Digital Commons Network^™

Association Between Frailty Status And Pain, Balance, And Quality Of Life In Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Musa Güneş, Aydin Si̇nan Apaydin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Frailty is a clinical syndrome that affects individuals physically and psychosocially. However, the association between lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and frailty remains unclear. This study aimed to compare pain, balance, disability, fear of falling, and quality of life between patients with LSS with and without frailty.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 43 frail and 48 nonfrail patients with LSS according to the frailty criteria of Fried et al. Pain intensity (numeric rating scale [NRS]), static balance (single leg stance test [SLST]), dynamic balance (Timed Up and Go test [TUG]), disability (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), fear of falling …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Workers: Risk Factors, Sources Of Infection, And Sickness Absenteeism, Ezgi̇ Gülten, Güle Çinar, İrem Akdemi̇r, Eli̇f Muki̇me Saricaoğlu, İlkay Taşdan, Emi̇ne Atmaca, Si̇bel Kaymakçi, Fatma Şanal, Di̇lek Sevi̇m Akdaş, Arzu Büyüm, Gülşah Kocaali̇, Safi̇ye Tarakçi, Ati̇lla Hali̇l Elhan, Mehmet Serhat Bi̇rengel, Kemal Osman Memi̇koğlu, Alpay Azap

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face increased risks of COVID-19 infection due to occupational exposure. Understanding infection sources, risk factors, and workforce losses is crucial for mitigating these impacts in future pandemics. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors, infection sources, and sickness absenteeism among HCWs diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing insights to enhance infection control strategies.

Materials and methods: The study included 2153 HCWs diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and February 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Türkiye. Demographic, clinical, and professional characteristics, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, infection sources, and vaccination data were analyzed. Statistical analyses …

Involvement Of Swap-70 In Proteolipid Protein-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, Canan Ulusoy, Gi̇zem Koral, Fatma Akpunar Salman, Meli̇s Şen, Emi̇ne Şekerdağ Kiliç, Recai̇ Türkoğlu, Cem İsmai̇l Küçükali̇, Yasemi̇n Gürsoy Özdemi̇r, Vuslat Yilmaz, Erdem Tüzün

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Studies have shown that B cells may play an important role in the induction and progression of MS. Switch-associated protein 70 (SWAP-70) is a signal transduction molecule abundantly expressed in B cells and involved in B-cell polarization, directed migration, endothelial cell adhesion, and tissue homing. B-cell stimuli increase its expression. SWAP-70 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, including MS. This study aims to investigate the effects of acquired SWAP-70 inhibition on immune cell subsets in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Materials and methods: …

Oleanolic Acid–Chitosan Compound Inhibits Mitochondrial Autophagy And Malignant Transformation Of Lung Cancer Through The Pten/Akt Pathway, Abuli̇mi̇ti̇ Abulai̇ti̇, Xi̇aohong Sun, Waresijiang Yibulayin, Dan He, Kemi̇ng Xu, Xi̇ayi̇mai̇erdan Yi̇bulayi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Oleanolic acid–chitosan compound (OAC) shows potent antinonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) activity, but its mechanisms remain unclear. This study elucidates how OAC modulates autophagy and apoptosis via the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog/Protein Kinase B (PTEN/AKT) signaling pathway.

Materials and methods: Oleanolic acid was coupled with chitosan to synthesize OAC. A549 and MRC-5 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium and Minimum Essential Medium, respectively, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and penicillin–streptomycin. Cells were pretreated with chloroquine before OAC treatment. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK- 8 assay, while 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and colony formation tests were employed …

The Prevalence And Impact Of Workplace Violence In Community Pharmacies: A Mixed-Methods Study, Hi̇lal İlbars, Berna Terzi̇oğlu Bebi̇toğlu, Seyhan Hidiroğlu, Fatma Burcu Doğanç, Yağiz Varol

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians employed in community pharmacies face a considerable risk of workplace violence, which can negatively influence their job satisfaction, productivity, and mental well-being. This study examined the prevalence and consequences of workplace violence in community pharmacies in Ankara through a mixed-methods design integrating cross-sectional survey data with qualitative insights.

