Digital Commons Network^™

In Situ Assembly Enabling Adhesive-Free Bonding Of Large Area Electronic Sensors To Concrete For Structural Health Monitoring, Emmanuel Ogunniyi, Han Liu, Austin Downey, Simon Laflamme, Caroline Bennett, William Collins, Hongki Jo, Paul Ziehl

Faculty Publications

Cracks developed in concrete infrastructure are one of the primary mechanisms that degrade their structural integrity, which may result in structural failures. Previous research on soft elastomeric capacitors (SEC) has shown their viability for structural health monitoring of structural materials, including concrete, steel, and fiberglass composites. The SEC, or its derivative version with a corrugated geometry termed corrugated SEC or cSEC, is a parallel plate capacitor. Prior work demonstrated that it was possible to directly paint the electrode interfacing with the structural material onto the structure and adhere the rest of the pre-fabricated sensor onto the wet interface, thereby eliminating …

Isolating Microbes From The Surface Of An Introductory Laboratory Halite Hand Sample, Kesley G. Banks, Michael A. Gibson, Matthew A. Pritchett

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Introductory geology labs stress simple physical testing (luster, hardness, etc.) to identify common minerals, using mineral charts to eliminate minerals not exhibiting a particular property. Special properties (magnetism, specific gravity, taste, etc.) for specific minerals narrows mineral identity. Students often express safety concerns about licking minerals, especially when they realize others have previously licked the specimen. As an exercise in medical geology, we cultured microbes from a halite sample used for nearly 25 years and licked by numerous students over that time span (Sample 1), a commercially purchased unused and freshly exposed surface of halite licked by one person (Sample …

Identification Of Inflammatory Factors Contributing To Foaming In Atherosclerosis, Kavya Podila

Holster Scholar Projects

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), atherosclerosis is attributed to the majority of cardiovascular disease (CVD) cases and is the leading cause of mortality in the US and worldwide. Despite significant medical advancements, the risk of cardiovascular events remains, warranting further mechanistic and pathogenic investigation. Advances in high-resolution omics profiling and the development of novel data-analytic bioinformatic tools previously enabled the novel discovery of two distinct programs in foaming, the central process in atherogenesis. The programs are pathogenic and homeostatic foaming, with the pathogenic foaming program being positively associated with disease. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from …

Pulmonary Vascular Manifestations Of Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Sarah Cullivan, Barry Kevane, Brian Mccullagh, Terry M O'Connor, Robin Condliffe, Sean Gaine

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant, multisystem disorder that manifests with a spectrum of disease including cardiopulmonary complications. HHT is characterised by aberrant signalling via the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway, with loss of vascular integrity, angiogenesis and vascular dysplasia. The disease has an estimated prevalence of 1 in 5000 persons and the penetrance increases with increasing age. HHT commonly presents with epistaxis and telangiectasia, while visceral arteriovenous malformations are not uncommon. Mutations in the ENG, ACVRL1 and MADH4 genes account for 97% of all HHT cases, and it is recommended that genetic tests are used in …

Benefits Of Calorie Restriction In Mice Are Mediated Via Energy Imbalance, Not Absolute Energy Or Protein Intake, Daniel L Smith, Sharon E Mitchell, Maria S Johnson, Victoria K Gibbs, Stephanie Dickinson, Beate Henschel, Rui Li, Kathryn A Kaiser, Daniella E Chusyd, Andrew W Brown, David B Allison, John R Speakman, Tim R Nagy

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Caloric restriction (CR) results in reduced energy and protein intake, raising questions about protein restriction's contribution to CR longevity benefits. We kept ad libitum (AL)-fed male C57BL/6J mice at 27°C (AL27) and pair-fed (PF) mice at 22°C (22(PF27)). The 22(PF27) group was fed to match AL27 while restricted for calories due to cold-induced metabolism. The 22(PF27) mice had significantly lower body weight, lean mass, fat mass, leptin, IGF-1, and TNF-α levels than AL27 mice (p< 0.001 for all). Manipulations over ~11 weeks resulted in significant differences in body temperature, physical activity, and expression of key genes linked to hunger in the hypothalamus. Survival was significantly greater in 22(PF27) compared to AL27 overall (p< 0.001). CR in the context of equivalent energy and protein intake resulted in hormonal, metabolic, and physiological benefits and extended longevity. Hence, energy imbalance, rather than low energy or protein intake per se, mediates the benefits of CR.

