Digital Commons Network^™

Metabolic Imaging Using Hyperpolarization For Assessment Of Premalignancy, Shivanand Pudakalakatti, Priyank Raj, Travis C Salzillo, José S Enriquez, Dontrey Bourgeois, Prasanta Dutta, Mark Titus, Shayan Shams, Priya Bhosale, Michael Kim, Florencia Mcallister, Pratip K Bhattacharya

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There is an unmet need for noninvasive surrogate markers that can help identify premalignant lesions across different tumor types. Here we describe the methodology and technical details of protocols employed for in vivo

Advances In Non-Invasive Biosensing Measures To Monitor Wound Healing Progression, Walker D Short, Oluyinka O Olutoye, Benjamin W Padon, Umang M Parikh, Daniel Colchado, Hima Vangapandu, Shayan Shams, Taiyun Chi, Jangwook P Jung, Swathi Balaji

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Impaired wound healing is a significant financial and medical burden. The synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in a new wound is a dynamic process that is constantly changing and adapting to the biochemical and biomechanical signaling from the extracellular microenvironments of the wound. This drives either a regenerative or fibrotic and scar-forming healing outcome. Disruptions in ECM deposition, structure, and composition lead to impaired healing in diseased states, such as in diabetes. Valid measures of the principal determinants of successful ECM deposition and wound healing include lack of bacterial contamination, good tissue perfusion, and reduced mechanical injury and …

Leveraging Deep Learning-Based Segmentation And Contours-Driven Deformable Registration For Dose Accumulation In Abdominal Structures, Molly M Mcculloch, Guillaume Cazoulat, Stina Svensson, Sergii Gryshkevych, Bastien Rigaud, Brian M Anderson, Ezgi Kirimli, Brian De, Ryan T Mathew, Mohamed Zaid, Dalia Elganainy, Christine B Peterson, Peter Balter, Eugene J Koay, Kristy K Brock

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Discrepancies between planned and delivered dose to GI structures during radiation therapy (RT) of liver cancer may hamper the prediction of treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study is to develop a streamlined workflow for dose accumulation in a treatment planning system (TPS) during liver image-guided RT and to assess its accuracy when using different deformable image registration (DIR) algorithms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy guided by daily CT-on-rails (CTOR) were retrospectively analyzed. The liver, stomach and duodenum contours were auto-segmented on all planning CTs and daily CTORs …

The Potential Of Biology-Guided Radiation Therapy In Thoracic Cancer: A Preliminary Treatment Planning Study, Steven N Seyedin, Rostem Bassalow, Osama R Mawlawi, Lehendrick M Turner, Roshal R Patel, Samuel R Mazin, Oluwaseyi M Oderinde, Yevgen Voronenko, Cody A Wages, Peter D Olcott, Joe Y Chang, Peter A Balter, James W Welsh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: We investigated the feasibility of biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT), a technique that utilizes real-time positron emission imaging to minimize tumor motion uncertainties, to spare nearby organs at risk.

METHODS: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), intensity-modulated proton (IMPT) therapy, and BgRT plans were created for a paratracheal node recurrence (case 1; 60 Gy in 10 fractions) and a primary peripheral left upper lobe adenocarcinoma (case 2; 50 Gy in four fractions).

RESULTS: For case 1, BgRT produced lower bronchus V40 values compared to VMAT and IMPT. For case 2, total lung V20 was lower in the BgRT case compared to VMAT …

A Transgenic Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Approach To Identify Regulatory Regions That Direct Amhr2 And Osterix Expression In Müllerian Duct Mesenchyme, Malcolm M Moses, Rachel D Mullen, Daniel I Idowu, Peter Maye, Soazik P Jamin, Richard R Behringer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A transgenic mouse approach using bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) was used to identify regulatory regions that direct Müllerian duct expression for Amhr2 and Osterix (Osx, also known as Sp7). Amhr2 encodes the receptor that mediates anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) signaling for Müllerian duct regression in male embryos. Amhr2 is expressed in the Müllerian duct mesenchyme of both male and female embryos. A ∼147-kb BAC clone containing the Amhr2 locus was used to generate transgenic mice. The transgene was able to rescue the block in Müllerian duct regression of Amhr2-null males, suggesting that the BAC clone contains regulatory …