Materials and methods: The target population included pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. We examined demographic factors, psychological outcomes, and the nature of violent incidents. Data were obtained from a random sample of 355 community pharmacies using a 39-item survey and the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21), complemented by …

Preventing Spinal Muscular Atrophy Through The National Premarital Screening Program In Türkiye: An Economic Comparison With Treatment Costs, Gamze Dur, Gülcan Teci̇rli̇, Nurullah Okumuş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neuromuscular disorder with high treatment costs and significant psychosocial burden. In 2021, Türkiye launched a national premarital SMA carrier screening program integrated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) services for couples identified as carriers. This study aimed to compare the costs associated with the carrier screening and prevention program versus a no-screening (treatment-only) scenario.

Materials and methods: A cost comparison model was developed using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, the Ministry of Health, and the Social Security Institution. The annual costs of SMA treatment (with nusinersen and …

Contribution Of Adenosine A2a Receptor Agonist And Antagonist On Ovarian Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury In Rats, Azad Mammadov, Abdullah Tuncay Demi̇ryürek, Ahmet Saracaloğlu, Cahi̇t Demi̇rkiran, İsmai̇l Tuncer Deği̇m, Ömer Eronat, Şeni̇z Demi̇ryürek

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To determine the effects of an A2A receptor agonist regadenoson, an A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline, and istradefylline nanosuspension on ovarian ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.

Materials and methods: A total of 80 female rats were divided into 10 groups: sham, ovarian I/R, blank nanosuspension + ovarian I/R, regadenoson (3 μg/kg) + ovarian I/R, regadenoson (30 μg/kg) + ovarian I/R, istradefylline (0.3 mg/kg) + ovarian I/R, istradefylline (3 mg/kg) + ovarian I/R, istradefylline-loaded nanosuspension (3 mg/kg) + ovarian I/R, istradefylline (3 mg/kg) + regadenoson (30 μg/kg) + ovarian I/R, and istradefylline-loaded nanosuspension (3 mg/kg) + regadenoson (30 μg/kg) + ovarian …

Stocks And Shocks: Assessing The Relative Roles Of Public And Private Inventories In Buffering Rice Price Volatility In The Philippines, Bernhard Dalheimer, Kenneth Foster, Gerald E. Shively, Valerien O. Pede, Dela-Dem Doe Fiankor, Jacob Ricker-Gilbert, Pratibha Bist

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Public stockholding of food is politically contentious and economically challenging. Although private stocks are generally understood to be more efficient than public stocks at providing a reliable buffer against production shortfalls, private stocks often fail to stabilize prices during extreme food market shocks. Moreover, maintaining large public stock programs in which the government acts as the buyer or seller of last resort, can be very costly. This paper analyzes the recent historical success of public and private rice stocks in stabilizing domestic rice prices in the Philippines, the world’s largest net importer of rice. Relying on competitive storage theory and …

Improving Blood Pressure Control In Home Care Patients Through Implementation Of Acc/Aha Hypertension Guidelines And Structured Blood Pressure Monitoring, Farrah Lynn Yuille

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This clinical practice guideline addressed the practice problem of the lack of standardized and consistent hypertension management in the home setting. Addressing this practice problem is important within nursing practice, as uncontrolled blood pressure increased the risk of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and long-term cardiovascular complications. The practice question focused on translating evidence-based hypertension guidelines into clinical practice and evaluating their impact on patient outcomes in the home care setting. The purpose of the project was to engage three voluntary participants in evaluating the clinical practice guideline per the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association hypertension guidelines within …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Universal Anxiety Screening For Advanced Practice Providers, Kelechi Blanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on anxiety screening in a primary care setting using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool. The practice problem addressed general anxiety disorder and the need for standardized assessments for risk, as recently been recommended by the U.S. Prevention Service Task Force (USPSTF). Anxiety disorder is common but frequently untreated, due in part to low rates of screening. Lack of an evidence-based guideline for anxiety screening may contribute to delayed diagnosis and inconsistencies. The practice-focused question was, Does the evidence support development of an evidence-based CPG for universal anxiety screening in …

Who Lets Ai Take Over? Cross-National Variation In Willingness To Delegate Socially Important Roles To Artificial Intelligence, Ala Yankouskaya, Mohamed Basel Almourad, Magnus Liebherr, Fahad Beyahi, Guandong Xu, Raian Ali

