Digital Commons Network^™

Dermal Lymphatic Carcinomatosis As A Cutaneous Metastasis From Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Positive Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report, Sarah A. Hemelt, Jonathan M. Joseph, Nicholas Culotta

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cutaneous metastases are an uncommon but clinically significant manifestation of internal malignancies. We present a rare case of dermal lymphatic carcinomatosis arising from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive lung adenocarcinoma, a presentation that may closely mimic inflammatory dermatoses and indicate therapeutic resistance or disease progression. We describe the clinical course of a 65-year-old woman who developed a violaceous cutaneous metastatic lesion beneath the left breast during treatment for metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. This case highlights the importance of recognizing cutaneous signs as indicators of disease progression and emphasizes the diagnostic challenges and prognostic implications of cutaneous metastases in lung cancer.

Recreating Fiber Recruitment With Fiber Recruitment Using Additive Manufacturing, Natalia D. Mciver

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Injured ligaments are often repaired with tendon grafts which may over or under constrain the joint; there is a need for an artificial graft option with the mechanical properties of a native ligament. Crimped fibers within ligaments allow for recruitment which means the viscoelastic properties of stress relaxation and creep are not inversely related. A feasibility study using ACLs and large-scale crimp models to study viscoelasticity, led to an in-depth analysis of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. Using the Modified Kelvin spring-dashpot model, for describing viscoelasticity with a variable stiffness property (time dependent fiber recruitment), we defined the relationship between creep …

Stress During Adolescence: A Characterization Of Anxiety-Like Behavior, And The Mrna Expression Of Neuroimmune Factors, Clock And Stress Genes In Corticolimbic Areas., Annette Fernandez Oropeza, Annette K. Fernandez Oropeza

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Adolescence represents a critical window of frontal cortex (FC) maturation and corticolimbic circuit refinement that supports stress and emotion regulation. Disruption of these processes by early-life insults such as prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) or adolescent stress increases vulnerability to anxiety and mood disorders, in part through circadian–immune dysregulation. The circadian transcription factor Bmal1 and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) have emerged as key regulators of neuroimmune signaling and synaptic communication, yet their interactions across developmental risk contexts remain poorly understood. This dissertation examined the effects of mild adolescent isolation stress, with and without PAE, on anxiety-like behaviors and …

Louise Talma's Second Piano Sonata: Unity Within Variety, Caroline Petrick

Dissertations, 2020-current

Though an important composer in her lifetime, Louise Talma (1906-1996) has fallen into relative obscurity today. In recent years, a small number of scholars and musicians have begun to promote her music. Many have written about the three chronological periods that Talma used to categorize her compositions, but few have recognized how Talma combines the opposing compositional tools of her three periods to create one unified style. In this study, I hope to add to the growing body of research by highlighting the complex, multifaceted nature of Talma and her music. The goal of the study is to show how …

Irregularities In The Dynamics Of Large Networks: Cases On Social Networks And The Internet, Dheeman Saha, Abdullah Mueen, Shuang Luan, Afsah Anwar, Yangsun Hong

Computer Science ETDs

Dynamic networks capture evolving relationships among entities, and irregularities in their behavior often signal significant events. This dissertation investigates such irregularities across social and infrastructural networks. First, we analyze Twitter (prior to its rebranding to X) to characterize influencers, introducing a follower-overlap similarity measure that identifies micro-influencers beyond content-based methods.

We then examine election-related irregularities by comparing suspended and non-suspended accounts during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, revealing behavioral patterns linked to misinformation and coordinated manipulation.

Next, we develop an algorithm to infer post-specific diffusion networks, reconstructing who-saw-from-whom pathways for tweets at scale. This method uncovers structural differences in diffusion …

The Pathophysiological Role Of Mitochondrial Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1a In Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension, Megan N. Tuineau

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by increased pulmonary arterial constriction, pulmonary arterial remodeling, and right ventricular dysfunction. While metabolic and mitochondrial derangements are increasingly recognized as central pathogenic features, the underlying mechanisms and effectors are not yet fully understood. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a proton-gated cation channel involved in the development of chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced PH. ASIC1a represents a potential candidate involved in metabolic-mitochondrial dysfunction, as metabolic byproducts can act as ligands for ASIC1a. Additionally, ASIC1a has recently been identified as a mitochondrial ion channel involved in neuronal death following oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesize that ASIC1a functions …

