Digital Commons Network^™

Glial Cell-Specific Contribution Of Pkr-Like Er Kinase (Perk) In Neuroinflammation And Behavior, Anirudhya Lahiri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are a major public health concern in the US, with no available therapeutic cure. Chronic neuroinflammation and aberrant proteostasis in the central nervous system (CNS) are the major hallmarks of neurological diseases. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is a major cellular organelle involved in protein synthesis, folding and maturation of various secretory and transmembrane proteins. Pathophysiological stressors such as trauma and infection result in misfolded protein accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen, which results in ER stress. To regain proteostasis (protein homeostasis), cells activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is an evolutionarily conserved …

Evaluate A Mixer Of Hydrogen Peroxide And Peroxyacetic Acid To Mitigate Microbial Cross-Contamination Of Salmonella Typhimurium And The Surrogate Enterococcus Faecium During Triple-Washing Of Butternut Squash, Jesica M. Temple

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Recent foodborne illness outbreaks have been linked to fresh fruits and vegetables. For public safety, awareness of the risks of contamination from foodborne pathogens that can occur during post-harvest farming practices is essential to prevent foodborne outbreaks. Controlling the spread of foodborne pathogens on produce requires proper washing procedures, antimicrobials and doses. Given the speed and diversity of the produce being distributed, local incidents may become international emergencies. Methods: Studies were included if they assessed the efficacy of antimicrobials and various washing procedures and had to conclude the mitigation of cross-contamination of foodborne pathogens on produce grown in the …

Xanthine Oxidase-Induced Vascular Dysfunction In Nano-Tio2 Inhalation, Xena Marie Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inhalation of nano-TiO₂ is linked to adverse clinical outcomes that affect people worldwide, particularly those who work in manufacturing. For example, cardiovascular consequences and changes in microvascular responses are, in part, associated with exposure to engineered nanomaterials such as nano-TiO₂; however, the mechanism(s) driving this process is unknown. Nano-TiO₂ is an engineered nanomaterial (ENM) that is reported to, upon inhalation, impair endothelium-dependent vasodilation in several vascular beds via enhanced local oxidant generation and diminished nitric oxide bioavailability. This dissertation aims to address the health concerns generated by occupational exposure to nano-TiO₂ and identify a link …

Fast Multiscale Functional Estimation In Optimal Emg Placement For Robotic Prosthesis Controllers, Jin Ren, Guohui Song, Lucia Tabacu, Yuesheng Xu

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Electromyogram (EMG) signals play a significant role in decoding muscle contraction information for robotic hand prosthesis controllers. Widely applied decoders require a large amount of EMG signals sensors, resulting in complicated calculations and unsatisfactory predictions. By the biomechanical process of single degree-of-freedom human hand movements, only several EMG signals are essential for accurate predictions. Recently, a novel predictor of hand movements adopted a multistage sequential adaptive functional estimation (SAFE) method based on the historical functional linear model (FLM) to select important EMG signals and provide precise projections.

However, SAFE repeatedly performs matrix-vector multiplications with a dense representation matrix of the …

Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) System In Health And Disease., Daniella Munezero

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cells rely on heat shock proteins (HSP) to facilitate and regulate the folding of the substrate proteins into their native state, and degradation if misfolding cannot be prevented. HSP90, a member of the HSP family, is a potential target for treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Unfortunately, several clinical trials for cancer treatment have been discontinued due to cell toxicity accompanying HSP90 inhibition. HSP90 has four distinct but structurally similar paralogs. HSP90 inhibitors target all the paralogs despite increasing proof of functional differences among the paralogs. Understanding the in vivo function of HSP90 and the role played by each paralog …

New Crossroads And The Opportunity For A Crisis: The State Of Canadian Legal Education, Catherine Dauvergne

All Faculty Publications

This article considers the challenges facing Canadian law schools and compares the current state of affairs to that analyzed in the 1983 Arthurs Report. The opening sections describe how Canadian legal education is globally unique because of the tacit agreement between law schools and the legal profession that limits the number of law school seats in Canada and helps ensure the success of law schools and law students. On the fortieth anniversary of the Arthurs Report, the article concludes that legal education in Canada is overdue for a new mapping of its strengths, challenges, and future directions that takes the …

