Digital Commons Network^™

Summer 2025, Office Of Univeristy Marketing And Communications

Bryant Magazine (1997-2019)(2024-present)

In this issue of Bryant magazine: Go beyond the Archway and discover the secret history of the university's Smithfield campus; dive into international trade as students guide one of the world's oldest companies through global turmoil; learn about some of the powerful bonds that bring Bulldogs together; and more stories from the Bryant community.

Lindenwood Digest, September 10, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

How Climate Change Disrupts Mango Phenology And Affects Fruit Production, Andi Siady Hamzah, Putu Oka Ngakan, Kaimuddin Kaimuddin, Nasri Nasri, Putu Supadma Putra, Wardiman Mas'ud

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Climatic elements are limiting factors for plants; therefore, climate change can impact the phenology of plants. This study aims to determine the impact of climate change on the reproductive phenology of four local mango cultivars on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Data were collected during 2013 and 2014 by observing and recording the production of vegetative shoots, generative shoots, and fruits from the trees of each mango cultivar weekly. To assess the impact of seasonal change on fruit quality, the weight and sugar level of the ripe fruits in each cultivar were measured. Climate data were obtained from the National Centers for …

Genetic Diversity And Kinship Relationships Among Black Mangrove Populations (Rhizophora Mucronata) In West Sulawesi Based On Morphological Markers, Mukrimin Mukrimin, Gusmiaty, Marwah Salam, Atisa Muslimin

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Rhizophora mucronata is a black mangrove with the most productive ecosystem that has benefits many people. But in reality, because of their business, some people often neglect preserving mangrove ecosystems and habitats. This study was conducted to analyze the level of genetic diversity and the relationship between R. mucronata in West Sulawesi based on morphological markers that will be used in future restoration efforts of black mangroves around the coast. This study used ten trees from three origins: Polewali Regency Mandar, Majene, and Mamuju. Then, several parts of the tree are used for this study, namely leaves, trunks, bark, roots, …

Analysis Of The Carrying Capacity Of Proboscis Monkey Habitat On Bakut Island, South Kalimantan, Based On Leaf Area Index, Abdi Fithria, Rina Kanti, Arfa Agustina Rezekiah, Syamani D Ali, Eva Prihatiningtyas, Noor Aida Azizah, Eko Budi Setiawan, Ahdiyaka Jayasukma Pribadi, Naufal Noor Kamil

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Bakut Island is one of the conservation forest areas in South Kalimantan. This island is the habitat of proboscis monkeys, and the proboscis monkey population is increasing from year to year. Therefore, it is estimated that one day the proboscis monkey habitat on Bakut Island will be over capacity. This study aims to estimate how long the population of proboscis monkeys on Bakut Island Nature Tourism Park can survive there by examining the amount of food the island's vegetation can produce. Proboscis monkey feed itself is estimated using the Leaf Area Index (LAI). LAI was extracted using UAV imaging and …

Terra Lunaris: Assessment Of A Lunar Habitat For Scientific Astronauts, Space Miners, Or Space Tourists, Dirk Schumann, Robert A. Goehlich

Publications

This conceptual paper explores ground- based habitable space modules for various applications. The Terra Lunaris concept serves as the baseline and is evaluated in comparison to existing and theoretical studies in this field. Terra Lunaris is a compact hybrid habitat that expands to offer nearly four times its transport volume by combining rigid modules with an inflatable shell. With most interior elements pre-installed and foldable, setup time and complexity are minimized. The design integrates technical zones, living quarters, and shared spaces, while also supporting psychological well-being under extreme conditions. The paper provides both qualitative and quantitative analyses of lunar habitation …

Optimizing Plant Nutrient Uptake: Cost Function Sensitivity Analysis Of The Fun Model, Gabriel Alpay, Joshua B. Fisher, Renato K. Braghiere, Edward R. Brzostek, Gabriella R. Dauber, Kara Allen, Rosemary A. Fisher

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This study explores the cost functions of the Fixation & Uptake of Nutrients (FUN) model, which aims to optimize the amount of carbon used when plants acquire their necessary nutrients from the soil to maximize nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake while minimizing the carbon cost. Specifically, we aimed to quantify the sensitivity of FUN outputs to the parameters belonging to the cost of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake functions by arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. We present three dimensions of sensitivity analysis: (1) adjusting all parameters at the same time; (2) keeping one parameter constant while varying the other; and, …

