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QA Optimization of 0.35T MR-Linac
No full textThe 0.35 T MR-Linac combines MRI and linear-accelerator technology to enable organ-motion gating, adaptive radiotherapy, and radiobiological optimization through diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Operating at 0.35 T, it delivers a single-energy 6 MV flattening-filter-free (FFF) photon beam. Comprehensive quality assurance (QA) therefore covers both imaging and accelerator components. Acceptance testing protocols were evaluated to establish baselines for routine QA and to identify system limitations. Novel analysis methods quantified the magnetic-field effect on 6 MV FFF beam-scanning profiles. Large, medium, and small fields were characterized with twelve MR-compatible detectors—plastic scintillators, diodes, diamond detectors, and ionization chambers—spanning diverse shapes and sensitive volumes. A renormalization approach defined penumbra-region profile shapes for large fields, while quantifiable parameters captured the pronounced shifts in small-field profiles caused by the 0.35 T field. To meet small-field dosimetry requirements, field-output factors were measured with sixteen detectors (including Gafchromic film) and detector-specific correction factors from the smallest to the reference field were derived. Cherenkov corrections for plastic scintillators were refined through a novel multi-loop method. Dose- and latency-gating performance was evaluated with a plastic scintillator in a motion-gating phantom; synchronized linac, phantom, and detector signals yielded gating latency and dose-delivery accuracy across three gantry angles, all tracking algorithms, and slow, medium, and fast motion patterns. MRI commissioning was streamlined by optimizing 2-D T1 and T2 scan protocols on a large-FOV phantom, reducing acquisition time while maintaining image quality. Finally, clinical comparisons of four commercial phantoms imaged with the TRUFI sequence assessed distortion versus gantry angle and image-quality parameters according to each phantom’s specifications
Establishing PROTACs as a Novel Approach to Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
No full textCancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial components of tumorigenesis, metastasis and chemotherapy. The activity of CSCs occurs through certain oncogenes that maintain stemness of the cells, promote proliferation and stimulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The expression of these genes is regulated by pathways like Wnt signaling, Notch signaling, Hedgehog pathway and AP-1 signaling. Typically, these signaling networks are involved in normal stem cell maintenance and tissue homeostasis and therefore strictly regulated. But abnormal activation of these signaling leads to cancer development. Drug development against these pathways remains a challenge due to intrinsic involvement of these pathways in normal functions of the body and due to “undruggable” nature of many of the targets within these pathways. The theme of this work is the use of proteolysis target chimera (PROTAC) technology to selectively inhibit these signaling and eliminate CSCs in colorectal cancer (CRC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
The first project investigates the viability of PROTACs in targeting KDM3 proteins in CRC. Previous studies have provided strong evidence that KDM3 regulates Wnt signaling in CRC to maintain CSC activity. PROTAC analogs of IOX1, a broad-spectrum KDM inhibitor were designed, and this work demonstrates that some of these degraders selectively degraded KDM3 proteins, inhibited Wnt signaling and eliminated CSC activity to suppress CRC tumorigenesis both in vitro and in vivo.
In the second project, an AP-1 inhibitor T-5224 was modified to produce PROTAC analogs that can degrade FOSL1. FOSL1 is uniquely overexpressed member of AP-1 transcription factors in HNSCC and previous studies have demonstrated that it is a master regulator of certain oncogenes involved in CSC activity. This project successfully established one of these PROTACs as a potent degrader of FOSL1 in vitro and in vivo and showed its pronounced efficacy in eliminating HNSCC-CSCs. In addition, certain tools (e.g. purified proteins) were developed in this project that are important to establish a rigorous screening methodology for FOSL1-targeting PROTACs. These tools were used in a target engagement assay and is expected to aid in setting up the necessary framework for monitoring degradation in live cells.
