Digital Commons Network^™

從文本到銀幕：《長恨歌》電影改編中的敘事與影像轉變, Lok Yi Chow

Dissertations from all years

在電影與文學的交匯點上，改編成為一種獨特的藝術形式，它不僅考驗導演對原著精神的掌握，也是對原作進行再創造的過程。電影改編不僅僅是文本的複製，它涉及文化、社會背景、敘事技巧和觀眾期待的多維度轉換。本文以王安憶的《長恨歌》及其電影改編為案例，深入剖析電影改編與文本之間的優劣對比，探討改變的原因以及它們之間的差異。

論文共分為五個章節，系統性地探討了改編過程中的多方面變化：第一章「緒論」，概述了研究的背景、目的和意義，同時回顧了當前學術界關於文學作品電影改編的相關研究成果，為後續章節的深入分析奠定了理論基礎。第二章「政治性與時代性的缺失」則探討了政治元素在改編過程中的簡化，分析了香港97回歸對電影主題的影響，以及比較了文本與電影在表現三個時代特徵上的差異。第三章「文學性的削弱」分析了文學性在電影中的減少，特別是敘事手法的改變和意象的缺失。第四章「女性角色的弱化和敘事視角的差異」，則關注了女性角色在文本與電影改編之間的不同。第五章「結語」，本文將透過票房和作者意見等證據來說明電影改編的失敗之處。

段玉裁《說文解字注》「渾言析言」之同義名詞辨析, Cheuk Hei Ho

Dissertations from all years

王力先生在《中國語言學史》說：「段氏於同義詞的辨析，非常精到。這是段注的精彩部分之一。」而段玉裁在《說文解字注》提出「渾言析言」術語，能精準歸納大部分的古漢語同義詞，有助後人理解古漢語的詞義演變。因此，本文以「渾言析言」術語作為研究目標，力求辨析古漢語同義詞詞義的共性與特性。

本文主要劃分為五個部分：第一章緒論集中歸納《段注》「渾言析言」的研究現況，並說明本文的研究意義及方法。第二章主要指出同義詞的內涵在於強調詞義的「同中之異」，故本文將同義詞定義作近義詞，不包括等義詞及反義詞。第三章主要簡介「渾言析言」術語的定義及形式。第四章主要從「同物異名」及「同類異物」兩大角度，辨析「渾言析言」術語的體例，並歸納不同詞組在析言時的詞義類別；第五章主要分析「渾言析言」術語的價值及不足，指出此術語如何反映古漢語詞匯發展的多元性，包括古漢語單音節詞與現代漢語雙音節詞的詞義聯繫，以及詞組本義與引申義的交叉義聯。然而，本文亦會指出此術語涉及的非同義詞，包括「同名異義的詞組」、「聲訓異義的詞組」、「特指詞義相差甚遠的詞組」。第六章結尾則總結「渾言析言」術語可視作判斷同義詞的輔助工具，但並非絕對依據。

風流、姿儀與記憶──《世說新語．容止》的魏晉人物美探析, Zheyang Fan

Dissertations from all years

從先秦到魏晉，文學人物形象之風流、姿儀由道德的審美轉向了對內在氣質和外在身體的審美，這在以人物品藻、軼事傳說的形式描繪魏晉士人的文本〈世說新語．容止〉中有明顯體現。「容止」的美學不僅是士人個體的自覺，也是將士人形象進行記憶、回憶的實踐。以阿萊達·阿斯曼的「回憶空間」為經，皮埃爾·布爾迪厄的階級理論為緯，〈容止〉建構出了對士人形象的「記憶術」，將士人的風流與姿儀固定在「文化資本」中，並以此進行記憶的再生產。

本文一共分為五個章節。第一章介紹文本的研究問題、目的，整理前人比較重要的研究成果並梳理本文的研究方法及行文框架；第二章討論標題中「風流」和「姿儀」的語義流變，釐清二者的關係；第三章拆解〈容止〉全篇，結合阿斯曼的相關理論，指出「記憶術」在眾條目中的表現；第四章討論記憶和回憶所產生的效果，並結合布爾迪厄的相關理論，解釋士人形象的在記憶中的凝固和再生產。第五章收束全文，總結觀點。

