Dendroarchaeological Analysis Of Charcoal Fragments From The Byzantine Street In The City Of David, Jerusalem, Mordechay Benzaquen, Dafna Langgut

'Atiqot

The excavation of the Byzantine Street in the City of David, Jerusalem (Area S2) yielded several hundred charcoal fragments from multiple loci, of which 200 specimens were analyzed at the Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Ancient Environments at Tel Aviv University. Preservation was generally good to moderate, and all identified taxa belong to the local Mediterranean Israeli flora. The assemblage is characterized by low taxonomic diversity and is overwhelmingly dominated by conifers, with Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress) and Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) comprising nearly 90% of the analyzed material, suggesting that most of the charcoal derives from construction timbers commonly used …

Global Trends In Dietary Exposure To Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (Pcns): A Review Of Contamination Levels And Health Implications, Vhodaho Nevondo, Okechukwu Jonathan Okonkwo

Engineering and Technology Journal

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) belong to a class of persistent organic pollutants that are structurally related to chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and other chlorinated biphenyls as a result of the presence of benzene rings in their respective structures. Additionally, they display high levels of persistence in the environment, bioaccumulative, and dioxin-like toxicities characteristics. Although the production and use of PCNs is either banned or greatly regulated in several countries around the globe, unintentional production in industrial thermal processes and legacy usage have resulted in the ubiquity of these compounds in the environment and the food chain. Several studies have shown various exposure …

Izin Kawin Bagi Suami Yang Akan Beristeri Lebih Dari Seorang, Wahyono Darmabrata

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Grp-148-223 Uncertainty-Guided Conservative Propagation For Robust Coronary Artery Segmentation, Huan Huang, Chen Zhao

C-Day Computing Showcase

Coronary artery segmentation plays a key role in cardiovascular disease analysis, yet existing methods often produce fragmented and structurally inconsistent vessels in challenging regions. We propose an uncertainty-guided conservative propagation (UGCP) framework that improves segmentation reliability by allowing high-confidence regions to guide uncertain ones through controlled information propagation under a conservation principle. This mechanism enhances structural continuity while preventing unstable updates. Experiments on Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) and Invasive Coronary Angiography (ICA) datasets demonstrate improved segmentation accuracy and topology preservation. Additional evaluations on other vascular datasets further suggest the generalizability of the proposed approach.

Grm-157-180 Precision Engineering: Using Ai To Design Nanoparticles That Target Malignant Cells, Rakshak Gurung, Nino Tkabladze

C-Day Computing Showcase

The challenge of predicting nanoparticle distribution remain a significant hurdle in nanomedicine. This research presents a computational framework for the inverse design of nanoparticles, utilizing ML models to optimize drug delivery systems for tumor targeting. By analyzing the relationship between nanoparticle compositions and biological accumulation, the model identifies optimal configurations to maximize therapeutic efficacy. The results demonstrate that AI-driven inverse design can significantly streamline the development of precision nanocarriers, reducing the need for exhaustive experimental trials.

Ur-166-204 Multi-User Stem Learning Experience Powered By Llm Conversational Agents, Devon Haynes, Chance Boecker, Oliver Haggard

C-Day Computing Showcase

While Extended Reality (XR) provides experiential and interactive foundations for STEM education, current storytelling and narrative-driven applications often lack responsive nonplayer characters (NPCs), limiting interactive potential through pre-scripted stories. Additionally, despite the growth of Large Language Model (LLM) integration in XR, limited research explores the combined use of multi-user XR systems and conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate real-time, adaptive instruction. This project seeks to address these gaps by 1) Developing a narrative-driven STEM learning XR prototype that incorporates synchronous multi-user interaction and an embedded LLM-driven conversational agent and 2) Exploring the effectiveness of combining these technologies to improve learning …

Grp-01-196 Topological Drift Predicts Epidemic Instability, Charles Fanning

C-Day Computing Showcase

We study whether changes in contact-network topology predict transitions into high-risk epidemic periods across several classical empirical proximity network datasets. We use temporal graph learning with persistent homology-based topological signals and evaluate large-outbreak risk using SIR simulations to test whether topological drift serves as an early warning signal for epidemic instability.

