Digital Commons Network^™

Hydrofortera: An Experimental Study On The Development Of An Effective And Cost-Effective Eco-Friendly Geopolymer Water-Stop Cement, Aaron Dave M. Libatique, Liam Rori S. Crisostomo, Zsharich Nicole D. Fernandez, Rizha Trixcy V. Ferrer, Amaro B. Lanuza Jr., Jannelle Mae D.R. Samotia, Juan Lorenzo C. Villanueva, Jemaima M. Robles

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Hydraulic water-stop cement is a commonplace solution to most concrete problems caused by natural disasters in the Philippines, especially flooding in low-lying areas. However, rising expenses and environmental concerns due to surging carbon footprints necessitate the development of a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative. Aligned with SDGs 9, 11, 12, and 13, this study developed HydroFortera: an effective, cost-effective, and eco-friendly geopolymer water-stop cement formulated using waste by-products such as fly ash, rice husk ash, and coconut fiber, along with alkaline activators and additives. Alkaline-to-binder ratios of 0.40, 0.45, and 0.50 were tested for various properties to determine the optimal ratio …

Passive Institutional Ownership And The Informational Efficiency Of Stock Prices, Lihong Liang, Jingxin Hu

Accounting - All Scholarship

We examine how passive institutional ownership affects the informational efficiency of stock prices. Because passive institutional investors prefer greater transparency, their presence encourages managers to enhance firm disclosure (Boone & White, 2015; Schoenfeld, 2017). Increased disclosure improves the information environment and reduces information uncertainty, leading to lower post-earnings announcement drift (PEAD) and greater price efficiency (Hung et al., 2015; Zhang, 2006). Accordingly, we predict that higher passive institutional ownership strengthens the contemporaneous market response to earnings announcements while mitigating PEAD. Using firm additions to the S&P 500 index as an exogenous shock, we document that increases in passive institutional ownership …

Best Integrated Writing Spring 2026 - Complete Edition, Wright State University School Of Humanities And Cultural Studies, Tracy Smith, Kristie Mckiernan

Best Integrated Writing

Best Integrated Writing includes excellent student writing from Integrated Writing courses taught at Wright State University.

Tornado Alley In A Changing Climate: The Eastward Shift, Kenny Reinhard

Best Integrated Writing

Reinhard argues that climate change is driving an eastward shift in Tornado Alley from the Great Plains toward the southeastern United States, increasing tornado frequency in more densely populated and less-prepared regions. It highlights how changing atmospheric conditions—such as increased moisture, instability, and wind shear—are contributing to this shift and emphasizes the need for improved preparedness and infrastructure in newly affected areas.

Mmu: 03/23/26-03/29/26, Student Bar Association

Monday Morning Update

This Week @ NDLS

Mass Times

Commons Daily Menu

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General Announcements

Diversity Of Sporous Plants (Bryophyta And Pteridophyta) And Lichens In The Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve Area, West Java, Yusuf Ibrahim, Gurnita Gurnita, Elfina Karima, Iwan Setia Kurniawan

Baghdad Science Journal

The study aims to determine the diversity of terrestrial fern species (pteridophyta) and mosses (bryophyta) in the Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java. The method used in this study is a qualitative description of the design of the transmission belt. Collected samples were conducted with a purposive sampling method. A lengthy transect line extends approximately 110 meters and comprises up to six quadrants, each measuring 10 by10 meters. The research identified eight types of terrestrial fern, including two in three orders and six families; seven species have been identified with a total of 437 individuals in the form of moss …

Potential Role Of Mir-484 In Modulating Vdr Gene Expression Level In Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Patients, Huda B. Babat, Luma Hassan Alwan Alobaidy, Issam Salman Al-Azzawi

Baghdad Science Journal

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones, accounting for over 70% of all types, are the most common stone type. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional epigenetic regulators, involved in disease development. One of these miRNAs is miRNA 484 (miR-484). Vitamin D (VD), a fat-soluble vitamin important for calcium (Ca) metabolism, is primarily mediated by the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), a nuclear transcription factor. This study aimed to investigate miR-484's regulatory role in modulating VDR gene expression, evaluate serum VD and biochemical parameters in CaOx kidney stone patients compared to healthy controls, and their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Blood samples were collected …

