Digital Commons Network^™

Early-Life Exposure To Organic Chemical Pollutants As Assessed In Primary Teeth And Cardiometabolic Risk In Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study, Vidya S. Farook, Feroz Akhtar, Rector Arya, Alice Yau, Srinivas Mummidi, Juan Lopez Alvarenga, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Roy G. Resendez, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children is limited. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the extent to which exposure to organic chemicals influences cardiometabolic traits (CMTs) in MA children. We recalled 25 children from a previous study and collected 25 primary teeth from them. Chemical analyses of the teeth were performed using established protocols. Target analytes included acetaminophen (APAP); 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), …

Analyze The Mechanistic Role Of Lox-1 In Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review, Mohammed Algebory, Zainab Ali Hussein, Amira Shamseldin Mohamed Khalafalla, Emaan Mohammed Zina

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health concern that leads to illness and death. One of the primary risk factors for CVD is dyslipidemia, which can cause an elevation of oxidized LDL. Recently, the lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1 receptor), a transmembrane protein found in endothelial cells, platelets, cardiomyocytes, and other cells, has gained attention. LOX- 1 receptors are responsible for recognizing oxLDL, and overactivation can trigger pathways that cause tissue damage, including endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis, process under investigation involves the following: promotion of platelet activation and adhesion to endothelial cells; ADP-mediated aggregation; and the development …

The Concept Of Preeclampsia In Biochemistry: Molecular Mechanisms, Oxidative Stress, And Emerging Biomarkers, Dunia Abbas Khudhair, Ammar Hatem Abdullateef, Abbas Hamza Khudhair

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Preeclampsia is a complex, pregnancy-related hypertension condition that significantly endangers mother and fetal health. While its clinical diagnosis is based on hypertension and proteinuria, its origins lie in a cascade of biochemical and molecular disturbances. This review highlights the central concept of preeclampsia from a biochemical perspective, with emphasis on abnormal placental development, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Placental hypoxia and an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are caused by inadequate spiral artery remodeling, which also leads to lipid peroxidation and systemic inflammation. A critical biochemical characteristic is the disparity between anti-antigenic (sFlt-1, sENG) and pro-antigenic (PlGF, VEGF) molecules, …

Age-Dependent Associations Of Etanercept And Methotrexate In Stage Ii And Iii Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Saif M. Hassan, Zainab Ali Hussein

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (BC) is a complex disease that involves molecular and cellular alterations mediated by endogenous and exogenous factors.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities at baseline and three months after therapy in RA patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) and Etanercept (ETN).

Methods: investigated the relationship between Etanercept 1 (ETN1) and Methotrexate levels in Rheumatoid arthritis patients positive for cancer antigen 15–3 (CA15-3). This study included 90 patients with stage II and III BC divided into two age groups (25–44 and 45–60 years) and 90 age-matched healthy controls. Serum concentrations of ETN1 and …

"Our River Is Full Of Trash And Many Fish Die" Children's Voices From Pasuruan, Indonesia: Discursive Strategies In Positive Discourse Analysis For Sustainability, Bambang Prastio, Ahsani Maulidina, Agung Rinaldy Malik, Achmad Tantowi Azis

The Qualitative Report

Addressing river pollution and understanding the role of children in environmental conservation are essential for maintaining ecosystem health and sustainability. This study used positive discourse analysis to explore children's discourse about river pollution in Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. Data were collected using walk-and talk ethnographic interviews with 15 children aged 7 to 11 years. The findings reveal that these children employed five discursive strategies: (1) nomination: metaphor, comparison, and cultural practices; (2) predication: positive attitude in the forms of disposition and behavior; (3) argumentation: contrast and parallelism; (4) perspectivisation, involving a type of religious representation that includes references to the …

Fiber Reinforced Concrete Composites - Seminal Contributions Of Surendra Shah, Vellore S. Gopalaratnam, Wengui Li

