Digital Commons Network^™

Translucency And Stain Resistance Of A Light Cured Pontic Paste, Ahmed Abumustafa

All ETDs from UAB

Objectives: Light-cured pontic pastes can be applied to the internal aspect of clear retainer/aligner trays at sites of missing teeth. Ideally, the pontic tooth should appear visually opaque and resist staining. The aim of this study was to determine if the number of coats of the paste will affect its translucency and stain resistance. Materials and Methods: 12mm diameter discs of a biocryl clear retainer material (Clear Splint) (n=10) were punch-cut. Light-cure pontic paste (Perfect-A-Smile Pontic) was applied to one side of the biocryl discs in 1, 2, 3 or 4 coats (200-400g /coat). The paste was light cured between …

Performance Of Islamic Banks During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Analysis And Comparison With Conventional Banking, Umar Butt, Trevor Chamberlain

All Works

This study examines the performance and resilience of Islamic banks during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by unprecedented global economic disruption. Drawing on empirical data and a comparative analysis with conventional banking institutions, the research evaluates key financial indicators—liquidity, profitability, asset quality, and capital adequacy—to assess how Islamic banks responded to the crisis. The unique principles of Islamic finance, including risk-sharing, asset-backed financing, and the prohibition of interest and speculative activities, provide a distinct framework for crisis response. By analyzing how these features influenced bank performance during the pandemic, the study offers valuable insights into the relative robustness of …

2025 June 5 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

A Hormone-Dependent Trna Half Promotes Cell Cycle Progression Via Destabilization Of P21 Mrna, Takuya Kawamura, Megumi Shigematsu, Yohei Kirino

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

tRNA halves are among the most abundant short non-coding RNAs in the cellular transcriptome. Here we report that in androgen receptor-positive LNCaP prostate cancer cells, the hormone-dependent 5'-tRNALysCUU half promoted cell proliferation by facilitating cell cycle progression. Global mRNA profiling upon the 5'-tRNALysCUU half depletion revealed that the mRNA of p21, a negative regulator of the cell cycle, is post-transcriptionally destabilized via a 5'-tRNALysCUU half-driven mechanism. YBX1, identified as a protein interacting with 5'-tRNALysCUU half in the cytosol, was shown to stabilize p21 mRNA. Specific sequences resembling the 5'-tRNALysCUU half, located in the 3'-UTR of p21 mRNA and termed LL588, …

2024-2025 Annual Report: Guided By Faith, Modeling Change., Muslim Student Life At Syracuse University

Muslim Student Life

This annual report provides a concise overview of the Muslim Chaplaincy and its initiatives and programs for Muslim students during the 2024-2025 academic year. It showcases only a select few of the programs and accomplishments of the Muslim community at Syracuse University and beyond.

A Novel Approach To Treat Trastuzumab Resistant Her2+ Breast Cancer: Activation Pkcδ, Maria Grazia Mejia Monroy

Master's Theses

In the United States, approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in her lifetime and one in forty will die from breast cancer. From among all the different subtypes of breast cancer, HER2+ can be found in approximately 20% of breast cancer tumors. HER2 overexpression has been associated with an aggressive form of breast cancer, increasing the risk of metastasis or recurrent tumors in 50% of patients. The standard of care for HER2 positive breast cancer, trastuzumab, has been effective for some patients; however, others develop resistance over time, leading to disease progression and metastasis. …

Swi/Snf Atpase Silenced Hlf Potentiates Lung Metastasis In Solid Cancers, Jin Zhou, Austin Hepperla, Jeremy M Simon, Kangsan Kim, Qing Hu, Chuanhai Zhang, Lei Dong, Lianxin Hu, Cheng Zhang, Chengheng Liao, Alice Fang, Yayoi Adachi, Haoyong Fu, Tao Wang, Qian Liang, Fangzhou Zhao, Hongyi Liu, Masashi Takeda, Jun Fang, Hua Zhong, Peter Ly, Lu Wang, Payal Kapur, Lin Xu, Liwei Jia, Srinivas Malladi, James Brugarolas, M Celeste Simon, Bo Li, Qing Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related deaths, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, using clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a tumor type with frequent lung metastases, we conduct an in vivo genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen and identify HLF as a potent suppressor of lung metastasis. HLF depletion enhances ccRCC cell migration and lung metastasis, whereas HLF overexpression abrogates these effects. In ccRCC patients, HLF expression is reduced at metastatic sites and associates with epigenetic silencing mediated by the SWI/SNF ATPase subunit BRG1. HLF levels negatively correlate with migration potential in collagen. Mechanistically, HLF regulates LPXN expression, modulating the …

