Life Sciences Commons^™

Role Of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (Pet-Ct) In Evaluation Of Hepato-Cellular Carcinoma, Mona Baz, Ahmed Youssef Kandeel, Mohamed Ali El-Adalany, Dina El-Metwally

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Globally HCC appeared to be the third main reason of mortality associated with cancer.  According to degree of differentiation, HCC can be classified into four grades. PET/CT represents a functional imaging technique that offers metabolic insights into the tumor. It may play a substantial turn in prediction of biological behavior of HCC, predicting tumor grade and presence of microvascular invasion.

Aim of the work:  This work aimed to assess the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in identification of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in predicting its histological grade.

Methods: A total of 52 patients with established HCC were included in …

Clinical Outcomes Of Ultrasound-Guided Tmj Arthrocentesis In Post-Traumatic Internal Derangement: A Prospective Single-Arm Clinical Study, Ahmed Emad Mohamed Ghaly, Nabil Mokhtar Mohammed, Mohamed Radwan Elhadidy, Mohammed Hassan El Fahar

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: The most common condition is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID). common TMJ disorder. It is defined as an abnormal displacement of the articular disc from its normal position relative to the condyle during joint function.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis in patients with post-traumatic internal derangement, the effectiveness of the procedure in reducing pain intensity, improving mandibular range of motion (maximum mouth opening and lateral excursions), decreasing TMJ clicking, and determining the overall clinical success rate over a 6-month follow up period.

Patients and methods: This prospective single-arm non-randomized study was …

Epidemiologic, Clinical And Genetic Characteristics Of Familial Mediterranean Fever In Egyptian Children’S Tertiary Care Center, Ghada Ahmed Elsayed Mgahed, Mayada Sabry Zeid, Ali Sobh, Shaltout A

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited disorder known by recurrent, brief, and self-limiting episodes of fever and serosal inflammation. It is primarily defined by acute inflammatory involvement of serosal membranes, including the pleura, peritoneum, and/or synovial tissues, typically associated by fever. This inflammatory cascade is inherently self-propagating and, if inadequately controlled, may lead to recurrent episodes or sustained inflammatory activity.

Aim of the work: To examine the clinical and demographic characteristics of individuals with childhood- initiation FMF, to determine the prevalence of the most frequent mutations in the FMF-linked gene within this population, and to assess the …

Demographic Characteristics In Patients With Heart Failure And Iron Deficiency, Ahmed Alaa Eldin Abd Elazeem, Abdul Razek Abdul Lateef Maaty, Hanan Ahmed Azzam, Ahmed Mohamed Reda

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is a major and prevalent comorbidity among heart failure (HF) patients. It is associated with poor exercise tolerance, recurrent hospitalization and higher mortality. Studying patients’ demographics helps to determine vulnerable groups to ID, risk factors and associated comorbidities to be considered during screening and management.

Aim of the Work: To study the demographic characteristics of heart failure patients with iron deficiency.

Patients and Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care university hospital at Delta region of Egypt between year 2024 and 2026. Among 117 HF patients, 100 HF patients …

Impact Of Early Injection Laryngoplasty On Voice Outcomes And Quality Of Life In Acute Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis, Abdelrhman Ali Kamal, M El-Kotb, Hemmat Mostafa Baz, Ahmed S. Abdelmeguid

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) leads to glottic insufficiency, resulting in dysphonia, reduced vocal strength, and frequently swallowing difficulties that impair communication and quality of life. Injection laryngoplasty with temporary materials such as hyaluronic acid has been shown to improve voice quality and phonatory function in UVFP patients and may serve as an effective early intervention prior to permanent medialization surgery.

Objective

To assess the impact of early injection laryngoplasty on voice outcomes and voice related quality of life in patients with acute unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Methods

This prospective study included 24 patients with acute UVFP treated with …

Predictors Of Outcomes Of Adult Mandibular Fractures: A Prospective Study., Norhan Yahia El-Henawy, Mohamed Ali Mahgoub, Mohamed Radwan El-Hadidy, Ahmed Hassan El-Sabbagh

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Mandibular fractures not only cause physical disfigurement and functional impairments but also significantly affect the patient’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Predictors are variables that may influence or explain variation in the outcome of mandibular fracture. Aim of work: To evaluate demographic, clinical, radiological, and psychosocial factors associated with early postoperative complications and postoperative depressive symptoms following surgical management of adult mandibular fractures. Methods: A prospective study evaluated patients who will undergo treatment for surgical mandibular fracture/s at Mansoura Emergency Hospital, DK, from August 2023 to July 2024. The patients were assessed by history taking, clinical picture, radiological tools, …

