Digital Commons Network^™

Scratching Behavior Of Copper-Niobium Nanolaminates, Matthew C. Peterson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Metal nanolaminates are known in material science for their unique mechanical properties and high strength due to their interface behavior. Cu/Nb nanolaminates specifically are studied for their uses in electronics due to their good conductivity and superior tensile strength compared to copper conductors, as well as their radiation resistance in radioactive environments. Currently, most molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Cu/Nb simulations are axially loaded. This work attempts to characterize the scratching behavior of Cu/Nb nanolaminates with varying indenter size, temperature, speed, and layer thickness. The coefficient of friction (CoF), friction force, normal force, and material removal were then compared. A …

Exploring Motivation In Visual Arts: Middle School Art Teachers' Perspectives, Eva V. Coker

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore pedagogical strategies and curriculum (media and art projects) that 6th through 8th grade middle school art teachers use to motivate students to participate in the visual arts. Specifically, it examined the instructional strategies, media choices, and art projects that teachers perceived as inspirational and motivational for middle school students. This qualitative study included data from 17 middle school art teachers, collected through interviews, video-recorded nonverbal communication cues, and teacher-submitted artifacts. The findings revealed a range of instructional strategies, media and curricular practices, and flow and affective experiences that teachers believed supported student …

Exploring Approaches To Address Racial Discrimination, Stigma, And Provider Communication In Sickle Cell Disease Pain Management Through Interprofessional Education And Collaboration, Ronisha Edwards-Elliott

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents research across three publishable manuscripts that investigate why structural and systemic racism persist among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) seeking pain management, and how interprofessional collaboration and education can help reduce disparities through shared learning, accountability, and standardized care (Chapters Two through Four). A scoping review identifies current interventions and strategies aimed at sharing the pain experiences and feelings of being unheard by SCD patients (Chapter Two). Findings of the scoping review revealed that although interventions and strategies exist and have been tested, the lack of implementation or buy-in from healthcare professionals has allowed racial discrimination …

The Effects Of A History Of Child Trauma On Breastfeeding Outcomes, Emily Flynn

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both parent and child, yet many parents discontinue earlier than recommended. While childhood sexual abuse has been associated with breastfeeding difficulties, limited research has examined the broader effects of other forms of childhood maltreatments on breastfeeding outcomes. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between a history of childhood trauma and breastfeeding outcomes, with social support explored as a potential moderator. Participants (n = 194) were birthing parents of children under the age of five, recruited from online parenting communities. Measures included the Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), a breastfeeding duration item, and a …

Staphylococcus Aureus Encodes Four Differentially Regulated Pyruvate Transporters, Jennifer L. Endres, Cleofes Sarmiento, William Xiao, Marat R. Sadykov, Kenneth W. Bayles, Mckenzie K. Lehman

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

The success of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen is attributable, in part, to its ability to exploit the diverse nutrient sources available during infection. Critical to this success are the pathways involving pyruvate that serve as a nexus for energy production, oxidative metabolism, and biosynthetic processes. When available, bacteria acquire pyruvate from the environment to fuel growth. Recently, LrgAB was identified as a pyruvate transporter under microaerobic conditions, leading us to speculate that S. aureus encodes other pyruvate transporters that are active during aerobic growth. In this study, we used the toxic pyruvate analog, 3-fluoropyruvic acid (3-FP), to isolate mutants …

Comprehensive Characterization Of Chronic Midazolam Exposure On Neonates And Long-Term Neurodevelopment, Nghi M. Nguyen, Pranavi Athota, Adrian Flores, Andrew Trease, Daniel Meyer, Vamsi K. Singu, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Victoria L. Schaal, Reeyan Bhakat, Kunal Sualy, Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Kelly L. Stauch, Sowmya V. Yelamanchili, Gurudutt Pendyala

