Digital Commons Network^™

Distinct Effects Of Complement C4a And C4b Copy Numbers In Systemic Sclerosis Serological And Clinical Subtypes, Javier Martínez-López, Carlos Rangel-Peláez, Inmaculada Rodriguez-Martin, Alfredo Guillen-Del-Castillo, Carmen P Simeón-Aznar, José L Callejas, Oliver Distler, Susanna M Proudman, Mandana Nikpour, Nicolas Hunzelmann, Gianluca Moroncini, Jeska K De Vries-Bouwstra, Ariane L Herrick, Yannick Allanore, Marta E Alarcon-Riquelme, Lorenzo Beretta, Shervin Assassi, Christopher P Denton, Maureen D Mayes, Javier Martin, Marialbert Acosta-Herrera, Martin Kerick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Complement component 4 (C4), encoded by C4A and C4B within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6, regulates the immune response and clears immune complexes. The variable copy number (CN) of C4 genes and retroviral human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) element influence its function. Given the relationship of C4 CN with systemic sclerosis (SSc) risk, we assessed associations with SSc clinical and serologic subtypes.

Methods: We compared imputed C4 CNs across SSc subgroups (4,049 anticentromere positive [ACA+]; 2,200 anti-topoisomerase I [ATA+]; 577 anti-RNA polymerase [ARA+]; 1,078 triple-negative [TN] patients; 6,295 limited cutaneous SSc [lcSSc]; and 2,946 diffuse cutaneous …

Vascular Disease Patient Information Page: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (Hht), Rohan R Kasthuri, Harish Eswaran, Karen Smith, Raj S Kasthuri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Sociodemographic Predictors And Age Of Referral For Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) Diagnosis Since The Beginning Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mallika Mathur, Ruosha Li, Sandra Mckay, Christine Markham, Deepali K Ernest, Shreela Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Sociodemographic characteristics, such as race and ethnicity, are associated with delays in ASD diagnosis. However, limited literature has examined the characteristics associated with delayed diagnosis since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify the individual and aggregate sociodemographic characteristics associated with the age at which a child receives a referral for a diagnosis (from March 2020 to May 2023) and evaluate the impacts of the pandemic on this association.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data obtained from patients' electronic health records and the U.S. Census Bureau, we examined associations using linear regressions (N = 507). A subgroup …

Inflating Your Success: An Algorithmic Approach To Improving Outcomes In Pediatric Tissue Expansion, Jackson C Green, Samuel G Ruiz, Kylie R Swiekatowski, Ellen B Wang, Paul Won, Chioma G Obinero, Tien Do, Danielle Sobol, Matthew R Greives

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tissue expanders (TEs) are vital for creating soft tissue for reconstruction. This study examines the challenges of pediatric TEs and proposes an algorithm to minimize complications and optimize outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review (2014-2024) included patients younger than 18 years with TEs, excluding breast reconstruction cases. Initial TE fills were performed in-clinic 2 weeks postoperatively with parent education, whereas subsequent expansions were managed at home. Parents monitored for complications, started antibiotics, and scheduled urgent visits if needed. Data collected included demographics, TE characteristics, indications, defect size, and outcomes.

Results: Forty pediatric patients (median age: 5.2 y) had 96 TEs …

Growth Failure And Early Recurrence In Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: An International Cohort Study, Rachel C Bordelon, Kylie I Holden, Charles C Miller, Ashley H Ebanks, Kevin P Lally, Matthew T Harting, Allison L Speer, Representing The Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The primary objective was to determine whether growth failure (GF) is associated with early recurrence in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The secondary objective was to characterize the prevalence and severity of GF in CDH survivors.

Background: GF is common among CDH survivors, yet it is unclear how growth challenges affect overall morbidity, including hernia recurrence. CDH-specific nutritional guidelines include high calorie and protein targets during periods of acute illness but may benefit from clarifying the relationship between growth and adverse outcomes in this population.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from the CDH Study Group …

Graphene Synthesis: A Reactor-Oriented Review Of Conventional And Emerging Production Methods, Paul C. Ani, Zeyad Zeitoun, Hasan J. Al-Abedi, Joseph D. Smith

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Graphene's unparalleled electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties have positioned it as a transformative material across diverse sectors, including electronics, energy storage, biomedicine, and environmental remediation. However, scalable, cost-effective, and high-quality production remains a critical challenge. This review presents a comprehensive, reactor-oriented analysis of both conventional and emerging graphene synthesis methods, categorized into top-down and bottom-up approaches. Special emphasis is placed on the role of reactor configurations in determining product quality, layer control, scalability, and economic viability. Key synthesis techniques explored include chemical vapor deposition (CVD), epitaxial growth, electrochemical exfoliation, ultrasonic-assisted methods, microwave reactors, combustion synthesis, and plasma-enhanced processes. By evaluating …

The De-Influencingtrend On Social Media And Its Impact On Consumer Engagement, Lana Waschka, Andre Waschka

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Research has shown how influencer marketing in social media has been an effective way for companies to reach their target customers and advertise their products and services (Ahmad, 2018).   Brands rely on these influencers to promote products and encourage engagement and purchases.  De-Influencing, a seemingly antithetical concept, is a recent trend on social media where influencers are discouraging their followers from what they claim are unnecessary consumption.

