Digital Commons Network^™

Intensity Over Effort: Exercise Prescription Strategies For Glycemic Control, Oscar Chavez Jr., Marissa Ramirez, Jacob Dawes, Isaac Chapman, Kosar Valaei, Maja Gebauer, Christine Mermier, Jonathan Little Facsm, Luotao Lin, Gretchen Ray, Roberto M. Alvidrez, Zachary Mang, Fabiano T. Amorim, Valmor Tricoli, Flavio De Castro Magalhaes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ABSTRACT

Resistance exercise (RE) is effective in mitigating the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes, but long-term adherence is low in these populations. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are important tools in clinical practices to assist glycemic control. Previous meta-analysis shows the functionality of CGM devices among different exercise modalities but mentions the lack of studies with controlled diet and physical activity levels in free-living conditions. PURPOSE: To examine whether perceived effort during RE influences glycemic control and psychological outcomes in individuals with prediabetes and T2D using CGM under free-living conditions. METHODS: In randomized order, 25 …

Dexterity Assessment Scores Vary With Controller Type But Not Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Player Skill, Jacob D. Cervantes, Dillon Harris, Zachary R. Mcfadden, Steven B. Machek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Within the expanding Esports industry, competitive Super Smash Bros Ultimate (SSBU) players require high neuromotor execution. They consequently select controllers and permit functional modifications to match the individual precision and dexterity preferences within their playstyle. PURPOSE: To examine how skill level and controller preference impact dexterity scores in SSBU players of differing skill relative to each other and non-gamers. METHODS: 56 (22 male casual CAS; 24y ± 4; play >4 hr per week, 15 male ES; 24y ± 4; top 150 globally- ranked competitive SSBU players, and 19 non-gamer controls NG; 24y ± 5; 16F/3M) subjects voluntarily participated …

Different Glycemic Control Responses In Women And Men With Type 2 Diabetes And Prediabetes To Resistance Exercise, Kosar Valaei, Oscar Chavez Jr., Marissa Ramirez, Jacob D. Dawes, Isaac Chapman, Maja Gebauer, Christine M. Mermier, Jonathan Little, Luotao Lin, Gretchen M. Ray, Roberto Mota, Zachary A. Mang, Fabiano Amorim, Valmor Tricoli, Flavio De Castro Magalhaes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Resistance exercise (RE) is recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes to improve glycemic control, but sex differences remain unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate sex-related differences in glycemic responses to RE in individuals with T2D and prediabetes METHODS: Twenty-five participants (12 males, 13 females, 36–78 year) with T2D or prediabetes completed four randomized crossover sessions: a high-intensity (HI) RE session (3 sets × 8 reps, 75%-1RM, 120 seconds interval), a rest-redistribution (RR) RE session (6 sets × 4 reps, 75%-1RM, 60 seconds interval), a low-load (LL) RE session (3 sets × 16 reps, 37.5%-1RM, 103 seconds …

Trunk Rotational Range Of Motion And Abdominal Oblique Strength In High School And Collegiate Baseball Pitchers: Implications For Performance And Energy Flow, Belinda Aldern, Arnel Aguinaldo, Avery Takata, Antonio Squillante

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

BACKGROUND: Baseball pitching requires complex sequencing of the kinetic chain, with the trunk serving as an integral role for linking the lower body to the upper body. Despite past research on energy flow in pitching, there is an increased need to study age-specific performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in Trunk Rotational Range of Motion (TRROM) and Abdominal Oblique Strength (AOS) between high school and collegiate baseball pitchers and how these variables relate to performance and mechanical energy flow through the lumbosacral (L5S1) joint. METHODS: 12 High School and 12 Collegiate aged pitchers …

A Case Of Listeria Monocytogenes Bacteremia In A Middle-Aged Woman With A History Of Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Caleb Smack, Jared T. Lausen, Aaron Mills

Eastern Virginia Medical Journal

In this report, we discuss the case of a patient with Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia likely resulting from primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) induced cirrhosis. We aim to bolster the body of literature on Listeria bacteremia and establish PBC as a risk factor for this rare complication. Our patient, who presented with sepsis, was subsequently found to have Listeria bacteremia and received intravenous antibiotic treatment of ampicillin for 3 total weeks with complete resolution of her disease. This is the first case suggesting that cirrhosis as a result of PBC may be an independent risk factor for Listeria bacteremia. In patients at …

