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Concurrent Use Of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants And Nsaids In Low Back Pain Management: A Critical Review Of Current Evidence And Future Directions, Rupesh A. Saindane, Nilima A. Thombre

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Low back pain (LBP) represents a leading cause of non-fatal disability globally. Its high prevalence and disabling nature highlight the urgent need for effective management strategies. The exact cause of LBP still remains unclear, and thus, its treatment remains symptomatic. LBP is commonly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs). These agents are frequently used in combination to target both inflammation and muscle spasms. However, the clinical guidelines vary widely on the recommendation for the use of such combination therapy. The present review evaluates evidence from randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews on the concurrent use …

Mechanistic Insights And Clinical Benefits Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids In Cardiovascular, Inflammatory, And Neurological Health, Anosh Tahir, Afshan Siddiq

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are attributed with the capacity to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Their bioactive contribution consists on interfering with lipid metabolism, decreasing inflammation, and increasing neuroprotection. Still, the findings imply that there is a considerable need for greater clarification of their mechanisms and their application to clinical care.

Objectives: This narrative review is intended to discuss the potential target(s) of action, uses, and efficacy of ω-3 PUFAs in the context of CVD, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Materials and Methods: This narrative review …

The Effects Of Tea Polyphenols On The Emulsifying And Gelling Properties Of Minced Lamb After Repeated Freeze–Thaw Cycles, Xueyan Yun, Ganqi Yang, Limin Li, Ying Wu, Xujin Yang, Aiwu Gao

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Minced lamb remains one of the most produced meat products in the meat industry, across both the food service and retail sectors. Tea polyphenols (TPs), renowned for their diverse biological activities, are increasingly being employed as natural food additives in research and development. Tea polyphenols at concentrations of 0.00% (CG), 0.01% (TP1), 0.10% (TP2), and 0.30% (TP3) were added to lamb which had undergone a series of freeze–thaw cycles. The presence of tea polyphenols led to a significant decrease in the number of disulfide bonds, resulting in a slower oxidation rate. In addition, the surface hydrophobicity and juice loss of …

Pinterest Can Help Teachers Cook A Casserole, But What About Lgbtqia+ Affirming Lesson Plans For Students Of Color?, Denise Villarrial Nealon

Deliberately Queer Journal

We have learned to be crafty homemakers, small space decorators, and even teachers through the eye-catching appeal of sites like Pinterest or Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT). The accessibility and ease of searching for a preset lesson saves time, and in a society where teachers are paid far less than what they are worth and asked to work longer hours than they are paid for, this makes sense. Using the theoretical frameworks of CRT, QueerCrit, and CRP, along with the concepts of intersectionality, can build learning tools for new teachers to disrupt previous exclusionary practices that prevent LGBTQIA+ students of Color …

Participatory Exhibitions As An Awareness-Raising Platform For Bird Window Collisions, Janina Carla Castro, Jelaine Gan, Nancy Longnecker

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Bird window strikes pose a significant threat to avian populations in urban settings. Understanding public attitudes toward this issue is vital for communicating the problem and possible interventions, such as applying window stickers. Bird Window Strike Philippines, a citizen science initiative, has promoted awareness through online engagement and a public pop-up exhibition designed to leave a lasting impression and gather visitor feedback. The exhibition introduced Filipino audiences to bird-window collisions through educational and participatory elements, including interpretive panels, taxidermied bird specimens, and window models demonstrating prevention techniques. Its central message was: “Bird window strikes are a problem, and we can …

Sustainable Pedagogical Space: Water Risk Reduction Management Through Permaculture Pedagogy, Susi Andriani Simanjuntak, Yuqin Zhou, Si Wen Li

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

This study explores a Permaculture design approach to promote water conservation and reduce water dependency, particularly in response to plastic pollution. Permaculture emphasizes water ethics, conservation principles, rainwater harvesting (via tanks, soil, land, and biomass), greywater reuse, and biological remediation techniques for water recycling and purification. The study applies a contextually adapted environmental pedagogy based on Permaculture for primary school students in North Sumatra, Indonesia, focusing on sustainable water conservation and plastic litter risk reduction. A case study method was employed, targeting schools that voluntarily participated. The approach highlights three commonly overlooked dimensions in environmental education: community connection, place-based authenticity, …

