Digital Commons Network^™

Linking Geographic Distribution And Niche Through Estimation Of Niche Density, Tad Dallas, Cleber Ten Caten

Faculty Publications

1. The availability of suitable niche space constrains where species can occur geographically. This tie between niche space and geographic space is crucial when estimating species geographic distributions in a changing climate. However, specific combinations of climatic conditions may be overrepresented in geographic space, highlighting the potential disconnect between climatic niche area and geographic range size.
2. We develop a niche density estimator that accounts for the geographic availability of climatic niche space, relate this to traditional estimates of niche area and explore how these niche estimates are related to species geographic range size.
3. To do this, we use data on over …

Identification Of Subtypes Of Post-Stroke And Neurotypical Gait Behaviors Using Neural Network Analysis Of Gait Cycle Kinematics, Andrian Kuch, Nicolas Schweighofer, James M. Finley, Alison Mckenzie, Yuxin Wen, Natalia Sánchez

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Gait impairment post-stroke is highly heterogeneous. Prior studies classified heterogeneous gait patterns into subgroups using peak kinematics, kinetics, or spatiotemporal variables. A limitation of this approach is the need to select discrete features in the gait cycle. Using continuous gait cycle data, we accounted for differences in magnitude and timing of kinematics. Here, we propose a machine-learning pipeline combining supervised and unsupervised learning. We first trained a Convolutional Neural Network and a Temporal Convolutional Network to extract features that distinguish impaired from neurotypical gait. Then, we used unsupervised time-series k-means and Gaussian Mixture Models to identify gait clusters. We tested …

Investigating The Association Between Metabolically Healthy And Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity With Disease, Colleen Marie Cohick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a global health concern, affecting individuals of all ages and ethnicities worldwide. A key factor in health concerns related to obesity is metabolic health: Obese individuals are either metabolically healthy obese or metabolically unhealthy obese, leading to different degrees of risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.. There is a lack of comprehensive research examining the association between metabolic health status among obese individuals and kidney, liver, and stomach diseases. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine whether metabolic health status is a significant predictor of kidney, liver, and stomach diseases among obese individuals when lifestyle is a …

Effects Of Acute Exercise On Cognition: Consideration Of Potential Moderators, Lucy C. Wilson, Elizabeth Carwile, Mara Liston, Elizabeth Gaines, Mckenzie Cotten, Mary Griffin

Honors Theses

The present thesis aims to determine the effects, if any, of six potential moderators on the effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on cognitive functioning. The modes of exercise undertaken by the participants included treadmill (Experiment 1) and stationary bike (Experiment 2) exercise. Participants in each experiment either exercised or rested for twenty minutes and then participated in either a memory recall task or cognitive functioning (“Stroop”) task. The bouts of either exercise or rest on the stationary bike were followed by a rest period during which the participant would be exposed to either standard air oxygen levels (normoxia) or hypoxic …

Art In Itself: The Vision Of Three Female Mississippi Artists, Jane E. Thomas

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of longform, narrative-style journalistic profiles on artists in Northeast Mississippi. These artists include Carol Roark from Enid and Hannah McCormick and Coulter Fussell from Water Valley. Each profile highlights an individual artist’s work, from her background, inspirations, process and distinctiveness as a creator. These profiles required studio visits and extensive interviews, as well as secondary interviews with clients, gallery owners and art curators. An overarching theme between the three artists is their ability to recognize artistic potential in their immediate surroundings; Roark paints landscapes from her own backyard, McCormick paints scenes from everyday life and …

Automation Of Javanese Shadow Puppets Using Machine Control, Kristian Rice, Yinson Tso, Mukhammadali Yuldoshev

Publications and Research

The virtualization of Javanese shadow puppetry (Wayang Kulit) offers a unique opportunity to preserve and revitalize traditional performance art through immersive digital platforms. This project explores the development of a virtual Wayang Kulit experience using real-time 3D engines like Unity/Unreal Engine while focusing on simulating the mechanics and aesthetics of shadow puppet performance. The puppets are designed using detailed 2D planes and rigged with skeletal systems to reflect the stylized motion of traditional puppetry. An aspect of this project is integrating an AI-driven control system that autonomously animates the puppets, learning from recorded puppeteer performances to replicate gesture, rhythm, and …

Empowering Youth Through Cooking Classes, Jamiya C. Mason

Honors Theses

Chronic health issues and poor dietary habits continue to disproportionately impact rural communities in Mississippi, especially among children. Research has shown that early exposure to healthy foods and cooking practices can positively influence lifelong health behaviors. Cooking classes have also been linked to improved food literacy, culinary confidence, and willingness to try new foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a short-term culinary program on children’s cooking self-efficacy and food behaviors in Quitman County, Mississippi.

