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Combinatorial Effect Of Epirubicin And 5-Fluorouracil In The Treatment Of Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma Cells, Mehrsa Bayat, Muhli̇s Akman, Türker Kiliç, Ti̇muçi̇n Avşar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain tumor characterized by rapid proliferation and invasiveness. It is associated with a poor prognosis due to acquired resistance to temozolomide (TMZ). In this study, we investigated whether a combination of epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and TMZ could improve TMZ sensitivity in resistant GBM cells and help overcome resistance.Materials and methods: TMZ resistance was established in the U87MG cell line. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. RNA-seq was used to evaluate genomic changes based on treatment with drugs …

Perceived Inadequate Neighborhood Food Shopping And Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, Amier Haidar, Ghadi Ghanem, Rishi Rikhi, Karol E Watson, Shreela V Sharma, Michael D Shapiro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Individuals with access to healthy food have healthier diets, improved cardiometabolic risk profiles, and decreased cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies have focused on the neighborhood food environment as distance to and density of food retailers. Our study examines the association between an individual's perceived adequacy of neighborhood food shopping and incident CVD.

Methods: We analyzed data from 6814 participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), a prospective cohort study of individuals aged 45 to 84 who were enrolled in the study between 2000 and 2002 and followed longitudinally. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for …

The Impact Of Cannabis Use On Pulmonary Function Among Young Adults: A Literature Review, Ava Petersen

Honors Theses

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug among young adults and many of these users perceive cannabis as harmless and do not believe the drug to be addictive. Cannabis is derived from the flower of the hemp plant and contains cannabinoids THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the psychoactive component that interacts with the endocannabinoid system to produce a coveted euphoric state among users. Cannabis can be consumed in an edible or combusted and inhaled via joint, pipe, bong, etc. The purpose of this review is to examine the effects of inhaled cannabis on pulmonary function with a specific …

The Artificial Maintenance Of Relationship Satisfaction: Romantic Ai Companion Usage Sustains Emerging Adults' Human Romantic Relationship Satisfaction While Eroding Relationship Stability, Rebekah M. Hakala

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly sophisticated, romantic AI companions--AI systems designed to simulate romantic, emotional, or sexual relationships--have emerged as a novel relational phenomenon. Nearly one in four emerging adults now engage with romantic AI companions, yet little is known about how this usage affects their romantic human relationships. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory and the Investment Model of Commitment, and employing structural equation modeling, this thesis uses data from 2,431 emerging adults in romantic relationships to examine whether romantic AI companion usage influences relationship satisfaction and relationship stability among emerging adults in the United States (ages 18-30), and whether …

Impacts Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And Novel Soil Amendments On Perennial Grass Establishment In Mineland Soils, Melissa M. Burrell

Theses and Dissertations

Establishing perennial vegetation on mine waste materials is one of the primary challenges in mine land reclamation. Waste rock and mine tailing substrates typically lack the physical structure, nutrient availability, and biological communities necessary to support plant establishment and long-term ecosystem recovery. As a result, revegetation efforts often experience poor seeding success and limited plant persistence despite intensive management efforts. These studies investigated two complementary strategies to improve perennial grass establishment in degraded mine substrates: restoring mycorrhizal associations and enhancing soil function through soil amendments. The first study examined the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in facilitating plant establishment …

Unpacking Jus Ad Bellum Proportionality And Examining Its Relationship With The Jus In Bello In Light Of The Equal Application Principle, Jared Dass

International Law Studies

The jus ad bellum is one of the most important areas of international law, with the prohibition on the use of force forming the cornerstone of the UN Charter. However, a lack of doctrinal clarity, especially regarding the jus ad bellum proportionality principle, undermines its ability to meaningfully regulate the use of force by States in self-defense. There is further lack of understanding as to how the jus ad bellum interacts with the jus in bello, in particular as between the two proportionality principles found in both bodies of law. The orthodox view rejects any such interaction, for fear …

