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London, Love, and a Little Something Irish
No full textLondon, Love, and a Little Something Irish is based on the author\u27s true story of romance and trusting in God’s timing. In the beginning, Nataly is in a relationship with Joel, who is safe and stable but doesn’t quite give Nataly the passionate, head-over-heels love. Eventually, she meets Nathan, a man full of mystery and adventure, with whom Nataly immediately feels a spark. She is torn between her comfortable relationship with Joel and risking everything for the once-in-a-lifetime love with Nathan. The story is a clean Christian romance set against the beautiful scenery of London and the wild countryside of Ireland, containing themes of following your heart and trusting in God’s plan.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ul_popularromance/1117/thumbnail.jp
Seasonal Prayer Cards: Christmas and the Solemnity of Mary
No full textChristmas Season Prayer Cards Print this pdf “two-sided” or “on both sides.” Select the option “flip on the short edge” so the front and back of each card align properly. Cut along the dotted lines.
Tip: For sturdier cards, print on card stock or cover weight paper
Characterizing the Frequency Response of Pressure-Sensitive Paint
No full textPressure-sensitive paint (PSP) enables full-field, optical pressure measurement through oxygen quenching of luminescent molecules but is limited by slow response times at high frequencies. To evaluate dynamic PSP behavior, a resonance tube system was developed in this study capable of generating standing pressure waves up to 60 kHz using a high-frequency super tweeter. Synchronized pressure transducer and high-speed optical data were analyzed in both time and frequency domains to assess PSP phase lag and frequency response. The paint accurately tracked input frequencies up to approximately 2–3 kHz, beyond which optical and electronic noise dominated. Primary noise sources included excitation laser intensity modulation and camera sensor interference. Although high-frequency performance was constrained, the system successfully demonstrated low-frequency PSP response characterization and established a foundation for future high-speed testing with improved excitation stability, detector sensitivity, and pressure amplitud
3D Lung Nodule Segmentation Using Difference over Union Combo Loss for UNet
No full textLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Which is why early and accurate detection of pulmonary nodules in computed tomography (CT) scans is necessary. Manual segmentation of nodules by radiologists is time consuming and prone to variability, fueling the need for automated solutions. This thesis introduces a novel Difference-over Union (DoU) Combo Loss function for 3D lung nodule segmentation using a 3D U-Net architecture, trained on the LIDC-IDRI dataset. The proposed loss function combines dice loss, binary cross-entropy, and boundary DoU loss to address region, pixel, and boundary level segmentation challenges, enhancing performance on imbalanced data. Quantitative results show that the DoU Combo Loss slightly outperformed the standard Combo Loss and other baselines, like the unified focal loss. Qualitative analysis showed reduced hallucination in complex CT scans with DoU Combo Loss, improving reliability. Although the quantitative gains are modest, the proposed method demonstrates potential for robust automated nodule segmentation, offering a simpler alternative to complex architectures and paving the way for enhanced clinical diagnostics
Drosophila CRC Models to Study Tumor-Promoting Signaling Interactions
No full textAmong the general hallmarks of cancer are dysregulated proliferative signaling and tumor heterogeneity, with diverse genetic alterations inducing the activity of various interconnected signaling pathways and ultimately posing a significant challenge to targeted pharmacological treatment. Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as the third-most diagnosed malignancy, and invasive surgical intervention remains the predominant method of treatment. CRC is characterized by high co-occurrence of mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC, the proto-oncogene KRAS, and the dual tumor suppressor and proto-oncogene TP53. These genetic lesions implicate the Wnt, Ras-MAPK, and DNA damage repair pathways in the initiation and progression of neoplastic growth in the intestinal epithelium, raising questions regarding how these pathways and others such as JNK and Hippo interact in the aberrant control of cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression, growth, and cell death. Using the Drosophila intestine as a model, this study sought to investigate the signaling interactions underlying initiation and progression of CRC in the context of dominant-negative p53, oncogenic RasG12V, and loss-of-function APC. The mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) technique was used alongside escargot-GAL4 to drive the expression of these mutant transgenes specifically in intestinal stem cells in early larvae and adults. Through the generation of one-hit, two-hit, and three-hit models of CRC expressing p53DN, RasV12, and APC-/-, we tested for alterations in signaling activity that ultimately drive abnormal proliferation and cell cycle progression in CRC. Molecular phenotypes, including gene expression changes and alterations in growth-regulating pathways, were assessed via dissection of third instar larvae and mature adult flies and immunohistochemistry. Our results support that the expression of dominant-negative p53, oncogenic RasV12, and loss-of-function APC in the larval intestine is sufficient to induce hyperproliferation and alterations in intestinal stem cell (ISC) differentiation without any concurrent increase in cell death, underscored by hyperactivation of Wnt, JNK, and the oncoprotein Yki. Three-hit tumors showcased more marked alterations than those observed in two- or one-hit models, including dramatically increased proliferation, volume, and invasive behavior. Given the close genetic homology between flies and humans, the results of this study are expected to yield meaningful insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying human CRC and to identify signaling components that can be pharmaceutically targeted
Sonic Condition Prediction for Non-Isentropic Real-Gas Nozzle Flows for Fuel Injection Applications