Modern Dna Detection Via Traditional Methods: Conforming Algal Species In Soran Independent Administration, Kurdistan Region Of Iraq, Balkes Haje Rasul, Farhad Hassan Aziz, Janan Jabbar Toma

Baghdad Science Journal

This investigation was conducted on five genetically identified algal species at five sites in the Soran administration, with sampling monthly from March 2024 to January 2025. Accurate species identification is essential for understanding biodiversity, assessing ecosystems, and managing water quality. Traditional morphological identification is standard practice for algal characterization, but these methods are time-consuming and error-prone, especially when dealing with similar-looking species or mixed populations. Modern DNA detection methods, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA barcoding, improve specificity and sensitivity. This study compares the effectiveness of DNA detection methods with traditional morphological techniques to confirm the presence of five …

Nano Zinc As A Source To Stimulate Calendula Officinalis Callus To Produce The Active Triterpenoid Glycoside, Abdulwadood S.M. Alsoufi, Suha Maher Abed, Sara Q. Suliaman, Anna Szakiel

Baghdad Science Journal

Plants can synthesize a large number of different active compounds and ingredients, which can be influenced under stress conditions. The plant in vitro culture technique is considered a suitable and useful method to propagate and protect the medicinal and herbal plants, and to extract active natural compounds. The main target of this work was to obtain callus of Calendula officinalis explants stimulated by Nano zinc, and then to extract the natural glycosides from callus in vitro culture and apply them against certain bacterial and fungal isolates. The explant of C. officinalis was grown on media containing a mix of hormones, …

Influence Of Beryllium Substitution On Vibrational And Electronic Properties Of Carbon Nano-Cone: Density Functional Theory, Rajaa K. Mohammad, Hussein M. L., Ammar S. Hameed, Luma M. Ahmed, Shurooq Sabah Abed Al-Abbas

Baghdad Science Journal

Density Functional Theory (DFT) was employed to investigate the effects of beryllium (Be) substitution on the vibrational and electronic properties of a single-wall carbon nano-cone. The study aims to clarify how Be incorporation modifies the structural stability and electronic characteristics of this nanostructure. Electronic parameters including ionization potential (I), electron affinity (Eea), Fermi energy (Ef), HOMO–LUMO energies, total energy (E), and band gap (Eg) were calculated. Infrared (IR) spectra, optimized geometries, electrostatic potential maps, and electron density distributions were also analyzed. The results indicate that Be substitution reduces the ionization potential while increasing the electron affinity. Incorporation of Be atoms …

Enhancing Cyber Hygiene Among Communities Through Experiential Cyber-Security Awareness Programs, Dr Atul Bamrara, Partha Roy, Vishwanath Gargote, Khandu Thungon

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Human error remains the most frequently exploited vulnerability in the cyber-security ecosystem. Despite substantial investments in technical safeguards, cybercriminals increasingly rely on social engineering, misinformation, and emotionally manipulative tactics to compromise users. This study examines behavioral changes among participants who underwent structured cyber-security workshops addressing both conventional cyber hygiene practices and emerging digital threats. The training modules covered digital arrest scams, identity theft, sextortion, fake technical support fraud, fake social media profiles, online gaming related risks, and deep fake manipulation. The workshops were designed using interactive simulations, real world case studies, and hands on problem based exercises, with the explicit …

Tlr3 Mediated Type I Interferon Response In Mammalian Cell Defense Against Cryptosporidium Parvum Infection., Anjelica Matias

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cryptosporidium parvum is a major cause of a diarrheal disease which affects many children in the USA as well as the rest of the world, yet the contribution of its double stranded RNA (dsRNA) viral symbiont, Cryspovirus (CSpV1) to host innate immunity remains unclear. This study investigated whether CSpV1 activates Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) signaling pathways and downstream Interferon type I (IFN I) responses in mammalian intestinal epithelial cells. Confluent Human Ileocecal Colorectal Adenocarcinoma cells (HCT8) were exposed to CSpV1, and the expression levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Factor 3 (TRAF3), Nuclear Factor-𝜅-light chain enhancer of activated B-cells …

