Digital Commons Network^™

Sel For Well-Being And Equity In Higher Education, Colleen Conley, Deborah Donahue-Keegan

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The understood overarching purpose of higher education is to prepare students, typically young adults, with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate, thrive in, and be contributing members of society (Hurtado, 2019). In this time of unprecedented cross-sectoral complexity and volatility on a global scale, institutions of higher education must consider a more expansive set of learning and competency outcomes (Gopalan et al., 2022). This paradigm shift is essential given the alarming rise in mental health challenges on college and university campuses, deep polarization, and an increased demand for prosocial skills in workplaces across sectors (Dermody et al., 2022; Padurean …

A Survey Of Several Python Libraries Foe Computational Geometry, Meghana Kolluru

Masters Projects

This project delves into computational geometry, a crucial area of computer science, by

implementing algorithms to solve geometric problems using Python libraries like Shapely, SciPy,

and Triangle. It begins with foundational tasks such as creating geometric objects (points, lines,

polygons) and performing operations like calculating distances, intersections, and unions. These

basics lay the groundwork for tackling more advanced applications.

Key implementations include the Convex Hull, which computes the smallest convex

polygon enclosing a set of points, aiding in applications like collision detection and GIS. The

project also explores Voronoi Diagrams, which partition a plane into regions based on proximity,

and …

Optimized Fabrication Of Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles As Efficient Delivery System For Cancer Immunotherapy, Varsha Godakhindi, Mostafa Yazdimamaghani, Sudip Kumar Dam, Farzana Ferdous, Andrew Z. Wang, Mubin Tarannum, Jonathan Serody, Juan L. Vivero-Escoto

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the past decade, cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the field of oncology. Major immunotherapy approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, cytokines, and immunomodulators have shown great promise in preclinical and clinical settings. Among them, immunomodulatory agents including cancer vaccines are particularly appealing; however, they face limitations, notably the absence of efficient and precise targeted delivery of immune-modulatory agents to specific immune cells and the potential for off-target toxicity. Nanomaterials can play a pivotal role in addressing targeting and other challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) can enhance the efficacy of cancer vaccines …

New Species And Records Expand The Checklist Of Cellular Slime Molds (Dictyostelids) In Jilin Province, China, Zhaojuan Zhang, Liang He, Yuqin Sun, Zhuang Li, Yingqun Yang, Chao Zhai, Steven Lee Stephenson, Xiangrui Xie, Yu Li, Pu Liu

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dictyostelids represent a crucial element in the protist community, and their abundant presence in Jilin Province underscores their indispensable role in biodiversity conservation. In the present study, a resource survey of dictyostelids used random sampling to collect 28 soil samples from five localities in Changbai Korean Autonomous County, Jilin Province. In addition, a compilation of dictyostelid species reported from Jilin Province was developed, based on a thorough review of the literature. The survey yielded fifteen isolates of dictyostelids, comprising six species from four genera. Notably, two new species (Dictyostelium longigracilis sp. nov. and Dictyostelium macrosoriobrevipes sp. nov.) were described using …

Leveraging Machine Learning For Defect Detection In Irrigation Concrete Canal Lining In Egypt: Advancing Construction Quality And Efficiency, Mohamed Nabawy

Civil Engineering

Abstract:

Defects during the construction phase of projects pose significant challenges, particularly in terms of

safety, cost overruns, delays, and labor inefficiencies. In irrigation concrete canal lining construction

with mega investments, early detection of defects is critical to ensuring quality and project success.

This study explores the application of machine learning (ML) for onsite defect detection, focusing

on the development and deployment of an object detection mobile application specifically tailored

for identifying visible defects in concrete canal lining construction. Leveraging the machine learning

capabilities of Microsoft Azure, a custom object detection model was trained and validated to

recognize defects such …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session December 12, 2024, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

Approval of the Minutes (September 26, 2024 and October 16, 2024 Meetings)

Remarks by the Chair of the Board

Remarks by the President

Updates by the Faculty Senate President

Updates by the Western Student Association President

Updates by the Graduate Student Association President

Presentation: Advancing EV Technology through Education

Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

Policy and Procedures for Periodic Assessment of the University President

Presidential Assessment

Consent Item

A. Personnel Report

B. Curriculum Proposals

C. Commercial Lease Agreement - 603 Ransom, Kalamazoo, MI

D. Natural Gas Pipeline Easement at West Hills

E. Membership Change …

The Rise, Fall, And Resurgence Of Phage Therapy For Urinary Tract Infection

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In the face of rising antimicrobial resistance, bacteriophage therapy, also known as phage therapy, is seeing a resurgence as a potential treatment for bacterial infections including urinary tract infection (UTI). Primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, the 400 million UTI cases annually are major global healthcare burdens and a primary cause of antibiotic prescriptions in the outpatient setting. Phage therapy has several potential advantages over antibiotics including the ability to disrupt bacterial biofilms and synergize with antimicrobial treatments with minimal side effects or impacts on the microbiota. Phage therapy for UTI treatment has shown generally favorable results in recent …

