Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying And Breaking Barriers: Addressing Disparities In The Care Of Patients With Gynecologic Cancers, Bhavana Pothuri, Michele Muir, Jean Hurteau, John Farley, Michelle D. Lightfoot, Summer Dewdney, Tara Castellano, John K. Chan, Sharad Ghamande, Al Asante-Facey, Marina Stasenko, B J. Rimel, Electra D. Paskett

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Significant disparities exist in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Higher incidences of gynecologic malignancies among underrepresented subpopulations (eg, racial, ethnic, and/or LGBTQAI+) and lack of representative enrollment within clinical trials have highlighted the need to improve healthcare equity. We aimed to identify barriers to equitable health care and clinical trial participation for specific diverse populations of patients with gynecologic malignancies and to identify potential solutions for overcoming these barriers. METHODS: A series of 4 live and 3 asynchronous advisory boards facilitated by GSK was conducted between January 2023 and July 2024; live advisory boards were population specific. …

University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga Faculty Handbook, 2025 August 1, University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga. Office Of Academic Affairs, University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga. Faculty Senate

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Faculty Handbooks

Governance, policies, guidelines, services, and resources managed by and for the faculty at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Islamism And Women’S Movements In Iran: Hijab As A Burden Of Representation, Samah Ahmed

International Studies (MA) Theses

Throughout history, Islamic discourse, political Islam, and the status of Muslim women have been subjects of study. Still, few research efforts have concentrated on the changes and dynamics between Islamic discourse and feminist resistance. Particularly in Iran, attention has primarily been given to the Islamism project, often treated as separate from social movements in post-Islamism. This thesis explores how social movements have used the symbolism of the veil in their resistance, focusing specifically on the women's social movement during the Islamic Revolution. Drawing on Assef Bayat's approach of Islamism and social movements and Gender and power dynamics theory, the main …

Misinformation, Disinformation, And The Erosion Of Institutional Trust: The Role Of Social Media In Democracy, Andres Murillo

International Studies (MA) Theses

In recent years, social media-driven misinformation and disinformation have helped erode public trust in democratic institutions. This thesis examines how constant exposure to false online content correlates with declining confidence in democracy and evaluates the roles of platforms, influencers, and mechanisms. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, this thesis pairs a quantitative survey with a qualitative analysis of three disinformation case studies: the 2020 U.S. election and the “Stop the Steal” movement, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar crisis, and Russian denial of wartime atrocities in their invasion against Ukraine. Drawing on classical and modern propaganda theories (Lasswell, Herman & Chomsky, RAND’s …

The Collapse Of Negara Hukum: How Indonesia’S Rule Of Law Has Been Shaped By Embedded Oligarch Politics?, Herlambang Perdana Wiratraman

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This article argues recent performance of the rule of law in the 25-years period after Soeharto’s authoritarian regime. Why has there been a weakening of civil liberties, while on the other hand the oligarchic power and authoritarianism strengthens the current Indonesia’s politics. This article examines the prevalence of arbitrary practices, not only in the fair procedural process of law enforcement, but also why it is so easy to pass anti-democratic laws that contradict the principles of the rule of law. By referring to three specific case studies: free expression, academic freedom and press freedom, this article found that politics in …

The Role Of The Jnk Gene In Ovarian Cancer Inflammatory Pathways, Tashoy D. Campbell

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Ovarian cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women globally, presents a significant challenge due to its common late-stage diagnosis and chemoresistance (inability of the tumor to respond to drugs). The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in ovarian cancer progression, contributing to inflammation, tumor survival, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. This literature review examines the role of the JNK signaling pathway in ovarian cancer, with a focus on its role in inflammation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. JNK regulates key inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, which promote tumor growth and immune evasion. Moreover, …

Use Of Infrared Spectroscopy In Animal Studies: Aspects Of Health Science, Brian Manzanares

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Non-invasive imaging technologies, such as infrared thermography (IRT), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are revolutionizing the field of animal research by enabling real-time, stress-free assessment of physiological conditions. Such methods like these are align with the ethical standards of the 3Rs, replacement, reduction, and refinement-by reducing the need of invasive procedures while enhancing data quality and animal welfare. These methods can also provide critical insight into animal health, behavior, and stress responses without the need for invasive procedures or restraint, thereby minimizing harm and distress. This literature review will explore the practical applications of IRT, NIRS, and …

The Role Of Nicotine In Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases, Jacquelyn T. Deaton

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Neurodegenerative diseases have emerged as a critical medical challenge because they cause progressive neuronal death alongside structural or functional deterioration. Families, healthcare institutions, and affected individuals face significant challenges due to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, which impair both cognitive function and motor abilities. Researchers have found that nicotine in tobacco products is a compound with therapeutic potential. This literature review explores how nicotine interacts with neurodegenerative mechanisms, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, and assesses its potential neuroprotective effects in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In the central nervous system, nicotine binds to the …

A Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Analysis Of The Experiences Of Women Under Community Supervision, Gifty Kinful

Research Papers

Research reveals that women parolees or probationers encounter both challenges and support systems as they navigate their reintegration into the community. More specifically, most women returning from prison and those on probation are released into a society of stigma where access to housing, employment, education, transportation, and healthcare services is either severely limited or nonexistent. These serious obstacles can undermine their ability, motivation, and desire to succeed while on probation or parole. Support systems may be more or less available and effective. The qualitative literature on women under community supervision is large but to our knowledge, the diverse studies have …

Blackberry Long-Cane Cold Storage And Forcing Strategy Effects On Flower And Fruit Development, Leala Machesney, Ryan Dickson, Amanda Mcwhirt, Margaret L. Worthington, Stephanie E. Burnett

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Blackberry (Rubus subg. Rubus) production using soilless culture and "long-cane" techniques offers growers the potential to achieve off-season harvests and increase yields. This study investigated the feasibility of achieving early spring harvests and high yields with four blackberry cultivars (Natchez, Ouachita, Prime-ArkVR Freedom, and Prime-ArkVR Traveler) grown using long-cane techniques and six different cold storage and forcing environment strategies. Long-cane blackberry plants were container-grown outdoors during 2020 and were overwintered either at an outdoor nursery or in a cold storage facility (4 degrees C). Dormant plants were then forced the following spring at the outdoor nursery location or in a …

From Storm To Strength: Katrina's Legacy Of Health, Healing, And Hope, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Reports & Presentations

This is the schedule for "From Storm to Strength" Katrina Symposium organized by LSU Health New Orleans to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

A speaker panel session was held each day from Monday, August 24, 2025 to Thursday, August 28, 2025 for LSU Health faculty, staff and guests to share their remembrances of the hurricane and its impact on the school, on the City, and on their lives.

Impaired Rest-Activity Rhythm Characteristics Predict Higher Risk Of Incident Type 2 Diabetes In Uk Biobank Participants, Chris Ho Ching Yeung, Alison K Wright, Daniel P Windred, Angus C Burns, Andrew J K Phillips, Sean W Cain, Martin K Rutter, Qian Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Circadian rhythms play a key role in metabolic health. Rest-activity rhythms, which are in part driven by circadian rhythms, may be associated with diabetes risk. There is a need for large prospective studies to comprehensively examine different rest-activity metrics to determine their relative strength in predicting risk of incident type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods: In actigraphy data from 83,887 UK Biobank participants, we applied both parametric and nonparametric algorithms to derive 13 different metrics characterizing different aspects of rest-activity rhythm. Diabetes cases were identified using both self-reported data and health records. We used Cox proportional hazards models …

Linking Chronic Kidney Disease To Incident Heart Failure And Adverse Cardiac Remodeling Through The Plasma Proteome: The Aric Study, Leo F Buckley, Pranav Dorbala, Victoria Lamberson, Brian L Claggett, Yue Ren, Morgan E Grams, Josef Coresh, Kunihiro Matsushita, Ryan T Demmer, Ruth F Dubin, Rajat Deo, Peter Ganz, Christie M Ballantyne, Ron C Hoogeveen, Bing Yu, Amil M Shah

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Investigation of circulating plasma proteins may reveal insights into molecular pathways that contribute to the development of heart failure (HF) among people with chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: The authors aimed to identify circulating kidney function-related plasma proteins that are associated with the risk of incident HF.

Methods: The authors studied participants of the ongoing longitudinal ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study. Relative plasma concentrations of 4,697 unique proteins were measured with the use of an aptamer assay (Somalogic). Each protein was tested for associations with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), log-transformed urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and incident HF by …

Trends In Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Prescribing Patterns, Maria Ukhanova, Joseph S Wozny, Chau N Truong, Lopita Ghosh, Trudy M Krause

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Obesity affects more than 40% of US adults, increasing risks for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), initially indicated for diabetes, show promise in weight loss but face coverage issues, high costs, and premature prescribing from physicians. Research is needed to assess prescribing patterns, especially in patients without diabetes.

