Digital Commons Network^™

Systemic Inflammation And Neurocognitive Deficits In School-Age Children With Sickle Cell Disease., Elizabeth A. Gillooly

Theses and Dissertations

Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes inflammation that contributes to poor clinical outcomes, including cerebrovascular disease (CVD). CVD can take several forms in SCD, including neurocognitive deficits without visible cerebral infarction. The role of chronic inflammation in cognitive development in SCD has received little attention to-date. We aimed to study novel markers of systemic inflammation: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the systemic inflammation index (SII) to describe developmental trends and relationships to cognitive outcomes in SCD at early elementary school-age. Sixty-one children with SCD and no history of stroke were identified who completed an early elementary school age cognitive …

The Role Of The Physical Therapist In Managing Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic And Qualitative Perspectives, Garrett Matthew Hainline

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is an effective tool in the management of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). PA recommendations for people with T2D are to achieve at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity PA. This assists to maintain blood glucose control and reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. Unfortunately, people with T2D are less likely than their normoglycemic peers to meet PA recommendations.

Veterans of the armed forces experience T2D at even greater levels than the general population, with prevalence at about 20%. In addition, T2D and pre-diabetes are elevated among younger veterans, including those of recent conflicts. Reducing rates …

Vascular Calcification In A Mouse Model Of Chronic Kidney Disease And In Human Peripheral Arterial Disease, Breanna Pederson

Theses and Dissertations

Vascular calcification is a process in which calcium and phosphate crystallize to form hydroxyapatite in the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. There are two forms of arterial calcification: intimal and medial, which occur via different etiologies. Intimal calcification is associated with atherosclerosis and occurs in the layer of endothelial cells adjacent to the artery lumen. Medial arterial calcification (MAC) is independent of atherosclerosis and occurs in the middle, muscular layer of the artery. MAC is strongly associated with aging, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). MAC is frequently in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Most studies to date …

Music Production And Girls: A Phenomenological Study Of The High School Music Technology Classroom, Mary Angel Cleary

Theses and Dissertations

Female representation in public spheres and organizations is a continuing topic in American research. Females have historically been left out of all aspects of computer technology and the technical sides of the music industry. In upper echelons of music making, from composition to production, they remain vastly under-represented. People begin forming ideas about who they are, their abilities, and their future career interests in high school, especially in elective courses like music technology that are geared towards allowing students to explore their creative skill sets to determine if these elective experiences are something for which they have a life-long passion. …

Teacher Perception Of International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Implementation, Lorene Michelle Lloyd-Peay

Theses and Dissertations

The rural, Title I, underperforming, priority schools in the study encounter several challenges when implementing the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP) framework. Successful implementation is contingent on how the teachers perceive these challenges. This research aims to understand how teachers' perspective on the IBMYP affects programme implementation. Understanding the experiences and perspectives of teachers increased my and the school district’s ability to support the effective implementation of the IBMYP framework. The research questions focused on gathering data to determine teacher perspectives about the IBMYP, how those perspectives affect programme implementation, and the factors that appear to enhance or impede …

Why He Sings: An Action Research Study Using Counternarratives To Affect The Deficit Narratives Attributed To Students Of Color, Tiffany Jones Early

Theses and Dissertations

There is ample research that shows that students of color are less likely to graduate from college than their White peers. Meanwhile, the demographics of students who enroll in college continue to be more diverse than previous generations. As universities struggle to understand retention disparities, the voices of the students are often eliminated from the discussion. Many university staff members, instead, opt for a deficit narrative to blame what they believe students of color lack that inhibits them from persisting in college until graduation. The purpose of this study is to use narrative inquiry to better understand the educational experiences …

Impact Of Supportive Leadership On Work Stress: An Empirical Research In The Ministry Of Iraqi Interior / Human Resources Management, Hussein Adil Al-Gburi, Mohsin Rashed Musaheb, Nawfal Ghazi Zghair

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to discover the effect of supportive leadership on work stress in the Ministry of Iraqi Interior / Human Resources Management in order to achieve a happy life for its employees and hence achieve the desired level of performance. Theoretical Framework: The current research deals with introducing the Ministry of Iraqi Interior / Human Resources Management to the latest developments in the administration field through supportive leadership style and work stress, as well as presenting the latest concepts, importance, and models that previous researchers have arrived at. It contributes to expanding the researched organization's …