The Impact Of Social Interaction On Patient Well-Being With Transition Into Long-Term Care Settings: A Review Of Interventions For Improved Patient Outcomes, Helen Whitney Harmon

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Purpose: When individual patients are transitioned from home or acute care settings to more long-term care environments such as skilled nursing units or assisted living facilities, the residents are at an increased risk of experiencing loneliness, which is linked to depression, anxiety, and increasing cognitive decline, and other detrimental outcomes.

Aims: Combinations of peer-reviewed qualitative and quantitative research studies were analyzed to determine what factors contributed to changes in patient well-being, mental health and overall quality of life during these transitions.

Methods: One article focusing on preventable healthcare transitions in patient population was able to link higher medical acuity …

Postpartum Psychosis Risk In Women With Bipolar Disorder, Rachel R. Lay

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Psychiatric relapse and postpartum psychosis pose vital psychological threats to women with bipolar disorder. The phase after delivery implies a great number of biological, psychological, and social alterations that might predispose to mood fluctuations and extreme psycho-psychiatric behavior. A systematic literature review assessed the recent literature on postpartum relapse risk, contributors, and maternal outcomes in women with bipolar disorder. Systematic search of three electronic databases, CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO, revealed 168 studies dating back to 2022. Title and abstract screening of 124 articles was carried out after elimination of duplicates and other eligibility criteria. Eighteen articles were full-text reviewed, and …

Hazard Vs Risk: Scientific Considerations On The Eu Clp Approach To Mocs And Whole Essential Oil Classification With Tea Tree Essential Oil As An Illustrative Example, Cecile Bascoul, Dakota Carter, Joseph Dawson, Tim Valentiner, Russell J. Osguthorpe

Oxford ICSB

The ongoing revision of the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation represents a critical development for the essential oil industry. A provisional derogation has been introduced for plant-derived, non-chemically modified Multi-Constituent Substances (MOCS), including essential oils, following sustained advocacy efforts. However, the European Commission is required to deliver, by the end of 2029, a scientific report reassessing the validity of this derogation based on scientifically and regulatorily accepted safety evaluation approaches. In the absence of such a derogation, essential oils could be classified solely on the basis of individual constituents exceeding regulatory thresholds, irrespective of the whole oil safety …

Canndor Herbarium: A Comprehensive Herbarium Resource For Cannabis Identity, Diversity, And Botanical Research, Nick Batora, Laura Klein, Kerin Law, Eleanor Kuntz

Oxford ICSB

Decades of cannabis prohibition have created major gaps in our understanding of cannabis biology, especially with regard to the genomic, phenotypic, and germplasm resources that are standard in other agriculturally and medicinally important crops. Herbarium collections, which serve as archival specimens that preserve plant material for long term study, are no exception. Although herbarium specimens are meant to document plant diversity, most collections contain only a narrow sampling of cannabis and do not reflect the extensive variation present in commerce or this species at large. To address this need, the Canndor Herbarium was established in 2016 as the first dedicated …

Comparison Of Hypothalamic And Hippocampal Neurogenesis Across Sexes And Ages Of Mice, Chloe Jensen, Madison Reynolds, Rebecca Kinyon

Liberty University Research Week

Background: The hippocampus is primarily known for its function in learning and memory; thus, it makes sense that this is a well-established highly neurogenic zone. Recent studies have demonstrated that the hypothalamus also has neurogenic properties where there were once believed to be none. Because of these recent findings, our study aims to provide baseline data pertaining to rates of neurogenesis in the hypothalamus in comparison to the hippocampus along with distinguishing differences in these rates between males and females. Methods: Using four mice, three young and one aged female, we cryosectioned the brain to image the hippocampal and hypothalamic …

Allosteric Modulation Of Faah By Tocopherols, Beatrice Pyles

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Mechanistic Insights Of Enterolactone Within 3t3-L1 Adipocyte Cells, Merritt Smith

Liberty University Research Week

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with approximately 25% of healthcare expenditures directed toward its management and associated metabolic complications. In response to the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies, recent research has focused on bioactive compounds derived from dietary sources. In light of that, we identified the plant lignan matairesinol (MA) and its gut-derived metabolite, enterolactone (ENL), as agents capable of enhancing glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. These results suggest that enterolactone may represent a promising dietary supplement for improving glycemic control in patients with …

An Evaluation Of White-Spotted Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium Plagiosum) Development, Madison Ashby, Alexa Ashby, Baylis Huckabay, Cyrus Harris, Emma Bron, Lydia Harris, Maia Dieken, Oliver Thomas, Will Chelberg

