Digital Commons Network^™

Segregating Sites Enhance Accuracy Of Species Abundance Estimates From Edna, Kara J. Andres

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Species abundance is a fundamental metric in ecology and conservation. Assessing how populations change across space time enables the identification of population trends and informs management and conservation decisions. However, measuring species abundance can be a challenging task, with logistical constraints, sampling biases, and detection limits inhibiting meaningful abundance estimates. Environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches have improved our ability to monitor species presence and biodiversity and may also serve as a tool for measuring species abundance. However, abundance estimates from eDNA typically rely on the correlation between species abundance and the concentration of target species' DNA in a sample, which may …

The Cure-Comm Framework: A Guide For Infusing Cures With Science Communication, Rebekka Darner, Ebenezer Korkor

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Researchers have employed diverse instructional strategies to impart science communication (SciComm) skills, a cherished 21st-century skill into undergraduate students. We reviewed the pedagogical strategies used in developing SciComm skills in undergraduates. This review revealed that analyzing data and scientific literature, increasing exposure to multiple writing contexts, providing multiple opportunities to present findings orally, and providing feedback are used to teach SciComm skills. Many instructors who implement course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) report improved SciComm skills as one of the benefits of CUREs. To decipher points of intersection among CUREs and SciComm pedagogical strategies, we also reviewed the literature on pedagogical …

Evolution Of Mate Guarding Intensity In Crickets As A Possible Adaptation To Sexual Conflict Over Sperm Transfer, Bert Foquet, Jack Thomas Mckermitt, John Hunt, Ben M. Sadd, Scott K. Sakaluk

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Mate guarding is a common behavioral adaptation in males to ensure mating or to hinder current partners from remating with rival males. In the decorated cricket, Gryllodes sigillatus, males transfer a spermatophore to females at mating, comprising a sperm-containing ampulla enveloped in a large gelatinous mass, the spermatophylax, that serves as a nuptial food gift for the female. Males guard the female while she feeds on the nuptial gift and while sperm are evacuated from the ampulla into her reproductive tract. Mate guarding behavior functions to prevent competitors from mating with the female but may also represent a behavioral …

Detection Rate And Patterns Of Biochemical Recurrence Of Prostate Cancer Using 18f-Psma-1007 Pet/Ct At A Tertiary Teaching Hospital In Sub-Saharan Africa., Lynet Wairimu Barasa

Master of Medicine in Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology

Background: Rising PSA levels following local therapy with curative intent are seen in about one third of men previously treated for prostate cancer, indicative of disease recurrence. This is usually not detectable through imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Several studies show high detection rates of recurrence with 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT, one of the novel PET imaging modalities for prostate cancer. No studies, however, have been done to show the patterns of recurrence in the Sub-Saharan African population in whom prostate cancer is known to occur earlier and be more aggressive. Biochemical recurrence almost always …

Comparison Of Positivity Rate Of Dual Phase Sestamibi Versus Dual Tracer Pertechnetate/Sestamibi In Identification Of Parathyroid Adenomas., Naomi Chirindo Chikuro

Master of Medicine in Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology

Background 

Parathyroid adenomas are the commonest cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. The primary mode of treatment is surgical excision which can only be achieved with pre surgical localization of adenomas. Ultrasound, CT and MRI can be used but the most sensitive and specific imaging modality is parathyroid scintigraphy with use of Sestamibi labelled with technetium 99 metastable radionuclide. A few studies have been done comparing dual phase, dual tracer and combined dual phase/tracer protocols with an apparent lack of consensus on which is superior.

