Digital Commons Network^™

Monitoring Of Plankton And The Symbiosis In Maintaining Fertility In Tropical Water, Luthfiana Aprilianita Sari, Fio Surya Pratama Semendo Panhar, Naufal Falatehan, Fitrul Azizi Firdaus, Octavia Kartika Sari, Nurul Ashikin Abdullah, Felipe Polivanov Ottoni, Sulastri Arsad, Veryl Hasan, Syifania Hanifah Samara

Baghdad Science Journal

Plankton serve as live food for aquatic organisms and are indicators of water fertility, which is related to its abundance and diversity. Some live feeds also form a symbiotic relationship with macroalgae, known as epiphytic plankton, which is found in estuarine waters. The Brondong estuary area, Brondong District, Lamongan, East Java, with abundant Caulerpa sp. macroalgae, exemplifies these characteristics. This study aimed to identify the abundance, diversity, uniformity, and dominance indices of zooplankton, epiphytic microalgae, phytoplankton, and chlorophyll a in the Brondong estuary. Given that research on identifying epiphytic plankton species attached to Caulerpa sp. is lacking, this study investigates …

Molecular Characterization And Genotypic Distribution Of Hepatitis B Virus Isolates In Iraq: Prevalence Of Drug Resistance Mutations, Omar Hamid Salman, Raghad Harbi Al-Azzawi

Baghdad Science Journal

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains one of the most pervasive viral threats worldwide, posing a significant risk to millions. Due to the absence of proofreading activity during reverse transcription, HBV exhibits a high genetic variability. To date, ten distinct HBV genotypes have been identified globally, associated with varying disease outcomes, including progression to cirrhosis and carcinoma, as well as responses to antivirals. Consequently, genotypic analysis and molecular characterization of HBV are critical for optimizing therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of HBV genotypes among Iraqi patients and to characterize their molecular profiles. Therefore, a modified protocol was …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Novel Crystal Complex Of Copper(Ii) With A Tridentate Schiff Base, Bushra Mohan, Naser Shaalan

Baghdad Science Journal

This study presents a simple method for synthesizing a novel distorted octahedral copper(II) compound. The structural and electronic properties of the compound were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). A three-coordinate Schiff base ligand (NNO system) was synthesized by condensation and fully characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C-NMR), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thermogravimetric/differential gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), and elemental analysis (CHN). The ligand is linked to the copper(II) ion via pyridine nitrogen, azomethine nitrogen, and enol oxygen, forming five-membered rings. The crystal structure reveals …

Ph-Driven Structural Optimization Of Hydroxyapatite/Alginate Composites For Sustained Clindamycin Release And Antibacterial Applications, Wulandari Wulandari, Novesar Jamarun, Diana Vanda Wellia, Emriadi Emriadi, Miftahul Fikriyah, Vivi Sisca

Baghdad Science Journal

Bacterial infections, especially those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, still pose a significant challenge for biomedical applications, such as the management of wound and bone infections. This investigation aimed to prepare and characterize hydroxyapatite–alginate (HAp/Alg) composites from bamboo shell waste at several synthesis pHs (7–10) and to study their potential as clindamycin-loaded antibacterial drug delivery systems. XRD results showed that hydroxyapatite was the main crystalline phase in all samples, while FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of both hydroxyapatite and alginate in the composite. As a result, the smallest crystallite size of HAp/Alg-10 (21.25 nm) among the composites that …

Frailty And Activities Of Daily Living In Older Adults In Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study, Öznur Adadıoğlu, Ahmet Seven, Esin Danç

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to examine frailty status and activities of daily living among older adults.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 306 voluntary participants aged 65 years and older who were registered at a primary healthcare center in a city in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the FRAIL Scale, and the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living.

Results: Among the participants, 36.9% were non-frail, 42.2% were pre-frail, and 20.9% were frail. The mean Katz Index score was 5.42 ± 1.35. The mean scores of activities of daily living …

Comments Re: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program And Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Fred D. Ledley M.D., Edward Zhou Pharm. D.

CISI Publication

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comments in response to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program proposed rule published on June 16, 2026 in the Federal Register. [1] We are answering as academic researchers with experience in medicine, pharmacy, biomedical research, and the biopharmaceutical industry. Our perspective is informed by extensive, published research on the economics and finance of pharmaceutical innovation, the value created by new medicines, and the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

We applaud the accomplishment of the IRA in establishing the precedent for the government to negotiate “fair market prices” for drugs on …

Two-Thirds Return But Performance Suffers: Acl Reconstruction Outcomes Across Elite European Women's Soccer Leagues, Haneef Khan, Forest Rodriguez, Amina Khan, Ashley Rosenberg, Stephen Marcaccio

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

PURPOSE: To analyse return-to-play (RTP) rates, timing and performance outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in elite European women's soccer players across the top five leagues.