Data Provenance Via Differential Auditing, Xin Mu, Ming Pang, Feida Zhu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With the rising awareness of data assets, data governance, which is to understand where data comes from, how it is collected, and how it is used, has been assuming evergrowing importance. One critical component of data governance gaining increasing attention is auditing machine learning models to determine if specific data has been used for training. Existing auditing techniques, like shadow auditing methods, have shown feasibility under specific conditions such as having access to label information and knowledge of training protocols. However, these conditions are often not met in most real-world applications. In this paper, we introduce a practical framework for …

Associations Between Self-Reported Levels Of Aggression, Irritability, And Depression In Collegiate Athletes With A History Of Concussion, Amber Mae Bankston

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between history of concussion and symptoms of aggression, irritability, and depression. Furthermore, the relationship between these variables were examined in a small subgroup of participants before and after sustaining a head injury.

Methods: Archival data of NCAA Division II and club collegiate athletes from Florida Institute of Technology was included in the present study. Participants were included in this study if they completed baseline and/or post-trauma neuropsychological evaluations that included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), and Irritability Questionnaire (IRQ). Athletes’ demographic information along with …

Childhood Adversity's Impact On Criminal Behavior, Isobel Marie Avento

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and family criminal history, have been identified as potential risk factors for negative physical, psychological, and behavioral health outcomes. Emerging literature suggests that ACEs are also among the primary factors leading to delinquency and adult criminal behavior. However, there is limited applied research that provides practitioners with appropriate insight to intervene when ACEs are identified among juvenile delinquents to reduce recidivism risk. This study adds to the existing literature by examining how cumulative ACEs shape criminal behavior of individuals from the onset until its desistance over the span of twenty years. Using …

The Middle Domain Of Hsp104 Can Ensure Substrates Are Functional After Processing, Hannah Buchholz, Jane E. Dorweiler, Sam Guereca, Brett T. Wisniewski, James Shorter, Anita L. Manogaran

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Molecular chaperones play a central role in protein disaggregation. However, the molecular determinants that regulate this process are poorly understood. Hsp104 is an AAA+ ATPase that disassembles stress granules and amyloids in yeast through collaboration with Hsp70 and Hsp40. In vitro studies show that Hsp104 processes different types of protein aggregates by partially translocating or threading polypeptides through the central pore of the hexamer. However, it is unclear how Hsp104 processing influences client protein function in vivo. The middle domain (MD) of Hsp104 regulates ATPase activity and interactions with Hsp70. Here, we tested how MD variants, Hsp104^A503S and …

Metabolic Crossroads: Gaba Synthesis In Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection, Yesha Dhruv

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This study examines the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis infection of human HCT-8 cells, focusing on key enzymatic processes in glutamate conversion to GABA and metabolic adaptations. The hypothesis tested was that T. vaginalis modulates GABA metabolism to enhance host cell invasion and adaptation. Infection time-point studies, RNA sequencing, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) assays were conducted. Comparisons between T. vaginalis strains Casu 2 and Casu 2/MOZ 2 revealed distinct infection dynamics. Casu 2 rapidly attached and replicated within an hour, peaking at 24 hours, while Casu 2/MOZ 2 exhibited delayed replication, peaking at 48 to 72 hours, …

The Journey Into Inquiry Land In Tennessee: How To Get There From Anywhere? Lessons Learned Over 25 Years, Michael A. Gibson, Don W. Byerly Jr

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Driven by changes in the National Standards during the 1990s, inquiry became the pedagogical methodology of choice for K-12 sciences as a major paradigm shift. Inquiry was chosen because it realistically and accurately modeled how scientists conduct scientific studies. Scientific inquiry is itself a learning process, and early educational research suggested that students learned more efficiently through inquiry. However, inquiry was a difficult pedagogy for teachers to learn and for students to experience, as it appears chaotic and decentralized. K-12 Earth science in Tennessee was in need of revitalization, in terms of shifting to the new Earth systems curriculum and …

The Compass - Volume 93 Issue 2 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