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

Approximately 1 in 10 U.S. newborns are born preterm (< 37 weeks of gestation), facing risks of low birth weight, respiratory and birth deficits often requiring surgery, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged sedation. Such long-term exposure to sedatives in these babies can potentially pose neurodevelopmental risks and can further impact changes later in life. The present study focused on midazolam (MDZ), a benzodiazepine class drug commonly used as sedative in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using a robust preclinical rodent model mimicking chronic MDZ exposure, we did a comprehensive characterization on the phenotypic, molecular, biochemical, and behavioral outcomes in these exposed neonates across key developmental milestones. Our findings indicate that long-term MDZ exposure during the neonatal period negatively affects physical attributes in early childhood. While adult bodyweights between control and MDZ-exposed rats remain comparable, the MDZ rats exhibit accelerated and robust weight gain, potentially indicating a predisposition for binge eating behavior. Additionally, dopamine release in MDZ-exposed rats is markedly reduced in adulthood. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the brain during adulthood suggest a shift in development due to early MDZ exposure. Further, trends of heightened anxiety-like behavior and reduced social interaction during early adolescence compared to other stages were observed. Collectively, our study provides a comprehensive assessment of how long-term MDZ exposure during neonatal stages impacts outcomes throughout life, laying the foundation for understanding mechanisms that contribute to neurodevelopmental complications associated with long-term MDZ use in neonates.

Performance Of Urine Reagent Test Strips In Detecting Schistosoma Haematobium Infection In Individual And Pooled Urine Samples, Abraham Degarege, Berhanu Erko, David Brett-Major, Bruno Levecke, Abebe Animut, Yohannes Negash, M. Jana Broadhurst, Tzeyu L. Michaud, Christopher R. Bilder

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

This study evaluated the performance of urine reagent strips (URSs) in detecting Schistosoma haematobium infection in individual and pooled urine samples. Between June 2022 and April 2023, 2634 urine samples (10 mL each) from school-age children (5-15 years) in 15 villages across Ethiopia's Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Gambella regions were tested using urine filtration microscopy (UFM) and URSs for blood, a marker of S. haematobium eggs. Pooled samples from 5, 10, 20, and 40 individuals (one positive, others negative) were examined with both methods. UFM results were used to calculate URSs' sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for detecting infection. A total …

Quantifying The Public Health Impact Of Lyme Disease In Minnesota: A Simulation Analysis Of Reported And Unreported Cases, Kathleen Angell, M. Jana Broadhurst, Jianghu James Dong, Tzeyu L. Michaud, Abraham Degarege, Roberto Cortinas, David Brett-Major

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Background: Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in Minnesota, is estimated to be underreported by a factor of 10. Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis may lead to health complications and increased personal and societal costs. Environmental factors can help to predict high disease years, allowing for early intervention to decrease disease burden. Objective: To estimate the health and cost burdens of Lyme disease and the extent to which they could be diminished by public health intervention when high-incidence Lyme disease years are forecasted. Methods: We used 5 two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations to estimate (1) average annual expected burden of Lyme …

The Rise Of Israeli Far-Right Politics: A Queer Feminist Analysis, Sa'ed Atshan, K. Galor

Peace & Conflict Studies Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Increased Dissolution Rate And Decreased Processing Temperature For Immediate Release Fdm 3d Printed Tablet Of Weakly Acidic Drugs By Acid-Base Supersolubilization, Mohammed Irfan Syed

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been much interest in three-dimensional (3D) printing for the development of personalized and on-demand medications for better therapy. In 3D-printing, materials are deposited layer by layer to form tablets and pellets. Among various 3D-printing technologies, the fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing, where melt-extruded filaments of drug-polymer mixtures are used for 3D printing, is most promising. However, the FDM 3D-printing often produces slow-release tablets that are not suitable for rapid drug action in the body. The present investigation was undertaken to demonstrate how rapidly dissolving 3D-printed tablets of poorly water-soluble acidic drugs could be developed …

Synthesis And Sar Of Parp Inhibitory Quinoxalin-2(1h)-One Derivatives Carrying Potency- And Selectivity-Driving Adenine-Binding Motifs, Ugochi Ann Adiele

Theses and Dissertations

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a superfamily of proteins comprising 17 members, with PARP1 and PARP2 most notable for their implications in different types of cancer. PARP inhibitors represent an intriguing class of anticancer agents that have garnered increasing interest over the past decade due to their demonstrated clinical efficacy. AZD-9574 is one of these promising PARP1 selective inhibitors with good blood-brain barrier permeability that is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of solid malignancies and previous research attributed its selectivity and efficacy to the presence of a piperazine ring linker in its structure. However, a structure-activity relationship conducted …

Developing Stiripentol Analogs As Potential Ldh Inhibitors For The Treatment Of Glioblastoma, Anshika Y. Jain

