediments Of The Gemlik Gulf And Health Risk Assessment, Erol Sari, M. Namik Çağatay, Tuğçe Nagi̇han Arslan Kaya, Zeynep Çeti̇n, Nuray Çağlar

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Gemlik Gulf, located in the eastern part of the Sea of Marmara (Türkiye), is recognized as a relatively contaminated marine environment, influenced by a variety of natural and anthropogenic inputs. A comprehensive geochemical study was performed to examine the distribution of total mercury (THg) in surface sediments and to elucidate the possible sources contributing to its accumulation. The analysis revealed that THg concentrations ranged from 485 to 6486 ng/g, with all measured values substantially exceeding the average shale background concentration of 400 ng/g, indicating significant enrichment. According to sediment quality guidelines, none of the samples exceeded the effects range …

Paleoecology Of Loftusia Species (Large Benthic Foraminifera) In The Zagros Basin, North Of The Neotethys, Hossein Ghanbarloo, Amrollah Safari

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Paleoecological analyses based on the wall structure of the genus Loftusia were carried out in the Maastrichtian deposits of seven outcrops of the Zagros Basin. Two types of particles are present within the wall structure: (1) tiny fossil grains and (2) detrital grains. Tiny fossil grains consist of smaller foraminifera and other small microorganism tests. Foraminiferal tests are associated with miliolid, textulariid, and rotaliid forms. Detrital grains include intraclasts and extraclasts. The presence of different particles in the test wall of this genus and the abundance of this genus in nutrient-rich conditions indicate that Loftusia are probably opportunistic foraminifera. This …

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Kejadian Prediabetes Pada Perawat Di Rumah Sakit X Tahun 2025, Putri Nurhaliza, Chandrayani Simanjorang, Agung Raharjo

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Prediabetes dapat berkembang menjadi diabetes melitus dan meningkatkan risiko penyakit kardiovaskular. Selain itu, beban ekonomi juga meningkat akibat tingginya biaya pelayanan kesehatan dan penurunan produktivitas kerja. Salah satu kelompok berisiko prediabetes adalah perawat karena karakteristik pekerjaannya, seperti penerapan sistem kerja sif serta tingginya beban dan tekanan kerja yang dapat memicu stres. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan kejadian prediabetes pada perawat di Rumah Sakit X pada tahun 2025. Desain studi yang digunakan adalah cross-sectional dengan sumber data primer yang dikumpulkan melalui pengisian kuesioner dan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari laporan hasil medical check-up tahun 2025. Populasi dalam …

Cold Plasma Seed Treating And Plasma-Activated Water: An Innovative, Sustainable Method To Improve Salinity Tolerance And Crop Yields In Sweet Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.), Sura Muayad Abdul Majeed, Mushtak F. Karomi Kisko

Baghdad Science Journal

This study evaluated the efficacy of cold plasma (CP) and plasma-activated water (PAW) in mitigating salinity stress on sweet pepper. Seeds were exposed to CP for durations of 0, 60, and 180 seconds, then irrigated with saline solutions at 0, 4, and 8 dS/m NaCl, and sprayed with tap water, potassium nitrate, or PAW. Results showed that increased salinity significantly hindered plant growth and fruit yield. i.e. declines were observed in leaf area, shoot dry weight, and productivity, by 18.67%, 19.11%, and 17.56%, respectively, at an 8 dS/m salinity level compared to non-salinity conditions. CP treatment significantly alleviated these adverse …

Study Of Tissue Granzyme A & B And Their Relationship To Some Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines In Iraqi Patients With Ulcerative Colitis, Braihan Hamdi Hameed, Summer Saad Abdalhusian, Naser Elias Khudhur, Ekhlas Saddam Falih

Baghdad Science Journal

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder of the colon and the most prevalent form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worldwide. Cytotoxic T cells are one of the most important cells in the immunopathogenesis of IBD. These cells produce serine protease granzymes that initiate an apoptotic cascade that may contribute to intestinal tissue damage in IBD. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the tissue mRNA expression and serum levels of Granzyme A and Granzyme B in UC patients and to investigate their association with the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and Oncostatin M. A total of 80 Iraqi individuals were …

Design, Synthesis, And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Heterocyclic Derivatives Incorporating 2-Carboxyindole Core, Aya T. Abdulameer, Sameaa J. Khammas

