Digital Commons Network^™

Forget The All-Nighter: How Sleep Boosts Memory Consolidation, Paula Sorić

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

Kenyon College Neuroscience Department Faculty And Staff

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

Sars-Cov-2 Detection And Persistence In A Remote Amazonian Settlement, Glauco M. Silva, Roberto C. Ilacqua, Franciely G. Gonçalves, Carla M. Santana, Felipe T. Jordão, Paula R. Prist, Melissa S. Nolan Ph.D., Mph, Andreia F. Brilhante, Marcia A. Sperança, Gabriel Z. Laporta

Faculty Publications

Background: COVID-19 continues to pose a major global health challenge. Despite its geographic distance from Brazil’s major urban centers, Acre state has experienced notable outbreaks. This study assessed the detection and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the rural settlement of Santa Luzia, located in the remote municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre state, Brazil. Methods: In July 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at 40 sites from an ongoing environmental study, selected by deforestation patterns and proximity to health posts. Saliva samples were collected from residents aged 5–90 years, followed by nucleic acid extraction and multiplex RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Results: …

Differences In Motivation For Biology Learning: A Measurement Invariance Testing And Latent Mean Comparison Approach, Ting Dai, Kuan Xing, Avi Kaplan, Jennifer G. Cromley, Kyle R. Mara, Tony Perez

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Educational and psychological research often involves comparing motivation across groups. It is critical to ensure that observed differences in motivation are true variations by group, not due to measurement biases. With a diverse sample of undergraduate students (N = 2200), this study measured internal consistency and gathered validity evidence based on the internal structure of five motivation scales. To compare motivation for biology between groups of undergraduate students, this study tested for measurement scalar invariance by group and, accordingly, conducted latent factor mean comparisons to understand true group differences. On average, female students held lower expectancy beliefs and self-efficacy …

Designing Tpack-Driven Mobile Learning With Digital Citizenship For Biology Education: Insights From Ngt And Ism Approaches, Cik Jamaliah Abd Manaf, Shakinaz Desa, Muhamad Ikhwan Mat Saad, Helen Crompton

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The rapid digitization of education and the complexity of scientific content demand the integration of digital citizenship in TPACK-based mobile learning for Biology. This study aimed to identify and prioritize relevant digital citizenship practices using a Design and Development Research approach. In Phase One, the Nominal Group Technique with 10 experts evaluated eight proposed practices. Phase Two employed Interpretive Structural Modeling with nine experts to structure hierarchical relationships. Seven practices were retained, with Ethical Use of Digital Resources as the top-level driver. The resulting framework supports ethical and discipline-specific mobile learning models, promoting responsible digital engagement in Biology education.

Bridging The Gap: The Role Of Parent-Teacher Perception In Child Developmental Outcomes, Mckayla Jensen, Mikaela J. Dufur, Jonathan A. Jarvis, Shana L. Pribesh

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Time spent with parents and educators encompasses a large portion of a child’s waking hours, with the home and early childhood education and care serving as two of the first settings in which children develop social and cognitive abilities. While previous studies have used social and cognitive tests to examine antecedents of child behavior, we extend such studies to take into account the congruence and incongruence of parents’ and teachers’ views on those antecedents. We examine the importance of parent-teacher alignment on the perceptions of a child’s personality and abilities in early development. Methods: Parents and teachers of 2968 …

Impact Of Teriparatide On Surgical And Medical Outcomes In Osteoporotic Patients Undergoing Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion, Samuel Akhnoukh, Uttsav Patel, Kenny Ling, Ivan Zapolsky

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

Background: Osteoporotic patients undergoing multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) are at increased risk of pseudarthrosis and perioperative complications, including higher rates of reoperation compared to non-osteoporotic individuals. Teriparatide, an anabolic agent used in osteoporosis treatment, has shown promise in enhancing fusion and reducing complications in lumbar spine procedures, but its role in multi-level ACDF remains unclear.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of postoperative teriparatide use on outcomes in osteoporotic patients undergoing multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Specifically, the study aimed to determine whether teriparatide could reduce long-term complications such as …

Association Between Glp-1 Agonist Use And Site-Specific Fracture Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis, Nathan Zou, Joseph Bisiani, Brian Lynch

