Digital Commons Network^™

License To Launch: The Regulatory Future Of Commercial Ballistic Travel, Jacob Weindling

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Genome-Edited Animals Are Not Transgenic Animals: Moving Toward Responsible Research And Innovation With New Biotechnologies, Yvie Yao

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

The Dynamics Of Men's Cooperation And Social Status In A Small-Scale Society, Christopher Von Rueden, Daniel Redhead, Rick O'Gorman, Hillard Kaplan, Michael Gurven

ESI Publications

We propose that networks of cooperation and allocation of social status co-emerge in human groups. We substantiate this hypothesis with one of the first longitudinal studies of cooperation in a preindustrial society, spanning 8 years. Using longitudinal social network analysis of cooperation among men, we find large effects of kinship, reciprocity and transitivity in the nomination of cooperation partners over time. Independent of these effects, we show that (i) higher-status individuals gain more cooperation partners, and (ii) individuals gain status by cooperating with individuals of higher status than themselves. We posit that human hierarchies are more egalitarian relative to other …

Primary Literature In The Undergraduate Immunology Curriculum: Strategies, Challenges, And Opportunities, Jason S. Rawlings

Open Access Fund Publications

Immunology is a rapidly advancing and expanding field that is regularly highlighted in the lay media, whether it be checkpoint blockade immunotherapy winning the Nobel Prize, CAR-T cells in the treatment of cancer, or the latest anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory medication advertised directly to consumers. Advances such as these not only transform the way we think about immunology, they also illuminate how knowledge of the immune system can be harnessed to impact public health. Immunology is also a vast subject, with thousands of articles published each year that contribute to our understanding of complex processes such as inflammation, pathogen recognition, and self-tolerance, Taken …

Short- And Long-Term Social Effects Of Parental Sex Roles In Zebra Finches, Ákos Pogány, Boglárka Morvai, E. Tobias Krause, Eugene Kitsios, Thijs Böhm, Tim Ruploh, Nikolaus Von Engelhardt, Tamás Székely, Jan Komdeur, Ádám Miklósi, Oliver Krüger

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Sub-Fields And Countries In The Literature Of Gout: An Analysis, Ramakrishnan Jagannathan, Ravi Sankar G, Kotti Thavamani

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper presents an analysis of Sub-Fields and Countries in the literature of Gout using bibliometric techniques. The literature covered in the database for the period 2008-2017 was considered. It shows that there is a growth of literature in the subject of study by year after year. 40.44% records were covered by Journal Article. 51 journals were needed to supply one-third of the cited records for zone-1. However, 223 journals were required to produce the second grouping of records in Zone-2, and 725 journals to yield the records that constitute Zone-3. Most frequently cited primary journals were General Medicine in …

An Epidemiological Study Of Diabetes Mellitus In Dogs Attending First Opinion Practice In The Uk, Madeleine Mattin, Dan G. O'Neill, David B. Church, Paul D. Mcgreevy, Peter C. Thomson, Dave C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of canine diabetes mellitus (DM) in primarycare clinics in England, to identify risk factors associated with DM and to describe the survival of affected dogs.

Methods: Cases of DM were identified within the electronic patient records of 89 small-animal practices. A nested case-control study identified risk factors for the diagnosis of DM using logistic regression models. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse variables associated with survival.

Results: Four-hundred and thirty-nine canine DM cases were identified, giving an apparent prevalence of 0.34% (95% confidence interval 0.31 - 0.37%). Neutered males were at an increased …

Stability And Scalability Of Feature Subset Selection Using Particle Swarm Optimization In Bioinformatics, Hassen Dhrif

Open Access Dissertations

Feature Subset Selection (FSS) is a non-convex, non-linear, multi-modal, high-dimensional, Multi-Objective Optimization problem, where finding the optimum solution is a fairly difficult task due to its ultra-large search space and its very large number of local minima. Existing FSS methods suffer from problems like stagnation in local optima and high computational cost. Evolutionary Computation (EC) techniques are well known global search algorithms. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is an EC technique that is simple to implement and that converges faster than other methods such as Genetic Algorithms (GA), Differential Evolution (DE) or Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). PSO has been successfully applied …

Computational Methods To Quantify Human Lens Shape And Optical Properties Using Laser Ray Tracing And Optical Coherence Tomography, Siobhan Adeana Williams

