Digital Commons Network^™

Five-Year Patient-Reported Outcomes In Nrg Oncology Rtog 0938, Evaluating Two Ultrahypofractionated Regimens For Prostate Cancer, Himanshu R Lukka, Snehal Deshmukh, Deborah W Bruner, Jean-Paul Bahary, Colleen A F Lawton, Jason A Efstathiou, Rajat J Kudchadker, Lee E Ponsky, Samantha A Seaward, Ian S Dayes, Darindra D Gopaul, Jeff M Michalski, Guila Delouya, Irving D Kaplan, Eric M Horwitz, Mack Roach, Felix Y Feng, Stephanie L Pugh, Howard M Sandler, Lisa A Kachnic

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: There is considerable interest in very short (ultrahypofractionated) radiation therapy regimens to treat prostate cancer based on potential radiobiological advantages, patient convenience, and resource allocation benefits. Our objective is to demonstrate that detectable changes in health-related quality of life measured by the bowel and urinary domains of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-50) were not substantially worse than baseline scores.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: NRG Oncology's RTOG 0938 is a nonblinded randomized phase 2 study of National Comprehensive Cancer Network low-risk prostate cancer in which each arm is compared with a historical control. Patients were randomized to 5 fractions …

From Waste To Energy: The Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2 Using Recycled Nanostructured Catalysts, Ibrahim Badawy

Theses and Dissertations

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR) using electrochemistry is a promising solution for the burgeoning global energy crisis. The overall vision of its implementation relies on renewable energy sources to power the reaction creating carbon neutral products and effectively closing the carbon cycle. Research in this field has come a long way since its inception in the mid-1900s. However, there remain significant hurdles and important considerations to overcome in order to reach full commercialization. Most electrocatalysts tested for CO₂RR have been designed solely for maximum performance while ignoring the environmental consequences if such a material were …

Assessing Ecological Relationships Among Late Triassic Vertebrates In Petrified Forest National Park, Alexandra Davis Apgar

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The complex vertebrate ecosystem of the Late Triassic has not yet been fully understood, largely due to oversimplification of hypothesized trophic hierarchies and limited preservation of direct evidence of faunal interaction. Paleocommunity reconstruction attempts can also fall victim to taphonomic biases, time-averaging inaccuracies, and non-analogue paleoecologies. Utilizing a combination of PAIRS analysis and NMDS ordination, we highlight vertebrate faunal relationships within the Adamanian and Revueltian faunachrons of Petrified Forest National Park, assess the likelihood that these patterns have ecological rather than preservational drivers, and examine how these potential interactions may have been impacted by the Adamanian-Revueltian turnover event. We are …

Reimagining Disability: A Call To Action, Paritosh Joshi, Julia Pappageorge

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

This article focuses on how the medical profession, organizations, and universities should incorporate the social model of disability into their regulations and policies to advance justice for individuals with disabilities. Traditionally, disability has been viewed through the medical model, which postulates that one’s individual body or mind is medically impaired and diminishes the person’s quality of life. The model overemphasizes individual difference or disability diagnosis as something that should be treated at an individual level through medical intervention, and ignores social factors that impact the development of physical and mental conditions. Moreover, this pervasive attitude towards disability permeates institutions and …

Who Is (Communicatively More) Responsible Behind The Wheel? Applying The Theory Of Communicative Responsibility To Tam In The Context Of Using Navigation Technology, Sungbin Youk, Hee Sun Park

Human-Machine Communication

By examining how perceived usefulness and ease of use relate to the user’s perception (i.e., communicative responsibility), the communicative behavior of the navigation system (i.e., the landmarks used to give directions), and the context of driving (i.e., familiarity of the driving location), this study applies the theory of communicative responsibility to the technology acceptance model to better understand why users are more likely to adopt certain navigation technologies while driving. We hypothesized that users’ perceived symmetry in communicative responsibility independently and interactively (with communicative behavior of the navigation system and the driving situation) affects perceived ease of use and usefulness …

A Modified Delphi Study On Boxwood Blight Disease Management In The Us Nursery Industry, Bhawana Ghimire, Kumuditha Hikkaduwa Epa Liyanage, Charlie Hall, Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Boxwood is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs in the United States, the production of which is currently challenged by boxwood blight, an emerging threat that has spread across 30 states. A thorough understanding of boxwood production, plant health, management practices and economic impact could aid in answering the needs of the nursery industry in managing this disease. An online modified Delphi survey was conducted to identify grower perceptions on processes, programs, and practices to limit or prevent the entry and spread of boxwood blight disease. The expert panel consisted of 29 nursery producers who represented a significant portion …

