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Investigating Lipid-siRNA Transport and Gene Silencing Activity in the Rodent Central Nervous System
No full textThe clinical neurosciences are in the midst a resurgence spurred by the development of new therapeutic modalities. Short interfering RNAs (siRNA) in particular are gaining clinical traction owing to their ability to mediate selective and sustained gene inhibition. Now, a key objective in this quest of developing disease modifying therapies for neurodegenerative disorders is to get siRNA to specific sites and cells in the brain. Direct injection into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the most common route of administration, however, the limited interface between CSF and brain parenchyma poses a considerable challenge for achieving therapeutic effects beyond the superficial layers of the brain. As such, the overarching objective of this dissertation is to enhance delivery to deep brain structures using lipid-siRNA conjugates injected into CSF. We investigated how lipid conjugate structure influences CSF to brain transport mechanisms, regional gene silencing, and cell-specific knockdown. After identifying a suitable candidate in mice, the goal of aim two was to deeply characterize this compound after intrathecal delivery in rats, a model that closely mimics administration in humans. To determine if this construct is truly the most effective, the final aim investigates how structural properties such as linker length and lipid valency influence delivery and knockdown after rat intrathecal injection. Collectively, this work examined properties of lipid-siRNA conjugates that facilitate CSF to brain delivery and generated a promising platform for silencing genes implicated in CNS disorders
Probing Scalars, Vectors, Vector-Like Quarks, Supersymmetry, and Jet Quenching at the Large Hadron Collider
No full textA model based on a U(1)T 3 R extension of the Standard Model can address the mass hierarchy between generations of fermions, explain thermal dark matter abundance, and the muon g − 2, R(D), and R(D∗) anomalies. The model contains a light scalar boson φ and a heavy vector-like quark χu that can be probed at CERN’s large hadron collider (LHC). We perform a phenomenology study on the production of φ and χu particles from proton–proton (pp) collisions at the LHC at √s = 13.6 TeV, primarily through g−g and t−χu fusion. We work under a simplified model approach and directly take the χu and φ masses as free parameters. We perform a phenomenological analysis considering χu final states to b-quarks, muons, and neutrinos, and φ decays to μ+μ−. A machine learning algorithm is used to maximize the signal sensitivity, considering an integrated luminosity of 3000 fb−1. The proposed methodology can be a key mode for discovery over a large mass range, including low masses, traditionally considered difficult due to experimental constraints.College of Arts and ScienceDepartment of Physics and Astronom
Improving Management of Type 2 Diabetes in a Rural Clinic: Evaluating a Clinician-Led Knowledge Assessment Tool
No full textSchool of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice Program ProjectPURPOSE:
The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24) in improving ability of clinicians to identify knowledge gaps in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) management and enhance patient education in a rural clinical setting. The project aimed to assess provider confidence, adherence to evidence-based guidelines, and engagement in structured diabetes education.
METHODS:
A quality improvement initiative was conducted at a rural clinic, Cline Family Medicine, using Kirkpatrick’s Four-Level Evaluation Model. Three clinicians (one nurse practitioner and two physicians assistants) participated in a four-week intervention period. The DKQ-24 tool was implemented and a post-assessment conducted via REDCap surveys. The evaluation framework assessed provider feedback, knowledge acquisition, behavioral changes, and patient impact.