All Works

Delegating socially significant roles to artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging reality, yet little is known about how publics evaluate this transfer of responsibility across contexts and countries. This study applied a structural model to a large cross-national dataset (30,994 individuals in 35 countries) to test how cognitive appraisals, affective dispositions, and contextual factors jointly shape willingness to delegate socially important roles of companionship, mental health advisor, doctor and teacher to children to AI. The results revealed a robust hierarchy of delegation preferences, with companionship most frequently entrusted to AI, followed by mental-health advisor, teacher, and doctor. Cognitive appraisals emerged …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 14 - February 12, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 14 - February 12, 2026. 20 pages.

Unlocking L2 Mastery: Mobile-Assisted Vocabulary And Grammar Learning Among Efl Undergraduates, Nour Ibrahim Metwally, Wesam Khairy Morsi

English Language and Literature

As the demand for the implementation of mobile-assisted learning (MALL) in education is increasing, various research and studies have been conducted to examine the effectiveness of MALL on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) within different university settings. In various higher education contexts, MALL has proved its effectiveness in enhancing various linguistic skills, including grammar and vocabulary, while showing an increase in students’ motivation, autonomy, and engagement. However, research on MALL’s effectiveness and implementation in Egypt is limited. The main objective of this annotative bibliography is to explore how MALL effectively enhances university students’ vocabulary and grammar skills and fills the gap …

Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers: That Is The Sound Of Inevitability: Legislatures And Regulators Step In, Cliff Mckinney

Arkansas Law Notes

In The Matrix, the evil artificial intelligence entity, Agent Smith, corners the human hero, Neo, on the subway tracks. Agent Smith says, “You hear that Mr. Anderson? . . . That is the sound of inevitability. . . .” And if there is one thing that is inevitable, it is that regulations will quickly develop around the way that we interact with and utilize artificial intelligence.

No matter how innovative or disruptive artificial intelligence may be, lawmakers and regulators will not allow it to operate unchecked. Congress recently elected not to impose a moratorium on state regulation, and California has …

Applying The Lean Process To Achieve The Quadruple Aim In Community Care Imaging Consults, Cynthia L. Austin

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: Care coordination has been challenging in scheduling high-risk patients needing diagnostic imaging procedures. Missing crucial patient information can lower the value of patient-reported outcomes because it influences decision-making in care plans, results in duplication of services, and delays the delivery of care or treatments (Ayilara et al., 2019). Incomplete data delays diagnostic procedures, diagnosis, and medical treatments (Fernholm et al., 2019). Numerous studies have revealed that prolonged waiting times are frequently the leading cause of patients' discontent with outpatient scheduling, and equitable waiting periods are necessary based on clinical competency (Ala & Chen,2022). Medical imaging methods frequently cause increased …

Can Offering Mental Health Promotion Mhealth Apps To Hospital Nurses Improve Mental Health And Well-Being?, Cynthia A. Moore, Stephanie Kelly

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Post-pandemic surveys show hospital nurses continue to struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, and stress, and to a greater degree than before the pandemic¹. In 2022, approximately half of nurses surveyed reported an interest in leaving their current job or leaving nursing altogether². Few studies focus on the use of mental health mobile apps (mHealth) in the hospital nurse population. Exploring interventions to mitigate negative responses to nurse-specific demands and stressors can inform how to help improve the mental health of the nursing workforce³. Improving nurses’ mental health may have a positive effect on …

Pinterest’S Architecture And Algorithm, Aly Kellett

Comm-entary

Aly Kellett is a sophomore Communication major with a minor in Business Administration. Originally from Lynnfield, Massachusetts, she currently resides in Georgetown, MA. Aly is a radio host for WUNH, where she contributes to News at Nine, a program featuring guest speakers and discussions on meaningful topics. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing pickleball, and shopping with friends.

