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Usa V. Cedrick Hodges

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Detecting Hazards At Rail Grade Crossings Using Computer Vision And Ai, Silvia Flores-Osuna, Gasser G. Ali, Darren Espinoza, Felix Chavez, Constantine Tarawneh

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The Federal Railroad Administration reported a total of 2,250 highway-rail incidents during 2024. Continuous efforts by transportation agencies aim to lower these numbers by spreading awareness, improving infrastructure, and installing warning devices. Efforts have been made to enhance safety at these crossings using a variety of innovative technologies; however, there remains a need for a robust and cost-effective system capable of detecting hazards at various crossings under diverse climate and lighting conditions. This paper explores the application of artificial intelligence and deep learning to develop a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for image-level multi-class classification of hazards at grade crossings, including …

Utah Vegetable Production Guide (5th Edition), Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Amelia Olds, Bridger Carey

All Current Publications

This guide, written by a collection of Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty and specialists, provides information on general Utah vegetable production, soil, nutrient, and water management, integrated pest management practices, and pesticides. The included chapters cover various vegetable crops, including brassicas, cucurbits, leafy greens, potatoes, legumes, onions, root crops, sweet corn, and solanaceous crops.

Reactive Oxygen Species In Cardiovascular And Hematological Diseases: Mechanisms And Therapeutic Strategies, Anthony L. Alanis, Fernando Cisneros, Hector Trejo, Angela Hong, Kelsey Baker, Alex Zuo

School of Medicine Publications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in normal cellular functions, including cellular signaling and metabolism of toxins. Excessive ROS contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and hematologic conditions by altering genetic expression, signal transduction, lipid peroxidation, and vascular remodeling. This article investigates the role of ROS in diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and hematological conditions, focusing on molecular mechanisms and emerging treatments for preventative and acute management. We analyzed the role of ROS in mitochondrial dysfunction, redox signaling pathways, and their contribution to inflammation and tissue damage across cardiovascular and blood disorders. We also discuss novel therapies targeting …

August 27, 2026

The Breeze, 2020-

No abstract provided.

Biallelic Variants In Kmo Cause A Novel Form Of Congenital Nad Deficiency, Nathalie M Aceves-Ewing, Nanbing Li-Villarreal, Xiaohui Li, Seema R Lalani, Jill A Rosenfeld, Varduhi Petrosyan, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Angelina Gaspero, Denise G Lanza, Audrey E Christiansen, Amrit Koirala, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Nagireddy Putluri, Cristian Coarfa, Bao Tran, Philip L Lorenzi, Lin Tan, Charul Gijavanekar, Sarah H Elsea, Emily Lawrence, Hartmut Cuny, Sally L Dunwoodie, Pengfei Liu, Haonan Zhouyao, Tara L Rasmussen, Mary E Dickinson, Carlos A Bacino, Brendan Lee, Ronit Marom, Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Bcm Center For Precision Medicine Models, Jason D Heaney, Chih-Wei Hsu, Lindsay C Burrage

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Congenital NAD deficiency disorder (CNDD) is a gene × environment disorder caused by disruptions of the kynurenine pathway. To date, CNDD has been associated with biallelic variants in three kynurenine pathway genes: KYNU, HAAO, and NADSYN1 . We identified two sisters with congenital anomalies overlapping with CNDD who have biallelic variants in a gene encoding a different kynurenine pathway enzyme, KMO . The surviving child also has elevated levels of metabolites upstream of KMO with low NAD + levels in plasma, suggesting that KMO deficiency is a novel CNDD. To explore the pathogenicity of KMO deficiency, we generated a global …

Spartan Daily, August 27, 2026, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2026

Volume 167, Issue 04

Metabolomic Characterization Reveals Organ-Specific Accumulation Of Secondary Metabolites In Petiole Glands Of Idesia Polycarpa, Fangming Liu, Xingyue Xiong, Yanmei Wang, Li Dai, Zhi Li, Xiaodong Geng, Juan Wang, Yongyu Ren, Qifei Cai, Zhen Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

