Digital Commons Network^™

Comparison Of Evaluations For Heart Transplant Before Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device And Subsequent Receipt Of Transplant At Transplant Vs Nontransplant Centers, Thomas M. Cascino, Jeffrey S. Mccullough, Xiaoting Wu, Michael J. Pienta, James W. Stewart, Robert B. Hawkins, Alexander A. Brescia, Ashraf Abou El Ala, Min Zhang, Pierre-Emmanuel Noly, Jonathan W. Haft, Jennifer A. Cowger, Monica Colvin, Keith D. Aaronson, Francis D. Pagani, Donald S. Likosky

Cardiology Articles

IMPORTANCE: In 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revised its national coverage determination, removing the requirement to obtain review from a Medicare-approved heart transplant center to implant a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for bridge-to-transplant (BTT) intent at an LVAD-only center. The association between center-level transplant availability and access to heart transplant, the gold-standard therapy for advanced heart failure (HF), is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of center transplant availability with LVAD implant strategies and subsequent heart transplant following LVAD implant before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services policy change.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A …

Genetic Algorithm Shape Optimization To Manipulate The Nonlinear Response Of A Clamped-Clamped Beam, Tushar Mollik, Ying Geng, Md Raf E. Ul Shougat, Timothy Fitzgerald, Edmon Perkins

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Dynamical systems, which are described by differential equations, can have an enhanced response because of their nonlinearity. As one example, the Duffing oscillator can exhibit multiple stable vibratory states for some external forcing frequencies. Although discrete systems that are described by ordinary differential equations have helped to build fundamental groundwork, further efforts are needed in order to tailor nonlinearity into distributed parameter, continuous systems, which are described by partial differential equations. To modify the nonlinear response of continuous systems, topology optimization can be used to change the shape of the mechanical system. While topology optimization is well-developed …

Multidimensional Case Study Of Age-Friendly Cities And Communities In Hong Kong, Tokyo And Singapore, Wai Yi Cheng

SOC 605 Comparative Social Policy Research Project - Student Works

This multidimensional case study aims to capture the urban characteristics of age-friendly cities and communities in three international cities, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore. As the aging population has become global phenomena, various aging ideologies were proposed to address the issues caused by the significant demographic shift. The four common aging ideologies: healthy aging, productive aging, successful aging, and active aging that is widely adopted in age-friendly development; apart from the above aging ideologies, positive aging, a distinctive branch found in geropsychology study suggested that individual’s preparedness is as important as societal readiness emphasized in the four environment-related wellbeing regarding …

An Appreciative Inquiry Of Community Based Disability Sports And Physical Activity Provision To Guide Future Development, Jennifer O Carroll Reidy

Theses

In 2008, the Irish Sports Inclusion Disability Programme (SIDP) was established to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in a variety of sports and physical activity. Regular monitoring has been sporadic and disparate (Sport Ireland, 2016). Using the four-stage method of Appreciative Inquiry (Cooperrider, 1987), a series of interviews was undertaken with providers of the SIDP. Fourteen Coordinators, SIDOs and sports development workers were interviewed about the strengths, impacts and future for the SIDP. Six participants of the programmes also took part in a focus group concerning their perspectives of the current state and future potential for the …

Why I Keep Doing Science Fair: Using Constructivist Grounded Theory To Study Out-Of-School-Time Science Learning Among Females And Underrepresented Minorities, Justin Andersson

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Science education in the United States has endured substantial reform due to national needs for a bolstered, more diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce. Recent reform efforts call for students to be engaged in scientific inquiry through the practices of scientists and engineers. Opportunity gaps exist in science education and in the STEM pipeline for those who have traditionally been underrepresented, especially females and minorities. Research highlights the potential of science fair experiences to engage students in inquiry learning that could meet the needs of updated standards. Furthermore, students from diverse backgrounds might benefit from out-of-school time science learning …

Development Of A Targeted Mass Spectrometry Method For The Detection And Quantification Of Peanut Protein In Incurred Food Matrices, Sara Schlange

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The unintentional presence of peanut in food products through allergen cross-contact is a considerable safety concern for peanut-allergic individuals. The food industry monitors for this contamination using immunoassays; however, these detection methods demonstrate issues with recovery and accurate quantification of allergenic protein when analyzing processed, complex food matrices. Of particular concern is the deficit in immunoassay-based detection and quantification of peanut in cookie and dark chocolate matrices, as the unintentional presence of peanut has been observed in these food products. A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the detection and quantification of peanut protein in cookie and …

