Digital Commons Network^™

The Utilisation Of Rice Husk Ash Leachates For The Synthesis Of Eco-Friendly Geopolymers, Maria Kaka Etete Enoh, Oliver Ibor Inah

Platform: A Journal of Engineering (PAJE)

Geopolymers are inorganic polymers projected as feasible alternatives to Portland cement due to their lower CO2 emissions and high mechanical properties. In recent times, however, their impact on other environmental indices such as abiotic depletion, freshwater toxicity, marine ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, acidification, and human toxicity has become questionable, thus the need to investigate alternative eco-friendly precursors and activators. This work aims to manufacture an eco-efficient geopolymer by utilising biomass ash leachate as an alternative to the conventional alkali silicate solution. The leachate was obtained by soaking the rice husk ash (RHA) in a 10 M concentration of NaOH solution and …

The Discovery Of First Ret Protac With In Vivo Activity, Yafeng Wang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This report mainly discusses the development of RET Proteolysis targeting chimera PROTAC molecules based on Selpercatinib (LOXO-292) and Sulfono-γ-AApeptide PROTAC. A PROTAC molecule is a bifunctional molecule composed of two active domains and a linker. It works by inducing selective protein intracellular degradation. This technology was first discussed by Kathleen Sakamoto, Ray Deshaies and Craig Crews in 2001. Using various E3 Ligase, such as CRBN, pVHL, beta-TrCP1, Mdm2, DCAF15, DCAF16, RNF114, and c-IAP1, the PROTAC technology has been applied to several novel drug development,. Yale University licensed the PROTAC technology to Arvinas in 2013–14. For my research, Chapter one summarizes …

3d Organ-Scale Models Of Tumor Growth And Treatment, Rafael Ramon Bravo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To understand the dynamics of cancer, mathematical oncologists have developed models of tumor growth and treatment response. Some models are mechanistic and approach tumor growth at the cell-scale, focusing on the evolution of cancerous cells within the ecology of normal tissue, and are often simulated with agent-based modeling. Other models are more clinically motivated and model tumor growth operating at the organ-scale, using patient data to predict treatment response, and are often simulated with partial differential equations. We developed the Hybrid Automata Library which includes both agent-based modeling and partial differential equations for modeling at either of these scales. We …

Bayesian Analysis Of Hospital Service Quality: Pre- And Post-Covid, Ling Hu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The hospital sector is the largest revenue-generating industry in the United States, with a revenue of $1.4 trillion in 2022, accounting for 5.8% of the U.S. GDP. Its service quality profoundly impacts societal welfare, especially given the aging population reached 55.8 million in 2020 and is expected to reach 82 million by 2050. Therefore, multiple policies aim to incentivize sustained healthcare service quality improvements. As an integral component of the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) Program, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, administrated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), serves as a cornerstone …

The Influence Of Recycled Water On Microbial Source Tracking Techniques That Aim To Identify Untreated Sewage In Surface Waters, Aldo E. Lobos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fecal pollution in recreational waters can introduce pathogens that cause increased human health risk, where exposure can occur during recreational activities such as swimming, diving, surfing, and fishing. Furthermore, human fecal pollution (i.e., sewage) can introduce nutrients and other harmful chemicals that may negatively affect the environment and aquatic species. Generally, sewage is considered the highest risk to human health compared to animal fecal pollution because it typically contains a high diversity of pathogens (including human specific viruses), antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes associated with antibiotic resistance. However, pathogens are difficult to detect due to their low concentrations in the …

Author Correction: Plasmonic Nano-Aperture Label-Free Imaging Of Single Small Extracellular Vesicles For Cancer Detection, Nareg Ohannesian, Mohammad Sadman Mallick, Jianzhong He, Yawei Qiao, Nan Li, Simona F Shaitelman, Chad Tang, Eileen H Shinn, Wayne L Hofstetter, Alexei Goltsov, Manal M Hassan, Kelly K Hunt, Steven H Lin, Wei-Chuan Shih

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Type I Conventional Dendritic Cells Facilitate Immunotherapy In Pancreatic Cancer, Krishnan K Mahadevan, Allison M Dyevoich, Yang Chen, Bingrui Li, Hikaru Sugimoto, Amari M Sockwell, Kathleen M Mcandrews, Lakshmi Kavitha Sthanam, Huamin Wang, Shabnam Shalapour, Stephanie S Watowich, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inflammation and tissue damage associated with pancreatitis can precede or occur concurrently with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We demonstrate that in PDAC coupled with pancreatitis (ptPDAC), antigen-presenting type I conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) are specifically activated. Immune checkpoint blockade therapy (iCBT) leads to cytotoxic CD8+ T cell activation and elimination of ptPDAC with restoration of life span even upon PDAC rechallenge. Using PDAC antigen-loaded cDC1s as a vaccine, immunotherapy-resistant PDAC was rendered sensitive to iCBT with elimination of tumors. cDC1 vaccination coupled with iCBT identified specific CDR3 sequences in the tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells with potential therapeutic importance. This study …