Senescence Caused By Telomerase Inactivation In Myeloid, Mesenchymal, And Endothelial Cells Has Distinct Effects On Cancer Progression, Joseph Rupert, Zhanguo Gao, Yongmei Yu, Mikhail G Kolonin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The effects of cell senescence in individual cell populations of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on cancer progression remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of cell senescence caused by inactivation of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (Tert) in distinct TME components. We generated genetic Tert knockout (KO) mice driven by the LysM promoter in myeloid cells, by the Pdgfra or Pdgfrb promoter in mesenchymal cells, and by the Tie2e promoter in endothelial cells. We compared the effect of the Tert KOs in syngeneic models of orthotopically grafted E0771 breast adenocarcinoma, RM1 prostate adenocarcinoma, and KPC pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Tumors in LysM-Tert …

Omitting Regional Nodal Irradiation After Response To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Eleftherios P Mamounas, Hanna Bandos, Julia R White, Thomas B Julian, Atif J Khan, Simona F Shaitelman, Mylin A Torres, Frank A Vicini, Patricia A Ganz, Susan A Mccloskey, Peter C Lucas, Nilendu Gupta, X Allen Li, Beryl Mccormick, Benjamin Smith, Rahul D Tendulkar, Vivek S Kavadi, Koji Matsumoto, Samantha Andrews Seaward, William J Irvin, Jolinta Y Lin, Robert W Mutter, Thierry M Muanza, Jannifer Stromberg, Reshma Jagsi, Anna C Weiss, Walter J Curran, Norman Wolmark

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The benefit of regional nodal irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer is well established for patients with pathologically positive axillary nodes, but whether it is also beneficial for patients whose nodes become pathologically tumor free (ypN0) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear.

Methods: We evaluated whether regional nodal irradiation improves outcomes in patients with biopsy-proven, node-positive breast cancer who reach ypN0 status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with breast cancer with a clinical stage of T1 to T3 (tumor size, ≤2 cm to >5 cm), N1, and M0 (indicating spread to one to three axillary lymph nodes but no distant …

Special Issue, Nanolab Research Centre Student Articles, Preface And Contents, Furong Tian

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Development Of Antimicrobal Formulations From Natural Extracts And Silver Nanoparticles, Ellen Hoey, Lily Jaiswal, Shiv Shankar

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Ultrasound-Mediated Drug Uptake And Cytotocicity In Glioblastoma, Julianne Rogan, Janith Wanigasekera, Esen Efeoğlu

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Mrs. Margaret Mitchell-Mills

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Transition To Organic: Alfalfa Production In Utah, Earl Creech, Ryan Larsen, Marion Murray, Jennifer R. Reeve, Michele Schahczenski

All Current Publications

Transitioning to organic production may not require drastic operational changes on the part of the producer, as alfalfa production lends itself to more organic practices by default. Producers may decide to transition to certified organic production to capture organic price premiums, access niche market opportunities, reduce the use of synthetic inputs, meet growing consumer demand, enact personal values around environmental stewardship, and support soil and biodiversity conservation. Whatever a grower’s motivation, this fact sheet covers transitioning to organic production through understanding organic production systems, the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, and crop-specific considerations.

Why Would I Befriend A Bot? Assessing Factors Influencing The Usage Of Social Chatbots For Digital Natives, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Jihene Mrabet, Rafiq Hijazi, Justin Thomas

All Works

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), social chatbots (SCs) can now simulate meaningful, sympathetic interactions that blur the line between human and machine connection while also providing social and emotional support to its users. Generation Z (Gen Z), as tech-savvy digital natives, prefers individualized and emotionally engaging digital interactions, making them an important demographic for the adoption of AI-powered SCs. This study investigates the factors influencing Gen Z's use of SCs, focusing on emotional support, attitudes towards AI, loneliness, and hedonic motivation. The study employed a quantitative survey with 156 participants who interacted with an SC and completed a questionnaire …

Decoding Readiness For Clinical Practicum: Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Perspectives, Clinical Evaluations, And Comparative Curriculum Variations, Imad Maalouf, Wafaa El Zaatari

All Works

Background: Nursing students’ readiness for clinical practicums is critical to nursing education. Concerns about students’ preparedness for clinical courses have emerged due to increased student-to-educator ratios and limited hands-on practice time. Moreover, feedback from clinical instructors reveals that many student nurses lack the necessary knowledge and skills for patient care, thereby raising questions about their readiness for clinical practicum. Purpose: This study investigates undergraduate nursing students’ readiness for clinical practicum in the UAE by examining their perspectives, the variation in clinical study plans across different contexts, and the evidence gathered from clinical evaluations. Methodology: A case study design was adopted, …