“Bridging The Gap To Midwave Infrared Event-Based Sensors: Design, Sensitivity, And Radiation-Hardness Characterization Of A Single-Pixel Iii-V Event-Based Infrared Sensor For Space Applications, Zinah M. Alsaad

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Event-based sensing presents a revolutionary paradigm shift for next-generation space surveillance systems, where power consumption is an ever-worsening constraint as temporal resolution demands increase. In addition to reduced power consumption, low latency, and wide dynamic range, the event-based sensor fundamentally only produces data when there is a change in illumination from which events are generated; no data is produced if the scene remains static. With their event-based datastream being inherently focused on the dynamic information of the scene, they are particularly well-suited to machine vision and autonomous sensing applications. While these sensors have many compelling advantages, there are presently no …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Implementing An Education Model From School Leaders’ Perspectives, Jackie Marie Cusimano Phd

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

A high school science teacher asked the question, “Why not make every class an elective?” He noticed that when his high school students were required to take a course, such as biology, the attendance and participation lacked when compared to his elective course of forensic biology. Both classes covered the same science standards. This question led him to applying for a public charter license and ultimately opening the first Choice Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2014. Choice Charter Schools follow the created Choice Charter Education Model, which is based on William Glasser’s Choice Theory (Glasser, 1998). Since the …

A Halloween Decoration’S Scary Implications For Real Bats, Coralie Carlson

Capstones

This investigative article examines the online illegal trade of taxidermied bats and how the sales are threatening one particularly showy species: the painted woolly bat.

My OSINT research shows where the bats are still sold – from Amazon to independent websites offering bulk orders – and tracks the sellers and buyers, while weaving in the scientific and cultural history this little-known colorful bat and the conservationists’ race against time to protect them.

The very existence of the painted woolly bat is threatened by Americans who want to display the dead bats in their homes as spooky decorations. Researchers (including a …

Krasg12d Mutation Promotes Pancreatic Tumorigenesis By Suppressing Sirtuin Three Via The Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Rcc1, Taoyi Mai, Mengwen Wang, Ya Qiu, Wenhua Lu, Hongyu Wu, Shuna Chen, Paul J Chiao, Peng Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

KRASG12D mutation is a prevalent gain-of-function mutation that drives pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis, but the underlying mechanisms that promote KRAS-induced cell proliferation and tumor formation remain elusive. To uncover the molecular pathways that facilitate KRASG12D-driven malignant transformation, we measured the transcriptomic alterations at various time points after induction of KRASG12D expression in human pancreatic normal epithelial cells. KEGG pathway enrichment of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that the major DEGs were located in pathways that regulate nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism, TNF signaling, and microRNAs associated with cancer. Among these molecular alterations, the NAD-dependent deacetylase gene SIRT3 was significantly down-regulated by KRASG12D. Conversely, …

The Dynamic Interplay Between Monovalent Salts And Ribosomal Protein S1 In Regulating Rna G-Quadruplex Structure, Chloe M. Martin

Honors Theses

Many remarkable discoveries, especially in the last decade, have shown scientists just how important RNA is. In this study, the secondary structure of RNA, G-Quadruplexes, is the topic of interest and how they are affected by salts and S1 protein. To obtain the S1 protein it was transformed from E. Coli using a bacterial plasmid. The S1 protein was then purified from the bacteria through the use of many purification methods. The monovalent cationic salts used were LiCl and KCl which have different ionic radii size that contributes to the stability of RNA G-Quadruplexes. This stability was observed and affected …

Denoising Low Dose Ct Images Using Enhanced Autoencoder Deep Learning Model: A Phantom Study, Ali O. Masoud, Khamis O. Amour, Ahmed M. Jusabani, Adithya Rajnaryanan, Manoj Kumar, Yasir M. Haji, Mwingereza J. Kumwenda

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Reducing radiation dose in Computed Tomography (CT) inherently leads to increased image noise, which can compromise clinical interpretation. To address this limitation in Low Dose CT images (LDCT), numerous computational techniques particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN) have been explored for CT image enhancement. Various CNN architectures with different convolutional layer designs have been developed to improve image quality. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a developed CNN-based autoencoder for denoising LDCT images while preserving diagnostic integrity. An end-to-end CNN autoencoder with information bottleneck (IB) pipeline was designed and trained using CT phantom images with varying noise levels, aiming to suppress …

