Digital Commons Network^™

Mammary Epithelial Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles Influence Tumorigenic Phenotype Suppression In Her2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells, Brenda Okereke

All Dissertations

On a global scale, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. In 2020 alone, there were over 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer seen and a total of 685,000 deaths globally, this represents 16% or 1 in every 6 cancer deaths seen in women. By 2040 it is projected that the breast cancer burden will rise by over 40% to exceed 3 million new cases a year. Further understanding of the underlying biology and mechanisms behind tumor progression and breast cancers such as HER2+ breast cancer would allow for new therapeutic treatment targets to emerge. …

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Response To Degenerated Intervertebral Disc-Like Ph, Kyle Cannon

All Dissertations

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has become increasingly prevalent and is a common contributing factor to low back pain. There are currently no clinical treatment options for IVDD that alleviate the symptoms of IVDD while simultaneously promoting repair of IVD tissue. One treatment option being explored is intradiscal administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, the microenvironment of the degenerating IVD places significant stress on both native IVD cells and implanted cells. There are several questions that need to be addressed which may help further inform the development of efficacious intradiscal MSC therapies for IVDD. These questions include: 1) Do MSCs …

Loss Of Tsc2 Results In Abnormal Postnatal Neurogenesis And Striatal Hamartomas, Victoria Riley

All Dissertations

Billions of years of evolution have culminated in the most complex organ in all of biology: the brain. Its capacity to sense, store, and predict information uniquely bestows humans with the capability to generate art, music, language, and math and sets humans apart from other species. It is therefore prudent and worthwhile to study the brain and its development. A critical aspect of brain development is neurogenesis, or the production of neurons. Neurogenesis is facilitated by neural stem cells (NSCs) and is influenced by the mTORC1 signaling pathway. For NSCs to differentiate and become committed to a neuronal cell fate, …

Crystalline Colloidal Arrays: Exploring Light-Matter Interactions, Haley W. Jones

All Dissertations

Understanding and manipulating quantum light-matter interactions, especially in the context of nanostructured environments, is highly critical for technological progress and inventive solutions in the fields of telecommunications, energy-efficient lighting, and cutting-edge quantum computing technologies. The fundamental interactions of photons with a surrounding environment directly impact the performance and efficiency of devices such as lasers, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and quantum computing elements, which leverage the unique properties of confined structured environments. Since the late 1980s, the connection between a structured environment and the decay kinetics of an embedded fluorophore has been a highly debated and unresolved topic in the literature. More …

Identifying Temporomandibular Disorder Morphological Risk Factors Via Explainable Deep Learning And Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling, Shuchun Sun

All Dissertations

Clarifying multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder etiologies supports risk analysis and development of targeted prevention and treatment modalities. Deep learning enables comprehensive risk factor identification through systematic analysis of disease datasets but does not provide sufficient context for mechanistic understanding, limiting clinical applicability for etiological investigations. Conversely, multiscale biomechanical modeling can evaluate mechanistic etiology within the relevant biomechanical and physiological context. We propose a hybrid approach combining 3D explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling; we applied this approach to investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder etiology by systematically identifying risk factors and elucidating mechanistic relationships between risk factors and TMJ biomechanics and …

Models Of Functional Redundancy In Ecological Communities, Sandra Annie Tsiorintsoa

All Dissertations

Functional redundancy is the number of taxa that perform a given function within a given community. In most systems, high levels of functional redundancy are important, because they contribute to ecosystem stability. However, we currently have very little understanding of why functional redundancy varies among communities. One possible factor that could affect functional redundancy is environmental complexity. Many studies show that simplified ecosystems harbor communities with lower taxon diversity. What is less clear is if this simplicity and lower taxon diversity also affects functional redundancy. To answer this question, we use metacommunity models to explore the connection between environmental complexity …

Novel Nucleus Pulposus Biomaterial Development And Low Field Mri Assessment For Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Mario Krussig

All Dissertations

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prominent pathology in the modern world that causes debilitating pain for many patients. The onset of IVDD occurs in the nucleus pulposus (NP). NP biomaterials will play a vital role in mitigating the progression of IVDD. Within this work, we sought to synthesize a solubilized extracellular matrix (ECM)-based NP biomaterial. Utilizing pepsin or urea extraction, bovine NP ECM was successfully solubilized (SBNPs). SBNP formulations were characterized biochemically, evaluated for cytotoxicity, and down-selected for front-running formulations. Leading candidate SBNPs were incorporated into an alginate bead biomaterial model to determine the potential bioactivity with human adipose-derived …

