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Optimizing The Pass Program: Using Improvement Science To Enhance Holistic Support For First-Year Medical Students, Suzanne Julia Mosko

Theses and Dissertations

Medical students often face unique academic and personal challenges that can hinder their success and well-being, particularly in the first year. This dissertation examines the impact of the Proactive Academic Support System (PASS) Program, a program designed to provide timely, holistic support to first-year medical students. Guided by improvement science and the Universal Design Principles for Student Development Programs and Services framework, the study implemented two change ideas aimed at reducing the time between grade release and PASS meeting completion, thereby enhancing communication and engagement with students. The study focuses on one Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle that assessed …

Interaction Of N-Methylmesoporphyrin Ix With A Hybrid Left-/Right-Handed G-Quadruplex Motif From The Promoter Of The Slc2a1 Gene, Paul Seth , '23, Eric Xing , '26, Andrew D. Hendrickson , '27, Kevin Li , '22, R. Monsen, J. B. Chaires, S. Neidle, Liliya A. Yatsunyk

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

Left-handed G-quadruplexes (LHG4s) belong to a class of recently discovered noncanonical DNA structures under the larger umbrella of G-quadruplex DNAs (G4s). The biological relevance of these structures and their ability to be targeted with classical G4 ligands is underexplored. Here, we explore whether the putative LHG4 DNA sequence from the SLC2A1 oncogene promoter maintains its left-handed characteristics upon addition of nucleotides in the 5′- and 3′-direction from its genomic context. We also investigate whether this sequence interacts with a well-established G4 binder, N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM). We employed biophysical and X-ray structural studies to address these questions. Our results indicate that …

Hyperlipidemia, Acculturation, And Health Insurance Coverage In United States Foreign-Born Individuals, Debola Olayinka Ola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hyperlipidemia is one of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death among minority populations in the United States, including foreign-born people. Therefore, preventing and treating hyperlipidemia alongside other CVD risk factors is critical for avoiding CVD. Prior research examined disparities in health insurance coverage, length of stay, and blood cholesterol with mixed observations over time with new immigrants. This study aimed to determine if there was a statistically significant association between language spoken at home, length of stay in the United States, having health insurance coverage or none, and high cholesterol level status among …

The Free Press Vol. 56, Issue 8, 1-27-2025, Chris Tiner, Cayley Bowman

Free Press, The

Welcome Back from the Editors--WMPG Welcome Back--ROCC Welcome Back--Libraries and Learning Welcome--Chemistry Club Shines--Editor=in=Chief's Welcome Back

Role Of An Smc-Like Protein, Recn, In Reca-Mediated Homology Search During Double-Strand Break Repair Via Homologous Recombination, Afroze Abdehaque Chimthanawala

Theses and Dissertations

The most deleterious form of DNA damage is the formation of a double-strand break (DSB). If left unrepaired or repaired incorrectly, DSBs can result in genome rearrangements, mutations, or even cell death. Hence, cells across domains of life have resorted to homologous recombination (HR) for the faithful repair of DSBs. A critical step in homologous recombination is the search for the intact homologous sequence by the break ends, termed ‘homology search’. This process is not well understood in vivo, especially when the break site and intact homologous template are not positioned adjacently.

Spatial reorganization of chromosomes is maintained by structural …

Comparison Of Milling Cutting Forces In Synthetic And Biological Cancellous Bone, Matthew Christopher Hartwell

Masters Theses

In many orthopedic and dental interventions, the cutting and removal of bone is necessary. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the tools used during these procedures are designed and tested with biological bone or a bone surrogate material that machines the same way as biological bone. To avoid the cost, hazard, and inconsistency of biological cadaveric bone or animal models, many biological engineering firms use bone surrogate material made of glass fiber filled epoxy and polyurethane foam. Although these materials may mimic the elongation of cortical and cancellous bone, respectively, the match of machinability of the bone is …

Bespoke Regulation Of Artificial Intelligence, Brenda M. Simon

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

The decision to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) has far reaching consequences. Determining how to address budding applications of AI technology should depend on their effects. This article describes how regulation should be carefully tailored to avoid harm while maximizing social welfare, building on Orly Lobel’s taxonomy of regulatory tools. Part I examines the foundational difficulties in governing AI, including industry influence in regulation and deficiencies in enforcement. Part II elaborates on Lobel’s framework, detailing the benefits and limitations of a variety of tools, such as voluntary standards, soft law mechanisms, and public-private partnerships. It describes how bringing in diverse stakeholders …

Mcsa Forum Minutes 01/27/2025, Morris Campus Student Association

Morris Campus Student Association

No abstract provided.

