Digital Commons Network^™

February 27, 2025, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

2025 Final Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Smelter Area Mine Waste Remediation And Contaminated Groundwater Hydraulic Control Site Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) For Microbial Analysis And Biotreatability Study, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Interim Estimates Of 2024-2025 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness - Four Vaccine Effectiveness Networks, United States, October 2024-February 2025, Aaron M Frutos, Seana Cleary, Emily L Reeves, Haris M Ahmad, Ashley M Price, Wesley H Self, Yuwei Zhu, Basmah Safdar, Ithan D Peltan, Kevin W Gibbs, Matthew C Exline, Adam S Lauring, Sarah W Ball, Malini Desilva, Sara Y Tartof, Kristin Dascomb, Stephanie A Irving, Nicola P Klein, Brian E Dixon, Toan C Ong, Ivana A Vaughn, Stacey L House, Kiran A Faryar, Mary Patricia Nowalk, Manjusha Gaglani, Karen J Wernli, Vel Murugan, Olivia L Williams, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Geoffrey A Weinberg, Mary A Staat, Natasha B Halasa, Leila C Sahni, Marian G Michaels, Janet A Englund, Marie K Kirby, Diya Surie, Fatimah S Dawood, Benjamin R Clopper, Heidi L Moline, Ruth Link-Gelles, Amanda B Payne, Elizabeth Harker, Kristina Wielgosz, Zachary A Weber, Duck-Hye Yang, Nathaniel M Lewis, Jennifer Decuir, Samantha M Olson, Jessie R Chung, Brendan Flannery, Lisa A Grohskopf, Carrie Reed, Shikha Garg, Sascha Ellington, Cdc Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Collaborators

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months in the United States. Interim influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated among patients with acute respiratory illness–associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations from four VE networks during the 2024–25 influenza season (October 2024–February 2025). Among children and adolescents aged <18 years, VE against any influenza was 32%, 59%, and 60% in the outpatient setting in three networks, and against influenza-associated hospitalization was 63% and 78% in two networks. Among adults aged ≥18 years, VE in the outpatient setting was 36% and 54% in two networks and was 41% and 55% against hospitalization in two networks. Preliminary estimates indicate that receipt of the 2024–2025 influenza vaccine reduced the likelihood of medically attended influenza and influenza-associated hospitalization. CDC recommends annual receipt of an age-appropriate influenza vaccine by all eligible persons aged ≥6 months as long as influenza viruses continue to circulate locally.

2025 Final Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Smelter Area Mine Waste Remediation And Contaminated Groundwater Hydraulic Control Site Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) For Microbial Analysis And Biotreatability Study, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Seeing The Light: Optics Research At Bethel, Nathan Lindquist

Day of Scholarship

The department of Physics and Engineering has a strong tradition of research, projects, coursework, and labs in optics. Optical sciences is a broad and interdisciplinary field that covers imaging, fiber optic communications, lasers, and sensing, with applications in biology, chemistry, medicine, engineering, and many more. This presents some of the research that has happened over the past few years, including research presented by students at national conferences.

Once Upon A Time For The Soul: A Review Of The Effects Of Storytelling In Spiritual Traditions, Sunwolf

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

A Media Ecology Review, Lance Strate

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Neurocriminology: A Beginner’S Guide, Jerrod Brown

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Media And Emotions, Werner Wirth, Holger Schramm

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Real-World Applications Of Imipenem-Cilastatin-Relebactam: Insights From A Multicenter Observational Cohort Study, Kaylee E. Caniff, Nicholas Rebold, Xhilda Xhemali, Nikki Tran, Taryn A. Eubank, Kevin W. Garey, Yi Guo, Mei Chang, Katie E. Barber, Tamara Krekel, Mark Biagi, Wesley D. Kufel, Amy Carr, Jillian Hayes, Travis J. Carlson, Jeremy Frens, Veena Venugopalan, Kristen Lucas, Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne, James Sanders, Elisabeth Chandler, Rosanna Li, Kayla Antosz, Julie Ann Justo, Russell Benefield, W Justin Moore, Jennifer Ross, Jenna Adams, Fritzie Albarillo, Sylvia Stefanos, Athena L V Hobbs, Nicholas Mercuro, Brian Raux, Kristen Zeitler, Michael J. Rybak

