Digital Commons Network^™

Dual Action Dynamics: Assessing Hypopharyngeal Cancer Cell Survival Using Combination Chemotherapy, Luke Nieman

Biology Summer Fellows

Targeting glucose metabolism is an attractive strategy for cancer treatment, as cancer cells rely more heavily on glycolysis than oxidative phosphorylation, a phenomenon known as the Warburg Effect (Wang et al 2015). Reversing this metabolic reprogramming can impair cancer cell proliferation. NG52, a small-molecule inhibitor of PGK1, has been shown to effectively reverse the Warburg Effect and reduce cancer cell viability (Wycliffe et al. 2007). Paclitaxel, commonly Taxol, is a chemotherapeutic agent that disrupts mitotic spindle function, causing mitotic arrest and apoptosis (Markman et al 2005). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of NG52 …

Fabrication, Calibration, And Deployment Of A Home-Made Radiometer, Callum Flowerday, Ryan Thalman, Jaron Hansen

ScholarsArchive Data

Subfolders and Contents:

Chamber Characterization: Contains emission spectrum measured from inside the chamber with converted spectra to power and photon flux.

LED Calibration: (Each calibration file contains folders of data from each LED used in calibration)

• Cone
• Cone 2
• Dome 2
• Flat Top
• Quartz Rod
• Uniform Dome

Outside:

• Cone 2 front porch
• Cone 2 roof
• Flat top

Conflation Between Knowledge And Acceptance May Contribute To The Knowledge Gap Between Judeo-Christian And Non-Religious People, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

These data are from a nationwide study and a classroom intervention looking at participants' understanding of evolution (i.e., knowledge), and their acceptance of evolution.

(Arise) Achievements In Research, Inquiry And Scholarship Exhibition 2025, Office Of Undergraduate Research

(ARISE) Achievements in Research, Inquiry and Scholarship Exhibition

Conference held at John A. Delaney Student Union on July 25, 2025

Participant 014: Reiki Practitioner With Nine Months Of Experience (White; Female; California, Usa)

0885: Reiki and Well-Being Interviews

This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Practitioner holding nine months of experience (White; Female; California, USA). She was interviewed on July 25, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her use of Reiki and other healing modalities; Reiki's place in her life in the face of work stress in regulatory affairs; Reiki's ability to bring in new relationships and let outdated ones fall away; and early childhood experiences seeing Spirit and …

A Study On Machine Learning Based Parkinson Disease Prediction, Suparna Dasgupta, Soumyabrata Saha, Pronay Pal, Shilarchana Maiti, Sudarshan Nath

Baghdad Science Journal

Parkinson's Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, is one of the major chronic health issues in the world. It causes a severe disorder that affects majorly muscle control but it can also be the reason of affecting senses, cognitive ability and cognitive health. Approximately, 90% of the Parkinson affected people face speech difficulty. Conventional diagnosis methods may be biased which may result in wrong diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease because symptoms are usually elusive. This study aims to assess how well different machine learning algorithms can predict Parkinson's disease using vowel phonation data, with the goal of early detection and more accurate patient …

Enhancing Fetal Health Assessment Using Machine Learning And Xai Techniques, Niaz Ashraf Khan, A. M. Saadman Rafat

Baghdad Science Journal

Fetal health assessment is crucial for ensuring the well-being of both mother and fetus during pregnancy. Accurate monitoring can reduce child and maternal mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where these rates are higher. This research aims to enhance fetal health classification using advanced machine learning techniques and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to address the gaps in predictive accuracy and model transparency. A dataset of 2,126 records with 22 features from Cardiotocography (CTG) readings. The dataset was balanced using Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) to handle class imbalances. Various machine learning algorithms, including LightGBM, XGBoost, and Random Forest, …

Impact Of Prostate Volume On Dose Fall-Off And Organ-At-Risk Exposure In Vmat For Prostate Cancer, Zhikang Jiang

Masters Projects

Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies among men, with radiotherapy, particularly VMAT—playing a central role in its management. VMAT allows for highly conformal dose delivery, but treatment planning must strike a careful balance between achieving steep dose gradients around the prostate and minimizing radiation exposure to nearby organs at risk (OARs), such as the bladder and rectum. This study aimed to evaluate how prostate volume influences dose fall-off characteristics and OAR dose exposure in VMAT treatment plans, providing insights into optimizing radiotherapy for patients with varying prostate sizes. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 50 prostate cancer …

