Digital Commons Network^™

Toward Vehicle-Agnostic Driving Signatures For Cognitive Impairment Prediction From Naturalistic Driving Data, Aadarsha Gopala Reddy

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This thesis studies whether naturalistic driving data can help predict binary Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) status while accounting for differences across vehicles. The final analytic dataset comprised 26,968 participant-weeks from 304 participants. Weekly driving features were derived from real-world telematics data and combined with four demographic covariates. Primary model comparisons used leave-one-participant-out (LOGO) cross-validation, with one individual held out at a time and pooled participant-level metrics used as the main reporting surface.

The main comparison includes six model families evaluated on the same dataset under a shared LOGO framework. Performance remained modest overall. GRU-DANN had the highest participant-level ROC AUC …

Largest 2-Regular Subgraphs In Complete S-Partite Graphs, Yiyang Jiang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we focus on the class of complete $S$-partite graphs, for $S$ an undirected graph possibly with self-loops, and address the problem of finding largest $2$-regular subgraphs of these graphs, which can be formulated as an integer linear program. Roughly speaking, a complete $S$-partite graph is obtained by replacing every single node of $S$ with a number of nodes, preserving the edge/non-edge relations of $S$. Our motivation in studying largest $2$-regular subgraphs is rooted in the structural systems theory, particularly in the problem of finding largest subnetworks that can sustain controllability or asymptotic stability of the corresponding subsystems. …

Metabolite Profiling Facility (Mpf), Bruce R. Cooper, Purdue University Office Of Research

University Research Core Facility Boilerplate Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Invasive Macrofungi In The United States: A Mushrooming Crisis, Emily Torres

Student Theses 2015-Present

Globalization has accelerated the spread of invasive species, making them one of the largest contributors to biodiversity loss worldwide. While invasive macrofungi remain largely absent from scientific discourse on invasive species, they represent a growing ecological concern throughout the United States. Invasive macrofungi disrupt forest ecosystems, alter soil communities, and displace native fungi. Beyond these ecological impacts, their presence and establishment profoundly affect human-nature relationships, most notably mushroom foraging and cultivation practices. This paper adopts a multidisciplinary approach to examine the ecological, economic, and anthropogenic impacts of invasive macrofungi in the United States. Chapter 1 provides a quantitative overview of …

Computational Ligand-Receptor Simulations Of Fluorinated Morphine Derivatives Using Pymol, Mirabella Romano, Emily Chen

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The opioid epidemic impacts 60 million people worldwide every year. Morphine, a commonly prescribed opioid, binds to the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) in the body via protonation of its tertiary amino group and the MOR. An unfortunate side effect of this binding process is its non-selectivity in both peripheral and central tissues. While activation within inflamed peripheral tissues results in pain relief, activation within central tissues results in the unwanted and addictive side effects of opioids. Because there is a pH discrepancy between healthy (central) and inflamed (peripheral) tissues, selective binding in the inflamed tissues could provide pain relief without addictive …

The Weight Of The Unknown: Xenophobia In Lucía Puenzo’S Xxy, Daylen Motamed

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This project examines how Lucía Puenzo’s film titled XXY critiques societal responses to unique identities (specifically intersex as an example), asking how xenophobia and normative gender expectations shape the marginalization of bodies that exist outside the binary. Situating the film within scholarship on queer adolescence and intersex representation, the analysis of this poster will argue that XXY exposes how institutions such as medicine and family reinforce harmful notions of “normalization.”

Drawing on close textual analysis of key scenes and engagement with critical sources, including Guillermo Olivera’s work on space and visibility and testimonies from intersex individuals, this study investigates how …

Discrepancies In Pediatric Oral Health, Tyler B. Truong

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

In 2024, data was collected by the CDC on untreated tooth decay. From that data, children living in low-income households had an estimated 18.8% of tooth decay untreated, almost triple the amount when compared to children from middle to high income households (6.6%). As the income disparity continues to grow in the US, it is critical that we implement strategies to aid lower income communities in providing their children with proper oral hygiene tactics. In order to understand how communities can help promote healthy oral hygiene for their children, a survey of dentists from various areas was conducted to see …

May 6, 2026 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Hawks' Herald -- May 6, 2026, Roger Williams University

Hawk's Herald

No abstract provided.

