Digital Commons Network^™

The American Thoracic Society Research Program: Twenty Years Of Driving Discovery In Respiratory Medicine, Kamran Atabai, M. Safwan Badr, Jack Costello, Karen Ridge, Sharon Rounds, Michelle Turenne, Eric White, Jesse Roman

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The Transcription Factor Cebpa In Regulating Lung Alveolar Type 2 Cell Fate In Vivo, Dalia Hassan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cell plasticity can extend across all possible cell types, yet it naturally diminishes as cells progress through differentiation. This plasticity can be reactivated during injury repair, engaging developmental flexibility. Our investigations reveal the critical role of the transcription factor (TF) CEBPA, specific to lung alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, in modulating AT2 cell plasticity within the mouse lung. We demonstrate that CEBPA constrains AT2 cell plasticity by promoting the AT2 differentiation program and recruiting the lineage-specific TF NKX2-1. Without CEBPA, AT2 cells, in both neonatal and mature, show a diminished AT2 program; however, only neonatal cells re-activate the SOX9 progenitor …

Sleep Disturbances In Adults With Tsc: Influences Of Treatment And Clinical Features, Kirstin Risgaard

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic condition caused by pathogenic variants in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. TSC is characterized by a multisystem, neurocutaneous phenotype including skin lesions, hamartomas, and epilepsy. Additionally, TSC can present with an array of behavioral, psychiatric, academic, psychosocial, intellectual, or neuropsychological difficulties comprehensively known as TAND, or TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep disorders are a common feature of TAND; however, they are not well characterized in the adult TSC population. Likewise, little is known about how clinical features of the condition and commonly prescribed medications impact sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the …

Mismatch Repair Deficient Neoantigen And Associated Circulating T-Cell Receptor Repertoires In Lynch Syndrome, Ana Bolivar

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Lynch Syndrome (LS) is the most common inherited colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome. It constitutes the perfect model to understand DNA mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) carcinogenesis, which underlies 15% of early-stage CRC. LS patients develop MMRd tumors with high loads of shared neoantigens (neoAgs), which are recognized by the immune system. Previous research has concentrated on discovering neoAgs and their potential as targets for vaccines in LS patients. However, these studies have primarily identified shared neoAgs from cancers, lacking detailed information on targetable neoAgs present in precancerous lesions. Understanding this landscape of pre-cancer derived neoAgs is crucial for intercepting cancer development …

Uncovering Capillary Endothelial Cells Response During Lung Injury-Repair, Celine Shuet Lin Kong

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Once thought to be a homogenous population, capillary endothelial cells (ECs) have embodied organotypic specialization and heterogenous properties, both during homeostasis and tissue injury. In the lung, capillary ECs consist of two distinct populations, CAP1 and CAP2s; how each population responds to diverse tissue injury is incompletely understood. In this thesis, I report the induction and function of a truncated isoform of Ntrk2, Ntrk2^-tk (lacking the tyrosine kinase domain) in multiple injury models. Using a combinatorial approach of single-cell multiome, mouse genetics and viral infection models, I found that Ntrk2^-tk is broadly induced in CAP1s after the initial …

The History Of Gender-Biased Clinical Testing And Its Effects On Pharmaceutical Drug Efficacy, Kathryn E. Olson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Concerns about potential risks that clinical research could impose to women of childbearing potential have long dictated pharmaceutical clinical trials. In the United States, women were not allowed to participate in clinical trials for decades, which has had major implications on the pharmaceutical industry today. Due to this oversight, men and women are commonly prescribed drugs at the same dosage despite many sex-specific differences in how male/female bodies respond to drugs during exposure. It is now known that female bodies metabolize drugs much slower than male bodies, which means that women who are prescribed drugs at the same rate as …

Gender, Body Shame, And Sexual Anxiety: A Mediational Model Among College Students, Allison Hanby

