Digital Commons Network^™

Should Tax-Free Triangular Mergers Be Eliminated?, Reuven Avi-Yonah

Articles

The tax advantages of reverse triangular mergers under section 368(a)(2)(E) are well known. They enable the acquiring corporation (P) to use up to 60 percent cash consideration to acquire the stock of target (T) through a merger with a controlled subsidiary (S), with T surviving. This amount of boot is higher than what is allowed under a B or C reorganization. Because it is a triangular merger, it avoids exposing the assets of P to the liabilities of T (unlike a direct merger), and because it is equivalent to a stock acquisition, it avoids having to transfer assets, which is …

The Hepatic Glucagon Receptor As A Novel Regulator Of Lifespan, Alexander Tate Lasher

All ETDs from UAB

In developed nations the average lifespan has nearly doubled over the last 200 years, and the proportion of humans living into old age is ever increasing. While this is certainly a testament to the effectiveness of modern medicine and infrastructure, it presents a unique challenge to public health. Gains to health have not necessarily kept pace with the gains in lifespan, and the expanding aged population positions age-associated diseases to reach unprecedented prevalence. In light of this challenge, a mechanistic understanding of the aging process is necessary to identify factors that control longevity and to ultimately develop strategies for healthy …

Fqhc Turnaround Success – Does Leadership Matter?, Luis Orlando Amaro

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are essential providers of primary care in underserved communities but face growing risks of financial instability. Leader transitions, particularly at the executive level, may influence an organization's ability to recover from fiscal distress. This study examined whether executive succession—and the type of succession (internal vs. external)—was associated with financial turnaround among distressed FQHCs. Methods: Financial distress was assessed using the Modified Altman Z-Score, a validated indicator of fiscal health in nonprofit organizations. A longitudinal, quantitative design was used to analyze 850 FQHCs across the United States over a six-year period (2017–2022). Financial performance was …

The Resilience In Black Families Scale: A Validation Study, Destiny Kelly

All ETDs from UAB

The Resilience in Black Families Scale (RBFS) was developed to be a culturally relevant measure designed to assess the family resilience processes utilized within Black families. The purpose of this study was to validate the RBFS, which consists of a three-factor structure modeled after Walsh’s family resilience framework and is further enhanced with culturally relevant protective factors. Using a sample of 200 participants, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the theoretical hierarchical factor structure of the Resilience in Black Families model, consisting of 13 first order factors (making meaning of adversity, positive outlook, religiosity and spirituality, ethnic-racial socialization, …

Interactions Between Staphylococcus Aureus And Corynebacterium Species In The Context Of Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Joshua Tucker Huffines

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex inflammatory disease affecting the upper respiratory tract (URT) for a large portion of the populace, leading to significant economic burdens. Staphylococcus aureus is considered as a significant contributor to CRS inflammation through the production of toxins regulated through quorum sensing (QS). Microbiome studies have characterized the microbial communities present in the healthy URT and in CRS. These studies show that the genus Corynebacterium is associated with the healthy URT, decreased in CRS, and has a negative correlation with S. aureus regardless of health status. A few studies have partially characterized a mechanism to explain …

Leveraging Computational Modelling/Simulation, Machine Learning, And Additive Manufacturing For Customized Design Of Periodontal And Bone Tissue Scaffolds, Rakesh Pemmada

All ETDs from UAB

The current dissertation presents an overarching pipeline for the development and production of custom-made scaffolds for periodontal tissue regeneration using finite element analysis (FEA), machine learning (ML), and additive manufacturing (AM).CAD anatomically realistic scaffolds were generated from CT-based maxilla and mandible models. The FEA simulation results under masticatory (100 N), parafunctional (500–550 N), and traumatic (800–850 N) loads showed region-specific distribution of stresses and strains, which guided structural reinforcement strategies. Over 1000 3D-printed PCL scaffolds were printed using various pore diameters (200–300 µm) and filament diameters. Five ML models were constructed for predicting print quality based on process factors. Classification …

Mechanism Of Targeted Cancer Therapeutics-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Angelica Toro-Cora

