Digital Commons Network^™

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted Imaging In Acute Stroke: A Comprehensive Review And Meta-Analysis, Hayder Jasim Taher, Ali Ameer Hadi, Yass Bader Kalfah, Zaineb Nazar Mohsin, Argwan Rafad Abed Alkhaliq

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background and objective: Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) has the potential to provide both diffusion and perfusion information without an exogenous contrast agent, its application for the brain is promising, however, feasibility studies on this are relatively scarce. The present study aims to assess the evaluate the feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) to measure diffusion parameter variations in stroke.

Methods: To this end, we searched international databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) and extracted related studies using the appropriate keywords. Collected data were analyzed with the aid of the random-effects model and STATA (version 15).

Results …

Gender And Age Differences Among Juvenile Homicide Offenders, Amanda Nichole-Wells Jabaay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The involvement of juveniles in homicide-related crimes has been a matter of growing public concern in the United States. Although prior research suggests that boys and girls who kill vary in important ways, there is limited research that has examined gender and age differences among juvenile homicide offender (JHO) characteristics and crime-related variables on a national level, with only eight previous national studies to date. Guided by the social control theory, the purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study was to explore gender and age differences among JHOs and other crime-related variables on a current national level. Archival data (N = …

Barriers Faced By College Sexual Violence Survivors Who Identify As A Racial And Gender Minority, Brittany A. Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual violence is a significant issue in the US, and specifically on college campuses. Students who identify as a racial and gender minority have been found to be at increased risk. While research has examined the barriers to disclosure, reporting, or help-seeking among survivors within higher education who identify as a racial minority and those who identify as a gender minority, no qualitative studies have looked at the barriers faced by student survivors who identify as both a racial and gender minority. The purpose of this study was to understand the barriers faced by students who identify as a racial …

Assessing Climate Change Resilience Strategies In The Central American Coffee Industry, Calvin Saribay

Master's Projects and Capstones

Coffee is one of the most valuable commodities on the planet, responsible for a global annual income of over $200 billion. The longevity of the coffee industry is directly threatened by the adverse effects of climate change. This report evaluates various climate change resilience strategies used in the Central American coffee industry, including agroforestry farming methods, crop hybridization, and coffee-sector specific climate action programs. The assessment was done through a literature review of two opposite coffee farming methods, a case study of a prominent F1 hybrid coffee breeds, and a program analysis of a coffee-specific climate action program in Costa …

Teachers And Students As Funambulists: Tightrope Walking Complex Esol Contexts And Utilizing The Potential Of A Humanizing Pedagogy As A Balancing Pole, Steffi Kaiser

Master's Projects and Capstones

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers and students in community college (CC) and community-based organization (CBO) classrooms perform an ongoing tightrope walk, navigating complex social, cultural, and linguistic contexts. ESOL as a field must create conditions that acknowledge the realities of its complicated legacies and their embodiment in the classroom, because research and field experience reveal negative impacts of existing practices on both students and teachers. To act on this cognizance and respond to these intricate dynamics, teachers need training and ongoing professional development. This capstone project, Teachers and Students as Funambulists: Tightrope Walking Complex ESOL Contexts and …

Effectiveness Of Urban Composting And Waste Management In The San Francisco Bay Area, Elijah Ashiagbor

Master's Projects and Capstones

The increasing food waste epidemic contributes to environmental degradation through amplified GHG emissions, notably CH4, from MSW landfills. Addressing this challenge is essential for public health and environmental sustainability. This research reviews municipal composting initiatives within the San Francisco Bay Area, evaluating effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Utilizing data from CalRecycle and local municipalities, this study analyzes different composting processes, regulatory compliance with California’s Senate Bill 1383, and factors affecting waste diversion rates. Key discoveries indicate that in-vessel composting shows better efficiency and compost quality compared to windrow methods, particularly suitable for urban counties with space limitations. However, participation rates in …

Analyzing Ballast Water Treatments, Invasive Species, And Pathogens, And A Decade-Long Analysis On The San Francisco And Baltimore Ports, Jasmin Ibarra-Cortes

