Digital Commons Network^™

Modi‘In, Nofim Neighborhood: Animal Bones, Nimrod Marom

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

This report describes a very small collection of animal bones from a karstic cave and an unfinished cistern excavated in Nofim Neighborhood in Modi‘in. It appears to comprise domesticated animals in secondary or tertiary deposition. Many of the bones represent donkeys and dogs, and therefore cannot be considered food refuse.

“To Prepare The Mind For Wonder”: Popular Science And Mass Media In The 1920s, Alexander Olson

Journal of 20th Century Media History

This article examines the creation and development of the Science Service, a 1920s initiative aimed at popularizing science through mass media. Founded by biologist William Ritter and newspaper magnate Edward Scripps, the wire service sought to disseminate accurate scientific information to the American public via newspapers, radio, and other popular media. While Scripps favored a commercially viable, accessible style that used entertainment to hook readers, Ritter envisioned science journalism as a tool for democratic education and intellectual empowerment. These conflicting philosophies created lasting tensions within the organization around how to address challenges such as sensationalism, editorial independence, and public skepticism. …

Tickborne Colpodella Species Infections: Time For A New Integrated Approach To Understand Transmission And Pathogenicity, T. Y. Sam-Yellowe, Trinity Nims, Sona Qaderi, Mary M. Asraf

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Colpodella species are free-living predatory protists that prey on algae, ciliates and bodonids using myzocytosis. Colpodella species have been reported in human and animal infections. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting 18S rRNA genes of Cryptosporidium and piroplasms have identified Colpodella species in arthropods, host blood and feces, demonstrating the phylogenetic closeness of Colpodella species to the apicomplexa. However, in human, animal and arthropod hosts, the life cycle stages of Colpodella are unknown. In this literature review, we provide an overview of the widespread occurrence of Colpodella species in ticks, and pathogenicity in humans and animals. We discuss methods …

Oberlin College Commencement 2025, Oberlin College

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Intouch Week Of May 26, 2025, New York Medical College

InTouch

• SOM Faculty Recognized for Excellence with Dean’s Faculty Awards
• NYMC Gathers Experts for In-Depth Look at Vector-Borne Diseases Impacting New York
• TU Research Day 2025 Explores “Plasticity in Research: AI and Beyond”
• SHSP Formal 2025 was a Night to Remember
• Student Spotlight: Nicole DeSouza to Deliver Student Address at the 166th NYMC GSBMS Commencement
• Alumni Spotlight: Akshay Syal, M.D. ’21, Bridges Medicine and the Media

An Exploration Of The Impact Of Educational Background On Basic Science And Life Sciences Librarians, Laura Lipke, Margaret Hoogland, Jeremy Kupsco, Stephanie Schulte

Library Scholarship

This study sought to investigate the influence of a science educational background on librarian interactions with basic and life sciences programs. Through semi-structured interviews with 14 librarians, the study identified several key themes: understanding and enjoying science is beneficial; previous experience influences librarians’ approaches; relationships are important; defining success is challenging; and collaborating with other campus units is unusual. Results suggest a science undergraduate or graduate degree and previous science-related work experience enhance librarians’ comfort and communication with scientists and highlight a lack of professional continuing education related to researcher workflows.

Sustainable Management Of Copper-Contaminated Soils Using Vetiver Root Biochar, Sameer Neve, Dibyendu Sarkar, Zhiming Zhang, Rupali Datta

Michigan Tech Publications

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, copper mining was a predominant industry in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, resulting in substantial environmental issues due to the generation of mining waste. This waste, referred to as stamp sands, was disposed of in Lake Superior, causing severe harm to aquatic ecosystems. Later, the stamp sands were dredged and deposited along the lake shores, causing large-scale contamination with copper. This rendered the land incapable of supporting vegetation. This study investigates the efficacy of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) root biochar as a soil amendment to enhance the quality of copper-contaminated stamp sands. The biochar was produced …

Teachers’ Use Of Generative Artificial Intelligence For Designing Science Lessons In Support Of Environmental Science Agency, Won Jung Kim

Teacher Education

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) holds promise as a tool to assist teachers in addressing specific instructional design and implementation tasks. This study explores how teachers in a master’s-level elementary science methods course used Large Language Model AI, as one type of GenAI, to design lessons fostering students’ environmental science agency (ESA). The course introduced ESA as one of pedagogical constructs that emphasize the importance of science learning relevant and consequential to students’ lives, and encouraged teachers to use GenAI for their ESA-focused lesson design projects. Data sources included surveys, lesson design documents, GenAI chat logs, and field notes. Findings, derived …

