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Simulating the Three-dimensional Mapping of Tumor Microvasculature Using a Microendoscopic Probe
No full textThe study of the tumor microenvironment and tumor angiogenesis is an emerging area of interest for research and clinical communities. Understanding tumor progression is essential to developing cancer treatments and therapies. Current methods for monitoring the tumor microenvironment are limited in their ability to access a wide range of anatomical locations, specifically the gastrointestinal tract, without causing a non-physiological tumor response. In this study, we aim to develop a small-diameter multi-projection endoscopic imaging platform capable of many different scientific and clinical applications, including assessing tumor structure and perfusion. Due to the limited size available for an endoscopically compatible system, photon scattering follows a “transport regime” (as opposed to the diffusion regime). This requires novel approaches to processing image data to resolve the fine vascular and structural details within tissue. The platform consists of two key components, one being a microendoscopic probe that utilizes radially spaced illumination source fibers to capture two-dimensional images of optical phantoms modeled after biological tissue. The other component, Monte-Carlo-based photon propagation simulations modeled after the colon epithelium, provides information in depth. The combination of these two components allows for the creation of a three-dimensional spatial reconstruction of simulated tumor microvasculature embedded in a tissue of interest
Do Perceptions Affect Outcomes in Patients with Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease? A Clinical Inquiry.
Get PDFAbstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease is a chronic condition that often coexists with metabolic disorders and impacts a significant portion of the global population. The literature indicates that patients’ perceptions are linked to outcomes; however, there is a gap in the literature examining the influence of these perceptions on the outcomes of metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease. This clinical inquiry investigated this relationship.
METHODS: Data collection occurred between January and February 2025 in a primary care setting, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale of patients’ perceptions of care, disease severity, and self-efficacy. Patients were identified through a retrospective chart review and were approached for the perceptions survey. The participating Federally Qualified Health Center has participated in several clinical trials addressing metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease. Participants were separated depending on whether they had previously participated in one of the clinical trials or not. Perception scores were compared to hemoglobin A1C, aspartate transferase, alanine transaminase, and body mass index. Descriptive statistics were conducted to conclude how patients’ perceptions influence outcomes.
RESULTS: Seven participants completed the survey. Mean perception scores for those previously enrolled in a clinical trial compared to those not enrolled include the following: perceptions of care (5.0 vs. 4.5), perceptions of disease severity (2.3 vs. 3.8), and perceptions of self-efficacy (5.0 vs. 4.25). A positive correlation was found in hemoglobin A1C (Durbin-Watson = 1) with no correlation in body mass index (Durbin-Watson = 2.23) for those enrolled in a clinical trial. A negative correlation was found in hemoglobin A1C (Durbin-Watson = 2.781) and body mass index (Durbin-Watson = 2.95) for those not enrolled in a clinical trial.
CONCLUSION: Positive patient perceptions may improve outcomes in those at risk for or diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Strategies should focus on enhancing patient self-motivation and coping skills to mitigate health risks associated with this disease
Feasibility of Liquid Carbon Sources for Algae Growth
Get PDFThis thesis explores the use of electrochemically produced aqueous bicarbonate as a novel liquid-phase carbon source for enhancing algal biomass productivity. Targeting the freshwater microalgae Chlorella Saccharophila, the study investigates its growth response to varying bicarbonate concentrations and compares the efficacy of liquid bicarbonate delivery with traditional gaseous CO₂ bubbling methods. Results demonstrate that Chlorella Saccharophila can sustain growth solely on bicarbonate, and that bicarbonate-fed cultures yielded higher biomass than those supplied with gaseous CO₂ or hybrid systems. These findings validate the potential of bicarbonate-based carbon delivery for scalable algae cultivation, offering key advantages such as gas-free operation, improved pH stability, and compatibility with decentralized pond systems. The integration of a patented electrochemical conversion process—capable of producing concentrated bicarbonate from dilute CO₂ streams—further enhances the feasibility of this approach for carbon capture and utilization applications. This work lays the foundation for optimizing bicarbonate delivery in algae-based biofuel systems and underscores its promise in sustainable biomass production
The Augmentation of a Solar Panel Lab for the Chemical Engineering Curriculum to Introduce Sustainability Principles
Get PDFPhotovoltaic solar cells are utilized in solar panels to convert sunlight into usable electricity. Since the energy derived from solar panels produces far less greenhouse gas than typical fuels such as coal and natural gas do, it is considered a clean source of energy and is vital to sustainability efforts. Sustainability is often defined by three pillars: environmental, social, and economical. Solar energy incorporates each of these pillars into its process, allowing it to be an effective tool to teach sustainability to students. A previously written lab that employs solar panels focused on the efficiency of converting light into electricity. However, the original lab instructions were unclear, leading to difficulties in reproducibility and inconsistent results among students. To address this issue, a proposal was made to revise the lab in order to enhance its clarity and repeatability. Participation in the lab as it was written allowed for necessary updates to the instructions to become apparent, allowing for the procedure to be revised in a way to increase student understanding. The proposal also determined the need to more explicitly incorporate the economic pillar of sustainability into the lab. Through research, three methods were found to introduce the economic pillar of sustainability and expand upon the environmental branch that was already included. These methods were to determine the greenhouse gas emissions of the lab solar panel, determine the overall efficiency of energy utilization, and to calculate the payback period of a residential solar panel in the state. The incorporation of these approaches and the updates to the procedure allow students to perform the lab in a way that produces consistent results and teaches them the principles of sustainability
SAVING GRACE NWA & IMMERSE ARKANSAS INTERNSHIPS: AN ANALYSIS OF ARKANSAS NONPROFITS SERVING YOUTH IN CRISIS SITUATIONS
Get PDFIn the United States, there are 23,000 youth each year who age out of foster care (Morris, 2021). Aging out occurs when the youth turn 18 and are no longer under the provision of child welfare, as they are considered legal adults. Most of these youth, however, do not have stable support systems to fall back on, due to not being adopted during their time in the system. Because of the lack of financial and emotional support, 20% will immediately encounter homelessness, 60% will engage in criminal activity, and 50% will have no steady income within four years removed from the system (Morris, 2021).