Master's Projects and Capstones

Installation of advanced technologies to treat ballast water on ships is necessary to meet current ballast water management standards and reduce the secondary spread of invasive species during intracoastal voyages. This research includes a literature review on non-native aquatic species, particularly diapausing eggs, and available treatment methods for installation. A comparative analysis from 2014 - 2024 on bulker, tanker, and container vessels arriving coastwise to the ports of San Francisco and Baltimore was performed to evaluate treatment installation trends, traffic patterns, and the effectiveness of treatment(s) on targeting diapausing eggs. Use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation combined with filtration has increased …

Law School News: Rwu Class Of 2025 Urged To Embrace Discomfort, Pursue Their Dreams And Careers With Purpose 05-16-2025, Jordan J. Phelan

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Plastic In The Pack: Assessing Microplastic Risk To Urban Coyotes (Canis Latrans) In The San Francisco Bay Area, Elaina E. Herrmann

Master's Projects and Capstones

Microplastics are an emerging concern worldwide. However, their impact on terrestrial mammals, such as Canis latrans (coyotes), has yet to be extensively studied. Coyotes are unique in their ability to adapt to urban environments and have recently begun bridging the gap between marine and terrestrial food webs. This research examines the potential sources and impact of microplastic exposure in urban coyotes in the San Francisco Bay Area and possible food web impacts through literature synthesis and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. This research examined potential mechanisms for direct and trophic microplastic uptake by coyotes resulting from the anthropogenic, terrestrial, and …

Epidemiological And Clinical Characteristics Of Children With Measles In Babil Governorate In 2024, Hasan Alwan Baiee, Zainab Hamed Abdel Qader, Zahraa Hossam Abdul Hussein, Ali Mohsen Flih

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Measles considered a highly contagious and serious disease affecting mainly children in their early years, with morbidity and mortality. The effective preventive measure against measles is vaccination.

Objective: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of patients with measles admitted to Maternity and Children’s Teaching Hospital in Babylon Governorate.

Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using structured questionnaire on convenient sample of children infected with the measles virus and hospitalized in Maternity and Children’s Teaching Hospital, Babylon Governorate, Iraq. During three-monthperiod from the first of January to 30^th of March, 2024. A special semi-structured validated and reliable …

High Kynu Expression Is Associated With Poor Prognosis, Keap1/Stk11 Mutations, And Immunosuppressive Metabolism In Patient-Derived But Not Murine Lung Adenocarcinomas, Ling Cai, Thomas J Rogers, Reza Mousavi Jafarabad, Hieu Vu, Chendong Yang, Nicole Novaresi, Ana Galán-Cobo, Luc Girard, Edwin J Ostrin, Johannes F Fahrmann, Jiyeon Kim, John V Heymach, Kathryn A O'Donnell, Guanghua Xiao, Yang Xie, Ralph J Deberardinis, John D Minna

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: We aimed to discover genes with bimodal expression linked to patient outcomes, to reveal underlying oncogenotypes and identify new therapeutic insights in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: We performed meta-analysis to screen LUAD datasets for prognostic genes with bimodal expression patterns. Kynureninase (KYNU), a key enzyme in tryptophan catabolism, emerged as a top candidate. We then examined its relationship with LUAD mutations, metabolic alterations, immune microenvironment states, and expression patterns in human and mouse models using bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, metabolomics, and preclinical model datasets. Pan-cancer prognostic associations were also assessed.

Results: Model-based clustering of KYNU expression outperformed median-based dichotomization …

Having A Home To Come Home To: How Subsidized Housing Impacts Unhoused Pregnant Women, Stephanie O. Porvaznik

Master's Projects and Capstones

Community based organizations (CBOs) lead the charge in the fight to end housing insecurity and often must make up where local governments fall short. San Francisco is an example of a municipality that has a long history of addressing instances of housing insecurity for its residents, and where CBOs step in to provide housing support for populations with unique and special circumstances. One CBO that operates in San Francisco that I was interested in studying was the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), and the Jelani House, a housing subsidy that is funded and operated by the HPP for pregnant women who …

Evaluation Of Municipal Solid Waste Gasification And The Water Gas Shift Reaction For Biomass Carbon Removal And Storage Via Pre-Combustion Carbon Capture, Colby Luke Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