Baghdad Science Journal

The current research deals with 2-carboxyindole, with emphasizing their biological activities. Indole derivatives that well-known for their wide biological characteristics like anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial activities, were modified by adding Schiff base and beta-lactam frameworks in order to boost their therapeutics prospective. The compounds have been synthesized in a series of steps, which involved Mannich reactions, aldehyde condensation, as well as beta-lactam formation with chloroacetyl chloride. TLC, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy have been employed to identify the structural details. Schiff base derivatives containing nitro (-NO₂) as well as chlorine (-Cl) substituents exhibited high antibacterial as …

Multidimensional Biomarker Profiling For Differentiating Rheumatoid Arthritis And Osteoarthritis In Postmenopausal Women, Kareem Salim Abod, Salma Abdulredha Abbas

Baghdad Science Journal

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are common, but pathophysiologically distinct disorders that disproportionately affect postmenopausal women. Conventional biomarkers remain limited, particularly in seronegative RA and early OA. This study evaluated a multidimensional biomarker panel covering inflammatory, oxidative, hormonal, and extracellular matrix (ECM) markers to define disease-related patterns and discriminatory potential. A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted on 90 postmenopausal women classified into RA, OA, and healthy control groups (n=30 each). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), interleukin-33 (IL-33), interleukin-36 (IL-36), estradiol (E2), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and aggrecan were measured by ELISA. Oxidative stress was assessed using malondialdehyde …

Integrated Application Of Hydrogen Sulphide And Gibberellic Acid Enhances Salinity Stress Tolerance In Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Houneida Attia, Khalid H. Alamer

Baghdad Science Journal

This study investigated the role of exogenously applied hydrogen sulfide (HS; 50 μM) and gibberellic acid (GA; 200 mg L¹) in alleviating salt stress (100 mM NaCl) in wheat. The applied HS and GA significantly improved plant height, biomass, chlorophyll and carotenoids, with the highest enhancement under their combined application. Salt stress markedly increased hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, lipid peroxidation, lipoxygenase and NADPH oxidase, whereas HS and GA treatment reduced these effects. Both HS and GA further enhanced proline and sugar accumulation, increased γ -glutamyl kinase activity, and decreased proline oxidase. Activities of antioxidant enzymes and the glyoxalase …

Optimization Of Methane Production From Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater With Hydraulic Retention Time And Biochar Addition Using Response Surface Methodology, Juniarti Manova Hasibuan, Rita Purwasih, Bambang Haryanto, Dessy Ariyanti, Alfian Destomo, Agung Purnomoadi, Sutaryo Sutaryo

Baghdad Science Journal

Processing poultry slaughterhouse wastewater as a biogas substrate is a sustainable solution. The current study aimed to optimize methane production from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater at various hydraulic retention times, biochar addition levels, and biochar addition types. Optimization of the anaerobic digestion process was determined through response surface methodology with central composite design. The input variables were hydraulic retention times (10, 20, and 30 days), biochar levels (5, 10, and 15 g/L), and biochar types (chicken litter and rice straw). Meanwhile, the response variable was methane production. The results revealed that the resulting central composite design model was significant (p < 0.05) with an R-squared of 0.94, indicating a high model suitability. The analysis of variance showed that hydraulic retention times, biochar levels, and biochar types significantly affected methane production (p < 0.05). Based on optimization, the highest methane production was achieved at a 30-day hydraulic retention times, a biochar level of 15 g/L, and a biochar type of rice straw, which was 473.00 mL/g volatile solid. These results emphasize the importance of determining the correct hydraulic retention times and biochar addition (level and type) to optimize methane production.

Expression Of Some Tumor Immune Microenvironment Markers In Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With And Without Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Aqeel Abbas Alo, Dildar Haji Musa, Intisar Salim Pity

Baghdad Science Journal

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer, and its development has been increasingly associated with the tumor immune microenvironment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and CD138+ plasma cells in papillary thyroid carcinoma, and their correlation with clinicopathological parameters and their relation to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. 44 of papillary thyroid carcinoma cases were retrieved from archives; 25 patients had multinodular goitre, and 19 patients had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Clinical and pathological data were collected from patient files, archival data, and relevant histopathological reports. These were …

The Use Of Schanginia Arbuscula Seeds As An Adsorbent For The Removal Of Congo Red And Eosin-Y Dyes, Ali K. Al-Muttairi

