Plant Introduction
Not a member yet
60263 research outputs found
Sort by
Evaluation of Statin Use, Drug Interactions, and their Associations with Lipid Changes in People with HIV
No full textPeople with HIV (PWH) have a greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population. Managing cholesterol levels with medications known as statins (hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) effectively prevents CVD by reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and certain systemic inflammation indices.This dissertation utilizes data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)/Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) to 1) estimate the prevalence of statin use among PWH, compare it with people without HIV (PWOH), and evaluate the factors affecting statin use for both PWH and PWOH; 2) evaluate the association between statin use and LDL changes at follow-up and determine whether this association differs between PWH and PWOH; and 3) evaluate the longitudinal association between statin use (and types) and LDL changes over time among PWH, and examine the interactions between statins and antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens in relation to LDL changes over time.We found that the prevalence of statin use was 39% (95% CI: 36–42%) among PWH and 37% (95% CI: 33–42%) among PWOH. After accounting for confounders, PWH were more likely to use statins than PWOH. Among PWH only, non-Hispanic Black adults were less likely to use statins than non-Hispanic white adults. Furthermore, statin users were more likely to meet a ≥30% LDL reduction goal than non-users and this association was not moderated by HIV status. Also, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were associated with the lowest LDL levels over time, and we observed lower LDL levels over time for atorvastatin users on protease inhibitor-based therapy compared to atorvastatin users on integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based therapy.This dissertation, based on real-world data, emphasizes that while the use and effectiveness of statins for achieving desired LDL outcomes may be comparable between PWH and PWOH, significant racial/ethnic differences exist. The findings provide insights that can inform preventive cardiovascular care for people with HIV receiving ART
Psychological and Behavioral Pathways from School Bullying to Adolescent Obesity in Florida
No full textBackground: Adolescent bullying is a prevalent issue that may contribute to long-term health risks, including obesity. This study aimed to examine how school bullying relates to adolescent BMI percentile and to identify the psychological and behavioral pathways that mediate this association.Methods: We used a representative sample of Florida high school students from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS). A multi-step analytic framework was applied, including LASSO regression with survey weights to identify candidate mediators, followed by a total effect model to assess significant predictors of body mass index percentile (BMI%). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to validate latent constructs, and structural equation modeling (SEM) estimated direct and indirect effects within a causal mediation framework.Results: Structural equation modeling revealed that bullying was significantly associated with mental distress (β = 0.23), risk behaviors (β = 0.49), and body dissatisfaction (β = 0.66). The final model demonstrated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.814, RMSEA = 0.066) and explained 34.2% of the variance in adolescent BMI percentile. These findings support a multi-pathway framework linking school bullying to obesity through psychological and behavioral mechanisms. Conclusions: Bullying contributes to adolescent obesity through distinct psychological and behavioral mechanisms. Prevention efforts should target not only bullying behaviors but also the underlying mental health and body image concerns that link victimization to physical health outcomes. Policy reforms, including weight-based protections and school-based mental health services, are needed to address these interconnected risks
A Passive Acoustic Approach to Studying Rice’s Whales (Balaenoptera ricei) in the Gulf of Mexico: Detection, Sound Propagation, and Call Density Estimation
No full textCritically endangered Rice’s whales (Balaenoptera ricei) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico rank among the most vulnerable marine mammals, with their population estimated at fewer than 100 individuals. Effective conservation and management of this species require accurate, year-round monitoring of their distribution, density, and habitat use. This work presents a comprehensive suite of methodologies addressing these challenges. First, I developed the first automated deep learning detectors for Rice’s whale vocalizations, significantly improving detection precision and efficiency over traditional spectrogram cross-correlation methods. Using an extensive dataset collected over multiple years, these detectors enable faster processing of large passive acoustic datasets critical for long-term monitoring. Building on this foundation, I modeled site-specific acoustic propagation conditions across an 18-element sparse hydrophone array deployed within the species' core distribution area to quantify spatiotemporal variation in call detectability and normalize call detections. This approach provided improved understanding of intra-annual shifts in Rice’s whale distribution and habitat use while accounting for environmental variability affecting call detectability. Finally, I applied spatial capture-recapture techniques to passive acoustic data to generate the first relative estimates of Rice’s whale call density across time, laying groundwork to potentially use passive acoustic recordings for future abundance estimation. Together, these advancements provide a robust scientific basis for informing mitigation strategies, regulatory protections, and recovery planning for Rice’s whales.</p