The water gas shift reaction (WGSR) is a critical step in the pre-combustion capture of CO2 from syngas streams. Recent improvements in gasification technologies have improved the prospects of municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification as a tool for waste reduction and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). This study sought to improve the understanding of a biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) system in which MSW gasification is paired with the WGSR. Sixteen MSW samples were gasified in a bench scale semi-batch reactor. A promising copper based WGSR catalyst was tested for activity from 240-300 degrees Celsius and gas hourly space velocities …

Comprehensive Study On Bonding Performance, Durability, And Protective Measures Of Cross-Laminated Timber, Bradia Thelina Henfield

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in construction necessitates a deeper understanding of adhesive bonding properties, biological durability, and preservative treatments to enhance its performance. This dissertation investigates these aspects through three interrelated studies focusing on hardwood CLT and preservative-treated southern pine CLT. The first study evaluates the adhesive bonding performance of hardwood CLT fabricated from red oak (Quercus spp.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), using southern pine (Pinus spp.) as a control. Shear block and delamination tests revealed significant variation in bond strength and moisture durability among species. While red oak exhibited the highest delamination, …

The Relationship Between Internal Coherence And Student Learning In High Achieving Middle Schools: A Mississippi Study, Christina Coleman Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

In order to determine ways in which Mississippi is improving in education, a quantitative research study was designed and conducted to examine ten high achieving middle schools in the state. The 10 schools had to obtain an A ranking or B ranking for the 2021-2022 school year and/or 2022 – 2023 school year from the MDE. The purpose of the study was to determine if relationships existed between the student achievement scores (Reading Proficiency, Reading Growth, Math Proficiency, and Math Growth) assigned by the state to each school and levels of Internal Coherence of the administrators and staff employed in …

The Algorithm Of Inclusion: Homonationalism, Queer Advocacy, And Digital Marketing Of Un Ecosoc Ingos And Indian Ngos, Dewansh Chauhan

Master's Theses

Advocacy organizations have increasingly turned to social media as digital platforms become integral to contemporary activism, shaping public discourse and securing institutional legitimacy. This thesis examines the organizational communication of organizations that support marginalized sexualities within a neoliberal and homonationalist context. Employing Critical Content Analysis (CCA), the study analyzes a representative sample of 200 Instagram posts from 2024, comparing two international NGOs with ECOSOC status at the UN (Outright International and ILGA) and two national NGOs in India (Humsafar Trust and Naz Foundation). The findings reveal how homonationalist tendencies may manifest at the intersection of engagement metrics, identity-centric rhetoric, brand …

#Strongertogether, Can Symbols Of Nationalism Be Transformed? A Case Study Of The Springboks: South Africa’S National Rugby Team, Selorm Djameh

Master's Theses

This study examines whether symbols, particularly those associated with nationalism, can undergo transformation in meaning and be co-opted to represent ideas or values contrary to their original intent. To explore this question, the study employs the case of the Springbok emblem, a symbol historically linked to the South African national rugby team. Originally, the Springbok was closely associated with the apartheid regime, embodying Afrikaner nationalism, exceptionalism, and, by extension, White supremacy. However, in the post-apartheid era, there have been growing efforts to reimagine the Springbok symbol by promoting greater inclusivity within the national rugby team. These efforts aim to transform …

In Search Of Educational Justice: Lived Experiences Of Community College Presidents And Their Authentic Critical Leadership, Juan Felipe Arzola

Theses and Dissertations

There are several gaps in research related to the fields of study of community college leadership and its influence on shared governance discussions and decision-making. The purpose of the current study is to address the gap in the study of community college leadership and its influence on shared governance discussions and decision-making through a critical, intersectional investigation of authentic critical leadership and its potential to influence shared governance group discussions and decision-making in distinctively different ways than those advocated by mainstream leadership theories. Participants participated in semi-structured interviews and were observed in a shared governance group meeting to identify evidence …

Evaluation Of Plant Growth Regulators On Sweetpotato Slip Propagation, Kerington Lyn Bass

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotato production is often impacted by high mortality of slips during transplantation to the field, particularly with greenhouse-grown slips. These slips develop thinner stems, thus being more vulnerable to transplant shock, resulting in reduced establishment. To address this issue, the study evaluated the effects of four plant growth regulators on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of sweetpotato slips. In the first experiment, external growth parameters were recorded over four weeks, followed by post-harvest assessments of plant and root material. In the second experiment, the widths of various stem structures in stained cross-sections of slip stems were measured. Results showed that …