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the positivity rates of the mentioned parathyroid scintigraphy protocols and identify …

The Prevalence And The Predictors Of Diabetes Distress In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Attending Diabetes Clinics At A Tertiary Private Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya., Soulthy Azamkhan Mohamed

Master of Medicine in Family Medicine

Background Diabetes distress encompasses a spectrum of emotional and psychological challenges faced by individuals managing diabetes, including anxiety, stress, depression, frustration, and feelings of helplessness. This distress arises from the constant demands of monitoring blood sugar levels, managing medications, adhering to dietary restrictions, engaging in regular physical activity, and navigating potential complications. Social and emotional factors such as stigma, discrimination, and concerns about future health further contribute to this burden. Factors like fear of hypoglycemia, financial strain, fluctuating blood sugar levels, anxiety about complications, and impacts on personal relationships exacerbate diabetes distress. Left unaddressed, diabetes distress can lead to poor …

Comparison Of The Use Of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange To Intravenous Immunoglobulin For Autoimmune Neurological Conditions At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya., Swafiya Salim Busaidy

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

Background 

Plasma exchange (Barth et al.) and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (Barth et al.) have emerged as favored therapeutic options for autoimmune neurological conditions. Neurological conditions cause high morbidity and mortality in the sub-Saharan region. The utilization of these treatment options in Sub-Saharan Africa remains relatively unknown. We can determine the most efficient treatments with minimal cost implications by comparing the two treatment modalities in our setup.

Methods 

This retrospective descriptive chart review took place at Aga Khan University Hospital. It encompassed all patients admitted between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2023 who had a neurological condition that necessitated treatment with …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of 18f-Fdg Pet-Ct Compared To Ultrasound In Identification Of Metastatic Axillary Lymph Nodes In Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients., Sarah Muthii Kibe

Master of Medicine in Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology

Background: Determination of axillary lymph node metastasis is a crucial part of breast cancer staging as it is the most important marker of overall recurrence and survival. Although axillary ultrasound (AUS) is the imaging reference standard, it has a wide range of sensitivity necessitating evaluation of other imaging modalities that may be used as adjuncts.18F-FDG PET-CT is recommended for use in metastatic and recurrent breast cancer with infrequent use in early disease due to its low spatial resolution for small axillary lymph nodes. The aim of this it study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of axillary ultrasound compared …

Traditional Vs. Modern-Grading Practices: A Comparative Case Study, Sarah Ruth Morris, Matt Townsley

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This comparative case study explores the influences of traditional and modern grading systems on ninth-grade students' academic and psychological outcomes. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, including OLS regressions and focus group discussions, our research investigates student attitudes towards grading practices at two contrasting schools—one utilizing traditional grading methods and the other a more modern, progressive, standards-based approach. Findings suggest that while modern grading practices are favored for their fairness and focus on mastery, they do not significantly enhance academic outcomes or student well-being in the short term. The study highlights the complex implications of grading reforms and underscores the need …

Assessing Teachers' Competence In Sustaining The Use Of Ict Tools For Instructional Delivery During The New Normal Era, Yinusa Faremi, Ramota Ajoke Rasaq Ms, Ramota Ajoke Rasaq, Charles Silvane, Yemisi Olubunmi Fashoto

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Amidst the post-covid era, blended teaching has become increasingly prevalent worldwide, necessitating educational system changes. This study aimed to assess teachers' competence in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for instructional delivery during the new normal era. The study utilized a quantitative survey design with a sample size of 150 secondary school teachers from private and public in Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The study revealed that most respondents lacked adequate competence in sustaining the use of computers to assess learners and in utilizing PowerPoint presentations during the teaching-learning process in the new normal …

The Guardian The Month Of March 2025, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of March 2025. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Peripheral Lives, Central Meanings: How The Global South Can Participate In Reimagining Psychology For The Future, Nandita Chaudhary, Mila Tuli, Punya Pillai

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Emerging from an invited lecture presentation at the APA conference in 2024, this article discusses how communities of the Global South can actively participate in the future of psychology theory, research, practice and publication. It is abundantly clear that psychology is a product of Euro-American academic practice, with the transportation of knowledge from this region to the rest of the world. Inevitably, there have been many concerns about this transfer of the model to regions that are vastly different in their ontological orientations. After a brief overview of the key issues in this global epistemic imbalance, we raise some critical …

Impact Of Dietary Intake On Brain Choline Levels: A 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study, Halima Hawesa, Mayar Alghumaiz, Renad Alghamdi, Nourah Alrabiah, Bayader Alfaifi, Hind Allam, Mahasin Gamalalddin, Haya Alshegri, Mansour Shanawani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between dietary choices and brain choline (Cho) levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods: A total of 88 female students from the radiology department at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, participated in this study. Brain total choline (tCho) levels were estimated using MRS single volume sequence at a 3 Tesla field, with an echo time of 30 ms, repetition time of 2000 ms, voxel size of 15x15x15 mm, and water suppression bandwidth of 50 Hz. Participants’ food consumption habits were assessed using a dietary questionnaire to quantify the amount of protein …