Honors Theses

Previous research on sexual anxiety among emerging adults has consistently reported gendered differences in sexual anxiety levels with women reporting significantly higher levels of sexual anxiety than their male peers. As sexual anxiety is linked to several aspects of sexual functioning and enjoyment, this gendered discrepancy bears further investigation. Past literature has explored factors that may be influencing sexual anxiety in emerging adults, and body shame has emerged as a potential contributing factor. Using Objectification Theory as a basis, this study seeks to understand the coexisting relationships between gender, body shame, and sexual anxiety. This study hypothesizes a model wherein …

The Effects That Dietary Intake And Cardiorespiratory Fitness Has On Insulin Resistance In Adults, Trinady Moore

Honors Theses

Insulin resistance can impair bodily responses to insulin and the uptake of glucose within the human body. This imparity has many consequences and can more commonly cause Type II Diabetes.¹ This study focuses on how different lifestyle modifications can be used to combat the sensitivity to insulin within the body. The sample included forty-one adults whose ages varied from 18 to 35 years old. The participants completed a VO2max test, blood glucose test, and a 31- item food frequency survey. These tests and survey questions revealed the correction between the participants’ age, blood glucose levels, VO2max score, and diet …

Textile-To-Textile Upcycling; A Design Process To Make Hand-Felted Textiles Using Existing Materials By Utilizing The Wet Felting Production Technique, Kristin Rapach

Interior Design Undergraduate Honors Theses

This creative, artistic capstone investigates textile-to-textile upcycling in regards to sustainability, circularity, and adaptive reuse. By synthesizing an understanding of the current data, knowledge gaps, and research needs, this inquiry will explore the process of material manipulation and making. This understanding of textile-to-textile upcycling methods may inform innovative and sustainable modern processes, offering an artisan alternative to the limited existing techniques. This process requires hands-on experimentation in pursuit of a sustainable, circular solution to textile-to-textile upcycling.

Awareness And Attitude Towards Tobacco Products And Tobacco Industry And Perception About Government’S Role In Tobacco Control Among The Adult Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study In The Indian State Of Bihar, Bijaya Nanda Naik, Rajath Rao Ur, Manisha Verma, Santosh Kumar Nirala

Open Access archive

Background: Attitudes and impressions toward the tobacco industry and tobacco products among the general public are important determinants for curbing the menace of the tobacco epidemic. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions about the tobacco industry and tobacco products and analyze attitudes towards social denormalization (SD) of tobacco use and tobacco industry denormalization (TID) among the rural population of Bihar, India. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 421 adults aged 18 to 65 years who were selected using multistage systematic random sampling in a rural area of Bihar State in India from January to …

Editorial: Gene-Based Renaming Of Human Diseases, Ali J Marian

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

No abstract provided.

Protecting Protected Characteristics: Statutory Solutions For Employment Discrimination Post-Bostock, Chase Mays

Vanderbilt Law Review

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Significantly, these protected characteristics are undefined, and judicial interpretations of race, sex, and national origin have allowed employers to lawfully discriminate against proxies for these protected characteristics. This Note examines the use of race-based hairstyles, gendered-appearance standards, and citizenship as proxies for race, sex, and national origin, respectively, and how the availability of such proxies inhibits Title VII’s goal of creating equal employment opportunities. The Supreme Court’s dicta in Bostock v. Clayton County offer potential redress to …

Investigating The Demise Of East Bank Ridge Through Local Fishery Perceptions And Fish Population Metrics, Marissa R. Lamb

Theses and Dissertations

East Bank Ridge is a natural reef formation located 18 nautical miles off the coast of South Padre Island, covering an area of over 80 km2, with the southern portion extending into Mexico. There is no previous record of the structural composition or fish community present at the site. The ridge was a well-known fishing site in the local community over the past decades but catch rates have decreased substantially according to personal accounts from local anglers. In this study, areas of reef habitat were identified, and fish presence and abundance metrics were determined at East Bank Ridge. These measures …

Exploring The Potentials Of Delafossite-Coated Cotton Textiles: Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning, Uv-Blocking, Anti Microbial Activity And Hydrophobicity, Shahria Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

