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Improved Whole-Mount Immunofluorescence Protocol For Consistent And Robust Labeling Of Adult Drosophilamelanogaster Adipose Tissue, Rachael K. Ott, Isaiah H. Williams, Alissa R. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

Energy storage and endocrine functions of the Drosophila fat body make it an excellent model for elucidating mechanisms that underlie physiological and pathophysiological organismal metabolism. Combined with Drosophila's robust genetic and immunofluorescence microscopy toolkits, studies of Drosophila fat body function are ripe for cell biological analysis. Unlike the larval fat body, which is easily removed as a single, cohesive sheet of tissue, isolating intact adult fat body proves to be more challenging, thus hindering consistent immunofluorescence labeling even within a single piece of adipose tissue. Here, we describe an improved approach to handling Drosophila abdomens that ensures full access of …

Artificial Carbon Sequestration In Utah, Signee Storrud, Kendall Becker, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that helps keep Earth warm and habitable. But since humans began burning large quantities of fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution, there has been a rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from approximately 280 parts per million in 1750 to more than 420 parts per million in 2024. Natural carbon storage processes have been unable to keep up with humans’ carbon dioxide emissions, and the sudden rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide has led to rapid global warming and climate change. One climate adaptation tool that may help rebalance Earth’s carbon cycle is artificial …

An Interpretable Tree Interaction Model (Tim) For Eastern U.S. Forests: Machine Learning Insights Into Landscape Beta Diversity & Ecosystem Dynamics, George Michael Williford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This thesis presents the development of a novel Tree Interaction Model (TIM), which investigates the interplay of biotic and abiotic factors influencing tree species growth and abundance in Eastern US forests. The TIM merges species importance values, growth metrics, beta diversity components, and environmental variables to address the limitations of previous species distribution models (SDMs), which have concentrated on abiotic drivers of niche. With tree data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, the model applies a Random Forest machine-learning approach, augmented by SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis, to provide interpretable insights into the interactions of various variables and …

A Machine Learning-Driven Approach For Next-Generation Traffic Control System For Autonomous Vehicles, Lokesh Chandra Das

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Traffic congestion is a serious problem in the USA that affects safety, economy, environments, and human lives. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) equipped with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technology is emerging as a viable solution to mitigate traffic congestion. In this dissertation, we propose an advanced traffic control system for autonomous vehicles, utilizing machine learning techniques, to alleviate traffic congestion, and enhance traffic efficiency and safety. The proposed system consists of two key components: an intelligent adaptive cruise control system (ACC) and a cooperative lane-change system. To address the limitations of existing static model-based approaches, we introduce a novel AI-based ACC system that …

Diversity Representation Of Editorial Boards In School Psychology, Sequoya Anita Fitzpatrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

There have been numerous calls in school psychology to evaluate representation across leadership positions in editorial processes. While existing literature provides insights into supporting scholars from marginalized communities in research and publishing, there remains limited study and public awareness of diverse representation on editorial boards in school psychology. To address this gap, three studies in 2023 evaluated major journal boards in the United States. Study 1 analyzed 636 names collected from board websites to estimate the representation of scholars of color, women, and gender minorities. Study 2 surveyed board members to estimate the representation of scholars of color, women, gender …

A Sequential Approach To Estimating Bayesian P-Values Through Simulation Studies, Johnpaul Chiemelie Anamege

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This thesis introduces a novel sequential approach for calculating Bayesian P-values, addressing limitations of traditional frequentist methods. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the properties of sequentially calculated Bayesian P-values under various conditions, comparing them to frequentist counterparts. Our findings demonstrate advantages including incorporation of prior knowledge, continuous evidence measurement, and adaptability to accumulating data. We explore computational challenges, propose optimized algorithms, and address the impact of prior specification, providing guidelines for choosing appropriate priors. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion about P-values in scientific inference and offers a practical framework for researchers adopting Bayesian methods in sequential analyses. …

Hsv+ And Proud: Does Illness Identity Mediate The Relationship Between Genital Herpes Stigma And Well-Being?, Nikolas Forest Priest