Menstrual Inequality In Women's Correctional Facilities, Tara Lee Sexton

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this analysis is to examine how those who menstruate while incarcerated experience menstrual inequality within correctional settings. This research focuses on vulnerable populations of menstruators most likely to experience menstrual inequality and the underlying causes of this systematic inequality within the prison industrial complex in the United States. The content of this work will focus on how menstruating bodies face stigma, discrimination, and punitive treatment within correctional institutions throughout the United States. Based on the lack of access to feminine hygiene products and adequate restroom facilities within correctional institutions, menstruators face potential issues of privacy, concealment, and …

Gold Open Access Publishing Rates Spanning 10 Years In Science And Engineering Disciplines At Rowan University, Daniel G. Kipnis, Denise Brush

Libraries Scholarship

Our lighting talk will share data from an analysis of 10 years of Gold open access publications at our university, a rising R2 public University in New Jersey. Our talk will show the increase in Gold Open Access publishing in the sciences of 176% over the ten years and the impact the library Open Access Publishing Fund has had in STEM. In addition, we will share STEM disciplinary differences in publication rates in Gold Open Access. Our talk will conclude by sharing the publishers with the highest rate of publishing Gold Open Access for our Science and Engineering Faculty. Our …

Concurrent Reduction And Stabilization Of Graphene Oxide Dispersion By Silk-Inspired Polymer, Zoren Valmonte, Zeyad Baker, Jianna Loor, Amrita Sarkar

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Silk, a popular biomaterial, is used as a greener alternative of toxic reducing agent in biocompatible graphene synthesis. However, silk often forms gel uncontrollably due to its heavy-chain molecular weight and faces significant challenges in the reduction, stabilization, and dispersion process of graphene. In this contribution, we report a rapid chemical synthesis approach for a low-molecular-weight silk-inspired polymer via ring-opening and microwave-assisted Diels-Alder-aided step-growth polymerizations. This synthetic polymer with periodic sequences of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties not only reduces graphene oxide efficiently but also enhances the dispersibility of hydrophobic reduced graphene oxide in aqueous media.

Sovia: Sonification Of Visual Interactive Art, Lauryn Gayhardt

Computer Science and Engineering Master's Theses

Therapeutic Computational Creativity is an emerging domain that challenges us to explore applications of Computational Creativity systems to mental health and wellness. This work presents SOVIA, an interactive system that endows Claude Monet’s art with responsive auditory experiences. SOVIA uses computer vision trained on Monet’s artwork to take the user “into the painting.'' When the user interacts with a digital version of Monet's landscapes, their mouse positions are mapped to sounds that artistically represent the objects that the user is currently exploring in the art. These interactive musical journeys have the potential to make classical art more captivating for modern …

Positive Emotions And Sexual Desire Among Healthy Women, Elizabeth J. Brough

Dissertations

Sexual desire disorders are highly prevalent, account for a significant proportion of sexual problems, and affect important aspects of women's lives. Sexuality research has traditionally focused on dysfunction models, rather than human strengths approaches. Recently, positive psychologists have developed models and methods to examine human strengths. This study used Frederickson's Broaden and Build model to examine links between positive emotions and sexual desire among women. Positive emotions words were examined relative to sexual domains frequently cited in clinical studies, and compared to sexual cognitions which have been linked to positive sexual outcomes in past studies.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Extracellular Vesicle Therapy For Stroke: Scalable Production And Imaging Biomarker Studies, Jeong Pyo Son, Eun Hee Kim, Eun Kyoung Shin, Dong Hee Kim, Ji Hee Sung, Mi Jeong Oh, Jae Min Cha, Michael Chopp, Oh Young Bang

Neurology Articles

A major clinical hurdle to translate MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) is the lack of a method to scale-up the production of EVs with customized therapeutic properties. In this study, we tested whether EV production by a scalable 3D-bioprocessing method is feasible and improves neuroplasticity in animal models of stroke using MRI study. MSCs were cultured in a 3D-spheroid using a micro-patterned well. The EVs were isolated with filter and tangential flow filtration and characterized using electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and small RNA sequencing. Compared to conventional 2D culture, the production-reproduction of EVs (the number/size of particles and EV purity) …

Photophysical Properties Of Synthetic Oligomeric Phenylene Ethynylene, Hugh F. Fritz Jr.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Oligomeric Phenylene Ethynylenes (OPEs) are a class of synthetically prepared compounds with the basic structure of phenylene rings connected by triple-bonded carbon atoms, also known as an ethyne link. This structure can be modified by incorporating functional groups onto one or more of the phenylene rings. The addition of functional groups, such as sulfoxide or imidazole, may alter the photophysical properties in detectable ways. The photophysical techniques used in this report include fluorescence, spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and visible light range (UVVIS), and photon-based excitation using a photo chamber.