Detection And Quantification Of Spreading Depolarization In Drosophila Melanogaster Using High-Throughput, Wide-Field Brain Imaging, Wolfgang Stein, Allison L. Harris

Faculty publications – Physics

Spreading depolarization (SD) is a ubiquitous neural phenomenon implicated in mammalian neurological disorders including cerebral ischemia, brain death, stroke, brain injury, and migraine, as well as in insect chill coma. During SD, a breakdown of ion homeostasis and a slowly spreading wave of neural depolarization leads to processing deficits, such as sensory disturbances and paralysis. Our protocols introduce high-throughput techniques using wide-field fluorescence brain imaging in Drosophila melanogaster larvae and adults to detect and quantify the spatial and temporal dynamics of SD and its initiation points. Two SD initiation techniques, rapid cooling and pharmacological manipulation, are detailed. The larval protocols …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Combined B-Mode Ultrasound, Color Doppler And Strain Elastography In Assessment Of Cervical And Axillary Lymph Nodes, Marwa Mostafa, Nihal M. Batouty, Amani Ezzat Mousa

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Lymphadenopathy is a common condition caused by many benign and malignant disorders; therefore, determining their nature is important in clinical setting. The objective of research is to assess diagnostic accuracy of B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler, and strain elastography in lymph nodes evaluation with pathological correlation and to determine cut-off value of strain ratio that differentiates benign from malignant nodes.

Methods: All patients underwent ultrasound examination, Doppler study and strain elastography in supine position using a high-frequency probe (6.2-12 MHz). Out of 80 enrolled patients, only 53 were subjected to biopsy from the lymph nodes, then their pathological results …

Short Term Outcome Of Endovenous Microwave Ablation For Treatment Of Small Saphenous Vein Incompetence: A Single Center Experience, Diaa M. Elawady, Mohamed Shetiwy, M Farag Kamel, Tamer Khafagy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using Endovenous Microwave Ablation (EMA) to treat primary small saphenous vein (SSV) incompetence.

Methods: The study was conducted on consecutive limbs with primary SSV incompetence confirmed by Duplex study and had CEAP clinical class C2–C6, between February 2024 and July 2025 at a tertiary referral center. Patients were treated with EMA using the ECO Microwave System Co (Nanjing, China). Primary endpoint included technical success whereas secondary endpoints included post-procedural complications and VCSS changes.

Results: A total of 23 patients and 24 limbs were included. Technical success was achieved in all patients. During …

Physiologic Markers Of Mortality In Acute Valve Syndrome: An Ischemic Physiology Score Stratifies Patient Risk, Omar Saleh, Nicholas J. Valle, Israa Saleh, Raymond Benza, Deepak R. Talreja, Matthew R. Summers

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Acute valve syndrome (AVS) represents a high-risk phenotype of advanced valvular disease with largely uncharacterized risk heterogeneity. We aimed to validate an expanded AVS definition and develop a physiology-dependent risk stratification tool using available clinical markers.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 2380 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis and classified them as AVS (n = 1556) or progressive valvular disease (n = 824). The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. An L2-regularized logistic regression model was developed to predict 1-year mortality using admission laboratory markers and comorbidity burden. Model performance was assessed using nested cross-validation with …

Ultra-Processed Foods And The Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Continuum: Integrating Epidemiological, Multi-Omics, And Translational Evidence, Saiful Singar, Amirhossein Ataei Kachouei, Leandro Lantigua-Somoano, David Manley, Anthony Cardinale, Muhammad Zulfiqah Sadikan, Saurabh Kadyan, Donya Shahamati, Lorena Dias, Amber Wood, Cinthia Chavarria, Sara K. Rosenkranz, Neda S. Akhavan

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome integrates excess adiposity, metabolic dysfunction, kidney impairment, subclinical cardiovascular diseases, and clinical events along a staged continuum that invites unified prevention and treatment. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a complex, high-prevalence exposure that may influence risk across CKM stages through nutrient profiles, additives, processing-induced compounds, and packaging-related contaminants. This review synthesizes epidemiologic, mechanistic, and translational evidence with attention to exposure definition and analytic rigor. We summarize NOVA-based UPF operationalization across dietary assessment tools, highlighting misclassification of mixed dishes, brand heterogeneity, and energy under-reporting, and we propose further examination of energy-adjusted models, calibration, and harmonized metrics. Observational studies consistently …

