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Blood Group Profile Of Türkiye With Regional And Demographic Differences: A 23-Year Retrospective Study, Levent Sağdur, Azi̇z Karaca, Mustafa Nuri̇ Günçikan, Mustafa Yilmaz, Kerem Kinik

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: This study aims to comprehensively analyze the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups, as well as demographic characteristics and regional variations, using data from 9.5 million blood donors across Türkiye.

Materials and methods: In this multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study, data were collected from 9,587,592 healthy, voluntary donors who donated to the Turkish Red Crescent between 1998 and 2021. Donors met the criteria of being 18–70 years old, weighing over 50 kg, with hemoglobin levels above 13.5 g/dL for male and 12.5 g/dL for female. The data were evaluated based on age, gender, education level, and geographic region.

Results: …

Metabolic And Genotypic Characterization Of Meropenem Susceptible And Resistant Serratia Marcescens Isolates, Şeyma Ni̇gi̇z, Gülşen Hazirolan, Gülşen Altinkanat Gelmez, Ceren Özkul Koçak, Engi̇n Koçak, Sevi̇lay Erdoğan Kablan, Emi̇rhan Nemutlu, Aycan Gündoğdu, Fatma Bayrakdar, Ufuk Hasdemi̇r, Deni̇z Gür

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Serratia marcescens which is a nosocomial pathogen, is naturally resistant to a wide spectrum of antibiotics, which makes the management of infections difficult. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibilities of S. marcescens to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, meropenem, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and to compare the metabolic profiles of meropenemresistant isolates under basal conditions and after exposure to sublethal concentrations of meropenem.

Materials and methods: A total of 84 S. marcescens isolates were included from various samples. Genes for meropenem resistance were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genetic similarities among isolates of S. marcescens were …

An Examination Of The Purity Culture Beliefs Scale And The Interaction Of Religiosity, Purity Culture Beliefs, And Pornography Use In A Census-Matched United States Sample, Kaelyn R. Griffin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The impacts of purity culture have been documented in the prevalence of abstinence-only sex education, perception of personal value tied to virginity, and shame and guilt related to sexual behavior. Similarly, models of moral incongruence often examine religiosity as a contributor of distress related to sexual behavior and pornography use, likely tapping into the influence of purity culture without directly naming its presence. This distinction is crucial due to the variety of religious beliefs and practices, some including purity culture and those without sexually restrictive beliefs and practices. Despite this, standardized measures for researching purity culture are limited. Ortiz (2018) …

Claudin-1-Mediated Signaling And Therapy Resistance In Colorectal Cancer: From Mechanism To Translation, Mark W. Primeaux

Theses & Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with metastatic cases showing poor response to chemotherapy due to both intrinsic and acquired therapy resistance. Claudin-1 (CLDN1), a tight junction protein, is overexpressed and mislocalized outside of tight junctions in CRC, where it contributes to an aggressive, metastatic phenotype. Although this causal relationship has been well established, the mechanisms by which CLDN1 promotes tumor progression were unclear due to its lack of intrinsic enzymatic activity. This dissertation investigates the molecular mechanisms through which CLDN1 drives oncogenic signaling, its role in therapy resistance, and its translational potential as both a …

Study Of Peptide Amphiphiles As Antimicrobial Agents, Aramis J. Pereira

Theses & Dissertations

The global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis presents a severe public health threat, with drug-resistant infections now the third leading cause of mortality worldwide. This escalating problem, driven by the rapid proliferation of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) like the "ESKAPE" pathogens, severely limits treatment options and imposes substantial economic burdens. The crisis is further exacerbated by a limited pipeline of new antimicrobial agents, as most recently approved drugs are modifications of existing classes rather than novel compounds. Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) offer a promising alternative due to their membrane-targeting mechanism, which reduces the likelihood of resistance development. These molecules are amphiphilic and positively …

Transcriptomic And Epigenomic Profiling Of Immune Cells Responses To Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection In The Brain, Xiaoke Xu