One attractive function of OPEs is their antimicrobial property. Previously published …

Spending On Phased Clinical Development Of Approved Drugs By The Us National Institutes Of Health Compared With Industry, Edward W. Zhou, Matthew J. Jackson, Fred D. Ledley

Natural & Applied Sciences Faculty Publications

The launch of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to advance new cures and address public concern regarding drug prices has raised questions about the roles of government and industry in drug development.

This cross-sectional study examined NIH funding for published research reporting the results of phased clinical trials of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019 and compared the findings with reported industry spending estimates. Data analysis was performed between May 2021 and August 2022 using PubMed data from January 1999 through October 2021 and NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results data from January 1999 through …

July 14, 2023 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Lrp1 Is Essential For Lethal Rift Valley Fever Hepatic Disease In Mice, Madeline M Schwarz, Safder S Ganaie, Annie Feng, Griffin Brown, Tenzin Yangdon, J Michael White, Ryan M Hoehl, Cynthia M Mcmillen, Rachael E Rush, Kaleigh A Connors, Xiaoxia Cui, Daisy W Leung, Takeshi Egawa, Gaya K Amarasinghe, Amy L Hartman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging arbovirus found in Africa. While RVFV is pantropic and infects many cells and tissues, viral replication and necrosis within the liver play a critical role in mediating severe disease. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (Lrp1) is a recently identified host factor for cellular entry and infection by RVFV. The biological significance of Lrp1, including its role in hepatic disease in vivo, however, remains to be determined. Because Lrp1 has a high expression level in hepatocytes, we developed a mouse model in which Lrp1 is specifically deleted in hepatocytes to test how …

Research Progress On Properties Of Fiber Modified Asphalt Mixture, Liang Bo, Zhang Haitao, Liu Zheng, Liao Wei

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

As a kind of asphalt mixture additive and stabilizer, fiber can effectively improve the performance index of asphalt pavement and extend the service life of asphalt pavement. Based on the analysis of relevant literature in China and abroad, this paper summarized the action mechanism of fiber modified asphalt and asphalt mixture, the effect of fiber content on properties, and the characteristics of different types of fiber modified asphalt. Fiber can effectively improve the high temperature property, low temperature property, and fatigue property of asphalt mixture, especially the resistance to low temperature and fatigue cracking of asphalt mixture. The modification effect …

Effect Of Temperature And Light On Characteristics Of Asphalt Emissions, Zhu Xuwei, Tian Bo

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the effects of temperature and light on the characteristics of asphalt emissions, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometer (APCI‑TOF MS) and electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (EI‑MS) were used to quantitatively characterize the composition information of PG 62-22 asphalt emissions at different temperatures (40–200 °C). The effects of different temperatures and light on total emission factor, SOA conversion factor, intermediate volatile organic compound (IVOC)/semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) volume fraction, and aromatics volume fraction of asphalt emissions were studied. The results show that the components of asphalt emissions change with temperature, and the components are complex and …

Alternative Life-History Strategy Contributions To Effective Population Size In A Naturally Spawning Salmon Population, Erika M. King, Megan V. Mcphee, Scott C. Vulstek, Curry Cunningham, Joshua R. Russell, David Tallmon

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Alternative life-history tactics are predicted to affect within-population genetic processes but have received little attention. For example, the impact of precocious males on effective population size (Ne) has not been quantified directly in Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., even though they can make up a large percentage of the total male spawners. We investigated the contribution of precocial males (“jacks”) to Ne in a naturally spawning population of Coho Salmon O. kisutch from the Auke Creek watershed in Juneau, Alaska. Mature adults that returned from 2009 to 2019 (~8000 individuals) were genotyped at 259 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci for parentage analysis. …

Tunable Sns-Imine Ligated Complexes Of Copper And Nickel: Apllication In Photocatalytic Water Remediation, Temitayo Oluwayinka Falola