Gender Symbolism, Emmanuel Joseph Okechukwu

Theses

This thesis, Gender Symbolism, explores how contemporary ceramic practice can be used to challenge colonial ideas of gender and reclaim African perspectives on identity. Drawing from personal experience growing up in Nigeria as someone who did not conform to rigid expectations of masculinity, this work examines how gender has been historically constructed, policed, and misunderstood within both African and Western contexts. Through research into pre-colonial Nigerian societies, this thesis argues that gender was once understood as fluid, situational, and socially defined, rather than fixed within binary categories. The imposition of colonial rule, Christianity, and Western legal systems introduced rigid gender …

2026-05-06 Desification Of The Met Gala, Hadia Noor Ahmed

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Variation And Size Distribution Of Particulate Matter In The Mississippi Delta: Implications For Source Attribution, Abigail E. Barnett

Honors Theses

This study examines seasonal patterns of particulate matter in the Mississippi Delta using data from PurpleAir sensors, with a focus on particle size distributions across PM₁.₀, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀. The purpose of this research is to evaluate whether particulate trends in the region reflect signatures consistent with wildfire smoke or are better explained by local environmental and agricultural factors.

Daily average concentrations were analyzed and grouped by season to compare spring and summer conditions. Results show that all particle size fractions increased from spring to summer. However, PM₁₀ concentrations remained consistently higher than PM₂.₅ in both seasons. The PM₂.₅/PM₁₀ ratio …

A.I. And Education: The Relationship Between Policy And A.I. Implementation In Louisiana K-12 Schools, Johnny R. Moore Jr

Honors Theses

This research focuses on A.I. policies in Louisiana K-12 education, trying to figure out what the best possible policies would be to ensure that students are using A.I. as a tool rather than a crutch to rely on. This goes through the history and background of technology implementation and educational policies in Louisiana. The research focuses on current A.I. policies in the state, if any, and then evaluates other states policies around the country. Teachers and administrators from around the state were surveyed on this and were also asked on their opinions on A.I. in the classroom.

Jtc 26: The Best Decision They Almost Did Not Make, Alex Sims

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Dropping Into The Expressive Art Therapy: A Community Engagement Arts Based Project, Sydney C. Smith, Meg Chang

Expressive Therapies Theses

This community engagement capstone explores how expressive arts practices (EXAP) may complement surf-based programming by supporting reflection, empathy, and meaning-making among participants. Research has demonstrated that surf therapy can promote emotional well-being, resilience, and social connection through embodied engagement with the ocean and supportive community environments. Integrating expressive arts practices within surf-based programs may extend these benefits by providing opportunities for reflection, creative expression, and interpersonal exchange. Grounded in expressive arts therapy (EXAT) theory and arts-based research (ABR) paradigms, this project examines how creative expression can support relational and emotional experiences within surf therapy settings. Using an arts-informed community engagement …

Treatment Of Propionic Acidemia With Acetate Donors, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Zhaohui Xiong, Xiaoxin Chen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of propionyl-CoA carboxylase, resulting in toxic metabolite accumulation and impaired energy production. Current treatments are largely supportive, highlighting the need for targeted metabolic therapies. This study evaluates whether acetate donors can improve cell viability in a PA model.

Human hepatocyte (HepG2) control and PCC-deficient (PCCΔ) cells were treated with triacetin, sodium acetate, or acetylcarnitine. Dose-response studies (0.1–10 mM) showed no cytotoxicity. Propionate exposure identified 800 μM as an optimal stress condition that reduced viability without excessive cell death.

Under propionate-induced stress, all acetate donors improved cell viability …

Case Report: Anaphylaxis-Induced Cardiac Arrest Leading To Multiorgan Failure, Dhruvin Patel, Russell Mordecai, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that can rapidly progress to cardiovascular collapse and cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest due to anaphylaxis is uncommon but associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Survivors often face complex critical care courses, including multiorgan dysfunction and challenges in neurologic prognostication following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Sonidegib (Lde225) Reduces Inflammatory Signaling And Preserves Taste Buds In A Sepsis Mouse Model, Ashlyn Mcclelland, Murod Khikmatov, Archana Kumari, Gabrielle Audu, Isaiah Nawaz, Kingsley Yin

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Sepsis triggers a complex and widespread inflammatory response that disrupts multiple organ systems, including the taste organ. Loss of taste is a symptom recognized in sepsis survivors and has the potential to contribute to further complications such as anorexia. Prior work from our lab demonstrated that cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice induces immune cell infiltration and alters taste bud morphology in the fungiform papillae located in the anterior tongue. We hypothesize that similar deleterious effects occur in the circumvallate papillae (CVP) of the posterior tongue and that the usage of the smoothened inhibitor, sonidegib, could reduce these …

Air Quality, Atmospheric Pressure, And Migraine Presentations In The Emergency Department, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Migraine is a leading cause of Emergency Department (ED) visits and global disability. Weather has long been reported by patients as a trigger, yet the literature remains inconsistent. Prior ED-based data demonstrated an association between higher mean barometric pressure and increased migraine presentations, without a relationship to short-term pressure change. Because high-pressure systems are frequently associated with atmospheric stagnation and pollutant accumulation, air quality may represent a biologically plausible mediator.