Genetic Variants Associated With Circulating Liver Injury Markers In Mexican Americans, A Population At Risk For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Caroline M Sabotta, Suet-Ying Kwan, Lauren E Petty, Jennifer E Below, Aron Joon, Peng Wei, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B Mccormick, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Mexican Americans are disproportionally affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Noninvasive means to identify those in this population at high risk for these diseases are urgently needed. Approach: The Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC) is a population-based cohort with high rates of obesity (51%), type 2 diabetes (28%) and NAFLD (49%). In a subgroup of 564 CCHC subjects, we evaluated 339 genetic variants previously reported to be associated with liver injury markers aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in United Kingdom and Japanese cohorts. Results: Association was confirmed for 86 variants. Among …

Automated Identification Of Missing Is-A Relations In The Human Phenotype Ontology, Maryamsadat Mohtashamian, Ran Hu, Rashmie Abeysinghe, Xubing Hao, Hua Xu, Licong Cui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Auditing the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) is necessary to provide accurate terminology for its use in clinical research. We investigate an approach leveraging the lexical features of concepts in HPO to identify missing IS-A relations among HPO concepts. We first model the names of HPO concepts as sets of words in lower case. Then, we generate two types of concept-pairs which have at least a single common word: (1) Linked concept-pairs generated from concept-pairs having an IS-A relation; (2) Unlinked concept-pairs generated from concept-pairs without an IS- A relation. Concept-pairs generate Derived Term Pairs (DTPs) emphasizing unique lexical information of …

Magi1 Inhibits Interferon Signaling To Promote Influenza A Infection, Yin Wang, Jun-Ichi Abe, Khanh M Chau, Yongxing Wang, Hang Thi Vu, Loka Reddy Velatooru, Fahad Gulraiz, Masaki Imanishi, Venkata S K Samanthapudi, Minh T H Nguyen, Kyung Ae Ko, Ling-Ling Lee, Tamlyn N Thomas, Elizabeth A Olmsted-Davis, Sivareddy Kotla, Keigi Fujiwara, John P Cooke, Di Zhao, Scott E Evans, Nhat-Tu Le

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We have shown that membrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted domain structure-1 (MAGI1), a scaffold protein with six PSD95/DiscLarge/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains, is involved in the regulation of endothelial cell (EC) activation and atherogenesis in mice. In addition to causing acute respiratory disease, influenza A virus (IAV) infection plays an important role in atherogenesis and triggers acute coronary syndromes and fatal myocardial infarction. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the function and regulation of MAGI1 in IAV-induced EC activation. Whereas, EC infection by IAV increases MAGI1 expression, MAGI1 depletion suppresses IAV infection, suggesting that the induction of MAGI1 may …

Regulation Of T Cell Function By Protein S-Acylation, Savannah J West, Darren Boehning, Askar M Akimzhanov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

S-acylation, the reversible lipidation of free cysteine residues with long-chain fatty acids, is a highly dynamic post-translational protein modification that has recently emerged as an important regulator of the T cell function. The reversible nature of S-acylation sets this modification apart from other forms of protein lipidation and allows it to play a unique role in intracellular signal transduction. In recent years, a significant number of T cell proteins, including receptors, enzymes, ion channels, and adaptor proteins, were identified as S-acylated. It has been shown that S-acylation critically contributes to their function by regulating protein localization, stability and protein-protein interactions. …

Morphological Description Of Laevicaulisstuhlmanni (Simroth, 1895) (Pulmonata, Veronicellidae) From Egypt, Reham Fathey Ali, David G Robinson, Fabio Liberto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Terrestrial slugs and snails are increasingly becoming serious pests of agricultural, horticultural and ornamental plants in Egypt, resulting in major economic losses.

NEW INFORMATION: This paper provides a detailed morphological and anatomical description of the veronicellid slug Laevicaulisstuhlmanni (Simroth, 1895) that has been recently recorded from Egypt. This population from Egypt is compared with Laevicaulis populations recently reported and described from Libya as L.striatus (Simroth, 1896) and with available data in literature. Some notes and a distribution map of the veronicellids introduced in north-eastern Africa are provided.