Randomized Controlled Trial Of Enteral Vitamin D Supplementation (Vides) In Infants <28 Weeks Gestational Age Or <1000 G Birth Weight: Study Protocol, Mar Romero-Lopez, Jon E Tyson, Mamta Naik, Claudia Pedroza, Lindsay F Holzapfel, Elenir Avritscher, Ricardo Mosquera, Amir Khan, Matthew Rysavy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is necessary to develop healthy lungs and other organs early in life. Most infants born before 28 weeks' gestation have low vitamin D levels at birth and a limited intake during the first month. Enteral vitamin D supplementation is inexpensive and widely used. The appropriate supplementation regimen for extremely preterm infants is controversial, and the effect of different regimens on their blood levels and outcomes is unclear.

METHODS: Randomized, blinded comparative effectiveness trial to compare two vitamin D supplementation regimens for inborn infants(400 IU/day with established feedings) or increased supplementation (800 IU/day with any feedings) during the …

Ten Myths About Artificial Intelligence In Education, Louie Giray

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: I analyze, deconstruct, and debunk prevalent misconceptions about artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

Methods: This study identifies and presents ten common myths about AI in education, followed by concise explanations that counter each myth with the corresponding reality, relying on credible sources and evidence.

Results: AI does not replace educators; it lacks the vital human qualities crucial for effective learning experiences. Thus, it can complement rather than substitute for educators. Physical classrooms remain pivotal for fostering student engagement, an element AI cannot fully replicate, challenging the notion of AI replacing the need for traditional classrooms. Despite excelling in specific …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Quarterly Operations And Maintenance Report Butte Treatment Lagoon System – Fourth Quarter 2023 (Dated March 28, 2024), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Comprehensive Analysis Of The Different Fields Of Law, Kaitlyn Lee

Honors Theses

Since American law developed in the early 1700s, lawyers have played a crucial role in society, advocating for justice and upholding the rule of law. Over the years the legal profession has evolved immensely and now offers many different fields for individuals to practice. People are often curious about the work that lawyers do and the education that is required to become an attorney. This thesis aims to satisfy the curiosity of those individuals by exploring many facets of the different areas of law. It will examine the unique and shared aspects of the various legal fields, detailing the specific …

Evaluating The Impact Of A 2-Week Peer Enhanced E-Placement (Peep) On Pre-Registration Physiotherapy Students’ Attitudes, Self-Perceived Confidence, And Competence In Delivering Telerehabilitation., Christie Robinson, Sarah Buckingham, Jennifer Freeman

School of Health Professions

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about rapid digital transformation of physiotherapy practice and education. Previous studies have suggested a lack of knowledge, beliefs, and clinical acceptance of telerehabilitation as barriers to implementation and sustainability of telerehabilitation. Providing pre-registration specific teaching and practical experience of telerehabilitation may improve physiotherapy student confidence and competence in delivering telerehabilitation and support clinical acceptance of telerehabilitation in practice. A 2-week Peer Enhanced E-Placement (PEEP) was developed and evaluated to explore its impact on third year physiotherapy student attitudes, and perceived competence and confidence in delivering telerehabilitation. Students completed a Likert scale questionnaire, immediately pre and post …

Berkeley Pit And Discharge Pilot Project Temperature Evaluation, 2023 Update, Mark Thompson, Dave Griffis

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval For The Response To Comments Letter (Dated May 21, 2024) For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Butte Reclamation Evaluation System (Bres) Draft 2023 Bres Field Evaluation Summary Report And Technical Recommendations Proposal (Dated November 15, 2023) And 2023 Corrective Action Plans (Caps) For Reclaimed Sites (Dated January 31, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Lessening Nurses' Burden: Ai Enhanced Fall Risk Prediction, Joanne Aberilla, Andrea Tilleman

All Publications

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Impact Of A 2-Week Peer Enhanced E-Placement (Peep) On Preregistration Physiotherapy Students’ Attitudes, Self-Perceived Confidence, And Competence In Delivering Telerehabilitation, Christie Robinson, Sarah Buckingham, Jennifer Freeman