Study design: We conducted a retrospective, population-based, observational study using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database and the Merative MarketScan Medicare Supplemental Database, which capture person-specific clinical utilization and expenditures. We analyzed GLP-1 RA prescribing rates from 2018 to 2023, comparing semaglutide with other …

Computational Frameworks To Unravel The Immune Landscape, Shan He

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive cell therapy, face challenges such as resistance and immune-related adverse events, partly due to our limited understanding of the immune signaling pathways. While high- throughput genomic data provide unprecedented resolution into these immune pathways, their full potential is limited by the lack of well-annotated, context-specific immune gene sets. To address this need, I developed a workflow to construct immune gene sets by integrating RNA- seq datasets and performing decomposition. Using this approach, I constructed 28 immune- specific gene sets from 83 bulk RNA-seq datasets and 12 Natural Killer (NK) …

Resolving Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity Of Breast Cancer Using Single-Cell Multi-Omics, Yun Yan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by diverse genetic, transcriptional, and epigenetic landscapes. Understanding how intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) influences therapeutic response and drives tumor evolution remains a central challenge in cancer biology. Here, we leverage single-cell multi-omics technologies to dissect the cell states and gene expression programs underlying breast cancer heterogeneity, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.

In the first part, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to profile over 400,000 cells from 101 treatment-naïve TNBC patients. We identified 4 archetypes at the patient level and 13 metaprograms …

Use Of The Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification For Food Safety And Drug Discovery, Maria R. Benavente Garcia-Huidobro

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding of the normal prion protein (PrP^C) into its infectious form (PrP^Sc). While the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains uncertain, the presence of prions in food products raises public health concerns. Additionally, therapeutic strategies for prion diseases remain limited. This thesis presents a methodological exploration of the Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) technique to address these challenges in two key areas: (1) detecting CWD prions in processed meats subjected to common cooking procedures, and (2) identifying potential anti-prion compounds through a high-throughput PMCA adaptation. …

Structural Functional Investigation Of Hap40, Amanda M. Solbach

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL INVESTIGATION OF HAP40

Amanda Marie Solbach

Dissertation Advisor: Sheng Zhang, Ph.D.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene, resulting in a mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein with an elongated polyglutamine tract. While the genetic basis of HD is well established, the mechanisms underlying mHTT toxicity and its impact on cellular function remain incompletely understood. Recent discoveries implicate Huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40) as a critical regulator of HTT stability and intracellular function. However, the physiological and pathological significance of this interaction has not been fully explored.

This …

Modeling Renal Anomalies Associated With Li-Fraumeni Patients: A Novel Role For P53 In Kidney Development, Alejandra Davilavaladez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a heritable disorder caused by germline mutations in the TP53 gene that result in an increased risk of cancer. The TP53 tumor suppressor gene regulates cell division and prevents the accumulation of cells that may become cancerous. LFS patients are susceptible to various types of cancers, including osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, acute leukemia, and adrenal cortical tumors, as well as breast and brain cancer. Additionally, these patients have an increased risk of developing kidney, stomach, colon, pancreas, esophagus, lung, and gonadal germ cell cancers. Prior studies indicate that p53 is involved in kidney development. However, there …

Effects Of Sex And Aging In The Response To Global Cerebral Hypoperfusion, Alexis Mcalister

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction

The prevalence of dementia worldwide is projected to double by the year 2030 and triple by 2050. Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) encompasses diseases that lead to cognitive decline and dementia due to cerebrovascular disease. VCID is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for approximately 15- 40% of all dementia cases. Reductions in cerebral blood flow from intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis increase VCID risk, even in the absence of overt clinical or imaging evidence of stroke/embolization. The pathology seen in patients with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, such as inflammation, neuronal loss, white matter abnormalities, …

Microbial Metabolite Regulation Of Microglial Ahr Signaling In Alzheimer’S Disease, Ghalya E. Alrousan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β plaque accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests that systemic factors, particularly the gut microbiota and its metabolites, play a significant role in shaping brain immune responses, including microglial activation. However, the mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to microglial dysfunction in AD are poorly understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor responsive to tryptophan metabolites, has recently gained attention as a key regulator of neuroinflammation and microglial function. I hypothesize that the loss of beneficial microbial AHR ligands, specifically indole derivatives, during aging and AD …

Autoantibody Profiling To Predict Response To The Anti-Pd-1 Therapy, Pembrolizumab, In Rare Tumors, M H Derbala, J Hajjar, B Stephen, S A Gurses, E Kwiatkowski, P Budde, H-D Zucht, M Bräutigam, A-S Lindemann, B A Abhari, M A Gouda, L Castillo, A Zarifa, J A How, E Rodriguez, J T Moyers, D S Hong, S Fu, F Meric-Bernstam, A Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have limited response rates in selected patients and can cause potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This underscores the urgent need for the development of biomarkers predictive of ICI response. Pre-existing autoantibodies (AAbs) have been linked with responses to ICIs and the development of irAEs. We conducted AAb profiling to assess associations between baseline AAbs and clinical benefit (CB) in patients with rare tumors treated with anti-programmed cell death protein 1-based therapy.