Alcohol Drinking Sex-Dependently Regulates Interleukin-1 Pro-Inflammatory Signaling In The Prefrontal Cortex Of Mice And Rhesus Macaques, Andrea Liss, Clara Lowe, Mahum T. Siddiqi, Dhruba Podder, Marcis V. Scroger, Gianna Vessey, Kenna Martin, Noah M. Paperny, David M. Lam, Allison E. Martin, Jariel N. Bacar, Katie T. Vo, Amy Astefanous, Nolawit Belachew, Eghosa Idahor, April T. Davenport, James B. Daunais, William M. Hayes, Rita Cervera-Juanes, Tony D. Davis, Florence P. Varodayan

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) causes executive dysfunction, leading to reduced treatment adherence, worse clinical outcomes, and relapse. Current medications do not address these symptoms. Targeting the neuroimmune interleukin-1 (IL-1) system has potential, but its mechanistic role in prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction is unclear. Here we investigated how chronic alcohol consumption shifts IL-1 regulation of the rodent and non-human primate PFC. We found that alcohol drinking decreased reference memory and shifted the search strategy in mice of both sexes, and this deficit correlated with altered IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) mRNA levels in the medial PFC (mPFC) of male mice. Notably, …

Beyond The Chart: Clinical Decisions That Protect Patients, Stephanie Bell Kelsey, Rhea May Brasi, Carlisa Caso, Tida Chitmongran, Kieaira Cooksey, Erika Ferrell, Jacqueline Franke, Aizel Joyce Garrido, Lidia Geberslassie, Laurie Gillmore, Theo Hipos, Mindi Johnson, Heimy Jun, Robin Kanaan, Jiahui Li, Alexis Mangubat, Katia Marcu, Sara Mccarthy, Adithya Nath, Brenda Orozco, Maria Papageorge, Elizabeth Ruckman, Debbie Salcido, Aleczandrea Schmelzle, Vivian Stark, Kara Traynor

Nursing 711 Class Projects

The cases in this collection were written by graduate nursing students enrolled in the Master of Nursing program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing. Each author drew from their own clinical experience to illustrate how structured reasoning shapes patient care at the bedside and beyond. Their willingness to reflect honestly on moments of uncertainty, advocacy, and judgment — and to share those reflections with students who are still developing their own — is the foundation of this work. This collection exists because of their generosity.

From Silos To Systems: Examining Leadership Communication During Change In A Non-Profit Behavioral Health Organization, Julie Skye Raskin-Li

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Silo mentality within nonprofit behavioral health organizations creates barriers to effective leadership communication and undermines change management efforts. This case study involved examining how siloed practices influenced leadership communication during organizational change at a nonprofit behavioral health organization in a rural area of California. The study was grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, which emphasizes leadership, workforce engagement, and systems alignment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with leaders at multiple organizational levels and review of internal archival documents. Thematic analysis revealed 3 central themes: siloed decision-making, information gatekeeping, and inconsistent communication, as well as localized resilience practices that were …

The Experience Of Using Ai In An Undergraduate Evidence-Based Practice And Nursing Research Course, Christa E. Hartch

General Submissions: Academic Settings and Education-based Materials

As part of a university-wide, interdisciplinary initiative, faculty in our small, private liberal arts university have been engaged in a months-long Faculty Learning Community (FLC) exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Attending weekly online seminars throughout the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters presented by the Council of Independent Colleges, participating faculty, from undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs across disciplines were asked to implement the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) into course assignments. GAI is defined as any type of AI that uses deep learning models to generate or create new content (Bowen & Watson, 2024). A …

Bacteriophage Therapy For Antibiotic-Resistant Infections, Shiva Pariyar

Best Integrated Writing

Pariyar examines bacteriophage therapy as a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating multidrug-resistant infections, highlighting its targeted mechanism, ability to disrupt biofilms, and synergy with antibiotics. While challenges such as regulation, immune response, and limited clinical trials remain, the study argues that advances in biotechnology and global collaboration position phage therapy as a future cornerstone in combating antimicrobial resistance.

