Digital Commons Network^™

Stochastic Generalization Models Learn To Comprehensively Detect Volatile Organic Compounds Associated With Foodborne Pathogens Via Raman Spectroscopy, Bohong Zhang, Anand K. Nambisan, Abhishek Prakash Hungund, Xavier Jones, Qingbo Yang, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ensuring food safety requires continuous innovation, especially in the detection of foodborne pathogens and chemical contaminants. In this study, we present a system that combines Raman spectroscopy with machine learning (ML) algorithms for the precise detection and analysis of VOCs linked to foodborne pathogens in complex liquid mixtures. A remote fiber-optic Raman probe was developed to collect spectral data from 42 distinct VOC mixtures, representing contamination scenarios with dilution levels ranging from undiluted to highly diluted states. A dataset comprising 1445 Raman spectra was analyzed using classification and regression ML models, including multi-layer perceptron (MLP), random forest, and extreme gradient …

Smart Textile Technology For The Monitoring Of Mental Health, Shonal Fernandes, Alberto Ramos Serrano, Mario Vega-Barbas, Carolina García-Vázquez, Fernando Seoane, Iván Pau

Artículos científicos

In recent years, smart devices have proven their effectiveness in monitoring mental health issues and have played a crucial role in providing therapy. The ability to embed sensors in fabrics opens new horizons for mental healthcare, addressing the growing demand for innovative solutions in monitoring and therapy. The objective of this review is to understand mental health, its impact on the human body, and the latest advancements in the field of smart textiles (sensors, electrodes, and smart garments) for monitoring physiological signals such as respiration rate (RR), electroencephalogram (EEG), electrodermal activity (EDA), electrocardiogram (ECG), and cortisol, all of which are …

An Economic Analysis Of Cell-Fencing In Semi-Arid Rangelands, Stuart Dawson, Tracey L. Kreplins, Malcolm S. Kennedy, Santhi Wicks, Patricia A. Fleming

Biosecurity Research Articles

In Australia, livestock predation by dingoes (Canis familiaris) has contributed to what some livestock producers consider a dire situation for rangeland pastoralism, driving demand for cooperative regional-scale exclusion (‘cell’) fencing (i.e. pest-proof fences that encompass one or more individual properties) and landscape-scale predator control. The present case study predicted the effect of four cell-fences in the state of Western Australia (WA) on the gross margin of sheep (for meat or meat and wool) and cattle pastoral enterprises. We modelled the potential effects of the following four key variables: (1) four levels of commodity prices, (2) five levels of …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 14 - February 13, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 14 - February 13, 2025. 20 pages.

February 14, 2025, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Macbeth

Theatre and Performance Studies Programs

What happens when people with power go unchecked, especially when that power is driven by desires and emotions? Is morality lost? What are the repercussions of tyranny? Kennesaw State University’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies (TPS) will examine those questions as they present “Macbeth” running Feb. 13-23 at the Stillwell Theater. TPS Faculty and Director Marlon Andrew Burnley says that the play “explores the destructive power of ambition, the fragility of the human soul, and the consequences of choices made in pursuit of power.”

Non-Orientable Surfaces Bounded By Knots, Megan K. Fairchild

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The non-orientable 4-genus of a knot $K$ in $S^{3}$ is defined to be the minimum first Betti number of a non-orientable surface $F$ in $B^{4}$ so that $K$ bounds $F$. We will survey the tools used to compute the non-orientable 4-genus, and use various techniques to calculate this invariant for non-alternating 11 crossing knots, torus knots, and Whitehead doubles. We also will view obstructions to a knot bounding a M\"{o}bius band given by the double branched cover of $S^{3}$ branched over $K$. Additionally, we discuss the problem of the Whitehead double of the Figure 8 knot and survey commonly used …

Phase 3 Trial Of Cabozantinib To Treat Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors, Jennifer A Chan, Nikolaos A Trikalinos, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors are limited. The efficacy of cabozantinib in the treatment of previously treated, progressive extrapancreatic or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is unclear.

