Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Opportunities And Limitations Of Social Enterprises In Addressing Period Poverty In Rural India, Abigael Hartlieb

Senior Theses

Social enterprises play a significant role in advancing social justice and global health by employing innovative strategies to address health disparities within underserved communities. Period poverty, defined as the lack of access to feminine hygiene products, represents a global health challenge. Social enterprises have emerged as a tool to combat this issue in several countries, including India, but face barriers in widespread implementation in rural areas. This study evaluates the opportunities and limitations social enterprises have in combating period poverty in rural India with a focus on Goonj, a New-Delhi based social enterprise dedicated to bridging the gaps of resources …

Endophenotype-Informed Association Analyses For Liver Fat Accumulation And Metabolic Dysfunction In The Fels Longitudinal Study, Ariana L. Garza, John Blangero, Miryoung Lee, Cici X. Bauer, Stefan A. Czerwinski, Audrey Choh

School of Medicine Publications

The identification of causal genomic regions for liver fat accumulation in the context of metabolic dysfunction remains a challenging goal. This study aimed to identify potential endophenotypes for liver fat content and employ them in bivariate linkage searches for pleiotropic genetic regions where targeted association analysis is more likely to reveal significant variants. Multiple metabolic risk and adiposity distribution traits were assessed using the endophenotype ranking value. The top-ranked endophenotypes were then used in a bivariate linkage analysis, paired with liver fat content. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) identified as significant or suggestive were targeted for measured genotype association analyses. The …

2025 Ursinus College Commencement Progam, Ursinus College

Ursinus College Commencement Programs

This Ursinus College Commencement program from 2025 contains the list of speakers, honors, awards and order of events for the day.

Prevention Of Post-Mastectomy Seroma In Breast Cancer Patients: A Comparative Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Fibrin Glue Versus Quilting, Ibrahim A. Umar, Bello M. Bashir

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fibrin glue versus quilting in preventing post-mastectomy seroma formation in breast cancer patients. Methods: This study was a prospective, randomised interventional trial conducted between July 2021 and June 2022 at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. It involving patients with breast cancer undergoing modified radical mastectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to Group A (fibrin glue) or Group B (quilting). The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05, corresponding to a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 42 patients were recruited for the study. The total volume of drainage for Group A was …

Spring Commencement: May 17, 2025, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Commencement program from May 17, 2025.

Women In The Traditional Gender System Through Sexualized And Inappropriate Performances In The Modern Advertisements, Ruoning Xia

Communication ETDs

This study examined the body and gender identity performances and narratives of women in different Chinese advertisements, and deconstructed the motivation and representation of humiliation, sexual harassment, and gender offside toward women in public spaces. The study takes feminism, patriarchal capitalism, and rhetorical criticism to analyze the situation of Chinese women’s identity and gender in the traditional gender system, as well as the status of women’s situations with patriarchy and capitalism discourses. Through the analysis of the advertisements, the study criticized the gender (mis)representation of women’s gender identity and bodies among women's identities, bodies, and patriarchy, and deconstructs the gender …

Asymmetric, Carboxy And Ester Functionalized Fluorophthalocyanines: Synthesis, Adsorption, And Reactivity, Sean J. Scally

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Strong electron-deficient compounds, fluorinated metal phthalocyanines (F_xPcM), exhibit enhanced photosensitizing properties, making them optimal candidates for photocatalytic studies. Perfluoroalkyl-substituted phthalocyanines are notably thermally robust materials that are chemically inert and resistant to electrophilic, nucleophilic, and radical, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) attacks. These properties can be attributed to their ‘Teflon-like’ inert organic shield that surrounds a reactive metal center, as well as their complete (x = 16, 40, 64), or almost complete (x = 48) lack of C-H bonds. Third-generation, functionalized, asymmetric phthalocyanines are of interest due to their ability to bind to oxidic supports via a carboxyl …

A Computational Method For Detecting Compound Promiscuity In Early-Stage Pharmaceutical Discovery, John Allen Ringer

