Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Suspected Microplastics In The Muscle And Gastrointestinal Tissues Of Fish From Sarasota Bay, Fl: Exposure And Implications For Apex Predators And Seafood Consumers, Eric Conger, Miranda Dziobak, Elizabeth J Berens Mccabe, Tita Curtin, Ayushi Gaur, Randall S Wells, John E Weinstein, Leslie B Hart

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microplastics have been found in the gastrointestinal (GI) fluid of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), inhabiting Sarasota Bay, FL, suggesting exposure by ingestion, possibly via contaminated fish. To better understand the potential for trophic transfer, muscle and GI tissues from 11 species of dolphin prey fish collected from Sarasota Bay were screened for microplastics (particles <5 mm diameter). Suspected microplastics were found in 82% of muscle samples (n=89), and 97% of GI samples (n=86). Particle abundance and shapes varied by species (p<0.05) and foraging habit (omnivore vs. carnivore, p<0.05). Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) had the highest particle abundance for both tissue types (muscle: 0.38 …

Automatic Vessel Attenuation Measurement For Quality Control Of Contrast-Enhanced Ct: Validation On The Portal Vein, Kevin Mccoy, Sujay Marisetty, Dominique Tan, Corey T Jensen, Jeffrey H Siewerdsen, Christine B Peterson, Moiz Ahmad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adequate image enhancement of organs and blood vessels of interest is an important aspect of image quality in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). There is a need for an objective method for evaluation of vessel contrast that can be automatically and systematically applied to large sets of CT exams.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to develop a method to automatically segment and measure attenuation Hounsfield Unit (HU) in the portal vein (PV) in contrast-enhanced abdomen CT examinations.

Methods: Input CT images were processed by a vessel enhancing filter to determine candidate PV segmentations. Multiple machine learning (ML) classifiers …

Chemical Screening By Time-Resolved X-Ray Scattering To Discover Allosteric Probes, Chris A Brosey, Todd M Link, Runze Shen, Davide Moiani, Kathryn Burnett, Greg L Hura, Darin E Jones, John A Tainer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Drug discovery relies on efficient identification of small-molecule leads and their interactions with macromolecular targets. However, understanding how chemotypes impact mechanistically important conformational states often remains secondary among high-throughput discovery methods. Here, we present a conformational discovery pipeline integrating time-resolved, high-throughput small-angle X-ray scattering (TR-HT-SAXS) and classic fragment screening applied to allosteric states of the mitochondrial import oxidoreductase apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). By monitoring oxidized and X-ray-reduced AIF states, TR-HT-SAXS leverages structure and kinetics to generate a multidimensional screening dataset that identifies fragment chemotypes allosterically stimulating AIF dimerization. Fragment-induced dimerization rates, quantified with time-resolved SAXS similarity analysis (k

Dopaminergic Neurons In Zona Incerta Drives Appetitive Self-Grooming, Zhiying Jiang, Michelle He, Claire Young, Jing Cai, Yuanzhong Xu, Yanyan Jiang, Hongli Li, Maojie Yang, Qingchun Tong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dopaminergic (DA) neurons are known to play a key role in controlling behaviors. While DA neurons in other brain regions are extensively characterized, those in zona incerta (ZITH or A13) receive much less attention and their function remains to be defined. Here it is shown that optogenetic stimulation of these neurons elicited intensive self‐grooming behaviors and promoted place preference, which can be enhanced by training but cannot be converted into contextual memory. Interestingly, the same stimulation increased DA release to periaqueductal grey (PAG) neurons and local PAG antagonism of DA action reduced the elicited self‐grooming. In addition, A13 neurons increased …

