Digital Commons Network^™

A Review Of The Literature On The Utilization Of Stem Cells In Knee Osteoarthritis, Katrina Krist

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: This literature review evaluates the utilization of various types of stem cells in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Purpose: To assess the different types of stem cell therapy available in an attempt to determine its effectiveness and viability as a long term therapy option.

Methods: Articles were found by searching Augsburg Library Services, Google Scholar, and PubMed for recent, original studies using both allogeneic or autologous stem cells from a variety of cell lines including bone marrow and adipose tissue.

Conclusions: The utilization of stem cells as a viable treatment option for osteoarthritis shows improvement in pain management and return …

Attraction Is Altered Via Modulation Of The Medial Prefrontal Cortex Without Explicit Knowledge, Samantha Zorns, Claudia Sierzputowski, Sydney Ash, Molly Skowron, Anthony Minervini, Adriana Lavarco, Matthew Pardillo, Julian Paul Keenan

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Previous studies have demonstrated that brain stimulation can alter an individual's physical appearance via dysregulation of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). In this study, we attempted to determine if individuals who receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered to the MPFC were rated as more attractive by others. It has been previously reported that 1 hertz (Hz) (inhibitory) TMS can alter one's facial expressions such that frontal cortex inhibition can increase expressiveness. These alterations, detected by external observation, remain below the level of awareness of the subject itself. In Phase I, subjects (N = 10) received MPFC rTMS and had …

The Lived Experiences Of Clinical Staff Nurses Who Provide Care For Transgender Patients In Florida, Twanna L. Crockam

Dissertations

Historically, transgender patients have experienced challenging interactions with healthcare providers. As a result, many transgender patients refuse to seek medical attention for a broad spectrum of healthcare needs. Although the transgender population has gained attention, a lack of research exists of clinical staff nurses' lived experiences providing care for transgender patients.

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry was to uncover and understand the experiences of clinical staff nurses when providing care for transgender patients in Florida. The research question was this: "What is the lived experience of clinical staff nurses who provide care for transgender patients in Florida?"

El Corrido De La Redada De Los “41 Maricones”: Decolonizing El Porfiriato And Its Queer Signifier, Lucas Espinoza, Rosalva Resendiz, Luis E. Espinoza

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to critically examine the story of the number 41 as a queer signifier in Mexican culture from a decolonial perspective, taking into account archival records in the development of hegemonic masculinity in the 20th century. An examination of hegemonic masculinity and homophobia of early 20th century Mexico is provided by reviewing colonial accounts of indigenous sexuality, as well as uncovering the hidden stories of the corrido/ballad of El Baile de los 41 Maricones. The corrido was used as satire to ridicule the homosexual practices by the bourgeoisie, creating a rift between social classes, and …

Commonly Missed Miscellaneous Ligament Injuries Co-Occurring With Acl Tears On Diagnostic Imaging, Katherine Quesada-Tibbetts, Kian Huang, Mafaz Kattih, Albert Brotgandel, Neelesh Prakash

Radiology Student Publications

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries greatly affect patient quality of life, necessitating the early identification of additional injuries for faster recovery and appropriate surgical care. Although injuries to the medial meniscus and medial collateral ligament are commonly linked with ACL injuries, there is less awareness of other significant but less recognized ligament lesions in ACL-deficient patients. These less-common injuries include meniscal ramp lesions and meniscal root tears. Research indicates that concomitant ramp lesions are present in 15%-42% of ACL reconstructions, lateral meniscal root tears in 10%-14%, and medial meniscal root tears in a mere 3%. Despite their lower incidence, meniscal …

Alison George V. Rushmore Service Center Llc

2024 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Ronald Stockton V. Thomas Mcginley

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Gerald Bush V. Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Michael Keeling V. John Wetzel

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Matthew Barlow V. Raymond Hour : Brief Of Appellant, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

On appeal from the Third Judicial District Court, Salt Lake County, Honorable Coral Sanchez, District Court No. 170900003

Benjamin S. Ruesch Tony G. Jones RUESCH & REEVE, PLLC Counsel for Appellee

Jeffrey T. Colemere (8527) COLEMERE GIBBS, PLLC Tamara J. Hauge (4334) SMART, SCHOFIELD, SHORTER PC Emily Adams (14937) THE APPELLATE GROUP Counsel for Appellant

Pediatric Glioma Immune Profiling Identifies Tim3 As A Therapeutic Target In Braf Fusion Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Sebastian Pacheco, Ruochen Du, Moloud Sooreshjani, Lisa Hurley, James P Chandler, Roger Stupp, Adam M Sonabend, Craig M Horbinski, Rimas V Lukas, Joanne Xiu, Giselle Lopez, Theodore P Nicolaides, Valerie Brown, Nitin R Wadhwani, Sandi K Lam, Charles David James, Ganesh Rao, Maria G Castro, Amy B Heimberger, Michael Decuypere