Computer Science ETDs

Modern drug discovery and chemical biology research relies heavily on analyzing bioassay data. One of the many challenges in bioassay data analysis is identifying false trails, i.e., chemical compounds which initially appear to have desirable activity but are found to be problematic upon further investigation. Badapple (the BioAssay-Data Associative Promiscuity Pattern Learning Engine) was created over ten years ago to help researchers identify promiscuous compounds and thus avoid a common source of these false trails. Through an effort involving software engineering, cheminformatics, and biomedical data science we have developed Badapple 2.0, which incorporates updated assay records and expanded data semantics. …

A Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Immunosensor For Cortisol Detection, Pritu Sarkar, Ali Ashraf, Ahmed Hasnain Jalal, Fahmida Alam, Nazmul Islam

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

In this research, an interdigitated gear-shaped working electrode is presented for cortisol sensing. Overall, the sensor was designed in a three-electrode system and was fabricated using direct laser scribing. A synthesized conductive ink based on graphene and polyaniline was further employed to enhance the electrochemical performance of the sensor. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were employed for physicochemical characterization of the laser-induced graphene (LIG) sensor. Cortisol, a biomarker essential in detecting stress, was detected both in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH = 7.4) and human serum within a linear range of 100 ng/mL to 100 µg/mL. …

Functional Analysis Of Pathogenic Variants In Lamb1-Related Leukoencephalopathy Reveals Genotype-Phenotype Correlations And Suggests Its Role In Glial Cells, Rei Yasuda, Hirokazu Hashimoto, Mikiko Oka, Jung-Wan Mok, Marium Waqar, Brigitte Dauwalder, Oguz Kanca, Toshiki Mizuno, Shinya Yamamoto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Laminin B1 (LAMB1) is one of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that make up the basement membrane. Early frameshift, late frameshift, and missense variants in LAMB1 have been reported to cause rare monogenic neurological disorders that are collectively known as LAMB1-related leukoencephalopathy. Although there is some genotype-phenotype correlation, functional consequences of pathogenic LAMB1 variants are largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to elucidate function of the fly ortholog of this gene (LanB1) in the nervous system and to further study the functional consequences of the LAMB1 variants using Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the LanB1 gene is expressed on …

E-Cigarette Or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: A Comprehensive Review, Mohammad Asim Amjad, Daniel Ocazionez Trujillo, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Sujith V Cherian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

E-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a critical and potentially fatal form of lung injury that gained considerable public health concern in 2019. The use of e-cigarettes and vaping products is causally associated with EVALI, a condition characterized by a constellation of respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. This comprehensive narrative literature review explores the complexities of EVALI, including its association with the structure and composition of e-cigarettes and its epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical and radiological manifestations, management strategies, and public health implications. Moreover, it uncovers the long-term repercussions of EVALI and underscores …

Prevalence, Factors And Impact Of Migraine On Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study In The United Arab Emirates, Syyeda Maleha Jeelani, Shatha Al Sharbatti

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of migraines among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), identify associated factors and evaluate their impact on quality of life (QoL) and work performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2022 and included nurses and doctors across 4 healthcare settings in the UAE. Migraine prevalence was assessed using the Migraine Screen Questionnaire, while its impact on social support and work function was evaluated through the Migraine Disability Assessment, the Oslo Social Support Scale and the Headache Impact Test. Data were analysed using Chi-square tests, binary …

Evidence-Based Human Clinical Trials On Antidiabetic Herbal 6 Remedies Commonly Used In The Middle East, Shihab Al-Makhmari, Abir Al-Aufi, Saleh Al-Kindi, Maha Al Riyami, Hussein Sakr, Mohamed-Rachid Boulassel, Khalid M Abu Khadra, Rahma Al-Haddabi, Ammar Boudaka, Jumana Saleh