There are many nonprofits in the state of Arkansas that are working to address this issue, bringing about real solutions, and aid for these youth in crisis situations. Two of them that I interned with are Saving Grace NWA and Immerse Arkansas. Saving Grace NWA is a nonprofit that provides safe housing for women ages 18-25 who are facing homelessness or have aged out of the system. They provide career programming, educational assistance, counseling, and coaching programs that establish an avenue for these women to find a better future. Their farm in Centerton, AR will have the potential to house 50 young women upon the completion of their project, with six phases of the program, including The Pink Shirt, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, and Senior Seminar phases. These phases introduce the participants into the program and prepare them for their journey into independence. Immerse Arkansas is in central Arkansas with locations in Little Rock and Conway. Immerse works with youth from crisis who have aged out of foster care, face homelessness, runaways, and victims of trafficking. They assist them with past trauma, educational programming, transitional housing, and more. They also have a six-step plan in place for transforming youth including Assessment, Create a Plan, Build a Circle of Support, Equip with Tools, Work the Plan, and Overcome.
Both nonprofits have different ways of achieving the same goal: to assist youth who are facing a variety of crisis situations. Through this project, I recognized the similarities and differences in their programming, how they measure successful impact, as well as the marketing strategies they employ. I have analyzed their marketing campaigns and how they attract donors, volunteers, as well as the youth who need their assistance. I have also compiled the best practices from both organizations on their marketing tactics and impact measurement.
This project matters because it will give these nonprofits ways to continue to make a positive impact in the life of youth in crisis situations and to learn and grow in ways that they may not have recognized before. By looking to other nonprofits with similar programming, and analyzing their program success, they can improve their own programs to better serve youth in the state of Arkansas as a whole. It will also assist the marketing world in recognizing the best marketing strategies for nonprofits to employ and how marketing tactics are utilized to fund and achieve the successful impact of each organization. Ultimately, this project shows how the youth in the state of Arkansas are better off because of the existence of both organizations
Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Societal Impacts: A Case Study in Central Belize
Get PDFThis thesis examines the relationship between climate change, sustainable agriculture, and rural development through a case study in Central Belize. Built from observations, interviews, and academic research gathered during a summer internship with the Belize Ministry of Agriculture, the research explores the challenges small farmers face as they navigate worsening climate threats - including drought, wildfire, and resource scarcity. With climate change accelerating at a faster rate in Belize than in many other countries, agricultural resilience has become a national priority. This internship focused on collecting applications for the Sustainable and Inclusive Belize Program, a government initiative that provides financial assistance and technical support to small farmers adopting climate-smart technologies. This thesis highlights the urgency of sustainable development in climate-vulnerable nations by evaluating the economic implications of agricultural investments
The Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 Supplementation on Humoral Immunity Against Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis Lameness in Broiler Chickens
Get PDFBacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness, the most predominant locomotive illness in fast-growing broilers, causes substantial animal well-being issues and affects broiler production, leading to huge financial losses. Several strategies, including feed supplementations using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics, have been utilized to alleviate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Previous studies have indicated that feeding an additive of Panbonis®-G-1,25(OH)2D3 from Solanum glaucophyllum containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)2D3 to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by more than 50%. In this study, we investigated the impact of using the 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 supplementation on the concentration of total antibodies to further understand the mode of action of the 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 supplementation in safeguarding the birds from BCO disease. We measured IgA and IgM antibody concentration in the tracheal mucus and blood circulation, respectively.