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Genital herpes is a common, incurable, sexually transmitted infection that can be accompanied by significant social stigma that is associated with psychological distress, diminished quality of life, and diminished sexual well-being. How people incorporate chronic illnesses into their sense of self can also have significant effects on well-being. The illness identity model attempts to capture identity states that are more or less adaptive in adjusting to a chronic illness (Engulfment, Rejection, Acceptance, and Enrichment), but this model has not been studied in relation to stigmatized identities. The current study assessed if the different illness identity states mediated the relationship between …

The Role Of Cultural Humility, Teacher-Student Relationship Quality, And Academic Grit On Adolescents' Achievement Outcomes, Lauren Elizabeth Fennimore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The current study aimed to serve as an exploratory study, describing the nature of student’s relationships with their teachers, perceived cultural humility of their teachers, and their relation to student outcomes, including academic grit and academic achievement. Surveys were completed by high school students (N=81) at two schools in the Mid-South region of the United States. Results indicated that students most often report skin color, gender, or age as their most salient identity. Students also tended to view their teachers as demonstrating positive cultural humility and having developed trust with students. Across variables, only alienation was significantly correlated with grades, …

Archive-Free Quality-Diversity Optimization Through Diverse Quality Species, Ryan Wickman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

A prevalent limitation of optimizing over a single objective is that it can be misguided, becoming trapped in local optimum. Quality-Diversity (QD) algorithms overcome this limitation by seeking a population of high-quality and diverse solutions to a problem. Most conventional QD approaches, such as MAP-Elites, rely on a behavior archive where solutions are categorized into predefined niches. While promising, these approaches require formulating assumptions on the set of behaviors, metrics for defining the distance between behaviors, and at many times constraining the learned behaviors into a fixed set of bins. In this work, we begin by proposing an alternative to …

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The Impact Of Clinical Genome Sequencing In A Global Population With Suspected Rare Genetic Disease, Erin Thorpe, Taylor Williams, Chad Shaw, Evgenii Chekalin, Julia Ortega, Keisha Robinson, Jason Button, Marilyn C Jones, Miguel Del Campo, Donald Basel, Julie Mccarrier, Laura Davis Keppen, Erin Royer, Romina Foster-Bonds, Milagros M Duenas-Roque, Nora Urraca, Kerri Bosfield, Chester W Brown, Holly Lydigsen, Henry J Mroczkowski, Jewell Ward, Fabio Sirchia, Elisa Giorgio, Keith Vaux, Hildegard Peña Salguero, Aimé Lumaka, Gerrye Mubungu, Prince Makay, Mamy Ngole, Prosper Tshilobo Lukusa, Adeline Vanderver, Kayla Muirhead, Omar Sherbini, Melissa D Lah, Katelynn Anderson, Jeny Bazalar-Montoya, Richard S Rodriguez, Mario Cornejo-Olivas, Karina Milla-Neyra, Marwan Shinawi, Pilar Magoulas, Duncan Henry, Kate Gibson, Samuel Wiafe, Parul Jayakar, Daria Salyakina, Diane Masser-Frye, Arturo Serize, Jorge E Perez, Alan Taylor, Shruti Shenbagam, Ahmad Abou Tayoun, Alka Malhotra, Maren Bennett, Vani Rajan, James Avecilla, Andrew Warren, Max Arseneault, Tasha Kalista, Ali Crawford, Subramanian S Ajay, Denise L Perry, John Belmont, Ryan J Taft

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

There is mounting evidence of the value of clinical genome sequencing (cGS) in individuals with suspected rare genetic disease (RGD), but cGS performance and impact on clinical care in a diverse population drawn from both high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has not been investigated. The iHope program, a philanthropic cGS initiative, established a network of 24 clinical sites in eight countries through which it provided cGS to individuals with signs or symptoms of an RGD and constrained access to molecular testing. A total of 1,004 individuals (median age, 6.5 years; 53.5% male) with diverse ancestral backgrounds …