Exploring The Impact Of Education On Cardiovascular Health In Women: Sex Disparities, Symptom Recognition And Attribution, And Preventive Measures, Sydney Totten

Best Integrated Writing

Totten examines sex disparities in cardiovascular disease among women, emphasizing gaps in symptom recognition, treatment, and health education. Through a literature review and educational intervention, it demonstrates that targeted, nurse-led education can significantly improve women’s understanding of risk factors, symptoms, and disease management, ultimately supporting better health outcomes.

Chimes: March 23, 2026, Calvin University

Chimes

Calvin's 150th marked by historic royal visit by Ian Tjoelker

D3 Hockey makes nationals run in historic season before D2 move by Zack Kern & Hendrik Beelen

Celebrating 150 years: "Calvin on the Road" tour visits Grand Rapids by Alec DeYoung

Jordan archaeology May term cancelled by Sarah Sparling

Calvin's CubeSat program launches into action by Ellery Johnson

The Changing Legal Landscape Of Cookie Banner Claims: Is Arbitration The Answer?, Jared Berklee

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

Website cookie banners have become a ubiquitous part of internet browsing and are often overlooked by the average consumer. When cookies malfunction or a website operator fails to obtain proper user-consent, it creates risk for potential privacy-related litigation regarding misrepresentation of data-collection practices. In several recent class action lawsuits filed in California, plaintiff-users claim to have opted out of non-essential cookies, but malfunctioning cookie banners continued to log user information. Often alleging unauthorized interception of their electronic communications under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) or intrusion upon seclusion, consumers have brought claims against a variety of entities, including …

Sars-Cov-2 Nonspike Structural Proteins Hijack Mucosa Epithelial Cell Fate, Yan Gao, Lucas Lacerda Souza, Hong Soon Kang, Zehan Li, Juan Carlos Hernandez-Guerrero, Fábio Abreu Alves, Wei Zhang, Vikram Sharma, Sally Hanks, Jinhua Yu, Christopher Tredwin, Anton M. Jetten, Ciro Dantas Soares, Bing Hu

Peninsula Dental School

COVID-19 patients readily present with severe epithelial damage, such as tissue ulceration and erosion, along with disrupted tissue repair, in multiple organs. The mucous membranes of the lung alveoli [1, 2], gastrointestinal tract [3, 4], nasal [5] and oral cavity [6, 7] are the primary targets of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The infected epithelium triggers a dysregulated immune response that further damages tissues and organs [8, 9–10]. Increasing evidence suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause direct damage to epithelial cells and fibroblasts [11, 12–13]. Here, we report that the mucosa epithelia of COVID-19 patients can undergo cellular dedifferentiation before any …

Dietary Inflammatory Index And Objective Disease Activity In Ibd: No Association Found, Rúbia Moresi Vianna De Oliveira, Ana Carolina Junqueira Vasques, Stefhani Andrioli Romero, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Michael David Wirth, James Hébert Scd, Glaucia Fernanda Soares Ruppert Reis, Cristiane Kibune Nagasako

Faculty Publications

Background

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves genetic and environmental factors, but the relationship between disease activity, adiposity, and diet remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association between endoscopic/radiological activity of IBD, body adiposity, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index with or without adjustment for energy density (E-DII or DII).

Method

An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out. Endoscopic activity was defined by an endoscopic Mayo score >2, Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) > 5, and/or the presence of a deep ulcer in any intestinal segment. Body adiposity was estimated using the body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). …

Quantifying Global Internal Displacement Risk At The Hazard-Vulnerability-Conflict Nexus, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham Morgan, Ali Elgendy, Susan Mikhail, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study introduces a novel, diagnostic hazard-specific displacement risk index that integrates high-resolution hazard data with social vulnerability metrics and historical displacement records, uncovering overlooked compound risks in conflict areas and links between environmental stress and instability. Our methodology combines historical displacement records with environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic indicators to identify high-risk regions and quantify interactions between hazards and conflict across six major hazard types. Results reveal floods as the primary displacement driver, particularly in South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Ethiopia), where dense populations in flood-prone areas intersect with low socioeconomic resilience. Droughts disproportionately impact arid …