Biophysical Modeling And Experimental Analysis Of The Dynamics Of C. Elegans Body-Wall Muscle Cells, X. Du, J. Crodelle, Victor J. Barranca, S. Li, Y. Shi, S. Gao, D. Zhou

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Works

This study combines experimental techniques and mathematical modeling to investigate the dynamics of C. elegans body-wall muscle cells. Specifically, by conducting voltage clamp and mutant experiments, we identify key ion channels, particularly the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (EGL-19) and potassium channels (SHK-1, SLO-2), which are crucial for generating action potentials. We develop Hodgkin-Huxley-based models for these channels and integrate them to capture the cells’ electrical activity. To ensure the model accurately reflects cellular responses under depolarizing currents, we develop a parallel simulation-based inference method for determining the model’s free parameters. This method performs rapid parallel sampling across high-dimensional parameter spaces, …

Assessing The Influence Of An Eastern State's Disciplinary Alternative Education Program On Secondary Student Student Behavior, Alicia Michelle Gallaway

Frank Dilley Award for Outstanding Doctoral Study

Services at the local disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) include counseling and behavioral services to referred secondary students, aiming to improve their behavior. The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that a DAEP was in place in the local district since 2009, but there had been no formal assessment to determine whether differences in student discipline occurred in the semester before and the semester after students attended the DAEP. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the purpose of this ex post facto, causal-comparative, quasi-experimental study was to investigate if there was a difference in student discipline as measured by …

The Diamond, January 27, 2025, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Sioux Center Receives $9,300 Tourism Grant for Website; Dordt University Announces New Leadership in Cabinet as John Baas Steps Down; Until All Is Made New: Dordt University's Directional Vision Displayed in New Tagline
• News: A City in Ashes: A Look at the Wake of L.A. Area Wildfires; Dordt Student Pulls Some Strings for Dordt University's First Archery Club; Defender Athletics Sponsored by Nike Inc.; Dr. Rose Passes the Orchestra Baton to Mrs. Smit
• Feature: AMOR 2024: Making Connections in Nicaragua; Dr. David J. Mulder: "Always Becoming, Never Arriving"; Republicans Club Seeks to Renew Political Discussion …

Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Preterm Births Among Black Women, Tashara Coakley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reducing preterm birth (PTB) in Black women is a public health priority. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to analyze the association between selected Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and PTB types, both spontaneous and provider-initiated in Black women using the SDoH framework. A logistic regression analysis used secondary data from the 2018 Natality Public Use File. In the adjusted models, higher paternal education, college degree or higher (OR = .791, 95% CI [.637, .982]) was associated with reduced odds of provider-initiated PTB. Fewer prenatal visits, seven to eleven visits OR = 2.301 (95% CI [2.034, 2.601]) and …

Assessing The Influence Of An Eastern State's Disciplinary Alternative Education Program On Secondary Student Behavior, Alicia Michelle Gallaway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Services at the local disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) include counseling and behavioral services to referred secondary students, aiming to improve their behavior. The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that a DAEP was in place in the local district since 2009, but there had been no formal assessment to determine whether differences in student discipline occurred in the semester before and the semester after students attended the DAEP. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the purpose of this ex post facto, causal-comparative, quasi-experimental study was to investigate if there was a difference in student discipline as measured by …

Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Preterm Births Among Black Women, Tashara Coakley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reducing preterm birth (PTB) in Black women is a public health priority. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to analyze the association between selected Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and PTB types, both spontaneous and provider-initiated in Black women using the SDoH framework. A logistic regression analysis used secondary data from the 2018 Natality Public Use File. In the adjusted models, higher paternal education, college degree or higher (OR = .791, 95% CI [.637, .982]) was associated with reduced odds of provider-initiated PTB. Fewer prenatal visits, seven to eleven visits OR = 2.301 (95% CI [2.034, 2.601]) and …

