Digital Commons Network^™

Improved Nutritional Value Of Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L.) Through Moderate Salinity-Induced Regulation Of Vitamin C And Folate Pathways, Laleh Ahmadi, Hanieh Mohajjel Shoja, Elham Mohajel Kazemi, Maryam Kolahi

Turkish Journal of Botany

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting over 20% of cultivated and 33% of irrigated lands worldwide, significantly limiting crop productivity and nutrient biosynthesis. Vitamin C and folate are crucial antioxidants in plant stress tolerance and human nutrition; however, their regulation under salt stress remains unclear, particularly in leafy vegetables. This study evaluated the effects of different salinity levels (0, 50, 150, 250, and 350 mM NaCl) on physiological traits, antioxidant activity, vitamin C and folate accumulation, and the expression of related biosynthetic genes in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). High salinity (250–350 mM) reduced growth, leaf area, and pigment …

Identification Of Qtls And Molecular Markers Associated With Gray Mold Resistance In Grape, İlknur Polat, İbrahi̇m Çeli̇k, Onur Ergönül, Asli Polat, İlker Kurbetli̇, Görkem Sülü, Ayfer Daldal, Hali̇l İbrahi̇m Uzun

Turkish Journal of Botany

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is an economically important fruit that is both consumed fresh from the vine and used in the production of raisins, wine, and vinegar. One of the main factors limiting grape production is gray mold, caused by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. The cultivation of mold-resistant grape cultivars represents the most effective strategy for disease management; however, molecular tools to aid in the breeding of B. cinerea-resistant grapes remain limited. The present study maps the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with B. cinerea resistance in grape using an F1 population derived from a reciprocal cross between the …

Type-1 Ryanodine Receptor Plays An Important Role In Cardiac Hypertrophy And Heart Failure By Increasing Type-2 Ryanodine Receptor-Mediated Calcium Release, Yong-Xiao Wang, Ed Wilson Santos, Sarahann Mistretta, Yuexing Yuan, Harold A. Singer, Shey-Shing Sheu, Yun-Min Zheng

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Type-1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) is essential for skeletal muscle contraction. This Ca²⁺ release channel is expressed in cardiac myocytes; however, its function remains elusive. Cardiac-specific RyR1 overexpression (OE) mice were generated under the cardiac-specific Myh6 promoter. Cardiac hypertrophy (CH), cardiac functions, and mechanistic changes in RyR1 OE and control (wildtype, WT) mice were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, echocardiography, electrocardiogram, quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, [³H]-ryanodine binding assay, confocal microscope, ROS dye Amplex Red and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. RyR1 OE mice had increased whole heart, left ventricular weight, and left ventricular wall thickness, but decreased cardiac output and …

Choosing A Primary Care Provider: A Formative Qualitative Study To Identify Patient Preferences, Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, Sarah O'Neal, Aylin A. Aguilar, Kandice Lacci-Reilly, Jessica Valente, Chris Everett, Robin Gibson, Sonia Crandall, Laiton Steele

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: (1) Identify what characteristics patients evaluate when choosing their primary care provider (PCP), (2) characterize how provider characteristics factor into patients’ choice of PCP, and (3) develop a list of features for a quantitative preference study in the form of a discrete choice experiment (DCE).

Methods: We used a cross-sectional, qualitative study to accomplish the objectives. We recruited participants from an internal medicine clinic and the general public in North Carolina. We used convenience and purposive sampling to recruit participants as a single sample. All participants completed a semistructured interview. We then used a reflexive thematic analysis to analyze …

Paving The Way In New Unh Supply Chain Management Program, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Incorporating The Use Of Puppets And Puppetry-Based Approaches In Nutrition: A Scoping Review Of Interventions, Basil H. Aboul-Enein, Nada Benajiba, Majd Jan, Sarah Ali Alasmari, Patricia J. Kelly, Stephen F. Gambescia, Elizabeth Dodge

