Digital Commons Network^™

Hiv-1 Tat Induces Transient Tlr4/6 Downregulation In Human Microglia Cells: Implications For Neuroinflammation​, Shrimayi Gillella, Olivia Antony, Biju Bhargavan, George C. Njoku, Narendran Annadurai, Georgette D. Kanmogne

Posters: 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), plays a pivotal role in neuroinflammation associated with HIV infection. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are critical innate immune sensors expressed in microglia, and their dysregulation is implicated in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). In this preliminary study, we examined the basal expression of TLRs and the impact of HIV-Tat on their expression using the human microglial HMC3 cell line.

First, the microglial identity of HMC3 cells was confirmed by the expression of Iba1, a microglia-specific marker. RT-PCR analysis revealed basal expression of TLR2, TLR4, andTLR6, with TLR4 showing the highest expression …

Internet Of Things And Modern Digital Evidence Collection, Muhammad T. Haider

Student Theses

The ever-evolving landscape of technology and its innovations are populating our houses, streets and all kinds of industries. The use of smart devices is booming from most developed nations to underdeveloped countries. The complications which come with the use of the Internet of Things has been an active discussion for the past many years. If we look around in a room of 30 people, we will most likely find double the amount of IoT devices than the people in that room. All of those devices are connected to the Internet, and are communicating with data servers across the world. The …

Cg18562578 Methylquant Assay For The Discrimination Of Monozygotic Twins, Amber P. Chauca

Student Theses

Monozygotic (MZ) twins have identical DNA, making traditional profiling methods insufficient in their discrimination. However, MZ twins can be differentiated by their levels of DNA methylation. Our research group previously developed a methodology to detect cg18562578 DNA methylation levels in MZ twins based on a two- step PCR approach and a cg18562578 MethylQuant Assay. That study generated data for only 64% of the samples it investigated, and showed a discrimination power of 77% to discriminate between MZ twins. Here, we used the same methodology but a different approach to determine DNA methylation in 73 previously unsuccessful twin pairs. We diluted …

Further Investigation Of Environmental Factors On Rapid Shear In Fibers Of A Polyester-Cotton Blend, Daniel K. Oh

Student Theses

Rapid shear is a process that occurs in thermoplastic materials when they interact with a high-velocity impact. In forensics, these interactions would typically be from a bullet interacting with clothing that consisted of synthetic fibers. When the interaction occurs, bulb-like shapes appear on damaged fiber ends, distinguishing them from other kinds of damage. The reason why these shapes occur is varied, but one prevailing factor seems to be the heat generated by the impact.

In prior experiments, the factor of temperature being important to the formation of the phenomenon, different environmental simulations that affected the sample’s temperature were done on …

Bystanders Intervening During Acts Of Cyberbullying: Examining The Moderating Influence Of “Likes” And Pleas For Help, Joseph Kallman

Student Theses

Abstract

Cyberbullying research has only recently begun exploring “cyberstanders,” also known as bystanders, and their role in cyberbullying, as well as testing the bystander effect (Barlinska et al., 2013; Machackova et al., 2013; Obermaier et al., 2016; Shultz et al., 2014). In the current study, we aim to deepen our understanding of the bystander effect by manipulating the number of likes, which will indicate the number of bystanders present and the plea for help on social media via Twitter among college students, by examining how participants respond to fictitious cyberbullying incidents. The results of this study did not support our …

Population Dynamics Of Feral Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Across Illinois, Bryan Scott Foster

Dissertations

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an historically cultivated species re-emerging in modern agriculture due to its utility as a fiber, grain, and cannabinoid crop. While industrial hemp refers to cultivated varieties bred for specific agronomic traits and legally defined by low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, feral hemp, often called "ditch weed", represents escaped or naturalized populations descended from historical cultivation. These unmanaged populations persist and spread in disturbed habitats across North America, particularly in the Midwestern U.S., raising ecological and agronomic concerns due to their potential for genetic contamination, invasive behavior, and interactions with native species and agricultural systems. The overall …

08-19-25 Hsc Committee Meeting Agenda, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

08-19-25 HSC Committee Meeting Agenda

Computational Frameworks To Unravel The Immune Landscape, Shan He

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive cell therapy, face challenges such as resistance and immune-related adverse events, partly due to our limited understanding of the immune signaling pathways. While high- throughput genomic data provide unprecedented resolution into these immune pathways, their full potential is limited by the lack of well-annotated, context-specific immune gene sets. To address this need, I developed a workflow to construct immune gene sets by integrating RNA- seq datasets and performing decomposition. Using this approach, I constructed 28 immune- specific gene sets from 83 bulk RNA-seq datasets and 12 Natural Killer (NK) …