C3 Symposium 2025

The authors review the scholarly contributions of Surendra P. Shah during a prolific six-decade academic career in fiber reinforced concrete composites. This compilation includes discussions on often cited seminal publications encompassing experimental mechanics, analytical modeling, the development of test standards, materials characterization and innovations in the science of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) materials. Collectively, these contributions have greatly improved our insights on how the nano- and micro-mechanics of such composites and processing techniques affect the macroscopic performance of creatively engineered reinforced cement composites. Starting with his Ph.D. the first contribution to understanding the inelastic behavior and fracture of concrete, the …

Transforming Agricultural Residues Into High-Performance Scms Through Mechanochemical Activation, Dia Brown, Juan Pablo Gevaudan

C3 Symposium 2025

Despite the abundance of ashed agricultural residues and their potential as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), given a high silica content (up to 90 wt.%), their high water demand limits their use. This challenge compromises both the fresh-state workability and mechanical performance of supplemented concrete – a pivotal challenge for countries in the Global South with large agricultural sectors and low production of other industrial SCMs. To address this limitation, we investigate two innovative mechanochemical methods and their effects on the fresh-state workability issues of these ash-based SCMs. This presentation will share our latest results describing how the mechanochemical activation of …

Thermochemical Pre-Treatments On Corn Stover Ash To Boost Its Reactivity, P V P Moorthi, Zhihui Sun

C3 Symposium 2025

When treated properly, corn stover ash (CSA) is known to be an effective source of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) for use in concrete. The influence of thermochemical pre-treatments on the reactivity of CSA was studied in this project. The result shows that acid pre-treatment was effective and necessary in the removal of organic and inorganic compounds from the corn stover. The pre-treatment conditions including type and concentration of acid used, temperature, pre-treatment duration, and the acid/ash (A/A) ratio are important factors that affect the reactivity of the final product. This study shows that a proper pre-treatment condition will lead to …

Evaluation On Basic Properties And Surface Quality Of Pca Members Using Scallop Shell Sand Concrete With Blue Carbon Fixation, Nene Uesugi, Masaki Tamura, Tetsuya Sasaki, Takashi Saito, Ryota Ozeki, Taichi Yamamoto, Ayano Koseki

C3 Symposium 2025

With carbon neutrality gaining importance as one of the measures against global warming, the building industry is focusing on the development of environmentally friendly building materials to help realize a sustainable society. Japan has the second longest coastline in the world, and its fisheries industry along the coast is well developed and fisheries resources are considered important. In Hokkaido in particular, approximately 400,000 tons of scallops are landed annually, with approximately 110,000 tons of shells becoming waste. In order to make effective use of these discarded and unused resources, the development of blue carbon concrete components, in which scallop shells …

Advancing Characterization Of Cementitious Systems Via Raman Imaging, Chirayu Kothari, Sudharsan R. Kumar, Yaman Garg, Nishant Garg

C3 Symposium 2025

The drive for sustainability within the cement industry has resulted in the formulation of complex low-carbon cements that show considerable variation in their mineralogical phases, chemical compositions, and particle sizes. These differences can impact the workability, strength, and durability of concrete. Accurately characterizing these properties is challenging and requires a combination of techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction. Raman imaging is particularly valuable for investigating the entire lifecycle of cement, covering everything from anhydrous cements to hydration and long-term durability. Here, we present its capability to analyze the phase composition of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Calcium Sulfoaluminate (CSA) …

Converting Olivine Into A Novel Mg-Based Cement For Carbon Sequestration, Jihui Qin, Xing Cheng, Hongyan Ma

C3 Symposium 2025

Natural Mg-rich olivine could potentially serve as a scalable feedstock for Mg-based cements with zero CO2 emissions. This study explores an innovative synthesis of a Mg-based cement by directly reacting olivine with oxalic acid (H2C2O4). The hydration behaviors and cementitious properties of olivine–oxalic acid blends are investigated, as a function of olivine-to-oxalic acid (OL/OA) weight ratio. Higher OL/OA ratio results in faster hydration, while the best compressive strength with up to 32 MPa is obtained at a moderate OL/OA ratio of 3.5 after 28 days. The obtained cements are composed of residual olivine minerals and a dense and compact glushinskite …

