Digital Commons Network^™

All Roads That Lead To The Myocardium: Assessment Of Anomalies Of Coronary Artery Course, Ibrahim Khayyat, Silvana Molossi, Ada C Stefanescu Schmidt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

2025 Sfa Undergraduate Research Conference, Honors, School Of

Undergraduate Research Conference

Event Program for the 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) at SFASU.

Antioxidant Properties Of Phytochemicals In Watercress And Mint Extracts In Serum Albumin, Perla Tovar

Undergraduate Research Conference

Hypothesis: Phytochemicals present in mint and watercress help stabilize protein under oxidative stress. Main Objective: Analyze the interaction of HSA with different phytochemicals present in mint extract.

Neotropical Catfish Diversity In Rivers Of The Guiana Shield: A Combined Approach Using Taxonomic, Functional, And Isotopic Tools, Joseph Sheffield

Undergraduate Research Conference

Rivers of the Guiana Shield in South America are very heterogenous, containing a mosaic of habitats and environmental characteristics ideal for maintaining high freshwater biodiversity. The connection between the Essequibo and Amazon rivers via the Rupununi River during the wet season plays an important role for the great diversity of Neotropical ichthyofauna. Neotropical catfishes (Siluriformes) are the second most diverse group of freshwater fishes, after the Characiformes. They span a wide range of body sizes and exhibit diverse trophic specializations, making them ideal organisms for studying the influence of body size variation on community organization and ecosystem function. We explored …

Grm-102 Analysis Of Climate Change Effects On Bird Migration​​ Patterns Using Long-Term Data​​ ​, Aadil Syed, Mary Beyioku, Osi Aizebeokhai, Felix Dogbe

C-Day Computing Showcase

To investigate how climate change has affected bird migration patterns over the past decades, focusing on changes in migration timing, routes, and population trends. This project will aim to identify correlations between climate variables and observed changes in bird behavior, contributing to conservation efforts and climate change research.

Gcms Determination Of Free Fatty Acids In The Presence Of Triglycerides, Luke Young

Liberty University Research Week

The goal of the study was to investigate the kinetics of the esterification reactions of triacylglycerides (TAGs) and free fatty acids (FFAs). TAGs and FFAs are lipids that are produced in biological systems and have high production rates in several organisms, including algae. With an increasing push toward renewable energy and clean energy, there is an interest in biofuels. Algae is found to produce high amounts of TAGs and lower amounts of FFAs, both of which can be esterified to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). FAMEs can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc.. The …

Abnormally High Prevalence Of Sciatic Nerve High Division: Potential Causes And Clinical Considerations, Caleb Smith

Liberty University Research Week

Sciatic nerve high division (SNHD) is a common anatomical variation with many clinical implications, but it is often underrecognized. This study involved the dissection of 56 limbs from 28 cadavers and revealed a 30.4% prevalence of SNHD, nearly double that reported in major meta-analyses. Among these, three cases displayed a novel variant not represented in the traditional Beaton and Anson classification system, prompting the proposal of a new subtype (1937). These findings show the importance of anatomical awareness in clinical practice, explore potential embryological and genetic causes of SNHD, and support the use of imaging techniques such as ultrasound to …

We Can Protect The “Waters Of The United States” As Long As They Stay Out Of The Hydrological Cycle, Victoria Sutton

Idaho Law Review

The water cycle, including its oceans, surface water, wetlands, water vapor, clouds and groundwater, has resulted in a patchwork of statutes and regulations that fail to comprehensively protect the “waters of the United States.” This is not a simple "fix," and requires Congressional positivism rather than decades of relying on the judicial branch to resolve statutes that are ultimately not designed for true water protection. It is Congress’s role to resolve the wetlands protection issue, and it has avoided the responsibility probably for lack of a good solution. It would likely take a Constitutional amendment to bring the hydrologic cycle …

The Effects Of Regular Exercise Compared To Standard Care Alone On Postpartum Depression In Women: A Critically Appraised Topic, Brooke Mcduffee, Abigail Jensen

Liberty University Research Week

Childbirth can cause a variety of different emotions, joy to anxiety, excitement to fear and can also cause postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a depressive episode that begins in or extends into the postpartum period and is a major concern for new mothers.2 It affects approximately 10-16% of women annually and can be seen within the first few days after delivery and symptoms can last up to a year postdelivery.3,4 These symptoms can be triggered because of psychological, social, or biological stressors and all the hormonal changes in the body. Typically, postpartum depression is usually diagnosed within six weeks of …