從香港填海歷史看地名之名實變遷, Sin Fai So

Dissertations from all years

地名與生活處處相關，然香港自19世紀以來的大規模填海工程，雖然幫助本港增加大量用地，但亦因亦改變了城市的地理面貌，也深刻影響了地名的「名實」。本研究以填海歷史為主線，循古到今，系統分析海灣、岬角、島嶼及水系四類地貌的地名變遷，梳理地貌改變時間，探討填海如何導致地名與實際地形脫節，並揭示地名背後的社會文化意義。研究發現，填海工程對地名的影響主要呈現三種模式：自然地貌消失但地名沿用、地名範圍隨填海擴大、地名隨填海消失。研究進一步發現地名變遷存在權力介入及民間力量。

本研究填補了香港地名研究中填海影響的空白，更結合地圖、文獻與民間資料，呈現地名作為歷史載體的意義。儘管填海工程使地貌「面目全非」，地名仍成為市民追溯昔日文化的重要線索。

《經律異相》中的動物寓言研究, Peiyan Chen

Dissertations from all years

《經律異相》是中國史上首部佛教類書，由南朝僧人釋寶唱編著。相關研究成果已蔚然可觀，然目前學術界對其研究多以文獻學以及文字學領域為主，有關其文學價值以及敘事類型的探討相對薄弱。針對其中動物寓言的專門研究更是寥寥可數，故本文有意拓寬相關領域，研究新題目。

本文對《經律異相》中的動物寓言進行研究。《經律異相》共分50卷，有696則，本文共從其中找出124則動物寓言故事。本文共分為七章，第一章為緒論，說明研究動機及目的，界定「動物寓言」的定義和範疇，並回顧目前與《經律異相》相關的研究現況。第二章本文為對《經律異相》的研究概述，根據佛教的「十二分教」來將《經律異相》中的故事分類為本生故事和因緣故事。第三章討論動物寓言中本生故事的內容特色和結構，本章運用「三段敘事法」分析其結構。並以戒惡行和行布施兩個佛理角度探討其故事內容。第四章則分析動物寓言中因緣故事的內容故事特色和結構，結構分為直接說法、用過去世的故事說法、化身為動物說法三個方面，並深入分析關於「正言」及「正命」內容的故事。第五章以《經律異相》中的降魔主題分析，指出其對於後世佛經變文的重要影響。第六章討論動物擬人的故事的教化特質，探討這類故事的教化特質。第七章為結語，總結研究成果。

Voting With Their (Left And Right) Feet: Are Homebuyers’ Values Of Neighborhood Environmental Amenities Consistent With Their Politics?, Corey Lang, Jarron Vanceylon

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Faculty Publications

There exists a consistent partisan gap in preferences for public spending on the environment, with approval being 20 to 40 percentage points higher for Democrats than Republicans. In this paper, we investigate whether there is a similar partisan gap present in residential preferences for environmental amenities. We link housing data, land use, and household characteristics, including voter registration, for three distinct housing markets, and we develop a residential sorting model to estimate marginal willingness-to-pay (MWTP) for residential proximity to conserved land, allowing for preference heterogeneity by partisanship as well as other household characteristics. For all households combined, we estimate average …

Blue Climate Solutions: Knowledge Convergence Workshop Final Report, Emi Uchida, Selvi Tebay, Allie Durdall, Kristin Wilson Grimes, Lisa Hiwasaki, Marlon A. Huwae, David Lagomasino, Obed Lense, Jemmy Manan, Cathy Mcnally, J.P. Walsh

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Towards A Missiological Model For Reaching East Indian Muslims For Christ In Kwatta Of Suriname, Kenneth Rigobert

Dissertations DIS

The presence of Seventh-day Adventists in Suriname dates to 1894, but there is no evidence, either in literature or field research, of any specific plan or missional thinking focused on the Adventist mission among East Indian Muslims in Suriname. The field research highlights some significant missiological challenges faced by the Seventh-day Adventist mission in Suriname that account for its slow numerical growth. These missiological challenges include: (1) a lack of committed and dedicated indigenous leaders; (2) inappropriate training given to the indigenous people for the mission in Suriname's multicultural and multilingual dynamics; (3) unsuitable missional methods for Suriname’s multicultural and …