Open Access Dissertations

Vision is worsening on a global scale. Myopia, a visual condition where distant objects appear blurry, is increasing in prevalence at an alarming rate. This condition typically starts during childhood and progressively worsens, potentially leading to more severe visual conditions if left unchecked. Currently, the best treatment method to slow myopic progression is heavily debated as the etiology of myopia is not fully understood. The development of effective long-term solutions require a better understanding of how vision changes with age. The cornea and lens, the length of the human eye, and the surrounding ocular media dictate visual quality. Extensive studies …

Expanding Perceptions Of Identity In The U.S.: The Chinese Jamaican Immigrant Experience, Kimberly S. Ho Misiaszek

Open Access Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to understand the experience of Chinese Jamaican immigrants in the U.S. and how they construct their identity. Participants were 15 immigrants who self-identified as Chinese Jamaican or other variations of the term (e.g. Jamaican Chinese, Jamaican with Chinese heritage) who participated in qualitative interviews with this researcher. A grounded theory approach was used to conduct an inductive analysis of the interview data. Results revealed five themes: (1) Flourishing, but pushed and pulled to leave for various reasons, (2) Feeling safer and better off, but missing home, (3) Key community values influence us and our views on …

Methodology Of Management Monitoring For Flow Rivers Issue Issue, Toshtemir Khojakulov

Bulletin of TUIT: Management and Communication Technologies

The article reviewed the development of the all the goals of the UzB are “... shaped in the form of global aspirations, and each government sets its own national goals, in cases where several states are monitoring a single trans boundary watershed, efforts should be made to agree on targets for all countries. Water quality comparison.

Weight Gain Trajectory And Pain Interference In Young Adulthood: Evidence From A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study, Jamie Lynch

Faculty Creative and Scholarly Works

Introduction: Obesity is associated with chronic pain, but the contribution of body mass index (BMI) trajectories over the life course to the onset of pain problems remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed how BMI trajectories during the transition to adulthood were associated with a measure of pain interference obtained at age 29 in a longitudinal birth cohort study.

Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 Cohort (follow-up from 1997 to 2015) were used to determine BMI trajectories from age 14 to 29 via group trajectory modeling. At age 29, respondents described whether pain interfered with their work inside …

Does The Cessation Of Intimate Partner Violence Lead To Improvements In Child Adjustment?, Nicole Vu

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether the cessation of intimate partner violence (IPV) predicts lower levels of child externalizing and internalizing problems, and whether longer periods of IPV cessation (i.e., 12 months versus 6 months) predicts lower levels of child externalizing and internalizing problems. Mothers and their children aged 7 to 10 were recruited from domestic violence shelters (n = 88) and the community (n = 440). Mothers and children completed measures of IPV at three assessments, each 6 months apart. Mothers and children completed measures of children’s externalizing problems and internalizing problems at the first and third assessment. Families were categorized …

Did Breast-Feeding Play A Role In The Evolution Of Pets?, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Like the dolphin who adopted a baby whale, humans have often breast-fed pets.

Expanding Beyond Carnivores To Improve Livestock Protection And Conservation, Shari L. Rodriguez, Christie Sampson

Publications

Promoting human–wildlife coexistence is critical to the long-term conservation of many wild animal species that come into conflict with humans. Loss of livestock to carnivore species (e.g., lions, tigers, wolves) is a well-documented occurrence and the focus of mitigation strategies around the world. One area that has received little research is the impact of noncarnivores on livestock. Both African and Asian elephant species are known to cause livestock injuries and deaths. Livestock owners within elephant ranges perceive elephants as a risk to their livestock, which may reduce their tolerance towards elephants and jeopardize conservation efforts in the area. Though feral …

Peroxiredoxin 6 And Phospholipids In Alzheimer's Disease, Nathan A. Drolet

Biological Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Although many neurological mechanisms that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been elucidated, none so far have yielded treatments that can improve AD patient prognosis or slow progression of the disease. Oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain have been identified as major hallmarks of AD, and studies suggest these phenomena induce neurodegeneration. However, connections between AD and the development of these symptoms remain poorly understood. The redox regulator Prx6 has been implicated by studies in humans and mice as a potential mediator between these phenomena. Prx6 may be able to influence oxidative stress and inflammation simultaneously using its peroxidase …

Investigation Of The Electrode Polarization Effect For Biosensor Applications, Anil Koklu

