Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In A Conflict-Affected Region: A Study From North Waziristan, Pakistan, Zahid Ullah, Fazeelat Samad, Rahila Bano, Sarah Arif, Sher Zamir, Nighat Aziz, Hassan Khan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an emerging tropical disease that remains a serious public health issue in Pakistan, particularly in North Waziristan. The current research was carried out to investigate the presence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this region. Materials and methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from October 2018 to December 2020 at District Head Quarter Hospital Miranshah in North Waziristan with the collaboration of the Pathology Department of Gomal Medical College Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Needle aspirates were used for the microscopic Giemsa-stained slides. SPSS was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 5406 clinically-suspected cases, 2603(48.2%) were …

Mapping The Unseen: Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge Through Participatory Mapping To Address Displacement And Housing Challenges In Post Invasion Iraq, Sana Murrani

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Post-invasion Iraq has been grappling with high rates of internal displacement and severe housing shortages for the past 20years, largely fuelled by violence, genocide and political instability. The intricacy of these interrelated challenges necessitates contextually informed, innovative and participatory approaches to effect change. This paper proposes the use of participatory mapping as a creative tool to tap into the indigenous knowledge and wayfinding skills of Iraqis, fostering a deeper understanding of the lived realities that can contribute to the design of effective policies for managing displacement and housing issues. The rising trend of internal displacement and the subsequent housing shortages, …

Commercial Adsorbents For Co2 Removal For Biogas Upgradation: An Experimental Study, Aakriti Bagla

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

How Are Oregon's Rural Indigenous Communities Overcoming Water Access Issues?, Tyren John Thompson

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how water insecurity affects Indigenous communities in Grand Ronde, Warm Springs, and Umatilla, Oregon, through loss of clean drinking water, access to culturally significant foods, and exposure to pollution. Each community offers innovative solutions drawing on their Indigenous knowledge to overcome water supply challenges. Communities with more resources are better equipped to cope with water insecurity and environmental degradation.

Cognitive Test Anxiety, Course Grades, And Course Repetition In Associate Degree Nursing Students, Crystal Elaine Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

New Age Insights: Filipino Millennials In Government, Mark Kevin C. Chua, Sherrie Ann C. Labid, Lovely Rose A. Bolante

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Millennials comprise a significant portion of the demography of the current Philippine workforce. Cognizant of the unique socio-cultural environment that shaped the Generation Y cohort, this descriptive phenomenological qualitative study aimed to explore millennial employees' work expectations and experiences within a government agency in the Philippines. Four themes emerged from the in-depth analysis of the five employees' interview responses: (1) job security and financial stability, (2) socio-emotional support, (3) fulfillment, and (4) professional development opportunities. The qualitative findings of this study emphasize the importance of supporting millennial employees' career growth and fostering a healthy work environment. It indicates that millennial …

Master Transcription Factor Reprogramming Unleashes Selective Translation Promoting Castration Resistance And Immune Evasion In Lethal Prostate Cancer, Sandra Santasusagna, Shijia Zhu, Vijayakumar Jawalagatti, Marc Carceles-Cordon, Adam Ertel, Saioa Garcia-Longarte, Won-Min Song, Naoto Fujiwara, Peiyao Li, Isabel Mendizabal, Daniel P. Petrylak, William Kevin Kelly, E. Premkumar Reddy, Liguo Wang, Matthew J. Schiewer, Amaia Lujambio, Jeffrey Karnes, Karen E. Knudsen, Carlos Cordon-Cardo, Haidong Dong, Haojie Huang, Arkaitz Carracedo, Yujin Hoshida, Veronica Rodriguez-Bravo, Josep Domingo-Domenech

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Signaling rewiring allows tumors to survive therapy. Here we show that the decrease of the master regulator microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) in lethal prostate cancer unleashes eukaryotic initiation factor 3B (eIF3B)-dependent translation reprogramming of key mRNAs conferring resistance to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and promoting immune evasion. Mechanistically, MITF represses through direct promoter binding eIF3B, which in turn regulates the translation of specific mRNAs. Genome-wide eIF3B enhanced cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (eCLIP-seq) showed specialized binding to a UC-rich motif present in subsets of 5' untranslated regions. Indeed, translation of the androgen receptor and major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) through this motif …

Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Realconsent2.0: A Web‑Based Intervention To Promote Prosocial Alcohol‑Involved Bystander Behavior In Young Men, Laura F. Salazar, Dominic J. Parrott, David Dilillo, Sarah J. Gervais, Anne Marie Schipani‑Mclaughlin, Ruschelle Leone, Kevin Swartout, Lauren Simpson, Renita Moore, Tiffany Wilson, Nyla Flowers, Haley Church, Amanda Baildon

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background Sexual violence (SV) is a significant, global public health problem, particularly among young adults. Promising interventions exist, including prosocial bystander intervention programs that train bystanders to intervene in situations at-risk for SV. However, these programs suffer from critical weaknesses: (1) they do not address the proximal effect of alcohol use on bystander decision-making and (2) they rely on self-report measures to evaluate outcomes. To overcome these limitations, we integrate new content specific to alcohol use within the context of prosocial bystander intervention into an existing, evidence-based program, RealConsent1.0. The resulting program, RealConsent2.0, aims to facilitate bystander behavior …

Guidelines For Sustainable Use Of Mobile Instant Messaging Apps In Higher Education: A South African Case Study, Bronwyn C. Swartz, Sweta Patnaik

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of the study was to propose guidelines to facilitate the sustainable and successful use of mobile instant messaging apps for learning and teaching based on a review of the literature and perceptions of educators. Fraser’s model of redistribution, recognition, and representation served as the theoretical framework. This study provides a mechanism for the development of a socially just and inclusive online classroom environment.