In-Depth Review Of Animal Anatomy In Veterinary Medicine, Fatima Ayad Hasan, Sarah Kamal Naser

Al-Bahir

This review explores the significance of animal anatomy across different fields, emphasizing both microscopic and macroscopic structures. The text covers teaching methods in veterinary medicine, with a focus on diagnostics and surgery. It also delves into various anatomical and moral issues, alongside contemporary teaching approaches. The importance of anatomy in both biological and clinical contexts continues to be central in advancing veterinary education, even with the presence of various digital tools and cutting-edge imaging technologies.

Health Implications Of Heavy Metal Contamination In Commercially Available Deodorant And Antiperspirant Products Sold In Benghazi, Libya, Maysson Yaghi, Khaled Elsherif

Al-Bahir

The extensive usage of deodorants and antiperspirants raises concerns about the potential health risks posed by heavy metal content. This study quantified the levels of five heavy metals: Aluminum, Zirconium, Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium in 22 commercial products widely used in Benghazi, Libya, and assessed the associated health risks. Samples, categorized into gel, stick, and roll-on formulations, were analyzed using iCAP TQ ICP-MS. Al and Zr showed the widest concentration ranges, reflecting their intentional use as active ingredients. Al levels ranged from trace amounts (0.032 mg/kg) up to a maximum of 99.10 mg/kg, while Zr was found exclusively in gel …

Bridging The Gap: Exploring The Impact Of Graduate Preparation Programs On Undergraduate Stem Students, Faika Tahir Jan, Thomas Nelson, Travis Chan, Tremayne O. Waller, Cynthia Hampton, Sherif Abdelhamid

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

This study explores the impact of the "A Step to the Doctorate" (S2D) program on the academic trajectories of undergraduate STEM students, focusing on how it fosters academic success and prepares participants for graduate education. Drawing on data from pre and post surveys and semi structured interviews of 60 participants, the research addresses two primary questions: (1) Which program components do participants find most impactful? Moreover, (2) How has the program influenced their academic aspirations and preparedness for graduate school? The findings highlight that mentorship, peer networking, and targeted workshops are key in boosting academic self-efficacy and enhancing participants’ confidence …

Mentoring Through A Cultural Lens: Faculty Mentorship Experience In The Bunche Fellows Undergraduate Research Program, Audrey Devost, Passion Lord, Kiana Billot-Vasquez, Zeyna Faucette, Ketema Paul, Walter Allen

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

This manuscript explores the significance of faculty mentorship in underrepresented student success within a culturally engaged on-campus research program. Drawing on data derived from the Pathways Through Research case study, a mixed-methods empirical study of the Bunche Fellows Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, this paper centers student voices to better understand the manifestations of cultural engagement among faculty mentoring experiences, and how these cultural experiences shape student development among the program’s alumni. Guided by Critical Race epistemology and the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) Model, this research highlights the effectiveness of mentoring relationships within a structured on-campus …

Metamaterial-Based Microstrip Antenna For Safe Detection Of Tiny Breast Tumors, Shrouk E. El-Sawy, Mohamed G. Abdelfattah, Nihal F.F. Areed, Ahmed Shaban Samra

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study describes the construction of a compact microstrip patch antenna (MPA) with a triangular-shaped metamaterial layer for the safe detection of tiny breast tumors at 2.4 GHz. The metamaterial considerably improves the antenna's gain and directivity when compared to typical designs that do not include it, resulting in improved detection performance. The radiating patch of proposed antenna measures 29.3 × 38 × 1.6 mm and has been tested through simulations and experimental tests, exhibiting successful tumor identification in a realistic breast phantom. The results of both calculations and testing demonstrate a sensitivity of 6.643 dB/mm, allowing for precise detection …

Ophthalmology At The Veterans Health Administration: How Sex And Other Factors Affect Salary, Tyler J. Carman, David H. Parkinson, Nabiha B. Habib, Charles W. Ryan, Danielle T. Dupuis, Julie M. Rosenthal, Denise S. Kim, Denise A. John, Alejandra M. Maiz, Rajesh C. Rao

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To determine factors that contribute to current salary differences among ophthalmologists employed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of full-time equivalent salaries of Veterans Health Administration ophthalmologists who received a federal salary in 2021. Differences in average salary with respect to various demographic variables were analyzed.

