Digital Commons Network^™

Survival Impact And Sociodemographic Correlates Of Colon Cancer Surgery, Refusal, Paola Berrios Jimenez, Angel Aguayo Merly, Ramin Shekouhi, Berkay Demirors, Jade C. Bowers, Vishal Abhimutt Mahesh, Anjali Yadav, Bansi P. Savaliya, Reed Popp, Syeda Hoorulain Ahmed, Esinam Ekpeh, Guido Chiriboga, Emmanuel Gabriel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background/Aim: Surgical treatment for colon cancer is often curative when diagnosed early. This study evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics and survival outcomes associated with refusal of surgery among patients with colon cancer. The objective was to identify disparities to improve patient outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) data from 2004 to 2019, including 1,048,575 patients with colon cancer. Variables analyzed included demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment facility type, and geographic and socioeconomic factors. Descriptive statistics were assessed using Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Chi-square tests. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and …

Beyond Opacity: Distributed Ledger Technology As A Catalyst For Carbon Credit Market Integrity, Stanton Heister, Felix Kin Peng Hui, David Ian Wilson, Yaakov Anker

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The 2015 Paris Agreement paved the way for the carbon trade economy, which has since evolved but has not attained a substantial magnitude. While carbon credit exchange is a critical mechanism for achieving global climate targets, it faces persistent challenges related to transparency, double-counting, and verification. This paper examines how Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) can address these limitations by providing immutable transaction records, automated verification through digitally encoded smart contracts, and increased market efficiency. To assess DLT’s strategic potential for leveraging the carbon markets and, more explicitly, whether its implementation can reduce transaction costs and enhance market integrity, three alternative …

Polymorphism Crystal Structure Prediction With Adaptive Space Group Diversity Control, Sadman Saadeed Omee, Lai Wei, Jianjun Hu

Faculty Publications

Crystalline materials can form different structural arrangements (i.e., polymorphs) with the same chemical composition, exhibiting distinct physical properties depending on how they are synthesized or the conditions under which they operate. For example, carbon can exist as graphite (soft, conductive) or diamond (hard, insulating). Computational methods that can predict these polymorphs are vital in materials science, which help understand stability relationships, guide synthesis efforts, and discover new materials with desired properties without extensive trial-and-error experimentation. However, effective crystal structure prediction (CSP) algorithms for inorganic polymorph structures remain limited. ParetoCSP2 is proposed, a multi-objective genetic algorithm for polymorphism CSP that incorporates …

Coseismic Surface Deformation Analyses Using Sar And Optical Images: 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence, Türkiye, Han-Kyung Bae, Gwang-Woo Oh, Jin-Hyuck Choi

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence in Türkiye, including Mw 7.7 and 7.6 mainshocks, caused significant surface ruptures along the East Anatolian Fault (EAF) and Sürgü–Çardak Fault (SCF). We calculated the coseismic displacement fields through pixel offset tracking (POT) analysis of Sentinel-1 SAR data and optical image correlation (OIC) analysis of Sentinel-2 imagery. Our results reveal distinct sinistral motion along both the EAF and SCF, with maximum offsets of about 7 and 9 m, respectively. Deformation zones were identified both on and off the fault, highlighting the relationship between the rupture geometry and the broader deformation field. A comparative evaluation of …

Geomagnetic Activity For The Kp = 7.3 Geomagnetic Storm In November 2023 Assessed By Observational Data, Eli̇f Çi̇ftçi̇, Özlem Hacioğlu

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The geomagnetic storm of 4–6 November 2023, driven by an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), was a significant event marked by a peak geomagnetic activity index (Kp) of 7.3 on a 0–9 scale, indicating severe disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field. This CME-induced storm was characterized by intense auroral displays and reached a G3 level (Dst = −172 nT) around 12:40 UT on 5 November, with auroras observed at midlatitudes across Europe. This study examines the effects of the storm on the horizontal (H), declination (D), and vertical (Z) components of the geomagnetic field using data from sunlit-side magnetometer measurements. Planetary …

