Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing Quirky Signals, Joshua D. Forsyth

Theses and Dissertations

Large collider facilities such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) employ a variety of search methods in hopes of finding new particles. It may be that new physics beyond the SM is waiting to be discovered at energies accessible to the LHC. Quirks are particles charged under a new confining gauge group with masses much larger than their confinement scale. This project details the dynamics of quirks, as well as the production and decay of electrically charged bound states of scalar quirks. The cross section for these states is compared to existing Wγ resonance searches at the LHC. Such a …

In Vitro Observation Of Optical Changes In Whole Blood Due To Injection Of Glucose Solution, James Gordon Harkness

Theses and Dissertations

Significance: While the optical properties of blood have been extensively studied, the influence of glucose concentration on blood optics remains unquantified. This is information which could be used to develop a noninvasive blood glucose monitor. Aim: This in vitro study investigated the optics of blood. Time-dependent effects and various methods of introducing glucose into blood samples were examined. The study aimed to quantify how alterations in glucose levels impacted blood optics across 14 distinct NIR wavelengths. Approach: Blood in a cuvette was exposed to light, and the reflected and transmitted light was captured in integrating spheres. 14 distinct wavelengths from …

The State Of Active Blended Learning In Construction Education: Reviewing Research And Current Perspectives, Shandon Miles Gubler

Theses and Dissertations

STEM educators have shown a particular interest in active blended learning. Construction management education, a discipline within STEM education, has naturally considered blended instruction to engage students in the learning process. Documented efforts of construction management educators implementing blended instruction have mostly been recorded in conference proceedings. These recorded efforts often take the form of anecdotal case studies—a current review of how construction management faculty are implementing blended instruction and active learning in their blended courses was not found. In this study, we reviewed the literature for active blended instruction in construction management education. We surveyed construction management faculty about …

Linking Individual Behavior With Physiology To Understand Complex Life Histories, Doreen Cabrera

Theses and Dissertations

Life history strategies encompass a suite of co-evolved traits crucial for ensuring an individual's fitness, often evolving from trade-offs between traits competing for the same resources. Adult male crayfish in the Cambaridae family undergo seasonal morphological changes linked to reproductive status, a process called cyclic dimorphism. In this dissertation, we attempt to understand how cyclic dimorphism evolved in non-native northern crayfish (Faxonius virilis). First, in Chapter 1, we review empirical studies that have assessed animal personality across developmental periods. The results show that personality traits tend to be stable within life stages but not across developmental events. In Chapter 2, …

Partake: A Product Design Aimed At Helping Individuals Master The Art Of Cooking, Zikai Meng

Theses

Many individuals aspire to become skilled cooks and create delectable dishes on their own. However, following recipes or tutorials can be challenging for many. This is why I developed Partake - an interactive cooking learning platform designed to provide a solution. With this app, users can learn the art of cooking in a personalized and engaging way by adjusting ingredient quantities and receiving clear instruction on culinary techniques. Partake aims to enhance the likelihood of success for those embarking on their journey to master cooking skills.

Department Of Correction, December 2023, Tennessee. Comptroller Of The Treasury.

Performance Audit Reports

No abstract provided.

Planas V Dougherty

All Decisions

No abstract provided.

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, Pranoti Sahasrabhojane, Marc Gohel, Samuel Aitken, 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 …

Quantifying Non-Muscle Myosin 2 Filament Dynamics, Melissa Ann Quintanilla

Dissertations

Non-muscle myosin 2 is a motor protein that, when assembled into filaments, works on the actin cytoskeleton to produce contractile forces within cells. This type of myosin dynamically assembles within cells to exert forces necessary for a wide variety of functions including cell division, migration, and multicellular movement. The ability to dynamically assemble contractile networks, and the ability to control the assembly and placement of these myosin filaments in both space and time, is therefore required throughout cell physiology. We used a suite of dynamic, quantitative imaging approaches to identify deterministic factors that drive myosin filament appearance and amplification as …

