Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Risk Factors For Early-Onset Breast Cancer, Jennifer Grace Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: There have been great advancements in screening and in the identifying of risk factors associated with breast cancer, however, there is a lack of information of these factors in women with breast cancer occurring under the age of 45, known as early-onset breast cancer (EOBC). EOBC is often found at later stages, negatively impacting young women’s careers, family planning, and mental health. Additionally, because of the health disparities that exist within the U.S. health care system, women belonging to racial and ethnic groups, specifically young Black women, tend to have poorer outcomes and higher mortality rates of EOBC …

Lexical Access In Women With The Fmr1 Premutation, Nadia Sabeh Ayon

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Emergent research indicates that women carrying the FMR1 premutation (FXpm) may encounter difficulties in language skills, including increased dysfluencies, a reduction in the quantity and diversity of words produced, and increased word retrieval errors with age (Sterling et al., 2013; Bredin-Oja et al., 2021). Objectives: The present study aims to assess semantic and phonological lexical access skills in FXpm women as well as to examine the impact of cognitive load (time pressure) on lexical access.

Methods: Forty-two FXpm women and 25 control women, aged 26-65 years (M=46.22, age-matched: p=.115), participated. The Network Production Task (Oomen & Postma, 2001), featuring …

Enhancing Water Sustainability In North Africa: Literature Review And Synthesis Of Current Knowledge Gaps In Sudan, Osman M. A. Adam, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Derek M. Heeren, Troy E. Gilmore

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

This study delves into the critical role of groundwater in addressing global water challenges, with a focus on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in North Africa. Groundwater constitutes a source of potable water, irrigation, and industrial use, especially in arid regions where surface water is limited. We analyzed the status of water quantity, withdrawals, recharge, and geological characteristics in the NSAS, specifically in Sudan, Egypt, Libya, and Chad. Though the NSAS is largely an untapped resource, we evaluated various scenarios to determine the quantity of cropland that can be sustainably irrigated. The NSAS is located in an arid region, …

Assessing Soil Properties For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib Hamid, Derek M. Heeren, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Saleh Taghvaeian, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Sustainable irrigation methods maximize agricultural productivity in Northern African countries like Sudan. This project evaluates soil properties to develop optimized irrigation strategies for Sudan's arid and semi-arid climate. Assessing soil characteristics such as texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content informs the selection of modern irrigation systems. Data from 3,192 locations, collected using GPS and ring infiltrometers for infiltration rates, alongside laboratory analyses for soil properties, were employed. A ranking system determined suitable irrigation systems for specific soil classes, considering factors like slope, wind, crop tolerance, available water capacity (AWC), drainage, germination, capital cost, labor cost, maintenance, and evapotranspiration (ET). The …

Assessing The Prevalence And Knowledge Of Anabolic Steroid Use In Male Athletes In Al Madina Al Munawara, Saudi Arabia, Bandar D. Alrehaili, Samar F. Miski, Fahad M. Alzahrani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of anabolic steroid use and the level of knowledge on anabolic steroids among the male athletes in Al Madina Al Munawara, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on male athletes randomly selected from the private athletic centers in Al Madina Al Munawara over 5 months. Data were collected from all participants using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire with 33 questions. The questionnaire covered the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, and their knowledge, attitudes, and use of anabolic steroids. Results: Of the 150 male athletes surveyed, 121 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 80.6%). Over half …

Drug-Coated Balloons Versus Conventional Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty For Treatment-Naïve Dysfunctional Arteriovenous Fistulas.: A 10-Year Single Center Retrospective Study, Abdulaziz Alqubaisi, Mohammad Arabi, Yousof Alzahrani, Omar Bashir

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To compare the primary patency and restenosis rates in treatment naieve dialysis arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) after drug-coated balloons (DCB) versus plain balloon angioplasty (PTA). Methods: This retrospective study included 157 patients who underwent AVF angioplasty for treatment-native AVF stenosis between January 2012 to 2022. The fistulas were Brachiocephalic (75%), Brachiobasilic (17%), and radiocephalic (8%). The index intervention was with either DCB or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with subsequent follow up. Patients with central venous stenosis, thrombosed fistula, fistula stents, AV graft or surgical intervention after the index procedure were excluded. Results: Arteriovenous fistula angioplasty was done in 28 patients …