Baghdad Science Journal

Water is a crucial element for human prosperity, and maintaining clean and safe water is crucial for survival, and due to the continuous human activities, the water is being drastically polluted. These pollutants require treatment to reduce or remove them, and from the different types of water treatment methods, adsorption is considered a fast, affordable, and easy to apply method. In this study, the ability of Schanginia arbuscula seeds as an adsorbent to remove two dyes, which are congo red (C.R.) dye and eosin Y (E.Y.) dye was tested, at first, the characterization of the adsorbent was studied by using …

Skeletal Abnormalities In Two Freshwater Fishes From Iraq, Fatema Ali Al Fatle, Sura Abdul Munaff Abdul Wahab, Hind Dyia Hadi, Laith A. Jawad

Baghdad Science Journal

This research addresses skeletal deformities in two freshwater fish species, namely the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, and Leuciscus vorax (also known as the Tigris asp), sampled from two Iraqi sites: The Euphrates River, Lake Al-Tharthar, and the Tigris River near Al-Zubaydiyah City. High-resolution digital radiography was used to detect skeletal deformities in 40 specimens (20 specimens per species). Five different types of deformities were observed in C. carpio: abdominal rib deformity (13.6% of the deformed specimens), ankylosis (18.8%), caudal fin ray deformity (4.6%), kyphosis (4.6%), and vertebral deformity (4.6%). In L. vorax, three categories were observed: caudal …

Levels, Human Exposure And Health Risk Assessment Of Heavy Metals In Indoor And Outdoor Dust From Basra, Iraq, Mohammed A. Al-Hilfi, Layla Salih Al-Omran, Adil A. Al-Fregi

Baghdad Science Journal

This study determined the levels and distribution patterns of Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn in indoor (n = 22) and outdoor (n = 22) dust from Basra, Iraq, and evaluated the associated human health risks. The total mean concentration of ∑ ₆HMs was 247 mg/kg in the indoor dust and 285 mg/kg in the outdoor dust. Zn was the dominant metal in both environments, with mean concentrations of 155 and 161 mg/kg, contributing 63% and 56% of the total metal burden, respectively. Pb, Cd, Co, and Ni concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in outdoor dust, indicating the influence of outdoor emission sources. Human exposure assessment showed that the average daily doses (ADD) for children through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact were approximately 9.3-fold higher than those for adults across all metals. Zn exposure reached 1.99 × 10^-3 and 2.13 × …

2026 - Faculty & Staff Research Symposium, Elizabeth Outka, Lidia Radi

Faculty and Staff Research Symposium Programs

[Excerpt from the "Welcome"]

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the third Faculty & Staff Research Symposium!

The Symposium offers us the chance to come together as a community and learn about the inspiring work happening across our campus. Faculty and staff continue to push the boundaries of research, to design and maintain new learning and gathering spaces, to craft remarkable art and performances, and to develop innovative programs that enrich our collective experience. The event is meant to spark curiosity, build connections, inspire partnerships, and open new pathways for exploration. . . .

This symposium is your creation — it thrives …

Structural And Hamiltonian Properties Of The N–Array Unit Graphs Over Finite Rings, Puguh Wahyu Prasetyo, Muhammad Ardiyansyah, Joe Repka

Baghdad Science Journal

Consider a finite ring R, and let U( R ) denote the set of all its unit elements. The unit graph G_R of R is defined as follows: the vertex set V( G_R ) consists of all elements of R. Two distinct elements a,\ b∈ \ G_R are adjacent if and only if a + b∈ U( R ). Recent research has provided necessary and sufficient conditions for the unit graph G_R to have a Hamiltonian cycle. However, the property of Hamiltonicity under direct product constructions of rings has not been fully understood. This paper addresses this gap by studying …

Mass Transfer Control In Chitosan-Based Hybrid Material Incorporating Pyromellitic Dianhydride And Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Intraparticle Diffusion And Boyd Model Analysis, Arwa Raad Ibrahim, Basma A. Abdul Majeed, Sanaa A. Al-Sahib