Optimizing Laying Hen Behavior, Bone Health, And Welfare Through Environmental And Nutritional Enrichments, Mallory Anderson

All Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the impact of environmental and nutritional enrichments on the behavior, bone health, and welfare of Hy-line brown and Hy-line W-36 laying hens. Laying hens are prone to experiencing a progressive increase in bone fragility due to the ongoing mobilization of calcium from the bones for eggshell formation. Over time, this increases their susceptibility for bone fracture, which is a welfare concern. Prior research suggests that exercise, especially during the developmental stage, can aid in minimizing bone fractures by strengthening muscles and increasing bone mass. Furthermore, nutrition plays an integral role in laying …

The Influence Of Feed Additives On Laying Hen Health, Welfare, And Egg Quality, Alexa Johnson

All Dissertations

Natural feed additives like oregano essential oil and synbiotic (prebiotic and probiotic) are options with great potential for increasing the health and welfare of laying hens. The first two studies explored the effects of dietary oregano essential oil (EOO) on performance, gastrointestinal traits (GIT), blood lipids, antioxidant capacity, and egg quality in laying hens from 0 to 40 weeks of age. The third study was conducted to examine dietary EOO on layers on the shelf life and fatty acid profile of eggs. The final study aimed to examine the effects of a dietary synbiotic on agonistic behavior, plasma and brain …

Efficient Fully Bayesian Approaches To Brain Activity Mapping With Complex-Valued Fmri Data: Analysis Of Real And Imaginary Components In A Cartesian Model And Extension To Magnitude And Phase In A Polar Model, Zhengxin Wang

All Dissertations

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) plays a crucial role in neuroimaging, enabling the exploration of brain activity through complex-valued signals. Traditional fMRI analyses have largely focused on magnitude information, often overlooking the potential insights offered by phase data, and therefore, lead to underutilization of available data and flawed statistical assumptions. This dissertation proposes two efficient, fully Bayesian approaches for the analysis of complex-valued functional magnetic resonance imaging (cv-fMRI) time series.

Chapter 2 introduces the model, referred to as CV-sSGLMM, using the real and imaginary components of cv-fMRI data and sparse spatial generalized linear mixed model prior. This model extends the …

Oscillations Of Capillary Surfaces With Volume And Edge Effects, Dingqian Ding

All Dissertations

Capillary surfaces are defined by an interface endowed with surface tension that is partially supported by a solid substrate and are susceptible to oscillations reflecting a balance between fluid inertia and the restorative force of surface tension. The wave dynamics strongly depend upon volume change within the domain and edge effects through the boundary conditions applied at the contact-line formed at the liquid-gas-solid interface, while the spatial wave structure conforms to the geometry of the capillary surface. This dissertation develops mathematical models to address these effects for several canonical capillary surfaces, which are organized into two parts that are focused …

Restoring Student Behavior: A Culturally Responsive Evaluation Of Restorative Practices On Disproportionate Referral Data, Meredith Strmac

All Dissertations

Male students of color often receive harsher disciplinary consequences than their same age White peers. Disproportionate discipline practices have existed within the education system for years, primarily due to a historical systemic issue of implicit bias due to race. One intervention used to quell some of these disparities is Restorative Practices. This program evaluation study used Restorative Practices as an intervention to determine the extent that it could close the discipline gap in one South Carolina high school. Using a concurrent nested mixed method design, I analyzed and synthesized historical agency data to answer the first research question regarding the …

Connecting Genotype And Phenotype: Investigating The Functional Morphology And Molecular Architecture That Influences Craniofacial Divergence Using Lake Malawi Cichlid Fishes, Leah Delorenzo

All Dissertations

Connecting genotype and phenotype to better understand how species evolve has been a goal of evolutionary developmental biologists over the last 50 years. This dissertation aims to connect genotype and phenotype of the craniofacial skeleton within the adaptive radiation of Lake Malawi cichlids to fortify our understanding of the functional, genetic, and epigenetic factors that contribute to craniofacial divergence. I start with a functional approach using 2D geometric morphometrics to assess craniofacial shape across the Lake Malawi cichlid radiation to bolster our knowledge of the bone phenotypes that are important to niche specialization and are functionally relevant. Next, I use …

