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2025-2026 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2025-2026 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as the Open Questions core requirements, experiential learning and the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE). Academic policies, special opportunities and scholarships, off-campus programs and graduation requirements are also outlined.

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

No abstract provided.

Theoretical Study On Electronic And Optoelectronic Properties Of Some C^N^N- And C^C^C-Chelated Iridium(Iii) Complexes For Oleds, Ayhan Üngördü

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The electronic and optoelectronic properties of 8 C∧N∧N- and C∧C∧C-chelated Ir(III) complexes were investigated using density functional theory at the Becke-style 3-parameter Lee-Yang-Par and triple zeta plus polarization level. Based on reorganization energy calculations, complex 7 was identified as a promising ambipolar material, while complexes 1 and 2 had efficient hole transport properties. Complex 8 had low ionization potential and is therefore a strong candidate for hole transport applications. Complex 4 had high electron affinity and therefore has potential as an effective electron acceptor material. Photophysical analysis showed that all complexes had phosphorescent properties, with complexes 5 and 6 showing …

Optimizing Polyamide Thin-Film Composite Desalination Membranes: Simple And Performance-Effective Modification By Zwitterionic Monohydroxyl Monomer, Selda Erkoç İlter

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A synthesized zwitterionic monohydroxyl monomer (ZHM) was used as an additive to incorporate zwitterionic sulfobetaine groups into the polyamide (PA) active layers of thin-film composite membranes. Incorporation of ZHM into the PA active layers was achieved through interfacial polymerization, involving the introduction of ZHM and m-phenylenediamine (MPD) into the aqueous phase, and the addition of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) to the hexane phase. The surfaces of the resulting reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were subjected to characterization through water contact angle (WCA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analyses. The successful incorporation of ZHM into the active PA layers was confirmed …

Comprehensive Study Of Imidazole-Based Hydrazones: From Design, Synthesis, And Characterization To In Vitro And In Silico Antiproliferative Activity Analysis, Ömer Di̇lek

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The aim of this study was to synthesize novel imidazole-cored hydrazones and investigate their cytotoxic activities against human breast and lung cancer cell lines using in vitro and in silico techniques. For this purpose, 5 novel compounds (6 and 7a–7d) were synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated against human lung (A549) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. All synthesized compounds had higher cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells (IC50 < 9.262 μM) than the control drug cisplatin. However, their cytotoxic activity against A549 cells (IC50 > 2.605 μM) was lower than that of cisplatin. Except for compound 7d in the A549 cell line, …

A Decision Model For Enhancing Reaction Yield: Pd(Ii) And Pt(Ii) Metal Insertion To Free Porphyrin, Özay Özaydin, Emel Önal

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Chemical synthesis experiments are crucial for developing new materials, yet their inherent complexity and variability often lead to suboptimal results, causing significant resource and time wastage. This study proposes a novel decision support model to enhance the success rate of macromolecule synthesis experiments for sensor applications. The model leverages principles of experimental design and decision-making. We identified synthesis alternatives through a literature review and expert consultations, narrowing it down to 6 alternatives for metal salts, 3 for reactant mole ratios, 5 for organic solvents, 3 for reaction temperatures, and 4 for reaction times. Considering the time and cost constraints, this …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Drug Release Properties Of Enzyme-Responsive Oxamide-Bridged Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles, Yaşar Gök, Hali̇l Zeki̇ Gök, Osman Tayyar Arli, Tuğçe Türkaslan

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In this study, we report a novel enzyme-responsive mesoporous organosilica nanocarrier (MON) and its drug delivery properties in the presence of the trypsin enzyme. The mesoporous organosilica nanocarrier was synthesized by using the oxamide bridged bissilyl compound (2) and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (BTSB). To compare the enzyme responsiveness of MON, the reference periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanocarrier was also synthesized using BTSB only. The structural determinations of the synthesized organic compounds were carried out by 1H, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, and MS, while FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), TGA, and N2 sorption analyses were used for the characterization of MON and …

Dielectric And Mechanical Properties Of Polyaniline-Grafted Sepiolite Loaded Pvc Nanocomposites, Asif Raza, Tariq Yasin, Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Arshad Farhan

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Conducting polymers exhibit interesting dielectric properties due to their unique conjugated π-electron backbone. The objective of this study was to examine the dielectric properties of nanocomposites containing a conducting nanohybrid (NH) as a filler. Polyaniline was grafted onto sepiolite by in situ emulsion graft polymerization to synthesize a conducting NH. This NH was blended with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) using a melt blending technique. Nanocomposites with variable amounts of nanofiller were prepared and characterized. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the NH composites show strong interactions between their individual components. The addition of the nanofiller into PVC increased its thermomechanical properties. Dielectric …