All ETDs from UAB

Targeted cancer therapies are known to cause cardiovascular (CV) complications in human patients. Agents such as osimertinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been demonstrated to induce severe cardiotoxicities, including heart failure and myocarditis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of TKIs and ICIs-induced cardiotoxicity remain poorly understood. Herein, we developed the first in vivo preclinical model of osimertinib-induced cardiotoxicity using a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model. Osimertinib-treated mice displayed severe cardiac dysfunction, elevated markers of heart failure and fibrosis, and failed to undergo compensatory hypertrophic remodeling, resulting in cardiomyocyte death. Mechanistically, we identified suppression …

Advice For Improving The Experience Of Web-Based Patient Portals: Qualitative Interviews With Caregiver-Adolescent Dyads, Rachel E Granberg, Jessica M Goldberg, Alison L Antes, Christine Bereitschaft, Fabienne Bourgeois, James Dubois, Bryan A Sisk

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Web-based patient portals can benefit adolescents and their caregivers by increasing access and providing greater understanding of one's health information, enhancing communication with clinicians, and supporting caregiver influence. Despite these benefits, adolescent uptake has been low with high attrition rates. Feedback from adolescents and caregivers is essential to improve the uptake and usability of the web-based patient portal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to identify advice for medical informatics administrators and clinicians directed at improving the adolescent and caregiver experience with the web-based patient portal.

METHODS: Caregivers completed a demographic survey followed by separate qualitative, semistructured interviews …

Modeling Musculoskeletal Combat Casualty Care: Nato Trauma System Performance In Large Scale Combat Operations, Mark P. Cote, Kaitlyn E. Holly, Roman J. Schoenfeld, Matthew R. Bryan, Malina O. Hatton, Mitchel B. Harris, Tracey P. Koehlmoos, Andrew J. Schoenfeld

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the current North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) trauma system will be effective in the setting of Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). We sought to model the efficacy of the NATO trauma system in the setting of LSCO. We also intended to model novel scenarios that could better adapt the current system to LSCO.

METHODS: We developed a discrete-event simulation model for patients with combat musculoskeletal injuries treated within the standard NATO system. The primary outcome of the model was survival. The model's health states were characterized as stable, hypovolemia, sepsis, shock, or death. The model simulated …

Temperature And Pressure Shaped The Evolution Of Antifreeze Proteins In Polar And Deep Sea Zoarcoid Fishes, Samuel N. Bogan, Nathan Surendran, Scott Hotaling, Thomas Desvignes, Iliana Bista, Luana S.F. Lins, Mari H. Eilertsen, Nathalie R. Le François, Tait Algayer, Scott L. Hamilton, Paul B. Frandsen, Federico G. Hoffmann, Joanna L. Kelley

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have enabled teleost fishes to repeatedly colonize polar seas. Four AFP types have convergently evolved in several fish lineages. AFPs inhibit ice crystal growth and lower tissue freezing point. In lineages with AFPs, species inhabiting colder environments may possess more AFP copies. Elucidating how differences in AFP copy number evolve is challenging due to the genes' tandem array structure and consequently poor resolution of these repetitive regions. Here, we explore the evolution of type III AFPs (AFP III) in the globally distributed suborder Zoarcoidei, leveraging six new long-read genome assemblies. Zoarcoidei has fewer genomic resources relative to …

Evaluating Gains In Student Self-Efficacy In Scientific Literacy Associated With A Brief Curricular Intervention, Radhika Reddy, Olivia M. Ainsworth, Mackenzie J. Gray, Andrea Hildebrand, Jazzmine Waugh, Jennifer Lindwall, Javier Huerta, Thomas E. Keller

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) are high-impact practices that enhance retention, motivation, and self-efficacy in science, particularly for students with limited prior exposure to scientific environments. However, many students-especially those from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds-enter these experiences with low research self-efficacy, stemming from limited familiarity with academic language, scientific literature, and research communication. The Research Induction Curriculum (RIC) was designed to address this challenge by providing early, structured training in scientific literacy through scaffolded journal club discussions. The RIC introduces students to progressively more complex scientific articles, supports peer discussion, and builds confidence in reading, interpreting, and presenting scientific information. This …

Spatial-Temporal Variation Of Diarrhea Among Children Under 5 Years Old Between 2010-2020 In Rwanda, Amans Ntakarutimana Dr., Patrick A. Tschida Dr., Elias Nyandwi Dr.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

