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Improved Simulation, Bayesian Estimation, Phase Activation, And Non-Cartesian Reconstruction In Fmri, John Bodenschatz

Dissertations (1934 -)

In fMRI it is desirable to obtain images with high contrast and low noise at a high spatio-temporal resolution. Doing so allows for a more reliable assessment of capturing brain dynamics in higher detail. Many techniques have been employed and tested to collect more images per unit of time and/or increase spatial resolution, while maintaining a high quality image. This has been done using in-plane and through-plane acceleration with promising results (SENSE, GRAPPA, CAIPIRINHA, CAIPIVAT). Following a description of work done towards a unified fMRI simulation software package, this dissertation will present work towards three methods to enhance fMRI time …

Social Determinants Of Health And Caregiver Mental Health Screening In The Neontal Intensive Care Unit, Chloe Hicks Fisher

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Perinatal mental health conditions affect approximately one in five mothers and one in ten fathers in the United States, and caregivers of newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at an elevated risk for developing mental health conditions due to the significant stress associated with infant hospitalization. However, not all caregivers complete mental health screenings, raising concern that current protocols may be failing to reach a meaningful subset of this population. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-medical factors that influence health outcomes and are known risk factors for mental health conditions in perinatal populations. The present …

Applied Data Science Insights Into Grade Eight Math, Physics, And Ap® Physics Exam-Taking Influencing Act Stem Outcomes, Reema Banerjee

Dissertations (1934 -)

This study examined the longitudinal relationships among eighth grade mathematics proficiency, high school physics availability, AP® Physics exam participation, and ACT STEM scores across Wisconsin public school districts. A retrospective, multi-cohort design was used, and two cohorts were tracked from middle school through junior year. Publicly available datasets were analyzed using an applied data science approach in R, incorporating exploratory visualization, univariate and bivariate analyses, and multivariate regression modeling. Results indicated a positive association between eighth-grade mathematics proficiency and ACT STEM outcomes. AP® Physics exam participation emerged as a statistically significant independent predictor of ACT STEM scores after controlling for …

The Synthesis And Evaluation Of Thioxothiazolidin-4-One Compounds As Pim Kinase Inhibitors, Kelly Malzewski

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The Proviral integration site for Moloney Murine Leukemia virus (PIM) kinases belongs to the family of serine/threonine kinases consisting of three isoforms; PIM1, PIM2, PIM3. PIM kinase is involved in multiple cellular processes through the phosphorylation of several proteins within the JAK/STAT pathway, leading to cell proliferation, apoptosis inhibition, cell migration, transcription, and energy metabolism. However, disruption or overexpression of PIM within the cycle can have negative, tumorigenesis effects with increased fatality rates. Currently, there are no FDA approved PIM kinase inhibitors available for specific cancer target therapies, despite the growing need and high demand research interests. It is widely …

Identification Of Sex Chromosomes In The Genus Lepidodactylus, Zuleihat Yusuf Idris

Master's Theses (2009 -)

ABSTRACT IDENTIFICATION OF SEX CHROMOSOMES IN THE GENUS LEPIDODACTYLUS Zuleihat Y. Idris, M.S Marquette University, 2026 Sex determination in vertebrates is remarkably diverse and is characterized by frequent evolutionary transitions between genetic sex determination (GSD) and environmental sex determination (ESD). Within reptiles, geckos (Gekkota) exhibit the most diverse sex determination mechanism in vertebrates. Although geckos are the target of more recent research, most lineages still lack identifiable sex-determining mechanisms. This gap in knowledge has limited the understanding of the diversity and evolution of sex determination in vertebrates. In this study, an automated pipeline (FnPiPER) and whole-genome resequencing from male and …

The Role Of Avoidance In The Relationship Between The Impact Of Childhood Trauma And Physiological Responsivity To Fear And Reward In Adulthood, Tristan Alana Benjamin

Dissertations (1934 -)

Childhood trauma is prevalent and has been associated with deleterious physical and psychological outcomes that persist into adulthood. Extensive research on the neurobiological consequences of experiencing trauma has demonstrated an association between experiencing a traumatic event and elevated physiological arousal in response to fearful stimuli compared to healthy controls. By contrast, emerging research has found that adults who experienced a traumatic event during childhood demonstrate blunted physiological arousal responses. The physiological profile associated with childhood trauma may be related to coping strategies utilized; notably, children may be more likely to engage in avoidance to cope with the impact of trauma …

The Influence Of The Timing Of Definitive Restoration Placement After Root Canal Completion: A 22-Year Retrospective Study, Shikha Gupta