Poisson Regression Model With Application To Wastewater Surveillance Under A Threshold Linear Mixed Model For Covid-19 Sensitivity Rates, Norou Diawara, Hueiwang Anna Jeng, Kyle Curtis, Raul Gonzalez, Nancy Welch, Cynthia Jackson, Rekha Singh, David Jurgens, Sasanka Adikari, Omotomilola Jegede

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

A Threshold Linear Mixed Model (TLMM) has been developed to identify specific thresholds based on wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral concentrations, which reflect COVID-19 cases. The thresholds can guide decisions regarding public health responses and prevention measures. To assess the practical application of TLMM, a simple simulation was conducted using a sample size of 100 and 500 replications. The simulation allowed for comparing parameter estimators by assessing bias and standard deviation and the root of the mean square error. The model and estimation procedures were applied to reported wastewater and clinic data to test its application for real-world scenarios. Our results demonstrated …

Advancing Prosthetic Design Using Neural And Mechanical Dynamics, Kacie E. Hanna

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Limb loss poses a significant challenge to mobility and the performance of daily activities. Currently, nearly half of the amputees using powered prosthetics abandon their device due to inadequate limb coordination and movement control abilities. In the healthy system, passive and neural dynamics facilitate the synchronized activation of muscles necessary for coordinated movement. However, in the amputee, the system is disrupted. The goal of this research is to use neural and mechanical dynamics to inform the design of prosthetic devices in order to restore intuitive control and coordinated limb movement.

The first aim of this research is to investigate neural …

Cluster Homolog Of Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor Genes In Chicken Immune Responses, Brandi A. Sparling

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the identity and role of immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) receptors in chickens, with focus on their implications in disease and disease progression. These receptors, wisely expressed across immune cells, interact with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules to modulate immune responses in mammals. Due to the insufficient representation of chicken Ig-like receptors in online databases, this study systematically annotates the chicken Cluster Homolog of Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (CHIR) genes using advanced bioinformatic techniques, aligning with the release of the 7th edition of the chicken genome assembly that comprises builds for a broiler and layer chicken. The analysis identifies …

Spatial Analysis Of Bike-Sharing Station Usage And Placement: Redefining Bike-Share Planning For Equity, Sydney E. French

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historically, bike share system (BSS) station locations have been guided by potential economic and environmental benefits associated with increased bike share usage per station. For example, a typical location identification approach may attempt to maximize demand per station based on population size or activity and area characteristics. Such identification methods often result in an unequal representation of specific population groups among the systems’ users, thus hindering the potential sustainability-related benefits. To address these disparities, some bike share organizations have started developing and implementing equity-oriented programs focusing on expanding their reach to underserved communities. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of such programs has …

Comparing Activity-Based Market Segments On The George Washington And Jefferson National Forests Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Eric Eugene Snyder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Understanding market segments in forest-based tourism and their dynamics is integral for the tourism industry's ability to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving market. The purpose of this research is to determine how recreation participation changed over a five-year period in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests before and during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Data were collected via the National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) surveys in fiscal years 2016 and 2021. NVUM surveys are on-site exit interview surveys that produce descriptive information about forest visitors. NVUM utilizes a stratified random sampling methodology that captures data across different use levels, …

Integrated Immunity-Based Methodology For Uav Monitoring And Control, Ryan G. Mclaughlin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A general integrated and comprehensive health management framework based on the artificial immune system (AIS) paradigm is formulated and an automated system is developed and tested through simulation for the detection, identification, evaluation, and accommodation (DIEA) of abnormal conditions (ACs) on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The proposed methodology involves the establishment of a body of data to represent the function of the vehicle under nominal conditions, called the self, and differentiating this operation from that of the vehicle under an abnormal condition, referred to as the non-self. Data collected from simulations of the selected UAV autonomously flying a set …

Teaching Non-Native Sound Contrasts Using Visual Biofeedback, Shawn L. Nissen

Faculty Publications

This demonstration will explain how non-native sound contrasts can be taught to second language (L2) learners using real-time visual biofeedback through an electropalatographic (EPG) sensor. How the EPG sensor is created from a dental mold and is subsequently produced will be shown during the presentation. An explanation of how a student can visualize the contact patterns of their speech and how a tutor might use the various features of the associated software to customize the instruction to an individual speaker will be illustrated during the presentation. Possible limitations, costs, and drawbacks to using the technology will also be discussed.