We used secondary data from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys of 2010, 2015, and 2020 to assess the spatial-temporal variation of diarrhea among children under 5 years old between the years 2010 and 2020 in Rwanda. Stratified descriptive statistics, pairwise comparisons, and logistic regression designs were used for data analysis in SPSS. A statistically significant variation of diarrhea among children under 5 years old was observed across districts, regions, and urban–rural areas but not at the national level between 2010–2020. Some districts of the Western region, including Nyabihu (OR = 2.5), Ngororero (OR = 2.3), and Karongi …

How Medical Mistrust Serves As A Barrier To Mental Health Treatment In The African American Community, Nicholas Young

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Throughout history, research has depicted the notion that African Americans do not make use of mental health treatment, even when their mental health status may deem it clinically necessary. One of the most prevalent deterrents to African Americans seeking treatment is the mistrust of the medical system. In the African American community, medical mistrust has a longstanding history that stems from the discrimination, racism, lack of representation in the field, and medical mistreatment that African Americans received as test subjects by the medical community over time. Various instances, throughout history, of African Americans being unjustly treated— for the sake of …

An Adaptive Force Matching Potential For Alanine Developed With Møller-Plesset Perturbation Theory And Smooth Fourier Transform Correction Map, Ying Yuan, Feng Wang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Developing accurate force fields for biomolecules remains a significant challenge due to the subtle energetic differences between various conformational states. We present a novel force field model for polyalanine, ALAMP2_25, developed using adaptive force matching (AFM) with M & oslash;ller-Plesset perturbation theory at the second order (MP2) as the reference method. By fitting smaller model compounds and transferring parameters to larger peptides, we overcome the limitations of traditional AFM approaches and enable the use of more accurate electronic structure methods. The ALAMP2_25 model incorporates a new correction scheme, Smooth Fourier Transform-based phi, psi correction map (SFT-CMAP), which efficiently describes phi, …

Local Political Dynamics In The Implementation Of The Program For Innovation In Regional Development And Empowerment (Pippk) In Bandung City, Hafshah Talia, Sinta Ningrum, Dedi Sukarno

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Local Political Dynamics in the Implementation of the Program for Innovation in Regional Development and Empowerment (PIPPK) in Bandung City examines how local political dynamics influence the implementation of the PIPPK policy. This study focuses on analyzing the interactions among stakeholders, including the Regional Governance Section of Bandung City, subdistrict heads, community leaders, and local political actors, as well as the challenges arising from these dynamics. The research qualitative primary data from in-depth interviews and field observations with secondary data from media documentation and previous studies. The findings indicate that local political dynamics affect decision-making processes, resource allocation, and the …

The Influence Of Political Fake News On Tiktok And Its Impact On Inter-Ethnic Relations In Malaysia, Ahmad Luqman Mohd Shamsul Amri, Muhammad Aiman Daniel Mustazar, Muhammad Adib Farhan Mohd Hamim, Mohamad Hafifi Jamri

Jurnal Wacana Politik

TikTok as a platform has become an ideal environment for political discussions and even plays a role in spreading false information. Malaysia, a country with diverse ethnicities, has experienced the impact of viral political misinformation on societal harmony. Thus, this study aims to enhance our understanding of how political misinformation on TikTok can exacerbate ethnic differences in Malaysia by highlighting its potential social implications. The study adopts the Uses and Gratifications Theory as a foundation for developing a framework. A quantitative survey method was employed, with data collected via Google Forms from 407 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS …

Iodinated Disinfection Byproduct Formation From Iohexol In Sunlit And Chlorinated Urban Wastewaters, Reagan Patton Witt, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Breath Acetone As A Biomarker For Concussion, Allyn Abadie

All ETDs from UAB

Concussions represent a critical public health concern, affecting millions annually yet remain challenging to diagnose and manage. Concussions involve a range of often invisible signs and symptoms. Traditional assessments rely heavily on subjective symptom reporting, with limited objective data which may complicate return-to-play decisions. Objective physiological biomarkers are needed to complement traditional methods, detect subtle disruptions, and improve decision-making. Following concussion, the brain undergoes a neurometabolic cascade involving disrupted glucose utilization, ionic imbalances, neurotransmitter release, and reduced cerebral blood flow. This cascade creates a metabolic crisis, potentially shifting energy metabolism toward alternative substrates such as ketones. Breath acetone, a measurable …