Impact Of Psychosocial, Behavioral And Lifestyle Factors On Subjective Cognitive Complaints And Perceived Quality Of Life In A Large Cohort Of Italian Breast Cancer Patients, Thomas West, Corrado Cavallero, Rita Ceccherini, Silva Foladore, Daniele Generali, Francesco Versace, Bruna Scaggiante

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The impact of psychosocial and behavioral factors on Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment manifestations is still under debate. Study's purpose is to determine the prevalence rate of cancer related cognitive impairment in a cohort of Italian breast cancer patients and to evaluate the implication of specific behavioral factors. For these purposes, a total of 233 women (106 breast cancer patients and 127 age-matched controls without oncological diagnosis) completed a questionnaire investigating cognitive functionality (FACT-Cog v3.0), sociodemographic characteristics, clinical information, psychosocial and behavioral factors (cognitive reserve, sleep quality, dietary habits, physical activity). The results indicated a higher prevalence rate of subjective cognitive …

Cancer Treatment-Induced Nad+ Depletion In Premature Senescence And Late Cardiovascular Complications, Priyanka Banerjee, Elizabeth A Olmsted-Davis, Anita Deswal, Minh Th Nguyen, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Nicholas L Palaskas, Steven H Lin, Sivareddy Kotla, Cielito Reyes-Gibby, Sai-Ching J Yeung, Syed Wamique Yusuf, Momoko Yoshimoto, Michihiro Kobayashi, Bing Yu, Keri Schadler, Joerg Herrmann, John P Cooke, Abhishek Jain, Eduardo Chini, Nhat-Tu Le, Jun-Ichi Abe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Numerous studies have revealed the critical role of premature senescence induced by various cancer treatment modalities in the pathogenesis of aging-related diseases. Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) can be induced by telomere dysfunction. Telomeric DNA damage response induced by some cancer treatments can persist for months, possibly accounting for long-term sequelae of cancer treatments. Telomeric DNA damage-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species production are hallmarks of premature senescence. Recently, we reported that the nucleus-mitochondria positive feedback loop formed by p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) and phosphorylation of S496 on ERK5 (a unique member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family …

Evolutionary Action Score Of Tp53 Analysis In Pathologically High-Risk Human Papillomavirus-Negative Head And Neck Cancer From A Phase 2 Clinical Trial: Nrg Oncology Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0234, Chieko Michikawa, Pedro A Torres-Saavedra, Natalie L Silver, Paul M Harari, Merrill S Kies, David I Rosenthal, Quynh-Thu Le, Richard C Jordan, Dzifa Y Duose, Saradhi Mallampati, Sanchit Trivedi, Rajyalakshmi Luthra, Ignacio I Wistuba, Abdullah A Osman, Olivier Lichtarge, Robert L Foote, Upendra Parvathaneni, D Neil Hayes, Curtis R Pickering, Jeffrey N Myers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: An evolutionary action scoring algorithm (EAp53) based on phylogenetic sequence variations stratifies patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) bearing

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighty-one resection samples from patients treated surgically for stage III or IV human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC with high-risk pathologic features, who received either radiation therapy + cetuximab + cisplatin (cisplatin) or radiation therapy + cetuximab + docetaxel (docetaxel) as adjuvant treatment in a phase 2 study were subjected to

RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 9.8 years, there was a significant interaction between EAp53 group and treatment for overall survival (

CONCLUSIONS: The docetaxel arm …

Adverse Work Experiences And The Impact On Workplace Psychological Well Being, Workplace Psychological Distress, Employee Engagement, Turnover Intention, And Work State Conscientiousness, Nicole J. Dekay

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Dissertations

Workplaces work to reduce severe safety issues and highly stressful events, yet limited focus has been put on the chronic traumatic experiences and everyday psychological stressors that people experience in workplaces. This dissertation will add to existing work design literature by studying how the presence of Adverse Work Experiences, both acute and chronic, at a variety of workplaces, impact mental health both in terms of Workplace Psychological Distress and Workplace Psychological Wellbeing which in turn can affect turnover, engagement, and work conscientiousness. Results indicated adverse work experiences were significantly related to higher psychological distress, lower psychological wellbeing, higher turnover intention, …

