Digital Commons Network^™

Retention In A Community College In A Rural State In The Midwest: Factors Associated With Persistence And Withdrawal, Samantha Reeves Grady

Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative case study examined the factors associated with students’ persistence or withdrawals from courses during the Fall 2025 semester at a community college in the Midwest. Guided by research questions exploring what factors supported students in completing their courses and what prompts course withdrawals. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with students who had withdrawn from one or more courses during the Fall 2025 semester. Using thematic analysis, several key themes emerged. Findings indicated that academic difficulties contributed significantly to student withdrawals. Additionally, course load intensity and competing external factors further hindered student persistence. Students, in …

The Effects Of Hyperthyroidism On Mouse Corneal Innervation: Implications For Human Cornea Re-Innervation, Anjali Malali

Research Honors

To test the effects of elevated TH during cornea development, our lab has collaborated with Dr. Juan Davila (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) to develop an embryonic mouse model of hyperthyroidism. Embryos were exposed to high levels of TH in utero by adding TH to the pregnant mother’s drinking water. Upon collection of the embryos, elevated blood thyroid levels in the pregnant mother were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and eye tissues were collected and preserved for analysis of corneal nerve innervation patterns. By utilizing immunohistochemistry in order to visualize corneal innervation in mouse embryos, this project studied whether …

“We Only Care For White Germs”: How Black Chicagoans Used Community Care To Overcome Medical Discrimination, Kylie Power

Research Honors

This project examines the use of Community Care as a means of healthcare within Black American populations, specifically in Chicago. Background information is provided on the evolution of Community Care, from slavery, to post-emancipation, to the early 20th century. Provident Hospital of Chicago in particular is examined during the early 20th century section, with a look at how the 1918 Spanish Influenza affected the Hospital, it's patrons, and Chicago. Important pieces of literature from the time period are combined with newspaper articles and other reports, as well as secondary literature, to construct this social history.

Reply To: Malik Mmud On Early And Sustained Improvements In Sense Of Smell With Tezepelumab Treatment In Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (Waypoint), Joaquim Mullol, Joseph K. Han, Tanya M. Laidlaw, Claire Hopkins, Anju T. Peters, Oliver Pfaar, Martin Desrosiers, Stella E. Lee, Andrew P. Lane, Claudia Chen, Yun Chon

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

[Introduction] To the Editor:

We thank Professor MMUD Malik [1] for his interest in our recent publication describing the improvements in loss of smell symptoms with tezepelumab versus placebo in patients with uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in the WAYPOINT trial (NCT04851964) [2]. We appreciate Professor Malik's comments on the language used to describe the findings and the specific analyses presented as well as his note regarding the consistent improvements in sense of smell observed with tezepelumab treatment versus placebo, demonstrated by large effect sizes across three instruments.

The Development Of Collaborative Relationships Between Disaster Relief Ngos: Barriers And Solutions, Christopher Phillips

Plymouth Business School Theses

Collaborative responses amongst disaster relief NGOs can be more effective in delivering aid when compared with responses conducted individually. Collaboration enables the sharing of resources, expertise, personnel, and funding, resulting in more efficient aid distribution in the wake of natural disasters. However, current research highlights that it is often challenging for NGOs to establish and sustain collaborative relationships due to different barriers. The challenges these barriers cause have been explored in previous research, but limited attention has been given with respect to how these can be addressed. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding of the relationships between these barriers, …

Analysis Of Volatility Between Macroeconomic Variables And Busan Port Cargo Throughput According To Global Risks, Sang Ho Cho

Plymouth Business School Theses

This study investigates how container (BPC) and non-container (BPB) cargo throughput at Busan Port responds to structural shocks in global and domestic macroeconomic variables, and how their relative importance changes over time. The selection of variables was based on a combination of a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and semi-structured interviews (SSI). The econometric analysis applied a stepwise framework, employing cumulative Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (FEVD) based on Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) estimations, as well as Historical Decomposition (HD) for specific crisis periods. While IRF and FEVD were used to capture dynamic properties under general …

First Report Of A Trematode Infection In An Invasive Population Of Pomacea Maculata: Evidence Of A Phaneropsolid (Trematoda: Microphalloidea) And Recommended Methods For Surveillance, Jonah A. Nguyen, Lori Tolley-Jordan, Annie P. Slayton, Bradley M. Richardson, Thomas G. Rosser

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Giant apple snails, Pomacea maculata (Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae), are native to South America but are now invasively established in subtropical freshwater habitats worldwide. In May 2017, P. maculata from an urban pond in Mobile, Alabama, USA were found infected with a larval trematode, prompting further collections to determine prevalence and investigate effects of infection by snail sex and size. In total, 284 snails (n = 184 female, n = 100 male) were collected in May, August, and October of 2017 and 2018. Of these, 60 females and 23 males were infected with prevalence per sampling event ranging from 4 to …