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic disorder with significant health and economic impacts. This review examined Middle Eastern herbs as alternative T2DM treatments in human randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted for human randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses on black seed (Nigella sativa), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and curcumin (Curcuma longa), with at least 6 human studies per herb. The results revealed that N. sativa and fenugreek improved glycaemic control and lipid profiles, while ginger regulated carbohydrate …

Neoadjuvant With Low-Dose Radiotherapy, Tislelizumab, Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel, And Cisplatin For Resectable Locally Advanced Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Phase Ii Single-Arm Trial, Zhigang Liu, Dong Wang, Guanjun Li, Muhua Yi, Zhaoyuan Zhang, Guihua Zhong, Liangfu Xu, Rong Jiang, Yannan Zheng, Linxuan Huang, Yingpeng Peng, Lizhong Liang, Jianpeng Li, Ye Liu, Jun Lai, Xianjuan Lv, Yongqiang Xu, Qiaodan Liu, Zhiqiang Wang, Zhutian Liu, Qinan Yang, Li Nie, Jiao Lei, Xiaotao Huang, Zhijie Liu, Wen Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although pathological complete response (pCR) and major pathological response (MPR) rates of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) trials remain suboptimal, emerging evidence highlights the synergistic potential of combining low-dose radiotherapy with immunotherapy to promote the efficacy of immunotherapy. This phase II, open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial (NCT05343325) enrolled 28 patients with untreated stage III-IVB HNSCC (NeoRTPC02). Patients received neoadjuvant low-dose radiotherapy, the programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor tislelizumab, albumin-bound paclitaxel, and cisplatin for two cycles, followed by radical resection ~4 weeks after treatment completion. The primary endpoint, pCR rate, was achieved in 14 of …

Power Dynamics In Arctic Community And Citizen Science: Perspectives From Youth, Educators, And Scientists, Clement Sarah

Arctic and Northern Studies

Arctic research is shifting from a culture of scientist-driven inquiry and extractive relationships with Indigenous communities to a culture more conscious of local priorities and reciprocal research relationships. Today, Arctic research has dual goals of studying circumpolar issues through large-scale research and collaborating with local individuals and communities. The emergence of methods like community and citizen science (CCS), in which non-scientists participate in research, has risen in popularity to meet these priorities. The broad aims of CCS are to advance scientific understanding; aid decision-making; and support individual outcomes. I address the third aim by investigating three growing, yet understudied, groups …

Synthesis Of Some New Substituted Pyridilimides From 2-Carboxy Nicotinic Acid By Reaction With Amines, And Evaluation Of Their Antibacterial Activity, Anwar Abdulghani Fathi, Yassir Shakeeb Al Jawaheri, Shaimaa Samir Ismaeel

Baghdad Science Journal

In this paper, we synthesized some new substituted pyridilimides in three different ways. Firstly, by the reaction of 2-carboxy nicotinic acid with some amino acids to form 2-substituted (5,7-dioxo-5,7-dihydro-6H-pyrrolo [3,4-b] pyridine-6-yl) acetic acid (1–2). In the next step, the resultant compounds were treated with phenylene diamine to form substituted 6-((1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) methyl)-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b] pyridine-5,7(6H)-dione (3-4). Secondly, 2-carboxy nicotinic acid, which was converted to anhydride (5), reacted with acetic anhydride and acetic acid. In the next step, two moles of (5) were used to react with some aliphatic or aromatic diamine to give substituted bis 5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b] pyridine-5,7(6H)-dione (6–11). Finally, (5) was …

Evaluation Of Dpp4, Tnf, And Lipid Profile Levels As Early Indicators In Infertility Among Iraqi Women, Kadhim K. Ghudhaib, Fayhaa M. Khaleel, Farah E. Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

Infertility is one of the problems facing women and men. Obesity, lipid level disorders, and insulin resistance are among the risk factors that cause infertility, in addition to other relevant factors. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of obesity and lipids imbalance, together with studying the relationship for each dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) and tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) infertile women compared to healthy women, to determine the possibility that they are being diagnostic and indicative factors of the disease. The study included 50 participants, age range (15–34) years, who attended Kamal Al-Samarai Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. …