Safety Assessment Of Novel Foods And Food Proteins, Niloofar Moghadam Maragheh

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The global food market needs to grow and supply food demand to feed the growing world population. Alternative food proteins, including novel sources of safe foods and ingredients, are the candidates that could provide more environmentally sustainable choices, animal welfare, and consumers health. Novel foods and food proteins must undergo premarket safety evaluations including allergenicity assessment to reduce the risk of cross-reactivity with known allergens and uncharacterized risk to food allergic individuals. This research addressed the safety assessment of some novel foods and food ingredients using the study of stability of proteins in pepsin and sequence identity analysis in the …

Identification Of Gut Microbiome Composition Responsible For Gas Production, Erasme Mutuyemungu

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Gas production remains a significant barrier to increasing intake of dietary fiber-containing foods for many consumers. Therefore, this thesis is comprised of two studies focusing on the role of the gut microbiome in contributing to gas production during fermentation of dietary components. Previous studies have reported significant correlations between Megasphaera elsdenii and gas production during fermentation of pulses. Therefore, the objective of the first study was to determine the role of M. elsdenii in gas production by the microbiome during fermentation of foods commonly associated with gas production. Human fecal microbiomes were separated based on the presence (Me+) or absence …

The Intersecting And Additive Nature Of Vulnerability: Dehumanizing Or Protecting?, Megan Berry-Cohen

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Recent research has examined how extra-legal factors such as emotions and stereotypes impact legal judgment decisions regarding traditionally vulnerable populations. Less work has explored not only what makes a group vulnerable, but how people perceive, interpret, and apply that vulnerability. The current research therefore integrates psychological theory and legal models to understand vulnerability and its implications. Three studies examined the roles of various factors, including dehumanization and empathy, in understanding how people respond to vulnerable individuals in general and then to women who have survived sexual violence.

In Experiment 1, I manipulated sex (female vs. male), age (older: 60 years …

Examining The Effects Of Formal Education Level On The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Renee S. White, Justin M. Barber, Jordan P. Harp, Gregory A. Jicha

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Background: Brief, global assessments such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are widely used in primary care for assessing cognition in older adults. Like other neuropsychological instruments, lower formal education can influence MoCA interpretation.

Methods: Data from 2 large studies of cognitive aging were used—Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). Both use comprehensive examinations to determine cognitive status and have brain amyloid status for many participants. Mixed models were used to account for random variation due to data source.

Results: Cognitively intact participants with lower education (≤12 years) were more likely than …

Patient-Reported Outcomes (Pros) In Nrg Oncology Rtog 1010: Phase Iii Trial Evaluating The Addition Of Trastuzumab To Trimodality Treatment Of Her2 Overexpressing (Her2+) Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (Eac), L. A. Kachnic, J. Moughan, T. S. Hong, M. G. Haddock, N. Tahir, H. H. Yoon, D. A. D Pardo, C. M. Anderson, S. A. Seaward, C. Lominska, P. O'Brien, A. W. Katz, J. Salo, A. D. Christie, J. A. Dorth, R. Aljumaily, E. M. Gore, H. P. Safyan, Benjamin Movsas

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Purpose/Objective(s): NRG/RTOG 1010 evaluated the benefit of trastuzumab for patients (pts) with HER2+ localized EAC receiving trimodality therapy. Adding trastuzumab did not improve disease-free (primary endpoint) or overall survival, nor treatment toxicity (Lancet Oncology 2022). The primary PRO objective was improvement (impr) in the FACT-Esophageal Cancer Subscale (ECS) score with trastuzumab at restaging prior to surgery. A secondary objective was to assess if impr in ECS score is associated with pathologic complete response (pCR).

Materials/Methods: Pts with HER2+ EAC (T1N1-2; T2-3N0-2) were stratified by presence of adenopathy & randomized 1:1 to weekly paclitaxel, carboplatin with 50.4 Gy radiation (CRT) followed …

Gold Nanoparticle (Aunp) As A Therapeutic Enhancer For Radio – And Immunotherapy Therapy Combination In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Brana Janic, Stephen L. Brown, R. Neff, G. Mao, Indrin J. Chetty, Benjamin Movsas, Ning Wen

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Purpose/Objective(s): Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer (BC) form, with a high metastases rate and a very low survival. The aggressiveness of TNBC coupled with a significant toxicity and suboptimal chemotherapy outcomes underscores the urgency for new TNBC treatments. In recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising option. In particular, immune checkpoint blockers (ICB) targeting PD-L1/PD1 inhibitory T cell check point pathway showed clinical responses and have been explored for TNBC. Unfortunately, the response rates to standalone ICB therapy are low (15-20%), indicating the presence of inhibitory immune mechanisms. Radiation therapy (RT) has been …