Low-Carbon Supplementary Cementitious Materials (Scms) From Waste Stamp Sands, Xiang Zhao, Qingli Dai

C3 Symposium 2025

Addressing the critical challenge of reducing CO₂ emissions in the cement industry involves utilizing waste stamp sands as a sustainable source for supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Stamp sands, abundant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, contain silicate minerals that can be converted into high-performance SCMs, enabling reductions in clinker usage and overall carbon emissions [1].Therefore, this study investigated the potential of waste stamp sands from Lake Superior (Gay, MI) as SCMs through calcination. Compositional analysis revealed that the sands contained silicate minerals such as albite, diopside, and anorthite, making them suitable for pozzolanic activity [2, 3]. Calcination at 800–900°C transformed these crystalline …

2025 17th Annual Student Center For Science Engagement Research Symposium, Student Center For Science Engagement

Student Center for Science Engagement Research Symposium

Student presentations in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, & Psychology

The Calvin University Math Department History 1920-2020, Michael Stob

University Histories

No abstract provided.

A Previously Unrecognized Species Of Celastrina From The Southeastern Coastal Plain Region Of The United States (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) Named In Honor Of The Memory Of Iryna Zarutska, Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

New species Celastrina iryna is described from the southeastern coastal plain of the United States. This species is most similar to C. neglecta but differs by possession of the unique dorsal overlay of clear wing scales found in C. ladon males. It is hypothesized that this may be a hybrid species. Some aspects of its life history remain unknown and call for further field research. The species name is a tribute to Iryna Zarutska, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nanomedicine Targeting Ppar In Adipose Tissue Macrophages Improves Lipid Metabolism And Obesity-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction., Catherine C Applegate, Yifei Kang, Hongping Deng, Donglai Chen, Natalia Y Gonzalez Medina, Yuxiao Cui, Yujun Feng, Chia-Wei Kuo, Sayyed Hamed Shahoei, Hannah Kim, Hashni Epa Vidana Gamage, Matthew A Wallig, Erik R Nelson, Kelly S Swanson, Andrew M Smith

Faculty Research 2025

Excess body fat leads to an overabundance of adipose tissue macrophages (AT MΦs) with altered phenotypes that play pathogenic roles in obesity comorbidities including diabetes and cancer. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are leading targets to modulate AT MΦ phenotype. Here, we developed a dextran-based nanomedicine that delivers PPARα/γ agonists to AT MΦs and improves obesity and diabetic phenotypes in vivo. Within 1 week of treatment, AT MΦs decreased and became lipid laden, while extracellular vesicles secreted from AT decreased and reduced in lipid content. Within 2 weeks, glucose tolerance returned to levels of lean controls, followed by weight loss and …

Fungal Palynomorphs From The Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian–Albian) Of Jangareddygudem Area Of The Chintalapudi Subbasin, Andhra Pradesh, South Part Of India, Harinam Joshi, Neerja Jha, Sarah Gonçalves Duarte, Sari̇ye Duygu Durak, Haytham Elatfy

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

A diverse array of thalli, fruiting bodies, spores, and other fungal structures has been observed in palynological samples collected from the sedimentary sequence MJR-11, drilled in the Jangareddygudem area of the Chintalapudi subbasin, Andhra Pradesh, southern India. The sedimentary sequence is dated to the Kimmeridgian–early Albian, based on palynology. However, the focus of the present work is on the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–early Albian). A well-developed and diverse fungal assemblage consistently occurred throughout most of the succession, together with predominant conifer pollen grains and highly diversified pteridophytic and bryophytic spores. Furthermore, the recorded palynomorphs suggest deposition under both continental and marine …

