Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Aging On Macrophages In The Pancreatic Islet, Olivia Burnside, Lizbeth De La Cruz

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Islet-resident macrophages are immune cells within pancreatic islets that play key roles in maintaining endocrine homeostasis and surveilling the local microenvironment. However, how aging affects these macrophages and their function in islets remains poorly understood. This study will examine how aging influences the abundance and spatial organization of islet-resident macrophages, with emphasis on their relationship to islet vasculature. We hypothesize that macrophage number increases with age and is associated with age-related enlargement of islet blood vessels, ultimately contributing to impaired islet function. Pancreatic tissues will be collected from young, middle-aged, and old mice, then sectioned and immunolabeled with antibodies against …

Investigating H-Alpha Variability In Classical Be Stars: Β Lyr, 59 Cyg, And Γ Cas, Vinny Barnes, Josh Uriu, James Dull

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Classical Be stars are hot, luminous B-type stars characterized by hydrogen emission lines in their spectra. Among the most rapidly rotating stars known, they spin at 70-80% of their critical velocity, ejecting material into a circumstellar disk that produces these spectral features. Depending on viewing orientation, this can appear as either strong emission or sharp absorption lines. Be star variability arises from several sources, including disk instabilities, extreme rotation, and gravitational interactions with binary companions. To better understand this variability—and more broadly, hot star evolution—we obtained high-resolution H-alpha spectra of three known variable Be stars: 59 Cyg, OT Gem, and …

Spatial Analysis Of Regional Economic Composition On Freshwater Usage In The Us Counties, Ashok Bahadur Deuba, Karl Geisler

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

The paper analyzes regional freshwater usage on the basis of industry across the US counties. While numerous studies have examined the relationships between industry and water usage, little information is available on regional economic composition of freshwater usage. The study uses water data from the USGS and industry data from the US Census Bureau for the contiguous US to explore the question using multiple spatial econometrics techniques. The preliminary results indicate Agriculture, Mining, Utilities, Construction, Manufacturing , Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Warehouse, Finance and Insurance, Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, Management of Companies and …

Protecting Indigenous Food Sovereignty Through Ecosystem Management: Evaluating The Relationship Between Camas And Garrison At The Centennial Marsh, Sincere Martin-Teton, Hart-Fredeluces Georgia, Sidney Fellows, Joshua Grinath, Nolan Brown, Bailey Dann

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Food Sovereignty and ecosystem conservation are closely tied to the protection of traditional food systems for Indigenous communities. The Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh in south-central Idaho holds great significance to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, supporting tribal identity and cultural practices across generations. Camas (Camassia quamash), native to the marsh, has served as an important sustenance for the tribes. Alongside camas, an increase in monocultures of sod-forming Garrison Creeping Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus) raises questions on whether these plants can be managed to coexist in this ecosystem. Introduced as forage for cattle, Garrison has had minimal research but …

Neuroactive Metabolite Assessment Of Gaba-Producing Probiotics For Healthy Aging, Sanaly Nava, Dishant Aggarwal, Samjhana Pradhan, Ken Aho, Cynthia Blanton, Javier Ochoa-Repáraz, Kavita Sharma

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Aging is a gradual process of weakening bodily function that leads to decline in physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities. Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), a major neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is produced by both neurons and gut bacteria, and plays a crucial role in numerous physiological functions. Notably, aging is associated with a decline in GABA production and alterations in gut microbiota. Therefore, restoring GABA production by correcting dysbiosis presents a potential strategy for managing age-related functional decline. To better understand how to support healthy aging, our study investigates the gut-brain axis and the potential of genetically modified GABA-producing …

The Use Of Breathing Meditation With Bipoc Trauma Survivors, Keerthi Sundaramurthy

Doctoral Dissertations

There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness-based practices to reduce psychological distress. Although interest in mindfulness-based care is growing, studies investigating virtual interventions for BIPOC trauma survivors remain limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a breathing meditation intervention on mental health outcomes in a sample of trauma-exposed BIPOC adults, using a randomized post-test only design. Participants in the intervention group were asked to complete a 10-minute box breathing meditation daily for four weeks. Quantitative analyses revealed that those in the intervention group reported significantly lower symptoms of anxiety and …

Techno-Economic And Environmental Analysis Of A Hybrid Renewable Energy System With V2h Support For Remote Australian Communities, Tushar Kanti Roy, K. Das, Md Apel Mahmud

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Remote Australian communities continue to experience persistent energy insecurity and increased greenhouse gas emissions due to their reliance on diesel-based microgrids. In response, this study presents a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental assessment of a hybrid renewable energy system integrating solar photovoltaics (PVs), wind turbines (WTs), battery energy storage systems (BESSs), and electric vehicles (Evs) with vehicle-to-home (V2H) functionality. Three system configurations are evaluated over a full-year simulation horizon using realistic solar irradiance, wind speed, household electricity demand, and driving profiles of electric vehicles: (i) off-grid (PV–WT–diesel generator (DG)), (ii) on-grid (PV–WT-BESS–Grid), and (iii) off-grid with V2H. System operation is coordinated …