METHODS: We enrolled two independent cohorts of patients - those with extrapancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and those with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors - who had received peptide receptor radionuclide therapy or targeted therapy or both. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive cabozantinib at a dose of 60 mg daily or placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival as assessed by blinded independent central review. Key secondary end points …

Accessing Local Health Programs For Afro-Caribbean Families In The Greater Tampa Bay Area, Michelle Jacqueline Swift

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to quality healthcare is essential for the well-being of immigrant families, especially Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the Greater Tampa Bay area. Disparities in use and satisfaction with health services are known. Guided by Andersen’s healthcare utilization model, a quantitative cross-sectional design employing multiple linear regression analyzed the relationships between self-reported income, education, years since immigration, and health-seeking behaviors (IVs) and satisfaction with care, measured by the PSQ-18 (DV). This study involved 92 English-speaking Afro-Caribbean migrant families with minors residing in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. The IVs did not emerge as significant variables in the model output F(14, 68) = …

Skill Development Approach For Poverty Alleviation In India, Sameer Chandra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

India’s Poverty Profile revealed that over 65% of the poor reside in rural areas. This study examined the effectiveness of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) skill development program in alleviating poverty in Uttar Pradesh, India. Guided by Sen’s capability approach, a quantitative cross-sectional design employing logistic regression analyzed the relationships of candidate qualifications and trade categories, predicting the likelihood of successful job placement. The study analyzed 4,789 randomly selected cases from 14 high-poverty districts in DDU-GKY’s database. The job placement rate within cases was 28.2%, with 71.8% not placed. Candidate qualification significantly predicted the likelihood of job …

Spartan Daily, February 13, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 10

Examining The Flavor Descriptors Of E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products, And Nicotine Pouches In The Philippines: Regulatory Challenges And Opportunities, Samantha J. Ackary, Patrik James D.L. Cabrera, Alen Josef A. Santiago, Gianna Gayle H. Amul

Ateneo School of Government Publications

In the Philippines, the regulation of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and nicotine pouches under Republic Act 11900 or the Vape Law is crucial as their use continues to rise. As e-cigarettes are rapidly gaining popularity due to their social appeal, perceived novelty, ever-changing flavors, and sensations that are attractive to consumers, HTPs and nicotine pouches are continuously developing as well. This study aims to characterize e-cigarette, HTP, and nicotine pouch flavor descriptors in the Philippines and to assess the regulatory implications of existing policies regulating these products. We adapted the Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS) data collection protocol developed …

Pharmacist Avoidance Or Reductions In Medical Costs Considering Board Of Pharmacy Specialties Certification (Pharm-Bps)., Keaton S Smetana, Edith Liang, William Adams, Payal K Gurnani, William J Peppard, Alexander H Flannery, Megan A Rech

Pharmacy Articles

No abstract provided.

Pharmacogenomics Implications Of Tamoxifen In Breast Cancer Treatment: Clinical Relevance And Future Directions, Khalda E. M. Elhaj, Mahmoud M. E. Mudawi, Hamad A. Albagir A. Ali, Kamal A.A. Mohammed

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Tamoxifen is a cornerstone therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, improving survival and reducing recurrence. Its efficacy and toxicity, however, vary due to genetic polymorphisms influencing metabolism and transport. Key genes, such as CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCB1, ABCC2), are crucial in forming and distributing active metabolites like endoxifen. This review explores tamoxifen pharmacogenetics through an analysis of literature from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PharmaGKB. Genetic variations like CYP2D6*10 in Asians and CYP2D6*17/29 in Africans impact therapeutic outcomes. Barriers to personalized tamoxifen therapy include inconsistent guidelines, limited access to genetic testing, and underrepresentation of ethnic groups …

Associations Between Atmospheric Ozone, Pm2.5 And Prevalence Of Diabetes In Georgia, United States, Kingsley A. Kalu, Jingjing Yin, Atin Adhikari

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Objective:

This study examines the association between two air pollutants (PM_2.5 and ozone), and the prevalence of adult diabetes mellitus in relation to various confounding factors.

Methods:

We collected diabetes prevalence data from the 2015 County Health Ranking and Georgia Health Data Hub. A negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between the county-level dependent variable “adult diabetes” (for adults aged> 18 years diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) and two independent county-level variables: percentage of days ³ NAAQS for ozone and PM_2.5 concentration levels while controlling for confounders.