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: To evaluate how the time interval between root canal obturation and the placement of a definitive restoration impacts the incidence of tooth failure, defined as non-surgical retreatment, apical surgery, or extraction. Methods: This 22-year-retrospective cohort study utilized electronic health records from the Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSoD) axiUm database, analyzing 11,002 teeth treated between 2004 and 2026. Inclusion criteria required patients to be at least 18 years of age, categorized as established patients of record, with all non-surgical root canal treatments (NSRCT) meeting the 2020 AAE quality standards. The interval between obturation and restoration was categorized into seven …

Emotional Awareness And Resilience In Adolescents, Emilie Zimmerman

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Adolescent trauma exposure is prevalent and associated with a range of negative developmental outcomes. However, some youth demonstrate resilience. Emotional awareness, a foundational component of emotion regulation, may play a role in promoting adaptive functioning following adversity, though its contribution to resilience in trauma-exposed adolescents remains unclear. The present study examined whether emotional awareness is associated with multiple domains of resilience including prosocial behavior, self-efficacy to handle conflict, perceived resilience, and emotional and conduct problems, after accounting for trauma exposure. Participants were 36 adolescents enrolled in a support program for at-risk youth. Data were obtained from youth-report measures of trauma …

Sex-Specific Differences In Lung Mitochondrial Function And Injury In Rats Exposed To Hyperoxia, Taheri Pardis, Abraham G. Taye, Devanshi D. Dave, Elizabeth R. Jacobs, Guru Prasad Sharma, Anne V. Clough, Ranjan K. Dash, Said H. Audi

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Hyperoxia is both an essential therapy and a contributor to lung injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome. We hypothesized that adult female rats are relatively protected from hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI) compared with males and that this protection is associated with sex-dependent differences in lung mitochondrial bioenergetics and H₂O₂ production. Adult rats were exposed to room air (normoxia) or hyperoxia (>95% O₂) for up to 60 h. Lung injury was assessed by pleural effusion, lung wet weight, pulmonary vascular filtration coefficient (K_f), histologic injury scores, and cleaved caspase-3 (CC3) staining. …

Long-Term Effect Of Ammonia- And Water-Based Silver Fluoride On Dentin Collagen Matrix, Merve Uctasli, Roda Seseogullari-Dirihan, Thiago Henrique Scarabello Stape, Mustafa Murat Mutluay, Arzu Tezvergil-Mutluay

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To evaluate the long-term effect of ammonia- and water-based silver fluoride treatments on the degradation of the dentin collagen matrix.

Methods

Dentin beams (0.3x3x7mm) were demineralized (10 % H₃PO₄), rinsed and randomly distributed into six groups. Groups (n = 10 beams/group) were treated with (1) ammonia-based silver fluoride = SDF; (2) SDF + potassium iodide = KI (3) water-based silver fluoride = SF (4) SF + KI (5) KI (6) untreated demineralized dentin beams served as control. Following treatments, dry mass, modulus of elasticity and enzymatic activity were assessed. Dentin beams were incubated in calcium- …

Severity And Duration-Dependent Aortic Stiffening In A Rabbit Coarctation Model Identifies Constitutive Material Parameters As Promising Regional Biomarkers For Hypertension Progression, Arash Ghorbannia, Jamasp Azarnoosh, John F. Ladisa Jr.

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) alters hemodynamics and drives regional remodeling, yet the influence of severity and duration on constitutive properties is undefined. We quantified mechanical responses from CoA to identify constitutive parameters capturing stiffening across clinical severities and durations. Mild (≤ 12 mmHg), intermediate (13–20 mmHg), and severe (> 20 mmHg) CoA was created in rabbits for short, long, and prolonged durations (~ 1, 3, or 22 weeks, respectively). Stress–stretch curves from proximal and distal regions were fit with multiple constitutive models (Linear Elastic, Neo-Hookean, Yeoh, Ogden, Mooney–Rivlin, Holzapfel). Model performance was evaluated by normalized RMSE and R², with …

Dna Methylation Of Slc6a4 And Nr3c1 In Term And Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study Of Nicu-Associated Stress, Kathryn J. Malin, Yvette P. Conley, Aleigha Barry, Rosemary White-Traut