Patients and methods: We conducted AAb profiling using Oncimmune's SeroTag multiplex antibody discovery technology and immune oncology array containing 1168 antigens. The study …

Racial Disparities In The Receipt Of Therapies For Cancer, Hypertension, And Diabetes, And In Mortality In A Large Population-Based Cohort Of Older Men With Prostate Cancer, Zhuoyun Li, Xianglin L Du

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Racial disparities in treatment and mortality were widely studied among prostate cancer patients; however, few studies considered the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and their treatment status.

Objectives: To determine whether there are racial discrepancies in the use of anti-cancer, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic drugs in a cohort of long-term survivors of prostate cancer diagnosed in 2007-2015; and to examine racial disparities in mortality after adjustments for their differences in those treatments.

Methods: We used the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results)-Medicare linked database and included records for patients with prostate cancer at age 65 years or older diagnosed from …

The Effects Of A Tier 2 Intervention On The Behavior Of Elementary School Students Participating In Second Step: Enhancing A Schoolwide Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum, Charlotte Annalee Kennington

Theses and Dissertations

After reviewing the current research literature on the effects of social-emotional learning (SEL) on the behavior of elementary-age children, it was clear that there was limited research data on the effects of Tier 2 interventions designed to augment the effects of schoolwide SEL programs. Specifically, to what extent could a brief, group-delivered intervention improve the academic engagement, problem behavior, and socially appropriate comments of fifth-grade students receiving schoolwide SEL through Second Step in a traditional public school? Three fifth-grade students were recruited to participate in this study who all engaged in frequent problem behavior during Second Step lessons and throughout …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 08/01/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

The Experiences Of Elite, Female Club Volleyball Players – An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Chelsea Brehm

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the lived experiences of female athletes participating in national-level club volleyball in a Midwestern U.S. state. Amid increasing sport privatization and a growing emphasis on early sport specialization, female athletes in club volleyball are navigating complex pressures tied to elite competition, college recruitment, and psychosocial well-being. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study sought to uncover how athletes experience and make meaning of their participation in this highly demanding sport structure.

Data collection included a demographic survey distributed to national-level athletes (n = 66) and in-depth, semistructured interviews with five female …

Chancery Court Applies Entire Fairness Standard Of Review In Assessing Actions Of Conflicted Fiduciaries Engaging In "Value-Destructive" Spac Transactions, Robert S. Reder, John Rand Dorney

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

In the Gig Cases, Vice Chancellor Will followed the line of analysis she first adopted in MultiPlan by applying traditional fiduciary principles to address conflicts inherent in the standard SPAC structure. First, the Vice Chancellor rejected application of the deferential business judgment rule in favor of the more exacting entire fairness standard, finding both a conflicted controller and a conflicted board. While maybe not outcome determinative, this standard of review places a heavy burden on fiduciary defendants that generally precludes pleading stage dismissal. Second, the Vice Chancellor closely parsed language in disclosures made to stockholders to support, at least at …

Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2024-2025, Office Of Research And Creative Activity, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Internal Funding Newsletters

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is committed to educating people of the world and the Office of Research and Creative Activity is proud to contribute to UNO?s exceptional education, groundbreaking research, and the life-long success of students and alumni. UNO innovates for the public good through pragmatic and impactful research and discovery. This year's programs provided over $750,000 in awards for students and faculty. These projects included recording a new album of music for a saxophone, flute, and piano trio, understanding college campus bicycle theft, studying student perceptions of the difficulty of organic chemistry concepts, evaluating a therapy program …

Burning The Wick At Both Ends: A Three Paper Investigation Of Burnout And Educators, Karla P. Miner

All Dissertations

Researchers in the late 20th century identified the impact of burnout on organizational and individual success. The urgency to address burnout in education has intensified following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teacher burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of inadequacy, has been a commonly discussed topic among educators internationally following the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies highlight the alarming rates of burnout among educators, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to support well-being and mitigate educator attrition. This collection of papers addresses three primary aspects of burnout and practice: a literature review of individual and organizational practice, a …

Revolutionizing Digital Privacy Education For Older Adults: Enhanced Interventions And Ai-Assisted Learning Strategies, Heba Aly

All Dissertations

As older adults increasingly engage with digital platforms, they face unique privacy risks stemming from limited digital literacy, reduced trust in AI technologies, and constrained access—especially in rural or underserved communities. While digital tools offer benefits like social connection and information access, current privacy education efforts often neglect the needs of older adults. This dissertation addresses this gap by developing, testing, and refining digital privacy education interventions tailored for older adults, with a focus on trust, personalization, and AI-assisted learning.

Study 1 evaluates multiple instructional modalities across age groups, revealing older adults prefer structured videos and interactive tutorials, while younger …