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Phonics And Friends: A Critical Multimodal Discourse Analysis Of Popular Teacher Influencers' Content, Zachary T. Milford Jan 2026

Phonics And Friends: A Critical Multimodal Discourse Analysis Of Popular Teacher Influencers' Content, Zachary T. Milford

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This critical multimodal discourse analysis examined how five teacher-influencers aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR) movement performed authority, constructed discourses, and used affective and semiotic resources in viral TikTok videos about reading instruction. Drawing on Kress and van Leeuwen's (2001) multimodal social semiotics, Fairclough's (1992) critical discourse analysis, Foucault's (1977, 1982) theorizations of power, Papacharissi's (2014) theory of affective publics, Ong's (1982) secondary orality, and Taussig's (1993) mimesis and alterity, this interpretive, qualitative, multiple-case study analyzed fifty viral TikTok videos and four semi-structured interviews with teacher-influencers. Data were analyzed through within-case and within-mode coding, cross-modal analysis, and cross-case analysis …


Predicting Self-Administered Biologic Nonadherence In Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Machine Learning Models, Christian Rhudy, Courtney Perry, Cody Bumgardner, Michael J. Wesley, David W. Fardo, Terrence Barrett, Jeffery Talbert Jan 2026

Predicting Self-Administered Biologic Nonadherence In Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Machine Learning Models, Christian Rhudy, Courtney Perry, Cody Bumgardner, Michael J. Wesley, David W. Fardo, Terrence Barrett, Jeffery Talbert

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to self-administered biologic therapies increases risk for disease flares and adverse outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). OBJECTIVE: To use machine learning and Medicare fee-for-service claims to create models predictive of medication nonadherence. METHODS: This study included Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with at least 2 IBD claims separated by 30 days between 2017 and 2021 and analyzed claims data from 2021. Beneficiaries with missing data or fewer than 3 self-administered biologic dispenses (adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, ustekinumab) on different dates in 2021 were excluded. Beneficiary-level nonadherence was defined as a proportion of days covered less than 0.8, and dispenselevel nonadherence …


The Role Of Small Extracellular Vesicles In Modulating Radiation Resistance In H3k27m-Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma, Viral Oza Jan 2026

The Role Of Small Extracellular Vesicles In Modulating Radiation Resistance In H3k27m-Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma, Viral Oza

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Pediatric diffuse midline gliomas with H3K27M alteration (H3K27M-pDMG) are the leading cause of pediatric brain tumor-associated deaths. All H3K27M-pDMG are initially treated with fractionated radiotherapy, the standard of care, and most children succumb to their disease within two years of diagnosis. There are no universally effective chemotherapies and full resection is impossible due to the diffuse nature of the tumor and sensitive location. There has not been a significant clinical advancement in more than 40 years.

Tumors become completely resistant to radiation within the first six months of treatment. The mechanism of radiation resistance is unknown but is thought to …


Hexavalent Chromium Promotes Malignant Transformation Via Enhanced Translation Of Suv39h1, Yiwei Gu, Yanan Cao, Qing Ye, Yujing Zhang, Zhishan Wang, Chengfeng Yang, Side Liu, Qing-Bai She Jan 2026

Hexavalent Chromium Promotes Malignant Transformation Via Enhanced Translation Of Suv39h1, Yiwei Gu, Yanan Cao, Qing Ye, Yujing Zhang, Zhishan Wang, Chengfeng Yang, Side Liu, Qing-Bai She

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a widespread environmental carcinogen linked to lung cancer and other malignancies. Although genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of Cr(VI)-induced carcinogenesis have been extensively investigated, the role of translational control has remained largely unexplored. Here, we show that chronic low-dose Cr(VI) exposure in BEAS-2BR human bronchial epithelial cells activates eIF4E-driven cap-dependent translation through mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation and inactivation of the translational repressor 4E-BP1. Pharmacological inhibition of this pathway markedly suppresses Cr(VI)-induced cell transformation, cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties, and DNA damage. Comparable inhibitory effects are observed following raptor knockdown, which disrupts mTORC1, or expression of a constitutively active non-phosphorylatable …


