Digital Commons Network^™

Pak1 Inhibitor Nvs-Pak1-1 Preserves Dendritic Spines In Amyloid/Tau Exposed Neurons And 5xfad Mice., Tao Yang, Hasi Huhe, Sean-Paul Williams, Sukhneet Kaur, Yeonglong Albert Ay, Zachary W Davis-Gilbert, Gregory Cary, Carolyn Paisie, Robert R Butler, Jesse Wiley, Ranjita Betarbet, Haian Fu, Duc Duong, Nicholas T Seyfried, Karina Leal, Gregory W. Carter, Aled Edwards, Allan I Levey, Jacob L Capener, David H Drewry, Mohammad A Hossain, Hans J Oh, Alison D Axtman, Stacey J Sukoff Rizzo, Frank M Longo, The Emory-Sage-Sgc-Jax Treat-Ad Center

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Synaptic spine loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD) contributes to cognitive decline. p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), a regulator of spine integrity, is aberrantly activated in AD. We investigated whether PAK1 inhibition might preserve dendritic spines in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS: Oligomeric amyloid beta (oAβ) or tau (oTau) were applied to hippocampal neurons ± NVS-PAK1-1, a selective PAK1 inhibitor. NVS-PAK1-1 was orally administered to 5xFAD mice. The effects of NVS-PAK1-1 treatment on PAK1 activity, spine density, and the proteome were assessed using phospho-PAK1 (pPAK1) western blotting, Golgi staining, and mass spectrometry for proteomic analyses.

RESULTS: NVS-PAK1-1 prevented oAβ and oTau-induced …

Integrated Phenotypic And Proteomic Screening Identifies Top-Tier Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Targets., Gregory Cary, Qianjin Li, Jesse C Wiley, Carolyn Paisie, Yuhong Du, Elizabeth L Zoeller, Duc Duong, Haian Fu, Nicholas T Seyfried, Allan I Levey, Ranjita Betarbet, Gregory W. Carter, The Emory-Sage-Sgc-Jax Treat-Ad Center

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder. Hundreds of therapeutic targets have been nominated through genetic and multi-omic studies, but effective prioritization remains a major bottleneck.

METHODS: We applied an integrative screening framework to assess 29 candidate targets from risk-enriched biological domains. Using disease-relevant murine BV2 microglial cell lines with stable Psen2 knockdown, we performed small interfering RNA-mediated perturbations followed by cellular phenotypic assays and quantitative proteomics.

RESULTS: Twenty-five candidate targets significantly altered at least one phenotype, with stronger effects in Psen2 knockdown cells. Integrated proteomic analyses identified several perturbations that reversed AD-associated molecular patterns. Five targets-Ap2a2, Pdhb, …

Upcycling Commodity Polymers To Advanced Materials For Energy And Environmental Sustainability, Anthony Griffin-Espinoza

Dissertations

Synthetic polymers play an essential role in nearly every aspect of our lives. Extending beyond single-use packaging, polymeric material design has progressed to attain tailorable architectures granting exceptional performance across advanced applications, including carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composites for aerospace, conductive materials for soft electronics, and drug carriers for biomedicine. While highly promising, intricately designed polymers needed to achieve excellent performance often have limited processability, complex synthetic methods, and expensive precursors. Furthermore, due to a lack of recyclability, commodity polymer waste streams result in both environmental impacts and a substantial loss of economic value. This dissertation focuses on developing robust strategies …

Privacy Preserving-Based Artificial Intelligence For Precision Agriculture, Partha P. Sengupta

Dissertations

The research work finds a solution to precision agriculture of cotton cultivation using artificial intelligence (AI) models. Two sets of model performance based on the application are selected namely a low resource and a high resource setting. This is because using drone surveys to capture images identifying the classes of stressed and unstressed cotton plantation requires limited model architecture and CPU based computation. Thus, traditional AI models were selected for low resource settings. Again, for high computation intensive models like transfer learning-convolution neural network (CNN) based architectures were grouped into high resource settings. There was another issue of class imbalance …

The Malonate Template: The Key To Unlocking Novel Amino Acids, Thomas Owens

Dissertations

The “Malonate Template” provides access to various amino acids, all from a common intermediate. Herein, demonstrates the use of the malonate template to establish a synthetic route to both 2-thiohistidine and 2-thio-3-N-methyl-histidine from a benzyl methyl malonate derived intermediate. Furthermore, efforts exploiting the applicability of the malonate template for the of both 2-thiohistidine and 2-thio-3-N-methyl-histidine as a suitable alternative to methods previously described by Erdelmeier are described.