Toward A Biometric Privacy Act To Protect Individual Rights: What The United States Can Learn From The European Union And China, Sophia Hilsman

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note examines the regulatory frameworks governing biometric AI technologies, particularly facial recognition, in the United States, China, and the European Union. It argues that the U.S. currently lacks comprehensive federal legislation to protect individuals' privacy and civil liberties in the face of advancing biometric technologies. The analysis advocates for a balanced regulatory approach that mitigates the risks of mass surveillance and erosion of privacy while allowing for beneficial uses of biometric AI. The author proposes that Congress should adopt federal legislation modeled after the EU's GDPR to establish a baseline for biometric data protection, ensuring consistency and stronger safeguards …

Undergraduate Curriculum, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Financial Aid, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Core-Designated Courses, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Majors And Minors, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

The Schools, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Neutrosophic Hypothesis To Validate The Efficacy And Safety Of Propolis In The Treatment Of External Bacterial Otitis In Canines, Nancy M. Cueva-Salazar

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Propolis, known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and anti-parasitic properties, has been the subject of this study to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of bacterial external otitis in domestic canines. Through questionnaires administered to veterinary experts and the use of neutrosophic logic for hypothesis test-ing, perceptions based on clinical experiences and scientific literature were analyzed. The results indicate strong agree-ment that propolis is effective and safe, surpassing some aspects of conventional antibiotic treatments and demonstrating high tolerability without serious side effects. This acceptance underscores its potential as a natural alternative in veterinary treatments, particularly valuable …

Proceedings Of The International Conference Called Neutrosophy And Plithogeny: Fundamentals And Applications, 8-9 July 2024, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Lima, Peru, Florentin Smarandache, Mohamed Abdel-Basset, Maikel Y. Leyva-Vázquez, Said Broumi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

We are pleased to present this special issue dedicated to the Neutrosophic approaches in research, on the occasion of the international and multidisciplinary conference Neutrosophy and Plithogeny: Fundamentals and Applications (Spanish) held at the Universidad César Vallejo in Lima, Peru, on July 8 and 9. This event marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time that the Andean region and Latin America host scholars and researchers dedicated to studying various theoretical and applicative issues in the expansive and diverse field of Neutrosophic approaches. Since its conception, Neutrosophic theory has proven to be an interdisciplinary and innovative field, notably …

Neutrosophic Statistical Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Biostimulants In Amaranth Varieties, Carlos Torres Miño, Christina Lozano, Emerson Jácome, David Carrera Molina, Murat Gins

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study evaluated the effects of biostimulants on two varieties of amaranth, Valentina (Amaranthus tricolor) and Ne-zhenka (Amaranthus hybridus), in terms of germination, growth, and biomass production. Using neutrosophic statistics allowed for the measurement of indeterminacies and the analysis of variables such as days to germination, stem length, number of leaves, and biomass production. The results showed that seaweed extract was the most effective biostimulant, accelerating germination, increasing stem length and the number of leaves, and maximizing biomass production. Mean-while, Nezhenka stood out for its superior biomass production, especially with seaweed extract, while Valentina was no-table for its rapid germination. …

Application Of Neutrosophic Statistics In The Integrated Management Of Ceratitis Capitata In Ecuador, Emerson J. Jácome-Mogro, Álvaro Alarcón Chuque, Cristian Jiménez Jácome, Pablo Carhuapoma, Heidi Gamarra, Jan Kreuze

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study has addressed the management of Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fly) in Ecuador, focused on mitigating the impact on fruit crops under the influence of climate change and variations in agricultural practices. By using neutrosophic statistics, the study has modeled uncertainty in climatic and agricultural variables to improve the prediction and adaptabil-ity of management strategies. Integrated strategies have been proposed, which have included biological control, cultural management, and the use of insecticides, highlighting the effectiveness of adapting management practices based on neu-trosophic analysis. The results indicated that the adaptations of strategies, provided by neutrosophic statistics, allowed an effective response to …

