Digital Commons Network^™

Autonomic Dysfunction Among Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer In The St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study, John D Groarke, Kirsten K Ness, Rikeenkumar Dhaduk, Juan C Plana, Jean Bernard Durand, Russell V Luepker, Vijaya M Joshi, Matthew Ehrhardt, Daniel A Mulrooney, Stephanie B Dixon, Anju Nohria, Daniel M Green, Rebecca M Howell, Deo Kumar Srivastava, John L Jefferies, Leslie L Robison, Melissa M Hudson, Gregory T Armstrong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The burden and functional significance of autonomic dysfunction among survivors of childhood cancer is unknown.

Objectives: We evaluated the prevalence, risk factors, and functional relevance of autonomic dysfunction in survivors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective evaluation of 1,041 adult survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracyclines (31.1%), chest-directed radiation (13.5%), both (19.5%), or neither (35.9%), and 286 community control subjects enrolled in the SJLIFE (St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study). Four measures of autonomic dysfunction were evaluated: elevated resting heart rate, decreased heart rate reserve, decreased systolic blood pressure response to exercise, and delayed heart rate recovery. Logistic regression …

Development Of An Engineered Extracellular Vesicles-Based Vaccine Platform For Combined Delivery Of Mrna And Protein To Induce Functional Immunity, Xin Luo, Kathleen M Mcandrews, Kent A Arian, Sami J Morse, Viktoria Boeker, Shreyasee V Kumbhar, Yingying Hu, Krishnan K Mahadevan, Kaira A Church, Sriram Chitta, Nicolas T Ryujin, Janine Hensel, Jianli Dai, Dara P Dowlatshahi, Hikaru Sugimoto, Michelle L Kirtley, Valerie S Lebleu, Shabnam Shalapour, Joe H Simmons, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

mRNA incorporated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) became a new class of vaccine modality for induction of immunity against COVID-19 and ushered in a new era in vaccine development. Here, we report a novel, easy-to-execute, and cost effective engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs)-based combined mRNA and protein vaccine platform (EVX-M+P vaccine) and explore its utility in proof-of-concept immunity studies in the settings of cancer and infectious disease. As a first example, we engineered EVs, natural nanoparticle carriers shed by all cells, to contain ovalbumin mRNA and protein (EVOvaM+P vaccine) to serve as cancer vaccine against ovalbumin-expressing melanoma tumors. EVOvaM+P administration to mice …

High Throughput And Rapid Isolation Of Extracellular Vesicles And Exosomes With Purity Using Size Exclusion Liquid Chromatography, Kshipra S Kapoor, Kristen Harris, Kent A Arian, Lihua Ma, Beatriz Schueng Zancanela, Kaira A Church, Kathleen M Mcandrews, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for diagnosing a range of diseases without invasive procedures. Extracellular vesicles also offer advantages compared to synthetic vesicles for delivery of various drugs; however, limitations in segregating EVs from other particles and soluble proteins have led to inconsistent EV retrieval rates with low levels of purity. Here, we report a new high-yield (88.47 %) and rapid (< 20 min) EV isolation method termed size exclusion - fast protein liquid chromatography (SE-FPLC). We show SE-FPLC can effectively isolate EVs from multiple sources including EVs derived from human and mouse cells and serum samples. The results indicate that SE-FPLC can successfully remove highly abundant protein contaminants such as albumin and lipoprotein complexes, which can represent a major hurdle in large scale isolation of EVs. The high-yield nature of SE-FPLC allows for easy industrial scaling up of EV production for various clinical utilities. SE-FPLC also enables analysis of small volumes of blood for use in point-of-care diagnostics in the clinic. Collectively, SE-FPLC offers many advantages over current EV isolation methods and offers rapid clinical translation.

2024-10-00 Newsletter, Morehead State University. Staff Congress.

Staff Congress Records

Staff Congress newsletter from October of 2024.