School of Health Professions

The COVID-19 pandemic instigated rapid digital transformation of physiotherapy practice and education. We explored whether pre-registration specific teaching and practical experience of telerehabilitation may improve student confidence and competence in delivering telerehabilitation and support its clinical acceptance. A 2-week Peer Enhanced E-Placement (PEEP) was developed and evaluated to explore its impact on third year physiotherapy student attitudes, perceived competence, and confidence in delivering telerehabilitation. Students completed a questionnaire (pre and post PEEP), rating perceived confidence and competence in four areas of telerehabilitation: assessment, intervention, communication, and problem solving. Group discussions explored the impact of the PEEP on their attitudes towards …

Using Human Intestinal Organoids To Understand The Small Intestine Epithelium At The Single Cell Transcriptional Level, Carolyn Bomidi, Xi-Lei Zeng, Victoria Poplaski, Cristian Coarfa, Mary K Estes, Sarah E Blutt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Single cell transcriptomics has revolutionized our understanding of the cell biology of the human body. State-of-the-art human small intestinal organoid cultures provide ex vivo model systems that bridge the gap between animal models and clinical studies. The application of single cell transcriptomics to human intestinal organoid (HIO) models is revealing previously unrecognized cell biology, biochemistry, and physiology of the GI tract. The advanced single cell transcriptomics platforms use microfluidic partitioning and barcoding to generate cDNA libraries. These barcoded cDNAs can be easily sequenced by next generation sequencing platforms and used by various visualization tools to generate maps. Here, we describe …

Aging- And Alcohol-Associated Spatial Transcriptomic Signature In Mouse Acute Pancreatitis Reveals Heterogeneity Of Inflammation And Potential Pathogenic Factors, Rachel R Tindall, Yuntao Yang, Isabella Hernandez, Amy Qin, Jiajing Li, Yinjie Zhang, Thomas H Gomez, Mamoun Younes, Qiang Shen, Jennifer M Bailey-Lundberg, Zhongming Zhao, Daniel Kraushaar, Patricia Castro, Yanna Cao, W Jim Zheng, Tien C Ko

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The rapidly aging population is consuming more alcohol, leading to increased alcohol-associated acute pancreatitis (AAP) with high mortality. However, the mechanisms remain undefined, and currently there are no effective therapies available. This study aims to elucidate aging- and alcohol-associated spatial transcriptomic signature by establishing an aging AAP mouse model and applying Visium spatial transcriptomics for understanding of the mechanisms in the context of the pancreatic tissue. Upon alcohol diet feeding and caerulein treatment, aging mice (18 months) developed significantly more severe AAP with 5.0-fold increase of injury score and 2.4-fold increase of amylase compared to young mice (3 months). Via …

Neural Circuits Expressing The Serotonin 2c Receptor Regulate Memory In Mice And Humans, Hesong Liu, Yang He, Hailan Liu, Bas Brouwers, Na Yin, Katherine Lawler, Julia M Keogh, Elana Henning, Dong-Kee Lee, Meng Yu, Longlong Tu, Nan Zhang, Kristine M Conde, Junying Han, Zili Yan, Nikolas A Scarcelli, Lan Liao, Jianming Xu, Qingchun Tong, Hui Zheng, Zheng Sun, Yongjie Yang, Chunmei Wang, Yanlin He, I Sadaf Farooqi, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Declined memory is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Experiments in rodents and human postmortem studies suggest that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) plays a role in memory, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we investigate the role of 5-HT 2C receptor (5-HT2CR) in regulating memory. Transgenic mice expressing a humanized HTR2C mutation exhibit impaired plasticity of hippocampal ventral CA1 (vCA1) neurons and reduced memory. Further, 5-HT neurons project to and synapse onto vCA1 neurons. Disruption of 5-HT synthesis in vCA1-projecting neurons or deletion of 5-HT2CRs in the vCA1 impairs neural plasticity and memory. We show that a selective 5-HT2CR agonist, …

Blood Phenylalanine Levels In Patients With Phenylketonuria From Europe Between 2012 And 2018: Is It A Changing Landscape?, Alex Pinto, Kirsten Ahring, Manuela Ferreira Almeida, Catherine Ashmore, Amaya Bélanger-Quintana, Alberto Burlina, Turgay Coşkun, Anne Daly, Esther Van Dam, Ali Dursun, Sharon Evans, François Feillet, Maria Giżewska, Hulya Gökmen-Özel, Mary Hickson, Yteke Hoekstra, Fatma Ilgaz, Richard Jackson, Alicja Leśniak, Christian Loro, Katarzyna Malicka, Michał Patalan, Júlio César Rocha, Serap Sivri, Iris Rodenburg, Francjan Van Spronsen, Kamilla Strączek, Ayşegül Tokatli, Anita Macdonald

