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2022-03-01 Leadership Council Minutes, St. Mary's University

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

2022-03-15 Executive Council Minutes, St. Mary's University

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

2022-04-26 Leadership Council Minutes, St. Mary's University

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Microneedle-Based Lc-Ms/Ms Profiling Of Dermal Interstitial Fluid Reveals Early Lipid Dysregulation Contributing To Painful Neuropathy In Prediabetic And Type 2 Diabetic Rats, Srinivasa Rao Gadam

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), a complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, also occurs in obesity and prediabetes, with dyslipidemia as a modifiable risk factor. The distal-to-proximal neuropathy pattern and length-dependent intraepidermal nerve fiber loss suggest peripheral contributions. We hypothesized that elevated neurotoxic lipid intermediates—diacylglycerols (DAG), free fatty acids (FFA), and acylcarnitines (CARs)—in the dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) drive metabolism-associated hyperalgesia in prediabetic and diabetic rats. Using a microneedle array (MIA) with LC-MS/MS, we profiled ISF and serum lipids from high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD + streptozotocin (STZ) rat models alongside Hargreaves testing. ISF lipid changes appeared earlier (weeks …

Exploration, Expansion, And Optimization Of Bacteriophage Virus-Like Particle Vaccines, Andzoa N. Jamus

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Bacteriophage virus-like particles are highly immunogenic, self-assembling platforms used for various vaccines. This work shows efforts to explore new vaccine candidates against Chlamydia trachomatis, targeting proteins that play critical roles in attachment and entry into the host cell, as well as in pathogenesis and bacteria proliferation. This work also shows the optimization of previously identified candidates, by investigating how altering routes of immunization can change the antibody profiles elicited, both systemically and locally. Finally, this work shows the establishment of various Chlamydia infection models in an effort to expand the ways in which vaccine efficacy can be investigated, particularly …

Immune Regulation In Fungal Airway Inflammation And Host Defense, Ruoning Wang

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by complex pathophysiological mechanisms and diverse endotypes, primarily categorized as T helper type 2 cell (Th2)-high and Th2-low asthma. Despite significant advances in understanding asthma pathogenesis, the mechanisms governing the pulmonary immune system’s response to external challenges have not been fully understood. To address these gaps, this comprehensive project was designed to investigate the interplay between fungal infections and specific CD4⁺ T cell populations in asthma. Our findings suggest that fungal infections can contribute to neutrophilic asthma by promoting the migration of platelet-myeloid aggregates into the lungs. We also …

Localization Of Alpha Power Deficits In First Episode Psychosis, Crystal A. Garcia, Juan Bustillo

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The purpose of this study was to determine where in the brain there may be a difference in brain activity in patients during their first episode of psychosis (FEP) compared to healthy controls (HCs) while performing an auditory oddball task. Time-frequency analysis allows for spectral decomposition where the signal measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG) is used to characterize changes in neural oscillations and their synchronization over time and region. Previous EEG studies report reduced alpha (8-12Hz, 70-160ms) power but most studies focused on patients with chronic schizophrenia and with limited source localization.

A Mutational Analysis Of Thatisin: How Single Point Mutations Impact The Biosynthetic Process Of A Group 16 Graspetide, John F. Boynton Jr

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Abstract:

Graspetides are a family of Ribosomally synthesized and Post-translationally modified Peptide (RiPP) natural products named for their ATP Grasp Macrocyclases. We identified several Graspetide Biosynthetic Gene Clusters containing common double glycine cleavage motifs and attempted characterization of the mature Graspetides. One of the resulting peptides, Thatisin, has a topology with two interlocking macrolactones installed by a single ATP Grasp Ligase named ThtC. Here we use single and double point mutations to observe the impact or variation on the installation of these macrocycles. Alanine scan mutagenesis is used to assess leader peptide residues in the precursor peptide ThtA to determine …

Understanding The Metallic And Oxide Phases In Platinum-Based Bimetallic Heterogeneous Catalysts After High-Temperature Oxidation, Stephen John Porter Jr

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) are critical components in diesel emission control systems, enabling the conversion of harmful pollutants under demanding conditions. However, Pt’s effectiveness is hindered by sintering under high-temperature oxidizing environments. This dissertation investigates how Pt and Pd evolve under oxidizing conditions at 800°C, highlighting their distinct thermodynamic behaviors and interactions. Using TEM, EDS, EELS, XRF, XRD, and EXAFS, we show that Pd suppresses Pt sintering by reducing the volatility of PtO₂, leading to the formation of stable particles. Both Pt and Pd are present in metallic and oxide states, forming biphasic 'Janus' particles with conjoined metal and …

Phase Nanoscopy With Correlated Frequency Combs, Xiaobing Zhu

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In this dissertation a sensing method applying to any physical quantity that modifies optical phase is developed. Two pulses are produced inside a synchronously pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator, generating two identical, undistinguishable frequency combs. The physical quantity to be measured applies a small phase shift/round trip to one of the pulses, resulting in a frequency shift of the corresponding comb. The latter frequency is measured as a beat by interfering the two combs on a detector. A world record resolution, close to the quantum limit, of 0.033 nanoradian (corresponding to 0.006 fm in displacement) is achieved. A detailed analysis of …

Advancing Diamond Quantum Sensors: Isotropic Flux Concentrators And Phase Noise Mitigation, Maziar Saleh Ziabari

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Two methods for improving the sensitivity of nitrogen vacancy quantum sensors in diamond are explored. First, by passively concentrating the magnetic flux, three orthogonally oriented ferrite truncated cone pairs amplify the field isotropically by 19 times, allowing measurement of Earth's field without a bias field and increasing sensitivity. Through thorough analysis, modeling and tuning a novel 3-dimensional flux concentrator system, we achieve a fractional standard deviation of less than 1% anisotropy and quantify minimal deadzones and ambient temperature-limited variations below 40 nT/hour. Second, we characterize, model and calculate phase noise in NV experiments, which in NV sensors is effectively indistinguishable …

Predicting Leakage From Nuclear Material Containers At Los Alamos National Laboratory Through Drop Testing, Leak Testing, Finite Element Analysis And Digital Image Correlation, Jude M. Oka, Yu-Lin Shen, Osman Anderoglu, Pankaj Kumar, Rajendra Vaidya

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) relies on containment vessels to safely manage special nuclear material. These containers are subject to rigorous testing—such as drop, fire, and water ingress testing—to ensure integrity under adverse conditions. While elastomer-based seals are well studied, metal-to-metal sealing mechanisms remain under investigation, particularly under dynamic loading. This research focuses on the relationship between container mating surfaces and impact loading through drop testing. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models were developed and validated using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to measure strain during impact. Drop tests at varying heights showed strong correlation between FEA and DIC results, confirming the …

Networked Systems: Synchronization, Decomposition And Transient Dynamics, Amirhossein Nazerian

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation investigates synchronization, transient dynamics, control, and signal amplification in networked dynamical systems. First, it examines complete and cluster synchronization, including cases with large parametric mismatches, in both natural (e.g., brain networks, fireflies) and technological systems (e.g., power grids, robotics). Second, it studies transient dynamics in consensus processes, designing synchronization strategies that link reactivity, contraction theory, and Lyapunov exponents. Third, it addresses the computational limits of Model Predictive Control (MPC) for large networks by introducing an algebraic decomposition method that enables parallel online computation of smaller subproblems, enhancing MPC performance under hardware constraints. Finally, it analyzes the structural role …

Instability Analysis In Cylindrical Thin Film–Compliant Core Structures: Numerical Simulations And Effects Of Inelastic Deformation, Md Al Rifat Anan

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

When a thin film bonded to a thick compliant substrate is subject to in-plane compression, wrinkles can develop if the critical state for instability is reached. In various applications the film/substrate system may also take the form of cylindrical fibers, where an axial compressive loading can trigger axisymmetric wrinkles. A straightforward computational approach to simulate such wrinkling behavior is needed for material design, to either prevent wrinkling or to exploit its benefits for flexible device applications. In this work a comprehensive numerical study is undertaken by employing the finite element method. The embedded imperfection approach used previously for planar structures …

Multiscale And Multi-Model Studies Of Metal Plasticity, Luo Li

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Plastic deformation is the process in which the material deforms permanently due to external effects. Twinning and slip are two main mechanisms of plastic deformation in metallic materials. The prominent mechanism of plastic deformation in metals that have FCC crystal structures is slip or gliding movement of dislocations, which is mainly focused on here. In the current study, frameworks for investigating plasticity phenomena of metals at different scales ranging from microscale to macroscale are demonstrated. Specifically, the macroscale modeling of plastic response of metallic materials induced by indentations are emulated by nonlinear FEA simulations. Simulation results of macroscale modeling are …

Advancements In Microarray Manufacturing Enable Emerging Technologies, Kendall Hoff