“No Ifs, Ands, Or Butts”: Analyzing Race And Gender In Sex And The City Through Black Feminist Theory, Daniella Orias

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This article analyzes Season 3, Episode 5 of Sex and the City, “No Ifs, Ands, or Butts,” through the lens of Black feminist theory. It investigates how race and gender are constructed, stereotyped, and selectively represented within the episode’s narrative. The analysis focuses on two Black characters who were featured only in one episode of the series, Adeena and Chivon, and examines how the show portrays harmful stereotypes such as the angry Black woman (Adeena) and sexualized Black male (Chivon) in the episode. These limited and harmful representations are further scrutinized by the fact that the show is often …

Existence Of Traveling Waves Of Lotka Volterra Type Models With Delayed Diffusion Term And Partial Quasimonotonicity, William Barker

Faculty Scholarship

This paper investigates the existence of traveling wave solutions for diffusive two-species Lotka–Volterra systems with delays in both the reaction and diffusion terms under partial monotonicity assumptions. The model incorporates small-memory effects in the homo- geneous diffusion term, representing a modification of the random-walk interpretation underlying Fick’s law. We extend the partial (cross) monotone iteration method to systems satisfying a partial quasi-monotone condition through the construction of appropriate upper and lower solutions. Convergence of the iteration is established using Schauder’s fixed point theorem.

Interactive Effects Of Hyposalinity And Nitrate Loading On Growth, Physiology, And Nitrogen Status Of The Seagrass, Halodule Wrightii, Joseph L. Kowalski, Hudson R. Deyoe, Kirk Cammarata, Kristina P. Vatcheva

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The study goal was to examine the interactive physiological effects of two freshwater inflow stressors, nitrate pulses coupled with salinity decrease, on the seagrass Halodule wrightii. A microcosm experiment was designed to approximate an observed freshwater inflow event. Over a 13-day period plants were subjected to three sequential salinity drops (S35→ S23→ S15→ S5) with nitrate-nitrogen added simultaneously at 0, 30 or 60 µM. For comparisons, the Control was no salinity change and no nitrate added denoted by S35/No N. Measurements of H. wrightii shoot production, photosynthesis, respiration, quantum efficiency, %N, C:N ratios and δ¹⁵N …

Enhancing Wound Healing With Synergistic Dual-Drug Electrospun Roflumilast And L-Arginine Loaded Pla/Pva Nanofibers Through Fabrication, Optimization, And In Vivo Assessment, Samar A. Salim

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Current trends in improved wound management emphasize the development of dual-drug-loaded electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds. Herein, electrospun dual-drug loaded PLA/PVA nanofibrous scaffolds, incorporating roflumilast, a selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor with anti-inflammatory activity, and L-arginine, a precursor to nitric oxide with stimulating activity towards wound healing and tissue regeneration, were developed. A dual-spinneret electrospinning process enabled the coloading of drugs in PLA and PVA phases. Scaffolds were characterized by SEM, FTIR, and XRD, showing consistent fiber morphology, and amorphous drug formation. FTIR analysis was performed to confirm drug–polymer compatibility and successful incorporation of roflumilast and L-arginine within the PLA/ PVA nanofibrous matrix. Swelling …

Perception As Beholding: Theological Possibility And Moral Implication Of Merleau-Ponty's Notion Of Embodied Subject, Erickson L. Totanes

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

In this article, I argue that Merleau -Ponty’s concept of perception reveals a way of seeing where the subject is involved with the object in a dynamic, reversible, and expanding relationship. This notion challenges the traditional and Cartesian subject -object dichotomy by emphasizing the embodied and lived experience of perception which elicits a process, a way of looking, anticipating, and reflexively, a way of being itself. By aligning seeing with beholding, I attempt to show how as simple an act as seein g evokes a manner of being related to an object, other people, and the world. The emergence of …

Circulating Tumor Dna: Reducing Burden In Hpv+ Oropharyngeal Cancer Surveillance, Liza M. Joseph Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