Biocompatibility Of Mussel-Inspired Water-Soluble Tissue Adhesives, Aishwarya V. Menon, Amelia A. Putnam-Neep, Caitlin E. Brown, Christa J. Crain, Gert Breur, Sanjeev K. Narayanan, Jonathan Wilker, Julie C. Liu

School of Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Wound closure in surgeries is traditionally achieved using invasive methods such as sutures and staples. Adhesion-based wound closure methods such as tissue adhesives, sealants, and hemostats are slowly replacing these methods due to their ease of application. Although several chemistries have been developed and used commercially for wound closure, there is still a need for better tissue adhesives from the point of view of toxicity, wet-adhesion strength, and long-term bonding. Catechol chemistry has shown great promise in developing wet-set adhesives that meet these criteria. Herein, we have studied the biocompatibility of a catechol-based copolymer adhesive, poly([dopamine methacrylamide]-co-[methyl methacrylate]-co-[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl …

Sustainable Development Of Local Livelihoods In Vietnam: A Demand-Driven Approach Through “One Commune, One Product”, Nguyen Thuy Trang, Steven W. Kopp, Vo Hong Tu

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

“One Commune One Product” (OCOP) is a national target program intended to develop the rural economy of Vietnam. The goal of the OCOP program is to identify and promote competitive, marketable products that originate from local and indigenous resources. Since its nationwide implementation in 2018, nearly 5000 OCOP products have been evaluated and certified for OCOP status. The present study interviewed 600 Vietnamese consumers and employed the latent class choice model to investigate the consumers' willingness to pay for OCOP attributes, including the ethical attributes of traceability information, local production, and fair trade, along with the government “star rating” for …

The Impact Of Clinical Genome Sequencing In A Global Population With Suspected Rare Genetic Disease, Arturo Serize, Jorge Perez

All Publications

There is mounting evidence of the value of clinical genome sequencing (cGS) in individuals with suspected rare genetic disease (RGD), but cGS performance and impact on clinical care in a diverse population drawn from both high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has not been investigated. The iHope program, a philanthropic cGS initiative, established a network of 24 clinical sites in eight countries through which it provided cGS to individuals with signs or symptoms of an RGD and constrained access to molecular testing. A total of 1,004 individuals (median age, 6.5 years; 53.5% male) with diverse ancestral backgrounds …

A Staff Education Project For Administration Of Phq-9 To Adult Patients In The Emergency Department, Jessica Leigh Ionno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a global healthcare crisis impacting millions worldwide. In the United States, over 8% of adults experience depression, leading to significant disability and increased healthcare costs. Many individuals with depression seek initial treatment in emergency departments (EDs). This project aims to reduce the burden of depression by training ED nurses to identify at-risk patients early and provide timely interventions and referrals. Benefits include improved patient outcomes, decreased healthcare costs, and social change to address the mental health crisis. Utilizing Malcolm Knowles’ adult learning theory, the project emphasizes collaborative learning relevant to the clinical setting. The partner site is a …

Criminal Justice Practitioners Perceptions On Collateral Consequence Policies Affecting Formerly Incarcerated African American Males, Ronnie Devon Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Formerly incarcerated African American males have a challenging time transitioning back into the community due to invisible barriers that impede their opportunities for successful reintegration. This generic qualitative study aimed to explore criminal justice practitioners' perceptions regarding collateral consequence policies for formerly incarcerated African American males. The theoretical framework for the study was labeling theory, which explained how others stigmatize individuals due to their social and environmental characteristics. The research question guiding this study was how criminal justice practitioners perceived the impact of collateral consequence policies on the successful reintegration of African American males. Ten criminal justice practitioners including probation …

National Narcotics Policy Influence On Youth Substance Abuse In Yendi, Ghana, Imran Abdel-Rahman Gomdah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Possession of small quantities of narcotics for personal use in Ghana could result in years in detention under the Narcotic Drugs Law of 1990, with youth constituting a large number of offenders. The government proposed a drug policy change in 2017 as the prevailing one failed to achieve its goals even with such stringency, resulting in Act 1019’s adoption in May 2020 as a new national drug policy to replace the Narcotic Drugs Law of 1990. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to assess public perception of the impact of the new policy on the incidences of youth …