God And Psychology: How The Early Development Of Famous Psychologists Influenced Their Work, Chris Dinwiddie

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Walking In Promise, Living In Reality: Exploring The Mental Health Implications Of The Pentecostal Discourse Of Divine Calling, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Pentecostalism places a strong emphasis on the discourse of divine calling, where individuals believe they are purposefully created, guided, and empowered by God to fulfill a specific mission. This sense of calling profoundly shapes Pentecostals’ sense of identity and purpose. Using Grounded Theory, this study analyzes open, in-depth interviews with Pentecostals in the U.S. to explore the impact of the Pentecostal discourse of divine calling on their mental health. The metaphor of ‘walking in’ one’s calling emerges as the central theme used by participants to explain the interaction between their perception of divine calling, their lived realities, and their mental …

I Am My Body: Post-Traumatic Embodying And The Unexpected Disinterring Of Childhood Spiritual Neglect, Cathy Rowan

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

This autoethnographic paper investigates how an embodying approach (Focusing) unexpectedly impacts the author’s spiritual formation in the undoing of childhood relational trauma, which had resulted in a dissociative embodiment reaction. This enlivening and deepening spiritual formation process is described by means of a five-step metaphor, moving from “no-body” (dissociative disembodiment) to “I am my body” (the experience of the bodily indwelling) as her spiritual formation evolves from just intellectual belief to an embodying, experiential Christian spirituality. This life-long process is viewed through various lenses, including children’s spirituality research, trauma theology, faith development models, the writings of Thomas Merton and the …

Full Issue Salubritas, Editors Salubritas

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Exploring Anticoagulation Trends As Early Infection Markers In Pediatric Ecmo And Crrt Patients, Samantha Davidson, Jay Rilinger, Jenna Miller, Caroline Holton, Joshua Herigon, Brian Lee

Research Days

This retrospective cohort study at a tertiary pediatric hospital included ICU patients who developed infections after 72 hours on extracorporeal support from 2017-2023. We assessed whether the number of anticoagulation dose changes are linked to acquired infections.

Diagnostic And Clinical Utility Of Oncoscan Microarray And Ngs-Based Sequencing In Pediatric Solid Tumors: Children’S Mercy Hospital’S Experience, Aravindh Nagarajan, Lisa Lansdon, Midhat Farooqi, Lei Zhang, Elena Repnikova

Research Days

This papers attempts to evaluate the diagnostic and clinical utility of microarray-based OS+ in detecting clinically relevant genetic alterations in FFPE solid tumor samples and to compare the yield of somatic mutation detection by WGS/WES in pediatric solid tumors at Children’s Mercy Hospital - Kansas City.

Variability In Methotrexate Metabolites In A Cohort Of Jia Patients, Nuria Lara Castillo, Mara Becker, Marc Sudman, Susan Thompson, Laura Ramsey

Research Days

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is the cornerstone disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug for the treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). While most patients receiving MTX have a favorable outcome, approximately 30% do not respond, and several experience toxic events, suggesting interindividual difference. Furthermore, evaluation of MTX response takes several months, with the risk of missing the early “window of opportunity” for treatment. Predicting MTX response prior to administration would greatly benefit these patients and their treating physicians by saving valuable time during the early stages of the disease onset. MTX is a folate antagonist and, similar to folate, it undergoes polyglutamation inside the …

Phyllopalpus Pulchellus Uhler, The Handsome Trig (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), A Confirmed Michigan Resident, Mark F. O'Brien, Julie A. Craves

The Great Lakes Entomologist

[excerpt]

Phyllopalpus pulchellus Uhler is a member of the Trigonidiinae, also called trigs, sword-tail crickets (Capinera et al. 2004), or more informally, bush crickets; the common name is the Handsome Trig or Red-headed Bush Cricket. The distinctive features of this small cricket (less than 15 mm)—the large black palps, light yellow legs, shiny black wings, and red pronotum and head—are not seen in any other crickets within its range. The Handsome Trig can be found throughout much of the U.S. east of extreme east Texas and south of approximately 41.5° latitude, just south of the Michigan state border (Walker 2003).