Leadership Strategies To Reduce Burnout Among Physicians In Academic Medical Centers In The State Of California, Navdip Kaur Hothi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physician burnout in academic medical centers remains a persistent healthcare administration challenge, with nearly half of U.S. physicians reporting symptoms of burnout in recent years. The issue threatens workforce sustainability, patient safety, and organizational financial stability, particularly in California’s academic medical centers, were physicians face complex clinical, academic, and operational demands. The integrative review examines leadership strategies that reduce physician burnout in California’s academic medical centers, aiming to lower rates from about 45% to under 30%. Transformational Leadership Theory guided the examination of leadership-driven organizational and system level approaches to burnout reduction. Twenty-seven sources were appraised using the Johns Hopkins …

Psychosocial Characteristics Of North American Male Cannibals, Sheila A. Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal cannibalism is a rare form of violent offending that remains understudied despite public attention. This gap limits understanding of the psychosocial characteristics and life experiences of individuals who engage in cannibalistic behavior. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychosocial characteristics within the life experiences of North American males who engaged in cannibalistic behavior and identify common themes. Grounded in social control theory and self-control theory, the study examined how weakened social bonds and diminished self-regulation may relate to extreme deviance. The guiding research question focused on identifying common psychosocial characteristics within this population. A descriptive phenomenological …

Perceived Bias And Barriers Among Black Women In Professional Leadership, Rochelle Wilhelmina Gilbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black women have long contributed to leadership in academia, government, and the nonprofit sector, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles in higher education. When Black women are missing from leadership, institutions lose out on talent, students lose out on representation, and society loses out on the full range of perspectives needed to solve complex problems. Grounded in Black Feminist Thought, this general qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of bias and barriers among Black women serving in leadership roles at the dean level and above in higher education. Data were collected through structured interviews with seven …

Awareness, Protest, And Action: Women Science-Fiction Writers As Writer Activists, Carolyn Nolte

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Following the end of World War II, science-fiction literature, which was mostly dominated by white male writers, experienced an increase in stories written by women writers. Of these postwar stories written by women, the three women writers in this dissertation imagined how their present-day experiences informed the future by exploring their concerns about humanity’s collective trajectory. By analyzing how their stories dramatize possible future social, psychological, biological, and environmental harms, this dissertation argues that these women writers’ works distinguish them as writer-activists, a concept I borrow from Rob Nixon’s work Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor.

I …

There Is Strength In Numbers: The Case For Another Model Of Cardiometabolic Hfpef, Sadia Ashraf, Hunter A Hidalgo, Romain Harmancey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Modifies The Effectiveness Of Catheter Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation: Post Hoc Analysis Of The Cabana Trial, Matthew W Segar, Kaleb D Lambeth, Brett Doliner, Joshua R Hirsch, Abdi Rasekh, Mehdi Razavi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

The Impact Paradox: Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of National Institute Of Health And Care Research Funding For Intellectual Disability Research In The Uk, Rohit Shankar, Richard Laugharne, Sarah Lennard, Samuel Tromans, Nathan Goddard, Madeline Dale, Ruth Bishop, Nathan Johnson, Maxine Hough

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundPeople with intellectual disability experience substantialhealth inequities, including higher multimorbidity, increasedhealthcare utilisation and markedly reduced life expectancy.High-quality research is essential to address these disparities.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)funded Research Delivery Network provides the infrastructure/expertise/support needed to deliver NIHR-funded studies, andsupports studies funded by a non-commercial/industry partner. However, the effectiveness of NIHR-funded studies versusthose supported in driving impactful intellectual disabilityresearch remains unclear.AimsTo evaluate and compare the outcomes of NIHR-funded andsupported intellectual disability research.MethodAll NIHR studies (funded/supported) relating to intellectualdisability (2010–2020) were identified through systematicregister searches. Primary outcomes included publicationrates and impact on local, national and international clinicalguidelines. …

