Digital Commons Network^™

Computational Methods For Single-Cell And Multi-Omic Data Integration And Regulatory Network Inference, Jianlan Ren

Dissertations

Single-cell and multi-omic technologies have transformed the dissection of cellular heterogeneity and regulatory dynamics in health and disease. However, the high dimensionality, technical variability, and biological complexity of these datasets present significant challenges for integration, annotation, and interpretation. In this dissertation, a suite of computational approaches is introduced to address key problems in single-cell and multi-omic data analysis through model-based innovations and applied statistical frameworks.

First, a constrained deep learning framework for single-cell data integration, label transfer, and clustering is proposed. By incorporating biologically motivated constraints into the training process, robust performance is achieved across simulated and benchmark datasets spanning …

Gut Microbiome Metagenomics In Clinical Practice: Bridging The Gap Between Research And Precision Medicine, Henok Ayalew Tegegne, Tor C Savidge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Gut microbiome metagenomics is emerging as a cornerstone of precision medicine, offering exceptional opportunities for improved diagnostics, risk stratification, and therapeutic development. Advances in high-throughput sequencing have uncovered robust microbial signatures linked to infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and neoplastic diseases. Clinical applications now include pathogen detection, antimicrobial resistance profiling, microbiota-based therapies, and enterotype-guided patient stratification. However, translation into routine care is hindered by significant barriers including methodological variability, limited functional annotation, lack of bioinformatics standardization, and underrepresentation of global populations. This review synthesizes current translational strategies, emphasizing the need for hypothesis-driven designs, multi-omic integration, longitudinal and multi-center cohorts, and mechanistic validation. …

Toward A Conceptual Framework For Iot-Driven Adaptive Spatial Design In Open-Plan Office, Sarah Mohammed El Hawary, Ola Ali Hashem, Farzad Pour Rahimian

Journal of Art, Design and Music

The evolution of workplace environments has intensified the scrutiny of open-plan offices. The design paradigm of emphasising collaboration and sense of community within workplace has celebrated its facilitation of collaboration, providing open-plan office layout as example of collaborative space. Yet it has diminished individual comfort and privacy that are strengthened in enclosed-plan office layout. Studies revealed the demand of understanding occupant’s satisfaction. Since 85%-90% of one’s time is spent in indoor environment mostly at work, occupant’s satisfaction of physical environment or surroundings should be taken into count. This article proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework that leverages Internet of Things (IoT) …

It's All In The 1929 Preface, Raymond Boisvert

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

2021u_Ebs20_Approved_Cm_Es-3623-Techniques-Of-Physiological-Fitness-Assessment-Rev1, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

Neutrosophic Assessment Of Ventilatory Dynamics: A Model For Performance Optimization, Darvin Manuel Ramírez Guerra, Yusleidy Marlie Gordo Gómez, Noel Batista-Hernández

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study expands upon neutrosophics by establishing a novel neutrosophic model for the evaluation of ventilatory capabilities of Peruvian league 1 soccer professionals in response to an urgent need for such scientific studies to accommodate uncertainty associated with generally physiological measurements. The union of neutrosophic statistics principles with spirometric results and cardiopulmonary exercise testing produces a neuto model that effectively operates at 93.2% accuracy measured by 3 factors—(1) identification of asymptomatic ventilatory deficiencies, (2) assessment of respiratory compensatory thresholds reached during play, (3) participant identification for ranking by neutrosophic determination of results and application of aggregation operators. Application of this …

Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Regulates Itam-Dependent Platelet Activation, Jehiel Abigail Ajanel Gomez

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Thromboembolic conditions are the leading cause of disability and death in the United States. Platelets play an important role in the pathophysiology of thrombus formation by aiding in the formation and stabilization of the clot. Central to platelet activation is cytoplasmic calcium, which increases after platelet activation through ITAM (Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif) or GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) receptors. Platelet mitochondria rely on cytoplasmic calcium for mitochondrial calcium influx, which is critical for ATP formation and regulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. In other cells, mitochondrial calcium entry is regulated by the multimeric protein complex, mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). Deletion of …