Regulating CD8 T Cell Exhaustion via MiR-29a and Anti-PD-1
No full textCD8 T cells mediate protective immune responses. However, persisting antigens such as chronic viruses or tumors redirect CD8 T cell differentiation to a suboptimal state called exhaustion. Exhausted T cells (TEX) lose their ability to persist long-term and initiate functional memory responses. Checkpoint blockade temporarily restores effector functions, but reinvigoration is not long-lasting. We recently demonstrated that microRNA-29a (miR-29a) attenuates exhaustion and promotes progenitor TEX. Therefore, we hypothesized that miR-29a epigenetically re-directs TEX differentiation and synergizes with checkpoint blockade. Indeed, we found that miR-29a epigenetically altered TEX and resulted in the differentiation of durable, persisting progenitor TEX with increased effector function upon aPD-1 blockade. Thus, combining ectopic expression of miR-29a with aPD-1 promoted T cell stemness while enhancing functional effector responses. Together, we suggest that miR-29a epigenetically reprograms TEX and promotes long-term persisting, functional CD8 T cell responses in response to checkpoint inhibitors.We further investigated whether miR-29a modulated already differentiated TEX. Conditional overexpression of miR-29a at late stage of chronic infection promoted the expansion of progenitor-like T cells, and the phenotypic changes induced by miR-29a were stably maintained over time, suggesting that miR-29a has potential to rewire established TEX. To further explore the translational potential of miR-29a, an anti-PD-1-miR-29a conjugate was generated and shown to deliver miR-29a to PD-1+ T cell in vitro. Although the effects of the conjugate in vivo were modest, these findings provide a proof of concept that targeted miR-29a delivery may regulate TEX and represent a feasible approach for therapeutic development.Collectively, this dissertation elucidates how miR-29a and aPD-1 blockade cooperatively reprogram CD8 T cell exhaustion, offering mechanistic insight and translational potential for enhancing sustained anti-viral and anti-tumor immune responses
Situating Emotion Within a Predictive Mind: Neural Dynamics Underlying a Naturalistic Emotional Experience
No full textEmotions signal elements of the environment that we should address, and critically, experiences that we should learn from. Despite considerable efforts and a proliferation of methods for analyzing and interpreting fine-grained patterns of functional brain activity (i.e., neural signatures), the specific neural bases of emotion remain unclear, which renders a vague understanding how subjective emotional experience emerges and influences processing and learning from ongoing experience. Whereas common approaches to this question search for neural signatures of emotion in brief ‘snapshots’ of brain activity (i.e., brain states) following emotional stimuli, we draw from the theory of predictive processing and test whether the magnitude of naturalistic emotion is instead represented in spatiotemporal trajectories between brain states – that is, the way brain activity unfolds over time. The present study uses neural event segmentation to identify meaningful states of neural activity during a naturalistic, unstructured, and highly impactful emotional experience: receiving grades on real-world University exams. 40 participants completed functional brain scans while anticipating and viewing their grades on major Chemistry exams (4 exams per participant; 160 exams total). The proposed analyses will 1) identify the neural regions that encode the onset of emotional events and characterize their temporal dynamics during ongoing emotional experience, 2) investigate whether the brain encodes features of emotional stimuli via neural signatures or spatiotemporal trajectories, and 3) whether neural states underlying highly individualized emotional experiences reoccur over time, potentially reflecting recurrent or generalized emotional contents of one’s experience. These analyses promise to clarify the neural architecture that subserves emotion and shed light on the reciprocal influences between emotion and expectations during learning.</p
Unwelcome Fruit of Inequity: A Critical Examination of Systemic Barriers to Black Student Retention at Predominately White Institutions
No full textThis study examines how legacy admissions, culturally biased standardized testing, and the underrepresentation of Black faculty create systemic barriers that hinder the retention of Black students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Guided by Critical Race Theory, Validation Theory, and Community Cultural Wealth, the research explains how these factors shape Black students’ experiences and contribute to inequities in persistence and graduation. The study reviews literature on institutional racism, equity-centered leadership, and culturally sustaining practices, identifying how these issues intersect with PWI policies, campus climate, and faculty representation. It also considers how institutional responses such as test-optional admissions, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive pedagogies shape students’ sense of belonging, academic validation, and retention. Because college leaders influence institutional environments, this dissertation develops a race-conscious, equity-centered training curriculum to guide administrators, faculty, and staff in implementing meaningful structural and cultural change. Findings show that admissions practices like legacy preferences and standardized testing function as racialized filters that disadvantage Black students, while low representation of Black faculty limits access to culturally relevant mentorship and affirming learning environments. Test-optional policies broadened access but did not improve retention without sustained investment in culturally responsive supports. Institutions adopting HBCU-informed models, culturally responsive mentoring, or collaborative pedagogies demonstrated stronger retention, whereas race-neutral or symbolic reforms yielded limited progress. Overall, comprehensive, leadership-driven structural change and continued use of CRT, Validation Theory, and Community Cultural Wealth can guide PWIs in fostering equity, belonging, and academic success for all students. </p