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly proliferative brain tumor that has a 5-year survival rate of ~7 %. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current standard of care therapeutic for GBM. However, 50% of patients develop resistance to TMZ. Therefore, further investigation for new GBM therapeutics is necessary to overcome this issue of drug resistance. GBM patients are known to overexpress lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is inversely correlated with their survival. This key glycolytic enzyme catalyzes the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate and plays an important role in cancer proliferation and invasion. Therefore, we aimed to inhibit LDH for developing therapeutics for …

Evaluating The Condition Of Age-0 Burbot In Relation To Diet, Cian Verbridge

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Burbot are becoming more and more popular for angling and aquaculture. However, populations have been declining across the world. Very little information is available about their early life and their interactions in the ecosystem due to challenges in sampling. Condition estimates and diet metrics were used to better understand the status of burbot in Lake Bemidji. Using backpack electrofishing, 45 young of the year burbot were collected. The lengths ranged from 86 to 146 mm and the wet weights ranged from 4.29 to 24.36 g. The stomach contents were removed and stored in ethanol for later analysis. The burbot were …

Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …

The Distinctive Role Of Atp In Hsp110’S “Holdase” Chaperone Activity, Justin M. Kidd, Cancan Sun, Mitchell Keplinger, Alissa Garay, Colin Ritcher, Qinglian Liu

Physiology and Biophysics Publications and Presentations

Hsp110s are a unique class of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and distant homologs of Hsp70s. They act not only as nucleotide exchange factor co-chaperones for Hsp70s (i.e., NEF activity) but also as independent chaperones capable of preventing the aggregation of proteins exposed to cellular stresses (i.e., ”holdase” activity). While Hsp110 NEF activity is well characterized, the mechanisms of holdase activity are less clear. In particular, the role of ATP-binding in regulating holdase activity is poorly understood and has been disputed. In this study, we discovered an undocumented divalent cation inhibitory effect that is reversed by ATP. This finding led us …

Implementing Rsa Accumulators For Asynchronous And Permissionless Reliable Broadcasting, Eric Webb

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Asynchronous consensus protocols are essential for decentralized and trustless environments such as decentralized finance (DeFi), supply chain management, and voting systems. These protocols eliminate centralized authority and timing assumptions while improving resilience and security. However, as network sizes increase the communication overhead in these systems becomes a bottleneck that limits scalability and efficiency. One notable example is the Aleph protocol, which stands out as one of the first consensus protocols to be both asynchronous and permissionless while providing Byzantine Fault Tolerance. Unlike many existing asynchronous consensus mechanisms, Aleph is permissionless in nature and does not rely on a trusted dealer …

An Exploration Of Desired Abstinent And Non- Abstinent Recovery Outcomes Among People Who Use Methamphetamine, Alex Elswick, Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Karen L. Roper, Evan Batty, Christopher J. Mclouth, William W. Stoops, Hilary L. Surratt, Carrie B. Oser

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background In the United States, complete abstinence persists as the standard for demonstrating recovery success from substance use disorders (SUDs), apart from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Although the FDA has recently indicated openness for non-abstinence outcomes as treatment targets, the traditional benchmark of complete abstinence for new medications to treat SUDs remains a hurdle and overshadows other non-abstinent outcomes desired by people with SUDs (e.g., improved sleep, employment, family reunification). This study sought to expand the definition of recovery to include non-abstinent pathways by exploring non-abstinence-based outcomes desired by people who use methamphetamine (PWUM).

Methods Participants (n = 100) were …

Covid-19 Risk And Crisis Communication Challenges And Opportunities: Qualitative Insights From Rural Wastewater Surveillance Partners, Savannah Tucker, Beverly May, Matthew Liversedge, Scott M. Berry, James W. Keck, Anna G. Hoover

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Objectives: Understand perceptions of COVID-19 messages and information sources among rural wastewater treatment plant operators to inform context-specific communication strategies for implementing wastewater surveillance methodologies locally.

Methods: Eight employees from 7 Eastern Kentucky facilities involved in SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance participated in semi-structured interviews. Respondents shared perceptions of traditional and social media COVID-19 information channels in their communities, as well as factors influencing trustworthiness of sources. Using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework, 3 investigators conducted iterative, thematic coding of interview transcripts.