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Significant advances in manufacturing technologies have enabled the production of new DNA microarrays for use in emergent technology. Photolithography, wafer scale manufacturing, and improvements in synthesis chemistry and design enable high-throughput production of extremely high-quality arrays. These new arrays offer extremely high oligonucleotide densities, in the range of tens of thousands of oligonucleotides per square micron. They also offer smaller features sizes, with millions of features per square centimeter. Furthermore, they can be manufactured with the DNA tethered at either end to the surface, leaving either the 5’ or 3’ end free and available for use in enzymatic reactions; and …

Composition Portfolio Of Doug Falk, Doug Falk

Music ETDs

This composition portfolio contains six compositions:

Heterogeneity (2020) for solo guitar

Amalgamation (2023) for reed quintet

Oil and Vinegar (2024) for wind symphony (satisfying the requirement of one work for large ensemble)

Shouting into the Abyss (2024) for flute with electronics (satisfying the requirements of a work for electronics and a work for voice)

Movements Come, Movements Cease (2025) for voice, trumpet/flugelhorn, marimba, electric bass, drum set and fixed media; written in collaboration with choreography by Laura Orozco Garrett (satisfying the requirement of one collaborative work)

Celestial Bodies in Motion (2025) for 10 piece wind ensemble (satisfying the requirement for …

Gallic, Aconitic, And Crocetin Acids As Potential Tnf Modulators: An Integrated Study Combining Molecular Docking, Dynamics Simulations, Admet Profiling, And Gene Expression Analysis, Adolat Manakbayeva, Ahdrey P. Bogoyavlenskiy, Timur Kerimov, Igor Yershov, Pavel Alexyuk, Madina Alexyuk, Vladimir Berezin, Vyacheslav Dushenkov

Publications and Research

Organic acids, as natural metabolites, play crucial roles in human metabolism and health. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a pivotal mediator in immune regulation and inflammation, is a key therapeutic target. We evaluated ten organic acids as TNF modulators using in silico molecular docking, followed by detailed ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) profiling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for three lead candidates: gallic, aconitic, and crocetin acids. Their effects on TNF gene expression were then assessed in vivo using a mouse leukocyte model. The in silico results indicated that crocetin had the highest TNF binding affinity (−5.6 to −4.6 …

Exploring Socio-Psychological Drivers And Pathways Of Sustainable Fashion Consumption, Jiyeon Kim Ph.D., Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana M.S.,Ph.D

Faculty Publications

This study explores social and psychological factors influencing the intention to purchase sustainable fashion products. Integrating self-congruity theory, self-completion theory, and Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study proposed a dual-path model of socio-psychological variables essential for shaping consumer attitudes towards sustainable consumption and subsequent purchase intention. Additionally, the moderating role of sustainable brand awareness in the link between attitude and intention and the effect of affordability on purchase intentions were tested. Data were collected from 278 US fashion consumers through an online survey, and PLS-SEM was used for the analyses. Results show that self-identity drives self-expressive benefits, while environmental awareness …

Exploring Adversarial Threats To Neuralhash: A Perceptual Hashing Algorithm, Gurleen Kaur

Student Theses

Perceptual hashing algorithms are algorithms that generate content-based image hashes by extracting perceptual features from the images. Unlike cryptographic hashes, which exhibit significant changes with even slight input alterations, perceptual hashes do not change when modifications like compression, color correction and brightness are applied to the images. These hashes are designed to remain similar for inputs that are visually or perceptually alike, which has led to their widespread application in detecting duplicate images, finding similar images for reverse image search and to detecting inappropriate content of Child sexual abuse (CSAM) images by comparing image hashes with dataset of known perceptual …

The Influence Of The Dutch East Indies Government’S Ethnic Politics On Discrimination Against The Chinese Ethnic Group In Batavia (1946–1950), Zaky Rizqy Zaidaan Fadrin, Fajar Muhammad Muhammad Nugraha

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study explains how discrimination was experienced by ethnic Chinese in Batavia in the early post-independence period in 1946–1950, with an emphasis on the influence of ethnic politics practiced by the Dutch East Indies colonial government. The purpose of this study is to analyze the pattern of discrimination against ethnic Chinese influenced by the legacy of colonial racial segregation. The method used is qualitative historical descriptive. The main sources of this study come from letters of complaint from the Chinese community in 1946–1949 in the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) and newspaper articles from 1950 from De …

The British Colonial Land Policy And The Development Of Plantation Agriculture In Colonial Southwestern Nigeria, Adesola S. Adesote