The Echo: March 23, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Γδ T Cells At The Interface Of Innate And Adaptive Immunity In Cancer, Arnau Solé Casaramona, Martin F Bachmann, Eva Sevick-Muraca, Mona O Mohsen

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

γδ T cells are unconventional lymphocytes that bridge innate and adaptive immunity by combining recognition of stress-induced ligands independently of classical major histocompatibility complex molecules with the capacity to undergo clonal expansion and long-term adaptation. Their unusual ability to detect malignant transformation using semi-invariant T-cell receptors, butyrophilin recognition and natural killer-like receptors positions them as powerful effector cells in tumors that evade classical immune escape mechanisms. Furthermore, distinct γδ subsets have distinct phenotyping and specific tissue-residencies, which could be leveraged to modulate immunological responses. We evaluate engineered therapies and different experimental platforms for studying γδ T cell biology. We conclude …

Role Congruence Meets Feminist Identity: Disaggregating Causes Of The Double Bind On Women Political Candidates, Sarah Shair-Rosenfield, Melody E. Valdini, Jeanette Morehouse Mendez, Tracy Osborn

Politics and Global Affairs Faculty Publications and Presentations

Studies in social psychology and political science have noted the negative impact of the “double bind” facing women leaders and candidates, which suggests that women must demonstrate both masculine and feminine attributes in order to achieve the same success as men can achieve by demonstrating only masculine attributes. Less attention has focused on how feminist identity conditions these evaluations. We focus on whether individuals’ evaluations of men and women are affected by (1) the gendered attributes associated with a candidate and (2) feminist identity. Using data from an original survey experiment in the US, we investigate the relationship between respondents’ …

Disability, Inclusion And Language-In-Education Policy In The Global South: The Colombian Context, Rosa Dene David, Kimberley Brown

Applied Linguistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper calls for a shift related to English language-in-education policy and inclusive education initiatives in Colombia to ensure that English language learners with disabilities receive equitable and inclusive classroom instruction that is context-appropriate. We call for English language initiatives and policies to draw from theories and practices from both the Global South and the Global North in order to teach towards inclusive education. Trends in both English language teaching and inclusive education have drawn upon the Global North for solutions, which cannot be systemised to fit one international standard. Instead, using the Colombian context as an example, the present …

Housing Affordability Analysis Of Hillsborough County, Fl, Usa – Quantitative And Geographical Analysis Using Spatiotemporal Data, Bomin Koh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Housing affordability assessments rely on the 30 percent income method and generalized linear regression (GLR)-based hedonic price modeling. Both provide broad insights but fail to capture spatial heterogeneity in affordability challenges. This study upgrades housing affordability assessment approaches by incorporating the residual income method and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR). The primary objective of this study is to determine whether methodological improvements, residual income method and GWR, yield significantly different results and provide a more accurate and spatially adaptive understanding of affordability dynamics in Hillsborough County, Florida.

The 30 percent income method is widely used and classifies households as cost-burdened if …

Drowning Prevention In The West: Who Did It Better?, Arran Hedley

University Honors Theses

This paper aims to communicate the differences on how the US, UK and Australia have approached drowning prevention in each of their nations. This paper addresses drowning statistics within each nation, national, state and local policies, access to public facilities, and the preventative strategies, swim lessons and Lifeguarding. These are the criteria each nation is being graded upon, because each criteria is a factor that can help mitigate drowning deaths.

For literature around this subject, there are many papers on each individual nation's approach to drowning but in researching there does not appear to be a comparison of the nations' …

Social Determinants Of Health And Treatment Outcomes In Black And White Men With Early-Stage Prostate Cancer, Laurel Cannon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black men are disproportionately affected in diagnosis and death rates from prostate cancer compared to White men. Although prior research established links between race, sociodemographic factors, and prostate cancer outcomes, longitudinal analyses examining multiple social determinants of health simultaneously were limited. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether race, marital status, and education impact how long patients live who were diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. Social impact theory framed how social forces such as race, education, and marital status influence health outcomes. A non-experimental correlational design was employed, drawing on archival data from 4,407 participants in the …