Insights Into The Radiation Chemistry Of Flash Radiation Therapy, Alan E. Lopez Hernandez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Purpose: FLASH radiation therapy (FLASH-RT) is an emerging modality that delivers radiation at ultra-high dose rates (UHDR) and has shown consistent normal tissue sparing while preserving tumor control compared to conventional RT—a phenomenon termed the FLASH effect. Despite promising results, the mechanisms behind the FLASH effect remain unclear. Many hypotheses point to radiolytic interactions, but experimental validation is limited. This work aims to develop a robust experimental platform to evaluate the relationship between radiolytic species production and physical beam parameters relevant to FLASH-RT, alongside dosimetry tools for reliable UHDR beam characterization.

Methods: A beam collector (BC) Faraday cup detector was …

Resolving Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity Of Breast Cancer Using Single-Cell Multi-Omics, Yun Yan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by diverse genetic, transcriptional, and epigenetic landscapes. Understanding how intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) influences therapeutic response and drives tumor evolution remains a central challenge in cancer biology. Here, we leverage single-cell multi-omics technologies to dissect the cell states and gene expression programs underlying breast cancer heterogeneity, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.

In the first part, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to profile over 400,000 cells from 101 treatment-naïve TNBC patients. We identified 4 archetypes at the patient level and 13 metaprograms …

Use Of The Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification For Food Safety And Drug Discovery, Maria R. Benavente Garcia-Huidobro

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding of the normal prion protein (PrP^C) into its infectious form (PrP^Sc). While the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains uncertain, the presence of prions in food products raises public health concerns. Additionally, therapeutic strategies for prion diseases remain limited. This thesis presents a methodological exploration of the Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) technique to address these challenges in two key areas: (1) detecting CWD prions in processed meats subjected to common cooking procedures, and (2) identifying potential anti-prion compounds through a high-throughput PMCA adaptation. …

Facilitating The Clinical Translation Of Flash Radiotherapy Through Dosimetry Development And Beam Parameter Optimization, Kevin Liu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Advisory Professor: Emil Schüler, PhD

Radiation therapy (RT) is a crucial component of curative cancer therapy, with a majority of cancer patients in the United States receiving RT as part of treatment. The goal of RT is to maximize the therapeutic index in curing disease while minimizing any associated normal-tissue complications¹. Recently, ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) RT (mean dose rates ≥40 Gy/s for a total duration of ≤200 ms) has been reported to selectively spare normal tissues and organs while maintaining an isoeffective tumoricidal effect compared to conventional (CONV) dose rate RT in a variety of in vivo preclinical …

Predicting Genetic Interactions Using Functional Interaction Networks, Iulia Veronica Gheorghe

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mapping genetic interactions is central to understanding cellular systems and identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities, particularly in the context of cancer. Among these interactions, synthetic lethality, where simultaneous loss of two genes is lethal but loss of either alone is tolerated, offers a powerful framework for selectively targeting tumor-specific dependencies. In model organisms like S. cerevisiae, comprehensive double-knockout screens have revealed detailed genetic interaction maps, enabling systems-level insights into pathway structure, gene function, and cellular organization. Replicating this achievement in human cells, however, is complicated by the scale and complexity of the human genome. Recent advances in genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening have …

Structural Functional Investigation Of Hap40, Amanda M. Solbach

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL INVESTIGATION OF HAP40

Amanda Marie Solbach

Dissertation Advisor: Sheng Zhang, Ph.D.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene, resulting in a mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein with an elongated polyglutamine tract. While the genetic basis of HD is well established, the mechanisms underlying mHTT toxicity and its impact on cellular function remain incompletely understood. Recent discoveries implicate Huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40) as a critical regulator of HTT stability and intracellular function. However, the physiological and pathological significance of this interaction has not been fully explored.