Roger Williams University Launches 12 New Academic Programs For Fall 2025 9-10-2025, Jordan J. Phelan

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Biomechanicalperformanceofimplant-Tooth-Supportedprostheses:Anumerical3dfiniteelementanalysis, Basma Refaat Fayad, Islam Heiba Dr, Al Hassan Diab

Dentistry

Objective:Toassessthebiomechanicalbehaviourofimplant-tooth-supported(hybrid)pros-theses,comparedwithanimplant-implant-supportedprosthesis,utilisingtwodifferentprostheticmaterials,employingfiniteelementanalysis(FEA).Method:Threedigitalmodels,derivedfromaCBCT-scannededentulousmandible,weredesigned:twohybridconfigurations(M1:distalimplant-firstpremolar;M2:mesialimplant-firstmolar)andanimplant-implant-supportedprosthesis(M3).Abiomechanicalmodellingworkflowwascarriedout(Mimicsforsegmentation,3-Maticforbone/mucosallayerrefinement,ExocadDentalCADandSolidWorksforimplants,abutmentandprosthe-sisintegration,andANSYSformeshingandFEA).Assumingisotropic/elasticmaterialproperties,zirconiaandpolyetherketoneketone(PEKK)wereselectedasprostheticmateri-als.Modelsweresubjectedtoastaticverticalload(100N).vonMisesstressandtotaldefor-mationwereanalysedtoevaluatestructuralresponses.Results:M3demonstratedthemostfavourablebiomechanicalprofile,exhibitingthelowestvonMisesstressmagnitudesalongsidethehighestoveralldeformation.Inhybridmodels(M1,M2),stressmaximawerelocalisedatthepontic−toothconnectorregionsand,inM1-PEKK,reached261MPainthescrew.Corticalboneandpreparedteethexhibitedhigherstressindis-tallyanchoredhybridsystems(M1)comparedtomesiallysupporteddesigns(M2),regardlessoftheprostheticmaterial.Comparativeanalysisrevealedthatzirconia-basedprosthesesgen-eratedhigherstressconcentrationsinbone(≤35MPa)comparedtoPEKK,whereasthePEKKprosthesisitselfexhibitedgreaterstructuraldeformation(70mminM1-PEKK).Conclusion:Hybridimplant-tooth-supportedprosthesescanactasareliablealternativetoimplant-implantonesandeliminatecantileverextensions;however,theiruseshouldbereservedforcarefullyselectedcasestoavoidbiomechanicalincompatibilities.

The Association Of Acute Stress And Lower Quarter Emg During A Single Leg Balance Dexterity Task, Ted W. Gehrig Iii, Robert I. Dudley, Jo Armour Smith, Lida Gharibvand, Lee S. Berk, Everett B. Lohman Iii

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Research Question

Methods

Characterizing Secondary Flow Structures Over Scaled Solar Arrays And Investigating Impact Of System Yaw Angle, Katie Nicole Taylor

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates Prandtl's secondary flows of the second kind within the turbulent boundary layer over a newly defined type of surface roughness, e-type, which is characterized by roughness elements that are elevated from the wall. This e- type roughness is modeled after photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and its study driven by establishing a more robust understanding into how flow moves through solar arrays as the demand for renewable energy continues to grow.

Wind tunnel experiments using particle image velocimetry (PIV) were conducted over a scaled array of panels and explored how shifting the yaw angle of the …

Mental Health Services For Older Hispanics/Latinos: Incorporating Culture And Context Into Clinical Approaches To Care, Denise Longoria, Romeo Escobar, John M. Gonzalez, Luis R. Torres-Hostos

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

This article discusses older Latinos and their use of mental health services. A brief history of utilization and the contributing factors, including access to services, barriers, and acceptability of mental health services, are included. Sekhon et al.’s theoretical framework of acceptability is discussed in the context of Latino clients. The authors adapt the framework and apply the elements to work with older Latinos and their families. Common stereotypes and faulty assumptions about older Latinos are examined as the Latino population grows and changes in levels of education, language, family structure, roles, religion, and alternative practices continue. Core values for working …

Longitudinal Associations Of Epigenetic Aging With Cognitive Aging In Hispanic/Latino Adults From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Myriam Fornage, Wassim Tarraf, Rui Xia, Adriana Ordonez, Tamar Sofer, Freddie Márquez, Bharat Thyagarajan, Gregory A Talavera, Linda C Gallo, Charles Decarli, Hector M González