Preliminary Petrological, Mineralogical, And Geochemical Evaluation Of A Newly Discovered Lignite Field In Yatağan, Muğla (Sw Türkiye), Işik Hacimustafaoğlu, Mehmet Akbulut, Hülya İnaner, Kimon Christanis

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Thirty-two coal and seven inorganic core samples from a newly discovered coalfield in the Yatağan region of the Muğla Basin were analysed to reconstruct the depositional palaeoenvironment. The coal has an average bed moisture of 34.60%, an ash yield of 33.73% (db), a volatile matter yield of 57.91% (daf), and a gross calorific value of 12.18 MJ/kg (maf). It is composed of mainly huminite macerals (up to 91 vol.%, on whole-rock basis), predominantly densinite, along small amounts of liptinite and inertinite macerals. The average random reflectance of huminite is 0.28%, and the primary minerals identified include pyrite, quartz, and clay …

Quick Antiquing Of Natural Stones In The Restoration Process, Hakan Elçi̇

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

When ancient buildings are restored, even though the restored section uses natural stone with the same lithological characteristics and texture as the building, there is a noticeable color difference between the restored and ancient portions of the building, signifying an old/new difference. This color difference, which is caused by the deterioration of the natural stone used in the ancient structure over many years, gives the natural stone a black or brown appearance. In this study, white marble, travertine, and sandstone were treated with antiquing techniques described in the literature. The goal was to identify the technique that produces the most …

Rights In The Eyes Of The Beholder: The Lived Hierarchy Of Rights In India's Democracy, Sehar Abdullah, Keerthana Satheesh, Prashant Narang

Socio-Legal Review

This paper examines how citizens in India perceive and prioritise fundamental rights, with particular attention to the six freedoms under Article 19(1) and the property right. While the freedoms of Article 19(1) remain central to democratic citizenship, the Forty-Fourth Constitutional Amendment of 1978 reclassified the right to property as a constitutional right under Article 300A. This shift prompts an important question: Does the diminished constitutional rank of property correspond to its place in popular hierarchies of rights? Our in-depth interviews with 26 respondents, whose livelihoods make them especially sensitive to changes in both categories of rights, reveal that citizens continue …

September 26, 2025 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Addition Of Chinese Herbal Medicines Is Effective As A Prophylactic Treatment Against Dental Diseases For Sjögren’S Syndrome Patients: Insight From Real-World Database, Ching-Ya Juan, Wei-Jen Chen, Hanoch Livneh, Ming-Chi Lu, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Leadership, Learning and Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Objectives:

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the salivary glands and increases the risk of developing dental diseases (DDs). Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) represent a promising alternative strategy for SS treatment; however, the association between CHMs and DD risk has not been confirmed. In this retrospective, cohort-based, nested case-control study, we explored whether or not combining CHMs with routine treatments for SS can reduce the chance of DDs.

Materials and Methods:

In the beginning, we recruited subjects aged 20–80 years with newly diagnosed SS who were free of DDs between 2001 and …

Use Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Academic Contexts

Academic Affairs Policies

This policy establishes guidance for the responsible, ethical, and transparent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools at Georgia Southern University (University) including in teaching, learning, assessment, classroom activities, University community service, research, creative activity, scholarly communication, and administrative activities, while encouraging innovation, academic freedom, and appropriate autonomy while maintaining compliance with all data security and privacy regulations. This policy ensures that the University complies with Board of Regents (BOR) Policy 6.28 Artificial Intelligence in Academic Context; federal, state, and international laws; and industry standards and best practices.

