Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Minors' Access To Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder: A Policy Analysis, Sara Jane Hamilton

Master's Projects and Capstones

As the opioid epidemic continues to have devastating effects on our communities, medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUDs) are severely underutilized especially for adolescents. Unlike adults, minors need parental approval before obtaining MOUDs presenting a key barrier to timely treatment. Being able to treat adolescents as soon as they are ready is critically important for people with OUD, and while cost and other barriers have been addressed in the literature, there is a paucity on how parental consent affects the accessibility of treatment. This paper aims to explore a potential policy in California that addresses the lack of access …

Hedgehog Signaling As An Underlying Mechanism For Midline Modification During Asexual Reproduction In Convolutriloba Longifissura Acoels, James M. Sikes Ph.D., Jaclyn Cherry

Master's Theses

The mechanisms that control midline specification and modification during post-embryonic development are some of the least understood in developmental biology.  Because acoel flatworms have varied modes of asexual reproduction which can involve the dramatic modification of their orthogonal axes and midline, we have chosen the acoel species Convolutriloba longifissura as a model to study the mechanisms behind midline modification.  C. longifissura asexually reproduces through a double fission process where novel midlines arise within laterally located tissues while the adult midline is destroyed prior to an initial transverse fission event, which is then followed by a second longitudinal fission.  Previous work …

College Of Engineering News, Georgia Southern University

College of Engineering & Computing: News & Publications (2010-2023)

• NSF Awards ERI Grant for Evaluating Bio-3D-printed Constructs

Parasites Versus Predation: The Role Of Chronic And Acute Parasite Exposure In Infection Risk And Anti-Predator Behavior, Delaney Farrell

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Parasites with complex, multi-host lifecycles often engage in host behavior manipulation to increase transmission between successive hosts. In intermediate fish hosts, previous research has measured increased frequency of conspicuous behaviors, decreased swimming performance, and reduced antipredator behavior, which would collectively increase the fish’s risk of predation. In ecosystems where this type of parasite increased trophic transmission (PITT) occurs, parasites can play a substantial role in food webs. In this study, I investigate how chronic versus acute exposure to the trematode Euhaplorchis sp. A. affects the antipredator behavior of the Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis. Using a fully crossed design, I …

Analysis Of The Aerosol Composition, Its Deposition And Uptake In Electronic Cigarette Users, Chamodhi Ravihansi Polgampola Ralalage

Theses

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generate aerosol (particles in a gas matrix) by vaporizing the e-liquid, consisting of propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (GL), nicotine, and other additives. Aerosol enters the respiratory tract (RT) of the user, where part of it is deposited, while the rest is exhaled. Compounds in the gas and particle phase have different deposition mechanisms in the RT, thus determining the location of deposition. The location of deposition and amount of a compound will influence the biological response in the body. Identifying the composition of each constituent in the gas phase and particle phase would enhance the understanding of …

Assessing The Effects Of Live Oysters And Sampling Gear On Biodiversity Metrics Of Reef-Associated Benthic And Nekton Assemblages, Finella Campanino

LSU Master's Theses

Oysters are declining globally, resulting in an increase in oyster reef restoration, with many efforts prioritizing maintenance of reef-associated biodiversity. Understanding the role that reef-specific characteristics play in supporting biodiversity and how sampling gear influences measurements of biodiversity can inform design and management of restoration projects. I examined the relationship between live oyster volume and reef-associated benthic and nekton assemblages (hereafter reef assemblages) and how sampling gears influence our understanding of biodiversity on intertidal Crassostrea virginica reefs near Cocodrie, Louisiana. I quantified substrate characteristics, assemblages via trays, and water-column characteristics across four reefs and four seasons in 2022-2023, and compared …

A Multicenter, Controlled Human Infection Study Of Influenza A(H1n1)Pdm09 In Healthy Adults, Justin R Ortiz, David I Bernstein, Daniel F Hoft, Christopher W Woods, Micah T Mcclain, Sharon E Frey, Rebecca C Brady, Christopher Bryant, Ashley Wegel, Robert W Frenck, Emmanuel B Walter, Getahun Abate, Sarah R Williams, Robert L Atmar, Wendy A Keitel, Nadine Rouphael, Mathew J Memoli, Mamodikoe K Makhene, Paul C Roberts, Kathleen M Neuzil

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the associations between baseline influenza virus-specific hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) titers and subsequent symptomatic influenza virus infection in a controlled human infection study.

METHODS: We inoculated unvaccinated healthy adults aged 18-49 years with an influenza A/California/04/2009/H1N1pdm-like virus (NCT04044352). We collected serial safety labs, serum for HAI and MN, and nasopharyngeal swabs for reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Analyses used the putative seroprotective titer of ≥40 for HAI and MN. The primary clinical outcome was mild-to-moderate influenza disease (MMID), defined as ≥1 postchallenge positive qualitative RT-PCR test with a qualifying symptom/clinical finding.