Baghdad Science Journal

The accelerated development of new technologies for treating pollutants has led to the emergence of numerous innovative adsorbents. These materials typically possess promising structural and surface properties suitable for a variety of applications. In the same context, the present study prepared a chitosan-based hybrid material incorporating pyromellitic dianhydride and copper oxide nanoparticles (PMDA-Cts-CuO) under ultrasonic wave conditions. It is a newly synthesized material derived from an organically degradable source for lead removal purposes. Following the confirmation of the material's structural and morphological properties, the current research effort focused on examining the PMDA-Cts-CuO for diffusion kinetic models: the intraparticle diffusion model, …

Historical Redlining, Walkability, And Green Gentrification In Baltimore, Usa, Rafael B. De Andrade, Ella Baynes, Vanessa Belt, Joseph Colasacco, Camden Speilman

The Geographical Bulletin

Historical redlining created persistent patterns of racial segregation and spatial inequality in American cities. However, urban initiatives aimed at increasing green spaces in these neighborhoods increasingly trigger gentrification that can displace original residents. In this study, we examine the spatial intersection of 1930s-era Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) redlining boundaries, current property values, and multimodal park accessibility in Baltimore, Maryland. Using geographic data from 245 properties and 13 major parks, we developed an accessibility framework incorporating walking, public transit, and automobile travel modes to estimate accessibility to green spaces across neighborhoods with different redlining histories. Our spatial analysis reveals that …

Data-Driven Risk Mapping For Safer Roads: Unincorporated Dekalb County, Georgia, Getachew B. Demisse, Stacy C. Grear, Araya D. Araya, Shimelis Gebru, Solomon Negash, Leo Ladefian, Carlo Frate

The Geographical Bulletin

This study presents a decade-long spatiotemporal analysis of more than 206,000 traffic accidents recorded between 2015 and 2024 in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia. The primary goal of the study is to identify critical patterns of roadway risk and inform data‑driven safety interventions. Using crash records from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) AASHTOWare Safety platform and standardized crash‑rate calculations, the analysis revealed strong temporal regularities, including elevated crash frequencies during afternoon peak hours, Fridays, and seasonal transition periods such as October. Spatial analyses further demonstrate that crashes are highly concentrated along a limited subset of corridors, consistent with High Injury …

Volume 67-1, May 2026, Nancy Hoalst Pullen, Mark W. Patterson

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 67-1, May 2026: Complete

Diversity Of Forest Vegetation In The Quarry Landscapes Of Central Polissia, Ukraine (Eastern Europe), Ivan Khomiak, Oleksandr Harbar, Ruslana Vlasenko, Tamara Andriichuk, Oleksandr Lavryk

The Geographical Bulletin

The features of territorial differentiation of vegetation in quarry landscapes are crucial for addressing theoretical issues in landscape science and applied problems of restoration ecology. This study aims to establish the phytocenotic diversity of forest communities. The forest vegetation of the quarry landscapes of Central Polissia includes 7 classes, 9 orders, 15 unions, 24 associations, and 2 groups of undetermined rank. Based on phytocenotic diversity, the quarries of Zhytomyr Polissia fall into three distinct zones: northern, central, and southern. The northern zone necessarily includes groupings of the Vaccinio-Piceetea class and excludes Salicetea purpurea. The central zone mainly features derived forests …

The Agentic Clinical Decision Support Via Non-Contradiction Matching Against Temporal Pathways, Leonid Kuligin, Max Tschochohei

Defensive Publications Series

Clinical decision support systems using large language models can face challenges in reliability and explainability, particularly in adhering to validated clinical guidelines when processing unstructured and incomplete patient electronic health records. A described system can use an agentic pipeline to structure a patient's health data into a temporal, sequential history. This patient history can then be compared against a knowledge graph of predefined, multi-step clinical pathways using a non-contradiction matching algorithm, which considers a pathway a potential match if no patient data point directly contradicts a guideline condition. The system can then generate a ranked list of probable clinical pathways, …

Chemical Composition And Mechanism Investigation Of Subfraction From Wuwei Zijin San Guided By Anti-Hepatic Fibrosis Activity, Yazhen Guo, Zhongzhi Qi, Yajuan Chen, Lijuan Nie, Mingyu Luo, Yuechen Guo, Hui Wu, Bengui Ye, Jun He

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

BACKGROUND  Among the spectrum of hepatopathies that pose a significant global health threat, halting the progression of hepatic fibrosis is a key therapeutic objective. Wuwei Zijin San (WWZJS) is derived from a traditional Tibetan empirical formula, yet its efficacy against hepatic fibrosis, along with the underlying mechanisms and active ingredients, remains uncertain.