Optimizing Pest Management In Sugarcane Cultivation: An Integrative Approach Using Neutrosophic Statistics And Plithogenic Analysis, Dania D. Valencia-Yaguana, Sergio F. Moreno-Faconda, Marco A. Rivera-Moreno

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Pest management in modern agriculture, particularly in sugarcane cultivation, faces the challenge of balancing efficacy, costs, and environmental sustainability. Among the notable pests, the spittlebug (Mahanarva andigena) emerged as a significant threat that reduced yields of sugar and other derivatives. Traditionally, it was controlled with chemical pesticides, which posed environmental and human health risks. Consequently, the study conducted analyzed alternatives by using neutrosophic statistics and plithogenic analysis. The results included evaluating factors such as product concentration, application frequency, environmental conditions, and pest resistance to determine the efficacy of treatments with entomopathogenic microorganisms. Eficax stood out as the best treatment, showing …

Exploring The Impact Of Performance Audits On The Management Of Public Organizations Through The Analysis Of Plithogenic Statistics, César U. Marín-Eléspuru, David M. Melgarejo-Mariño, Edgar A. Solsol-Hidalgo, Domingo Chiroque-Sernaqué, José Ricardo Balbuena Hernández

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Exploring the impact of performance audits on public company management becomes a crucial field of study, highlighting how these critical assessments not only reveal operational effectiveness but also shape strategic and policy decisions. Plithogenic statistics analysis, in particular, emerges as an innovative approach that goes beyond traditional methods, introducing the inherent complexity of multiple interdependent variables and their dynamic effects on organizational outcomes. This statistical framework not only captures the inherent fluctuations in the data, but also unravels the root causes of varying performances, providing deep insights that challenge static perceptions of public administration. From a practical perspective, plithogenic analysis …

Neutrogeometry And Fractal Geometry, Erick González-Caballero, Maikel Y. Leyva-Vázquez, Noel Batista-Hernández, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Geometries are structures with certain elements like points, lines, planes, and spaces, among others, that satisfy certain definitions, axioms, properties, and theorems for the total of the elements. NeutroGeometries are geometric structures that meet at least one of these concepts only partially, never for 100% or 0% of the elements. Until now, NeutroGeometries have been developed from the ideas of classical geometries such as Euclidean, Hyperbolic, Elliptic, Mixed (Smarandache) geometries, among others where axiomatization is the basis of their construction. This paper aims to discuss some ideas about the relationship between NeutroGeometries and fractal geometry. This relation is not necessarily …

Neutrosophic Sets And Systems {Proceedings Of The International Conference Called Neutrogeometry, Neutroalgebra, And Their Applications, Universidad De Habana, Cuban Academy Of Sciences Et Al., Havana, Cuba, 12-14 August 2024}, Florentin Smarandache, Mohamed Abdel-Basset, Maikel Y. Leyva-Vázquez, Said Broumi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

It is an honor to present this special issue of our journal, dedicated to the Conference on NeutroGeometry, NeutroAlgebra, and Their Applications, organized by the Latin American Association of Neutrosophic Sciences. This event, which took place on August 12-14, 2024, in Havana, Cuba, was made possible by the valuable collaboration of the University of Havana, the University of Physical Culture and Sports Sciences "Manuel Fajardo," the José Antonio Echeverría University of Technology, University of Informatics Sciences and the Cuban Academy of Sciences among other institutions. In 2019 Smarandache generalized the classical Algebraic Structures to NeutroAlgebraic Structures (or NeutroAlgebras) {whose operations …

Plithogenic Hypothesis In Social Innovation: An Analysis Of Its Evolution And Its Relationship With The Social Economy, Mercedes Anabel Monar Verdezoto, Hernán Arturo Rojas Sánchez, Javier Arturo Rojas Urbano, Jorge Briceño

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The paper examines the connection between social innovation, social enterprises, and the social economy using the plithogenic hypothesis as a framework. The text highlights a significant deficiency in the existing body of research, specifically pointing out the lack of a unified approach that combines many views to thoroughly evaluate the influence of social innovation on economic growth. The study utilizes sophisticated analytical tools to investigate the interplay between these variables and their impact on the wider social economy. The results demonstrate that although there is a growing acknowledgment of the significance of social innovation and companies, the absence of precise …