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Preterm infants requiring prolonged hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are often exposed to early-life stress, which may contribute to long-term health consequences. Epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm) of stress-related genes such as SLC6A4 and NR3C1, have been identified as potential biomarkers of early-life stress. Limited research has compared DNAm patterns between term and preterm infants or examined associations between NICU-related stress and DNAm in preterm populations. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to (1) compare DNAm patterns between preterm and term infants, (2) examine relationships between NICU-related stress and DNAm alterations in preterm infants, and …

A Double-Edged Sword? Liana Wood Decomposes Faster Than Tree Wood, Denis Mburu Njoroge, Aphrodis Munyaneza, Juan Zuo, Gbadamassi G. O. Dossa, Douglas Schaefer, Rhett D. Harrison, Stefan A. Schnitzer, J. Hans C. Cornelissen

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Lianas are increasing in many forests and show higher stem turnover rates and different chemical profiles compared with trees. However, liana deadwood decomposition dynamics have been overlooked. We redress this omission and hypothesize that liana wood decomposes faster than tree wood due to its larger vessels and higher nutrient content than trees, resulting in greater activity of both microbial and invertebrate decomposers. We tested this hypothesis in a common-garden decomposition experiment with deadwood of two size classes (2.5 and 4 cm diameter) belonging to 12 liana and 12 tree species in tropical China. Liana wood decomposed 28.6% faster than tree …

Graph Neural Networks Predict Anti-Epileptic Treatment Response In Non-Lesional Infantile Epileptic Spasm Syndrome, Karen K. Wurzel

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Background: With an incidence rate of approximately three out of 10,000 live births, Infantile Epileptic Spasm Syndrome (IESS) is a rare form of epilepsy with about 2,000 to 2,500 new cases in the United States annually. Each year, thousands of infants and families face uncertainty, often requiring multiple medication regimens before finding an effective treatment. This thesis uses pretreatment structural brain connectivity data to train Graph Neural Networks (GNN) to predict antiepileptic drug response in infants with IESS, aiming to reduce the trial-and-error approach and improve care for those with IESS. Method: The dataset used in this thesis contains de-identified …

Characterization Of Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury In Adult Female Rats, Abraham G. Taye

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung disease that results from direct or indirect insults to the lung, leading to air-blood barrier damage, pulmonary edema, hypoxemia, and multi-organ failure. Hyperoxia, or exposure to high fractions of oxygen, is used as a life-saving therapy to improve blood oxygenation in patients with ARDS. However, it can also worsen lung injury by inducing excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), primarily from mitochondria, and by contributing to the progression of ARDS. Rat exposure to hyperoxia is a well-established animal model of clinical ARDS that replicates key clinical features. Clinical and preclinical …

Molecular Lung Imaging Following Exposure To Radiation Predicts Long-Term Survival In Rats, Anne V. Clough, Kathrina Mpala, Taheri Pardis, Laura Norwood Toro, Andreas M. Beyer, Tracy Gasperetti, Ming Zhao, Sarah Kerns, Heather A. Himburg, Said H. Audi

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE), including radiation pneumonitis (lung-DEARE), develop weeks to months after radiation exposure. Pathway-targeted biomarkers that capture early oxidative stress and cell death could improve risk stratification and provide objective measures of mitigator efficacy. The objective was to test whether molecular lung imaging predicts long-term survival and mitigator response after irradiation. Rats received 13.5 Gy leg-out partial-body irradiation with a subset treated with the radiation-injury mitigator lisinopril. Rats underwent lung imaging at weeks 2 and 4 post-irradiation with ^99mTc-duramycin (cell death) and ^99mTc-HMPAO (oxidative stress). Plasma mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs) were also …

Childhood Maltreatment And Deviations From Normative Brain Structure: A Mega-Analysis Of 3711 Individuals From The Enigma Major Depressive Disorder And Enigma Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Working Groups, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background. Childhood maltreatment (CM), encompassing abuse and neglect, is highly prevalent and associated with elevated risk for major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other related conditions. However, the extent to which neuroanatomical alterations in MDD and PTSD are attributable to CM is uncertain.