Designing Next-Generation Cardiometabolic Outcome Trials For Obesity Medicines, Elke Platz, Alexander Peikert, Biykem Bozkurt, Bart Van Der Schueren, Javed Butler, Ildiko Lingvay, Darren K Mcguire, Faiez Zannad, Naveed Sattar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The prevalence of obesity has reached pandemic proportions and is having enormous public health effects. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular (CV) disease including coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Although initial randomized clinical trials of weight-loss strategies through diet and exercise or early medical therapies did not lead to improved CV outcomes, more recent trials using glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in individuals with obesity have demonstrated CV benefits. At present, there are multiple cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) of novel GLP-1 receptor agonists and investigational products targeting multiple …

Prodromal Lewy Body Disorder Features In Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder With Biomarker-Defined Synucleinopathy, Daniel Weintraub, Michele K York, Roseanne Dobkin, Anuprita R Nair, Ryan Kurth, David-Erick Lafontant, Chelsea Caspell-Garcia, Roy N Alcalay, Ethan G Brown, Lana M Chahine, Christopher Coffey, Tatiana Foroud, Douglas Galasko, Karl Kieburtz, Kenneth Marek, Kalpana Merchant, Brit Mollenhauer, Kathleen L Poston, Andrew Siderowf, Cristina Simonet, Tanya Simuni, Caroline M Tanner, Thomas F Tropea, Aleksandar Videnovic, Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a prodromal state for Lewy body disorders and exhibits biological heterogeneity that may influence clinical expression and progression. We examined clinical features in individuals with iRBD and biomarker-defined synucleinopathy.

Methods: Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) is a longitudinal, multi-center observational study. Participants included polysomnogram (PSG)-confirmed iRBD individuals who were cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) α-synuclein seed amplification assay positive with no clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies, along with robust healthy controls (HCs). Clinical and biological features of prodromal PD and DLB, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subthreshold …

A Machine Learning Approach To Stochastic Frontier Modeling, Levent Kutlu, Xi Mao, Xuelei Sherry Ni

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

We propose a deep neural network based stochastic frontier model that can handle complex non-linear patterns both in the frontier and in the distribution of inefficiency term. To illustrate our methodology, we employ quarterly data to estimate the technical efficiencies of large US banks from the first quarter of 1984 to the second quarter of 2010. The mean efficiency of US banks during this time period is 89.43%. Between 2004 and 2008, the mean efficiencies of these banks are significantly lower than the overall average, with an average of 81.30%. This is in line with the financial conditions experienced during …

Some Closure On The Relation Between Cfg And Peg, Nathan J. Bulloch

Theses and Dissertations

We work toward a practical, unified language formalism for structurally recursive languages by expressing the mathematical theories underlying context-free grammars with lookahead (CFGLA) in the Rocq theorem prover and leveraging CFGLA semantics to analyze interactions between between recursion and negative lookahead. We give examples of grammars with left-recursive negation cycles for the parsing expression grammar (PEG) variant due to Medeiros et al. and for the translation from PEG to CFGLA due to Miyazaki and Minamide. To study the interaction between left recursion and negative lookahead in a PEG context, we introduce FPEG, a left-recursive extension of PEG with Fitting semantics.

Development Of Telenutrition Education And Counseling Protocol To Improve Diet Quality In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Adrianne Widaman, Benjamin Dirlikov, Ramya Gopalan, Shelley Wood, Maria Sol Casas, Kazuko Shem

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) is a leading cause of death for individuals living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), with a mortality rate due to CMD being higher than individuals without SCI. Telenutrition (TN) interventions tailored to health and accessibility needs of individuals with SCI may mitigate cardiometabolic risks. Objectives: To describe the development and validation of a telehealth-based medical nutrition therapy (MNT) within a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of modifying diets to improve cardiometabolic health in persons with chronic SCI. Methods: The adaptive module-based MNT education content was developed in 3 phases by a multidisciplinary team. The first …

Holding The Line: The Existential Threat To Dei Language And Values, Terrance Fitzsimmons, Larry Martinez, Jennifer Bishop, Darryl Rice, Florence Villesèche