The method presented incorporates modifications to the biomimetic pathway described by Erdelmeier for the synthesis of 2-thiohisidine. By exploiting the biomimetic formation of 2-thiohisitidne’s mechanism via mass spectrometry, we …

Understanding Crystallization Behaviors Of Polyethylene-Derived Vitrimers, Sara Valdez

Dissertations

Polyolefins (POs), particularly polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), are among the most widely utilized polymers globally, valued for their low production costs and favorable mechanical properties stemming from their semicrystalline microstructure. However, their extensive use and improper disposal have raised serious environmental and human health concerns. In response, PO-derived covalent adaptable networks (CANs) have emerged, integrating dynamic chemistries to enable recyclability and sustainable end-of-life strategies. While existing literature has largely focused on novel CAN systems, structure–property relationships, and network rearrangement in relation to thermal transitions (e.g., topological freezing temperature), the influence of network formation on crystallinity and crystallization kinetics remains …

An Exploration Of Enablers, Barriers, And Strategies Influencing Black College Alumni's Sense Of Belonging Through The Lens Of Cultural Competence, Marc' C. Bady

Dissertations

According to Pew research, 53% of Black students in the United States are enrolled in predominantly White institutions, or PWIs (Hatfield & Anderson, 2024). Black alumni who attend PWIs are one among many marginalized and underrepresented vulnerable populations (Tucker, 2021). The purpose of this study was to engage with Black alumni who attended and graduated from PWIs to learn about their experiences with academic enablers, barriers, and strategies for success as a PWI student. The researcher interviewed six alumni who graduated from a Southeastern research one institution to explore their lived experiences at a PWI. The researcher chose to use …

Motivators And Work Role Satisfaction Among A Post-Pandemic Multi-Generational Sports And Entertainment Industry Workforce, Christopher J. Kinnan

Dissertations

This quantitative causal-comparative study explored intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and work-role satisfaction among a post-pandemic, multigenerational workforce in the North American sports and entertainment industry. Using an adapted version of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s (SGSA, 2022) Evaluation of Systematic Stewarding Challenges instrument, the study analyzed data from 560 participants representing safety, security, and service roles across sports and entertainment venues. The research examined generational differences in motivation, satisfaction, and barriers to retention within the framework of Human Capital Theory, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and Self-Determination Theory.

Principal component and confirmatory factor analyses verified the reliability and validity of the adapted …

Impact Of Community College Size And Meeting Types On Leader-Member Conversation Quality In Career And Technical Education (Cte) Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study, Kenneth Wayne Kirkland Jr.

Dissertations

Community colleges are complex institutions with the primary mission of workforce preparation and academic transfer. In many cases, community colleges produce the majority of their local workforces. Political influences upon workforce priorities, increased national calls for transparency in higher education training, complicated infrastructure, and technical expertise requirements for faculty have created substantial challenges for career and technical education (CTE) leaders. These complexities require the 21st-century CTE leader to be as externally focused as their presidents, highlighting the importance of communication effectiveness in both leaders.

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the influence of community college enrollment levels …

An Examination Of African American Male College Students’ Perceptions Of Academic Engagement, Social Capital, And Success As Members Of Black Greek Letter Organizations On Predominantly White Campuses, Jerid P. Woods

Dissertations

This exploratory qualitative study examines the experiences of Black male students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) through the lens of Yosso's Cultural Capital framework. It explores how membership in Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations (HBGLOs) shapes academic engagement, development of cultural and social capital, and academic success by leveraging cultural wealth.