A total of 800 birds were divided into four treatment groups with four replicate pens per treatment: T1 - a negative control diet, T2 - feeding 1 µg/kg of G-1,25(OH)2D3 for 14 days, T3 - feeding 1 µg/kg of G-1,25(OH)2D3 for 21 days, and T4 - feeding 1 µg/kg of G-1,25(OH)2D3 for 28 days. 100 birds were placed on two wire floor pens as BCO seeders to induce a BCO lameness outbreak in the research barn. Tracheal mucus and blood from 5 birds per treatment were collected on d12, d14, and d28 for further antibody measurement using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). P-value was determined by using One-Way Anova. ELISA tests demonstrated that IgA concentration from tracheal mucus and IgM concentration from blood circulation increased from d14 to d28, where T4 produced the highest IgA (2.41x103 ng/mL) and IgM (2.84 x105 ng/mL) concentration on d28 without significant statistical difference (P \u3e 0.05) from T1. Overall, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 supplementation confers a modest effect on IgA and IgM production. Further bone strength analysis is warranted to unravel the mechanism of action for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 supplementation in protecting broiler chickens from BCO lameness
The Relationship of Peer Recovery Support Specialists and Recovery of Perinatal Women with a Substance Use Disorder
Get PDFIntroduction: Substance use in pregnant and postpartum women is a growing issue in the United States. Drug use while pregnant can lead to birth defects, stillbirths, and problems providing positive parenting to their children. Many women with substance use disorders (SUD) feel extreme shame and stigma related to their substance use and have trouble accessing recovery-related treatment and other services. Peer recovery support treatment uses the lived experiences of individuals in current recovery from SUD to facilitate and support recovery in others. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the impact of peer recovery support specialists on the recovery outcomes of perinatal women with SUD. Methodology: Studies of peer recovery and their influence on pregnant and postpartum women with a substance use disorder were reviewed. Studies on recovery programs for perinatal women that included some form of peer recovery were included. A targeted search through PubMed and ProQuest was utilized to evaluate existing literature on SUDs, perinatal women, and peer recovery. Results: Findings of the studies demonstrated that peer recovery is an effective way to retain perinatal women in substance use recovery programs. Particularly effective mechanisms related to recovery support specialists serving as role models, accountability partners, and non-judgmental coaches for these women in recovery. Conclusion: This review of the literature demonstrated that peer recovery support specialists provide valuable recovery outcomes for perinatal women struggling with a substance use disorder. The presence of peer recovery specialists creates a non-judgmental environment where perinatal women with a substance use disorder feel comfortable sharing their experiences without stigma. Many recovery organizations would benefit in the recruitment and retention of recovery participants if peer support specialists were present at the treatment facility. Peer specialists can also provide help with childcare, transportation, and accountability with the women participating in the recovery process
Confessions I Make to Myself: A Collection of Poetry & Prose
Get PDFConfessions I Make to Myself is a deeply personal collection of poetry and fiction, reflecting my journey through grief, self-reflection, and growth. The collection is particularly influenced by the passing of my grandfather, whose support for my musical and literary endeavors shaped much of my life. Many of the poems explore themes of loss, family, and relationships, while others reflect on introspective moments during my time abroad in Milan, Italy. The work also addresses personal struggles with anxiety, self-image, and a recent medical diagnosis, capturing the experience of being a young woman navigating the challenges of 2025.
The poetry in this collection draws inspiration from renowned poets such as Mary Oliver, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson, whose works have shaped my approach to honesty, self-reflection, and experimentation with form. Additionally, the short story Disclosed showcases my exploration of narrative and character development, influenced by the works of Marie-Helene Bertino and Taylor Jenkins Reid. This collection serves as a reflection of my growth as a writer, blending personal experiences and literary influences to create a space for connection and healing
DEFEND: A 1M Dataset Foundation Model for Tobacco Analysis
Get PDFThe study of tobacco imagery and marketing is a complex challenge that involves extremely large datasets. It also demands a detailed analysis of the so- cial context and specific types of tobacco being marketed. Despite major recent advances in computer vision and foundation model technology, this still poses a substantial challenge. Through the DEFEND model, we aspire to address these obstacles by integrating features such as multimodal learning, hierarchical under- standing, and feature extraction to develop a foundation model designed to handle the unique challenges of tobacco image analysis. One of the core elements of DE- FEND is the Tobacco 1M dataset, a 1M dataset that is substantially larger than previous models and filters tobacco products into specific categories, with labels for specific tobacco types, brands, and lines, allowing the model to have a greater level of nuance and accuracy in its analysis. This DEFEND model outperforms many leading computer vision models in tobacco analysis in a variety of bench- marks, and demonstrates the potential of these additional technologies with regard to public health analysis and working with large datasets