Digital Commons Network^™

Hbb Gene Mutations And Their Impact On Phenotype And Protein Function In Β-Thalassemia Families From Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Muhammad Ayaz, Muhammad Muzammal, Maria Shafiq, Nisar Ahmad, Dua Iman, Maria Faraz, Yaser Uddin Hoti, Sami Siraj, Muzammil Ahmad Khan, Jabbar Khan

Makara Journal of Science

The current genetic study aimed to screen out the genetic basis of ß-thalassemia in five unrelated consanguineous Pakistani families. Blood samples were collected, and targeted Sanger Sequencing of the HBB gene was done. Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and quantitative measurements of T Helper and T Suppressor Lymphocytes were also carried out. Additionally, in silico analysis, including protein modeling, Protein-Protein docking, and Multiple sequence alignment, was also performed. Genetic analysis identified a homozygous mutation c.92+5G > C (IVS-I+5 G > C) in families 1, 2, and 3, which resulted in β⁺/ β⁺ Thalassemia Intermedia phenotype. While in the case of family …

Development Of An Indirect Elisa Kit For Measurement Of Circulating Thyroid Peroxidase Levels In Patients With Hypothyroidism, Aulanni’Am Aulanni’Am, Devi Ramadani, Almas Dwi Khairana, Saidun Fiddaroini, Muhammad Fikri Nur, Andreas Budi Wijaya, Rulli Rosandi, Dyah Kinasih Wuragil, Wibi Riawan

Makara Journal of Science

Hypothyroidism, characterized by insufficient thyroid hormone production, affects approximately 5% of the population, especially women, thus increasing pregnancy-related risks. Conventional screening mainly measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). Detecting the presence of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies indi-cates autoimmune thyroid disease. This study developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for detecting circulating TPO using polyclonal antibodies generated in rabbits. TPO was isolated from positive sera of pa-tients with hypothyroidism, purified by electroelution, and confirmed as a 52-kDa protein by Western blot. Rabbits immunized with this protein produced polyclonal antibodies with the highest titer (OD = 0.334) at …

Characterization Of Combined Adsorption Using Fermi Levels, Molecular Dynamics, And Monte Carlo Simulations To Prevent Cu–Zn (111) Alloy Corrosion, Mushtaq Jerri Meften, Ammar Abdul Jabbar Kadhim, Mohammed Shafeeq Abed

Makara Journal of Science

Experimentally developing corrosion inhibitors requires a significant amount of money and time. In silico advancement empowers selecting inhibitor molecules based on their properties derived from theoretical studies, thereby reducing costs. Our main approaches include theoretical studies such as Fermi levels, electrostatic potential surface (EPS), Fukui indices, molecular dynamics stimulations, and Monte Carlo as indispensable tools to investigate the adsorption mechanisms of molecules 6-((5-(((3S,5R)-2-oxo-5-((2-(pyrazin-2-yloxy) thiazol-5-yl) thio) tetrahydro-2H-thiopyran-3-yl) oxy)isothia-zol-3-yl)thio) nicotinic acid (PTT), and (S)-2-((5-((6-((3-(2-thioxoethoxy)-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)thio)-1,6-dihydropyra-zin-2-yl)oxy)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) thio) acetaldehyde (TTD) on the Cu/Zn (111) alloy. We electronically characterized PTT and TTD, which were proven effective inhibitors. Notably, all results suggested that the two exhibited high …

Increasing The Density Value Of Composite Propellant Ap/Htpb/Al For Rocket Performance Using The Sphere Packing Model, Muhammad Iqbal Alfikri, Bayu Prianto, Ariadne Lakshmidevi Juwono

Makara Journal of Science

This research employs the sphere packing volume (SPV) model to optimize the density of composite propellants thereby enhancing rocket performance. We systematically varied the diameters of spherical ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles (50 and 400 µm) and aluminum powder (Al) particles (10 and 30 µm). These particles were incorporated at an ideal AP:Al ratio of 4:1 into a matrix of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and toluene diisocyanate. By adjusting the AP ratio for each Al particle size and considering theoretical and tap densities, we precisely calculated the SPV value for each composition. The composition with the highest SPV value yielded remarkable results. This …

Nuclear Neuroimaging Approaches To Traumatic Brain Injury: Current Insights And Future Directions, Shivani Daksh, Anupriya Adhikari, Nikhil Kumar, Garima Mann, Anupama Datta

Makara Journal of Science

The aftermath of a traumatic brain injury is characterized by a state of disruption, progressing into secondary injury and culminating in a complex network of interconnected pathophysiological disturbances.  The potential risk of developing neurological disorders after TBI highlights the pressing need to enhance our understanding and develop therapeutic in-terventions to alleviate its devastating consequences. Traumatic brain injury can lead to a range of problems, including pain, swelling, axonal degeneration, and chronic amnestic and non-amnestic cognitive impairments. The first and essential step in the management of TBI is to identify and characterize the clinical symptoms. This systematic review outlines the established …