Re: August 2025 Berkeley Pit Migratory Waterfowl Protection Monthly Report, Mark Thompson, Loren Burmeister

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Opportunities And Barriers To Engaging Caregivers In Firearm Suicide Prevention: Findings From Focus Groups With Caregivers Of Veterans., Katherine Macwilliams, John Marmion, Dee Blascyk, Sharon Urbina, Rachel Moyers, Gala True

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Firearms are involved in more than 70% of U.S. Veteran suicides. Caregivers, defined as family members or concerned significant others, can play an important role in firearm suicide prevention through initiating conversations about secure firearm storage with Veterans. Our objective was to explore caregivers' experiences with lethal means safety (LMS) conversations and identify perceived barriers to caregivers discussing LMS with healthcare providers and with Veterans. Methods: We conducted focus groups with 32 caregivers with experience caring for a Veteran at risk for suicide. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: We identified three primary themes: 1) caregivers recognize …

“Who All Gon Be There”: The Relationship Between Racial Identity, Perceived Social Distance, And Anxiety Among People Of African Descent, Veronica R. Mixon

All ETDs from UAB

Mental health disparities among people of African descent are an important public health issue within the US. During COVID, between 2020 and 2021, anxiety symptoms among African American adults increased, which led to an overall increase in anxiety and depression rates (Vahratian et al., 2021; CDC, 2023). Despite this increase, only 39% of African Americans who experience mental health difficulties, receive treatment. The pandemic made it difficult for people to come together and there were heightened experiences of racial distress due to the events surrounding George Floyd. Prior research has shown that experiences of racism, isolation, and cultural disconnection have …

Exploring Effective Strategies To Improve Financial Sustainability Among Microfinance Institutions In Delta State, Nigeria, Joseph Nmadu Onyejose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In May 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the licenses of 179 microfinance banks due to insolvency and noncompliance with regulatory standards. Directors of microfinance institutions (MFIs) are concerned with financial instability because the collapse of MFIs undermines poverty alleviation efforts and local economic development. Grounded in agency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore the strategies that managers within MFIs in Nigeria used to ensure financial sustainability. The participants were eight directors in the finance industry, including six from MFIs and two from the Central Bank, located in Delta State, Abuja, and Lagos, …

Strategies To Improve The Financial Success For Minority And Small Business Owners, Kimberly D. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although minority small business owners have a substantial influence on the U.S. economy, they often face significant financial obstacles. Minority small business owners are concerned with the history of unfair lending practices in the United States, as access to adequate capital is crucial to achieving business success. Grounded in Donaldson’s pecking order theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective financial strategies that some minority small business owners used to sustain their businesses. The project participants were six minority small business leaders who had more than 5 years of experience from various industries in South Florida. …

Women Clergy Members' Perceptions Of Mentorship Strategies For Leader Development, Linda Ann Brady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent studies, women were underrepresented in senior leadership in the global Christian church, and leadership pathways for the development of women were often lacking. The local problem within the International Christian Church (ICC) was a lack of understanding of holistic mentoring strategies that support the development of women clergy members, which could help fill the current leadership gap. Guided by Dahlvig and Longman’s model of women’s leadership development, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of women clergy regarding holistic mentoring strategies that might increase the number of women in leadership within the …

Native Hawaiian Culturally Appropriate Substance Use Disorders Formative Program Evaluation, Kelly J. Penn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorders (SUDs) disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians, yet conventional treatments often overlook the cultural, spiritual, and relational foundations of well-being for Native Hawaiians. This gap represents a human services problem, as it perpetuates health disparities, limits recovery, and slows social change within Native Hawaiian communities. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify culturally relevant components for an SUD treatment program tailored to Native Hawaiians. The research question guiding this study was, what are culturally appropriate components for a SUD program for Native Hawaiians. The Nā Pou Kihi framework grounded the exploration of Indigenous approaches to …

Caregiver Perspectives About Implementing Educational Goals For Children Of Incarcerated Parents In A Head Start Program, Alissa Jane Stark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that caregivers of children with incarcerated parents inconsistently implement the mandated educational goals developed through the Head Start program. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore caregiver’s perspectives on implementing Head Start Educational goals for children of incarcerated parents and their views on the resources or training needed to support these goals. For this case study, 12 former caregivers from a Head Start program in a women’s correctional facility in Oregon were interviewed. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed thematically with the …