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

Background: Type 2 diabetes and obesity rates are expected to rise, possibly increasing the usage of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Use of these agents for nondiabetic patients for weight loss I s approaching the number prescribed for diabetes. GLP-1 agonists may influence bone metabolism by promoting formation and reducing resorption, but their impact on fracture risk remains unclear. While some studies show no association, others suggest increased vulnerability. Most prior research has examined overall fracture risk without considering specific skeletal sites. This study aimed to compare site-specific fracture rates in adults with T2DM or obesity receiving GLP-1 therapy with those …

2025 Jan Term Course Catalog, Saint Mary's College Of California

Jan Term Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

Dirty Water, Breanna Booker, Michael S. Sinha

All Faculty Scholarship

Plastics are taking over. Every day, humans are exposed to plastic pollutants in a variety of ways. From the water we use to water crops in the field, to the water in our taps, to the liquids we drink from plastic containers, it can be found virtually anywhere you look. Not only is it everywhere in the environment, but it is also within us. It builds up in our bodies. Plastics have become a major public health concern; researchers estimate that the total healthcare cost related to plastic chemicals may be as much as $250 billion.[1]

Water has always …

An Indecent Exposure Of The Rules Of Legal Ethics, Lauren E. Bartlett

All Faculty Scholarship

Thousands of attorneys experience rape and sexual assault by clients, as well as indecent exposure, public masturbation, unwanted touching, verbal threats, and stalking. These incidents are not often publicly reported, but client sexual violence against attorneys is not uncommon. The ethical rules currently fail to account for an attorney who has experienced client sexual violence, whether to allow for termination of representation or to mitigate future harm to other lawyers. While the ethical rules are usually thought of as neutral, this Article critically examines the gender stereotypes and structures of oppression corseting the rules. Relying on a fifty-state survey of …

Niclosamide-Loaded Polyanhydride Nanoparticles To Combat Gemcitabine Resistance In Pancreatic Cancer, Brianna M. White, Venugopal Gunda, Susheel Kumar Nethi, Nagabhishek Sirpu Natesh, Adam S. Mullis, Mariaelena Roman Sotelo, Jeffrey North, Chris Destache, Balaji Narasimhan, Surinder K. Batra, Surya K. Mallapragada, Satyanarayan Rachagani

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Purpose

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal malignancy and lacks effective treatments. Current chemotherapies, including gemcitabine (Gem) in combination treatment regimens, produce dose-limiting toxicity, drug resistance, and ultimately limited improvement in the overall survival of PC patients. Niclosamide (Nic), a clinically safe FDA-approved anthelmintic drug has been shown to have anti-cancer properties; however, its limited bioavailability makes Nic largely ineffective as a therapeutic agent. To address this challenge, we have developed a novel combination therapy of Gem with the repurposed drug, Nic, loaded in biodegradable polyanhydride nanoparticles (NicNp), as an effective treatment option for PC.

Methods

We synthesized and …

Proteomics Profiling Of Research Models For Studying Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mathilde Resell, Hanne-Line Rabben, Animesh Sharma, Lars Hagen, Linh Hoang, Nan T. Skogaker, Anne Aarvik, Eirik Knudsen Bjåstad, Magnus K. Svensson, Manoj Amrutkar, Caroline S. Verbeke, Surinder K. Batra, Gunnar Qvigstad, Timothy C. Wang, Anil Rustgi, Duan Chen, Chun-Mei Zhao

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with a five-year survival rate of 10-15% due to late-stage diagnosis and limited efficacy of existing treatments. This study utilized proteomics-based systems modelling to generate multimodal datasets from various research models, including PDAC cells, spheroids, organoids, and tissues derived from murine and human samples. Identical mass spectrometry-based proteomics was applied across the different models. The preparation and validation of the research models and the proteomics were described in detail. The assembly datasets we present here contribute to the data collection on PDAC, which will be useful for systems modelling, …

Metabolic And Proteomic Signatures Differentiate Inflammatory Phenotypes From Cancer And Predict Treatment Response In Patient Sera, Gabriel Cutshaw, Elena V. Demidova, Philip Czyzewicz, Elizabeth Quam, Nicole Lorang, Al Warith Al Siyabi, Surinder K. Batra, Sanjeevani Arora, Rizia Bardhan