Delafossite materials demonstrate multifunctional applications due to their excellent catalytic properties, which vary depending on their morphology, particle size, and synthetic method. Herein, a few novel applications of the delafossites are reported, which can be implemented in commercial, medical, and domestic settings. In present work we are presenting two different delafossite CuGaO2 and CuFeO2 nanoparticles and its composite with cotton fiber. Multifunctional cotton fabric is prepared by depositing a uniform coating layer of CuGaO2 and CuFeO2, exhibits excellent photocatalytic self-cleaning, UV blocking, and antimicrobial activity. CuGaO2 and CuFeO2 nanoparticle concentrations of 1mM and 2mM were deposited over the cotton fabric …

Complete Characterization Of Nadh Dehydrogenase Subunit 1 Gene In Human Hydatid Cysts, Sarmad Awad Mozan Al-Asadi, Abdul-Hussien Habash Awad

Baghdad Science Journal

Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto possesses very similar strains G1 and G3. Mitochondrial genes from NADH dehydrogenase (NAD) family have prominent roles in the identification of very similar strains G1 and G3. Thus, the present study mainly aimed to characterize the whole NAD1 gene (from the start codon to the stop codon) of hydatids isolated from humans. Hydatids were surgically isolated from the livers of patients, who are from Basrah and Maysan provinces, at Al-Sadir Teaching Hospital in Basrah province, Iraq. Protoscoleces were aseptically isolated from hydatid cysts and were used to extract DNA. Specific primers were employed to amplify the …

The Role Of Enso On Atmospheric Patterns In The Great Plains Of The United States In The Cesm2 Large Ensemble, Taylor Jean Dolan

Theses and Dissertations

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a common teleconnection used for seasonal forecasts over the Great Plains of the United States, where the warmer (colder) conditions are associated with the positive (negative) phase. Precipitation is more nuanced due to the impacts of single events on seasonal precipitation. Understanding how ENSO impacts temperature and precipitation events in a warming climate is vital for understanding risks to the agricultural community. Unfortunately, deterministic climate simulations complicate matters as results can vary between different models due to internal variability.This study leverages the Community Earth System Model 2 Large Ensemble (CESM2) to explore the …

Restoring The Occupational Therapy Spirit In Hand Therapy Practice, Karrianna Iseminger

Theses and Dissertations

The dominant role psychosocial factors play in physical healing and disability perceptions of individuals with upper extremity (UE) conditions has been documented repeatedly in the literature for over 40 years. This population is at particular risk given the number of occupations requiring the functional use of one or both UEs for successful performance. However, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) specializing in hand therapy do not appear to have a shared practice or understanding of evaluation and intervention for psychosocial factors as they tend to focus mostly on the physical limitations of occupational performance. Therefore, the purpose of this three-article dissertation project …

Personal Green Spaces During The Pandemic - Perceptions Towards Urban Home Gardens During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Bengaluru, India, Varsha Bhaskaran, Charles Nilon

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes in a short span of time to people’s life and living. Being in a lockdown, especially in urban areas, has led to changes in the way people perceive nature around them and within their homes. Research on this topic in the cities of the global south has been limited with even fewer studies in Indian cities. To begin to address this gap, in this exploratory study we interviewed 30 residents of Bengaluru, India to understand how they perceived the changes they experienced in their home gardens and in the nature around their …

The Impact Of Land Use And Human Population Density On Benthic Macroinvertebrate Diversity In A Highly Urbanized River, Maleha Mahmud, David C. Lahti, Bobby Habig

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Many studies have documented the detrimental effects of urbanization on aquatic ecosystems. What is less known is how “super urban” centers—areas with unusually high human population densities and immense infrastructures—impact biodiversity. Specifically, freshwater streams and rivers that are situated in highly urbanized metropolitan areas might be more susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance. Here, we evaluated the impacts of land use and human population density on benthic macroinvertebrate diversity along the Bronx River, a freshwater river situated in one of the largest urban centers in the world: the New York metropolitan area. We addressed the following research question: How does (1) high …

