Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Plasticity And Role Of Peripherally Derived Cd4 T Cells In The Brain At Homeostasis, Tomomi Marie Yoshida

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Specialized immune cells residing in tissues orchestrate diverse biological functions through communication with parenchymal cells. The contribution of the innate immune compartment in the meninges and central nervous system (CNS) is well-characterized, however, whether T cells as part of the adaptive immune system reside in the brain and are involved in homeostasis is poorly understood. Here, we identify that the subfornical organ (SFO) region of the brain is a nucleus for parenchymal T cells in the steady-state brain in both mice and humans. Using unbiased transcriptomics, we found that these extravascular T cells in the mouse brain are distinct from …

From Pulpit To Policy: Transforming Latino Evangelical Communities Through Pastoral Civic Capacity Building, Mark A. Vega

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Title of Project: One Day Seminar: From Pulpit to Policy: Transforming Latino Evangelical Communities Through Pastoral Civic Capacity Building

Defense Date: April 1, 2025

Candidate Name: Mark Vega

Personal Email Address: [email protected]

First Advisor: Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor: Dr. Bethany Peters

DSL Final Project Abstract: This project investigates the transformative potential of Latino evangelical churches in enhancing civic engagement and community advocacy through pastoral leadership. Utilizing Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, the research identifies significant socioeconomic, cultural, and institutional barriers that impede civic participation among Latino communities. Through qualitative analysis involving Latino evangelical pastors and leaders, the seminar-based approach equips …

Provision Cfo: Empowering Strategic Financial Excellence For Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs, Cindra Vang

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Project Overview

ProVision CFO offers strategic financial management solutions tailored to the unique needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and rapidly growing organizations. This project aims to equip clients with robust financial strategies and actionable insights necessary for sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. ProVision CFO provides comprehensive financial guidance including fractional CFO and accounting services.

Project Themes

The ProVision CFO framework encompasses three key components designed to optimize financial performance and organizational effectiveness. Component One—Strategic Clarity: Establishing clear financial goals aligned with organizational vision, mission, and values. Component Two—Financial Optimization: Providing accounting services to streamline financial processes and enhance …

Transformational Leadership Skills And The Impact Of Retention Practices, Amanda R. Mcdonald

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Defense Date August 28^th, 2025

Candidate Name Amanda McDonald

Personal Email Address [email protected]

First Advisor Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor Dr. Joshua Henson

Project Type DSL Final Project: Educational Workshop

Project Overview

Transformational Leadership has proven to impact institutional retention at a small Christian College located in the upper Midwest. This project provided support to faculty members who were interested in identifying personal leadership styles and the impact personal leadership has on retention. Faculty gained knowledge supporting the four characteristics of Transformational Leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individual consideration, and intellectual stimulation

Project Themes

Transformational Leadership Skills and the …

Comparing Funders' Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Leveraging The Context Of Crisis, Dan Liu, Guangzhi Shang, Cynthia Fan Yang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While reward-based crowdfunding has widespread popularity, the motivations driving funders, balancing self-interest and altruism, have remained puzzling. Prior research has been constrained by examination methods and produced mixed findings regarding the weight of altruism versus self-interest among funders. Our study takes a fresh perspective, delving into funder behavior amid a major crisis—the tumultuous backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that funders not only display an increased willingness to contribute but also significantly amplify their contributions, particularly to projects in crisis-affected regions, irrespective of external incentives like rewards. This underscores the prevalence of altruistic motives among funders in challenging …

Artificial Intelligence And Environmental Sustainability: Review And Research Directions, Troy Strader, Yu-Hsiang (John) Huang, Yu-Ju Tu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Environmental sustainability is one of the most important and complex issues currently facing our global society. One solution to some aspects of this problem could come from artificially intelligent systems and data analytics methods. The objective for this study is to identify the range of recently published research that addresses issues involving the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental sustainability. A systematic literature review produced a sample of 62 journal articles from 2018-2024 that were each categorized into one of six research themes that included studies of AI and the ways in which it impacted natural resources, energy and …

