Digital Commons Network^™

Targeted Proteomic Analysis Identifies Acvrl1 As A Marker Of Cerebral Edema In Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Bosco Seong Kyu Yang, Lena O'Keefe, Sarah Hinds, Hua Chen, Athziry Paz, Jude Savarraj, Han-Gil Jeong, Moon-Ku Han, Aaron Gusdon, Xuefang Sophie Ren, Spiros Blackburn, Huimahn Alex Choi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cerebral edema (CE) is a major component of early brain injury from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Despite the utility of blood-based protein markers, biomarkers targeting cerebral edema have yet to be developed. We performed a targeted proteomic search analyzing 141 proteins in plasma samples taken from 80 adult patients within 48 hours after aneurysmal rupture to identify plasma biomarkers of cerebral edema. The protein expression profiles were analyzed for associations with a higher level of the subarachnoid hemorrhage early brain edema score measured in admission computed tomography scans. Five differentially expressed proteins-brorin, ectodysplasin A2 receptor, layilin, scavenger receptor class A …

Clinical Validity Of Foundationone Liquid Cdx For Detection Of Braf V600e In Colorectal Cancer, Rona Yaeger, Jean-François Martini, Lincoln Pasquina, Brian Tunquist, Xiaosong Zhang, Fatima Khaiser, Norberto Panoja Galicia, Shibing Deng, Siliang Gong, Cui Guo, Jimmy Kiely, Ta-Chou Vincent Ng, Graham Ferrier, Josep Tabernero, Scott Kopetz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The BRAF inhibitor encorafenib plus the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab improved overall survival, objective response rate, and progression-free survival in previously treated BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer in BEACON, a phase 3 randomized trial, leading to regulatory approval for this indication. To support rapid, plasma-based testing for BRAF V600E identification, clinical validity of a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based assay, FoundationOne®Liquid CDx (F1LCDx) was assessed, versus the reference tumor-based clinical trial assay (CTA) in liquid biopsy-evaluable samples from BEACON and commercially-obtained tissue-matched plasma samples.

Methods: Pre-treatment tissue samples were collected in BEACON to confirm BRAF mutational status using the central single …

Unrecognized And Unreported Concussions Among Community Rugby Players, Rachael Wittmer, Thomas A. Buckley, Charles Buz Swanik, Katelyn M. Costantini, Lisa Ryan, Ed Daly, Regan E. King, Arryana J. Daniels, Katherine J. Hunzinger

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

This study examined the prevalence of intentionally unreported and potentially unrecognized concussions in community rugby players and whether nondisclosure reasons vary by sex, position, or playing history. An online survey was completed by 1037 players (41.0% female; mean age 31.6 ± 11.3 years; 10.1 ± 8.1 years playing) who reported diagnosed, unreported, and unrecognized concussions. Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs), and Fisher's exact tests compared reasons for nondisclosure. The diagnosed, unreported, and unrecognized concussion rates were 66.5%, 32.4%, and 42.2%, respectively. Players with diagnosed concussions had a 7.2-fold higher prevalence of nondisclosure and a 2.3-fold higher prevalence of …

Comprehensive Fitness Assessment In A Professional Military Education Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study, Daniel J. Lawson, Russell K. Lowell, C. Brooks Mobley, Katherine Frick, Nicholas C. Bordonie, Kaitlyn G. Clouse, Cameron D. Ott, Harrison C. Dimick, Nicholas R. Mauldin, Joellen M. Sefton

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 811-835, 2025. Military personnel face rigorous physical and cognitive demands critical for operational readiness and long-term health. This study evaluated body composition, cognitive performance, and physical fitness metrics in non-entry-level service members to inform tailored fitness interventions. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from Air Command Staff College personnel (N = 307; 89 females, 218 males; age: 37 ± 5 years) at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base. Participants completed assessments for body composition (body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage [%BF], fat mass index [FMI], fat-free mass index [FFMI]), flexibility (sit-and-reach test, functional reach …