First Order Approximation On The Basilica Julia Set, Xintan Xia, Taryn Flock

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

We consider the basilica Julia set of the quadratic polynomial P (z) = z^2 - 1, with its successive graph approximations defined in terms of the external ray parametrization of the set. Following the model of Kigami and later Strichartz, we exploit these graph approximations to define derivatives of functions defined on the fractal, an endeavor complicated by asymmetric neighborhood behaviors at approximated vertex points across levels, and by the topology of these vertices. We hence differentiate even and odd levels of approximations of the Julia set and construct, accordingly, normal derivatives corresponding to each level category at the vertices, …

The Experience Of Teaching Disengaged Students In Stem: Examined Through The Lens Of The Abc Engagement Framework, William Randall Hjorth

Theses and Dissertations

Young people today are increasingly disengaged from their education. Studies indicate that of all school subjects, American students struggle to engage in STEM subjects more than others. For decades, we have known that student engagement/disengagement impacts teachers. Researchers have also claimed that engagement/disengagement can be described as a construct made up of affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions (ABC). However, we do not understand how teachers experience student disengagement in these three areas. At a crucial time in education, investigation into the experiences of teachers with disengaged students is needed to uncover insights which may help us understand how teachers interpret …

福音を分かち合う1.1, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

福音を分かち合うのはちょっと敷居が高いと感じたことはありませんか。もっと気楽に、また自然な形でこの活動を行えるように工夫してみました。するとどうでしょう、けっこうワクワクするような経験が待っていました。

Motherland Drip: Examining Performativity In Southern Black Motherhood, Daisha Huiel

Master's Projects

This capstone project explores the possibilities of the societal standards of southern Black motherhood creating oppositional experiences for Black women and their claims to freedom and bodily autonomy. I am writing about the lived experiences of southern Black women, including myself, within their communities to explore anti-respectability themes in the lives and performances of southern women and female hip hop performers through the lens of intersectionality. This creative nonfiction1 and scholarship reflect my academic exploration into the ways foundational Black feminist theory and relevant texts connect to my individual lived experiences of motherhood and identity within the post-hip-hop generations. I …

Newsletter, December 2023, Cedar Oaks Guild

Cedar Oaks Guild Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Unh Celebrates Students And Alumni At Annual Social Venture Innovation Challenge, Unh Communications And Public Affairs

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Patterns And Predictors Of Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Hiv Care Continuum In The Southern Usa: Protocol For A Population-Based Cohort Study, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Zhenlong Li, Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction Health disparities exist at every step of the HIV care continuum (HCC) among racial/ethnic minority population. Such racial/ethnic disparities may have significantly delayed the progress in HCC in the Southern US states that are strongly represented among geographic focus areas in the 2019 federal initiative titled 'Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America'. However, limited efforts have been made to quantify the long-term spatiotemporal variations of HCC disparities and their contributing factors over time, particularly in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. This project aims to identify the spatiotemporal patterns of racial disparities of each HCC outcome and then …

A Path To Full Citizenship: The Impact Of The Civil Rights Movement On The Creation Of Title I Schools Through The Elementary And Secondary Education Act Of 1965, Edwin Ryan

Washington Semester Program

Studies of the Civil Rights Movement commonly include events like Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, sit-ins, bus boycotts, and the Freedom Riders. The creation of Title I schools through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965 to serve "disadvantaged" students also was a major move in a broader attempt to undo systematic Black poverty. As part of his War on Poverty in the formation of a "Great Society," President Lyndon Johnson and his administration proposed drastic increases for federal involvement in the funding of public school …

Protective Effects Of Safranal On Kidney Tissue In A Rat Model Of Distant Ischemiareperfusion Injury With Infrarenal Aortic Occlusion, Mehmet Tort, Hülya Sevi̇l, Fehi̇m Can Sevi̇l, Neci̇p Beci̇t, Uğur Aksu, Zülfükar Kadi̇r Saritaş, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Demi̇rel, Azi̇z Bülbül, Zehra Yaşar, Merve Beci̇t Kizilkaya, Hazen Saritaş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to a part of the body can cause damage to distant organs such as the kidney and heart. This study investigated the protective effects of safranal against IR-induced renal injury. Materials and methods: Used in this study were 24 Wistar Albino male rats, which were divided into 3 equal and randomised groups. The sham group underwent laparotomy only. In the IR group, the infrarenal aorta was clamped for 1 h, and then reperfused for 2 h. In the IR-safranal group, safranal was administered 30 min before the procedure and IR injury was induced in the same …