A Multifaceted Analysis Of The Genetic Origins, Growth, And Invasive Potential Of Introduced Floridian Sugarcane, Indy Hughes

Student Theses and Dissertations

Saccharum spontaneum L., wild sugarcane, is an aggressive invasive species, listed by the USDA as a Federal Noxious Weed (FNW). Despite this, S. spontaneum is used to create hardy, pest-resistant cultivars of domestic sugarcane. All cultivars have a small percentage of wild parentage, but the dosage is low to lessen the chance of inheriting undesirable traits. Saccharum spontaneum’s naturalized presence in Florida has been reported since 1993 and likely escaped from regulated sugarcane breeding facilities. The proximity of S. spontaneum populations to modern cultivars, grown intensively in the state, could potentially increase the risk of invasion. It is imperative to …

The Diamond, September 26, 2025, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Announcement of Future Construction Brings Mixed Emotions to Campus Community; Dordt Students React to Charlie Kirk's Assassination; Everything and Anything: A Look at the World of Dordt Fizz
• News: An Inside Look at the Atrium: Dining System Changes and Updates; Changes in Academic Calendar Lead to Reduced Finals Week; Gaming Guild Hosts Gaming Guild Olympics Throughout School Year; Retro & Roast Pop-Up; A Turning Point for Revival: Memorial Services Held for Charlie Kirk Across Nation and in Community; Adding Some Pizzazz to Performance Arts Center; Phishing for Trouble
• Feature: Faith, Family, and Farming: Another Fall …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Provider Education On Phq-9 Depression Screening To Improve Compliance, Obianuju Okafor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide; however, screening in primary care remains inconsistent. Even though the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated screening tool, its use is often limited by insufficient provider training. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of structured provider education on PHQ-9 screening practices, with the purpose of improving provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to screening guidelines in a primary care setting. Guided by Donabedian's Model of Quality Care and Lewin's Change Theory and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the project used a one-group pre/post design at an outpatient …

Unraveling Crop Nitrogen-Water Dynamics With Hyperspectral-Thermal Sensing In Northern Central Valley, California, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Joshua B. Fisher, Rejoice Thomas, Fernando Romero Galvan, Gabriela Shirkey, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ensuring global food security in the face of climate change requires optimizing crop water use and nutrient management. This study investigates the relationship between canopy nitrogen (N) and evapotranspiration (ET) across sunflower, rice, walnut, alfalfa, and plum crops using advanced remote sensing technologies. High-resolution hyperspectral data from NASAs Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and thermal multispectral data from the Landsat-based OpenET system were analyzed over 1,135 km² in California. Regression analysis revealed strong spatial association between canopy N and ET for sunflower (R² = 0.82), rice (R² = 0.71), and walnut (R² = 0.68), …

The Addition Of Chinese Herbal Medicines Is Effective As A Prophylactic Treatment Against Dental Diseases For Sjögren’S Syndrome Patients: Insight From Real-World Database, Ching-Ya Juan, Wei-Jen Chen, Hanoch Livneh, Ming-Chi Lu, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Leadership, Learning and Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Objectives:

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the salivary glands and increases the risk of developing dental diseases (DDs). Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) represent a promising alternative strategy for SS treatment; however, the association between CHMs and DD risk has not been confirmed. In this retrospective, cohort-based, nested case-control study, we explored whether or not combining CHMs with routine treatments for SS can reduce the chance of DDs.