Determining Stature Using Hand And Foot Dimensions On Understudied Ethnicities, Kati Platt, Andrew Albus, Andrew Stoltzfus

Liberty University Research Week

Within Central America, 96% of murders go unresolved. On the contrary, only about 30% of murders go unresolved in India. Anthropometric measurements of hands and feet have been done to determine stature of a person in areas with lower unresolved murders, with less information on Hispanic ethnicities. This gap in knowledge between these two different areas and ethnicities provides the framework for this study. In many developing countries, anatomical measurements are the only source available for identification due to the cost and availability of DNA analysis. The study of anthropometry aids in the identification process. Environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetics …

Influence Of Pathogen Carbon Metabolism On Host Immunity, Bright Danso

Liberty University Research Week

Cryptococcus neoformans is an emerging fungal (yeast) pathogen worldwide that causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis and also responsible for life-threatening diseases of the lungs and skin. In this study, we assessed the production of host immune signals in response to infection with carbon assimilation mutants of C. neoformans to better understand the relationship between pathogen carbon metabolism and virulence. We focused on experimentally creating mutation in pyruvate kinase (pyk1∆), previously shown to have marked deficiencies in virulence without rapid clearance from the host. Cytokine production was investigated both in vivo and ex vivo using cultured macrophages. We furthermore employed additional carbon utilization …

The Importance Of Wild Birds, Janice H. Cox

Nexus – UNEP – Animal Welfare, Environment, Sustainable Development

Wild birds are important in their own right, for their contribution to human wellbeing, and for their ecological value, as part of the “web of life”. Birds are sentient beings with complex thinking and social behaviors, and the ability to experience positive and negative feelings, including suffering. The ways in which birds contribute to the functioning of the world's ecosystems include: pest control, pollination, cleaning up nature, spreading seeds, keeping coral reefs alive and transforming landscapes. Yet wild bird populations are declining dramatically – with one in eight bird species threatened with extinction. Birds are one of the most important …

Antimicrobial Resistance (Amr) Emergence In Sewage Wastewater: An Investigation Based On Advanced Genomics Methods, Shahana Seher Malik

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health worry, which makes the treatment of infectious diseases difficult by compromising the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications. This issue got worsen by the use of antibiotics without proper prescription and care during the time of COVID-19. At that time more than 78% of patients were prescribed with the use of medications like azithromycin and cephalosporins. The urban wastewater systems like wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), hospital effluents, and residential wastewater were found to be bursting with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs). This research used advanced metagenomics and LC-MS/MS techniques for the examination of …

Contribution To The Knowledge Of Cave-Dwelling Fauna From The Prokletije Mountains, Joanna Kocot-Zalewska, Iwona Słowińska, Paweł Domagała, Jakub Bienias, Dominik Szymański, Dawid Szymański, Hubert Szymański, Paweł Sienkiewicz, Andrzej Józef Woźnica

International Journal of Speleology

The article presents the results of the study on invertebrate fauna inhabiting caves in the Prokletije Mountains. This mountain range is located on the border of Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo. During the expeditions to Albania in 2021 and to Montenegro in 2022–2023, 17 caves and one bauxite mine were visited altogether. All the studied caves are located very high, above 1,700 m a.s.l., where the temperature inside is low, and several are filled with ice or snow. During the Albanian expedition 102 arthropods have been collected altogether. Among these were 19 beetles (Coleoptera), 44 flies (Diptera), three crickets (Orthoptera), five …

Exploring Clinician Understanding Of Therapeutic Alliance, Melissa Cole, Robert Welsh, Susan Shore

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background. Therapeutic alliance is being discussed more readily in allied health literature regarding its potential to improve functional outcomes and patient satisfaction with care. The construct was imported from psychotherapy literature, and the degree and depth of familiarity among practicing physical therapists have not been fully explored. Purpose. This study aims to gain insight into the general level of familiarity and perceptions of therapeutic alliance among practicing clinicians. Methods. A survey was designed to capture a broad professional point of view and distributed using an anonymous link. Results. 73 surveys were completed. 43.3% of respondents reported they were not familiar …

Effectiveness Of A Gait Assessment Model In Enhancing Understanding And Learning In Healthcare Education, Seema Saini, Arsh Shikalgar, Neelam Tejani, Tushar J. Palekar, Praveen Kumar

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Traditional teaching models often fail to adequately convey the complexities of concepts such as gait analysis, a cyclic biomechanical process. This study introduces and evaluates a gait assessment system device as an educational model for healthcare students. The system aims to enhance learning through active experimentation with educators, focusing on teaching fundamental concepts like torque, potential energy, and kinetic movements. Methodology: A total of 80 fourth-year healthcare students specializing in physiotherapy participated in this study. The primary educational approach employed was the gait assessment model, designed to enhance understanding of basic biomechanical concepts such as torque, potential energy, and …