Rna-Micelles As Self-Assembling Structures For Efficient Co-Delivery Of Synergistic Sirna And Nucleoside Analogues To Treat Crc Lung Metastasis, Kai Jin, Piotr G. Rychahou, Daniel W. Binzel, B. Mark Evers, Peixuan Guo Jan 2026

Rna-Micelles As Self-Assembling Structures For Efficient Co-Delivery Of Synergistic Sirna And Nucleoside Analogues To Treat Crc Lung Metastasis, Kai Jin, Piotr G. Rychahou, Daniel W. Binzel, B. Mark Evers, Peixuan Guo

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

SiRNA has been widely studied in cancer gene silencing over the last 25 years. However, few siRNA-based therapeutics have been approved by the FDA. An RNA-micelle platform provides a powerful therapeutic tool through simple one-step, high-yield production that is capable of efficient colorectal cancer lung metastasis treatment, a current lethal condition with a short survival rate post-diagnosis. Here, it is reported that the use of RNA-micelles co-carrying siRNA and nucleoside analogues to completely inhibit lung metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The major advantage of the RNA-micelle is the successful co-delivery of siRNA and chemotherapeutic agent in a single delivery vehicle …


A Major Update And Improved Validation Functionality In The Mwtab Python Library And The Metabolomics Workbench File Status Website, P. Travis Thompson, Hunter N. B. Moseley Jan 2026

A Major Update And Improved Validation Functionality In The Mwtab Python Library And The Metabolomics Workbench File Status Website, P. Travis Thompson, Hunter N. B. Moseley

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background: The Metabolomics Workbench (MW) is a public scientific data repository consisting of experimental data and metadata from metabolomics studies collected with mass spectroscopy (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. Although not as rapidly as in the past, MW has steadily evolved, updating its mwTab and JSON deposition text file formats and its web-based infrastructure. However, the growth of MW has been exponential since its inception in 2013 and continues to be exponential, with the number of datasets hosted on the repository increasing by 50% since April 2024. As part of regular maintenance to keep up with changes to …


Case Report: Prolonged Response To Cabozantinib And Pembrolizumab In Treatment-Refractory Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Anna M. Reagan, Hannah G. Mcdonald, Jaewon Kang, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Caroline G. Wright, Charles J. Bailey, Carleton S. Ellis, Kaylyn R. Collette, Reema A. Patel, Mayte Murillo, Samantha F. Stokley, Michael J. Cavnar, Prakash Pandalai, Mautin T. Barry-Hundeyin, Jessica Moss, Joseph Kim Jan 2026

Case Report: Prolonged Response To Cabozantinib And Pembrolizumab In Treatment-Refractory Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Anna M. Reagan, Hannah G. Mcdonald, Jaewon Kang, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Caroline G. Wright, Charles J. Bailey, Carleton S. Ellis, Kaylyn R. Collette, Reema A. Patel, Mayte Murillo, Samantha F. Stokley, Michael J. Cavnar, Prakash Pandalai, Mautin T. Barry-Hundeyin, Jessica Moss, Joseph Kim

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Immunotherapy has yet to demonstrate durable efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) despite the fact that pancreatic cancer cells have higher levels of immune checkpoint expression than other cancer cell types in which immunotherapy efficacy has been well established. We observed effective cytotoxicity with the combination therapy of pembrolizumab (an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, mAb) and cabozantinib (an anti-MET small molecule) in vivo. This served as the basis for an investigator-initiated phase II clinical trial (NCT05052723). The trial was open to patients with treatment-refractory metastatic PDAC with a single-arm treatment protocol of pembrolizumab and cabozantinib. Here, we report the case of …


A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Of Lapatinib And Paclitaxel In Recurrent Ovarian Cancer, Connie D. Cao, Joseph Robert Mccorkle, Donglin Yan, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Rani Jayswal, Dava W. Piecoro, Ning Li, Lauren Baldwin, Rachel W. Miller, Christopher P. Desimone, Charles S. Dietrich, Frederick R. Ueland, Jill M. Kolesar Jan 2026