Understanding The Determinants Of Blockchain Adoption: An Empirical Study, Amarpreet Kohli, Nihar Kumthekar, Piyush Shah, Rebecca Jauch

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Blockchain technology (BT) has the potential to enhance security and robustness of transactions through a distributed ledger bookkeeping process. This study employs technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and threat-rigidity theory (TRT) to examine whether perceived disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the adoption of BT, and inclination to adopt BT in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique backdrop, as it affected businesses across all industries, sizes, and geographies. Results show a non-significant effect of perceived pandemic disruption on the current stage of BT adoption and intention to adopt BT. However, disruption readiness positively influences the current stage of BT …

Comparing Vr And Tv In Nigeria And The U.S.: Impacts On Empathy, Engagement, And Enjoyment, Jinhee Yoo, Eugene A. Ohu, Radosław Mącik

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study (N = 170), involving participants from Nigeria and the U.S., investigated how different technologies (TV and VR) affect users' empathy (α = .93), engagement (α = .93), enjoyment (α = .93), preferences, and likelihood of technology use. Participants watched an animated documentary titled “Is Anna OK?” at two different time points, utilizing VR (Oculus Rift S) and TV, following which they completed measuring empathy, engagement, enjoyment, device preference, and usage likelihood. Analysis via one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests revealed that VR users reported significantly higher empathy and enjoyment compared to TV viewers, particularly on second viewing. Combining both …

Trace Level Identifications Of N-Ethylnicotinamide In Racing Horses Associated With A Vitamin B3 Supplement: Case Reports And Analysis, Clara Fenger, Kimberly Brewer, Abelardo Morales-Briceño, Andreas F. Lehner, George A. Maylin, Robert Holland, Levent Dirikolu, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Nikethamide, N,N-diethyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide (Coramine®) is a central nervous system stimulant at one time used therapeutically in human medicine but no longer marketed in the US. Nikethamide is classified a Drug Class 1, Penalty Class A substance by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) and as a Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) SO or banned Stimulant that lacks FDA approval. Identifications of Nikethamide or its metabolite N-Ethylnicotinamide in racing samples can result in significant penalties in horse racing. Nikethamide is rapidly metabolized to N-Ethylnicotinamide, which remains detectable in plasma and urine leading to its use as a regulatory “marker” of …

Host Defense Inside & Outside Of The Immune System: Modeling Antimicrobial Immunity By Gbps, Zhongyu Yuan

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Traditional views of host defense often focus on antibody-mediated neutralization, cytotoxic T-cell plus NK-cell-mediated killing, and phagocytic activities by cell populations originating in the bone marrow as part of the classical immune system. Additional effector activities, however, also operate in non-immune cells which compose the stroma or parenchyma of host tissues. These latter cell populations often mobilize antimicrobial activities in response to cytokines such as type II IFN (IFN-gamma; IFN-) against a wide variety of intracellular pathogens.

Among the most prominent IFN--stimulated genes are a family of immune dynamin-like GTPases termed the Guanylate Binding Proteins (GBPs). GBPs are widely expressed …

Talent Management – Bibliometric Analysis, Marcin Żemigała

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

Purpose: The aim of this article is to identify the main trends in talent management research. This primarily concerns trends in talent management research over time, across various scientific disciplines, and the identification of leading academic centres, countries, and key publications in the field.

Design/methodology/approach: The main research question is: What are the main trends in academic research on talent management over time? Bibliometric methods were used for the analysis, and the dataset was retrieved from the academic bibliographic database Scopus. The dataset consisted of 1,571 records of academic articles (including reviews and conference papers) in English from …

Latine Students In U.S. Schools: An Interactive Resource Book For Educators, Melissa Colón

OER Textbooks

This interactive resource book provides educators with highly curated research, academic scholarship, and community-based materials to better inform and support their work with Latine students, families, and communities. Grounded in critical and culturally sustaining pedagogies (Rendón et al., 2014; Alim & Paris, 2017). This book encourages educators to cultivate a spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning, recognizing that serving Latine students well requires both commitment and ongoing inquiry.