Development Of An Innovative Virtual Reality Laboratory Media For Promoting Concepts On The Relation Between Force, Mass, And Accleration Of Upper Secondary School Students, Kulaphat Eiamtharachai, Parinda Limpanont Promratana

Journal of Education Studies

Experimentation is a key process in promoting scientific conceptual understanding. However, when studying physics concepts related to force and motion, real classroom experiments face several limitations. This research aimed to 1) develop innovative virtual experimental media on the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, and 2) study the conceptual development of 14 grade 10 students in the science-mathematics program, selected through voluntary sampling. Data collection tools included expert focus group discussions, user focus group discussions, media suitability and consistency evaluation forms, and a two-tier multiple-choice conceptual test. Data analysis revealed that the developed media received an average suitability and consistency …

Combining Submicron Spectroscopy Techniques (Afm-Ir And O-Ptir) To Detect And Quantify Nanoplastics In Snow From A Utah Ski Resort, Sara L. Belontz, Janice Brahney, Caroline E. Caplan, Eoghan Dillon, Ting Yan, Gerardo Dominguez

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) and optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy are cutting-edge techniques used for precise nanoscale chemical analysis, capable of detecting and characterizing particles smaller than 1 μm. In this study, we applied both techniques to analyze snow subsamples collected from Beaver Mountain, Utah. Quantification by AFM-IR identified a concentration of 1.50 × 10^–1 μg/mL of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), a copolyester known for its biodegradability and biocompatibility and that was the only polymer detected. Notably, 96% of particles had thicknesses below 1 μm, with the smallest particle recorded at 14 nm in height, demonstrating the advantage …

Ties That Bind: A Study Of Relational Networks And Spiritual Formation, Joshua Michael Leborious

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In His earthly ministry, Christ tasked the church with the responsibility of making disciples. Today, God calls leaders into professional ministry to discern specific means of doing so. The calling does not make that task easy and the methods for making disciple vary greatly, leaving Christian leaders overwhelmed by trying to figure out how to disciple the people in their care. A mountain of sources suggest that a relational approach has remarkable potential for making disciples. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to explore the potential relationship between relational networks and quantifiable habits of spiritual formation for adult, …

Evaluating The Utilization Of Icd-10 Z-Codes For Documenting Social Determinants Of Health And The Association With Frequent Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Beneficiaries, Sofia L. Gomez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study assesses the use of ICD-10 Z-codes for documenting social determinants of health (SDoH) and examines their relationship with frequent emergency department (ED) visits among Arizona Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries. This retrospective cohort study utilizes claims data from a major Arizona Medicaid payor to explore the frequency of ICD-10 Z-codes use for documenting SDoH, associations between variables, and factors most strongly linked to higher ED utilization. The study sample (N = 53,368) includes Medicaid beneficiaries with ED visits in 2023, including 47,153 individuals without documented SDoH and 6,215 individuals with documented SDoH. Descriptive and statistical analyses, such as binomial tests, chi-square …

The Meaning And Essence Of Depression And Loneliness In Widowhood: Discovering The Healthy Construct Of Self-Efficacy, Christine M. Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to describe the lived experience of widows aged 65-80 who lost their husbands within the past five years in one of three counties in Washington State: Pierce, Kitsap, or Mason. The two theories guiding this study will be Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, (SLT), as they relate to post-loss identity and mourning. Both serve as vital tools for surviving and recovering from the impact of losing a spouse. When these affectional attachments are lost, a widow’s quality of life can be lessened or even damaged. A widow will go …

Pastoring The Pastor: Self-Care Among African American Clergy, Alexander Jamerison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When self-care is effectively implemented, it can help individuals avoid or reduce mental health challenges throughout their lives (Luis et al., 2021). Unfortunately, research indicates numerous mental health challenges faced by clergy (Chan & Chen, 2019; Jackson, 2013; Gallagher, 2019; Edward, 2020). To assist ministers in cultivating a healthier life and a more effective ministry, this study will specifically explore the relationship between self-care and mental health challenges among African American clergy. The literature on this subject will identify historical, cultural, and spiritual influences. It will also examine specific mental health concerns, effective self-care practices, and relevant outcomes. Although research …