In Code We Trust: Blockchain’S Decentralization Paradox, Sangita F. Gazi

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

This Article explores blockchain technology’s decentralization and governance challenges. It interrogates the tension between the idea of a trustless, decentralized economy at the core of blockchain’s promise and the realities of power concentration and information asymmetry. Examining the ramifications of the Crypto Winter of 2022 on trust and governance within the blockchain ecosystem, the Article also underscores a critical paradox within blockchain ecosystems. It argues that despite the foundational ethos of decentralization and open participation, the governance structures of major blockchain networks manifest significant centralization, challenging the narrative of an egalitarian, user-driven evolution. The current state of blockchain’s centralities fundamentally …

Social Workers Addressing The Needs Of Visually Impaired Residents Of Nursing Homes And Assisted Living Facilities, Jessica S. Lampert

Social Work Theses - Archive

Objective: This qualitative study investigates social workers’ perception of their preparedness and confidence in their ability to address the needs of the population of visually impaired residents of nursing home and assisted living facilities. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants with experience in long term care, to explore how social workers viewed their work with visual impaired residents. Data were analyzed using the RaDaR method. Results: The following themes emerged from the data analysis: Challenges for Residents and Staff, the Importance of Experience, and Resources. Discussion: Participants indicated that they were currently confident in serving their …

Representation Learning Of Point Cloud Data For Process Mining And Anomaly Detection In Complex Systems, Yujing Yang

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Complex systems, e.g., advanced manufacturing systems, are largely associated with dynamic and transient behaviors, resulting in condition changes and anomalies. Sensor-based condition monitoring is critical in detecting anomalies and supporting process monitoring and performance improvement for complex manufacturing systems. Traditional sensor-based monitoring approaches primarily focus on one-dimensional (1D) signals and two-dimensional (2D) images, which are limited in their ability to capture high-resolution spatial patterns pertaining to anomalies induced by systems’ condition changes, especially subtle ones. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) sensing present a unique opportunity to address this limitation by enabling the capture of 3D point cloud data with micro-level …

Multi-Modal Graph Learning For Vision Language Model In General And Medical Domains, Xinyue Hu

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Multi-modal learning has gained significant attention in deep learning for its ability to integrate and process information from multiple modalities, such as text, images, and videos. By leveraging complementary information from different modalities, it enables a more comprehensive understanding of complex data in various tasks. Simultaneously, graph learning, a prominent paradigm that models structured data as graphs, captures both local and global dependencies, providing a natural framework to represent intricate interactions and contextual relationships. When combined with multi-modal learning, these graph-based approaches have the potential to enhance feature representation and reasoning by effectively fusing heterogeneous data, leading to more robust …

Microbial Mavericks: Turning Hazards Into Snacks, Alison G. Blanton

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Symbiotic associations with microbes are widespread across life and provide hosts with essential and beneficial functions. A growing concern in pest management is symbiont-mediated detoxification (SMD), a form of metabolic resistance to insecticides. The best-known example of SMD involves the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, where an environmentally acquired but obligate Caballeronia symbiont confers resistance to the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion. Motivated by this model, I began my work in another known bug-Caballeronia symbiosis: Leptoglossus phyllopus, native to the United States. I then expanded the study to include two additional U.S.-native hosts, Leptoglossus zonatus and Anasa tristis. Representative …

Interspecific Interactions And Resource Availability As Drivers Of Species Occurrences, Edita Folfas

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Understanding what forces determine species occurrence is central to studies of community ecology. Species interact with each other and their environment, and these interactions scale up to shape global patterns of diversity. In my first chapter, I examined how predation might shape patterns of Anolis lizard species richness and abundance across landscapes on islands in the Greater Antilles. I quantified predatory bird occurrence by using thousands of observations from an online citizen science database (eBird). I then obtained estimates of anole abundance and diversity by conducting local field surveys and using mark-resight methods. While predators could negatively impact anole abundance …

Demographic And Clinical Characteristics Of Patients With Charcot Neuro-Osteoarthropathy In People With Diabetes Mellitus In Six Countries: A Multicenter Observational Study From 1996 To 2022, E. B. Jude, C. Siafarikas, A. Rastogi, R. Bem, T. Tankova, M. -F. Kong, Javier La Fontaine, J. Pappachan, N. Tentolouris

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Aim: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy (CNO) and to examine for differences between participants with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials and Methods: Multicenter observational study in eight diabetic foot clinics in six countries between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2022. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were obtained from the medical records. Analyses were performed using parametric or nonparametric statistical tests for variables with normally or nonnormally distributed values, respectively. Comparisons of the qualitative data were performed using the chi-square test.