Re: Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Blacktail Creek Groundwater Hydraulic Control System Pre-Design Investigation Evaluation Report (Dated September 16, 2024), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Using Pure Methanol, Ryan Spragg

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Fuel cell technology has attained significant appeal as a form of renewable energy in recent years due to its diverse applications, various fuel types, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Of the various fuel cell types, direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) hold a set of distinct advantages for stationary and small portable applications. These advantages include faster refueling compared to battery charging, high gravimetric energy density, and ease of production and use compared to hydrogen. However, the DMFC has numerous technical hurdles that prevent its widespread adoption into the commercial market. Namely, the slow reaction kinetics in the anode and the …

Page Rank Algorithm In Java, Nikkil Bollman

Masters Projects

The PageRank algorithm is introduced by Google, It is used in search engine optimization, and ranking web pages based on their significance and importance based on a graph structure. This project focuses on implementing the PageRank algorithm using Java and Spring Boot, with Apache Spark as the core technologies for graph data processing. The project aims to compute PageRank scores for nodes in a directed graph, simulating real-world scenarios such as web page ranking and link analysis. The implementation is designed to handle large datasets efficiently by leveraging Spark's distributed computing capabilities and GraphFrames' robust graph processing framework. The workflow …

Creating A Colab Notebook Based On The Tutorial Of The Simpy Python Library, Mary Deepika Basani

Masters Projects

This project introduces an interactive Google Colab notebook designed to familiarize users with the core functionalities of the SymPy Python library, a powerful tool for symbolic computation. SymPy offers an extensive range of capabilities essential for mathematical modeling, algebraic operations, calculus, and matrix manipulations. The notebook serves as an educational platform, allowing users to experiment with small examples and explore practical applications of symbolic computation in real time. Organized into sections, the notebook focuses on key SymPy features such as simplification, equation solving, differentiation, integration, and matrix operations. Each section includes clear explanations, practical demonstrations, and interactive exercises, helping users …

Re: Comment Letter For Final Bpsou Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Belle Of Butte (Bres No. 8 & Ur-39) Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) Request For Change Ir-2024-Ra-01 (Dated December 3, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Book Review: We Had To Get Out Of That Place: A Memoir Of Redemption And Betrayal In Vietnam, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Steven Grzesik

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College Class of 2010

Dr. Wylie W. Johnson reviews Vietnam War veteran Steven Grzesik’s memoir that, as Johnson explains, shows the effects of “the Army’s institutional policies” and how “[u]nit cohesiveness begins with senior leadership.” Grzesik’s personal experiences and the “isolation, abuse, and sacrifice of individual replacements” (which Johnson identifies as important themes in the book) provide a valuable perspective on “the imperative of caring for soldiers.”

Smokejumper Biographies For 1959 Rookie Class, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Biographies by Rookie Year

This document contains short biographies of smokejumpers who rookied in 1959.

Predictors Of Reported Serious Health Outcomes And Death A After Covid-19 Vaccine In The United States, Jean Amost Cadet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 vaccines have been available in the United States since December 2020. However, very few studies have looked at the serious health outcomes reported by those who received a COVID-19 vaccine. Guided by the social ecological model, factors associated with reported serious health outcomes and deaths within the first 2 months after taking a COVID-19 vaccine were examined. A total of 720,210 cases from the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System data from December 2020 to December 2022 were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression to determine if medical conditions predict the number of reported deaths and …

Real-Time Feedback-Driven Framework For Automated Cybersickness Mitigation, Md Jahirul Islam

Master's Theses

As technologies are becoming more advanced day by day, the embracement of virtual reality (VR) technology among users is also increasing in daily activities for various purposes, and subsequently, the barrier between the real and virtual world is fading. Despite the versatile uses, cybersickness (CS) is a major problem which is induced among users due to the immersive VR experience. There is a plethora of research findings and methods to measure the users’ CS such as virtual reality sickness questionnaire (VRSQ), simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), fast motion scale questionnaire (FMS), and others. Recently, machine learning approaches have also been adopted …

Custom Cathode Optimization For Electropolishing Additively Manufactured 316l Stainless Steel, Kasandra Escarcega Herrera

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has become increasingly popular for its ability to rapidly manufacture complex metallic parts. However, the surface properties of as-built LPBF parts may degrade overall performance due to tortuous surface features. Consequently, post-processing like electropolishing (EP) to reduce the surface asperities is often needed for LPBF parts to perform as expected. Utilizing experimental and computational approaches, this project aims to more uniformly EP complex shaped parts made from LPBF 316L. For the experimental approach, parts with a three-dimensional T-shape were printed out of 316L stainless steel and EP using an acidic-based and a polyethylene glycol/NaCl-based electrolyte. …