Network Pharmacology Of A Decaffeinated Green Coffee–Turmeric Combination: Potential Therapeutic Activity Against Hypertension And Diabetes Mellitus, Feri Eko Hermanto, Mohammad Saifur Rohman, Victor Alvianoes Guterez Hose, Mifetika Lukitasari, Dwi Adi Nugroho, Nashi Widodo, Inggita Kusumastuty

Makara Journal of Science

Decaffeinated green coffee and turmeric are recognized for their protective effects against hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Combining them into a functional drink, green coffee and turmeric (GCT), offers potential health benefits for managing these conditions. This study explored the bioactivity of GCT in HTN and DM through network biology, identifying intersecting protein targets and their roles in inflammation and glucose metabolism. Key proteins identified were AKT1, CCL2, CXCL8, IL-1β, and IL18. Molecular docking revealed that GCT compounds, particularly Cafestol, Chlorogenic Acid, Kahweol, Curcumin, and Desmethoxycurcumin, interacted strongly with AKT1 at its allosteric site, potentially inhibiting its activity. However, …

Lignin Valorization To Phenolic Compounds Over Metal Oxide-Modified Hierarchical Zsm-5 Zeolites Derived From Indonesian Minerals, Arnia Putri Pratama, Iman Abdullah, Yuni Krisyuningsih Krisnandi

Makara Journal of Science

Lignin, a key component of lignocellulosic biomass, offers significant potential as a renewable raw material for the sustainable production of aromatic chemicals. To investigate its heterogeneous catalytic depolymerization, benzyl phenyl ether (BPE) was used as a model compound. Hierarchical ZSM-5 catalysts were synthesized and modified with metal oxides (NiO and CuO). Belitung kaolin and Bayat natural zeolite, natural minerals from Indonesia, were used as silica and alumina sources to synthesize hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolite (labeled as ZSM-5N), which was compared with hierarchical ZSM-5 synthesized using pro-analysis precursors (labeled as ZSM-5S). Comprehensive physicochemical characterization using FTIR, XRD, BET, XRF, SEM-EDX, and NH₃-TPD …

2026 September 28 - Faculty Senate Agenda And Minutes, Faculty Senate, East Tennessee State University

Faculty Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

China Maritime Report #58: Tightening The Institutional Cage: The Pla Navy's Discipline Inspection Commission, Eric Hundman, Connor Akiyama

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings:

• The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operates a pervasive system of discipline inspection commissions (DICs) spanning the Party and military hierarchy to enforce political discipline and loyalty.
• The PLAN headquarters DIC supervises a system of subordinate PLAN DIC organizations located in major units across the navy. Broadly speaking, that system is designed to enforce party discipline among PLAN personnel.
• The CCP’s specific priorities for discipline in the PLAN have shifted over the years, and they currently center on failure to adhere to (or succeed in implementing) political priorities, lax training, financial impropriety, and abuse of military benefits.
• Corruption in …

Green Finance’S Role In Bank Risk: Empirical Evidence From The Emerging Economy, Viverita Viverita, Dwi Nastiti Danarsari, Ratih Dyah Kusumastuti, Ruhaini Muda

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK)’s sustainable finance roadmap, phases I and II, primarily aims to facilitate sustainable development by integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations into financial policies. A special objective is to promote the development of green financial products and services. This policy allows banks to mitigate reputational and regulatory challenges. Nevertheless, the prompt implementation of green credit may entail transition risks, such as policy adjustment costs. A limited body of research examines the direct relationship between green finance and bank risk, particularly in the context of sustainability mandates. This study analyzes the influence of green finance on banking …

Dense Platinum Nanoparticles Confined In Mn-N-C Nanocages For Robust Heavy-Duty Pemfcs, Lei Zhao, Zhen-Min Cao, Jia-Yu Zuo, Ming-Liang Yang, Hong-Yan Qiao, Jun-Song Chen, Rui Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

High-loading Pt cathodes are essential for heavy-duty proton exchange membrane fuel cells but suffer from a critical tradeoff between ionomer sulfonate poisoning and nanoparticle instability. Herein, we report a spatial confinement strategy to encapsulate dense Pt nanoparticles (~51.8 wt%) within Mn/N-co-doped mesoporous carbon nanocages (denoted as Pt-MnNC). This architecture excludes bulky ionomers to create an ionomer-shielded environment against sulfonate poisoning, while Mn-N_x-mediated strong metal-support interactions anchor the Pt nanoparticles to prevent agglomeration and further boost durability. In the 5 × 5 cm² membrane electrode assembly tests, the Pt-MnNC catalyst delivers an exceptional power density of 1.26 W·cm …

