Digital Commons Network^™

Elucidating The Heterogeneity And Epigenetic Determinants Of Memory-Like Natural Killer Cell Differentiation, Jennifer Tran

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that are a first line of defense against virally infected or malignant cells. Their ability to recognize and kill target cells is controlled by engagement of inhibitory, activating, and cytokine receptors. This leads to release of granules that contain perforin and granzymes, expression of death receptor ligands, and production of cytokines and chemokines. An effective NK cell response results in target cell death, along with changes in the nearby cellular microenvironment to promote immunity. As such NK cells play an essential role in tumor immunosurveillance, and there is an inverse correlation between …

Age, Slow Wave Sleep, And Hippocampal-Dependent Memory: Insights Into Cognitive Mapping, Hannah R. Maybrier

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Age, Slow Wave Sleep, and Hippocampal-Dependent Memory: Insights into Cognitive Mapping by Hannah Maybrier Doctor of Philosophy in Psychological and Brain Sciences Clinical Science Aging and Development Washington University in St. Louis, 2024 Denise Head, Chair Aging affects the ability to form cognitive maps—mental representations of spatial layouts—leading to reduced driving mobility and reluctance to visit unfamiliar places (Bryden et al., 2013; Burns, 1999). Since independence is crucial for successful aging, reduced mobility is linked to lower quality of life and well-being in older adults (Spinney et al., 2009). Identifying lifestyle factors that impair cognitive mapping …

Human-Environmental Dynamics In Prehistoric Southwest China: Environmental Change And Chronology At Haimenkou, Yunnan, Kai Su

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the environmental dynamics and chronological developments at Haimenkou, Southwest China, providing a nuanced understanding of human-environment interactions from the late Pleistocene through the Holocene. Utilizing geoarchaeological surveys, particle size analysis, loss-on-ignition, and diatom analysis, this research delineates shifts in landscape and settlement patterns in relation to climatic changes and human activities. The results indicate that adaptation to the wetland environment was gradual, with the extent of landscape modification intensifying over time. This modification involved forest clearance, leading to severe soil erosion on mountain slopes, which subsequently destroyed and buried neighboring settlements to Haimenkou. Through rigorous stratigraphic and …

Elucidating The Heterogeneity And Epigenetic Determinants Of Memory-Like Natural Killer Cell Differentiation, Jennifer Tran

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that are a first line of defense against virally infected or malignant cells. Their ability to recognize and kill target cells is controlled by engagement of inhibitory, activating, and cytokine receptors. This leads to release of granules that contain perforin and granzymes, expression of death receptor ligands, and production of cytokines and chemokines. An effective NK cell response results in target cell death, along with changes in the nearby cellular microenvironment to promote immunity. As such NK cells play an essential role in tumor immunosurveillance, and there is an inverse correlation between …

Instructor-Supported Psychological Need Satisfaction As A Predictor Of Student Engagement And Learning In College, Gulay Guler

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

College students endeavor to navigate the complexities of higher education while simultaneously striving to meet their physical and psychological needs. Delving into Self-Determination Theory, this study identified competence, relatedness, and autonomy as the basic psychological needs. Three mediation models investigated how instructor-supported psychological need satisfaction for competence, relatedness, and autonomy directly and indirectly affects perceived learning. The mediators were four types of engagement: affective engagement in learning, affective engagement in school, behavioral engagement, and cognitive engagement. 206 college students participated in the study by completing questionnaires during the spring semester of 2023. The results of the mediation models revealed that …

Memory Modulation: Dominance Of Negative Visual Context Over Neutral Verbal Memory, Stas Kozak, Noa Herz, Maya Tocker, Yair Bar-Haim, Nitzan Censor

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Neutral memories can be modulated via intentional memory control paradigms such as directed forgetting. In addition, previous studies have shown that neutral visual memories can be modulated indirectly, via remember and forget instructions towards competing verbal memories. Here we show that direct modulation of neutral verbal memory strength is impaired by negative visual context, and that negative visual context is resistant to indirect memory modulation. Participants were directly instructed to intentionally remember or forget newly encoded neutral verbal information. Importantly, this verbal information was interleaved with embedded negative visual context. Results showed that negative visual context eliminated the well-documented effect …

The Professional And Educational Backgrounds Within Non-State Actors, Patrick Finnegan, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S. This report passed peer- and scientific-review.

Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Looking Beyond The Surface, Emine Bayraktar, Sisy Chen, Sara Corvigno, Jinsong Liu, Anil K Sood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Historically, ovarian cancer (OC) was thought to metastasize by surface-to-surface spread, but recent developments have yielded a new understanding of the paths of metastatic spread. Given the histologic and molecular heterogeneity of OC, we will focus on high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Here, we provide a critical and more holistic view of the evidence supporting various routes of metastasis, including peritoneal, hematogenous, lymphatic, and nerve-related. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is necessary to improve treatment strategies for this challenging disease.

Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction With Elevated Filling Pressures Is Associated With Embolic Stroke Of Undetermined Source And Atrial Fibrillation, Zubair Bashir, Liqi Shu, Yuqian Guo, Edward W Chen, Shuyuan Wang, Maheen Rana, Xing Dai, Daniel Mandel, Shadi Yaghi, Phinnara Has, Mingxing Xie, Tao Wang, James Simmons, Christopher Song, Philip Haines

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) are strong predictors of clinical outcomes across various populations. However, their diagnostic utility in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) remains unclear. We hypothesized that LVDD with elevated LVFP (based on echocardiography) was more likely to be prevalent in ESUS compared to non-cardioembolic stroke (NCE) and to be associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) on follow-up monitoring.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study that included adult patients with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke between January 2016 and June 2017. LV function was assessed by …

Military Communication And Leadership In Conflict Resolution, Aspen Hailey Dyer

M.S. in Leadership

This research investigates the effectiveness of conflict resolution strategies in military settings, examining the roles of leadership styles, communication techniques, and cultural competence. Using a qualitative approach, the research is examined through thematic analysis to identify common patterns, and evaluation which mostly focuses on transformational, transactional, and adaptive leadership styles, assessing their impact on conflict resolution outcomes. Additionally, the effectiveness of communication strategies, such as active listening and feedback mechanisms, are analyzed. Cultural competence is also explored, with attention to how personnel navigate conflicts in diverse, multicultural environments. Findings indicate that adaptable leadership, clear communication techniques, and higher levels of …

Exploring Zoom Fatigue Among International Students In U.S. Virtual Classes, Esther Son, Kristen Cvancara

Communication Studies Department Publications

Online video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, are widely used for virtual classes. Zoom platforms bring flexibility and convenience but also contribute to fatigue, which is called “Zoom fatigue.” The purpose of this study is to investigate Zoom fatigue among international students at U.S. universities and its links to virtual classroom communication in the field of education. The study investigated how English competency and course engagement affected Zoom fatigue in virtual classes experienced by 152 international students. The results showed that English competency and course engagement had a negative relationship with Zoom fatigue. The study implied that when international students …

Physical Development And Sociocultural Context Influences On Children’S Physical Activity, Alessandro Hervaldo Nicolai Ré, Maria Teresa Cattuzzo, David F. Stodden Ph.D., Guilherme Dos Santos, Albert Lucas Olinto Tertuliano, Carlos Bandeira De Mello Monteiro, Diogo Henrique Constantino Coledam, Anthony David Okely

Faculty Publications

Objective:

To examine the predictive strength of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), maternal educational status, and parental perception of their children’s favorite leisure activities for meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines of each gender among children aged 3–6 years.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 367 preschoolers (53% girls), assessing CRF (PREFIT 20m shuttle run), MC (battery of motor skills), PA (accelerometry), maternal education and parental perception of children’s preferred leisure (questionnaires). Factorial analysis of covariance, multiple logistic regression, and chi-square tests were conducted.

Results: In both genders, CRF was associated with meeting PA guidelines (girls: odds ratio [OR] …

Stratomod: Predicting Sequencing And Variant Calling Errors With Interpretable Machine Learning, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Justin Wagner, Justin M Zook

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite the variety in sequencing platforms, mappers, and variant callers, no single pipeline is optimal across the entire human genome. Therefore, developers, clinicians, and researchers need to make tradeoffs when designing pipelines for their application. Currently, assessing such tradeoffs relies on intuition about how a certain pipeline will perform in a given genomic context. We present StratoMod, which addresses this problem using an interpretable machine-learning classifier to predict germline variant calling errors in a data-driven manner. We show StratoMod can precisely predict recall using Hifi or Illumina and leverage StratoMod's interpretability to measure contributions from difficult-to-map and homopolymer regions for …

Gad314.2 Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

GAD314.2 - Market Report of high quality used as an exemplar for future trimesters.