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose – This article critically analyses and critiques the operationalisation of the Trump administration’s anti- DEI policies on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the United States of America and beyond. It specifically examines the attempt to silence DEI scholarship and practice, assessing the broader implications for social justice and global progress towards equity. The article also positions these attacks as an existential threat to DEI scholarship, scholars and practitioners, with the potential to reverse progress made since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The article serves as a call to action, urging the …

Using Chatgpt Ai To Analyze Clinical Judgment In Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation From Prelicensure Nursing Students, Shari Ann Fehrenbach

Dissertations (1934 -)

This retrospective, descriptive study examined how clinical judgment was demonstrated across two immersive virtual reality simulation (IVRS) experiences in a cohort of Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) students using a generative large language model artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, for categorization of clinical judgment cognitive processes. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) guided the study (NCSBN, 2022). Nurse expert-derived CJMM-aligned scoring rubrics were applied to deidentified, developer-generated IVRS performance reports, and ChatGPT categorized whether rubric actions were demonstrated and generated case-level, scored excel files. Total CJMM and cognitive component scores were …

Opportunistic Breast Cancer Detection With Photon-Counting Ct: A Quantitative Pilot Study Of Reconstruction-Dependent Image Quality, Graham Hannon

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) has emerged as a promising imaging modality with improved spatial resolution and contrast capabilities compared to conventional energy-integrating detector systems. These advantages present an opportunity for opportunistic detection of breast cancer in routine thoracic CT scans that include breast tissue. In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of opportunistic breast cancer detection using clinical PCCT data through quantitative image analysis. Two patients with confirmed breast malignancies and corresponding thoracic PCCT scans were retrospectively analyzed. Dedicated reconstructions were performed with varying convolution kernels, field-of-view sizes, and virtual monoenergetic spectra. Image quality was assessed using signal-to-noise ratio …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge On Discharge Planning And Transitions Of Care For Chronically Ill Patients, Cynthia Adebisi Kadiri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with chronic conditions have the tendency to return to the hospital. Staff education to address high-rate re-hospitalization among patients with chronic conditions is the focus of my Doctor of Nursing Practice project. This is a significant practice problem, since patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs is compromised. Regarding re-hospitalization prevention and ultimate aid in reducing readmissions among people with chronic conditions, the project was used to enhance the knowledge of the nursing staff and competence in transitions of care and discharge planning. The project included 10 nurses who are regularly involved in discharging patients in the medical outpatient clinic. …

Exploring The Role Of Family Engagement In Youth Behavioral Health Programs, Jordon R. Washington-Trahan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The behavioral health leaders at Organization X do not have a clear and practical way to engage family members in youth behavioral health programs. When caregivers are not actively involved in youth behavioral health treatment, youth may disengage from missed appointments and discontinue treatment prematurely. The present case study focused on Organization X, a small behavioral health organization located in the Southeastern United States. The Baldrige Framework of Excellence was the conceptual framework for this study, with a focus on consumer engagement and workforce operations. Semi structured and structured interviews were conducted with three behavioral health leaders. Data were collected …

The Intertwined History Of American And Japanese Animation, Kate Elizabeth Godfrey

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Reimagining Arabic As A Foreign Language Learning Through Place: Teachers’ And Students’ Perspectives On Pbl, Hebatalla Salem

Faculty Journal Articles

This one-cycle design-based research study aims to explore the perceptions of both teachers and students toward place-based learning. To achieve this, interviews were conducted with teachers, and questionnaires were administered to students who were directly engaged in place-based learning. The findings indicated positive outcomes, demonstrating that place-based learning offers multiple benefits, particularly in engaging learners in authentic experiences that enable them to apply what they learn in class within meaningful, community-based contexts. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on place-based learning by providing design principles that can support teachers in the design, development, and implementation of place-based learning …

Parents Under Pressure: Social Media’S Impact On Parents’ Mental Well-Being, Ali E. Shull