Methods. Here, we analyzed CM and whole-brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 3711 participants in the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) MDD and PTSD Working Groups (25 sites; mean age = 33.3 ± 13.0 years; 59.9% female). Normative modeling estimated deviation z scores for 14 subcortical volume, 68 cortical thickness …

Stroke Increases Motor Output Variability During Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contractions Of Knee Extensor Muscles In Adults, Zhilun Zhou, Stephanie Christine Wolfe, Brian Schmit, Matthew J. Durand, Sandra Hunter, Allison Hyngstrom

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Greater motor output variability (MOV, inconsistency and unsteadiness) during submaximal tasks post stroke is associated with poorer motor performance. However, little is known about MOV during maximal tasks and relationships with clinical measures of motor performance among stroke survivors. This study determined inconsistency (across discrete attempts) and unsteadiness (within a single attempt) during knee extension maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) in stroke survivors and neurotypical controls. Forty-three stroke survivors (28 female) and 31 age-matched neurotypical controls (15 female) performed a minimum of five knee extension MVICs with paretic and non-paretic legs (stroke) or dominant leg (controls). Inconsistency was calculated as …

Cytotoxicity Of Ammonia- And Water-Based Silver Fluoride Treatments, Merve Uctasli, Roda Seseogullari-Dirihan, Mustafa Murat Mutluay, Arzu Tezvergil-Mutluay

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

This study aims to investigate the trans-dentinal and direct cell viability of ammonia- and water-based silver fluoride treatments. Deep dentin discs were prepared, balanced for permeability and autoclaved. Three-dimensional cultures of odontoblast-like cells were transferred to the pulpal aspect of the dentin slices inside perfusion split chambers designed for dentin-barrier cytotoxicity test, following ISO 7405. An experimental resin-based glass ionomer cement and a polyvinylsiloxane impression material served as positive and negative controls, respectively. The experimental treatments included: (i) ammonia-based silver fluoride = SDF, (ii) SDF + potassium iodide = KI, (iii) water-based silver fluoride = SF, and (iv) SF + …

Editorial: Cellular Contributors And Consequences Of Protein Misfolding And Aggregation, Anoop Arunagiri, Emily M. Sontag, Verena Kohler, Arunkumar Venkatesan

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Independence Of Spectral Contrast Effects Across Different Frequency Regions In Speech Perception, Christian E. Stilp, Matthew B. Winn

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Identification of speech sounds is influenced by spectral contrast effects (SCEs), the perceptual magnification of spectral differences between successive sounds. SCEs result in the categorization of a target sound being biased away from spectral properties in the preceding acoustic context. Given remarkable consistency in the magnitudes of these contrast effects within the same frequency region, it was hypothesized that they would also show stable relationships across different frequency regions. In this study, normal-hearing listeners’ phoneme categorization and contrast effects were assessed where phonetic contrasts were driven by changes in low-frequency F₁ (“big”-“beg” continuum), mid-frequency F₃ (“dot”-“got”), or high-frequency …

(Wp 2026-01) Du Bois And Veblen's Concepts Of Relative Position: Common Ground Or Stratification Economics And Institutionalist Economics, John B. Davis

Economics Working Papers

W. E. B. Du Bois and Thorstein Veblen employed the concept of relative position. Du Bois' thinking reflects how for Stratification economics people's relative positions explain racial discrimination and segregation. Veblen reflects how for Institutionalist economics people's relative positions explain the role institutions have in the evolution of the economy. Racism in the US marginalized Du Bois' contributions, leaving a divide between his and Veblen's thinking and also between Stratification economics and Institutionalist economics. This has limited the perceived importance of the concept of relative position in economics, leaving it with the 'position-less' asocial individualism of Neoclassical-mainstream economics. This paper …

Sox11 Overexpression Restores Embryonic Pro-Growth Transcription In Mature Corticospinal Tract Neurons, Eliazbeth Batsel, Zimei Wang, Elizabeth Otten, Syed Roshan, Rabia Mohammad, Paula Pascual, Darby O'Shea, Jose Rosas, Pantelis Tsoulfas, Murray G. Blackmore

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) display a high capacity for axon growth during early development but lose this ability at a pivotal differentiation stage marked by synaptic maturation, circuit integration, and a profound shift in gene transcription. Once mature, most CNS neurons fail to reverse this transcriptional switch after axon injury, fundamentally constraining their intrinsic capacity for axon regeneration. Here, we show with single-nucleus RNA sequencing that forced expression of the transcription factor Sox11 in mature corticospinal tract (CST) neurons produces large-scale and stable changes in gene expression that are highly enriched for growth-relevant processes, and which strongly …

Divergent Genetic Architecture Of Cold Stress Tolerance In Aus And Tropical Japonica Rice, Georgia C. Eizenga, Yami Santamaria, Aaron K. Jackson, Huy Minh Phan, Melissa H. Jia, Quynh P.-H. Grunden, Jeremy D. Edwards, Ed Himelblau, Michael Schläppi

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction:

Exploring natural genetic variation to facilitate breeding of improved rice seedling cold tolerance will allow the crop to be planted earlier in the growing season, taking advantage of spring rainfall and decreasing exposure to high summer nighttime temperatures, which reduce grain quality.