Antibody-Drug Conjugates Beyond Her2 In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc): Mechanisms, Emerging Targets, And Future Directions, Ahmed Ismail, Akash Desai, George R. Simon, Yanis Boumber

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are a rapidly evolving class of oncology therapeutics that enable precise delivery of potent cytotoxic agents to tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. While HER2-targeted ADCs such as trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in HER2-mutant, Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-Dxd) in EGFR-mutant, and telisotumumab vedotin (Teliso-V) in MET IHC 3+ expressing lung cancer have already established a clinical role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), multiple ADCs targeting alternative antigens, including additional TROP2 ADCs, HER3, MET, CEACAM5, B7-H3, Nectin-4, and others, are now in advanced clinical development. This review synthesizes the current evidence for non-HER2 ADCs in NSCLC, highlighting mechanisms of …

Baseline Lymphopenia Predicts Survival In Ici-Naïve Solid Tumor Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Propensity-Matched Real-World Pan-Cancer Analysis, Ahmed Ismail, Nina Balanchivadze, George R. Simon, Yanis Boumber

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Baseline lymphopenia is common among advanced solid tumors and may influence the efficacy/safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but large real-world evidence is limited. We evaluated the association between baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and clinical outcomes in adults with solid tumors treated with ICIs in routine practice. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX. Adults with solid tumors who received pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or atezolizumab (ICI-Naïve) between January 2015 and June 2026 were included. Baseline ALC was measured within 30 days before first treatment and was classified as lymphopenic (ALC < 1.5 × 10⁹/L) or non-lymphopenic (ALC ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L). Propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 5249 patients per group. The index date was the first immunotherapy date, and outcomes were assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36 months, and 5 years. The primary outcome was 24-month overall survival (OS); secondary outcomes were OS at 6 and 12 months and 6-month risks of healthcare utilization, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and serious infections; and exploratory outcomes included OS at 36 months and 5 years. All outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards models, and risk ratios. Subgroup analysis included OS stratified by solid tumor subtypes and prior lines of therapy. Results: After matching, patients with baseline lymphopenia …

Educational Case: Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Ryan C. Saal, Linnea Lackstrom Westerkam, Cristo A. Carrasco Mendoza, Paul B. George, Christopher J. Sayed

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

[Introduction] The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. For additional information, and a full list of learning objectives for all three competencies, see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acpath.2023.100086.1¹

Objective SK1.1: Pathophysiology of changes in the skin. Describe the pathophysiologic basis for changes in the color, surface texture, swelling, temperature, and sensitivity of skin.

Competency 2: Organ system pathology, Topic: Skin (SK); Learning Goal 1: …

Microplastics, Nanoplastics, And Obesity: Current Evidence And Biological Mechanisms, Maram Albandak, Sanam Rabeeah, Ahmad Mahdi Zahidi, David A. Johnson

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obesity is a rapidly growing global health concern. The pathogenesis is complex and cannot be fully explained by lifestyle factors alone. The increasing attention towards this concern has finally been directed towards environmental contributors which may influence metabolic regulation. Microplastics and nano-plastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have recently been detected in food, drinking water, air, and human biological samples, raising concerns about their potential role in metabolic disorders, including obesity. Chronic exposure to MNPs may interfere with metabolic homeostasis through multiple biological pathways. Emerging evidence, including both experimental and animal studies, reports alterations in lipid metabolism, body weight, …

Drug-Induced Lichen Planus Associated With Ocrelizumab, Avery Seward, John D. Strickley, Jeffrey P. Callen

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

This case report highlights recurrent cutaneous lichen planus as a rare adverse effect of ocrelizumab, with flares occurring after each infusion and improving with prophylactic prednisone. Recognizing this association may help clinicians diagnose and manage similar cases while allowing patients to continue an otherwise effective therapy.

Environmental Engineers Develop Solutions To Problems Of Planetary Health: The Legacy Of Professor P. Aarne Vesilind, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The principal ethical obligation of the engineering profession, to "hold paramount the health, safety, and welfare of the public," has been challenged for decades. Professor P. Aarne Vesilind identified two primary deficiencies: an anthropocentric bias that values nature only instrumentally and the use of non-mandatory, aspirational language for environmental protection, which resulted in the exclusion of enforceable environmental canons. This paper argues that two recent developments provide a comprehensive response to Vesilind's recommendations for engineering ethics. First, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has redefined environmental engineering as "developing solutions to problems of planetary health." Second, Oerther proposed a …

Physical Activity Among Active-Duty Us Military Servicemembers With Overweight And Obesity, Natalie M. Yarish, Jessica L. Morse, Jennalee S. Wooldridge, Erin E. Dooley, Niloofar Afari

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Background

To examine physical activity (PA) among US military servicemembers (SM) with overweight and obesity (OW/OB) and if they meet Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG). To assess differences in PA by sex and associations between PA and body composition.