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Due to the paucity of longitudinal DNA methylation data (DNAm), especially among Hispanic/Latino adults, the association between changes in epigenetic clocks over time and cognitive aging phenotypes has not been investigated. This longitudinal study included 2671 Hispanic/Latino adults (57 years; 66% women) with blood DNAm data and neurocognitive function assessed at two visits ~7 years apart. We evaluated the associations of 5 epigenetic clocks and their between-visit change with multiple measures of cognitive aging that included a global and domain-specific cognitive function score at each visit, between-visit change in global and domain-specific cognitive function score, and MCI diagnosis at visit …

Structure Of The T9ss Porkn Ring Complex Reveals Conformational Plasticity Based On The Repurposed Fge Fold, Xiangan Liu, John D Perpich, Liqiang Song, Christian Cambillau, Thierry Doan, Lei Zheng, Richard J Lamont, Eric Cascales, Bo Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The type IX secretion system (T9SS) is a protein secretion machinery unique to the Bacteroidetes-Chlorobi-Fibrobacteres superphylum, which plays crucial roles in bacterial pathogenesis and gliding motility. It is composed of >15 proteins, including the proton-motive force-dependent PorLM motor, the PorKN ring anchored to the outer membrane, and the Sov translocon. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (EM) structure of the PorKN ring complex from Porphyromonas gingivalis at 3.2 Å resolution. Our structural analysis reveals that PorK contains a repurposed formylglycine-generating enzyme-like fold, which serves as a structural hub for complex assembly rather than enzymatic activity. The complex exhibits a 33-fold …

Retinoid-X-Receptor As A Mediator Of Poststroke Recovery By Reversing Age-Associated Phenotypes Of Microglia/Hematogenous Macrophages, Shun-Ming Ting, Xiurong Zhao, Guanghua Sun, Mercedes Ricote, Jaroslaw Aronowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

After stroke, microglia and hematogenous macrophages, together referred to as MΦ, clear dead cells and cellular debris in the infarcted brain through phagocytosis as an essential part of the recovery process. However, the phagocytic capability of MΦ declines with age. Furthermore, aged MΦ become overactivated in response to stroke, enhancing secondary brain injury. In this study, we demonstrated that by reversing the age-related dysfunctions in MΦ through activating the retinoid X receptor (RXR), the recovery after stroke in the aged brain could be improved. Using RNA-sequencing, we compared the transcriptomes between MΦ isolated from the brains of young and aged …

Innate And Adaptive Immune Features Associated With Immune-Related Adverse Events, Shaheen Khan, Venkat S Malladi, Mitchell S Von Itzstein, Hong Mu-Mosley, Farjana J Fattah, Yang Liu, Mary E Gwin, Jason Y Park, Suzanne M Cole, Sheena Bhalla, Jay Lohrey, David Hsiehchen, Angela Moses, Tao Wang, Yaming Xue, Angela B Mobley, J David Farrar, Marjaan Imam, Michelle Wu, Quan-Zhen Li, Edward K Wakeland, Yang Xie, Jeffrey A Sorelle, David E Gerber

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: While highly efficacious for numerous cancers, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause unpredictable and potentially severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs), underscoring the need to understand irAE biology.

Methods: We used a multidimensional approach incorporating single-cell RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, multiplex cytokine assay, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) profiling to characterize the peripheral immune landscape of patients receiving ICI therapy according to irAE development.

Results: Analysis of 162 patients revealed that individuals who developed clinically significant irAEs exhibited a baseline proinflammatory, autoimmune-like state characterized by a significantly higher abundance of CD57+ T and natural killer (NK) T cells, plasmablasts, proliferating and …

Bypassing Bamd Essentiality By Mutations In A Non-Essential Substrate, Santosh Kumar, Anna Konovalova

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The β-barrel assembly machinery (Bam) is essential for assembling all transmembrane β-barrel outer membrane proteins in gram-negative bacteria. The Bam complex consists of the central β-barrel protein BamA and accessory Bam lipoproteins, including the widely conserved and essential BamD. BamD is assumed to be an essential regulator of OMP assembly, as its absence causes a global defect in OMP biogenesis. Here, we challenge this view by demonstrating that BamD essentiality is both conditional and substrate specific. In Escherichia coli, its function can be bypassed by preventing BamA jamming by a single, non-essential substrate RcsF. Our findings suggest that BamD …

