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Integration of Mechanism-Driven Computational Modeling and Public Data Resources for Chemical Toxicity Assessment
No full textRegulatory toxicology depends primarily on animal testing, which limits throughput, mechanistic interpretability, and applicability to human-relevant endpoints. This dissertation presents computational approaches that integrate publicly available bioactivity data with machine learning to support chemical safety evaluation. Oral carcinogenicity was modeled using curated chemicals from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and activity data from over 1,900 PubChem assays. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models trained on statistically prioritized assays demonstrated strong predictive performance and were applied to rank the carcinogenic potential of more than 16,000 compounds. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a hybrid modeling approach that combined structural alerts with mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) data from high-throughput screening (HTS), improving classification accuracy (CCR = 0.80) and experimental validation in HepG2 cells (CCR = 0.79). A hierarchical modeling framework was developed to organize HTS concentration-response data across biological levels, mapping 455 assays to 216 protein targets and 103 pathways. This model enabled predictions for five in vivo toxicity endpoints and incorporated toxicokinetic modeling to support exposure-informed risk evaluation. Collectively, these approaches advance scalable, mechanism-driven models for compound prioritization and chemical safety assessments
Attitudes Toward Pig Islet Xenotransplantation for Type 1 Diabetes: A Scoping Review
No full textBACKGROUND: Over 8 million people globally have type 1 diabetes. Islet allotransplantation offers an alternative to insulin therapy but is constrained by donor availability. Genetically modified pig islet transplantation presents a potential solution, yet understanding stakeholder attitudes is crucial before clinical adoption.
METHODS: This scoping review followed Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA guidelines. CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsychINFO, and SCOPUS were searched for studies examining attitudes toward pig islet xenotransplantation among patients, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders.
RESULTS: From 199 sources, 16 met eligibility criteria, spanning ten countries from 2003 to 2023. The 23,780 participants included 1,535 (6.5%) patients/family members, 216 (0.9%) healthcare workers, and 22,029 (92.6%) students. Attitudes were generally positive but declined sharply in some studies when risks, such as viral transmission, were disclosed.
CONCLUSION: Despite overall positive attitudes, risk perception significantly influences acceptance of islet xenotransplantation. The predominance of quantitative research highlights a need for qualitative studies and validated survey instruments to enhance understanding and comparability of stakeholder perspectives
EXAMINING ENROLLMENT POPULATIONS AT A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE RESEARCH INSTITUTION IN THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES
No full textThis qualitative critical race case study investigates the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students at Heister University, a predominantly White public research institution in the Northeastern United States. Despite its location near two diverse cities and its reputation as an affordable, high-quality university, its student body remains disproportionately White. This study explores whether admissions and recruitment policies, either overtly or covertly, contribute to systemic barriers limiting access for students from minoritized groups. Using Critical Race Theory and Colorblindness Ideology, the research examines the intersection of race, policy, and institutional practice through interviews policy reviews, demographic data. Findings reveal that “inclusive” and “merit-based” policies often conceal racial inequalities, sustaining exclusionary outcomes. Contributing factors include historical discrimination, perceptions of academic inferiority, weak institutional leadership, and pressure to maintain colorblind admissions amid legal and political shifts. This study argues for equity-focused models that center the lived experiences of students of color. Heister University is positioned as a lens into national challenges, offering a framework for moving beyond performative diversity toward structural change in higher education access
Beyond the Classroom: Narratives of Culturally Sustaining Educators
No full textThis qualitative study explores the educational journeys and experiences of culturally sustaining secondary English language arts teachers. Grounded in narrative inquiry methodology, this research examines factors and experiences that influenced educators to adopt culturally sustaining pedagogies and identifies the patterns that exist between the narratives of the culturally sustaining educators. The study used interviews and document analysis to construct narratives for five participants to provide context and better understand the way societal norms, values, and belief systems influence educators’ learning experiences and personal journeys. This narrative inquiry study shows how culturally sustaining educators perceive the needs and behaviors of their students and the role that critical reflection on life experiences can play in supporting ongoing growth and professional development
MITIGATING ULTRASONIC ATTACK ON DRONES USING META-MATERIAL ACOUSTIC RESONATORS
No full textThe purpose of this research was to reproduce ultrasonic attacks on consumer drone gyroscopes and mitigate the attacks using specifically designed meta-material acoustic resonators. Drones use a Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Gyroscope for collecting flight data, due to the mechanical nature of these gyroscopes they are susceptible to being resonated at specific frequencies. For these MEMS gyroscopes the majority have a resonance frequency in the ultrasonic range, making attack imperceptible by humans. (1) A Laser Doppler Vibrometer was used to accurately measure the frequency which affects the drone’s gyroscope. (2) To mitigate the effects of the attacks acoustic resonators were designed to reduce the sound pressure level of specific frequencies reaching the MEMS gyroscope. COMSOL was used to generate a simulation of what frequencies the resonators will affect. Testing was done to verify the effect of the resonators. Real world flight testing was also conducted to measure the effect of the attacks and the level of mitigation the meta-material resonator filter provide. The results show the meta-material filter can have a 50-60% mitigation effect on the attack
ANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ARTEMISININ AND ITS DERIVATIVES USING HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY, ELECTROCHEMISTRY REDUCTION, AND FLUORESCENCE
No full textArtemisinin and derivatives were subjected to 37°C and room temperature conditions. When HPLC-UV analysis of both conditions was performed, there were differences in both conditions which suggested that artemisinin and derivatives degrade at 37°C. When artemisinin was electrochemically reduced, new peaks were generated and LC-MS analysis of the reduced artemisinin indicated that either new molecules or molecular reorganization was formed. These electrochemical reduction molecules (products) were deemed analogous to the artemisinin reduction occurring in-vivo after oral administration. Fluorescence analysis of artemisinin and derivatives were performed in the presence of dipyridamole. Dipyridamole intensity was observed to decrease when artemisinin or its derivatives was mixed with hemin in the presence of dipyridamole. This suggested production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) quenching dipyridamole
EXPLORING ISLAMIC SCHOOL TEACHER ADAPTATIONS TO REDUCE CULTURAL MISMATCH FOR MUSLIM MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN STUDENTS: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY
No full textCulturally responsive practices are imperative in American classrooms due to the increasing diversity of the student population. These practices prioritize contextualizing materials, building relationships with students, and leveraging students’ cultural experiences and capital to improve their overall experience in the educational process. However, there is little understanding of the intersection between culturally responsive practices and social-emotional learning frameworks, particularly in contexts beyond the traditional public school environment. This qualitative study employs grounded theory to explore how Islamic school teachers adapt the social-emotional learning curricula to accommodate better Middle Eastern American (MMEA) students\u27 cultural values. Focus groups were conducted to augment the interview data, leveraging graphic elicitation techniques to triangulate and strengthen findings. The research indicates that an integrative approach enhances student engagement and profoundly resonates with the cultural and religious backgrounds of MMEA students. The study underscores the significance of culturally responsive SEL programs in nurturing individual and communal identity among students from diverse backgrounds. Based on these insights, we offer targeted recommendations for SEL curricular adaptations to foster inclusivity and build intercultural competence within diverse educational settings
Prompt Perfect: Elevating your AI Experience at Rowan University
Get PDFWorking with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot can be frustrating if unsure of how to ask a question (prompt). In the workshop Prompt Perfect, Erin O’Neill, Assistant Director of Communications in the Rowan Division of Information Resources & Technology (IRT), and Dan Kipnis, STEM Librarian in the Campbell Library will walk you through tips for writing effective prompts. Additional topics will include ethical concerns and limitations in using generative AI tools, and an opportunity to practice and share among attendees.
Learning Objectives:
1. To learn tips for writing effective prompts for CoPilot or other AI sites
2. Tips on things to avoid entering into AI prompts
3. Get access to AI tools available via Rowan (CoPilot through Microsoft 365 & Firefly through Adobe Creative Cloud)
4. Understand what Rowan data you can use in AI tools
Skill levels for attendees: Little to no experience
Software requirements: Non
Considerations for method development and method translation in capillary liquid chromatography: A tutorial
Get PDFHPLC remains one of the most widely used measurement techniques for chemical analysis. Capillary LC, which utilizes narrow diameter columns operated at lower flow rates than analytical-scale LC, continues to gain adoption based on its reduced mobile phase consumption and increased sensitivity when coupled to MS detection. This tutorial offers practical insights into the most critical aspects of translating analytical-scale separations to the capillary scale. The selection of pumping systems, detectors, and the potential for performance loss due to extra-column effects are examined within the context of separations using columns with inner diameters ≤ 0.3 mm. Column choices within this diameter range are also detailed, both in terms of stationary phase support options and general commercial availability. The impact of these various factors on the effective development/translation of LC methods down to flow rates under 10 µL/min is described to provide readers with a basis for implementing these strategies within their own analytical workflows
Targeted Maternal Chagas Disease Screening Among Individuals Born in a Chagas-Endemic Country.
Get PDFChagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that affects 6 million people worldwide. In the United States, Chagas is estimated to affect 43 000 women of reproductive age. Pregnant persons with Chagas are at risk for congenital transmission to the newborn, which accounts for nearly a quarter of all new cases. In 2022, a US multidisciplinary expert working group4 developed recommendations for increased clinician-directed screening for Chagas. They concluded that women of reproductive age who were born in endemic countries should be tested due to vertical transmission risk. In 2024, Clark and Bern outlined similar recommendations and endorsed prenatal visits as an opportunity to screen pregnant people. There is a paucity of maternal prevalence data to inform an optimal screening strategy. Thus, we sought to evaluate the maternal seroprevalence of Chagas disease among persons who presented for childbirth in Philadelphia who identified as Hispanic and were born in an endemic country