A History Of The Geology Program At The University Of Tennessee At Martin, Michael A. Gibson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The teaching of geology has as long a history as The University of Tennessee at Martin has itself, extending back to 1901 when the first geology class was offered at the campus’s original institution, Hall-Moody Institute, a small Baptist college. Geology, usually with geography, was offered as a service course to the primary programs of agriculture, education and, later, engineering. Faculty turnover during these formative years was frequent. When the school was acquired by the University of Tennessee in 1927 and became UT Junior College, geology remained a service course. Geology offerings had been expanding since 1947 and, in 1951, …

Examining The Relationship Between Land-Use Cover Change And Sociodemographic Characteristics: A Case Study Of Madison County, Tennessee, Thomas A. Depriest Jr., Anzhelia Antipova, Hsiang-Te Kung, Esra Ozdenerol

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

This study sought to holistically examine urbanization in Jackson, Madison County, TN. In order to accomplish this objective, a study of land-use and land cover (LULC) change in Madison County, TN from 1992–2011 was conducted. Once completed, noted changes in LULC were then compared to certain socio-demographic factors; these included, population, population density, point distance, central business district, and distance to roads. To determine if any significant relationships existed between socio-demographic factors and quantified LULC changes Spearman’s Correlations were utilized. Relationships between socio-demographic factors and land-use indicators were established as urban areas grew, agricultural and forested areas declined, and population …

The History Of The Tennessee Earth Science Teachers (Test), Michael A. Gibson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Tennessee Earth Science Teachers (TEST) was founded in 1990 to promote awareness of the need to integrate Earth science and geology education into the secondary school curricula of Tennessee and to ensure that Tennessee students received the curricular and instructional benefits of Earth Systems education. That mission expanded to include all K-12 grades and to infusing Earth science into other disciplines. A legacy of the participants from a 1991 Tittle II geology workshop for Tennessee teachers, TEST was instrumental in designing and providing academic and pedagogical training, disseminating educational materials, and with networking K-12 teachers with higher education geoscience educators …

Viability Discrimination Of Bacterial Microbiomes In Home Kitchen Dish Sponges Using Propidium Monoazide Treatment, Christina K Carstens, Joelle K Salazar, Shreela Sharma, Wenyaw Chan, Charles Darkoh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dish sponges are known to support the proliferation of human bacterial pathogens, yet they are commonly used by consumers. Exposure to foodborne pathogens via sponge use may lead to illness, a serious concern among susceptible populations. The extent of exposure risks from sponge use has been limited by constraints associated with culture-independent or dependent methods for bacterial community characterization. Therefore, five used dish sponges were characterized to evaluate the presence of viable bacterial foodborne pathogens using the novel application of propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment and targeted 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Select pathogen viability was confirmed using targeted selective enrichment. …

Regulation Of Fibrinogen Synthesis, Dre'von A Dobson, Richard J Fish, Paul S De Vries, Alanna C Morrison, Marguerite Neerman-Arbez, Alisa S Wolberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The plasma protein fibrinogen is encoded by 3 structural genes (FGA, FGB, and FGG) that are transcribed to mRNA, spliced, and translated to 3 polypeptide chains (Aα, Bβ, and γ, respectively). These chains are targeted for secretion, decorated with post-translational modifications, and assembled into a hexameric “dimer of trimers” (AαBβγ)2. Fully assembled fibrinogen is secreted into the blood as a 340 kDa glycoprotein. Fibrinogen is one of the most prevalent coagulation proteins in blood, and its expression is induced by inflammatory cytokines, wherein circulating fibrinogen levels may increase up to 3-fold during acute inflammatory events. Abnormal …

Ficture: Scalable Segmentation-Free Analysis Of Submicron-Resolution Spatial Transcriptomics, Yichen Si, Changhee Lee, Yongha Hwang, Jeong H Yun, Weiqiu Cheng, Chun-Seok Cho, Miguel Quiros, Asma Nusrat, Weizhou Zhang, Goo Jun, Sebastian Zöllner, Jun Hee Lee, Hyun Min Kang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies have advanced to enable transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis at submicron resolution over large areas. However, analysis of high-resolution ST is often challenged by complex tissue structure, where existing cell segmentation methods struggle due to the irregular cell sizes and shapes, and by the absence of segmentation-free methods scalable to whole-transcriptome analysis. Here we present FICTURE (Factor Inference of Cartographic Transcriptome at Ultra-high REsolution), a segmentation-free spatial factorization method that can handle transcriptome-wide data labeled with billions of submicron-resolution spatial coordinates and is compatible with both sequencing-based and imaging-based ST data. FICTURE uses the multilayered Dirichlet model …