Ge/Sige Quantum Wells: Material For The Post-Moore Era, Troy Alexander Hutchins-Delgado

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

This dissertation demonstrates high-quality germanium quantum wells on a 200 mm silicon wafer platform, enabling novel device possibilities. Partnering with a commercial silicon-germanium epitaxy supplier, we obtained shallow, undoped germanium quantum wells with high-crystalline quality, confirmed through x-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Hall bar devices fabricated on single quantum wells revealed that surface preparation can tune transport properties while maintaining peak mobilities around 10⁵ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹. Manganese-germanide spintronic contacts were integrated via solid-state reaction, with contact quality assessed through Schottky diodes, transfer length …

Novel Spatial Approaches To Dissect The Lung Cancer Immune Microenvironment, Idania Lubo, Sharia Hernandez, Ignacio I Wistuba, Luisa Maren Solis Soto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lung cancer is a deadly disease with the highest rates of mortality. Over recent decades, a better understanding of the biological mechanisms implicated in its pathogenesis has led to the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapy, resulting in improvements in patient outcomes. To better understand lung cancer tumor biology and advance towards precision oncology, a comprehensive tumor profile is necessary. In recent years, novel in situ spatial multiomics approaches have emerged offering a more detailed view of the spatial location of tumor and tumor microenvironment cells, identifying their unique composition and functional status. In this sense, novel multiomics platforms have …

Predictors Of Reported Serious Health Outcomes And Death A After Covid-19 Vaccine In The United States, Jean Amost Cadet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 vaccines have been available in the United States since December 2020. However, very few studies have looked at the serious health outcomes reported by those who received a COVID-19 vaccine. Guided by the social ecological model, factors associated with reported serious health outcomes and deaths within the first 2 months after taking a COVID-19 vaccine were examined. A total of 720,210 cases from the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System data from December 2020 to December 2022 were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression to determine if medical conditions predict the number of reported deaths and …

Out-Of-Focus Signal Rejection For In Vivo Po2 Measurements Using Two-Photon Phosphorescence Lifetime Microscopy, Qi Pian, Baoqiang Li, Ikbal Şencan-Eğilmez, Xiaojun Cheng, Jay Dubb, Xinyue Huang, Buyin Fu, Srinivasa Rao Allu, Mohammad Abbas Yaseen, Anna Devor, Sergei A Vinogradov, Sava Sakadžić

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Two-photon phosphorescence lifetime microscopy has been a key tool for studying cerebral oxygenation in mice. However, the accuracy of the partial pressure of oxygen (pO

Ire1Α Silences Dsrna To Prevent Taxane-Induced Pyroptosis In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Yao Ding, Fei Yuan, Liting Zheng, Wei He, Sophie S Zhang, Xin Fu, Jin Liu, Ayse Sena Mutlu, Shuyue Wang, Ralf Bernd Nehring, Xingyu Li, Qianzi Tang, Catherine Li, Xiangdong Lv, Lacey E Dobrolecki, Weijie Zhang, Dong Han, Na Zhao, Eric Jaehnig, Jingyi Wang, Weiche Wu, Davis A Graham, Yumei Li, Rui Chen, Weiyi Peng, Yiwen Chen, Andre Catic, Zhibin Zhang, Bing Zhang, Anthony M Mustoe, Albert C Koong, George Miles, Michael T Lewis, Meng C Wang, Susan M Rosenberg, Bert W O'Malley, Thomas F Westbrook, Han Xu, Xiang H-F Zhang, C Kent Osborne, Jin Billy Li, Matthew J Ellis, Mothaffar F Rimawi, Jeffrey M Rosen, Xi Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chemotherapy is often combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to enhance immunotherapy responses. Despite the approval of chemo-immunotherapy in multiple human cancers, many immunologically cold tumors remain unresponsive. The mechanisms determining the immunogenicity of chemotherapy are elusive. Here, we identify the ER stress sensor IRE1α as a critical checkpoint that restricts the immunostimulatory effects of taxane-chemotherapy and prevents the innate immune recognition of immunologically cold triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). IRE1α RNase silences taxane-induced dsRNA through RIDD (Regulated IRE1-Dependent Decay) to prevent NLRP3 inflammasome–dependent pyroptosis. Inhibition of IRE1α in Trp53−/− TNBC allows taxane to induce extensive dsRNAs that are sensed …

Data Intensive Method For Processing Defect Detection And Mitigation For Composites, Deepak Kumar

