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Creator Biographies, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Examining The Science Of Reading Focusing On Phonemic Awareness And Multicultural Literature To Enhance Reading Achievement Among African American Students, Danielle L. Gantt

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examined how implementing the CKLA, Core Knowledge Language Arts, curriculum, founded in the science of reading, enhanced the reading achievement among first-grade African American students. The purpose of the study was to explore how phonics instruction, specifically phonemic awareness, and multicultural literature would improve literacy. The study was guided by Ivankova’s six-phased mixed methods model integrating quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data collected included the DIBELS, Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, benchmark and progress monitoring assessments. The qualitative data included student work samples, multicultural literature lessons, and open-ended student responses. The quantitative …

Metal Free Multicomponent C-C And C-N Bond Formation Via Cross – Coupling And Cross – Dehydrogenative Coupling Methodologies For The Synthesis Of Diversely Functionalized N – And O – Heterocyclic Compounds, Reicha Pandey Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Heterocyclic compound is a significant domain of organic chemistry that focuses with synthetic, design and characteristics. This molecule is characterized by ring structure including one or more atom of an elements other than carbon (C), typically nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O) or Sulphur (S). The synthesis of heterocyclic compound via sustainable strategy encompasses various approaches such as design and implementation of real time analysis aimed at pollution prevention. It demonstrates wide range of medicinal application by showing various activities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and many more. Additionally, many functional materials including dye, polymers etc. are the other application of heterocyclic …

Association Of Hair Shedding Level With Cow–Calf Performance In Summer-Bred Dexter Cattle, Ichard Browning Jr, Emily G. Hayes, Kaylee S. Hillin, Maria Lenira Leite-Browning

Food and Animal Sciences Faculty Research

Reduced winter hair shedding in beef cows through the spring and summer months may contribute to heat stress and reduced performance in spring-calving herds. This study evaluated the relationship of hair shedding with the fertility and maternal performance of 72 Dexter cows. Hair shedding data for 20 May, 3 June, 17 June, and 1 July in 2019 were used to classify cows as high or low hair shedders. Hair shedding levels were lower (p < 0.05) for 2-year-old cows than for cows 7+ years of age for the first three dates and lower (p ≤ 0.05) for lactating cows than for dry cows on the first two dates. Concurrent and four years of historical performance records were used to assess the associations between hair shedding and cow–calf performance. Data from 230 natural matings in July and August from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed. Birth to weaning weight data were recorded from 2016 to 2019 on 124 spring-born calves. Cow fertility was higher (p < 0.05) for high-shed cows than for low-shed cows for the 1 July classification. When the records from cows that were dry in 2019 were excluded from testing, fertility was higher (p < 0.05) for high-shed cows than for low-shed cows at all four scoring dates. The associations of cow hair shedding levels with preweaning calf performance were minimal. Dexter cows exhibiting higher hair shedding levels in the spring and summer expressed higher summer fertility.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Regulates Beclin-1 In Hyperoxic Acute Lung Injury., Zachary M Harris, Asawari Korde, Johad Khoury, Edward P Manning, Gail Stanley, Yosep Shin, Kennedy Mitchell, Alexa Von Der Schulenburg, Ying Sun, Buqu Hu, Hyeon Jun Shin, John Joerns, Brian Clark, Lindsey Placek, Derya Unutmaz, Aigul Moldobaeva, Lokesh Sharma, Maor Sauler, Govindarajan Rajagopalan, Xuchen Zhang, He Wang, Mahboobe Ghaedi, Min-Jong Kang, Jonathan L Koff

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND: While delivery of supplemental oxygen is a life-saving therapy, exposure to high oxygen, called hyperoxia, leads to increased intensive care unit mortality. Hyperoxia induces oxidant-mediated acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary cell death, called hyperoxic ALI (HALI). Elucidating molecular mechanisms in HALI could identify therapeutic targets in ALI.