Investigating Autonomous Ground Vehicles For Weed Elimination, Abraham Mitchell

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The management of weeds in crop fields is a continuous agricultural problem. The use of herbicides is the most common solution, but herbicidal resistance decreases effectiveness, and the use of herbicides has been found to have severe adverse effects on human health and the environment. The use of autonomous drone systems for weed elimination is an emerging solution, but challenges in GPS-based localization and navigation can impact the effectiveness of these systems. The goal of this thesis is to evaluate techniques for minimizing localization errors of drones as they attempt to eliminate weeds. A simulation environment was created to model …

Green Synthesis Of Silver And Titanium Nanoparticles Using Erythrina Variegata Root Bark Extract And Evaluation Of Their Antioxidant And Cytotoxicity Effectiveness, Naiyah Mcdaniel

All Theses

Erythrina variegata belongs to the Erythrina genus, which consists of approximately 110 species of trees and shrubs. In its native regions, different parts of the plant have been used for its effectiveness in treating asthma, epilepsy, bacterial infections, and wounds. Characterization studies have been done for this plant, and researchers have identified several alkaloids, flavonoids, and other active phytoconstituents that help treat different ailments. Prior research has focused on the phytochemical profile of E. variegata’s leaves, flowers, and stem bark. This work aimed to address gaps in the characterization of E. variegata’s root bark while exploring the effectiveness of titanium …

Application Of Digital Holographic Imaging To Monitor Real-Time Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy Dynamics In Response To Norepinephrine Stimulation, Wahida Akter, Herman Huang, Jacquelyn Simmons, Alexander Y. Payumo

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, characterized by an increase in cell size, is associated with various cardiovascular diseases driven by factors including hypertension, myocardial infarction, and valve dysfunction. In vitro primary cardiomyocyte culture models have yielded numerous insights into the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms driving hypertrophic growth. However, due to limitations in current approaches, the dynamics of cardiomyocyte hypertrophic responses remain poorly characterized. In this study, we evaluate the application of the Holomonitor M4 digital holographic imaging microscope to track dynamic changes in cardiomyocyte surface area and volume in response to norepinephrine treatment, a model hypertrophic stimulus. The Holomonitor M4 permits non-invasive, label-free …

Onc201 (Dordaviprone) In Recurrent H3 K27m-Mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma, Yazmin Odia, Minesh Mehta

All Publications

Purpose: Histone 3 (H3) K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma (DMG) has a dismal prognosis with no established effective therapy beyond radiation. This integrated analysis evaluated single-agent ONC201 (dordaviprone), a first-in-class imipridone, in recurrent H3 K27M-mutant DMG.

Methods: Fifty patients (pediatric, n = 4; adult, n = 46) with recurrent H3 K27M-mutant DMG who received oral ONC201 monotherapy in four clinical trials or one expanded access protocol were included. Eligible patients had measurable disease by Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) high-grade glioma (HGG) criteria and performance score (PS) ≥60 and were ≥90 days from radiation; pontine and spinal tumors were ineligible. The …

Complete Genome Sequences Of 9 Rhodococcus Equi Phages, Randall Dejong, Myles D Radersma, Gabrielle Lathrop, Karena C Moleakunnel, Luke Harlow, Aerin E Baker, Alison J. Chen, Jason G Churu, Carly A Dole, Sophia L Doorn, Ethan M Hill, Anna Howland, Amanda Janvier, Catie M Kramer, Matt J Minasian, Jocelyn R Nieze, Isabella K Perezios, Fiona J Ramsey, Katie L Seinen, Sierra K Swierenga, Michael M Veenstra, Grace E Weaver, Alexandra C White, Esther Yoon

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Myles D Radersma, Gabrielle Lathrop, Karena C Moleakunnel, Luke Harlow, Aerin E Baker, Alison J. Chen, Jason G Churu, Carly A Dole, Sophia L Doorn, Ethan M Hill, Anna Howland, Amanda Janvier, Catie M Kramer, Matt J Minasian, Jocelyn R Nieze, Isabella K Perezios, Fiona J Ramsey, Katie L Seinen, Sierra K Swierenga, Michael M Veenstra, Grace E Weaver, Alexandra C White, Esther Yoon, John T Wertz, Randall J DeJong. 2024. Complete genome sequences of 9 Rhodococcus equi phages. Microbiology Resource Announcements. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.01088-23