Results:

At the county …

Perspectives Of African American And Hispanic/Latino Individuals On Hiv Molecular Cluster Detection, Maxwell Richardson, Brendan H. Pulsifer, Jane Yoon Scott, David Holland, Eleanor W. Garlow, Pascale Wortley, Daniel Mauck, Jenna Gettings, Valeria Cantos, Masonia Traylor, Eric Rangel, David Folkes, Carlos Saldana

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Responding to HIV clusters detected using molecular data has been shown to reduce transmission and improve testing, treatment, and prevention. However, there are varied opinions about the use of cluster detection activities, and some advocates have raised concerns about patient consent, data security, and the potential for HIV criminalization. Incorporating the perspectives of marginalized populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV is essential to understanding the diversity of those perspectives, yet it is often overlooked in the literature. Thus, our study seeks to highlight the perspectives of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino individuals in the Southern United States on HIV …

Affect Regulation And Mortality Risk: The Role Of Allostatic Load, Amanda E. Ng, Tara Gruenewald, Robert-Paul Juster, Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective:

Although growing evidence indicates that distinct affect regulation strategies (e.g., positive reappraisal, anger suppression) predict mortality risk, the biological processes involved remain understudied. We investigated the association of various affect regulation exposures with mortality risk while examining the role of allostatic load.

Method:

In 2004-2006, 1,941 participants from the Midlife in the United States longitudinal study completed validated scales assessing use of nine general and emotion-specific regulatory strategies (e.g., denial, anger expression). A standard deviation-based algorithm was also used to characterize how flexibly participants regulate their affect (lower, moderate, or greater variability). Participants further provided data on relevant covariates …

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies Of Dna Methyltransferase 1 Monovalent Degraders, Chao Qian, Youngeun Lee, Yulin Han, Yue Zhong, Jujun Zhou, Ling Xie, H Ümit Kaniskan, Xian Chen, Scott Rothbart, Xiaodong Cheng, Yan Xiong, Jian Jin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), which catalyzes maintenance methylation of hemimethylated DNA during DNA replication, is overexpressed in cancer. Recently, the first-in-class DNMT1-selective noncovalent small-molecule inhibitors, GSK3484862 and GSK3685032, were discovered. These inhibitors were also reported to degrade DNMT1. However, structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of these monovalent DNMT1 degraders are lacking. Here, we report our SAR studies of this scaffold on degrading DNMT1, which led to the discovery of multiple lead degraders, including compound 4 (MS9024). Compound 4 potently and selectively degraded DNMT1 in multiple cancer cell lines in a concentration-, time-, and proteasome-dependent manner without altering DNMT1 transcription. Further mechanism-of-action …

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Completion Rate Among African American Patients By Staff Education, Sloan Mccoy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and disproportionately affects the African American population with a higher incidence and mortality rate. This DNP project was implemented in a suburban primary care practice which is part of a large metropolitan health care organization. I implemented staff education about the CRC completion disparity with the African American population and communication strategies found to help improve this. My goal was for the primary care practice staff to increase their knowledge and change their practice behavior with recommending CRC screening to improve CRC screening rates amongst …

Nurse Experiences Of Caring For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Los Angeles Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Makenna Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One in 22 California children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In combination with sensory considerations, healthcare costs, and increased healthcare utilization, these children face a lesser quality of care and poorer health outcomes. The literature addresses healthcare needs and experiences from various viewpoints, but does not address the experiences of nurses (RN) caring for children with ASD in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of RN’s challenges, and the helpful strategies utilized in practice. A qualitative, grounded study approach, centered on the patient-and-family centered care conceptual framework, was …

Executive Summary: Educating Staff On The Use Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Muktar Trawalley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicidal ideation is a serious public health concern among individuals, especially in the United States. The Columbia-Suicide severity rating scale (C-SSRS) is the tool used to assess the severity and frequency of suicidal ideations. The gap in practice at this site is that mental health providers lack knowledge of using the C-SSRS. This evidence-based educational project aimed to improve nursing knowledge on using the C-SSRS in a psychiatric mental health facility. A practice-focused question was developed: Among psychiatric nurses in an outpatient mental health facility, does staff education on C-SSRS improve their knowledge of its application over 8 weeks, as …