METHODS: In the current study, we examined in vivo effects of HALI on Beclin-1 (BCN1), which regulates autophagy, and modulation of BCN1 by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Effects of HALI on BCN1 and autophagy were examined in mice with genetically decreased EGFR (EGFR

RESULTS: In WT, HALI led to increased …

Effects Of Leucine Supplementation On Athletic Performance, Central Fatigue, And Serum Metabolism In Endurance Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial And Targeted Metabolomics Study, Tieying Li, Wei Xu, Jun Chen, Zhaobo Kan, Xuemei Sui, Zhiguang Zhao, Qirong Wang

Faculty Publications

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of leucine supplementation on athletic performance, central fatigue, and serum metabolome in endurance athletes, and to provide valuable insights into nutritional strategies for endurance athletes. Methods: Twenty cross-country skiers were recruited and randomized into 2 groups: the placebo (PLA) group and the leucine (LEU) group. Subjects were given leucine (8.5 g) + sucrose (14 g) or only sucrose (14 g) supplements twice each day from Monday to Saturday for 6 weeks. Test parameters include body composition, aerobic capacity, isokinetic muscle strength, blood biochemistry, and targeted metabolomics. Results: After intervention, compared …

Race And Patient-Physician Communication On Blood Pressure Management: Helping Improve Care, Samar A. Nasser, Ashley Pender, Ayan Ali, Kardie Tobb, Keith C. Ferdinand

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an overview of the relationship of race and ethnicity and patient-physician/clinician communication on blood pressure management.

RECENT FINDINGS: The suboptimal interactions experienced by patients from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations may be improved by enriching relationships among clinicians, population health scientists, policymakers, and community members/leaders. Current care communication and policies for managing hypertension appear to be insufficient. Implementing and disseminating effective strategies to efficiently improve the quality of hypertension care and recognize social determinants of health among minoritized populations is intertwined with enhanced communication.

SUMMARY: Approaches such as self-affirmation—encouraging patients to reflect on their strengths …

Bright Eyes And The Kinfolk, Ariel Aileen Cochran

ETDs from 2020-2029

BRIGHT EYES AND THE KINFOLK ARIEL COCHRAN MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH – CREATIVE WRITING ABSTRACT Bright Eyes and The Kinfolk is a historical fiction set in the pre-Civil War South that pays homage to Western media including, but not limited to, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, The Rifleman, Two Mules For Sister Sara, and Tombstone. The story follows the enslaved Dahomey (modern Benin) African Tina Jones who is in search of Uyi, her younger brother that was recently sold off from the Jones plantation in Mobile, Alabama. With a lead pointing to the state of Texas, Tina sets out west and …

Novel Retinal Biomarker Development In Early Alzheimer’S Disease, Swetha Ravichandran

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes damage to the neurons that are present in the brain. Progress in the management and treatment of AD is limited by lack of early diagnostics, which are critical to the development of effective therapies. It is therefore critical to develop non-invasive/cost efficient biomarkers to aid in early diagnosis and interventions to prevent or delay dementia onset. While Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid assessment have greatest utility, they are not routinely used because they are expensive and invasive, respectively. Retinal imaging offers a promising, low-cost, and non-invasive avenue for detecting …

Early Life Stress Mediates Cardiovascular Disease Risk Through Csf1r And Increases Risk Of Lupus Through Mature B-Cells, Cailin Elizabeth Kellum

ETDs from 2020-2029

The term Early Life Stress (ELS) encompasses traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, household dysfunctions, sexual abuse, childhood neglect, child maltreatment, and adverse childhood experiences. The traumatic psychological and physical experiences in early life are widely known to cause enduring effects on mental and physical health in adulthood. Of note, individuals with ELS have adverse health outcomes earlier in adulthood and with more severity such as in the case of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE), an autoimmune disease. The risk for autoimmunity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with ELS exposure and CVD is …

Lmod1 Modulates Neointimal Lesion Size After Vessel Injury And Stabilizes Smooth Muscle Cell Gene Regulatory Networks During Atherogenic Stress, Sara Wennersten

ETDs from 2020-2029

Phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a contractile to a synthetic state underlies the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathologies, including restenosis and atherosclerosis. Leiomodin 1 (LMOD1), an SMC-enriched actin-binding protein, has been previously found to regulate SMC phenotypic modulation in vitro. However, its contribution to CVD development and progression, along with its influence on gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that inform underlying responses to stress, remains incompletely defined. Here, I combine a mouse injury model, bulk RNA sequencing, and GRN inference to define how reduced LMOD1 expression perturbs SMC physiology during vascular wall remodeling and lipid stress. …

Meet The Stimulus Team, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Coco: Brown On The Outside, White On The Inside — A Meditation On My Transcultural Adoption To American Parents, Michael Paul Lewis

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Modulation Of The Cgas-Sting Inflammation Pathway In Mouse Models Of Accelerated And Slowed Aging, Benjamin David Heckman