Background/Objectives: Idesia polycarpa Maxim. possesses conspicuous glandular protuberances on its petioles, but the chemical composition and potential biological significance of these structures remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to characterize the metabolic profile of I. polycarpa petiole glands and to determine their organ-specific accumulation patterns of secondary metabolites compared with leaves and shoot tips. Methods: A widely targeted metabolomics approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was applied to analyze petiole glands, leaves, and shoot tips collected from the same I. polycarpa individuals. Multivariate statistical analyses and differential metabolite profiling were performed to compare metabolic characteristics among …

Recognition Of Two Potential Warming Events In The Paleocene Terrestrial Record Of North America And Associated Mammalian Responses, Ross Secord, Daniel J. Peppe, Thomas E. Williamson, Caitlin E. Leslie, Stephen L. Brusatte, Andrew G. Flynn

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Numerous early Cenozoic transient warming events (“hyperthermals”) have been recognized in the marine record, but few have been located in fossiliferous terrestrial strata. Locating warming events is critical for understanding how terrestrial animals and plants responded to past climate change. We recognize two carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) in lower Paleocene (Danian) strata of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico, United States, based on sustained decreases in carbon isotope values in bulk organic carbon. The upper excursion correlates closely with the Latest Danian Event (LDE) hyperthermal, previously known with confidence only from the marine record. We correlate the lower excursion to …

Growth With New And Old Technologies, Bernardo S. C. Ribeiro

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper proposes a semi-endogenous growth theory that incorporates technology vintages and the endogenous evolution of multiple technological paradigms through innovation. It provides a characterization of both balanced growth equilibrium and transitional dynamics in an environment where new technologies continuously emerge. From a positive perspective, the model rationalizes two distinct empirical patterns. Using two centuries of US patent data, I first document that the age profile of patents has a pronounced hump shape: most contemporary patents build upon technologies that are between 50 and 100 years old. Second, this age profile has remained stable throughout the past century. From a …

2026-08-27 Provost Martin Speaks On Commencement Controversy, Dylan Berman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

V.63-2, 2026 Masthead

San Diego Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Oxymoron At The Heart Of Delaware’S Making Elon Happy Legislation, Franklin A. Gevurtz

San Diego Law Review

This Article proceeds as follows: Part II provides the background by giving a brief overview of the law governing transactions between a controlling stockholder and the corporation or its minority stockholders; laying out the complaints about recent Delaware court decisions applying this law; and explaining how S.B.-21 responded to these complaints through a belt and suspenders approach of narrowing both the definition of controlling stockholder and the difference in the legal treatment between controlling stockholder transactions and transactions with conflicted directors.

Part III explains the fundamental inconsistency created by the statute’s effort to limit the definition of controlling stockholder by …

Liberty As Entitlement In The Common Law, Joshua C. Tate

San Diego Law Review

In recent decades, some Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have questioned the broad definition of liberty that is the basis for the doctrine of substantive due process.  In his dissenting opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, for example, Justice Thomas argued that liberty in the common-law tradition “has long been understood as individual freedom from governmental action, not as a right to a particular governmental entitlement.”  This Article will argue that such a narrow definition excludes many instances in which the common law used “liberty” as a synonym for “privilege” or “entitlement.”  Treatises that were well-known to the Framers …

Enhancing Protections For Professionals Who Report Misconduct As Required By A Fiduciary Duty Or A Professional Code Of Conduct, Nicholas Daniel Seger, Kelli Myers

San Diego Law Review

Whistleblowers play a critical role in maintaining ethical standards within professional environments, yet current legal frameworks often leave professionals who report misconduct vulnerable to severe retaliation.  Despite clear ethical and fiduciary duties requiring professionals, including attorneys, accountants, and medical providers, to report known misconduct, those who fulfill these obligations may face termination, reputational harm, and financial loss.  The case of Bohatch v. Butler & Binion starkly illustrates the chilling effect of insufficient legal protections, where a partner’s adherence to her ethical duty resulted in professional exile.  Without robust legal safeguards, professionals are left to navigate a treacherous landscape where integrity …

