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Adjuvant Nab-Paclitaxel + Gemcitabine In Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Results From A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase Iii Trial, Margaret A. Tempero, Uwe Pelzer, Eileen M. O'Reilly, Jordan Winter, Do-Youn Oh, Chung-Pin Li, Giampaolo Tortora, Heung-Moon Chang, Charles D. Lopez, Tanios Bekaii-Saab, Andrew H. Ko, Armando Santoro, Joon Oh Park, Marcus S. Noel, Giovanni Luca Frassineti, Yan-Shen Shan, Andrew Dean, Hanno Riess, Eric Van Cutsem, Jordan Berlin, Philip Philip, Malcolm Moore, David Goldstein, Josep Tabernero, Mingyu Li, Stefano Ferrara, Yvan Le Bruchec, George Zhang, Brian Lu, Andrew V. Biankin, Michele Reni

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE

This randomized, open-label trial compared the efficacy and safety of adjuvant nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine with those of gemcitabine for resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01964430). METHODS

We assigned 866 treatment-naive patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m2) + gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2) or gemcitabine alone to one 30-40 infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of six 28-day cycles. The primary end point was independently assessed disease-free survival (DFS). Additional end points included investigator-assessed DFS, overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS

Two hundred eighty-seven of 432 patients and 310 of 434 patients completed nab …

Mental Health Benefits Of Physical Activity In Older Adults, Adrian Kurt Zitzmann

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

Physical activity is the fountain of youth, strengthening both the physical body as well as the mind, leading to better emotional stability and a general sense of well-being. The population over age 65 is nearing retirement age and are transitioning from a high paced work and family life to a slower and less active “empty nest” lifestyle. Among adults over age 65, will implementing an exercise program for 30 minutes per day increase mental well-being? The benefits of physical activity will be supported by gathering a group of older adults ages 65 and up from a local retirement community to …

Genetic And Transcriptomic Aspects Of Major Depressive Disorder: In Vivo Functional Assays Of Risk-Associated Variation, Candidate Disease Cell Types, And Their Pharmacologic And Sex Interactions, Bernard Mulvey

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness that affects hundreds of millions globally, with substantial personal, medical, economic, and societal consequences. While depression occurs more commonly in females, the biology of the brain and sex underlying this skewed prevalence remains unclarified. This body of work explores two aspects of how biological sex may influence the brain at the level of gene expression: through intrinsic sex differences and through sex-mediated effects of depression risk genetics.The monoamine hypothesis of depression suggests that modulatory neurotransmitters including serotonin and norepinephrine constitute a key axis in development of MDD. Large-scale studies of MDD treatment …

Mechanisms For High Light Tolerance In A Fast-Growing Cyanobacterium, Patricia Walker

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Through oxygenic photosynthesis, cyanobacteria, algae, and plants convert light into chemical energy. However, highly energetic light often damages the photosynthetic apparatus, which can lead to the decline of photosynthetic activity (photoinhibition), and prolonged photoinhibition can lead to cell death. Cyanobacteria enact various protective mechanisms to mitigate photodamage, many of which have been conserved in plants. Repair of PSII reaction centers, decreased light absorption, quenching of excess absorbed energy, and biosynthesis of antioxidants all work to mitigate damage during high light. Due to the adjustments to photosynthesis, acclimation to high light requires remodeling of cellular metabolism and physiology. Therefore, phototrophs have …

The Effect Of Ionization Density In Applications Of Radiation Detection, Dosimetry, And Therapy, Daniel Mulrow

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation covers a wide range of topics but is linked by the common theme of radiation interacting with materials and studying the result of those interactions. The introduction describes the fundamentals of how radiation interacts with material and how we are able to detect that radiation and the application of how we use those interactions in radiation oncology. The thesis starts with a chapter detailing the temperature dependence of the photophysics in two organic scintillators. This chapter is the foundation for a future study that will look the degree to which these scintillators can distinguish between gammas and neutrons …

Non-Canonical Beta-Lactam Antibiotics, Brett Wesley Virgin-Downey

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In canonical β-Lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, the strained nature of the β-Lactam ring leads to acylation of the catalytic serine in the active site of transpeptidases. In 2018, our lab reported a novel mechanism for monocyclic β-lactam antibiotics in the inhibition of glutamine synthetase (GS) by a natural product, tabtoxinine-β-lactam (TβL) using a 3-hydroxy-β-lactam pharmacophore. This work aims to generalize the β-lactam scaffold from TβL to act as a warhead against ATP-dependent carboxylate-amine ligase enzymes, with dihydrofolate synthetase (DHFS) as the test case. A pure 3-hydroxy-β-lactam warhead was synthesized and ligated both chemically and chemoenzymatically to different pteridine mimics. …