Critical Assessment On Challenges And Advances In Coal Pillar Strength Estimation Techniques: A Focus On Geological Discontinuities, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Sahendra Ram

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Accurate estimation of coal pillar strength is essential for ensuring safety and operational efficiency in underground mining. Current assessment methods often face limitations in addressing time-dependent failure mechanisms, geological discontinuities, and dynamic loading conditions. This paper identifies future research directions aimed at enhancing the reliability of pillar strength evaluations. One important focus is the development of advanced numerical models that account for time-dependent behaviours such as creep and fatigue. Incorporating multi-scale modelling techniques, which connect micro-scale material responses to macro-scale structural performance, may lead to more precise predictions. The integration of real-time monitoring systems measuring stress, deformation, and environmental factors …

Back Matter Of Volume 6 Number 2, Tufail A. Qureshi

Business Review

Guideline for Contributors, Guideline for Authors

Front Matter Of Volume 5 Number 1, Tufail A. Qureshi

Business Review

Front matter, Editorial Board, Contents, Editorial Perspective

Depressive Symptoms And Functional Disability Among Older Adults In Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study, Jiranya Bureemas, Atthawit Singsalasang

Journal of Health Research

Background: Depressive symptoms have been associated with activities of daily living (ADL) disability; however, evidence among Thai older adults remains limited and inconsistent. This study investigates the association between depressive symptoms and ADL disability in older Thai adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 312 older adults in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, who were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected between April and July 2023 using structured questionnaires covering demographic and environmental variables. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. ADL disability was measured using the Barthel and Chula ADL Indices. Multiple logistic …

Proceedings: Nownet Arts Conference 2019, Sarah Rose Weaver, Chris Chafe, Scott Oshiro, Margaret Schedel

Journal of Network Music and Arts

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual NowNet Arts Conference 2019 “Social Purpose in Contemporary Network Arts.” The conference was held November 7–10, 2019. The primary in-person site was the Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS), Stony Brook University. Satellite in-person sites included Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford University, Edinburgh Napier University, Orpheus Institute in Belgium, and Electronic Studios at the Technical University, Berlin. More locations participated remotely via the internet.

Proceedings: Nownet Arts Conference 2018, Sarah Rose Weaver, Chris Chafe, Margaret Schedel, Min Xiao-Fen

Journal of Network Music and Arts

Proceedings of the NowNet Arts Conference 2018, “Network Music: Artistic and Technological Strategies for Public and Private Networks.” This was the first of the NowNet Arts Conferences, which have been held annually from 2018 to the present. The conference took place from April 19–22, 2018, at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS), Stony Brook University, and at multiple remote locations connected via the internet.

Comparing Text Score Strategies For Online Music Making, Craig Pedersen, Lindsay R. Vickery, Stuart James

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This paper investigates a range of approaches to using text scores in online and networked music performance, focusing on their alignment with strategies proposed by Wilson (2020) for aesthetic and technical approaches to networked music performance. Text scores, emerging from the experimental music movement of the 1960s, communicate musical ideas through words rather than traditional notation, taking instructional, allusive, and hybrid forms. Although there are many aesthetic and pragmatic approaches to text score composition, the temporal openness of many such works makes the medium well-suited to the latency-challenged practice of telematic performance. The study evaluates four text scores—Craig Pedersen’s July …

Listening Ahead Ever So Slightly, Chris Chafe, Mike Dickey

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This paper presents a novel packet loss concealment system called “Regulator,” designed for interactive network audio applications, particularly server-mediated “jam rooms” in the cloud, where large ensembles of musicians perform together synchronously. The system addresses the critical challenge of maintaining continuous high-quality audio output while minimizing latency penalties in unreliable network environments including Wi-Fi. The Regulator architecture combines four core components: a central Regulator class orchestrating packet loss concealment operations; a BurgAlgorithm class implementing maximum entropy autoregressive prediction to reconstruct missing audio samples; a Channel class providing per-channel independent modeling for multi-channel streams; and a RegulatorWorker class offering asynchronous processing …

Pulse Before Sound: Reimagining Presence And Liveness In Telematic Music Performance Through Midi-Native Collaboration, Matt C. Bray

Journal of Network Music and Arts

Telematic Music Performance heralds a new paradigm for human creativity, seeking to extend the practical limits imposed by physical co-presence and to permit the cooperative, simultaneous creation of music among geographically remote collaborators. This paper examines how MIDI-native interaction provides a structurally robust alternative to audio-centric telematic systems constrained by latency, bandwidth, and waveform fidelity. Drawing on practice-led research, including over 34 hours of documented improvisation across 91 networked sessions in the SHOALZ series—a longitudinal Telemidi performance research initiative (2022–2024)—the study examines how the Telemidi system employs MIDI as a primary substrate for remote musical collaboration by establishing a synchronized …

Editorial, Sarah Rose Weaver

Journal of Network Music and Arts

No abstract provided.