Latent Profiles Of Couples' Marital Power And Gender Ideologies: Associations With Physical Intimate Partner Violence, Rylie Speirs

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to identify couple typologies regarding gender ideologies and marital power, and investigate how couple typologies relate to sociodemographic characteristics as well as rates of physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Several theoretical approaches connect marital power and gender ideologies to IPV but emphasize different couple typologies. For example, family violence perspectives suggest gender ideology mismatch is a stressor that increases the likelihood of either spouse reporting low power or engaging in physical IPV. Feminist theories add that men may use IPV to maintain patriarchal power dynamics when women deviate from traditional gender norms, emphasizing the risk of IPV …

Analyzing The Intention To Volunteer Through The Integrated Model Of Behavioral Prediction, Sage Mendre

University Honors Theses

Nationwide, a significant portion of adults lack basic, functional literacy skills. To combat functional illiteracy in the United States, non-profit organizations who focus on literacy require the services of volunteers. In Portland, Oregon, the Portland Literacy Council (PLC) is responsible for training volunteer tutors to help people learning English as a second language (ESL) and native English speakers who want to improve their literacy skills. The integrated model of behavioral prediction (IMBP) is a communication theory that identifies the core factors that can lead to the intention to perform a behavior. The connection between volunteering in literacy environments and IMBP …

Childhood Myopia Part I: Contemporary Treatment Options., Safal Khanal Dr, Erin S. Tomiyama Dr, Síofra Harrington Dr

Articles

Abstract

Childhood myopia is a growing global public health concern. Treatments to control myopia are a priority because myopia, particularly high myopia, poses significant lifelong risks of vision loss from myopia-associated ocular pathologies. Intensive research efforts over the past two decades have led to the development of several effective strategies for controlling myopia in children: increased time outdoors, atropine eye drops, dual-focus and multifocal contact lenses, orthokeratology lenses, and specialized spectacle lenses. While the efficacy of these strategies is variable, evidence is growing regarding the potential benefits of applying these interventions in children with myopia, although none completely halt myopia …

Childhood Myopia Part Ii: Treatment Mechanisms, Emerging Options, And Considerations, Safal Khanal Dr, Erin S. Tomiyama Dr, Síofra Harrington Dr

Articles

Abstract

The rapidly increasing prevalence of myopia and its association with vision-threatening complications in later life has intensified efforts to identify treatments that can prevent the onset and slow the progression of myopia in children. These efforts have led to the development of several optical, environmental, and pharmacological myopia control treatments. Investigations of additional treatment options are ongoing and have shown great promise for clinical translation. Although significant progress has been made in identifying potential pathways and modes of action of these treatments, a complete mechanistic understanding is still lacking. This critical review article explores the potential mechanisms underlying the …

Measurements Lab Quiz – Exported As Brightspace Package, Vasiliy Znamenskiy

Open Educational Resources

This Brightspace-ready quiz assesses foundational measurement skills in physics laboratory settings. It includes 16 questions covering key concepts such as random and systematic errors, least counts of measurement tools (micrometer, Vernier caliper, meter stick, graduated cylinder, and triple-beam balance), and data interpretation from physical instruments. The quiz features multiple-choice and numerical answer formats, including visual instrument reading exercises via linked images. Designed for use in college-level introductory physics courses, this package supports automated grading and student feedback within the Brightspace LMS environment.

Multi-Omic Spatially Resolved Analysis Of The Neuroinflammatory Response To Intracortical Microelectrode Arrays, E. Ricky Chan, Jeffrey R. Capadona

Faculty Scholarship

Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are devices implanted into the brain's cortex with the ability to record or stimulate neuronal activity. Unfortunately, MEAs tend to fail over chronic time points, limiting their clinical utility. Chronic failure has largely been attributed to the brain's neuroinflammatory response. Until recently, most of what was understood about the neuroinflammatory response to MEAs was learned through immunohistochemical analysis of small numbers of proteins. More recently, gene expression studies have sequenced thousands of mRNA molecules that contribute to neuroinflammation, but few studies have performed large-scale proteomic analyses. To expand the knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved, we have …

Tigers Step Up To Lend A Helping Hand In Grinnell, June 05, 2025, Tisa Mason Ed.D.

Heart of a Tiger Columns

No abstract provided.