Method: We conducted two focus groups (n = 4 and n = 3) in November 2021 at a university of technology in South Africa to explore the perceptions of educators on using mobile …

Mentoring In Group-Based Adolescent Girl Programs In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Evidence-Informed Approaches, Miriam Temin, Sarah Blake, Eva Roca

Adolescents and Young People

Adolescent girls face distinct challenges that require tailored and girl-centered responses. This brief draws on the knowledge of program implementers and researchers who work on community-based girl group (CBGG) programs (often called “safe spaces”) in various low- and middle-income settings and the US. It summarizes emerging lessons and insights on CBGGs, emphasizing the vital role that mentors play in this group-based model. The evidence emphasizes the importance of providing mentors with training, supervision, compensation, solidarity, and opportunities to build their own networks.

Paleoclimate Of The Peruvian Andean Highlands During The Late Holocene, Jarunetr Sae-Lim

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The tropical and central Andean highlands (>4,000 m above sea level) supply critical freshwater resources to the Amazon Basin, supporting large communities in mountain regions and lowlands. Due to the scarcity of historical weather data spatially and temporally, it is challenging to quantify hydroclimate and environmental responses to anthropogenic climate change. Paleoclimate reconstruction and modeling can provide critical insights into key hydroclimate processes and how hydroclimate in this region has responded to climate change and variability through time. However, biomarker-based paleoclimate proxy reconstructions are still very rare in this region. This dissertation quantifies local-scale and regional-scale hydroclimate and environmental …

Course Correction: Navigating Equity In Ninth-Grade Advanced Placement, Sarah R. Morris, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Miranda Vernon

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

This robust mixed-methods study examines ninth-grade advanced course placement in Arkansas, revealing disparities rooted in race and socioeconomic status. Utilizing a logit analysis for a five-year pooled sample (n=163,616), we find persistent enrollment gaps for Black ninth-grade students after controlling for prior academic achievement, highlighting systemic barriers to access to advanced courses. Socioeconomic divides are also evident in our analysis. Qualitative findings from counselor interviews highlight the importance of parental involvement in course placement decisions, particularly for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall, we find through these interviews that districts consider a myriad of factors when considering course placement for …

In The Hot Seat: Acquiring Kernel Density Heat Map Design Guidance Through Delphi And Survey Methods, Lauren Eileen Mckinney-Wise

Dissertations and Theses

Kernel density heat maps have emerged as a new, popular thematic map type. Yet, unlike other thematic map types, little if any published guidance exists for effective heat map design. This is significant because maps are highly persuasive objects that are often utilized to communicate important information, but maps can also be misleading and misunderstood. Therefore, proper guidance for heat map creation is critical for cartographers to create maps that convey geographic information successfully.

To address this literature gap, I used a modified Delphi method and an online survey to investigate several questions, including understanding what cartographic experts think are …

Mixed Method Study On Community College Instruction In Blended Social Science Courses, Andrea L. B. Eggenberger

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Community colleges have teaching faculty whose primary focus is educating their students and providing service to their institution. Community college teaching research has focused on innovation, students’ expectations, and the use of active learning techniques to foster student success. Research on blended courses has focused on instructional practices, learner engagement, and the benefits of blended learning for the community college student population. This study explores the relationship between student’s perceptions of the work in a blended developmental psychology course at two community colleges in Louisiana and their professors’ instructional decisions for their blended courses. The multiple-case study uses a convergent …

Genetic Determinants Underlying The Progressive Phenotype Of Β-Lactam/Β-Lactamase Inhibitor Resistance In Escherichia Coli, William C Shropshire, Hatim Amiji, Jordan Bremer, Selvalakshmi Selvaraj Anand, Benjamin Strope, Marc Gohel, Sarah Spitznogle, Xiaowei Zhan, Jiwoong Kim, David E Greenberg, Samuel A Shelburne

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Currently, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data have not shown strong concordance with Escherichia coli susceptibility profiles to the commonly used β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combinations: ampicillin-sulbactam (SAM), amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC), and piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP). Progressive resistance to these BL/BLIs in the absence of cephalosporin resistance, also known as extended-spectrum resistance to BL/BLI (ESRI), has been suggested to primarily result from increased copy numbers of bla TEM variants, which is not routinely assessed in WGS data. We sought to determine whether addition of gene amplification could improve genotype-phenotype associations through WGS analysis of 147 E. coli bacteremia isolates with increasing categories of BL/BLI non-susceptibility ranging …