Analyzing An Ai Summary Of An Executive Order, Natalie D. Ebolum

Open Educational Resources

This assignment asks students to critically analyze the Executive Order on Incarceration in Private Prisons by producing an independent summary of its intent, purpose, and implementation, along with best-practice recommendations for improving its effectiveness. Students then use the Grammarly AI Summary Tool to generate an alternative summary and compare it with their own analysis. Through structured self-assessment and revision, students evaluate differences in interpretation, identify gaps or insights, and reflect on the strengths and limitations of AI-assisted analysis. The assignment emphasizes critical policy analysis, ethical use of AI tools, and student-centered judgment.

Colorimetric Measurement Of Ammonium (Nh4+): A Comparison Of Hanna And Lamotte Meters, Abby Laughlin, Dalton Palmer, Bruce Bugbee

Techniques and Instruments

Both meters were similarly accurate. The LaMotte meter is about 25% lower initial cost than the HANNA meter, but the HANNA meter has other advantages: lower cost and more available test kits, greater range, and ease of use.

A User-Friendly Graphical User Interface For Paw Touch Classification In Rodent Cylinder Testing, Tyler R Johnson, Katherine D Zerefos, Dawn M Taylor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In unilateral rodent models of disease or injury, deficits are induced in only one side of the body, allowing the difference in right versus left limb usage to serve as a metric of disease/injury severity and recovery with various treatments. Unilateral rat models are commonly used for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease (via the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine, 6-OHDA), stroke, and traumatic brain injury, as well as cervical spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve damage. The ‘cylinder test’ has been used for over two decades as a reliable metric of asymmetry in forelimb usage. In this test, videos are taken of the …

Deep Learning To Predict Future Cognitive Decline: A Multimodal Approach Using Brain Mri And Clinical Data, Tamoghna Chattopadhyay, Pavithra Senthilkumar, Rahul H Ankarath, Christopher Patterson, Emma J Gleave, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Heng Huang, Li Shen, Lei You, Degui Zhi, Paul M Thompson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Predicting the trajectory of clinical decline in aging individuals is a pressing challenge, especially for people with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or vascular dementia. Accurate predictions can guide treatment decisions, identify risk factors, and optimize clinical trials. In this study, we compared two deep learning approaches for forecasting changes, over a 2-year interval, in the Clinical Dementia Rating scale 'sum of boxes' score (sobCDR), as a continuous outcome (regression). This is a key metric in dementia research and clinical trials, and scores range from 0 (no impairment) to 18 (severe impairment). To predict decline, we trained a …

A Hybrid Vit-L/32-Maxvit-L Architecture With Adaptive Gated Fusion For Multiclass Gastrointestinal Disease Detection And Multi-Method Post-Hoc Explainability, Shahid Mohammad Ganie, Pijush Kanti Dutta Pramanik, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Accurate detection of gastrointestinal diseases from endoscopic images remains challenging due to substantial inter-class similarity, intra-class variability, and heterogeneous lesion presentation. While convolutional neural networks (CNNs) effectively capture fine mucosal textures, their limited receptive field restricts global contextual reasoning. Conversely, transformer architectures model long-range dependencies but may underrepresent localized structural detail.

Methods: This study proposes a dual-branch hybrid transformer framework that integrates global token-level reasoning from ViT-L/32 with hierarchical spatial modeling from MaxViT-L. An adaptive gated fusion mechanism is introduced to dynamically regulate the relative contribution of local and global representations on a per-sample basis, enabling content-aware cross-scale integration. …

Global-Local Feature Fusion: A Robust Hybrid Deep Learning Model For Multiclass Brain Tumor Classification With Grad-Cam++ Interpretation, Kirti Pant, Pijush Kanti Dutta Pramanik, Shahid Mohammad Ganie, Anindita Saha, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Accurate classification of brain tumors in MRI scans is critical for effective clinical decision making, yet manual assessment is labor-intensive and subject to variability. Although deep learning models, particularly CNNs and Transformers, have shown potential, each architecture alone has limitations: CNNs excel at local feature extraction but lack global context awareness, while Transformers capture global relationships but may overlook fine-grained details.

Objectives: To develop a hybrid Transfer Learning-Transformer model that integrates CNN-driven local feature modeling with Transformer-based global reasoning to enhance multi-class brain tumor classification.