ETDs from 2020-2029

Chronic sterile inflammation (inflammaging) is a core pillar of aging, and the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway has emerged as a key driver of this process. However, how this pathway intersects with systemic endocrine signaling remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the intersection of endocrine signaling and cGAS-STING activation using two complementary mouse models with opposing lifespan phenotypes: a short-lived, liver-specific glucagon receptor knockout (LKO) mouse and a long-lived growth hormone-releasing hormone knockout (GHRH-KO) mouse. We demonstrate that despite presenting with a metabolically healthy phenotype, female LKO mice exhibited a significantly reduced lifespan. We link this premature mortality to a sex …

Posterior Cerebellar Lobe Deviations And Social Cognition In Individuals With Psychosis And Their Unaffected Relatives, Andreea Maria Stanica

ETDs from 2020-2029

Social cognition deficits observed in psychotic disorders contribute to functional impairments. The cerebellum has been identified as a critical brain region involved in social cognitive processes, but the relationship between cerebellar structural deviations and social cognition in individuals with psychosis (probands) and their unaffected relatives remains unclear. Using normative modeling, this study examined cerebellar volume deviations in probands and their unaffected first-degree relatives and investigated associations with social cognitive and motor performance. Probands exhibited significant theory of mind deficits compared to relatives. Probands showed negative deviations in anterior cerebellar lobe relative to the norm, whereas relatives did not. Deviations in …

Reproductive System Variation In Tropical Red Macroalgae, Taylor M. Williams

ETDs from 2020-2029

The reproductive system encompasses the relative rates of sexual versus clonal reproduction and is responsible for partitioning genetic diversity within and among populations. However, the quantification of these rates remains limited in natural populations and has primarily focused on animals and angiosperms. This knowledge gap is particularly acute among tropical macroalgae. This dissertation addresses this by focusing on the cryptogenic invader Chondria tumulosa in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the invasive species Acanthophora spicifera across the Hawaiian Archipelago, Australia, and Guam. For Chondria we developed nine microsatellite loci and found a dominance of tetrasporophytes, high clonal rates, and strong …

Amino Acid Pet Tracers For Cancer Imaging And Response Assessment, Ugur Akca

ETDs from 2020-2029

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and high-grade glioma (HGG) pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their aggressive biology and the limitations of [¹⁸F]FDG PET, which suffers from nonspecific uptake in inflammatory tissues, complicating differentiation of viable tumor from treatment-related effects. Computed Tomography, while strong for structural changes, has limited soft tissue contrast for distinguishing tumor from inflammation, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, despite superior soft tissue resolution, struggles with differentiating active tumor from post-treatment changes like edema or necrosis due to nonspecific enhancement. These challenges highlight the necessity for complementary and advanced imaging strategies for improved diagnosis and monitoring. This …

Physiological And Neuroimmune Effects Of Manual Therapy, Murdi S. Alanazi

ETDs from 2020-2029

Manual therapy (MT) is widely used across healthcare disciplines for the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Emerging evidence indicates that MT may also influence broader physiological systems such as the nervous and the immune systems. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are still not well understood, and limited evidence exists regarding the neuroimmune effect of MT in neurologically impaired populations such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The overall aim of this dissertation was to investigate the physiological effects of MT, synthesizing current evidence across mechanistic domains, and generating pilot data to inform future research. This dissertation was structured around four manuscripts. The …

Investigating Stromal Cell-Mediated Biomechanics For Angiogenesis And Reperfusion In A 3d Microfluidic Model For Ischemic Vascular Disease, Vaishali Bala

ETDs from 2020-2029

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects millions worldwide, causing tissue ischemia and impaired healing due to insufficient blood flow. Current therapeutic strategies to promote revascularization remain limited, largely because the mechanical regulation of angiogenesis is poorly understood. While biochemical growth factors like VEGF have been extensively studied, the role of mechanical forces generated by stromal cells in the perivascular matrix remains underexplored. This dissertation investigated how stromal cell contractility drives vascular growth through mechanotransduction pathways and modulation of endothelial cell-cell junctions. Using 3D fibrin or fibrin-collagen-I-based microtissues and compartmentalized microfluidic devices, we characterized the mechanical phenotypes of multiple fibroblast populations and …

Predicting Perceived Immigrant Threat To National Identity Based On Christian Nationalism, White Racial Centrality, And Social Dominance Orientation, Anna Caroline Kinney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigrants remain frequent targets of anti-immigrant hate speech, often amplified by right-wing media. Demographic factors such as Christian nationalism (i.e., the desire to preserve Christian symbols, beliefs, and policies preserved as the established religion of the United States), White racial centrality (i.e., an automatic association between the self and the White ingroup), and social dominance orientation (i.e., support for group-based hierarchies and inequality) significantly shape perceptions of immigrants as a threat to national identity. Although prior research has examined these factors independently, their relative importance in predicting perceived immigrant threat remains limited. Informed by intergroup threat theory, this quantitative study …