Hyperlipidemia, Acculturation, And Health Insurance Coverage In United States Foreign-Born Individuals, Debola Olayinka Ola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hyperlipidemia is one of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death among minority populations in the United States, including foreign-born people. Therefore, preventing and treating hyperlipidemia alongside other CVD risk factors is critical for avoiding CVD. Prior research examined disparities in health insurance coverage, length of stay, and blood cholesterol with mixed observations over time with new immigrants. This study aimed to determine if there was a statistically significant association between language spoken at home, length of stay in the United States, having health insurance coverage or none, and high cholesterol level status among …

Browning Events In Arctic Ecosystems: Diverse Causes With Common Consequences, Scott Davidson

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Arctic ecosystems are experiencing extreme climatic, biotic and physical disturbance events that can cause substantial loss of plant biomass and productivity, sometimes at scales of >1000 km2. Collectively known as browning events, these are key contributors to the spatial and temporal complexity of Arctic greening and vegetation dynamics. If we are to properly understand the future of Arctic terrestrial ecosystems, their productivity, and their feedbacks to climate, understanding browning events is essential. Here we bring together understanding of browning events in Arctic ecosystems to compare their impacts and rates of recovery, and likely future changes in frequency and distribution. We …

Bridging Indigenous And Hispanic Knowledge Systems Through Collaborative Panel Discussions: Stem Teachers’ Perceptions Of Culturally Sustaining Nature-Based Pedagogy, Uma Ganesan

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

This paper presents findings from a transformative collaborative panel discussion session at the 2024 STEM Education Conference, examining how nature-based, environmentally conscious, and culturally sustaining science teaching practices implemented at the Umonhon Nation Public School (UNPS) in Nebraska can inform teaching practices in the Rio Grande Valley. The session was co-facilitated by University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Associate Professor Dr. Amanda Morales and UTRGV Assistant Professor Dr. Uma Ganesan. The study combines panel discussion analysis with qualitative survey data from participating STEM educators, providing rich insights into teachers’ perceptions of implementing culturally and linguistically sustaining (CLS) practices in diverse contexts. By …

The Experience Of Help Seeking For African American Pastors In Personal Crises, Jason Leon Hanna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. population faces enormous challenges coping with disease, financial stress, failure, and general mental health concerns. Rather than seeking care from psychotherapists, increasing numbers of people in religious communities seek help from clergy, who must then balance the needs of their constituents while navigating their own personal crises and need for support. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of help-seeking for African American clergy during personal crises, guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 African American senior pastors of congregations in the United States. Study participants defined help-seeking …

Development And Validation Of Natural Language Processing Algorithms In The Enact National Electronic Health Record Research Network, Yanshan Wang, Jordan Hilsman, Chenyu Li, Michele Morris, Paul M Heider, Sunyang Fu, Min Ji Kwak, Andrew Wen, Joseph R Applegate, Liwei Wang, Elmer Bernstam, Hongfang Liu, Jack Chang, Daniel R Harris, Alexandria Corbeau, Darren Henderson, John D Osborne, Richard E Kennedy, Nelly-Estefanie Garduno-Rapp, Justin F Rousseau, Chao Yan, You Chen, Mayur B Patel, Tyler J Murphy, Bradley A Malin, Chan Mi Park, Jungwei W Fan, Sunghwan Sohn, Sandeep Pagali, Yifan Peng, Aman Pathak, Yonghui Wu, Zongqi Xia, Salvatore Loguercio, Steven E Reis, Shyam Visweswaran

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Electronic health record (EHR) data are a rich and invaluable source of real-world clinical information, enabling detailed insights into patient populations, treatment outcomes, and healthcare practices. The availability of large volumes of EHR data are critical for advancing translational research and developing innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence. The Evolve to Next-Gen Accrual to Clinical Trials (ENACT) network, established in 2015 with funding from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), aims to accelerate translational research by democratizing access to EHR data for all Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) hub investigators. The present ENACT network provides access to …

Multimodal Pain Recognition In Postoperative Patients: Machine Learning Approach, Ajan Subramanian, Rui Cao, Emad Kasaeyan Naeini, Seyed Amir Hossein Aqajari, Thomas D. Hughes, Michael-David C. Calderon, Kai Zheng, Nikil Dutt, Pasi Liljeberg, Sanna Salanterä, Ariana M. Nelson, Amir M. Rahmani

Student Publications

Background: Acute pain management is critical in postoperative care, especially in vulnerable patient populations that may be unable to self-report pain levels effectively. Current methods of pain assessment often rely on subjective patient reports or behavioral pain observation tools, which can lead to inconsistencies in pain management. Multimodal pain assessment, integrating physiological and behavioral data, presents an opportunity to create more objective and accurate pain measurement systems. However, most previous work has focused on healthy subjects in controlled environments, with limited attention to real-world postoperative pain scenarios. This gap necessitates the development of robust, multimodal approaches capable of addressing the …