Demographic Characteristics As Moderators For The Association Between Cigarette Smoking And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Aregash Tewoldeberhan Kidane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure in the United States. Several studies have been conducted that showed cigarette smoking is associated with an increased incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM); however, there is no published information in the literature on the moderating effects of gender/sex and race/ethnicity on this association. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to address this gap in the literature and examine the association between cigarette smoking and DM and the moderating effect of sex and race/ethnicity on the association between cigarette …

Beyond The Screen: Unpacking Gender’S Influence On The Gaming World, Celia K. Killen

Selected Honors Theses

Gender is a concept that touches each and every person across the world. It is also something that affects many facets of human life. The gaming world is not separate from it as a concept, and there are areas in which the two clearly intersect. Women have long been effectively outcast from the industry, and this stems from more than just simple biases—women are distanced from technology, struggle to enter male-dominated workplaces, and are not considered real gamers because of the culture. Much of the literature touches on the experiences of women in the industry, the gendered experiences of audiences, …

The Danger Online Pharmacies Pose On Clients With Eating Disorders In The Prescription Of Glp-1 Agonists For Weight Loss, Madyson R. Frisbie

Selected Honors Theses

This literature review explores the prevalence of utilizing online pharmacies to obtain glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist, Semaglutide, for cosmetic weight loss and the danger that route of obtaining medication places on clients with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In addition, research was conducted to establish practice recommendations to eliminate the possibility of a client with an eating disorder from obtaining a GLP-1 agonist when it is inappropriate for their health status. Various articles were used to gain information about the drug in general, its mechanism of action, indications, positive outcomes, and adverse effects. Additional articles were …

October 2024 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the October 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 2) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter, Vol 33, No. 1, The Sinclair Lewis Society

Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter

"Sinclair Lewis Conference to be Held in Sauk Centre in July 2025"

"Sinclair Lewis and the American Mind," by Greg Davis

"What Were They Reading Then?: Pioneer Realism: A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich" by Ted G. Fleener

"All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days: An American Literature Scholar in Germany During World War II"

"Sinclair Lewis: Chess's Red Master," by Shaun F. Richards

"Breaking into Print"

"What Were They Reading Then?: How to Get to the Top of the Heap: What Makes Sammy Run? by Budd Schulberg" by Sally E. Parry

"Mantrap: The Move"

Lhcgr Inactivating Variants: Single Center Experience And Systematic Review Of Phenotype-Genotype Of 46, Xy And 46, Xx Patients, Rohit Barnabas, Swati Jadhav, Anurag Ranjan Lila, Sirisha Kusuma Boddu, Saba Samad Memon, Sneha Arya, Samiksha Chandrashekhar Hegishte, Manjiri Karlekar, Virendra A Patil, Vijaya Sarathi, Nalini S Shah, Tushar Bandgar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The data on Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) resulting from biallelic Luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) inactivating variants is limited to case series.

Methods: We aim to describe our patients and perform systematic review of the patients with LHCGR inactivating variants in the literature. Detailed phenotype and genotype data of three patients from our centre and 85 (46,XY: 67; 46,XX: 18) patients from 59 families with LHCGR-inactivating variants from literature were described.

Results: Three 46,XY patients (age 6-18 years) from our center, with two reared as females, had two novel variants in LHCGR. Systematic review (including our patients) revealed 72 …

Signs & Symbols, Fall 2024, Illinois State University, Department Of Sociology And Anthropology

Signs & Symbols

Newsletter of the Illinois State University Department of Sociology and Anthropology. An email newsletter version of this document is available at https://news.illinoisstate.edu/newsletters/signs-symbols-fall-24-2/.