Domain Decomposition Methods For Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems Involving Elastic, Porous, Or Poroelastic Structures, Hemanta Kunwar

All Dissertations

We introduce two global-in-time domain decomposition methods, namely the Steklov-Poincare method and Schwarz waveform relaxation (SWR) method using Robin transmission conditions (or the Robin method), for solving fluid-structure interaction systems involving elastic, porous, or poroelastic structure. These methods allow us to formulate the coupled system as a space-time interface problem and apply iterative algorithms directly to the evolutionary problem. Each time-dependent fluid and the structure subdomain problem is solved independently, which enables the use of different time discretization schemes and time step sizes in the subsystems. This leads to an efficient way of simulating time-dependent multiphysics phenomena. For the fluid-porous …

Selenate-Mediated Impacts On Mercury Methylation By Pseudodesulfovibrio Mercurii With Dissolved And Nanoparticulate Mercuric Nitrate, Md Sayeduzzaman Sarker

Theses

Inorganic mercury (Hg) is converted to potential neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) by a natural process called Hg methylation. MeHg can be biomagnified in the food chain, thus the consumption of Hg-contaminated fish contributes to harmful human health issues. Selenium (Se) inhibits the Hg bioavailability to the methylating bacteria by forming mercuric selenide (HgSe). Pseudodesulfovibrio mercurii, a type of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) cultures were grown in anaerobic environments using an estuarine sulfate lactate growth medium to evaluate the effects of Hg concentrations, bacterial growth phase, and sodium selenate in the Hg methylation process. Bacterial cultures contained two types of mercuric (II) nitrate, …

Use Of Modelling Tools To Assess Climate Change Impacts On Smallholder Oil Seed Yields In South Africa, Priscilla Ntuchu Kephe, Siyabusa Mkuhlani, Farirai Rusere, Abel Chemura

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Oil seed crops are the second most important field crops after cereals in the agricultural economy globally. The use and demand for oilseed crops such as groundnut, soybean and sunflower have grown significantly, but climate change is expected to alter the agroecological conditions required for oilseed crop production. This study aims to present an approach that utilizes decision-making tools to assess the potential climate change impacts on groundnut, soybean and sunflower yields and the greenhouse gas emissions from the management of the crops. The Decision Support Tool for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v4.7), a dynamic crop model and the Cool Farm …

Combining Temperature-Dependent Life Table Data Into Insect Life Cycle Model To Forecast Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda (Je Smith) Distribution In Maize Agro-Ecological Zones In Africa, Marian Adan, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Cojdo E.F. Kassa, Klaus Greve, Christian Borgemeister, Georg Goergen

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an invasive agricultural pest, has significantly impacted crop yields across Africa. This study investigated the relationship between temperature and FAW life history traits, employing life cycle modeling at temperatures of 20, 25, 28, 30, and 32̊C. The development time for eggs, larvae, and pupae varied from 0–3 days, 10–18 days, and 7–16 days, respectively. The optimal temperature range for immature stage survival and female fecundity was identified as 21–25̊C, with the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and gross reproductive rate (GRR) peaking at 25–28̊C. Model validation confirmed the accuracy of …

Silver Nanoparticle Biosynthesis Utilizing Ocimum Kilimandscharicum Leaf Extract And Assessment Of Its Antibacterial Activity Against Certain Chosen Bacteria, Horyomba Siaka Ouandaogo, Souleymane Diallo, Eddy Odari, Johnson Kinyu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The use of plants in the biological production of silver nanoparticles for antibacterial applications is a growing field of research. In the current work, we formulated Ocimum kilimandscharicum extracts using silver nanoparticles, and evaluated its potential antibacterial activity. Aqueous and methanol plant extracts were used to reduce silver nitrate at different time intervals (30 to 150 minutes) and pH (2 to 11). The UV-visible absorption spectrum recorded for methanol and aqueous extracts revealed a successful synthesis of AgNPs for methanol and aqueous extracts. The antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was evaluated against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella choleraesuius ATCC 10708, …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Into Adult Education: Opportunities, Challenges, And Future Directions, Valerie A. Storey, Amiee Wagner

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This conceptual article provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration and its influence on adult education. It discusses generative AI technologies and their potential applications in adult education settings, examines the opportunities and ethical challenges associated with integrating AI, and provides insights into emerging trends. The article consists of five sections. The introduction provides a rationale as to why AI should be integrated into adult education. Second, it describes evolving AI technologies such as Large Language Models (LLM) for personalized learning, Machine Learning Algorithms for adaptive learning systems, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality …

Local Existence Of Solutions To A Nonlinear Autonomous Pde Model For Population Dynamics With Nonlocal Transport And Competition, Michael R. Lindstrom

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Highlights

• Partial differential equation models are ubiquitous in applied sciences.