RESULTS: Of 76 …

Structural Underpinnings Of Mutation Rate Variations In The Human Genome, Zian Liu, Md Abul Hassan Samee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Single nucleotide mutation rates have critical implications for human evolution and genetic diseases. Importantly, the rates vary substantially across the genome and the principles underlying such variations remain poorly understood. A recent model explained much of this variation by considering higher-order nucleotide interactions in the 7-mer sequence context around mutated nucleotides. This model's success implicates a connection between DNA shape and mutation rates. DNA shape, i.e. structural properties like helical twist and tilt, is known to capture interactions between nucleotides within a local context. Thus, we hypothesized that changes in DNA shape features at and around mutated positions can explain …

Characterization Of Vascular Morphology Of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration By Indocyanine Green Angiography, Anish Attarde, Thomas S Riad, Zhao Zhang, Manisha Ahir, Yingbin Fu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness among older individuals, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing due to the aging population. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or wet AMD, which accounts for 10%-20% of all AMD cases, is responsible for an alarming 80%-90% of AMD-related blindness. Current anti-VEGF therapies show suboptimal responses in approximately 50% of patients. Resistance to anti-VEGF treatment in CNV patients is often associated with arteriolar CNV, while responders tend to have capillary CNV. While fluorescein angiography (FA) is commonly used to assess leakage patterns in wet AMD patients and animal models, it does not provide …

Our Search Of Immune Invaders In The Aged Lacrimal Gland, Claudia M Trujillo-Vargas, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Review Article: Effect Of Co-Expression Chaperones On The Expression Of Intracellular Recombinant Proteins In Escherichia Coli, Diandra Firdiani Utami, Mamlikatu Ilmi Azizah, Sriwidodo Sriwidodo, Ryan Adibagus Haryanto, Riyona Desvy Pratiwi, Iman Permana Maksum

Chimica et Natura Acta

Escherichia coli is widely used as a host for expressing recombinant proteins due to its well-studied genetics, fast growth, relatively low production costs, and high rate of protein expression. However, despite the high rate of protein expression, the availability of chaperone proteins was often insufficient, resulting in the formation of inclusion bodies due to errors in protein folding. These inclusion bodies can cause the protein to become inactive, and proper protein folding is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of proteins in living organisms. To overcome this limitation, chaperones have been developed as a strategy to help prevent protein …

Review, Democracy And Fake News: Information Manipulation And Post-Truth Politics, Peter Krapp

Secrecy and Society

No abstract provided.

Environmental Scan Of Web-Based Consumer Information On The Risk Of Hpv-Related Diseases In Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Contessa T. Radabaugh, Juan I. Ruiz Md, Mph, Maria E. Suarez-Almazor Md, Phd

Summer Experience 2023

No abstract provided.

Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1a In Kidney Cancer, Dalia Lina Karimi, Daisha Lewis, Pedro Pasquera, Niki M. Zacharias, Tapati Maity, Nasir Uddin, Pavlos Msaouel, Steve Millward

Summer Experience 2023

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Of The High-Throughput Dna Repair Assay For Immunotherapy, Joauna Carter, Guang Peng, Xueqian Cheng

Summer Experience 2023

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Structural Flexibility And Cross-Reactivity Of The T-Cell Receptor, Margaret He, Xianli Jiang, Kun Hee Kim, Ken Chen

Summer Experience 2023

No abstract provided.

Inflammatory Pseudotumors Induced By Adcre In Transgenic Oncopigs After In Situ Induction, Samantha Hicks, Danielle Stolley, Maria Sophia Stenkamp, Derek Smetanik, Erica Moore, William Norton, Erik Cressman, Natalie W. Fowlkes

Summer Experience 2023

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review Of Clinical Practice Guidelines For Cancer Screening In Patients With Autoimmune Diseases, Vikas Burugu, Juan I. Ruiz Md, Mph, Maria A. Lopez-Olivo Md, Phd, Maria E. Suarez-Almazor Md, Phd

Summer Experience 2023

No abstract provided.

The Arkisys Port Module: An Orbital Platform For Hosted Payloads In Low-Earth Orbit, Rahul Rughani, David A. Barnhart, Dan Lopez

Small Satellite Conference

Advances in Small Satellite technology combined with the availability of low-cost rideshares to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) have led to an increasing number of space missions. However, the underlying technology for small payload missions has been relatively constant over the past two decades: CubeSat form factor platforms for free-flying missions in LEO. Arkisys is working to change this, and allow a wider variety of payloads to reach LEO which don't include an immediate free-flying requirement. This platform is called The Port, and is an autonomous long-duration orbital platform for a multitude of uses, including hosting payloads in LEO.

