Digital Commons Network^™

Vo: The Vaccine Ontology, Jie Zheng, Asiyah Yu Lin, Anthony Huffman, Anna Maria Masci, Rebecca Racz, Guanming Wu, Kallan Roan, Edison Ong, Sirarat Sarntivijai, Joy Hu, Eliyas Asfaw, Hayleigh Kahn, Xingxian Li, Xumeng Zhang, Joshua Monickaraj, Nilufer Kosar, Jianfu Li, Warren Manuel, Rashmie Abeysinghe, Hasin Rehana, Benu Bansal, Yuanyi Pan, Jinjing Guo, Virginia He, Justin Song, Andrey I Seleznev, Katelyn Hur, Anna He, Alexander Davydov, Qi Yang, Anna Ostropolets, Randi Vita, Bjoern Peters, Alan Ruttenberg, Alexander D Diehl, Charles Tapley Hoyt, Paola Roncaglia, Rachael P Huntley, Richard H Scheuermann, Melanie Courtot, Thomas Todd, Samantha Sayers, Fang Chen, Xinna Li, Feng-Yu Yeh, Zuoshuang Xiang, Arzucan Ozgur, Patricia L Whetzel, Mark A Musen, Christopher J Mungall, Wolfgang W Leitner, Licong Cui, Lesley A Colby, Harry L T Mobley, Brian D Athey, Gilbert S Omenn, Lindsay G Cowell, Cui Tao, Junguk Hur, Barry Smith, Yongqun He

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Vaccines are widely used in both research and clinical settings. To facilitate FAIR data practices, we urgently need to standardize vaccine representation, integrate information across diverse vaccine types, and support computer-assisted reasoning. Accordingly, we have since 2007 developed the community-based Vaccine Ontology (VO), which aligns with the Basic Formal Ontology and adheres to OBO Foundry principles. VO ontologically models vaccines, vaccine components, vaccine immune responses, vaccine investigation studies and other vaccine-related topics. VO represents more than 10,000 vaccines targeting 289 infectious pathogens and cancers in humans and over 30 nonhuman animal species. VO provides mappings to external resources such as …

Survival Of The Fittest: Extremophilic Actinomycetes As The Future Of Antibiotic Treatment, Kyley Nelson, Ben Reddan

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The antibiotic resistance crisis is an emerging global health threat. In 2019 alone, 1.27 million deaths were attributed to antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and researchers predict the problem will worsen without intervention. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a primary model for this crisis because it utilizes genomic adaptations to bypass β-lactam antibiotics. Although temperate actinomycetes have historically provided the majority of clinical antibiotics, recent bioprospecting has revealed that extremophilic actinomycetes represent a critical untapped resource. These organisms exhibit several adaptations to thrive in extreme environments, which results in the production of novel secondary metabolites and resilient extracellular enzymes. This literature review …

Beyond The Brain: Environmental Forces Driving Α-Synuclein Misfolding And Toxic Aggregation In Parkinson's Disease, Emily Mccarthy

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an advanced neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the proliferation of protein aggregates within the brain. This capstone thesis investigates the unique biochemical environment of the gastrointestinal tract and whether it contributes to the formation of distinctive α-Synuclein (αSyn) aggregates affecting PD. Key promoters of αSyn aggregation include genetic mutations, oxidative stress, post-translational modifications, interactions with metal ions, and dopamine (DA) oxidation. These factors result in diverse structures such as oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils, which result in unique functional outcomes, with oligomeric conformations leading to the highest level of neuronal toxicity. Evidence …

Reclaiming The Writing Process Using Ai: A Scaffolded Writing Assignment That Promotes Critical Thinking, Reflection, And Accountability, Hannah M. Schapiro, Manuela Tripepi, Julia Blackley

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

As the educational landscape changes with the widespread use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), we have made the deliberate choice to adapt with intention through the constructive integration of this tool within the curriculum. Writing assignments are often vulnerable to AI shortcuts, and therefore, we reimagined the project in our online microbiology lab to incorporate AI in a structured and pedagogically sound way that prioritizes both the writing process and the final product. Students must work with AI to create a script for a 5-minute video which they then illustrate and record on the differences between Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant …

Montana Kaimin, April 30, 2026, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Discovering The Genetics Underlying Speciation Traits In Heuchera (Coral Bells), Tajinder Singh

Honors Theses

Hybridization is a key evolutionary mechanism for generating biological diversity, ultimately shaping diversification and adaptation of plant lineages in natural and agroecosystems.  Our understanding of the frequency, distribution, and significance of hybridization is rapidly increasing, but the external driving forces that dictate why certain species hybridize, and others do not remain obscure. The physical traits that shape gene flow and trait sharing among species are likely to be among the key factors that directly control hybridization. Gene flow in most plants is mediated by pollinating insects and thus by pollination syndromes, which are suites of floral traits that have evolved …