Effects Of Acetylsalicylic Acid And Ultrasound Elastography On Testicular Torsion In Rats, Ezgi̇ Gün Soytürk, Ünal Biçakci, Serdar Aslan, Tolga Güvenç, Meltem Neci̇be Ceyhan Bi̇lgi̇ci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To investigate the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and the use of ultrasound elastography on testicular torsion. Materials and methods: Herein, 6 equal groups of rats were formed (n: 48): control group, sham group, torsion/detorsion (T/D)-1 h group, T/D-1 h + ASA group, T/D-8 h group, and T/D-8 h + ASA group. Testicular torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° clockwise. At 30 min before torsion, 100 mg/kg of ASA was injected intraperitoneally. Elastography was performed at 8 and 24 h. After orchiectomy, specimens were collected for histopathological evaluation. Results: When comparing the left testicular volume (LV) …

Department Of General Services Including The Central Procurement Office, The State Procurement Commission, The Advisory Council On State Procurement, And The State Protest Committee , December 2023, Tennessee. Comptroller Of The Treasury.

Performance Audit Reports

No abstract provided.

Volume 122, Number 3 - Tuesday, December 12th, 2023, Saint Mary's College Of California

The Collegian

No abstract provided.

Oral Lactoferrin Administration Does Not Impact The Diversity Or Composition Of The Infant Gut Microbiota In A Peruvian Cohort, Luis González, Jose Luis Paredes Sosa, Susan Mosquito, Yesenia Filio, Pedro E Romero, Theresa J Ochoa, Pablo Tsukayama

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Previous studies have suggested that oral lactoferrin enhances diversity in the gut microbiota in infants while inhibiting the growth of opportunistic pathogens. However, the effect of lactoferrin on infant gut microbiota over time has yet to be thoroughly studied. Our study suggests that lactoferrin oral treatment in infants aged 12-18 months does not affect gut microbiome diversity and composition over time. to our knowledge, this is the first study to report the effect of lactoferrin on infant gut microbiome composition over time and helps elucidate its impact on infant health and its therapeutic potential.

A Multilevel Mhealth Intervention Boosts Adherence To Hydroxyurea In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Jane S Hankins, Donald Brambilla, Michael B Potter, Abdullah Kutlar, Robert Gibson, Allison A King, Ana A Baumann, Cathy Melvin, Victor R Gordeuk, Lewis L Hsu, Chinonyelum Nwosu, Jerlym S Porter, Nicole M Alberts, Sherif M Badawy, Jena Simon, Jeffrey A Glassberg, Richard Lottenberg, Lisa Dimartino, Sara Jacobs, Maria E Fernandez, Hayden B Bosworth, Lisa M Klesges, Nirmish Shah

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hydroxyurea reduces sickle cell disease (SCD) complications, but medication adherence is low. We tested 2 mobile health (mHealth) interventions targeting determinants of low adherence among patients (InCharge Health) and low prescribing among providers (HU toolbox) in a multi-center, non-randomized trial of individuals with SCD ages 15-45. We compared the percentage of days covered (PDC), labs, healthcare utilization, and self-reported pain over 24 weeks of intervention and 12 weeks post-study with a 24-week preintervention interval. We enrolled 293 patients (51% male; median age 27.5 years, 86.8% HbSS/HbSβ0-thalassemia). The mean change in PDC among 235 evaluable subjects increased (39.7% to 56.0%; P < 0.001) and sustained (39.7% to 51.4%, P < 0.001). Mean HbF increased (10.95% to 12.78%; P = 0.03). Self-reported pain frequency reduced (3.54 to 3.35 events/year; P = 0.041). InCharge Health was used ≥1 day by 199 of 235 participants (84.7% implementation; median usage: 17% study days; IQR: 4.8-45.8%). For individuals with ≥1 baseline admission for pain, admissions per 24 weeks declined from baseline through 24 weeks (1.97 to 1.48 events/patient, P = 0.0045) and weeks 25-36 (1.25 events/patient, P = 0.0015). PDC increased with app use (P < 0.001), with the greatest effect in those with private insurance (P = 0.0078), older subjects (P = 0.033), and those with lower pain interference (P = 0.0012). Of the 89 providers (49 hematologists, 36 advanced care providers, 4 unreported), only 11.2% used HU toolbox ≥1/month on average. This use did not affect change in PDC. Tailoring mHealth solutions to address barriers to hydroxyurea adherence can potentially improve adherence and provide clinical benefits. A definitive randomized study is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04080167.