METHODS: We reviewed ACL injuries sustained by female professional soccer players across the Bundesliga, Women's Super League, Primera División Femenina, Serie A Women and Première Ligue between 2007 and 2025. Players were included if they had a confirmed ACL injury requiring ACLR and one season of performance data pre- and post-injury. Players were excluded if the injury occurred during their rookie season or after the 2023 season. Data were collected from Soccerdonna.de …

Motherhood And The Illusion Of Delayed Gratification In Gerotti Kyomuhendo’S Waiting And Secrets No More, Mopelola R. Olayiwola

Wagadu: A Journal of Transnational Women's & Gender Studies

The birth of a girl child in most African societies automatically signals the arrival of another procreator. Her role is assigned long before birth: she is to be a woman, a wife, and a mother whose nurturance continues until death. Motherhood demands nurturing children alongside the husband, and most myths tie a woman’s relevance to this single role. To ensure undivided attention to this occupation, societies empower the virtue of patience. As a result, many African narratives corroborate the ideology of delayed gratification, encouraging women to give excessively toward a distant future when children may return the favour. Little attention …

Encounters Xxii: Look Up, Susan Johnson

The Sucarnochee Review

No abstract provided.

Beautiful Hand, Allison Whittenberg

The Sucarnochee Review

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Links Between Iq, Emotion Dysregulation, And Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia In Childhood Antisocial Behavior, Isley Jean-Pierre

Student Theses

This study examined relationships among cognitive ability, emotion dysregulation, physiological regulation, and antisocial behavior. Participants were 340 children ages 7-10. Caregivers reported on emotion regulation, aggression, and delinquency, and children completed cognitive assessments. Intellectual profiles were classified as even or uneven. No significant differences in aggression or delinquency were found between intellectual profiles. Emotion Regulation Checklist scores mediated relationships between VIQ and both aggression and delinquency. Resting RSA mediated the relationship between VIQ and delinquency, although the indirect effect was small, whereas RSA reactivity did not mediate either outcome. Overall, findings suggest that emotion regulation may be a more consistent …

Understanding Ourselves And Others: A Social Psychology Approach, Whitney Whitaker Ph.D., Noba Project

All Open Educational Resources

This book is a compilation of Open Education Resources for the use in an undergraduate level social psychology course at Fort Hays State University.

Challenges Early Childhood Educators Encounter When Balancing Play-Based Learning With Preparation For Standardized Testing, Shanette Damar Mcbride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that emphasis is being placed on standardized testing, which is causing early childhood educators to feel pressured to eliminate or reduce playtime in their classrooms. Framed by Vygotsky’s theory of social development and Lave and Wenger’s situated learning framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of early childhood educators in a southcentral U.S. state regarding the challenges they face in balancing a play-based learning curriculum and the support they need, while emphasizing information about standardized testing. The data were collected from semistructured interviews with 12 certified kindergarten …

The Existential Ambiguity Of Authentic Love In Alice Diop's Saint Omer, Kelli Fuery

CCI Articles and Research

Using Simone de Beauvoir's and Frantz Fanon's existentialist phenomenology, this article examines an existentialist ethics of recognition as an act of authentic love in Alice Diop's Saint Omer (2022). Loosely based on a true story, Saint Omer tells a story of filicide: Laurence Coly leaves her baby on a beach to die and we follow the subsequent courtroom drama as it unfolds. The film also follows Rama, a literature professor intending to write up the case as a contemporary version of the Medea myth. I suggest Saint Omer presents an ethics of recognition in its avoidance of the superficial question …

Mertk Inhibition Cooperates With Immunomodulatory Cyclophosphamide To Induce Cxcl9⁺ Monocyte-Macrophage Programming And Durable Antitumor Immunity In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Diego A Pedroza, Sebastian J Calderon, Xueying Yuan, Na Zhao, Zoe Gabriel, Yang Gao, Charlotte H Rivas, Fengshuo Liu, Jonathan S Serody, Charles M Perou, H Shelton Earp, Jeffrey M Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has high rates of recurrence despite chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can either suppress or support antitumor immunity, but the mechanisms governing these states and therapeutic targets remain unclear. Here, integrating public scRNAseq datasets with TNBC cohorts, we identify a prognostic myeloid signature defined by CXCL9hi programs, associated with improved survival and enrichment of lymphocyte activation pathways. Using immunocompetent p53-null syngeneic TNBC models spanning basal-like (2153L) and claudin-low (T12) subtypes, we show that immunomodulatory cyclophosphamide (CTX) reprograms hematopoiesis toward the monocytic lineage and induces an interferon (IFN) conditioned tumor milieu that supports …