Systemic Regulation Of Artificial Intelligence, Yonathan Arbel, Matthew Tokson, Albert Lin

Articles

Today's artificial intelligence ("AI") systems exhibit increasing capabilities across a remarkable variety of tasks. The rapid growth in AI ability has caught the attention of policymakers, parliaments, and the United Nations. These entities are increasingly looking towards regulating AI, not only in its particular applications, but as a technology. Yet legal scholarship has thus far offered little to this new and critical regulatory conversation, which has instead been dominated by computer scientists and technologists.

This Article begins the project of assessing AI's broader risks and law's role in addressing them. These risks are wide ranging -they span harms to vulnerable …

Association Of Candidate Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotypes With Plasma And Skin Carotenoid Concentrations In Adults Provided A Lycopene-Rich Juice, Anna C Norman, Daniel G Palmer, Nancy E Moran, James N Roemmich, Shanon L Casperson

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Carotenoids are fat-soluble phytochemicals with biological roles, including ultraviolet protective functions in skin. Spectroscopic skin carotenoid measurements can also serve as a noninvasive biomarker for carotenoid consumption. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in metabolic genes are associated with human plasma carotenoid concentrations; however, their relationships with skin carotenoid concentrations are unknown.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between 13 candidate SNPs with skin and plasma carotenoid concentrations before and after a carotenoid-rich tomato juice intervention.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled trial, participants (n = 80) were provided with lycopene-rich vegetable juice providing low (13.1 mg), medium …

Outcomes Of The Emdataresource Cryo-Em Ligand Modeling Challenge, Catherine L Lawson, Andriy Kryshtafovych, Grigore D Pintilie, Stephen K Burley, Jiří Černý, Vincent B Chen, Paul Emsley, Alberto Gobbi, Andrzej Joachimiak, Sigrid Noreng, Michael G Prisant, Randy J Read, Jane S Richardson, Alexis L Rohou, Bohdan Schneider, Benjamin D Sellers, Chenghua Shao, Elizabeth Sourial, Chris I Williams, Christopher J Williams, Ying Yang, Venkat Abbaraju, Pavel V Afonine, Matthew L Baker, Paul S Bond, Tom L Blundell, Tom Burnley, Arthur Campbell, Renzhi Cao, Jianlin Cheng, Grzegorz Chojnowski, K D Cowtan, Frank Dimaio, Reza Esmaeeli, Nabin Giri, Helmut Grubmüller, Soon Wen Hoh, Jie Hou, Corey F Hryc, Carola Hunte, Maxim Igaev, Agnel P Joseph, Wei-Chun Kao, Daisuke Kihara, Dilip Kumar, Lijun Lang, Sean Lin, Sai R Maddhuri Venkata Subramaniya, Sumit Mittal, Arup Mondal, Nigel W Moriarty, Andrew Muenks, Garib N Murshudov, Robert A Nicholls, Mateusz Olek, Colin M Palmer, Alberto Perez, Emmi Pohjolainen, Karunakar R Pothula, Christopher N Rowley, Daipayan Sarkar, Luisa U Schäfer, Christopher J Schlicksup, Gunnar F Schröder, Mrinal Shekhar, Dong Si, Abhishek Singharoy, Oleg V Sobolev, Genki Terashi, Andrea C Vaiana, Sundeep C Vedithi, Jacob Verburgt, Xiao Wang, Rangana Warshamanage, Martyn D Winn, Simone Weyand, Keitaro Yamashita, Minglei Zhao, Michael F Schmid, Helen M Berman, Wah Chiu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The EMDataResource Ligand Model Challenge aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of modeling ligands bound to protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps determined at near-atomic (1.9-2.5 Å) resolution. Three published maps were selected as targets: Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase with inhibitor, SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with covalently bound nucleotide analog and SARS-CoV-2 virus ion channel ORF3a with bound lipid. Sixty-one models were submitted from 17 independent research groups, each with supporting workflow details. The quality of submitted ligand models and surrounding atoms were analyzed by visual inspection and quantification of local map quality, model-to-map …