Cardiac And Pulmonary Dosimetric Parameters In Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Post-Operative Radiation Therapy In The Real-World Setting, D. J. Herr, H. Yin, S. G. Allen, D. P. Bergsma, A. Dragovic, R. T. Dess, M. M. Matuszak, M. Grubb, M. M. Dominello, Benjamin Movsas, L. L. Kestin, J. A. Hayman, P. A. Paximadis, M. Schipper, S. Jolly

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Purpose/Objective(s): The recently published Lung ART trial reported increased rates of cardiac and pulmonary toxicity in the post-operative radiation therapy arm. It remains unknown whether the dosimetric parameters reported in Lung ART are representative of real-world practice. The purpose of this study is to examine heart and lung dose exposure in patients receiving post-operative radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across a statewide consortium.

Materials/Methods: From 2012 to 2020, 377 patients at 27 academic and community centers within the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC) underwent surgical resection followed by post-operative radiation therapy for non-metastatic NSCLC. Demographic and …

Rtog/Nrg 1115 Quality Of Life Of Phase Iii Dose Escalated Radiation Therapy (Rt) And Standard Androgen Deprivation Therapy (Adt) With Gnrh Agonist Vs. Dose Escalated Rt And Adt With Gnrh Agonist And Orteronel (Tak-700) For Men With High-Risk Prostate, D. W. Bruner, S. Pugh, D. Michaelson, D. A. Hamstra, F. Bachand, V. Master, M. Torres, I. D. Kaplan, S. A. Rosenthal, M. Roach, A. Raben, J. M. Michalski, V. S. Kavadi, M. Ferguson, S. C. Morgan, D. P. D'Souza, L. Demora, H. M. Sandler, Benjamin Movsas

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Purpose/Objective(s): Quality of life (QOL) was assessed with the hypothesis that QOL and fatigue scores would not differ significantly between the ADT + RT (Arm A) and the experimental group receiving ADT + RT + oreteronel (Arm B).

Materials/Methods: In both arms, ADT with GnRH agonist was given for 24 mos, and dose escalated RT started 8-10 wks after initiation of ADT. In Arm B, oreteronel was given BID for 24 mos. QOL was measured with Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) and EQ-5D global QOL assessment. EPIC has 4 domains: bowel, urinary, sexual, and hormonal. EQ-5D index score was …

Multi-Institutional Datasets Validate The Recursive Partitioning Analysis For Overall Survival In Patients Undergoing Spine Radiosurgery For Spine Metastasis, E. H. Balagamwala, A. Sahgal, Daniel Chapman, Eric Schaff, Farzan Siddiqui, S. S. Lo, W. Wei, M. Campbell, J. Tsai, S. K. Schaub, L. Angelov, Z. S. Mayo, J. H. Suh, J. Hanan, S. T. Chao

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Purpose/Objective(s): The recently published spine radiosurgery (sSRS) recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) for overall survival (OS) separated patients into 3 distinct prognostic groups. We sought to externally validate this RPA using a multi-institutional dataset.

Materials/Methods: A total of 444 patients were utilized to develop the recently published sSRS RPA predictive of OS in patients with spine metastases. The RPA identified three distinct prognostic classes. RPA Class 1 was defined as KPS >70 and controlled systemic disease (n=142); RPA Class 2 was defined as KPS>70 with uncontrolled systemic disease or KPS ≤70, age ≥54 and absence of visceral metastases (n=207); RPA …

An Unsupervised Autoencoder Developed From Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (Dce)-Mri Datasets For Classification Of Acute Tumor Response In An Animal Model, Hassan Bagher-Ebadian, Tavarekere N. Nagaraja, Glauber Cabral, Katelynn G. Farmer, Olivia Valadie, P. Acharya, Benjamin Movsas, Stephen L. Brown, Indrin J. Chetty, James R. Ewing

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Purpose/Objective(s): Recent studies have shown that vascular parameters of brain tumors derived from DCE-MRI may act as potential biomarkers for radiation-induced acute effects. However, accurate characterization of the spatial regions affected by radiation therapy (RT) remains challenging. Here, we introduce an unsupervised adaptive model for classification and ranking of the RT-affected regions in an animal model of cerebral U-251n tumors.

Materials/Methods: Twenty-three immune-compromised-RNU rats were implanted with human U251n cancer cells to form an orthotopic glioma (IACUC #1509). For each rat, 28 days after implantation, two DCE-MRI studies (Dual Gradient Echo, DGE, FOV: 32 × 32 mm2, TR/(TE1-TE2) = 24 …

The Banner - V. 157, No. 10 - (November 2022), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

No abstract provided.