Perceptual Ratings Of Pronunciation For L2 Learners Of English As A Function Of Task Type, Word Position, And Listener Expertise, Shawn L. Nissen, Rachel Kemmey, K. James Hartshorn

Faculty Publications

Abstract Second language (L2) learners of English must learn to pro-duce English phonemes, words, and sentences. These L2learners make many errors when learning English; they may change the place or manner of articulation, insert vowels, or delete consonants. Obstruent sounds, such as fricatives, affricates, and stops, can be especially difficult for L2 learners. This study analyzed native English speakers’ perception of the quality of obstruents produced by native Mandarin Chinese and Korean speakers. Target words containing obstruents had been produced in three different tasks: in a carrier phrase, in a paragraph, and in a spontaneous speechsample. Obstruents were produced in …

Composers At War: A Study Of Composers Who Fought In World War I And World War Ii, Jason T. Hoffmann

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research document explores the connections between the war experiences of four composers and whether the possibility existed that any of the composers had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), moral injury, mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Scholars have not thoroughly examined the music of composers written before, during, and after war experiences and any potential changes to musical styles or compositional techniques. In my research I look at the effects that war can have on composers through autobiographical and biographical accounts of Ivor Gurney (WWI), Olivier Messiaen (WWII), Maurice Ravel (WWI), and …

Exploiting The Advantages And Overcoming The Challenges Of The Cable In A Tethered Drone System, Rogerio Rodrigues Lima

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation proposes solutions for motion planning, localization, and landing of tethered drones using only tether variables. A tether-based multi-model localization framework for tethered drones is proposed. This framework comprises three independent localization strategies based on a different model. The first strategy uses simple trigonometric relations assuming that the tether is taut; the second method relies on a set of catenary equations for the slack tether case; the third estimator is a neural network-based predictor that can cover different tether shapes. Multi-layer perceptron networks previously trained with a dataset comprised of the tether variables (i.e., length, tether angles on the …

Exploring The Conceptualizations And Utilizations Of Learning Theories In Sport Settings, Kevin R. Lou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify how integrating learning theories into the design of a formal university course helps facilitate students’ resources, goals, and orientations (Schoenfeld, 2011) of learning theories for their future career work in coaching, sport psychology consulting, or other sport-related professions. Sixteen students signed up for a fifteen-week fall semester course at a Mid-Atlantic university in America and were asked to annotate, create, and reflect upon examples of future work in their desired fields for their three major written assignments in the course. Students reflected on their learning experience through pre-and-post semi-structured interviews and most …

Parent And Adolescent Report Of Helicopter Parenting: Examining Reporter Discrepancies And Associations With Adolescent Depression And Anxiety, Avneet Batra

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research is replete with studies on Helicopter Parenting (HP) and its association with depression and anxiety (Cui et al., 2019; Schiffrin et al., 2014; 2019). However, most of the studies have focused on college students’ reports on helicopter parenting and there is relative dearth of studies with adolescents or with parents’ reports of HP (Pistella et al., 2020; Schiffrin et al., 2019). The current study aims to fill the gap in the literature by including both parent and adolescents’ perspectives on helicopter parenting, assess its unique association (parent and teens HP reports) with teen depression and anxiety both concurrently and …

Investigating The Interactions Of The Iron-Sulfur Mitochondrial Protein, Mitoneet With Its Binding Partners, Ebenezer Osei Newton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

MitoNEET belongs to the CDGSH Iron-Sulfur Domain (CISD)-gene family of proteins and is a [2Fe-2S] cluster-containing protein found on the outer membrane of mitochondria. The specific functions of mitoNEET/CISD1 remain to be fully elucidated, but the protein is involved in regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics in several metabolic diseases. Unfortunately, drug discovery efforts targeting mitoNEET to improve metabolic disorders are hampered by the lack of ligand-binding assays for this mitochondrial protein. We have developed a protocol amenable for high-throughput screening (HTS) assay, by modifying an ATP fluorescence polarization method to facilitate drug discovery targeting mitoNEET. Based on our observation that adenosine triphosphate …