Liberty University Research Week

An inhabitant of the north Indo-Pacific Ocean, the whitespotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) is a demersal, ambush predator of fish and invertebrates. Despite the known abundance of C. plagiosum, there is limited diagnostic information on their growth beyond embryonic development and hatching. A population of this species under managed care provides a unique opportunity to chart growth from the respective stages of life such as egg hatchling, sub-adult, and adult life stages. Through this research, we set out to chart the growth parameters on three hatchling bamboo sharks from a weekly data collection. These parameters include weight (g), sex, pre-caudal …

Single Step Cyanoacrylate Fumigation With Common Dyes, Abigail Proffitt, Jared Filegar

Liberty University Research Week

Cyanoacrylate fumigation is a widely used fingerprint development method to visualize latent fingerprints left on nonporous surfaces. This methodology relies on heating cyanoacrylate, otherwise known as superglue, to create vapors that polymerize onto fingerprints. These vapors react via biological components such as amino acids and other residues left from finger oils. This technique is very effective; however, once the polymer has completed its reaction the fingerprint is colorless resulting in the need for a secondary staining technique. The additional procedure increases processing time and introduces potentials for smearing or human error. This research aims to investigate a way to consolidate …

Formation Of Rosette-Like Hierarchical Structures On Cylindrical Titanium Surfaces., Cole Urquhart, Ally Doud, Michael Korn, Hector Medina

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this experiment was to characterize titanium-based rosettes and other micro-sized crystal formations on multiple different non-planar titanium surfaces. Rosettes are crystal structures in the titanium sulfate family. They are 20-150µm in diameter and vastly increase the surface area of the places where they are grown, which can lead to various possible applications in future research. The titanium type that was being experimented on was titanium gauze (50µm diameter). To grow titanium-based structures, two steps are involved: etching and crystal formation. Firstly, the titanium material was placed in a centrifuge tube filled with 1mL of 18M (96%) conc. …

Regulation Of Glut5 Expression And Fructose Uptake By Heat Stress And Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines In Enterocytes, Landri Shope, Gretchka Mair

Liberty University Research Week

Diabetes is an escalating global health concern, affecting 11.1% of the adult population worldwide, with over 90% of cases classified as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (Facts & Figures., n.d.). T2DM is characterized by chronic fasting hyperglycemia and is increasingly associated with alterations in the gut microbiome. This study tests the hypothesis that heat stress, a gut dysbiosis-associated stressor, will upregulate the fructose transporter GLUT5 in enterocytes. Increased GLUT5 expression may enhance intestinal fructose uptake, thereby contributing to worsened glycemic control in T2DM. While the mechanism linking inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis remains elusive, emerging evidence supports strong associations among …

The 3-D Apparatus Of Local Ticks: A New Insight Into The Mechanism Of Sensing Hosts And Their Storage Of Pathogens, Sara Grant, Tristan Davis, Maggie Milhorne, Zipporah Nedlock, Jonathan Marks, Alan L. Gillen

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Natural Communities And Flora Of Candler’S Mountain, Lydia Harris, Cyrus Harris, Tyler Knick

Liberty University Research Week

Candler’s Mountain is home to a variety of natural communities and flora. With more than 1200 vascular plant species documented in Campbell County, the identification and growing historical record of local flora will support short and long-term recognition of the importance of biodiverse natural communities in central Virginia. This project seeks to (1) document flora diversity in this region, (2) further establish an herbarium teaching and research collection of representative species, and (3) advance our understanding of the flora in relation to natural communities. Identified ecological groups and community types are based upon the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation …

Morphological Evaluation Of Cadaveric Tissues Integrity Using Histology Staining, Jumana Rizk, Levon Shukrian, Maria Mendoza Lopez, Shanice Rerrie

Liberty University Research Week

The transition from gross anatomical dissection to microscopic evaluation is essential for a comprehensive understanding of human biology. While systemic anatomy reveals the macroscopic organization of the body, histology provides insight into cellular structure and tissue integrity. This study aimed to bridge these disciplines through histological assessment of cadaveric tissues. Our objective was to determine whether tissue samples after prolonged fixation could be processed and stained to meet standards for histology education. Tissue samples of the cerebral cortex, renal cortex, liver lobe, and skeletal muscle were obtained from two cadaveric donors, one male and one female. Tissues were processed, embedded …