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Composite manufacturing without processing defects is a crucial step in satisfying the production, performance, and quality requirements of composite materials in various industries. Autoclave processing enables manufacturing of high-quality composite parts with excellent mechanical properties, whereas additive manufacturing (AM) offers adaptability to complex designs and streamlined processes. However, each method presents unique challenges; despite the benefits, autoclave processes can still result in processing defects, and AM is particularly susceptible to processing anomalies owing to the novelty of the process. Ensuring the quality and reliability of composite manufacturing is essential to fully capitalize on the advantages offered by both techniques. Artificial …

Climbing The Not-For-Profit Leadership Ladder In Australia: Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion, Cheng Yen Loo, Shajimon Peter, Ian Moore, Michael Grove, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This qualitative study examines equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the leadership roles of not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) where a significant number of social workers engage in professional practice. Two focus groups—one with members of the senior management of NPOs (n = 5) and another with emerging (aspiring and less experienced) leaders of NPOs (n = 6)—were conducted to gather perspectives and opinions on EDI in their organizations’ leadership roles. Four major themes emerged from the findings for promoting EDI, which include a whole of organization commitment, multilevel consideration with recruitment, mentorship, training, and advisory board as an untapped potential. Recommendations …

Estimation Of Prevalence Of Autoimmune Diseases In The United States Using Electronic Health Record Data, Aaron H. Abend, Albert M. Lai, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUNDPrevious epidemiologic studies of autoimmune diseases in the US have included a limited number of diseases or used metaanalyses that rely on different data collection methods and analyses for each disease.METHODSTo estimate the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the US, we used electronic health record data from 6 large medical systems in the US. We developed a software program using common methodology to compute the estimated prevalence of autoimmune diseases alone and in aggregate that can be readily used by other investigators to replicate or modify the analysis over time.RESULTSOur findings indicate that over 15 million people, or 4.6% of …

A Ravelin Outwork Uncovered In The Ottoman Fortifications Of The Old City Of ‘Akko, Joppe Gosker

'Atiqot

A small salvage excavation in ‘Akko exposed the remains of a previously unknown ravelin outwork in the counterscarp of the Ottoman-period fortifications—a previously unknown military feature—which cut through earlier Crusader and Hellenistic layers. Ravelins are known components of city fortifications in Europe from the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, continuing in use in the nineteenth century. In ‘Akko, it seems that the construction of the ravelin was not completed.

Trebuchets Were Not Siege Guns, So Why Use Them?, Michael S. Fulton

'Atiqot

Counterweight trebuchets were the most powerful ballistic weapons of their day, but their association with later siege guns has led to misunderstandings of their destructive capabilities. This article is an attempt to correct some misguided ideas by providing a short overview of the power and value of mechanical artillery and contextualizing its use in the Levant during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. After addressing the origin of certain theories that these engines were far more destructive than seems to have been the reality, a brief assessment of their actual power is conducted by looking at the ways sources exaggerate the …

The Old Sword And The Sea: A Medieval European Sword Off The Coast Of Newe-Yam, Joppe Gosker, Jacob Sharvit, Izhak Hershko, Dan Braitman, Yotam Asscher

'Atiqot

This article examines a sword discovered on the seabed near Newe-Yam, providing an analysis of its physical characteristics. The location of the discovery and the submarine iron corrosion processes are described. The sword, covered in a biogenic crust, was studied using non- and minimally invasive techniques, and compared with contemporary swords. A European origin and an approximate date in the twelfth–thirteenth centuries CE are proposed. The study also discusses the role of swords in Medieval European society, their association with authority and chivalry, and the romantic perceptions concerning Crusader swords.

Power And Control In Crusader Acre (‘Akko): The Fortifications Of The Genoese Quarter, Edna J. Stern, Eliezer Stern, Fabrizio Benente

'Atiqot

An impressive fortification system on the northern border of the Genoese Quarter at Crusader-period Acre was discovered, comprising a defensive wall built of bossed ashlars and incorporating arrow slits, a fortified gate leading to the quarter through a vaulted passageway and a projecting tower with two levels of arrow slits. The gate and parts of the passageway were blocked, apparently during the Crusader period, as a consequence of the Saint Sabas War. This war broke out following a dispute between Venice and Genoa over ownership of a monastery located on the border between their quarters, near the port, which was …

Evidence Of The Roman Attack On The Third Wall Of Jerusalem At The End Of The Second Temple Period, Kfir Arbiv

'Atiqot

Remains of a first-century CE wall segment and a tower base uncovered in the Russian Compound, Jerusalem, shed light on the course of the Third Wall in the west of the city and the fierce battle that took place there in the First Jewish Revolt. A concentration of ballista stones and other weapons at the site support the evidence furnished by Josephus in Jewish War, describing the battle at the Third Wall and the siege imposed by Titus on Jerusalem in 70 CE. The archaeological evidence and the historical sources enable a reconstruction of the battle between the Roman army …