Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review: Communications Internships Handbook: What All Comms Students Need To Know, Karen Mccullough

Applied Business Faculty Publications

Review of: Daniel, R. R., & Haynes, K. A. (2025). Communications internships handbook: What all COMMS students need to know. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 120 pp.

College students who successfully complete internships and other forms of experiential learning while in college benefit from greater average starting salaries, receive a higher number of job offers, and express increased satisfaction with their careers than students who do not participate in internships or other experiential learning opportunities. Students also indicate that they feel their career has progressed faster than they expected, according to results from a 2025 study by the National Association of …

Explainable Multi-Modal Deep Learning For Transparent Cancer Diagnosis: Integrating Radiology, Clinical Features, And Decision Visualization, Sital Dash, Laxmi Bewoor, Yashwant Dongre, Amol Bhosle, Kailas Patil, Shrikant Jadhav, Banani Mohapatra, Bhavnish Walia

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Introduction: Although artificial intelligence–based cancer diagnostic models have demonstrated strong predictive performance, their lack of transparency and reliance on single-modality data continue to limit clinical trust and adoption. Effectively integrating multi-modal data with interpret-able decision-making remains a key challenge. Methods: We propose an explainable multi-modal deep learning framework that integrates radiological imaging and structured clinical features using attention-based fusion. Image-level explanations are generated using Grad-CAM++, while SHAP is employed to quantify clinical feature contributions, enabling unified and cross-modal aligned interpretation rather than independent uni-modal explanations. The framework was evaluated on publicly available datasets, including CBIS-DDSM mammography, Duke Breast Cancer MRI, …

Gresham Clarinet Studio Recital: Momoko Gresham, Clarinet; February 22, 2026, Momoko Gresham

School of Music Programs

This is the one hundred and fifth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Kemp Recital Hall

February 22, 2026

Sunday Evening

7:30 p.m.

The Impact Of The Podcast "Climate, What's The Story?" On The Jordanian Public's Awareness Of Climate Change, Amnaa Abushammaleh

The study aimed to identify the extent to which the Jordanian public follows climate change through the podcast "Climate, What's Its Story?" and the reasons for this follow-up, in addition to revealing the extent of their confidence in the information presented about climate change in the podcast "Climate, What's Its Story?" and the reasons for this confidence. It also aimed to identify the level of awareness of the Jordanian public about climate change after listening to the studied podcast, in addition to measuring the extent of the Jordanian public's interaction with the information presented in it, the forms of this …

The Carbon Footprint Of Film Industry And Sustainable Filmmaking Practices A View Considering The Diffusion Of Innovation Theory, Reham Refaat Mohammad Abdelaal

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the impacts of climate change, individuals and industries alike are seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Film Industry has started to acknowledge its carbon footprint as well as has launched various green initiatives to make the industry environmentally sustainable, which will help to slow down global warming.

The study aimed to identify the relationship between the five qualities related to innovation and the practices of applying sustainable filmmaking, reducing the carbon footprint, and the extent of its adoption.

Rogers' (2003) diffusion of innovations theory was used to guide the investigation

the …

The Israeli Propaganda And Discourse In Arabic Language On Social Media Platforms: The Facebook Pages Of Avichay Adraee And The Coordinator As A Case Study, Karmel Badawnh

The image of Israel is created based on pre-determined agendas and meticulously crafted narratives caused by Hasbara and the Israeli Ministry of Propaganda. These organizations target Palestinian and Arab audiences to portray Israel as a ‘humanitarian’ and ‘peace-loving’ nation that is ‘pro-Arab’; while masking the truth that Israel is an occupying power. Moreover, these organizations focus on the so-called sacrifices and efforts of Israel in pursuit of peace.