This review examines the rising prevalence of human papillomavirus-related (HPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and evaluates the role of circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) in diagnosis and post-treatment surveillance. A comprehensive literature search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, identified studies that validated ctHPVDNA as a biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity, assessed its cost-effectiveness, and explored patient and provider perceptions. Clinical evidence supports that plasma-based ctHPVDNA is the most accurate method for detecting disease recurrence and quantifying tumor burden. Patient perception studies reported high confidence in ctHPVDNA testing, while providers viewed it as …

Wilderness Therapy As An Intervention For Teens Who Are At The End Of Their Rope, Blake C. Neal, Heather Summers

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Abstract

Wilderness therapy, treatment offered in a natural setting, is offered as an alternative to traditional treatment methods (Lodato, N., Blivas, R., & Blivas, N. L. and R., 2024). This model is often used as a last resort for teens who are unsuccessful in other environments. However, when used as a blanket treatment model for all mental health concerns, there is a risk for greater harm inflicted on participants. A case study approach provides evidence of a teen in one of these settings struggling with an eating disorder and self-harm. Although potentially helpful with some concerns, we learn from this …

Subcutaneous Insulin Use In Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Patrick Mcgrath

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The reviewed literature focuses on the clinical application of subcutaneous (SQ) insulin, particularly rapid-acting insulin analogs (RAIAs), in treating selected patients with mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The use of SQ insulin offers a viable alternative to traditional intravenous (IV) insulin infusions, enabling DKA management outside intensive care unit (ICU) settings and reducing healthcare resource utilization. Current DKA management protocols emphasize comprehensive fluid resuscitation and correction of electrolyte imbalances, with IV regular insulin administered at 0.1 units/kg/hour. This review synthesizes findings from multicenter cohort studies, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) available via PubMed, focusing on adult patients diagnosed …

Brief Overview Of Assessment And Prognostication Tools For Palliative Care Oncology Patients, Nicole Schwensow

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Patients with life-threatening illnesses can be at risk for the progression of their disease over time. Consequences of such an illness can include recurrent hospitalizations, poor symptom control, and a lack of understanding by the patient and family of the disease, its usual course, and prognosis. Palliative care is a philosophy of care intended to address these issues. While receiving palliative care, patients can continue to undergo treatments directed at a cure, whereas hospice patients no longer receive treatment for underlying diseases. Both approaches focus on symptom control. To best care for palliative patients over time, several outcome domains should …

Management Of Difficult Patient Situations, Sangeetha Larsen Mpas, Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The purpose of this paper is to provide strategies for clinicians to manage difficult patient interactions. A comprehensive search of PubMed was conducted, identifying articles that identified the root cause of difficult patient interactions and assessed methods for successfully navigating these situations. The term “difficult patient” reflects the interaction of patient behavior, clinician perception, and systemic constraints rather than an inherent patient flaw. Effective management involves reframing difficult behavior as an expression of unmet needs and responding with empathy, active listening, clear boundaries, and collaborative decision-making. System-level strategies reduce patient distress and clinician burnout. Ultimately, the difficult patient represents strained …

Understanding Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance, Scott Winkel Msph, Mhs, Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a premalignant plasma cell disorder characterized by serum monoclonal protein (M-protein) levels less than 3.0 g/dL, less than 10% plasma cells in the bone marrow, and absence of end-organ damage. It mainly affects older adults and is often an incidental finding. While most cases remain indolent, a subset progresses to malignancies such as multiple myeloma, smoldering myeloma, AL amyloidosis, lymphoproliferative disorders, macroglobulinemia, and monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance. This review summarizes current insights into MGUS pathophysiology, risk factors, molecular mechanisms, clinical features, diagnostic approaches, including laboratory assessments and imaging, and emphasizes early detection …

Returning To Roots: A Self-Study Of Married Faculty Transitioning To Faculty Roles At Alma Maters, David Wolff, Melissa Wolff, Mark Diacopoulos