Oculomics Analysis In Multiple Sclerosis: Current Ophthalmic Clinical And Imaging Biomarkers, Alex Suh, Gilad Hampel, Aditya Vinjamuri, Joshua Ong, Sharif Amit Kamran, Ethan Waisberg, Phani Paladugu, Nasif Zaman, Prithul Sarker, Alireza Tavakkoli, Andrew G Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage. Early recognition and treatment are important for preventing or minimizing the long-term effects of the disease. Current gold standard modalities of diagnosis (e.g., CSF and MRI) are invasive and expensive in nature, warranting alternative methods of detection and screening. Oculomics, the interdisciplinary combination of ophthalmology, genetics, and bioinformatics to study the molecular basis of eye diseases, has seen rapid development through various technologies that detect structural, functional, and visual changes in the eye. Ophthalmic biomarkers (e.g., tear composition, …

Social Determinants Of Health And Surgical Desirability Of Outcome Ranking In Older Veterans, Michael A Jacobs, Yubo Gao, Susanne Schmidt, Paula K Shireman, Michael Mader, Carly A Duncan, Leslie R M Hausmann, Karyn B Stitzenberg, Lillian S Kao, Mary Vaughan Sarrazin, Daniel E Hall

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Evaluating how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence veteran outcomes is crucial, particularly for quality improvement.

Objective: To measure associations between SDOH, care fragmentation, and surgical outcomes using a Desirability of Outcome Ranking (DOOR).

Design, setting, and participants: This was a cohort study of US veterans using data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP; 2013-2019) limited to patients aged 65 years or older with inpatient stays between 2 and 30 days, merged with multiple data sources, including Medicare. Race and ethnicity data were retrieved from VASQIP, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiary summary files, the Veterans Health …

Targeting The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway In Chemotherapy-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Phase Ii Study, Clinton Yam, Miral Patel, Holly A Hill, Ryan Sun, Roland L Bassett, Elisabeth Kong, Senthil Damodaran, Kimberly B Koenig, Sausan Abouharb, Sadia Saleem, Ajit K Bisen, Rashmi K Murthy, David L Ramirez, Gaiane M Rauch, Beatriz E Adrada, Rosalind P Candelaria, Xiaoping Wang, Elizabeth A Mittendorf, Alastair M Thompson, Jason B White, Elizabeth E Ravenberg, Alyson R Clayborn, Qing-Qing Ding, Daniel J Booser, Oluchi Oke, Abenaa M Brewster, Gabriel N Hortobagyi, Nuhad K Ibrahim, Jennifer K Litton, Vicente Valero, Banu K Arun, Debu Tripathy, Jeffrey T Chang, Ken Chen, Anil Korkut, Stacy L Moulder, Lei Huo, Bora Lim, Naoto T Ueno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway activation causes chemotherapy resistance, and inhibition of the EGFR pathway sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells to chemotherapy in preclinical models. Given the high prevalence of EGFR overexpression in TNBC, we conducted a single-arm phase II study of panitumumab (anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody), carboplatin, and paclitaxel as the second phase of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC)-resistant TNBC (NCT02593175).

Patients and methods: Patients with early-stage, AC-resistant TNBC, defined as disease progression or ≤80% reduction in tumor volume after four cycles of AC, were eligible for this study and …

Forest For The Trees: Collective Accountability And Trust As Groundwork For Systems Change, Shaady Salehi, Pia Infante

The Foundation Review

Since 2020, trust-based philanthropy has gained momentum as a strategy to alleviate inherent power imbalances between funders, nonprofits, and the communities they serve. The cornerstone of the approach is a set of grantmaking practices, such as multiyear unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, that support nonprofit self-determination toward achieving impact goals.

At a deeper level, trust-based philanthropy is driven by core values that position funders as collaborators and supporters working alongside nonprofits to advance a more just and equitable society. This requires a radically different stance on accountability from conventional philanthropic norms. Rather than reinforcing a sense of one-way transactional accountability, …

Tfr 16.2 Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Unlocking Academic Success: Exploring The Interplay Of Relational Capacity In Educational Leadership And Student Achievement, Veronica Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the factors that influenced secondary teachers’ perceptions relational capacity between teachers and students and their influence on student achievement within educational settings. The study was grounded in the recognition that relational capacity plays a pivotal role in fostering supportive teacher-student relationships, which were essential for enhancing academic outcomes and overall student well-being. The research problem addressed the need to understand how enhancing relational capacity in education could positively influence student achievement by creating an environment where students felt valued, understood, and motivated to excel academically. Using a qualitative approach, this research employed semistructured interviews as the primary …

