Digital Commons Network^™

Tac4 Analyses Of Mybl1 Knockdown In Mda Mb231 Cells And Identification And Validation Of E2f4 And Tp53 Differential Gene Expression, Emmanuel Butler

Theses (2016-Present)

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is known to be the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, accounting for 15–20% of cases. In TNBC, three receptors commonly associated with breast cancer—estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2neu)—are under-expressed. Earlier studies identified MYBL1 as a major transcriptional activator overexpressed in TNBC, playing a critical role in tumor growth, differentiation and apoptosis. In previous research conducted by our lab, MYBL1 was knocked down in a TNBC cell line and the dataset saved for future use. In the current study, we re-analyzed the dataset and identified E2F4 and …

Neutrophil Exosomes: New Pathogenic Entities In Copd, Tiera L. Isom

Theses (2016-Present)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disease that leads to chronic inflammation and, in turn, a high level of comorbidity and healthcare expense. An increasing body of evidence involves neutrophils, as well as their exosomes, in lung damage exacerbation via the protease-mediated degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We hypothesize that the PMN-exosomes would be significantly increased in the active smoker COPD patient and that they would enhance disease progression by augmenting the proteolytic cascade and tissue damage. This multi-center clinical study included a total of 46 veterans separated into four cohorts: active smoking COPD patients, COPD …

Explainable Ai(Xai) In Genomic Medicine: Interpreting The Impact Of Genetic Variants On Breast Cancer Prognosis, Tooba Maryam Marith

Theses (2016-Present)

This study explores the integration of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques in genomic medicine to improve breast cancer prognosis and treatment decision-making. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the research establishes a baseline through traditional machine learning (ML) models, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Decision Tree, Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and XGBoost. These models are evaluated for their predictive performance in assessing patient outcomes based on genetic variations. TCGA is a comprehensive public database that provides multidimensional genomic and clinical data for various cancer types, including breast cancer. It offers detailed molecular characterizations, such …

Modeling And Analyzing Neuron Connectivity Using The Connectome Workbench, Faith-Valentine Uzoka

Theses (2016-Present)

Understanding the connectivity of neurons within the human brain is essential for advancing our knowledge of cognitive processes, sensory perception, and neurological disorders. This thesis leverages the Connectome Workbench, an open-source, advanced visualization and discovery tool developed as part of the Human Connectome Project (HCP), to model and analyze functional connectivity in the human brain. Specifically, this study investigates the connectivity patterns between the primary visual cortex (V1) and higher-order visual regions (V2, V3) across different age groups using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data. The study hypothesizes that younger adults (18–35 years) will exhibit stronger functional connectivity between V1 and …

Women Residential Substance Use Treatment Program: A Quantitative Study Measuring Treatment Perceptions And Spiritual Experience Across Multiple Demographics., Michelle Davidson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

WOMEN RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY MEASURING TREATMENT PERCEPTIONS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEMOGRAPHICS

Michelle Davidson, LCSW

March 24, 2025

Substance use disorders (SUD) present complex challenges that necessitate comprehensive and personalized treatment approaches, particularly for women. Historically, SUD treatments have been predominantly driven by male treatment approaches, often neglecting the unique needs and experiences of women. This cross-sectional quantitative survey study explores the relationship between the variables of client treatment perceptions and spiritual experiences among women in residential treatment for their SUDs. This study utilizes the Treatment Perception Survey and Spiritual Experience Index-Revised to …

Evaluating Dry Air Personnel Decontamination Of Methyl Salicylate As A Chemical Agent Surrogate In Extreme Cold Environments To Reduce Airborne Risks Using A Manikin, Lance E. Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated a mobile air shower as an alternative to water washing for personnel chemical decontamination in Arctic environments, where traditional methods like disrobing and rinsing are impractical. Interest in Arctic operations has grown with recent U.S. military focus on strategic advancements by Russia and China, yet research on air shower effectiveness for chemical decontamination remains limited. This study examined whether a commercial off-the-shelf air shower could effectively decontaminate methyl salicylate (MES), a surrogate for chemical warfare blister agents, from a manikin outfitted in military cold-weather gear. Researchers used a ppbRAE 3000 photo-ionization detector to measure MES concentrations following …

Fighting Drugs With Drugs: Medical Mushrooms In Utah’S War On Opioids, Paul Helms

Utah Law Review

In addition to the happy side effect of improving psilocybin’s odds of rescheduling under the proposed new CAMU standard (potentially increasing national psilocybin accessibility for opioid recovery), Senator Escamilla’s S.B. 200 could represent the beginning of a new era for the State of Utah in its battle against opioids. Despite S.B. 200’s failure to pass, the medical application of psilocybin under S.B. 266 (S.B. 200’s spiritual successor) should positively impact several interconnected issues in Utah, including mental illness, addiction, and transiency. However, specific proof of psilocybin’s effectiveness in combatting opioid addiction should be especially persuasive in garnering bipartisan support for …

Arkansas Soybean Performance Tests 2024, J. F. Carlin, R. D. Bond, T. C. Swanson, J. C. Mccoy

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Soybean variety and strain performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program. The tests provide information to companies developing varieties and/ or marketing seed within the state and aid the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in formulating variety recommendations for soybean producers.