Four cooking classes were conducted with youth (grades 4–7) in a local after-school program. Lessons included vegetable-based recipes, including zucchini …

Metabolic Reprogramming Driven By Ant2 Deficiency Augments T Cell Function And Anti-Tumor Immunity In Mice, Omri Yosef, Leonor Cohen-Daniel, Oded Shamriz, Zahala Bar-On, Wajeeh Salaymeh, Amijai Saragovi, Ifat Abramovich, Bella Agranovich, Veronika Lutz, Joseph Tam, Anna Permyakova, Eyal Gottlieb, Magdalena Huber, Michael Berger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

T cell activation requires a substantial increase in NAD+ production, often exceeding the capacity of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). To investigate how T cells adapt to this metabolic challenge, we generate T cell-specific ADP/ATP translocase-2 knockout (Ant2-/-) mice. Loss of Ant2, a crucial protein mediating ADP/ATP exchange between mitochondria and cytoplasm, induces OXPHOS restriction by limiting ATP synthase activity, thereby impeding NAD+ regeneration. Interestingly, Ant2-/- naïve T cells exhibit enhanced activation, proliferation and effector functions compared to wild-type controls. Metabolic profiling reveals that these T cells adopt an activated-like metabolic program with increased mitobiogenesis and anabolism. Lastly, pharmacological inhibition of ANT …

Discovery Of Novel, Potent, And Orally Bioavailable Smarca2 Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras With Synergistic Antitumor Activity In Combination With Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homologue G12c Inhibitors, Sasikumar Kotagiri, Yawen Wang, Yanyan Han, Xiaobing Liang, Nicholas Blazanin, Hira Mazhar, Manu Sebastian, Phuong Kieu Nguyen, Yongying Jiang, Yonathan Lissanu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer genomic studies have identified frequent mutations in subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, including SMARCA4 in nonsmall cell lung cancer with a frequency of up to 33% in advanced-stage disease, making it the most frequently mutated complex. We and others have identified SMARCA2 to be synthetic lethal to SMARCA4, indicating that SMARCA2 is a high-value therapeutic target. Here, we disclose the discovery and characterization of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable cereblon-based SMARCA2 PROTACs. Biochemically, we showed that YDR1 and YD54 are potent SMARCA2 degraders. Further, we showed the antitumor growth inhibitory activity of YDR1 and YD54 in SMARCA4 …

Zanidatamab Monotherapy Or Combined With Chemotherapy In Her2-Expressing Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Phase 1 Trial, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Sun Young Rha, Erika Hamilton, Yoon-Koo Kang, Diana L Hanna, Syma Iqbal, Keun-Wook Lee, Jeeyun Lee, Muralidhar Beeram, Do-Youn Oh, Jorge Chaves, Rachel A Goodwin, Jaffer A Ajani, Lin Yang, Rajen Oza, Elena Elimova

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There is a need for novel therapies for patients with previously treated HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA). This phase 1 (NCT02892123) dose-escalation and expansion trial evaluated zanidatamab (a dual HER2-targeted bispecific antibody) ± chemotherapy in previously treated patients with HER2-expressing, locally advanced/metastatic cancers. Here, we report the outcomes for GEA cohorts receiving zanidatamab monotherapy or with chemotherapy (paclitaxel or capecitabine). The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate, progression-free survival, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity. Seventy patients were enrolled (n = 29 monotherapy; n = 41 combination therapy); most received prior HER2-targeted agents (monotherapy, …

Disrupting Nrf2-Driven Cancer Biology Through One-Carbon Metabolism Inhibition, Julius Chembo

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with treatment resistance and recurrence posing major barriers to long-term survival. Despite advancements in targeted therapies, many cancers develop resistance to chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, significantly limiting their effectiveness. One key driver of therapeutic resistance is nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2/NRF2), a transcription factor that regulates antioxidant responses and drug detoxification. While NRF2 protects normal cells from oxidative stress, its aberrant activation in cancer promotes tumor progression, metabolic reprogramming, and resistance to standard treatments. Alarmingly, NRF2 hyperactivation is implicated in some of the most aggressive and refractory malignancies, yet no …

Oxycodone Self-Administration Modulates Ventral Pallidal Neuron Activity And Plasticity, Jessica Tooley

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder is an urgent public health crisis in the United States. Over 800,000 Americans have died from opioid-related overdoses since 2000. Nearly 30% of people who misuse opioids begin with prescription oral opioids, such as oxycodone, and continue misusing to avoid the immediate aversive state of withdrawal and the persistent dysphoria associated with protracted abstinence from opioids. The persistency of these dysphoric symptoms increases the risk of relapse even after long periods of abstinence. Treatment for opioid use disorder currently consists of pharmacological opioid treatment to reduce withdrawal symptoms and behavioral counseling. However, these strategies have significant real-world …