Theses & Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an enveloped retrovirus that significantly impairs the human immune system. A common complication of HIV-1 infection is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), which, prior to the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), led to considerable morbidity and mortality due to untreated neuropsychiatric manifestations. Although ART has substantially reduced the incidence of HIV-associated dementia (HAD), approximately 50% of people living with HIV (PLWH) continue to experience milder forms of HAND. The CNS is seeded by HIV during the acute phase of infection. Once in the brain, HIV targets and activates resident immune cells, primarily microglia and …

Evaluating Current Practices In Operative Nontechnical Skills Training And Feedback In General Surgery Residency: A Mixed Methods Approach, Madeline Cloonan

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Non-technical skills (NTS) are the interpersonal and cognitive abilities that are critical to accomplishing high-risk tasks. Deficiencies in NTS, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making, are linked to errors in the operating room. Structured training and feedback in NTS remain inconsistent and have not been integrated into daily training. This dissertation addresses this gap by evaluating current NTS training and feedback practices and developing a rubric to enhance the effectiveness of NTS feedback.

Methods: We conducted five complementary studies to assess current NTS training and feedback. The first was a systematic review aimed at identifying intraoperative NTS training interventions …

Analyzing Food Access: An Investigation Of Food Insecurity Amongst Latinos In Rural Nebraska, Natalia Santos

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Food insecurity is a public health issue in the United States, with disproportionately higher rates among Latino/Hispanic households. Rural communities face unique geographical, socioeconomic, and systemic barriers that often exacerbate food access disparities. Despite the growing Latino population in rural areas, particularly in Midwestern states like Nebraska, there remains a critical gap in comprehensive research that integrates both objective and subjective understandings of their food environments. Understanding these multifaceted influences is crucial for developing effective, culturally sensitive interventions.

Problem Statement: This dissertation aims to answer the central question: How does food access and food insecurity manifest amongst Latinos in …

Bridging Data Gaps And Forecasting Challenges In Water Quality Monitoring Using Deep Learning, Rohan Gudla

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Reliable water quality monitoring is critical for protecting public health and enabling sustainable environmental management. However, high rates of missing data often exceed 40% due to sensor failures and operational disruptions severely undermine the utility of environmental monitoring systems. To address this challenge, this thesis presents a three-stage deep learning framework designed to enhance the accuracy and resilience of water quality forecasting. First, a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory model with Attention and Autoencoder Modules (BiLSTM-AAM) is introduced to impute long, irregular gaps in multivariate time series. Applied to real-world data from the St. Lucie River Basin, the model achieved a …

Enhancing Intelligent Transportation Systems: Scalability, Emulation, And Applications Of V2x Communication For Connected And Autonomous Vehicles, Ghayoor Shah

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The integration of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication is a key advancement for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), enhancing the safety, efficiency, and intelligence of modern Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). While Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) rely heavily on onboard sensor data for situational awareness, they remain limited in non-line-of-sight scenarios, which can lead to critical driver errors and accidents. V2X communication extends this awareness by enabling real-time exchange of information beyond sensor range, improving decision-making and reducing collisions.

Two primary V2X technologies are Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) and Cellular-V2X (C-V2X). While DSRC, based on IEEE 802.11p, was initially prominent in research, C-V2X, standardized …

"Please Hold Space For Them": The Role Of Mental Health Professionals In Supporting Bipoc Female Survivors Of Campus Sexual Assault, Brianna Josefine Ortega

Doctoral Dissertations

Campus sexual assault (CSA) remains a pervasive issue in the United States, disproportionately affecting women. Despite this, the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC) women are often underrepresented in the literature, limiting understanding of how best to support them. Based on intersectionality theory, this qualitative study explores how mental health professionals (MHPs) support BIPOC female survivors of CSA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six MHPs, and a thematic analysis framework uncovered seven key themes: disclosure (subtheme: barriers to disclosure), impacts of campus culture, fear and distrust, impact of campus sexual assault, coping, resources available for survivors, …

