Digital Commons Network^™

Unveiling Exosomal Biomarkers In Neurodegenerative Diseases: Lc-Ms-Based Profiling, Yue Bi, Liang Wang, Chunyan Li, Zhiying Shan, Lanrong Bi

Michigan Tech Publications

Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles secreted by various cell types, play a critical role in intercellular communication and are increasingly recognized as key players in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Their ability to carry and propagate pathogenic proteins such as amyloid-beta, tau, and alpha-synuclein have established exosomal biomarkers as both key players in disease pathology and promising indicators for early diagnosis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has emerged as a powerful tool for the comprehensive analysis of exosomal cargo, enabling the identification of proteins, metabolites, and other molecules associated with neurodegeneration. This review explores the structural composition, biogenesis, and role of …

Front Matter

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

The Epidemiology And Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases In Countries Of The Association Of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), 1990–2021: Findings From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Gbd 2021 Asean Cardiovascular Diseases Collaborators, Veincent Christian Pepito

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has undergone substantial epidemiological changes over the past three decades, characterised by a growing burden of cardiovascular disease. This study provides an epidemiological overview of cardiovascular diseases across ASEAN.

Methods: As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021, we assessed the prevalence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of 12 cardiovascular diseases, stratified by age, sex, and location, for ten ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam) from 1990 to …

The Epidemiology And Burden Of Injury In Countries Of The Association Of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), 1990–2021: Findings From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Stephanie C C Van Der Lube, Lin Siew Chong, Simon I. Hay, Catherine Bisignano, Spencer I. James, Xiaochen Dai, Lay Hoon Goh, Swetha Acharya, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah Adnani, Naveed Ahmed, Budi Aji, Joseph Uy Almazan, Carl Abelardo T. Antonio, Sumadi Lukman Anwar, Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, Atif Amin Baig, Amiel Nazer C. Bermudez, Ahmad Naoras Naoras Bitar, Muthia Cenderadewi, Hana Chen, Nicholas Ws Chew, Bryan Chong, Mayank Dalakoti, Hisham Atan Edinur, Crystal Amiel M. Estrada, Emerito Jose Aquino Faraon, Nelsensius Klau Fauk, Ni Kadek Yuni Fridayani, Fernando Barroga Garcia, Arief Hargono, Eka Mishbahatul Marah Has, Paul Michael Rafa Hernandez, Nahlah Elkudssiah Ismail, Vikash Jaiswal, Roland Dominic G. Jamora, Jost B. Jonas, Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi, Inn Kynn Khaing, Yun Jin Kim, Chong-Han Kua, Maria Dyah Kurniasari, Dian Kusuma, Hilton Lam, Shaun Wen Huey Lee, Zheng Feei Ma, Roy Rillera Marzo, Kamarul Imran Musa, Firzan Nainu, Dina Nur Anggraini Ningrum, Sok King Ong, Veincent Christian Pepito, Thantrira Porntaveetus, Dimas Ria Angga Pribadi, Sheena Ramazanu, Bedanta Roy, Yoseph Leonardo Samodra, Siddharthan Selvaraj, Shazlin Shaharudin, Robert Sinto, Solikhah Solikhah, Chandrashekhar T. Sreeramareddy, Vetriselvan Subramaniyan, Thitiporn Sukaew, Ingan Ukur Tarigan, Jansje Henny Vera Ticoalu, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Taweewat Wiangkham, Anggi Lukman Wicaksana, Siyan Yi, Mustafa Z. Younis, Christopher J L Murray, Kanyin Liane Ong, Yee Wei Lim, Marie Ng

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background Injuries are among the top causes of mortality and disability in southeast Asia. Although injury prevention is a key health priority in the Post-2015 Health Development Agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the focus was placed solely on road injuries. The absence of a broader recognition of injury burden and trends hinders future intervention efforts. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the burden and epidemiological trends of all injuries across ASEAN countries.