In-Depth Geochemical Analysis Of Turbidite-Associated Shales Of The Pindos Basin, Greece, Jonathon Michael Sevy

Theses and Dissertations

Detailed geochemical analysis of the turbidite-associated shales of the Cretaceous Katafito Formation, Greece, reveals important details regarding the paleoenvironment, paleoproductivity, and regional tectonics of the Pindos Basin. The Katafito Formation was deposited along an active margin at the early onset of closure of the Tethys Sea in the Pindos sub-basin. While careful studies of the coarse clastic component of turbidites are common, this study consisted of a detailed geochemical characterization of the fine-grained portions, which helped reveal paleoenvironmental information about the basin. This study combined organic and inorganic geochemistry utilizing elemental, mineralogical, and organic chemical signatures from fine-grained turbidite-associated sediments …

Relative Effectiveness Of A Radionuclide (210pb), Surface Elevation Table (Set), And Lidar At Monitoring Mangrove Forest Surface Elevation Change, Richard Mackenzie, Ken Krauss, Nicole Cormier, Eugene Eperiam, Jan Van Aardt, Ali Rouzbeh-Kargar, Jessica Grow, Val Klump

Articles

Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the greatest future threats to mangrove forests. Mangroves have kept up with or paced past SLR by maintaining their forest floor elevation relative to sea level through root growth, sedimentation, and peat development. Monitoring surface elevation change (SEC) or accretion rates allows us to understand mangrove response to SLR and prioritizes resilient ecosystems for conservation or vulnerable ecosystems for restoration. We compared three methods to measure SEC and accretion in mangrove forests: 210Pb, surface elevation tables (SETs), and a terrestrial light detection and ranging system (compact biomass LiDAR—CBL). Lead-210 accretion rates were not significantly …

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 …

A Human Rights And Legal Analysis Of The Understanding Our Roots Report, Naiomi Metallic, Cheryl Simon

Reports & Public Policy Documents

In October 2023, the University released Understanding Our Roots - Nstikuk tan wtapeksikw Report written by the Task Force on Settler Misappropriation of Indigenous Identity. The Report recommends the creation of a Standing Committee who would verify claims to Indigenous identity by students, faculty and staff seeking to benefit from any opportunity at the University that prioritizes access for Indigenous peoples, as well as investigate and recommend sanction in cases of suspected academic fraud whereby an individual assumes an Indigenous identity. The Report does not address or respond to potential legal issues and rights violations arising from its recommendation. To …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Effect Of Resilience Training On The Effectiveness Of Psychological Body Armor Among College Students, Devaney Ross

Honors Theses

Using Everly’s proposal of a unique form of human resilience known as Psychological Body ArmorTM (PBA), this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Psychological Body Armor training in improving the resilience capacity amongst college students. In this study, data was collected from 194 (N = 108 for the 2022 Fall Semester and N = 86 for the 2023 Spring Semester) participants enrolled in a Wellness class at Andrews University. Participants were asked to complete a 20-item PBA questionnaire developed by Tan et al. (2022) to measure resilience based on two previous PBA studies (Burnett et al., 2019; Burnett et …

Metformin Plus Insulin For Preexisting Diabetes Or Gestational Diabetes In Early Pregnancy: The Mompod Randomized Clinical Trial, Kim A Boggess, Arielle Valint, Jerrie S Refuerzo, Noelia Zork, Ashley N Battarbee, Kacey Eichelberger, Gladys A Ramos, Gayle Olson, 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 …