Digital Commons Network^™

Characteristics Of Pediatric Patients With Sports-Related Concussions: A Single Site Retrospective Review, Jose A. Cruz Ayala, Shahrukh Khan, Holly Monk, Emma Cole, Alison Smith, Scott Schultz, Lindsay Elliott, Jessica Zagory

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Sports-related concussion (SRC) cases have increased among children in the last decade. Differences in concussion symptoms, presentation, and follow-up care exist when comparing demographics. The aim of this study was to explore SRC within the pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients ≤ 18 years old diagnosed with SRC at a New Orleans stand-alone children's hospital from January 2007 to December 2021 was performed. T-test and Fisher's exact test were used for relationship between outcomes and sports, demographics, setting, insurance, and follow-up care. RESULTS: Children who sustained SRC at practice were more likely to be male (p …

Transmit And Deceive: Addressing The Insider Threat To Beacon Security, Noah Troy

Theses

IEEE 802.11 Beacon frames exist at the forefront of modern Wi-Fi networks and facilitate a wide array of essential network functionality, from discovery to time synchronization and even transmit power control. However, the central role Beacon frames play in initial network advertisement comes at the price of incomplete security guarantees, leaving these frames historically vulnerable to forgery and granting significant leverage over proximal wireless devices to a malicious actor that can effectively spoof them. With the publication of IEEE Std 802.11-2020, beacon protection was introduced to enable the authentication of received Beacon frames, placating most concerns. However, beacon protection is …

Structural And Molecular Basis Of Pcna-Activated Fan1 Nuclease Function In Dna Repair, F. Li, A. S. Phadte, M. Bhatia, S. Barndt, A.R. Monte Carlo, Iii, C.F.D. Hou, R. Yang, S. Strock, A. Pluciennik

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

FAN1 is a DNA dependent nuclease whose proper function is essential for maintaining human health. For example, a genetic variant in FAN1, Arg507 to His hastens onset of Huntington's disease, a repeat expansion disorder for which there is no cure. How the Arg507His mutation affects FAN1 structure and enzymatic function is unknown. Using cryo-EM and biochemistry, we have discovered that FAN1 arginine 507 is critical for its interaction with PCNA, and mutation of Arg507 to His attenuates assembly of the FAN1-PCNA complex on a disease-relevant extrahelical DNA extrusions formed within DNA repeats. This mutation concomitantly abolishes PCNA-FAN1-dependent cleavage of such …

Causes Of Death Among Us Medical Residents, Nicholas A. Yaghmour, William E. Bynum, Frederic W. Hafferty, Karen D. Könings, Thomas Richter, Timothy P. Brigham, Thomas J. Nasca

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: From 2000 to 2014, the leading causes of medical resident death in the United States were neoplastic diseases and suicide.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether US medical resident rates of death have changed since 2014 and whether causes of resident death differ by specialty.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cross-sectional study, residents and fellows who were enrolled in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited training programs and who died from January 2015 to December 2021 were submitted to the National Death Index to obtain causes of death. These decedents were compared with residents and fellows who died between …

Escalating Hydrological Extremes And Whiplashes In The Western U.S.: Challenges For Water Management And Frontline Communities, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Joshua B. Fisher, Thomas Piechota, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The Western U.S. is experiencing significant changes in its hydrological dynamics, marked by increased variability and rapid “whiplash” shifts between extreme drought and flood conditions. This study quantified these changes using a customized hydrological water year index, which correlated better with surface water storage in the basins than other drought/wetness indicators. Application of the index revealed heightened hydrological extremes and whiplash events post-2015 in all Western U.S. basins, with nearly 72% of stations facing critically dry conditions in 2021 and over 54% experiencing extreme wet conditions in 2023. Future projections indicate a decline of 8.5%–13.2% in non-extreme water year types …

The Design Of Time: Envisioning The Future Through Science Fiction Production Design In The Alien Franchise, Josephine Spanier, Charles Howard

Honors Thesis

In filmmaking, the production designer works closely with the director and cinematographer to ensure cohesion and uniqueness in the film’s visual design. This collaboration often provides the designer with a strong degree of influence on the film’s final look, thus shaping the thematic and visual impact of a film on the audience. In highly stylized and fantastical genres, such as science fiction, production design plays an especially important role in creating worlds that may be entirely different from the one we currently live in, while still reflecting the real-world context in which the film was made. This phenomena can particularly …

Generative Ai: Cultural Shift Towards The Machine, Barbara Gilman, Damon Willick

Honors Thesis

No abstract provided.