Impacts Of Error Rate And Therapist Appearance On The Accuracy Of Fidelity Data Collection, Marisela A. Aguilar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Procedural fidelity is the extent to which a procedure is implemented as designed. Analyzing procedural-fidelity data can improve treatment outcomes. Fidelity data are generally collected by a supervisor or trained data collector using a checklist that operationalizes each component of the procedure and accounts for errors in implementation of the components. However, little is known about variables that may affect the accuracy of supervisor-collected data generally, and even less is known about variables that may affect the accuracy of procedural-fidelity data. Therefore, the current studies explored the extent to which Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) accurately detected programmed fidelity errors …

Relationships Among Pregnancy, Substance Use, Social Determinants Of Health And Assessment, Referral, And Utilization Of Treatment: A Secondary Analysis Of Nsduh Data, Heather Lynn Coddington

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Relationships Among Pregnancy, Substance Use, Social Determinants of Health and Assessment, Referral, and Utilization of Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of NSDUH Data

Heather Coddington

Background: Assessment and referral for substance use disorder during pregnancy is crucial to improving outcomes for mothers and newborns during the antepartum and postpartum period. Healthcare professionals are essential during the entirety of the pregnancy during each trimester to provide effective communication when assessing for substance use early and throughout each trimester of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between assessment, referral, and utilization of treatment …

Evaluation Of A Novel Mrna-Pertussis Vaccine Against Emerging Clinical Isolates Of Bordetella Pertussis, Graham Jeffrey Bitzer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative obligate aerobe that causes a respiratory disease known as pertussis or whooping cough. Pertussis is most severe in younger children, especially infants but the bacteria has been known to colonize adult populations. Before the introduction of the whole-cell pertussis (wP; wP-DTP) vaccine reported numbers of pertussis cases within the US routinely topped 100,000 cases per year. However, with the widespread usage of the wP vaccine case numbers began dropping and reached a low of less than 5,000 cases per year in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. It appeared that B. pertussis was heading towards …

Sex Differences In Perceptions Of Sleep Inertia Following Nighttime Awakenings, Cassie J. Hilditch, Sean Pradhan, Gregory Costedoat, Nicholas G. Bathurst, Zachary Glaros, Kevin B. Gregory, Nita L. Shattuck, Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Study Objectives: The influence of biological sex on sleep inertia symptoms is currently unknown. We investigated the role of sex differences in the subjective experience and objective cognitive manifestation of sleep inertia following nighttime awakenings. Methods: Thirty-two healthy adults (16 female, 25.91 ± 5.63 years) completed a 1-week at-home study with one experimental night during which sleep was measured by polysomnography and participants were awakened during their habitual sleep time. Participants completed a psychomotor vigilance task, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), visual analog mood scales, and a descending subtraction task (DST) prior to sleep (baseline) and at 2, 12, 22, and …

The Differing Effects Of A Dual Acting Regulator On Sirt1, Yujin Hur, Johnson Huynh, Emily Leong, Reena Dosanjh, Annemarie F. Charvat, My H. Vu, Zain Alam, Yue Tong Lee, Christiane C. Cabreros, Emma C. Carroll, Greg L. Hura, Ningkun Wang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

SIRT1 is an NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase that has been shown to play a significant role in many biological pathways, such as insulin secretion, tumor formation, lipid metabolism, and neurodegeneration. There is great interest in understanding the regulation of SIRT1 to better understand SIRT1-related diseases and to better design therapeutic approaches that target SIRT1. There are many known protein and small molecule activators and inhibitors of SIRT1. One well-studied SIRT1 regulator, resveratrol, has historically been regarded as a SIRT1 activator, however, recent studies have shown that it can also act as an inhibitor depending on the identity of the peptide substrate. …

A Live Fuel Moisture Climatology In California, Jack R. Drucker, Angel Farguell, Craig B. Clements, Adam K. Kochanski