Radiopaque Femnn-Mo Composite Drawn Filled Tubing Wires For Braided Absorbable Neurovascular Devices, Adam J. Griebel, Petra Maier, Henry D. Summers, Benjamin Clausius, Isabella Kanasty, Weilue He, Nicholas Peterson, Carolyn Czerniak, Alexander A. Oliver, David F. Kallmes, Ramanathan Kadirvel, Jeremy E. Schaffer, Roger J. Guillory

Michigan Tech Publications

Flow diverter devices are small stents used to divert blood flow away from aneurysms in the brain, stagnating flow and inducing intra-aneurysmal thrombosis which in time will prevent aneurysm rupture. Current devices are formed from thin (∼25 μm) wires which will remain in place long after the aneurysm has been mitigated. As their continued presence could lead to secondary complications, an absorbable flow diverter which dissolves into the body after aneurysm occlusion is desirable. The absorbable metals investigated to date struggle to achieve the necessary combination of strength, elasticity, corrosion rate, fragmentation resistance, radiopacity, and biocompatibility. This work proposes and …

Persistent Microbial Infections And Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – An Insight Into Non-Typeable Haemophilus Influenza Pathogenesis, Dong Hun Lee, Minseong Kim, Sarah S Chang, Raham Lee, Andrew J Jang, Juyoung Kim, Jing Ma, Michael J Passineau, Raymond L Benza, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Wilbur A Lam, Benjamin T Kopp, Roy L Sutliff, C Michael Hart, Changwon Park, Bum-Yong Kang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension (PH) but the molecular mechanisms regulating EndoMT remain to be defined. We demonstrate that the axis of the transcription factors PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma) and ETV2 (ETS variant 2) play important roles in the pathogenesis of PH. Decreased levels of the expression of PPARγ and ETV2 along with reduced endothelial and increased EndoMT markers are consistently observed in lungs and pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, in hypoxia-exposed mouse lungs, human PAECs, and in induced-EndoMT cells. Etv2 +/- mice spontaneously developed PH and right …

Pregnancy Outcomes In Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Brenna L Hughes, Grecio J Sandoval, George R Saade, Rebecca G Clifton, Uma M Reddy, Anna Bartholomew, Ashley Salazar, Edward K Chien, Alan T N Tita, John M Thorp, Torri D Metz, Ronald J Wapner, Vishaka Sabharwal, Hyagriv N Simhan, Geeta K Swamy, Kent D Heyborne, Baha M Sibai, William A Grobman, Yasser Y El-Sayed, Brian M Casey, Samuel Parry, George A Macones, Mona Prasad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To evaluate the risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with pregnancies complicated by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study of HCV infection in pregnancy. Participants were screened for HCV infection with serum antibody tests, and each participant with a positive HCV result (case group) was matched with up to two individuals with negative HCV results (control group) prospectively by gestational age (±2 weeks) at enrollment. Maternal outcomes included gestational diabetes, abruption, preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, cholestasis, and preterm delivery. Neonatal outcomes included hyperbilirubinemia, admission to neonatal …

Spatial Characterisation And Drivers Of Catch And Effort In Highly Specialised Recreational Pelagic Fisheries, Shannon J. Burchert, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Karina L. Ryan, Ute Mueller, Glenn A. Hyndes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Large pelagic finfish are highly mobile, distributed across broad geographical scales, and often targeted by both commercial and recreational sectors. Fishing effort in these fisheries is variable due to seasonal patterns in fish behaviour and accessibility of fishing locations. Similarly, fisher behaviour and access are likely to differ within the recreational sector, between private boat-based fishing and charter (or for hire) fishing. Here, we compare spatio-temporal patterns in catch per unit effort (CPUE), effort (boat days) and catch (total catch per fishing party) for private boat-based and charter fishing, and identify environmental variables that may influence those patterns, for two …

Delivery Of Tgfβ3 From Magnetically Responsive Coaxial Fibers Reduces Spinal Cord Astrocyte Reactivity In Vitro, Jessica L. Funnell, Jasper Fougere, Diana Zahn, Silvio Dutz, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A spinal cord injury (SCI) compresses the spinal cord, killing neurons and glia at the injury site and resulting in prolonged inflammation and scarring that prevents regeneration. Astrocytes, the main glia in the spinal cord, become reactive following SCI and contribute to adverse outcomes. The anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) has been shown to mitigate astrocyte reactivity; however, the effects of prolonged TGFβ3 exposure on reactive astrocyte phenotype have not yet been explored. This study investigates whether magnetic core-shell electro spun fibers can be used to alter the release rate of TGFβ3 using externally applied magnetic fields, …