Results: Respondents’ statements most frequently related to “Be Credible,” “Be …

Language In The Teaching Or: Expressing Confidence Versus Community, Aarya Ramprasad, Imaima Casubhoy, Melanie Meister, Brenda Bethman, Austin Bachar, Gary Sutkin

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Isolated Unilateral Medial Rectus Palsy Due To Acute Pontine Infarction, Miranda Bingham, Shterna Frand, Charley Meadows, Sanjay Sharma

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Isolated unilateral medial rectus palsy is a rare but significant clinical manifestation of acute pontine infarction, often presenting without the typical neurological deficits seen in brainstem strokes. This case report highlights a 61-year-old male with a history of hypertension and diabetes who presented with four days of double vision, with no other significant neurological symptoms such as headache, speech disturbances, or focal weakness. On examination, the patient exhibited an isolated inability to adduct his left eye, without any visual deficits or abnormalities in other cranial nerve functions. Neuroimaging, specifically MRI, confirmed the diagnosis of an acute left pontine infarction. The …

Culture Negative Endocarditis Masquerading As Idiopathic Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis, Sania Moonnumackel, Manish Pandey, Randy Nguyen, Reuben Abreu, Seline Haci, Neelima Paladugu, Machaiah Madhrira

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a challenging disease to diagnose often presenting with heterogeneous features. Blood cultures are the gold standard for diagnosing endocarditis, but it is important to know that up to 20 % of cases of infective endocarditis have negative blood cultures. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a small vessel vasculitis and is idiopathic in 50% of cases. LCV is a rare but possible presentation of Infective endocarditis. Hence IE should be part of the differential diagnosis when LCV is diagnosed. Case summary: A 53-year-old male patient presenting right lower extremity pain and vesiculobullous lesions over bilateral upper and …

Heterotopic Ossification (Ho) Prophylaxis In Total Hip Arthroplasty (Tha): A Systematic Review Of Level I And Level Ii Evidence Since 2000, Troy Puga, Mckenna Box, Vincent Dieu, Charles Marchese, John T. Riehl

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a somewhat common occurrence after total hip arthroplasty (THA), particularly with certain approaches. This complication can be detrimental to the success of the surgical outcome. Indomethacin and radiotherapy remain common treatment modalities; however, no true gold-standard treatment is universally agreed upon. This study aims to evaluate Level I and Level II evidence for treatment practices of HO prophylaxis since 2000. Methods: To evaluate HO prophylaxis in total hip arthroplasty, a search was conducted across MEDLINE/Pubmed, Cochrane, and Embase databases using keywords and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. Titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility for …

Unmasking Multicentric Reticulonodular Histiocytoma: A Rare Impostor Of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rabia S. Mahfooz, Neil Maithel, Annmary Behanan, Naser Elkhalili

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Covid-19-Induced Activation Of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome In A 40-Year-Old Woman With A Family History Of Ahus, Neil Maithel, Ibrahim Musa, Rabia Mahfooz, Ali Asghar, Jorge Garza, Aftab Mahmood

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Effective Managment Of Relapsing Henoch-Schonlein Purpura With Nephropathy In An Adult With Long-Term Use Of Azathioprine, Rabia S. Mahfooz, Neil Maithel, Loiacono Agostina, Minha Aslam, Naser Elkhalili

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Unveiling The Mystery: Infected Endocarditis Masquerading As Right Atrial Thrombus In A Port-A-Catheter Patient, Rabia S. Mahfooz, Annmary Behanan, Babivigasan Gunasegaran, Srikrishnan Pichuthirumalai, Hannan Chaugle

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Necrotic Pancreatitis Due To Cronobacter Sakazakii Infection, Daler Kudratov, Jehidy Batista Michelena, David Benitez, Meghan Myppala, Adam Gomez, Oswaldo Renteria, Juan Rodriguez, Kuljot Bansi

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Low Thyroglobulin Levels And Negative Whole Body Scan: A Double Hit, Leading To The Suggested Papillary Thyroid Cancer Remission, Karen Valadez-Cuen, Nikita Patel, Huy Vuong, Sergio Rovner, Cesar Abbud

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

A Rare Presentation Of Prothrombin G20210a Mutation As A Right Ventricular Thrombus, Amelia Mellor, Abedayo Olusanya, Daniel Ortiz

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Identity: Inpatient Dialogue & Engagement With Nurses To Improve Team Dynamics Final Results, Anna Maria Abi Nehme, Ashley Becker, Raheeq Mohamedsaleh, Shin Zaw, Vigneshwar K. Ramasamy, Richard Henriquez, Jorge Restrepo, Ashwini Komarla

North Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.