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this study, observations of live fuel moisture content (LFMC) for predominantly sampled fuels in six distinct regions of California were examined from 2000 to 2021. To gather the necessary data, an open-access database called the Fuel Moisture Repository (FMR), was developed. By harnessing the extensive data aggregation and query capabilities of the FMR, which draws upon the National Fuel Moisture Database, valuable insights into the live fuel moisture seasonality were obtained. Specifically, our analysis revealed a distinct downtrend in LFMC across all regions, with the exception of the two Northernmost regions. The uptrends of LFMC seen in those regions …

Fintech Adoption Dynamics In A Pandemic: An Experience From Some Financial Institutions In Nigeria During Covid-19 Using Machine Learning Approach, Onome Christopher Edo, Egbe Etu Etu, Imokhai Tenebe, Oluwarotimi Samuel Oladele, Solomon Edo, Oladapo Ayodeji Diekola, Joshua Emakhu

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The novel coronavirus caused a lifestyle shift, and the acceptance of offsite financial transactions is still a case for financial technology (fintech). Mobile financial transactions continue to be at an all-time low, and financial institutions are developing approaches for financial digitalization acceptability. The present study attempts to understand users’ motivations for fintech adoption. The technology acceptance model (TAM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTUAT) were utilized to uncover the rationale behind technology adoption. This study explored the drivers inhibiting the adoption of financial technology in Nigeria during the pandemic. A machine learning (ML) approach was …

Unbundling Social Security From The Payroll Tax, Henry Ordower

All Faculty Scholarship

To preserve social security as a welfare program primarily for older individuals and to ameliorate the distributional inequity of funding social security across income and wealth levels, this article recommends unbundling the benefit side of social security from its longstanding payroll tax funding mechanism. The article recommends replacing the payroll tax revenue with a budget allocation from general revenues accompanied by both revenue raisers and benefit limitations. Income tax rate increases linked to repeal of the FICA tax and tax expenditure limitations would enhance income tax revenue. Modifying social security benefits from their current overinclusive, entitlement structure for all to …

Multiple Sclerosis Followed By Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: From The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Case Conference Proceedings, Carolyn Goldschmidt, Steven L. Galetta, Robert P. Lisak, Laura J. Balcer, Andrew Hellman, Michael K. Racke, Amy E. Lovett-Racke, Roberto A. Cruz

School of Medicine Publications

A woman presented at age 18 years with partial myelitis and diplopia and experienced multiple subsequent relapses. Her MRI demonstrated T2 abnormalities characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS) (white matter ovoid lesions and Dawson fingers), and CSF demonstrated an elevated IgG index and oligoclonal bands restricted to the CSF. Diagnosed with clinically definite relapsing-remitting MS, she was treated with various MS disease-modifying therapies and eventually began experiencing secondary progression. At age 57 years, she developed an acute longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and was found to have AQP4 antibodies by cell-based assay. Our analysis of the clinical course, radiographic findings, molecular diagnostic …

Sinonasal Outcomes Using Oral Corticosteroids In Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps And Positive Sinonasal Cultures, Jhon F. Martinez Paredes, Angela M. Donaldson, Michael Marino, Garret Choby, Osarenoma Olomu, Razan Alfakir, Janalee K. Stokken, Erin O'Brien, Devyani Lal

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and positive sinonasal bacterial cultures may be recalcitrant to topical therapy alone due to the additional local inflammatory burden associated with bacterial infection/colonization.

Objective: To evaluate sinonasal outcomes in CRSwNP patients with a positive perioperative bacterial culture, who were treated with postoperative intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) alone versus INCS in combination with a short-term course of oral corticosteroids (OCS).

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of CRSwNP patients. A total of 59 patients met inclusion criteria, including positive perioperative bacterial culture and treatment with INCS with or without concomitant use of …

Perceptions Of Organizational Politics And Interpersonal Relationships In Black Women's Organizations And Sororities, Mitzi S. Willis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although much research has addressed the relationships between leaders and followers, none has focused on these relationships between Black women—specifically, in the context of Black women’s social service organizations and sororities—and the impact the leader’s chosen style of leadership has on the followers’ use of voice. Self silencing is a prominent response to the power dynamic in many leader–follower relationships. The purpose of this study was to describe the interactions between leaders and followers in Black women’s social service organizations and sororities and identify the influence leadership style has on follower engagement. This study extends the application of silencing the …