The Scripted Body: A Historical Analysis Of How Vituperative Narratives Shaped Disparities In Women’S Healthcare, Eva Fava-Rodrigues

Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Ai-Driven Multispectral Drone Monitoring For Afforestation In Arid Environments, Hesham Morgan, Ali Elgendy, Brandon Tran, Tamer Ismail, Mohamed M. Moursy, Yehya Kh. Shehadeh, Ahmed Elgharib, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Dughairi, Ali El Mubarak, Khaled Allam Harhash, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Monitoring large-scale afforestation projects in arid and semi-arid environments requires accurate, high-resolution, and repeatable methods to assess tree survival and growth. In this study, we integrated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imaging with an advanced object detection framework to evaluate vegetation establishment in the Shuayb Al-Budai afforestation site, part of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Natural Reserve, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Multispectral datasets were acquired using a MicaSense Altum-PT sensor and processed through a masked Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (RCNN) with two backbone architectures: ResNet-101 and VGG19-BN. The Mask R-CNN–ResNet-101 model achieved superior performance, with an overall accuracy …

Physical Therapy Treatments In Rotator Cuff Muscular Tear Injuries Without Surgical Operation, Rickeisha Caesar

Honors Capstones

This study highlights physical therapy treatment options available for patients who have a rotator cuff tear but are unable to receive surgery. Cadaver dissections and plastic model photos of the rotator cuff are included to give a visual of the anatomy and importance of the muscles. Interviews with licensed physical therapists are conducted for direct information on the process of understanding the limitations of a rotator cuff tear and what treatments are most effective in patients’ recovery process, whether it’s a partial or full tear. Collectively, the project findings enhance the understanding of why specific anatomical structures are intentionally targeted …

The Grizzly, April 30, 2026, Renee Washart, Alex Zelaya, Erik Groff, Cassidy Denning, Andrew Mihniak, Adam Denn, Erin Ewing, Dylan Mchugh

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Meet the Language Fellows • The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A BSP Classic • The Fitness Court • What is Greek Week? • In Case You Missed the URSPYs • Pick a Straw: Sustainable or Gluten-Free • Ursinus Track Gears Up for Champs • Ursinus Women's Golf Faces Uncertain Future

Occupational Stressors And Health Impacts Among First Responders, Mason N. Roach

Honors College Theses

The United States 911 emergency response system is an interconnected web of public services that seeks to provide its community with care, resources, and safety in times of need. However, the impact of this support on the employees providing the service often goes unnoticed. This review identifies and analyzes the unique strains on first responders' physical and mental health using the Job Demand-Control Model and the Allostatic Load Model. A review of available research literature supports the conclusion that occupational-related stress, including trauma exposure, shift work, poor leadership, and inadequate communication, can have long-lasting negative impacts on provider health.

"Commoning" The Artist-Led Archive; Sharing Heri Dono’S Private Archive With A Public Audience, Eliza O’Donnell, Agni Saraswati

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

Built from the ground-up and with no formal government support, artist-led archives in Indonesia engage in commoning practices by creating community-centred platforms for knowledge sharing, in both physical and digital spaces. This article examines “acts of commoning” through the lens of artist Heri Dono at Studio Kalahan in Yogyakarta, an artist-led archive that challenges institutional approaches by treating Dono’s practice-based knowledge as shared creative resources, rather than private intellectual property. Three “acts of commoning” are explored through an iterative process of 1) building, 2) reproduction and digitization, and 3) sharing through exhibition and Instagram. It is argued that commoning of …

Quantitative Fluorescence Imaging Using A Paired Agent Approach For Improving Surgical Decision Making, Sanjana Pannem

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Surgical resection remains to be the cornerstone of treatment for most solid tumors, where the primary objective is to remove all visible and microscopic disease. However, the extent of tumor resection is inherently limited by the surgeon’s ability to distinguish tumor from normal tissue, intraoperatively. As a result, positive surgical margins (PSM), where residual tumor remains after surgery, are a common occurrence and are associated with increased recurrence, need for adjuvant therapies, dismal patient outcomes, and high healthcare costs.