Summary Of Taxonomy Changes Ratified By The International Committee On Taxonomy Of Viruses (Ictv) From The Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee, 2025, Dann Turner, Evelien M. Adriaenssens, Rudolf I. Amann, Pavol Bardy, Nina Bartlau, Jakub Barylski, Stanislaw Błażejak, Majid Bouzari, Ariane Briegel, Yves Briers, Daniel Carrillo, Xia Chen, Dennis Classen, Ryan Cook, Marco A. Crisci, Arnaud Dechesne, Paulina Deptula, Bas E. Dutith, Bert Ely, Lars Fieseler, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

This article summarises the activities of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee, detailing developments in the classification of bacterial viruses. We provide here an overview of all new, abolished, moved and renamed taxa proposed in 2024, approved by the Executive Committee, and ratified by membership vote in 2025. Through the collective efforts of 74 international contributors of taxonomy proposals in this round, 43 ratified proposals have led to the creation of one new phylum, one class, four orders, 33 families, 14 subfamilies, 194 genera and 995 species. These proposals mark significant progress in refining the taxonomy …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Creativity In Education, Merve Topak-Jamsran

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between pre-service teachers’ self-reported creativity and their appreciation for students’ creative characteristics. The researcher replicated Kettler et al.'s (2018) "Teacher Perceptions of Creativity in the Classroom" study of in-service teachers. Specifically, the relationship among pre-service teachers’ creative self-efficacy, self-reported personal creativity, perceived importance of promoting creativity, and their preference for student characteristics in the classroom was investigated. Data were gathered using a web-based questionnaire e-mailed to pre-service teachers in educational preparation programs in a southern U.S. state. The study sample were 92 pre-service teachers who had completed at least one practicum or who were currently …

Perception Of Quality Of Life, Brain Regions, And Cognitive Performance In Hispanic Adults: A Canonical Correlation Approach, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Jesus D. Melgarejo, Jesus Rivera-Sanchez, Lorena Velazquez-Alvarez, Rosa V. Pirela, John Blangero, Jose E. Cavazos, Michael C. Mahaney, Joseph D. Terwilliger, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

The quality of life (QoL) perception has been studied in neurological diseases; however, there is limited information linking brain morphological characteristics, QoL, and cognition. Human behavior and perception are associated with specific brain areas that interact through diffuse electrochemical networking. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the brain region volume (BRV) correlation with the scores of Rand’s 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and cognitive domains (memory and dementia status). We analyzed data from 420 adult participants in the Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS). Principal component analysis with oblimin axis rotation was used to gather redundant information from brain parcels …

Inhibition Of The Caveolin-1 Pathway Promotes Apoptosis And Overcomes Pan-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Tasnuva D. Kabir, Samuel Beck, Lisa M. Stuart, Ji Li, Rui Hou, Peiwen Liu, Shelby Margolius, Claire Kim, Yu Suk Choi, Edward R. Bastow, Dianne J. Beveridge, Lisa Spalding, Ziyi Li, Florent Ginhoux, Pierce Chow, Michael Phillips, Andrew D. Redfern, George C. Yeoh, Alistair Forrest, Andrew J. Woo, Ankur Sharma, Jacob George, Geoffrey Mccaughan, Peter Leedman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Resistance to multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) is a major clinical concern in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we aimed to uncover the mechanisms underlying pan-TKI resistance and to identify potential therapeutic targets. We used multiple TKI-resistant HCC cell lines to identify caveolin-1 (CAV1) as a key driver of therapeutic resistance. CAV1 downregulation induced apoptosis, inhibited metastasis and restored TKI sensitivity in both inherent and acquired TKI-resistant HCC cells. Mechanistically, in acquired TKI-resistant cells aberrant CAV1/STAT3/P70S6K signalling is required for their survival, motility, and invasiveness. CAV1 inhibition reduced expression of dormancy regulators E-cadherin, RAC1 and p21, enhanced cancer stemness markers, and …

U-Rich Elements Drive Pervasive Cryptic Splicing In 3' Utr Massively Parallel Reporter Assays, Khoa Dao, Courtney F Jungers, Sergej Djuranovic, Anthony M Mustoe

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Untranslated RNA sequences play essential roles in orchestrating gene expression. However, the sequence codes and mechanisms underpinning post-transcriptional regulation remain incompletely understood. Here, we revisit the finding from a prior massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) that AU-rich elements in 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) can drive upregulation or downregulation of mRNA expression depending on 3' UTR context. We unexpectedly discover that this variable regulation arises from widespread cryptic splicing, predominately from an unannotated splice donor in the coding sequence of GFP to diverse acceptor sites in reporter 3' UTRs. Splicing is activated by U-rich sequences, which function as potent position-dependent …