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite being the leading cause of cancer-related childhood mortality, pediatric gliomas have been relatively understudied, and the repurposing of immunotherapies has not been successful. Whole-transcriptome sequencing, single-cell sequencing, and sequential multiplex immunofluorescence were used to identify an immunotherapeutic strategy that could be applied to multiple preclinical glioma models. MAPK-driven pediatric gliomas have a higher IFN signature relative to other molecular subgroups. Single-cell sequencing identified an activated and cytotoxic microglia (MG) population designated MG-Act in BRAF-fused, MAPK-activated pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), but not in high-grade gliomas or normal brain. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3) was expressed on MG-Act and …

An Examination Of Depressive Symptoms Of African Americans As A Part Of A Complex System, Jenna Kilgore

Theses and Dissertations

Symptoms associated with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have become a source of distress and disability throughout the world, and MDD is among the most common disorders diagnosed annually in the United States. Despite this growing epidemic, scientists and practitioners continue to conceptualize MDD using a common-cause model, which suggests MDD is a result of a latent depression entity that gives rise to symptoms. This is particularly problematic in African American populations where some symptoms associated with depression (i.e., irritability and pain or numbness in the body) are different than those listed in the DSM. The current study examined depressive symptoms …

Impacts Of Quality On Cotton Hedging And Basis, Jacob Epperson

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this study is to analyze the effects cotton quality has on hedging and basis movements within the cotton market to help market participants minimize price risk. The effectiveness of using cotton futures in hedging price risk will be determined by calculating optimal hedge ratios by tenderable quality. Hedge ratios will be calculated using simple differences and error correction models (ECM) on overlapping price data, estimated under both generalized least squares (GLS) and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). An empirical analysis shows that as cotton quality improves, the optimal hedge ratio decreases. ECMs estimated under GLS are found …

Mississippi Mud: Race, Agriculture, And Disharmony In The Era Of Civil Rights, Kymara D. Sneed

Theses and Dissertations

Federal interference in the battle for states’ rights in Mississippi during the 1950s and 60s birthed a civil rights movement that made the Department of Agriculture its main opposition. Alongside state-sanctioned organizations like the Citizens’ Council and the Sovereignty Commission, the USDA used their resources to deter civil rights groups, black farmers, and black agents alike from protesting against segregationist policies. Mississippi Mud uses agriculture as a lens to illustrate how the USDA’s refusal to denounce Jim Crow, especially after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, led to black farmers and extension agents pursuing legal action against the …

Windows Into Changing Landscapes: Bioarchaeological And Geophysical Analysis Of The Grenada Yellow Fever Cemetery, M. Kathryn Mckenna

Theses and Dissertations

This project focuses on the Yellow Fever Cemetery of Grenada, Mississippi through geophysical and biological methods. A ground penetrating radar survey was conducted to investigate the landscape and burial patterns in relation to the use of the cemetery throughout high periods of mortality such as a yellow fever epidemic. Additionally, biological methods were used in the analysis of an individual recovered as part of a salvage archaeology event from the cemetery. The multifaceted approach aims to uncover more about the cemetery, landscape, and community as it has changed over time with the influence of extreme events such as the yellow …

International Student-Athletes' Agency, Authorship, And Voice At U.S. Higher Education Institutions, Malia Nicole Schimminger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, case study research project is to explore international student-athletes’ experiences at U.S. higher education institutions, probing how well nonimmigrant visa holders are prepared for postgraduate success through their college experiences. Six collaborators engaged in photo elicitation interviews to provide insight into how they have navigated their international student identity and student-athlete identity. Collaborators each shared 10-15 media files representative of their experiences, and then they engaged in 90-minute interviews to talk about what their selections meant to them and why they were significant. The frameworks of agency, self-authorship, and voice were used to gauge how …

The Impact Of Eye-Tracking Features On Hazard Identification Skill Assessment: An Approach Based On Machine Learning And Virtual Reality, Mohammad Nafe Assafi

Theses and Dissertations

Identifying construction hazards is a safety priority. Eye-tracking features have been used in prevalent research to assess hazard identification skills. However, confusion exists over their effectiveness due to certain features being more common. To address this gap, a machine learning-based approach is suggested to identify the most effective eye-tracking features for assessing hazard identification skills, thereby improving workplace safety. Four hazard types and eleven eye-tracking features were identified; accordingly, eighteen strategies were developed using these features. Support vector machines (SVM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) models were developed to assess these strategies. Virtual reality was used for the data collection. …