The University Of Texas Permian Basin 2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026, The University Of Texas Permian Basin

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The University Of Texas Permian Basin 2025-2026 Graduate Studies Catalog, The University Of Texas Permian Basin

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Baseline Disease Characteristics By Surgery History Among Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (Crswnp) In The Global Aroma Registry, Shigeharu Fujieda, Jayant M. Pinto, David W. Jang, Joseph K. Han, James Mims, Eugenio De Corso, Martin Wagenmann, Changming Xia, Thomas Plucinak, Mark Corbett, Scott Nash, Amr Radwan

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Purpose

The global Assessing long-teRm Outcomes in dupiluMAb (AROMA) registry study aims to characterize the long-term, real-world use of dupilumab in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This paper reports interim analysis of the baseline characteristics for the first 303 patients enrolled in AROMA.

Methods and materials

AROMA is currently ongoing in adult patients with CRSwNP who initiated dupilumab for up to 36 months. This interim analysis describes baseline demographics; systemic/oral corticosteroid (SCS/OCS) and antibiotic use; disease burden; healthcare resource utilization; and medical history. All outcomes are summarized descriptively.

Results

As of February 2023, AROMA had enrolled 303 …

An Account Of Roman Surgical Treatments For Ozena: Historical Review, Perry Hammond, Rebecca R. Benefiel, Kent Lam

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Objective: To analyze a first-century Roman account of surgery for ozena-a tetrad of nasal crusting, ulceration, bony involvement, and foul odor-with a focus on historical context, etymology, and surgical management.

Data Sources: This historical review draws from the authors' translation of De Medicina. Primary sources detailing Roman surgical instruments from the House of the Surgeon in Pompeii, as well as secondary sources of surgical techniques, were utilized.

Review methods: An in-depth review of Celsus' descriptions of surgical techniques for ozena was conducted using independent translation and exegetical analysis of primary sources. Archaeological findings were investigated to correlate surgical tools with …

Characterization Of Litigation After Tympanoplasty And Mastoidectomy In The United States, Alyssa D. Reese, Lauren A. Dinardo, Soumya Gupta, Kristina F. Powers, Samuel Colca, Michele M. Carr

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Introduction

Tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy are common procedures performed by otolaryngologists that can result in complications for which patients may seek compensation. Medical malpractice case analyses may offer insight into how clinicians can avoid risk and improve patient satisfaction. We aimed to comprehensively characterize litigation after mastoidectomies and tympanoplasties in the United States.

Methods

The Westlaw Campus Research legal database was searched for all available court decisions associated with claims of medical malpractice after tympanoplasty and/or mastoidectomy in the United States between 1975 and 2022. Information on the plaintiffs' relationships to the patients, patient characteristics, states where the procedures took place, …

Size Of Pediatric Tracheostomy Tube And Predictors Of Postoperative Complications, Soukaina Eljamri, Jordyn Lucas, Amber Shaffer, Basil Hashimi, Marina Rushchak, Reema Padia

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Objective

(1) To investigate weight as an alternative guide for trach tube choice. (2) Evaluate complications 3-month posttracheostomy and associations with patient and trach tube factors.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Single academic medical center.

Methods

Patients < 2 years old who underwent tracheostomy placement from 2017 to 2022 were identified. Associations between trach characteristics, trach size/length, chest x-ray (CXR) and intraoperative endoscopy measurements, and complications within 3 months posttracheostomy placement were evaluated.