Artificial Intelligence-Based Segmentation Of Residual Pancreatic Cancer In Resection Specimens Following Neoadjuvant Treatment (Isgpp-2): International Improvement And Validation Study, Boris V Janssen, Bart Oteman, Mahsoem Ali, Pieter A Valkema, Volkan Adsay, Olca Basturk, Deyali Chatterjee, Angela Chou, Stijn Crobach, Michael Doukas, Paul Drillenburg, Irene Esposito, Anthony J Gill, Seung-Mo Hong, Casper Jansen, Mike Kliffen, Anubhav Mittal, Jas Samra, Marie-Louise F Van Velthuysen, Aslihan Yavas, Geert Kazemier, Joanne Verheij, Ewout Steyerberg, Marc G Besselink, Huamin Wang, Caroline Verbeke, Arantza Fariña, Onno J De Boer, Pancreatobiliary And Hepatic Artificial Intelligence Research (Phair) Consortium, International Study Group Of Pancreatic Pathologists (Isgpp);

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has become routine in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Pathologists examine pancreatic cancer resection specimens to evaluate the effect of NAT. However, an automated scoring system to objectively quantify residual pancreatic cancer (RPC) is currently lacking. Herein, we developed and validated the first automated segmentation model using artificial intelligence techniques to objectively quantify RPC. Digitized histopathological tissue slides were included from resected pancreatic cancer specimens from 14 centers in 7 countries in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia. Four different scanner types were used: Philips (56%), Hamamatsu (27%), 3DHistech (10%), and Leica (7%). Regions of interest …

Premalignant Progression In The Lung: Knowledge Gaps And Novel Opportunities For Interception Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement, Seyed Javad Moghaddam, Rajkumar Savai, Ramin Salehi-Rad, Shreoshi Sengupta, Michael N Kammer, Pierre Massion, Jennifer E Beane, Edwin J Ostrin, Carmen Priolo, Meredith A Tennis, Laura P Stabile, Alison K Bauer, Catherine R Sears, Eva Szabo, M Patricia Rivera, Charles A Powell, Humam Kadara, Brendan J Jenkins, Steven M Dubinett, A Mcgarry Houghton, Carla F Kim, Robert L Keith

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rationale: Despite significant advances in precision treatments and immunotherapy, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. To reduce incidence and improve survival rates, a deeper understanding of lung premalignancy and the multistep process of tumorigenesis is essential, allowing timely and effective intervention before cancer development. Objectives: To summarize existing information, identify knowledge gaps, formulate research questions, prioritize potential research topics, and propose strategies for future investigations into the premalignant progression in the lung. Methods: An international multidisciplinary team of basic, translational, and clinical scientists reviewed available data to develop and refine research questions pertaining to the …

A Pilot Study Of The Cd38 Antagonist Daratumumab In Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Or Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer, Matthew T Campbell, Amishi Y Shah, Pavlos Msaouel, Nizar M Tannir, Arlene O Siefker-Radtke, Ashish M Kamat, Neema Navai, Colin P N Dinney, Priya Rao, Charles C Guo, Rahul A Sheth, Aradhana M Venkatesan, Rebecca S Tidwell, Shalini S Yadav, Aidi Gu, Hong Chen, Marc Macaluso, Fei Duan, Sreyashi Basu, Sonali Jindal, Padmanee Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: We performed a pilot study of daratumumab (an mAb directed against CD38) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and treatment-refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with MIBC underwent baseline transurethral resection of the bladder tumor followed by four weekly doses of daratumumab prior to cystectomy. Patients with mRCC underwent baseline and sequential biopsies after eight weekly doses. The primary endpoint was safety. The secondary endpoints were pathologic complete response rate for the MIBC cohort and objective response rate and progression-free survival for the mRCC cohort. Exploratory analyses included immune monitoring and overall survival. A Bayesian sequential monitoring …