Objective: To examine the relationship between air quality and ED migraine presentations within the existing body of literature and to explore whether air quality may help explain previously observed …

Light Therapy Vs. Pharmacotherapy In Improving Quality Of Life In Seasonal Affective Disorder, Hitanshi Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a pattern of depressive episodes triggered by seasonal changes. Light therapy involves exposure to artificial bright light by stimulating the production of serotonin. Pharmacotherapy primarily requires careful consideration of side effects and patient response times. Findings indicate that light therapy not only leads to significant improvements in depressive symptoms but also long-term enhancement in quality of life. Pharmacotherapy, while effective for some, often involves delays in response and potential adverse effects that can diminish overall satisfaction.

Impaired Mitochondrial Magnesium Transport Induces Genome-Wide Transcriptional Changes In Hepatic Steatosis, Inflammatory Signaling, And Detoxification Pathways During High-Fat Diet Feeding, Abhishek Shastry, Thiruvelselvan Ponnusamy, Asha Parveen Sakkarai Mohamed, Marianne Assogba, Natarajaseenivasan Kalimuthusamy, Shanmughapriya Santhanam

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Calcium overload during fatty diet consumption induces oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis. Intramitochondrial magnesium inhibits calcium uptake into mitochondria; therefore, modulating the activity of the mitochondrial magnesium transporter Mrs2 may regulate calcium-induced hepatocellular stress. As previous work demonstrates that liver-specific Mrs2 inhibition increases hepatic lipid deposition, RNA-sequencing was performed to identify potential transcriptional mechanisms for hepatocellular stress.

Mrs2 knockout (Mrs2^KO) mice were generated by crossing male Mrs2^fl/fl mice with liver-specific-Cre transgenic mice. Eight-week-old wild-type (Mrs2^WT) and Mrs2^KO mice were placed on chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 months (n=3/group). Whole liver was collected …

Mental Health Comorbidities And Ibd Outcomes In Patients Treated With Anti–Il-23 Therapy, Jashanveer S. Johal, Archana Salek, Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Bianca Patel, Om Patel, Yecheskel Schneider, Jason Hyman, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may adversely influence outcomes. We evaluated the impact of comorbid mood disorders on clinical outcomes among IBD patients treated with anti–IL-23 agents.

Methods: Using a global de-identified electronic health record network, adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis initiating an anti–IL-23 agent were identified. Cohort 1 included patients with a documented mood disorder (depression and/or anxiety) at or prior to treatment initiation; Cohort 2 included those without mood disorders. Propensity score matching (1:1) on demographics and comorbidities yielded 3,546 patients per cohort. Primary outcomes included inpatient/ED encounters, abscess/fistula, …

Risk Of Colorectal And Gastrointestinal Neoplasia In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated With Infliximab Versus Vedolizumab And Ustekinumab: A 5-Year Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study, Jashanveer S. Johal, Archana Salek, Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Bianca Patel, Abdallah Hussein, Om Patel, Jason Hyman, Yecheskel Schneider

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) confers elevated colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but comparative long-term neoplastic risks between anti-TNF and gut-selective or IL-12/23–targeted biologics remain incompletely defined. We evaluated 5-year risks of CRC and GI neoplasia in IBD patients treated with infliximab versus vedolizumab and ustekinumab.

Methods: Using the TriNetX federated research network, two parallel 5-year propensity score–matched cohort analyses were conducted among adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis initiating infliximab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab between 2018–2024. Patients with prior CRC, colectomy, or baseline comparator biologic exposure were excluded. The infliximab–vedolizumab analysis matched 13,111 patients per cohort; the infliximab–ustekinumab analysis matched …

Bone Health And Healthcare Utilization Outcomes In Crohn’S Disease Patients Without Baseline Fracture Or Vitamin D Deficiency Treated With Infliximab Versus Adalimumab: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study, Jashanveer S. Johal, Bianca Patel, Archana Salek, Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Abdallah Hussein, Om Patel, Jason Hyman, Yecheskel Schneider

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Biologic therapies are central to Crohn's disease (CD) management, yet the comparative effects of infliximab and adalimumab on bone health and healthcare utilization remain poorly characterized in patients without baseline vitamin D deficiency or prior fractures.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network. Adult CD patients (≥18 years) initiating infliximab or adalimumab between 2018–2024 were included. Patients with ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis, or positive pregnancy tests were excluded. All patients had normal baseline vitamin D (≥20 ng/mL) and no history of pathological fracture. Propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 7,340 patients per cohort. Outcomes …