Methods

PA duration and intensity were objectively collected via accelerometers and self-reported daily average via self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) among US active-duty SM (n=113, 58% female, Mean BMI = 33.3 ± 3.9 kg/m2). Sex, body mass index (BMI), and body fat % (BF% via circumference and an equation) were measured. Accelerometer PA and sedentary time were computed for IPAQ categories …

Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review, Ian P. Winter, Paul Sarac, Patrick B. Wilson

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Sodium bicarbonate positively impacts performance, but its associated gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) may limit use. This systematic review synthesized literature that has evaluated GIS with sodium bicarbonate supplementation. Literature searches were performed from February 2024-March 2026. Eligible studies provided ≥ 5 g of sodium bicarbonate within a 24-h period or, if a multi-day protocol, at least one day involving ≥ 5 g. Included studies had a placebo group/condition or a comparison group/condition that created a contrast related to delivery method, form, or dose. In total, 101 investigations were summarized in six categories: acute single dosing (n = 35); acute spread dosing …

Wearable Sensor-Based Phase Segmentation Analysis Of Front Crawl Swimming: A Scoping Review, Jonathan Simoes, Samuel Aylward, Daniel Hamze, Daniel James Goble, Daniel M. Russell, Joshua Haworth

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Front crawl swimming stroke phase segmentation has historically relied on video analysis, but the development of wearable sensor technology has created new opportunities for automated phase segmentation. This scoping review mapped the available evidence on wearable sensor-based stroke phase segmentation methods in front crawl swimming, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search of SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore conducted from January to June 2026, identified 15 eligible peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024. The review revealed an emerging field of research that has converged methodologically around inertial measurement units (IMUs) and the Chollet phase segmentation framework while remaining …

Depemokimab: A Twice Yearly Anti-Il 5 Biologic For Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (Crswnp) - A Narrative Review, Marn Joon Park, Joseph K. Han, Kent K. Lam

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Depemokimab is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-5 with enhanced binding affinity and an extended terminal elimination half‑life of 6-8 weeks. The unique pharmacodynamic features of depemokimab enable sustained suppression of type 2 inflammation with twice‑yearly subcutaneous dosing. This narrative review provides details of depemokimab's molecular profile, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics and results regarding the clinical efficacy and safety of depemokimab from recently published Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). In 528 severe adult CRSwNP patients (ANCHOR‑1/‑2 trials), depemokimab achieved Δ total endoscopic nasal polyp score by -0.70 (p <  .001) and Δ nasal obstruction verbal response scale by -0.24 (p = .003) at week 52, compared to placebo. Twice‑yearly 100 mg depemokimab provides durable eosinophil suppression and with a safety profile comparable to placebo in Phase 3 trials for CRSwNP. Future work should refine biomarkers and assess comparative cost‑effectiveness and long‑term adherence, safety, and effectiveness.

Molecular Detection Of Campylobacter Spp. In Filth Flies Associated With Broiler Breeder Facilities In Oklahoma And Arkansas, Allen Szalanski

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Adult filth flies (Diptera: Muscidae) (non-biting flies that develop in decaying organic matter) are abundant in poultry facilities and may contribute to the dissemination of pathogenic Campylobacter spp. among flocks. We sampled adult house flies, Musca domestica L., and black dump flies, Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann), at five broiler-breeder farms in Oklahoma and Arkansas to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. vectored by filth flies and the effects of farm, fly species, and location (inside vs outside houses) on the rates of Campylobacter spp. occurrence. A total of 1,076 house flies and 1,008 black dump flies were collected inside and outside …

Biochemical Investigations Of F420-Dependent Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase From Cryptosporangium Arvum, Sarah T. Al-Noubani

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

F₄₂₀-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (FGD) catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to 6-phosphogluconolactone using the deazaflavin, Cofactor F₄₂₀. FGD from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been investigated due to its health relevance to prodrug activation. More recently, FGD from Cryptosporangium arvum (Cryar- FGD) has been investigated due to its broader substrate specificity toward multiple sugar phosphates. Kinetic and NMR studies have shown that Cryar-FGD has dual catalytic activity as a dehydrogenase and isomerase. Further investigations are being conducted on Cryar-FGD to characterize key residues involved in catalysis.