A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Of Lapatinib And Paclitaxel In Recurrent Ovarian Cancer, Connie D. Cao, Joseph Robert Mccorkle, Donglin Yan, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Rani Jayswal, Dava W. Piecoro, Ning Li, Lauren Baldwin, Rachel W. Miller, Christopher P. Desimone, Charles S. Dietrich, Frederick R. Ueland, Jill M. Kolesar

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Objective: The development of ABCB1-mediated resistance limits the clinical efficacy of paclitaxel. Lapatinib is a small-molecule reversible tyrosine kinase and ABCB1 inhibitor that could prevent resistance. Our objective was to determine a recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of the combination of paclitaxel and lapatinib.

Methods: A phase 1 dose-escalation study utilizing a Bayesian optimal interval (BOIN) design in recurrent ovarian cancer patients was conducted. Patients were pretreated with pulsed lapatinib in the 48 h preceding weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) in 28-day cycles for up to three cycles. We evaluated three lapatinib doses, escalating from 750 to 2000 mg …


Survival Outcomes Of First-Line Therapy In De Novo Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma With Histologic Subtypes: A National Cancer Database Analysis, Zin W. Myint, Feitong Lei, Bin Huang Jan 2026

Survival Outcomes Of First-Line Therapy In De Novo Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma With Histologic Subtypes: A National Cancer Database Analysis, Zin W. Myint, Feitong Lei, Bin Huang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background: Urothelial carcinoma with histologic subtypes represent an aggressive and understudied population frequently excluded from prospective clinical trials. Evidence guiding optimal first-line systemic therapy in de novo metastatic disease with histologic subtypes remains limited.

Method: Patients with de novo stage IV urothelial carcinoma with histologic subtypes diagnosed between 2016 and 2021 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Eligible patients received first-line chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or concurrent chemoimmunotherapy (both modalities initiated within 30 days). Overall survival (OS) was compared across groups using Kaplan–Meier methods and compared using log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression. Result: Among 800 patients, 596 (74.5%) received …


Eef2k Promotes Immune Evasion In Melanoma Via Cyclin D1–Mediated Stabilization Of Pd-L1, Yijie Ren, Darby J. Ballard, Anil Kumar, Andy F. Song, Mitiksha Gupta, Xiaofang Xiong, Xingcong Ren, Jugal Kishore Das, Jin-Ming Yang, Jianxun Song Jan 2026

Eef2k Promotes Immune Evasion In Melanoma Via Cyclin D1–Mediated Stabilization Of Pd-L1, Yijie Ren, Darby J. Ballard, Anil Kumar, Andy F. Song, Mitiksha Gupta, Xiaofang Xiong, Xingcong Ren, Jugal Kishore Das, Jin-Ming Yang, Jianxun Song

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a stress-responsive regulator of protein synthesis implicated in melanoma progression, but its role in tumor immune evasion remains poorly defined. We investigated how eEF2K influences programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression through modulation of Cyclin D1. We analyzed gene expression and dependency datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Cancer Dependency Map. Protein–protein interactions were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. Cyclin D1 was inhibited pharmacologically with palbociclib. Immune responses were evaluated in murine B16-OVA and human A2058 melanoma models using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry after genetic or pharmacologic modulation of eEF2K and Cyclin D1. …


Characteristics Of The Health-Associated Oral Microbiome In Young Nonhuman Primates, J. L. Ebersole, O. A. Gonzalez Jan 2026

Characteristics Of The Health-Associated Oral Microbiome In Young Nonhuman Primates, J. L. Ebersole, O. A. Gonzalez

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nonhuman primates have been shown to develop periodontitis with clinical and demographic features similar to humans. This preclinical disease model is well-positioned to advance the elucidation of novel biologic-based preventive and therapeutic approaches to controlling periodontitis, a chronic infection and immunoinflammatory disease. In this analysis, the oral microbiomes of younger (10–19 human years; n = 30) nonhuman primates are compared for matriline (an indicator of heritability), sex, and age variations. A holistic assessment of the microbiome similarities/differences suggested two primary conclusions in this younger group of orally healthy nonhuman primates. First, at the microbiome level of phyla, orders, and families, …