Stable Isotope Analysis Of Antipatharian Diets From The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Keir J. Macartney, Victoria Salinas, Zachary Rivera, David Hicks

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Antipatharians, or black corals, form a key component of the benthic fauna found throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In the northwestern GOM, they are a common member of the communities found on the natural relic coral—algal banks known as the South Texas Banks as well as on artificial reefs. They are known to provide important habitat for many ecologically and economically important species in the area but are relatively understudied. Here we present a study on their trophic ecology using stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen from 2 species, Antipathes atlantica and Stichopathes luetkeni from a mesophotic artificial …

High Mechanical Performance Of Lattice Structures Fabricated By Additive Manufacturing, Yuhua Li, Deyu Jiang, Rong Zhao, Xin Wang, Liqiang Wang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Lattice structures show advantages in mechanical properties and energy absorption efficiency owing to their lightweight, high strength and adjustable geometry. This article reviews lattice structure classification, design and applications, especially those based on additive manufacturing (AM) technology. This article first introduces the basic concepts and classification of lattice structures, including the classification based on topological shapes, such as strut, surface, shell, hollow-strut, and so on, and the classification based on the deformation mechanism. Then, the design methods of lattice structure are analyzed in detail, including the design based on basic unit, mathematical algorithm and gradient structure. Next, the effects of …

Navigating Ethical Challenges In Online Wildlife Trade Research, Thais Q. Morcatty, Shan Su, Penthai Siriwat, Astrid Alex Andersson, Sadek Atoussi, Kim Feddema, Sergio Henriques, Jordi Janssen, Anushri Karve, Jennifer Pytka, Ruth M. Thompson, Vincent Nijman, Joss Wright, David L. Roberts

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The surge in internet accessibility has transformed wildlife trade by facilitating the acquisition of wildlife through online platforms. This scenario presents unique ethical challenges for researchers, as traditional ethical frameworks for in-person research cannot be readily applied to the online realm. Currently, there is a lack of clearly defined guidelines for appropriate ethical procedures when conducting online wildlife trade (OWT) research. In response to this, we consulted the scientific literature on ethical considerations in online research and examined existing guidelines established by professional societies and ethical boards. Based on these documents, we present a set of recommendations that can inform …

Spatial And Environmental Drivers Of Temperate Estuarine Archaeal Communities, Emily Cocksedge, Michael Stat, Alessandra L. Suzzi, Troy F. Gaston, Megan J. Huggett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Archaea play a crucial role in the global biogeochemical cycling of elements and nutrients, helping to maintain the functional stability of estuarine systems. This study characterised the abundance and diversity of archaeal communities and identified the environmental conditions shaping these microbial communities within six temperate estuaries along approximately 500 km of the New South Wales coastline, Australia. Estuarine sediments were found to exhibit significantly higher species richness than planktonic communities, with representative sequences from the Crenarchaeota phylum characterising each environment. Ordinate analyses revealed catchment characteristics as the strongest drivers of community variability. Our results also provide evidence supporting distance-decay patterns …

Conceptual Considerations For Understanding Resilience In Healthcare Students, Claire Donnellan, Deepthi Chakkittakandy, Christina Lydon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: Increasing attention has been given to the concept resilience in the context of healthcare especially during and post the COVID pandemic. Much of the inquiry and evidence reported has focused on promoting or enhancing resilience in healthcare for improving the quality of care and reducing medical negligence. This discursive paper aims to highlight how resilience is conceptualised and identify any potential limitations or gaps in the context of healthcare students, acknowledging considerations for further development and research into this topic. Design and Methods: This discursive discussion draws on relevant theoretical underpinnings from the fields of adjustment and coping psychology, …

Effects Of Perceived Environmental Quality And Psychological Status On Outdoor Thermal Comfort: A Panel Study In Southern China, Cho Kwong Charlie Lam, Haonan Pan, Weixiao Nie, Xiaohui Li, Jie Wu, Zhe Yin, Jiejie Han