Comparison Of Cognitive Functions, Sleep Quality, Emotional State, Balance And Physical Activity Levels Of University Students According To Academic Success, Sevim Oksuz, Ozde Depreli, Aytül Ozdil, Gozde Iyigun, Ender Angın, Betül Fatma Bilgin, Ayşen Karaman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study was planned to compare the level of attention, dual-task abilities, sleep quality, emotional state (anxiety, depression, stress), dynamic balance, and physical activity level in low and high-academic success university students. Method: A total of 134 international undergraduate students between the age of 18 and 25 (low academic success group n=67, high academic success group n=67) were recruited for this study. The Trail Making Test (TMT) – A and B was used for attention assessment, the TMT While Walking – A and B was utilized for dual-task performance, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was utilized to assess …

Exploring The Relationship Between Preadmission Grade Point Average And Selected Occupational Therapy Program Outcomes, Robyn Wu, Jason Straub

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Grade point averages (GPAs) are often considered in admissions to occupational therapy programs, but the predictive value of GPAs has not been well-studied. The current study investigated if preadmission GPAs predicted whether students passed all occupational therapy program coursework and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam on the first attempt. We analyzed 419 records of students who had matriculated in a master’s or doctoral occupational therapy program between 2010 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the effects of the independent variables science GPA and overall GPA on non-passing grades and on NBCOT …

Patient-Generated Graphs To Measure Pain And Fatigue In Persons With Neuralgic Amyotrophy, Renske Mj Janssen, Jos Ijspeert, Jan T. Groothuis, Nens Van Alfen, Alexander Ch Geurts, Maud Jl Graff, Tanya L. Packer, Edith Hc Cup

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Patients with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) often experience limitations in daily activities because of pain and fatigue. Visual analogue graphs with a 24-hour x-axis can be used to rate pain and fatigue severity during a typical day. This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the visual analogue graphs in patients with NA.

Method: Eight patients completed pain and fatigue graphs on three moments to examine inter-rater and test-retest reliability using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs). Concurrent validity (n = 47) was tested by determining correlations between mean pain graph scores and numerical rating scale for pain (NRS-pain) and …

D.A.D.S. Club: Pilot Study Outcomes Of A 5-Week Parenting Program For Fathers In Recovery From Substance Use Disorder, Oaklee Rogers, Kristin Riordan, Elaina Corbin, Shannon Forman, Kara Grace Zahariades, Andrea Clemens, Keely Mcdowell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Over 44 million adults have a substance use disorder, with approximately two million children living with a parent with this disorder. Approximately 40% to 60% of men who receive treatment have a child under 18 years of age. However, most parenting programs are developed and implemented for mothers with addiction, leaving fathers without this fundamental knowledge and skills.

Method: A pilot study using a longitudinal interventional study was conducted to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of an occupational therapy-developed program for fathers in recovery. Pre and post surveys, including the Parenting Sense of Competence, were collected from the …

Oer Leadership Interview, Elle Dimopoulos, Adronisha Frazier

OER & Beyond - Blog Archive

Open educator leaders are informing students, faculty, instructional designers, and stakeholders about the many opportunities regarding OERs in an effort to positively impact education spaces globally, nationally, and at state levels. We sent a few questions to two leaders in open education to share their experiences with OERs, the pathway to supporting OERs in their respective states, and what they foresee in the near future in digital technology.

April 15, 2025, Council On Graduate Studies

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Program Review Report 4-15-25, Angela Brock

Program Review Committee

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Kefir Consumption On Gut And Mental Well-Being, Danh Nguyen, Kate Digges, Emerson Morris, Nicole Hinkley-Kellum, Cas Simpson, Dow Mccarty, Erik F. Y. Hom

Neuroscience Research Showcase

(All authors are affiliated with the Department of Biology: Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research, University of Mississippi)

Members of the Hom Lab are studying the potential benefits of water kefir consumption on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms and mental health through Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis modulation. Water kefir is a probiotic-rich beverage produced by the fermentation of sugar water using symbiotic aggregates of microbes known as water kefir grains (WKGs). WKGs consist of various yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and acetic bacteria bound together through extracellular polysaccharides. Probiotics are defined as foods or supplements that contain live, beneficial microbes that foster well-being …

Analyzing The Neuroprotective Effects Of Phytoestrogens And Aromatase On Male Zebra Finch Cerebellum Post Lesion, Tony Irovic, Grace Thompson, Lainy B. Day