The Future Of The Arab Media Industry In Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Technologies: A Foresight Study (2024 To 2034), Mohammedwesam Amer, Abdullah Mohammed Atbiqa

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study explores the future of the Arab media industry from 2024 to 2034 in light of the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It identifies key media sectors likely to be affected by AI—such as content creation, news production, editing, and audience engagement—and proposes strategies for effective implementation. The study employs a descriptive survey methodology grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Data were collected via an electronic questionnaire from a purposive sample of 264 respondents across 18 Arab countries, including academic elites and media professionals working with Arab media institutions. Findings reveal …

Exposure To Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Reveals A Death Resistance Mechanism In Dictyostelium Discoideum, Zoya Nadeem Faruqui

Theses and Dissertations

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are very versatile due to their multifunctional properties including unique physicochemical and antimicrobial characteristics. They are widely utilized across various fields such as biomedical, industrial fields, environmental remediation, and agriculture. Therefore, their cytotoxic effects on biological systems necessitate a deeper understanding of the cellular responses to nanoparticle exposure. This project primarily investigates the impact of ZnO NPs on the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum AX4 (social amoeba) which has not been examined before unlike a vast variety of organisms in the literature. The cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs on Dictyostelium discoideum AX4 cells are compared with …

The Relationship Between Self-Reported And Observer-Rated Maternal Anxiety During Mother-Infant Interactions, Annalisa Tran, Jacqueline Hammack

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Research pertaining to maternal anxiety and mother-infant interactions is a rapidly growing field. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between self-reported maternal anxiety ratings and observer-rated maternal anxiety scores. Thirty-nine motherinfant dyads participated in a four-minute free-play session via Zoom. The Parent Anxiety measure from the Coding Interactive Behavior scale was used to measure observed maternal anxiety. The General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale was used to measure self-reported maternal anxiety. No significant association was found between self-reported maternal anxiety and observed maternal anxiety. An exploratory analysis was conducted to compare self-reported maternal anxiety and observed maternal sensitivity. …

Exploring Infant Toy Interactions In Free Play Environments, Emma Bermudez, Jacqueline Hammack

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Infants’ interactions with toys play a crucial role in their early cognitive and motor development, yet much of the research on this topic has been conducted in controlled laboratory settings, which may not accurately reflect the diversity of toys and interactions infants experience in their natural environments. This study uniquely examined these interactions in a home setting by utilizing an online video conferencing platform. This study investigated how toy properties influence manual infant-object interactions during dyadic tabletop free play, where mothers selected the toys for the session. Within the confines of this study, results show that infants spend significantly more …

Use Of A Novel Plant Essential Oil-Based Insecticide For Insect Control In Household Gardens And Lawns, Mia Michnik, Alysa Suissa, Liah Brussolo Cremona, Annalise Wellman, Nicholas Nifakos, Alexander Spanoudis, John M. Harlin

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Insecticide use has increased as population and agricultural demand for crops grows. Commercial insecticides contain active ingredients that are often harmful to humans and the environment. A viable alternative to this concern is developing and using insecticides with low toxicity and minimum risk to the environment. In this study, we sought to empirically assess the effectiveness of an insecticide based entirely on plant essential oil active ingredients, which contain complex secondary metabolites. Our results show that a concoction of several plant essential oils was effective in killing a wide range of household garden insect species and bedbugs, encompassing five orders …

Bioarchaeological Analysis Of Three Individuals Excavated From Palikè Di Mineo, Sicily, August M. Stone, Madison Rieth, William Burnett

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

This study presents the analysis of three individuals excavated from the area of Palikè di Mineo, Sicily in May and June of 2023. The archaeological area contained numerous burials, but this study focuses on two adult male and one subadult (child). Burials are estimated to be from the Imperial Period of the Roman Empire (20 CE - 360 CE). Information collected includes age, sex, stature, and taphonomy of the individuals. Burial style, artifacts, and position of the burials are used to present data on the possible conditions of life in ancient Sicily. This article contributes data to the greater discussion …