By analyzing a data set of 216 observations from TikTok, we find evidence that influencers who use de-influencing appeals have higher post engagement. Specifics posts that use de-influencing strategies receive a higher number …

The Case For The Retrospective Phd By Publication In Dental Academia, James Puryer

Peninsula Dental School

For many mid-career clinicians, the traditional PhD is impractical. We assess how a retrospective PhD by publication provides a flexible, credible model aligned with academic and professional realities.

Rosetta-Xai: An Automated Evaluation And Explainability Framework For Code Translation Models, Vishnu S. Pendyala, Neha Bais Thakur

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper presents Rosetta-XAI, a comprehensive software framework for evaluating and explaining Large Language Model (LLM) behavior in cross-language code conversion tasks. The system implements a four-stage automated pipeline: (1) code generation by LLMs accessed through the Ollama API inference service, (2) regex-based extraction of code blocks from markdown responses, (3) language-specific syntax and compilation validation with temporary artifact management, and (4) execution with timeout protections and CSV-based checkpoint recovery. The framework supports evaluation of 15 specialized code LLMs (1.3B–34B parameters), including DeepSeek Coder, Code Llama, CodeGemma, and Granite Code across 17 Rosetta Code programming tasks, generating 42 bidirectional conversion …

The Significance Of Vaccine Education In Vaccination Status, Emma Webb

Honors College Theses

In recent years, more of the general population of the United States has become skeptical about vaccines and overall vaccination numbers have declined. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines have become somewhat of a controversial topic due to varying opinions about the adverse reactions and effectiveness of vaccines. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between a person’s overall knowledge of vaccinations and a person’s vaccination status by asking a series of questions about the science used in vaccines and identifying the participant’s vaccination status in regards to influenza and Covid-19. This study also asked …

Analysis Of Live Load Distribution Factors In Prestressed Concrete Girder-Bridges With Asymmetric Losses In Prestressing Strands, Mohamed T. Elshazli, Mohamed Elgawady, Ahmed Ibrahim

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asymmetric loss of prestressing strands in concrete bridge girders presents a critical yet underrecognized threat to structural integrity, particularly in exterior girders subjected to impact or localized deterioration. This form of localized and unbalanced damage leads to eccentric reductions in prestressing force, rotation of the principal axis, and diminished flexural capacity, effects not explicitly addressed in current design standards such as the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the structural implications of such asymmetric damage, focusing on its effect on live load distribution factors (LLDFs) across prestressed girder bridges. A parametric study of …

Utilizing And Optimizing Forecasting Models For Nursing Demand: A Narrative Review, Kalpana Singh, Liyan Ajit D. Souza, Ananth Nazarene, Amane Mounia, Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr, Ahmad Mousa, Rebecca Rejo George, Abdulqadir J. Nahwan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Accurately forecasting nursing demand is essential for effective workforce planning in the context of increasing patient volumes and the growing complexity of healthcare systems. Reliable forecasting supports optimal staffing, enhances patient care quality, and reduces operational risks. However, traditional forecasting approaches are increasingly challenged by evolving clinical demands, rising chronic disease burden, and rapid technological advancements. Aim: This narrative review aimed to (1) map existing models used for predicting nursing demand, (2) identify key predictive methodologies, data inputs, and evaluation metrics, and (3) highlight existing gaps and implications for healthcare policy and workforce management. Methods: A comprehensive narrative literature …

Mood Monitoring In Schools: A Promising Alternative To Single-Time-Point Screening, Shane L. Rogers, Brown, Kathryn Campbell, Matthew Goulding

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

School-based mental health screening typically relies on single-time-point assessments, which assume that students’ emotional well-being is sufficiently stable for classification based on a single measurement. The present study examined this assumption by evaluating the stability of emotional well-being classifications under repeated mood monitoring. Students from two secondary schools (United Kingdom, n = 413; Australia, n = 354) completed the Brief Emotional Experience Scale weekly across six to seven weeks. Emotional well-being classifications were examined relative to a predefined low well-being threshold to assess stability across time, and a post-monitoring survey examined students’ self-reported perceptions of the monitoring experience. Most students …

How Do I Set Up New Hires For Long-Term Success?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

HR expert Jodi Schafer addresses the common challenge of employee retention through effective onboarding strategies. She clarifies that onboarding is a long-term process of integration and belonging, distinct from simple orientation. The article provides practical tips for reducing new-hire anxiety, such as sharing first-day agendas and assigning mentors. Schafer emphasizes the importance of pacing training, setting clear performance expectations, and establishing ongoing feedback loops during the first few weeks. By measuring metrics like time to proficiency, practices can refine their integration processes to build a stable and committed workforce.