Nasa Student Launch Rocket, Antonio Garcia, Kyle Fadrigon, Tristan Minter, Jack Manion, Riley Yee, Lorenzo Remy

Honors Thesis

This report outlines a high-powered rocket designed, built, and launched by Loyola Marymount University students as part of the NASA Student Launch Initiative. The goal of this project is to create a reusable rocket equipped with a payload system and air brake capable of reaching an apogee within 1% of a kilometer. The project involves multiple phases, including subscale and full-scale launches. Key components such as 3D printed elements, Arduino-based electronics, and CNC-machined parts will be integrated into the design. This project aims to develop the student's skills in airframe design, composite material manufacturing, systems engineering, and time management, with …

Quantifying 14 Years Of Restoration Impact At A Los Angeles Park Using Remote Sensing, Alexa Siglar, Demian A. Willette

Honors Thesis

Ascot Hills Park is an urban park in the El Sereno neighborhood of east Los Angeles that has undergone continuous restoration efforts to reintroduce California native trees and shrubs from 2011-2025. This study seeks to understand how a 14 year period of continuous restoration by a variety of stakeholders has changed the park by asking the following question: How has native plant cover changed over time? To answer this question, the change in percent native plant cover at the park from 2011-2025 was quantified using satellite imagery and machine learning software in ArcGIS Pro. Satellite images and ArcGIS Pro were …

Predicting Battery Levels Of Sensor Nodes Using Reinforcement Learning In Harsh Underground Mining Environments, Manish Anand Yadav, Mohamed Elmahallawy, Sanjay Madria, Samuel Frimpong

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mining is a hazardous environment, with frequent accidents leading to significant loss of life each year. To enhance safety, sensor nodes monitor key environmental factors such as temperature, toxic gases, and miners' locations, as well as transmit critical messages. Miners interact with these sensors, which track their movements, enabling their location to be determined even without GPS signals. Therefore, predicting the battery life of these sensors is essential for: (i) rerouting miners during emergencies, (ii) ensuring timely maintenance, and most importantly (iii) identifying sensors that need energy harvesting to maintain vital communication within the mine. In this work, we …

Physician Assistant 20-Minute Introduction, Daniel Fidel Ferrer

Other Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Empowering Precision Agriculture With The Internet Of Things, Artificial Intelligence, And Robotics, Adarsha Neupane, Vidya Samadi

Forestry and Natural Resources

As the global population grows, agriculture faces increasing demands for higher productivity and sustainability. The incorporation of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics is revolutionizing farming by improving efficiency, enhancing decision-making, and promoting sustainability through optimized resource use. This publication provides insights into the implementation of these smart farming solutions and their benefits for farmers, crop consultants, and stakeholders. It also addresses the challenges of adopting these technologies, highlighting their crucial role in meeting future food demands sustainably.

Data In The Classroom: The Impact Of A Data-Centric, High School Program To Motivate Career Interest In Stem Fields, Tyler Stabiler

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes to analyze the importance of introducing data-centric STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) studies at the high school level. In today's digital age, the importance of studying data-centric STEM in high school cannot be overstated. This dissertation looks to discover educational capabilities of high school students in various grade levels by understanding their drive, desire, and ambitions in a different STEM course than what is currently offered at the high school. Finally, the study analyzes the students’ participation in lectures, laboratory environment, and model/simulations to identify the significance in high schools adding data-centric curriculums to their academic …

Teachers’ Beliefs About Asl And Its Impact In The Classroom, Cecilia Echevarria

Honors Scholar Theses

This study explores American Sign Language (ASL) teachers’ beliefs and experiences, and how they influence their instructional approaches and goals for their students. Despite ASL’s growing presence in education as a world language, minimal research has examined ASL teachers’ perspectives and how they shape classroom practices. Through semi-structured interviews, six ASL teachers – three Deaf and three hearing – this research identified four major themes: challenges teachers face in the classroom, cultural takeaways, best teaching practices, and persistent systemic issues affecting ASL’s status in education. Findings suggest that regardless of hearing status, teachers prioritize cultural awareness and respectful engagement with …

Joy In Lifelong Learning: An Introduction To Planning For Learning Disabilities In Museum Education, Elaine L. Davis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

For over a century, the role of museums as learning institutions has been considered alongside that of schools. However, special education practices are rarely adapted for museum education, requiring educators in museum contexts to undertake extra work to accommodate those with learning disabilities. This thesis used Qualitative Comparative Analysis and Textual Analysis to review pedagogical white papers and academic research on museum programs aimed at neurodivergent audiences. The findings were used to create a professional development guide for museum educators at a range of different types of museums.