• A partial differential equation based in ecology is studied for solution existence.

• Energy methods and convergence analysis lead to local classical solutions.

Abstract

In this paper, we prove that a particular nondegenerate, nonlinear, autonomous parabolic partial differential equation with nonlocal mass transfer admits the local existence of classical solutions. The equation was developed to qualitatively describe temporal changes in population densities over space through accounting for location desirability and fast, long-range travel. Beginning with sufficiently regular initial conditions, through smoothing the PDE and employing energy arguments, we obtain a sequence …

Early Prediction Of Nephropathy In Iraqi Patient With Diabetes Type Ii By Evaluating Some Relevant Biochemical Factors, Reham Khaldoon Ibrahim, Kadhim K. Ghudhaib, Ali Abdulmajid Dyab Allawi

Baghdad Science Journal

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex disease, which affects many organs besides the pancreas such as the kidney, liver, brain and eye. Due to hyperglycemia at long periods and uncontrolled on diabetes with presence of other risk factors, diabetes complications could occurr. Diabetes complications include microvascular and macrovascular complications that target the kidneys. The aim of this study is to predict early fibrosis of the renal glomeruli and tubules by evaluating the levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme -2(ACE-2), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and some relevant biochemical factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study included 120 male …

Population Estimation Of The Euphrates Softshell Turtle Rafetus Euphraticus In The Central Marshes (Unesco Site), Samer Ammar Taher, Hind Suhail Abdulhay

Baghdad Science Journal

The Euphrates softshell turtle Rafetus euphraticus was classified as Endangered species on the IUCN Red List and is thought to have undergone large, recent population declines. Species information in Iraq is limited to a few rapid surveys with little detailed information on breeding and distribution. The study aimed to estimate the population of R. euphraticus in the Central Marshes using simple extrapolation of the count. Quadrate methodology 5 km2 size each was used to record the distribution of Euphrates softshell turtles within the study site and ten surveys were carried out from October 2021 to September 2022 except for the …

"My Longest Relationship Is With Food": Exploring Eating Related Behaviors Throughout The Gender Identity Journey Of Transgender Males, Angeles Polett Coss

Dissertations

This study sought to explore how transgender adult males have navigated the development of their eating behaviors throughout their gender identity trajectory. While recent research has focused on gender identity development and protective factors of the transgender community, this study explored and examined elements regarding the eating related behaviors of transgender males. Interviews were conducted with six participants within the United States during semi structured virtual sessions; the age range of participants was 19 to 35. Results of this research revealed identity management, Sociopolitical discourse, identity management and inter-relational identity affirmations as inter-multicultural segments that connected with eating related behaviors …

Comparative Study Of Sol-Gel And Green Synthesis Technique Using Orange Peel Extract To Prepare Tio2 Nanoparticles, Hind Fadhil Oleiwi, Aseel J. Rahma, Siham I. Salih, Ammar A. Beddai

Baghdad Science Journal

Plant extracts have been widely explored as a safer alternative to conventional procedures for the manufacture of metal oxide nanoparticles. The present research concentrated on the synthesis and characterization of Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) using an environmentally friendly green synthesis approach (orange peel extract) compared with another technique (Sol-Gel method) at room temperature. The TiO2 nanoparticles were analyzed using an X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to determine the polycrystalline with Tetragonal structure anatase phase and average crystallite size 30.2 nm and 24.2nm of the sample prepared from Sol-gel and green methods respectively. FTIR spectroscopy was used to determine the functional groups of …

The Effect Of Heat Transformation And Rotation On Sutterby Fluid Peristaltic Flow In An Inclined, Asymmetric Channel With The Porousness, Asmaa A. Mohammed, Liqaa Zeki Hummady