Methods:

To uncover genomic regions in rice that manage cold stress tolerance response mechanisms in the cold-sensitive aus (AUS) and the relatively cold-tolerant tropical japonica (TRJ) subpopulations, and to identify cold tolerance genes, AUS and TRJ recombinant inbred line populations developed from crosses between cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive parents were used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of …

Divergent Genetic Architecture Of Cold Stress Tolerance In Aus And Tropical Japonica Rice, Georgia C. Eizenga, Yami Santamaria, Aaron K. Jackson, Huy Phan, Melissa H. Jia, Quynh P.-H. Grunden, Jeremy D. Edwards, Ed Himelblau, Michael Schläppi

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: 

Exploring natural genetic variation to facilitate breeding of improved rice seedling cold tolerance will allow the crop to be planted earlier in the growing season, taking advantage of spring rainfall and decreasing exposure to high summer nighttime temperatures, which reduce grain quality.

Methods: 

To uncover genomic regions in rice that manage cold stress tolerance response mechanisms in the cold-sensitive aus (AUS) and the relatively cold-tolerant tropical japonica (TRJ) subpopulations, and to identify cold tolerance genes, AUS and TRJ recombinant inbred line populations developed from crosses between cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive parents were used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of …

Schelling & Spinoza, Michael Vater

Philosophy Faculty Research and Publications

Schelling is notorious for having a fluid vision of systematic philosophy and its methods. In an age where philosophy is expected to result in one or two books, not years of discussions with students and colleagues--and certainly not a distillation of one’s way of life--Schelling’s thought has been called protean or restless, or in Hegel’s snarky verdict “an education pursued in public.” The same could be said of Socrates. But there is a truth in these comments; it is difficult to find in fifty-six years of publications, addresses and abandoned manuscripts the single argument that is Schelling’s philosophy. What provokes …

Dopaminergic Regulation Of Aversive Motivation, Elaine M. Grafelman

Dissertations (1934 -)

We all experience adversity in our lives, and we must be able to effectively respond to these challenges in order to thrive. One way to respond to stressors is to change one’s behavior to cope with the stress. This can include escaping or avoiding the stressor, focusing effort to diminish the effect of the stressor, or other coping strategies such as drug use. In fact, stress is one of the principal triggers of relapse for those in the abstinence phase of a substance use disorder and it exacerbates a variety of other disorders. Therefore, it is critical to understand the …

How Does The Intersectionality Of Race, Gender, And Organizational Culture Influence The Utilization And Consequences Of Code-Switching Among Black Men In Executive-Level Positions Within Nonprofit Settings?, Lepra George

Dissertations (1934 -)

Black men in executive roles within U.S. nonprofit organizations lead under racialized and gendered expectations that shape when and how they are perceived as leader-like. This qualitative study examines how these leaders interpret their lived experiences of code-switching, across speech and broader self-presentation, within White-normed nonprofit cultures. Guided by intersectionality and informed by impression-management theory, the study employed an interpretivist, phenomenological design and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six Black male executives. Four themes emerged: (1) Black Male Leaders Consciously Navigate Authentic Identity, balancing cultural self-expression with perceived professionalism; (2) Confronting the Race–Gender Double Bind in …

Activation Of Pro-Regenerative Gene Programs In The Mature Central Nervous System, Elizabeth Carlisle Batsel

Dissertations (1934 -)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of people worldwide. Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the long-distance axon tracts of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. These axons fail to regenerate, leading to permanent dysfunction. Past work has shown that CNS neurons lose the capacity to elongate their axons as they mature. Conversely, after injury, embryonic and peripheral nervous system (PNS) neurons can elongate axons towards target cells, driven by the growth cone at the growing tip of the axon. Previous research has identified transcription factor (TF) families, such as the SoxC family, that contribute to embryonic and peripheral neurons’ high …

A Deep Learning And Causal Modeling System For Retinal Disease Diagnosis, Shiyu Tian

Dissertations (1934 -)

Vision-threatening retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), are major causes of preventable blindness worldwide. Early screening and follow-up are essential, but advanced imaging like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is expensive and not always available outside large clinics. In contrast, color fundus photography is inexpensive and common, yet it only shows a surface view and can miss subtle changes inside the retina. These practical limits make it hard to deliver timely, high-quality eye care in many settings. As AI is increasingly used in healthcare, retinal disease diagnosis has benefited as well. This work combines deep …