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

My research focuses on electrokinetic transport. Particularly, in this dissertation, we focus on fabrication and testing of micro electrodes with nanostructured surfaces to minimize the electrode polarization (EP) effects for biosensor applications. In the first study, electrochemical deposition of gold nanoparticles on to planar gold electrodes was used to generate rough surfaces. Dendritic nanostructures that reduced EP up to two orders of magnitude was obtained by optimizing the deposition conditions. These structures also enhanced dielectrophoresis (DEP) response of our bio-chips, making them usable in physiological buffers. In further studies we discovered a universal scaling of EP in the frequency domain, …

Gender Differences In Stem Sense Of Belonging For Academically Advanced Middle School Students, Monica C. Meadows

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated academically advanced middle school students’ sense of belonging as it pertains to the STEM disciplines. The study examined the relationship between STEM sense of belonging, STEM class/peer climate, amount of STEM exposure, and the strength of identification with STEM. A quantitative research design was used to examine factors that influence STEM sense of belonging. The researcher utilized a survey research design with data collection via a web survey. This was accomplished through the use of a descriptive rating, Likert-type sense of belonging survey, modified from the Sense of Belonging to Math Scale (PSOBS) created by Rattan, Good, …

Clinical Trial Design And Analysis, Shuang Li

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Clinical trials are experiments tested on human to compare the effect of certain intervention. In early-stage trials, fewer number of patients are enrolled to get preliminary information on safety and efficacy. In late-stage trials, larger number of patients are randomized to further confirm the efficacy and safety.

In Chapter 2, we propose a family of designs for phase I oncology trials. In these trials, oncologists assign different patients at a varying range of dose levels to find the dose that gives the highest acceptable rate of dose-limiting toxicities, which will be the recommended dose for phase II trials. Our proposed …

Position/Weight-Activated Knee Locking Mechanism, Tyagi Ramakrishnan, Kyle B. Reed

USF Patents

A passive knee locking mechanism using the position of the shank and the weight of the user to lock. The mechanism has translational motion, which allows the shank to move linearly along the sagittal/vertical plane, which locks and unlocks the knee, and rotational motion for the shank to swing when unlocked. The knee block, which is disposed at the top of the shank, has a spur gear that locks with a matching gear rack on the top plate of the knee housing. The side plates for the knee housing have a linear path that makes for the translational motion. During …

Augustine's Concept Of Volition And Its Significance For The Doctrine Of Original Sin, Scot Bontrager

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

Augustine has been credited as the inventor of the concept of volition (the will), and yet it is not clear from this claim exactly what his concept of volition is. His understanding of the human person, especially his theory of volition, has had profound implications for much of the theological work which followed. This thesis examines various concepts which influenced Augustine’s notion of volition, contemporary ways of understanding volition, and what Augustine himself believed about it. Since the will is central to Augustine’s description of the human person and the human condition a careful examination of the concept is necessary …

Student Research Program Explores Brain Wellness, Shea Stewart

University of Mississippi News

Summer program supported by UM Flagship Constellations initiative

Electromechanical Dyssynchrony And Clinically Silent Ventricular Dysfunction In Young Subjects With Ventricular Pacing For Congenital And Early Acquired Av Block, Daniel Forsha, David G. Gamboa, Niels Risum, Andrea Kropf, Christoph P. Hornik, Piers Barker, Joseph Kisslo, Ronald J. Kanter

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Purpose: Single site ventricular pacing can result in electromechanical dyssynchrony and LV dysfunction. A classic pattern by strain echocardiography pattern analysis has been defined that specifically identifies electromechanical dyssynchrony that leads to LV dysfunction in other populations. Our purpose is to evaluate for the presence of the classic pattern and an association with LV dysfunction in asymptomatic young subjects with chronic pacing.

Methods: Inclusion criteria of non-surgical 2nd or 3rd degree AV block, normal cardiac anatomy, chronic ventricular pacing (> 95% of beats) and a quality 4-chamber apical image were met by 24 retrospective and 10 prospectively enrolled subjects. Global …

Influence Of Endodontic Sealers On Dentin Strength In Endodontically Treated Teeth, Andrew Fossum

Master's Theses

Introduction: Gutta-percha is not compressible and tooth fracture can be initiated when force is applied to the gutta-percha. The aim of this study was to apply a hoop stress to roots which have been obturated with either gutta-percha and no sealer, gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer, gutta-percha and EndoSequence Bioceramic Sealer, gutta-percha and Tetranite®, or Tetranite® and no gutta-percha until fracture occurred and then compared the failure stresses. Methods: Teeth were divided into five groups based on the sealer type used, no sealer used or only sealer used. The teeth were then sectioned into 2mm thickness discs and load was …