Here Are The Candidates For 2026-27 Mda Positions, Todd Christy Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This document presents the official slate of candidates for leadership positions within the Michigan Dental Association and for representation in the ADA House of Delegates. It details the open officer roles, including president-elect and speaker of the House, along with various trustee positions. The article outlines the governance process for elections occurring during the Annual Session and provides instructions for members wishing to self-nominate from the floor. This feature ensures members are informed about the individuals seeking to shape the future policies and direction of organized dentistry in Michigan.

Managing Oro-Antral Communications After Tooth Extractions: A Guide For General Dentists, Ross Brockman Dmd, Md, G. E. Ghali Dds, Md

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This clinical feature provides general dentists with a detailed guide on managing oro-antral communications (OACs) resulting from tooth extractions. It distinguishes between acute OACs and chronic oro-antral fistulas (OAFs), identifying anatomical and surgical risk factors. The authors outline conservative management strategies for small communications, including sinus precautions and pharmacotherapy, as well as surgical techniques like the buccal advancement flap for larger defects. The article concludes with specific criteria for specialist referral, ensuring that dentists can optimize patient outcomes and prevent long-term complications such as chronic sinusitis.

J Mich Dent Assoc April 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200-plus members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The April 2026 (Volume 108, No. 4) issue of the Journal is published in digital format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This full issue provides a comprehensive overview of the Michigan dental landscape in 2026. Key features include a clinical …

Government & Insurance Update: Mda Advocacy Successes, James Budd Mpp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This document summarizes the recent legislative achievements of the Michigan Dental Association’s advocacy team. Key highlights include the House passage of bills regulating dental specialty advertising to ensure transparency for patients and the elimination of the inactive Dental Specialty Task Force. The update also promotes the MDA’s legislative text alert system and online tools designed to help member dentists engage with lawmakers on "hot-button" issues. By staying informed through these platforms, Michigan dentists can support the MDA’s mission to improve practice conditions and access to care across the state.

2026 April, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for April of 2026.

Dissent By Design: Graphic Communication And The Continuity Of Resistance As A Civic Practice In The United States, Ryan "Rain" Milligan

Theses

Graphic communication has played a role in shaping civic life in the United States throughout much of its history, influencing how individuals recognize injustice, understand systems of power, and participate in collective action. Typically associated with moments of protest or political upheaval, printed materials such as pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, and posters have also functioned as everyday tools that structure public engagement. This project examines these materials through the framework of agitation, education, and organization, considering how graphic communication operates across different historical contexts to provoke recognition, make complex ideas accessible, and coordinate collective effort. Drawing from a range of historical …

The Magazine, Spring 2026, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Alumni Association Publications

The Magazine of Morehead State University from spring of 2026.

Comments From The Editors, Tulay Girard, Brian Whelan

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Welcome to the 2026 Special Issue of the Journal of Applied Marketing Theory (JAMT). JAMT is committed to providing a reputable platform for disseminating scholarly research that advances marketing knowledge while offering practical insights for marketing professionals.

In this special issue, we are pleased to present four manuscripts examining applications of artificial intelligence in the classroom and AI-driven personalization to enhance consumer engagement. Each article was well received by our review team and offers meaningful contributions to contemporary marketing discussions. We are delighted to share these works with our readers and hope you find them both insightful and thought-provoking.