Assessing The Contribution Of Geography And Host Use To Genetic Structure In New York Populations Of The Parasitoid Wasp, Aphidius Ervi, Haley J. Plasman, David M. Althoff

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Host-associated differentiation (HAD) been proposed as a general mechanism for differentiation of many groups of parasitic organisms including plant-feeding insects and their natural enemies. In particular, parasitoid wasps that attack herbivorous insects have many life habits similar to other parasitic taxa, suggesting that HAD also may be important in differentiation. We tested for the population genetic signature of HAD in a parasitoid wasp, Aphidius ervi (Haliday), a biocontrol agent that uses many species of aphids throughout Europe, but is mainly limited to the clover and alfalfa host-races of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) in North America. We assessed allelic …

Sirex Nigricornis (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) Oviposition Preference And Development In Relation To Host Age, And A Novel Live-Trapping System For Wood-Borers, Jessica A. Hartshorn, Larry D. Galligan, Ace J.W. Lynn-Miller, Fred M. Stephen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Sirex nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is a pine-inhabiting woodwasp native to eastern North America. A non-native congener, S. noctilio F., was discovered along the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario in New York in 2004 and its current distribution now includes seven northeastern states, Ontario, and Quebec. Its discovery led to a sharp increase in research focusing on S. noctilio as well as S. nigricornis. Research on these two species, and their associates, requires efficient methods for field collection and laboratory rearing. Success of these programs relies on successful collection of, and oviposition by, live females in artificial conditions. Moisture content …

Gallery Characteristics And Life History Of The Ambrosia Beetle Anisandrus Obesus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) In Big Tooth Aspen, Steven Cassar, Richard Roeper, Robert Beck, Todd Pomeroy, Mark Bruce

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Anisandrus obesus LeConte constructs entrance holes uniformly over the surface of Big Tooth Aspen (Populus grandidenta Michx.) in April each year. An individual female bores a single entrance tunnel about 7 mm into the sapwood and then two lateral tunnels parallel to the surface. After symbiotic fungal growth, eggs are laid along the gallery walls by May. Three larval instars consume the beetle’s symbiotic fungus and do not expand the gallery. Pupae develop through June with progeny adults appearing by mid-July. Progeny sex ratio of approximately 6 females to 1 male was observed. Progeny adults overwinter within the parental gallery; …

Attraction Of Diabrotica Barberi Smith And Lawrence (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) To Eugenol-Baited Traps In Soybean, Louis S. Hesler

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Diabrotica barberi Smith and Lawrence (the northern corn rootworm) is a native North American leaf beetle and a major pest of corn. However, adult D. barberi forage in various habitats outside of corn fields, including soybean, roadside vegetation, and prairie. Eugenol is a common floral volatile that has been shown to increase trap catch of D. barberi within corn and prairie habitat. This paper documents the first report of increased catch of D. barberi on eugenol- baited traps in soybean fields. In two successive tests, catch of D. barberi was increased eight-fold or more by baiting traps with eugenol compared …

Invertebrate Communities Associated With Three Early Phases Of A Prairie Restoration Project, Tracy R. Evans, Meredith J. Mahoney, E. D. Cashatt, Bryon W. Cross, Geert R. De Snoo, C. J.M. Musters

The Great Lakes Entomologist

While specific invertebrate groups have been studied in prairie restorations, there are few studies that look at terrestrial invertebrate assemblages. We surveyed invertebrates in three phases of plant restoration that were part of a larger restoration project. This cross-sectional study of invertebrate recovery at two, four and five years post-restoration shows there was no overall difference in invertebrate taxa richness and diversity between restoration phases. Overall abundance was greatest in the most recently restored area. Richness, diversity and abundance of six functional groups did not differ. The conclusion is that all phases are still characterized by pioneer invertebrate assemblages, and …