Engineering Small-Sized Cations With Strong Solvation For High-Voltage Supercapacitors, Tong Huo, Pan Liu, Hao Chen, Peng Zhang, Zhen-Lei Chen, Guo-Fu Sun, Zhi-Qiang Shi, Jing Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Supercapacitors (SCs) have attracted much attention in the field of energy storage due to their high power density and long cycle life. However, their relatively low energy density limits their application in a wider range of fields. Methods to increase energy density include enhancing specific capacitance and extending operating voltage window. Herein, we report a novel electrolyte salt, tetramethylammonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (TMA-FSI), the resulting electrolyte formed with propylene carbonate (PC), designated as TMF, exhibited a wide electrochemical stability window (ESW) of 5.09 V. On the one hand, we found that the small size of TMA⁺ enables it to enter the …

Efficient Acidic H2O2 Electrosynthesis Over Co Atoms Anchored On Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon, Xiao Huang, Zi-Hao Zhan, Hao-Xu Niu, Guan-Yu Luo, Jin-Tao Huang, Bo-Xuan Jin, De-Li Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e⁻ ORR) presents a promising route for the on-site production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), offering a green alternative to energy-consuming anthraquinone process. However, the high selectivity toward the competing 4e⁻ ORR over the desired 2e⁻ pathway leads to low Faradaic efficiency for H₂O₂, posing a critical challenge in catalyst design. In this work, a nitrogen-doped hollow hierarchical porous carbon with anchored Co atoms (CoN/HPC) was constructed for high-performance H₂O₂ production. The as-prepared Co-N/HPC catalyst showed excellent 2e⁻ ORR performance, achieving …

A Fate-And-Transport Model For Diclofenac From Wastewater Treatment Plants To The Diyala–Tigris Rivers, Baghdad, Iraq, Mohammed A. Al-Ameri, Ghyda Y. Al Kindi, Noor S. Mahdi

Engineering and Technology Journal

Diclofenac is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is incompletely removed by conventional wastewater treatment. This study evaluates its fate and transport from consumption and excretion, through the three Al-Rustamiyah wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) units in Baghdad, to the Diyala River, the Tigris River, and the Al-Tuwaitha drinking-water intake. Discrete ``grab'' samples were collected during 12–14 November 2020 from WWTP influent and effluent streams and from river and intake sites. Diyala River concentrations ranged from 0.094 to 2.184 μg/L. At the Tigris confluence, diclofenac was 0.052 μg/L; the two immediate downstream measurements were below 0.01 μg/L …

Lessons Learned: William White, Mercedes Cardona

Journal of Financial Crises

William White spent 22 years at the Bank of Canada, where he served as deputy governor from September 1988 until 1994 before joining the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). He held a number of positions at the BIS until 2008, including head of the Monetary and Economic Department; he was also a member of the executive committee. He served as chairman of the Economic and Development Review Committee at the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 2009 until 2019 and is currently a senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute in Toronto. This Lessons Learned summary is based …

Geotechnical Enhancement Of Noncohesive Coal Mine Overburden Using Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation And Fly Ash Stabilization For Sustainable Pavement Applications, Atul Gautam, Laxmikant Yadu

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The majority of the waste generated from opencast mining, termed as overburden (OB), is dumped adjacent to the mine boundary and poses long-term stability issues. Various studies have been carried out to assess the risk of dump slope failure, and treatment strategies have been accordingly recommended to strengthen this OB dump. However, scant works are reported to sustainably utilize this OB for construction works. This study aims to quantify the performance of stabilized noncohesive coal mine OB collected from Gondegaon opencast mine (OCM) in India. Stabilization was achieved using two techniques, namely microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) through Sporosarcina pasteurii …

Nursing Practice Excellence Committee: Setting The “Right Table” For Npec-Able Practice Improvement, Cristina L. Ritzema

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The Nursing Practice Excellence Committee (NPEC) initiative is intended to provide a structure for nurses to leverage their expertise in driving nursing practice, care quality and patient safety improvements. NPEC fortifies professional governance by setting the “right table” for decision-making.

Background: This Magnet-designated organization recognized that sustaining the Magnet nursing culture of excellence requires consideration and uptake of current best practices and structures. Accordingly, NPEC was designed to be a systematic, evidence-based approach to incident-based practice reviews that embeds and reinforces Professional Governance and Exemplary Professional Practice. NPEC positions bedside nurses as subject matter experts and leaders to translate …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 129 – Heaney Dump, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 135 – Washoe Sampling Works, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 105 – Lizzie Shaft, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Superiorgat: Graph Attention Networks For Sparse Lidar Point Cloud Reconstruction In Autonomous Systems, Khalfalla Awedat, Mohamed Abidalrekab, Gurcan Comert, Mustafa Ayad, Negash Begashaw