The Role Of Community Engaged Dental Education In Producing Socially Accountable Graduates In The Context Of The General Dental Council's Safe Practitioner Framework, Anastasios Plessas, Martha Paisi, Nilufar Ahmed, Zoe Brookes, Robert Witton

Peninsula Dental School

The General Dental Council's Safe Practitioner Framework sets out the required behaviours and learning outcomes for UK graduates across four domains, and social accountability is a new competency in the domain of professionalism. Community engagement is a type of community-based education, which has been advocated as a promising pedagogical approach to help institutions produce socially accountable graduates. It is conceptualised as a form of experiential education which uses community exposure educational programmes or activities (i.e., students are exposed to the population/community of interest usually in a non-clinical setting) to highlight and address community health care needs. Community engaged education can …

Distinct Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Differentially Regulate Skeletal Stem Cells In Calvaria Versus Long Bones During Bone Regeneration, Laura Ortinau, Francisco Heralde, Dongsu Park

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calvarial suture skeletal stem cells (Su-SSCs) are a distinct stem cell population for craniofacial bone formation by intramembranous ossification, compared to long bone periosteal SSCs (LB-PSSCs) with endochondral (osteochondrogenic) ossification. However, whether SSC intrinsic or extrinsic factors affect their differentiation process has not been well elucidated. Here, using an inducible Prx1-CreER-EGFP+/−;Rosa26-tdTomato mouse model, we observed that endogenous Prx1+ Su-SSCs and their orthotopic transplantation into calvarial injury do not form cartilage intermediates at the injury sites, while the transplantation of Prx1+ LB-PSSCs into LB injury induces osteochondrogenic differentiation, respectively. However, the heterotopic transplantation of Prx1+ Su-SSCs (Su-SSCs …

The Emerging Role Of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine In Enhancing Quality Of Life For Palliative And End-Of-Life Patients: A Narrative Review, Ambrose Loc T. Ngo, Linda Nguyen, Cynthia Shahbandeh, Jared W. Nichols

Student Publications

Palliative and end-of-life care aim to minimize suffering and optimize the quality of life for individuals nearing the end of their lives. Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) represents a potentially valuable nonpharmacological approach within this integrative care framework. Emerging evidence from clinical observations, small-scale studies, and foundational osteopathic principles suggests that OMM may help support patient comfort, alleviate certain symptoms, and contribute to dignity in care. Techniques such as myofascial release, cranial manipulation, and lymphatic drainage have been reported to improve comfort and emotional well-being; however, these findings are based primarily on limited and heterogeneous studies. This narrative review synthesizes current …

Space: The Final Frontier (For State Power): The History Of The East India Company And The Future Of Outer Space, Richard Culbert

International Law Studies

Outer space may be the last domain where States largely lack the capability to use coercive force as an instrument of State control. In all areas of the globe, major powers have militaries and police forces that far exceed the capability of even the largest corporations. As corporations take an increasingly large role in outer space commerce it is likely that these private actors will develop a capacity to use force that quickly surpasses even the most powerful States.

To date there has been little analysis of this future phenomenon by legal scholars. Perhaps as a result, the current international …

Prospective Associations Among Loneliness And Health For Servicemembers: Perceived Helplessness And Negative Coping Appraisal As Explanatory Mechanisms, Sarah N. Arpin, Cynthia D. Mohr, Todd Bodner, Leslie B. Hammer, James D. Lee

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Links between loneliness and health are robust, though evidence for associations with alcohol use is mixed. Previous research has supported perceived stress as a predictor of alcohol use and as a pathway through which loneliness impacts health over time. Yet findings are primarily limited to civilian samples, and less is known about how loneliness relates to stress and health among service members. The current study explores prospective associations among loneliness, stress, and health (i.e., sleep, alcohol misuse, and psychological distress) within a sample of mostly male service members. We examine two dimensions of perceived stress, perceived helplessness and negative coping …

Identifying The Big Questions In Paleontology: A Community-Driven Project, Tracy Aze