RESULTS:
Clinicians reported increased confidence in T2DM management following DKQ-24 implementation. Survey responses indicated improved adherence to evidence-based guidelines and greater engagement in structured diabetes education. Positive qualitative feedback supported the usability and effectiveness of the tool. Limitations included a small sample size (n=3), a short study period (4 weeks), and potential bias due to self-reported data.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:
Findings suggest that the DKQ-24 is a valuable tool for enhancing provider knowledge and improving T2DM management in a rural clinical setting. Long-term integration of the DKQ-24 into clinic workflows and electronic medical record systems could further enhance efficiency. Additional research is needed to assess the tool’s long-term impact on patient health outcomes and investigate implementation barriers, such as provider burden, patient engagement, and EMR integration of the DKQ-24 into practice. Future investigations should include expanding the project to additional rural clinical settings and securing funding for sustained implementation
Ethnic-Racial Identity in Youth: Developing Civic Engagement
No full textEthnic-racial identity (ERI) is an important developmental asset that young people of color must reconcile for positive development. ERI is a broad multidimensional construct that incorporates people’s beliefs and attitudes regarding their identification with an ethnic-racial group. ERI has been conceptualized as comprising several components, we focus on: resolution, exploration, and private regard. Emerging research highlights that ethnic-racial identity promotes civic engagement and may explain how youth of color overcome marginalizing social environments in their lives. In grappling with their identity, racially marginalized youth may learn to see the world critically––encouraging civic engagement. Culturally relevant pedagogy is associated with positive ERI, yet there is little research that explores the links between culturally relevant pedagogy, ERI, and civic engagement.
This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between ERI and civic engagement among youth enrolled in ethnic studies. Analysis of quantitative survey data from 459 students enrolled in a school district in Southern California revealed a positive significant association between ERI exploration and resolution with civic engagement outcomes. This study highlights the potential impacts of culturally relevant pedagogy on student civic engagement outcomes and its implications of diversity in policy creation
Designing Tools to Support Advanced Computing Topics in K-12 Classrooms
No full textDespite the growing importance of distributed computing, embedded systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT), these topics are rarely taught in K-12 education. Traditional tools for introducing these branches of computer science are often too complex and/or require costly and delicate hardware that many schools cannot afford to purchase and maintain. As a result, K-12 students have limited opportunities to engage with these advanced computing concepts in a hands-on, accessible way. This dissertation introduces three educational tools designed to address these challenges. NetsBlox32 is a low-cost IoT-enabled microcontroller platform that integrates with NetsBlox, an existing block-based programming environment focused on accessible distributed computing, allowing students to build and program networked embedded systems using simple block-based abstractions. PhoneIoT is a free mobile app which turns students’ own smartphones into interactive IoT devices which can be accessed through NetsBlox, providing a familiar and accessible entry point to networked sensing. Finally, PyBlox is a transitional platform which allows students to smoothly “graduate” out of block-based programming into text-based programming in Python while still retaining all of NetsBlox’s simple and accessible distributed computing abstractions, as well as many of the features and affordances of modern block-based programming. By leveraging various aspects such as visual programming, intuitive design, and low-cost hardware, these tools lower the barrier to advanced computing topics, making them more accessible and engaging for K-12 students
Emmanuel Bar Shahhare’s Hexaemeron: An Edition and Translation of the Third Mēmrā with Commentary on the Fall of Angels
No full textThe present thesis attempts to introduce and study a Syriac text known as the Book of the Six Days, or Hexaemeron, written by the 10th-century East Syrian poet Emmanuel Bar Shahhare. This thesis focuses on the third homily (mēmrā), which includes interpretation of the events of the first day of creation. The thesis consists of two main parts. The first part, composed of three chapters, provides an introduction to the text and an analysis of its content. The first chapter offers a general discussion of Emmanuel’s place within the broader tradition of Christian hexaemeral literature, and the second chapter explores the text’s main exegetical themes, including the creation of light, the creation of angels, their number, their hierarchy, and the story of their fall. The third chapter offers an analysis of one of the key themes of the homily: the story of the fall of angels. Primarily aiming to identify the sources the authors relied on to shape his interpretation of the story, this chapter compares Emmanuel’s version of the story of angels’ fall with the works of earlier Syriac poets, Ephrem, Narsai, and Jacob of Serugh, and also a Syriac text known as the Cave of Treasures. The fourth chapter introduces the manuscripts that have been used for the edition, and finally, the two chapters of the second part offer an edition of the Syriac text of the homily, along with an English translation