In The Mouth Or In The Gut? Innovation Through Implementing Oral And Gastrointestinal Health Science In Chronic Pain Management, Jo Nijs, Burel R Goodin, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Recent scientific advances point towards an important role for oral and gastrointestinal health in people with chronic pain. Poor oral health (e.g., periodontitis, tooth loss) is observed in subgroups of the chronic pain population, including abdominal pain, low back pain, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to poor oral health, studies have also revealed altered intestinal microbiota compositions in various types of chronic pain, including people with chronic low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, visceral pain, fibromyalgia, tinnitus, and migraine. While overweight/obesity contributes to the likelihood of gut dysbiosis, normal-weight individuals with chronic pain also more often present with poor gut …

The Impact Of Social Factors On Vagally Mediated Parasympathetic Activity, Andrew Scot Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness and social disconnection are recognized risk factors for morbidity and mortality, yet the psychophysiological pathways remain contested. This dissertation examines how social factors relate to vagally mediated parasympathetic activity indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) and tests whether conversational interventions with a human or a large-language-model (LLM)-based companion can acutely reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Across two university sites (BYU, UCSD), N=297 participants (18-27 years) were randomized to (a) a reciprocal self-disclosure conversation with a trained human confederate, (b) a parallel, vocalized LLM chatbot conversation, or (c) a non-social, vocal reading control. Resting HRV (RMSSD, SDNN, HF-HRV) was recorded …

In Silico Approach Of Flavonol In Hibiscus Sabdariffa As Proteasome Inhibitors Targeting The Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway, Nur Amalia Choironi, Syakhsiyatunnisa Galuh Prameswari, Hanif Nasiatul Baroroh

Chimica et Natura Acta

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer characterized by the abnormal proliferation of B cells that accumulate in the bone marrow. The proliferation of these cells depends on the role of the proteasome through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to degrade proteins that regulate the cell cycle, apoptosis, and stress response. The proteasome is the main target of proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Flavonoid compounds in Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers, such as isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetagetin, isorhamnetin, and astragalin, have the potential to act as proteasome inhibitors. The insilico study aims to determine the potential of these compounds as proteasome inhibitors based …

A Review Of Bioactive Compounds Of Caesalpinia Sappan: Pre- And Post-Harvest Effect, Annisa Lugina Rachman, Santi Rosniawaty, Syariful Mubarok, Cucu Suherman, Yudithia Maxiselly

Jurnal Kultivasi

Sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) is a shrub or small tree that thrives in tropical regions and has been widely distributed across various areas. It has long been used as a natural dye in textiles, cosmetics, and herbal beverages due to its content of various bioactive compounds. This literature review discusses the secondary metabolites in sappanwood, their health benefits, and strategies to enhance product quality through pre-harvest and post-harvest treatments. This literature review was conducted by searching for relevant journals on Google Scholar using relevant keywords. Sappanwood contains diverse secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolics, anthraquinones, triterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, and tannins, with …

Effects Of An Acute Dietary Capsaicin Intervention On Ambulatory Blood Pressure With Sex And Condition Differences: Preliminary Findings, Hashim B. Ghias, Kyle Heise, Valerie Chervinskaya, Melissa Severino, Isabella Harelick S. Harelick, Meredith Georger, Zoe Fallon, Ben Melnick, Kira Pegues, Elisa Fioraso, Erin Davis, Siena Goebel, Will Quin, Jillian Lang, Elena Shostak, Justin Deblauw, Stephen Ives

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the foremost cause of death in the United States and worldwide; thus, understanding novel interventions (e.g., diet) to reduce CVD risk is of critical importance. Ambulatory BP monitoring allows assessment of cardiovascular responses under real-world conditions and may be superior to in-office BP in terms of CVD risk prediction. PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an acute dietary capsaicin intervention on 24-hour peripheral BP and pulse pressure (PP), with attention to sex-specific responses, given prior evidence of sex differences in vascular function. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design, 70 healthy adults (36 females, 34 …