Neuroscience Research Showcase

(All authors are affiliated with Interdisciplinary Studies: Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Minor, University of Mississippi)

Introduction:

• Estradiol (E2) & aromatase (AROM) are neuroprotective
• AROM enzymatically converts testosterone (T) into E2
• E2 alters testicular function and increases stroke and cancer risk
• Phytoestrogens, such as genistein (GEN), are plant derived compounds that have a similar chemical structure to E2 and some E2 -like effects
• GEN may possess the neuroprotective effects of E2 while not having the negative effects
• Zebra finch (ZF) brains are highly plastic, and the cerebellum (CB) has low AROM constitutively
• The CB has high levels of estrogen …

Vaccine Efficacy Of A Replication-Competent Interferon-Expressing Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome (Prrs) Virus Against Nadc-34 Challenge, Laura C. Miller, Sarah J. Anderson, Alexandra C. Buckley, Erin E. Schirtzinger, Mahamudul Hasan, Kaitlyn M. Sarlo Davila, Damarius S. Fleming, Kelly M. Lager, Jiuyi Li, Yongming Sang

Food and Animal Sciences Faculty Research

Background/Objectives: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) significantly impedes swine production due to rapid genetic variation and suppression of antiviral interferon (IFN) responses, leading to ineffective immunity. To address this, we developed IFNmix, a replication-competent PRRSV modified live vaccine (MLV) candidate co-expressing three Type I IFN subclasses (IFNα, IFNβ, IFNδ) to enhance antiviral immunity. Methods: In two independent in vivo experiments, we compared the protection of IFNmix and a commercial PRRSV MLV vaccine during challenge with a virulent PRRSV strain. Clinical signs, antibody and cytokine production, viral replication, and lung pathology in IFNmix-vaccinated pigs were compared to those of …

Accelerate Your Education This Summer At Gardner-Webb University, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University’s summer sessions o!er a!ordable, accessible online and in-person courses designed to help students get ahead, stay on track, or explore new interests on their path to graduation. Choose from an array of subjects across all disciplines from business and management to creative and independent studies.

A Review Of Recent Studies On The Pathogenesis Of Systemic Sclerosis: Focus On Fibrosis Pathways, Sergio A. Jimenez, Fabian A. Mendoza, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez

Scleroderma Center Faculty Papers

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by the development of frequently progressive cutaneous and internal organ fibrosis accompanied by severe vascular alterations. The pathogenesis of SSc is highly complex and, despite extensive investigation, has not been fully elucidated. Numerous studies have suggested that unknown etiologic factors cause multiple alterations in genetically receptive hosts, leading to SSc development and progression. These events may be functionally and pathologically interconnected and include: 1) Structural and functional microvascular and endothelial cell abnormalities; 2) Severe oxidative stress and high reactive oxygen species (3); Frequently progressive cutaneous and visceral fibrosis; …

Zonal Hepatocellular Responses To Acute Ethanol: Impacts On Mitochondrial Function And Metabolism, Matthew T. Savoca

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Background: Ethanol (EtOH) consumption causes hepatocellular mitochondrial depolarization (mtDepo) and mitophagy. Here, the Aims were to develop techniques to characterize sublobular hepatocellular metabolism and the distribution of mtDepo and mitophagy after acute EtOH. Methods: Wildtype and GFP-LC3 transgenic mice were treated with EtOH or vehicle and administered the covalently labeling mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) reporter, MitoTracker Red (MTR), and/or the non-covalent ΔΨ reporter, rhodamine 123 (Rh123), prior to intravital imaging, liver fixation, or hepatocyte isolation. After in vivo MTR, hepatocytes were isolated and sorted. Enrichment in E-cadherin (ECAD) and cytochrome P4502E1 in periportal (PP) and pericentral (PC) hepatocytes, respectively, validated …

What Conservation Sounds Like: Systematic Approach, Phaedra Roby, Parker Ferguson, Jared L. Talley

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

This research explores soundscapes – the composition of biotic and abiotic sound elements in a region – and their relationships with pets and wildlife. The study aims to address the question, “How do domestic pets impact wildlife through changing local soundscapes?”. Soundscapes play a critical role in wildlife behavior and hold cultural and emotional significance for humans through the formation of memories and values. Extant literature shows that pets affect wildlife, so understanding anthropogenic noise is crucial for guiding conservation efforts. A systematic review was conducted using combinations of the three search terms “domestic pets”, “soundscapes” and “wildlife”. Notably, searches …