Mechanisms That Clear Mutations Drive Field Cancerization In Mammary Tissue, Marta Ciwinska, Hendrik A Messal, Hristina R Hristova, Catrin Lutz, Laura Bornes, Theofilos Chalkiadakis, Rolf Harkes, Nathalia S M Langedijk, Stefan J Hutten, Renée X Menezes, Jos Jonkers, Stefan Prekovic, Grand Challenge Precision Consortium, Benjamin D Simons, Colinda L G J Scheele, Jacco Van Rheenen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Oncogenic mutations are abundant in the tissues of healthy individuals, but rarely form tumours1-3. Yet, the underlying protection mechanisms are largely unknown. To resolve these mechanisms in mouse mammary tissue, we use lineage tracing to map the fate of wild-type and Brca1-/-;Trp53-/- cells, and find that both follow a similar pattern of loss and spread within ducts. Clonal analysis reveals that ducts consist of small repetitive units of self-renewing cells that give rise to short-lived descendants. This offers a first layer of protection as any descendants, including oncogenic mutant cells, are constantly lost, thereby limiting the spread of mutations to …

Cease The Alarms - A Nurse-Led Bundled Approach To Alarm Management, Annie Tolliver

EBP Fellowship

No abstract provided.

Juvenile Report, September 2024, Tennessee. Department Of Correction.

Juvenile Reports

No abstract provided.

Glass Ceilings, Step Stools, And Sticky Floors: The Racialized Gendered Promotion Process, Christianne Corbett, Katherine E. Wullert, Shannon K. Gilmartin, Caroline Simard

Sociology and Criminology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Organizations play a central role in replicating societal inequalities. Despite theories of gendered and racialized organizations, evidence of unequal outcomes, and research on proposed mechanisms, we have few intersectional analyses demonstrating how the promotion process varies by race and gender across job levels in actual organizations. In this first-ever analysis of advancement in a U.S. firm by gender, race, and job, we run random effects logistic regression models on five years of novel longitudinal data from the software engineering workforce of a U.S.-based technology company. Results show intersectional performance-reward bias in patterns that help maintain the racialized gendered hierarchy so …

Characterization Of High-Risk-Other Human Papillomavirus Genotypes In Papanicolaou Tests, High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions, And Cervical Cancer, Caitlin E. Witt, Elizabeth F. Sutton, Ashley M. Stansbury, Ashley N. Winters, Luke C. Konur, Meng Luo, Jennifer E. Cameron, Beverly Ogden

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes of high-risk-other HPV Papanicolaou (Pap) tests and of biopsy tissues from patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL) or cervical cancer. High-risk-other HPV status was determined with the cobas HPV Test (Roche Diagnostics, North America) that identifies 12 high-risk, non-16/18 HPV genotypes. We hypothesized that we would find genotypes of HPV in our population that are not covered by the 9-valent HPV vaccine. Methods: For this retrospective cohort study, we randomly selected 50 high-risk-other HPV Pap test samples from 2018 from our pathology department registries for …

Quantifying Delay Propagation In Airline Networks, Liyu Dou, Jakub Kastl, John Lazarev

Research Collection School Of Economics

We develop a framework for quantifying delay propagation in airline networks by integrating structural modeling and machine learning methods to estimate causal effects. Using a comprehensive dataset on actual delays and a model-selection algorithm (elastic net), we estimate a weighted directed graph of delay propagation for each major airline in the United States and establish conditions under which the propagation coefficients are causal. These estimates enable a decomposition of airline performance into "luck" and "ability." Our findings indicate that luck accounts for approximately 38% of the performance difference between Delta and American Airlines in our data. Additionally, we leverage these …

Integrating Computer Science Education And Ethnic-Racial Identity Exploration Within A Social Justice Youth Development Framework, Steven Worker, Fe Moncloa, Vernelle Mitchell-Hawkins

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Understanding Why Youth Depart Early From Summer Camp, Victoria Povilaitis, Robert P. Lubeznik-Warner, Katie Mcgregor-Wheatley

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Development Amidst Psychological Difficulties: Parents As Developmental Assets, Kimia Shirzad, Sunhye Bai, Jennifer P. Agans

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Carbon Emissions On Free Cash Flow And Tobin’S Q Of Publicly Listed Firms In The Asean-5, Norvin Nimiel Gan Dela Cruz, Jose Gabriel Belino Lontoc, Karuna May T. Mansukhani, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Tereso S. Tullao Jr, Krista Yu

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

No abstract provided.