This piece looks at how Pinterest’s San Francisco headquarters and digital platform communicate the company’s identity. It explains how the renovated building, central atrium, and knitting stairs create a sense of openness, collaboration, and creativity. The essay also …

A Mechanistic Model Of The Wash Shuffle And Monte Carlo Exploration Of Its Impact On Card Shuffling In Texas Hold’Em, Michael A. Alexeev, Peter B. Chi

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

In casino games using a standard deck of cards, a wash shuffle is sometimes performed prior to the rest of the card shuffling procedure. Unlike other methods of shuffling, the wash shuffle has not yet been well studied. To this end, we first develop a mechanistic model of the wash shuffle based on our observation of how cards tend to move when a wash shuffle is being performed. Then, we use this model to simulate the card shuffling procedure used in casino poker rooms, and explore the resulting impact on where the cards are dealt in the context of Texas …

Psychiatric Nursing Staff Promoting The Use Of Long-Acting Injectables Antipsychotics, Yetunde Oloto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project is a staff education aimed at improving psychiatric staff knowledge regarding the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics among patients with schizophrenia. The practice problem addressed was the limited use of LAIs among psychiatric nurses when treating schizophrenia patients, which contributes to medication non-adherence and subsequent relapse, hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, and diminished quality of life. In nursing practice, this problem is important because nurses are frontline practitioners who administer medications, provide education, and monitor patient adherence. The problem-focused question developed was “Among psychiatric nurses, does staff education on the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics compared to oral …

Work-Life Balance And Occupational Stress: Moderating Factors Among African American Telecommunication Workers, Robert Charity

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After the COVID-19 pandemic, remote call center employees faced intensified challenges in maintaining work-life balance (WLB) while experiencing elevated occupational stress (OS) levels. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between WLB and OS among African American (AA) call center professionals employed in the telecommunications industry, moderated by resilience (RS), gender, and generational age (GenAge). The theoretical framework included boundary theory, the job demands-control model, and resilience theory. The participants comprised 103 AA telecommunications call center professionals aged 28 to 65 in the southwestern United States. They completed the work-life balance scale, perceived occupational stress …

Experiences Of Loneliness And Belonging Among U.S.-Born Women During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Germany, Anna Sizorina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Existing literature indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased levels of loneliness, particularly among individuals with transnational ties. Travel and entry bans, along with social distancing, led to separation from family abroad and from people and communities in the countries of new residence. In this qualitative phenomenological study, experiences of loneliness and belonging among U.S.-born women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany were explored. The transaction theory of stress guided the scientific enquiry, and the evolutionary theory of loneliness served as a conceptual framework for examining loneliness in the given context. Six adult female participants, born in the United …

Staff Education Using A Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle, Julla Panneh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project addressed the ongoing issue of workplace violence (WPV) among medical-surgical nurses in an acute care setting. WPV poses significant risks to staff safety, psychological well-being, and the overall care environment. Guided by current evidence and professional guidelines, the project implemented a structured educational intervention focused on the Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle, incorporating the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) and evidence-based de-escalation strategies. Medical-surgical nursing staff participated in tailored educational sessions; knowledge was assessed through pre- and post-intervention surveys, and program acceptability was evaluated through staff feedback. Data analysis revealed modest improvements in …

Impact Of Workplace Ostracism, Moderated By Personality Traits On Psychological Safety, Aniko Rastovac

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychological safety, an essential element for fostering collaboration, trust, and innovation, can be undermined by negative interactions in the workplace. Most importantly, a lack of psychological safety is a barrier to individual and organizational growth, development, and innovation, which is necessary for gaining a competitive organizational advantage. The present study examines the concept of workplace ostracism as a negative interaction in the workplace that affects psychological safety. Using the big five personality traits framework, Edmondson’s (1999) concept of psychological safety, and Tett et al.’s (2021) trait activation theory, this quantitative study examined how individual differences moderate the impact of workplace …

Strategies To Engage Physicians In Reforming Healthcare Administrative Policies And Processes, Sara Hunt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of physician engagement in healthcare reform initiatives is a persistent problem that can negatively affect hospital performance and patient care outcomes. Hospital leaders and healthcare administrators are concerned with low levels of physician engagement because of its association with reduced organizational effectiveness and quality of care. Grounded in the distributed leadership framework, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies hospital leaders used to engage physicians in reforming administrative policies and processes to improve patient service delivery. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five hospital leaders from one hospital in the southeastern United States who …