The Effect Of Ultrasound Transducer Type On Diagnosing Medial Meniscal Injury In Dogs With Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury, Thomas Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Ultrasonography is reported to be accurate in diagnosing meniscus injuries in dogs but the effect of transducer type has not been studied. The aim was to determine the effect of ultrasound transducer type on utility of meniscal ultrasound. We hypothesized that ultrasonography will provide good diagnostic utility for meniscal injury and that linear transducers will perform best. In this prospective study, the ultrasonographic findings of the medial meniscus using three transducers were compared to arthrotomy findings. Thirty-nine stifles were included with an injury prevalence of 23/39 (59%). The standard linear transducer provided the highest negative predictive value (60%). The small …

The Effects Of Ataxin-1 Overexpression In The Central Nervous System On Specific Behavioral And Physiological Characteristics Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Sydney Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ataxin-1 gene, which results in an abnormally long polyglutamine tract. Similarly, overexpression of wildtype Ataxin-1 (wt-Atx-1) in Drosophila melanogaster leads to neurodegeneration, reduced lifespan, and impaired negative geotaxis. Observations include disruptions in sleep-wake cycles, increased oxidative stress biomarkers (like protein carbonyls), and dysregulation of developmental genes such as armadillo (arm) and nemo kinase (nmo). Additionally, elevated expression of SUMOylation-related genes (Aos-1, Uba2, and dSmt3 or dSumo) and increased SUMO protein levels indicate enhanced SUMOylation in the brain. Quantitative analysis of neuronal …

Assessment Of Pagp Gene Function In Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli Pathogenicity Using Different Challenge Models, Hailey Fugate

Theses and Dissertations

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in poultry, contributing an estimated $40 million in annual losses in the U.S. broiler industry alone, and contributing to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the role of the pagP gene, which encodes a lipid A palmitoyl transferase involved in immune evasion, using both a broiler chick and embryo challenge model. Deletion of pagP significantly reduced mortality and lesion severity in broilers, indicating its role in APEC pathogenicity. However, in embryos, pagP deletion had minimal effects on survival and bacterial colonization, suggesting alternative virulence mechanisms …

Investigating Structure-Property Relationships Of Bio-Inspired Gel, Mohammad Moinul Hossain

Theses and Dissertations

High-modulus, stretchable, and resilient hydrogels possess a wide array of promising applications across multiple fields, such as the development of sophisticated prosthetic devices, artificial skin, electronic devices, and soft robotics. Elastomeric biopolymers, like resilin, show high stretchability and resilience, facilitating power-amplified movement in various species essential for feeding and defense mechanisms. To mimic the properties of resilin, we developed a hydrogel system of hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. These gels are synthesized by free radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AAc), methacrylamide (MAM), n-tert-beutylacrylamide (BAM) or n-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and poly (propylene glycol) diacrylate (PPGDA). This research aims to compare the large-strain mechanical …

Wildfire Hydrologic Impacts, Kathleen E. Inman

Theses and Dissertations

Wildfires are essential processes for certain ecosystems but are increasing in severity and occurrence. These increases are negatively changing hydrology. Anticipating the hydrologic changes is necessary for management of effected watersheds, infrastructure, and downstream users. This study hypothesized land cover changes post-fire would increase water temperature and discharge in burned watersheds located in the Willamette Basin. This study (1) evaluated the change in estimated curve numbers (CN) from land cover pre-fire and post-fire to assess expected runoff impacts in watersheds, and (2) identified the significance of actual water temperature and discharge changes using non-parametric statistical analysis. An unburned watershed and …

Finite Element Analysis Of Hydroxyapatite (Ha) Coated Porous We43 Magnesium Scaffolds For Simulating Long-Time In Vitro Degradation Using A Continuum Damage Model, Dam Kim

Theses and Dissertations

While magnesium and its alloys are viable biodegradable implant candidates for its similarity of Young’s modulus with human bone and its strong biocompatibility, a pure magnesium scaffold degrades too rapidly to be used in many orthopedic implications. Overcoming this high degradation rate has been one of the biggest technical challenges for Mg-based biomedical applications. This research focuses on validating a finite element analysis framework using a continuum damage model and its application to simulate the degradation process of non-coated additively manufactured WE43 and HA-coated WE43 magnesium scaffolds. This work includes determining model input parameters by matching in vitro experiment results …

