Digital Commons Network^™

Tractor Workflow: A Scalable Nextflow Framework For Local Ancestry-Aware Genome-Wide Association Studies, Yi-Sian Lin, Adam X Maihofer, Clement C Zai, Pgc-Ptsd Ancestry Working Group, Marcos Santoro, Caroline M Nievergelt, Elizabeth G Atkinson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Motivation: The routine exclusion of admixed individuals from traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) due to concerns about spurious associations has limited multi-ancestry genetic discovery. Tractor addresses this issue by incorporating local ancestry into association testing, enabling the identification of ancestry-enriched signals and generating ancestry-specific summary statistics. However, adoption has been constrained by the complexity of prerequisite steps, including phasing and local ancestry inference, which require substantial bioinformatics expertise and introduce key analytical decision points.

Results: We developed a scalable, automated Nextflow workflow that integrates phasing, local ancestry inference, and Tractor association testing into a reproducible end-to-end pipeline. To demonstrate its …

Nuclear Export As A Therapeutic Vulnerability In Zfta-Rela Ependymoma, Erik Emanus, Amanda Bland, Alisha Kardian, Nicholas Laboe, Hua Sun, Tuyu Zheng, Amelia Hancock, Mark Zhai, Emma Caesar, Maxwell Park, Wilda Orisme, Melissa Johnson, Brittany Rodgers, Gregory H Turner, Jeffrey Steinberg, Burgess Freeman, Martine F Roussel, Anang Shelat, Richard Kriwacki, Thomas E Merchant, Benjamin Deneen, Michael D Taylor, Sameer Agnihotri, Shondra Pruett-Miller, Jacob A Steele, Anoop Murthy Kavirayani, David W Ellison, Arzu Onar-Thomas, Giles Robinson, Stephen C Mack, Kelsey C Bertrand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Ependymoma (EPN) is the third most common pediatric brain tumor with no targeted therapies available to patients. In supratentorial ependymoma, the most frequent driver alteration is a gene fusion between ZFTA and RELA (denoted ZR), leads to constitutive localization of ZR in the nucleus. Because ZR is not currently druggable, we tested whether ZR expression leads to aberrant protein interactions that could represent therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Methods: Using CRISPR-Cas9 pooled screening, we identified many novel druggable ZR interacting proteins including XPO1, CARM1, SMARCA4, and CDK1. We focused on the nuclear export protein (XPO1), given the ability of most XPO1 inhibitors …

Effect Of Exergaming Duration On Heart Rat And Caloric Expenditure In Healthy Older Adults, Kathryn Jade Johnson

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Art399-01-Sp26 - Final Portfolio/Promotional Packet, Lisa A. Greene

Professional Practices (ART 399)

I am an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary artist deeply committed to the exploration of creative expression across a myriad of media. Emulating the spirit of a modern polymath, my work is a tapestry woven from diverse influences. My journey of creating my work fills me with immense joy. It empowers me to confidently express my unique approach to artmaking in a spontaneous and energetic manner. I hold a profound affection for the tactile experience of painting on canvas. This has evolved into a process akin to sculpting clay directly on canvas.

In my recent work, I have delved deeply into the …

Development Of Hybrid Self-Cleaning Coating Using Lanthanide-Based Light Spectral Response Material To Enhance Photovoltaic (Pv) Panel Efficiency In Operational Environment, Khishn Kumar Kandiah

Student Works (2020-2029)

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels is crucial, as solar energy has become an alternative energy source that meets today’s global energy demands. Hence, dust accumulation and spectral mismatch have major effects on the efficiency of PV panels, around 20 %, but in extreme situations, this can reach up to 64 %. Therefore, initiatives are underway to address these issues, including PV cooling systems, conventional cleaning methods, and various coatings to enhance efficiency. In this work, a novel coating is fabricated with high transparency, excellent self-cleaning properties, and good spectral-modifying properties. Two types of powder composites are employed in this …

Prevalence, Determinants, And Objective Risk Of Unintentional Therapeutic Duplication Among Adults In Saudi Arabia, Yosra Alhindi