The Role Of Histone Deacetylase Complexes In Cardiomyocyes And Heart Diseases, Meimei Wang

All ETDs from UAB

Histone deacetylase complexes play pivotal roles in cardiac biology, however their specific functions in cell fate transitions and adult heart maintenance re-main unclear. We identified the role of HDAC complex in vitro during direct cardiac repro-gramming and in vivo through specific cardiomyocyte deletion of ELMSAN1, a core component of the MiDAC complex. We perform direct cardiac reprogram-ming using a polycistronic construct (hMGT133) expressing MEF2C, GATA4, TBX5, and miR-133. MEF2C expression peaked early, while cardiac markers such as cardiac troponin and α-actinin emerged by Day 9. HDAC1 levels and global histone acetylation (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac) declined over time. An RNAi screen …

Exploring The Influence Of Leadership On The Organizational Performance Of Federally Qualified Health Centers In The United States Through The Lens Of The Upper Echelons Theory, Devdutt Shriram Upadhye

All ETDs from UAB

This study examines the influence that leaders have on the performance of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the US. The framework through which the study examines this relationship is the Upper Echelons Theory (UET), which posits that managers and leaders take actions that shape the organization they lead, and these actions are based on a confluence of experiential and characteristic factors. The current study focuses on a leader’s influence through three proxies, viz. educational background, role tenure, and sex, on the organizational performance of FQHCs. Performance is captured using both financial and quality metrics. Data for the study was …

Immune And Endothelial Cell Mechanisms Of Cardiovascular And Kidney Disease Risk In Obesity, Claudia Edell

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. Both inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are hallmark signs of adverse health outcomes in obesity. Previous data from our lab has shown that a 2-week time restricted feeding (TRF) intervention reduces kidney CD3+ (T) cells and fibrosis and improves endothelial function in a mouse model of diet induced obesity (DIO). There is little known about kidney damage and T cells in obesity. We hypothesized that TRF reduces kidney damage in obese mice through mitigating T cell inflammation. We use a 20-week DIO model, with 18 weeks of ad libitum …

Effects Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On Streptococcus Mutans: Implications For Early Childhood Caries, Walaa Al-Turki

All ETDs from UAB

Effects of Probiotic Lactobacilli on Streptococcus mutans: Implications for Early Childhood Caries WALAA MOHIEDEN AL TURKI DENTISTRY ABSTRACT Purpose: Probiotic Lactobacillus species have been shown to have beneficial effects against early childhood caries (ECC) by inhibiting the growth of cariogenic bacteria. However, the acidogenicity of Lactobacillus spp. could have potential carcinogenic effect. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotic lactobacilli and cariogenic lactobacilli on the growth, biofilm formation, and acid production of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Methods: Growth competition between probiotic L. rhamnosus GG (L-GG) or caries-associated L. rhamnosus M72-26 (L-M72) and S. mutans UA159 …

A Noncanonical Role Of T Follicular Helper Cells In Promoting Peripheral Tolerance By Supporting T Regulatory Cells, Shivangi Dave

All ETDs from UAB

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a specialized subset of CD4+ T cells that sup-port germinal center (GC) B cells and promote antibody (Ab)-mediated immunity. There is growing recognition of the heterogeneity and functional diversity of Tfh cells, supported by accumulating evidence that highlights their context-specific roles across a range of disease settings. While their contribution to B cell responses is well-established, our data demonstrate that Tfh cells have a broader and more dynamic function. In this study, we uncover a novel function of Tfh cells in maintaining immune homeostasis by supporting T regulatory cell (Treg) responses under normal physiological …

Bayesian Survival Analysis For High-Dimensional Compositional Data, Zhenying Ding

All ETDs from UAB

Survival analysis integrating microbiome and clinical data offers powerful insights into human health. The microbiome influences immunity, inflammation, and cancer outcomes. Combining microbial profiles with clinical factors like tumor stage, treatment, and demographics enhances understanding of how host-microbe interactions affect survival. To analyze these complex datasets, advanced statistical methods, including Bayesian models, penalized Cox proportional hazards models, and machine learning techniques are employed. These approaches can uncover novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets, leading to personalized treatment strategies that optimize patient survival. However, challenges arise due to the compositionality, high-dimensionality, and phylogenetic relation between taxa in microbiome data. In this dissertation, …