Tfap2e Is Implicated In Central Nervous System, Orofacial And Maxillofacial Anomalies, Jeshurun C Kalanithy, Enrico Mingardo, Jil D Stegmann, Ramgopal Dhakar, Tikam Chand Dakal, Jill A Rosenfeld, Wen-Hann Tan, Stephanie A Coury, Audrey C Woerner, Jessica Sebastian, Paul A Levy, Leah R Fleming, Lea Waffenschmidt, Tobias T Lindenberg, Öznur Yilmaz, Khadija Channab, Bimaljeet K Babra, Andrea Christ, Britta Eiberger, Selina Hölzel, Clara Vidic, Felix Häberlein, Nina Ishorst, Juan E Rodriguez-Gatica, Behnaz Pezeshkpoor, Patrick A Kupczyk, Olivier M Vanakker, Sara Loddo, Antonio Novelli, Maria L Dentici, Albert Becker, Holger Thiele, Jennifer E Posey, James R Lupski, Alina C Hilger, Heiko M Reutter, Waltraut M Merz, Gabriel C Dworschak, Benjamin Odermatt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Previous studies in mouse, Xenopus and zebrafish embryos show strong tfap2e expression in progenitor cells of neuronal and neural crest tissues suggesting its involvement in neural crest specification. However, the role of human transcription factor activator protein 2 (TFAP2E) in human embryonic central nervous system (CNS), orofacial and maxillofacial development is unknown.

Methods: Through a collaborative work, exome survey was performed in families with congenital CNS, orofacial and maxillofacial anomalies. Exome variant prioritisation prompted TFAP2E gene for functional analysis in zebrafish embryos. Embryonic morphology and development were assessed after antisense morpholino (MO) knockdown (KD), CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and overexpression …

Immuno-Bioinformatics Study Of Secondary Metabolites From Watercress Nasturtium Officinale As Immunostimulant In Whiteleg Shrimp Litopenaeus Vannamei By Targeting Peroxinectin And Scavenger Receptor Class B, Qurrota A’Yunin, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Maftuch Maftuch, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Triyanto Triyanto, Muhammad Tegar Handrianto

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The viral disease affects the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and causes losses. Immunostimulants are recognized as a more environmentally friendly approach to disease management and antimicrobial properties of aquatic organisms. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic plant species that contains antioxidant properties that can protect the organism from disease and boost the immune system. Shrimp rely heavily on innate immunity to combat infectious agents due to their absence of adaptive immunity. Peroxinectin and scavenger receptor class B (SRB) play essential roles in the shrimp defense system. This research employs a bioinformatic to assess the immunostimulatory potential …

Effectiveness Of Various Modified Vegetable Fibers For Oil Spill Removal, Walaa M. Thabet, Samir M. Nasr, Ola Abdelwahab

Blue Economy

Natural fibers are among the alternatives for oily wastewater treatment due to their simplicity, excellent oil removal properties, environmentally friendly characteristic and easy availability and feasibility. In this study, three different types of fibrous adsorbents materials were used for the removal of diesel, crude and vegetable oil. All oils were characterized by GC- Mass. Luffa cylindrical; LC, Palm fibers, PF and Peanut hull husk (PHL) were used. Adsorption capacity and water uptake were examined for the fibers. Various methods were used for modification of adsorbents via physical and chemical modifications to enhance their oil adsorption capability. It was found that, …

The Law Of Ai For Good, Orly Lobel

Florida Law Review

Legal policy and scholarship are increasingly focused on regulating technology to safeguard against risks and harms, neglecting the ways in which the law should direct the use of new technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), for positive purposes. This Article pivots the debates about automation, finding that the focus on AI wrongs is descriptively inaccurate because it undermines a balanced analysis of the benefits, potentials, and risks involved in digital technology. Further, the focus on AI wrongs is normatively and prescriptively flawed, as it narrows and distorts the law reforms currently dominating tech policy debates. The Law-of-AI-Wrongs focuses on reactive and …

Disrupting Creativity: Copyright Law In The Age Of Generative Artifical Intelligence, Ryan Abbott, Elizabeth Rothman