The Story of Sickness: Improving Children’s Sick Face Perception
No full textChildren are vulnerable to disease, yet are poor at recognizing and avoiding sickness. We recruited 5- to 9-year-olds (N=120, 38% female, 60% White, 48% Hispanic/Latine) to test whether children’s sickness sensitivity is malleable and can be improved through training. Children randomly assigned to engage in a game-based disease training, compared to a control group, when trying to determine facial health, looked more equally at sick and healthy faces and reported using facial features of lassitude (e.g., drooping eyelids) more. The trained children also had higher disgust sensitivity and showed stronger sickness avoidance accuracy. However, we did not find strong evidence of younger children benefiting more from training than older children, as we hypothesized. These findings suggest that children’s sickness sensitivity may be malleable. Developing interventions for children’s pathogen avoidance, that account for the flexibility of children’s disease detection system, may reduce disease transmission and improve public health. </p
Reprogramming CD8 T Cell Metabolic Fitness Using MicroRNA-29a to Enhance CAR T Cell Function
No full textCAR T cell immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, yet low persistence and progressive T cell exhaustion continue to limit durable clinical responses. In a mouse model of chronic LCMV, we recently demonstrated that microRNA-29a overexpression (miR-29aOE) attenuates exhaustion and promotes long-term persistence of antigen-specific CD8 T cells, while retaining their effector functions. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that miR-29aOE T cells are enriched for gene signatures linked to favorable clinical responses to CAR T therapy and enhanced metabolic programs, including fatty-acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, miR-29a-deficient T cells displayed diminished spare respiratory capacity and mitochondrial content, underscoring a central role for miR-29a in maintaining metabolic fitness. These findings led us to hypothesize that miR-29aOE could bolster CAR T-cell persistence and amplify anti-tumor potency. To test this hypothesis, we incorporated miR-29a into second-generation CAR T constructs and evaluated their performance in murine lymphoma models. The results revealed that miR-29a-engineered CAR T cells exhibited superior metabolic capacity pre-infusion, and enhanced post-infusion survival, tumor burden and persistence of tumor infiltrating CAR T cells. These findings establish miR-29a as a promising molecular lever for improving the longevity and efficacy of CAR T cell therapies. </p
Supramolecular Control of Photochemical Reactions and Chemical Equilibria in Confined Media
No full textThis dissertation explores the manipulation of molecular behavior within confined spaces using various supramolecular hosts (octa acid, cucurbiturils, cyclodextrins, palladium nanocage). The research demonstrates how confinement influences chemical equilibria by selectively shifting dynamic covalent reactions towards monomeric forms through size-selective recognition and preserving complex equilibria within larger cavities. Furthermore, it showcases successful co-encapsulation strategies for energy storage applications (MOST) and charge transfer complexes, highlighting the crucial role of host cavity dimensions in controlling guest interactions and access. This work advances supramolecular chemistry by establishing design principles for molecular recognition and offering pathways towards selective separations and functional devices.</p
The Influence of Public Relations on Public Perception of Forever Chemicals in Response to the Release of the Film “Dark Waters”
No full textConcerns about the health consequences of industrial pollution have been steadily rising, particularly regarding per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals." Historically, films have influenced public discourse on such environmental issues, bringing widespread attention to the dangers of toxic industrial practices. This thesis presents a qualitative content analysis of the public relations efforts surrounding the release of the 2019 film Dark Waters and their influence on public discourse and regulatory action related to PFAS. The study explores two intersecting PR strategies: the filmmakers’ advocacy-driven communication campaign, which was inductively coded to identify emergent themes, and DuPont’s crisis communication response, analyzed through the lens of Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). The research findings suggest that the PR efforts significantly influenced public discourse, contributing to increased media coverage, grassroots activism, and regulatory scrutiny of PFAS. This research underscores the role of strategic communication in shaping environmental narratives and driving policy change. </p