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Urban residents are exposed to multiple environmental stimuli. Past studies have examined the influence of heat stress on outdoor thermal comfort, but the cross-modal effects of various sensory stimuli on outdoor thermal comfort remain unclear. This study used chi-square tests and logistic regression to examine the cross-modal effects of perceived environmental quality (acoustic, visual and air quality) and psychological status (irritability, perceived tiredness) on outdoor thermal comfort. We conducted thermal walk experiments in Guangzhou, China, in September and October 2022. This panel study consisted of mobile environmental sensors and thermal comfort surveys by fourteen university students on three walking routes, …

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor Promotes Scarless Tissue Regeneration, Jianhe Huang, Satish: Murphy Sati, Casey A. Spencer, Emmanuel Rapp, Stephen M. Prouty, Scott Korte, Olivia Ahart, Emily Sheng, Anna E. Kersh, Denis Leung, Thomas H. Leung, Leung, Denis H. Y.

Research Collection School Of Economics

Mammals typically heal with fibrotic scars, and treatments to regenerate human skin and hair without a scar remain elusive. We discovered that mice lacking C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2 knockout [KO]) displayed robust and complete tissue regeneration across three different injury models: skin, hair follicle, and cartilage. Remarkably, wild-type mice receiving plasma from CXCR2 KO mice through parabiosis or injections healed wounds scarlessly. A comparison of circulating proteins using multiplex ELISA revealed a 24-fold higher plasma level of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in CXCR2 KO blood. Local injections of G-CSF into wild-type (WT) mouse wound beds reduced scar …

Copley Connects | Fall/Winter 2024, University Of San Diego

Copley Connects Library Newsletter

Message From the Dean | 2

New Faces at Copley | 3

New Art by Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio | 4

Fireside Chat with California Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber | 6

Filipino American History Month | 7

Veterans for Peace | 8

Hispanic Heritage Month | 8

Faculty Spotlight: Diane Maher | 9

Copley Reads | 10

Copley Library Debuts Game Nights | 11

Administrators And Teachers' Experiences With Trauma Training And Trauma Informed Care, Pamala Patterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma problems have made an impression on school systems in the United States, and parents, students, administrators, and teachers pose concerns in the community and schools. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of administrators and teachers on trauma training and the implementation of trauma-informed care. This qualitative method was hermeneutical-phenomenological and centered on the lived experiences of this population. The researcher analyzed individual interviews of 11 educators identified as administrators and teachers. The results indicated that this population was disadvantaged by the trauma training they received in their ability to provide trauma-informed care. Three themes …

Theistic Illiberal Constitutionalism: A Review Of Adrian Vermeule’S Common Good Constitutionalism, Kyron J. Huigens

Articles

Adrian Vermeule’s Common Good Constitutionalism drew a remarkable amount of attention from constitutional law scholars when it was published in 2020. About eighteen months later, Vermeule published a piece complaining that the critics had missed the point, that they had ignored the natural law jurisprudence that grounds the work. He was correct. This Review addresses Vermeule’s natural law jurisprudence, emphasizing the fact that it is a religious natural law jurisprudence. His arguments are in the tradition of ScholasticismAristotelian logic incorporated into Christian theology by St. Thomas Aquinas. Scholasticism is a remarkably weak foundation for constitutional jurisprudence. It is a vast …

The Five Homologous Ciar-Controlled Ccn Srnas Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Modulate Zn-Resistance, Nicholas R De Lay, Nidhi Verma, Dhriti Sinha, Abigail Garrett, Maximillian K Osterberg, Daisy Porter, Spencer Reiling, David P Giedroc, Malcolm E Winkler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Zinc is a vital transition metal for all bacteria; however, elevated intracellular free Zn levels can result in mis-metalation of Mn-dependent enzymes. For Mn-centric bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae that primarily use Mn instead of Fe as an enzyme cofactor, Zn is particularly toxic at high concentrations. Here, we report our identification and characterization of the function of the five homologous, CiaRH-regulated Ccn sRNAs in controlling S. pneumoniae virulence and metal homeostasis. We show that deletion of all five ccn genes (ccnA, ccnB, ccnC, ccnD, and ccnE) from S. pneumoniae strains D39 (serotype 2) and TIGR4 (serotype 4) causes Zn …