Lysosomal Transmembrane Protein Tmem106b Alters Tfeb Signaling And The Tumor Immune Microenvironment, Amanda N. Warner, Samrat T. Kundu, Rakhee Bajaj, Bertha Leticia Rodriguez, Don Gibbons

Leading Edge of Cancer Research Symposium 2022

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Unraveling The Biology Of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor, Danh D. Truong, Emre Arslan, Margarita Divenko, Sandhya Krishnan, Alexander Lazar, Kunal Rai, Joseph Ludwig

Leading Edge of Cancer Research Symposium 2022

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Integrated Xenosurveillance Of Loa Loa, Wuchereria Bancrofti, Mansonella Perstans And Plasmodium Falciparum Using Mosquito Carcasses And Faeces: A Pilot Study In Cameroon, Joseph Pryce, Nils Pilotte, Benjamin Menze, Allison R. Sirois, Michael Zulch, Jean Pierre Agbor, Steven A. Williams, Charles S. Wondji, Lisa Reimer

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background Community presence of loiasis must be determined before mass drug administration programmes for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis can be implemented. However, taking human blood samples for loiasis surveillance is invasive and operationally challenging. A xenosurveillance approach based on the molecular screening of mosquitoes and their excreta/feces (E/F) for Loa loa DNA may provide a non-invasive method for detecting the community presence of loiasis. Methods We collected 770 wild mosquitoes during a pilot study in a known loiasis transmission area in Mbalmayo, Cameroon. Of these, 376 were preserved immediately while 394 were kept in pools to collect 36-hour E/F samples …

Trypanosome Infection Disturbs The Gut Microbiota Of Bumble Bee Hosts, Bryan Sierra-Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

Host-microbe interactions are ubiquitous with both positive and negative outcomes for host health and fitness. While pathogens abound, there has been an increased focus beneficial host-microbial community associations, such as native gut microbiota that can aid in disease resistance, nutrient sequestration, and detoxification. However, while beneficial microbes can protect against infection, there is a limited appreciation for how pathogen infection may disrupt healthy gut microbiota structure and function. Crithidia bombi is a common trypanosomatid gut parasite of bumble bees with fitness-relevant effects on individuals and colonies. The native bumble bee gut microbiota has been shown to increase protection against Crithidia, …

Some Cognitive Transformations About The Dynamics Of Desistance, Peggy C. Giordano

Sociology Faculty Publications

This article explores the role of cognitive transformations in the process of desistance from crime. Based on our own and others’ subsequent research, clearly, some aspects of our initial theorizing warrant revisiting and adjustment. The discussion describes changes to ideas about the sequencing of various types of cognitive shifts, suggests the importance of emotional processes in tandem with changes in perspective, and highlights the need to move out of the comfort zone of crime itself when thinking about redefinitions that support desistance. Yet, a consistent notion remains that social and broader structural factors are deeply implicated—directly and indirectly—in all aspects …

Prevention Of Child Sexual Abuse In South Africa: Assessing The Role Of Parents, Community Leaders, Educators, And Social Workers, Nosisa Mabetshe, Emeka E. Obioha, Ishmael Mugari, Elphina N. Cishe

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Child sexual abuse is a global problem and is prevalent in South Africa. Child sexual abuse significantly harms the victims. This study looked at child sexual abuse prevention, focusing on the community, school system, and social workers. A mixed methods research method was used. Data were collected from 115 questionnaire respondents, of which 15 in-depth interview participants were selected. The sample was selected using purposive sampling and stratified random sampling techniques. Low reporting of incidents is hindering the effective response to child sexual abuse. The study revealed the significant role parents and community members could play in preventing child sexual …

Dysregulated Long Non-Coding Rna In Sjögren's Disease Impacts Both Interferon And Adaptive Immune Responses, Michelle L. Joachims, Bhuwan Khatri, Chuang Li, Kandice L. Tessneer, John A. Ice, Anna M. Stolarczyk, Nicolas Means, Kiely M. Grundahl, Stuart B. Glenn, Jennifer A. Kelly, David M. Lewis, Lida Radfar, Donald U. Stone, Joel M. Guthridge, Judith A. James, R. Hal Scofield, Graham B. Wiley, Jonathan D. Wren, Patrick M. Gaffney, Courtney G. Montgomery, Kathy L. Sivils, Astrid Rasmussen, A. Darise Farris, Indra Adrianto, Christopher J. Lessard

Public Health Sciences Articles

OBJECTIVE: Sjögren's disease (SjD) is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammatory destruction of exocrine glands. Patients with autoantibodies to Ro/SSA (SjD(Ro+)) exhibit more severe disease. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a functionally diverse class of non-protein-coding RNAs whose role in autoimmune disease pathology has not been well characterised.