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Background: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections are a substantial threat to patients and public health. Imipenem-cilastatin-relebactam (IMI/REL) is a β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor with expanded activity against MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. This study aims to describe the patient characteristics, prescribing patterns, and clinical outcomes associated with IMI/REL. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter, observational study of patients ≥18 years old who received IMI/REL for ≥48 hours for a suspected or confirmed gram-negative infection. The primary outcome was clinical success, defined as improvement or resolution of infection-related signs or symptoms while receiving IMI/REL and the absence of 30-day microbiologic failure. Multivariable logistic …

The Ability Of Chatgpt To Aid In The Rapid Development Of Inoculation Message Treatments: A Case Study And Recommendations, Alicia Mason, Josh Compton, Griffin Cooper

Faculty Submissions

One of the most widely known types of AI technologies in recent years is ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art language model that has revolutionized natural language processing by generating human-like text with context and coherence, enabling new possibilities for human-AI interaction (Brown et al., 2020). This case study reports on a 10-week conversational AI training initiative to assess whether ChatGPT4 can (a) identify the structural elements and features of conventional inoculation messages (i.e., forewarnings and preemptive refutations); (b) augment inoculation message design features (i.e., linguistic signatures, language, and length); (c) adapt messages for specific audiences (i.e., younger populations, experts); and …

Parental Support Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic While Supervising 9th – 12th Grade Student Learning, Sarah E. White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of parents, children, and families in numerous ways. These impacts included increased parental involvement in remote learning. This was an ongoing situation where parents were supervising and being highly involved in their student’s education. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the parental support experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic while supervising high school student learning. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory was used as a theoretical foundation to understand the experiences of parents. This theory related to support systems, which was relevant during COVID-19 when remote learning changed the interactions between in-person students and …

The College Voice, Vol. 62, No. 7 [February 26, 2025], Connecticut College

2024-2025

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Imidacloprid And Polyester Microfibers On The Larval Development Of The Endangered Sunflower Star, Alexandra G. Tissot, Elise F. Granek, Fiona Curliss, Augustin Kalytiak-Davis, Jason Hodin, Michelle L. Hladik

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sea star wasting syndrome has affected numerous species of sea star, with populations of Pycnopodia helianthoides (Brandt, 1835) left most at risk. As their populations are struggling to recover, it is important to gain a better understanding of the impacts that the multiple stressors in their habitats can have on their populations. Contaminant stressors in particular are of increasing importance, because aquatic organisms can be exposed to a dynamic range of contaminants from nearby anthropogenic activity that may affect their future recovery efforts. This study is the first to quantify the effects of contaminant stressors on the larvae of P. …

Anterior Vocal Fold Scar., Arianne J Abreu, Omar Ramadan, Robert T Sataloff

Otolaryngology (ENT) Resident Research

No abstract available

Guide To Facilitate Service Learning, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

This guide contains the list of 10 links to richly useful information that I have accumulated spending hundreds of hours.

Evaluating The Health Performance Of Mass Housing Projects In Egypt Lighting Design Of Dar Masr Project, New Damietta, Hala Mohamed Raslan, Huda El-Baz M.

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The Egyptian government has recently established many governmental mass housing projects to meet the housing needs nationwide. These projects are characterized by their unified repetitive design that rarely consider geographic, climatic and social variations from one site to another. The study objectives are to examine the health performance of mass housing projects; “Dar Misr” as an example. Dar Misr consists of 150,000 units distributed over 15 different cities, and is fully finished with unified electrical installations and preinstalled luminaires. The study examines the health performance of the project’s lighting design, both natural and electrical light, using the “WELLV2 rating system …

Centering Black Resource-Poor Adolescent Voices: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of Lived Mental Health Struggles While Enduring The Covid-19 Pandemic, Paulette Dispagna