Snap Into Action: Standardizing Nursing Neurologic Assessments In Pediatric Oncology, Katherine Smith, Jessica Mcwhorter, Cara Gliddon, Barbara Poloskey, Sanjiv Mehta, Kimberly Digerolamo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nursing neurologic assessments are essential for timely recognition and escalation of changes in neurologic status (1-3). However, nursing neurologic assessments lacked standardization on a 51-bed pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant unit. Approximately 40% of emergency transfers (4) over three years were related to neurologic changes and nurses lacked confidence in performing neurologic assessments.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to standardize the process for nursing neurologic assessments, with aims to: 1) increase nurses’ confidence in performing neurologic assessments and 2) decrease emergency transfers related to changes in neurologic status.

Methods: The Serial Neurologic Assessment in …

A Language We Built Together: A Physician Assistant’S Reflection On A Renal Transplant, Oviya Mahendran, Sampathkumar Sakthi Selvakumar

Journal of Wellness

This is not just a story of kidney transplantation in a tertiary care hospital in a tier-2 city of South India. It is all about a true clinical journey of resilience, where a young woman with congenital hearing loss, battling chronic kidney disease, discovered hope, understanding, and companionship through a physician assistant's compassionate communication.

The Relative Strength Of Compulsive Reward-Driven Eating, Weight Self-Efficacy, And Physical Appearance Comparison In Predicting Feelings Of Self-Worth, Kathleen Rowe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Psychology and Community Services This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Kathleen Rowe has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Hedy Dexter, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Medha Talpade, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2026

The Mediating Role Of Production Process Efficiency Through Lean Production In Enhancing Institutional Excellence: An Applied Study At The Maysan Oil Factory, Asst. Lect. Wasan Jawad Kadhim

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study aimed to analyze the mediating role of production process efficiency in the relationship between lean production and organizational excellence, through an applied study at the Maysan Oils Factory. This was done within the framework of efforts to improve operational performance and enhance the competitiveness of industrial enterprises. The study’s significance stems from its highlighting of lean production as a modern strategic approach and its showcasing of the role of production process efficiency as an intermediary mechanism that contributes to achieving organizational excellence in the industrial environment. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach. The study population consisted of employees …

2026 August 27 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Residential Cooling Energy Efficiency During Heatwaves In South Texas, Rosa A. Castan, Gasser G. Ali

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Heatwaves have become increasingly intense and frequent in recent years. As a result, residents are forced to rely on air-conditioning systems, a major contributor to high energy consumption. South Texas is one of the regions that has been affected by historically extreme heat. This paper explores the challenges this region has faced due to heatwaves and the strategies adopted to mitigate their effects. It investigates the use of cooling technologies, energy-related habits, and investment in home construction to reduce indoor heat and manage electricity bills. A literature review is performed to help identify relevant factors related to maximizing energy efficiency. …

The Impact Of Generative Ai Applications On Employees’ Perceived Job Security: A Field Study In Knowledge-Intensive Organizations In Iraq, Hayder Ibrahim Hassoon

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study examines the impact of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications on employees’ perceived job security within knowledge-intensive organizations in Iraq. A quantitative, descriptive–analytical field design was employed. Data were collected through a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire administered to a stratified random sample of 420 employees from four organizations: Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek, and Rafidain Bank. The independent variable was operationalized through three dimensions: intensity of daily GenAI use, the impact of automation and job redesign, and organizational governance of GenAI use. The dependent variable was employees’ perceived job security. Reliability and construct validity supported the instrument’s adequacy for analysis, with …

The Impact Of Certain Electronic Payment Methods On Iraqi Bank Credit For The Period 2018–2024, Kareem Muttair Hassan Al-Zayadi, Ali Jaber Abdul-Hussein Al-Maali

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The information revolution and the significant acceleration in the proliferation of electronic payment instruments over the last decade represent the primary frontier in reshaping traditional economic transactions, with the banking sector garnering the utmost attention in this domain, and beginning from 2018, Iraq initiated its digital financial transformation operations through the Central Bank launching initiatives to regulate the work of electronic payment companies, and the significance of this study lies in formulating an integrated analytical and econometric vision to explore the dynamic relationship between the expansion of these systems and the efficiency and trends of bank credit for the period …