Selective Extraction Of Scandium From Other Rare Earth Elements Using A Hydrophobic Protic Ionic Liquid Composed Of Decanoic Acid And Toa, Pius Dore Ola, Reo Nishioka, Yoshiro Tahara, Michiaki Matsumoto

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly being used in advanced materials, but their extraction remains a major challenge. This is primarily due to their nearly identical ionic radii and similarity in chemical and physical properties. Therefore, this study aims to explore the use of a hydrophobic protic ionic liquid (PIL) composed of decanoic acid and trioctylamine (TOA) to selectively extract scandium (Sc) from other REEs using acid or salt as the extraction medium. In the acidic medium, the extraction efficiency of all tested REEs was inversely proportional to the acid concentration. Meanwhile, the extraction percentage of Sc was significantly higher …

Influence Of Synthesis Parameters On The Structural Formation Of Mayenite Via The Citrate Sol-Gel Method, Büşra Eryildirim, Nuray Oktar, Doruk Doğu

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) has remarkable properties such as high oxygen mobility, ionic conductivity, and catalytic activity. It has many different applications, including oxide-conducting electrolytes, fluorescent lamps, moisture sensors, hydrogen-permeable membranes, oxygen pumps, hydrogen storage, and catalysis. However, pure and homogeneous mayenite synthesis parameters have not yet been fully explored. This study examines the effect of synthesis parameters including metal salt (MS) to citric acid (CA) molar ratios (1:1 and 1:2), pH (0.4–2), and calcination temperature (900–1200 °C) in citrate sol-gel method on the crystal structure of mayenite. Synthesized materials were examined by thermogravimetric (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), …

A Disposable Biosensing System For Analysis Of Ca125 In Real Human Serum Samples, Meltem Afşar, Berfi̇n Vural, Meli̇ke Bi̇lgi̇ Kamaç, Mustafa Kemal Sezgi̇ntürk

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Several biomarkers have been developed to track the development of ovarian cancer and identify the illness at an early stage. A promising development for ovarian cancer is using cancer antigen 125 (CA125). The objective of this work is to identify the CA125 marker by utilizing an indium tin oxide polyethylene electrode. The advantage of the designed biosensor is that it is very cheap, disposable, practical, and easy to use. The necessary parameters for the developed biosensor have been optimized in detail. Repeatability, reproducibility, regeneration, storage, and selectivity studies have been completed to characterize the proposed biosensor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and …

Adapting Publishing Principles And Best Practices For Repository-Hosted Journals: Sustainable Ideas For Enhancing Local Open Access Publishing, Andrea A. Wirth

Library Faculty Research

This poster addresses the question: How can librarians and administrators working with repository-hosted journal editors incorporate best practices into hosted journals without taking on the role of publisher and without overextending themselves?

The "Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing" (COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, WAME, 2022) provides foundational guidance for journal publishing. The guidelines cover a robust suite of topics such as authorship, peer review, funding sources, author cost transparency, and licensing and copyright. Publishers with staff who support a suite of journals (whether 10 or 1000) may be able to evaluate and adopt such guidance relatively quickly and …

Two Decapod Crustaceans, Panopeus Herbstii And Petrolisthes Armatus, Stabilize Their Gaze Using Achromatic Visual Cues, But Not The Angle Of Linearly Polarized Light, M. Janakis, S. Guirges, A. C. Grant, I. Paris, E. F. Lopresti, Daniel Isaac Speiser

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Integrate Hemoglobin A1c, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, And Smoking Cessation Diabetes Management Into The Chronic Care Model For The Management Of Type Ii Diabetes In Adults In A Primary Care Clinic, Jane Mokwenye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A quality review of chronic care management (CCM) for Type II diabetes in adults in a primary care clinic revealed a narrow approach, inadequate staff knowledge, and a lack of staff confidence, leading to poor patient engagement, missed screenings, inadequate detection, and unaddressed complications. A staff education intervention was implemented to enhance staff knowledge and confidence in incorporating hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking cessation (the ABCs) of diabetes management into the existing process. I developed a practice-focused question to assess the impact of a staff education project on improving knowledge and confidence. Compelling evidence was compiled from peer-reviewed …

Asymmetric Fgf Receptor Dimerization: Implications For Fgf23 Biology And Drug Discovery, Mohammed S. Razzaque, Moosa Mohammadi