Some Notes On A Tolkien’S Manuscript Linked To ‘Leaf By Niggle’, Claudio Antonio Testi

Journal of Tolkien Research

In these brief notes, I provide further information regarding a manuscript relating to 'Leaf by Niggle' that may lead to a more precise dating of the earliest version of this story.

Euscorpius Emae Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), A New Scorpion Species From Montenegro, František Kovařík

Euscorpius

A new species Euscorpius emae sp. n. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Montenegro is described, fully complemented with color photographs. E. emae sp. n. is morphologically unique by yellow to orange color, very narrow metasoma and enlarged chela. Pedipalp patella external trichobothria numbers are 4eb, 4eb_a, 2esb, 4em, 4est, 5et, and ventral aspect of patella with 9 trichobothria.

High Burden Of Elevated Fib-4 In Metabolically At-Risk Primary Care Patients: Simple Predictors To Guide Hepatic Fibrosis Triage, Ridwan Ademola Lawal, Fatimah Bello, Rashmee Patil, Juliana Yang

Research Symposium

Background: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Current guidelines recommend fibrosis-based risk stratification using noninvasive tools such as the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index in patients with metabolic risk factors, followed by secondary assessment (e.g., transient elastography or enhanced liver fibrosis(ELF) testing) for those with elevated scores. However, data on the real-world prevalence of elevated FIB-4 in U.S. primary care populations, particularly in safety-net settings, and the downstream implications for fibrosis evaluation remain limited. We aimed to quantify the burden of elevated FIB-4 in a primary care setting …

Mississippi Libraries Volume 88, Number 1 And 2

Mississippi Libraries

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, Katie Gill, Audrey Beach

Mississippi Libraries

Reviews of:

Alsup, William. The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald. Athens, GA: New South Books, 2022.

Loewen, James W., Byron D’Andra Orey, and Charles Sallis, eds. Mississippi, Conflict and Change. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 2025.

A Brush With History: Shared Authority, Distributed Archives, And Artist M.B. Mayfield, Jeannie S. Latartara

Mississippi Libraries

In 2020, a school librarian volunteered to lead preservation of the papers of visionary artist M.B. Mayfield that were discovered during the restoration of the artist’s Mississippi home. In March of 2020, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic threatened the success of the community-led project, due to the project’s physical isolation, limited resources, and inability to garner support for the paper’s preservation. In early 2021, the librarian and community partners formed a shared authority and distributed archives partnership with public history faculty at the University of Mississippi that would help preserve and increase awareness of the importance of the papers. …

News Briefs, Tiffany Cline, Patsy C. Brewer

Mississippi Libraries

News and updates from members of the Mississippi Library Association.

Mississippi Library Association Annual Conference: 2025 Recap, Janessa Ullendorf

Mississippi Libraries

Recap from the 2025 annual conference of the Mississippi Library Association.

The Generative Turn: What Ai Doesn't Do And A Framework For Responsible Use, Deborah Lee

Mississippi Libraries

This column examines the limitations of generative AI as a foundation for responsible and informed use.  While much attention has been given to what AI can do, effective and responsible use depends on understanding what it does not do well.  For librarians as professionals grounded in information literacy, these limitations underscore the importance of critical evaluation and contextual understanding.  By recognizing both the capabilities and constraints of AI, librarians can better guide their communities in using these tools thoughtfully and effectively.

Slis Notes: Psst...Do You Have This Dirty Book?, Stacy Creel, Crystal Walker

Mississippi Libraries

Romance fiction is one of the most commercially successful and culturally significant genres in contemporary publishing, and this is not a one-year instance; it is a multi-year trend (Adams, 2026). In 2025, sales were up in the United States, and the growth was across platforms and formats—digital audio, e-books, and print. Two subgenres have sparked greater interest—romantasy and dark romance. Romantasy, the combination of romance and fantasy, has drawn new readers with the explosion of Sarah J. Maas, and dark romance, which gained some notoriety with Fifty Shades of Grey (2011) has seen strong growth and acceptance. In fact, the …

President's Page, Dawn Zimmerer

Mississippi Libraries

Update from the president of the Mississippi Library Association.

Front Matter

Mississippi Libraries

No abstract provided.

Full Issue: Volume 21, Issue 2 - Summer 2026

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

A publication for friends and colleagues of Jefferson’s Department of Surgery

In This Issue

Cover Story

Jefferson Transplant Institute Enters New Chapter of Innovation, Growth and National Impact - Page 1

Overview Science: Targeting the ‘Undruggable’ in Pancreatic and Other Cancers - Page 2

Clinical Integration Jefferson Trauma Surgeon and Resident Reflect on Honduras Medical Mission Trip - Page 2

In the Spotlight Joseph Boback, MBA - Page 2

Changing Lives Through Research Pilot Grant Lays Groundwork for New Standard in Ventral Hernia Recovery - Page 3

Please Welcome New Faculty - Page 3

Those Who Give Hollingsworth Family’s Gratitude …