American Muslim Women’S Experiences With Pregnancy And Childbirth In The United States Healthcare System, Salema Mohamed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Muslim women adhere to specific religious beliefs and practices, which can inform their healthcare decisions and requirements during pregnancy and childbirth. Despite an increase in the Muslim population in the U.S., there is currently limited research on Muslim women's maternity care and experiences. To address the gaps in knowledge, this study explored Muslim women’s experiences with pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S. Data consists of interviews from 20 Muslim women who had pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S. A thematic analysis was used to analyze and report the findings. The findings revealed that modesty was a significant concern during pregnancy …

“Rights Not Rescue”: How Stigma Influences Harmful Legislation Toward Sex Workers In The Deep South, Abigail Mckenzie Conover

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In the United States, while prostitution or sex work is not explicitly illegal at a federal level, certain characteristics have been criminalized, mainly in indirect ways. This is significant when considering the different ways that sex work is regarded (both positively and negatively) at an institutional level. The current study examines the potential correlation between structural/institutional stigma regarding sex work/sex workers and legislation meant to directly or indirectly harm sex workers. The overall goal of this research was to answer the following question: How does structural/institutional stigma against sex workers present itself in legislation? To accomplish this, I conducted a …

Shear Strength Test Of Uhpc-Nc Bonding Surface, Zhang Shichang, Yan Donghuang, Liu Yun, Yuan Sheng, Wang Shuo

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

As a cement-based composite material with excellent mechanical properties,ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC ) demonstrates outstanding performance in tensile and compressive strength,durability,and impermeability.This material is suitable for the reinforcement and repair of normal concrete (NC) bridge structures.To study the shear behavior of the UHPC-NC bonding interface and its reinforcement effect,this paper conducted interface shear tests using Z-shaped specimens and designed a total of six sets of comparative specimens.The influence of parameters such as the planted bar ratio,implantation depth,and bonding surface size on the shear strength was explored.Through experiments,the load –slip curve and the shear strength data were obtained.The results show that:① …

Beyond The Bruise: Understanding Injury Risk Factors Among Livestock Workers In Cattle Feedyards And Animal Handling Farms And Ranches, Rishad Ahmed

Theses & Dissertations

Cattle feeding and livestock production are central to U.S. agriculture and represent some of the most hazardous occupational environments. Workers in feedyards and on cattle farms and ranches face elevated risks of injury due to physically demanding labor, frequent animal handling, and exposure to environmental and ergonomic hazards. Many feedyard workers are Hispanic/Latino immigrants who may experience additional barriers related to language, healthcare access, and job security. Similarly, injury risks among cattle producers are compounded by seasonal workload fluctuations, limited rest opportunities, and psychosocial stressors. Beyond individual impacts, agricultural injuries also pose a substantial economic burden. Recent estimates indicate that …

A Comparative Subnational Policy Analysis Of State Covid-19 Vaccine Policies And Application Of The Political Determinants Of Health Model, Demetrius Cianci Chapman

Nursing ETDs

A COMPARATIVE SUBNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS OF STATE COVID-19 VACCINE POLICIES AND APPLICATION OF THE POLITICAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH MODEL

By

Demetrius Cianci Chapman

Associate of Science Nursing, Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health, 1998

Bachelor of Science of Nursing, Saint Louis University, 2000

Master of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 2004

Master of Science Nursing (Research), Saint Louis University, 2004

Doctor of Philosophy, Nursing, University of New Mexico, 2025

ABSTRACT

This study uses the political determinants of health (PDoH) framework to analyze state-level COVID-19 vaccine policies and their impact on population health. The PDoH model examines how structured …

Diverse Cell Types Establish A Pathogenic Immune Environment In Peripheral Neuropathy, Julie Choi