School of Medicine Publications

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) requires both αKlotho and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) as obligatory coreceptors to bind, dimerize, and activate its FGF receptors (FGFRs) in the kidney, thereby regulating mineral ion and vitamin D homeostasis. Cryogenic electron microscopy studies reveal that FGF23 signaling proceeds through an asymmetric 1:2:1:1 FGF23–FGFR–αKlotho–HS assembly. According to this structural model, αKlotho simultaneously anchors FGF23 and one FGFR chain, referred to as the primary receptor (FGFRP), to form a 1:1:1 FGF23-FGFRP-αKlotho triplex, which boosts FGF23-FGFRP interaction. Subsequently, the HS coreceptor aids the triplex in recruiting a second FGFR chain, or secondary receptor (FGFRS), leading to …

Meta-Analytic Insights On Cover Crop Weed Suppression In The Midsouthern United States, Amar S. Godar, Jason K. Nprsworthy

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Herbicide resistance poses an escalating challenge to successful weed management in contemporary cropping systems, prompting growing interest in integrated strategies to reduce reliance on herbicides. Although cover cropping has long been recognized for its potential to suppress weeds, it has recently gained renewed attention as a weed management tool and for its ability to help producers achieve broader goals of soil health and environmental sustainability. Although research on its efficacy in the midsouthern United States has accumulated, a meta-analytic synthesis has been lacking. This meta-analysis synthesized 746 effect sizes from 27 peer-reviewed studies (selected based on explicit reporting of weed …

Input Of Ultra-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry For Bio-Oil Characterization And Upgrading Monitoring, Jasmine Hertzog, Vincent Carré, Frédéric Aubriet

PYROLIQ III – 2025: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Factors That Influence Female Orthopaedic Surgeons' Decision To Pursue A Career In Sports Medicine: A Mixed-Methods Study, Nichelle M Enata, Katherine M Gerull, Ahmed Hanafy, Mary K Mulcahey, Derrick M Knapik, Matthew V Smith

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Despite the increased percentage of women in medical school and in orthopaedic residency programs, the percentage of women pursuing careers in sports medicine has only increased 3% over the past decade.

PURPOSE: To investigate the experiences and perceptions of female orthopaedic surgeons about sports medicine, identifying factors influencing career interest in this surgical subspecialty.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

METHODS: A mixed-methods approach, combining an online survey and qualitative interviews, was utilized to compare the clinical experiences and personal perceptions of women in orthopaedic sports medicine with women in other orthopaedic subspecialties. Surveys were distributed to members of the Ruth …

The Impact Of Interactive Read-Alouds On Students’ Literacy Development, Kaitlyn Hill

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined how multicultural interactive read-alouds support first-graders’ literacy skills and cultural awareness. Multicultural literature was used to conduct interactive read-alouds to first-grade students. A look across all data sources suggested three main themes that occur throughout the research study. These themes included student engagement and questioning, making connections by experiencing culture through an authentic lens, and developing cultural awareness and empathy for those who are different. It was evident that incorporating multicultural literature into classroom instruction had a positive impact on students’ literacy development and cultural awareness. The data suggested that these multicultural texts supported the students’ development …

Registered Nurses' Autism Knowledge And Preparedness To Care For Autistic Patients, Bronte Elisa Weissman

Theses and Dissertations

Autistic individuals frequently report negative experiences during healthcare interactions and numerous provider-level barriers to accessing quality care, including stereotyping, perceived lack of autism knowledge, challenges with communication, and insufficient accommodations. Reports of healthcare providers’ experiences caring for autistic patients in the U.S. have largely come from physicians, who endorse inadequate training, resources, and practical guidelines. Although patients spend far more time with nurses than other healthcare providers, registered nurses (RNs)’ perspectives on caring for autistic patients in the U.S. are largely unknown and autism-focused trainings for nurses are minimal. In the current study, a survey was nationally disseminated to a …

Palpation Characteristics Of An Instrumented Virtual Cricothyroidotomy Simulator, Melih Turkseven, Trudi Di Qi, Ganesh Sankaranarayanan, Suvranu De

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Cricothyroidotomy (CCT) is a critical, life-saving procedure requiring the identification of key neck landmarks through palpation. Interactive virtual simulation offers a promising, cost-effective approach to CCT training with high visual realism. However, developing the palpation skills necessary for CCT requires a haptic interface with tactile sensitivity comparable to human fingers. Such interfaces are often represented by plastic partial mannequins, which require further adaptation to integrate into virtual environments. This study introduces an instrumented physical palpation interface for CCT, integrated into a virtual surgical simulator, and tested on 10 surgeons who practiced the procedure over a training period. Data on haptic …

Dominant Tree Species As A Driver Of Forest Herb Community Assembly: The Peculiar Case Of Pawpaw (Asimina Triloba), Anna Wassel

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the drivers of community assembly is a key goal in ecology and conservation. One way to better understand community assembly is to understand how the presence or absence of dominant species– highly abundant species with a proportionally large effect on the ecosystem–affects assembly. This approach allows for a more generalized understanding of community assembly based on the presence or abundance of one species rather than pairwise interactions among all species in a community. In forests, studies on dominant tree species have focused on how they affect patterns of species diversity. In contrast, surprisingly little is known about how dominant …