Methods In this analysis of the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, we estimated incidence, cause-specific …

"Maine Office Of Behavioral Health’S Section 17 Self-Direction Pilot Program: Evaluation Report", Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Sarah Goan, Emma Schwartz, Aaron Rose

Publications

Maine’s Office of Behavioral Health conducted a nine-month pilot of Self-Directed Care to support adults with serious mental illness in Cumberland, Hancock, and Washington Counties. The program allowed eligible participants receiving MaineCare Section 17 services to manage a personal budget, guided by trained Support Brokers from Alpha One, to purchase goods and services that would advance their recovery goals. The pilot aimed to increase participant choice, autonomy, and flexibility in managing their mental health needs. Support Brokers worked closely with participants and Case Managers to develop and approve individualized purchase plans, monitor expenditures, and ensure alignment with treatment objectives. A …

The Glass Menagerie, Otterbein Theatre And Dance Department

2025 Summer Theatre

No abstract provided.

Abstracts Of Posters Presented At South Sioux City Nou Meeting

Nebraska Bird Review

A scientific poster session featuring the work of 9 ornithological researchers from UN-Kearney, USD-Vermillion and Hitchcock Nature Center was held Friday evening. Thanks to Dr. Jacob Cooper from UNK, Dr. David Swanson from USD, and the students who participated.

Wandering from the River: On- and Off-River Abundance of Interior Least Terns along the 59-Mile Reach of the Missouri National Recreational River. Zoe Donelan, Hannah Slattery, Kyle Jorgensen, and David L. Swanson, University of South Dakota, Department of Biology.

Preliminary Results of Raptor Migration Monitoring at Hitchcock Nature Center. Kellie Hayden, Jerry Toll, and Sandy Reinken, Hitchcock Nature Center, Pottawattamie Conservation, …

Spring Field Report, March–May 2025, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Perhaps the most important takeaway this spring is the continuing phenomenon of large numbers of species with early spring arrival dates. Although about half as many as 2024, there were 64 examples of either tied or new early arrival dates, most obviously of insectivores such as swifts, flycatchers, vireos, swallows, pipits, longspurs, and 10 warbler species. Among these, record or near-record early were Whip-poor-will, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Black Tern, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Rock Wren, Gray Catbird in central, Spotted Towhee in north and west, and Hooded Warbler.

Following along logically perhaps with early arrival dates were a number …

The Nebraska Bird Review (June 2025) 93(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Spring Field Report, March–May 2025, by W. Ross Silcock

NOU Spring Field Days and Annual Meeting in South Sioux City, May 16–18, 2025

Abstracts of posters presented at Spring 2025 NOU Meeting

Spring 2025 NOU Meeting Species Tally

An Unusual Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) in Nebraska: Albinism or Leucism? by Jacob C. Cooper, Peggy M. Huss, Eugene A. Huryn, and Cody McGregor

Subscription and Organization Information

Impact Of Cessation Of Caffeine Citrate Therapy On Intermittent Hypoxemia Patterns Among Preterm Infants Born Before 34 Weeks, Peter Kipkurui Mashep, Roseline Ochieng, Jesse Coleman, Mary Waiyego, Amy Sarah Ginsburg, Dorothy Chomba, Morris Ogero Ondieki, Grace Irimu, William Macharia, Mark Ansermino

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Intermittent hypoxemia (IH) is defined as oxygen saturation (SpO₂) drop ≥5% from the baseline (set at 90 s preceding the event) to a level less than 90% lasting for ≥5 s. Caffeine citrate, the standard of care for apnea of prematurity, reduces IH events. IH contributes to both short and long-term adverse neurologic outcomes. Standard patient monitors cannot detect IH events due to long averaging times.

Objective: Describe change in patterns of IH events in preterms < 34 weeks before and after cessation of caffeine citrate and factors associated.

Methods: Interrupted time series study design. Data was collected from 1 December 2022 to 30 June 2023. MASIMO RAD-G oximeter was …

Intersectoral Interventions: Integration For Impact On Preterm Birth, Etienne V. Langlois, Maria El Bizri, Kelly Thompson, Amy Reid, Merette Khalil, Giulia Gasparri, Joy E. Lawn, Teesta Dey, Judith Robb-Mccord, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Progress: The last two decades have seen a growing focus on intersectoral interventions to improve maternal and newborn health and well-being outcomes, as refected in eforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Preterm births are linked to cross-sectoral determi‑ nants that afect health outcomes and human capital across the life-course, necessitating an intersectoral approach that addresses these multifaceted challenges.