Oncogenic Kras Drives Lipofibrogenesis To Promote Angiogenesis And Colon Cancer Progression, Wen-Hao Hsu, Kyle A Labella, Yiyun Lin, Ping Xu, Rumi Lee, Lei Yang, Jonathan M Blecher, Chang-Jiun Wu, Kangyu Lin, Xiaoying Shang, Shan Jiang, Denise J Spring, Yan Xia, Peiwen Chen, John Paul Shen, Scott Kopetz, Ronald A Depinho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Oncogenic KRAS (KRAS*) contributes to many cancer hallmarks. In colorectal cancer, KRAS* suppresses antitumor immunity to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, we uncovered that KRAS* transforms the phenotype of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAF) into lipid-laden CAFs, promoting angiogenesis and tumor progression. Mechanistically, KRAS* activates the transcription factor CP2 (TFCP2) that upregulates the expression of the proadipogenic factors BMP4 and WNT5B, triggering the transformation of CAFs into lipid-rich CAFs. These lipid-rich CAFs, in turn, produce VEGFA to spur angiogenesis. In KRAS*-driven colorectal cancer mouse models, genetic or pharmacologic neutralization of TFCP2 reduced lipid-rich CAFs, lessened tumor angiogenesis, and improved overall survival. …

Metformin Plus Insulin For Preexisting Diabetes Or Gestational Diabetes In Early Pregnancy: The Mompod Randomized Clinical Trial, Ashley N Battarbee, Celeste Durnwald, Mark B Landon, Kjersti M Aagaard, Kedra Wallace, Christina Scifres, Todd Rosen, Wadia Mulla, Amy Valent, Sherri Longo, Laura Young, M Alison Marquis, Sonia Thomas, Ashley Britt, Diane Berry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: Insulin is recommended for pregnant persons with preexisting type 2 diabetes or diabetes diagnosed early in pregnancy. The addition of metformin to insulin may improve neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of metformin added to insulin for preexisting type 2 or diabetes diagnosed early in pregnancy on a composite adverse neonatal outcome.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This randomized clinical trial in 17 US centers enrolled pregnant adults aged 18 to 45 years with preexisting type 2 diabetes or diabetes diagnosed prior to 23 weeks' gestation between April 2019 and November 2021. Each participant was treated with insulin and …

Formate Supplementation Enhances Antitumor Cd8+ T-Cell Fitness And Efficacy Of Pd-1 Blockade, Jared H Rowe, Ilaria Elia, Osmaan Shahid, Emily F Gaudiano, Natalia E Sifnugel, Amy G Reynolds, Shakchhi Joshi, Martin W Lafleur, Joon Seok Park, Kristen E Pauken, Joshua D Rabinowitz, Gordon J Freeman, Marcia C Haigis, Arlene H Sharpe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

UNLABELLED: The tumor microenvironment (TME) restricts antitumor CD8+ T-cell function and immunotherapy responses. Cancer cells compromise the metabolic fitness of CD8+ T cells within the TME, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that one-carbon (1C) metabolism is enhanced in T cells in an antigen-specific manner. Therapeutic supplementation of 1C metabolism using formate enhances CD8+ T-cell fitness and antitumor efficacy of PD-1 blockade in B16-OVA tumors. Formate supplementation drives transcriptional alterations in CD8+ T-cell metabolism and increases gene signatures for cellular proliferation and activation. Combined formate and anti-PD-1 therapy increases tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, which are essential for …

Illuminating Type Iv Secretion-Mediated Dna Trafficking Through Long Filaments

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Missed Opportunities For Immunization And Its Associated Factors Among Children Below Two Years Old Attending Primary Healthcare Centers In Baghdad/Al-Karkh, Baraka Safaa’ Mustafa, Jalil Ibrahim Saleh

Muthanna Medical Journal

Immunization is an effective means for preventing illness and reducing the burden of various infectious diseases. Incomplete or partial immunization poses a serious threat to the health of children in many developing countries, including Iraq. The objectives are to investigate the prevalence of missed opportunities for immunization (MOI) and its associated factors among children aged below two years old attending primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Baghdad/Al-Karkh. A cross-sectional study involving 500 children’s companions attending PHCCs in Baghdad/Al-Karkh from the 1st of September 2022 to the 1st of July 2023. The respondents were enrolled using a systematic random sample technique …

Vol. 19 Entire Issue

The Journal of Economics and Politics

No abstract provided.

Index To Volumes 31 And 32, 2003-2004, Bird Observer

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

At A Glance, Wayne R. Petersen

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Bird Sightings: July-August, 2004, R. H. Stymeist

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Nagog Pond: Inland Gull And Waterfowl Haven, Mike Resch

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

The Provenance Of Vagrants And Their Evaluation By Rarities Committees, Richard R. Veit

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

What's Next After The Red-Footed Falcon? Predictions Of Future Vagrants In Massachusetts, Robert H. Stymeist, Jeremiah R. Trimble

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

One Birder's Falcon, Matt Pelikan

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Massachusetts Miracles: The Gull And The Falcon, Wayne R. Petersen, Paul J. Baicich

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Red-Footed Falcon: How Did It Get Here?, Julian Hough

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.