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Tumors shift their metabolic needs to enable uncontrolled proliferation. Therefore, metabolic assessment of cancer patient sera provides a significant opportunity to noninvasively monitor disease progression and enable mechanistic understanding of the pathways that lead to response. Here, we show Raman spectroscopy (RS), a highly sensitive and label-free analytical tool, is effective in metabolic profiling across diverse cancer types in patient sera from both pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). We also combine metabolic data with proteomic signatures to predict treatment response. Our data show RS peaks successfully differentiate PDAC patients from healthy controls. Peaks associated with …

Brightly Visualizing Pancreatic Cancer Margins In Orthotopic Mouse Models With An Anti-Ca19-9 Antibody Conjugated To A Near-Infrared Fluorophore, Kristin E. Cox, Javier Bravo, Sunidhi Jaiswal, Siamak Amirfakhri, Thinzar M. Lwin, Abhijit Aithal, Sumbal Talib, Lily J. Jih, Aylin Din Parast Saleh, Keita Kobayashi, Kavita Mallya, Maneesh Jain, Robert M. Hoffman, Aaron M. Mohs, Surinder K. Batra, Michael Bouvet

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Background/Purpose: The only potentially curative procedure for pancreatic cancer is R0 resection, which is difficult to achieve due to poorly defined tumor margins. In the present study, we used an anti-CA19-9 antibody conjugated to a near-infrared fluorophore in orthotopic mouse models to target and visualize pancreatic cancer. Methods: Orthotopic models of the human pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990 and BxPC3 were established by implanting tumor fragments into the pancreas of athymic nude mice. Anti-CA19-9 and control IgG were conjugated with IRDye800CW. Mice received 50 µg of CA19-9-IRDye800CW or IgG-IRDye800CW via tail-vein injection and were imaged after 72 h. MIA PaCa-2, …

Niclosamide Nanoparticles Enhance Pancreatic Cancer Sensitivity To Gemcitabine Via Hif-1Α Inhibition, Susheel Kumar Nethi, Venugopal Gunda, Nagabhishek Sirpu Natesh, Brianna M. White, Adam S. Mullis, Balaji Narasimhan, Surinder K. Batra, Surya K. Mallapragada, Satyanarayana Rachagani

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic cancer (PC) exhibits profound metabolic adaptations that support tumor progression, survival, and therapy resistance. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a key regulator of these processes, promoting metabolic reprogramming and chemoresistance. Given that mitochondrial metabolites modulate HIF-1α stability, targeting mitochondrial metabolism offers a promising therapeutic strategy. Niclosamide (Nic), a clinically approved anthelmintic, disrupts mitochondrial function but is limited by poor bioavailability. To overcome this, we developed polyanhydride-based Nic nanoparticles (NicNps) to enhance bioavailability and efficacy. NicNps impaired mitochondrial function, suppressed metabolism, downregulated HIF-1α, and inhibited growth of PC cells and orthotopic gemcitabine (Gem)-resistant mouse tumor models. Notably, NicNps combined with Gem …

About Face: Does Men’S Facial Symmetry Affect Evolutionary Trait Ratings?, Emma G. Kelly, T. Joel Wade

Faculty Journal Articles

Some past research indicates that facial symmetry increases ratings of attractiveness. However, more recent research finds that facial symmetry does not affect ratings of men's attractiveness, or is not an important component of men's facial attractiveness. But, prior research has not examined whether facial symmetry affects evolutionary trait ratings. The present research sought to fill that dearth by investigating whether male facial symmetry influences women's ratings of men's attractiveness and evolutionary traits. No significant effects for facial symmetry occurred. However, there were significant effects for ratings of evolutionary traits regardless of facial symmetry. Of the 19 traits, the traits: status, …

Using Abandoned Model Systems And Historical Literature To Teach Modern Concepts And Techniques In Cell Biology, Leocadia V. Paliulis, Gunar Fabig, Sandra Stein, Silke Tulok, Anja Nobst, Chukwuebuka William Okafornta, Thomas Kurth, Thomas Müller-Reichert