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Puppetry-based activities could serve as a low cost and manageable intervention in improving health-related outcomes. This review aims to identify the research to date and gaps in practice of the role and application of puppetry interventions in nutrition education. A scoping review was conducted using the PICOS framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, identifying studies across eight databases between January, 1980 and July, 2025.Twenty-five studies were identified, with the majority (n = 19) aimed at pre-school and school-aged children. Fifteen studies used quasi-experimental, pre-post designs. The use of hand and finger puppets was common, as well as videos and puppet theatre. …

Leveraging Mobile Health To Prevent Coronary Artery Disease Through Physical Activity Promotion Among Underserved Youth, Alina Yang, Jessh M. Mavoungou, Matthew C. Miller, Zarmina Amin, Zan Gao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops earlier than often recognized, with underserved youth facing disproportionate cardiometabolic risk. Low participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) is a key driver. This viewpoint explores how mobile health (mHealth) technologies can serve as tools to increase PA engagement among underserved youth, guided by a combined Self-Determination Theory and RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework. It highlights current barriers to mHealth adoption, limited cultural relevance, engagement challenges, and accessibility gaps, and presents key considerations for designing culturally informed, age-tailored, and youth-centered mHealth interventions. Overall, the paper calls for a more inclusive and targeted approach …

The Mediating Effect Of Physical Activity On Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Adolescents During Covid-19, You Fu, Ryan D. Burns, Hayley Almes, Xiangren Yi, Nora Constantino

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Adolescents identifying as a sexual minority frequently experience mental health issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity (PA) has numerous benefits for mental health and emotional development. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of PA on the association between sexual minority status and mental health among adolescents during COVID-19. Methods: A sample of adolescents (grades 9-12) completed the online Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES; N = 7677; 49.6% male) in 2021. The independent variable in this study was a recorded binary response item asking about sexual orientation. The dependent variable was a …

Climate Change Attributable Flooding And Post-Disaster Housing Market Dynamics: Evidence From Hurricane Harvey, Kaylynn Larrison

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, yet the social consequences of climate change attributable impacts remain relatively underexplored. This dissertation examines whether flooding attributable to climate change was associated with distinct post-disaster recovery outcomes following Hurricane Harvey in Harris County, Texas. To explore this link, parcel-level flood model outputs are integrated with Harris County Appraisal District parcel data and OpenFEMA records on tract-level flood insurance policies and post-Harvey aid. Response variables are operationalized as change scores to capture differences between pre- and post-storm conditions and outcomes are measured over a five-year post-storm period. Across …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Standardized Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool In A Clinical Setting, Dylan Bogucki

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as any act of violence, including physical, sexual, stalking, or psychological aggression by an intimate partner, former or current. Despite being preventable, IPV remains a leading nonobstetric cause of morbidity and mortality among women, which highlights the need for systematic screening in clinical settings. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to identify women who have previously experienced or are currently experiencing IPV and to connect them with appropriate resources. Twenty-one studies were identified, all demonstrating moderate to high methodological quality and supporting the need for routine IPV screening in women’s health settings. …

Redefining Skincare For Sensitive Lives, Ashlyn G. Sierra Ms

Honors College Theses

This study outlines how a skincare company that is both ethically and effectively developed for people suffering from eczema could create accessible, affordable products as well as maintain its commitment to being inclusive. The study uses scientific data regarding eczema in order to examine why certain aspects of skin care are helpful or dangerous when it comes to individuals who suffer from eczema, in addition, it provides an assessment of current skin care product offerings that are designed for people with eczema. Using the Wise Leadership Framework, the study presents a hypothetical business plan for a new, eczema-based skin care …

The Lone Star Luminarias: 1880–1980, Dolores Atencio, Tracy C. Almanzán

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

The Lone Star Luminarias recovers and documents the lives, careers, and legal contributions of the first Latina lawyers licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. This article is a series of articles based upon the original research conducted by Visiting Scholar, Dolores Atencio (2016–2022) to identify and document the accomplishments of the first generation of Latina attorneys in the country, circa 1880–1980, Luminarias. The Luminarias Study involved archival research of 167 law

schools across the country, and a review of bar records, state bar records, past and contemporary news accounts, oral histories, and other records such as U.S. …