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from various HBGLOs, and thematic analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns. Findings highlight that HBGLOs act as vital sources of social, cultural, and academic support, fostering a sense of belonging, promoting academic achievement, and creating leadership opportunities. …

Across The Pond, Across The Waistline: A Comparative Look At The Childhood Obesity Crisis In The United States And United Kingdom, Samantha N. Eales

Honors College Theses

Childhood obesity is no longer just a local concern; it’s a global epidemic shaping the health of future generations. This paper compares how two similar nations with drastically different healthcare systems, the United States and the United Kingdom, tackle this growing crisis. Although both countries struggle with fast food culture, sedentary lifestyles, and targeted marketing, their health policy strategies differ dramatically. The U.S. leans on community programs and education, while the U.K. enforces stronger national regulations and advertising restrictions. By examining nutrition, physical activity, and policy, this thesis explores what each country does well and where they fall short. It …

Metabolically Guided Walking And Plant-Based Nutrition Enhance Body Composition And Weight Loss Dataset, Harold Mayer, Gregory Heath, Chris S. Hansen, Lucas G. Valenca, Kristina Nelson Hall, Cassie J. White

Datasets

Dataset for research published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Nymc Synapse Issue 56, School Of Medicine Student Senate, New York Medical College

The Synapse

No abstract provided.

Exploring Faculty Perspectives Of Roadblocks To Accommodating Students With Disabilities In Community Colleges, Shalither S. Cushenberry

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores faculty perspectives on student accommodation in the community college setting. The one-on-one, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with faculty and perspectives of accommodation experts will result in outcomes that better prepare faculty, as a workforce, to support students with accommodations. The study utilized the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to understand how increasing faculty awareness and engagement through professional development can enhance their ability to provide services to students with accommodation requests. The study underscores the critical importance of understanding the rationale for students with granted accommodations and faculty members supporting their academic success. The findings revealed gaps …

Optimizing Indigenous Timber Short-Gap Crossing Designs By Minimizing Wood Moisture Content, Robert Greenwood

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reducing moisture content increases wood strength and reduces the weight of timber members. An accurate and efficient method for measuring moisture content is important for the design and construction of indigenous timber short-gap crossings. This study evaluates different methods for measuring moisture content in timber, describes a methodology for developing a representative moisture content value for a timber log, and approaches for quickly drying large timber logs. The results of this thesis will support activities in developing a representative moisture content of a log for structural design purposes and reducing weight for constructability purposes. The approaches discussed were developed considering …

A Novel Maturation Equation For Hepatic Clearance Across Preterm, Term Neonates, Children, And Adults: Application To Paracetamol And Its Metabolite, Yunjiao Wu, Swantje Völler, Sebastiaan C. Goulooze, Karel Allegaert, Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Anne Van Rongen, Daniëlla W. E. Roofthooft, Sinno H.P. Simons, Dick Tibboel, Robert B. Flint, John N. Van Den Anker, Catherijne A.J. Knibbe

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

A preterm and term neonate to adult (PTNA) maturation equation was introduced recently to describe the glomerular filtration rate maturation from birth to adulthood for neonates of varying gestational age. This study aims to evaluate the newly developed PTNA equation against common maturation approaches like allometric scaling (AS0.75), the AS0.75 plus postmenstrual age (PMA)-based Emax (AS0.75 + PMA) equation, and the bodyweight dependent exponent equation (BDE) for the maturation of three hepatic pathways of paracetamol (PCM) from preterm and term neonates up to adults. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted with pooled plasma and urine data of PCM, PCM-glucuronide (PCM-GLU), …

Teaching Note - Embedding The Human Library Experience Within Social Work Curriculum, Emily M. Paine

Social Work Faculty Works

The Human Library is a global initiative designed to challenge stereotypes and foster dialogue through storytelling and presents a unique opportunity for experiential learning within social work education. This teaching note explores how the Human Library framework can be integrated into social work curriculum in alignment with the 2022 Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, with particular emphasis on Competency 3: Engaging in Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practice. When embedded in coursework, the Human Library enables students to engage in brave and authentic conversations with storytellers who share aspects of their lived experiences, promoting mutuality, …