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Background: Unintentional therapeutic duplication represents an underrecognized yet preventable contributor to medication-related harm, particularly in settings characterized by widespread over-the-counter (OTC) medicine use and self-medication practices. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of unintentional therapeutic duplication among adults in Saudi Arabia and identify sociodemographic and behavioral predictors associated with increased therapeutic duplication risk. Methods: A national crosssectional study was conducted between February 10 and April 28, 2025, using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. The survey assessed sociodemographic characteristics, medication-use behaviors, active-ingredient literacy, and duplication risk using both self-reported measures and scenario-based assessments. Multivariable logistic regression was …

A New Subspecies Of Papilio Indra (Papilionidae) From The West Desert Of Utah, Usa, Wayne H. Whaley, Alexander A. Jason, Todd L. Stout

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Papilio indra bonnevillensis is a new described subspecies partly based on taxonomic rearrangement of its larval host plant reproductive phenology relative to Wasatch Range nominate P. indra. It is geographically isolated in Utah’s West Desert from populations of ssp. nevadensis to the west and ssp. calcicola to the south. In addition to phenological differences compared to these two subspecies, it merits description based on host Lomatium depauperatum which recently speciated from L. grayi, neither of which is used as host by other subspecies of P. indra. The evolution of new host L. depauperatum is …

Annona Muricata (Soursop) And Hematopoiesis: Ethnomedicinal Insights, Immunomodulatory Mechanisms, And Translational Challenges, Fatma Matano, Amiya Patra

Peninsula Medical School

Annona muricata (soursop) is a tropical medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine across Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. While its ethnomedicinal applications span a range of conditions, including infections, inflammation, and anemia-related symptoms, its potential relevance to hematopoiesis has not been systematically examined. This narrative review synthesizes ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemical composition, and experimental evidence to explore the biological plausibility by which A. muricata may indirectly influence hematopoietic processes. Bioactive constituents of A. muricata, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and acetogenins, have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties in preclinical models. These effects are particularly relevant given the established …

Isolated Giant Aneurysm Of The Acute Marginal Branch Of Right Coronaryartery Presenting As Nstemi: Successful Direct Surgical Repair Preserving The Native Flow, Sai Kumari Ms., Anbarasu Mohanraj Dr, Saranya Damodaran Ms

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Abstract

Background: A “giant” coronary artery aneurysm is variably defined in the literature—commonly as a dilatation of a coronary vessel exceeding four times the diameter of the adjacent normal segment, or exceeding a fixed threshold such as > 8 mm or > 20 mm in diameter^1.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with type II diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension, who presented with breathlessness and chest pain radiating to the back. She had recently suffered a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and was found on coronary angiography to have a large aneurysm of the acute marginal branch …

Extra Of Extracorporeal: Use Of Vv-Ecmo In Complex Tracheal Ring Resection Surgery, Saurabh Ashok Holamb Mr, Ravinath Swami Mr

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

 Abstract

Background:

Tracheal stenosis may arise from congenital malformation, trauma, prolonged intubation, or malignancy. Surgical correction of such lesions poses a major challenge, especially when airway management becomes difficult due to the location and extent of narrowing.

Case Summary:

We report a case of a 64-year-old male with circumferential thickening of the trachea at the D2–D3 level, exhibiting a 1.3cm long segmental narrowing. The patient underwent tracheal ring resection with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support. Two apnea periods were maintained intraoperatively, totaling 3.5 hours, with stable hemodynamics and 100% oxygen saturation throughout. ECMO support was continued overnight as a …

Stereotactic Radiosurgery For Unruptured Arteriovenous Malformation Of The Left Medial Temporal Lobe In A Young Female, Muhammed Suhail S, Gajalakshmi M Bpa, Danish Ansari Brt

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Background

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital vascular anomalies that can be present with seizures or hemorrhage. Management strategies vary based on Spetzler-Martin (SM) grading.

Case Presentation

I report a case of a 22-year-old female presenting with recurrent seizures due to an unruptured AVM (SM Grade 3) located in the left medial temporal lobe. Diagnosis was established using MRI and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA).