Equity For American Indian Families, Neoshia R. Roemer

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

For the better part of two centuries, the cornerstone of federal Indian policy was destabilizing and eradicating tribal governments. In the process, federal Indian policy also dismantled American Indian families via child removal. Attempting to equalize American Indians through the practice of assimilation, decades of Indian child removal policies destroyed Indian families. In 1978, Congress responded to these horrors by passing the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a revolutionary law that was responsive to its trust responsibility to American Indian Tribes. By providing for the best interests of Indian children, heightened protections for parents of Indian children in certain child …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Lotka-Volterra Systems: Efficiency, Extinction Order, And Predictive Machine Learning, Sepideh Vafaie, Deepak Bal, Michael A.S. Thorne, Eric Forgoston

School of Computing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

For years, a main focus of ecological research has been to better understand the complex dynamical interactions between species that comprise food webs. Using the connectance properties of a widely explored synthetic food web called the cascade model, we explore the behavior of dynamics on Lotka-Volterra ecological systems. We show how trophic efficiency, a staple assumption in mathematical ecology, affects species extinction. With clustering analysis, we show how straightforward inequalities of the summed values of birth, death, self-regulation, and interaction strengths provide insight into which food webs are more enduring or stable. Through these simplified summed values, we develop a …

Overview Of Porous Magnesium-Based Scaffolds: Development, Properties And Biomedical Applications, Amir Motaharinia, Jaroslaw Drelich, Safian Sharif, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Farid Naeimi, Alexandra G. Glover, Mahshid Ebrahiminejad, Hamid Reza Bakhsheshi-Rad

Michigan Tech Publications

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys are revolutionizing the field of interventional surgeries in the medical industry. Their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and a similar elastic modulus to natural bone make porous Mg-based structures potential candidates for orthopedic implants and tissue engineering scaffolding. However, fabricating and machining porous Mg-based structures is challenging due to their complexity and difficulties in achieving uniform or gradient porosity. This review aims to thoroughly explore various fabrication procedures used to create metallic scaffolds, with a specific focus on those made from Mg-based alloys. Both traditional manufacturing techniques, including the directional solidification of metal-gas eutectic technique, pattern casting, …

Data Without Borders: International Effects Of Data Flow Regulation, Tamar Giladi Shtub, Michal S. Gal

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

No abstract provided.

Quantifying Temporal Dynamics Of E. Coli Concentration And Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Of Pathogen In A Karst Basin, Shishir K. Sarker, Ryan T. Dapkus, Diana M. Byrne, Alan E. Fryar, Justin M. Hutchison

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Karst aquifers can be highly productive water sources but are vulnerable to contamination by pathogens because of integrated surface and subsurface drainage. Our study focuses on the karstic Royal Spring basin in Kentucky, encompassing urban and agricultural land uses. The city of Georgetown distributes treated water from Royal Spring to over 33,000 customers. We examined E. coli dynamics at Royal Spring from June 2021 through June 2022, assessing variability under wet versus dry weather conditions. We also used quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to estimate potential health risks from the pathogenic bacterium E. coli O157:H7. E. coli concentrations in weekly …

Diet-Enhanced Lrg1 Expression Promotes Insulin Hypersecretion And Er Stress In Pancreatic Beta Cells, Desirae D. Morales, Jiyoon Ryu, Cong Wei, Jason T. Hadley, Juli Bai, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Srinivas Mummidi, Ravi Duggirala, Jane L. Lynch, Feng Liu, Lily Q. Dong

School of Medicine Publications

Aims/hypothesis: Upregulation of serum leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) has been implicated in diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders. However, its specific hormonal actions remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether diet-enhanced serum LRG1 levels promote hyperinsulinaemia by directly stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.