Heartland Virus Preclinical Research Project, Brian B. Gowen

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Biochemical And Histological Assessment Of Oral Wound Healing Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles-Hyaluronic Acid Composite Gel In Rat Models, Shahida Rasoul Husain, Amal Hanna Aziz, Treefa Farouq Ismail

Baghdad Science Journal

Oral wound healing is a complex biological process involving coordinated inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Recent advances in nanotechnology and biomaterials have highlighted the potential of composite formulations to enhance tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and histological effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) composite gel on oral wound healing in rat models. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs, prepared using Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract, were gradually incorporated into methylcellulose (MC) and commercially available HA gels. The physicochemical characterization of the composite gel was assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy …

Dung Removal And Tunneling Contributions: Ecomorphological Traits And Functional Performance Of Onthophagus Gazella And Onthophagus Ramosellus, Takhmina Nazir, Mubashar Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

Dung beetles perform various functions in ecosystems, such as nutrient cycling, aeration of soil, and dung burial activities that increase soil properties. Genus Onthophagus is well known for its role in dung removal and decomposition. We appraised the role of Onthophagus ramosellus and Onthophagus gazella in dung removal under field conditions. Species-specific functional features like body size and dry body weight associate these dung beetle species with tunneling depth and dung removal. We installed mesocosms (18 cm height and 12 cm diameter) at three sites in district Gujrat, i.e., Chak, Chopala, and Kot Mir Hussain. Treatment groups used in the …

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Modified Carbon Paste Electrode For Redox Process Application, Emad Salaam Abood

Baghdad Science Journal

TiO₂-NPs were synthesized by the SolGel procedure and characterised using a mixture of graphite powder and paraffin oil to create a homogeneous black-sensitive Titanium dioxide nanoparticle carbon paste electrode (TiO₂-NPs-CPE). The best conductivity was studied by using a variety of mixture ratios, 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30, and the results refer to 50:50 as the best TiO₂: graphite mixture ratio. The Redox processes were applied by Potentiostat cyclic voltammetry to mutate the trace current by electron migration. Scan rate, temperature and pH conditions studied and the result recorded (0.1 vs^–1, [288-308] K and …

Spcc: Inferring Spatial Cell-Cell Interaction By Integrating Single-Cell And Spatial Transcriptomics, Liyu Huang, Kexin Huang, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Study of single-cell spatial biology reveals the importance of integrating single-cell and spatial data for capturing spatial structure at individual cell resolution in various fields. With the lack of cellular-level information in most spatial data, it is necessary to integrate single-cell and spatial data. Here, we developed a deep learning computational framework for alignment and mapping of unpaired single-cell and the spatial data by using adversarial joint-variational autoencoder and Random Forest model (SPCC). SPCC will generate a mapping matrix for single-cell and spatial positions that can transfer spatial location to individual cells. SPCC can be used to perform downstream analysis, …

We Hid In The Wilderness: Developments In Irish Outdoor Education, John Pierce

Publications

This paper presents findings from a study that explored the opportunities and limitations for change and development in the Outdoor Education & Training Centres/Services (OETCS) in Ireland. Several changes have occurred in the past 15 years that have potentially affected practices and programmes in the OETCS in Ireland. These include background structural changes in the local authorities that operate the centres, as well as the alignment of the centres with further (vocational) education. Rather than aiming to be representational, a post-qualitative analysis allowed for moments of interest, or glowings, to be drawn from the empirical materials (interviews with centre directors …

Data-Driven Staging Of Neurodegenerative Pathology Related To Alzheimer’S Disease, Thomas Earnest

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a dual proteinopathy exhibiting deposits of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) and intracellular tau in brain tissue. Models which describe the spatial and temporal trajectories of these pathologies have been invaluable for understanding AD and have the potential to support diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment development. Disease staging systems, which provide protocols for assessing individual disease severity based on their extent of brain pathology, have been crucial for explaining and diagnosing AD. However, these systems have been primarily informed by post-mortem histological assessments and are not directly applicable to disease assessment in …

Star Anise's Shield: How Illicium Verum Protects Dna From Oxidative Damage: An Integrated Experimental And Computational Study, Rafeef Amer Abdul-Jabar, Sabaa Ali Mohammed Al. Fadal, Anwar H. Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

Illicium verum, a star anise evergreen tree, is of great ethnopharmacological, medicinal, and biological interest. Objective: To develop an aqueous extract from its fruits and to evaluate its antioxidant potential, particularly in terms of DNA protection. The extraction method was straightforward; total phenolics (123 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (51.3 mg QE/g) were quantified, and antioxidant (DPPH radical scavenging and iron (III) reducing) properties determined. The total antioxidant capacity (TAE) of the extract was estimated, and its protectiveness on human genomic DNA was examined. In addition, an in silico computer docking simulation was conducted to describe the molecular interactions of …