Enhanced Meropenem Activity And Stability Following Load In Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofiber Scaffolds With Sitagliptin As Quorum Sensing Inhibitor On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Samar A. Salim, Abdelrhman Mohsen, Mohamed Emara, Taghrid Elmahdy

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Background The increasing resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics poses a significant health challenge. Innovative strategies, such as combining antibiotics with agents like quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), have been developed to combat this issue. QSIs enhance antibiotic efficacy without inhibiting bacterial growth, minimizing the risk of resistance. Aims Evaluate the combined effect of Sitagliptin (STG) as a QSI with Meropenem (MER), fabricate drug-loaded Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) nanofibers, and investigate their antimicrobial activity against standard Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA). Methods The combinatorial effect was assessed using a checkerboard assay. PVA/STG, PVA/MER, and PVA/STG/ MER nanofibers were fabricated …

Causes Of Symptoms And Symptom Persistence In Long Covid And Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Anthony L Komaroff, Robert Dantzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Debilitating symptoms for many years can follow acute COVID-19 ("long COVID"), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and various post-acute infection syndromes (PAISs). Together, long COVID and ME/CFS affect 60-400 million individuals, globally. Many similar underlying biological abnormalities have been identified in both conditions including autoantibodies against neural targets, endothelial dysfunction, acquired mitochondrial dysfunction, and a pro-inflammatory gut microbiome. Each of these abnormalities may directly cause some of the symptoms. In addition, the symptoms also may be caused by ancient, evolutionarily conserved symptomatic and metabolic responses to vital threats-sickness behavior and torpor-responses mediated by specific, recently discovered neural circuits. These neural …

Mechanism Of Unconventional Il-33 Release In Airway Disease, Omar Osorio

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The alarmin cytokine IL-33 is a strong inducer of type two inflammation and has been implicated in various chronic lung diseases. Although much work has been done to understand the inflammatory effects of extracellular IL-33, there is still a knowledge gap in understanding how this cytokine is secreted by airway epithelial cells in steady-state conditions. In the work laid out in this document, a COPD-disease associated isoform of IL-33, that has exons 3 and 4 (IL-3334) spliced out and is tonically secreted at baseline conditions. This IL-33 isoform is secreted from airway epithelial cells alongside, or as part of, extracellular …

Simulated Emergency Room Sign-Outs: What They Tell Us About Diagnostic Accuracy And Opportunities For Improvement, Roni Matin, Brent R King, Amit M Mehta, Susan H Fenton, Nathan R Hoot, David J Robinson, Charles L Maddow, Amy Franklin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Emergency department (ED) sign-outs provide continuity of care for patients at shift changes. However, these periods have been associated with communication breakdowns and medical errors. We explored information factors (stage-of-the-case and the explicitness of the sign-out narrative) to determine their impact on clinicians' diagnostic accuracy and confidence.

Methods: Clinicians from 2 academic ED sites reviewed patient vignettes sign-out narratives (N=69). Using a within-subjects experiment, the explicitness of the sign-out information (i.e., broad statement about labs versus stating each test) and the patient's stage in the diagnostic process (e.g., labs pending, treatment occurring, etc.) at the time of sign-out varied. …

Mechanisms Of Ssdna Gap Resection In Brca1-Proficient And -Deficient Cells, Isabelle Seppa

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Single-stranded (ss) DNA gaps are potentially genome-destabilizing structures that require prompt repair (or filling) to prevent DNA breakage and genome instability. We previously showed that gap repair is defective in cancer cells with deficiencies in the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1. These findings explain why ssDNA gaps accumulate in BRCA1-deficient cells in response to therapies that target DNA, such as platinum-based compounds, or therapies that inhibit specific repair pathways, such as PARP inhibitors (PARPi). We also discovered that gap repair can be restored in BRCA1-deficient cells by inhibiting MRE11 nuclease activity, indicating that nuclease processing plays a central role in …

In Silico Investigations Of Class Ii Trans Activator (Ciita): Its Plausible Implications In Neuroinflammation And Neurological Disorders, Kishore N

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation plays a significant role in maintaining homeostasis. Neuroinflammation is a chronic inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to brain or spinal cord dysfunction. To promote mental health, it is crucial to understand the regulation of neuroinflammation. Class II transactivator (CIITA) is a master-regulator of the major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII).

Modulation of CIITA has been suggested as a promising intervention for inflammatory conditions, including neurological disorders. However, there is limited knowledge about the role of CIITA and its interactors in inflammation. This study aimed to understand the role of CIITA in neuroinflammation and neurological disorders using …

Biogenic Calcite Precipitation For Coastal Sand Stabilization: A Synergistic Approach Using Marine Bacteria And Natural Fibers, Aparna Gs

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal erosion, driven by natural forces such as waves, tides, winds, and currents and further intensified by anthropogenic activities like urbanization, climate change, and coastal infrastructure development, poses a significant threat to shoreline stability. Conventional erosion control methods, including jetties, embankments, and artificial reefs, often face limitations in sustainability and effectiveness. In this context, microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising ecofriendly solution for ground stabilization.

The present study investigates the potential of an indigenous ureolytic marine bacterium, Bacillus sp. N₉, isolated from the coastal sediments of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, for coastal sand stabilization. The strain was …

Kdm2b Variants In The Cxxc Domain Impair Its Dna-Binding Ability And Cause A Distinct Neurodevelopmental Syndrome, Amber S E Van Oirsouw, Michael A Hadders, Martijn Koetsier, Edith D J Peters, Nurit Assia Batzir, Tahsin Stefan Barakat, Diana Baralle, Adelyn Beil, Marie-Noëlle Bonnet-Dupeyron, Philip M Boone, Arjan Bouman, Deanna Alexis Carere, Benjamin Cogne, Leslie Dunnington, Laura S Farach, Casie A Genetti, Bertrand Isidor, Louis Januel, Aakash Joshi, Nayana Lahiri, Kristen N Lee, Idit Maya, Meriel Mcentagart, Hope Northrup, Mathilde Pujalte, Kate Richardson, Susan Walker, Bobby P C Koeleman, Mariëlle Alders, Richard H Van Jaarsveld, Renske Oegema

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rare variants affecting the epigenetic regulator KDM2B cause a recently delineated neurodevelopmental disorder. Interestingly, we previously identified both a general KDM2B-associated episignature and a subsignature specific to variants in the DNA-binding CxxC domain. In light of the existence of a distinct subsignature, we set out to determine if KDM2B CxxC variants are associated with a unique phenotype and disease mechanism. We recruited individuals with heterozygous CxxC variants and assessed the variants' effect on protein expression and DNA-binding ability. We analyzed clinical data from 19 individuals, including ten previously undescribed individuals with seven novel CxxC variants. The core phenotype of the …

Periodic Evaluations Indicate Increased Effectiveness Of Oregon Master Woodland Manager Volunteer Program, Alicia Christiansen, Lauren Grand, Norma Kline, Tiffany Hopkins

Journal of Extension

The Oregon State University Extension Service Master Woodland Manager (MWM) volunteer program trains landowners in core forestry and natural resource topics. Landowners participate in the MWM program to increase their forest management knowledge, improve their own management practices, and prepare them to volunteer in their community (Bowers, 2000). We surveyed MWM volunteers to understand the effectiveness of the program and what barriers exist to volunteering. Volunteers find the program to be increasingly adequate for personal management and answering questions, but time continues to be the biggest barrier for completing required volunteer hours.

Evaluation Of South Carolina’S Extension And Outreach Agents’ Knowledge Of Harmful Algal Bloom Management And The Impacts Of One-Day Training, George Strickland, Debabrata Sahoo, Michael Vassalos, Heather Nix, Sarah White

Journal of Extension

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact livestock producers. Most Extension agents have limited knowledge about HAB management. Our study goal was to assess agent readiness and training on HABs. We used data from in-person surveys of South Carolina (SC) Extension personnel. We examined how training influenced HAB knowledge using pre/post-tests. Training improved agent knowledge of HAB management, but water resource agents learned more. The results of this study can be used to identify Extension training shortfalls and drive policy to better prepare agents throughout the state. Further research should involve prioritizing additional extension topics and assessing knowledge in a similar manner.

Facilitating Farmer-To-Farmer Elearning: An Evaluation Of Climate And Wildfires Online Courses In California, Natalia Pinzon, Caitlin Brimm

Journal of Extension

This study assesses the effectiveness of two online courses tailored for farmers and ranchers in California, with a particular focus on the role of farmer-to-farmer pedagogies. Utilizing live sessions, a social-learning platform, and multimedia content, we draw insights from engagement metrics, lesson and end-of-course survey evaluations, and course outcomes. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of peer interactions, featuring farmers and completion incentives. Based on the findings, we advocate for the integration of farmer-to-farmer education methods within online learning environments to cultivate regional learning networks, and promote the timely exchange and co-creation of agricultural knowledge amid environmental change.

Oral Administration Of Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei Ccfm 1433 Boosts Host Immunity To Prevent Candida Albicans Infections, Xinya Zhang, Qiuxiang Zhang, Xin Tang, Bingyong Mao, Jianxin Zhao, Shumao Cui

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to explore the role of Lactobacillus in enhancing host immunocompetence and preventing vaginal infections with Candida albicans.[Method ] A human vaginal epithelial cell (VK2/E6E7 cell) model was employed to screen the most potent strain among ten vaginal Lactobacillus isolates in inducing the antimicrobial peptide LL- 37.A mouse model of vaginal infection with Candida albicans was established.The effects of oral administration of the selected Lactobacillus strain on vaginal mucosal immunity,systemic inflammatory balance,and vaginal microbiota homeostasis were systematically evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining,ELISA,qPCR,and 16S rRNA sequencing.[Result ] Both t he cell lysate and fermentation supernatant of Lacticaseibacillus …

Bifidobacterium Adolescentis Fhnfq 5m4 Modulates Gut Microbiota And Alleviates Colitis In Mice, Yi Wang, Liming Huang, Xihua Yu, Liuruolan Li, Wenwei Lu, Hongchao Wang, Zhijian Zhang

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to verify and screen the Bifidobacterium adolescentis strains with vitamin A (VA) metabolic capacity,and investigate their effects on colitis symptoms and gut microbiota in mice.[Method ] The VA metabolic capacity of a panel of Bifidobacterium adolescentis strains was evaluated through in vitro fermentation,and the strain with the highest VA metabolic capacity was ultimately selected.This strain was administered orally to mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS )-induced colitis for 6 consecutive days.After the intervention,histopathological changes in the colonic tissue were assessed,and the levels of intestinal injury markers in the serum and cytokines,antioxidant enzymes,and retinoic acid (RA) …

Extraction Process Optimization And Antioxidant And Blood Glucose-Lowering Effect Evaluation Of Polyphenols From Camellia Japonica Flowers, Long Chen, Xiaocong Yang, Shujie Xing, Xinyao Shi, Xueke Zheng, Jing Zhu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study optimized the extraction process of polyphenols from Camellia japonica (C.japonica ) flowers and preliminarily explored the antioxidant and blood glucose-lowering effects of the extracted polyphenols,aiming to improve the utilization of C.japonica flowers.[Method ] With the flowers of Xinyang Maojian as raw materials,the ultrasonic-assisted method was adopted to extract polyphenols from C.japonica flowers,and the antioxidant and blood glucose-lowering activities of the extracted polyphenols were analyzed.With the extraction rate of polyphenols from C.japonica flowers as the evaluation index,the response surface methodology was adopted to explore the effects of ethanol volume fraction,solid-liquid ratio,extraction time,and ultrasonic power on the extraction …

Co-Expression And Application Of Enzymes For Preparation Of Β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Jiehu Liu, Lingqia Su, Huixian Fu, Jing Wu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to reduce the cost and simplify the production process of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (β-NMN ) by the enzyme catalytic method.[Method ] On the basis of the previously established β-NMN synthesis system with six enzymes,the six enzyme genes were combined in pairs to construct double-enzyme co-expression recombinant strains.Each crude enzyme solution obtained by co-expression was used for multi-enzyme catalytic cascade reaction to synthesize β-NMN.[Result ] The yield of β-NMN was as high as 72.90% when the concentration of the substrate D-ribose was 10 mmol/L.The optimal temperature and IPTG induction concentration for inducing the enzyme expression of the …

The Characterization Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Nebraska Drinking Water And Human Health Impacts, Sarah Tucker

Theses & Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds that have been detected in water sources of urban and rural environments with evidence of adverse human health effects from exposure. Humans are primarily exposed through ingestion of contaminated water and food. PFAS exposure has been linked to negative multi-system health outcomes (liver, kidneys, cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune). PFAS occur as persistent mixtures in environmental media with decades long consequences to water quality. While national agencies have launched large-scale PFAS water quality monitoring studies, limited data exists for contamination of rural water in Nebraska, especially private wells. The aims of this study …

The Speech-To-Song Illusion Across Development And The Effects Of High-Level Expectations, Rodica R. Constantine

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The typical listener can readily categorize auditory stimuli as either speech or song even though these structures share many acoustic similarities. These musical and linguistic categories may nevertheless take time to develop as children acquire language- and music-specific knowledge. In the Speech-to-Song (STS) illusion, multiple repetitions of a natural spoken utterance can give rise to a perceptual switch wherein the stimulus begins to sound song-like to the listener. While the STS illusion has been well-researched in adult listeners, it had yet to be investigated in children. In our study, we examined whether children experience the STS illusion by presenting participants …

Lipidomic And Proteomic Insights From Extracellular Vesicles In The Postmortem Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Reveal Substance Use Disorder-Induced Brain Changes, Chioma M Okeoma, Wasifa Naushad, Bryson C Okeoma, Carlos Gartner, Yulica Santos-Ortega, Calvin Vary, Savio Lima-Bastos, Victor Corasolla Carregari, Martin R Larsen, Alessio Noghero, Consuelo Walss-Bass, Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Substance use disorder (SUD) significantly increases the risk of neurotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired neuroplasticity. The activation of inflammatory pathways by substances may lead to reactive astrogliosis and chronic neuroinflammation, potentially mediated by the release of extracellular particles (EPs), such as extracellular condensates (ECs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). These particles, which reflect the physiological, pathophysiological, and metabolic states of their cells of origin, might carry molecular signatures indicative of SUD. In particular, our study investigated neuroinflammatory signatures in SUD patients by isolating EVs from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) Brodmann's area 9 (BA9) from postmortem subjects. We isolated BA9-derived …

Rna’S Symphony: Harmonizing Splice Junctions And Exon Counts For A Novel Approach To Differential Splicing Analysis, Jelard Aquino

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alternative Splicing (AS) plays a critical role in transcriptome complexity and cell-type-specific gene regulation, yet its analysis remains methodologically fragmented, especially in the context of noisy and sparse single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. This dissertation addresses key computational challenges in AS detection by evaluating existing tools, developing integrative frameworks, and proposing new strategies for improving analysis accuracy in both bulk and single-cell contexts. In chapter 1, I present a comprehensive literature review of computational tools designed for detecting and quantifying AS from bulk and scRNA-seq data. This review outlines major methodological paradigms, including exon-based and splice junction-based approaches, and evaluates …

Exploring The Processing Of Objects, Settings, And Global Properties In Natural Auditory Scenes, Margaret A. Mcmullin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Our auditory system has a remarkable ability to make sense of complex environments, allowing us to identify what we are hearing and where sounds come from. This process of auditory scene analysis is essential for situational awareness, decision-making, and effective communication in daily life. While much is known about how listeners segregate and identify individual sound sources (e.g., voices), less is understood about how global properties of a scene (e.g., openness, naturalness) contribute to perception. This dissertation examined how object- and setting-level information in natural auditory scenes are processed, and whether they rely on distinct or overlapping mechanisms. In Experiment …