Music And Cognition: How To Keep The Brain On Beat, Rylen Sakamoto

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Music, as the conversion of words and sounds into expressive art, has been often used as a form of catharsis or emotional regulation. While research on common mood outcomes from music exists, further examination is necessary, as this knowledge, once fully understood, can be applied beyond music therapy, and be utilized to enhance our cognitive efficiency. Current research includes Music Mood Theory, which suggests that music has a meaningful impact on our moods, which correlate with behaviors such as maintaining tempo and harmony (Hu, 2010). The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper perspective on the impact music …

On The Deconstruction Of Nothingness In Digital Communication, Matthew S. Lindia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project argues that digital technologies call for a new problematic of communication, centered around the conditions of (im)possibility for creating perfect digital profiles of users as generated from user data. Beginning with Edmund Husserl’s analysis of essentially occasional expressions, this dissertation posits that user data occurs on three levels: (1) the level of expression, where a user wants-to-say something through their inputs, (2) the level of facticity, where biometric data are involuntarily produced by the user, and (3) the level of nothingness, where the user’s inaction, such as not-answering, is taken as data. Moving beyond what Husserl’s framework can …

Congress Of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review And Evidence-Based Guidelines For The Role Of Imaging In Newly Diagnosed Who Grade Ii Diffuse Glioma In Adults: Update, Chaitra Badve, Abraham Nirappel

Faculty Scholarship

Target population: Adult patients with suspected or histologically proven WHO Grade II diffuse glioma. Question 1: In adult patients with suspected or histologically proven WHO Grade II diffuse glioma, do advanced MRI techniques using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, perfusion weighted imaging or diffusion weighted imaging provide superior assessment of tumor grade, margins, progression, treatment-related effects, and prognosis compared to standard neuroimaging? Recommendation: Level II: The use of diffusion imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequences are suggested to differentiate WHO Grade II diffuse glioma from higher grade gliomas when this is not …

Young-Onset Diabetes Poses A Greater Risk Of End-Stage Kidney Disease Than Cardiovascular Disease And Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study Of Uk Biobank (Ukb), Debasish Kar

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Antimicrobial Resistance: A Serious Global Health Threat: Part 2, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

The article examines how the post-war rise of industrial animal farming led to routine antibiotic use for growth, a key factor in the development of antimicrobial resistance. It stresses the urgent need to reform farming practices to reduce the spread of drug-resistant bacteria and protect public health.

Getting It Together – Ending Lab Animal Use, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

U.S. federal agencies are advancing coordinated strategies to phase out animal testing and adopt innovative, humane research technologies. These new approaches aim to deliver more accurate and ethical scientific results by focusing on human biology.

The Community Cat Conundrum, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

Efforts to manage outdoor cat populations are shifting toward humane approaches like Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return and Return-to-Field. While these methods gain support, conflicting legal frameworks and philosophical divides continue to complicate their widespread adoption.

Phytosynthesis Of Magnetite Nanoparticles From Piper Betle (L.) Var. Mysore And Evaluation Of Anti-Microbial Properties, Ravikant Shekhar, Sushma T, Madhusudhan Mc, Prakash Hs, Geetha N

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background: Piper betle L., is a well-known herb in Asia, popular for its fragrance and mouth-refreshing properties. With more than 100 varieties, it has a number of medicinal and socio-economic benefits. Its phenolic constituents have been displayed to treat oral anaerobes, animate lipase action, and reduces lipid peroxidation. Magnetite nanoparticles, with their novel properties, are utilized in different applications, and amalgamating with plant sources, increases the efficacy of the nanoparticles to many folds.

Methods: In this study, biogenic synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) was carried out using aqueous solutions of Ferric Chloride and Ferrous Sulphate in a ratio of 2:1 …

Awareness Of Symptoms And Risk Factors Of Ovarian Cancer Among Healthy Women Aged 18 Years And Above: A Narrative Review, Surabhi Sai P Raghavendra, Mackwin Kenwood Dmello, Neevan Dsouza

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is often termed a "silent killer" due to its late presentation and poor prognosis. Awareness of its symptoms and risk factors is crucial for early healthcare intervention, which can significantly increase survival rates. This review article focuses on awareness of ovarian cancer, the risk factors, symptoms and factors influencing awareness among women.

Methods: Articles published in English between 2009 and 2024 were included, focusing on awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors among healthy women aged 18 years and above in a community-based or facility-based study setting.