Adjudication Under Cover: Compliance And Inequality In The Criminal Courts, Mary Ellen Stitt

School of Criminal Justice Faculty Scholarship

State agencies tasked with governing poverty often aim to improve individuals’ social conditions by transforming their conduct. From welfare offices to prison reentry programs, those agencies work to compel behavioral changes by making the receipt of aid—or punishment— contingent on individuals’ compliance with requirements like appearances for regular appointments and negative drug test results. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in a court-mandated therapeutic program, this study shows how “compliance” with standard behavioral requirements is constructed around health, financial resources, and institutional trust, with the result that the most vulnerable people are systematically marked as noncompliant and channeled towardmore punitive interventions. This …

Hdl-Associated Vitamin D Binding Protein Levels Are Inversely Associated With Necrotic Plaque Burden In Psoriasis, M. P. Playford, H. Li, A. K. Dey, E. M. Florida, H. L. Teague, S. M. Gordon, N. N. Mehta

Physiology Faculty Publications

Background and aims: Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) serves a dual function as a vitamin D carrier and actin scavenger. Free DBP is present in high concentrations in serum, while a smaller pool is bound to lipoproteins like HDL and VLDL. The role of DBP's interaction with lipoproteins remains unclear. Given that HDL has been proposed to have both atheroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, we sought to compare whether HDL-associated DBP and/or total serum DBP could serve as useful biomarkers for assessing disease severity in psoriasis and cardiovascular disease. Methods: Psoriasis (PSO) patients (N = 83), which were part of a …

Responses Of Skeletal Muscle To Mechanical Stimuli In Female Rats Following And During Muscle Disuse Atrophy, Alexander B. Sklivas, Zachary R. Hettinger, Sarah Rose, Alessandra Mantuano, Amy L. Confides, Sandra Rigsby, Frederick F. Peelor, Benjamin F. Miller, Timothy A. Butterfield, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden

Physiology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of mechanotherapy to enhance recovery or prevent loss of muscle size with disuse in female rats. Female F344/BN rats were assigned to weight bearing (WB), hindlimb suspended (HS) for 14 days with reambulation for 7 days without mechanotherapy or reambulation (RA) with mechanotherapy (RAM) (study 1), or to WB, HS for 7 days, with HS mechanotherapy (HSM) or without mechanotherapy (study 2) to gastrocnemius muscle. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) and fiber type, collagen, satellite cell number, and protein synthesis (k_syn) and degradation (k_deg) were assessed. …

2023 Drug Overdose Hospital Discharges In Tennessee, Tennessee. Department Of Health.

Drug Poisonings and Overdoses in Tennessee

No abstract provided.

Detection Rate And Patterns Of Biochemical Recurrence Of Prostate Cancer Using 18f-Psma-1007 Pet/Ct At A Tertiary Teaching Hospital In Sub-Saharan Africa., Lynet Wairimu Barasa

Master of Medicine in Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology

Background: Rising PSA levels following local therapy with curative intent are seen in about one third of men previously treated for prostate cancer, indicative of disease recurrence. This is usually not detectable through imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Several studies show high detection rates of recurrence with 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT, one of the novel PET imaging modalities for prostate cancer. No studies, however, have been done to show the patterns of recurrence in the Sub-Saharan African population in whom prostate cancer is known to occur earlier and be more aggressive. Biochemical recurrence almost always …

Comparison Of Positivity Rate Of Dual Phase Sestamibi Versus Dual Tracer Pertechnetate/Sestamibi In Identification Of Parathyroid Adenomas., Naomi Chirindo Chikuro

Master of Medicine in Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology

Background 

Parathyroid adenomas are the commonest cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. The primary mode of treatment is surgical excision which can only be achieved with pre surgical localization of adenomas. Ultrasound, CT and MRI can be used but the most sensitive and specific imaging modality is parathyroid scintigraphy with use of Sestamibi labelled with technetium 99 metastable radionuclide. A few studies have been done comparing dual phase, dual tracer and combined dual phase/tracer protocols with an apparent lack of consensus on which is superior.