Genotyping Of Echinococcus Granulosus And Evaluation Of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract As A Novel Protoscolicidal Agent, Hersh Ahmad Amin, Hoshyar Abdullah Azeez, Sirwan Muhsin Muhammed Ameen

Baghdad Science Journal

Cystic echinococcosis is a globally prevalent zoonotic infection, including in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. It arises when Echinococcus granulosus eggs are ingested, leading to the larval stages that mainly effect the internal organs of humans and livestocks. This study aimed to explore the genetic variability and sequence polymorphisms of E. granulosus and to evaluate the protoscolicidal potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract. Protoscoleces PSCs were isolated from hydatid cysts collected from infected humans, sheep, cattle and goat. Among the 73 hydatid cysts examined, 63 (86.3%) were fertile. DNA was extracted from PSCs, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 ( …

Comments Re: Commonsense Policy Options To Lower Drug Prices For Patients, Fred D. Ledley M.D., Edward Zhou Pharm. D.

CISI Publication

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comment in response to the Senate Finance Committee Minority Staff’s “Request for Information: Commonsense Policy Options to Lower Drug Prices for Patients.” We are answering as academic researchers with experience in medicine and the biopharmaceutical industry. This comment will focus on sections I and III of the RFI.

We applaud the accomplishment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in establishing the precedent for the government to negotiate “fair market” prices for drugs on terms that address both patients’ needs for affordability and industry’s need for a reasonable return on investment. Our analysis …

Dissecting Tumor Evolution And Immune Composition In Prc2 Loss (H3k27me3 Loss) Vs Retained Mpnst, Kuangying Yang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas that arise sporadically or in the setting of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Although benign plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are common in NF1, only a subset undergo malignant transformation, and the molecular events that define high-risk progression remain incompletely understood. A major axis of biological heterogeneity in MPNST is loss of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), commonly detected through loss of H3K27me3 and frequently mediated by alterations in SUZ12 or EED. This dissertation integrates three manuscript-based studies to define genomic resources, tumor-intrinsic vulnerabilities, and immune microenvironmental remodeling in NF1-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors, …

Relationship Between Sociodemographic Factors And Opioid Overdose Mortality In Milwaukee County, 2020-2021, Elizabeth David

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid overdose deaths increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, with Milwaukee County experiencing higher rates than the national and state averages. African American and Hispanic residents faced disproportionately high fatal overdose rates. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study was to examine the associations among socioeconomic status, race, age, access to treatment (measured by emergency medical services [EMS] naloxone administration), and opioid overdose mortality among underserved minority populations in Milwaukee County. Guided by the social-ecological model, the study analyzed data from the Milwaukee Health Department and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office across 34 ZIP codes. Inclusion criteria for …

Local Farming Sustainability Nongovernment Organization’S Perceived Driving Forces For A Crisis Management Plan, Nthonoki Cynthia Tsepe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operate in increasingly volatile environments characterized by financial uncertainty, political pressures, and climate-related disruptions; however, many lack formalized crisis management systems. The absence of structured crisis governance exposes organizations to operational instability, financial risk, and reputational damage. The purpose of this qualitative force field analysis study was to explore a local farming sustainability NGO’s perceived driving and restraining forces for developing a formal crisis management plan. Guided by Burnett’s crisis management model and Lewin’s force field analysis framework, data were collected from nine organizational leaders involved in governance and operational decision making. Round 1 included open-ended online …

African American Fathers’ Experiences Of Emotional Distress Within The Context Of Black Masculinity After Their Children’S Autism Diagnosis, John Notice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although parental experiences following a child's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis have been examined, mothers’ experiences have garnered the most exploration, with comparatively less attention given to fathers’ experiences. There was a gap in knowledge, in particular, on how African American (AA) fathers experience their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how AA fathers experienced their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. Crenshaw's intersectionality theory served as the conceptual framework. Data were collected by conducting semistructured …

Lived Experiences And Competencies Of Mental Health Professionals Supporting Postpartum Mothers’ Mental Health And Well-Being, Shaynie Wolski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis, affect postpartum individuals and their families. Limited research has examined the lived experiences and competencies of licensed mental health professionals who address PMADs, potentially limiting counselor educators’ ability to prepare counselors for postpartum mental health needs. Guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and informed by Ecological Systems Theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to answer the guiding question: What are the lived experiences of licensed mental health professionals in recognizing, assessing, and treating PMADs among postpartum clients? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight …