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Analyzing Fungal Growth Dynamics Under Different Environmental Conditions Using A Lotka–Volterra Competition System, Maria Ordonez, Fabrio Araujo Aug 2026

Analyzing Fungal Growth Dynamics Under Different Environmental Conditions Using A Lotka–Volterra Competition System, Maria Ordonez, Fabrio Araujo

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fungi play a critical role in ecosystems as decomposers that recycle nutrients and maintain environmental balance. Their populations are influenced by multiple environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, nutrient availability, and interactions with other organisms. In this project, the Lotka–Volterra model is used to analyze how competing fungal species interact and how these interactions influence population dynamics over time. By modeling two fungal populations competing for the same limited resources, the equations illustrate how environmental conditions and competition coefficients determine whether one species dominates; both species coexist, or one species becomes extinct. The model provides insight into how changes in …


Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden Aug 2026

Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body’s tissues are deprived of oxygen and has deleterious effects on cognition, perception, and performance. Hypoxia has a myriad of symptoms such as euphoria, difficulty concentrating, headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, tunnel vision, and more. Outward signs of hypoxia include cyanosis (blueing of the fingertips and lips), tremors, loss of coordination, pallor, and complexion change, and can be used to notice the onset of hypoxia in others. Many factors are known to contribute to the manifestation of hypoxia, namely altitude, exposure duration, and certain physiological conditions such as heart problems and low blood flow …


From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le Aug 2026

From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

The 1918 Influenza and COVID- 19 pandemic have become two major public health crises that reshaped the role of nurses in the America healthcare system. Although a hundred years apart, both pandemics revealed how deeply the country depends on nurses during emergencies without proper and efficient strategies. This paper argues that these pandemics acted as turning points that redefined the social contract between nurses and the U.S. healthcare system. By examining historical context, nurses’ responsibilities, public perception, and long-term effects, this research show how pandemics expanded nurses’ authority while also exposing long-term weakness of the systems. In 1918, nurses were …


Bcg Overexpressing Ag85b Reprograms Host Immune Response Through Coordinated Transcriptional Networks, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Raja Veerapandian, Enrique I. Ramos, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Shrikanth Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani Aug 2026

Bcg Overexpressing Ag85b Reprograms Host Immune Response Through Coordinated Transcriptional Networks, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Raja Veerapandian, Enrique I. Ramos, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Shrikanth Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Antigen 85B (Ag85B), an immunodominant protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), induces robust T-cell-mediated immunity in host cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant BCG strains overexpressing Ag85B (BCG85B) confer significant protection against tuberculosis in mouse models. This study hypothesized that enhanced protection by recombinant BCG85B results from modulation of host immune gene expression by the Ag85B antigen. To test this, RNA-seq analysis was performed on splenocytes from mice immunized with the wild-type BCG (BCG-WT) and BCG85B strains. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the splenocytes of BCG85B-immunized mice indicated upregulation of immune-related KEGG pathways, including Th1/Th2 and Th17 differentiation, NF-kappa …


Improving Adherence To Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For Patients With Hypertension, Chioma Udegbune Aug 2026

Improving Adherence To Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For Patients With Hypertension, Chioma Udegbune

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, and suboptimal adherence to remote patient monitoring (RPM) limits opportunities for timely intervention and effective blood pressure management in outpatient primary care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Among outpatient clinic nursing staff responsible for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in adults with hypertension (P), how does implementation of a structured nurse-led education and reminder protocol (I), compared to standard RPM practices consisting of routine onboarding and passive reminder processes (C), influence patient adherence to RPM protocols (O) over a 10-week period (T)?

Evidence: Evidence supports nurse-led education, …


Nursing Staff’S Perception Of The Implementation Of The Obstetric Emergency Code Pink, Mareena Johnson Aug 2026

Nursing Staff’S Perception Of The Implementation Of The Obstetric Emergency Code Pink, Mareena Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The local nursing practice problem addressed by this DNP doctoral project was the inconsistent and uneven response to obstetric emergencies within the health care setting. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the current implementation of the Code Pink protocol, identify any gaps or barriers in its effectiveness, and gather insights from nursing staff to propose refinements that would enhance its reliability and impact., The perception of nursing staff regarding obstetric emergency codes represents a critical dimension in the domain of maternal and neonatal health care, significantly influencing the efficacy of emergency responses and patient outcomes. Obstetric emergencies, such …


Myoelectric Transradial Prosthesis Motor Control With Temporal Convolutional Neural Network Signal Processing, Carolyn Ascha Richardson, Katherine Clark, Francis Genco, Hope Lea, Tobiah Rosser Aug 2026

Myoelectric Transradial Prosthesis Motor Control With Temporal Convolutional Neural Network Signal Processing, Carolyn Ascha Richardson, Katherine Clark, Francis Genco, Hope Lea, Tobiah Rosser

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Transradial (below-the-elbow) amputees account for more than half of all upper limb amputations. Myoelectric prosthetic arms, which use electromyography (EMG) sensors on the surface of the forearm to convert electrical signals from residual limb muscles and mimic hand movement, are popular options for these amputees. However, these prostheses are limited in residual muscle detection and movement accuracy. The objective of this project is to affordably manufacture an externally-powered transradial prosthesis prototype through EMG time-versus-voltage readings collected with six Delsys Trigno Avanti and eight Thalmic MYO EMG sensor channels placed along the extensor digitorum, extensor carpi radialis, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor …


Fatigue And Circadian Disruption In Long-Haul Ferry Pilots: Human Factors Challenges And Mitigation Strategies, Parneet Makkar Aug 2026

Fatigue And Circadian Disruption In Long-Haul Ferry Pilots: Human Factors Challenges And Mitigation Strategies, Parneet Makkar

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fatigue and circadian rhythm disruption present significant human factors challenges in long-haul aviation operations, particularly for ferry pilots (pilots responsible for transporting aircraft long distances between locations) who often travel across multiple time zones before beginning flight duties. Circadian rhythms regulate the human sleep-wake cycle and are closely tied to cognitive performance, alertness, and coordination. Rapid travel across time zones can disrupt these rhythms, producing symptoms commonly associated with jet lag such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced cognitive functioning. For ferry pilots, long travel periods and irregular schedules may increase the likelihood of fatigue before flight operations even begin. …


Mri-Based Estimation Of The Hip Joint Center In Infants Using Two Sphere-Fitting Methods, Victoria Melendez Aug 2026

Mri-Based Estimation Of The Hip Joint Center In Infants Using Two Sphere-Fitting Methods, Victoria Melendez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Accurate estimation of the hip joint center (HJC) is critical for biomechanical modeling and clinical assessment. Common methods include predictive methods (e.g., regression equations) and functional methods such as sphere-fitting. In infants, femoral head-based methods are often limited due to incomplete ossification of the anatomy and poor visualization in computed tomography (CT) images. This study evaluates an alternative approach using MRI-based sphere fitting of the ossified acetabular rim, comparing its accuracy to traditional femoral head-based methods. MRI scans of three male infants (ages 10.7- 12.7 months) were used to manually place landmarks on the ossified acetabulum and the cartilaginous boundary …


Metabolic Regulation And Immunity In The Spaceflight Environment, Graeme Grainger, Riley Dienna, Astrid Senko, Angela Cebula, Arden Rodriguez Arden Rodriguez Aug 2026

Metabolic Regulation And Immunity In The Spaceflight Environment, Graeme Grainger, Riley Dienna, Astrid Senko, Angela Cebula, Arden Rodriguez Arden Rodriguez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Long-duration spaceflight exposes astronauts to chronic ionizing radiation and microgravity that disrupts homeostasis in the immune system and cellular metabolism. While simulated spaceflight models demonstrate altered T-cell polarization and sex-dependent shifts toward regulatory phenotypes, the metabolic mechanisms driving these immune changes remain unclear. Immune cell function is tightly linked to metabolic programming, with effector T cells relying on glycolysis and regulatory T cells favoring oxidative metabolism, making them highly sensitive to shifts in nutrient availability and redox balance. Emerging research further suggests that neutrophils act as metabolic regulators capable of reshaping the immune microenvironment through oxidative stress, cytokine production, and …


Improving Documentation Of Skin Assessment In The Med-Surg Overflow Microsystem, Min Kim, Mikeal A. Swift Aug 2026

Improving Documentation Of Skin Assessment In The Med-Surg Overflow Microsystem, Min Kim, Mikeal A. Swift

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remain a costly patient safety concern with increased morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Inconsistent admission skin assessment documentation in a 24-bed overflow medical–surgical microsystem led to delayed wound identification and misclassification.

Context

A baseline needs assessment (n = 15) identified key barriers, including low nurse confidence utilizing Rover (mobile software application) and linking photos to the LDA (lines-drains-airway) in the electronic health record.

Intervention

A bundle of 6 components was tested over 12 weeks: standardization of the two-RN skin assessments within 8 hours of admission or transfer; optimization of Rover photo capture and LDA linkage; …


Belonging And Whole Person Formation In Graduate Education: A Conceptual Framework For Student Flourishing, Cynthia Hickman Aug 2026

Belonging And Whole Person Formation In Graduate Education: A Conceptual Framework For Student Flourishing, Cynthia Hickman

Papers

Graduate students experience substantial academic, personal, and professional demands that can negatively affect well-being and persistence. For students enrolled in professional programs, belonging may develop within two overlapping communities: the academic institution and the emerging profession. Institutional and professional belonging can provide connection, support, engagement, and opportunities for identity and professional development. This paper synthesizes literature on these two forms of belonging and proposes a conceptual framework describing their potential relationship with whole-person formation and flourishing. Whole-person formation extends graduate education beyond knowledge acquisition and professional competence to include development across interconnected dimensions of the person. Within the proposed framework, …


Transient Activation Of Potent Progenitor Cells Is Required For Spinal Cord Regeneration, Chase Alexander Weinholtz Aug 2026

Transient Activation Of Potent Progenitor Cells Is Required For Spinal Cord Regeneration, Chase Alexander Weinholtz

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mammalian spinal cord injury is an intractable biomedical problem driven by interlocking maladaptive cellular responses that prioritize acute stabilization over long-term recovery. However, this deficient regenerative capacity is not an inherent limitation. The zebrafish, for example, capably regenerates and regains motor function with 2 months of a full transection injury. This ability is thought to rely on the transient expansion of stem cell-like progenitors marked by sox2 expression. Yet our understanding of the identities and contributions of this crucial population remains limited. Here, we determine the molecular identities and cellular contributions of sox2+ progenitors during innate spinal cord repair in …


Prenatal Health Factors Of Pregnant People Associated With Second Degree Postpartum Hemorrhage Across The United States, Elizabeth Simpler Aug 2026

Prenatal Health Factors Of Pregnant People Associated With Second Degree Postpartum Hemorrhage Across The United States, Elizabeth Simpler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Secondary postpartum hemorrhage (SPPH) is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity in the United States and occurs after hospital discharge during the postpartum period. Persistent disparities in terms of maternal outcomes suggest access to prenatal care alone may not adequately address clinical and social factors associated with SPPH. Guided by the Social Ecological Model, which recognizes that health outcomes are influenced by a collective approach to examining health. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between SPPH, prenatal care access, and social determinants of health from 2019 to 2022 while controlling for maternal age, race, and delivery type. …


Assessing Non-Thermal Plasma In Cutaneous Regeneration, Arden Rodriguez, Meliah Martin, Graeme Grainger, Arineh Shahbazi Aug 2026

Assessing Non-Thermal Plasma In Cutaneous Regeneration, Arden Rodriguez, Meliah Martin, Graeme Grainger, Arineh Shahbazi

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Chronic and acute wounds remain a significant clinical challenge, particularly in austere and resource-limited environments where access to advanced care is restricted. Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive modality with reported antimicrobial and regenerative properties; however, its mechanisms of action and effects on human skin tissue require further characterization. The scope of this project is to engineer and utilize a 3D human skin epithelial model to evaluate the effects of NTP on wound healing. We will first build a 3D epithelial tissue model that will simulate human skin, followed by modeling and evaluation of wound pathology and …


Extraction Of Cedarwood Essential Oils Via Steam Distillation, Forrest Dohner Aug 2026

Extraction Of Cedarwood Essential Oils Via Steam Distillation, Forrest Dohner

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Many natural materials, including pine and eucalyptus, produce distinct scents due to the presence of volatile organic compounds. In cedarwood, this aroma arises from a combination of aromatic molecules, which are organic compounds containing conjugated carbon ring systems that interact with olfactory receptors. Specifically, cedarwood contains three primary compounds responsible for its scent: cedrol, cedrene, and thujopene. The objective of this experiment was to extract these essential oils from cedarwood and identify their chemical composition. Steam distillation was used to isolate the volatile components by passing steam through the cedarwood, causing the essential oils to vaporize at temperatures below their …


Gene Therapy Strategies To Enhance Antifungal Immunity In Microgravity, Riley Dienna Aug 2026

Gene Therapy Strategies To Enhance Antifungal Immunity In Microgravity, Riley Dienna

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

During spaceflight, the immune system of astronauts becomes impaired due to microgravity, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections caused by pathogens such as Candida albicans. One of the most common clinical treatments for aggressive candidiasis is amphotericin B, a polyene antimycotic that targeted ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane and compromised the stability of the membrane. However, due to the chemical similarities between ergosterol and cholesterol, this treatment also affects the somatic cells of patients it is administered to. A novel treatment is therefore required to combat the aggressive fungal infection while minimizing damage to the host’s cells. This project …


Production And Analysis Of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, And Applications, Mary Zoeller Aug 2026

Production And Analysis Of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, And Applications, Mary Zoeller

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the …


Interactive Effects Of Tissue Temperature And Hydration State On Tendon Mechanical Properties Using A Chicken Drumstick Model, Makayla Maso, Kiara Maso, Mikayla Hulvey Aug 2026

Interactive Effects Of Tissue Temperature And Hydration State On Tendon Mechanical Properties Using A Chicken Drumstick Model, Makayla Maso, Kiara Maso, Mikayla Hulvey

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study focused on the effects of temperature and hydration on tendon extensibility. Four experimental groups were tested using chicken leg tendons tested ex vivo: cold and dehydrated, cold and hydrated, warm and dehydrated, and warm and hydrated. Each treatment group was pulled with an increasing load and measured. It was hypothesized that the warm and hydrated test group would extend the furthest. This was based on studies citing increased bodily flexibility with increasing body temperature as well as stiffness at lower temperatures. Combining temperature and hydration state allowed for not only individual effects of variables to be tested but …


Simulating Pacemakers And Heartbeat Recovery Through Mathematical Modeling, Thomas Estrada, Jayla Edwards Aug 2026

Simulating Pacemakers And Heartbeat Recovery Through Mathematical Modeling, Thomas Estrada, Jayla Edwards

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Title: Simulating Pacemakers and Heartbeat Recovery Through Mathematical Modeling   This study utilizes the Fitzhugh-Nagumo model to simulate cardiac electrical activity and the regulatory role of pacemakers through ordinary differential equations (ODEs). By defining the rate of change for membrane voltage, 𝑑𝑣/dt, and a recovery variable, 𝑑𝑤/dt, the model captures the heart's excitability and resting states. Central to the analysis is the stimulus current parameter, which represents the "kick" provided by a pacemaker to correct flatline conditions or weak heartbeats. Using Euler’s method for numerical integration, the research compares unstable cardiac rhythms against corrected periodic oscillations. Additionally, the project implements vector …


Translational Reading Frame Predicts The Pathogenicity Of C-Terminal Frameshift Deletions In Mecp2, Jacky Guy, Elena Hein, Beatrice Alexander-Howden, Timur Von Bock Und Polach, Tricia Mathieson, Benjamin P Kleinstiver, Huda Y Zoghbi, Adrian Bird Aug 2026

Translational Reading Frame Predicts The Pathogenicity Of C-Terminal Frameshift Deletions In Mecp2, Jacky Guy, Elena Hein, Beatrice Alexander-Howden, Timur Von Bock Und Polach, Tricia Mathieson, Benjamin P Kleinstiver, Huda Y Zoghbi, Adrian Bird

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Mutations in the MECP2 gene cause the severe neurological disorder Rett syndrome. A cluster of frameshift-causing C-terminal deletions (CTDs) removes ~100 amino acids and accounts for approximately 10% of RTT-causing mutations. Their pathogenicity is unexpected because this C-terminal domain is dispensable in mice. Analysis of pathogenic and benign human MECP2 variants reveals that some individuals with apparently typical CTDs do not develop Rett syndrome, confirming that C-terminal truncations are not intrinsically pathogenic. Using human sequence data and mouse models we show that pathogenicity results from a marked reduction in MeCP2 levels and depends on the presence of a proline proline …


Malt1 Protease Inhibition Restrains Glioblastoma Progression By Reversing Tumor-Associated Macrophage-Dependent Immunosuppression In Mice, Juliana Hofstätter Azambuja, Saigopalakrishna Yerneni, Lisa Maurer, Hannah Crentsil, Gabriela Debom, Linda Klei, Mei Smyers, Chaim Sneiderman, Kristina Schwab, Rajesh Acharya, Aivi Nguyen, Josie Emery, John Little, Jeffrey Meridew, Yijen Lin Wu, Prasanna Ekambaram, Dong Hu, Pete Gough, John Bertin, Ari Melnick, Gary Kohanbash, Riyue Bao, Peter Lucas, Linda Mcallister-Lucas Aug 2026

Malt1 Protease Inhibition Restrains Glioblastoma Progression By Reversing Tumor-Associated Macrophage-Dependent Immunosuppression In Mice, Juliana Hofstätter Azambuja, Saigopalakrishna Yerneni, Lisa Maurer, Hannah Crentsil, Gabriela Debom, Linda Klei, Mei Smyers, Chaim Sneiderman, Kristina Schwab, Rajesh Acharya, Aivi Nguyen, Josie Emery, John Little, Jeffrey Meridew, Yijen Lin Wu, Prasanna Ekambaram, Dong Hu, Pete Gough, John Bertin, Ari Melnick, Gary Kohanbash, Riyue Bao, Peter Lucas, Linda Mcallister-Lucas

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

MALT1 protease is an intracellular signaling molecule that promotes tumor progression via cancer cell-intrinsic and cancer cell-extrinsic mechanisms. MALT1 has been mostly studied in lymphocytes, and little is known about its role in tumor-associated macrophages. We show that MALT1 is expressed in glioblastoma (GBM)-associated macrophages. Mechanistically, GBM tumor cells induce a MALT1-NF-κB signaling axis in macrophages, leading to enhanced macrophage migration and polarization toward an immunosuppressive ('M2-like') phenotype. Inactivation of MALT1 protease promotes transcriptional reprogramming that reduces migration and restores a macrophage anti-tumor 'M1-like' phenotype. Preclinical in vivo analysis shows that MALT1 inhibitor treatment results in immuno-reactivity of GBM-associated macrophages …


Cigarette Smoke Induces Fasn-Dependent Fatty Acid Metabolic Rewiring To Drive Bladder Cancer Progression, Chandra Sekhar Amara, Danthasinghe Waduge Badrajee Piyarathna, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Yuen San Chan, Karthik Reddy Kami Reddy, Chandra Shekar R Ambati, Mohammed Khurshidul Hassan, Pratik Shriwas, Tanmay Gandhi, Antrix Jain, Tanja Gangnus, Pooja Popli, Roshan Borkar, Sung Wook Kang, Silvia L Summers, Vasanta Putluri, Sandra L Grimm, Sharan Venkatesh, Ningxin Song, Erin H Seeley, Jenna Hedlich-Dwyer, Shu-Hsia Chen, Nupam P Mahajan, Abhinav K Jain, Lacey Elizabeth Dobrolecki, Gabrielle A Wells, Hugo Villanueva, Jenny Li, Xuefeng Liu, Roni J Bollag, Anna Malovannaya, Sung Yun Jung, Hyun-Sung Lee, Irfan A Asangani, Martha K Terris, Chad J Creighton, Leomar Y Ballester, Balasubramanyam Karanam, Suyu Liu, Minjae Lee, Rajeeva R Raju, M Minhaj Siddiqui, Livia S Eberlin, Ramakrishna Kommagani, Arun Sreekumar, Jianjun Gao, Nicolas L Young, H Courtney Hodges, Cristian Coarfa, Natalie R Gassman, Seth P Lerner, Yair Lotan, Nagireddy Putluri Aug 2026

Cigarette Smoke Induces Fasn-Dependent Fatty Acid Metabolic Rewiring To Drive Bladder Cancer Progression, Chandra Sekhar Amara, Danthasinghe Waduge Badrajee Piyarathna, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Yuen San Chan, Karthik Reddy Kami Reddy, Chandra Shekar R Ambati, Mohammed Khurshidul Hassan, Pratik Shriwas, Tanmay Gandhi, Antrix Jain, Tanja Gangnus, Pooja Popli, Roshan Borkar, Sung Wook Kang, Silvia L Summers, Vasanta Putluri, Sandra L Grimm, Sharan Venkatesh, Ningxin Song, Erin H Seeley, Jenna Hedlich-Dwyer, Shu-Hsia Chen, Nupam P Mahajan, Abhinav K Jain, Lacey Elizabeth Dobrolecki, Gabrielle A Wells, Hugo Villanueva, Jenny Li, Xuefeng Liu, Roni J Bollag, Anna Malovannaya, Sung Yun Jung, Hyun-Sung Lee, Irfan A Asangani, Martha K Terris, Chad J Creighton, Leomar Y Ballester, Balasubramanyam Karanam, Suyu Liu, Minjae Lee, Rajeeva R Raju, M Minhaj Siddiqui, Livia S Eberlin, Ramakrishna Kommagani, Arun Sreekumar, Jianjun Gao, Nicolas L Young, H Courtney Hodges, Cristian Coarfa, Natalie R Gassman, Seth P Lerner, Yair Lotan, Nagireddy Putluri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cigarette smoke promotes bladder tumor growth by enhancing cancer cell survival and proliferation through smoke mediated carcinogens. FASN, a key enzyme in fatty acid synthesis, is dysregulated in many cancers and correlates with aggressive phenotypes. In this study, we demonstrate elevated fatty acid levels and FASN specifically in smokers with bladder cancer. Elevated FASN under smoke exposure imparted epigenetic alterations, particularly histone acetylation, impacts DNA repair and DNA-binding transcription factors which regulate metabolic pathways. Under cigarette smoke, bladder cancer cells undergo a metabolic shift, utilizing glutamine as a major carbon source through reductive carboxylation to fuel fatty acid biosynthesis via …


Recalibrating Risk: A Call For South Asian-Focused Heart Failure Prediction Models, Nandini Nair, Dongping Du, Aiswarya J. Pillai, Swarna Mahesh, Mrudula R. Munagala, Howard J. Eisen, Balakrishnan Mahesh Aug 2026

Recalibrating Risk: A Call For South Asian-Focused Heart Failure Prediction Models, Nandini Nair, Dongping Du, Aiswarya J. Pillai, Swarna Mahesh, Mrudula R. Munagala, Howard J. Eisen, Balakrishnan Mahesh

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Background: Heart failure (HF) represents the final common pathway of diverse cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery disease, primary myocardial pathology, and abnormalities of cardiac conduction. These conditions arise from an interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychosocial influences, making it essential to understand these determinants to improve risk prediction and prevention. Multiple biological pathways of inflammation, fibrosis, coagulation, oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances are shaped by inherited susceptibility and modifiable exposures. Together, these mechanisms drive HF development and progression, though their relative contributions vary across populations. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for clinical, biomedical, and …


Robustness Assessment Of Head And Neck Proton Therapy Plans Using Composite Synthetic Cts: A Preliminary Step Toward Ai Driven Anatomy Prediction Planning: A Retrospective Dosimetric Study., Ryan Michael Rodriguez Aug 2026

Robustness Assessment Of Head And Neck Proton Therapy Plans Using Composite Synthetic Cts: A Preliminary Step Toward Ai Driven Anatomy Prediction Planning: A Retrospective Dosimetric Study., Ryan Michael Rodriguez

Masters Projects

Proton therapy is more commonly being utilized for head and neck cancer treatment due to its ability to reduce dose to the surrounding normal tissue. However, one of the biggest challenges in proton treatment is its sensitivity to changes in tissue density, often necessitating adaptive replanning. This study evaluated if incorporating additional synthetic CTs (sCT) datasets during robust optimization can create treatment plans that maintain target coverage and organ sparing despite anatomical changes better than the original nominal plan, thereby reducing the need for adaptive planning in head and neck proton treatment. Ten head and neck cancer patients who underwent …


The Role Of Chimeric Antigen Receptor Regulatory T Cells In Promoting Immune Tolerance In Solid Organ Transplantation: Mechanisms And Therapeutic Potential, Maher S. Alwethaynani Aug 2026