Results: Seven hundred seventy-four …

Rare Case Of Osteomyelitis Caused By Achromobacter Xylosoxidans, Christopher P. Girgis, Tyler L. Coye, Elizabeth Ansert, Amanda L. Killeen, Peter A. Crisologo

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a rare opportunistic aerobe that has rarely been documented in the literature as a causative agent for osteomyelitis. It can present with antibiotic resistance, making treatment without operative management challenging. We present the case of a 51-year-old male with a past medical history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The patient presented to a clinic with a grade 2 infection to the right fifth digit, as defined by the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot, and was subsequently admitted for intravenous antibiotics and operative management. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal signal of the phalanges of the fifth …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Conservative Versus Early Surgical Treatments On Wound Healing Outcomes Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Literature Review, Paul Tran, Yasim Zafar, Andrea Piña, Stephanie N. Campbell

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of lower extremity amputations worldwide. Peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease secondary to complications of diabetes mellitus may result in ulcers going unnoticed, increasing the risk of severe osteomyelitis, necrotizing infection, hospitalization, amputation, and sepsis. While conservative management of DFUs remains the first-line approach—emphasizing wound care, infection control, glycemic management, and offloading—there is growing debate about whether delaying simple surgical interventions worsens long-term outcomes. Surgeries such as tenotomy, digital amputation, and tendo-Achilles lengthening are minimally invasive options that can correct deformities, prevent recurrence, and promote …

A Framework For Developing Collaborative Community Building Tools For Novice Computer Science Students, Daniel Olivares, Jakob Kubicki, Katie Imhof

Computer Science Faculty Scholarship

Students enrolled in introductory computer science courses tend towards individual work because of pedagogical practices discouraging collaboration and a focus on individual assignments. This can discourage new computer science students and may negatively affect persistence in computer science. In contrast, social learning theory research suggests a connection between student success and their level of involvement with peers, instructors, and in the greater learning community. Motivated by these contrasting conclusions, the research presented in this paper puts forth a framework based on social learning theories and teaching and learning methodologies to leverage social computing as a learning tool. This framework’s primary …

Residual Next-Day Effects Of Alprazolam On Psychomotor Performance And Simulated Driving In Healthy Normal Adults, Stevie C. Roszkowski, Shanna Babalonis, Marion A. Coe, Paul Nuzzo, Michelle R. Lofwall, Laura C. Fanucchi, Sharon L. Walsh

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

The prevalence of drugged driving has increased in the United States. Some drugged driving may be unintentional as prescription medications used as sleeping aids, like zolpidem, cause impairment after the predicted duration of therapeutic action has elapsed. The aim of this study was to determine if nighttime administration of alprazolam, a drug commonly prescribed off-label as a sleeping aid, impacts driving performance the following day. Participants were healthy adults (n = 15) who completed a double-blind, double-dummy, within-subjects inpatient study examining the effects of nighttime administration of alprazolam (0.5, 1, and 2 mg), zolpidem (10 mg), and placebo on driving …

A Pyrrole Modified 3,4-Propylenedioxythiophene Conjugated Polymer As Hole Transport Layer For Efficient And Stable Perovskite Solar Cells, Yuanhao Tang, Ke Ma, Wenhao Shao, Yoon Ho Lee, Ashkan Abtahi, Jiaonan Sun, Hanjun Yang, Aidan H. Coffey, Harindi R. Atapattu, Mustafa Ahmed, Qixuan Hu, Wenzhan Xu, Raunak Dani, Limei Wang, Chenhui Zhu, Kenneth R. Graham, Jianguo Mei, Letian Dou