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This self-study explores the transition of two faculty members returning to teach at their alma maters. Using visual methods, reflective journals, and peer dialogue, the researchers documented their experiences over six months. Triangulated data revealed eight themes, including: Identity Formation, Shifting Perspectives from Student to Faculty, Interpersonal Attunement, Navigating Changes, Memories Shape Perception, Occupational Stressors Impacting Transitions, Student Advocacy, and Personal Growth. The study highlights how personal and professional identities evolve during career transitions, and how reflective practices can deepen understanding of adaptation in higher education. These findings contribute to the literature on faculty development and offer insight into the …

Models Of Care In Higher Education: Comparing Integrated And Standalone Approaches To Student Mental Health, Tevia Q. Strand

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This qualitative study examines how the organization of campus mental health services—integrated, co-located care versus standalone counseling centers—shapes college students’ awareness, access, stigma/privacy, and engagement. Semi-structured interviews with five Midwestern undergraduate women (n = 5) explored perceptions of visibility, ease of use, barriers, and improvement ideas. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes included confusion about entry pathways, visibility-related stigma, and the salience of faculty/peer bridges to services. Students generally preferred integrated models, citing privacy through co-location, normalization, and easier warm handoffs; some noted that standalone centers can feel more specialized yet risk heightened visibility depending on location. Findings …

Reclaiming My Story: A Freirean Framework For Surviving Trauma And Transforming Recovery Into Liberation, Carl Bryan

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper explores trauma recovery through the lens of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1970/2018), framing healing as an act of critical consciousness and liberation rather than passive survival. Using the author’s lived experience of stalking, manipulation, and emotional abuse as a case study, it reimagines recovery not as a return to normalcy but as a dialectical process of reclaiming narrative agency, reconstructing identity, and transforming pain into purpose. Drawing upon Freirean concepts of conscientização (critical consciousness), dialogue, and praxis, the paper outlines a model for survivors to move from internalized oppression toward empowerment and social transformation.

Voices From The Hyflex Classroom: Understanding The Graduate Counseling Student Experience, Taryn Akgul, Jessica Brown, Aaron Suomala Folkerds

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Counselor education and counseling master’s Programs face a changing landscape in higher education. This includes balancing the demand for a high-quality HyFlex program that prepares students for the counseling field. This qualitative exploratory study utilized a phenomenological approach to understand the counseling master's student experience in a hybrid program. The research questions focused on the students' experience attending the program either strictly on zoom, in person, or a combination of both and how that impacted them and their learning. The study consisted of eight participants who were alumni from one CACREP accredited counseling masters program. The findings included themes of …

Major Gift From Alumnus Promotes Excellence In Stem Teaching, Bill Dabney

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi medical school graduate Dr. Bill Ashford and his wife, Leslie, of Madison, have made a $2 million donation to establish a named professorship in physics at Ole Miss.

The Internally Displaced Persons In Fada N’Gourma Diocese, Burkina Faso: A Study On Human Dignity In The Light Of Catholic Social Teaching, Wendpouiré Améline Kabore

Loyola Papers

This study explores the experiences of the Internally Displaced Persons in the Diocese of Fada N’Gourma in Burkina Faso amid terrorism. It uses the See-Judge- Act method of Catholic Social Teaching to investigate the challenges to IDPs’ dignity. The observations reveal an IDP population victimized by discrimination and neglect within the host communities, emphasizing the moral imperative to uphold dignity. The research contributes to theological reflection on displacement and dignity while highlighting the Church’s unique faith-based humanitarian assistance, free from proselytism and political agendas despite the structural and practical limitations and difficulties.

From Dirty Work To Good Work: A Catholic Business Leader’S Perspective On Transforming The Social Construct Of Dirty Work To Humanizing Work, Andrea Claudia F. Zulueta-Lorenzana

Loyola Papers

In December 2024, the Philippine employment rate exceeded 95%, yet 57% of Filipinos still considered themselves poor. High employment conceals the prevalence of “bad jobs” marked by low wages, informality, and social stigma—what sociologist Everett Hughes termed dirty work—work society deems disgusting or degrading. This article examines dirty work through the lens of the Catholic business leader seeking an integrated life of faith and stewardship guided by Catholic Social Teaching (CST). It asks: How does dirty work evolve into dehumanization? Which CST principles respond to it? And how can these guide Filipino business leaders toward humanizing work? CST offers a …