Faculty Journal Articles

The cell biology literature of the 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries is full of the seminal works that were critical for the development of our current understanding of biology but were done using model systems that are no longer commonly used. We argue that these historical papers are ideal for the development of course-based research experiences, both because the background work is conceptually and technically straightforward, and because the study of the abandoned systems stopped prior to the availability of modern techniques. These abandoned systems offer outstanding opportunities for teaching modern light and electron microscopy techniques, thus providing students with …

Privileging Genetic Privacy, Natalie Ram

Emory Law Journal

Right now, research is being done on the genetic material or genetic information of practically every person in the United States, often without their knowledge or consent. These vast stores of research materials offer a tempting target for law enforcement, who have sought to obtain DNA profiles from as many sources as possible. This Article makes the case that this scenario should trouble us—and also that there are existing legal tools that could guard against it.

In so doing, it makes four contributions to the existing literature. First, it identifies the unique features of research genetic data that make …

The Militarization Of Space: The Cold War And The Space Race, Malin Wahl

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

The weaponization of space during the Cold War would have posed a significant threat to global security if left unchecked. The Cold War showcased the ideological rivalry between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and their development of a nuclear arsenal. Space was an unexplored domain that actors thought could be weaponized and even become a strategic advantage if a war between these superpowers broke out. The decision to not militarize space, not place orbital weapons in space, and not utilize weapons of mass destruction came from a standoff in which both parties could …

The War On Knowledge And How Everyone Is A Part Of The Problem: Through The Lens Of Science Communication And The Trump Administration, Aidan D. Valcich

CEG 450 Cultural, Environmental, and Global Studies Capstone

Science communication as an emerging field of study has become increasingly important in the age of the internet and rapid information dissemination. The work of science communication focuses on the complexities of communicating sciences between experts and non-experts such as politicians and laymen. The importance is not only communicating the science but also why everyone, not just the experts, should care. In what has been called the War on Knowledge, there has been an increase in attacks against science and academia. A major example of this is in the United States during both of the presidential terms of Donald Trump. …

Scalable Machine Learning Framework For Adaptive Irrigation Management Of Maize And Soybean In The U.S. Midwest, Precious N. Amori, Derek M. Heeren, Yeyin Shi, Eric Wilkening, Ivo Z. Goncalves, Guillermo R. Balboa, Daran R. Rudnick, Abia Katimbo, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Conventional soil water balance (SWB) irrigation scheduling tools, such as FAO-56-based Spreadsheets and the Spatial Evapotranspiration Modeling Interface (SETMI), rely heavily on manual inputs and periodic field measurements, leading to delayed recommendations and missed opportunities to prevent crop stress. More critically, these tools lack the computational scalability and adaptability to leverage the high-frequency, high-volume datasets now available through modern sensing technologies. As precision irrigation increasingly depends on integrating spatially and temporally nuanced field information, there is a pressing need for decision-support systems that can process Big Data efficiently and respond in real-time. To overcome these limitations, we developed and validated …

Regulation Of Haemodynamic Variables By Laguerre Polynomials Based Model Predictive Control., Sai Sandeep Boda, Hiren Kumar G. Patel, Khyati D. Mistry

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Purpose: Cardiac output (CO) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) are two haemodynamic variables that need regulation in clinical situations, particularly in post-cardiac surgery patients. As it is difficult for clinical personnel to monitor continuously, automatic drug infusion to regulate MAP and CO is recommended and essential in the medical environment. Methods: Two input and two output patient model was used in this work to study the variation of haemodynamic variables in response to the infusion of Dopamine (DP) and Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) drugs. Model predictive control (MPC) algorithm was exercised here as it was a well-established technique to regulate output …

A Critical Examination Of Scent Avoidance And Olfactory Development After Neonatal Predator Scent Exposure, Cynthia Ware

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The long-standing assumption that predator odor avoidance in rodents is an innate survival mechanism has shaped decades of behavioral neuroscience research and underpins translational models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, developmental systems theory (DST) posits that behaviors emerge from dynamic interactions across physiological and environmental systems over time, rather than from fixed genetic programs. This study critically evaluates the developmental plasticity of predator scent aversion by examining whether early-life exposure to red fox urine (a natural predator odor) can attenuate avoidance behaviors in Long–Evans rats. Seventy-one rats were bred into three conditions: Control (no exposure), Partial (exposure from birth), …