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Paleontology provides insights into the history of the planet, from the origins of life billions of years ago to the biotic changes of the Recent. The scope of paleontological research is as vast as it is varied, and the field is constantly evolving. In an effort to identify “Big Questions” in paleontology, experts from around the world came together to build a list of priority questions the field can address in the years ahead. The 89 questions presented herein (grouped within 11 themes) represent contributions from nearly 200 international scientists. These questions touch on common themes including biodiversity drivers and …

A Rural Ministry Helping Adults With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities Meet Their Vocational Goals: A Case Study Of The Canteen And Trading Post (Ctp), Julie Byford Harstin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study's purpose was to describe and evaluate the Canteen & Trading Post’s (CTP’s) approach to workforce education for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (AIDD) and CTP participants’ perceptions of AIDD’s employability in their rural community. A qualitative study method was used, including semi-structured interviews, arts-based research, and participant-observation. The guiding research questions for the study were: 1. How is the Canteen & Trading Post helping adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities meet their vocational goals?, 2. How are AIDD's needs for accommodation changing through their experiences at the CTP?, and 3. How is the CTP demonstrating AIDD’s employability …

Cfd Modeling Of Lateral Spillway Flow In End-Of-Bridge Deck Drainage, Serox Sukupayo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has established a new standard for bridge-deck drainage, which features a side-inlet positioned at the end of the bridge adjacent to the roadway. This inlet serves as a lateral weir or spillway, connecting to a riprap-lined flume or chute that extends down the embankment. The hydraulic performance of this standard - encompassing capture efficiency, bypassed flow, water spreads and depths on the pavement, flow depths and velocities in the flume, and the potential for embankment erosion - must be evaluated across a variety of bridge conditions, including longitudinal and cross slopes, as well as …

Metaphor Use In Indonesian Scholars' Talk About Migration, Heri Yusup

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite the growing body of research on the use of metaphors to discuss personal experiences during complex and challenging situations (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or related to life-threatening illnesses), metaphor analysis is rarely employed to examine how certain individuals use metaphors to talk about their migration experiences. Extensive studies on metaphorical framing of migration have been conducted. However, private discourse is rarely the subject of these studies. Furthermore, metaphor research incorporating conceptual metaphor theory as its theoretical framework seldom underscores the intersection of metaphorical conceptualization and identity construction. Therefore, this dissertation examines the conceptual metaphors used by individuals …

Perceptions Of Black Male Alternative High School Students' Disciplinary Experiences A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry Study, Rahmod Traylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The current study examines how Black male students in alternative high school settings interpret and describe their disciplinary experiences and educational trajectories. Guided by Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) as the theoretical framework and Narrative Inquiry as the methodological approach, the research investigates how cultural identity, systemic inequities, and school-based disciplinary practices intersect in shaping students’ academic pathways. The study addresses two central questions: (1) How do the educational experiences of Black males who graduated from alternative high schools differ from those who did not? (2) In what ways do culturally sustaining pedagogical practices inform or fail to inform these experiences? …

Hawc, Veritas, Fermi-Lat, And Xmm-Newton Follow-Up Observations Of The Unidentified Ultra-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Source Lhaaso J2108+5157, C. B. Adams, P. Bangale, W. Benbow, J. H. Buckley, Y. Chen, J. L. Christiansen, S. Groetsch, P. Hüntemeyer, M. Najafi, R. Turner, X. Wang, Et. Al

Michigan Tech Publications

We report observations of the ultra-high-energy gamma-ray source LHAASO J2108+5157, utilizing VERITAS, HAWC, Fermi-LAT, and XMM-Newton. VERITAS has collected ∼40 hr of data that we used to set ULs to the emission above 200 GeV. The HAWC data, collected over ∼2400 days, reveal emission between 3 and 146 TeV, with a significance of 7.5σ, favoring an extended source model. The best-fit spectrum measured by HAWC is characterized by a simple power law with a spectral index of 2.45 ± 0.11stat. Fermi-LAT analysis finds a point source with a very soft spectrum in the LHAASO J2108+5157 region, consistent with the 4FGL-DR3 …