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Despite the outstanding electric properties and cost-effectiveness of poly- (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and its derivatives, their performance as hole transport layer (HTL) materials in conventional perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has lagged behind that of widely used spirobifluorene-based molecules or poly(triaryl amine). This gap is mainly from their poor solubility and energy alignment mismatch. In this work, the design and synthesis of a pyrrole-modified HTL (PPr) based on 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) are presented for efficient and stable PSCs. As a result of the superior defects passivation ability, excellent contact with perovskite, enhanced hole extraction, and high hydrophobicity, the unencapsulated PPr-based PSCs showed the …

Analysis Of Tar And Oil Derived From Pyrolysis And Copyrolysis Of Waste Plastics And Biomass, Anitha Shankaralinge Gowda, Dimitrios Karadimas, Jeffrey Seay

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Pyrolysis has been proposed as a potential technology for managing the growing volume of plastic waste generated worldwide. Co-pyrolysis of plastic waste with biomass is a promising technology for generating fuel and chemical products. However, this process generates tar as a waste product. The chemical properties of this tar have yet to be thoroughly analyzed. This study presents the results of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of oil and tar obtained from the pyrolysis of pure plastics including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and plastic-biomass mixtures. GC–MS analysis …

Membrane Filtration Of Nanoscale Biomaterials: Model System And Membrane Performance Evaluation For Aav2 Viral Vector Clarification And Recovery, Mara Leach, Kearstin Edmonds, Emily Ingram, Rebecca E. Dutch, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Malgorzata Chwatko, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The growing demand for viral vectors as nanoscale therapeutic agents in gene therapy necessitates efficient and scalable purification methods. This study examined the role of nanoscale biomaterials in optimizing viral vector clarification through a model system mimicking real AAV2 crude harvest material. Using lysed HEK293 cells and silica nanoparticles (20 nm) as surrogates for AAV2 crude harvest, we evaluated primary (depth filters) and secondary (membrane-based) filtration processes under different process parameters and solution conditions. These filtration systems were then assessed for their ability to recover nanoscale viral vectors while reducing DNA (without the need for endonuclease treatment), protein, and turbidity. …

Fundamental And Application Of Co-Assembly Of Peptides And Proteins: Experiment And Computation, Newton A. Ihoeghian, Qing Shao

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Peptides and proteins can co-assemble into various nanostructures based on complementary non-covalent interactions such as electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic associations. These co-assemblies create a design space of functional materials for a wide spectrum of energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. This review focuses on the fundamentals and applications of three co-assembling systems: ultra-short peptides, peptides, and proteins. We will present and discuss experimental studies demonstrating applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biomaterials development. We will also discuss the contribution of computational research, including molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning, to enhance our understanding of assembly mechanisms. Integrating experimental …

Hungarian Ruling Political Party Fidesz’S ‘Soft Power’ Use Of Religion: Themes, Networks, Partnerships, Alexander Faludy

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article aims to stimulate better understanding of Fidesz’s use of religion as a ‘soft power’ tool. Exploring the Hungarian government’s ‘soft power’ has lately engaged the attention of professional researchers. The use of religious messaging, networks, and opinion formers to propagate positive images of Fidesz abroad has, however, largely been overlooked. This essay argues that such use has been both substantial and successful. The article’s primary focus will be on the use made of Christianity in government aligned communications and network building. Attention will, however, also be paid to the subsidiary roles played by Fidesz’s outreach to both Jewish …

The Social Policy Of Churches In Ukraine Today: Theoretical Foundations And Practical Implementation, Oleksandr Sagan, Mechyslav Yanauer

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the engagement of Ukrainian churches in addressing social challenges, emphasizing historical continuity and contemporary responses, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. The study highlights diverse social services provided by religious institutions, including chaplaincy, rehabilitation, advocacy, and humanitarian aid, noting significant contributions during pivotal moments such as the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and the recent military conflict. Religious organizations notably support military personnel, displaced persons, and trauma victims, and actively participate in international advocacy through diplomatic channels. The article explores the current state of social doctrines, highlighting the ongoing development and adaptation process …

A Qualitative Study Of End-Stage Liver Disease And Liver Transplant Referral Practices Among Primary Care Providers In Nonurban America, Vashisht Madabhushi, Matthew Wright, Gabriel Orozco, Allison Murphy, Antonio R. Garcia, Natalie D. Pope, Xiaonan Mei, Alexandra Cocca, Roberto Gedaly, Meera Gupta

Surgery Faculty Publications

Purpose: In rural America, the road to obtaining a liver transplant (LTX) often starts at the primary care provider’s (PCP’s) office. Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in rural communities experience lower rates of wait-listing and higher mortality. This study identifies issues related to the knowledge and perceptions of ESLD and LTX referral among PCPs in rural Kentucky (KY).