A Content Analysis Of Podcasts Exploring The Experiences Of Nba Players And Mental Health, Joanna D. Hedin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black male athletes are at a greater risk of not seeking treatment for their mental health issues due to cultural stigmas and expectations. The purpose of this qualitative secondary data research study was to understand the experiences of Black NBA players regarding their mental health and the sociocultural factors that influence their decision making regarding participation in mental health services, as revealed through podcast appearances. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was applied in this study to suggest that learning is an integral part of the social process and that culture contributes to how and what one learns. This study asked about what …

Difference In High School Geometry End-Of-Year State Exam Scores Between Three Different Retake Time Frames, Christina Noel Walton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A grading policy was implemented in a Northeastern suburban public school district that left it to curriculum teams to define the amount of time between the original test and its retake resulting in a slight decrease in high school students’ geometry end-of-year state exam scores. Guided by Bloom’s theory of mastery learning, the purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to investigate if there were statistically significant differences between high school students’ geometry end-of-year state exam scores or between high school students’ geometry math growth scores when controlling for the preassessment score differentiated by three schemes of retake timing: short-term, …

Multimodal Emotion Detection And Analysis From Conversational Data, Abhinay Jatoth, Faranak Abri, Tien Nguyen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

—Emotion recognition in conversations has become increasingly relevant due to its potential applications across various fields such as customer service, social media, and mental health. In this work, we explore multimodal emotion detection using both textual and audio data. Our models leverage deep learning architectures, including Transformer-based models such as Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), Robustly optimized BERT approach (RoBERTa), Audio Spectrogram Transformer (AST), Wav2Vec2), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiL-STM), and four fusion strategies that combine features from multiple modalities. We evaluate our approaches using two widely used emotion datasets, IEMOCAP and EMOV. Experimental results show that fusion models …

Advancing Autonomous Swarm Behavior In A Simulated Anti-Access Area Denial Environment, Chad Macwilkinson, Lance E. Champagne, Phillip M. Lacasse

Faculty Publications

This study proposes the application of a four dimensional framework of autonomy to a weapon swarm of high subsonic cruise missiles.

La Niña Effects On The Mjo Modulation Of North Pacific Atmospheric Rivers And Associated Western North American Precipitation, L. G. Fernandes, Paul C. Loikith, M. Mora

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

We investigate connections between the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) and North Pacific atmospheric rivers (ARs) and associated precipitation over North America during La Niña (LN) years. Overall, AR frequency is reduced over the northeastern Pacific and western North America in phases 2–5 of the MJO. However, under LN, increased AR activity appears over those regions in phases 4–6 and across the central North Pacific in Phase 3. Distinct effects of LN on the basic state and MJO contribute to the persistence of AR anomalous patterns in phases 3–6. For instance, MJO intensifies in Phase 3 under LN, favoring the coupling between …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 1, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Anti-Tumor Activity Of Camptothecin Analog Conjugate Of An Rspo4-Based Peptibody Targeting Lgr4/5/6 In Preclinical Models Of Colorectal Cancer, Yukimatsu Toh, Ling Wu, Jianghua Tu, Zhengdong Liang, Adela M Aldana, Jake J Wen, Li Li, Sheng Pan, Julie H Rowe, Martha E Hensel, Carolyn L Hodo, Rick A Finch, Kendra S Carmon, Qingyun J Liu

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background: Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy, but none are approved for colorectal cancer (CRC). LGR4/5/6, highly expressed in most CRCs, are promising targets. While LGR5-targeting ADCs show strong anti-tumor effects, their efficacy is limited by LGR5 loss in some CRC cells. RSPO4, a natural ligand for LGR4/5/6, binds all three receptors with high affinity. This research develops RSPO4-based peptibody drug-conjugates (PDCs) to simultaneously target LGR4/5/6, offering a novel therapeutic approach for CRC.

Methods: LGR4/5/6 expression in CRCs was analysed using RNA-seq datasets and Western blot. Peptibody binding affinities were measured, conjugated to camptothecin analog, …

Insights Regarding The Role Of Administrative Support And Teacher Retention In A Suburban Arizona School District, Kristen Louise Tiffany

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that teachers are leaving the profession in an Arizona high school district (AHSD, a pseudonym), which might be due to a lack of administrator support. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of reasons they chose to remain in their positions as well as administrators’ perceptions on the support they provide to encourage teacher retention at AHSD. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, semistructured interviews were conducted with six administrators and 10 teachers from AHSD. Saldana’s pattern coding was used with the following themes emerging: Teachers …