Baghdad Science Journal

In this paper, the effect of the rotation variable and other variables on the peristaltic flow of Sutterby fluid in an Inclined asymmetric channel containing a porous medium with heat transfer is examined. In the presence of rotation, mathematical modeling is developed using constitutive equations based on the model of Sutterby fluid. In flow analysis, assumptions such as long wavelength approximation and low Reynolds number are used. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equation was analytically solved using the perturbation method. The effects of the Grashof number, the Hartmann number, the Reynold number, the Froude number, the Hall parameter, the Darcy …

Biosynthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles By Using Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Extracts, Hawazen H. Salih

Baghdad Science Journal

Due to its availability, affordability, effectiveness, and low cost, the green-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles by plants is gaining popularity. It is safe to handle and has a wide range of metabolites, including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The production of AgNPs was established in this work utilizing aqueous and methanolic extracts of fresh Camellia sinensis leaves that reduced silver nitrate. This process enabled the creation of NPs, which were then characterized using a range of analytical techniques including ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Fluorescence Microscopy (AFM), X-ray scattering (XRD), and Zeta potential analyzer. The color of …

Synthesis, Characterization , Thermal Studies And Antioxidant Activities Of Transition Metal Complexes With Azo Dye Ligand, Amnah Mahdi Abdullah, Abbas Ali Salih Al-Hamdani

Baghdad Science Journal

Diazotization reaction between 1-(2,4,6-Trihydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone and diazonium salts was carried out resulting in ligand 4-(3-Acetyl-2,4,6-trihydroxy-phenylazo)-N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, this in turn reacted with the next metal ions (V4+ , Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+) forming stable complexes with unique geometries such as (Octahedral for both Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+ ,squar pyramidal for V4+). The creation of such complexes was detected by employing spectroscopic means involving ultraviolet-visible which proved the obtained geometries, fourier transfer proved the formation of azo group and and the coordination with metal ion through it. Pyrolysis (TGA & DSC) studies proved the coordination of water residues with metal ions inside …

On Partition Dimension And Domination Of Abid-Waheed 〖(Aw)〗_R^4 Graph, Jalal Hatem Hussein Bayati, Abid Mahboob, Muhammad Waheed Rasheed, Dur E Najaf

Baghdad Science Journal

A graph denoted by H, which has a simple link between its vertices, possesses the set of vertices V(H) . Given a graph, a set that is dominant, is a subset of vertex set such that any vertex outside of is close to at least one vertex inside of . The smallest size of for the dominating set is known as the graph’s domination number. When a linked graph H has a vertex x and a subset of the vertex set, the separation between x and S is given by. Pertaining to an ordered k-partition of , the illustration of …

Green Synthesis Of Manganese Dioxide Nanoparticles And Its Biological, Sabeeha K. Shanshool, Zainab J. Shanan

Baghdad Science Journal

The goal of this research is to prepare Manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles from plant extracts (Puncia granatum L peel, Artemsiai herba-alba Asso, Matricaria chamomilla L, and Camellia sinensis) and test their antibacterial activity. To evaluate the presence of phytochemicals in plant extracts, were used UV-Visible spectrophotometer analysis (UV– Vis), Zeta potential (ZP), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The production of MnO2 nanoparticles by plant extracts was shown to have distinctive features. The average crystallite size of manufactured MnO2 NPs was calculated to be between 14.22-21.0 nm, with zeta potential values -23.6, -20.04, -25.6, -16.7 mV, respectively. Manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) …

Synthesis, Spectroscopy And Biological Activity Study Of Some New Complexes With Schiff Base Derived From Malonic Acid Dihydrazide With 2-Pyridine Crboxaldehyde, Rehab Ghalib Hammoda, Naser Shaalan

Baghdad Science Journal

From synthesized novel ligand (L) made of Malonic acid dihydrazide and 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde, new complexes have been created. Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes were created as a result. FT-IR, UV-Vis, Mass, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, C.H.N., Chloride-containing, Molar Conductance, Magnetic Susceptibility, and Atomic Absorption have all been used to identify these compounds. For each Nickel, Copper, and Zinc complexes the characterization findings revealed complexes with hexadentate octahedral coordination geometry and tetradentate ligand. Two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtitles) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, as well as candida fungus, were evaluated for the biological activities of the novel …