Results: Data for 632 salaried VHA ophthalmologists (262 females [41.5%]) were included. Although biological sex alone did not have a crude, statistically significant effect on average VHA ophthalmologist salary (p = 0.116), a substantial discrepancy was noted in adjusting for other significant demographic …

2025 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2025 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 12, 2025. There were 2 ceremonies at 9:00am and 11:30am.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

In Recent Research: Exosomal And Molecular Regulators Of Browning And Thermogenesis In Adipose Tissues, Merve İnel, Bahadir Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms regulating brown, white, and beige adipose tissues, with particular emphasis on the browning process of white adipose tissue. Rather than considering adipose tissue as a passive energy reservoir, this review underscores its active role as a dynamic endocrine and metabolic organ. Brown and beige adipose tissues, recognized for their thermogenic capacity and contribution to energy expenditure, have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic disorders. The review draws upon recent findings on adrenergic signaling, transcription factors, exosomal microRNAs, and other novel regulatory …

Relcovaptan: A Promising Therapeutic Agent In Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury That Acts By Modulating Newly Identified Transcriptional Regulators Of Aquaporins Compared To Tolvaptan, Şeyma İş, Duygu Ceman, Meri̇h İş, Neşe Keser, Şaban Teki̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Every year, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI), which causes irreversible damage, edema, and inflammation. Despite its devastating impact, no safe and effective medication is available. Edema formation is one of the earliest pathological events in tSCI, beginning within minutes after injury. Cytotoxic edema progresses to vasogenic edema, exacerbating irreversible damage. Our study aimed to investigate a therapeutic approach targeting cytotoxic edema in the acute phase of tSCI to improve treatment outcomes. Aquaporins (AQPs) are crucial in edema formation and tSCI pathogenesis. Vasopressin, also known as the antidiuretic hormone, modulates Aqp expression …

Transformation Of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis In Adult-Oriented Rheumatology Care, Şeri̇fe Asya Germe Dağlioğlu, Zeynep Balik, Zehra Özsoy, Yunus Emre Dalkiliç, Ezgi̇ Deni̇z Batu, Özge Başaran, Yelda Bi̇lgi̇ner, Umut Kalyoncu, Seza Özen, Şule Apraş Bi̇lgen, Levent Kiliç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent form of chronic inflammatory arthritis in children, and the symptoms persist into adulthood for a considerable number of patients. This study aimed to compare the JIA subtypes using the diagnostic criteria used for adults and identify the clinical characteristics and treatment approaches for patients with JIA transitioning to adult-oriented rheumatology care.

Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed with JIA in the pediatric rheumatology clinic were retrospectively evaluated. The patients (n=107) who had at least one follow-up visit in the adult rheumatology clinic were included in the study. After transitioning from pediatric to …

Evaluation Of Prognostic Value Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Endocan In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Mesut Meli̇h Özercan, Burcu Ancin, Yi̇ği̇t Yilmaz, Ahmet Müderri̇soğlu, Serkan Uysal, Ulaş Kumbasar, Zeynep Saribaş, Erkan Di̇kmen, Riza Doğan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: No reliable, easily measurable biomarker currently exists for the screening or prognosis of lung cancer. The present study evaluates the potential utility of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endocan, which can be readily measured in blood samples, as biomarkers for screening and prognostic assessment in lung cancer.

Materials and methods: Included in the study were 38 patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 29 controls. All patients underwent surgical intervention and were monitored for 1 month postoperatively. Serum VEGF and endocan levels were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and histopathological findings were recorded …

Diagnostic Yield Of Clinical Exome Sequencing In Patients With Suspected Hereditary Neuropathy, Can Ebru Beki̇rcan-Kurt, Doruk Arslan, Naz Güleray, Sevi̇m Erdem-Özdamar, Burcu Balci-Hayta, Ersi̇n Tan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Hereditary neuropathies exhibit significant genetic heterogeneities, often making molecular diagnosis challenging. Clinical Exome Sequencing (CES) allows the simultaneous evaluation of a wide range of candidate genes, and can be considered an efficient approach to identifying underlying genetic causes. The present study assesses the diagnostic utility of CES in patients with clinically suspected hereditary neuropathy.