Inhibition Of The Ufd-1-Npl-4 Complex Triggers An Aberrant Immune Response In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Rajneesh Rao, Alejandro Aballay, Jogender Singh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The UFD-1 (ubiquitin fusion degradation 1)-NPL-4 (nuclear protein localization homolog 4) heterodimer is involved in extracting ubiquitinated proteins from several plasma membrane locations, including the endoplasmic reticulum. This heterodimer complex helps in the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins via the proteasome with the help of the AAA+ATPase CDC-48. While the ubiquitin-proteasome system is known to have important roles in maintaining innate immune responses, the role of the UFD-1-NPL-4 complex in regulating immunity remains elusive. In this study, we investigate the role of the UFD-1-NPL-4 complex in maintaining

Community Mobilisation For Adoption Of Clean Cookstoves And Clean Fuel To Reduce Household Air Pollution And Blood Pressure In Lagos, Nigeria: Protocol For A Cluster-Randomised Trial, Ololade Wright, Juliet Iwelunmor, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: In Africa, 75% of households are exposed to household air pollution (HAP), a key contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In Nigeria, 90 million households rely on solid fuels for cooking, and 40% of adults have hypertension. Though clean fuel and clean stove (CF-CS) technologies can reduce HAP and CVD risk, their adoption in Africa remains limited.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainment framework, this cluster-randomised controlled trial evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of a community mobilisation (CM) strategy versus a self-directed condition (i.e., receipt of information on CF-CS use without CM) on adoption of CF-CS …

Legal Practices Of Exclusion Towards Palestinian Citizens In Israel: Land Ownership, Ahd Ahmad Mohamad Aljardat

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

Israeli governments have systematically Judaized Palestinian land through policies that were legalized to impose their control over the land, guaranteeing Israel’s ownership of the land, to obliterate the Palestinian identity of Arab groups, by following racist strategies and imposing a legitimate nature on these practices within the concept of citizenship from a legal perspective. These laws guarantee, in the short or long term, the displacement of the Palestinian population from within, to achieve the goal of Jewish hegemony over all the lands of the State of Israel. This research aims to analyze the policy pursued by Israel towards the Palestinians …

مدى تقبل مديري المدارس ومعلمي التعليم المهني (Betc) وأولياء الأمور للتعليم الدامج في المدارس الحكومية الأردنية في ظل التحول الرقمي, Ibrahim Ahmad Mlhem, Roa’A Bas’Sam Al-Khatib, Rawan Salameh Al-Iroud

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة إلى الكشف عن مدى تقبل مديري المدارس ومعلمي التعليم المهني وأولياء الأمور للتعليم الدامج في المدارس الحكومية الأردنية في ظل التحول الرقمي. اعتمدت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وتكوَّنت عينة الدراسة من (185) فرداً، تم اختيارهم بالطريقة العشوائية، وتم تطوير الاستبانة؛ إذ تكونت من (35) فقرة موزَّعة على (3) محاور، وهي الفوائد التي تعود على مديري ومعلمي مدارس التعليم المهني، وأولياء أمور الطلبة من ذوي الإعاقة، وتمَّ توزيع الاستبانة إلكترونياً على عينة الدراسة. أظهرت النتائج مدى تقبُّل مديري المدارس ومعلمي التعليم المهني وأولياء الأمور للتعليم الدامج في المدارس الحكومية الأردنية في ظل التحول الرقمي، فقد جاءت مرتفعة، ودلَّت على …

Navigating Interpersonal Connections: Relationships Of Pregnant Women Following Hiv Diagnosis, Andile Glodin Mokoena-De Beer, Sister Vanessa Mahlangu, Eugene Musiiwa Makhavhu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

HIV remains a complex and public health concern in South Africa. The country’s population by mid-year 2024 was 63,02 million with 8,0 million estimated to be living with HIV. The prevalence rate of HIV in the country is approximately 12,7% with 4 900 00 women living with HIV by 2023, of these women 257 171 were pregnant women receiving antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) to prevent mother to child transmission^1,2. Pregnancy is a complex phenomenon linked to heighted anxiety about the birth processes and safety of the unborn baby. An HIV diagnosis at this time could worsen the mental wellbeing …

Prairie Soundscape, Rebecca J. Romsdahl

The Cicadian

This series of soundscapes represents dawn and dusk. Morning Cacophony was recorded at 6:00 AM, May 2023 on the Tympanuchus Reserve near Crookston, MN — a rare remnant prairie never plowed. Voices of the prairie: sedge wren, bobolink, greater prairie chicken, sandhill crane, red-winged blackbird, clay-colored sparrow. Night Chorus was captured at 2:00 AM, June 2024 on restored grassland at Bluestem Preserve near Moorhead, MN — once farmland, now thriving prairie. Nocturnal symphony: whip-poor-will (song + warning call), coyotes, treefrogs, grasshopper sparrow, soft wind, gentle rain.