Re: Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Residential Parcels) (Dated February 26, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Successful Psychopathy: Trait Expression, Construct Validity, And Career Differences Among Lawyers, Law Students, And Pre-Law Undergraduate Students, Jessica Rush

Student Theses

Psychopathy is a multidimensional personality construct traditionally studied in offender populations but increasingly recognized in high-functioning, nonclinical groups. This study examined the expression of psychopathic traits—Fearless Dominance, Self-Centered Impulsivity, and Coldheartedness—among legal professionals at various career stages, including pre-law students, law students, and practicing attorneys. Using the Psychopathic Personality Inventory–Revised (PPI-R) alongside validated measures of related constructs (e.g., narcissism, aggression, affect, behavioral activation/inhibition), the study assessed trait distribution, construct validity, and contextual influences in a sample of 82 participants. Results provided partial support for the PPI-R’s construct validity in this population. Total psychopathy and Self-Centered Impulsivity were positively associated with …

Recent Advances In The Utilization Of Cellulose From Food Processing Byproducts For The Generation Of Aerogels, Jaspreet Kaur, Ali Ubeyitogullari

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aerogels have garnered significant attention from the scientific community due to their extraordinary properties, including low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity, and large surface area. These properties make them interesting candidates for diverse applications such as thermal insulation, drug delivery, catalysis, fillers, tissue engineering, and biosensors. However, the production of conventional aerogels is often constrained by environmental issues, the high cost of raw materials, and energy-intensive fabrication methods. In contrast, cellulose aerogels have emerged as promising sustainable materials with the potential to transform various low-cost waste products into high-value biomaterials. Food-processing byproducts provide numerous untapped opportunities for the generation …

Therapeutic Left-To-Right Shunting In Heart Failure, Barry A Borlaug, Dean J Kereiakes, Joann Lindenfeld, Gregg W Stone, Javed Butler

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction is associated with elevated left atrial pressure at rest due to fluid overload or during exercise, leading to pulmonary venous congestion. Even with available treatments, heart failure hospitalizations remain high, and improvements in quality-of-life scores and functional capacity are modest. Thus, there is growing interest in non-pharmacological methods to decompress the left atrium and improve heart failure symptoms and outcomes. Left-to-right shunts have emerged as a potential therapeutic option to reduce left atrial hypertension, improve quality of life, and impact long-term outcomes. This nascent field carries both potential therapeutic promise and many …

The Extreme Poverty Alleviation Impact Of The Conditional Cash Transfer Program In Nigeria, Oluseun Omolara Olagunju

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite several social investment programmes (SIPs) to reduce poverty, Nigeria had a high poverty rate, particularly in remote rural areas. The SIPs included conditional cash transfers (CCTs) to eligible households under certain conditions, such as extreme poverty in remote rural areas without access to water, electricity, shelter, basic health care, and education. While a few studies conducted on the effectiveness of CCTs have shown that Nigeria invested significant resources in poverty alleviation without the desired results due to factors like poor implementation and corruption, none reflects the perspective of CCT beneficiaries. The purpose of this study was to fill this …

Role Of Systemic Therapy In Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: Where Do We Stand And Where Are We Heading?, Nagaishwarya Moka, Aihua Edward Yen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The effectiveness of immunotherapy and targeted therapy has been well established in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). These therapies demonstrated higher overall response rates and led to prolonged survival. In contrast, in localized RCC, conventional treatment is either partial or complete nephrectomy. While surgery is a curative option in early stages, high recurrence rates remain a concern, with survival rates ranging from 53% to 85%, depending on the initial stage at the time of diagnosis. Given favorable outcomes with systemic therapies in the metastatic setting, there has also been an increased interest in utilizing these therapies for the localized stage …

Theta Oscillons In Behaving Rats, Clarissa Hoffman, Luca Perotti, Daoyun Ji, Yuri Dabaghian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Recently discovered constituents of the brain waves—the oscillons—provide a high-resolution representation of the extracellular field dynamics. Here, we study the most robust, highest-amplitude oscillons recorded in actively behaving male rats, which underlie the traditional θ-waves. The resemblances between θ-oscillons and the conventional θ-waves are manifested primarily at the ballpark level—mean frequencies, mean amplitudes, and bandwidths. In addition, both hippocampal and cortical oscillons exhibit a number of intricate, behavior-attuned, transient properties that suggest a new vantage point for understanding the θ-rhythms’ structure, origins and functions. In particular, we demonstrate that oscillons are frequency-modulated waves, with speed-controlled …

Incorporating Latent Survival Trajectories And Covariate Heterogeneity In Time-To-Event Data Analysis: A Joint Mixture Model Approach

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Finite mixture models have been recently applied in time-to-event data to identify subgroups with distinct hazard functions, yet they often assume differing covariate effects on failure times across latent classes but homogeneous covariate distributions. This study aimed to develop a method for analyzing time-to-event data while accounting for unobserved heterogeneity within a mixture modeling framework.