Case Report: Intrafraction Dose-Guided Tracking For Gastrointestinal Organ-At-Risk Isotoxicity Delivery On An Mr-Guided Radiotherapy System, Sreenija Yarlagadda, Yonatan Weiss, Michael Chuong, Nema Bassiri Gharb, Alonso Gutierrez, Rupesh Kotecha, Minesh Mehta, Kathryn Mittauer

All Publications

In the current era of high-precision radiation therapy, real-time magnetic resonance (MR)-guided tracking of the tumor and organs at risk (OARs) is a novel approach that enables accurate and safe delivery of high-dose radiation. Organ tracking provides a general sense of the need for daily online adaptation but lacks precise information regarding exact dosimetry. To overcome this limitation, we developed the methodology for monitoring intrafraction motion with real-time MR-guided isodose line-based tracking of an OAR in combination with anatomic tumor-based tracking and reported the first case treated with this approach. An isolated para-aortic (PA) nodal recurrence from carcinosarcoma of the …

Histopathology Imaging And Clinical Data Including Remission Status In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Chloe Martin-King, Ali Nael, Louis Ehwerhemuepha, Blake Calvo, Quinn Gates, Jamie Janchoi, Elisa Ornelas, Melissa Perez, Andrea Venderby, John Miklavcic, Peter Chang, Aaron Sassoon, Kenneth Grant

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing annually. Children with IBD often suffer significant morbidity due to physical and emotional effects of the disease and treatment. Corticosteroids, often a component of therapy, carry undesirable side effects with long term use. Steroid-free remission has become a standard for care-quality improvement. Anticipating therapeutic outcomes is difficult, with treatments often leveraged in a trial-and-error fashion. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated success in medical imaging classification tasks. Predicting patients who will attain remission will help inform treatment decisions. The provided dataset comprises 951 tissue section scans (167 whole-slides) obtained from 18 pediatric …

Development And Characterization Of Automated Screen Mesh-Based Microfluidic Device To Perform Continuous Countercurrent Liquid-Liquid Extraction, Quinn Mcculloch

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Continuous Countercurrent Microfluidic Liquid-Liquid Extraction (CC-MLLE) shows tremendous potential to generate large numbers of equilibrium stages of separation in a small footprint, with a minimum of pumping, valving, and phase separation steps. However, CC-MLLE rarely appears in literature because it requires a delicate balance between capillary and hydrodynamic forces for deterministic flow.

This dissertation showcases a patented screen mesh-based CC-MLLE invention that performs stable, long-duration (> 36 hr.), countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction and achieves 37 equilibrium stages within a 38.5 μl internal volume. The device is fabricated from chemically resistant polyetheretherketone plastic, using standard machine shop equipment, a plotting cutter, screen …

Compassionate Care In Elementary General Music Teaching And Learning As A Way To Respond To The World: A Narrative Inquiry, Julia K. Church Hoffman

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

In this narrative inquiry, where stories were the data, three experienced music teachers from one public school district in the southwestern United States shared stories about their experiences as elementary general music teachers. The stories were told through the lens of compassionate care, a perspective that implies a shared experience between teacher and learners (Hendricks, 2018, 2023). The stories, and my interpretation of them, revealed an understanding of elementary general music, a multimodal, fun, school subject, as a vehicle for teaching children how to be kind and respectful humans. Threads that emerged from the stories linked connections between compassionate care, …

P-Adic Quantum Mechanics, The Dirac Equation, And The Violation Of Einstein Causality, Wilson A. Zuniga-Galindo

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

This article studies the breaking of the Lorentz symmetry at the Planck length in quantum mechanics. We use three-dimensional ℘-adic vectors as position variables, while the time remains a real number. In this setting, the Planck length is 1/℘, where ℘ is a prime number, and the Lorentz symmetry is naturally broken. In the framework of the Dirac-von Neumann formalism for quantum mechanics, we introduce a new ℘-adic Dirac equation that predicts the existence of particles and antiparticles and charge conjugation like the standard one. The discreteness of the ℘-adic space imposes substantial restrictions on the solutions of the new …