Effect Of In-Utero Exposure To A Western-Style Diet On Testis Development, Alexa Ashby, Colton Fitzgerald, Kaylee Vis, Madison Ashby, Marisa Halsey, Nathan Malina, Ryan Anderson

Liberty University Research Week

The increase in western-style dietary patterns has led to an increase in obesity prevalence and its associated comorbidities. Specifically, researchers have found that obesity due to western-style diet (WSD) is negatively correlated with reproductive health in men. This study investigated the effects of inutero exposure to a WSD on testis development, specifically of 12- week-old mice (young adult C57Bl/6J). We hypothesized that in-utero exposure to a WSD would negatively impact testis development and function in male offspring. Using histological hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry method, we examined spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) production by Sertoli cells, and …

Sem-Edx Analysis Of Animal Hairs For The Presence Of Metals, Sydney Stevens, David Green, George Monroe

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Effects Of Phytocannabinoids Cannabichromene (Cbc), Cannabidiol (Cbd), And Cannabigerol (Cbg) On The Enzyme Faah, Rachel Duncan

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Spectroscopic Characterization Of Pfas Ligands Binding To Novel Plant Peroxidases, Vladimir Bogatov

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Elephant's Toothpaste: A Statistical Investigation Of The Yeast-Catalyzed Decomposition Of Hydrogen Peroxide, Annaliese Defelice

Liberty University Research Week

Catalase is the main enzyme in yeast that catalyzes the popular “elephant’s toothpaste” reaction. Elephant’s toothpaste reactions often proceed using an iodide or yeast catalyst, but iodine is favored for ease of quantitative analysis. There remains little statistical data on the yeast-catalyzed hydrogen decomposition reaction. The relationship between reagent amounts and reaction rate was measured by manipulating reagent quantity while maintaining other variables. The results were graphed and fitted for linearity, indicating the relative relationship between each reagent and the overall reaction rate. There were strong positive correlations between yeast and hydrogen peroxide concentrations and reaction rate. Augmenting the volume …

Investigating Nutritionally Derived Treatments For Metabolic Disease: Enterolactone And Its Effect On Glp-1 And Pyy Secretion, Aidan Clancy

Liberty University Research Week

Gut-derived hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) play essential roles in maintaining glucose homeostasis and appetite regulation. These hormones are primarily secreted by enteroendocrine L cells in response to nutrient signaling in the gut. Emerging evidence suggests that polyphenolic compounds and their metabolites may influence gut hormone secretion. Enterolactone (ENL), a microbial metabolite of the dietary lignan, matairesinol, is of particular interest due to its reported anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we propose to test whether ENL can modulate the secretion of GLP-1 and PYY in L cells in vitro, thereby identifying a potential mechanism by …

Impacts Of Maternal Diet On Offspring Affective Behavior And Brain Morphology, Abigail Frommack, Emma Whatley, Karina Long, Sarah Nelson

Liberty University Research Week

The field of maternal dietary impacts on offspring neurodevelopment has been established over the past 30 years, and since its establishment it has grown rapidly. The research shows that maternal diet significantly impacts offspring neurodevelopment, with those effects lasting until adulthood. Most research in this field focuses on the detrimental impacts of a Western Diet (WD), but little research exists on the beneficial impacts of a healthy diet. This research aims to close that gap by assessing a healthy diet and its impact on adult offspring. We hypothesize that a maternal Mediterranean diet (MD) will have positive impacts on the …

Enzyme Kinetics Of Faah, Susanna Stell, Emma Hooks

Liberty University Research Week

Anandamide (AEA) is an endogenous ethanolamide that functions as a signaling molecule within the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory network processes including pain perception, mood regulation, appetite, and neural signaling. AEA belongs to a broader class of fatty acid ethanolamides naturally present in the body, which also includes palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). The activity of AEA is tightly regulated through enzymatic degradation by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which hydrolyzes AEA into arachidonic acid and ethanolamine, thereby terminating its signaling activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the rate at which AEA is hydrolyzed by the FAAH enzyme …

Impacts Of Interspecific Competition On Stress And Body Condition In A Montane Salamander (Plethodon Hubrichti), Jason Porter, Allison Carmen

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.