International Review of Humanities Studies

The main thrust of this paper is to critically analyse the impact of the colonial land policy of the British on plantation agriculture in colonial Southwestern Nigeria. Although land legislation had been introduced as far back as the late 19^th century, such as the Public Lands Ordinance of 1876 later renamed the Public Lands Acquisition Ordinance of 1917, it was vigorously pursued with the imposition of colonial rule in the period between 1900 and 1960. It argued that the introduction of land policy by the British in order to achieve her economic objective in Nigeria led to the commercialisation …

Clinician And Caregiver Perspectives On A Community-Based Dynamic Temporal And Tactile Cueing Treatment Trial For Childhood Apraxia Of Speech: Exploring Perceptions Of Research And Routine Clinical Practice, Donna C. Thomas, Geraldine Bricker-Katz, Elizabeth Murray, Shelley L. Velleman, Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) is an evidence-based treatment for children with childhood apraxia of speech. In clinical practice, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) frequently use an eclectic approach incorporating aspects of DTTC, for reasons that are not well understood. This research note describes a qualitative investigation of the experiences of SLPs and caregivers who participated in protocolized research DTTC for a 24-session treatment efficacy study. Specifically, we sought to understand the perspectives of these SLPs and caregivers regarding (a) DTTC treatment, as provided during the study, and (b) participating in a treatment research study.

Method:

Four SLPs and three …

Beyond The Pitch: Teaching Emotional Labor In Advertising Education Through An Action Research Program, Michael Joseph Mallory

Theses and Dissertations

As the advertising industry continues to expand, new graduates must navigate the profession in the face of increasing challenges. With competition in the job market growing and Generation Z valuing work-life balance, the advantage of quality advertising education becomes paramount. Current advertising education does not address the challenge of emotional labor that professionals will face in the field. With limited scholarship that explores emotional regulation, communication dynamics, and client relations in an academic advertising setting, emotional labor in advertising education is explored through a thoroughly documented experiential learning study. This study employs Participatory Action Research (PAR) to investigate, develop, and …

Durkheim’S Structural Functionalism And The Integration Of Genocide In His Sociological Framework, Anthonie Holslag

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue 19.1

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

Where Are The Criminologists?: The Persistent Absence Of The Field In Genocide Research, Grace Allbaugh, Susan A. Woollen, Jacqueline L. Schneider, Joanne Savage

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

The rallying cry of “Never Again” was heard worldwide after the Nazis’ annihilation of Jews and other victims were discovered after WWII. The global community promised that the crime of genocide would be prevented and signatory parties of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (December 9, 1948) would do everything in their power to prevent another Holocaust from occurring. Unfortunately the “crime of all crimes” remains an almost permanent fixture in international news while signatory parties remain reluctant to call the ongoing conditions genocide. The field of genocide studies is built upon an interdisciplinary field …

Book Review: Genocide Culture: Cultural Habitus, Ethnic Engineering And Religious Doxa, Michael M. Gunter

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

Soft Power: Brics Cultural Diplomacy And The Rebalancing Of Global Narratives, Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Kotchaphop Kornphetcharat, Juan Pablo Sims

International Review of Humanities Studies

BRICS has broadened its agenda beyond finance to cultivate soft power through coordinated cultural diplomacy. Examining official statements, press releases, and scholarly commentary on the bloc’s flagship film, sports, and ministerial initiatives, this article shows that cooperation is advancing from one-off spectacles toward structured, recurring institutions. Findings indicate two simultaneous dynamics: outwardly, BRICS venues amplify Global-South perspectives that diversify international cultural flows; inwardly, member states use the same platforms to signal national prestige, revealing persistent status competition. The result is an early but uneven cultural architecture—one that counters Euro-Atlantic narrative dominance yet has not crystallized into a fully coherent BRICS …

Improving Infiltration Model Performance In Arid And Urban Regions, Samuel Stephen Coulter

Civil Engineering ETDs

Flooding in arid regions is infrequent but damaging and limited historical data makes flood modeling an important tool for flood infrastructure design. This study improves flood modeling guidance by using plot-scale tests to determine the impact of slope, compaction, gravel mulch and landscape fabric on infiltration and runoff rates in sandy soil types. This data will be used as guidance for the linear and constant model. The performance of this model was compared with the curve number model for a hypothetical 100-year design storm. Results showed that gravel mulch increased infiltration rates by 66% and reduced erosion on steep and …