Design And Efficiency Assessment Of A Passive Treatment System For Acid Mine Drainage, Yan Ruiwen, Zhu Jun, Zhu Junhao, Lin Gang, Zhang Wanqiu, Jia Zenghua, Wang Wenming, Xi Furui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Acid mine drainage (AMD) refers to highly acidic, heavy metal-rich effluent generated from mining activities, potentially causing severe environmental contamination. Methods Focusing on the Lujiang alum mine in Anhui Province, this study established a systematic framework for the design and assessment of an integrated passive AMD treatment system using the Phreeqc and AMDTreat software. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the on-site hydrogeochemical characteristics (pH: 2.93‒3.06, Fe: 5.98‒42.52 mg/L, and Al: 18.87‒32.14 mg/L) and physical conditions (flow rate: 50‒96 m³/h, available area: about 50 000 m²), this study proposed a hybrid passive treatment system comprising …

Advances In Key Technologies For The Management, Restoration, Development, And Utilization Of Coal Mining Subsidence Areas, Meng Zhuanghan, Wang Yutao, Tian Yanzhe

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Coal mining subsidence areas, formed by the exploitation of coal resources, have emerged as severe challenges to the construction of ecological civilization and the sustainable development of the social economy in China. Their management, restoration, development, and utilization play a significant role in ecological security, food security, and energy transformation. Methods This study aims to address the unresolved and emerging issues in the management of coal mining subsidence areas. Based on the core concepts of management, restoration, development, and utilization, this study developed a dual-level zoning basis system combining theories and reality. Accordingly, coal mining subsidence areas in China …

Long Term Outcomes Of Dermal Substrate Treated Burns And Wounds, Sarvesh Senguttunvan, Sigrid A. Blome-Eberwein Md

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Creation Of Bacteria In Tongue Diagnosis Based On Fractal Methods, S. Pavithra, G. Jayalalitha

Baghdad Science Journal

Bacteria play a vital role in helping with digestion and protecting against harmful infections. However, the Gram-negative bacteria in Tongue will have some disadvantages in the human body. These can be diagnosed by employing the fractal concept. Bacteria's irregular shape and Complex nature can be quantified using fractal dimensions that exhibit self-similarity at different scales. The fractal measurement procedure deliberates the dissimilarity and surface complexity of the tongue-inclusive spot on the tongue. An image of the tongue is analyzed by the HarFa Fractal Method. The Sobel improved Box counting Method is employed to enumerate the outgrowth of Bacteria in Tongue. …

Preparation And Characterization Of Electrospun Pvdf-Based Nanocomposite Fibers For Energy Harvesting And Storage Applications, Ahmed Ramzy, Electrochemistry And Corrosion Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt, Ahmed M. El-Mahalawy

Nanotechnology Research Centre

This study introduces the development of multifunctional electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite films doped with potassium octatitanate (KTO) for advanced energy applications. The research tackles key challenges in energy generation and storage through innovative material design and detailed characterization. Adding 0.2 wt% KTO to PVDF electrospun fibers resulted in a notable increase in crystallinity to 78.51 %, marking a significant enhancement in material properties. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed optimal phase composition, while morphological features were verified through field emission scanning electron microscopy. The composite films showed exceptional electrochemical performance, with bulk electrolyte resistance …

Assessment Of Dnase Activity By Ratiometric Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer, Candace L Minchew, Vladimir V Didenko

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The present protocol describes a simple and sensitive ratiometric Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay for the detection and quantitative assessment of DNase activity. Ratiometric FRET measurements make use of the ratio of donor and acceptor emission signals. The assay detects single-stranded DNA breaks using a staple-shaped, dual-tagged 38-mer FRET oligoprobe, employed as a real-time DNA cleavage sensor. The main application of the described approach is the quantitative assessment of the effects of reaction conditions, such as pH, temperature, and buffer composition, on DNase activity. Due to its ability to detect even minor and slow DNA cleavage, the assay is …

The Relationship Between Hand Grip Strength And Cognitive Function In Middle-Aged And Elderly People In China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Based On Charls Data, Haiwei Li, Jing Zhang, Peipei Cheng, Liwei Guo, Xuemei Sui M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study explores the relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and cognitive function in China’s middle-aged and elderly population. We employed a cross-sectional design using data from 4535 participants aged ≥ 45 years from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study national dataset. The relationships between HGS and various dimensions of cognitive function, as well as the association between HGS and cognitive impairment, were investigated using ordinary least squares regression models and logistic regression models. Dose–response relationships between HGS and cognitive impairment were modeled using restricted cubic spline curves. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness …

Patterns And Processes Behind Secretive Marshbird Movement, Abundance, And Distribution Across Southeastern Louisiana, Leah Moran

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Restoration and conservation of coastal Louisiana hinges on understanding the patterns and processes underlying habitat heterogeneity on the landscape and therefore the species that inhabits this region, including secretive marshbirds. Elusive in nature, this guild of birds has evolved under dynamic hydroperiods, and myriad plant communities present within wetlands. Only recently, however, has research focused on the role of hydrologic dynamics and vegetative structure and distribution on abundance, movement and detection of marshbirds, specifically within southeastern Louisiana. This study aimed to quantify the ecological patterns and processes, particularly hydrologic processes and landscape structure, driving breeding secretive marshbird movement, abundance and …

Qualitative Thematic Analysis Of Crisis Communications From The Digital Pulpits Of Megachurches During Covid-19, Ralph Dustin Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative thematic analysis multi-case study was to explore how secular crisis communication theories were adopted and modified by theological themes in U.S. megachurches during the first six weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic related lockdowns. Image Repair Theory (IRT), Discourse Renewal Theory (DRT), and Rhetorical Arena Theory (RAT) were examined alongside Christian themes (Theodicy, Radical Love, Physical Care, and Nontraditional Stakeholder Scope). Thematic analysis of sermon transcripts from 18 megachurches showed that IRT modified: high-attribution tactics were minimal; denial (via IMRA theodicy) defended the Church Universal (CU); evasion justified Church Local (CL)actions; and offensiveness reduction (esp. Transcendence) …

U-Rich Elements Drive Pervasive Cryptic Splicing In 3′ Utr Massively Parallel Reporter Assays, Khoa Dao, Courtney F Jungers, Sergej Djuranovic, Anthony M Mustoe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Untranslated RNA sequences play essential roles in orchestrating gene expression. However, the sequence codes and mechanisms underpinning post-transcriptional regulation remain incompletely understood. Here, we revisit the finding from a prior massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) that AU-rich elements in 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) can drive upregulation or downregulation of mRNA expression depending on 3' UTR context. We unexpectedly discover that this variable regulation arises from widespread cryptic splicing, predominately from an unannotated splice donor in the coding sequence of GFP to diverse acceptor sites in reporter 3' UTRs. Splicing is activated by U-rich sequences, which function as potent position-dependent …

Twist And Snout: Head And Body Morphologies Determine Feeding Kinematics In Substrate-Biting Fishes, Tal Perevolotsky, Jacob M. Brotman-Krass, Yarden Ratner, Yael Avigad, Adam P. Summers, Cassandra M. Donatelli, Roi Holzman

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Synopsis

Across teleosts, feeding by biting substrate-attached prey has evolved multiple times and is associated with convergent morphologies that include a deep body and an elongated, tapered head. However, the functional role of these morphologies in substrate-biting fish is not established. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these morphologies function as control surfaces that affect feeding kinematics during biting. To test this hypothesis, we used simplified physical models of substrate-biting reef fish and examined the role of head, body, and fin morphology in determining feeding kinematics that facilitate the removal of substrate-attached prey. Models simulated the swift lateral movement of …

Human Ipsc-Based Breast Cancer Model Identifies S100p-Dependent Cancer Stemness Induced By Brca1 Mutation, Jingxin Liu, Cai Zhao, Jiahao Chen, Pengguihang Zeng, Qingjian Li, Ranran Dai, Xingqiang Lai, Wenqian Song, Jianing Chen, Xixi Zhu, Xinyi Liu, Jun Sun, Jia Wang, Peihang Fang, Tengfei Wang, Wenjie Chen, Diana Guallar, Nan Cao, Jianli Zhao, Shicheng Su, Andy Peng Xiang, Yi Arial Zeng, Jie Li, Junchao Cai, Dung-Fang Lee, Jinxin Bei, Yongliang Huo, Hai Hu, Shengbao Suo, Dong-Feng Huang, Jin Bai, Junjun Ding

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in females and remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women worldwide. The cellular and molecular basis of breast tumorigenesis is not completely understood partly due to the lack of human research models which simulate the development of breast cancer. Here, we developed a method for generating functional mammary-like cells (MCs) from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The iPSC-MCs closely resemble human primary MCs at cellular, transcriptional, and functional levels. Using this method, a breast cancer model was generated using patient-derived iPSCs harboring germline

Adaptive Bayesian Clinical Trials: The Past, Present, And Future Of Clinical Research, Donald A Berry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Decision-analytic Bayesian approaches are ideally suited for designing clinical trials. They have been used increasingly over the last 30 years in developing medical devices and drugs. A prototype trial is a bandit problem in which treating participants is as important as treating patients in clinical practice after the trial.