This …

Investigating The Role Of The Lysine-Specific Demethylase 4c In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mennatallah Shaheen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Deregulation of proteins involved in chromatin regulation is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Lysine demethylase 4C (KDM4C) is one of the chromatin modifying proteins frequently overexpressed across multiple solid cancers and is linked to chromatin instability, increased cell proliferation, and enhanced stem cell-like behavior. We observed upregulation of KDM4C protein in a panel of human PDAC cell lines and patient samples compared to non-neoplastic controls. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of KDM4C in human and murine PDAC cells reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and increased survival of orthotopically implanted murine PDAC allografts. Transcriptomic and proteomics analyses revealed that loss of KDM4C in both human …

Modeling Renal Anomalies Associated With Li-Fraumeni Patients: A Novel Role For P53 In Kidney Development, Alejandra Davilavaladez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a heritable disorder caused by germline mutations in the TP53 gene that result in an increased risk of cancer. The TP53 tumor suppressor gene regulates cell division and prevents the accumulation of cells that may become cancerous. LFS patients are susceptible to various types of cancers, including osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, acute leukemia, and adrenal cortical tumors, as well as breast and brain cancer. Additionally, these patients have an increased risk of developing kidney, stomach, colon, pancreas, esophagus, lung, and gonadal germ cell cancers. Prior studies indicate that p53 is involved in kidney development. However, there …

Long-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Candida Albicans Gut Colonization By Restructuring The Fungal Cell Surface, Musfirat Shubaita

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Long-chain fatty acids promote Candida albicans gut colonization by restructuring the fungal cell surface

Musfirat Shubaita, BS

Advisory Professor: J. Christian Perez, Ph.D.

The yeast Candida albicans is a facultative anaerobe residing in the human digestive tract. Although fungal genetic determinants of mammalian host colonization have been identified, little is known about signals and molecules in the intestinal environment that influence C. albicans proliferation. Previously unpublished data from the Perez lab showed that oleic acid, one of the most abundant long-chain fatty acids in nature, promotes C. albicans colonization of the murine intestine. The goal of this research is to …

Studies Of The Mechanisms Of Reverse Signaling By Cd40l, Barbara M. Nassif Rausseo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a transmembrane protein expressed on activated CD4 T cells, traditionally known for its role in forward signaling by engaging CD40 on antigen- presenting cells to promote immune activation. While this pathway is well characterized, there is evidence that CD40L also mediates reverse signaling, acting as a signaling receptor on T cells which enhances T cell function. However, the extent, consequences, and mechanism of CD40L-mediated reverse signaling in CD4 T cells remain poorly defined. This dissertation investigates the mechanisms and effects of CD40L reverse signaling on T cell function using both primary human T cells and the …

Effects Of Sex And Aging In The Response To Global Cerebral Hypoperfusion, Alexis Mcalister

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction

The prevalence of dementia worldwide is projected to double by the year 2030 and triple by 2050. Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) encompasses diseases that lead to cognitive decline and dementia due to cerebrovascular disease. VCID is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for approximately 15- 40% of all dementia cases. Reductions in cerebral blood flow from intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis increase VCID risk, even in the absence of overt clinical or imaging evidence of stroke/embolization. The pathology seen in patients with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, such as inflammation, neuronal loss, white matter abnormalities, …

Microbial Metabolite Regulation Of Microglial Ahr Signaling In Alzheimer’S Disease, Ghalya E. Alrousan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β plaque accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests that systemic factors, particularly the gut microbiota and its metabolites, play a significant role in shaping brain immune responses, including microglial activation. However, the mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to microglial dysfunction in AD are poorly understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor responsive to tryptophan metabolites, has recently gained attention as a key regulator of neuroinflammation and microglial function. I hypothesize that the loss of beneficial microbial AHR ligands, specifically indole derivatives, during aging and AD …

The Effects Of A Tier 2 Intervention On The Behavior Of Elementary School Students Participating In Second Step: Enhancing A Schoolwide Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum, Charlotte Annalee Kennington

Theses and Dissertations

After reviewing the current research literature on the effects of social-emotional learning (SEL) on the behavior of elementary-age children, it was clear that there was limited research data on the effects of Tier 2 interventions designed to augment the effects of schoolwide SEL programs. Specifically, to what extent could a brief, group-delivered intervention improve the academic engagement, problem behavior, and socially appropriate comments of fifth-grade students receiving schoolwide SEL through Second Step in a traditional public school? Three fifth-grade students were recruited to participate in this study who all engaged in frequent problem behavior during Second Step lessons and throughout …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 08/01/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

The Experiences Of Elite, Female Club Volleyball Players – An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Chelsea Brehm

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the lived experiences of female athletes participating in national-level club volleyball in a Midwestern U.S. state. Amid increasing sport privatization and a growing emphasis on early sport specialization, female athletes in club volleyball are navigating complex pressures tied to elite competition, college recruitment, and psychosocial well-being. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study sought to uncover how athletes experience and make meaning of their participation in this highly demanding sport structure.