Methods: The study protocol involved relying upon a semistructured outline to explore the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of PCPs toward ESLD and LTX referral among PCPs in rural KY. Inductive thematic analysis was utilized to identify, analyze, and report themes.

Findings: …

Cardiac Injury Regulates Neuroinflammation Through Extracellular Vesicle–Mediated Heart-Brain Crosstalk, Qingxuan Li, Ramzi H. Hamdalla, Neha Dhyani, Lijun Sun, Lie Gao, Tara L. Rudebush, Irving H. Zucker, Changhai Tian

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Cognitive impairment is common in heart failure patients, contributing to morbidity and mortality. This impairment may be linked to neuroinflammation in heart failure. However, the primacy of the heart-brain axis remains to be completely understood. Here, we elucidate the potential effects of myocardial injury on pathways and inflammatory mediators responsible for cognitive impairment using a rodent myocardial injury model. The results demonstrate direct extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated heart-brain crosstalk and the glial uptake of cardiac EVs. In addition, brain inflammation was also elicited following myocardial injury. Moreover, cardiac EVs promote brain microglial cell activation in vitro, potentially mediated by EV-enriched micro-RNAs …

A Community Effort To Develop Common Data Elements For Pre-Clinical Spinal Cord Injury Research., Britt A. Fedor, Abel Torres-Espin, Romana Vavrek, Maryann E. Martone, John L. Bixby, John C. Gensel, Vance Lemmon, Jeffrey S. Grethe, J. Russel Huie, Adam R. Ferguson, Karim Fouad, The Preclinical Sci Common Data Elements (Cde) Workshop Participants

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

For nearly 350 years, the process of disseminating scientific knowledge has remained largely unchanged. Scientists conduct experiments, analyze the data, and publish their findings in the form of scientific articles. Since the turn of the century, this process has been challenged by numerous open science and data sharing efforts to enhance transparency, reproducibility, and replicability of scientific research. Big data approaches, together with machine learning and artificial intelligence, are frequently used to gain insight into the ever-growing complexity of biological systems and biomedical research. To utilize these approaches and harness the continuously increasing computational power requires data to be both …

Cross-Species Comparisons Between Pigs And Mice Reveal Conserved Sex-Specific Intraspinal Inflammatory Responses After Spinal Cord Injury, Reena Kumari, Gabrielle V. Hammers, Robert H. Hammons, Andrew N. Stewart, Steven M. Maclean, Tracy Niedzielko, Lonnie E. Schneider, Candace L. Floyd, John C. Gensel

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Objective Therapeutic translation is challenging in spinal cord injury (SCI) and large animal models with high clinical relevance may accelerate therapeutic development. Pigs have important anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Intraspinal inflammation mediates SCI pathophysiology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sex on inflammation and outcomes in a pig thoracic contusion/compression SCI model.

Methods Adult (gonad-intact) male and female Yucatan miniature swine were subjected to either SCI or sham (laminectomy-only) injury.

Results SCI caused locomotor dysfunction (measured with the Porcine Thoracic Injury Behavior Score) with some recovery over 6 weeks and limited tissue sparing …

Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 In Infiltrating Monocyte Derived Macrophages Does Not Impair Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury In Female Mice, Ethan Glaser, Timothy J. Kopper, William M. Bailey, Hassan K. Kashif, Reena Kumari, Andrew N. Stewart, John C. Gensel

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to permanent motor and sensory loss that is exacerbated by intraspinal inflammation and persists months to years after injury. After SCI, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) infiltrate the lesion to aid in myelin-rich debris clearance. During debris clearance, MDMs adopt a proinflammatory phenotype that exacerbates neurodegeneration and hinders recovery. The underlying cause of the lipid-mediated MDM phenotype shift is unclear. Our previous work suggests that cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a role in the proinflammatory potentiating effect of myelin on macrophages in vitro. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) frees arachidonic acid from phospholipids, generating eicosanoids that play an …