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Neuroinflammation plays a complex and context-dependent role in many neurodegenerative diseases. We identified a key pathogenic function of macrophages in a mouse model of a rare human congenital neuropathy in which SARM1, the central executioner of axon degeneration, is activated by hypomorphic mutations in the axon survival factor NMNAT2. Macrophage depletion blocked and reversed neuropathic phenotypes in this sarmopathy model, revealing SARM1-dependent neuroimmune mechanisms as key drivers of disease pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the impact of chronic subacute SARM1 activation on the peripheral nerve milieu using single cell/nucleus RNA-sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq). Our analyses reveal an expansion of immune cells …

Reflections Of Chinese International Postgraduates’ Conceptualisation Of Critical Thinking In A Uk University, Luman Zhou

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Some literature often highlights Chinese international students’ challenges in conceptualising critical thinking, contributing to a partial and stereotypical representation of them as deficient (Lomer & Mittelmeier, 2021; Moosavi, 2022). There is limited research on how Chinese international students conceptualise and develop their CT over time. The study aims to explore Chinese international students’ conceptualisation, development, and application of critical thinking at the master’s level at a UK university over time. Nineteen participants in the MA International Education program at a UK university are taken as an example. The participants are interviewed in three rounds, using their drawings and draft assignments …

Msw Portfolio, Jennifer Lynn Barnhill

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The Master of Social Work (MSW) Portfolio is a sample of the essays, presentations, projects, and experiences completed as part of my online MSW curriculum at the University of Montana (UM) School of Social Work (SSW) from 2022-2025. Throughout this narrative, I’ll describe the skills, values, theories, and frameworks I’ve learned during my three years working toward my master's degree in social work. Each of the appendices will demonstrate an understanding of the nine Council on Social Work Education, or CSWE, competencies (Texas College, n.d.) that all social workers are expected to meet, along with a tenth competency added by …

Msw Portfolio 2025, Lacie R. Ranieri

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

MSW Portfolio - 2025

Assessing The Impact Of Cdbg And Home Block Grants On Housing Affordability In The Las Vegas–Henderson–Paradise Metropolitan Statistical Area, David Hasan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation aimed to analyze the impacts of aggregated federal funding from the CDBG and HOME block grants on temporal changes in the Housing Affordability Index (HAI Change). The temporal change in Housing Affordability between 2011–2015 and 2016–2020 was constructed as the dependent variable to measure the direct and indirect impacts of CDBG/HOME funding. Therefore, this dissertation seeks to identify the impacts of aggregated funding on changes in housing affordability and to explore spatial spillover effects through spatial dependencies that may influence housing affordability change as a dependent variable. The geographical area of this study is the Las Vegas–Henderson–Paradise MSA, …

Cnn's Portrayal Of The Build Back Better Act, Alexander J. Toj-Moody

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of CNNs representation of the Build Back Better Act and its failure to pass senate reconciliation during the fall of 2021. The Build Back Better Act was a piece of legislation that intended to fix America’s social infrastructure, such as investing in education, the environment, expanded healthcare, etc. The bill ultimately failed and its replacement, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, cut numerous benefits that were proposed within the Build Back Better Act. Examination of broadcast transcripts during this period of time find an operationally liberal framing, though the focus …

Limitations Support Learning: A Design Based Study Of Ethically Scaffolded Generative Ai Tools For Long Form Argumentation And Metacognition, Lindsay Konradt

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This design‑based research study implemented and refined an instructional model that used generative AI (GAI) tools within a nine‑week AP Capstone Seminar argumentation unit. The model combined teacher feedback and modeling, structured reflection tasks (including AI‑assisted reflection), AI assisted editing, AI-assisted literature searches, and counterargument support using restricted chatbots. During the nine week period, responsibility for feedback moved from teacher and AI supported scaffolding to student driven writing practice and revision. Data collection focus on four advanced high school students at a Florida public high school, including multiple drafts, GAI input and output logs, reflections, and pre‑ and post‑unit semi‑structured …

Student-Athlete Vs Athlete-Student: Differences In Athletic Retirement Expectations, Terrie L. Bradshaw