No full textThis work presents a methodology for predicting the sonic condition (∆P) in non-isentropic real-gas nozzle flows for arbitrary boundary conditions. In order to develop an agnostic boundary condition solver, the methodology will be developed for 3 cases. Case 1’s methodology is relevant to fuel injector applications with ill-posed boundary conditions, meaning a single boundary condition is known at the inlet and exit of the nozzle. The basis for case 1 is developed around knowing the inlet temperature and exit pressure, which is applicable to rotating detonation engines. The other two boundary condition scenarios include knowing both inlet boundary conditions or both exit boundary conditions. The main focus of this work is case 1, which is applicable to rotating detonation engines. This ill-posed thermodynamic state problem (one boundary condition at the inlet and one at the exit) is solved iteratively by first computing the isentropic process and then adjusting the exit state through a modified energy equation that incorporates a nozzle discharge coefficient. A similar procedure is developed for the other two cases. Results are presented for a range of inlet and exit conditions spanning both the ideal gas and real-gas regime. In order to span both the ideal gas and non-ideal gas operating conditions, the inlet temperature is fixed at the critical temperature while the inlet and exit pressures are swept across a thermodynamic range promoting both ideal gas exit conditions and non-ideal gas exit conditions relative to air breathing and rocket applications. Ethane is selected for theoretical development and hexane, decane, and carbon dioxide are included in the analysis as parametric fluids. The results analyze the choking pressures calculated for a range of exit pressures and discharge coefficients that include both ideal and non-ideal gas effects for all 4 fluids. The fuels were selected because they span the alkane range from light to heavy, with ethane being the light fuel, hexane as being the moderately heavy fuel, and decane as the heavy fuel. Decane and hexane serve as a more realistic example of jet fuels being liquid for a broader range of conditions. Carbon dioxide is selected due to its ubiquitous use and applications as a supercritical fluid. An experiment was conducted using carbon dioxide as the fluid to validate the choking pressure predicted by the methodology. Additionally, the theory was also compared with previous findings in the literature
Examining the Perceptions of Elementary General Education Teachers with Response to Intervention
No full textThe Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) advocates for students to be educated in the general education setting to the greatest extent possible, given each student\u27s specific profile (O\u27Connor et al., 2016). Therefore, systems like Response to Intervention (RtI) or Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) are closely aligned to concerns related to overrepresentation and inaccuracies due to the IQ Achievement discrepancy model. Thus, helping to reduce the number of referrals for special education. For the purpose of this study, RtI is a multi-tiered model of intervention support that is designed for early identification and support of students who demonstrate significant learning and behavioral challenges (Aspiranti, et al., 2019). RtI was enacted by the IDEIA (2004) as a replacement for the less accurate IQ-achievement discrepancy formulas used to identify students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) (Bradley et al, 2005). Gersten and Dimino (2006) noted that RtI not only provides solutions for students placed at-risk but also offers a more reliable assessment to identify individuals with learning disabilities (LD). Similarly, the whole child that is a hallmark of the RtI approach that addresses emotion, cognition and identity to instruction and learning is embraced by MTSS (Nasir et al., 2021). Both MTSS and RtI have major characteristics, including reliance on RtI data collection via universal screening, data driven decision-making, and problem-solving teams, with a focus on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Most states, however, characterize the MTSS process as encompassing a more comprehensive approach than RtI, catering to the needs of all students by aligning the complete framework of initiatives, supports, and resources, and by executing continuous improvement processes at every level of the system. It may be said that any RtI school would possess established frameworks for both academics and behaviors, hence, RtI and MTSS are used interchangeably (Djabrayan-Hannigan & Hannigan, 2021). Ongoing assessment and progress monitoring are necessary to guarantee that the appropriate evidence-based practices are implemented in order to maintain this coherence (Sailor et al., 2021)
That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf
No full textKimberly Lemming uses a fun, lighthearted style to show how one bad decision can turn someone’s life upside down. Brie’s normal routine changes the moment she accidentally throws a love potion at a werewolf named Felix, dragging her into curses, demons, and trouble she never expected. As they deal with everything that follows, Brie starts to understand Felix’s situation, and their bond becomes real rather than magical. The book fits the fantasy romance subgenre and mixes humor, adventure, and a relationship that grows through trust and choice.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ul_popularromance/1100/thumbnail.jp
The Worst Best Man
No full textThe Worst Best Man, by Mia Sosa, is a lively, heartfelt romantic comedy that explores second chances, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of love. Through the fiery dynamic between Lina, a determined wedding planner, and Max, the brother of the man who once left her at the altar, the novel blends humor with a deeper story about healing, trust, and choosing joy after disappointment. Sosa’s writing celebrates cultural identity, family bonds, and the courage it takes to open your heart again. The book is warm and an empowering reminder that love often finds us where we least expect it.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ul_popularromance/1109/thumbnail.jp
Reclaiming Power: Decolonization and Development for Africa and People of African Descent
Get PDFThe journey to this special issue has been a long and significant one for me, as an African deeply invested in the multifaceted realities of global Africa. Africa embodies the global. Its people, culture, and histories transcend borders, reflecting a deeply interconnected world. To speak of global Africa is to reject essentialist notions of African identity, recognizing that to be African is to be unbounded by space, place, or fixed definitions. This special issue, “Reclaiming Power: Decolonization and Development for Africa and People of African Descent,” was born out of the convergence of the 2023 Social Practice of Human Rights (SPHR) Conference, marking its tenth anniversary, and the Sixth International Conference on the Right to Development. This joint convening was itself the result of a dedicated effort to expand partnerships across global divides, with the initial seeds sown during travels across six African nations in the summer of 2022. From a planning process that began in January 2023, the convening evolved into a rich exchange, featuring two keynotes, three plenaries, an “in conversation” session, and over thirty panels and roundtables, bringing together more than three hundred speakers from across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The Reclaiming Power special issue seeks to capture that dynamic and timely discourse