Electrochemically-Assisted Low Power Density Laser Writing On Stainless Steel Via Enrichment Of Chromium Oxides, Zechariah J. Pfaffenberger, Lianlian Liu, Tae Kyong John Kim, Vignesh Venkataramani, Lydia Kisley

Faculty Scholarship

Laser color marking produces nearly permanent, environmentally friendly, vibrant colors on surfaces. However, previous work has used high-power-density pulsed lasers to induce the physicochemical reactions for marking. Here, laser color marking on stainless steel 304 (SS304) is performed with a less expensive continuous wave (CW) laser and a power density five orders of magnitude below that previously reported by combining an electrochemical cell with a fluorescence microscope. Using a combination of optical microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and bulk electrochemistry, it is demonstrated that the laser-induced luminescence and colors are due to enrichment (32 ± 9% increase) of Cr₂O₃ in the …

Utah Farmers Market Consumer Preferences For Local Cut Flowers, Alison Bingham, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we review the results of a 2024 study examining consumer preferences for local cut flowers at Utah farmers markets. Study data were collected in person via Qualtrics at six farmers markets across northern Utah, with 51 total responses. We discuss farmers market consumer purchasing preferences, familiarity with labeling programs, and preferred flower colors and varieties. Additionally, the factors influencing consumer decisions when purchasing cut flowers, as well as the product information they rely on, are discussed. Overall, the information in this fact sheet will assist cut flower growers in making informed decisions regarding production methods and …

Utah Strawberries: Consumer Preferences For Specialty Labels, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is the second of two discussing the results of a study on consumer preferences and willingness to pay (pricing) for fresh strawberries. This fact sheet highlights how specialty labeling influences consumers’ perceptions and willingness to pay. The study was conducted at Utah State University (USU) in August 2024.The study examines familiarity with production and labeling programs, as well as perceptions of local and organic food.

Utah Strawberries: Consumer Consumption And Purchasing Preferences, Makaylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is the first of two discussing the results of a study on consumer preferences and willingness to pay (pricing) for fresh strawberries. The study was conducted on the Logan, Utah, campus of Utah State University (USU) in August 2024, and participants were recruited via campus emails, flyers, and social media posts targeted at the greater Logan community. A total of 116 study participants completed a sensory taste test of organically, locally, and conventionally grown strawberry samples, followed by a survey that included questions about their demographics, shopping habits, and familiarity with, as well as beliefs about, various …

Large Language Models For Quantitative Analysis Of Statutory Stringency And Its Correlation With Sexual Assault Crime Rates, Samhita Konduri, Vishnu S. Pendyala

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Sexual assault (SA) crimes are among the most important issues for our current society to solve, with these crimes in particular having long-term consequences on victims and their communities. To solve this issue, one approach is to make laws and penalties for these crimes stricter. However, there have not been any studies on the relationship between stricter penalties and lower crime rates, especially about SA crimes, in a quantitative manner. The biggest barrier to conducting a quantitative study on the strictness of laws and statutes is the lack of a standardized measure of how strict a legal text is. This …

Global Tracking Of Marine Megafauna Space Use Reveals How To Achieve Conservation Targets, Ana M.M. Sequeira, Jorge P. Rodríguez, Sarah A. Marley, Hannah J. Calich, Mirjam Van Der Mheen, Michelle Vancompernolle, Lucy M. Arrowsmith, Lauren R. Peel, Nuno Queiroz, Marisa Vedor, Ivo Da Costa, Gonzalo Mucientes, Ana Couto, Nicolas E. Humphries, Sara Abalo-Morla, Scott R. Benson, Scott A. Shaffer, For Full Author List, See Comments Below

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets ambitious goals but no clear pathway for how zero loss of important biodiversity areas and halting human-induced extinction of threatened species will be achieved. We assembled a multi-taxa tracking dataset (11 million geopositions from 15,845 tracked individuals across 121 species) to provide a global assessment of space use of highly mobile marine megafauna, showing that 63% of the area that they cover is used 80% of the time as important migratory corridors or residence areas. The GBF 30% threshold (Target 3) will be insufficient for marine megafauna’s effective conservation, leaving important areas …

Unraveling The Enigma Of Classification Of Synthetic And Genuine Information Using Machine Learning And Explainable Ai, Vishnu S. Pendyala

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

There is a preponderance of AI-generated text everywhere today. Literature shows that there has been considerable success in detecting such text. This paper uses explainable AI (XAI) techniques to get insights into the workings of the machine learning models used to classify synthetic text. In detecting such text, this work analyzes synthetic and genuine information from visualization and explainability perspectives. The text is converted into vector embeddings using Robustly Optimized BERT Pretraining Approach (RoBERTa). Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) are used for visualization and Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used for classification. Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), and …