Programmatic priorities: Recognizing that social, biological and economic determinants signifcantly infuence health outcomes, it is critical that robust health systems are reinforced by a comprehensive intersectoral approach. Evidence suggests that the factors infuencing …

Decommissioning Offshore Oil And Gas Infrastructure: Report Of Proceedings, May 2, 2025 Offshore Decommissioning Workshop, Martin Lockman, Ashwin Murthy, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

On May 2, 2025, Ocean Conservancy and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law organized a workshop at Columbia Law School on offshore oil and gas decommissioning in the United States. The overarching goal of the workshop was to bring together offshore law and policy experts to outline a research and policy agenda for offshore decommissioning. Within this broad goal, we sought to (1) identify key opportunities to reform offshore decommissioning law in the United States, both in the short term and over the next decade, (2) identify knowledge gaps and highlight areas for future research, and (3) begin to …

Opposition To Renewable Energy Facilities In The United States: June 2025 Edition, Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Ivonne Norman, Rebecca Coombs, Chadol Kim, Rex Koenig, Suzan Michalski, Eric Quiroz, Josepi Scariano, Ava Teasdale, Victor Tong, Annabel Williams

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Increasing the amount of electricity generated in the United States to power electric vehicles, data centers, and other end uses, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require deploying a massive number of renewable energy facilities at an unprecedented scale and pace. Although many renewable energy facilities are sited without a problem, local opposition often arises. The Sabin Center’s annual report, Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States, documents legal obstacles and challenges that arise during the siting process. In particular, the report focuses on: (a) state laws and local ordinances (“restrictions”) that impede the siting and deployment …

Thermally Perfect Augmentation Of A Supersonic Inlet Design Tool That Uses Method Of Characteristics, Mario V. Guardado

Master's Theses

This work is the first in a series to augment a supersonic air inlet design tool based in Python 3 to incorporate new models that increase the range of applicability of the tool. This effort focuses on improving the thermodynamics model by incorporating a thermally perfect gas model. This tool utilizes method of characteristics to solve the governing equations for an inviscid, irrotational, isentropic, steady, supersonic flow field. Multiple test cases are used to assess the accuracy of all new models. A comparison is made between the original code’s test case for a supersonic inlet at low temperatures to verify …

Reverse Engineering Bring Up And Profiling Of Multi-Fpga Systems, Henry A. Evans

Master's Theses

FPGAs have long been used for prototyping and verifying high-speed digital designs in industry and in academic research. As ASIC designs have grown in complexity and size, prototyping those designs on FPGAs has required multiple FPGAs that sometimes span multiple servers. Western Digital donated multiple FPGA-based systems to Cal Poly in 2023. These servers contain multiple high-end AMD FPGAs that are ideal for prototyping large high-speed digital designs, however the full documentation on how to use the servers and how the servers work was not provided. The servers did not come with any information on how to program the FPGAs, …

Griddle: A Novel Hardware Based Matrix Multiplier Architecture, Seth Kiefer

Master's Theses

Matrix multiplication is a computational cornerstone in modern artificial intelligence and scientific computing, yet general-purpose processors struggle to perform these operations efficiently at scale. This thesis presents Griddle, a novel hardware architecture for matrix multiplication implemented on a Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA. Griddle focuses on flexibility and scalability by adopting a purely iterative approach that supports arbitrarily shaped input matrices without requiring padding or strict dimensional constraints. The architecture uses computational pipelines to execute a multiplication operation. Each pipe consists of a multiplication core and accumulation buffer that compute matrix products in parallel. The multiplication core contains a set of multiplier …

Effectiveness Of Nutrition Education On Male Student Veterans From Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo University, Keith S. Kim

Master's Theses

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a 13-week nutrition education intervention designed to improve dietary patterns, physical health, and mental health outcomes among 10 student male military veterans at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The intervention, grounded in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, included a one-time educational presentation and periodic recap videos to reinforce key messages. Outcome measures included dietary intake, body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength, depressive symptoms (via the Beck Depression Inventory), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (via the PCL-5). Results revealed no statistically significant changes in dietary patterns, BMI, handgrip strength, …