Prognostic Value Of Lung Injury Biomarkers In Patients Hospitalized With Covid-19 Without Respiratory Failure At Admission, Jennifer G. Wilson, Greg A. Grandits, Birgit Grund, Shweta S. Mistry, Carolyn Leroux, Angelika Ringor, Neil R. Aggarwal, Daniel D. Murray, Christina E. Barkauskas, Samuel M. Brown, Elizabeth Higgs, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Adam Rupert, Virginia L. Kan, Jeremy R. Beitler, Omar Awan, Jamie L. Sturgill, Halima Dawood, Andre C. Kalil, Ioannis Kalomenidis, Abhijit Duggal, Sarah C. Sasson, Minh Q. Ho, Hien H. Nguyen, Jens D. Lundgren, Adit A. Ginde, Wesley H. Self, H. Clifford Lane, Michael A. Matthay, Angela J. Rogers Jan 2026

Prognostic Value Of Lung Injury Biomarkers In Patients Hospitalized With Covid-19 Without Respiratory Failure At Admission, Jennifer G. Wilson, Greg A. Grandits, Birgit Grund, Shweta S. Mistry, Carolyn Leroux, Angelika Ringor, Neil R. Aggarwal, Daniel D. Murray, Christina E. Barkauskas, Samuel M. Brown, Elizabeth Higgs, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Adam Rupert, Virginia L. Kan, Jeremy R. Beitler, Omar Awan, Jamie L. Sturgill, Halima Dawood, Andre C. Kalil, Ioannis Kalomenidis, Abhijit Duggal, Sarah C. Sasson, Minh Q. Ho, Hien H. Nguyen, Jens D. Lundgren, Adit A. Ginde, Wesley H. Self, H. Clifford Lane, Michael A. Matthay, Angela J. Rogers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Objectives: – The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted an urgent need to more efficiently identify patients at highest risk for developing respiratory failure. We investigated whether plasma levels of lung injury biomarkers are associated with progression to respiratory failure among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia without respiratory failure at admission. Design: – This was a nested case-control study of COVID-19 patients enrolled in the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines-3 (ACTIV-3)/Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO) platform trial who were on less than 20 L/min supplemental oxygen at enrollment. We compared baseline measurements of lung injury biomarkers between participants who progressed to …


Design Of Energy-Efficient, Scalable, And Flexible Tensor Processing Architectures With Electro-Photonic Integrated Circuits, Oluwaseun Alo Jan 2026

Design Of Energy-Efficient, Scalable, And Flexible Tensor Processing Architectures With Electro-Photonic Integrated Circuits, Oluwaseun Alo

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

In recent years, artificial intelligence has achieved remarkable success across domains such as computer vision, natural language processing, and scientific computing. This progress has been driven largely by advances in deep learning, particularly deep neural networks (DNNs), including convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformer-based models. While these models deliver unprecedented accuracy, often surpassing human performance, their computational complexity continues to grow rapidly due to multibillion- and trillion-parameter designs. As model sizes and deployment scales expand, the demand for energy-efficient and high-throughput hardware accelerators has intensified. Conventional electronic platforms based on CPUs, GPUs, ASICs, and FPGAs are increasingly constrained by the …


Advancing Edge Intelligence: Strategies For Improving Machine Learning On Embedded Devices, Prakash Dhungana Jan 2026

Advancing Edge Intelligence: Strategies For Improving Machine Learning On Embedded Devices, Prakash Dhungana

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated tremendous success in handling complex tasks across multiple domains, a leap largely attributed to complex deep neural network (DNN) architectures. However, the increasing demand for real-time processing, low latency, limited connectivity, and enhanced privacy necessitates edge intelligence, where computation is performed directly on resource-constrained embedded devices rather than relying on cloud infrastructures. While optimized TinyML techniques such as pruning, quantization, and neural architecture search (NAS) have made edge deployment feasible by significantly reducing computation and memory demands, achievable performance remains severely limited by hardware constraints. Furthermore, models deployed in highly dynamic real-world environments suffer from …