Instagram's 2025 Terms Of Service: The Evolution Of Surveillance Capitalism And Ai Training Data, Marisol Hernandez Brito, Katherine Elkins

IPHS 200: Programming Humanity

This research examines how social media platforms like Instagram’s 2025 Terms of Services (TOS) updates reflect the increasing demand for AI training data, illustrating the critical concerns about user privacy and data rights. Technology companies like Meta progressively require vast amounts of user-generated content to develop competitive AI systems to generate financial gain. Forming their data collection practices has led to their updated terms and services. In particular, their expanded AI training rights and modified dispute resolution procedures reveal the complex tension between technological advancement and user privacy. AI training data raises urgent questions about consent, ownership, and the commodification …

What Do Turtleheads & Cotton Have In Common?, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

I will not be offended if, dear reader, your response to the question posed in the title is something along the lines of, “Hmmm, probably not very much!”

Hippocampal Gray Matter Volume In Young Adulthood Varies With Adolescent Alcohol Use, Juliann B Purcell, Nathaniel G Harnett, Sylvie Mrug, Marc N Elliott, Susan Tortolero Emery, Mark A Schuster, David C Knight

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Adolescent substance use is linked with negative future outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use disorder). Given that the brain undergoes significant maturation during adolescence, this developmental period may represent a time of particular vulnerability to substance use. Neuroimaging research has largely focused on heavy or binge patterns of substance use; thus, relatively less is known about the neural impact of a broader range of adolescent substance use. Characterizing the neural impact of a broader range of adolescent substance use may inform prevention and treatment efforts. The present study investigated relationships between adolescent substance use trajectories (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) …

Pparγ/Etv2 Axis Regulates Endothelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition In Pulmonary Hypertension, Dong Hun Lee, Minseong Kim, Sarah S Chang, Raham Lee, Andrew J Jang, Juyoung Kim, Jing Ma, Michael J Passineau, Raymond L Benza, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Wilbur A Lam, Benjamin T Kopp, Roy L Sutliff, C Michael Hart, Changwon Park, Bum-Yong Kang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension (PH) but the molecular mechanisms regulating EndoMT remain to be defined. We demonstrate that the axis of the transcription factors PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma) and ETV2 (ETS variant 2) play important roles in the pathogenesis of PH. Decreased levels of the expression of PPARγ and ETV2 along with reduced endothelial and increased EndoMT markers are consistently observed in lungs and pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, in hypoxia-exposed mouse lungs, human PAECs, and in induced-EndoMT cells. Etv2 +/- mice spontaneously developed PH and right …

Psychological And Social Well-Being Of Bony Fishes In Zoos And Aquariums, Ronald G. Oldfield, Patrick Bonano

Animal Sentience

Research on the behaviour of animals in zoos has been conducted for decades, and observations have provided information that has improved the psychological and social well-being of animals. However, research on fishes in zoos and aquariums seems to be lacking. Here, we assess the current state of research on fishes in zoos and aquariums by surveying the peer-reviewed literature. Our assessment differs from previous surveys in that we examine the taxonomic classes Chondrichthyes (sharks and rays) and Osteichthyes (bony fishes) separately. Our survey finds that bony fishes have been drastically underrepresented in zoo journals, more drastically than chondrichthyans, revealing an …

A Comprehensive Study On Long-Term Durability Of Protective Epoxy Coatings For Electrified Roadways, Md Tareq Hassan, Samiul Alam, Juhyeong Lee

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Underground wireless power transmission (WPT) systems are susceptible to environmental threats such as high temperatures, water ingress, and mechanical impact from above-ground objects. Typical WPT systems electronics are safeguarded with civil-grade epoxy coating, thus it is imperative to assess the coating's durability in these extreme conditions. Among various environmental threats, this study is primarily focused on both experimental and numerical investigations on long-term water diffusion characteristics of civil-grade epoxy materials at various temperatures. A series of water diffusion tests were performed on the specimens made from two commercially available electronics casting epoxy materials at room (23°C) and high (50°C) temperatures. …