The Effects Of Hsa-Mir-26a-5p On Cell Proliferation, Migration, And Pi3k Inhibitor Sensitivity In Metformin-Resistant Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Şahi̇ka Cingir Köker, Senem Noyan, Banu Yalçin, İrem Doğan Turaçli

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Metformin is commonly used to manage type 2 diabetes (T2D) and is being investigated for its potential antiproliferative effects in cancer, particularly in patients with both T2D and malignancies. Drug resistance can develop with any therapeutic agent, and metformin is no exception. As we showed in our previous study, metformin-resistant MDA-MB-468 (MET-R) cells exhibited an EMT-like phenotype. Many transcription factors, as well as miRNAs, can contribute to this altered phenotype. Our current study identifies the contribution of hsa-miR-26a-5p expression to the previously observed phenotype. Materials and methods: By utilizing bioinformatic tools, we identified hsa-miR-26a-5p, whose expression was significantly altered …

Santa, Socials, And Secrets: Hard Cases For Epistemic Rights, Étienne Brown, Rebecca Chan

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In The Right to Know, Lani Watson forcefully argues in favor of recognizing epistemic rights to all humans. In this paper, we apply Watson’s framework to three hard cases. First, we consider interpersonal relationships and suggest that there is room to explore how epistemic rights bear on, e.g., whether parents can permissibly lie to or mislead their children by asserting the existence of Santa Claus. Second, we turn to social media platforms and contend that Watson’s framework is compatible with contrasting moderation policies and transparency requirements. Third, we examine a foundational case of legal ethics—the buried bodies case—which raises the …

Efficient Methods And Algorithms For Analyzing Stochastic Systems, Mohammad Ahmadi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the challenges of stochastic analysis of safety-critical systems with biological components, where unexpected behavior can lead to catastrophic events. Two fundamental challenges hinder the analysis of such systems: their typically large or infinite state spaces, and the extreme rarity of error states of interest. While Monte Carlo simulation can analyze biochemical systems without storing the state space, accurately estimating rare event probabilities becomes computationally prohibitive. Conversely, probabilistic model checking excels at analyzing extremely low probability events but becomes impractical for systems with large or infinite state spaces due to memory constraints.This work proposes two main contributions to …

The Epidemiology Of Sports And Recreation Related Toe Fractures In The United States, Dogerno Norceide, Gabriel I. Onor, Oluwatomi Akingbola, William Justice, Nana F. Amponsah, Abimbola Okulaja, Ifeanyichukwu Onor, Michael Okoronkwo, Chibuikem Nwizu, David Pedowitz, Md

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the toes are among the most frequently diagnosed lower extremity fractures. In sports, toe fractures may present after diverse mechanisms of injury, varying severity, and varying implications for management. This study aimed to discern trends in toe fractures presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) particularly in association with sports and recreational activities. An additional aim of the study was to identify if rates of toe fracture presentation significantly decreased during the year 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database to identify toe fractures presented to …

The Myth Of The Bayesian Brain, Madhur Mangalam

Journal Articles

The Bayesian brain hypothesis—the idea that neural systems implement or approximate Bayesian inference—has become a dominant framework in cognitive neuroscience over the past two decades. While mathematically elegant and conceptually unifying, this paper argues that the hypothesis occupies an ambiguous territory between useful metaphor and testable, biologically plausible mechanistic explanation. We critically examine the key claims of the Bayesian brain hypothesis, highlighting issues of unfalsifiability, biological implausibility, and inconsistent empirical support. The framework’s remarkable flexibility in accommodating diverse findings raises concerns about its explanatory power, as models can often be adjusted post hoc to fit virtually any data pattern. We …

American Kestrels (Falco Sparverious) In Row Crop Agriculture Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Of Northeast Arkansas: Factors Influencing Nest And Roost Box Use, Nest Success, And Effects On Agricultural Pests, Ty Spencer Sharrow

Student Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing birds of prey for pest control is a sustainable, environmentally friendly approach to pest management that can benefit not just the environment and human health but also the birds themselves. The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius; hereafter ‘kestrel’) is one such species that can provide pest management services while benefiting from nest boxes used to attract them in agricultural areas. I examined how box and habitat characteristics influenced kestrel box use for nesting, winter roosting, and nest success in the row crop-dominated landscape of northeast Arkansas’ Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. In addition, I assessed kestrel impact on pests by systematically …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Arkansas Rise Initiative Regarding Student Performance And Teacher Training, Susan Hoffman Lawrence