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Elso Registry Analysis, Maria Pereira, Danielle Guffey, Katherine Doane, Eyal Muscal, Carla Levin, Peter Rycus, Marc Anders, Andrea Ontaneda

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The success of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and the risk factors associated with mortality remain uncertain. Methods: We describe the survival outcomes at discharge of the largest SLE cohort on ECMO support. We performed a retrospective cohort study of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry database from 2012 to 2022. Pediatric and adult survivor groups were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the primary study outcome of survival to hospital discharge. Risk predictors for survival were determined by logistic regression.Results: We included 48 children and 368 adults with SLE. Overall, 198 patients (54%) survived …

Hand Hygiene Roles, Challenges, And Intervention Feedback From School Staff: A Qualitative Analysis, Belize, 2022-2023, Anh N Ly, Christina Craig, Dian Maheia, Yolanda Gongora, Vickie Romero, Rosalva Blanco, Allison Lino, Kelsey Mcdavid, Allison Stewart, Victoria Trinies, Alexandra Medley, Francis Morey, Russell Manzanero, Matthew Lozier, Kristy O Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hand hygiene (HH) in school settings can reduce the spread of infectious diseases and student absenteeism due to illness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended HH as a public health measure to prevent disease transmission. Understanding school staff's experiences with school-based programs is important for future program development and improvement. As part of a mixed-methods study, we conducted in-depth interviews in March 2022 with school administrators and teachers at 12 primary schools in Belize, selected based on high gaps in HH resources, to understand HH responsibilities, supplies, and challenges. An intervention was implemented to increase HH knowledge …

Modeling Rice Leaf Area Index And Canopy Height In The Us Mid-South Region, Ellie J. Kuhn, Beatriz Moreno-Garcia, Michele Reba, Kusum Naithani, Benjamin R. Runkle

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Crop growth modeling plays a critical role in addressing the global challenges of food scarcity, carbon cycling, and water management. By simulating crop development from environmental factors, these models help predict harvest yield and carbon or water cycle terms and thus can inform policy and investment decisions. However, for some agricultural regions, such as the US Mid-South, there is a lack of comprehensive data specific to rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars and their growing conditions. Here, we use 30 field seasons of observational data to predict leaf area index (LAI) and canopy height (Hcan), key inputs for crop growth models, for …

Unpacking Violence: Examining Socioeconomic, Psychological, And Genetic Drivers Of Gun-Related Homicide And Potential Solutions, John Menezes, Kavita Batra

Department of Plastic Surgery Faculty Research

Background: Gun-related homicide remains a persistent public health crisis in the United States, with over 48,000 firearm-related deaths reported in 2022, including 19,651 homicides and 27,032 suicides. Despite frequent calls for tighter gun control, firearm access alone does not explain the complexity of violence. Objective: This commentary aims to unpack the socioeconomic, psychological, and biological drivers of gun-related homicide and propose integrative, evidence-based solutions that extend beyond legislative reform. Methods: We synthesized data from peer-reviewed literature, national crime and health databases (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Federal Bureau of Investigation), and international reports. We examined patterns related …

Molecular Biomarkers Of Glioma, Punsasi Rajakaruna, Stella A. Rios, Hana Elnahas, Ashley Villanueva, David Uribe, Sophia Leslie, Walaa A. Abbas, Larissa Barroso, Stephanie Oyervides, Michael W. Persans, Wendy Innis-Whitehouse, Megan E. Keniry

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this review, we discuss how mutations in glioma are associated with prognosis and treatment efficacy. A fascinating characteristic of glioma and all cancers is that while common growth and developmental pathways are altered, the characteristic mutations are distinct depending on the specific type of tumor with concomitant prognoses. Next-generation sequencing, precision medicine, and artificial intelligence are boosting the employment of molecular biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the biological underpinnings of distinct mutations on critical signaling pathways is crucial for developing novel therapies for glioma.