Results: Overall, awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms …

Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Oushadhi Tooth Powder Using Microbes Isolated From Dental Plaque And Its Implications In Geriatric Patients., Priya Prasannakumar, Thulasi Ramachandran, Sonima Balan

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

The oral cavity houses diverse microbial species influenced by various extrinsic and intrinsic factors, leading to biofilm formation and subsequent plaque build-up with caries evolution. Prevention strategies focusing on herbal ingredients and their efficacy in preventing dental plaque are essential to study. The mouth's microflora acts as a natural barrier to pathogens, playing a crucial role in host defense. However, some microorganisms are opportunistic pathogens that can cause transient bacteremia and pyogenic infections. Hence, it is imperative to evaluate the efficacy of tooth powder in preventing bacterial adhesion using models that simulate biofilm formation in the oral environment. Additionally, antimicrobial …

A Comprehensive Review Of Ethical Guideline On Biomarker Application And Research, Nurjamal Hoque

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background:

Biomarker research is essential for personalized medicine, providing insights into disease causes, diagnostics, and treatment methods. However, informed consent, privacy, data protection, and vulnerable population impacts are major ethical considerations in this quickly developing profession.

Method

This thorough overview analyzes existing legal frameworks, such as HIPAA and GDPR, and assesses growing ethical criteria for biomarker research and implementation. A examination of case studies, ethical considerations, and regulatory rules examines how biomarker research has handled sensitive data and protected participant rights.

Result

Key results indicate that informed consent is a significant issue in biomarker research owing to its complexity and …

Conservation, Policy And The Role Of Counsel, David J. Halperin

Maine Law Review

The conservation interests in the State of Maine have been roused to a furor by the decision of Maine's highest court in State v. Johnson. The case, in substance, holds that Maine's Wetlands Act is unconstitutional when applied to prohibit the filling of a specific segment of salt water marsh. While both the decision and the underlying statute are of considerable substantive interest, the case deserves particular study for the light it sheds on the role of counsel in helping the legal process accommodate new policy concerns. A note of caution must, of course, be sounded before seeking to generalize …

De Novo Juries, Misdemeanor Counsel, And Other Problems: Changes Ahead For The Maine District Courts?, Pierce B. Hasler

Maine Law Review

The Maine judicial system has two levels of criminal courts, the superior court having exclusive trial jurisdiction over felony prosecutions and the district court operating with concurrent trial jurisdiction for misdemeanors. The district court also processes the preliminary phases of felony cases; included in this function are bail hearings, initial appearances (arraignments), and preliminary hearings. To provide jury trials in misdemeanor prosecutions state law permits all district court convictions to be appealed to the superior court for trial de novo to a jury. The accepted reason for unlimited de novo trials is that the state constitution requires a jury in …

The Law Of The Land: Development Legislation In Maine And Vermont, J. Jackson Walter

Maine Law Review

In recent Maine and Vermont environmental protection legislation, desecration of the landscape has emerged as an issue as controversial as pollution of water and air. Traditional techniques of land use regulation operate locally, some say parochially, without any regular regard for Earth Day or statehouse politics or even administrative fair play. The trend in northern New England to adopt state-level standards totally changes the business of land development. And statewide rules are not the end; national land use standards are imminent. A report by the President's Council of Environmental Quality recommends federal controls within areas of critical environmental concern, such …

A State Approach To Effluent Charge, Orlando E. Delogu

Maine Law Review

Although the concept of effluent charge as a means of dealing with water pollution has been widely discussed in this country for more than a decade and widely used with documented success in parts of Europe for over fifty years, there is a surprising lack of specific material on methods of implementation. We are, after all, a complex society with overlaying levels of government and close working relationships between the public and private sectors of the economy. Furthermore, the statutory, constitutional, and institutional framework of the federal government and that of each state government are different in varying degree from …

Arachnidism Leading To A Complicated Infection In A Middle Aged Female, Monica S. Drummond, Carol A. Medina, Madison A. Morgan, Alex J. Studebaker

Research Day

Arachnids are known to seek out dark, undisturbed areas, where they can be secluded. Although generally not known for their aggression towards humans, they are known to bite when prompted. Most bites occur unknowingly while cleaning a storage area, putting on clothing/shoes, doing yard-work, or even rolling over in bed. Often, the bite is painless. The severity of a patient’s reaction to the bite originates from the genus of arachnida, the amount of venom injected, and the individual’s sensitivity to it. Several types of arachnid venoms are known to be cytotoxic and hemolytic. While many initial bites are commonly painless, …

Use Of Simulation For Teaching Biomedical Sciences To Undergraduate Medical Students- A Scoping Review, Joshua Owolabi, Katresa Gardner, Rasheed Agboola, Rekha Yesudas, Jennifer H. Shaw

Research Day

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to the use of simulation or SIM-based medical education pedagogies to teach biomedical sciences to undergraduate medical students in accredited medical schools, globally. The review considers literature published between 2014-2024.

Introduction: Simulation, which could be generally described as a computer-based or structured model and practice that replicates the processes, behavior, or characteristics of a real-world system or phenomenon, especially for the purpose of education or training, is increasingly becoming popular and relevant in medical education. However, discrete publications with relatively diverse experiences …

Contributors, Diamond Line Editors

Diamond Line Undergraduate Literary Magazine

No abstract provided.