Materials and methods: Included in the study were 21 patients with clinically suspected hereditary neuropathy who underwent CES. DNA samples were isolated from peripheral blood and subjected to CES on an Illumina NextSeq 2000 system, while a bioinformatics analysis and variant interpretation were performed using …

Comparison Of Spatiotemporal And Arm Swing Characteristics Of Gait Between Patients With Copd And Healthy Controls, Hi̇daye Yamikan, Ni̇hat Özgören, Serdar Aritan, Oğuz Karcioğlu, Aynur Demi̇rel

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Impairments in spatiotemporal gait characteristics have been observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, arm swing characteristics—a fundamental component of gait that play a key role in maintaining gait stability and energy efficiency—have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, together with arm swing patterns, in patients with COPD.

Materials and methods: A total of 20 patients with COPD (aged 40–65 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) participated in this cross-sectional study. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics and arm swing data were recorded using a motion capture system equipped …

Exploring Gender Differences In The Impact Of Sleep And Fatigue On Disease Severity In Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Moderated Mediation Model, Musa Salmanoğlu, Habi̇p Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often accompanied by fatigue and sleep disturbances, which aggravate disease severity. Gender differences in these interrelationships remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine whether fatigue mediates the association between sleep quality and disease severity in RA, and whether these pathways differ by gender.

Materials and methods: A single-center study was conducted with 68 RA patients (55.9% female). Disease severity was assessed using the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data-3, fatigue using the Bristol Rheumatology Fatigue Multidimensional Questionnaire, and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results: Fatigue significantly mediated the relationship between …

Moltkia Coerulea Extracts Alleviate Caspase-3 Activity Via Reducing Oxidative Stress In Lps-Induced Neurotoxicity In Bv-2 Cells, Asli Can Ağca, Derya Altay, Hüdaverdi̇ Kul, Asli F. Ceylan, Betül Sever Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Moltkia coerulea, a medicinal plant traditionally used for its neuroprotective properties, contains diverse phenolic compounds. However, its mechanisms of action in neuroinflammation remain unclear. We hypothesized that extracts of M. coerulea may protect microglial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity.

Materials and methods: Aqueous and methanol extracts (5–50 μg/mL) were tested in BV-2 microglial cells. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while ROS generation and caspase-3 activity were measured using fluorescence-based kits. The effective concentration (10 μg/mL) was selected for mechanistic assays based on viability data and …

Adapting Master’S-Level Chemistry Education In The United States: Insights From Industry, Academia, And The Literature, Brian Johnson, Amanda Lindell, Nina M. Goodey

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

As the chemical industry evolves in response to technological and global challenges, Master’s-level chemistry programs must adapt to prepare graduates for workforce success. This article explores how such programs can better integrate professional skills such as communication, collaboration, and research. Drawing on literature and stakeholder interviews from a review of the Chemistry M.S. and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry M.S. programs at Montclair State University, a Hispanic Serving Institution in New Jersey’s pharmaceutical hub, we identified four key themes: the importance of hands-on research experiences, the integration of professional skills development, the need for flexible course and credit requirements, and the challenges of …

Undergraduate Research Uncovers Wildlife Adaptations On Solar Arrays, Elisabeth Watson

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

Undergraduate students published research about bird nests in solar arrays in the peer-reviewed journal Ecology and Evolution.

Microbial Metabolism Amplified Warming In Three Phanerozoic Hyperthermal Events, Yuyang Wu, Haijun Song, Daoliang Chu, Ying Cui, Jacopo Dal Corso, Genming Luo, Huyue Song, Li Tian, Hanchen Song, Enhao Jia, Jinnan Tong

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The ocean’s biological carbon pump (BCP) plays a crucial role in climate regulation by facilitating long-term removal of atmospheric CO2. However, BCP changes during past hyperthermals remain poorly understood. Here we use the vertical carbon isotope (δ13C) gradients between surface and mid-waters to trace the BCP changes during the Permian−Triassic, early Toarcian, and Palaeocene−Eocene hyperthermals, detecting a two- to three-fold increase in the vertical δ13C gradients. We found that enhanced organic matter remineralization, driven by increased microbial respiration under warming, are the primary trigger for increased vertical δ13C gradients. Warming-induced enhancements in microbial metabolism caused a two- to six-fold reduction …