The study highlights seven contents of Israeli propaganda. From this, Israeli spokespersons, Israeli media units, Al-Munaseq’s page, and Avichay Adraee underwent specialized training. These contents include: giving exaggerated attention to the operational …

The Role Of Motion Graphics In Enhancing The Effectiveness Of Infographics Design, Hussein Mohammad Al-Omari

An infographic's primary objective is to satisfy the demands and expectations of its audience by presenting information in a logical and intelligible way. Recent developments in graphic design techniques have made several intricate techniques approachable by artists and designers, elevating the design process to a sophisticated profession that transcends media boundaries. Static infographics and animated infographics feature the same material; however, animated infographics have the benefit of displaying information via continuous motion and animated sequences rather than in static components or separate stages, and that’s because of the special features of animation, which attract a wider audience. They are also …

Winter Concert: Treble Choir, Concert Choir And Stevenson Highschool Patriot Singers; February 22, 2026, Mark Grizzard, Andrew Bruhn, Roland Hatcher, Kirstin Snelton

School of Music Programs

This is the one hundred and fourth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

February 22, 2026

Sunday Evening

6:00 p.m.

Selenium-Thioredoxin Axis Contributes To Ferroptosis Resistance In Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Arslan Amer, Micah Olamide Idowu, Aqsa Ahsan, Alyssa A. Abbas, Tahiyat Alothaim, Xiaohu Tang

Michigan Tech Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) shows substantial heterogeneity in cysteine dependence and ferroptosis sensitivity. We identify two PDAC subtypes distinguished by EMT status: mesenchymal-like cells are highly cysteine-dependent and rapidly undergo ferroptosis upon cystine deprivation or system xc⁻ inhibition, whereas epithelial-type cells are ferroptosis-resistant. Selenium supplementation protects cells from erastin-induced ferroptosis, and this protection persists even when intracellular glutathione (GSH) is depleted, supporting an additional GPX4-independent protective mechanism. Sepp1 knockdown does not alter sensitivity, indicating that selenium’s protective effect is independent of Sepp1. Instead, epithelial-type cells rely on both cytosolic and mitochondrial thioredoxin reductases (TrxR1 and TrxR2) to maintain ferroptosis …

Joseph Cordero, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Solini Chan Shue, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

For many years, organizations such as Jack and Jill were the least of Solini’s concerns as she worked multiple jobs, working hard to support her family. Until she was about 30, when she was introduced to the organization through a neighbor, and was instantly intrigued by the service for the Bronx community. This was yet another opportunity Solini took in order to participate in community service. For her, the most impactful forms of service she participated in were the Black College Tour and her work with formerly incarcerated women. Through the Black College Tour program, high school students toured historically …

Charity Simone, Mark Naison, Anthony Abd-Al Shafi Rosado

Oral Histories

Simone’s path to leadership was inspired by her late mentor, Charles Foster, who encouraged her to be an active voice in their community. After seeing issues with building maintenance and a lack of clear communication, Simone ran for office and was elected Treasurer of her Building Association in 2023. Through this role, she noticed that community work is complex and needs navigating different opinions, yet the experience ultimately reinforced her belief that community is a “verb.” To her, it is an intentional, ongoing action that requires showing up every day to hold the system accountable.

A significant aspect of Simone's …

Source Credibility, User Commentary, And Social Media News Sharing In The United Arab Emirates, Azza Ahmed

All Works

In the digital age, social media (SM) platforms have changed how people access, verify, and share news. This study explores the effect of source credibility and user commentary on news-sharing behaviors among Arabs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using media literacy theory, the research examines self-reported credibility-checking and how user commentary may impact news-sharing behavior. A survey of 324 respondents shows that while most use SM daily as a primary news source, nearly one-third do not share news. Therefore, the analysis includes an analytic subsample of 220 news sharers. Smartphones lead in news sharing, though usage patterns differ across …

Trends In Self-Reported Responses To Nutrition Facts Labels Before And After Nutrition Labeling Policy Implementation: A Comparison Of Adults In The United States And Mexico, Jim Thrasher Ph.D., Ma, Ms, Victor Vilalobos, Dai Fang, Alejandra Jáuregui, Alejandra Contreras-Manzano, Rachel Davis Ph.D., Lana Vanderlee, Christine M. White, Rachel B. Acton, James W. Hardin, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Simón Barquera, David Hammond