Work-Family Conflict And Burnout In Healthcare: A Qualitative Study, Alison H. Busick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Work-family conflict and burnout in the healthcare industry are significant problems resulting in cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges for healthcare workers and dangerous consequences for patient care. Due to the work-family conflict and burnout they experience, many healthcare workers are leaving the industry altogether. Most studies on work-family conflict and burnout focus on the hospital setting. However, it is estimated that likely more than a million healthcare workers work in the private practice setting. Consequently, this study’s problem is that little is known about how the private practice healthcare setting affects employees’ work-family conflict and burnout. The purpose of this …

Suppression Of Dynamic Aeroelastic Response Of A Semispan Wing Using Traditional And Distributed Sensing, James Ramey

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Characterization and management of aeroelastic effects are a vital part of aircraft design. Mitigation of these effects often includes control systems to suppress the vibrations. Control systems are constantly being developed and improved, with one such avenue of development being new sensing systems that can increase the information fed into the controller. Fiber Optic Strain Sensing (FOSS) technology is one such system that utilizes Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) on a fiber optic cable to sense the strain on structural elements. This system has promise as a high-density feedback device, and the maturation of the technology has allowed assessment of its …

Etdsuite: A Toolkit To Mine Electronic Theses And Dissertations To Enrich Scholarly Big Data Using Natural Language Processing And Computer Vision, Muntabir Hasan Choudhury

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

In the past decades, there has been a growing interest in mining scientific documents to obtain domain knowledge automatically. One of the understudied types of scientific documents is Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs), as ETDs have distinct features compared with conference proceedings and journal articles. ETDs usually serve as partial requirements of academic degrees for students pursuing higher education. They are book-length documents (i.e., 100 – 400 pages long), and the topics may shift across chapters, exhibit the significant contribution of a student’s research over the entire degree pursuing period, and have unique metadata schema and page layouts. However, the …

The Phenomenology Of Experiencing Critical Thinking In Vocational Higher Education, Sean Castleberry

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the role of critical thinking in vocational education within the Virginia Community College System by examining the lived experience of administrators, faculty, and students who are associated with vocational education. To complete this task, the researcher employed a phenomenological methodology primarily based on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger and other phenomenological philosophers including Edmund Husserl, Mark D. Vagle, and Karin Dahlberg. The goal of the research was to serve as a beginning and help close the gap in knowledge concerning how critical thinking is defined in vocational education, why it is seen as an important part of …

Symbolic Regression For Data-Driven Equation Discovery: A Physics-Informed Approach, Anusha Reddy Singireddy

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Symbolic Regression (SR) is a cutting-edge machine learning technique that discovers mathematical expressions representing the underlying patterns in data. Unlike traditional regression, SR explores a wide range of mathematical models, allowing for flexible and interpretable solutions. We utilize PySR, a highly customizable symbolic regression package, which combines genetic programming and modern optimization methods to efficiently search for interpretable equations. PySR balances model complexity with performance by penalizing overly complex expressions while optimizing accuracy. In this thesis, we apply Physics-informed Symbolic Regression through PySR to model the x and t dependence of the flavor isovector combination H_u − d( …

Literacy Leadership: Power In The Discourse Of Learning, Melissa Guinn Crawley Twisdale

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The phenomenon of teacher learning, especially within literacy education pedagogy, has rarely been a topic of educational research. The nature of ongoing teacher learning is as challenging to study as student learning in that, learning in and of itself is not widely defined in the educational research literature. Equally challenging is the topic of literacy for which there are numerous and varying definitions, many of which carry political and controversial connotations (Aukerman & Schuldt, 2021). The term science of reading, for example, often carries an intensive focus on assessed reading proficiency as the primary goal of reading instruction, although the …

Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer Contributes To Microenvironmental Fate Redirection Of Mammary Cancer Cells, Julie Sofie Bjerring

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The dynamic cellular microenvironment, made up of resident cells and various macromolecules, differs markedly across tissues in the body. The multidirectional signals that cells receive from this microenvironment, along with the signaling they send back, heavily influence their physiology and behavior. Recent important findings have further validated this notion as the mammary microenvironment has been shown to suppress tumor progression by redirecting cancer cells to adopt a normal mammary epithelial progenitor fate in vivo. However, the mechanism(s) driving changes in metabolic reprogramming and cancer fate redirection is understudied. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on exploring the impact of …

Differential Effects Of Physical Activity On Social Interactions Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Christianna Blanchard-Alworth