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The rapid growth of social media has transformed how parents access information, evaluate their practices, and compare themselves to others. Although parenting content is widely consumed, limited research has examined its immediate psychological and physiological effects. The present mixed-methods study investigated how exposure to parenting-related social media content influences parental stress responses, affect, and parenting self-efficacy. Participants (N = 83) were randomly assigned to view either parenting-related videos (experimental condition) or non-parenting crafting videos (control condition). Physiological stress responses were assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) during baseline and video exposure. Participants also completed measures of negative affect and …

Understanding And Alleviating Teacher Burnout: A Focus On Supports For Teacher Candidates, Meghan Glahn

Honors Projects

This Honors Project begins by analyzing the overall patterns of burnout, and then narrowing to the experienced pressures by special educators. This research topic highlights how stress arrives early during teacher preparation and increases for individuals entering special education. Research from various sources emphasize the prevalence of burnout and the contributing factors that often lead to mental and physical consequences. This study also has results from a survey involving Intervention Specialist majors that captures their college experiences with academic demands, emotional labor, and field placement expectations. The outcomes supported by literature and the survey demonstrate that teacher burnout is severe, …

Intensive Versus Standard Blood Pressure Control After Endovascular Thrombectomy In Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta‐Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Tallal Mushtaq Hashmi, Mushood Ahmed, Hadiah Ashraf, Muhammad Shakir, Ibrahim Ahmad Bhatti, Faizan Ahmed, Ahmad Alareed, Ali Hasan, Gregg C. Fonarow, Ameer E. Hassan

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The optimal strategy for blood pressure management following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion remains a subject of ongoing research.

Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to June 20, 2025. Randomized controlled trials comparing intensive versus standard blood pressure control following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke were included. The primary outcomes were excellent functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-1 at 90 days) and good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2 at 90 days). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects …

Out-Of-Pocket Costs And Antihypertensive Medication Use Among Veterans: A Natural Experiment, Alexander R. Zheutlin, Alexander Chaitoff, Daniel Addo, Joshua A. Jacobs, Catherine G. Derington, Eric L. Stulberg, Peter A. Glynn, Bernardo Modenesi, Jordana B. Cohen, Adam P. Bress

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure (BP) control remains suboptimal in the United States despite available low-cost antihypertensive medications. Even small out-of-pocket medication costs may contribute to adherence. We determined whether $0 versus >$0 out-of-pocket costs for antihypertensive medications is associated with differences in adherence, discontinuation, BP control, and cardiovascular outcomes.

METHODS: We included veterans with newly diagnosed hypertension who initiated antihypertensive medication in the Veterans Health Administration from 2004 to 2022. A fuzzy regression discontinuity design with 2-stage residual inclusion leveraged differences in medication copay policy at a 50% service-connected disability threshold (≥50% service-connected disability: $0 out-of-pocket cost versus < 50%: $8 monthly cost). Outcomes included 1-year medication nonadherence (proportion of days covered < 80%), 1-year medication discontinuation (no medication in the final 90 days of the study year), 1-year BP control (systolic BP/diastolic BP < 140/90 mm Hg and < 130/80 mm Hg) and cardiovascular disease events (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, peripheral artery disease, or stroke).

RESULTS: Among 417 …

The Diamond Minutes: Rethinking The Earliest Link Of The Trauma Chain Of Survival, Guglielmo Imbriaco, Sonia D’Arrigo, Francesco Limonti, Tim Nutbeam, Alberto Cucino

Peninsula Medical School

Matters arising.Trauma remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly among children, adolescents, and working-age adults. Despite major advances in trauma system and hospital-based care, a significant proportion of fatalities occur in the prehospital setting, often within minutes and before arrival of emergency medical services (EMS) [1]. Observational analyses consistently suggest that between one quarter and nearly half of trauma-related deaths occur before hospital arrival [2]. A recent prospective multicentre study involving over 1,000 patients with haemorrhagic shock demonstrated that, despite improvements in trauma centre capabilities, including whole blood resuscitation, hybrid operating rooms, and endovascular haemorrhage control, the …