Theses and Dissertations

Water is an essential natural resource for life; its importance cuts across most of humanity’s needs. However, the growing need for industrialization with the subsequent discharge of effluents has led to an urgent need to remove pollutants found in all bodies of water. These polluted waters are a danger to the Earth’s ecosystems. Therefore, meeting and maintaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 6, “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” is important. To this end, we synthesized a series of imine-ligated nickel and copper catalysts for use in the photocatalytic remediation of water containing …

Exposure Characteristics Of Environmental Chemicals By Life Stages, Nisha Vijayakumar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental chemicals are ubiquitous and can contribute to human exposure. These exposures can result in long-term health consequences if they occur in early life. However, exposures to environmental chemicals are not evenly distributed throughout childhood. As a result, there exists variation in the levels of chemical exposure depending on the developmental stages, pathways of exposure, and broader systemic factors. However, in early life, limited research exists on exposures to environmental chemicals, particularly phthalates, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, environmental exposures to phthalates, pesticides, and PAHs, considering life stages, have not been fully explored. Hence it is imperative …

Multimodal Diagnostics In Multiple Sclerosis: Predicting Disability And Conversion From Relapsing-Remitting To Secondary Progressive Disease Course - Protocol For Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Yauhen Statsenko, Darya Smetanina, Teresa Arora, Linda Östlundh, Tetiana Habuza, Gillian Lylian Simiyu, Sarah Meribout, Tatsiana Talako, Fransina Christina King, Iryna Makhnevych, Juri George Gelovani, Karuna M. Das, Klaus Neidl Van Gorkom, Taleb M. Almansoori, Fatmah Al Zahmi, Miklós Szólics, Fatima Ismail, Milos Ljubisavljevic

All Works

Background The number of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) has increased significantly over the last decade. The challenge is to identify the transition from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive MS. Since available methods to examine patients with MS are limited, both the diagnostics and prognostication of disease progression would benefit from the multimodal approach. The latter combines the evidence obtained from disparate radiologic modalities, neurophysiological evaluation, cognitive assessment and molecular diagnostics. In this systematic review we will analyse the advantages of multimodal studies in predicting the risk of conversion to secondary progressive MS. Methods and analysis We will use peer-reviewed …

Mitogenomes Revealed The History Of Bison Colonization Of Northern Plains After The Last Glacial Maximum, Igor V. Ovtchinnikov, Blake Mccann

Biology Faculty Publications

American bison demonstrated differential patterns of extinction, survival, and expansion since the terminal Pleistocene. We determined population dynamics of the Northern Great Plains bison using 40 mitochondrial genomes from radiocarbon dated remains with the age ranging from 12,226 to 167 calibrated years before present. Population dynamics correlated with environmental and anthropogenic factors and was characterized by three primary periods: terminal Pleistocene population growth starting 14,000 years ago, mid Holocene demographic stability between 6700 and 2700 years ago, and late Holocene population decline in the last 2700 years. Most diversification of mtDNA haplotypes occurred in the early Holocene when bison colonized …

Visualization Of Productivity Zones Based On Nitrogen Mass Balance Model In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, Jongsun Kim, Myung Hwangbo, Patricia S. Thibodeau, Georgia Rhodes, Emma Hogarth, Stewart Copeland

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Primary productivity in the coastal regions, linked to eutrophication and hypoxia, provides a critical understanding of ecosystem function. Although primary productivity largely depends on riverine nutrient inputs, estimation of the extent of riverine nutrient influences in the coastal regions is challenging. A nitrogen mass balance model is a practical tool to evaluate coastal ocean productivity to understand biological mechanisms beyond data observations. This study visualizes the biological production zones in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, where hypoxia frequently occurs, by applying a nitrogen mass balance model. The Bay is divided into three zones - brown, green, and blue zones - …

Uab Spring 2023 Graduate To Spend Summer In India After Being Awarded Prestigious Critical Language Scholarship, Micah Hardge

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Performance And Failure Modes Of The Iroc Proton Liver Phantom, Hunter Mehrens, Paige Taylor, Paola Alvarez, Stephen Kry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To analyze trends in institutional performance and failure modes for the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core’s (IROC’s) proton liver phantom.