Examining The Relationship Of Work Stressors And Resilience Among Inpatient Oncology Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study:, Blanca Melida Vasquez-Clarfield

Theses & Dissertations

Burnout among inpatient oncology nurses remains a concern in a specialty marked by high patient acuity, complex care regimens, emotional intensity, and repeated exposure to suffering and death. Resilience is often discussed as a protective resource in nursing, yet less is known about how personal resilience and work resilience relate to work stress and burnout within inpatient oncology practice. This study examined the relationships among perceived work stress, personal resilience, work resilience, and burnout among registered nurses working in inpatient oncology units. It also explored whether selected nurse characteristics were associated with these variables and how nurses described workplace stressors, …

The Psychology Of Acquisition, Consumption, And Disposition Of Clothing Among Consumers, Kamila Muratkyzy Buckle, Trang Phuc Tran

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This qualitative analysis investigates consumer behavior in the clothing industry, highlighting the importance of qualitative data in informing retail strategies and gaining a deeper understanding of the complex motivations and emotional connections consumers maintain with fashion brands. The analysis explores a variety of values that impact clothing acquisition, including affordability, quality, and ethical considerations, while investigating the influence of social media on consumer brand loyalty and purchase motivations. Through focus groups, interviews, and social media analysis, this research project emphasizes how retail brands can implement consumer insight to improve engagement. The results enrich the understanding of consumer behavior and provide …

Analyzing Big Data-Ai's Impact On Product Innovation And Customer Engagement, Omar Itani, Samer Elhajjar, Ashish Kalra Dr, Manal Yunis Dr.

AMTP Proceedings 2026

In contemporary business landscapes, an organization's capacity to deliver groundbreaking innovative products and foster deep, meaningful engagement with its customers stands as the paramount objective of modern strategic practices. This dual focus not only drives sustainable growth but also fortifies competitive positioning in hyper-competitive markets. Yet, despite the extensive empirical evidence highlighting the transformative benefits of innovation—such as enhanced market share and profitability—and customer engagement—evidenced by loyalty, advocacy, and repeat business—the pivotal role of big data-artificial intelligence (BD-AI) technologies remains strikingly underexplored. In particular, scant attention has been paid to how BD-AI training equips firms to harness these tools effectively …

A Market Of Care Skills: Profiting From Professional Education And Practice, Yasmin Y. Ortiga

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Who profits from the commodification of care and how does such accumulation occur? Focusing on the case of the nursing care market, this paper shows how professional schools and local hospitals within source nations like the Philippines profit from nurses seeking the credentials to qualify for jobs overseas. While existing studies show how nursing skills are exploited and undervalued, this paper argues that it is the process of skilling itself that allows for the accumulation of profit, regardless of whether nurses leave their origin countries to work abroad. This study reveals how global care economies are tightly linked to local …

Think First, Chatgpt Later: Guiding Human-Ai Collaboration For Learning Gains In Independent Human Creativity, Sarah Shi Hui Wong, Sophia Xuefei Qiu

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT can boost creative performance, but do these boosts translate into learning gains? This study examined whether the benefits of ChatGPT for creativity persist even when its assistance is removed, and how people can effectively use ChatGPT to enhance their learning and independent creativity. University students (N = 196) solved a creative product improvement task either independently (human-only group) or using ChatGPT freely (general-AI group) or using ChatGPT in a guided way (regulated-AI group). Specifically, the regulated-AI group used a novel “think first, ChatGPT later” approach—they first generated their own ideas, then collaborated …

Sequencing Dengue Control Policy In Singapore: An Evolutionary Perspective For Policy Design, Ishani Mukherjee, Panchali Guha

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

About half the global population is now at risk of contracting dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause severe morbidity and fatalities. Effective dengue control depends on controlling the mosquito vector, but finding the right mix of vector control policies has proved challenging. Using a content analysis of 208 Hansard records from parliamentary proceedings in Singapore, where dengue outbreaks have significantly increased in both frequency and magnitude since the early 1990s, we trace the processual evolution of Singapore’s anti-dengue policy mix from 1960 to 2023 and conclude that the evolution of dengue control policies is consistent with a customized …

Eagle-Winged Worms: Seeing Contingent Faculty Through Currere, Nicholas Hayes

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This currere explores my experiences as part-time contingent faculty working at multiple institutions (a so-called freeway flyer). Covering the years from 2005-2015, the regressive mode draws from my experiences teaching writing composition and literature at a community college, arts college, and three religious universities. A central impetus for this exploration is a desire to understand the ways I was socialized by these institutions and how that socialization shaped my understanding of my identity within and through my status as contingent faculty. Higher education (especially first-year writing programs) has become dependent on contingent faculty. The increased reliance on part-time contingent faculty …

The Role Communication, Collaboration, And Leadership Practices Play In Parents’ High School Volunteering Experiences: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study, Julee Gould

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This qualitative case study explored parents’ perceptions and experiences related to volunteering at a suburban high school in California, with a focus on both the motivations and challenges that shape involvement. Guided by two central research questions, the study explored (1) parents’ perceptions regarding the motivations and challenges for parent volunteering at the high school and (2) how parents feel about their experiences when volunteering as their children transition from elementary to secondary school. While existing research consistently links parent involvement to improved academic and emotional outcomes for students, parental engagement often declines during the secondary years. By integrating an …