Modeling Inherited Retinal Disease In Zebrafish, Meet Patel Jan 2026

Modeling Inherited Retinal Disease In Zebrafish, Meet Patel

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) affect millions of people worldwide. Majority of IRDs are caused by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptor cells (PRCs) due to gene mutations. The overarching goal of my dissertation is to model and evaluate the molecular role of various gene candidates involved in IRDs such as cone rod dystrophy (CRD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Mutations in CDHR1, a photoreceptor specific cadherin have been associated with CRD and recapitulated in mouse CDHR1 knockouts. However, the molecular function of CDHR1 remains unknown. CDHR1 has been shown to localize at the leading edge of murine rod nascent outer segment …


Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa Pratensis L.) As A Perennial Groundcover: Establishment And Weed Management In Corn, Kiera S. Searcy Jan 2026

Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa Pratensis L.) As A Perennial Groundcover: Establishment And Weed Management In Corn, Kiera S. Searcy

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Perennial groundcover (PGC) systems offer a cost-effective alternative to annual cover crops, by providing continuous soil cover, reducing soil erosion, and contributing to integrated weed management (IWM) in corn (Zea mays L.) production systems. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) has been proposed as a perennial groundcover for corn due to its low growth habit and seasonal dormancy; however, successful adoption is limited by challenges associated with establishment-phase weed competition and compatibility with weed management programs during corn production. The objectives of this research were to (1) evaluate weed management strategies that support Kentucky bluegrass establishment and (2) assess …


Impact Of Land Use On Soil Properties, Clay Mineralogy, And Behavior Of Ammonium Across A Precipitation Gradient, Isabel Delamater Jan 2026

Impact Of Land Use On Soil Properties, Clay Mineralogy, And Behavior Of Ammonium Across A Precipitation Gradient, Isabel Delamater

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Like soil texture, clay mineralogy is considered a permanent or inherent characteristic of soils reflecting the influence of soil forming factors over long periods of time. Despite the importance of clay mineralogy in providing ecosystem services, much remains unknown about whether land use (native grassland sod versus no-tillage) can modify clay mineralogy under short periods of time. Furthermore, in no-tillage agroecosystems, lower crop yields are often ascribed to immobilization of added N fertilizer where inorganic nitrogen (such as ammonium) is converted to organic nitrogen. The possible role of clay mineralogy in retaining added ammonium has been overlooked in no-tillage systems. …


Evaluating Spatial Variability Of Corn Yield Response To Phosphorus Fertilizer For Improved Precision Phosphorus Management, Jennifer Fridgen Jan 2026

Evaluating Spatial Variability Of Corn Yield Response To Phosphorus Fertilizer For Improved Precision Phosphorus Management, Jennifer Fridgen

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Soil scientists did not develop soil test-based fertilizer recommendations to support precision nutrient management. Knowledge of crop responses to applied essential nutrients, such as phosphorus (P), and the processes governing these responses at high spatial resolution are necessary to improve precision agronomic recommendations. This dissertation investigates the limitations of current soil sampling methodologies and recommendation frameworks for crop response to fertilizer, with particular emphasis on P fertility in Kentucky (KY) corn production. The first study examined the relationship between the resolution of systematic grid sampling and the spatial structure of soil test variables (Mehlich-3 P (M3P), Mehlich-3 potassium (M3K), and …


Investigation Of Genx Exposure To Pathways Associated With Colorectal Cancer Risk, Emily J. Ferguson Jan 2026

Investigation Of Genx Exposure To Pathways Associated With Colorectal Cancer Risk, Emily J. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants widely detected in drinking water and food sources, resulting in chronic human exposure. Among these compounds, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), commonly known as GenX, has been introduced as a short-chain replacement for legacy PFAS such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Although GenX is believed to be a safer alternative, emerging research suggests it can still affect human health.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, highlighting the need to better understand environmental …


Uncovering The Mechanism Of Reep2-Mediated Emt-Driven Membrane Trafficking In Lung Adenocarcinoma, Kevin Fulp Jan 2026

Uncovering The Mechanism Of Reep2-Mediated Emt-Driven Membrane Trafficking In Lung Adenocarcinoma, Kevin Fulp