Cultivating Life: Skill, Sovereignty, And The Nature Of Knowledge, Bradley Jones

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the cultivation of knowledge, nature, and farmers in U.S. alternative agriculture. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the Hudson Valley of New York and Central Appalachia, I trace the movement of knowledge across prominent training guides, educational workshops, and apprenticeship programs designed to train the next generation of sustainable farmers. I argue that the knowledge communities of alternative agriculture (strive to) transmit not only technical capacity—the ability to productively farm sustainability—but also holistic ways of understanding the natural world and the human place in it. In doing so practitioners of alternative agriculture gain autonomy from the political-economic and …

Sik3 & Wnk Signals Through Fray To Regulate Glial K+ Buffering And Seizure Susceptibility In Drosophila Models Of Hyperexcitability, Lorenzo Laronn Lones

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

K+ homeostasis is important for maintaining healthy, physiological levels of neuronal activity. Glial cells play a central role in maintaining homeostatic ion gradients. In previous work from our lab, we unravel a glial K+ buffering program that is centered on a key kinase, salt-inducible kinase 3 (SIK3). SIK3-HDAC4 signaling in glial regulates the transcription of channels and transporters involved in water and ion transport. Defects in this pathway lead to peripheral nerve edema, neuronal hyperactivity, and seizure sensitivity. In an hyperexcitability mutant, eag Shaker, we show this pathway is downregulated and genetic activation suppresses seizure behavior. In this thesis, I …

Systems Level Analysis Of Organelle Biogenesis In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Kiandokht Panjtan Amiri

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Eukaryotic cells contain hundreds of subcellular structures that serve different functions to maintain cellular homeostasis. A hallmark of Eukaryotic cells is its compartmentalization into membrane-bound organelles. One of the grand challenges in quantitative cell biology is understanding the precision with which cells assemble and maintain subcellular organelles. Despite identification of numerous molecular factors that regulate organelle sizes we lack insight into the quantitative principles underlying organelle size control. We examine organelle sizes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human iPS cells with mathematical theory to show that cells can robustly control average fluctuations in organelle size. By demonstrating that organelle sizes obey …

Generation, Characterization, And Treatment Of Functional Zebrafish Models For Musculoskeletal Disorders, Julia Nicole Whittle

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Musculoskeletal disorders in humans present with a broad range of phenotypes that vary in severity, onset, and genetic cause. The musculoskeletal system is comprised of complex and diverse tissues that make up the majority of total body mass. Thus, mutations in many different genes with differing structure and function can produce phenotypically similar developmental and morphological defects in the muscle and skeleton. In addition, the muscular and skeletal systems develop non-autonomously, wherein development and function of each will affect development of the other. Thus, mutations in genes responsible for development of this complex system have the potential to influence morphogenesis …

Crisisready's Novel Framework For Transdisciplinary Translation: Case-Studies In Wildfire And Hurricane Response, Andrew Schroeder, Caleb Dresser, Akash Yadav, Jennifer Chan, Shenyue Jia, Caroline Buckee, Satchit Balsari

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Extreme weather events including wildfires and hurricanes are becoming increasingly hazardous due to climate change, and often result in transient or permanent population displacements. Disaster-related disruptions in infrastructure, workforce, wages, and social networks can combine with population displacements to result in interruptions in health care access and prolonged impacts on morbidity and mortality. The data needed to make health systems and emergency management approaches more resilient to these hazards, and more responsive to the needs of affected populations, are sequestered in silos across private corporations and public agencies. In two case studies, we describe how our research team at CrisisReady …

A Deep Learning-Based Model For Plant Lesion Segmentation, Subtype Identification, And Survival Probability Estimation, Muhammad Shoaib, Babar Shah, Tariq Hussain, Akhtar Ali, Asad Ullah, Fayadh Alenezi, Tsanko Gechev, Farman Ali, Ikram Syed