Public-Private Partnerships In Fema: Strengthening Communities Nationwide, Rachael A. Zerr

Publications and Research

This paper explores the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in strengthening communities through collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It defines FEMA’s mission and outlines the concept of PPPs, emphasizing their importance in enhancing disaster response and recovery efforts. The paper provides framework for establishing a PPP with FEMA, including key steps and practices for successful collaboration. Additionally, it highlights several examples of effective PPPs, including a longstanding partnership with Verizon Wireless. Drawing from FEMA reports and private sector publications, the paper demonstrates how these partnerships contribute to resilience and preparedness, illustrating their potential to improve the efficiency …

Impact Of Healthcare Education On Preferences For Electronic Health Records: Results From National Survey Of Patient Users In Sweden, Anna Kharko, Jamie Linnea Luckhaus, Charlotte Blease, Åsa Cajander, Josefin Hagström, Bridget T. Kane, Gunnar O. Klein, Sari Kujala, Jonas Moll, Isabella Scandurra, Maria Hägglund

School of Psychology

Electronic health records (EHR) are continuously evolving to better meet user needs, but the process is complicated by healthcare professionals and patients often disagreeing on priority areas of development. While this may be due to differences between professional and personal experiences, little is known whether specialist healthcare knowledge also affects user needs when using EHRs as patients. To investigate this, we analysed the responses of patient users in Sweden from the NORDeHEALTH 2022 Patient Survey. In the survey, respondents indicated whether they had healthcare education, and rated how useful various EHR information types and functions are. Average ratings were comparable …

Bi-Directional Allosteric Pathway In Nmda Receptor Activation And Modulation, Paula A Bender, Subhajit Chakraborty, Ryan J Durham, Vladimir Berka, Elisa Carrillo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory. NMDA receptors primarily comprise two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits. The GluN2 subunit dictates biophysical receptor properties, including the extent of receptor activation and desensitization. GluN2A- and GluN2D-containing receptors represent two functional extremes. To uncover the conformational basis of their functional divergence, we utilize single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer to probe the extracellular domains of these receptor subtypes under resting and ligand-bound conditions. We find that the conformational profile of the GluN2 amino-terminal domain correlates with the disparate functions of GluN2A- and GluN2D-containing receptors. Changes at the pre-transmembrane …

Read Alouds In Elementary School, Casey Mccallum

Graduate Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper examined research in regards to the effects of read alouds in the elementary school setting. Read alouds provided educators a way to equitably and inclusively introduce stories to students that will ultimately enhance their reading ability, comprehension, and overall enjoyment of literacy. The research analyzed in this paper consisted of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. The research looked at the different aspects of read alouds such as interactive strategies, repeated readings, and shared readings; as well as how read alouds impact vocabulary acquisition and social-emotional wellbeing. The research suggested parents and teachers are role models to young …

Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Science Practices, Christian Larson

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper was a synthesis of current research on the implementation of inquiry-based learning (IBL) in high school science classrooms. The research was a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies done to investigate the barriers to implementation, the importance of proper training and resources, and the effectiveness of IBL practices on student success and interest in science. The research showed several different barriers noted in historical implementation of IBL practices an educational leader should note and prepare for when attempting to implement these strategies. It also showed the positive effect of relevant and meaningful professional development opportunities at many …

What Is Truly Best For Students For Them To Succeed In High School Classrooms Today, Matthew Ortt

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined research studies that explored what is truly best for student success in the field of education. This topic aimed to determine the best way to teach students or ensure they reach their full potential through research findings from various qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies. These studies examined the areas of school start times and student’s daily schedules, academic structure and how classes are being offered, student mental health, and the use of technology in the classroom. The research showed a plethora of ways that could help students succeed and gave great insights into data that may already …

A Disparate Disaster: Spatial Patterns Of Building Damage Caused By Hurricane Ian And Associated Socio-Economic Factors, Md Zakaria Salim, Yi Qiang, Barnali Dixon, Jennifer Collins

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The literature shows that communities under different socio-economic conditions suffer different levels of damage in disasters. In addition to the physical intensity of hazards, such differences are also related to the varying abilities of communities to prepare for and respond to disasters. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of building damage in Hurricane Ian in 2022 and investigates the socio-economic disparities related to the damage. Specifically, this study employs NASA’s Damage Proxy Map (DPM2) to analyze spatial patterns of building damage caused by the hurricane. Then, it uses statistical analysis to assess the relationships between building damage and hurricane intensity, …

Navigating Artificial Intelligence In Spine Surgery: Implementation And Optimization Across The Care Continuum, Antony A. Fuleihan, Arjun K. Menta, Tej D. Azad, Kelly Jiang, Carly Weber-Levine, Daniel A. Davidar, Andrew M. Hersh, Nicholas Theodore