METHODS: Whole blood RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on SjD cases (n=23 Ro/SSA negative (SjD(Ro-)); n=27 Ro/SSA positive (SjD(Ro+)) and healthy controls (HCs; n=27). Bioinformatics and pathway analyses of differentially expressed (DE) transcripts (log(2) fold change ≥2 or ≤0.5; p(adj)<0.05) were used to predict lncRNA function. LINC01871 was characterised by RNA-seq analyses of HSB-2 cells with CRISPR-targeted LINC01871 deletion (LINC01871(-/) (-)) and in vitro stimulation assays.

RESULTS: Whole blood RNA-seq revealed autoantibody-specific transcription profiles and disproportionate downregulation of DE …

Microrna And Metabolomics Signatures For Adrenomyeloneuropathy Disease Severity, Bela Rui Turk, Laila M. Poisson, Christina Linnea Nemeth, Jordan Goodman, Ann B. Moser, Richard Owen Jones, Ali Fatemi, Jaspreet Singh

Neurology Articles

Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), the slow progressive phenotype of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), has no clinical plasma biomarker for disease progression. This feasibility study aimed to determine whether metabolomics and micro-RNA in blood plasma provide a potential source of biomarkers for AMN disease severity. Metabolomics and RNA-seq were performed on AMN and healthy human blood plasma. Biomarker discovery and pathway analyses were performed using clustering, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and regression against patient's clinical Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS). Fourteen AMN and six healthy control samples were analyzed. AMN showed strong disease-severity-specific metabolic and miRNA clustering signatures. Strong, significant …

Discretionary Denial Of Inter Partes Review And The Patent Trial And Appeal Board, Xinni Cai

Fordham Law Review

The inter partes review (IPR) is an administrative procedure conducted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), an adjudicative body within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). IPR provides an opportunity for third parties to challenge a patent’s validity after it has already been granted. A petitioner can file a petition with the PTAB to “institute” IPR. If the review is instituted, the PTAB considers the evidence presented and issues a final written decision, either holding the patent valid or striking it down as invalid. Although IPR was introduced as an alternative to litigation, it is often used …

Unmet Need For Liquid Biomarkers And The Brain-Liquid Biopsy Consortium, Susan C. Short, Houtan Noushmehr

Neurosurgery Articles

No abstract provided.

Noninvasive Approaches To Detect Methylation-Based Markers To Monitor Gliomas, Houtan Noushmehr, Grayson A. Herrgott, Natalia S. Morosini, Ana V. Castro

Neurosurgery Articles

In this review, we summarize the current approaches used to detect glioma tissue-derived DNA methylation markers in liquid biopsy specimens with the aim to diagnose, prognosticate and potentially track treatment response and evolution of patients with gliomas.

Greater Houston Area Bottlenose Dolphin Data Gaps, Crrc

Coastal Response Research Center

On February 15 & 16, 2022, CRRC and NOAA ARD co-sponsored a virtual workshop entitled “Greater Houston Area Bottlenose Dolphin Data Gaps.” The workshop addressed data needs, distribution, health, and challenges of these dolphin stocks and how this information could support potential future Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs) in the region. The two-day workshop included plenary presentations in which federal, state, and local representatives outlined: dolphin distribution demographics, and fecundity; and health (live animal studies, strandings, unusual mortality events (UMEs)). Threats to the animals were also discussed, including contamination (mercury, land-based emerging contaminants of concern, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), persistent …

Evolution Of Immune Function In Response To Dietary Macronutrients In Male And Female Decorated Crickets, Corinne Letendre, Alejandro Rios-Villamil, Alexandria Williams, James Rapkin, Scott K. Sakaluk, Clarissa M. House, John Hunt

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Although dietary macronutrients are known to regulate insect immunity, few studies have examined their evolutionary effects. Here, we evaluate this relationship in the cricket Gryllodes sigillatus by maintaining replicate populations on four diets differing in protein (P) to carbohydrate (C) ratio (P‐ or C‐biased) and nutritional content (low‐ or high‐nutrition) for >37 generations. We split each population into two; one maintained on their evolution diet and the other switched to their ancestral diet. We also maintained populations exclusively on the ancestral diet (baseline). After three generations, we measured three immune parameters in males and females from each population. Immunity was …