Left Behind: How The Ssi Program Fails To Support Young People With Disabilities, Caitlyn B. Acosta

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program was created to protect people with disabilities from extreme poverty. However, its outdated rules and punitive structures trap millions in cycles of poverty and exclusion. For young adults with disabilities, the SSI system worsens existing barriers by limiting income and savings, discouraging work, and fostering dependence instead of independence. Drawing on personal narratives, historical context, and current policies, this Comment highlights how SSI reflects a long legacy of ableism and systemic neglect. The stories of individuals who have been denied dignity, family stability, and community belonging illustrate that reform is not just about policy, …

Statutes Of Unjust Limitations: An Argument In Favor Of Increasing The Statute Of Limitations For Civil Cases Of Adult Sex Crimes In Texas, Athina E. Castañon

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

This Comment argues that Texas’s current five-year statute of limitations for civil claims arising from adult sex crimes is unjust and misaligned with modern trauma research. While Texas has enacted meaningful legislation for child survivors, adult survivors who experience sexual violence after the age of eighteen remain subjected to an arbitrarily short filing window that fails to account for the psychological, social, and economic barriers to reporting and litigation. Drawing on historical context, trauma-informed research, and a comparative analysis of reform efforts, this Comment demonstrates how rigid statutes of limitations disproportionately harm survivors and undermine access to civil justice.

Development And Psychometric Analysis Of An Instrument To Assess Social Stigma Associated With Parkinson's Disease, Ana Lourdes Guerra-Anzaldo, Arturo Emmanuel Espinosa-Picos, Karen Itzel Sánchez-Ramírez, Ana Jimena Hernández-Medrano, Amin Cervantes-Arriaga, Ariadna Domínguez-García, Mayela Rodríguez-Violante

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: To develop and report the psychometric properties of a comprehensive scale designed to measure stereotypes and attitudes of the general population towards people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP).

Methods: The development and analysis of the Parkinson's Disease Stigma Perception scale (PDSP) included four phases: 1) literature review, 2) item development, 3) tests of validity and reliability, and 4) dissemination of a preliminary version. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to explore underlying structures, and confirmatory factor analysis to test the model's fit.

Results: Six (2%) of the 294 survey respondents were disqualified because of incomplete …

The Compassionate Heart Patient Questionnaire: Validation And Reliability Of A Novel Measure Of Relationship-Centered Care, Dustin Willis, Everett Lohman, Lida Gharibvand, Andrew Sullivan, Lee Berk

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: To establish the validity and reliability of the Compassionate HEART Patient Questionnaire (CHPQ) for measuring relationship-centered care and exploring associations between patient ratings and mood state changes in patients with persistent pain.

Methods: Thirty-nine adults with persistent pain (> 3 months) completed pre-/post-interaction Profile of Mood States assessments and rated providers using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure and the novel CHPQ following physical therapy evaluations. Psychometric properties were assessed through factor analysis, concurrent validity (correlation with CARE), and internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha). Pre-post mood changes were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: The CHPQ demonstrated good internal …

Landscapes Of Home And Maps Of The Heart: Using Art To Understand The Meaning Of Home For First And Second Generation Immigrants In Worcester Massachusetts, Sophie Sundaram

Fenwick Scholar Program

Landscapes of Home and Maps of the Heart: Using Art to Understand the Meaning of Home for First and Second Generation Immigrants in Worcester Massachusetts explores how individuals with histories of migration understand and experience “home,” and how those understandings can be translated into visual form through portraiture. Developed through conversations with Worcester community members, the project combines studio practice with methodological approaches drawn from sociological and anthropological fieldwork, including participant interviews, relational research practices, and community-based engagement.