Florida Law Review

Over the last few years, due largely to breakthroughs in deep learning technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to step into the shoes of human content generators and make valuable creative works at scale. Before the end of the decade, a significant amount of art, literature, music, software, and web content will likely be created by AI rather than traditional human authors. Yet the law lags behind this technological evolution by prohibiting copyright protection for AI-generated works. The predominant narrative holds that even if AI can automate creativity, this activity is not the right sort of thing to protect, and …

The Frozen Ones: Disputes, Divorces, And Dispositions, Sara Murray

Florida Law Review

Couples who may have been unsuccessful in their efforts to conceive naturally have found ways to parenthood through assisted reproductive technologies. In vitro fertilization is one of the most complex processes these couples pursue, and it involves creating an embryo outside of the human body and then inserting it into the woman with the hopes of successful implantation. Under the circumstances, many embryos may be created and then frozen—or cryopreserved—to prolong the availability of the process to the couple for months or even years. However, a conflict can arise if the couple gets divorced, which begs the question: what happens …

Quantifying Dust Nutrient Mobility Through An Alpine Watershed, Jeffrey R. Nielson, Janice Brahney

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Dust has the potential to play a significant role in the nutrient dynamics of alpine watersheds with important ecological implications. However, little is known about how dust nutrients circulate through the environment and which watershed characteristics facilitate dust impacts on water quality. This study explored the contribution of dust-deposited nutrients, focusing on a high-elevation Long Term Ecological Research site, where dust samples have been continuously collected since 2017. We incorporated observed dust nutrient compositions, including fractions of inorganic and organic nitrogen and phosphorus, into a popular hydrological model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, and ran simulations for 2019–2021. By …

Influence Of High Eimeria Tenella Immunization Dosages On Total Oocyst Output And Specific Antibodies Recognition Response In Hybrid Pullets (Gallus Gallus)-A Pilot Study, Marco A. Juarez-Estrada, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Victor M. Petrone-Garcia, Amanda Gayosso-Vazquez, Xochitl Hernandez-Velasco, Rogelio A. Alonso-Morales

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Two high primary-immunization doses of a wild-type E. tenella strain were assessed in healthy pullets (5K versus 10K sporulated oocysts/bird) to understand the effects of coccidia infection. Methods: Acquired immunity was evaluated following primary immunization and two booster doses with the homologous strain. Total oocyst shedding, clinical signs, and viability of every bird/group after each immunization/booster were recorded. Indirect ELISA measured the time course of humoral responses from each immunization group against sporozoite and second-generation merozoite of E. tenella. Antigen pattern recognition on these two asexual zoite stages of E. tenella was analyzed using Western blotting with antibodies from …

Sigma1 Inhibitor Suppression Of Adaptive Immune Resistance Mechanisms Mediated By Cancer Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles, Paola A. Castagnino, Derick A. Haas, Luca Musante, Nathalia A. Tancler, Bach V. Tran, Rhonda Kean, Alexandra R. Steck, Luis A. Martinez, Elahe A. Mostaghel, D. Craig Hooper, Felix J. Kim

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Adaptive immune resistance in cancer describes the various mechanisms by which tumors adapt to evade anti-tumor immune responses. IFN-γ induction of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was the first defined and validated adaptive immune resistance mechanism. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is central to adaptive immune resistance as immune modulatory secreted and integral membrane proteins are dependent on ER. Sigma1 is a unique ligand-regulated integral membrane scaffolding protein enriched in the ER of cancer cells. PD-L1 is an integral membrane glycoprotein that is translated into the ER and processed through the cellular secretory pathway. At the cell surface, PD-L1 is an immune …

Statistical Identification Of Cell Type-Specific Spatially Variable Genes In Spatial Transcriptomics, Lulu Shang, Peijun Wu, Xiang Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

An essential task in spatial transcriptomics is identifying spatially variable genes (SVGs). Here, we present Celina, a statistical method for systematically detecting cell type-specific SVGs (ct-SVGs)-a subset of SVGs exhibiting distinct spatial expression patterns within specific cell types. Celina utilizes a spatially varying coefficient model to accurately capture each gene's spatial expression pattern in relation to the distribution of cell types across tissue locations, ensuring effective type I error control and high power. Celina proves powerful compared to existing methods in single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics and stands as the only effective solution for spot-resolution spatial transcriptomics. Applied to five real …