Methods: Human serum samples were obtained from individuals (both male and female) undergoing plastic surgery. Male C57BL/6 wild-type and Lrg1 whole-body knockout (Lrg1KO) mice were fed a 45% high-fat diet, with serum samples collected every 2 weeks to monitor LRG1 and insulin levels throughout diet-induced obesity. MIN6 beta cells were used to investigate the effects …

Can Targeting The Fgf23-Αklotho Signaling System Delay Phosphate-Driven Organ Damage?, Mohammed S. Razzaque, Moosa Mohammadi

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Inexorable high serum phosphate levels in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients deteriorate the functionality of the musculoskeletal, renal, and cardiovascular systems, thereby contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Higher phosphate balance has also been correlated with increased mortality rates in individuals with normal renal function, independent of other comorbidities. Clinical and epidemiological studies of CKD patients and healthy subjects, alongside evidence of accelerated aging in murine models induced by excessive phosphate loading, indicate that phosphate toxicity is a driver of premature aging and age-related organ damage.

Area covered: This article briefly discusses the causes and consequences of phosphate toxicity …

Treatment Of Osteoporosis And Osteoarthritis In The Oldest Old, Daniel Pinto

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are key diseases of musculoskeletal ageing and are increasing in prevalence and burden with the progressively ageing population worldwide. These conditions are thus particularly common in ‘the oldest old’, and there are complexities of managing them within the context of extensive multimorbidity, physical and mental disability, and polypharmacy, the rates for all of which are high in this population. In this narrative review, we explore the epidemiology of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in the oldest old before examining trials and real-world data relating to the pharmacological treatment of these diseases in older adults, including anti-resorptives and bone-forming agents …

On Gender, Gender Incongruence, And Gender-Affirming Care, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

As the number of transgender individuals continues to rise, there is an urgent need to understand the nature of gender and the evidence supporting gender-affirming care. This article proposes the hypothesis that one’s gender is a perception, influenced by biological and social factors. Early-onset gender incongruence seems to be influenced but not wholly determined by the prenatal hormonal environment, while late-onset gender incongruence is associated with comorbidities, suggesting that one’s sense of gender can be impacted by a variety of psychological and social conditions that affect the mind-body connection. Puberty blockers have been used on children to buy time for …

Drag Me To Work: Legislative Discrimination In Drag Queen Employment, Michael Russo

Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Bpen: Brain Posterior Evidential Network For Trustworthy Brain Imaging Analysis, Kai Ye, Haoteng Tang, Siyuan Dai, Igor Fortel, Paul M. Thompson, R. Scott Mackin, Alex Leow, Heng Huang, Liang Zhan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The application of deep learning techniques to analyze brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data has led to significant advancements in identifying prospective biomarkers associated with various clinical phenotypes and neurological conditions. Despite these achievements, the aspect of prediction uncertainty has been relatively underexplored in brain fMRI data analysis. Accurate uncertainty estimation is essential for trustworthy learning, given the challenges associated with brain fMRI data acquisition and the potential diagnostic implications for patients. To address this gap, we introduce a novel posterior evidential network, named the Brain Posterior Evidential Network (BPEN), designed to capture both aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty in …

Retreatability Of Bioceramic And Resin-Based Root Canal Sealers Using Xp Shaper Rise: An In Vitro Study, Shehabeldin Mohamed Saber Prof.Dr.

Dentistry

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate in-vitro the retreatability of premixed calcium-silicate-based sealer versus resinbased

sealer when combined with gutta-percha using the single-file system XP-endo Rise.

Materials and methods: 26 canals in typodont acrylic Nissin teeth were instrumented with E-flex blue rotary instruments up to

size 0.35mm and taper of 4%. Root canals were divided into two groups, obturated using either hydraulic condensation technique

with a bioceramic sealer (n=13) or continuous wave of compaction (CWC) technique with a resin-based sealer (n=13). The

retreatment procedure was done for both groups using the XP-endo Rise instruments. The time required …

Climbing The Family Tree To Solve Crime: The Statutory Regulation Of Investigative Genetic Genealogy In Wisconsin, Margaret B. Mullican

Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review

Investigative Genetic Genealogy ("IGG") has emerged as a groundbreaking

tool that law enforcement agencies across the United States

are using to solve their most notorious criminal cases. IGG has led to

remarkable outcomes, such as identifying unknown victims, solving

decades-old violent crimes, and exonerating the innocent. While IGG

has transformed criminal investigations for the better, the tool has

also sparked concerns with the public regarding its haphazard regulation

and its constitutional implications. Despite the tool being

widely used by law enforcement, it remains relatively unregulated,

which has raised concerns about potential misuse, as well as a lack

of transparency and …

Management Implications Of Human Livelihood Strategies On Madagascar's Coastal Landscapes, Katharine E.T. Thompson, Cortni Borgerson, Patricia C. Wright, Jeanne Mathilde Randriamanetsy, Niaina Nirina Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa, Mamy Yves Andrianantenaina, Théofrico Alexander Razafindrahasy, Ryan S. Rothman, Carter W. Daniels, Katherine J. Kling, Claire Surkis, Katheryn C. Twiss

Department of Anthropology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The unsustainable harvest and consumption of wild animals destabilizes both wildlife populations and the human livelihoods that depend upon them. In coastal landscapes, the overexploitation of terrestrial resources can increase pressures on marine ecosystems, and vice versa. We explore populations' ability to mitigate hunting pressure by bolstering marine livelihood strategies, assessing whether Malagasy people (or aggregated households) (1) transfer harvest pressure and consumption from oceans to forests in times of lower fisheries yields and (2) habitually exploit both marine and terrestrial resources. We also evaluate the diversity of fishers' and hunters' methods used and species targeted, as reliance on a …

Reimagining Stuttering Therapy And Outcomes Through An Acceptance And Collaborative Lens, Farzan Irani, Michael Azios, Michael Boyle, Geoffrey A. Coalson, Scott Palasik, Jack Rodriguez, Eric Swartz

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this paper is to summarize a panel discussion at the 2024 World Stuttering and Cluttering Organization Congress that aimed to explore and reflect on the shifting landscape of stuttering therapy across the lifespan. The panel comprised of speech-language pathologists who have experience in stuttering therapy as clients, professionals, and researchers. The panel members reflect on the research, their professional experiences, and their own personal journey toward a more acceptance-based therapy and its outcomes. The paper concludes with the panel's reflections on the future of stuttering therapy across the lifespan.

A Practical Guide To Transcranial Ultrasonic Stimulation From The Ifcn-Endorsed Itrusst Consortium, Keith R. Murphy, Tulika Nandi, Benjamin Kop, Takahiro Osada, Maximilian Lueckel, W. Apoutou N'Djin, Kevin A. Caulfield, Anton Fomenko, Hartwig R. Siebner, Yoshikazu Ugawa, Lennart Verhagen, Sven Bestmann, Eleanor Martin, Kim Butts Pauly, Elsa Fouragnan, Til Ole Bergmann

School of Psychology

Low-intensity Transcranial Ultrasonic Stimulation (TUS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique enabling cortical and deep brain targeting with unprecedented spatial accuracy. Given the high rate of adoption by new users with varying levels of expertise and interdisciplinary backgrounds, practical guidelines are needed to ensure state-of-the-art TUS application and reproducible outcomes. Therefore, the International Transcranial Ultrasonic Stimulation Safety and Standards (ITRUSST) consortium has formed a subcommittee, endorsed by the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN), to develop recommendations for best practices in human TUS applications. The practical guide presented here provides a brief introduction into ultrasound physics and sonication parameters. It …

Pre-Vent Cpap Belly Device, Brandon D. Nguyen, Cameron A. Zipper, Eugina Lee

Biomedical Engineering

The CPAP Belly Pre-Vent device was developed to prevent stomach distension caused by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment in premature neonatal patients under 2 kg. CPAP therapy provides critical respiratory support but can lead to air accumulation in the stomach due to esophageal insufficiency. This accumulation, known as CPAP belly, can interfere with lung expansion and feeding efficiency. The goal of this project was to design, develop, and test a device that passively vents excess air from the stomach to alleviate these issues.

The main phases of the project consist of identifying customer requirements and translating them to engineering …