Grounded in Worcester, a city shaped by multiple waves of migration and cultural diversity, the project investigates how senses of home are …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Wiens' Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium Abietinum Ssp. Wiensii), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Wiens' dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum ssp. wiensii) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

Investigation Of New Surfaces For Pressure Injury Prevention, Jeremy Choh

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

Pressure injuries remain as a large challenge for the health care industry with hospitals responsible for more than half of the pressure injuries cases. [1] Current methods for pressure injury prevention are labor intensive or expensive. The use of hydrogels and diaelectric materials with reversible mechanical properties were investigated to generate 32 mm Hg pressure relief for pressure injury prevention. However, it was determined that the mechanical properties of these materials were inefficient in mechanical strength, activation time, or activation energy to be suitable for health care purposes. The use of low intensity ultrasound therapy was studied instead. A single …

The Impact Of Trump Administration Immigration Policies On Connecticut Educators And Families, Elena C. Bielesz

Honors Scholar Theses

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and practices, which have grown increasingly prevalent due to the current national political climate, have adverse effects on the mental health of immigrant families and the teachers that support them in Connecticut. This study seeks to represent the opinions of Connecticut K-12 MLL (Multilingual Learners) Education Teachers and Administrators whose daily lives are impacted by the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee policies and procedures. The study employed a human subjects-based approach supported by a review of related literature. MLL Educators from around the state of Connecticut were interviewed. These interviews found that while immigration-based trauma and stressors are common …

Volume Electron Microscopy Reveals Heterogeneity Of The Hemostatic Response In Veins And Arteries, Maurizio Tomaiuolo, Meghan E. Roberts, Jenna R. Severa, Christopher D. Mansi, Brenna B. Y. Mathers, Anna Mannix, Trace A Christensen, Lawrence F Brass, Talid Sinno, Timothy J. Stalker

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Intravital imaging studies have provided insights into the spatial and temporal variations of platelet activation and thrombin generation that occur during hemostasis; however, these studies are generally limited to small vessels due to the practical limitations of imaging in thicker tissues. Recent advances in cleared tissue fluorescence imaging as well as volume electron microscopy (vEM) coupled with machine learning-based image segmentation provide an opportunity for analysis of the 3-dimensional structure of complex tissues. We utilized these technologies to examine hemostatic plugs from murine jugular veins and carotid arteries to investigate the spatial distribution of platelet activation and biochemical responses in …

Comparison Of Early-, Average-, And Late-Onset Pancreatic Cancer In A Multi-Site Cancer Center: Treatment Patterns And Outcomes, Chirag K. Patel, Jimmy J. Hwang, Mohamed E. Salem, Kunal C. Kadakia

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate treatment and outcomes differences, as well as predictors of early mortality, among early-onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma (EOPC, ≤ 50 years), average-onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma (AOPC, 51-69 years), and late-onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LOPC, ≥ 70 years).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 333 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma at a multi-site center between 2011-2018. Clinical, demographic, and treatment variables were compared by age group. Predictors of early mortality (death ≤ 6 months from diagnosis) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses.

Results: Among the 333 patients, 56% were male, and the …

A Governance-Aware Multi-Agent Framework For Enhancing Fairness & Temporal Accuracy In Disaster Response Systems, Md. Ashfaqur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated significant potential in disaster-response decision support, however, their deployment in high-stakes humanitarian settings raises critical concerns regarding factual reliability, fairness, temporal validity, and governance compliance. Hallucinated outputs, demographic bias, and outdated recommendations can directly impact vulnerable populations and undermine public trust. This dissertation proposes a governance-aware multi-agent framework designed to enhance fairness and temporal accuracy in disaster-response systems through structured Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), verification-driven orchestration, and adaptive correction mechanisms.The proposed architecture decomposes response generation into specialized agents responsible for real-time retrieval, fact-checking, bias auditing, temporal validation, threshold-based correction, and monitoring. By embedding governance constraints …

Smart Pediatric Oncology Tracker Of Symptoms (Spots), A Web-Based Interface For The Pediatric Pro-Ctcae: Development And Usability Study, Stacey Crane, Deevakar Rogith, Melody Hellsten, Andrew D Miller, Jacqueline Castillo, Brandy Boeger, Susan Vidaurre, Stefanie Pieper, Cecile Nguyen, Duc Anh Thanh Huynh, Jessica Wooden, Amy Franklin, Karen Moody, Wenyaw Chan, Pamela S Hinds, Constance Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Children undergoing cancer treatment experience a range of treatment-related toxicities that significantly affect quality of life and adherence to therapy. Current methods for symptom reporting rely heavily on clinician interpretation of caregiver or child verbal reports, which can result in incomplete or inaccurate records. The Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Pediatric PRO-CTCAE; National Cancer Institute) provides a validated mechanism for direct symptom reporting by children and caregivers, yet its traditional administration and preselection of questions limit the breadth of symptom capture.