The Effect Of X-Ray Irradiation Technology On Salmonella Spp. And Quality Parameters Of Ready-To-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Kala Grace Morris

Theses and Dissertations

Salmonella contamination in cookie dough poses a threat to consumers. This study investigated the effect of X-ray irradiation on Salmonella-inoculated ready-to-bake chocolate chip cookie dough and its impact on dough quality. A Salmonella cocktail (~10 log CFU/g) was prepared and inoculated into cookie dough samples (~6.5 log CFU/g) and then treated with X?ray irradiation (0.25, 0.5, and 1 kGy). Salmonella decreased by 1.15, 1.79, and 2.49 log CFU/g, at an exposure of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 kGy, respectively. Quality parameters (pH, aw, and colorimetry) were evaluated for two brands. No statistical difference (P>0.05) in pH was observed for Brand …

Evaluation Of Broiler Performance And Processing Metrics Through Sodium Bisulfate Application To Litter And Varying Inclusions In Feed, Samantha Suzanne Plocher

Theses and Dissertations

Poultry producers must continuously evaluate current practices and determine new ones to further optimize broiler production. Sodium bisulfate (SB) is used as a poultry litter amendment (SBL), but also in human food to control pH; thus, initiating interest for SB in feed (SBF) for performance and gut health benefits. This thesis utilized common diets varying in SBF (Chapters II and III) and SBL (Chapter II; SBL1- d 0 and SBL2 – d 0 and 18) to optimize 40 d broiler performance, litter quality, and d 41 processing metrics. For Chapter II, d 0 SBL1 dramatically lowered litter pH, while minimally …

Evaluating The Efficiency And Effectiveness Of Drones For Monitoring Animals, Emma Ann Schultz

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate animal population estimates inform effective conservation and management strategies. Drones have become a common tool for animal monitoring. Typical drone flight planning involves image overlap to create an orthomosaic; however, this may lead to animal population estimate errors. To quantify this sampling error, I simulated a range of real-world monitoring scenarios for robust application in assessment of animal counts from drones using agent-based modeling. Scenarios investigated effects of 1) animal densities, 2) animal distributions, 3) animal movements, and 4) drone flight patterns. First, I investigated five animal densities (n = 4, 9, 25, 49, 100 animals/survey area) and three …

Combined Effect Of Chitosan And Lemon Essential Oil-Infused Slush Ice On The Shelf Life Of Channel Catfish, Dianna Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to investigate the biopreservative effects of chitosan and lemon essential oil in slush ice treatments on the microbial shelf life of refrigerated catfish fillets. Catfish fillets were stored in slush ice treatments containing chitosan (CH), lemon essential oil (LO), a combination (CH+LO), water (CTRL), and no slush (NS) for three d at 4 C, then stored at 4C for twelve d post-slush. The growth of background microflora in catfish fillets treated with CH and CH+LO was reduced (P<0.05), maintaining total aerobic counts below 4.5 log CFU/g, while the control reached spoilage levels (>7 log CFU/g) by Day 6. Chitosan effectively extended the microbial shelf life but lowered pH, …

Roles Of Class Iii Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase, Vps34, In Phagocytosis, Autophagy, And Endocytosis In Retinal Pigmented Epithelium, Feng He, Ralph M Nichols, Melina A Agosto, Theodore G Wensel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P) is important for multiple functions of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, but its functions in RPE have not been studied. In RPE from mouse eyes and in cultured human RPE cells, PI(3)P-enriched membranes include endosomes, the trans-Golgi network, phagosomes, and autophagophores. Mouse RPE cells lacking activity of the PI-3 kinase, Vps34, lack detectable PI(3)P and die prematurely. Phagosomes containing rod discs accumulate, as do membrane aggregates positive for autophagosome markers. These autophagy-related membranes recruit LC3/Atg8 without Vps34, but phagosomes do not. Vps34 loss leads to accumulation of lysosomes which do not fuse with phagosomes or membranes with …