Methods: The proposed workflow comprises three stages: (1) benchmarking standalone CNN (ResNet50, VGG19, ConvNeXtBase, …

Genetic Variants Associated With Sjögren’S Disease Subtypes Stratified By Clinical Feature, Nitesh Enduru, Chihiro Iwaya, Akiko Suzuki, Zhongming Zhao, Junichi Iwata

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Sjögren's disease (SjD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by dry mouth (xerostomia) and dry eyes (xerophthalmia) due to inflammation in exocrine glands, particularly the salivary and lacrimal glands. The condition presents a wide variety of clinical features, suggesting that it may involve heterogeneous conditions without a clear boundary. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several genetic variants associated with SjD, their roles in SjD pathogenesis remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with SjD by categorizing patients based on four diagnostic markers: anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies, IgG levels, and lymphocyte …

Association Between Three-Dimensional Margin Assessment And Local Tumor Control In Percutaneous Lung Cryoablation Of Colorectal Metastases, Frank Mohn, Koustav Pal, Caleb O'Connor, Iwan Paolucci, Austin Castelo, Kamran Ahrar, Steven Yevich, Joshua D Kuban, Bruno C Odisio, Alda Lui Tam, Rahul A Sheth, Kristy K Brock

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose

To evaluate the association of two minimum ablation margin (MAM) estimation methods: manual three-dimensional segmentation and biomechanical deformable image registration (DIR) with local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS) after percutaneous lung cryoablation of colorectal pulmonary metastases.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective single-institution study included patients who underwent percutaneous lung cryoablation between May 2012 and March 2023 (median follow-up, 3.6 years; range, 0.8–9.6 years). Manual three-dimensional MAM was calculated for all tumors, and DIR-based MAM was estimated in a subset with intraprocedural full-thorax imaging. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed associations between MAM and LTPFS. The primary outcome was 2-year LTPFS, with …

Outcomes Of Patients With Melanoma Brain Metastases Treated With Ipilimumab And Nivolumab With Or Without Upfront Comprehensive Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Troy J Kleber, Denái R Milton, Subhiksha Srinivasan, Bikash Panthi, Warren Floyd, Eric A Goethe, Michael A Davies, Hussein A Tawbi, Isabella C Glitza Oliva, Diana Kaya, Jing Li, Todd A Swanson, Subha Perni, Martin C Tom, Chenyang Wang, Sujit Prabhu, Jeffrey S Weinberg, Ian E Mccutcheon, Caroline Chung, Sherise D Ferguson, Thomas H Beckham

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The efficacy of ipilimumab and nivolumab (ipi/nivo) for melanoma brain metastases (MBMs) has been previously reported, leading to uncertainty regarding the optimal role of comprehensive stereotactic radiosurgery (cSRS). We therefore conducted a single-institution retrospective study to compare outcomes of upfront versus deferred cSRS for MBM treated with ipi/nivo.

Methods: We identified patients who started ipi/nivo for newly diagnosed MBMs between 2018 and 2023, with or without upfront cSRS. Patients with >15 MBMs, leptomeningeal disease, or whole-brain radiotherapy at baseline were excluded. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regression and reported as adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% CIs.

Results: Of …

Bop2-Comb: Bayesian Optimal Phase Ii Design For Optimizing Doses And Assessing Contribution Of Components In Drug Combinations, Xiaohan Chi, Ying Yuan, Ruitao Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Personalized cancer treatment using combination therapies offers substantial therapeutic benefits over single-agent treatments in most cancers. However, unmet clinical needs and increasing market competition pressure drug developers to quickly optimize combination doses and clearly demonstrate the contribution of each component when developing and evaluating new combination treatments.

Methods: We propose a Bayesian optimal phase II drug-combination (BOP2-Comb) design that optimizes the combination dose and evaluates the proof-of-concept as well as the contribution of each component in two seamless stages. Our optimal calibration scheme minimizes the total trial sample size while controlling incorrect decision rates at nominal levels. This calibration …

Scaling Laws, James Glimm

Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

A maximum entropy principle is assumed.

Scaling laws, accurate to all orders, are constructed for Navier-Stokes and Euler fluids and for quantum Yang-Mills fields.

Conventional renormalization group scaling is accurate to all orders in a large time asymptotic limit. At intermediate times, corrections to conventional scaling at less than leading order describe the expected timing for a finite sequence of blowups.

The extension to quantum general relativity is indicated.