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the positivity rates of the mentioned parathyroid scintigraphy protocols and identify …

The Prevalence And The Predictors Of Diabetes Distress In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Attending Diabetes Clinics At A Tertiary Private Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya., Soulthy Azamkhan Mohamed

Master of Medicine in Family Medicine

Background Diabetes distress encompasses a spectrum of emotional and psychological challenges faced by individuals managing diabetes, including anxiety, stress, depression, frustration, and feelings of helplessness. This distress arises from the constant demands of monitoring blood sugar levels, managing medications, adhering to dietary restrictions, engaging in regular physical activity, and navigating potential complications. Social and emotional factors such as stigma, discrimination, and concerns about future health further contribute to this burden. Factors like fear of hypoglycemia, financial strain, fluctuating blood sugar levels, anxiety about complications, and impacts on personal relationships exacerbate diabetes distress. Left unaddressed, diabetes distress can lead to poor …

Comparison Of The Use Of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange To Intravenous Immunoglobulin For Autoimmune Neurological Conditions At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya., Swafiya Salim Busaidy

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

Background 

Plasma exchange (Barth et al.) and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (Barth et al.) have emerged as favored therapeutic options for autoimmune neurological conditions. Neurological conditions cause high morbidity and mortality in the sub-Saharan region. The utilization of these treatment options in Sub-Saharan Africa remains relatively unknown. We can determine the most efficient treatments with minimal cost implications by comparing the two treatment modalities in our setup.

Methods 

This retrospective descriptive chart review took place at Aga Khan University Hospital. It encompassed all patients admitted between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2023 who had a neurological condition that necessitated treatment with …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of 18f-Fdg Pet-Ct Compared To Ultrasound In Identification Of Metastatic Axillary Lymph Nodes In Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients., Sarah Muthii Kibe

Master of Medicine in Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology

Background: Determination of axillary lymph node metastasis is a crucial part of breast cancer staging as it is the most important marker of overall recurrence and survival. Although axillary ultrasound (AUS) is the imaging reference standard, it has a wide range of sensitivity necessitating evaluation of other imaging modalities that may be used as adjuncts.18F-FDG PET-CT is recommended for use in metastatic and recurrent breast cancer with infrequent use in early disease due to its low spatial resolution for small axillary lymph nodes. The aim of this it study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of axillary ultrasound compared …

Traditional Vs. Modern-Grading Practices: A Comparative Case Study, Sarah Ruth Morris, Matt Townsley

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This comparative case study explores the influences of traditional and modern grading systems on ninth-grade students' academic and psychological outcomes. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, including OLS regressions and focus group discussions, our research investigates student attitudes towards grading practices at two contrasting schools—one utilizing traditional grading methods and the other a more modern, progressive, standards-based approach. Findings suggest that while modern grading practices are favored for their fairness and focus on mastery, they do not significantly enhance academic outcomes or student well-being in the short term. The study highlights the complex implications of grading reforms and underscores the need …

Assessing Teachers' Competence In Sustaining The Use Of Ict Tools For Instructional Delivery During The New Normal Era, Yinusa Faremi, Ramota Ajoke Rasaq Ms, Ramota Ajoke Rasaq, Charles Silvane, Yemisi Olubunmi Fashoto

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Amidst the post-covid era, blended teaching has become increasingly prevalent worldwide, necessitating educational system changes. This study aimed to assess teachers' competence in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for instructional delivery during the new normal era. The study utilized a quantitative survey design with a sample size of 150 secondary school teachers from private and public in Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The study revealed that most respondents lacked adequate competence in sustaining the use of computers to assess learners and in utilizing PowerPoint presentations during the teaching-learning process in the new normal …

The Guardian The Month Of March 2025, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of March 2025. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Peripheral Lives, Central Meanings: How The Global South Can Participate In Reimagining Psychology For The Future, Nandita Chaudhary, Mila Tuli, Punya Pillai

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Emerging from an invited lecture presentation at the APA conference in 2024, this article discusses how communities of the Global South can actively participate in the future of psychology theory, research, practice and publication. It is abundantly clear that psychology is a product of Euro-American academic practice, with the transportation of knowledge from this region to the rest of the world. Inevitably, there have been many concerns about this transfer of the model to regions that are vastly different in their ontological orientations. After a brief overview of the key issues in this global epistemic imbalance, we raise some critical …

Molecular Scale Investigations Of Interactions Between Pfas And Concrete, Eric E. Keeler

Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely referred to as “forever chemicals,” exhibit high environmental persistence and potential health risks due to their robust carbon-fluorine bonds. These substances are prevalent in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), used in industrial and military applications, and are known to contaminate environmental surfaces, including concrete. This study aims to characterize the molecular-level interaction energies of six PFAS species—PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHxA, 6:2 FTS, and PFBS—with calcium silicate, a key component of concrete, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was determined for each of the interactions, revealing negative ΔG values for …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Managed Aquifer Recharge For The United States Air Force, Daniel Hendrix