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience challenges with communication, social interaction, and motor skills, which can contribute to social isolation. A growing body of research suggests physical activity (PA) may improve social, physical fitness, and gross motor outcomes for adolescents with ASD. Although exercise and PA have been identified as an evidence-based practice (EBP) for this population, limited research has specifically examined the relationship between PA and social interactions. This study used an alternating treatment design, replicated across four adolescents with ASD, to compare the effects of two interventions – soccer instruction and fitness instruction - on social …

An Agent-Based Approach For Designing A Sustainable Supplier Selection In Stochastic Environment: A Simulation Study, Sheida Etemadidavan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In the 21st century, businesses are constantly striving for competitive advancement and increasing their economic performance in the rapidly changing market. Collaboration with other businesses and partnerships with them are becoming more common. As such, businesses are starting to invest in finding the right partners to stay competitive in an ever-changing business landscape. Suppliers play a crucial role in businesses' decision-making as they provide the materials, goods, and services necessary for a company to operate and succeed. Therefore, their selection, management, and relationship must be carefully considered to ensure optimal performance and profitability. A sustainable framework in a business's relationship …

Unveiling Resilience And Motivation Through Testimonios: Exploring The Influence Of Trio Student Services On Motivation And College Completion, Emily Leonard Garrison

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) on the motivation and college completion rates of first-generation rural community college students. Utilizing a qualitative approach centered on testimonios, this research captures the lived experiences of students at a rural community college in North Carolina, focusing on how TRIO SSS influences their educational journeys.

Through narrative inquiry, the study documents the personal stories of TRIO SSS graduates, highlighting the program's pivotal role in enhancing student retention and success. The findings demonstrate that TRIO SSS is essential in providing targeted support that aligns with the students' unique challenges …

Cultivating Self-Knowledge In The Writing Classroom: A Study Of Contemplative Pedagogy, Jared Featherstone

English Theses & Dissertations

This pedagogical research study examines the effects of Understanding the Self Through Writing and Rhetoric, an undergraduate course designed by the researcher, on students. The course is an example of contemplative writing pedagogy, one that seeks to foreground first-person direct experience of the subject matter and integrates mindfulness meditation and journaling throughout. While writing and rhetoric are common undergraduate subjects to teach, the course focuses on particular, lesser-known aspects of them, internal rhetoric and self-making narrative. A third important part of the course is the examination of how communication technologies, especially social media and messaging applications, affect one’s internal rhetoric …

Roles Of The His-Purkinje System In Long Qt Syndrome Mediated Arrhythmias, Anthony Owusu-Mensah

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic or drug-induced electrophysiological disorder in the heart that prolongs the QT interval on the electrocardiogram. LQTS is present in considerable proportions (1:3000 to 1:5000) of the general population. LQTS has a high incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias during physical and emotional stress and is a significant cause of sudden death in younger subjects. This poses a substantial medical burden on the healthcare system in terms of morbidity, mortality, and finances. Despite extensive genetic research into LQTS, the mechanisms underlying spontaneous initiation and maintenance of arrhythmias are not fully understood. Beta-blockers are the standard …

Refinement Of Alphafold-Predicted Models Using Cryo-Em Density Maps And Enhancement Of Protein Secondary Structure Topologies With Residue Contacts, Maytha Naif Alshammari

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Proteins play an important role in almost every biological process. Understanding the mechanism of protein function requires knowledge of three-dimensional (3D) structures. Traditionally, the determination of 3D structures has presented significant challenges. However, Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM) has revolutionized the field of structural biology, providing a powerful technique for atomic structure determination. This dissertation delves into the potential of cryoEM in two ways. First, this dissertation presents a new flexible fitting approach, utilizing Normal Mode Analysis (NMA) and Elastic Network Models (ENMs) to refine AlphaFold-predicted models by optimizing the structures to match cryo-EM density maps. This approach identifies the optimal mode …

Comprehensive Study Of Energy Capturing, Conversion, And Transportation Behaviors In A Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvesting System, Bingqi Zhao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (PEH) is one of the hottest research areas to address renewable energy issues with over 10,000 journal articles published in the last two decades. However, several critical issues, such as the proof mass effects, electrical impedance, mechanical resonance, and energy charging processing, remain open. This dissertation presents a comprehensive study addressing the above issues.