Faculty Publications

Background

Objectives

Methods

Testing The Accuracy Of Commercial Wrist-Wearable Activity Trackers At Different Exercise Intensities, Jabeth Azpeitia Aranda, Murat Karabulut, Rebekah D. Schlatter, Guillermo Perez, Ulku Karabulut

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Consumer wrist-worn activity trackers are widely used to monitor physical activity and physiological responses during exercise, yet their accuracy across exercise intensities and physiological variables remains uncertain. PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of wrist-wearable fitness trackers for heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), energy expenditure (EE), and step count across exercise intensities. METHODS: Thirty (30) recreationally active adult males and females (n = 30; age = 22.8 ± 4.5 yr) completed four sessions consisting of informed consent, anthropometric and baseline measurements, and three treadmill exercise sessions. Exercise sessions included walking at 3 mph (0% incline), walking at 3 mph (12% …

Pre- To Post-Season Changes In Body Composition Among Division Iii Football Players, Sebastian Schaefer, Cesar Navarro, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Collegiate football player body composition likely changes over the course of the season, and might differ based on player position. The extent to which this occurs in Division III football players is not known. PURPOSE: To examine differences in body composition from pre- to post-season and positional differences among Division III football players at Southwestern University. METHODS: Division III NCAA football players at Southwestern University were recruited prior to the 2025 season. Body composition was determined pre- and post-season by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).  Only athletes who completed the season and were not sidelined due to injury …

Physical Fitness Readiness And Preparation For Law Enforcement Academy A Pilot Cohort Study, Logan Moore, Sharon Carano, Karen Wallace, Pamela Rast

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

It has been shown that lower baseline physical fitness among first responder recruits, specifically law enforcement, is consistently associated with (1) higher rates of academy attrition (including failures to meet physical standards or to complete training) and (2) increased injury risk during academy training PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to test the physical fitness readiness of college students for entry into a law enforcement academy, and prepare the students for the rigors of the police officer physical resilience assessment, and the future physical activity requirements of being in law enforcement.  METHODS: College students (20±1.47 years old) …

A Novel Method For Producing Muscle Cramps Without Electrical Stimulation, Elizabeth C. Krajca, Benjamin Greengold, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Muscle cramps are involuntary, often painful, skeletal muscle contractions that can occur for multiple reasons including physical exertion, injury, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, or other neuromuscular conditions. Understanding muscle cramping etiology and treatments is difficult due to their often unpredictable timing and conditions that need to be met for many individuals to experience them. Previous studies have induced muscle cramping through electrical stimulation, long duration exercise, dehydration, and other methods, but these techniques are either non-physiological or complex and time attentive. PURPOSE: Therefore, we aimed to develop a new method to produce a muscle cramp in the biceps brachii in a …

Accelerated Recovery Following High-Dose Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection For Distal Biceps Tendon Tear In A Weightlifter, Saahil Naik, Stephanie Ward, John Broussard

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

CASE HISTORY: A 44-year-old male avid weightlifter presented to the clinic for evaluation of acute onset distal bicep pain following a weightlifting session. He reports feeling a pop in his right distal bicep while performing a preacher curl and subsequently dropping the weight. PHYSICAL EXAM: Examination of the right arm demonstrated guarding with the elbow held in slight flexion without obvious deformity. Ecchymosis was noted on the volar aspect of the proximal forearm. Tenderness to palpation was present along the distal bicep tendon, as was elicitation of pain and weakness with resisted elbow flexion and supination. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES …

Dietary Acculturation And Body Composition Changes In Division I Female International Student-Athletes, Holland R. Weerasekara, Leticia De Souza, Leslee Funderburk