Methods: A joint model was developed to incorporate latent survival trajectories and observed information for the joint analysis of time-to-event outcomes, correlated discrete and continuous covariates, and a latent class variable. It assumed covariate effects on survival times and covariate distributions vary across latent …

Identifying Developmental Intellectual Disability As A Sudep Risk Marker From Epilepsy Monitoring Unit Reports Using Large Language Models, Samden D. Lhatoo, Guo-Qiang Zhang, Licong Cui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Preparation Of Novel Adsorbents Via Functionalized Mcm-41 Prepared From Plant Residues, Raghad Saad Hatem, Hayder Hamied Mihsen, Alaa Frak Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, mesoporous silica MCM-41 was functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to obtain MCM-41@APTES, which contains primary amine groups. In the next step, 5-bromosalicylaldehyde was refluxed with MCM-41@APTES in toluene to obtain the Schiff base-functionalized mesoporous silica material, MCM-41@APTES-BSAL. MCM-41@APTES and MCM-41@APTES-BSAL were characterized via FT-IR, FESEM-EDX, TEM, N2-adsorption-desorption, XRD, and TGA/DTA. The XRD and TEM investigations showed that MCM-41@APTES and MCM-41@APTES-BSAL were generated with extremely ordered hexagonal arrangements. The findings from the N2-adsorption–desorption analysis revealed that the average pore diameters, total pore volumes, and specific surface areas were 7.530 nm, 0.292 cm³g^-1, and 155.19 m …

Synthesis And Characterization Of New Petroleum Demulsifies From Poly Acryl Amide With Poly Vinyl Alcohol And Studying Photolysis, Zaynab Hussein Fadel, Sura K. Ibrahim, Sana Hitur Awad, Faris Hamood Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

One of the most important problems associated with oil production is the formation of stable (water-in-oil) emulsions, and these emulsions greatly affect the process of treating the oil and ridding it of water.The creation of these emulsions throughout the oil production process is an expensive state, and the low water level of crude oil emulsions enhances performance while lowering the risk of equipment and pipeline deterioration. One technique to lower the water content is to break down crude oil emulsions chemically by demulsification. The water droplets quickly collide because the emulsifier renders the thin film separating the water droplets and …

Participant 010: Reiki Master With Three Years Of Experience (White; Female; Germany)

0885: Reiki and Well-Being Interviews

This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding three years of experience (White; Female; Germany). She was interviewed on May 14, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about Reiki's use to help with physical health for her personally and with another family member; Reiki's ability to help (re)build relationships with others; and Reiki's ability to help the participant feel more grounded. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for …

Visualization Of Coastal Carbonate Lithosomes: Color-Intensity Patterns And Georadar Imaging Of A Semi-Lithified Strandplain, Eleuthera Island, The Bahamas, Ilya Buynevich, Michael Savarese, H. Allen Curran

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

Quaternary carbonate strandplains serve as archives of land–sea interaction, including the impacts of storms and tsunamis. Incipient lithification, especially of compound beach/dune ridges within the action zone of salt spray, presents challenges to geological research, which is often limited to exposures. This study combines aerial image analysis with geophysical datasets to assess the morphostratigraphy and internal structure of the Freedom Beach Strandplain along southern Eleuthera Island, The Bahamas. Color-intensity analysis of field photographs and satellite images revealed general patterns that can be used to distinguish between areas with different grayscale parameters (sand-covered surfaces, lithified ridges, vegetation, etc.). Cross-shore (dip-section) high-resolution …

Staff Education For Nursing Teach-Back Facilitation To Reduce Frequent Readmission, Chikamunario Joy Ekeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Background: Teach-Back method of education is a simple technique that can be used to check, and correct inaccurate recall of patients’ instructions. It has a great impact on patients’ recall and understanding of discharged information in a healthcare setting and to help minimize hazards such as non-medication adherence, frequent re-hospitalization, and poor self-care/home care (Talevski et al., 2020). Gap in Practice/Problem: “Frequent readmission (30 days Return) of patients in a Rural Psychiatric Center.” The Practice Focus Question: “Does staff education on “teach-back” facilitate the knowledge and confidence level of staff in providing discharged patient education and subsequently minimize frequent rehospitalization?” …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Education Policies To Reduce Racial And Gender Achievement Gaps, Lisa Mondett Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers possess valuable knowledge about classroom experiences that remains untapped in educational policymaking, particularly concerning persistent achievement gaps for Black female students, which have resulted in less effective student academic growth outcomes when compared to White female peers. Although prior research has indicated the implementation of targeted education policies, few studies have explored how excluding educators’ insights about these policies have caused the achievement gap to widen based on race and gender comparisons. Grounded in Black feminist theory, the purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to explore Black female teachers’ perspectives of how education policies influence the achievement …