Intervention

The patient underwent single-fraction stereotactic radio-surgery (SRS) with curative intent using a TrueBeam linear accelerator.

Outcome

Post-treatment course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged in stable condition with excellent seizure control and progressive nidus reduction …

Endo-Epicardial Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation In Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy- A Case Report, Selva Maheswari M Dr, Sharon Jabamalar Dr, Usnish Adhikari Dr, Deep Chandh Raja S Dr

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare genetic disorder marked by progressive fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricle, causing life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). It is predominantly seen in young adults. As the substrate often involves both RV endocardium & epicardium, conventional ablation is often not successful. One of the effective therapies is combined endo- epicardial ablation, which gives good arrhythmia control and reduction of AICD (Automated Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) shock. Here we present two such cases.

Methods

Two patients presented with history of recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) which were reverted with DC (Direct …

Reimagining Maternal Health: The Crucial Role Of Social And Behavioural Change Communication In Lmics, Sneha Chetri Ms, Monica Koachar

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Preventable maternal mortality is still remarkably high in low and middle-income nations, despite growing investments in maternal health systems. Conventional methods have mostly concentrated on expanding access to services, ignoring important social and behavioural factors that affect how people seek health care. In order to bridge the gap between the availability and actual consumption of maternal health treatments, this opinion piece makes the case for the critical role that social and behavioural change communication plays. The article uses real-world examples from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda to show how SBCC can empower women, change the dynamics of …

From Confidence To Competence: Embedding Critical Genai Literacy In Physician Associate Education, Chanceeth Chandrakanthan, Amy H. Donaldson-Perrott Mrs, Jane Secker, Julie Voce, Tamara S. Ritsema

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Background: Generative artificial intelligence is now embedded in how many healthcare students learn. Tools provide rapid explanations, summaries and practice questions, but use does not equal AI literacy, particularly where accuracy, medicines safety and guideline alignment matter.

Objective: To describe current use of generative AI by Physician Associate students and outline a practical approach to teaching critical AI literacy.

Methods: Educational evaluation using three activities: (1) baseline survey of students about use and attitudes, (2) an embedded compare and critique session in applied pharmacology where small groups assessed AI answers against trusted UK sources, including BNF and NICE guidance, followed …

Navigating The Genetic Frontier: Clinical And Ethical Implications Of Free Genetic Testing In India, Preetha Vijayalakshmi

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

The expansion of free genetic testing services in India, resulting from government policies like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, corporate-sponsored initiatives, and international collaborations, makes it easier to access genomic services for early identification of inherited disorders such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and certain genetic kidney diseases, particularly in tribal populations. However, this review reveals significant clinical and ethical challenges. Clinically, Western-based genotyping platforms, not tailored to India’s genetic diversity, risk inaccurate results, including false positives and negatives, complicating clinical decision-making. A shortage of genetic counsellors and inadequate post-test care leaves patients, especially in rural areas, struggling within fragmented …

Evaluating The Suitability Of The Berg Balance Scale For Assessing Balance In Diabetes With And Without Prior Covid-19: A Methods-Validation Study, Garima Kaushik Dr, Sheetal Malhan Dr., Apoorva Tiwari Dr, Vishakha Daga Dr

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

ABSTRACT

Background: Balance impairment in diabetes mellitus is predominantly driven by somatosensory loss secondary to peripheral neuropathy. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is widely used to evaluate functional balance, yet it mainly reflects motor performance and may not adequately represent sensory mechanisms. Following COVID-19, additional concerns regarding deconditioning have emerged, but interpretation depends on the measurement tool employed.