The Impact Of Specific Foster Care Placement Factors On Attachment-Related Anxiety And Avoidance In The Adult Intimate Relationships Of Foster Care Alumni, Latasha Macklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children who have a history of maltreatment, like those placed in foster care, are at a significantly higher risk for developing an insecure attachment style, which may be correlated with various problems in adulthood, including adverse relationship outcomes, poor job satisfaction, low self-esteem, mood, and personality disorders. Prior research suggests a correlation between the attachment style of a foster child and specific foster care factors, including the type of placement, reason for placement, number of placements, age of the child at placement, and gender of the child. However, no research exists to examine how these factors might significantly impact the …

Perspectives On Compassion Fatigue And Self-Regulation Among Social Workers In Patient Care During Covid-19, Roberta Johnson Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, social workers in patient care have faced significant emotional and psychological challenges, including compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. This study explores the perceptions of social workers working in patient care during the pandemic, specifically examining how compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma contribute to burnout. By focusing on their experiences, the research emphasizes the vulnerabilities social workers encounter as they support populations during these challenging times. The study is grounded in job demands-resources theory to help explain how the demands of social work roles impact mental health and well-being. To gather in-depth data, …

A Quantum Reservoir Computing Approach To Computer-Aided Music Composition, Eduardo Miranda, Hari Shaji

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This paper presents an approach to developing computer-aided music composition (CAMC) systems with quantum computing. CAMC systems are aimed at supporting musicians in creating music rather than generating complete pieces of music autonomously. For instance, they may generate ideas or prompts to be further developed during the creative process. We developed a CAMC system using a machine learning method called Quantum Reservoir Computing (QRC) that learns to create tunes in the style of given examples. The system proved to run satisfactorily on the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) machines available today. It does not require large amounts of qubits to outperform …

Wildlife Road Mortalities During Covid-19 Pandemic-Related Lockdown In South Texas: A Comparative Survey, Bradley Evan Beer, Kevin W. Ryer, Md Saydur Rahman, John H. Young Jr., Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Mortalities of wildlife caused by collisions with vehicles along roads are increasing in prevalence, threatening the existence of various species and populations. The COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how wildlife vehicle mortality occurrences change in response to anthropogenic variables and how varying survey methods influence obtaining mortality data. In this study, data were collected in three observation periods: pre-lockdown (PreL), during lockdown (DL), and post-lockdown (PostL) in south Texas. There were 194 wildlife mortalities recorded during weeks 4–27 of 2020. Results of this study showed that road mortality survey counts did not change …

Portal Vein Obstruction In Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients: An Evaluation Of Self-Reported Management Practices., Lydia Sieben, Bader A. Alfares, Ruben H. De Kleine, Barbara E. Wildhaber, Thomas Casswall, Greg Nowak, Martin Delle, Denise Aldrian, Valeria Berchtold, Georg F. Vogel, Piotr Kaliciński, Malgorzata Markiewicz-Kijewska, Adam Kolesnik, Jesús Quintero, María Mercadal Hally, Mauricio Larrarte King, Paolo Marra, Michela Bravi, Domenico Pinelli, Mureo Kasahara, Seisuke Sakamoto, Hajime Uchida, Vidyadhar Mali, Marion Aw, Stéphanie Franchi-Abella, Emmanuel Gonzales, Florent Guérin, Guillermo Cervio, Julia Minetto, Sergio Sierre, Martín De Santibañes, Victoria Ardiles, Jimmy Walker Uño, Helen Evans, David Duncan, John Mccall, Steffen Hartleif, Ekkehard Sturm, Jai V. Patel, Marumbo Mtegha, Raj Prasad, Cristina T. Ferreira, Luiza S. Nader, Marco Farina, Catalina Jaramillo, Manuel I. Rodriguez-Davalos, Peter Feola, Amit A. Shah, Phoebe M. Wood, Michael R. Acord, Ryan T. Fischer, Bhargava Mullapudi, Richard J. Hendrickson, Rajeev Khanna, Viniyendra Pamecha, Amar Mukund, Khalid Sharif, Girish Gupte, Simon Mcguirk, Gilda Porta, Winita Hardikar, Marco Spada, Tommaso Alterio, Giuseppe Maggiore, Marisa Beretta, Rudi A J Dierckx, Reinoud P H Bokkers, Hubert P J Van Der Doef, Portal Registry Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Portal vein obstruction (PVO) is a known complication after pediatric liver transplantation (pLT). Effective management strategies are crucial in improving patient outcomes. This study investigated the various practice patterns related to PVO management to clarify the degree of consensus on the diverse facets of care involved in addressing PVO after pLT.