Educational Achievement Inequality In Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (Sea-Plm) 2019 Participating Countries, Francine Ysabel Gangan, Victor Batugal Jr., Aaron Francis R. Sablay, Tereso S. Tullao Jr, Krista Yu

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Distributed Leadership In Education Using Neutrosophic Hypersoft Set, Nouran Ajabnoor

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Leadership in education needs to transcend, be responsive, and be adaptable to the boundaries of school leadership. Distributed leadership refers to various organizational stakeholders with a transformative framework and methodology. This paper proposed a decision-making methodology to evaluate distributed leadership in education based on multiple criteria and alternatives. The multi-criteria decision-making is used to deal with multiple criteria and alternatives. The Multi Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC) approach ranks the alternatives. The neutrosophic set was used to deal with uncertainty and vague information in decision-making problems. This study used the neutrosophic HyperSoft Set. Neutrosophic HyperSoft Set is a new …

The Extended Study Of 2-Refined Neutrosophic Numbers, Yaser Ahmad Alhasan, Florentin Smarandache, Abuobida Alfahal, Raja Abdullah Abdulfatah

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Numerical roots play a crucial role in real or complex equations, as well as in various mathematical models involving differentiation, integration, and other mathematical relationships. In the realm of mathematics, there is a growing trend of utilizing new formulas that incorporate non classical numbers, such as neutrosophic and refined neutrosophic numbers. The objective of this research is to establish precise and comprehensive mathematical procedures for dealing with refined neutrosophic roots within mathematical formulas, be it equations or other mathematical constructs. This paper presents an extensive study on 2-refined neutrosophic numbers, focusing on the square root of a 2-refined neutrosophic real …

Unveiling Uncertainty: Neutrosophic Set-Based Algorithms For Robust Decision-Making, A. A. Salama, Huda E. Khalid, Ahmed G. Mabrouk

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Traditional decision-making methods often struggle with inherent uncertainty and imprecision in data. Neutrosophic set-based algorithms offer a novel approach by incorporating degrees of truth, indeterminacy, and falsity. This paper explores the structure and implementation of these algorithms, highlighting their potential to handle real-world complexities. The application of neutrosophic sets in medical diagnosis is presented as a case study, demonstrating how the algorithm aids in evaluating probabilities for various diagnoses under uncertain conditions. The paper concludes by discussing limitations and potential applications in diverse fields.

Break Or Create: A Manufacturing Industry-Specific Analysis Of The Create Law's Cit Reduction On The Productivity And Investments Of The Publicly Listed Philippine Manufacturing Companies, Jose Quirino Boliver Esguerra, Julia Emmanuelle Quijano, Daniella Marie C. Susana, Christopher James Cabuay, Cesar Rufino

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Agricultural Trade Liberalization On Food Consumption Patterns In The Philippines, Ma. Rafaella T. David, Cara Isabel P. Del Rosario, Kate Alexandra R. Fabro, Rona Mae Paula H. Martin, Mitzie Irene P. Conchada, Caesar Cororaton, Ma. Ella Oplas, Marites Tiongco

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

No abstract provided.

Thai Parents’ Reasons For Sending Their Children To Premium-Fee International Schools: Strategies For Establishing International Schools, Issara Wongcharoensin

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

The study investigates the factors influencing Thai parents’ decisions when selecting international schools in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. It examines how parents’ preferences for educational outcomes shape their choice among UK, US, or IB programs. Key findings reveal that dissatisfaction with Thai public schools drives many families to enroll their children in international schools. These institutions are valued for their supportive community atmosphere, opportunities for foreign college placements, and superior infrastructure. Preferences for different programs reflect distinct priorities: UK programs are preferred for their extracurricular activities, punctuality, and academic reputation; US programs for their emphasis on critical thinking, multiculturalism, and …

Microplastic Extraction From Digestive Tracts Of Large Decapods, Katrina Bornt, Kathryn Linge, Jason How, Simon De Lestang, Renae Hovey, Tim J. Langlois