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological Dissertation in Practice was to define the terms student-athletes and athlete-student by discovering any differences in non-cognitive variables between the two groups. Additionally, this study attempted to identify any differences in career transition expectations between student-athletes and athlete-students. Thirteen NCAA athletes from various universities across the United States were included. With the use of one-on-one semi structured interviews, five themes emerged. The themes that emerged were 1) Both types of athletes attend college for different reasons. 2) Differences in level of commitment. 3) Both types of athletes strive for academic success. 4) Different expectations …

A Case Study Of Grades 3-4 English Language Arts Teachers' Interpretations Of Educational Policy And Their Pedagogical Choices In Literacy Instruction, Priscilla Develder

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how elementary school teachers in a Florida public school district made sense of Florida’s House Bill 1467: K-12 Education (HB 1467) and how their interpretations shaped their reading and writing pedagogy. Guided by Karl Weick’s (1995) Sensemaking Theory as a theoretical lens for understanding these interpretations, the study examined how teachers navigated the complexities of policy implementation within the context of their daily classroom experiences. Participants included six third- and fourth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) teachers from four elementary schools within a Florida public school district. Data was collected …

Emojis As Text Technology: Between Visual Paradigm And Cultural Revolution, Hanan Hafiz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Emojis, as a broader communication phenomenon, have gained widespread usage, significant adaptation, and considerable academic attention due to their role in providing semiotic cues and online gestures within computer-mediated communication. This study aims to trace their development and evolution using the text technologies framework. This approach examines the systematic use of emojis, with particular emphasis on their extensive evolution by historically contextualizing their usage, trends, and cultural interactions. Anchored in this conceptual approach, the study draws on the taxonomy of text technology developed by Treharne and Willan, analyzing the evolution of emojis through four key dimensions: intentionality, materiality, functionality, and …

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Butte Hill Revegetation Specifications, Mike Mcanulty, Eric Hassler

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Techno-Enviro-Economic Approach For Electrification Of Rural And Shrimp Farming Regional Development Of An Isolated Island In Indonesia By Utilizing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems, Fiqih Akbar Wijaya, Mohammad Akita Indianto

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

One of the challenges in developing and archipelagic countries such as Indonesia is maintaining energy demand in rural and isolated areas due to difficulties in electrical distribution. For instance, in areas like Bawean Island, no additional electricity capacity has been introduced in the past year, leading to an unmet potential customer demand. One of the possible options is by utilizing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) that are integrated with existing fossil fuel-based energy systems to support the growing energy demand in the remote island. A case study in Bawean Island is conducted with the projected energy demand covers the energy …

Fire And Explosion Hazard Risk Analysis Of Fuel Transfer Activities At Fuel Terminal “X” Utilizing The Quantitative Risk Analysis (Qra) Method, Angga Wahyu Sulistyawan, Yuliusman Yuliusman

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Fuel transfer operations at Fuel Terminal ‘X’ constitute a critical stage in the energy supply chain, where complex interactions among human, technical, and environmental factors generate inherent risks of fire and explosion. The flammable nature of fuel oil, coupled with the possibility of vapor or liquid releases outcoming by tool failures, connection leaks, or control system malfunctions, underscores the need for robust and proactive risk management strategies. This study aims to evaluate and mitigate these risks by applying Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA). The assessment utilized the Parts Count method to foercast generic component failure rates and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) …

A Comprehensive Study On The Use Of Sub-Coherent Self Heterodyne Linewidth Estimations, Genevieve Gutierrez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A fundamental requirement for many precision spectroscopic applications is the development of stable lasers with narrow linewidths. However, accurately verifying laser linewidths becomes increasingly challenging as the linewidth decreases. In the field of frequency metrology, the delayed self-heterodyne technique has long been regarded as one of the most reliable and accessible methods for linewidth characterization, favored for its low equipment cost and reproducible results. Traditionally, self-heterodyne measurements employ an optical delay line significantly longer than the coherence length of the laser, with analysis performed via either the instantaneous power spectral density or the noise power spectral density. However, the use …