Supporting Green Neuromorphic Computing: Machine Learning Guided Microfabrication For Resistive Random Access Memory, Abdi Yamil Vicenciodelmoral, Md Mehedi Hasan Tanim, Feng Zhao, Xinghui Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The growing popularity of big data and machine learning applications call for a more powerful and energy-efficient way to execute deep learning workflows. Neuromorphic chips provide a potential solution, as they attempt to mimic the neuronal architectures in human brain and show great potentials in reducing energy consumption in the order of magnitude and also improve the computational performance. However, the fabrication process for neuromorphic chips is costly and currently based on trial-and-error, which adds complexity to the design process. In this paper, we address this challenge by designing and developing machine learning guided microfabrication process for Resistive Random Access …

Is Rimegepant An Effective Treatment For Acute Migraine Pain In Adults?, Hanson S. Wright

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is rimegepant an effective treatment for acute migraine pain in adults?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three, peer-reviewed randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCT’s).

DATA SOURCES: All studies were obtained from PubMed and were published in English in peer-reviewed journals between 2014-2019. The articles were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question posed in the objective and their inclusion of patient oriented outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The main outcome being assessed in all articles was freedom from pain. The absence/presence of pain was self-reported by patients …

Does Gua Sha Therapy Reduce Pain Intensity In Patients With Chronic Back Pain?, Anh Y. Cao

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Does Gua shatherapy reduce pain intensity in patients with chronic back pain?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials/studies published in English between 2013-2019.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals and obtained from PubMed. The studies were selected based on their applicability to the topic listed above.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: A common outcome measured across all three articles included pain intensity. Each study used the 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants were asked to rate their pain before and after therapeutic interventions. A …

Is Cryotherapy With Exercise Therapy More Effective Than Exercise Therapy Alone In Reducing Symptoms Associated With Ankylosing Spondylitis?, Michelle Hand

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic EBM review is to determine “Is Cryotherapy with Exercise Therapy More Effective than Exercise Therapy Alone in Reducing Symptoms Associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis?”

Study Design: A comprehensive review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Data Sources: PubMed database was used to find all three articles referenced in this review. Each article was published in a peer-reviewed journal and published after 2010.

Outcome Measured: The outcome considered for this review was subjective reduction in disease activity measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) which consists of 6 questions regarding clinical manifestations of …

Is Platelet Rich Plasma (Prp) Injection An Effective Therapy In Improving Patient Functional Outcomes And Decreasing Pain Postoperatively In Adults With Meniscal Repairs?, Paige A. Foschi

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine: “Is platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection an effective therapy in improving patient functional outcomes and decreasing pain postoperatively in adults with meniscal repairs.”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2018 and 2019.

Data Sources: All three RCTs were discovered using PubMed, AMED, CINAHL Plus, and Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Source. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on applicability to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: Patients’ pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the …

Does Medical Clowning Impact Anxiety In The Pediatric Population Undergoing Medical Interventions?, Kelso Blaze

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to investigate the question, “does medical clowning impact anxiety in the pediatric patient undergoing medical interventions?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized control trials (RCT).

DATA SOURCES: These articles were published between 2012-2021 in English. The in peer-reviewed journals, searched for using PubMed.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcomes measured included anxiety level in pediatric patients undergoing medical interventions.

RESULTS: In the RCT led by Dionigi et al., medical clowning led to a reduction in pediatric patient anxiety compared with the control group (P < 0.005), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 17. In the RCT by Felluga et al., medical clowning led to a reduction in pediatric patient anxiety compared with the control group (P < 0.05), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 1. Lastly, Mieri et al. demonstrated a reduction pediatric patient anxiety with medical clowning, indicated by a mean change from baseline of 0.04 with statistical significance of P < 0.05 in the treatment group.

CONCLUSION: All three studies in this review demonstrated that …

Annual Report State Fiscal Year July 2020-June 2021, Tennessee. Department Of Children's Services.

Department of Children's Services

No abstract provided.

Actuarial Review Of The Tenncare Program, Development Of State Fiscal Year 2022 Per Member Costs, Tennessee. Division Of Tenncare.

TennCare Actuarial Report

No abstract provided.