School of Health Professions

Background: In 2011, a European phenylketonuria (PKU) survey reported that the blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels were well controlled in early life but deteriorated with age. Other studies have shown similar results across the globe. Different target blood Phe levels have been used throughout the years, and, in 2017, the European PKU guidelines defined new targets for blood Phe levels. This study aimed to evaluate blood Phe control in patients with PKU across Europe. Methods: nine centres managing PKU in Europe and Turkey participated. Data were collected retrospectively from medical and dietetic records between 2012 and 2018 on blood Phe levels, …

Beyond The Surface: A Scoping Review Of Vision-Based Underwater Experience Technologies And User Studies, Oksana Hagen, Amir Aly, Ray Jones, Marius Varga, Dena Bazazian

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Exploring the underwater world presents significant physical and financial barriers. Telepresence technologies offer a potential solution by a providing a more accessible version of an underwater experience. Our research involved a scoping review to consolidate previous findings on vision-based technologies that aim to recreate underwater experiences and their user evaluations. We searched 5 academic databases for papers describing or evaluating technologies providing visual underwater experiences without actual submersion. We systematically searched YouTube to include immersive experiences not documented in academic publications. Our review included 45 academic papers and 23 YouTube videos classified by their level of ‘reality’, ‘degrees of freedom’, …

Comment/Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plans (Fsps) For Bres No. 121 – Travona Dump, Bres No. 125 – Child Harold-2 Dump, Bres No. 34e – Eveline Dump East, Bres No. 45 – Garfield, Bres No. 49 – Old Glory, Bres No. 52 – Moscow, Bres No. 74 – West Gagnon Dump, And Bres No. 78 Original Mine (Dated May 7, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Python Tooth-Inspired Fixation Device For Enhanced Rotator Cuff Repair, Iden Kurtaliaj, Ethan D Hoppe, Yuxuan Huang, David Ju, Jacob A Sandler, Donghwan Yoon, Guy M Genin

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Rotator cuff repair surgeries fail frequently, with 20 to 94% of the 600,000 repairs performed annually in the United States resulting in retearing of the rotator cuff. The most common cause of failure is sutures tearing through tendons at grasping points. To address this issue, we drew inspiration from the specialized teeth of snakes of the Pythonoidea superfamily, which grasp soft tissues without tearing. To apply this nondamaging gripping approach to the surgical repair of tendon, we developed and optimized a python tooth-inspired device as an adjunct to current rotator cuff suture repair and found that it nearly doubled repair …

Comments For The 2024 Butte Priority Soils (Bpsou) Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) – Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) For Non-Residential Parcels And Residential Daycares (Dated May 23, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final 2024 Residential Metals Abatement Program Mandan Park Soil Rawp (Dated May 10, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final 2024 Residential Metals Abatement Program Park Soil Sampling Field Sampling Plan Submittal #14 [Silver Bow Homes Park, Butte Koa, Fairmont Rv Park, And Cccs Gymnasium] (Dated May 10, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final 2024 Residential Metals Abatement Program Park Soil Sampling Field Sampling Plan Submittal #13 [Copper Mountain Park] (Dated May 10, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Butte Mine Flooding Operable Unit Berkeley Pit And Discharge Pilot Project - May 2024 Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report, Mark Thompson, Dave Griffis

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Enteric Fever In Children: An Epidemiological And Clinical Review Of Cases In Southeast Texas, Zachary C Foughty, Denver T Niles, Andrea T Cruz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi have emerged in Pakistan and Iraq. We report 13 children with enteric fever in Southeast Texas seen over 3.5 years, of whom 23.1% had XDR isolates.

Interval Training Using A Slide Board Is Superior To Cycloergometer Regarding Aerobic Capacity And Specific Fitness In Elite Ice Hockey Players, Robert Roczniok, Artur Terbalyan, Daria Manilewska, Grzegorz Mikrut, Tomas Mika, Petr Stastny

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Ice hockey is a physically demanding sport that requires a combination of aerobic and anaerobic capacities, as well as specific on-ice skills. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of individualized interval training on a slide board with training on a cyclo-ergometer, focusing on aerobic capacity and specific fitness in elite ice hockey players. Materials and Methods: Thirty players were randomly divided into an experimental (slide board) and a control (cyclo-ergometer) group. Both groups underwent a 6-week training program with the same intensity and volume. Results: The results showed that both forms of training led to significant improvements in …