Non-Thermal Plasma-Induced Immunogenic Cell Death In Cancer: A Topical Review., Marian Khalili, Lynsey Daniels, Abraham Lin, Fred C. Krebs, Adam E. Snook, Sander Bekeschus, Wilbur B. Bowne, Vandana Miller

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Recent advances in biomedical research in cancer immunotherapy have identified the use of an oxidative stress-based approach to treat cancers, which works by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) in cancer cells. Since the anti-cancer effects of non-thermal plasma (NTP) are largely attributed to the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are delivered to and generated inside the target cancer cells, it is reasonable to postulate that NTP would be an effective modality for ICD induction. NTP treatment of tumors has been shown to destroy cancer cells rapidly and, under specific treatment regimens, this leads to systemic tumor-specific immunity. The translational …

An Analytical Approach To Ascertain Saturation-Excess Versus Infiltration-Excess Overland Flow In Urban And Reference Landscapes, Ryan D. Stewart, Aditi S. Bhaskar, Anthony J. Parolari, Dustin L. Herrmann, Jinshi Jian, Laura A. Schifman, William D. Shuster

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Uncontrolled overland flow drives flooding, erosion, and contaminant transport, with the severity of these outcomes often amplified in urban areas. In pervious media such as urban soils, overland flow is initiated via either infiltration‐excess (where precipitation rate exceeds infiltration capacity) or saturation‐excess (when precipitation volume exceeds soil profile storage) mechanisms. These processes call for different management strategies, making it important for municipalities to discern between them. In this study, we derived a generalized one‐dimensional model that distinguishes between infiltration‐excess overland flow (IEOF) and saturation‐excess overland flow (SEOF) using Green–Ampt infiltration concepts. Next, we applied this model to estimate overland flow …

Parallel Multipole Expansion Algorithms And Their Biology Applications, Jiahui Chen

Mathematics Theses and Dissertations

N-body pairwise interactions are ubiquitous in scientific areas such as astrophysics, fluids mechanics, electrical engineering, molecular biology, etc. Computing these interactions using direct sum of an O(N) cost is expensive, whereas multipole expansion methods, such as the fast multipole method (FMM) or treecode, can reduce the cost to O(N) or O(N log N). This thesis focuses on developing numerical algorithms of Cartesian FMM and treecode, as well as using these algorithms to directly or implicitly solve biological problems involving pairwise interactions. This thesis consists of the following topics. 1) A cyclic parallel scheme is developed to handle the load balancing …

Chemiluminescence Imaging Probes For Quantification Of Hno And Ph, Weiwei An

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

Chemiluminescence is the light emission from a chemical reaction. The excited state is accessed in the course of a chemical reaction and relaxes to the ground state with the emission of a photon. Independence from the need for light excitation gives chemiluminescence several advantages over fluorescence including better signal-to-noise ratio and reduced background at deeper tissue imaging depth. As a result, the sensitivity of chemiluminescent probes for biological analyte detection has been improved significantly. Because of the sensitivity of chemiluminescent probes, we are planning to use this technique to quantify important factors for biological activities.

In this dissertation, two quantification …

Association Of Baseline Inflammatory Biomarkers With Cancer Mortality In The Regards Cohort, Tomi Akinyemiju, Justin X. Moore, Maria Pisu, Michael Goodman, Virginia J. Howard, Monika Safford, Susan C. Gilchrist, Mary Cushman, Leann Long, Suzanne E. Judd

Open Access Publications

This study examines the association between inflammatory biomarkers and risk of cancer mortality by race. Data were obtained from 1,856 participants in the prospective REGARDS cohort who were cancer-free at baseline, and analyzed in relation to cancer mortality prospectively. Biomarkers were log-transformed and categorized into tertiles due to non-normal distributions, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were utilized to compute hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals using robust sandwich methods. Individuals in the highest tertile of IL-6 had over a 12-fold increased risk of cancer mortality (HR: 12.97, 95% CI: 3.46-48.63); those in the highest tertile of IL-8 had over …

How To Untie A Protein Knot., Sitao Yin, Brittiny Dhital, Ya-Ming Hou

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The origin of protein backbone threading through a topological knot remains elusive. To understand the evolutionary origin of protein knots, in this issue of StructureKo et al. (2019) used circular permutation to untie a knotted protein. They showed that a domain-swapped dimer releases the knot and the associated high-energy state for substrate binding.