METHODS: A self-reported evaluation was conducted using a scanned, paper-based survey among specialized pLT centers participating in the Portal vein Obstruction Revascularization Therapy After Liver transplantation (PORTAL) registry. The survey consisted of 30 questions covering the current practices regarding PVO, including experience, team composition, follow-up and …

Revisiting Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage In The Context Of Enrich: Illustrative Cases, Erik Werheim, Brendan Mcshane, Zachary Sokol, Theodore Hannah, Robert Ziechmann, Phillip Villaneuva

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (tICH) is a common form of intracranial hemorrhage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The role of surgical intervention in tICH remains a subject of discussion. Recent trials, such as Early Minimally Invasive Removal of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ENRICH), have shown the efficacy of minimally invasive clot evacuation for non-tICH for hemorrhages with volumes of 30-80 mL. The generalizability of ENRICH to tICH remains unclear; however, it demonstrates the need for rigorous studies evaluating the efficacy of surgical intervention in tICH versus medical management.

OBSERVATIONS: Here the authors present 2 cases of tICH, both in the dominant temporal …

Scaling Up Eco-Engineering: The Role Of Topographic Complexity And Spatial Variability In Shaping Biodiversity On Coastal Structures, Charlotte Clubley, Antony Knights, Jessica Allen, David T Bilton, Andy Foggo, Mick Hanley, James Murphy, Louisa E Wood, Louise Firth

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

In response to the depauperate biodiversity often associated with the largely homogenous surfaces of artificial structures, ecological (eco-) engineering has emerged as a tool to introduce topographic complexity to coastal development. Although relatively small-scale studies using topographically complex panels and artificial rockpools are commonplace, determining how the configuration of these interventions works over greater and more realistic spatial scales has received comparatively little attention. Given the importance of spatial variability in habitat complexity for shaping community composition and, therefore, regional diversity, filling this knowledge gap is key to enhancing the ‘design catalogue’ for future eco-engineering installations. Here, we manipulated topographic …

Regulation Of Kynureninase By Estrogen Stimulation In Estrogen-Receptor Positive Breast Cancer, Alexis Berger

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of death in women worldwide, with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subtypes comprising over 70% of cases. Endocrine therapies, such as tamoxifen, are the primary treatment for ER-positive breast cancer; however, resistance inevitably develops, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Growing evidence suggests that the kynurenine pathway plays a significant role in breast cancer progression and metastasis. The kynurenine pathway metabolizes 95% of the amino acid tryptophan, generating metabolites such as kynurenine, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and ultimately Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD). To better understand the impact of estrogen signaling on the kynurenine pathway, kynureninase …

Building Bridges: Queer Rights In And Out Of The Courts, Kaz Lane

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

It is unclear whether the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from differentiating between people based solely on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This note_comment analyzes the Supreme Court’s tiers of scrutiny—rational basis review, intermediate scrutiny, and strict scrutiny—to argue that a new suspect class is warranted for sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), triggering strict scrutiny for SOGI classifications. This analysis shows that a united SOGI class meets all of the characteristics associated with suspect classes, including a history of anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination and the irrelevance between SOGI and one’s ability to contribute to society. This …

Distinct Brain Age Gradients Across The Adult Lifespan Reflect Diverse Neurobiological Hierarchies, Nicholas Riccardi, Alex Teghipco, Sarah Newman-Norlund B.S., M.A., Roger Newman-Norlund Ph.D., Ida Rangus, Chris Rorden, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D., Leonardo Bonilha

Faculty Publications

‘Brain age’ is a biological clock typically used to describe brain health with one number, but its relationship with established gradients of cortical organization remains unclear. We address this gap by leveraging a data-driven, region-specific brain age approach in 335 neurologically intact adults, using a convolutional neural network (volBrain) to estimate regional brain ages directly from structural MRI without a predefined set of morphometric properties. Six distinct gradients of brain aging are replicated in two independent cohorts. Spatial patterns of accelerated brain aging in older adults quantitatively align with the archetypal sensorimotor-to-association axis of cortical organization. Other brain aging gradients …

Mpox 2022 To 2025 Update: A Comprehensive Review On Its Complications, Transmission, Diagnosis, And Treatment, Rajesh Yadav, Anis Ahmad Chaudhary, Ujjwal Srivastava, Saurabh Gupta, Sarvesh Rustagi, Hassan Ahmed Rudayni, Vivek Kashyap, Sanjay Kumar