Currently, avenues …

The U.S. Government's Global Food Security Strategy And The Effectiveness Of Agriculture-Led Growth Through The Perspectives Of Climate Change And Sustainability, Marcella Mcnerney

Capstone Collection

The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Global Food Security Strategy Fiscal Year 2022-2026 addresses food security in developing countries. The U.S. Global Food Security Strategy set forth by USAID lays forth a strategy for increasing food security in twelve targeted low-income and developing nations. How well the USAID policy does this with consideration of climate change, sustainability, and socio-economic well-being is crucial to examine given the fact that climate change impacts and predictions are now affecting food systems at all stages, from growth through production. The following discussion combines elements of a policy brief and research paper to …

Comparative Immunohistochemical Analysis Of Ehd1 Expression In Adjacent, Metastatic, And Normal Thyroid Tissue, Oscar D. Juvera, Bhopal C. Mohapatra, Anupam Kotwal, Haitao Luan, Robert Bennett, Sukanya Chakraborty, Aaqib Bhat, Mariam Zahid, Matthew Storck, Vimla Band, Hamid Band

Posters: 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The discovery of prognostic biomarkers plays a crucial role in enhancing the treatment and care of individuals with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who are at risk of disease progression. A significant breakthrough came with earlier research, which revealed higher levels of the EHD1 protein in papillary DTC when compared to the surrounding healthy tissue. This exciting finding served as the driving force behind the initiation of a more extensive investigation aimed at validating EHD1 as a potential biomarker and exploring its connection with clinical outcomes. By unraveling the potential implications of EHD1 in DTC cases, this study holds the promise …

Investigating The Role Of Tp53 In Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma-Gata3 Subtype, Zaina W. Nasser, Dylan T. Jochum, Waseem G. Lone, Alyssa C. Bouska, Sunandini Sharma, Javeed Iqbal

Posters: 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Introduction: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) accounts for 4.1% of all cancers in the United States. Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) consists of ~10-15% of all NHL in the Western world. 30-50% of these PTCLs are not classifiable/diagnosed and are instead designated as PTCL-Not Otherwise Specified (PTCL-NOS). The two major molecular subgroups within PTCL-NOS are PTCL-TBX21 and PTCL-GATA3, determined by their distinct T-helper (TH) transcriptional programs. GATA3 and TBX21 are the master-transcriptional regulators of TH2- and TH1-cell differentiation, respectively. The overall survival analysis of PTCL-NOS cases illustrates the clinical outcome of PTCL-GATA3 cases are significantly lower than PTCL-TBX21 cases over a broad timeframe. …

Tryphostin (Ag 879): A Potential Drug To Treat Glioblastoma, Nathan K. Jobalia, Indumati Ramireddy, Poonam Yadav, Raghupathy Vengoji, Surinder K. Batra, Nicole Shonka

Posters: 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of A Machine Learning Approach And Response Surface Methodology For Optimizing The Hpt Processing Parameters Of Aa6061/Sicp Composites, Waleed H. El-Garaihy, Abdulrahman I. Alateyah, Mahmoud Shaban, Mohammed F. Alsharekh

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

College Faculty In The News: Aug. 10, 2023, University Of Dayton

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

News agencies across the region, the nation and throughout the world often reach out to our faculty experts for their perspectives on today's issues.

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

A Diminutive New Basilosaurid Whale Reveals The Trajectory Of The Cetacean Life Histories During The Eocene, Mohammed S. Antar, Abdullah S. Gohar, Heba El-Desouky, Erik R. Seiffert

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

A Step Into Structural Biology: Structural Determination Of Tnk1-Uba And Computational Design Of A Radical Sam Cyclase, Yi-Jie Tseng

Theses and Dissertations

Structural biology uncovers life's secrets by studying protein structures via techniques like X-ray crystallography. This knowledge drives advancements in protein engineering for the improvement of human lives. Yet, obtaining high-quality crystals in X-ray crystallography is challenging. To overcome this, we used Translocation ETS Leukemia protein Sterile Alpha Motif domain (TELSAM), a promising polymer-forming crystallization chaperone (PFCC), to enhance protein crystallization. Human thirty-eight-negative kinase-1 (TNK1), a key player in cancer progression, possess a ubiquitin association (UBA) domain that binds polyubiquitin and regulates TNK1 activity and stability. Although sequence analysis hints at an unconventional TNK1 UBA domain architecture, its molecular structure lacks …

Tailoring Digital Physical Activity Support Messages For Women In Midlife With Elevated Risk For Cardiovascular Disease: A Multicomponent Study, Kiri Baga

Theses and Dissertations

Women in midlife (ages 40-60) are at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although physical activity (PA) engagement can reduce CVD risk, few women engage in sufficient PA to receive this benefit. They cite lack of social support as a key barrier, but existing interventions that employ social support show limited effectiveness. Digital PA support messages (i.e., brief, text-based messages delivered via smartphone or other device) may be a powerful method to meet social support needs in daily life. However, women’s preferences for and responses to distinct types of messages are not well understood. The aim of this study was …

The College Of Arts And Humanities Welcomes Several New Faculty, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.