Effectiveness Of Banking Marketing Strategies And Their Impact On Attracting Customers: A Comparative Study Between The Trade Bank Of Iraq (Tbi) And The Bank Of Baghdad, Azzam Saleh Abd

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The research problem centers on the growing gap between the marketing strategies adopted by Iraqi banks and the increasing expectations of customers in the digital age, which has led to a noticeable disparity in the ability to attract and retain customers between the public and private sectors. Despite its capital strength and sovereign status, the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) faces challenges in aligning its marketing flexibility with the needs of individuals versus large corporations, while the Bank of Baghdad struggles to promote trust and security to compete with government guarantees. To analyze this problem, three main hypotheses were formulated: …

The Impacts Of Emotions On Thirst Among Heart Failure Patients, Chieh-An Yang, Hsing-Mei Chen, Tsung-Neng Tsai, Chieh-Yu Liu, Hui-Ju Lu, Ting-Ti Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Thirst, characterized by sensations of oral dryness and a craving to drink, is a ubiquitous experience among heart failure (HF) patients. Besides reduced cardiac output, the clinical treatments for HF patients (e.g., diuretics, fluid restriction) may activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), exacerbating their thirst distress.

Negative emotions are commonly experienced among heart failure patients. Previous studies have suggested that emotions (e.g., anxiety, depression) may activate the sympathetic nervous system, reducing the secretion of saliva, which, in turn, may increase sensations of dry mouth among HF patients. However, the relationship between emotions and thirst distress remains unclear. Therefore, the aim …

Cadonilimab Plus Chemotherapy In Pd-L1-Low Gastroesophageal Cancer: A Bispecific Opportunity?, Sohiel Deshpande, Daniel Lin

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

No abstract available.

Reducing Inpatient Falls Through Staff Education, Courage Duin Chiangeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls remain a major patient safety concern, particularly among hospitalized stroke patients who are at increased risk because of impaired mobility, neurological deficits, and cognitive changes. The inpatient stroke unit selected for this quality improvement project consistently reported the highest fall rates within the hospital system, highlighting the need for evidence-based interventions. The purpose of this project was to determine whether a structured fall-prevention education program incorporating evidence-based practices and the 4Ps of purposeful rounding (pain, potty, position, and possessions) would improve staff knowledge, increase compliance with fallprevention practices, and reduce patient falls over a 2-month period. Guided by …

Staff Education To Strengthen Patient Counseling For Recurrent Uti Prevention In Middle-Aged And Older Women In A Low-Income Community Clinic, Linda Osamede Isidienu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was a practice-focused quality improvement (QI) staff education initiative designed to address recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) among middle-aged and older women receiving care in a low-income community clinic. Recurrent UTIs are associated with increased antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, and reduced quality of life. The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether a structured staff education program could improve provider knowledge related to patient counseling on UTI prevention. Twenty nurses and medical assistants participated in the intervention, which included education on evidence-based prevention strategies, counseling techniques for low health literacy populations, and …

Stafford V. State [State Of Nevada], 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 59 (Aug. 27, 2026), Giselle Garcia-Contreras

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Stafford v. State holds that an in-custody defendant’s failure to appear at a hearing does not relieve the State of its plea agreement obligations, as the State controls the defendant’s ability to appear.

Design And Fabrication Of 3d Bioprinted Scaffold: Experimental And Machine Learning Methods, Mohan K. Dey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The development of reliable hydrogel-based scaffolds for extrusion bioprinting remains limited by the poor structural fidelity of low-viscosity bioinks and the lack of robust, high-throughput quality evaluation methods. This dissertation can resolve such challenges by developing the combination of optimized hydrogel formulations, cryogenic-assisted bioprinting, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based scaffold evaluation to the use of tissue engineering and preclinical cancer modelling applications. To assess the rheological behavior, printability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of the alginate – gelatin (Alg–Gel) system, a novel system of hydrogel was developed and characterized using Alg–Gel hydrogel system. The 7% alginate, 8% gelatin mixture was found to …