Theses and Dissertations

Water stress is becoming an increasing global issue, with 4 billion people (50% of the world’s population) experiencing water stress at least one month per year. By 2050, 60% of the world’s population and $70 trillion USD in global gross domestic product will be affected. This research analyzes 78 CONUS USAF installations to determine location-specific water stress and feasible Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) solutions. Although thousands of MAR projects have been implemented globally, active-duty USAF installations have yet to contribute to solving this growing issue. Important factors such as required subsurface conditions, physical limitations, design, cost, and regulatory constraints are …

Radiation Assessment And Distribution In Changing Atmospheric Structures And Turbulence (Radcast), Steven B. Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

The accessibility of materials and online information has made radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) a more probable threat than conventional nuclear weapons. This study analyzed five datasets from three test periods, using a correlation analysis between optical turbulence, aerosol concentration, and environmental parameters, and geometric mean diameter (GMD) calculations. The correlation analysis failed to yield meaningful insights, prompted a transition to the GMD analysis, which produced clearer results. Findings show GMD ranged from 38–41 nm, increasing at night and during neutral events as reduced vertical motion and boundary layer contraction correlated with optical turbulence. An alternative GMD dataset, calculated by the …

Equity For American Indian Families, Neoshia R. Roemer

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

For the better part of two centuries, the cornerstone of federal Indian policy was destabilizing and eradicating tribal governments. In the process, federal Indian policy also dismantled American Indian families via child removal. Attempting to equalize American Indians through the practice of assimilation, decades of Indian child removal policies destroyed Indian families. In 1978, Congress responded to these horrors by passing the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a revolutionary law that was responsive to its trust responsibility to American Indian Tribes. By providing for the best interests of Indian children, heightened protections for parents of Indian children in certain child …

Quantifying Temporal Dynamics Of E. Coli Concentration And Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Of Pathogen In A Karst Basin, Shishir K. Sarker, Ryan T. Dapkus, Diana M. Byrne, Alan E. Fryar, Justin M. Hutchison

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Karst aquifers can be highly productive water sources but are vulnerable to contamination by pathogens because of integrated surface and subsurface drainage. Our study focuses on the karstic Royal Spring basin in Kentucky, encompassing urban and agricultural land uses. The city of Georgetown distributes treated water from Royal Spring to over 33,000 customers. We examined E. coli dynamics at Royal Spring from June 2021 through June 2022, assessing variability under wet versus dry weather conditions. We also used quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to estimate potential health risks from the pathogenic bacterium E. coli O157:H7. E. coli concentrations in weekly …

On Gender, Gender Incongruence, And Gender-Affirming Care, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

As the number of transgender individuals continues to rise, there is an urgent need to understand the nature of gender and the evidence supporting gender-affirming care. This article proposes the hypothesis that one’s gender is a perception, influenced by biological and social factors. Early-onset gender incongruence seems to be influenced but not wholly determined by the prenatal hormonal environment, while late-onset gender incongruence is associated with comorbidities, suggesting that one’s sense of gender can be impacted by a variety of psychological and social conditions that affect the mind-body connection. Puberty blockers have been used on children to buy time for …

Drag Me To Work: Legislative Discrimination In Drag Queen Employment, Michael Russo

Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Retreatability Of Bioceramic And Resin-Based Root Canal Sealers Using Xp Shaper Rise: An In Vitro Study, Shehabeldin Mohamed Saber Prof.Dr.

Dentistry

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate in-vitro the retreatability of premixed calcium-silicate-based sealer versus resinbased

sealer when combined with gutta-percha using the single-file system XP-endo Rise.

Materials and methods: 26 canals in typodont acrylic Nissin teeth were instrumented with E-flex blue rotary instruments up to

size 0.35mm and taper of 4%. Root canals were divided into two groups, obturated using either hydraulic condensation technique

with a bioceramic sealer (n=13) or continuous wave of compaction (CWC) technique with a resin-based sealer (n=13). The

retreatment procedure was done for both groups using the XP-endo Rise instruments. The time required …

Climbing The Family Tree To Solve Crime: The Statutory Regulation Of Investigative Genetic Genealogy In Wisconsin, Margaret B. Mullican

Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review

Investigative Genetic Genealogy ("IGG") has emerged as a groundbreaking

tool that law enforcement agencies across the United States

are using to solve their most notorious criminal cases. IGG has led to

remarkable outcomes, such as identifying unknown victims, solving

decades-old violent crimes, and exonerating the innocent. While IGG

has transformed criminal investigations for the better, the tool has

also sparked concerns with the public regarding its haphazard regulation

and its constitutional implications. Despite the tool being

widely used by law enforcement, it remains relatively unregulated,

which has raised concerns about potential misuse, as well as a lack

of transparency and …