Results

In total, 68 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 4 months (range: 1 day to 1.74 years) and weight of 4.1 kg (range: 1.8-11.6 kg) at the time of the procedure. The length of the trachea measured on CXR was more closely associated with weight (ρ = 0.403, P = .0007) than with age (ρ = …

Otolaryngology Applicants' Preferences For Virtual Vs. In-Person Interviews During The 2023-2024 Application Cycle, Taylor S. Erickson, Robert Frederick, Steven D. Pletcher, Aileen Dowden, Dana Dunleavy, Eric J. Dobratz

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Background Since the shift to virtual residency interviews, applicants and programs have reported difficulty distinguishing themselves in a virtual format, reduced exposure to medical campuses, and limited opportunity to establish personal connections. The 2023-2024 application cycle was the first time virtual and in-person interview formats were available in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS). Programs offered one or both formats, and in some cases, applicants were given the choice between the 2.

Objective To assess the perceptions of OHNS applicants regarding virtual versus in-person interviews during the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Methods A 20-question survey was distributed via email through the Association …

A Comparison Of Allergen Sensitization Profiles In Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With And Without Nasal Polyposis, Lauren Trzcinski, Suhas Bharadwaj, Randall A. Bloch, Joseph K. Han, Kent K. Lam

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) are common comorbid sinonasal conditions. CRS is classically divided into two distinct phenotypes: CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP). The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to determine whether aeroallergen sensitization profiles in patients with comorbid CRS and AR can distinguish between CRSwNP and CRSsNP. A total of 241 patients diagnosed with comorbid CRS and AR who underwent skin prick testing or in vitro allergy testing in a single tertiary rhinology practice were included for evaluation. The rates of allergen-specific sensitizations in CRSwNP patients were compared with …

Judicial Economy In The Age Of Ai, Yonathan A. Arbel

Articles

Individuals do not vindicate the majority of their legal claims because of access to justice barriers. This entrenched state of affairs is now facing a disruption. Lawyers and non-lawyers alike are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to perform legal tasks tools that sharply reduce the costs of generating legal materials. There is finally hope that AI might allow many more to access justice.

Paradoxically, what we gain in access to justice we might lose in the delivery of justice. The problem is not that AI tools are ineffective. Indeed, they are even more effective than most realize affecting every stage …

Simplified Soil-Based Approach For Maximum Pressure Prediction In Horizontal Directional Drilling Operations, India Clark

Theses

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a trenchless pipeline installation method used in areas where traditional trenching is not feasible due to environmental concerns, existing infrastructure, or other constraints. However, HDD presents significant engineering challenges, with design failures often resulting from excessive installation stresses and Hydro Fracture. Hydro Fracture occurs when the pressure of drilling fluid exceeds the soil’s bearing capacity, leading to unintended subsurface fractures. To mitigate this risk, researchers have relied on the Delft Equation to estimate the maximum allowable mud pressure for borehole stability. However, this equation does have notable limitations and assumptions, which may not accurately reflect …

Sensor Fusion For Enhancing Motion Capture : Integrating Optical And Inertial Motion Capture Systems, Hailey Hicks

Theses

This study aimed to create and evaluate a custom sensor fusion algorithm based on Gauss-Newton optimization that combines Optical Motion Capture (OMC) and Inertial Motion Capture (IMC) measurements to combat the limitations of solely using each system. The goal was to demonstrate how inertial measurement unit (IMU) data can be seamlessly integrated into motion capture data to provide a more efficient and reliable gap filling process for future research. The algorithm takes the first and last frame of OMC data, as quaternions, and fills the rest with IMU gyroscope orientation data to simulate gaps of up to ten minutes. The …

A Deep Learning Multi-Channel Framework For Indoor Image Retrieval, Vidhi M. Bhatia

Theses

Processing and analyzing multi-source image data is vital across a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning, computer vision, geolocation, autonomous navigation, remote sensing, and forensic investigations. Although conventional image matching methods such as Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF) have proven effective in controlled setting, they often face challenges when applied to diverse datasets that exhibit substantial variations in viewpoint, scale, lighting conditions, and modality. Recent developments in deep learning, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), transformers, generative adversarial networks (GANs), and self-supervised learning, have led to the creation of more efficient and precise …