Prioritizing Rural Communities for Reasonably Achievable Emissions Reductions
No full textThe years 2020 to 2025 represent an inflection point in making and unmaking federal climate and energy policy. In less than five years, the United States enacted its most ambitious climate and energy legislation, allocating hundreds of billions of dollars toward increased energy efficiency, rapid adoption of renewable energy technologies, and investments centered on environmental justice. Following these actions, a new administration froze funds, cut justice-centered programs, and began the process of exiting the Paris Climate Agreement. In light of the ever-shifting administrative landscape, this dissertation examines how communities, particularly rural ones, can be prioritized throughout the energy transition. Employing three case studies, I explore the significance of behavioral plasticity (BP), initiative feasibility (IF), and technical potential (TP) in developing effective climate and energy governance. This manuscript-style dissertation combines qualitative and quantitative data to investigate how we can learn from young conservatives to depolarize climate conversations, serve low-income Latinx households in energy efficiency programs, and navigate access to local, state, and utility-level household incentive programs amid political uncertainty. The findings indicate several opportunities for community-defined decarbonization that could be implemented to forge a more sustained, meaningful, and pragmatic path forward
Early Success Scholars: Bridging the Gap to College Degree Attainment for Underrepresented Students in Michigan State’s College of Education
No full textLeadership and Learning in Organizations capstone projectThe Early Success Scholars (ESS) Program at Michigan State University is a summer bridge program that provides critical academic and social support for underrepresented students in the College of Education. The program, however, is currently limited in scale, reaching only a fraction of the students who could benefit from its services. Limited resources and a lack of program awareness have hindered its expansion. Without a clear strategy for growth, many potential beneficiaries remain underserved. Additionally, the program has not collected any qualitative or quantitative data to date on current and previous cohorts regarding personal development, social integration, persistence in the College of Education, and long-term career outcomes. This study aimed to develop strategies for expanding the ESS Program and to create a comprehensive framework to track academic and holistic student success measures to assess the program's effectiveness in achieving its intended outcomes, such as participants completing their degrees or obtaining jobs in urban schools. We collected data through a combination of surveys and interviews with key stakeholders, as well as a thorough review of literature around summer bridge programs, which enabled us to offer recommendations for improving current marketing strategies and sustaining contact with former ESS participants. We additionally uncovered findings around program conflation and diverging perspectives of purpose which led to supplementary program improvement recommendations
Keeping the Charge: The Energizing Effect of Rewards & Recognition on Faculty in Independent Schools
No full textLeadership and Learning in Organizations capstone projectHow can recognition and reward strategies help retain independent school educators? Drawing on original data from our 2025 NAIS Faculty Survey on Reward and Recognition, this paper explores how school leaders can leverage non-monetary strategies to reduce emotional labor and improve faculty retention. We highlight national reward and recognition practices, emotional labor concerns, and motivation trends, offering practical, evidence-based steps to strengthen culture and mitigate attrition. Ultimately, the goal of this paper is to provide actionable strategies for creating and implementing effective reward and recognition systems
Budget Struggles: Public Goods and the Fight for Economic Democracy in Nashville, TN
No full textThis dissertation examines contemporary struggles over municipal budgeting and the questions they raise about the political, economic, and racial determinants of public goods in the 21st century. Since 2020, nationwide calls for people’s budgets, or city budgets by and for the people, have brought renewed scrutiny to the assumption that public finance serves the public good. Why, people’s budgets ask, do municipal budgets bend freely to luxury development deals and policing but never seem to have enough money for affordable housing, reliable transit, and new schools, particularly in minority and poor neighborhoods? Why, they ask, does public finance struggle to serve the needs of all people? Through an archival, geospatial and ethnographic study of Nashville, TN, this dissertation illuminates how the history of racism and the racialization of space shapes struggles over the public good. I demonstrate not only why cities struggle to afford public goods, but also why the kinds of public goods minority and poor neighborhoods desire seem perpetually unaffordable and out of reach. Moreover, by examining people's budgets as embedded within ongoing racial and spatial struggles to define the public good, this dissertation argues that they move beyond a call for participatory budgeting, a global model of democratic governance over public resources. Instead, people's budgets pre-figure new forms of economic democracy, where the value of public goods is democratically decided and allocated. As mounting discontent with economic inequality grows alongside authoritarian populism, people’s budgets suggest that municipal budgets are an important site of struggle to decide what kind of urban futures should be made affordable, for whom, and at what cost