Objective: To examine the construct behavior and suitability of the BBS for assessing balance in individuals with diabetes with and without prior COVID-19 infection, and to determine whether the scale reflects known determinants of diabetic imbalance.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted …

Exploring Coaching Issues And Feedback Generation During A Virtual International Coaching Exchange, Lori A. Gano-Overway, Ian Hj Cowburn, Liam Mccarthy

Journal of Coach Development

Internship opportunities can provide coaches with the chance to learn through experience and explore their personal theories in practice. However, to effectively develop coaches during internships facilitators of learning need to know more about what student coaches typically perceive and find meaningful to puzzle through to support their learning and developing theory of practice. Grounded in experiential learning theory and the notion of the reflective practitioner, the authors sought to examine how early-career sport coaches identify, frame, and explore practical coaching issues presented through a virtual international coaching exchange. Using a descriptive multiple-case study approach, the authors presented the coaching …

Ischool Student Research Journal, Vol.16, Iss.1

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Foundations Of Umayyad Political Legitimacy: A Comparative Study Of The Foundational Phases In The Mashriq And Al-Andalus, Wafa Zabin Alrehily

UB Journal for Humanities

This study examines the foundations of political legitimacy among the Umayyads through a comparative study of the foundational phases of the two Umayyad states: the first in the Mashriq at the establishment of the Umayyad state (41- 132 AH / 661-750 AD), and the second in al-Andalus (138-422 AH / 756-1031 AD). The significance of this study lies in the fact that it does not merely identify the foundations of legitimacy in each experience separately, but goes beyond that to compare the two experiences at the foundational stage, with the aim of revealing the points of convergence and divergence between …

The Report (Al-Khabar) In Al-Jāḥiẓ’S Al-ʿUthmāniyya: A Reading Of Structure And Meaning, Dr. Mazker Naceer Al Kahtany

UB Journal for Humanities

This study scrutinizes Al-‘Uthmāniyya by Abū ʿUthmān ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Jāḥiẓ (d. 255 AH) as a foundational text for a new system of knowledge concerning reports (akhbār). Al-Jāḥiẓ was cognizant of the shift from an oral-based mind to a written one, recognizing that the conflict between these two modes of thought would render traditional conventions insufficient during the age of codification. Thus, the concept of accurate transmission (ṣaḥḥat al-majīʾ) became a criterion for the reliability of reports, aiming to purge them of doubt and the suspicion inherent in uncritical tradition. This notion is one of the key topics the research …

In The Semiotics Of Juxtaposition Toward An Interpretation Of The Poetics Of Reference In Between Water And Me By Fawziya Abu Khalid, Mastoura Mesfer Al-Orabi

UB Journal for Humanities

This study examines the concept of juxtaposition as a complex semantic and semiotic relation manifested in causal association, as in Poirce’s indexical sign, and in the paradigmatic relations theorized by Yakpsun through projection of axis of selection onto the axis of combination within poetic function. This projection highlights interaction between syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes in production of poetic meaning. Adjacency also encompasses horizontal relations within speech chain, as addressed by Harris in distributional perspective, through reference, semantic expansion, and contextual relations that generate additional meanings within discourse.The central research problem is articulated through the following question: How is new or …

Exploring Identity Through Clay: A Humanistic Art Therapy Case Study With A Blind Chinese Adoptee, Virginia Jade Leicht

Expressive Therapies Theses

This qualitative case study explored how working with clay in art therapy can help support a blind man’s identity exploration. This paper addresses the problem of many traditional therapeutic approaches within the art therapy realm: They rely too heavily on visual engagement, which can limit the accessibility and opportunities for self-exploration and identity development for those who are blind. The study was grounded in current research and foundational theories based on the humanistic art therapy approach. Clay is considered an accessible medium that engages multiple senses and allows for emotional exploration and meaning making, specifically through tactile and sensory-based engagement …

Ai And E-Commerce: A Comparative Analysis Of Amazon, Jumia, And Alibaba, Lauren Grace Barden

Honors Projects

Globally there is a great divide between consumer acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) and the reluctance of the services due to lack of knowledge on its systems. Major global shopping platform, Amazon has adopted the use of AI into their experiences for upholding their pillars of optimization, utilization, and personalization. In the global e-commerce framework,  adoption of AI has been similarly found also in companies like Alibaba (Chinese-based) and Jumia (Kenyan-based). Though these companies have seen customer satisfaction increase with the availability and quality of the service they provide, it is pertinent to note that there are still underlying issues …

