Point Loma Nazarene University

Background Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts. Objective Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox. Methods A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach. Results, conclusion, and relevance The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the “Prevention First” appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.

As smart homes evolve into complex digital ecosystems, the family unit faces sophisticated cyber threats that exploit social hierarchies rather than just technical vulnerabilities. Traditional defense mechanisms, such as perimeter firewalls, treat the home network as a flat topology, failing to account for the heterogeneous asset values and varying risk profiles of family members. This paper proposes a novel "Digital Immunity" framework by modeling the family as a sociotechnical graph. We introduce the concept of "Digital Qawamah" (Stewardship), translating it into a mathematical model using centrality metrics. We present the Hierarchical Containment Algorithm (HCA), which dynamically reconfigures the network topology to isolate compromised nodes based on their "Betweenness Centrality" and "Trust Weights." Simulation results demonstrate that HCA reduces the Time-to-Compromise (TtC) for critical guardian assets by 100% compared to standard flat networks, effectively bridging the gap between social responsibility paradigms and modern network defense.

Abstract In Mark’s narration of Jesus’s crucifixion, one of the clearest examples of onlookers’ failure to understand Jesus’s identity and mission is their supposition that Jesus is calling out for Elijah instead of invoking Ps 22 to cry out to God. Mark prolongs this confusion, which could represent a simple language barrier or a willful misunderstanding, by describing a suggestion by spectators, whether sincere or cloaked in sarcasm, that Elijah himself might come to Jesus’s rescue (15:36). This article examines, first, the ways in which Mark’s preceding narrative prepares readers to understand the interjections focused on Elijah as warning signals of a dangerous distraction from a proper focus on Jesus. Second, with consideration of broader narrative and theological themes, it explores how the prompted expectation of Elijah’s arrival sparks possibilities for intertextual interpretations that enhance Mark’s portrait of Jesus. Multiple associations with the Elijah story prompt several christologically significant conclusions by highlighting various misdirected expectations within Mark’s passion narrative. Instead of insisting on only one correct avenue of allusive significance, contending with typological multiplicity grants that narrative even more provocative theological potential.

As alpacas (Vicugna pacos) gain popularity globally, the need for improved knowledge about the species grows, including a better understanding of dental pathologies increasingly recognized in domesticated populations. Oral examination and radiology are commonly used tools for the detection of periapical infections and other dental diseases. In this diagnostic accuracy study, we aim to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of these two modalities to determine their agreement with histology in the detection of periodontal (periapical and periradicular) and pulpal pathologies. Seven alpacas were included in the study and underwent oral examination and radiography. After euthanasia, 18 teeth were harvested for histological evaluation. Sensitivity and specificity of radiography in detecting periapical infections were 100% and 85%, respectively, compared to a sensitivity of 54% and a specificity of 75% for clinical evaluation. The level of agreement between these two modalities for the detection of periapical disease was weak (22%). Sensitivity and specificity of radiography in diagnosing periapical periodontal changes were 100% and 83%, compared to clinical evaluation, which had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 36%. The sensitivity of radiology in detecting pulpar changes was low (8%), while it was high (77%) for clinical examination. These findings demonstrate that radiography is a meaningful supplement for confirming suspected clinical diagnoses of periodontal and periapical changes in alpacas.

Lawson, DJ, Olmos, AA, Mosiman, SJ, Sontag, SA, Goodin, JR, and Dawes, JJ. Velocity Variables: Determining Predictive Metrics during the Back Squat and Bench Press to Failure at Different Relative Loads. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-This study aimed to determine a best velocity variable and prediction model for estimating repetitions to failure (RTF) across 3 relative loads (%1RM) comparing the average concentric velocity (ACV) of a single repetition set (ACVSingle), ACV from the first repetition (ACVFirst), ACV across all repetitions (ACVMean), and the fastest repetition velocity (FRV) achieved during the back squat and bench press exercises. Twenty-six (n = 26; males = 18, females = 8) resistance-trained individuals performed 3 sets to failure at 90, 80, and 70% of their 1RM on both exercises for 2 testing sessions. Repeated measures mixed effects models were constructed for univariate, adjusted (corrected for sex), and interaction (velocity*sex) models from Visit 2 data. Model selection criteria were determined by the smallest residual mean error (RME) and standard deviation (SD), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) serving as fit indicators. Best fit models were cross-validated by applying fixed-effects coefficients from Visit 2 to Visit 3 velocity variables, estimating RTF and calculating error as the predicted versus observed variable delta. The ACVSingle adjusted model demonstrated the best fit for the squat (RME = 0.0056, SD = 3.7731, AIC = 360.88, BIC = 363.24). The FRV interaction model demonstrated the best fit for the bench press (RME = 0.0303, SD = 2.4011, AIC = 300.71, and BIC = 303.07). Although no single predictor exhibited superiority across all intensities, ACVSingle and FRV provide lower prediction error variability under specific conditions, with the best predictor determined by both intensity and exercise.