The Role Of Heterotrophy In The Response Of Oculina Arbuscula To Ocean Acidification, Alejandra E. Daniel

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

On both tropical and temperate reefs, the calcium carbonate skeletons produced by scleractinian corals provide habitat that supports a high biodiversity of fishes and invertebrates. Ocean acidification (OA), driven by excess anthropogenic CO₂ uptake, causes declines in seawater pH and carbonate ion concentration and can compromise coral calcification by causing increased energetic demands. Deciphering how corals meet this increased energetic demand is critical to predicting their future persistence. Oculina arbuscula is a facultatively symbiotic temperate coral common on subtropical reefs of the South Atlantic Bight. This coral has demonstrated calcification resilience to reduced pH conditions in both symbiotic and …

Bio-Inspired Airfoil Design Based On The Aerodynamic Analysis Of A Bird Feather Microstructure, Jack C. Ihm

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of a bio-inspired airfoil design based on the microstructure of a secondary feather from a female wood duck. The research hypothesized that incorporating barbs and barbules into an airfoil design would modify boundary layer behavior by introducing localized flow disturbances. To test this, a bio-inspired airfoil was developed by integrating the microstructure into a NACA 0012 airfoil and analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations at angles of attack of 0°, 5°, 10°, and 15°. The results showed that the bio-inspired airfoil influenced boundary layer behavior, producing localized flow disturbances near x/c = 0.7 …

Educator Perceptions Of Crisis Frequency And Levels Of Preparedness In Rural Schools, Misty C. Duncan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recent national trends, particularly in rural education, highlight the urgent need for enhanced crisis prevention and intervention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of crisis frequency and preparedness among rural educators. Through a survey, data were collected on participants' perceptions of crisis frequency and preparedness across various crisis areas. Preliminary findings revealed a significant gap between the perceived level of preparedness and the actual needs for school safety. Despite some training, the quantity and quality of training received by rural educators varied widely, impacting their preparedness to respond to crises. Moreover, an alarming percentage of educators reported not …

Survey And Identification Of Entomopathogenic Fungi In Millipede Species In Coastal Georgia, Kristin L. Campbell Bailey

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Entomopathogenic fungi are well-known, species-specific pathogens of a wide diversity of insects that infect, manipulate, and kill their insect hosts to complete their life cycle. Recently in Savannah, Georgia, millipedes belonging to the genus Eurymerodesmus were observed exhibiting pre-death climbing behaviors associated with pathogenic fungal infection. Dying millipedes summited vegetation and subsequently died in elevated positions along edge habitat transitioning a recreational field and forest. Upon inspection, fungal structures found emerging from dead millipedes anatomically resembled Arthrophaga myriapodina, which is the first documented entomophthoralean fungus to infect millipedes. The goal of this research was to obtain species-level identification of the …

Becoming, Being, And Belonging: Exploring The Intersections Of Black Manhood, Sexuality, And Rural Education Through Self-Study Using Ethno-Dramatic Renderings, Javious Canty

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Studies that center Black male teachers often lack nuance and tend to look at them as a monolithic group. This dissertation uses Quare theory (Johnson, 2001), African American Male Theory (AAMT) (Bush & Bush, 2013), along with self-study methodology represented through fictionalized ethno-dramatic scenes to examine the teaching practices of a queer Black male teacher in a rural context and the impact he has on the achievement of his rural Black students. One finding from this study is that breaking through Quare barriers using community, resilience, and cultural awareness leads to success. Another finding is that rural spaces carry educational …

A Feminist Narrative Shaped By Bangladesh’S Threads, Salma Akter

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersection of feminist theory and artistic practice, examining how materiality and abstraction reflect gender norms within the socio-political, religious, and colonial context of Bangladesh. It is grounded in four key theoretical frameworks: judith butler’s gender performativity, bell hooks’ intersectional feminism, julia kristeva’s abjection and systems theory. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive lens for analyzing how gender inequality is constructed, maintained, and resisted within the socio-political, religious, and colonial context of Bangladesh. Textile-based media serve as a means to engage with these layered systems, drawing from traditional nakshi kantha embroidery to explore patterns of labor, domesticity, …