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) has emerged as a promising technique to enhance intraoperative visualization of tumors and may help reduce the …

Elucidating The Role Of The Gastrointestinal Microbiome And Diet In Dopamine Release In Relation To Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder., Meaghan Mcdonald

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Currently affecting 340-580 million people worldwide, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how the brain controls attention, behaviour and impulses often beginning in childhood and continuing into adulthood. ADHD is known to be associated with monoamine neurotransmitters including dopamine. This work aims to uncover the ways in which metabolism of monoamine precursors in the gastrointestinal microbiome influences dopamine release in the brain. Previous studies have indicated that children with ADHD display distinct gut bacteria profiles with unique microbiota species that result in the disruption of monoamine precursor pathways of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism. Emphasis on our western diet and …

Comparison Of 1d-Convolution Neural Network And Hilbert Huang Transform-Based Features For Ecg Signal Classification, Baqir Ahmed Hussein, Rabab Abdulrida Saleh

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is one of the primary biological signals used in the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. However, conventional analysis and classification methods are often limited by the nonlinear and non-stationary nature of ECG signals. This research aims to evaluate the performance of a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) and hybrid models that integrate Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT)-based features with 1D-CNN for ECG signal classification. Five standard diagnostic categories (N, S, V, Q, and F) were considered. A comparative framework was developed, including a standalone 1D-CNN model and three hybrid models based on different HHT-derived features. Model performance was assessed …

Sociocultural Change And The Prevalence Of Chronic Diseases Among Women In Arabian Gulf Countries: Kuwait As An Example, Yagoub Y. Al-Kandari

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

This study aims to examine the effect of modernity and the prevalence of chronic diseases among women in Kuwait as an example of Arabian Gulf countries. A total of 5,749 married and previously married women aged 18–79 years were selected from 10 primary health care clinics out of 50, using a stratified random sample. A questionnaire was the major tool of this study. The questionnaire included some sociocultural and health variables. Information about age, level of education, governorate, family income, job position, the respondents’ and their parents’ types of marriage, and ethnic groups were collected. Respondents were asked to self-report …

The Role Of The Ventral Tegmental Area In Reward And Addiction: A Comprehensive Review, Emad Ali Albadawi

Neurosciences

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a central hub in reward and motivation, integrating heterogeneous neuronal populations and projection-defined circuits to regulate learning, decision-making, and addiction. This review synthesizes anatomical organization and cellular diversity (dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons, including multitransmitter co-release), and maps major efferent pathways constituting the mesolimbic and mesocortical systems. We highlight computational roles of VTA activity, including reward prediction errors, incentive salience, and context memory integration, and summarize drug class-specific mechanisms that perturb VTA output. We then outline time-dependent neuroadaptations across mesocorticolimbic networks and discuss therapeutic implications spanning pharmacological, behavioral, and emerging circuit-targeted interventions. Together, these …

Neuroinflammation At The Crossroads Of Neurodegeneration: The Roles Of Microglia And Astrocytes In Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, And Multiple Sclerosis, Mohannad A. Almikhlafi

Neurosciences

Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. This review explores the underlying mechanisms of neuroinflammation, with a focus on the roles of microglia, astrocytes, peripheral immune cell infiltration, and cytokine release. The complex interplay between oxidative stress and chronic inflammation accelerates neurodegeneration, contributing to disease progression. Microglial activation, initially protective, becomes harmful when sustained over time, driving chronic inflammation. Similarly, astrocytes once considered passive are now recognized for their active involvement in both inflammatory and neuroprotective responses, depending on their activation state. Prolonged activation of microglia and …

Role Of Bevacizumab In Multiple Glioblastomas: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis, Yongrui Zhao, Yidong Chen, Leiming Wang, Ye Cheng, Feng Yan, Jiankun Xu

Neurosciences

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors of multiple glioblastomas (M-GBMs) and the role of bevacizumab (BEV) in M-GBMs. Methods: 162 patients treated for primary glioblastoma (GBM) from 2020 to 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to compare progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the single glioblastoma (S-GBM) group and the M-GBMs group. Independent predictors of OS among M-GBMs patients were evaluated via multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results: 116 patients had S-GBM, and 46 had M-GBMs. Compared with S-GBM patients, M-GBMs patients had poorer PFS (6.5 vs. 11 months, p<0.001) and OS (15.5 vs. 21 months, p=0.005). In the M-GBMs group, based on the RANO resection criteria, both univariable analysis and multivariable Cox models confirmed that the extent of resection, use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, p53 overexpression, and use of BEV were all factors that significantly influenced OS. Specifically, the use of BEV prolonged OS from 12 months to 19.5 months (p = 0.017). From the initiation of BEV therapy, the median PFS was 5.5 months (95% CI 4.45–6.56 months), and the median survival was significantly longer than in those who did not received BEV (10 vs. 3 months, p = 0.021). Conclusion: The extent of resection, radiotherapy/chemotherapy, p53 …

Catalyzing Learner-Centered Ecosystems In Pennsylvania For A Future Of Human Thriving, Danielle S. Shylit