School of Medicine Publications

Monkeypox virus (Mpox virus) is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus that has gained increased global attention due to recent outbreaks. The current review reports the latest update of Mpox cases from 25 February 2022 to 29 April 2025. It also evaluates the possible major complications in human life caused by Mpox. In early 2022, more than 40 countries reported Mpox outbreaks. As of 12 June 2024, the global case count for the 2022–2023 Mpox outbreak was 97,281 confirmed cases, in 118 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox virus, a zoonotic disease, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) …

Ammonia Regulation In Aedes Taeniorhynchus, A Salt-Water Mosquito, Joseph Edmonds

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The salt tolerant mosquito species Aedes taeniorhynchus has been observed in high salinity and ammonia conditions. Previous studies indicate Na+/K+ ATPase (NKA), the proton pump vacuolar-type H+ ATPase (VHA) and sodium-dependent cation-chloride cotransporters (NKCC’s) in sodium secretion in larval Aedes taeniorhynchus. However ammonia transporter such as Rh-protein, Amt1, and Amt2 have only been characterized in Aedes taeniorhynchus’s fresh water relative Aedes aegypti. Our research exhibits the expression of these transporters in A.taeniorhynchus using immunohistochemistry techniques. Evidence of VHA and NKA function in ammonia transport was characterized in vivo using drug antagonists in varying saline and ammonia concentrations. Ammonia flux rates …

Ams-Hd: Acute Mountain Sickness Detection With Hyperdimensional Computing, M. Hassan Najafi, Mehran Shoushtari Moghadam

Faculty Scholarship

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects many individuals traveling to high altitudes. Early diagnosis is crucial, especially for travelers who may not have immediate access to medical resources. While traditional machine learning (ML) methods have been used to detect AMS using biomedical data (e.g., heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, blood pressure, and body temperature), hyperdimensional computing (HDC) has yet to be explored for this purpose using the few of biomedical data. Previous classification methods fall short of balancing accuracy with low hardware complexity, but HDC offers a promising solution. HDC provides a hardware-efficient …

Color Tests For The Presumptive Identification Of A Range Of Benzodiazepines, Regan Mulvin

Honors Projects

Color tests are presumptive chemical tests that determine the class of drug in both laboratory and field settings. Despite the rising popularity of benzodiazepines and the usefulness of color tests, there is no widely accepted color test for identifying them. This study tested six different color tests against five benzodiazepines, including diazepam, clonazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam, and flualprazolam, to identify which of the tests would work most generally across all benzodiazepines. Of the six tests, the McKibben test, the Janovsky test, and the Zimmerman test all showed potential usefulness as a presumptive color test. More studies should be done on a …

Volume 123, Number 2 - Sunday, May 25th, 2025, Saint Mary's College Of California

The Collegian

No abstract provided.

Course Portfolio: Csce 478/878 Introduction To Machine Learning, Hongzhi Guo

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio was developed for CSCE 478/878: Introduction to Machine Learning, offered by the School of Computing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, as part of the Faculty-led Inquiry into Reflective and Scholarly Teaching (FIRST) project. The course provides an introduction to foundational machine learning concepts, models, and programming tools. It enrolls both undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, biological systems engineering, chemical engineering, business-related fields, etc. Offered in Spring 2025, the course was peer-reviewed to support continuous improvement in teaching. The primary goals of this portfolio are …

Cone Beam Ct Dose Optimisation: A Review And Expert Consensus By The 2022 Estro Physics Workshop Igrt Working Group, Lydia J. Wilson, Andria Hadjipanteli, Daniella E. Østergaard, Evelien Bogaert, Kirstie F. Brown, Rianne Dejong, James Earley, Magali Edouard, Marina Khan, Josh Lindsay, Jessica Van Der Himst, George X. Ding, Tim Wood, Marianne C. Aznar, Nuria Jornet, Georgios Ntentas

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) using kilovoltage cone-beam CT (CBCT) has become an indispensable tool to ensure the geometric accuracy of radiotherapy treatment delivery. Although significant technical advances have been made in reducing imaging dose, the repeated imaging procedures can still accumulate significant dose to healthy tissues. Despite the widespread use, we still lack clear guidance for optimisation and widely accepted frameworks for evaluating the quality and suitability of CBCT imaging protocols. To address this gap, the 2022 European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) Physics Workshop focused on image-quality and imaging-dose optimisation for IGRT using CBCT. This publication represents a …