Data collection included a demographic survey distributed to national-level athletes (n = 66) and in-depth, semistructured interviews with five female …

Chancery Court Applies Entire Fairness Standard Of Review In Assessing Actions Of Conflicted Fiduciaries Engaging In "Value-Destructive" Spac Transactions, Robert S. Reder, John Rand Dorney

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

In the Gig Cases, Vice Chancellor Will followed the line of analysis she first adopted in MultiPlan by applying traditional fiduciary principles to address conflicts inherent in the standard SPAC structure. First, the Vice Chancellor rejected application of the deferential business judgment rule in favor of the more exacting entire fairness standard, finding both a conflicted controller and a conflicted board. While maybe not outcome determinative, this standard of review places a heavy burden on fiduciary defendants that generally precludes pleading stage dismissal. Second, the Vice Chancellor closely parsed language in disclosures made to stockholders to support, at least at …

Drug Delivery, Disulfide Crosslinked Hydrogel Coating For Polydimethylsiloxane (Pdms) Implant Materials, Paul A. Contos, Paul Anthony Contos

Master's Theses

Though polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is often used in medical devices due to its desirable mechanical properties and biocompatibility, its surface is often prone to bacterial adhesion. This is especially a problem for catheters, where bacteria can adhere and form biofilms that can in turn result in Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). In order to deter the presence of UTI causing bacteria on PDMS catheters, methods were developed to formulate a disulfide crosslinked hydrogel coating and create a methodology to allow adhesion to a PDMS substrate. The hydrogel coating discussed in this paper will be synthesized by chemically crosslinking stimuli-responsive vesicles, that carry …

Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2024-2025, Office Of Research And Creative Activity, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Internal Funding Newsletters

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is committed to educating people of the world and the Office of Research and Creative Activity is proud to contribute to UNO?s exceptional education, groundbreaking research, and the life-long success of students and alumni. UNO innovates for the public good through pragmatic and impactful research and discovery. This year's programs provided over $750,000 in awards for students and faculty. These projects included recording a new album of music for a saxophone, flute, and piano trio, understanding college campus bicycle theft, studying student perceptions of the difficulty of organic chemistry concepts, evaluating a therapy program …

Burning The Wick At Both Ends: A Three Paper Investigation Of Burnout And Educators, Karla P. Miner

All Dissertations

Researchers in the late 20th century identified the impact of burnout on organizational and individual success. The urgency to address burnout in education has intensified following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teacher burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of inadequacy, has been a commonly discussed topic among educators internationally following the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies highlight the alarming rates of burnout among educators, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to support well-being and mitigate educator attrition. This collection of papers addresses three primary aspects of burnout and practice: a literature review of individual and organizational practice, a …

Revolutionizing Digital Privacy Education For Older Adults: Enhanced Interventions And Ai-Assisted Learning Strategies, Heba Aly

All Dissertations

As older adults increasingly engage with digital platforms, they face unique privacy risks stemming from limited digital literacy, reduced trust in AI technologies, and constrained access—especially in rural or underserved communities. While digital tools offer benefits like social connection and information access, current privacy education efforts often neglect the needs of older adults. This dissertation addresses this gap by developing, testing, and refining digital privacy education interventions tailored for older adults, with a focus on trust, personalization, and AI-assisted learning.

Study 1 evaluates multiple instructional modalities across age groups, revealing older adults prefer structured videos and interactive tutorials, while younger …

A Study On The Propagation And Exploitation Of Structured Light In Underwater Turbulence, Jaxon P. Wiley

All Dissertations

The development and optimization of optical systems will play a pivotal role in the continued exploration and exploitation of the world’s underwater environments. These systems offer advantages in many sectors, and includes applications in areas such as high-speed communication, advanced sensing and imaging, and environmental characterization and monitoring. Underwater environments offer a plethora of challenges, however, and mitigating these obstacles remains an arduous task. In this work, the inherent advantages of structured light are leveraged to optimize optical system performance through non-ideal underwater conditions. Additionally, fundamental relationships between the generation of specified structured modes and their interactions with complex environments …

Multiple View Neural Regression Of A Facial Shape Model, Xiang Li

All Dissertations

Creating re-topologized 3D facial meshes is a critical step in high-quality facial animation pipelines, yet it remains a labor-intensive and time-consuming task. Traditional approaches typically rely on multiview stereo reconstruction and specialized photometric environments to acquire accurate geometric and reflectance data under controlled conditions. This dissertation presents work toward more efficient capture of production-ready meshes including (1) developmental aspects of VarIS, a custom-designed light sphere capable of capturing high-resolution stereo geometry and reflectance maps—including diffuse, specular, and normal components under programmable illumination; (2) a study of the effects of camera parameters on automatic 2D and 3D landmarking methods, (3) methods …