Editors' Notes, Brooks R. Vostal, Jonathan D. Bostic, Christy Galletta Horner, Sherri Horner, Kristina Lavenia, Jeanne Novak

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Editors' Notes

A Comparison Of Paper-Based And Computer-Based Formats For Assessing Student Achievement, Meghan B. Scrimgeour, Haigen H. Huang

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Given the growing trend toward using technology to assess student learning, this investigation examined test mode comparability of student achievement scores obtained from paper-pencil and computerized assessments of statewide End-of-Course and End- of-Grade examinations in the subject areas of high school biology and eighth-grade English Language Arts and math. Propensity score matching was used to generate comparable groups of students who were assessed using paper-pencil or computer-based formats. T-tests and generalized linear models were further used to examine test mode effect. Analyses revealed a small test mode effect for all three subjects such that students using the paper-based format achieved …

Transforming Educators: A Framework For Developing Accomplices For Racial Justice In Prek-12 Schools, Linsay Demartino

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This article aims to disrupt the manifestations of whiteness in educational spaces. With an understanding that white supremacy is endemic in our society, this article is framed by the manifestations of whiteness in the form of white privilege, emotionality, and shame present within our schools and argues for the adoption of authentic and critical caring, love, and hope in our educational institutions. Most importantly, this article addresses the importance of rejecting the manifestations of whiteness in favor of equity, justice, and antiracism amid resistance in schools and concludes with practical recommendations to better prepare educators for their adoption of equity …

A Novel Approach To Social Justice Education, Jennifer Banas, Sara Gershon

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Singular efforts in PK-12 settings to instill a social justice mindset will not achieve the same outcomes as social justice education infused throughout content area instruction. In collaboration with 10th-grade teachers, we developed and implemented a biblioguidance curriculum to develop students’ social justice and content area competency. Evaluation findings from the pilot implementation indicate there was a significant impact on some social justice competencies and all targeted content area competencies. Also, students appeared to recognize the benefits of a biblioguidance approach. In light of the outcomes, we celebrate the curriculum's successes and offer suggestions for ongoing improvement.

Why Anti-Racist Education Must Include Asian American History, Leanne Kang

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This is a commentary on why anti-racist education must include Asian American history, especially in the wake of increased hate crimes against Asians and anti-Asian bullying in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first half of the paper discusses the issue and how the absence of Asian American history in K-12 and teacher preparation programs plays a role in perpetuating racism against Asians in the U.S. The second half of the paper presents how I have incorporated Asian American history into a social foundations of education course through two legal cases filed by Chinese Americans: Tape v. Hurley (1885) and …

Achievement Goal Orientation As A Predictor Of High-Impact Practice Participation For Postsecondary Students, Angie L. Miller

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Achievement goal orientation has been studied within education for decades, and previous research has linked the construct to student achievement and engagement. This study uses the 2x2 achievement goal orientation as a framework for exploring high-impact practice (HIP) participation for approximately 8,000 college students across 15 different institutions participating in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Through a series of binary logistic regression analyses, results suggest students who employ a mastery-approach orientation are more likely to partake in a variety of beneficial HIPs, such as learning communities, research with faculty, service learning, study abroad, culminating experience, and formal leadership …

The Longitudinal Influence Of Adhd Status And Stimulant Medication On Body Mass Index And Blood Pressure Among Obese Youth, Sophie Kollin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more vulnerable to developing obesity, as they have significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and are at increased risk of food addiction and binge eating. Stimulant medication use, which is an evidence-based treatment for ADHD, is associated with lower BMI and higher blood pressure among normal weight youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal influence of ADHD and stimulant medication use on BMI and blood pressure trajectories among a sample of 456 youth treated in a weight management clinic. Mixed linear modeling examined the main and interactive effects of …

Amphiphilic Janus Polymer Nanoparticles For Pharmaceutical And Biomedical Applications, Mahesh Loku Yaddehige

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Amphiphilic hybrid polymers have attracted significant interest as biomaterials for both fundamental research and practical clinical applications due to their unique polymer structure and properties relative to the conventional symmetric polymers. Often referred to as “Janus” polymers combine two different polymer segments (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) of varying degrees, sizes, and functionalities to obtain a single amphiphilic or hetero-functional macromolecule with characteristic features. In particular, amphiphilic “Janus” polymers and their self-assemblies have shown apparent success in nanomedicine owing to their ability to provide highly ordered nanoscale multimolecular aggregates, including micelles and vesicles. However, engineering these polymeric materials on a large scale …