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

There is a dearth of research in general and qualitative research specifically about the mental health experience of resource-poor Black adolescents living in Boston. This has implications for the field in terms of how adolescents experiencing mental health issues can be supported and how professionals can create more useful mental health treatment. Drawing from the theoretical lens of critical race theory and more specifically, intersectionality, this hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry examined the ways in which experiencing multiple levels of inequality, especially from racism and poverty, affected a Black adolescent’s mental health. Eleven adolescents were interviewed via Zoom. Six major findings included: …

The Physics And Chemistry Of Phase Separation Of Prion-Like Low-Complexity Protein Domains, Mina Farag

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Biomolecular condensates are membraneless cellular compartments that arise via macromolecular phase separation. Condensates are involved in a variety of cellular functions, including trafficking, autophagy, ribosomal biogenesis, endocytosis, transcription, proteostasis, and stress response. In addition, condensates are associated with diverse pathologies, especially neurodegenerative and oncogenic processes. Given their physiological importance, much work has been done to characterize condensates via physical, chemical, and biological methods. It is now well-recognized that intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are significant drivers of condensate formation. In particular, prion-like low-complexity domains (PLCDs), a subset of IDPs that share similar sequence compositions with yeast prion proteins, are often involved …

Creative Ideas For Incorporating Service Learning In Biology And Chemistry Classes, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

The inspiration obtained by reading this article helps faculty members generate their own ideas to facilitate service learning in the courses they teach.

Ramadan: Community, Self-Reflection, Janna Azzam

University Libraries Blog Archive

Ramadan Mubarak! As we approach this blessed month, we take the time to reflect not only on ourselves, but on our contributions to our communities.

Of Cordial Ladies And Independent Women: An Analysis Of The Ceramic Assemblage Of The 19th Century Cooper-Frost-Austin House, Mikayla Roderick

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis explores the transformation of Susan Austin’s (1807-1885) household in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from a private family home into a boardinghouse, challenging traditional distinctions between domestic and economic spaces. Using feminist and queer theoretical frameworks, it examines how Austin’s decisions blurred public and private boundaries, creating an intimate boardinghouse. Through ceramic analysis of two occupational phases and a documentary examination of the household members over time, this study identifies shifts in material culture that reflect changing household practices, social relationships, and status negotiation. Austin intentionally created an environment where commercial spaces took on a domestic appearance, integrating elements of familiarity …

Exploring Predictive Modeling For Food Quality Enhancement: A Case Study On Wine, Cemil Emre Yavas, Jongyeop Kim, Lei Chen, Christopher Kadlec, Yiming Ji

Information Technology: Faculty Publications

What makes a wine exceptional enough to score a perfect 10 from experts? This study explores a data-driven approach to identify the ideal physicochemical composition for wines that could achieve this highest possible rating. Using a dataset of 11 measurable attributes, including alcohol, sulfates, residual sugar, density, and citric acid, for wines rated up to a maximum quality score of 8 by expert tasters, we sought to predict compositions that might enhance wine quality beyond current observations. Our methodology applies a second-degree polynomial ridge regression model, optimized through an exhaustive evaluation of feature combinations. Furthermore, we propose a specific chemical …

Simplification Of Woody Plant Trait Networks Among Communities Along A Climatic Aridity Gradient, Camila D. Medeiros, Santiago Trueba, Christian Henry, Leila R. Fletcher, James A. Lutz, Rodrigo Méndez‐Alonzo, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Lawren Sack

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. Plant ecological strategies are shaped by numerous functional traits and their trade-offs. Trait network analysis enables testing hypotheses for the shifting of trait correlation architecture across communities differing in climate and productivity.