The Role Of Chimeric Antigen Receptor Regulatory T Cells In Promoting Immune Tolerance In Solid Organ Transplantation: Mechanisms And Therapeutic Potential, Maher S. Alwethaynani

Saudi Medical Journal

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage organ failure; however, lifelong immunosuppressant use is needed to prevent allograft rejection. These drugs increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, liver, kidney, and lung cancers, and heighten susceptibility to oncogenic viruses, including hepatitis B and Epstein-Barr virus. The usage of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) regulatory T (Treg) cells is a promising approach to induce transplant tolerance while minimizing dependence on immunosuppressants. The CAR Tregs offer the potential to enhance graft survival and quality of life by reducing immunosuppressant-related morbidity and mortality. Despite remarkable progress in transplantation tolerance, challenges …


Exploring Translational Medical Research Progress In G20 Countries: 5-Year Study, Hana A. Alhumud, Fars K. Alanazi, Edward B. Devol Aug 2026

Exploring Translational Medical Research Progress In G20 Countries: 5-Year Study, Hana A. Alhumud, Fars K. Alanazi, Edward B. Devol

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: Biomedical research is crucial for advancing medical knowledge and improving public health. However, the research process is often disjointed and lacks seamless progression, leading to delays and missed opportunities. To address this, the concept of translational research has emerged, focusing on the smooth transition of research results to the next stage of inquiry. Methods: This study analyzed approximately 40,000 research publications from the Web of Science database to identify research activities associated with translational research. Publications from Group of 20 (G20) countries over the past 5 years were examined to explore patterns of research focus and progress in this …


Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Home-Health Aide-Delivered Loneliness Reduction Program In A Small Home Care Agency: The Caring Connections Quality Improvement Project, Tontalayia L. Robinson Aug 2026

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Home-Health Aide-Delivered Loneliness Reduction Program In A Small Home Care Agency: The Caring Connections Quality Improvement Project, Tontalayia L. Robinson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Loneliness is a significant public health concern that adversely affects mental, cognitive, and physical health, with consequences comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Home care recipients experience loneliness at rates of 15.9% to 24.2%, yet home-health aides (HHAs), who often have the most consistent contact with homebound clients, lack structured tools for recognizing and responding to loneliness. This gap highlights the need for practical, evidence-based strategies that can be integrated into routine home care practice. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of a home-health aide–delivered loneliness …


"Help Me Live It The Way You Do": Grounding Singaporean Responses To The Rorschach Situation, Casey Y. Lee Aug 2026

"Help Me Live It The Way You Do": Grounding Singaporean Responses To The Rorschach Situation, Casey Y. Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary research on the Rorschach and culture is striking for the latter’s disappearance as a variable of significance (Meyer et al., 2015; Meyer et al., 2007; Mihura et al., 2013; Viglione & Hilsenroth, 2001). This erasure is chronicled and reproduced in the narratives of universal objectivity, of extensive international meta-analyses, of replications, of standardized norms (Ritzler, 2004; Smith et al., 2018; Smith et al., 2020; Weiner, 2004). A different story emerges, however, when we ask, how has culture disappeared? The proposed study is a multimethod qualitative analysis of Singaporean responses to the Rorschach, aimed at generating sensitive yet critical discourses …


Ai-Enhanced Ct Reconstruction: Effects On Image Quality Across Dose Levels And Implications For Radiation Dose Optimization: A Systematic Review, Matthew R. Alberto Aug 2026

Ai-Enhanced Ct Reconstruction: Effects On Image Quality Across Dose Levels And Implications For Radiation Dose Optimization: A Systematic Review, Matthew R. Alberto

Radiologic Sciences

Purpose To evaluate how deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) affects diagnostic image quality and noise characteristics at different radiation dose levels and how it influences dose optimization compared with conventional reconstruction methods.

Method A systematic review was conducted using major databases for studies published between 2020 and 2026. Eligible studies assessed DLIR across multiple dose levels, reported radiation dose, included quantitative image quality metrics, and compared DLIR with filtered back projection or iterative reconstruction.

Results Thirty‑seven studies met criteria, and 15 were synthesized. Three themes emerged: (a) DLIR reduced noise by 15–82% and often improved signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios while …