Martyrdom And The Call To Daily Witness In The Teaching Of Pope John Paul Ii, Nguyen Van Tam

Loyola Papers

This article explores Pope John Paul II’s understanding of martyrdom and its meaning for Christian life and witness today. Drawing especially on the encyclical Veritatis Splendor and the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata, it presents martyrdom as the fullest expression of fidelity to Christ, rooted in his Paschal Mystery and sustained by grace, truth, love, and hope. The article examines the Christological, anthropological, ecclesiological, and eschatological dimensions of martyrdom. It also highlights John Paul II’s understanding of “daily martyrdom,” through which Christians are called to give themselves faithfully to Christ in ordinary life. In this sense, martyrdom remains a living …

Hope Amidst Desolation: A Socio-Historical And Theological Reflection On Myanmar Catholicism, Set Paing Tun

Loyola Papers

This research paper examines the profound spiritual resilience of Catholics in Myanmar amid ongoing socio-political turmoil, including the coup d’état, civil war, and rising inflation. Utilizing socio-historical and literary analyses, this paper investigates how Psalm 23 functions as a vital source of hope and consolation, fostering resilience among Myanmar Catholics experiencing uncertainty and desolation. The analysis highlights Psalm 23:4, which states, “even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil for you are with me,” and explores the metaphor of God as a shepherd who provides and protects, resonating with the lived experiences of believers facing suffering …

Desire For The Good: A Philosophical Roadmap Through Spacetime, Bertrand Leong

Loyola Papers

No abstract provided.

Comparing Power Outputs Of A Jump Shrug With A Hex Bar Vs A Straight Bar, Joshua Neumann

Doctorate in Kinesiology

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine whether barbell selection influenced power outputs during loaded jump shrugs in collegiate athletes and to connect research findings to practical applications in strength and conditioning. Although Trap Bars are often assumed to provide mechanical advantages during explosive lifts, limited research has evaluated their impact during ballistic derivatives such as jump shrugs. This study addressed that gap by comparing the performance of Straight Bar and Trap Bar exercises across four standardized loads in male and female Division II athletes. A repeated-measures design was used to assess barbell velocity, concentric mean power, peak landing …

Chemistry + Libraries -> Better Learning, Ashley S. Mcguire, Ellen A. Humphries, Ash B C Curtiss

Libraries Professional Work

The American Chemical Society (ACS) guidelines for chemical literacy, in undergraduate programs, are in three critical areas: information retrieval, information evaluation, and information management. As part of an ACS certified degree (1) students receive instruction in effective methods for performing and assessing the quality of searches using keywords, authors, abstracts, citations, patents, and structures/substructures; (2) students can use chemical identifiers to locate physical and chemical properties in handbooks and databases; and (3) students are assessed in their ability to conduct effective searches by reading, analyzing, interpreting, and citing the chemical literature as applied to answering chemical questions. There is an …

Technology-Enabled Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia (Cbt-I) In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Development And Feasibility Study, Hongtu Chen, Marta Pagán-Ortiz, Sara Romero Vincente, Emma Chapman, James Maxwell, Otis L. Owens, Sue E. Levkoff Scd, Msw, Sm

Faculty and Staff Publications

Background/Objectives: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and early dementia, affecting up to 20% of older adults. Sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, affect around 60% of individuals with MCI, contributing to declines in cognitive and physical function. Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based non-pharmacological treatment, few studies have adapted it for individuals with MCI. This pilot study developed and evaluated Slumber, a clinician-supported mobile CBT-I app tailored for older adults with MCI and insomnia. Methods: The study had three aims: (1) to develop the app for delivering CBT-I to individuals with …

Multipath Exploitation For Radar Sensing In An Urban Environment Using The Music Algorithm For Jammer Mitigation, Daniel De Zutter

Theses

With the increased push for spectrum sharing techniques, the technological world surrounding radar has been constantly pushing to find new methodologies. From being able to integrate with a communication system to mitigating the effects of other users on a system, the research community is pushing forward. We look to tackle the problem of mitigating a jammer using a multipath MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) based approach. We take multiple steps to implement this and generate a framework for future work. We first take a look at understanding the current state of the art research surrounding DFRC, multipath exploitation, MUSIC algorithms, RIS …