PURPOSE  The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of WWZJS against hepatic fibrosis, explore its underlying mechanisms and material basis, and evaluate the potential of direct interactions between the biologically active ingredients and their corresponding targets.

METHODS Chemical profiling of the active …

A Calibrated And Conformal Deep Learning Framework For Trustworthy Antinuclear Antibody Pattern Recognition With Selective Referral To Experts, Hussein Ali Hussein Al Naffakh, Ahmed Dheyaa Radhi, Raghdah Maytham Hameed, Muntaha Abdullah Reishaan, Fouad A. Majeed, Rozaida Ghazali

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Reading antinuclear antibody patterns on human epithelial cells by indirect immunofluorescence is the reference screen for systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, but it is slow, subjective, and variable between observers. Deep learning reaches high accuracy on this task, yet most systems return a single prediction without stating how reliable it is, which is unsafe in a diagnostic workflow. This paper presents an intelligent decision support framework built around a single calibrated uncertainty signal. That signal is the control variable for four reliability modules: confidence calibration, conformal prediction, error detection, and selective referral. A feature space out of distribution detector serves as …

Study Of Primer Efficiency And Relative Genetic Band Abundance In Different Genotypes, Mundher Kh. Jabbar

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This experiment was aimed to find some indicators related to primers and genetic variations. Six bread wheat genotypes were selected as the dataset. The RAPD marker technique was used with oligonucleotide primers as marker of study. The goal was to identify factors used for the relationship between primers and their ability to elicit DNA fragments through different genotypes, as well as the relative genetic band abundance among genotypes. After the designed factors, key findings emerged: in relative primer amplification rate, C1 genotype exhibited a higher relative primer amplification rate (RPAR) of fragments from OP-H01 but did not differ from OP-V19 …

Baseline Psychosocial Stress And Allostatic Load In Patients Initiating Cancer Therapy, Campbell Speakman, Margaret Quinn Rosenzweig, Emmanuel Komladzah

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Racial and economic cancer treatment disparities pose a major public health challenge. Pre-existing psychosocial stressors and overall "weathering" or allostatic load are often more profound among patients of color and those from areas of high deprivation and may impact cancer outcomes.

Purpose: This study characterized baseline allostatic load, lifetime stress, perceived discrimination, financial toxicity, quality of life, distress, symptom burden, and resilience, compared by race and area deprivation.

Methods: This analysis was drawn from the prospective, observational ALLEGIANT (Allostasis, Cellular Aging, and Cancer Outcomes) study. Patients initiating cancer therapy were recruited from cancer clinics in Western Pennsylvania. Measures included …

Perceived Effects Of Cancel Culture Threat And Digital Natives’ Patterns Of Communication On Social Media, Randolph N. Townley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

"Cancel culture" is a well-known atropism that has become commonplace on social media. To many this may feel like a new phenomenon, but it has existed in various forms since antiquity. From biblical times to today, people have attempted to silence dissenting viewpoints. The cancel culture philosophy is distributed over all viewpoints that have a potentially offensive bent for the group of people who deem the content offensive. This study evaluated whether digital natives feel compelled to limit their exposure on social media to their authentic viewpoints considering the threat of repercussions. Using Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory coupled with …

Growing Up Without A Father: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Black Women In The Church, Jada She'ree Adger Byrd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Black women who grew up in the faith community without a present father in the Southern region of the United States. The central research question that guided this study was, "What are the lived experiences of Black women who grew up in the faith community without a present father?" The theory that guided this study was intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989, 1991), as this theory provides a framework for the understanding of how intersecting identities, including race, gender, and spirituality, shape an individual’s interpretation of father absence. This study …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Family Dynamics And Juvenile Delinquency: A Qualitative Case Study With Probation Officers, Sevoca Glass Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Beqo et al. (2017) discuss the correlation between juvenile delinquency and upbringing in dysfunctional and fragmented homes. The point of this study is to investigate the link between family structure and dynamics while also figuring out how likely it is that someone will commit a crime (Mwangangi, 2019). Large amounts of empirical research have clearly shown that teens who grow up in bad homes are more likely to become juvenile offenders than their peers who grow up in loving homes. The main aim of this qualitative case study is to examine the views of federal probation officials regarding the possible …