The Effects Of Dietary Capsaicin On Movement-Induced Hyperemia, Isabella S. Harelick, Valerie Chervinskaya, Kyle Heise, Melissa Severino, Meredith Georger, Zoe Fallon, Elisa Fioraso, Ben Melnick, Kira Pegues, Hashim Ghias, Justin Deblauw, Erin Davis, Siena Goebel, Will Quinn, Jillian Lang, Elena Shostak, Stephen Ives Facsm

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and affects men and women differently, highlighting the importance of understanding vascular regulation across both sexes. Regular consumption of dietary capsaicin (found in spicy peppers) has been associated with reduced CVD risk, potentially through improvements in vascular function. However, the mechanisms by which dietary capsaicin influences vascular health are not well understood. Passive limb movement-induced hyperemia (PLM) is a non-invasive technique used to assess vascular health. During PLM, a limb (typically the leg) is moved passively—without muscle contraction—by an external force, such as a researcher or mechanical …

Anti-Inflammatory Actions Of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L. In Acute And Chronic Inflammation: Insights From Preclinical Studies, Angel Christella, Dzava P. F. Ismail, Eli Halimah

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Chronic inflammation is a major factor in various degenerative diseases. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is often the main choice, but long-term side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation and nephrotoxicity limit their use. Therefore, natural alternatives such as Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) have attracted attention due to their bioactive compound contents with anti-inflammatory properties. This narrative review was conducted through a systematic search of articles from the last 10 years in PubMed and Scopus. Keywords used a combination of MeSH and free terms related to fenugreek and anti-inflammatory agents. In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the anti-inflammatory effects …

Importance Of Nature In A Technological World, Cameron Cooley

Philomathean

No abstract provided.

December 2025 General Education Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney General Education Council

General Education Council

No abstract provided.

Facility Usage On The International Space Station, Justin St. P. Walsh, Rao Hamza Ali, Ryan Shihabi, Erik Linstead

Art Faculty Articles and Research

Science experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) and in future space habitats require “facilities,” as they are known to space agencies, as the core building blocks of the research capabilities they provide. Facilities are experimental apparatus that enable research, often (but not always) used for more than one experiment, such as centrifuges, furnaces, gloveboxes, freezers, and more. The US Orbital Segment of the ISS has been home to 191 such facilities, belonging to four of the five ISS international partner agencies as well as private companies, in its 25 years of continuous operation. Until now, there has been no …

Toward A Roadmap For Addressing Today's Health Dilemma-The 101-Statement Consensus Report, Katharina C. Wirnitzer, Mohamad Motevalli, Derrick R. Tanous, Clemens Drenowatz, Maximilian Moser, Holger Cramer, Thomas Rosemann, Karl-Heinz Wagner, Andreas Michalsen, Beat Knechtle, Zlatko Fras, Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, Adilson Marques, Natasa Fidler Mis, Fatima C. Stanford, Christian Schubert, Nandu Goswami, Claus Leitzmann, Per Morten Fredriksen, Gerhard Ruedl, Doris Wilflingseder, Rodrigo A. Lima, Christian Kessler, Michael Jeitler, Naim A. Khan, Hassan Joulaei, Maryam Fatemi, Andrew Knight, Karl W. Kratky, Kara K. Palmer

School of Health Professions

Importance: In recent decades there has been an expansion in the quantity and quality of scientific findings and guidelines on different health topics to promote individual and public health status. Reports also indicate that there has been a simultaneous increase in the financial burden of disease, including trillions spent on healthcare resources by governments worldwide (predominantly in developing countries) to address health concerns. At the same time, personal health behavior is well-known as efficient and cost-free, holding four times the potential to prevent early death compared to health care. Despite this knowledge, data show that the increasing prevalence of unhealthy …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: A Study Of The Impact Of Creative Mindsets On Design Students' Ai Self-Efficacy, Qian Hui Shen, Chi Fai Ma