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Membrane trafficking is frequently disrupted during cancer progression, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Currently, no effective drugs target dysregulated membrane trafficking for cancer treatment. Recent evidence has demonstrated that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) employs a membrane trafficking program to coordinate cancer cell invasion and immunosuppression. To further dissect the pro-tumorigenic membrane trafficking program, we initiated an in vivo CRISPRi screen to assess more than 2,000 membrane trafficking-related genes in a syngeneic mouse LUAD model. We identified REEP2, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein, as a novel regulator of EMT-driven membrane trafficking. High REEP2 expression is …


Reep2-Driven Pro-Metastatic Secretion Promotes Lung Cancer Progression, Oluwafunminiyi E. Obaleye Jan 2026

Reep2-Driven Pro-Metastatic Secretion Promotes Lung Cancer Progression, Oluwafunminiyi E. Obaleye

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Membrane trafficking plays a critical role in cellular function and is frequently dysregulated in cancer to promote metastasis. In lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activating transcription factor, ZEB1, drives a pro-metastatic membrane trafficking program; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in vivo screen of 2,099 membrane trafficking regulators in a syngeneic mouse model of EMT-driven LUAD, we identified REEP2 — an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein — as a critical regulator of tumor progression. REEP2 mRNA expression correlates with poor prognosis, EMT signatures, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in LUAD patients. …


Supramolecular Self-Assemblies Of Ru( Ii ) Phototherapeutics: Biological Activity Of Micro- And Nano-Particles Acting As Reservoirs, Jérôme Laisney, Sarah M. Kriger, Dmytro Havrylyuk, Jason M. Unrine, David K. Heidary, Edith C. Glazer Jan 2026

Supramolecular Self-Assemblies Of Ru( Ii ) Phototherapeutics: Biological Activity Of Micro- And Nano-Particles Acting As Reservoirs, Jérôme Laisney, Sarah M. Kriger, Dmytro Havrylyuk, Jason M. Unrine, David K. Heidary, Edith C. Glazer

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Ruthenium( II) coordination complexes have many appealing properties as prodrugs, but can suffer from poor aqueous solubility and short circulation times, drastically decreasing efficiency in vivo. Nanoformulations using a variety of carriers, such as inclusion in polymers/lipids or adsorption on inorganic nanoparticles have been applied to overcome this limitation, but unfortunately, these approaches raise additional concerns regarding the fate of the carriers, with potential long-term toxicity and accumulation in vital organs. Here, we present an alternative delivery strategy with formation of pure and polymer-supported supramolecular self-assemblies of Ru(II) complexes acting as ‘‘reservoirs’’. A facile preparation of size-controlled particles was achieved …


Characterization And Antimicrobial Activity Of Lignin-Derived Compounds In Ground Hurd Tissue Of Cannabis Sativa L. (Hemp) Cultivars, Jourdan E. Lakes, Anjam Sadik, Robert C. Pearce, Barbara L. Knutson, Stephen E. Rankin, Bert C. Lynn, Michael D. Flythe Jan 2026

Characterization And Antimicrobial Activity Of Lignin-Derived Compounds In Ground Hurd Tissue Of Cannabis Sativa L. (Hemp) Cultivars, Jourdan E. Lakes, Anjam Sadik, Robert C. Pearce, Barbara L. Knutson, Stephen E. Rankin, Bert C. Lynn, Michael D. Flythe

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Objectives: Characterize lignin-derived compounds from the hurd of 10 fiber/grain Cannabis sativa L. cultivars and investigate the antimicrobial activity of select compounds on the wasteful ruminant bacterium, Acetoanaerobium sticklandii SR.   Methods: Hurd was processed using an aqueous ethanol solvent system and analyzed via GC-MS to identify and characterize lignin derivatives. Antimicrobial activity of the hurd and three monomers was assessed using solid (hurd) and liquid medium (monomers) bioassays against SR.   Results: 27 compounds were identified, most as monomers but a few were dimers, ethylated derivatives, and organic acids. There were approximately equal G- and S-units with substantially fewer H-units. Several …