A Roadmap For Equipping Saints For The Work Of Ministry At Sugar Land Church Of Christ, Lewis Anthony Parker Iv

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to create a roadmap for a process that invites and equips saints at Sugar Land Church of Christ to work in ministry. As part of the research process, a design team was empaneled and met for eight sessions, during which participants offered valuable insight into Sugar Land’s ministry context. This data informed the final roadmap. Ephesians 4, which discusses the importance of every member getting involved in ministry, serves as the foundation of this project. The work of every member is for the edification of the entire group, and the calling and gift of …

Issue 16: Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth Mls

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 16

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider newsletter was created by Dr. Bharat Bajantri, MD and Sarah Ellsworth, MLS in 2023 as a form of current awareness for current practice at our hospital, Parkview Health.

Topics:

EVERDAC Trial: Do All Shock Patients Need Arterial Lines?

Beyond MAP: Redefining Perfusion Pressure in Septic Shock

ECG Findings You Cannot Miss in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Food for Thought: When Private Equity Buys Hospitals, Who Pays …

Assessing Neurocognitive Functioning Among Adults Ageing With And Without Hiv At The Kenyan Coast: Measurement Issues And Correlates, Patrick Nzivo Mwangala, Carophine Nasambu, Ryan Wagner, Mihaela Duta, Gaia Scerif, Charles Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the most prevalent complications of HIV infection, with significant medical and functional impacts. However, valid, and reliable assessment tools are lacking for the newly emergent ageing population of people living with HIV (PLWH) in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Kenya. Without these tools, critical intervention opportunities, e.g., psychoeducation, treatment and additional support, are missed. To bridge this gap in Kenya, we adapted the Oxford Cognitive Screen Plus (OCSPlus), a tablet-based cognitive assessment tool designed for low-literacy settings, with adults ageing with HIV ≥ 50 years and their uninfected peers. This study examines …

Well-Being And Quality Of Life Of Kenyan Nurses, Midwives And Community Health Volunteers: Measurement Properties And Correlates Of The Bbq And Who-5, Paul Mwangi, Sabina Odero, Rachel Odhiambo, Brenda Nzioka, Constance Shumba, Eunice Ndirangu, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Healthcare workers’ quality of life (QoL) and well-being is directly linked to the quality of services they deliver. However, there is a shortage of validated measures to assess QoL, well-being and their predictors among healthcare workers in Kenya, as in other LMICs. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ) and WHO-5 well-being index (WHO-5) among nurses, midwives and community health volunteers (CHVs) in Kenya. The BBQ and WHO-5 were selected due to their established psychometric strengths, brevity, and prior use in healthcare settings. Additionally, the sociodemographic, psychological, and health …

Icipe Monthly Digest – Volume 1, Issue 12, December 2025, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Mass Higher Education And Voter Turnout In The U.S, Eric R. Hansen

Political Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Have turnout rates in the U.S. risen as more Americans have attained college degrees? Educational attainment is associated with a higher likelihood of voting among individuals, but scholars remain skeptical that increases in mass education levels are associated with higher turnout in populations. I argue that higher rates of college degree attainment not only raise turnout rates among graduates themselves but have positive externalities for turnout in graduates’ communities. To test the relationship at the aggregate level in the U.S., I turn to data from the 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1980 to 2020, when college education …

Evaluating The Impact Of Evidence-Based Guidelines On Corticosteroid Prescribing For Acute Upper Respiratory Infections In Outpatient Primary Care, Cody Allen Boyd Hyatt

Doctoral Projects

Inappropriate corticosteroid prescribing for acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURTIs) remains a prevalent issue in outpatient primary care despite limited evidence supporting their use in otherwise healthy adults. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to reduce inappropriate corticosteroid prescribing for AURTIs by implementing an evidence-based clinical practice guideline over an eight-week period in a rural primary care setting.