Fisheries Research Articles

The reliable quantification of microplastic contamination in chitinous organisms requires validated methods to remove interfering complex organic and inorganic material. This study trialled KOH, H2O2 and HNO3 digestion methods on the digestive tracts of two large decapods (Panulirus cygnus and Portunus armatus) to validate a protocol that facilitates reliable microplastic extraction. KOH digestion provided the best recovery (>95 %) of all polymers (e.g. polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride), with the lowest impact to their physical morphology and chemical spectra. While HNO3, and HNO3 + H2O2 treatments were more effective at digesting chitin, they …

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Postoperative Delirium In Elderly: A Meta-Analysis, Siye Xie, Qi Wu

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To review current evidence on using the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) in predicting postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients. Methods: The literature search was performed in core databases to include all the cohort studies on the association between GNRI and risk of POD for further meta-analysis. Results: A total of 6 studies with 4242 patients underwent this meta-analysis, which showed that the risk of POD was higher in patients with moderate and high GNRI than the ones with low GNRI (odds ratio [OR]=2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.58, 2.64], p <0.001), and moderate and high GNRI significantly increased the risk of POD in patients of 60 to 75 years or above [OR=1.98, 95%CI (1.49, 2.62), p <0.001; OR=2.79, 95%CI (1.38, 5.64), p =0.004, respectively]. Conclusion: Therefore, moderate and high GNRI increased the risk of POD in elderly patients.

Electronic Device Usage Among Preschool Children And Its Association With Mental Health Status In Saudi Arabian Kindergartens, Siham O. Al-Mehmadi, Abdulrahman T. Halawani, Mrnan T. Sulaimani, Tamim O. Al-Mehmadi

Saudi Medical Journal

Abstract Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of electronic device usage and its association with mental health status among preschool children aged 3-6 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children aged 3-6 years in kindergartens in Makkah city in 2023-2024, using an electronic questionnaire. An Arabic version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess mental health. Results: We recruited a total of 399 children. The prevalence of electronic device usage was 91.5%. The number of hours spent using electronic devices ranged from 0 to 12 hour (h)/day, with a mean of 3.1 h/day. We found …

Just Maps? Exploring The Development And Use Of Environmental Justice Mapping Tools In The United States, Claire Emrick

Master's Theses and Capstones

The disparate distribution of environmental risks and benefits is well documented in the United States. In response, interactive mapping tools that attempt to represent and address environmental justice (EJ) issues have proliferated in recent years. By synthesizing socioeconomic and environmental data into a user-friendly interface, EJ mapping tools can inform advocacy and policy decisions that benefit disadvantaged communities. Numerous studies have contributed to the development and assessment of the indices and datasets found in these mapping tools, while other articles have highlighted approaches to and lessons learned from single cases of EJ mapping tool development. However, only a few studies …

Design Of An Axial-Flow Tidal Turbine Test Bed And Initial Validation And Performance Testing With 1:5 Scale Mhkf1 Rotor, Megan Nicole Andersen

Master's Theses and Capstones

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) and XFlow Energy jointly designed and built a scale axial-flow turbine (AFT) test bed under the Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) work scope. The test bed was fabricated to fill an infrastructure gap in tidal energy testing equipment at UNH. The combination of rotor size and achievable towing speeds allowed for testing in a regime where turbine performance became independent of Reynolds number effects, while also maintaining reasonable blockage. As a result, data collected from the test bed can be used to predict the performance of full-scale tidal turbines. Results and uncertainty analysis were …

Determining Asphalt Pavement Milling Best Practices Through Enhanced Understanding Of Milling Operations, Kaleigh Miech

Master's Theses and Capstones

Milling of asphalt pavements is a commonly used technique in many cases of maintaining and rehabilitating roadways. That said, implementing these milling operations has potential to cause harm to the layers below the mill line due to it being a relatively high-stress and energy activity. In this study, the impact of milling to the pavement layer directly below the mill line was evaluated for five parameters: the pavement temperature at the time of milling, the amount of time between milling and post-mill overlay construction, the depth of milling relative to the asphalt lift interfaces, the structure of the existing pavement, …