Characterizing The Quorum Sensing (Qs) System In The Model Eukaryote Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Kirstin Donnette Cutshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Group behaviors in microorganisms are often regulated by low-molecular weight molecules that enable them to sense population density, a signaling system known as quorum sensing (QS). QS in prokaryotes has provided insight into the role ‘social’ behaviors play in the bacterial world and refined our models of virulence, bacterial motility, and more. While less common, similar behaviors are observed in certain fungi, primarily yeasts, in which QS controls cell morphology, biofilm production, and other phenotypes. We have recently pursued the potential for QS to be more broadly distributed among unicellular eukaryotes, which could significantly alter our understanding of social behaviors …

Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Uas) To Assess Body Condition Of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus Truncatus) In The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Jessica Jane Provenzano

Theses and Dissertations

Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) have experienced four Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs). This stock is considered immunocompromised and is routinely subjected to persistent anthropogenic stressors such as fishing gear entanglement, vessel strikes, contaminants, and harmful algal blooms. Previous body condition assessments of this stock have involved invasive capture-release examinations or subjective methods using lateral body images. To improve precision, we investigated the use of photogrammetry data collected from noninvasive unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) combined with models developed from capture-release data to estimate morphometric parameters and subsequently determine the body condition of …

Investigating Microbe-Plant Symbioses In Space, David Handy

Theses and Dissertations

As life has evolved on Earth, gravity has been a constant around which biological processes have developed, rather than a pressure that has been adapted to. As humanity ventures into space, we remove this constant and can observe a variety of changes in biological systems, such as bone loss in humans, stunted plant growth, or increased virulence in pathogens. The growing body of data shows that life adapts to spaceflight and microgravity in unique ways that, due to our limited understanding, can be difficult to predict. A particularly under-studied area is that of host-microbe interactions. Despite efforts to limit their …

Innovative 4d Printing Of Biomimetic Collagen-Tcp Scaffolds For Bone Regeneration, Karly Morgan Liebendorfer

Theses and Dissertations

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is a promising alternative approach to autografts and allografts when treating various bone diseases and disorders. BTE enables the fabrication of biocompatible, biomimetic, and osteo-stimulating constructs for the repair and regeneration of damaged bone tissue. The native bone environment primarily consists of anisotropic type 1 collagen (organic) and hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (inorganic). Composite biomimetic scaffolds fabricated by combining collagen with bioceramics have shown immense promise for BTE applications. Prior work has reported on different biofabrication methods to synthesize collagen-based composite scaffolds for use in BTE applications. However, to date, a customizable 3D composite scaffold that resembles the …

Cultural Tightness-Looseness And Optimal Distinctiveness: Examining The Influence Of Culture On The Need To Belong And The Need To Be Different, Hairong Jiang

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of cultural tightness-looseness on optimal distinctiveness motives and group identification, examining the moderating roles of self-construal, global orientation, and tightness/looseness match. Participants (N=465) from the United States and China were randomly assigned to tight or loose conditions and numerically majority or minority group conditions. Experimental manipulation of tightness-looseness did not significantly affect optimal distinctiveness needs. Cultural match, operationalized as alignment of tightness/looseness between participants' own culture and experimental condition, significantly moderated the relationship between culture conditions and need to belong. Individuals with high cultural match showed higher need to belong in tight conditions, while those …

Assessing The Gut Content Of Styela Plicata: A Benthic Filter Feeder In The Indian River Lagoon, Honor Lily Triumph Edmands

Theses and Dissertations

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has experienced declining water quality due to human activities involving nutrient input, leading to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The Living Docks program affixes oyster mats to dock pilings to promote the settlement and recruitment of benthic filter feeders for water quality improvement. However, questions remain about filtering efficiencies of organisms that make up the mat communities, and whether organisms remove harmful species from the IRL. The pleated sea squirt, Styela plicata, is a common oyster mat resident. The goal of this thesis was to investigate what phytoplankton and bacteria S. plicata consumes, and if …