All Works

Plants are the primary source of food for world’s population. Diseases in plants can cause yield loss, which can be mitigated by continual monitoring. Monitoring plant diseases manually is difficult and prone to errors. Using computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) for the early identification of plant illnesses can prevent the negative consequences of diseases at the very beginning and overcome the limitations of continuous manual monitoring. The research focuses on the development of an automatic system capable of performing the segmentation of leaf lesions and the detection of disease without requiring human intervention. To get lesion region segmentation, we …

Improving Nursing Shift Handoff Reports: A Quality Improvement Project, Nathan Mm Secrest

Master's Projects and Capstones

Nursing shift-to-shift handoff report can greatly impact a patient’s quality of care. According to the Joint Commission, “an estimated 80 percent of serious medical errors involve miscommunication between caregivers when patients are transferred or handed-off” (Inadequate handoff communication, 2017). In total, this quality improvement (QI) project worked with three hospital inpatient units on three different floors in an urban California (CA) city. Each unit and even shifts within each unit varied, leading to the conclusion that interventions should be trialed by units with the most buy-in, then adjusted to the unique needs of each unit. For our main intervention we …

Interactive And Engaging Virtual/Online English Classes: Fostering Teaching And Social Presence, Merve Beyazit Taner

Master's Projects and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to the education field. Due to the enforced immediate transition from in-person to online teaching, teachers, policymakers, administrators, and students had difficulty adapting themselves. Nearly three years since the pandemic began, it is clear that English language teachers have improved their digital literacy skills to sustain effective teaching. However, more than digital literacy skills are required to build community in the online learning environment. The claim for the literature review is that fostering interaction and creating presence, especially high levels of social and teaching presence, may contribute to academic achievement in online English learning. …

Energy Efficiency Retrofit And Decarbonization Of Old And Historic Buildings In California, Daria Nikolaeva

Master's Projects and Capstones

Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and the retrofitting of existing buildings is an essential part of solving the problem. About 75% of buildings in Californian were constructed before the first energy-efficiency building code was adopted in 1978. Old buildings are inefficient, responsible for large carbon footprints and must be retrofitted to stay on track with the state's climate targets. However, current policies do not require substantial changes and tend to favor historic preservation over energy efficiency, missing improvement opportunities. Recognizing the significance of carbon intensity, the 2019 California Energy Efficiency Action Plan shifted …

Participatory Research (The Basics; 101) - Presentation At Uk Food Systems Research Ecr Conference, Hannah Gardiner

School of Health Professions

Many authors have noted a 'participatory turn' in research; present across disciplines. There has been a proliferation of approaches and terminology, and diversity in the use and application of even the same terms. This presentation aimed to outline some origins of modern participatory research practices, and presents the audience with some key considerations, questions, and tools for use when planning or delivering such research.

Invasive Pests Of Landscape Trees In Utah, Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull, Anna Fabiszak, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis, Diane G. Alston, Ricardo Ramirez

All Current Publications

This guide provides an overview of the Utah First Detector Program and how to submit samples. The guide reviews the diseases and insects that affect landscape trees in Utah.

Invasive Species Handbook: A Resource For Educators - Grades 3-8, Natalie D'Souza, Marion Murray, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

This handbook includes six chapters that discuss invasive species and their environmental, economic, and health impacts. It also reviews pathways of invasive species spread and prevention, monitoring, and control. The handbook is a resource for educators teaching children in grades 3 through 8. Learning objectives, activities, and vocabulary are also included.

Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia Smith), Lori R. Spears, Carson Wise, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Asian giant hornet and reviews similar-looking insects, its life cycle, predatory strategies, monitoring and management, and the related public health concerns.

Social Support And Its Relationship With Achievement Motivation Amongst Widowed Female Students In The Palestinian Universities, Basel M. El-Khodary, Tawfeeq M., Hanan O. Olwan

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The current study aimed to identify the relationship between social support and achievement motivation amongst widowed female students in Palestinian universities. Descriptive analytical design was used as it is suitable for the current study. The researcher prepared the social support scale and achievement motivation scale. The sample consists of (169) widowed female students affiliated to the University College of Applied Sciences and the Islamic University of Gaza. The results showed that: The level of social support among widowed students was (77%) and the level of achievement motivation was (82%). There is a statistically significant positive correlation between social support and …

Fairy Tale, By Stephen King. Reviewed By Phillip Fitzsimmons, Phillip Fitzsimmons

Mythprint Book Reviews

Mythprint is the quarterly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local discussion groups.