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating citrus disease associated with the gram-negative, phloem-limited, and unculturable bacterium "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)," which is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. Despite extensive research, effective, long-term, and sustainable solutions for managing HLB remain elusive. Oxytetracycline (OTC) is currently used as an emergency measure, but there is an urgent need for alternative compounds to complement or replace OTC. In this study, we identified amicoumacins, a class of antimicrobial compounds produced by the bacterium Bacillus safensis CB729 isolated from the citrus microbiome, and demonstrated their ability to suppress CLas. Genome mining of B. safensis CB729, combined with metabolomic analysis and bioassay-guided fractionation, revealed the presence of amicoumacins and related derivatives in fractions inhibitory to Liberibacter crescens, a culturable surrogate for CLas. We tested commercially available synthetic amicoumacins A and B, along with a B. safensis-derived amicoumacin mixture, against L. crescens and CLas. We determined the MICs of amicoumacin A (1.25 µg/mL) and amicoumacin B (10 µg/mL) against L. crescens. Furthermore, amicoumacin B and the amicoumacin mixture significantly reduced CLas populations in ex vivo citrus hairy root assays. This study highlights the potential of amicoumacins as a promising group of natural products for the management of HLB, offering valuable insights for the development of novel and sustainable disease control strategies.IMPORTANCEFor two decades, the citrus industry has been severely impacted by Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease caused by "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)" and transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). Despite extensive research, effective, long-term, and sustainable solutions remain unavailable for growers. Currently, medically relevant antibiotics, such as oxytetracycline (OTC), are used as an emergency response to combat HLB in Florida, the most affected citrus-producing state in the U.S. This underscores the urgent need for alternative treatments that can be used in rotation or as replacements for OTC. Here, we present amicoumacins, a group of bioactive secondary metabolites with antibiotic properties. We identified amicoumacin B and its derivatives from the culture broth of a Bacillus safensis isolate, native to citrus, and demonstrated their ability to inhibit Liberibacter spp. and reduce CLas populations in citrus tissue. This study highlights how microbial discovery can lead to the identification of antimicrobial compounds with potential applications in plant disease management.

Asking students to write practice questions for tests is an active learning strategy utilized to facilitate understanding and application of course material. The use of student-generated questions has been studied in medical education and other academic fields but not in undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) education. Mixed results from existing literature hint at three possibly important components of effective assignments for students writing test questions: assignment structure, instructor/expert feedback, and alignment with summative assessment. Accordingly, this study investigated the impact of each of these components on students' learning or perceptions of learning. Our methods included 1) a reanalysis of papers on medical student question-writing, 2) a survey of 22 A&P instructors who have tried this method, and 3) detailed studies of efforts at two institutions to implement structured discussion-board assignments in which undergraduate A&P students write and share practice questions. Collectively, these approaches revealed positive correlations between each of the three components and students' learning or perception thereof. In light of these data, especially our students' satisfaction with our implementation of discussion-board assignments, we suggest that structured question-writing and question-sharing activities with instructor feedback and clear connections to summative assessment can increase student engagement and learning.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This paper reports the results of a mixed-methods study of student question-writing assignments. Our results regarding the effect of three intervention parameters (structure, feedback, and alignment) on the learning outcomes of performance and perception suggest that highly structured assignments closely aligned with summative assessments elicit positive learning outcomes when combined with instructor feedback.

Abstract. Rogue waves pose substantial risks to maritime operations and offshore infrastructure, yet their formation mechanisms and predictability remain poorly understood. This study analyses real rogue wave occurrences using in situ observations from CDIP wave buoys from the Filtered Ocean Wave Data (FOWD) dataset and model-based estimates from ERA5 reanalysis and the ECMWF CY47R1 high-resolution hindcast. Seasonal distributions, wave height comparisons, and spectral analyses reveal that models systematically underestimate extreme wave events due to spectral smoothing and spatial averaging. A key finding is that rogue waves are usually preceded by a sharp decrease in crest-trough correlation below 0.5, followed by a rapid increase above 0.6, indicating a transition to a more structured wave field. This pattern, accompanied by spectral bandwidth narrowing and increased relative energy in the 0.25–1.5 Hz range, suggests energy focusing mechanisms play a critical role. Analysis of rogue wave events at four CDIP buoy stations show that the crest-trough correlation parameter alone is not a good rogue wave indicator, but its temporal variability is. These results highlight the need for improved modelling by integrating dynamic wave field specific parameters and high-resolution numerical models to enhance rogue wave risk assessments on a global scale.

Bodies of the deceased are important for training healthcare professionals in anatomy education, research, and clinical skills. While body donation programs exist in many countries around the world, few exist in Africa, likely due to strong religious convictions of the public, socioeconomic factors, and other difficulties. Consequently, many African anatomy programs rely on unclaimed and unidentified bodies, many of which are abandoned in hospitals or mortuaries. This study investigated the different sources of bodies of the deceased and their use in education in West Africa. Fifty‐seven institutions in 15 West‐African countries were contacted. Of these, 27 institutions (48.2% response rate) from 11 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal) responded. Information around body management and utilization for public engagement, high school tours, imaging, and research was also explored. Only two institutions in Ghana had body donation programs. Sixty‐three percent of bodies were from unclaimed and unidentified sources, with 69% of unclaimed bodies coming from health facilities. The bodies of executed persons were used for anatomical purposes only in Nigeria. Given the reliance on unclaimed bodies, these findings highlight the need for efforts to build body donation programs. Efforts to identify deceased persons through outreach services should be pursued, alongside legislation permitting their use. Engaging religious, cultural, and social leaders is essential to improve awareness of body donation. This study presents the first attempt to capture a comprehensive set of data on body procurement in anatomy from several nations in West Africa.