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

LiDAR-based perception in autonomous systems is fundamentally limited by sparse vertical sampling and further degraded by structured beam dropout caused by occlusions, sensor faults, or reduced-cost LiDAR hardware. These degradations disrupt vertical geometric continuity and negatively affect downstream perception tasks such as object detection, localization, and scene understanding. Existing reconstruction approaches often struggle to balance reconstruction accuracy with the computational efficiency required for real-time autonomous operation. This paper presents SuperiorGAT, a graph attention–based framework for reconstructing missing elevation information in sparse LiDAR point clouds under structured beam loss. The proposed method models LiDAR scans as beam-aware graphs and enhances standard …

Scheduling The Charging Of Battery-Electric Vehicles Under Heterogeneous Scheduling Constraints, Justin Whitaker, Greg Droge, Mario Harper

Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Research

Adopting battery electric vehicles (EVs) for vehicle fleets requires scheduling charging alongside day-to-day operations. This problem is complicated by complex utility cost structures, limited battery capacity, and competition for shared charging resources. Existing methods that simultaneously schedule routes and charging neither address the full cost structure nor employ high-fidelity charging models, and no prior work analyzes fleets containing vehicles with heterogeneous routing constraints. This work addresses these gaps by combining a state-of-the-art flexible-schedule formulation with time-of-use (TOU) demand costs and a non-linear, variable-rate charging model as drawn from additional state-of-the-art works. The proposed method is validated against two state-of-the-art methods, …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 46 – Missoula Mine, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 11 – Magna Charta Lessee Dumps, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 1503 – Hornet Addition, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Beyond Revascularization: Is Tibial Transverse Transport The Next Frontier In Diabetic Limb Salvage?, Karishma A. Sebastian, Nidhin John

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Poster Category:  Non-sponsored.

Level of Evidence: Level III

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulceration remains a major cause of lower-extremity amputation despite multidisciplinary wound care, debridement, infection control, offloading, and revascularization. Tibial transverse transport (TTT), based on the Ilizarov tension-stress principle, uses controlled transverse distraction of tibial cortex to promote angiogenesis and distal microcirculation in severe or recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Aim: To systematically evaluate whether TTT improves wound healing, distal perfusion, ulcer recurrence, and limb salvage in severe or recalcitrant DFUs and define its potential role as an adjunctive salvage intervention.

Methods: A PRISMA-guided review of peer-reviewed literature through August …

Examining Social Support Among Black Dementia Caregivers In The Greater Toronto Area, Deanna Marie Black

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Dementia affects more than 55 million people globally and disproportionately impacts Black populations due to inequities in healthcare access. In Canada, Black communities face higher dementia risk and greater barriers to timely, culturally aligned care. In the Greater Toronto Area, Black caregivers carry major responsibilities while navigating fragmented services shaped by race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Although social support reduces caregiver burden, little is known about how Black caregivers access and use support within intersecting social and structural constraints.

Purpose: This study will examine how Black adult caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area construct, access, and mobilize social support …

330 Years Of The Russian Navy. A Conversation With The Commander-In-Chief, July 2026, Russia Maritime Studies Institute, Anna Davis, Richard Moss

RMSI Research

On the 330th Anniversary of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev gave his first long interview since he assumed his position as Commander-in-Chief two years ago (2024). Speaking with interviewer Aleksey Egorov on the program Voennaya Priyomka (Military Acceptance) on TV Zvezda (Russian Ministry of Defense TV), Moiseyev discussed the Russian Navy's past, present, and future.

When Three Points Aren't Enough: Parameter Estimation In Newton's Law Of Cooling, Alberto A. Condori, Cara D. Brooks, Madeline R. Goldberg

CODEE Journal

We begin with a paradoxical three-point problem where the standard parameter estimation formula fails because temperature data must satisfy a concavity condition reflecting Newton's Law of Cooling's exponential structure. Although a closed-form solution for A exists for equally-spaced measurements, high sensitivity to error motivates the use of overdetermined systems with many measurements. The "profiling over A" technique transforms this three-parameter nonlinear problem into a sequence of simple linear regressions, providing computational efficiency and conceptual transparency. This approach can be generalized to many parameter estimation problems in science and engineering, making it a valuable tool for undergraduates interested in applied mathematics. …

Building On Sand: Ai Law And The Failures Of Alignment, Claire Boine

Journal of Science & Technology Law

AI alignment is increasingly in the spotlight. However, from a technical concept, the term has been broadened to cover all sorts of potential harms by advanced AI systems. This Article disambiguates three different problems: ensuring that systems pursue intended objectives through acceptable means, deciding which values should guide their behavior, and governing private companies whose incentives diverge from those of society. Drawing on technical research and documented incidents, the Article explains why goal alignment deserves serious attention without requiring claims about human-like intelligence. It then shows how value alignment can reframe normative conflict as an engineering problem and divert attention …