Cicadian Rhythms: The 2024 Cicada Emergence, Farah Davis

The Cicadian

In Cicadian Rhythms, Farah Davis recounts the rare 2024 dual emergence of cicada broods XIII and XIX, which appeared weeks early due to climate change. She explains how cicadas use tree sap and soil temperature to time their emergence, and how warming trends are disrupting these ancient cycles. The essay blends personal observation with scientific insight, showing how even backyard phenomena reflect broader environmental shifts. Davis emphasizes the ecological importance of cicadas and the cascading effects of climate disruption on ecosystems. Ultimately, she calls for greater awareness and stewardship in the face of accelerating climate change.

Where The Earth Meets The Sky, Ashlyn Ed Herron

The Cicadian

A reflection of finding one's place in an ecosystem that raised them, and a long overdue love-letter to the prairies

Introduction To Our Inaugural Issue, Lacey Anderson, Mary Moroney-Fernandez, Giovanni E. Whyte

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Ceramides As Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets For Cardiometabolic Disease And Its Intersection With Cellular Aging, Youssef Moustafa Shalaby

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Ceramides (Cer), a subclass of sphingolipids with potent bioactive properties, have gained recognition as key players in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). They modulate critical cellular functions such as apoptosis, inflammation, insulin signaling, and oxidative stress. This dissertation explores the dual role of Cer as both early diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, bridging clinical insights with mechanistic understanding through a combination of human and experimental studies.

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify intracellular levels of specific Cer species, including CerC16:0, CerC18:0, CerC22:0, CerC24:0, and CerC24:1. This method was translated into …

The Effect Of A Kn95 Mask On High-Intensity Interval Training Performance, Physiological Response, And Perception, David Kenny, Payton Stanziani, Holly Chambers, Madison Vinovrski, Isabel Allocco, Jack Fisher, Morgan Raley, Kyle S. Beyer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 984-994, 2025. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a KN95 mask on the performance, physiological response, and perception of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Twenty college-aged participants (Male: 10, Female: 10) completed a two-visit, crossover, counterbalanced study. The HIIT workout included four 1-minute “all-out” intervals at 3.5% of body mass with 4-minute rest intervals, performed with or without a KN95 mask. Following HIIT, participants remained on the cycle ergometer for a 15-minute recovery period. For each interval, peak power and average power were recorded. Throughout the HIIT workout and recovery, …

Evaluating The Impact Of Zoa Energy Drink On Muscular Strength, Psychomotor Vigilance, And Mood In Active Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jose J. Rojas, Jason M. Curtis, Flavia F. Pereira, Cassandra Evans, Kaelan Jones, Alyana Andal, Juan Carlos Santana, Hena Thakkar, Jose Antonio

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

This study evaluates the effects of ZOA Energy Drink, a commercially available energy beverage, on muscular strength, sustained attention, and mood in exercise-trained individuals. Using a randomized, blinded, two-arm design, 24 participants (15 males, 9 females; age = 31.8 ± 8.4 years) were assigned to consume either ZOA Energy Drink or a caffeine-matched placebo. The primary outcomes included psychomotor vigilance (PVT), mood state (POMS), handgrip strength, and push-up performance. Baseline body composition was also assessed using bioelectrical impedance.

Results revealed no statistically significant differences between the ZOA and the caffeine matched control groups in psychomotor vigilance (p = 0.155), mood …

The Genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Oman, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

The taxonomic position of Androctonus populations in Oman was investigated by analyzing morphological variation in a comprehensive sample representing 150 records gathered from 95 localities spread throughout the country. Two new allopatric species are described, separated by multivariate morphometric analysis and meristic characters: (1) A. omanensis sp. n., distributed across most of Oman, is characterized by wider, deeper metasomal segments IV–V, shorter legs, more robust pedipalps, more granules on lateral inframedian carinae of metasoma II–III, and sparser setation on basitarsal spurs; and (2) A. ammophilus sp. n., distributed in the dunes of the Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter) of …