Materials and Methods:

In the beginning, we recruited subjects aged 20–80 years with newly diagnosed SS who were free of DDs between 2001 and …

The Inherent Values Of Observation And Description: A Case Study In The Spiny Solanums Of Australia, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

The basic exploratory effort of doing descriptive biology is an avenue by which we can deepen our knowledge about taxa and the natural phenomena that drive their diversification. As Conniff (2011) wrote in The species seekers, “we still live in the great age of discovery”, and much like that historically recognized period of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there remains today a distinct need for the sort of work that might have been attributable to the naturalists of that time. The careful observation of how organisms go about their lives, including how they interact with one another …

Caregiver Perspectives About Implementing Educational Goals For Children Of Incarcerated Parents In A Head Start Program, Alissa Jane Stark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that caregivers of children with incarcerated parents inconsistently implement the mandated educational goals developed through the Head Start program. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore caregiver’s perspectives on implementing Head Start Educational goals for children of incarcerated parents and their views on the resources or training needed to support these goals. For this case study, 12 former caregivers from a Head Start program in a women’s correctional facility in Oregon were interviewed. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed thematically with the …

The Level Of Awareness Of County Services In Maryland Offered By A Local Care Team To Youth With Developmental Disabilities And Mental Illness, Wanna Nedgie Dare

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental and developmental health challenges remained a significant concern in one Maryland county. The Maryland Governor’s Office for Children (GOC) funds and supports the Local Care Team (LCT). Participation remains low, indicating a lack of community awareness. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of LCT services and strategies to improve outreach, interagency coordination, and communication to increase service use. The research question was: What is the Level of Awareness of County Services in Maryland Offered by a Local Care Team to Youth with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness? Guided by the person-centered care (PCC) model, evidence …

Use Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Academic Contexts

Academic Affairs Policies

This policy establishes guidance for the responsible, ethical, and transparent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools at Georgia Southern University (University) including in teaching, learning, assessment, classroom activities, University community service, research, creative activity, scholarly communication, and administrative activities, while encouraging innovation, academic freedom, and appropriate autonomy while maintaining compliance with all data security and privacy regulations. This policy ensures that the University complies with Board of Regents (BOR) Policy 6.28 Artificial Intelligence in Academic Context; federal, state, and international laws; and industry standards and best practices.

“Who All Gon Be There”: The Relationship Between Racial Identity, Perceived Social Distance, And Anxiety Among People Of African Descent, Veronica R. Mixon

All ETDs from UAB

Mental health disparities among people of African descent are an important public health issue within the US. During COVID, between 2020 and 2021, anxiety symptoms among African American adults increased, which led to an overall increase in anxiety and depression rates (Vahratian et al., 2021; CDC, 2023). Despite this increase, only 39% of African Americans who experience mental health difficulties, receive treatment. The pandemic made it difficult for people to come together and there were heightened experiences of racial distress due to the events surrounding George Floyd. Prior research has shown that experiences of racism, isolation, and cultural disconnection have …

September 26, 2025 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Streptococcus Anginosus Of The Urogenital Tract: Evidence Of The Same Strain Across Anatomical Sites Of The Same Females, Helen Appleberry, Jennifer Garcia-Israel, Leah Boger, Swarnali Banerjee, Alan J. Wolfe, Catherine Putonti

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: Streptococcus anginosus has been found to colonize multiple anatomical sites of the human body, including the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, skin, vagina, blood, and urinary tract. It is frequently isolated from catheterized urine samples obtained from adult females most often with lower urinary tract symptoms, but also on occasion from those without symptoms. Our prior genome analysis of 166 S. anginosus genomes identified two distinct groups, one – which we here call group Urinae – exhibits a tropism for the urinary tract. Results: Here we sequenced 100 isolates collected from different urogenital sites, including isolates from urine (both catheterized …

Draft Genome Sequences Of Staphylococcus Hominis Strains O226 And O218 And Micrococcus Luteus O220 Isolated From The Buccal Swabs Of Healthy Individuals, Sandra Jablonska, Lila Nelson, Grace Finger, Alex Kula, Catherine Putonti

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

To investigate the genomic features of rare oral commensals in healthy individuals, we present the draft genome sequences of Staphylococcus hominis strains O226 and O218 and Micrococcus luteus strain O220. All three of these isolates were purified from buccal swab samples collected from healthy female participants.