Phytomining Potential Of Native Rocky Mountain Plants, Halle Cogley

Honors Theses

Standard mining practices of the past have left valuable, critical minerals remaining within mine waste and tailings piles. Phytoremediation, or the use of plants to uptake and store heavy metals, has grown in popularity for these sites. A new technology, phytomining, is being developed that not only offers the benefits of phytoremediation but also allows a new pathway to extract and generate revenue from these untouched critical minerals. Certain plants have been identified as hyperaccumulators with the ability to bioaccumulate a high level of certain minerals in their plant tissue. This study explored different species of native plants within the …

Membrane Progestin Receptors Α And Β (Paqr7 And 8) Are Necessary For Oogenesis In Zebrafish, Md. Almamun Farid, Md. Razain Tanvir, Takumi Mouri, Eisei Tsutsumi, Md. Sohanur Rahman Sohan, Md. Ekramul Hasan, Md Saydur Rahman, Chihiro Yamamoto, Akiteru Maeno, Toshinobu Tokumoto

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Paqr7 and paqr8 are genes encoding membrane progestin receptor αand β (mPRα and mPRβ, respectively), which are currently classified as members of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. For mPRα, the first identified mPR gene, there are two paralogs in zebrafish, paqr7a and paqr7b. In order to elucidate the physiological functions of the mPR subtypes, we created gene knockout (KO) fish by editing seven paqr genes in zebrafish and analyzing their phenotypes. The null-mutant strains of paqr7a, paqr7b, and paqr8 presented no significant abnormalities in reproductive functions. Thus, we generated a triple-gene knockout (TKO) strain of …

Developing A Computational Pipeline For Biomarker Discovery In Ischemic Reperfusion Injury, Surabhi Panda, Kaitlyn Insana, Dimitri Pestov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) contributes significantly to tissue damage in cardiovascular disease. During IRI, stressed and dying cells release ribosomal RNA, which exhibits distinct fragmentation patterns that may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers. Although these patterns have been observed using low-resolution biochemical techniques, there is currently no standardized computational approach to quantify and visualize RNA fragmentation for clinical interpretation.

Hypothesis: A computational pipeline can be developed to visualize and analyze ribosomal RNA fragmentation patterns, enabling identification of distinct fragmentation hotspots associated with ischemic conditions and potential biomarker discovery.

Methods: RNA fragmentation datasets generated from ribosomal RNA experiments in a Saccharomyces …

Isolation And Quantification Of Rna From Extracellular Vesicles Derived From A549 Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Using Ultracentrifugation, Yousef Dimian, Vanessa Pizutelli, Dimitri Pestov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained attention as potential diagnostic tools due to their presence in body fluids and their ability to carry nucleic acids, including RNA. EV-derived RNA, particularly ribosomal RNA (rRNA), may reflect cellular stress and disease states, making it a promising biomarker1, 2. This project focuses on optimizing methods to isolate EVs and quantify their RNA content using human cell culture models. Differential ultracentrifugation was used to separate vesicle populations based on size, followed by RNA extraction and quantification using a high-sensitivity assay. Initial experiments using media from three 150 mm culture dishes yielded no detectable RNA, whereas …

Facial Skin Discoloration After Topical Silver Sulfadiazine: A Case Report, Hannah Culleny, Philip Carhart, James Espinosa, Neel Parikh, Alan Lucerna, Henry Schuitema

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) is a topical antimicrobial commonly used in burn management. Although generally well tolerated, excessive or prolonged application may result in cutaneous pigmentation changes due to silver deposition.

Here we present the case of a a 45-year-old woman who presented with diffuse gray-blue facial discoloration five days after sustaining a minor thermal injury. She had been prescribed topical silver sulfadiazine but applied the medication to her entire face and continued use after wound resolution. Physical examination demonstrated asymptomatic hyperpigmented gray-blue macules confined to areas of application. There were no signs of inflammation or systemic involvement. Discontinuation of the …

Living Archaeology: A Comparative Perspective On How Archaeologists Can Study And Document The Present, Alia S. Moran

Honors Capstones

Archaeology has long remained a social science that has tended to exclude sustained consideration of contemporary societies in the analysis of material culture. In recent decades, approaches such as ethnoarchaeology and the archaeology of the contemporary have expanded the field to include the study of present-day societies through material culture. Inspired by my involvement in the Thais in Illinois Project, which focused on documenting the Thai American immigrant experience in the greater Chicago area to produce an oral history collection, alongside other goals, this thesis intends to further explore how archaeological practice can be used to understand everyday issues in …