2. We built plant trait networks (PTNs) for 118 species within six communities across an aridity gradient, from forest to semi-desert across the California Floristic Province, based on 34 leaf and wood functional traits, representing hydraulic and photosynthetic function, structure, economics and size. We developed hypotheses for the association of PTN parameters with climate and ecosystem properties, based on theory for the adaptation of species to low …

Human-Ai Collaboration In Writing: A Multidimensional Framework For Creative And Intellectual Authorship, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The integration of AI technologies into the writing process has significantly altered traditional notions of authorship, creativity, and intellectual labor. Historically, writing was seen as a human-driven cognitive and creative exercise, but with the rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, the line between human and AI contributions has become increasingly ambiguous. This paper addresses the limitations of the current sliding scale model, which views AI involvement as ranging from “none” to “complete”. In its place, we propose a new multidimensional framework that more accurately reflects the complexity of human-AI collaboration in writing. The model includes axes …

"Why Do Mushroom Farms In Pa Smell So Bad?", Lorenzo Cena, Daniel Engelbrecht, Jess Hampton, Victor Nwinee

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Victor Nwinee, Daniel Engelbrecht, and Jess Hampton, students of Dr. Lorenzo Cena of Public Health Sciences, present "Why do mushroom farms in PA smell so bad?".

Qualitative Study Of Sexual Orientation In Law Enforcement, Ruby Nelson Brockenberry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) persons working in law enforcement were examined in this qualitative research. While the workplace is often seen as a collaborative setting and efforts to accomplish shared objectives without discrimination or prejudice, this is not always true for LGBTQ law enforcement personnel. This research focused on gender identity and sexual orientation to highlight the difficulties as well as discrimination and harassment which can negatively impact LGBTQ officers’ general well-being. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from a sample of 11 LGBTQ law enforcement officers in the Pee Dee Region. Date was …

Development Of A Self-Management Tool For Individuals With Seizure Clusters: Trial Design And Methodological Report, Molly Mcvoy, Eytan Hirsch, Luisa Londono, Kari Colón-Zimmermann, Jin Seok Cho, Evelyn K. Shih, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Despite advances in anti-seizure medications (ASMs) for people with epilepsy (PWE), adverse outcomes, negative health events (NHEs), and breakthrough seizures remain common. Rescue medication (RM) can better manage repetitive seizures, but barriers to RM use persist. Self-management for PWE and a history of NHEs (SMART) is an evidence-based epilepsy self-management program aimed at reducing barriers and maximizing facilitators to self-care in high-risk PWE. Methods: This 2-phase, ongoing clinical trial adapts SMART to integrate RM support for PWE with repetitive seizures. Phase 1, now completed, used input from an advisory board (AB) of PWE, caregivers, and clinicians to adapt the …

Indiana Statewide Pfas Assessment, Tyler Hoskins, Carolyn Foley, Jason Hoverman, Amanpreet Kohli, Linda S. Lee, Daniele De Almeida Miranda, Graham Peaslee, Marisol Sepúlveda, Marta Venier, Chunjie Xia, Sarah Zack, Zhi Zhou, Lynne Dahmen

Institute for a Sustainable Future Documents

This report provides an overview of the current state of scientific knowledge concerning PFAS, as well as a concise assessment of current and potential impacts of its continued use. It discusses exposure pathways impacting the health of the people, organisms and environment in Indiana and the region. Also included are recommendations regarding pressing challenges and how individuals can work to reduce the presence of PFAS while also limiting exposure and negative impacts.

Humans In Africa’S Wet Tropical Forests 150 Thousand Years Ago, Eslem Ben Arous, James A. Blinkhorn, Sarah Elliott, Christopher A. Kiathipes, Charles D. N'Zi, Mark D. Bateman, Mathieu Duval, Patrick Roberts, Robert Patalano, Alexander F. Blackwood, Khady Niang, Eugénie Affoua Kouamé, Edith Lebato, Emily Hallett, Jacopo N. Cerasoni, Erin Scott, Jana Ilgner, Maria Jesús Alonso Escarza, Francois Yodé Guédé, Eleanor M.L. Scerri

Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department Faculty Journal Articles

Humans emerged across Africa shortly before 300 thousand years ago (ka)1,2,3. Although this pan-African evolutionary process implicates diverse environments in the human story, the role of tropical forests remains poorly understood. Here we report a clear association between late Middle Pleistocene material culture and a wet tropical forest in southern Côte d’Ivoire, a region of present-day rainforest. Twinned optically stimulated luminescence and electron spin resonance dating methods constrain the onset of human occupations at Bété I to around 150 ka, linking them with Homo sapiens. Plant wax biomarker, stable isotope, phytolith and pollen …