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

School-centric education has failed to produce equitable outcomes for Pennsylvania's learners. Declining student engagement, widening opportunity gaps, and the demoralization of educators and leaders escalate an urgent need to shift systems, mindsets, and praxis from a school-centric to a learner-centric paradigm. This action research dissertation elevates what is learned at individual, group, and system levels through disciplined inquiry with aligned district public education leaders in Pennsylvania willing to co-create learner-centered ecosystems with community stakeholders for a future of human thriving. Grounded in Education Reimagined's definition of Learner-Centered Ecosystems, and the theoretical frameworks of Bryk et al.'s Networked Improvement Communities and …

Facilitating Student Success Through Scholar Programs, Jenna Heath, Isabella Shenouda

College of Liberal Arts Faculty Research

This poster features a series of career highlights from the UNLV Engelstad Scholars Program. This document profiles four exceptional current and former students—Fyona Mortel, Nikki Adams, Jordan Paul Guimarey, and Haydee Herrera—who demonstrate how the program's unique blend of mentorship, financial support, and community engagement accelerates career readiness. Through hands-on internships, leadership roles, and diverse professional networking opportunities, these scholars have cultivated essential competencies such as leadership, critical thinking, empathy, and professional branding, effectively preparing them for future success in their respective fields.

From Dissent To Terrorism: The Formation Of A Security Grammar In Malaysia, Haezreena Begum Binti Abdul Hamid Dr

Indonesia Law Review

The absence of a universally accepted definition of terrorism has enabled states to exercise wide discretion in naming, governing, and exceptionalising violence. This article argues that, in Malaysia, “terrorism” did not emerge as a neutral legal category but as the product of a historically evolving security grammar, a patterned way of interpreting ideology, dissent, and conflict through the lens of existential threat. Employing a qualitative doctrinal socio-legal methodology, the study integrates analysis of international and Malaysian legal frameworks with case-based examination of key episodes, including Memali, Al-Arqam, Al-Ma’unah, Lahad Datu, and ISIS-linked incidents. Statutes, judicial decisions, policy materials, and regional …

Examining The Psychometric Structure Of An Instrument To Measure Students’ Interests And Motivation In Science Learning: Factor Analysis And Measurement Invariance, Fuhui Tong, Shifang Tang, Zhuoying Wang, Beverly J. Irby

Faculty Publications

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and underlying factor structure) and measurement invariance of a researcher-developed instrument: Motivated Strategies for Science Learning (MSSL). Data were collected from 2765 fifth-grade students across [state withheld] school districts. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested satisfactory psychometric properties of MSSL. We further identified strong evidence to support configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across school location groups (i.e., rural and non-rural), confirming that the instrument can accurately capture the construct of science learning motivation among fifth-grade students from both rural and non-rural Texas schools. The study provides the …

Age-Dependent Effects Of Mkp-2 Deletion On Glucose Homeostasis In Female Mice, Laura Rain Chambliss

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Socializing Stem: Analyzing The Effects Of Stem Pedagogy, Communication, And Culture On Stem Student's Holistic Development, Jalynn B. Whitfield

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Michael Dove (2024), "Hearsay Is Not Excluded; A History Of Natural History", Gilang Mahadika

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

No abstract provided.

Toward An Integrative Anthropological Ecology; Pluralism, Power, And Socioecological Futures, Komang Ariyanto

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

No abstract provided.

Liquid Modernity Off-Modernity: A Pop-Up Interior In The Middle Of Nowhere, Ayman Kassem

ARSNET

This visual essay examines the pop-up desert café as a contemporary interior condition shaped by mobility, reversibility, and performative occupation. Framed through Bauman’s (2000) liquid modernity and Branzi’s (2002) diffuse modernity, it argues that temporary desert setups are not informal exceptions but design responses to unstable, event-based ways of living. The essay reads the pop-up as a hybrid interior-exterior assemblage, where carpets, furniture, lighting, signage, and social rituals produce atmosphere and collective presence. Using collages on photography taken by the author-co-created with architect Moustafa Abdulwahed—as a method, the visual essay journey moves from photographic observation to extraction and speculative recomposition, …

2025 Annual Report, Tennessee. Bureau Of Investigation.

Annual Report

No abstract provided.

The Path To Impulse: A Cognitive-Affective-Conative Model Of Live E-Commerce Behaviour Across Southeast Asia, Any Urwatul Wusko, Aminullah Aminullah

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study investigates how cognitive and affective mechanisms jointly shape impulse buying intentions in live e-commerce environments, using the Cognitive-Affective-Conative (CAC) model, with a focus on Southeast Asian consumers.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 430 respondents from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Data were gathered from participants with recent live-shopping experience on platforms such as TikTok Shop and Shopee Live. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS was employed to test the proposed relationships.

Research Findings: Perceived authenticity and interactivity significantly influence emotional arousal and fear of missing out, which in turn predicted impulse …