Streamlined Intelligence: Resource-Efficient Machine Learning For 5g Nr V2v Channel Equalization, Jacqueline G. Radding

Master's Theses

As autonomous vehicles continue to evolve, reliable and efficient real-time communication between vehicles is essential for safety and performance. This thesis explores Streamlined Intelligence: Resource Efficient machine learning for 5G NR V2V Channel Equalization, focusing on lightweight random forest decision tree models to address the challenges of channel equalization in 5G New Radio (NR) vehicle to vehicle (V2V) systems. Using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with QPSK modulation, the study simulates data transmission in nonlinear channels characterized by obstructions, Doppler shifts, and fading. Decision trees are proposed as a computationally efficient alternative to other machine learning methods while being compared …

"Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow": Disneyland, Science, And The Cultural Cold War, Emily Searson

Master's Theses

Disneyland, the popular Anaheim-based theme park in California, opened its doors during heightened Cold War tensions in 1955. In this thesis, I trace the origins of Tomorrowland, one of the five original themed lands in Disneyland that included futuristic rides and attractions to depict Walt Disney’s imagining of the year 1986. I examine Tomorrowland in particular to argue that WED Enterprises (Disneyland, Inc.’s research and development arm) and Disney’s vision of scientific progress aligned with U.S. Cold War policy goals, especially containment. Disney and WED Enterprises meticulously planned Tomorrowland with the help of notable American defense contractors, including the Monsanto …

Experimental Characterization And Finite Element Analysis Of The Effects Of Pitting Corrosion On The Mechanical Properties Of Stainless Steel, Duncan Jay Fure, Long Wang

Master's Theses

Many structures do not fail from poor design, but instead from environmental degradation. Corrosion is one mode whose effects can be diminished, but not eliminated, by employing corrosion resistant materials, such as 304 stainless steel, which are still subject to pitting corrosion. Pitting corrosion is a chemical process of the localized removal of material leaving cavities. Despite the prevalence of pitting corrosion, there has been limited testing conducted of the effect of stress during corrosion. This study conducted accelerated controlled corrosion experiments with and without mechanical loading and various corrosion times. Pit morphology of different conditions was analyzed with statistical …

Low Earth Orbit Drag Sail Degradation Due To Atomic Oxygen And Ultraviolet Radiation, Hannah Rost

Master's Theses

As the orbital debris population increases, so does the risk of collisions with operational spacecraft. In response, the Federal Communications Commission has shortened the deorbit requirement from 25 years to five years. While natural atmospheric decay was sufficient under the previous guideline, many objects with low area to mass ratios can no longer passively comply. Smaller, non-propellant-carrying space objects such as CubeSats lack the ability to maneuver and must rely on alternative deorbit methods. One proposed solution is to deploy a drag sail at end of life to increase atmospheric drag and accelerate orbital decay. However, exposure to atomic oxygen …

In-Situ Defect Detection In Selective Laser Melting Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Ethan Gaigalas

Master's Theses

This thesis develops and trains a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify defects in metal parts produced by selective laser melting (SLM) using acoustic emission (AE) data. The model successfully identified porosity and standard build layers with high accuracy but consistently struggled to classify lack of fusion (LOF) defects, regardless of input type, normalization, or class count. These results suggest that while AE signals contain distinguishable features for certain defect types, LOF signals may be too subtle or inconsistent for reliable detection. The study addresses the ongoing challenge of in-situ quality monitoring in metal additive manufacturing, where defects like cracks, …

Analysis And Design Of A Building With Inter-Story Seismic Isolation, Sofia Barale

Master's Theses

Earthquakes can cause considerable damage to buildings, and their unpredictability means engineers must often design for worst-case scenarios. The current goal of building design codes is to prevent collapse and loss of life during a seismic event. However, after a seismic event, even if the building did not collapse, enough damage can leave the building uninhabitable and need of extensive and costly repairs. Therefore, seismic mitigation techniques like base isolation systems have been widely implemented as a seismic design solution. An isolation system works to decouple the structure from the ground and laterally displaces it with a longer fundamental period …