The Examination Of How Intra-Community Social Identities Differ In Contexts Of Coastal Flooding Adaptation And Vulnerability, Dylan Nordstrom

Standard Theses

This thesis explores discrepancies in degrees of vulnerability within coastal communities to flooding events, and the impact adaptive measures may have on these vulnerabilities, as well as analyzing the success or maladaptiveness of adaptive action and the consequences of not incorporating adequate local knowledge. Through a review of academic writings, news outlets, governmental policy websites, and census data, a contextual understanding of Phippsburg, Maine is outlined establishing a connection to theory. The document analysis revealed that approaching adaptation, a grounded consideration of vulnerability is essential in avoiding maladaptive consequences and negatively impacting resilience. Applying conducted interviews and a policy review, …

The Consequences Of Homophobia: Analysis Of Discriminatory Medical And Legislative Policies And Their Influence On Health Disparities, Kaiden J. Fandel

Honors Thesis

Are there specific roots that influence the introduction and incorporation of discriminatory medical policies? What are the sources of such stigma, discrimination, and prejudice, in what forms does such discrimination take place, and what negative impacts does such hatred have on health outcomes, quality of care, and health disparities? Through a review of existing literature on this topic, intertwining the examination of the evolution of discriminatory policies and other explanatory literature in the United States, this thesis aims to answer the questions above, and explain the roots of such homophobic discrimination and its prevalence in the United States. Through the …

Locating, Characterizing, And Comparing Submerged Precontact Site Hubbard Spring To Other Submerged Spring Sites Throughout Florida, Madison Day

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

The rise of sea level over the past 20,000 years has led to the submersion of nearly half of Florida’s original land mass, causing freshwater springs hypothesized to have been a gathering spot for prehistoric people to become submerged. As the water rose, humans lost touch with their ancestors’ ways of life and migratory patterns. In recent years, however, interests in the potential significant cultural, archeological, and paleontological resources at submerged spring sites on the West Florida Shelf have spiked among geo-archeologists, historical experts, biologists, and geologists.

The goal of the WF2305 research cruise aboard the R/V Western Flyer was …

Caribbean King Crab Aquaculture For Reef Restoration: An Ecological And Socioeconomic Look At Biotic Reef Restoration Efforts In The Caribbean And Florida Keys, Audrey Brandt

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

This thesis will focus on current efforts to culture Caribbean King Crabs for coral restoration as an ecologically effective marine conservation method that incorporates indigenous species and provides socioeconomic benefit to the surrounding communities. A literature review with integrated interviews from professionals currently working to culture M. spinosissimus for reef restoration will be conducted. Following the literature review will be an interactive ArcGIS Story Map on current efforts to culture M. spinosissimus for reef restoration, presented in English and Spanish.

Effects Of The Implementation Of Mastery Grading In An Introductory Biology Course, Darby Ice

Honors College

The purpose of this mixed methods, exploratory study is to investigate what happens when mastery grading is implemented for summative assessments in a majors introductory biology course. Summative assessments included an initial Learning Objective (LO) exam and the opportunity for students to earn a retake exam. First and second iterations of the LO exams covered the same material but did not have the same questions.

Components of this study included a qualitative analysis of students’ perceptions of the mastery grading structure as well as quantitative analyses to determine whether correlations exist between factors such as SAT/ACT scores and degree of …

Physical And Stochiometric Controls On Nutrient Uptake And Ecosystem Respiration In Contrasting Sites, Jancoba K. Dorley

Civil Engineering ETDs

Meteorological, hydrological, and biogeochemical processes naturally control stream ecosystems. These processes define the frequency and distribution of precipitation and the supply and demand of solutes and particles to support aquatic food chains through space and time. Studies have also found that stream ecosystems are also controlled by anthropogenic activities, which occur on a much shorter timescale. These anthropogenic activities affect stream ecosystems' structure and function from local to planetary changes to the environment. It is essential for scientists and engineers to understand the relationships between naturally occurring processes and those created by human activities for a better interpretation of stream …