To investigate the catalytically active residues of Cryar-FGD, …

Improving Antibiotic Prescribing For Urinary Tract Infections In Urgent Care Centers, Alexis Alastanos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections that require antibiotic therapy. Providers working in three urgent care clinics located in Eastern West Virginia diagnosis and treat UTIs based on their clinical judgement. Variability in clinical judgement results in inappropriate antibiotic use which has implications on antibiotic resistance and the financial burden of the patients as well as the entire organization.

Evidence Review: A total of 10 articles were evaluated to support the implementation of antibiotic stewardship initiatives that provide guidance in caring for this population. Interventions include electronic health record enhancements, provider education, and tracking …

Survival, Cause-Specific Mortality, Resource Selection, Movement Rates, And Population Dynamics Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) In West Virginia, Usa, Brett P. Skelly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are one of the most culturally and economically important big game species in the United States. At the turn of the 20th century white-tailed deer were almost extirpated due to market hunting and unsustainable forestry practices that destroyed habitat. The creation of game laws that eliminated market hunting and created seasons and bag limits for deer hunting along with restocking efforts by sportsmen’s groups and state wildlife agencies aided in deer population recovery. These efforts have led to the abundant deer populations that are currently enjoyed by hunters and wildlife viewers. Deer populations require …

An Assessment Of Disease Risks, Population Genetics, And Spatial Ecology Of Appalachian Cottontails (Sylvilagus Obscurus) And Snowshoe Hares (Lepus Americanus) In West Virginia, Usa, Madison Leigh Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) occupy a large range across the United States and Canada. While snowshoe hare populations are generally considered stable in the interior of their range, populations along range edges are experiencing declines, possibly driven by climate-related factors such as seasonal coat color mismatch. West Virginia represents one of the southernmost extents of the species’ range, yet little is known about the population genetic status or population sizes of snowshoe hares in the state. Appalachian cottontails (Sylvilagus obscurus) are another lagomorph species found in West Virginia. This species experienced a historical decline and currently …

Technology-Driven Approaches For Invasive Species Detection And Management, Kushal Naharki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Invasive species pose significant ecological, economic, and management challenges globally. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata) are widespread invasive plants across the eastern United States and present persistent challenges, particularly in remote and inaccessible landscapes. Effective management of these species requires an integrated approach that combines early detection, targeted intervention, public engagement, and spatial modeling. This dissertation used emerging technologies to improve invasive species detection, monitoring, and management.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based platforms equipped with optical sensors were used to establish …

Does Diverse Seeding Adoption Reduce Production Costs? The Case Of Diverse Forage Seeding Strategies In West Virginia., Ivan Andres Wong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Feed and harvested forage represent a major share of production costs in Appalachian cow-calf systems, where a pronounced summer forage gap forces producers to rely on purchased hay. This thesis evaluates whether adopting diverse forage seeding strategies reduces production costs relative to the existing pasture management practice, accounting for the spatial heterogeneity of West Virginia’s production environments. The analysis proceeds in two steps. First, an unsupervised K-means clustering of 14 farms enrolled in the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant field trial groups the farms into two agroclimatic clusters, Highland-Cool and LowlandWarm, using elevation, growing-season Growing Degree Days, growing-season precipitation, and soil …

Dielectrophoretic Biomarkers For Cancer Detection And Cell Analysis: Integrating Microfluidics And Ai, Raphael Olumide Oladokun

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a five-year survival rate of 13%, driven largely by late-stage diagnosis and the absence of sensitive noninvasive screening tools. Current diagnostic methods lack the sensitivity to detect disease-associated systemic changes at early and precancerous stages, representing a critical clinical gap. This dissertation addresses the central hypothesis that PDAC and its pathological subtypes induce measurable, disease-associated electrophysiological changes in circulating PBMCs that can serve as correlative liquid-biopsy biomarkers. To test this hypothesis, this work asks: can dielectrophoresis (DEP), impedance and zeta potential analysis with AI-assisted classification distinguish benign pancreatic conditions (non-malignant control), precancerous lesions (primarily IPMNs), …

Macroinvertebrate Response To Two Highway Construction Projects In West Virginia, Brenden Nauman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Highway development and construction are frequently required to provide efficient transportation for an increasing human population. Specific to the Appalachian region, highway development has been a major goal since the mid 1900’s, with the aim of promoting economic growth and ease of travel. While highways provide necessary services to humans, their construction and presence often impact nearby waterways through multiple mechanisms including sedimentation and urbanization. To understand the degree of impact, streams are often monitored using biological data, which can be used to quantify effects. In this work I used freshwater macroinvertebrate communities to monitor changes in stream health surrounding …