Neural Basis Of Private And Social Decision-Making: New Insights From Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation And Multivariate Analysis, Mathilde Lojkiewiez

School of Psychology Theses

Value-based decision-making is a complex process that requires the integration of many pieces of information, or decision variables, to choose among several options. These decision variables include the expected value of an option, its associated risk, or the anticipation of the emotions that one could experience when seeing the outcomes of all possible options. In some cases, values attributed to options are learnt from experience, and additional strategies can be employed to refine them. One of them is to use information from the social environment in which decisions are made. Observational learning allows one to learn from observing others making …

Examining Motivators And Barriers To Meditation Practice Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Insights From A Survey Study, Radha Korupolu, Chelsea G Ratcliff, Ariana Andampour, Susan Robinson-Whelen, Shrasti Lohiya, Audrey S Cohen, Christine Bakos-Block, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Context: Meditation and mindfulness practices offer promising non-pharmacological alternatives for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to improve their health and well-being, but integrating such practices into daily routines can be challenging.

Objectives: This survey study aims to identify motivators and barriers to engagement with meditation and mindfulness interventions among individuals with SCI.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults with SCI (N = 94) from a single large acute rehabilitation center in the United States.

Results: Results from the survey showed a strong interest in meditation among individuals with SCI, with nearly half reporting current engagement in meditation …

Provgen: A Privacy-Preserving Approach For Outcome Validation In Genomic Research, Yuzhou Jiang, Tianxi Ji, Erman Ayday

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As genomic research has grown increasingly popular in recent years, dataset sharing has remained limited due to privacy concerns. This limitation hinders the reproducibility and validation of research outcomes, both of which are essential for identifying computational errors during the research process. In this paper, we introduce PROVGEN, a privacy-preserving method for sharing genomic datasets that facilitates reproducibility and outcome validation in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Our approach encodes genomic data into binary space and applies a two-stage process. First, we generate a differentially private version of the dataset using an XOR-based mechanism tailored to biological characteristics. Second, we restore …

Interventional Oncology: A Primer For Clinicians On The Role Of Ablation And Embolization For Solid Tumors, Mohamed E Abdelsalam, Kamran Ahrar, Rahul A Sheth, Ketan Y Shah, Steven Yevich, Varshana Gurusamy, Bruno C Odisio, Alda L Tam, Armeen Mahvash, Peiman Habibollahi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Interventional radiology (IR) is a rapidly evolving medical field that combines advanced imaging with minimally invasive techniques for both diagnosis and treatment. Interventional oncology (IO), a subspecialty of IR, focuses on the minimally invasive, image-guided intervention for cancer and cancer-related conditions. IR plays an important and increasingly recognized role within the multidisciplinary care of patients with cancer, contributing meaningfully to diagnosis, therapy, and palliation. IO therapies, particularly tumor ablation and transarterial embolization, aim to target tumors directly while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. These therapies are increasingly supported by clinical guidelines and have shown favorable outcomes in cancers such as hepatocellular …

Enhancing Mental Health Through Occupational Therapy, Evelyn G. Garibay

OT Doctoral Capstones

Behavioral health providers may have limited knowledge of occupational therapy and its role in supporting individuals with mental health conditions, which can limit opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of occupation-based approaches in practice. This capstone project aimed to increase behavioral health providers’ awareness and understanding of occupational therapy in mental health through an interactive educational program. Following a site needs assessment, an educational series was developed that combined presentations with hands-on, occupation-based activities focused on areas including daily functioning, emotional regulation, social participation, and health and wellness. Implementation also included the development of a comprehensive participant handbook containing …

Empowering Youth: Building Life Skills For A Brighter Future, Chastidy S. Urteaga

OT Doctoral Capstones

At-risk youth experience many barriers that may impact their participation in daily life activities, development in life skills, and opportunities for them to create positive social connections. This doctoral capstone project explored the role of occupational therapy within a community- based setting and the development and implementation at the Philosophic Systems Institute/ Alamito STREAM Center in El Paso, Texas. The program's purpose was to provide at-risk middle school youth with practical life skills that can help promote independence and lifelong success in everyday life.

This project was guided by the Person Environment Occupation (PEO) Model. This six-week life skills program …

The Next Step: Building Strength Through Life Skills, Victoria Nunez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Adolescents who are at risk or facing mental health challenges often miss out on chances to build the practical life skills they need for everyday life and a smooth transition into adulthood. While traditional rehabilitation programs tend to focus on stabilization and therapy, they frequently fall short when it comes to preparing young people for independent living. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement a structured, occupation-based life skills program to promote well-being, independence, and meaningful participation among adolescents. The Life Skills Program (Life Lab) took place at the Alamito STREAM Center in Segundo Barrio, …