153 Valentine Llc V Hawkins

All Decisions

In this post-foreclosure holdover, the landlord sought possession of a condominium unit from an occupant who was not a tenant. The landlord acquired title through a referee's deed after a foreclosure sale. The occupant argued the foreclosure was a legal nullity, rendering the landlord's title invalid, and also raised defenses of defective service, retaliatory eviction, and harassment. The court rejected the occupant's standing challenge, finding the foreclosure judgment and deed valid, as the prior court's "nullity" finding was limited and did not vacate the judgment. The court granted the landlord's motion for summary judgment and a judgment of possession, striking …

Stat-Independent Functions Of Janus Kinases 1 And 2 Are Obligatory For The Postnatal Development Of Mammary Epithelial Ducts, Rayane Dennaoui, Madison N. Wicker, Carson Moen, Michaela Schlederer, Kerry Vistisen, Aleata A. Triplett, Thomas Rülicke, Hallgeir Rui, Lukas Kenner, Emilio Casanova, Kay-Uwe Wagner

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Janus kinases 1 and 2 and STAT transcription factors are critical signaling nodes for numerous growth factors. In the mammary gland, JAK2 and STAT5a/b are essential for alveolar cell differentiation and lactation, but little is known about the cooperative roles of JAKs and STATs before pregnancy. We examined female mice conditionally deficient in JAK1/2 and discovered that both kinases jointly regulate epithelial cell proliferation and ductal morphogenesis. To assess the role of downstream STATs, we generated genetic models co-deficient in STAT3/5a/5b with or without STAT1 or JAK1. Although loss of STAT3/5a/5b leads to a JAK1-dependent upregulation of STAT1, the formation …

Integrated Proteomics To Understand The Role Of Neuritin-1 (Nrn1) As A Molecular Mediator Of Synaptic Resilience In Alzheimer’S Disease, Derian Pugh

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in adults over the age of 65, and currently affects approximately 6.9 million people in the United States. By 2060, the number of people age 65 and older with AD is projected to reach 13.8 million, barring the development of disease-altering therapies to prevent, slow or cure AD. Thus, there is a need for progress in the understanding of AD pathophysiology, as well as in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Approximately one-third of individuals without dementia at the time of death are found to harbor high levels of amyloid-beta …

Cysteine Protease Activity In Allergen Recognition And Initiation Of Th2 Allergic Responses, Audrey Rae Meloun

ETDs from 2020-2029

Allergens are non-infectious environmental proteins that can trigger T helper 2 (Th2) cell-mediated inflammation in atopic individuals. Allergens are structurally diverse and typically lack pathogen-associated molecules patterns (PAMPs), which are recognized by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs are the canonical sensors of the innate immune system that typically detect PAMPs in microbes, initiating signaling pathways that drive pathogen clearance. Because allergens generally do not activate PRRs in the same way as infectious agents, alternative detection mechanisms are likely responsible for their recognition and the subsequent initiation of Th2 cell-mediated inflammation. House Dust Mite (HDM), a major indoor allergen, and other …

Development Of Human Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen-2 (Trop-2) Specific Radiopharmaceutical Tracers, Arnav Vipulkumar Patel

ETDs from 2020-2029

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is closely related to the development and progression of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) and is also being investigated as a pan-cancer biomarker. Trop-2 tumorigenesis is mediated by the calcium ion signaling pathways. By accurately predicting and targeting Trop-2 for immunotherapy, precision therapy is crucial. Trop-2 is overexpressed in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues, which makes it a promising molecular target for cancer-targeted therapy. This thesis reports the development and preclinical evaluation of two novel Trop-2-specific radiopharmaceutical tracers derived from the clinically approved antibody-drug conjugate Sacituzumab Govitecan (SG): a full antibody drug conjugate-based tracer …