To obtain reliable results, a professional quality flextensional PEH (FPEH) and multiple comprehensive experimental methods were developed, and ANSYS FEM modelling was used. Study of the proof mass effect indicated that the generated voltage linearly increased with the weight ratio of the …

Workforce Education And Labor Market Demands For North Carolina Community Colleges, Christina Anne Bunch

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

In response to evolving labor market demands, community colleges play a crucial role in providing accessible, high-quality education that addresses regional workforce needs. However, they face challenges such as declining enrollments, misalignment with local market needs, and limited resources for curriculum adaptation. These obstacles threaten the ability of community colleges to prepare students for the rapidly changing workforce. This study examines how workforce development administrators collaborate with local industry partners to align programs with labor market demands, ensuring community colleges remain relevant and adaptable. Grounded in Human Capital Theory, which links education and economic growth, this qualitative study focuses on …

Simulating The Compound Impacts Of Climate Change And Sea-Level Rise On Coastal Shallow Groundwater Using An Integrated Surface-Subsurface Hydrologic Model, Zhaoyi Cai

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As climate change intensifies and sea levels rise, coastal aquifers become increasingly vulnerable to interacting oceanic and terrestrial processes. This dissertation examines the combined impacts of climate change and sea-level rise (SLR) on coastal shallow groundwater using an integrated surface-subsurface hydrologic model, focusing on the low-lying Little Creek watershed (LCW) in Norfolk, Virginia. The SWAT-MODFLOW model, a coupled system, unifies land surface, streamflow, and groundwater processes, providing a comprehensive framework for watershed-aquifer analysis. Model parameters were derived from U.S. Geological Survey datasets, relevant literature, station records, and technical reports, followed by meticulous calibration. The validated model first simulated baseline groundwater …

The Anaerobic Rose Chamber (Arc): Novel Applications For Probing Clostridioides Difficile Dynamics, Tatiana Zvonareva

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an urgent public health threat with a high rate of recurrence and limited treatment options. Caused by the anaerobic intestinal pathogen C. difficile, this disease affects up to 500,000 Americans annually. Despite progress in our understanding of CDI pathophysiology, the lack of effective and accessible experimental platforms compatible with obligate anaerobe physiology hinders the advancement of treatment therapy. The application of in vivo models has been indispensable in understanding CDI pathophysiology, probing the complexity of the host response to the microbe, and establishing treatment protocols, and it continues to be essential in preclinical testing. …

An Interaction Between Mental Integration And Levels Of Automation: An Analytic Approach Applying Systems Factorial Technology, Shelby Kate Scarbrough Long

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Automation has become nearly ubiquitous in modern society, supporting human performance in personal and professional tasks. Recent works have begun to focus on human-automation performance in speeded perceptual-cognitive tasks using workload capacity analysis, a novel mathematical analysis to measure efficiency of a human-automation team. The present dissertation examined how level of automation and demand for mental integration of information influence human-automation efficiency. Participants performed a multi-element probabilistic decision task with or without the assistance of an automated aid where level of automation and task demand were manipulated. Experiment 1 employed a mixed design with Automation (present vs. absent) and Task …

Optical Investigation Of A Low-Pressure Plasma In A Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavity, Zachary A. Caudell

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The state-of-the-art cryomodules for particle accelerators use superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities. It is known that accumulation of hydrocarbon impurities reduces the cavity surface work function, decreasing cryomodule performance metrics such as field emission, thermal stability, and accelerating gradients. An in-situ method of plasma processing has recently been developed to clean the cavities and restore cryomodule performance [1]. This study is to understand the properties of the low-pressure plasmas generated in a C100 SRF cavity and ultimately to improve the performance of plasma surface cleaning using optical emission spectroscopy. Using a 500 mm focal length Czerny-Turner monochromator coupled with a photomultiplier …

Navigating Identity And Belonging: Itinerant Teachers Of The Deaf/Hard Of Hearing And The Blind/Visually Impaired As Structural Hole Spanners In Educational Ecosystems, Rj Horstmyer

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Itinerant Teachers of the Blind/Visually Impaired are highly specialized teachers and service providers who provide services to students who make up less than two percent of all students eligible for special education services and subsequently experience high levels of mobility between many schools. This study unearths the lived experiences of IToDs and ITVIs and examines how their itinerancy and ecological factors shape their identity and organizational belonging within and between multiple social networks. Participants were those currently employed as either Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing or Itinerant Teachers of the …