Multiscale Finite Element Analysis Of Cylindrical Jellyroll Based Energy Storage Devices, Wesley James Knee

Theses

Lithium batteries are an ever-expanding solution for energy storage; however, their internal chemistry is highly prone to combustion. Any severe mechanical failure can lead to this scenario, which is problematic as their use in electric vehicles increases. As such, finite element modeling efforts need to improve in order to properly define the failure mechanics of these batteries. Efforts have already been made to create an accurate model of the battery as a whole, but this generalized model does not capture the short-circuiting phenomena within the internal components. To solve this problem, a representative volume model that generates input data and …

Comparing Role Differences Among Systems Architects, Systems Designers, And Systems Engineers, Kelly X. Campo

Theses

The roles of a systems architect (SA), systems designer (SD), and systems engineer (SE) often work together to develop systems, especially as the scale and complexity of engineered systems increase. However, management of these roles can result in ambiguity of task assignments and may reduce accountability for deliverables. Furthermore, there are few published works examining the roles of SAs, SDs, and SEs collectively. This research explores perceptions of the similarities and differences between the roles of SAs, SDs, and SEs by conducting a systematic literature review of 57 sources containing 1064 quotes in addition to a thematic content analysis, analyzed …

Average Heat Flux Measurements In An Additively Manufactured Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Calorimeter, Matthew Aaron Maybee

Theses

Rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs) offer benefits over traditional deflagrative engines, including increased engine performance, compact combustion and negligible detrimental thermoacoustic instabilities due to mode-locking. Realizing the benefits of a detonation-based propulsion system will be accompanied by increased thermal loads due to a combination of heat release at elevated pressure and temperature, as well as compact heat release due to detonation. Managing these heat loads necessitates the development of thermal management strategies. As a first step towards establishing the requirements for detonation-based engine thermal management strategies, this work develops an additively manufactured (AM) water-based, axially resolved calorimeter for integration in …

Ammonium Perchlorate Manufacturing Effects On Propellant Burning Rate, Erin Faith Wallace

Theses

This thesis investigates the effect of ingredient variations on the burning rate of reduced smoke, low burning rate composite solid propellant. The effort focused on identical propellant formulations which presented significant burning rate differences correlated with the ammonium perchlorate (AP) source. A series of 1-gallon propellant mixes were prepared and tested utilizing both Manufacturer A and Manufacturer B ammonium perchlorate to investigate the propellant burning rate and pressure exponent shift anomaly and correlate those findings to the differing ingredient properties between the two AP lots. Each propellant mix was evaluated for burning rate utilizing subscale test motors and a scanning …

Near-Field Analysis Of Horn Antennas For Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing, Landon Riley Carroll

Theses

Standard gain horn antennas are widely used in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and antenna measurements. In EMC testing, it is often required to generate high electric field intensities across a wide frequency range within the near-field region. However, the focusing properties of antennas are deteriorated in the radiating near-field region. In order to increase engineering confidence in EMC testing, it is desirable to understand the root causes of the aforementioned radiation degradation. In this thesis, the near-field characteristics of three different pyramidal standard gain horns are investigated using full-wave analysis, analytical methods, and measurement. The causes of near-field gain reduction …

Factors Affecting Freshwater Fish Communities In Two North Alabama Counties, Joshua Fitts

Theses

This study examined how physical habitat characteristics influence freshwater fish diversity in streams of Madison and Limestone Counties, Alabama. Ten 150-meter stream reaches were sampled using backpack electrofishing and seining, with habitat variables measured at fixed transects. Principal component analysis identified four main habitat gradients representing flow and substrate, channel size, gravel dominance, and canopy–bedrock conditions. Although overall species richness and Shannon diversity were not significantly related to these gradients, species-specific correlations revealed clear ecological preferences. Regression models showed that root wads, herbaceous vegetation, and riprap modestly increased richness, emphasizing the role of structural diversity. These findings highlight the importance …