Beyond Neurons: Impact Of Cannabidiol On Glial Cells In Ischemic Stroke, Victória Linden De Rezende, Khiany Mathias, Cinara Ludvig Gonçalves, Rafael Mariano De Bitencourt, Tatiana Barichello, Fabricia Petronilho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ischemic stroke triggers a complex cascade of events involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and glial cell dysfunction, all of which contribute to neuronal damage and impaired recovery. Glial cells (e.g., astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) play key roles in neuroinflammatory responses, making them attractive targets for therapeutic modulation. Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid from Cannabis sativa, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Preclinical evidence indicates that cannabidiol attenuates glial reactivity, reduces pro-inflammatory signaling, mitigates oxidative stress, and preserves blood-brain and intestinal barrier integrity in stroke models. Moreover, cannabidiol modulates key molecular pathways (e.g., nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor, and calcium-related signaling), contributing to …

Structures Of Invertebrate Pezo-1 Isoforms With A Compact Architecture And A Dispensable Pore-Distal N-Terminal Blade, Briar Bell, Angela M Jaramillo-Granada, Daniel J Orlin, Wei-Hsiang Weng, Haosheng Wen, Marcos Sotomayor, Alexander T Chesler, Matthew L Baker, Julio F Cordero-Morales, Valeria Vásquez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PIEZO channels are mechanosensitive ion channels conserved from plants to humans, yet structures exist for only a few mammalian orthologs. We define the structural and functional diversity of Caenorhabditis elegans PEZO-1, a single gene with extensive alternative splicing, by determining cryo-electron microscopy structures of three representative isoforms: G (full length), K (lacking the pore-distal N-terminal blade), and L (missing most of the blade). PEZO-1G displays mechanically evoked currents yet adopts a compact, semi-flattened conformation that significantly differs from the mammalian domes. The blades exhibit a three-step slope architecture stabilized by inter-blade latching among transmembrane helical units, yielding a circular, steering-wheel-like …

Structures Of Trpv1 Bound By Hyperthermia-Inducing Analgesics, Yu-Hao Gao, Yi-Zhe Huang, Zhao-Xing Li, Xiao-Ying Chen, Chang-Yan Shao, Han-Wen Li, Bin Liu, Fán Yang, Mei-Rong Chen, Mei-Ling Lu, Michael X Zhu, Fan Yang, Yi-Bei Xiao, Ye Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

TRPV1, a member of the transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily, mediates nociception and thermoregulation. TRPV1-targeting analgesics frequently induce hyperthermia, underscoring the need for structural insights to guide the development of safer compounds. Here, we determined the structures of rat TRPV1 bound to the clinical candidate analgesics AMG517, AMG9810, and SB366791. AMG517 and AMG9810 are deeply situated within the S3-S4 interface of the vanilloid pocket, where they interact with residues from the S3-S6 helices, as well as the S4-S5 linker. These interactions induce local deformations in the TRP-box and lower S6 helix, accompanied by a modest rotation of the S1-S4 bundle, …

Payload Diversification Overcomes Resistance And Guides Sequential Antibody-Drug Conjugate Therapy In Breast Cancer, Dileep Reddy Rampa, Minji Seo, Nanae Ogata, Zhaoxuan Yang, Nithya Sridhar, Fujii Takeo, Chalothorn Wannaphut, Jennifer A Maynard, Kyoji Tsuchikama, George W Sledge, Naoto T Ueno, Jangsoon Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have transformed the treatment of breast cancer. FDA-approved ADCs such as trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), sacituzumab govitecan (SG), and datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) have demonstrated clinical benefit; however, drug resistance will almost inevitably emerge in the metastatic setting, and there is no established strategy for selecting subsequent ADCs after disease progression to the first exposure to the ADC. This study aimed to define mechanisms of acquired resistance and evaluate rational sequencing approaches.

Experimental design: We generated breast cancer cell lines resistant to T-DXd (TDXd-R) and SG (SG-R). We assessed antigen expression, internalization, and resistance pathways, including efflux transporter …

Common Octopus (Octopus Vulgaris) Blooms Off The Southwest Of The Uk: History, Trends, Causes And Consequences.: Report On Work Package 1: History, Causes And Consequences Of Octopus Blooms, Bryce Stewart, Simon Thomas, Tim J. Smyth, Molly K. James, Emma Sullivan, Alice Hall, Tully Osmond, Emma Sheehan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are normally uncommon in UK waters, with a mainly south-westerly distribution linked to the species’ preference for warmer conditions. However, a major population bloom occurred off southwest UK in 2025, comparable to rare historical blooms recorded in 1899–1900, 1932–33 and 1950–51. The species’ rapid growth, high fecundity and short lifespan make its populations highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evidence from fisheries landings, scientific surveys and citizen science confirmed the bloom, with commercial fisheries landings of common octopus in 2025 being almost 65 times higher than recent annual averages. The 2025 bloom and all previous blooms were …