Youth-Based Mentorship Programs And The Development Of Social Capital, Toby C. Lumley

Honors Projects

Diverse communities often face complex challenges related to integration and collective action across different social, economic, and ethnic groups. Formal youth mentorship programs can be important institutions for addressing these challenges. This research examines how these programs act as intentional sites for cultivating social networks and relational trust necessary for successful civic engagement. Research for this project heavily relies on social capital theory explained through the lens of Robert Putnam. There will be special emphasis on the immediate community of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County, Virginia, due to its diverse population and rural-urban intersections. Through interviews with various directors of local youth-based mentorship …

Aacn Hwe Standards: Bridging Clinical Excellence And Academic Resilience, Michelle Kidd

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

For over 20 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has championed Healthy Work Environment (HWE) standards as essential for nursing excellence. While HWEs improve patient and staff outcomes, they may be underutilized in academia. As faculty and clinical staff face record burnout and turnover, the nursing pipeline's survival depends on a unified HWE approach that bridges clinical practice and academia through intentional collaboration.

Arete - The Balance Of Nature: A Study And Creation Of Greek Tragedy From The Modern World, Grace Margaret Merrill

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the gender roles in ancient Greece through a creative lens. It aims to reach an understanding of the inequalities between men and women. Some of these inequalities involve women’s rights, abortion, and divorce. The main goal of this project is to reveal the discrimination women faced in ancient Greece. Once this is accomplished, I will then use the research to create a play inspired by the traditional Greek tragedy format. This play addresses controversial topics of the time and how individuals would have approached them. While there is ample research into the focus of my topic, there …

Forgotten In The Smokies, Diego G. Torres

Student Projects

The Great Smoky Mountains are riddled with old and forgotten places. The tree canopies shield abandoned buildings, structures can be found with their fireplaces and flooring still in place, just overgrown and cracking, cemeteries of people long since dead, still with flowers at their bases. At night, the woods hold you in place, too dark to venture out and many streets missing a streetlight. It's an old place full of rich and abundant history, it will however keep you in if you let it.

Diego Torres is a Chicago based photographer who leans towards horror-esqe photos inspired by artists like …

Modulating The Plastisphere: Inhibiting Biofilm Formation Of Vibrio Spp., Kacian Clayton

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), approximately 19-23 million tons of plastic are released into the aquatic environment each year. Vibrio spp. are diverse gram-negative bacteria that inhabit these environments, capable of colonizing and forming biofilms on these plastic surfaces. In an age when anthropogenic activity exerts an undeniable influence on ecosystems, elucidating a way to regulate the interactions between plastic and vibrios is essential. In previous studies, Polymyxin B has demonstrated high efficacy against biofilm formation in gram-negative bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics toward …

Age And Congressional Leader Success: Are They Getting Too Old, Edward N. Drinkwine, Scot Schraufnagel

Honors Capstones

Congressional leaders play a central role in shaping legislative agendas, maintaining party cohesion, and negotiating policy outcomes. Despite the important roles they play, our nation's congressional leaders continue to grow older, and research has rarely examined how age influences their effectiveness in these roles. This study asks whether older congressional leaders are less effective at advancing legislation than their younger counterparts. Using data on leaders serving in the U.S. House and Senate from the 93rd through the 118th Congress, the analysis compares leaders’ ages with their Legislative Effectiveness Score Ratios, controlling for legal experience, state legislative experience, elite education, ideology, …

The Business Of Music: Where Planning And Performing Meet, Mac Heelein

Honors Capstones

This project explores the intersection of business and music through the planning and execution of a collaborative recital featuring the NIU Viola Studio. In this process, I served as both the organizer and a performer, applying project management principles to handle logistics such as scheduling, venue coordination, and event promotion. The project required managing multiple moving parts while keeping both the artistic and organizational aspects aligned.

Through this experience, I found that while project management provides a strong structure, artistic settings require flexibility when unexpected challenges arise. This project also highlighted the importance of balancing organization with creativity to ensure …