Objective: This research aimed to co-design and conduct formative usability testing …

Llms In Compiler Construction, Raffi Khatchadourian

Open Educational Resources

These lecture slides survey the use of large language models (LLMs) in compiler construction for a graduate compiler course (CSc 81010). They situate LLMs across the compiler pipeline and examine representative work: foundation models trained on LLVM IR and assembly (Meta's LLM Compiler), LLM-driven code optimization, binary decompilation (LLM4Decompile), and LLM-assisted automated refactoring—alongside the challenges of applying probabilistic models to tasks that demand correctness. The slides are a self-contained HTML (W3C Slidy) deck with editable Pandoc Markdown source. Part of a two-session unit on advanced compiler topics; see also "Deep Learning Compilers."

Deep Learning Compilers, Raffi Khatchadourian

Open Educational Resources

These lecture slides introduce deep learning compilers for a graduate compiler-construction course (CSc 81010). Building on the classical compiler pipeline, they show how modern machine-learning systems compile tensor programs: static tensor and type analysis (illustrated by a WALA/Ariadne-based refactoring of imperative TensorFlow code to graph mode), MLIR-based end-to-end compilation with IREE, and the PyTorch 2.x stack—TorchDynamo graph capture, AOTAutograd, PrimTorch operator decomposition, and TorchInductor lowering to Triton (GPU) and C++/OpenMP (CPU). The slides are a self-contained HTML (W3C Slidy) deck with editable Pandoc Markdown source. Part of a two-session unit on advanced compiler topics; see also "LLMs in Compiler Construction."

Effective Strategies Psychiatric Hospital Leaders Use To Retain Staff To Avoid Turnover Costs, Christian Azuka Obiajulu Ossai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Teachers’ Perspectives And Experiences On Using Assistive Technological Tools To Support Middle School Students With Dyslexia, Crystal Courtner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Nurse-Led Universal Depression And Suicide Risk Screening On Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes In Pediatric Primary Care, Malu-Kanoa Hewitt, Briana Morris, Dolly Ukpong, Lula Teklehaimanot, Preet Kamal Singh, Latasha Scott, Charity Msamalia Chimwala-Selico

General Submissions: Clinical Settings Materials

Background: Adolescent depression and suicide are critical public health concerns in the United States. Approximately 20% of youth aged 12–17 experience a major depressive episode annually, yet fewer than half receive treatment (NIMH, 2023). Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults (CDC, 2023). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents aged 12–18 when adequate systems are in place for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, but concludes that evidence is insufficient to recommend routine suicide risk screening in children and adolescents (USPSTF, 2022).

Purpose: This literature review evaluates …

In-Tsira Healing: Integrating Trauma-Informed Design And Sustainable Design Into Wellness Centers For Survivors Of Gender Based Violence, Eniola Ololade Esther Akinyemi

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Survivors of gender-based violence in Northern Nigeria face layered barriers to recovery, including trauma, stigma, displacement, and loss of livelihood. Yet the built environments intended to support them remain largely unresponsive. This thesis proposes a trauma-informed, climate-responsive wellness campus in Maiduguri, Borno State, grounded in cultural and environmental context.

The research asks how trauma-informed and sustainable design strategies can be implemented in healing centers to reduce re-traumatization, foster safety, and support reintegration through self-supportive, educational, and communal spaces?

How can trauma informed and sustainable design strategies be implemented in wellness centers to foster safety and healing while reducing re-traumatization, and …