The Impact Of Economic And Social Factors On New Venture Creation In Saudi Arabia, Nawaf Alharbi

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the factors influencing entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, focusing on economic, social, and cultural aspects. Three hypotheses guide the study: 1) Economic factors. 2) The social environment. 3) There is a positive relationship between prior and subsequent venture creation. Using panel data from 13 regions between 2008 and 2022, findings show that positive economic changes, higher income per capita, lower unemployment, and higher business density significantly boost new venture creation. Access to finance and prior venture creation also positively influence subsequent entrepreneurial activities. However, a higher proportion of foreign workers and marriage rates negatively correlate with new venture …

Foodways And Socioeconomic Complexities In Early Iron Age Of Bara, Old Oyo, Nigeria (Ca. 490 B.C. To A.D. 40), Racheal Bolakale Oyundoyin

Theses and Dissertations

The Early Iron Age period has been underexplored in the archaeology of West Africa, particularly Nigeria. Also, there is a lack of research and knowledge on organic residue analysis in Nigeria, particularly in the southwestern region of the country, despite the fact that other studies on archaeobotany and paleoenvironmental studies are well established. To address this gap, lipid analysis was conducted on 10 vessels from the Early Iron Age (490 B.C. to A.D. 40) site BSM6 in Bara, Old Oyo, Nigeria. The analysis revealed the plant and animal materials consumed by the Early Iron Age community. These findings provide vital …

The Conservation Of Brain Folding Mechanics, Amber Cook

Theses and Dissertations

The pattern and complexity of cerebellar folding varies across vertebrates. However, little is known about how the tissue-level mechanics are adjusted to create species-specific folding patterns. Here, we utilize a variety of species with differences in cerebellar folding amount to investigate two tissue-level mechanics known to affect folding—differential expansion and outer layer thickness. We found that the level of differential expansion between the outer and inner layers of the cerebellum broadly correlates with folding amount and that the thickness of the outer layer is important as thicker outer layers require more differential expansion to fold. Additionally, we find that both …

Examination Of The Impact Of Discriminatory Legislation On Gender Minority Stress And Suicide Desire And Intent In Gender Minority Adults, Ashley R. Pate

Theses and Dissertations

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempt rates are far higher among gender minority individuals than in the general population. In the wake of an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being proposed and passed in 2023 in the United States, this study sought to examine the impact of this legislation on gender minority stress and suicidal desire and intent among gender minority adults. Results indicated that anxiety about the legislation was associated with the desire to die, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and the likelihood of attempting suicide in the future. The perceived impact of the legislation was associated with intent to die …

Forest Management In Changing Landscapes: Evaluating Hurricane Damage And Salvage Market Dynamics, Ian Pereira Sartorio

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation comprises three interrelated studies exploring the effects of hurricanes on forestlands and the optimization of salvage logging practices. The first study examines land cover changes and salvage logging patterns following Hurricane Michael. It utilizes predictive models to identify key drivers of these changes, exploring the relative influence of storm intensity, forest vulnerability, and economic/operational factors. The second study builds upon these findings, focusing on the agent attribution for land cover change observations leveraging advanced remote sensing tools and relevant spatial data. By distinguishing between wind damage and salvage logging activities, it advances the understanding of post-hurricane land cover …

Zno Based Chemiresistive Sensor For Ammonia Detection, Anna Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This work aims on the development of nanostructured sensing elements based on ZnO for detecting ammonia, specifically designed for applications in poultry and farm fields. To achieve this objective, we prepared sensing elements, including ZnO, CuO, WO3, NiO, ZnO/CuO, ZnO/WO3, ZnO/NiO, and rGO/ZnO, using the spray pyrolysis technique. Structural, morphological, and compositional analyses were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Microscope (FESEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The vapour/gas detection studies of fabricated sensing elements were carried out in a home built sensing chamber.

The single oxides, ZnO, CuO, WO3, demonstrated ammonia detection in the range of 5-100 …

Utilizing Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Models For Pregnancy Nutrition Advice, Taranum Bano, Jagadeesh Vadapalli, Bishwa Karki, Melissa K. Thoene, Matt Vanormer, Ann L. Anderson Berry, Chun-Hua Tsai

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

The importance of nutrition during pregnancy cannot be overstated, as it profoundly impacts maternal and fetal health outcomes. Optimal fetal growth and development are contingent upon adequate nutrition throughout gestation, which in turn requires that expectant mothers possess a high level of nutritional literacy. This latter factor may serve as a valuable predictor of pregnancy outcomes. This paper seeks to leverage the capabilities of a retrieval-augmented large language model to provide personalized prenatal nutrition guidance. We employed Meta’s LLAMA 2 model and integrated an expert-curated dataset of nutrition information. Our evaluation, conducted using ChatGPT-based metrics, revealed that while the augmented …