Vaccine Decision-Making Among Pregnant Women: A Protocol For A Cross-Sectional Mixed-Method Study In Brazil, Ghana, Kenya And Pakistan, Jessica Schue, Prachi Singh, Berhaun Fesshaye, Emily Miller, Shanelle Quinn, Ruth Karron, Renato Souza, Maria Laura Costa, Ferdinand Okwaro, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Maternal immunization is a critical strategy to prevent both maternal and infant morbidity and mortality from several infectious diseases. When the first COVID-19 vaccines became available during the pandemic, there was mixed messaging and confusion amongst the broader public and among those associated with health care systems about the recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnancy in many countries. A multi-country, mixed-methods study is being undertaken to describe how vaccine decision-making occurs amongst pregnant and postpartum women, with a focus on COVID-19 vaccines. The study is being conducted in Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, and Pakistan. In each country, participants are being recruited …

Rethinking Behavior - Fall 2024, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

A magazine for professionals serving children and youth with behavioral needs.

Fall 2024, Volume 8, Issue 1

Sackett V. Epa And The Future Of Wetland Protections, Dulaney Marsh

William & Mary Law Review

This Note will analyze prior CWA [Clean Water Act] jurisprudence to formulate a test that remains steadfast to Congress’s purpose in originally including “adjacent” wetlands and acknowledges the scientific understanding of wetlands’ relation to and impact on waters. Part I will provide an overview of the CWA legislation and its application in courts. Part II will specifically analyze the Sackett v. EPA decision in order to find a balance between the “significant nexus” and “continuous surface connection” tests. Part III will address criticisms surrounding the overreach of the CWA. Part IV will conversely address criticism concerning the Court’s decision to …

The Bulletin: Sidney Kimmel Medical College At Thomas Jefferson University, Volume 102, Issue 2, Fall 2024

The Bulletin (formerly the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Bulletin)

This issue includes:

• 7 - Dean’s Column
• 8 - Time Capsule: How Jefferson Got Its Name
• 10 - ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
• 13 - By the Numbers: 2024 Incoming SKMC Class
• 14 - New Medical Students Destined to Be Leaders and Changemakers
• 16 - Jefferson Research Lab Making Progress in Battle Against Cancer by Adam Snook, PhD ’08
• 18 - That’s Why We’re Here: The Czarnecki Family’s Jefferson Journey
• 22 - His North Star by Gregory C. Kane, MD ’87, MACP
• 26 - Full Circle by Suresh G. Nair, MD ’84
• 28 -Ask the Right Question—Save a Life …

The Accurate Conversion Of Biological Experiments From Cesium Irradiation To X-Ray Irradiation: The Significance, Problems, And The Future Of Experimental Radiation Research, Gretchen Carpenter

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Preclinical small animal irradiation studies, once conducted on Cesium irradiators, are increasingly being performed with X-ray-based irradiators. The transition stems from concerns regarding national security risks, making X-ray irradiators which are compact and easy to operate an enticing alternative. However, questions regarding the relative biological effectiveness between the two sources have revealed a lack of adequate dosimetric characterization of X-ray beams, standardized protocol for dose calibration, and thorough understanding of experimental biological parameters. A literature review conducted on orthovoltage irradiators has revealed that there are over 54 different types of beam structures used, a dramatic departure from the one uniform …

Mental Health And Quality Of Life Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis In Patients Seen At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Innocent Abayo, Noureen Karimi, Karishma Sharma, Isaiah Omedo, Sehrish Rupani, Mansoor Saleh

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Mental health challenges are common following cancer diagnosis, negatively impacting treatment and quality of life for breast cancer (BC) patients. This pilot study provides an understanding of the impacts of BC diagnosis and care experiences on the mental health of patients seen at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. We conducted 40 in-depth interviews, including 10 women with newly diagnosed BC, 10 women with metastatic BC, 10 family members and 10 healthcare professionals. Data were transcribed, translated into English as needed and coded using Dedoose software. Following BC diagnosis, it was reported that patients faced various physical, social, …