Exploring The Use Of Student-Led Conferences In A Title 1 Elementary School, Camille Renee Harris-Wilmot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental engagement is a critical factor in student academic success, yet traditional parent-teacher conferences often fail to achieve meaningful collaboration. This study explored how teachers and parents described the influence of student-led conferences on parental engagement at a public elementary school in southeastern Virginia. Grounded in constructivist theory, particularly the works of Piaget and Vygotsky, the study focused on student-centered learning. A basic qualitative design was employed with purposeful sampling used to recruit 10 teachers and parents with direct experience of student-led conferences. Semistructured interviews were analyzed through open-coding and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns. Findings revealed that student-led …

Staff Education To Increase Substance Use Screening And Treatment For Adolescents In An Outpatient Primary Care Mental Health Facility, Surekha Gorantla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education DNP project addressed the practice issue relating to adolescent substance abuse in the project mental health facility. The facility does not have a uniform process for addressing this problem. Follow-up care for adolescents treated in the clinic is a challenge because each provider uses a screening tool of their preference, creating inconsistencies in care and missed care opportunities. Therefore, identifying, reducing, and preventing the negative consequences related to adolescent substance abuse in this clinical setting is vital and needs to be prioritized. I developed and implemented a staff education program using screening, brief intervention, and …

The Relationships Between Social Stress, Anxiety, And School Attendance/Absenteeism Among Middle School Students With High-Incidence Disabilities, Rebecca Caroline Canady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic absenteeism has been on the rise across the United States since schools fully reopened to in-person learning after COVID-19-related closures. Historically, students with disabilities are more likely to experience increased rates of absenteeism. However, there is a lack of research on specific psychosocial factors related to school attendance/absenteeism (SA/A) for students with disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative study of archival data was to examine through analyses of variance what extent the relationship between anxiety and SA/A is moderated by social stress among middle school students with high-incidence disabilities. Additionally, trends in the relationship between variables from before and …

Staff Education On Accurate Blood Pressure Monitoring, Amy Wink

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension is a prevalent diagnosis in the United States and a significant contributor to adult mortality. The annual burden of high blood pressure in the United States is approximately 131 million dollars, accounting for health care services and medication expenses. This educational project was initiated because the metric for the patient population at the veterans’ outpatient clinic exceeded the national hypertension indicator of 140/90. The facility’s data metric results were above the national average, necessitating addressing an identified gap in practice, performing blood pressure screenings accurately. The purpose of this educational project was to develop a module for nurses to …

Hispanic Family Caregivers’ Experiences With Dementia Patients During The Covid-19 Emergency, Vivian Arroyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted caregiving dynamics, particularly for Hispanic family caregivers of dementia patients. This qualitative study explored the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of these caregivers during the pandemic. The theoretical framework was systems theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants to collect data. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling and responded to open-ended questions regarding their caregiving experiences. The collected data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis The findings revealed four themes: (a) caregiving strategies, including time management, collaboration, and reliance on religious faith; (b) self-care experiences, which highlighted the balance between personal …

Quaker Campus, February 13, 2025 (Vol. 23, Issue 9), Whittier College

Quaker Campus

No abstract provided.

Chemical Study Of Basaltic Hopper-Rubber (Olynthus) Mills From Naḥal Tut And ‘En Hofez (Pp. 197–200), Irena Segal

'Atiqot

Four basalt stones of hopper-rubber (Olynthus) mills were sampled for chemical analysis; two were found at Naḥal Tut and two, from ‘En Hofez. All were dated on the basis of stratigraphy to the second half of the fourth century BCE. The chemical examination established that the millstones from Naḥal Tut were manufactured in the area of Nisyros, in the Aegean region.

Petrographic Analysis Of The Pottery From Naḥal Tut (Pp. 191–195), Amir Gorzalczany

'Atiqot

Nine samples of Persian-period wares were selected for analysis. Five petrographic groups were identified, pointing to the presence of local wares, close-range imports from the Carmel shore and long-range imports from the Aegean area or western Cyprus. It seems that the trade or exchange patterns at Naḥal Tut Site VIII were oriented overseas

The Kurkar And Hamra Genesis Of The Northern Hill Of Tel Mikhal (Tel Michal) (Pp. 127–130), Eldad Barzilay

'Atiqot

The geological environment of the site is composed of mobile sand, kurkar, hamra and grumosols (swelling and cracking clay soils) sediments of the Quaternary Hefer formation.