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

The field of spine surgery has long been characterized by innovations and technological advancements. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into spine surgery represents one of the latest technical developments in the field. The ability of AI to rapidly analyze datasets improves decision making, risk assessment, intraoperative precision, and postoperative management, all of which contribute to increasing personalized spine care and improving outcomes. However, the successful implementation of AI faces regulatory and privacy challenges that must be addressed before its full potential can be realized. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the current applications and future prospects of AI …

Regular Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use Increases Stress Fracture Risk In The General Population: A Retrospective Case-Control Study, Alexandra Ciuciu, Chris Mulholland, Michael A. Bozzi, Chris C. Frymoyer, Leonardo Cavinatto, David Yaron, Marc I. Harwood, Jeremy D. Close, Christopher J. Mehallo, Ryan E. Tomlinson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Previous studies have shown that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with increased stress fracture risk. This phenomenon has been studied predominantly in high-activity individuals, so data regarding the general population are limited despite the substantial economic and resource burden of stress fracture injuries within the general US population. Furthermore, our preclinical studies demonstrate that regular use of NSAIDs also diminishes the intrinsic ability of bone to resist fracture. To determine the association of regular NSAID use with stress fractures in the general population, we surveyed subjects presenting with either stress fracture or uncomplicated ankle sprain to …

Jade Taylor V. West Millard Mosquito Abatement District : Brief Of Appellee, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

Appeal from the Fourth District Court, Millard County, State of Utah, Case No. 220700005 the Honorable Anthony Howell Presiding Justin D.

Justin D. Heideman (8897) Norman W. Peat, Jr. (17836) HEIDEMAN & ASSOCIATES Attorneys for Plaintiff/Appellant

Gregory N. Hoole (7894) HOOLE & KING Attorneys for Defendant/Appellee

Sex Hormones And Risk Of Lung And Colorectal Cancers In Women: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Yafang Li, Demetrius Albanes, Andrea Burnett-Hartman, Peter T Campbell, Sébastien Küry, Christopher I Li, Emily White, Jewel N Samadder, Mark A Jenkins, Xiao-Mei Mai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The roles of sex hormones such as estradiol, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the etiology of lung and colorectal cancers in women, among the most common cancers after breast cancer, are unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study evaluated such potential causal associations in women of European ancestry. We used summary statistics data from genome-wide association studies on sex hormones and from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and large consortia on cancers. There was suggestive evidence of 1-standard deviation increase in total testosterone levels being associated with a lower risk of lung non-adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval …

Pain After Licorice Or Sugar-Water Gargling In Patients Recovering From Oropharyngeal Surgery-A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial, Marita Windpassinger, Michal Prusak, Jana Gemeiner, Olga Plattner, Stefan Janik, Gerold Besser, Wolfgang Gstoettner, Pu Xuan, Daniel I Sessler, Kurt Ruetzler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Glycyrrhiza glabrata (licorice) is used in traditional medicine and herbal remedies and reduces sore throats consequent to intubation, but whether it is protective for more intense pain after oropharyngeal surgery remains unclear. We thus tested the joint hypothesis that gargling with licorice, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, reduces postoperative pain and morphine consumption.

Methods: We enrolled patients having elective oropharyngeal surgery. Participants were randomly allocated to gargle with either 1 g licorice or a sugar placebo before and for up to three days after surgery. A numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain along with morphine consumption was evaluated …

Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 1 In Cancer Metastasis And Therapeutic Resistance: Mechanistic Insights And Translational Advances, Hui-Wen Lo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Interleukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase 1 (IRAK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a critical role as a signaling transducer of the activated Toll-like receptor (TLR)/Interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling pathway in both immune cells and cancer cells. Upon hyperphosphorylation by IRAK4, IRAK1 forms a complex with TRAF6, which results in the eventual activation of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. IRAK1 can translocate to the nucleus where it phosphorylates STAT3 transcription factor, leading to enhanced IL-10 gene expression. In immune cells, activated IRAK1 coordinates innate immunity against pathogens and mediates inflammatory responses. In cancer cells, IRAK1 is frequently activated, and the activation …

Raising Heroes: Transforming Homes Into Media Training Grounds, Elizabeth Rex Johnson

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

Vol. 33, No. 12 / Vol. 34, No. 1 - Whole No. 178, Bernadette Bosky

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.

Vol. 33, No. 9-11 - Whole No. 177, Bernadette Bosky

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.