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Arkansas Reading Initiative for Student Excellence [RISE] works to build a culture of reading for students in Arkansas through the coordination of a statewide reading campaign that utilizes the Science of Reading, which incorporates a wide body of scientifically-based research that informs stakeholders of how students can effectively learn to read. In addition, tenets of the RISE Initiative encourage building a community of partners and teachers to establish the importance of reading in homes, schools and communities. This mixed-method study explored teacher perceptions of the Arkansas RISE Initiative regarding its effectiveness in terms of students’ reading achievement, as well …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session Thursday June 26, 2025, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda
Approval of the Minutes (April 17, 2025 and April 23, 2025)
Remarks by the Chair of the Board
Remarks by the President
Updates by the Faculty Senate President
Updates by the Western Student Association President
Updates by the Graduate Student Association President
Western Michigan University Employee Graduates
Montgomery Essential Needs Program Presentation
Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

• Academic Tenure and Promotion
• Student Housing and Meal Rates 2025/26
• Fall 2025 Differential Tuition Rates
• Fall 2025 Tuition and Required Fee Rates
• General Fund Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget
• President Emeritus Status for Edward Montgomery

Consent Items …

U.S. Young Adults’ Family-Building Intentions In The Event Of Infertility And Knowledge Of Associated Costs, Jean Marie Place, John Horowitz, Minh Nguyen, Maya Guinn, Brennan Peterson

Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Infertility affects approximately 8.5% of married women in the United States, yet there is limited understanding of how young adults anticipate and prepare for potential barriers to biological parenthood. As reproductive planning increasingly intersects with social, medical, and financial considerations, it is important to examine how emerging adults perceive and approach family-building options. This study aims to explore college students' intentions regarding childbearing, their openness to non-traditional family-building methods, and their awareness of the associated financial costs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to undergraduate students (mean age = 20) at a Midwestern public university. Most participants had not …

Learning Analytics: An Innovative Technological Tool To Help Increase Student Retention And Graduation Rates In Us Higher Education Institutions, Fednold Thelisdort

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have embarked on a journey of innovation by adopting learning analytics (LA) in their operation, offering a more sustainable and innovative technological tool to increase student retention and graduation rates in US HEIs. LA, an emerging academic and technological tool, equips HEIs to gather, analyze, and interpret their students’ data. Since the publication of the first (conceptual) framework by Burke (2019), LA has matured into a research focus and practice, implemented in several institutional contexts at different scales and disciplinary/pedagogical contexts. This study explored the impact of the use of LA on student retention and graduation …

Expression Of Concern: Characterization Of Tfiie-Regulated Genes By Transcriptomeanalysis, Serdar Baysal

Turkish Journal of Biology

The Editors of Turkish Journal of Biology wish to issue an Expression of Concern regarding the article entitled: “Characterization of TFIIE-regulated genes by transcriptome analysis” by Serdar Baysal published on 20.12.2024. Following the publication of this article, concerns have been raised regarding• Potential violations of academic ethical standards in the published study• Potential intellectual property infringement, including plagiarism• An academic sanction reportedly imposed on the author by the affiliated university following an institutional disciplinary investigation. An investigation is currently underway to assess the validity of these concerns. In accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and …

Discovery And Characterization Of Selective Lipase-Inhibiting Polyheterocyclic Derivatives: A Combined In Silico And In Vitro Study, Madjda Benguechoua, Mebarka Imane Benguechoua, Khedidja Benarous, Houssem Boulebd, Ibtissem Kadi, Ari̇f Mermer, Yakup Şi̇ri̇n, Alaeddine Kaouka, Mohamed Yousfi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Obesity has become a global health crisis with an increasing prevalence, necessitating the search for effective therapies. Schiff base derivatives, known for their broad pharmacological activities, have gained attention as potential antiobesity agents. This study aimed to investigate the lipase inhibitory potential of novel Schiff base derivatives and assess their drug-like properties through in vitro assays and in silico methods. Materials and methods: The lipase inhibitory activity of synthesized Schiff base derivatives was evaluated using in vitro assays, with IC50 values determined for each compound. Additionally, in silico ADMET predictions (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity), molecular docking studies, …