The Role Of The Glycerol Metabolism Regulator Glpr On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’S Physiology, Nicholas Jordan Evans

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis. P. aeruginosa persists in the CF lung through adaptations, including altering the expression of metabolic genes to acquire nutrients that are abundant in the CF airway. Glycerol in the airway is imported and metabolized by proteins encoded in the glp regulon, which is regulated in part by GlpR. The loss of GlpR was previously shown to increase biofilm development in a P. aeruginosa CF isolate compared to a wound isolate. In the first half of this work, we investigated the influence that …

A Short Trip: A Mixed Methods Investigation Of The Perceived Effects Of Vaporized Dmt Vs Vaporized 5-Meo-Dmt, Cynthia Estrella Ortiz

All ETDs from UAB

The rise in psychedelic use has been accompanied by increased interest in alternative routes of administration, including vaporization. However, little is known about the characteristics and outcomes associated with vaporized forms of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). This mixed-methods study examined the subjective experiences and mental health correlates of individuals who reported using vaporized DMT, vaporized 5-MeO-DMT, or psilocybin mushrooms in the past six months. A total of 209 adults completed an online survey assessing demographic variables, substance use, and psychological functioning, including measures of global health (PROMIS), subjective happiness, magical ideation, spiritual connection, psychosis-like experiences (CAPE-42), and hypomanic symptoms. …

Investigating The Role Of Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling In The Cystic Fibrosis Airways, Meghan June Hirsch

All ETDs from UAB

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene which results in complications in organs such as the lung, pancreas, liver, and intestines. In the lung, defective CFTR results in thick, sticky mucus that causes susceptibility to colonization of opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), progressive lung damage, and ultimately a decrease in life expectancy in affected individuals depending on severity of disease. Additionally, one of the characteristics of this disease, with and without PA infection, is chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has also been associated with accelerated aging …

Compartmentalized Antigen Presentation By Intestinal Epithelial Cells Directs Cd4 T Cell Fate, Christopher Garrett Wilson

All ETDs from UAB

The intestinal epithelium maintains a complex relationship with both commensal microbiota and enteric pathogens while orchestrating local immune responses. Although intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) can express MHC class II molecules during inflammation, their functional contribution to pathogen-specific adaptive immunity and immunological memory remains poorly defined. This dissertation investigates the hypothesis that IECs actively shape CD4+ T cell responses through antigen presentation, using Citrobacter rodentium infection as a physiologically relevant model of human attaching and effacing bacterial pathogens. The C. rodentium model offers unique advantages for dissecting epithelial-immune interactions: it naturally infects mice through oral inoculation, exhibits precise anatomical tropism for …

Access To Care, Structural Barriers, And Recovery Identity In Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Yahya Alnashri

All ETDs from UAB

Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain one of the most pressing public health and economic challenges in the United States, with growing recognition that recovery is a multidimensional process shaped by clinical, social, and structural factors. This dissertation explores recovery at the levels of health policy, population, and experiential levels to assess gaps in access to recovery support services, identify patterns and predictors of recovery identity, and highlight the lived experiences of individuals with opioid use disorder. First, we evaluated whether state Medicaid expansion under the ACA (2010–2019) was associated with changes in the availability of consumer-run peer support services in …

Pao Induces Er Stress In Endothelial Cells Leading To Barrier Function Dysfunction And Inhibition Of Brd4 Prevents Lewisite-Induced Peribronchial Fibrosis, Huaxiu Zeng

All ETDs from UAB

Arsenicals are members of one of the most important global environmental vesicants and are a persistent bio accumulative carcinogen. One of the vesicants and chemical warfare agents is lewisite, which causes lung injury with pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and respiratory failure. A single cutaneous exposure to lewisite in mice induces systemic lung injury through arsenical-mediated mechanisms. Some subjects develop Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) where there is evidence of airway dysfunction and pathologic narrowing of the airways with extracellular protein deposition and fibroblast invasion. In vitro for human lung endothelial cells, Phenyl arsine Oxide (PAO) exposure, as surrogate of lewisite, leads to …