Navigating Child Development: A Toolkit For Bridging Knowledge And Strengthening Caregiver Confidence, Kristen Sarai Martinez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Children involved in the child welfare system are at increased risk for trauma, prenatal substance exposure (PSE), adverse childhood experiences, and developmental challenges that may affect participation and well-being. A needs assessment conducted at CASA of El Paso identified a need for practical resources to strengthen advocates’ knowledge and confidence related to child development, trauma-informed care, PSE, play-based strategies, and communication with caregivers. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement an evidence-based occupational therapy toolkit and educational workshop to increase CASA advocates’ knowledge, confidence, and skills in supporting children and families. The project included a …

T Cells Modulate The Development And Maintenance Of Painful Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy In Rnu Rats, Ahmed Olalekan Bakare, Gerard Limerick, Vasudha Goel, Ratan K Banik, Lei Zheng, Andrew J Shepherd, Kristine Glunde, Qin Zheng, Eellan Sivanesan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The role of T cells in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is complex and shaped by biological and experimental factors, including sex, hormonal status, genetic background, and cancer model. This complexity has contributed to inconsistent findings among studies, limiting therapeutic progress. In this study, we investigate how T cells contribute to painful paclitaxel (PTX)-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN). Adult male T cell-competent (RNU+/−) and T cell-deficient (RNU−/−) rats were subcutaneously inoculated with tumor cells and subsequently treated with intraperitoneal PTX (8 mg/kg total dose). Reflexive (mechanical, heat, cold) and non-reflexive (burrowing, gait) pain behaviors were assessed from baseline through week 6. Immunohistochemistry …

The Lysine Demethylase Kdm4c Is An Oncogenic Driver And Regulates Erk Activity In Kras-Mutant Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Menna-T-Allah Shaheen, Sarah Dhebat, Kimal I Rajapakshe, Bidyut Ghosh, Benson Chellakkan Selvanesan, Shariq S Ansari, Cara L Haymaker, Dorsay Sadeghian, Huamin Wang, Ching-Fei Li, Haoqiang Ying, Anirban Maitra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Deregulation of proteins involved in chromatin regulation is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Lysine demethylase 4C (KDM4C) is one of the chromatin-modifying proteins frequently overexpressed across multiple solid cancers and is linked to chromatin instability, increased cell proliferation, and enhanced stem cell–like behavior. We observed upregulation of KDM4C protein in a panel of human PDAC cell lines and patient samples compared with nonneoplastic controls. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of KDM4C in human and murine PDAC cells reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and increased survival of orthotopically implanted murine PDAC allografts. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that loss of KDM4C in both human and …

Initial Experience With Remote Mri Scanning Support In An Oncology Focused Practice: Opportunities For Expanded Access To Radiology Care, Christopher M Walker, Maria G Maldonado, Megan C Jacobsen, Suprateek Kundu, Michelle L Underwood, Joshua P Yung, Brandy J Reed, David Jaffray, R Jason Stafford, Marshall E Hicks, Caroline Chung, Aradhana M Venkatesan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: As medical imaging demand grows, there is increasing stress on the currently available workforce to deliver consistent, high-quality imaging studies while ensuring rapid study turnaround times and round-the-clock radiology coverage. Advances in remote access technology facilitating remote scan assistance and control are now commercially available to address these pressing clinical needs.

Methods: This work evaluated an early clinical application of a virtual scanner operations system (syngo Virtual Cockpit (VA13A, Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) for remote magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring and scan control at three geographically distant outpatient sites associated with our primary institution.

Results: The system facilitated execution …

Preclinical Ischemic Stroke Multicenter Trials (Prism) Collective Statement: Opportunities, Challenges, And Recommendations For A New Era, Cenk Ayata, Philip M Bath, Anna M Planas, Stuart M Allan, Johannes Boltze, Ryan P Cabeen, Claire L Gibson, Marilyn J Cipolla, Marcio A Diniz, Stefano Fumagalli, Fahmeed Hyder, Raymond C Koehler, Arthur Liesz, Sarah K Mccann, Tim Magnus, Louise D Mccullough, Emily S Sena, Simone Beretta, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Francesca Bosetti, Clinton B Wright, Patrick D Lyden, Lauren H Sansing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Preclinical stroke research faces a critical translational gap, with animal studies failing to reliably predict clinical efficacy. To address this, the field is moving toward rigorous, multicenter preclinical randomized controlled trials (mpRCTs) that mimic phase 3 clinical trials in several key components. This collective statement, derived from experts involved in mpRCTs, outlines considerations for designing and executing such trials. mpRCTs offer advantages such as increased sample sizes, robust statistical design, incorporation of heterogeneity, and standardized protocols, but they face challenges in finding the right balance between standardization and heterogeneity, appropriate stroke model selection, and outcome measures, as well as the …