Investigation Of Succinylated Zwitterionic Polyethylenimine/Dna Complexes: Performance In Serum, Internalization, And Intracellular Fate, Levi Lampe Jan 2026

Investigation Of Succinylated Zwitterionic Polyethylenimine/Dna Complexes: Performance In Serum, Internalization, And Intracellular Fate, Levi Lampe

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Gene therapy has promised to revolutionize medicine since the earliest clinical trials, but a lack of delivery methods that are both safe and efficient has hampered progress. Gene therapy with viral vectors is effective at delivering nucleic acids to cells, but is associated with dangerous immunogenic responses and cancer-causing insertions into the genome. Viral vectors are also among the most prohibitively costly therapeutics in medicine. Polymeric vectors avoid these dangers and are made from inexpensive, off-the- shelf materials, but have been hindered by poor efficiency compared to viral vectors.

A benchmark polymer for in vitro nucleic acid delivery has been …


Elucidating The Impacts Of Non-Covalent Interactions In Organic Materials Through A Multiscale Computational Approach, Sashen A. Ruhunage Jan 2026

Elucidating The Impacts Of Non-Covalent Interactions In Organic Materials Through A Multiscale Computational Approach, Sashen A. Ruhunage

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Noncovalent interactions (NCIs) in π-conjugated organic materials serve as tunable levers that influence molecular structure and intermolecular interactions in the condensed phase and, in turn, impact the electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of these materials. NCIs include attractive dispersion, electrostatic, and induction interactions, as well as repulsive exchange interactions. However, how to design materials with NCI considerations remains an open question across many fields. Here, we seek to provide an electronic and atomistic perspective on these interactions through multiscale simulations to aid materials design, processing, and performance optimization. In this study, we investigate NCIs and their effects across various systems …


Student Familiarity With The Periodic Table Of The Elements: Results From Cued-Recall And Eye-Tracking Assessments On Memory, Victor A. Okuo Jan 2026

Student Familiarity With The Periodic Table Of The Elements: Results From Cued-Recall And Eye-Tracking Assessments On Memory, Victor A. Okuo

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Learning element symbol–name associations and the spatial organization of elements on the periodic table is a foundational step in learning chemistry, supporting later understanding of chemical formulas, equations, bonding, and stoichiometry. Although students often rely on memorization strategies to learn periodic table content, this task is challenging due to the large number of elements and the apparent ambiguity in matching some element symbols to their names.

This study explores students’ recall of element names when given element symbols as cues and their knowledge of element locations on the periodic table when given element names as cues. The study also examines …


Amustaline/Glutathione Pathogen-Reduced Red Cell Hemoglobin Utilization In Complex Cardiac Surgery, Ian J. Welsby, Michael E. Sekela, Edward L. Snyder, James D. Gorham, John S. Mcneil, Kathy Liu, Stanley Bentow, Thomas Gniadek, Laurence Corash, Nina Mufti, Richard J. Benjamin Jan 2026

Amustaline/Glutathione Pathogen-Reduced Red Cell Hemoglobin Utilization In Complex Cardiac Surgery, Ian J. Welsby, Michael E. Sekela, Edward L. Snyder, James D. Gorham, John S. Mcneil, Kathy Liu, Stanley Bentow, Thomas Gniadek, Laurence Corash, Nina Mufti, Richard J. Benjamin