Morris Climate Action Plan, University Of Minnesota - Morris

Miscellaneous Campus Publications

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century and impacts people, communities, and ecosystems—both locally and globally. The University of Minnesota Morris Climate Action Plan (CAP) provides a road map to address climate change through strategic mitigation and adaptation in alignment with the campus mission, goals and objectives. The 2025 CAP charts the course to reduce campus greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 87% by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The CAP was developed in tandem with the 2025 UMN Morris Campus Plan to address intrinsically linked strategic goals stated in MPact 2025 Systemwide Strategic Plan. …

Tennessee Archivist 44, No. 2, Society Of Tennessee Archivists

Tennessee Archivist newsletters

Summer 2025 issue of the Tennessee Archivist, a newsletter produced by the Society of Tennessee Archivists.

New Sheriff In Town: A Quad Model Approach To Examining The Consequences Of Selecting A Qualified Lead Independent Directors, Dinesh Hasija, Alan Ellstrand, Jason W. Ridge, Jon Johnson

Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research SummaryThe lead independent director (LID) position was adopted primarily to increase the efficiency of the monitoring function of the board. However, evidence of whether and how LIDs influence board monitoring has been limited. We apply and test the theoretical quad model in the context of the LID to examine whether selecting a qualified LID helps improve monitoring within the board. We argue that when a board appoints a qualified LID, it improves overall board monitoring, along with board meeting facilitation and interpersonal interactions between the board and shareholders. Using a sample of US firms, we find that firms that …

Efficient And Robust Language Adaptation In Multilingual Llms, Bibek Upadhayay

Doctoral Works at the University of New Haven

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated significant capabilities in understanding and generating natural language, excelling in tasks such as question-answering, text generation, and classification. However, these models are predominantly monolingual, exhibiting limited proficiency in non-English and low-resource languages. Despite their problem-solving abilities and potential to enhance productivity, LLMs pose substantial risks by generating harmful, toxic, biased, or nonfactual content. Furthermore, even robust proprietary models have been susceptible to jailbreaks through sophisticated prompt engineering, particularly leveraging low-resource languages. This dissertation investigates the critical intersection of multilingual capabilities and security vulnerabilities in LLMs. Through five interconnected studies, I address these dual challenges …

Design And Development Of A Half-Bridge Llc Resonant Converter Laboratory Module, Alyssa Lam

Master's Theses

Resonant DC-DC converters have become a well-known solution in power supplies due to their ability to improve efficiency by utilizing soft-switching techniques. This further has caused a growing interest in industry to use these converters for high-switching-frequency, high-efficiency, and high-power applications such as EV charging stations, photovoltaic systems, battery chargers, etc. One particular resonant topology that has gained popularity in recent years is the LLC resonant converter. Due to the prevalent use of the LLC resonant converter, it is therefore crucial for students preparing for a career path in power electronics to become well-versed in the concept and implementation of …

Tuned Liquid Damper Design Using Liquid Sloshing In A Horizontal Cylindrical Tank, Vedant M. Patel

Master's Theses

Vibration isolation is an essential design requirement for several real word applications including industrial machinery, automobiles and building structures. Different techniques of vibration isolation are employed in each of these applications. One such vibration isolator used in tall buildings is known as the Tuned Mass Damper , where a mechanical mass (pendulum, bogey, cylinder) is located at the top portion of the building and is connected to the building through a suspension. This mechanical mass – suspension system is designed to oscillate out of phase with the building in order to dissipate the vibration. Several buildings such as, Taipei 101, …

Coherent Synchronization For Distributed Digital Phased Arrays, Zachary C. Numa

Master's Theses

Distributed digital phased arrays are rising technologies that help enable applications such as search and rescue operations, wireless communication, radar navigation, and military operations, among many others. Due to their improved angular resolution, digital phased arrays offer superior direction-finding capabilities compared to traditional analog phased array systems. However, this improvement comes at the cost of increased complexity—specifically, the need for precise synchronization of phase, time, and frequency across physically separated nodes. Without synchronization, the distributed phased array's gain and direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimations deteriorate significantly.

There are multiple aspects to implementing and synchronizing a non-stationary distributed digital phased array. This research …