Materials and Methods: Results of 66 phantom irradiations from 28 institutions between 2015 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis and random forest models were used to associate irradiation conditions with phantom results. Phantom results included pass/fail classification, average thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) ratio of both targets, and percentage of pixels passing gamma of both targets. The following categories were evaluated in terms of how they predicted these outcomes: irradiation year, treatment planning system (TPS), TPS algorithm, treatment machine, number …

Bicc1 Drives Pancreatic Cancer Progression By Inducing Vegf-Independent Angiogenesis, Chongbiao Huang, Hui Li, Yang Xu, Chao Xu, Huizhi Sun, Zengxun Li, Yi Ge, Hongwei Wang, Tiansuo Zhao, Song Gao, Xiuchao Wang, Shengyu Yang, Peiqing Sun, Zhe Liu, Jing Liu, Antao Chang, Jihui Hao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

VEGF inhibitors are one of the most successful antiangiogenic drugs in the treatment of many solid tumors. Nevertheless, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) cells can reinstate tumor angiogenesis via activation of VEGF-independent pathways, thereby conferring resistance to VEGF inhibitors. Bioinformatic analysis showed that BICC1 was one of the top genes involved in the specific angiogenesis process of PAAD. The analysis of our own cohort confirmed that BICC1 was overexpressed in human PAAD tissues and was correlated to increased microvessel density and tumor growth, and worse prognosis. In cells and mice with xenograft tumors, BICC1 facilitated angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer in a VEGF-independent …

An Observational Study To Develop A Predictive Model For Bacterial Pneumonia Diagnosis In Severe Covid-19 Patients-C19-Pneumoscore, Eloisa Sofia Tanzarella, Joel Vargas, Marco Menghini, Stefania Postorino, Francesca Pozzana, Maria Sole Vallecoccia, Francesco Lorenzo De Matteis, Federico Franchi, Amato Infante, Luigi Larosa, Maria Antonietta Mazzei, Salvatore Lucio Cutuli, Domenico Luca Grieco, Alessandra Bisanti, Simone Carelli, Gianmarco Lombardi, Edoardo Piervincenzi, Gabriele Pintaudi, Tommaso Pirronti, Mario Tumbarello, Massimo Antonelli, Gennaro De Pascale

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In COVID-19 patients, antibiotics overuse is still an issue. A predictive scoring model for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia at intensive care unit (ICU) admission would be a useful stewardship tool. We performed a multicenter observational study including 331 COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation at ICU admission; 179 patients with bacterial pneumonia; and 152 displaying negative lower-respiratory samplings. A multivariable logistic regression model was built to identify predictors of pulmonary co-infections, and a composite risk score was developed using β-coefficients. We identified seven variables as predictors of bacterial pneumonia: vaccination status (OR 7.01; 95% CI, 1.73-28.39); chronic kidney disease …

Burned Area And Carbon Emissions Across Northwestern Boreal North America From 2001-2019, Stefano Potter, Sol Cooperdock, Sander Veraverbeke, Xanthe Walker, Michelle C. Mack, Scott J. Goetz, Jennifer Baltzer, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Arden Burrell, Catherine Dieleman, Nancy French, Stijn Hantson, Elizabeth E. Hoy, Liza Jenkins, Jill F. Johnstone, Evan S. Kane, Susan M. Natali, James T. Randerson, Merritt R. Turetsky, Ellen Whitman, Elizabeth Wiggins, Brendan M. Rogers

Michigan Tech Publications

Fire is the dominant disturbance agent in Alaskan and Canadian boreal ecosystems and releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Burned area and carbon emissions have been increasing with climate change, which have the potential to alter the carbon balance and shift the region from a historic sink to a source. It is therefore critically important to track the spatiotemporal changes in burned area and fire carbon emissions over time. Here we developed a new burned-area detection algorithm between 2001-2019 across Alaska and Canada at 500 m (meters) resolution that utilizes finer-scale 30 m Landsat imagery to account for …

Editorial: The Adaptation And Response Of Aquatic Animals In The Context Of Global Climate Change, Da Huo, Juan Diego Gaitán-Espitia, John I. Spicer, Hongsheng Yang

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Editorial on the Research Topic The adaptation and response of aquatic animals in the context of global climate change Anthropogenic climate change has brought on widespread changes in marine environments, including ocean warming, ocean acidification, the development and expansion of hypoxic zones. These environmental changes represent major threats to marine life, challenging the survival and adaptation of marine organisms. The adverse effects of these changes can interact in synergistic, additive or antagonistic ways (Huo et al., 2019a; Huo et al., 2019b; Small et al., 2020; Collins et al., 2021), evidencing different biological influence compared to their individual action (Huo et …