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background: The ReCePI randomized, controlled trial compared amustaline/glutathione pathogen-reduced (PR) and conventional red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in cardiac surgery. Study design and methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of hemoglobin (Hb) utilization and safety outcomes. Hb content of study RBCs was measured at manufacture. Subject Hb levels, estimated blood loss and blood product use were recorded during and for 7 days post-surgery. Acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence was graded over 7 days, and adverse events were assessed for 28 days. Results: PR-RBCs contained 5.2% less Hb (mean [SD] Test 58.1 [6.5] g; Control 61.5 [6.8] g Hb, p <.001) due to manufacturing volume losses. Four hundred fifty-six PR- and 524 conventional RBCs were transfused to 159 Test and 162 Control subjects, respectively. Mean subject baseline and post-surgery Hb levels, and blood loss were not different between groups. Test subjects tended to require fewer total RBCs (3.5 [2.7] Test vs. 4.0 [3.5] Control, p =.08) resulting in 17.6% significantly less mean total Hb transfused (Test 203.2 g; Control 246.8 g Hb, p =.01). The proportions of subjects transfused with, and the number of platelet and cryoprecipitate units transfused were not different. Test subjects received less plasma (2.3 [1.8] units Test vs. 3.5 [3.8] Control, p =.03). Overall incidence of adverse events and AKI were not clinically different. Imbalances in AKI severity (Grade III Test 15/159 [9.4%]; Control 7/162 [4.3%], p =.07) may suggest under-transfusion in the highest-risk Test subjects. Discussion: Test patients required less transfused Hb than control subjects to maintain equivalent daily hemoglobin levels following similar blood loss.


Prolonged Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Is Associated With Decreased Survival After Lung Transplantation Among Recipients With Primary Graft Dysfunction, Meghan Aversa, Shaf Keshavjee, Tereza Martinu, Marcelo Cypel, Andrew T. Sage, Joshua M. Diamond, Jonathan P. Singer, Scott M. Palmer, Krishna Pandya, Edward Cantu, Jason D. Christie, Michaela R. Anderson Jan 2026

Prolonged Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Is Associated With Decreased Survival After Lung Transplantation Among Recipients With Primary Graft Dysfunction, Meghan Aversa, Shaf Keshavjee, Tereza Martinu, Marcelo Cypel, Andrew T. Sage, Joshua M. Diamond, Jonathan P. Singer, Scott M. Palmer, Krishna Pandya, Edward Cantu, Jason D. Christie, Michaela R. Anderson

Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction: Prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) after lung transplantation is an appealing early prognostic outcome as it can be reproducibly assessed both prospectively and retrospectively. Whether use of IMV at 72 h after lung transplantation is associated with post-transplant graft survival is unknown. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1511 participants in the multi-center Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort (2011–2018). Using Cox proportional hazards models and restricted mean survival time, we investigated whether IMV at 72 h was associated with post-transplant graft survival. We secondarily evaluated whether IMV at 72 h was concordant with severe primary graft dysfunction …


Mouse Models For Post-Sepsis Syndrome, John Matthew K. Ang, Stephanie F. Mori, Erick Lewis, Maria E.C. Bruno, Arnold Stromberg, Hiroshi Saito Jan 2026

Mouse Models For Post-Sepsis Syndrome, John Matthew K. Ang, Stephanie F. Mori, Erick Lewis, Maria E.C. Bruno, Arnold Stromberg, Hiroshi Saito

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background – Sepsis survivors commonly suffer from chronic Post-Sepsis Syndrome (PSS). To understand the mechanisms of PSS, it is critical to utilize appropriate animal models. While cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is a widely used model of sepsis, a concern exists regarding its suitability for studying long-term outcomes. Alternatively, we previously optimized a highly reproducible murine cecal slurry (CS)-injection model of sepsis. The objective of this study was to compare the suitability of CS and CLP models for investigating PSS. Methods – Male 4-month-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 7 groups: (1) Naïve control; (2) Sham: laparotomy control; (3) CL: …


Brief Exposure Therapy With Exercise For Ptsd: A Pilot Study Using Single Case Experimental Design, Troy J.J. Hubert Jan 2026

Brief Exposure Therapy With Exercise For Ptsd: A Pilot Study Using Single Case Experimental Design, Troy J.J. Hubert

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and often disabling psychiatric disorder associated with an increased risk of multiple mental and physical health conditions. Exposure therapy is a gold standard treatment for PTSD, but attrition rates and treatment response are notable limitations. Animal and human research collectively indicate that aerobic exercise can enhance preclinical and experimental models of exposure by improving consolidation of fear-extinction memories. To date, only one clinical trial has attempted to translate exercise augmented exposure therapy for PTSD. The current study is an open-label pilot clinical trial aiming at gauging the effectiveness of a brief eight-session PTSD …