Weight Loss Patterns And Clinical Outcomes Of Glp1 Receptor Agonists In Breast Cancer Survivors, Jasmine S Sukumar, Akshara Singareeka Raghavendra, Sarah Pasyar, Roland L Bassett, Debu Tripathy, Carlos H Barcenas, Karen M Basen-Engquist, Banu K Arun

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) for weight loss is increasing; implications in breast cancer (BC) survivors remain unclear.This retrospective cohort study evaluated treatment patterns, weight loss, and outcomes in BC survivors at an academic institution receiving GLP1-RA. We evaluated patients with non-metastatic (ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), stage 1-3) BC who received GLP1-RA (2005 - 2024). Linear regression models estimated associations between weight change and clinical factors. After excluding DCIS, propensity score matching (1:2) was used to match patients who received GLP1-RA with patients who did not, based on confounding covariates. Kaplan-Meier estimates and log-rank tests compared disease-free …

Assessing The Influence Of Third Molar Classification On The Risk Of Caries In Adjacent Teeth, Si̇nan Yasi̇n Ertem, Fati̇h Doğanoğlu, Fehi̇me Alkan Aygör

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the impaction level and angulation of third molars and the incidence of caries in the adjacent second molars.

Materials and methods: A total of 690 panoramic radiographs obtained from patients at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University between May 2022 and January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Third molars were classified based on their eruption status using the Pell and Gregory classification (levels A, B, and C), and angulation (mesioangular, distoangular, vertical, horizontal, and inverted). The presence of caries in adjacent second molars was assessed using the international caries detection and assessment system/international caries …

Music And Dance, Erica Buurman

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Vienna’s reputation as the ballroom dancing capital of Europe was already secured by the end of the eighteenth century and continues to this day. This chapter examines the rich history of dance in Vienna from the eighteenth century – the period of the first public ballrooms as well as the emergence of ballet as an independent art form – to the present day. It discusses Viennese ball culture and its iconic dance, the waltz, which is the part of Vienna’s history that has been most influential on wider dance culture, and originated the most recognizably and distinctively ‘Viennese’ musical style.

Serial False Lumen Patency Evaluation Of A Type B Dissection Represented With Malperfusion Following Medical Management, S Taha Zaidi, Quang Le, Firas Mussa, Akiko Tanaka, S Keisin Wang, Arash Keyhani, Kourosh Keyhani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

False lumen evolution in type B aortic dissection, particularly with medical management and anticoagulation, remains incompletely understood. We report a 55-year-old man on apixaban for pulmonary embolism with a subacute zone 3-10L TBAD without malperfusion. He was managed medically initially and represented twice over 2 months with back pain and acute right lower extremity ischemia. Serial imaging demonstrated dynamic remodeling with progression from partial to near-complete thrombosis to full reperfusion with true lumen compression. Urgent endovascular repair was performed successfully. This case illustrates the unpredictable course of medically managed TBAD and need for judicious use of anticoagulation.

Artificial Intelligence In The Prosecution Of International Crimes, Marta Bo

International Law Studies

International criminal prosecutions face growing evidentiary challenges due to the vast and heterogeneous digital material generated during conflicts, including user-generated videos, social media, and intercepted communications. This article examines the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting investigations and trials before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Rather than replacing judicial decision-making, AI can assist with specific tasks, particularly in establishing contextual elements and linkage evidence central to international crimes. The article explores three main areas: AI-driven biometric tools for facial and speech recognition; AI techniques for detecting patterns of violence and mapping command structures; and applications during trial proceedings, …

Genetic Analysis And Clinical Effect Of Ace2 Gene Variants (Rs2285666 And Rs4646188) On Coronary Syndrome In Dyslipidaemia Patients, Shaimaa Y. Abdulfattah, Sumaya Saady

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association of two intronic polymorphisms of the ACE2 gene (rs2285666 and rs4646188) with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Iraqi patients with dyslipidaemia. Methods: This case-control study was conducted from March to September 2023 at the Iraqi Center of Heart Disease, Baghdad, Iraq, and included patients with CAD and dyslipidaemia. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan probes and real-time qPCR. Results: A total of 170 participants were included in this study. Demographic, echocardiographic, and lipid profile data were analysed, revealing significant differences in age, left ventricular ejection fraction %, LV systolic diameter, LV diastolic diameter …