Design For Pullout Resistance And Global Stability Of Metallic Reinforcements In Mse Walls With Lightweight Cellular Concrete Backfill, Joshua Curt Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) is a type of concrete that has reduced density and weight compared to traditional concrete. This is achieved by incorporating a large amount of air- filled cells or voids into the mixture. The resulting material is lighter, yet still possesses considerable strength and durability, making it suitable for a range of construction applications, especially in the case of retaining walls because of its reduced weight. Unlike traditional concrete, which can be extremely heavy and place significant stress on the supporting structure, lightweight cellular concrete reduces the pressure on the retaining wall, helping to prevent deformation and …

Improving Access To Care For Uninsured Patients In Texas Outpatient Clinics: Achieving Patient-Centered Care, Stephanie Ann Greenwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uninsured patients encounter major barriers to accessing healthcare, leading to delayed or missed medical care, higher rates of chronic conditions, and increased financial and psychological stress. The purpose of this integrative review study was to examine the factors that affect Texas residents who lack insurance and require access to healthcare services in outpatient community clinics. The review question was used to explore strategies to improve access to healthcare and strengthen patient-centered care for uninsured patients in Texas outpatient health clinics. A thorough integrative review was completed using empirical and nonempirical literature published between 2019 and 2024. The results of the …

Pediatric Glioma Immune Profiling Identifies Tim3 As A Therapeutic Target In Braf Fusion Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Sebastian Pacheco, Ruochen Du, Moloud Sooreshjani, Lisa Hurley, James P Chandler, Roger Stupp, Adam M Sonabend, Craig M Horbinski, Rimas V Lukas, Joanne Xiu, Giselle Lopez, Theodore P Nicolaides, Valerie Brown, Nitin R Wadhwani, Sandi K Lam, Charles David James, Ganesh Rao, Maria G Castro, Amy B Heimberger, Michael Decuypere

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite being the leading cause of cancer-related childhood mortality, pediatric gliomas have been relatively understudied, and the repurposing of immunotherapies has not been successful. Whole-transcriptome sequencing, single-cell sequencing, and sequential multiplex immunofluorescence were used to identify an immunotherapeutic strategy that could be applied to multiple preclinical glioma models. MAPK-driven pediatric gliomas have a higher IFN signature relative to other molecular subgroups. Single-cell sequencing identified an activated and cytotoxic microglia (MG) population designated MG-Act in BRAF-fused, MAPK-activated pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), but not in high-grade gliomas or normal brain. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3) was expressed on MG-Act and …

An Integrated Structural Model Of The Dna Damage-Responsive H3k4me3 Binding Wdr76:Spin1 Complex With The Nucleosome, Xingyu Liu, Yixuan Xie, Benjamin A Garcia, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Serial capture affinity purification (SCAP) is a powerful method to isolate a specific protein complex. When combined with cross-linking mass spectrometry and computational approaches, one can build an integrated structural model of the isolated complex. Here, we applied SCAP to dissect a subpopulation of WDR76 in complex with SPIN1, a histone reader that recognizes trimethylated histone H3 lysine4 (H3K4me3). In contrast to a previous SCAP analysis of the SPIN1:SPINDOC complex, histones and the H3K4me3 mark were enriched with the WDR76:SPIN1 complex. Next, interaction network analysis of copurifying proteins and microscopy analysis revealed a potential role of the WDR76:SPIN1 complex in …

Third-Grade Choctaw Students’ Perceptions Of An In-School Choctaw Language And Culture Program, Amy L. Pauls

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, Indigenous language loss is the result of colonization and deliberate eradication by government policies. Many tribal communities engage in activities to curb language shift, including language reclamation or revitalization to restore the vitality of Indigenous languages. Schools for Indigenous children, once the setting for the destruction of their Indigenous identity and language, have increasingly become the medium for language reclamation. Numerous school-based programs have effectively renewed language use, including those in the Hawaiian, Yup’ik, and Navajo language communities (Holm & Holm, 1995; Wilson & Kamanā, 2011; Wyman et al., 2010). Though school-based programs may increase students’ …

That The Parliament Should Be In Harmony With The Nation: The Whig Party, National Self- Determination, And Parliamentary Reform, 1790-1830, J.D. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Between 1790 and 1830 the Whig party in Britain championed the rights of continental European peoples to determine their governments free of outside interference. The universal right to national self-determination became an important part of their own domestic, partisan effort to oppose the ministries of William Pitt the younger and his acolytes—ministries which they believed were undermining the independency of the House of Commons by allying Britain with the despotic governments of the continent in their war against the French Revolution. By casting the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France as an attack against the right to national self-determination, the …