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Athletic performance relies on optimal body composition that supports biomechanics and bioenergetics of sport. Limited research exists on dietary acculturation and body composition changes in Division I female international student-athletes. PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of dietary acculturation levels and increased food availability on the body composition of Division I female international student-athletes. METHODS: Eighteen female NCAA Division I female international student-athletes (18–25 years) from 14 countries and 5 sports participated. Retrospective Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition data were accessed at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and most recent scan. Dietary acculturation and food availability were assessed using the …

Differences In Respiratory Function Between Female College-Aged Athletes, Vocalists, And Wind Musicians, Jeannette Baldwin, Brett W. Crossland Dr

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Respiratory function plays an important role in both daily performance and long-term health. Measures such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) are not only accurate indicators of lung function but are also used as biomarkers linked to morbidity and mortality across a wide range of populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare respiratory function in college-aged athletes, wind musicians, and singers to evaluate whether their differing respiratory demands result in measurable differences in lung function, which may help guide training and exercise recommendations for these populations. METHODS: Female …

The Effect Of Preparatory Movement On Reaction Time, Sydney A. Braun, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Reaction time is a critical component of athletic performance and preparatory movements are believed to enhance response speed by priming the neuromuscular and cognitive systems. At elite levels, even fractions of a second can distinguish between success and failure. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the effect of preparatory motion on reaction time. Specifically, the study compares the reaction times performing a standardized preparatory motion to those remaining static prior to stimulus onset. We hypothesize that participants using preparatory motion will react significantly faster than those in the static condition. METHODS: Sixteen participants (7 males, 9 females; mean age …

Low Fluid Intake During Recovery Increases Daytime Sleep And Awakenings Following Exercise- Induced Muscle Damage, Jose M. Mostaffa-Viloria, Casey Appell, Trinity N. Domonkos, Karina Olvera, Sarah Walper, Christian J. Hoebelheinrich, Larry Munger, Hui-Ying Luk

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Sleep is essential for exercise recovery. Moderate exercise can improve sleep (e.g., total sleep duration, quality, number of awakenings, sleep latency, etc.), whereas high-intensity or unfamiliar exercise may induce muscle damage and acute inflammation, thereby disrupting sleep. Dehydration-related increases in arginine vasopressin (AVP) have also been shown to impair sleep. Recent evidence indicates that 24-h fluid restriction impairs sleep initiation and prolongs sleep duration, whereas our previous findings indicate that completing intense exercise in a dehydrated state may not alter sleep. However, the effect of fluid intake on sleep characteristics (i.e., duration, quality, latency, depth, satisfaction, number of awakenings, and …

The Effect Of Dehydration On Muscle Fluid Content During Recovery From Damage In Active Men, Jalyn Dunlap, Casey Appell, Trinity N. Domonkos, Karina Olvera, Sarah Walper, Christian J. Hoebelheinrich, Seth Bernardino, Larry Munger, Hui-Ying Luk

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Eccentric muscle damage triggers an immune response leading to immune cell infiltration, which increases intramuscular osmotic pressure driving fluid movement from the extracellular space into the intramuscular space. Conversely, dehydration decreases plasma volume which increases extracellular osmotic pressure driving fluid movement from the intramuscular space to the extracellular space. Given these opposing forces on fluid movement, the overall direction of fluid movement during recovery from muscle damage in a dehydrated state is unknown. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of dehydration on intramuscular fluid content following muscle damage in active men. METHODS: Nine active men (21±4yr; 175.0±6.5cm; 76.9±10.4kg; lean …

Footwear Matters: Speed And Barefoot Running Enhance Medial Gastrocnemius Emg, Kaleb M. Luna, Bryon C. Applequist

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Barefoot running alters foot strike mechanics and may change lower-extremity muscle demands compared to shod running, particularly at different speeds. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of footwear (barefoot vs. shod) and running speed (preferred vs. +20%) on normalized electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) in recreational runners. METHODS: Five healthy recreational runners completed treadmill running trials at preferred speed and +20% preferred speed in barefoot and shod conditions. Bilateral surface EMG was recorded from MG and TA (1500 Hz). Signals were bandpass filtered (20–450 Hz), rectified, …