Overall, the research presented in this dissertation is an important addition to the growing field of cancer stem cell research and PROTAC development investigations
The Pedagogical Experiences of Online Correctional Education English Composition Faculty
Get PDFWith increasing efforts to expand correctional education college programs, previous research has primarily explored the experiences of instructors teaching in face-to-face settings. However, little is known about the experiences of faculty teaching in online correctional education programs within the United States. This qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study addresses this gap by examining the experiences of five online English composition correctional education instructors. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and a focus group. Findings revealed that instructors adapted their teaching practices to accommodate the online format, faced challenges in building relationships with students, and desired more professional development. These insights can inform correctional education program directors and writing program administrators in improving faculty support and instructional strategies
S20, E07: Can He Do That? Firing a Federal Reserve Governor (Aired 10/6/2025)
Get PDFAughie and Nia discuss the issues at stake when President Trump called for the firing of Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve Board Governor. SCOTUS will take up this issue in January of 2026.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/civil_discourse/1286/thumbnail.jp
Investigating the Potential of Broccoli Seed Extract to Attenuate Morphine Tolerance
Get PDFOpioids remain one of the most effective treatment strategies for managing severe and persistent pain. However, its long-term use leads to pharmacological tolerance, requiring progressively higher doses to achieve analgesia. This dose escalation increases the risk of life-threatening side effects and dependence, underscoring the urgent need for safe adjuncts to preserve opioid efficacy. Emerging evidence suggests that morphine tolerance is linked to intestinal inflammation and disruption of gut barrier integrity. Broccoli Seed Extract (BSE), rich in the bioactive compound sulforaphane, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may protect against these effects. We hypothesized that BSE could prevent the development of morphine tolerance by mitigating inflammation associated with chronic opioid exposure. To test this, an animal model was used with three groups (n=20 each): saline, chronic morphine + vehicle, and chronic morphine + BSE. All animals received four days of respective treatments followed by a morphine dose-response challenge on day 5. Analgesic response was assessed using the tail immersion assay, and the animals which were administered BSE showed a rightward shift in the dose-response curve compared to morphine + vehicle group but the difference did not reach statistical significance. To further explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism, T84 colon epithelial cells were pre-treated with BSE for 3 hours prior to exposure to an “inflammatory colon soup” prepared from chronically morphine-treated animal colons. BSE pre-treatment reduced IL-8 mRNA expression in T84 cells. Although reduction of morphine tolerance with BSE did not reach statistical significance in-vivo, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 expression in colonic epithelial cells suggest that anti-inflammatory effects of BSE may be modulated by the shift in gut microbiome due to chronic morphine. Harnessing such natural compounds may provide a novel, accessible strategy to enhance opioid safety and maintain pain relief in chronic pain management
Rising to Meet the Needs of All Our Students: The Inclusive Service Excellence Working Group at VCU Libraries
Get PDFVCU Libraries’ Inclusive Service Excellence Working Group was established to enrich the patron experience with public service units. Equity and inclusion were its guiding principles as its members reviewed the literature, sought user feedback, and engaged with focus groups. Stop by to learn about the group’s work and long-term impact
Annum Arcanum (2025)
Get PDFAnnum Arcanum is an atelier and annual anthology archiving arcane works. The organization of the same name was founded at VCU in the fall of 2023, and published its first collection in the spring of 2024. From the Letter from our Founder in vol. 0: First, we seek to create spaces specifically catered to the showcasing of works that are experimental, niche, or otherwise outside of the mainstream in other words, the arcane...Beyond that, we strive to be a resource for students to develop their skills as artists.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/arcanum/1001/thumbnail.jp
Trauma-Informed Beliefs and Our Child Welfare System
Get PDFThe integration of trauma-informed care (TIC) into behavioral health and child welfare systems has garnered increasing attention, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of the pervasive and multifaceted impacts of trauma on individuals, families, and service delivery structures (Barnett et al., 2019; Bartlett et al., 2018; Bassuk et al., 2017; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014). Legislation such as the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) has led to increased adoption of trauma-informed practices through increased funding for training and services (Bowen & Murshid, 2016; Brown et al., 2023). Research shows that providers’ understanding and implementation of TIC is influenced by factors such as staff demographics, role, and organizational context and level of support (Beck et al., 2022; Black et al., 2022; Clark et al., 2024; Collins-Camargo & Antle, 2018). The present study examines trauma-informed beliefs among some 500 child welfare professionals in a large mid-Atlantic state. Participants completed questionnaires assessing TIC beliefs including Trauma-Informed Care Beliefs Scale 3.2 (TICBM3.2) and the Application Potential of Professional Learning Inventory (APPLI), along with demographic and professional background information. Regression analyses were conducted to examine how factors such as role, demographics, and perceived supervisory and organizational support influenced the endorsement of TIC beliefs. The analysis revealed that education, role, gender, and perceived training and organizational congruence were correlated with higher trauma-informed care beliefs