IASDR Conference Series

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology into design education presents both opportunities and challenges. While AI tools can improve learning efficiency, research remains limited in understanding the impact on students’ creative thinking—particularly in relation to the interplay between creative mindset (i.e., growth vs. fixed) and AI self-efficacy. This study adopted a cross- sectional survey design, administering the Creative Mindset Scale and the AISelf-Efficacy Scaleto243 design students. Data were analyzed by using structural equation modeling (SEM) with IBM SPSS 23 and AMOS 24. Results indicated that growth mindset served as a significant positive predictor of AI self-efficacy (β = 0.565, …

Breathing Beside The Leaf That Guides Us: An Experimental Study On A Plant-Human Symbiotic Meditation System Design, Yule Chen, Shengbo Sun, Yiwen Wang, Ying Hu, Wenyu Xu, Yuexin Zhu, Yiming Bai

IASDR Conference Series

Unlike interactions with electronic devices—which demandthe full focus ofhuman cognition through screen-based interfaces—our engagement with nature is subtle, embodied, and continuously perceived, even without conscious attention. In the context of a decent connection between human and nature life rhythms, this study introduces a novel plant- human symbiotic meditation system that transforms real-time photosynthetic signals into generative soundscapes, enablingaform ofcross-species interaction in which plant rhythms serve as perceptual cues in human meditative regulation. Distinct from prior human-plant interaction work that treats plants as passive background elements or aesthetic artifacts, this research emphasizes the expressive role of living plants in shaping human …

Healthclockface: Design Of Glanceable Health Data Visualization For Smartwatches, Tianqin Lu, Bin Yu, Jun Hu

IASDR Conference Series

Remote measurement technologies (RMTs) hold promises for health tracking, yet current health data visualizations in RMTs primarily target data-savvy experts, posing challenges for those with limited expertise. Although researchers have explored creative visualization methods, they often fall short in aiding data comprehension and neglect the needs of individuals and informal caregivers. This paper introduces Health Clockface, a smartwatch clockface that offers a glanceable visualization of health data using abstract and dynamic visuals generated by chaotic attractors. Designed for non-expert users, the system translates real-time inputs into ambient, glanceable feedback that supports awareness of one’s health. The system was developed through …

Detection Of Breath, Phonation And Cough Sounds Using Sound Feature Vectors And Artificial Neural Networks By Calculating Lung Forced Vital Capacity With Mobile Infrastructures, Edmond Hajrizi

International Journal of Business and Technology

Objective: In this study, it is aimed to calculate the tidal volume capacity with mobile infrastructures and to determine the O2 and CO2 values from breath, phonation and cough sounds with the help of artificial neural networks using voice feature vectors. In addition, it is aimed to develop a method that will enable computation of forced expiratory volume via mobile devices.

Materials and Methods: Since sound disease diagnosis is basically a classification problem, tidal volume classification is considered as a pattern recognition problem. Our automatic O2 and CO2 classification study as a pattern recognition function includes three subcomponents; Identifying and …

Characterization Of Free Oxylipins In Extracellular Vesicles From Bovine Milk, Kai Filio

Food Science (MS) Theses

Background. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound nanostructures released by human and bovine mammary epithelial cells that carry bioactive lipids and oxidized lipid metabolites. Found in bovine milk, EVs contribute to immune modulation, gut health, and cellular signaling. However, gaps remain in understanding the full composition of milk-derived EVs and how processing alters EV content. This research aimed to characterize the free oxylipin content of EVs from bovine milk treated by pasteurization and homogenization. The hypothesis was that EVs from raw bovine milk would retain higher oxylipin levels than processed milk. Methods. Raw milk was treated by high-temperature short time (HTST), …

Child Development: A Developmentally Appropriate Practices Approach, Second Edition, D.R. Meece

Open Textbooks

The book follows a topical approach and covers children from prenatal to late childhood/early adolescence. The book follows a Developmentally Appropriate Practices approach, emphasizing that development results from the interaction of age-related expectations, culture and context, and individual child characteristics. The text is written for education majors, as well as others who will work with children and families in a variety of fields, including psychology, social work, nursing, and others.