Rushing To The Diagnosis: Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm Detected Using The Rapid Ultrasound For Shock And Hypotension (Rush) Protocol In The Wards, Jose A. Rivera, Daniel Aragon, Percy M. Thomas, Paul Dominici, Michael Menowsky, Olabiyi O. Akala

School of Medicine Publications

The rapid ultrasound for shock and hypotension (RUSH) protocol is a useful tool used in the emergency department (ED) when addressing the severity and etiology of shock. It was designed to be performed in under two minutes with evaluation of the pump (heart), tank (inferior vena cava, thoracic and abdominal compartments) and the pipes (large arteries and veins). However, its application or one similar should extend beyond the ED and into the hospital floor. Here we present an 80-year-old gentleman with a history of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) on anticoagulation who arrived at the ED due to an episode of pre-syncope …

Mitochondria Clumping Vs. Mitochondria Fusion In Cmt2a Diseases, Antonietta Franco, Caroline E Walton, Xiawei Dang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Phenotypic variations in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A) result from the many mutations in the mitochondrial fusion protein, mitofusin 2 (MFN2). While the GTPase domain mutations of MFN2 lack the ability to hydrolyze GTP and complete mitochondrial fusion, the mechanism of dysfunction in HR1 domain mutations has yet to be explored. Using

Machine-Learning Classifier To Detect Atrial Fibrillation Based On Facial Action Units, Chongyu Zhu

Theses

Facial action units (AUs) are numerical representations of indicative facial features drawn by facial landmark localization. Tiny muscular movements on the face can be reflected through facial AUs. In this project, using AUs to diagnose atrial fibrillation (AFib) in real-time is investigated for the first time, and AUs are shown to have a connection with AFib occurrence. Unlike ECG/PPG/VPG, the machine-learning-enabled AFib detector proposed in this project can realize real-time contactless monitoring of AFib continuously in home settings while maintaining the accuracy of AFib detection. ECG data and tablet image snapshots are synchronized to form the dataset that will be …

Spatial Metaphors In Introductory Statements Of Humanities And Stem Disciplines: A Study Of English And Mechanical Engineering Departments, Olalekan T. Adepoju

Publications and Research

Advances in higher education, specifically in science and technology, have engendered a significant shift of interest from a mainly liberal arts curriculum to STEM-related fields of study, creating a rift in the value systems undergirding the two academic domains. One of the ways the disciplinary disparity is institutionally expressed is through the language used in describing the core values of these disciplines, specifically in the introductory statements of departments. Using the lens of spatial metaphor to consider how the language expresses distinct realities that align with the public perceptions of the disciplines, this paper examines the metaphorical framings in the …

Diagnosis Of Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Higher Order Statistical Analysis Of Electroencephalography Signals, Seyed Alireza Khoshnevis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The field of signal processing has many applications, one of which is in the field of biomedical engineering where it has improved the performance of biomedical devices and the accuracy of medical diagnosis. One of the areas that have benefited from this field is the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Nearly one million Americans suffer from PD, and this number goes up to over ten million people worldwide. The main symptoms of PD include bradykinesia, rest tremor, rigidity, and impaired balance. There are many types …

Green Advertising: The Progress Of Three Decades (1991-2020), Abhishek Abhishek, Birud Sindhav, Jonna Holland, Phani Tej Adidam

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

This paper presents an integrated review of 144 articles published on green advertising (GA) between 1991-2020. The extant literature is reviewed to aid taxonomical analysis of definitions, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks. The review suggests that the GA literature tracks the stimuli-moderators-outcome template of the general advertising literature. Consequently, advertising claims and appeals, consumer related factors, and product related factors are the organizing themes of the review. Emerging trends and possible research gaps for each of these three categories are identified. Based on a thorough discussion of current knowledge in the domain, detailed recommendations are presented to advance research in the …

Third Time’S A Charm: The Case For Ban The Box Legislation In Idaho, Alaina Heuring

Idaho Law Review

No abstract provided.

Idaho’S Noneconomic Damage Cap On Whistleblowers: Adding Another Claim To The List Of Unconstitutional Caps In Idaho, Brooke Kenney

Idaho Law Review

No abstract provided.

Peering Into Passive Electioneering: Preserving The Sanctity Of Our Polling Places, Rebecca M. Fitz

Idaho Law Review

No abstract provided.