A Comparative Analysis Of Maladaptive Perfectionism In Male And Female Competitive Bodybuilders, Maddox B. Utter, Christian O. Quintero, Samantha S. Dardaman, Stephen E. Rowden, Scott B. Martin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Bodybuilding is a sport focused on physique optimization, where success is determined by judges’ evaluations of muscle mass, symmetry, and definition. Due to the sport’s emphasis of physical aesthetics, bodybuilders may feel the need to compare themselves with other competitors. This evaluation and comparison of physique may expose athletes to maladaptive perfectionistic tendencies, such as setting unattainably high standards, excessive worry over mistakes, and a diminished sense of competence. While current bodybuilding literature is limited, previous research suggests that perfectionism may lead to psychological impairments (e.g., body dysmorphia, anxiety, and reduced self-confidence) which may manifest differently between male and female …

Unusual Presentation Of An Anterior Talus And Fibular Head In A Youth Soccer Player, Stephanie Ward, Saahil Naik, Rajinder Persaud

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

CASE HISTORY: The patient is a 13-year-old male who presented to the osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) clinic for evaluation of left ankle pain and stiffness. He reported ankle soreness, which he believed is due to extensive participation in soccer and running 2-3 miles daily. He occasionally experiences stiffness in his left knee and left ankle during physical activity, which does not prevent him from participating in athletic activities. He is left lower extremity dominant. He has a history of a grade 1 ankle sprain 2 years prior that was resolved with conservative management. He denied any other instances of …

The Effect Of An 8-Week Resistance Training Intervention On The Cross-Sectional Area Of The Rectus Femoris, Kornkanok Sophonsakulrat, Payton E. Miller, Corie N. Smith, Kat A. Adcock, Karley Rayfield, Canyon Massengale, Jessica Jones, Laura Roden, Avery Pickrell, Grant M. Tinsley, Jacob A. Mota

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy is a key adaptation to resistance training, yet the time when measurable growth occurs remains unknown in previously untrained women. Evaluating hypertrophic changes over a short intervention period has important implication for training adaptations and program design. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to quantify the time course of muscle size cross sectional area (CSA) and morphological adaptations of the rectus femoris (RF) following 8-weeks of resistance training in previously untrained, college-aged women. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy, untrained female participants (age, 18-35, BMI, 22.65±2.61 kg/m²) were randomized to either an 8-week resistance-training group (TRAIN) …

How Does The Stage Of Pregnancy Influence Gait And Sway In Pregnant Women From Six To Eight Months., Lilie-Rose S. Gilbert, Scott P. Mclean, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Physiological changes that affect gait, posture, and balance during the late stages of pregnancy increase the risk of falling.  These changes were examined across the stages of pregnancy using simulated pregnancy loading. PURPOSE: To compare gait and postural balance measures under three loading conditions simulating zero, 6, and 8-months of simulated pregnancy. We predicted that the added weight in late-stage pregnancy would adversely affect gait characteristics and reduce postural control. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy females (20.1±1.2 years, 1.79±0.11 m, 64.1±9.5 kg) completed a 10-m walking gait assessment.  They then completed three trials under each condition, including the Stability Evaluation Test (SET) …

The Effects Of An Epidural Steroid Injection On Cervical And Lumbar Radiculopathy, Sarah M. Mitchell, Raquesha D. Cox

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a nonsurgical pain management procedure that can reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation in individuals with cervical or lumbar pain. It is common for cervical or lumbar pain to diffuse throughout the body’s extremities causing pain that can impact the individual’s activities of daily living (ADLs). PURPOSE: Evaluate the effectiveness of an ESI on individuals with cervical or lumbar radiculopathy to determine if the injection helps reduce pain during ADLs. METHODS: Patients experiencing cervical or lumbar radiculopathy were evaluated by the physician to identify candidates for ESI. Twenty-four patients who were candidates for ESI …