Changing Perceptions: A Philosophical Exploration Of The Phenomenon Of Light In The Urban Environment, Robin S. Miller

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Phenomena are extraordinary (beyond ordinary), exceptional, remarkable, or unexplainable people, events, or things which elicit words such as “wow,” “that’s incredible,” and “oh my goodness.” Within the experience of everyday life, phenomena can produce joy or despair. In the field of philosophy, phenomenon (the singular form of phenomena) is identified as an immediate object of sensation or perception and something which appears, is perceived, or observed through the senses or known cognitively. Light is often the catalyst for phenomenal moments: a flash, a rainbow, the manner with which sun strikes an object at the perfect moment to catch the viewer’s …

A Randomized Study To Examine The Ability Of A Caffeine-Based Energy Drink To Impact Energy Expenditure, Fat Oxidation, And Cognitive Performance, Joesi Krieger, Alex Schrautemeier, Anthony M. Hagele, Connor Gaige, Olivia Mennemeyer, Sydney Tolbert, Joshua Iannotti, Chad Kerksick, Chris Noonan, Petey Mumford

Faculty Scholarship

Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of acute and 28-day supplementation with a caffeine-based energy drink on energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and cognitive performance.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 33 males and 27 females (27 ± 8 years, 26.7 ± 2.2 m/kg2) consumed a caffeinated energy drink (200 mg; CAF) or placebo (PLA) for 28 days. Indirect calorimetry assessed energy expenditure and fat oxidation at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after ingestion on day 1 and 28. Cognition assessments (Dynavision reaction, Serial Sevens, Trail Making Test A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B)) were performed at 0, …

Visualizing The Fretboard: Arpeggiated Patterns, Muscle Memory, And Neurocognitive Strategies For The 5-String Electric Bass, Matthew Alexander Woisin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Proficient navigation of the 5-string electric bass requires a comprehensive mastery of various techniques and a solid understanding of music theory. This includes a detailed grasp of arpeggios, chord extensions, and the development of deeply ingrained muscle memory for precise execution. This thesis introduces a structured methodology that refines existing fretboard visualization techniques and applies a unique manner of fretboard mapping, offering a more precise framework for comprehending and unlocking the full range of the instrument. By drawing insights from music theory, music education, cognitive science, neuroscience, and technology this approach is achieved by synthesizing research on visual pattern recognition, …

Culture-Dependent Characterization Of Microbial Succession And Persistence In The Integrated Lunar/Martian Analog Habitat (Ilmah), Haley Olivia Boles

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines culture-dependent microbial monitoring in a closed lunar/Martian analog habitat, focusing on viable community dynamics relevant to long-duration missions. A standardized sampling and cultivation pipeline was implemented in ILMAH to track microbial succession and persistence under realistic operational conditions. Surface samples were collected across eight habitat zones at five mission timepoints (Days 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) during a 21-day crewed mission. Samples were concentrated post-collection and plated on chromogenic film media to quantify total aerobic bacteria (AC-R), fungi (YM-R), E. coli (EC), and S. aureus (SA). Plates were imaged and enumerated digitally; representative colonies were isolated and …

(R2135) System Dynamical Analysis For Ann-Based Numerical Solutions Of A Compartmental Model: A Bio-Mathematical Model Of Drug Diffusion Through The Compartments Of Blood And Tissue, Rakesh Kumar, Sudarshan Dhua

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper provides a considerably efficient numerical approach to acquire the solutions of a biomathematical model administrating oral and intravenous distribution of pharmaceuticals in the human body. The proposed numerical approach based on an artificial neural network is employed to extract numerical solutions for a detailed set of ordinary differential equations and analyze the change in concentration of drug diffusion via the compartments of blood and tissue medium. We primarily focus on analyzing three different models established on the diffusion process, exercising laws of mass action and Fick’s principle. In this work, the existing model is reformulated as an optimization …

Ode To The Infomercial, Edward Wade

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

'Ode to the Infomercial' is a poetry collection in five sections which explores themes of contemporary American life, parenthood, and the media landscape. While primarily written in a narrative voice, the poetic approach is as diverse as the content. Interwoven throughout the collection is religious imagery and political posturing accompanied by healthy doses of self-criticism and humor.