The doctoral project employed pre- and post-intervention design. Providers were introduced to the corticosteroid guideline derived from the 5-Minute Clinical Consult, emphasizing appropriate use criteria for corticosteroids in AURTI cases (Unbound Medicine Inc., 2025). Educational outreach and clinical reminders …

Teaching Methods That Promote Medical Student Attendance: A Scoping Review, Jenny Mills, Sarah Keil, Pat W. Whitworth, Jamie Wiesmueller, Jeff L. Jackson

Library Faculty Scholarship

Background 

Medical student class attendance, especially traditional lectures, is on the decline. As faculty explore a variety of pedagogical approaches, understanding how to encourage attendance and engagement is critical. The purpose of this scoping review is to explore the literature to better understand the teaching methods that promote attendance.

Methods 

This scoping review was conducted as advised in the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Five databases were systematically searched for primary studies on teaching methods that motivated undergraduate medical students to attend or not attend in-person or online synchronous class sessions. A total of 1,313 articles were …

Sustaining Community Health Through Impactful Snap-Ed Initiatives In Utah, Lacee Jimenez, Kristi Strongo, Lea Palmer, Lendel K. Narine, Heidi Leblanc

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Create Better Health (CBH), Utah’s SNAP-Ed program, addresses food insecurity and chronic disease prevention through nutrition education, policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) initiatives, and social media marketing. From 2024 to 2025, CBH reached over 13,500 Utahns through direct education and 81,000 through community interventions. Evaluation results showed significant improvements in nutrition behaviors, including increased fruit and vegetable intake, food resource management, and label use. Follow-up surveys showed sustained behavior change. CBH’s comprehensive approach demonstrates measurable public health impact and points to the importance of continued investment in nutrition education and food access programs to build healthier, food-secure communities.

Empower Yourself Through Self-Defense: Enhancing Personal Safety Through Self-Defense Education, Stephanie Carlson, Naomi Brower, Aaron Hunt

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Empower Yourself Through Self-Defense program, developed by Utah State University faculty in 2024, builds participants’ confidence by equipping them with self-defense knowledge and skills. Participants reported reduced fear, increased preparedness, and strong interest in continued training. The program enhances personal safety by empowering individuals with practical skills for self-protection.

Covering The Care: Impacts Of Labor And Delivery Unit Closures On Maternal Health Outcomes, Bridget Green, Deborah Fournier, Susy Hawes

All Materials

In 2022, more than half of rural hospitals and one-third of urban hospitals in the United States lacked obstetric services, reflecting an escalating trend of hospital labor and delivery (L&D) unit closures across the US. Despite some large-scale studies reporting negligible impacts of L&D closures on maternal health, an analysis of the literature presents a clear net negative impact for vulnerable women, including those who identify as members of a racial or ethnic minority, those who have low-income, and those who are Medicaid members. For many families, the disappearance of local obstetric care is not merely an inconvenience but instead …

Covering The Care: Utilization Rate Trends Among Children Ages 0-18, Erica Plante, Deborah Fournier

All Materials

This data brief provides a retrospective analysis of medical claims from NH Medicaid and commercial insurers, examining trends in utilization rates for selected medical services among children ages 0–18 over a six-year period (2018–2023).1 It is the second of a three-part series of Covering the Care analytic reports exploring healthcare utilization trends in New Hampshire.

From Winans To Wallahee: Treaties, The Washington State Supreme Court, And The Pursuit Of A More Just Rule Of Law, Monte Mills

Washington Law Review

The relationship between the United States federal government, the states, and Native Nations has long been at the core of federal Indian law. From the earliest decades of its jurisprudence, for example, the United States Supreme Court struggled in its efforts to analyze and define the rights, authorities, and interactions of Native Nations within and in relation to the evolving structure of constitutional federalism. Treaties between the United States and Native Nations were central to those decisions and provided a necessary, constitutional check against state interests intent on eliminating sovereign Native Nations. Those constitutional and structural implications thus go well …