Methods: This article chronicles the use of the Bayesian approach in clinical trials motivated by bandit problems. It provides a comprehensive historical and practical review of Bayesian adaptive trials, with a focus on bandit-inspired designs.

Results: The 20th century saw advances in Bayesian methodology involving computer simulation. In the …

Il-6 Predicts Cdk4/6 Inhibitor Resistance, Identifying Stat3 As A Target In Hr + /Her2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer, Nicole M Kettner, Tuyen N Bui, Juliana Navarro-Yepes, Sanaz Ghotbaldini, Bethanie Quintela, Catherine K Luo, Nghi Lam, Xiayu Rao, Akshara Singareeka Raghavendra, Yan Wang, Nancy Azizian, T Kris Eckols, Moses Makokha Kasembeli, Kurt Evans, Min Yi, Hannah Wingate, Jing Wang, Aysegul A Sahin, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Kelly K Hunt, Senthil Damodaran, David J Tweardy, Debu Tripathy, Khandan Keyomarsi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) is a major challenge in treating hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. This study aimed to identify a biomarker predictive of resistance that could also serve as a therapeutic target. Circulating IL-6 levels in 166 patients significantly increased at progression, making IL-6 a non-invasive biomarker to predict CDK4/6i resistance. Knockdown of IL-6 re-sensitized resistant cells to palbociclib and endocrine therapy, underscoring IL-6's critical role in maintaining resistance. Patient-derived xenograft models from patients who progressed within 3 months versus ≥6 months of palbociclib therapy revealed distinct transcriptomic profiles, with later progressors exhibiting IL-6/STAT3 activation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, …

Phase 1b/2 Study Evaluating Safety, Efficacy And Immune Effects Of Tlr9 Agonist Cavrotolimod With Anti-Pd-1 Antibodies Among Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, Mohammed M Milhem, George Ansstas, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: There is an unmet need for novel immunotherapies to overcome immune evasion in patients with advanced skin cancers resistant to programmed death (PD)-1 / PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade. Cavrotolimod is a novel spherical nucleic acid configuration of a toll-like receptor 9 agonist oligonucleotide, designed to trigger innate and adaptive immune responses to tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy of intratumoral cavrotolimod, first dosed alone and then in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies (pembrolizumab or cemiplimab), were assessed in a combined Phase 1b/2 dose escalation/dose expansion study in patients with advanced skin cancers, including melanoma, Merkel …

Replication Of Sensor-Based Categorization Of Upper-Limb Performance In Daily Life In People Post Stroke And Generalizability To Other Populations, Chelsea E Macpherson, Marghuretta D Bland, Christine Gordon, Allison E Miller, Caitlin Newman, Carey L Holleran, Christopher J Dy, Lindsay Peterson, Keith R Lohse, Catherine E Lang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Wearable movement sensors can measure upper limb (UL) activity, but single variables may not capture the full picture. This study aimed to replicate prior work identifying five multivariate categories of UL activity performance in people with stroke and controls and expand those findings to other UL conditions.

METHODS: Demographic, self-report, and wearable sensor-based UL activity performance variables were collected from 324 participants (stroke

RESULTS: Two PCs explained 70-90% variance: PC1 (overall UL activity performance) and PC2 (preferred-limb use). A five-variable, five-cluster model was optimal across samples. In comparison to clusters, two PCs and individual accelerometry variables showed higher convergent …

Creating Learning Bridges: Redesigning Homework Within The Framework Of Multiple Intelligences, Vasileios Zagkotas

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The article explores the application of Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences to homework and the potential of this approach to enhance the educational experience. Through a pilot application in philological subjects in Greek secondary education, the article presents the Homework Toolkit for Cultivating Multiple Intelligences, which offers various activities adapted to different types of intelligence. The findings from the case study research indicated that applying multiple intelligence theory to homework design improved academic performance, responsibility, and student collaboration, while also enhancing critical thinking and creativity. The results indicate that designing homework based on multimodal learning can reform the learning …