Butyrylcholinesterase (Bche) Downregulation In Taxane Resistance: Implications For Prostate Cancer, Buse Cevatemre, Arda Işiklar, İpek Bulut, Ezgi̇ Karyemez, Hamzah Syed, Ceyda Açilan

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Despite advancements in chemotherapeutic strategies, drug resistance remains a major barrier to effective cancer treatment. While primary prostate cancers (PC) can be treated with surgery and radiotherapy, treatment options for recurrent PC are limited. Upon progression to the castration-resistant (CR) phase, therapies rely on taxanes (chemotherapeutic drugs) like docetaxel (Dtx) and cabazitaxel (Cbz); however, resistance to taxanes is common in CRPC, highlighting the importance of identifying underlying molecular mechanisms or targets in resistant cells.Materials and methods: In transcriptome (RNA sequencing) analyses comparing taxane-resistant PC cells (resistant to both Dtx and Cbz) with parental (nonresistant, sensitive) cells, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was …

Proteomic Profiling Of Escherichia Coli Cytoplasmic Proteins Under Sublethal Boric Acid Stress, Beki̇r Çöl, Begüm Hazar Çi̇ftçi̇, Merve Sezer Kürkçü, Esra Di̇bek

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Boron is an essential micronutrient for plants and certain bacteria, where it plays critical roles in cellular processes at low concentrations. However, elevated levels of boron-containing compounds, such as boric acid, exhibit antimicrobial toxicity. Although the physiological effects of boric acid on bacteria have been partially characterized, its proteome-wide impacts remain poorly elucidated. This study employs a 2D-PAGE-based proteomic approach to investigate how sublethal boric acid stress alters the cytoplasmic proteome of Escherichia coli BW25113. Materials and methods: E. coli BW25113 cultures were grown to mid-log phase in tryptic soy broth (TSB) and exposed to 70 mM boric acid …

Screening Of Ccdc43 Molecular Partners By Bioid2-Based Proximity Labeling, Merve Tuzlakoğlu Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: CCDC43 (coiled-coil domain containing protein 43) is a eukaryotic protein that contains alpha-helical domains in its structure, consistent with the family to which it belongs. It is predominantly located in the cytosol of the cell. CCDC43 protein has been shown to play a role in cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in gastric and colorectal cancer types. The fundamental function and cellular interaction network of this protein, which is known to have varying expression levels in various cancer types, has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we conducted a proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID2) screening approach for CCDC43 to …

Insights Into Therapeutic Discovery Through The Kelch Domain Structure Of Keap1 At Ambient Temperature, Merve Yilmaz, Belgi̇n Sever, Yi̇ği̇t Kutlu, Mehmet Gül, Ceren Okuducu, Serra Tavli, Masami Otsuka, Mikako Fujita, Turkan Hali̇loğlu, Hali̇li̇brahi̇m Çi̇ftçi̇, Hasan Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The Kelch-like-ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) is an integral component of the E3-ubiquitin ligase complex, which binds to Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and facilitates its degradation by the 26S proteasome. The Kelch domain of Keap1, composed of six repeated structural motifs, plays a key role in this interaction. This study aims to investigate the dimeric structure of the Keap1 Kelch domain at ambient temperature and to examine its implications for conformational dynamics, particularly in relation to the DMF and Nrf2 binding sites.Materials and methods: The dimeric crystal structure of the Keap1 Kelch domain was determined at …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Fda-Approved Drugs As Potential Covalent Inhibitors Of Key Sars-Cov-2 Proteins: An In Silico Approach, Murat Seri̇lmez, Anwar Abuelrub, İsmai̇l Erol, Serdar Durdaği

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 necessitated rapid development of effective therapeutics, prompting this study to identify potential inhibitors targeting key viral and host proteins: RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), main protease (Mpro), transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Methods: We used covalent docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to screen FDA-approved compounds against these targets using diverse covalent reaction mechanisms. Top-ranking compounds underwent further evaluation through MD simulations to assess binding stability and conformational dynamics. Results: Several promising drug repurposing candidates were identified: bremelanotide, lanreotide, histrelin, and leuprolide as potential RdRp inhibitors; azlocillin, cefiderocol, and …