University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at GreensboroNot a member yet
38807 research outputs found
Sort by
Letter from The Treasury Department to Jacob Siler, March 22nd, 1844
No full textThis letter was written March 22nd, 1844, it is addressed to Jacob Siler, and it is from the treasury department office, specifically, John H. Wheeler. The premise of this letter is that John H. Wheeler is contacting Jacob Siler to alert him that the statement of the amounts due on Cherokee bonds is finished, and Wheeler proposes that more bonds be placed in Jacob Siler’s hands. This transcription and its attendant annotations, explanatory material, and bibliography were prepared by students in ENGL 618: Research Methods in English, the required gateway class for the MA in English at Western Carolina University
William Holland Thomas to Jacob Siler Nov 19th 1853
Full text linkThis manuscript is a letter written from William Holland Thomas, political envoy, confederate officer, and legal correspondent to the Cherokee Native Americans, to Jacob Siler, lawyer and friend to the Cherokee Native Americans. This transcription and its attendant annotations, explanatory material, and bibliography was prepared by students in ENGL 618: Research Methods in English, the required gateway class for the MA in English degree program at Western Carolina University (WCU)
Defining case management and outreach: perspectives from community health workers in New Mexico
Full text linkCase management (CM) is increasingly used in community settings to support individuals as they transition from one point in their lives to the next. This study sought to explore the perspectives of front-line Community Health Workers CMs working in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The objective of this study was to answer the question ‘How do CHWs define effective CM and outreach?’ A follow-up question was, ‘What are the barriers to conducting CM and outreach?’ Qualitative research methods, Critical Race Theory, and Social Work Theory guided this study. Five CHW CMs participated in a 90-minute focus group. Results present their perspectives on effective CM and outreach. Barriers include limited collaborations, excessive documentation requirements, and communication. Findings demonstrate that what constitutes effective CM and outreach is based on the program and context. Future work must focus on balancing the need for shared definitions and embracing the flexibility required for CMs working on the ground in diverse settings and populations
Selected videos and scholarly presentations
Full text linkLinks and descriptions of selected videos and scholarly presentations delivered by Dr. Johnny Houston
Complete CV - Dr. Johnny Houston
Full text linkThe complete Curriculum Vitae and selected subsets of Dr. Johnny Houston
Photo of STEM Classroom dedication
Full text linkPhoto of STEM classroom in Dixon-Patterson Hall at ECSU, dedicated to Johnny L. Houston, PhD on April 11, 2024
55th Anniversary Legacy Award at JMM 2024
Full text linkAt NAM's 55th Anniversary Banquet (JMM) in San Francisco, CA, Jan. 5, 2024, NAM presented its 2nd Legacy Award to Johnny L. Houston who retired from NAM’s Board of Directors in Jan. 2024 after 50 years of service on NAM’s Board of Directors between (1969-2024)
Macrophage-derived extracellular particle mediated immunotherapy for triple negative breast cancer : evaluating biomolecule and immune modulation-based approaches
No full textBreast cancer represents the highest incidence of cancer among women and stands as the second leading cause of female mortality globally, with projections indicating a 31% increase in the number of cases by 2030. While CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a highly effective FDA-approved treatment for non-solid tumors, its impact on solid tumors remains severely restricted. Consequently, an urgent demand exists for improved therapies designed to address solid tumors. To address this gap, this study evaluated two approaches based on leveraging M1 macrophage’s their intrinsic properties and characteristics: (i) a biomolecule-based approach and (ii) an immune modulation approach. These approaches are intended to leverage the body’s immune system and its characteristics for future applications in cancer immunotherapy for solid tumors. Macrophages exhibit distinct phenotypes, including M0, M1, and M2, which are determined or changed by environmental conditions. M0 macrophages are considered normal macrophages, while M1 macrophages are classically activated and play a crucial role in inflammatory processes in the body. M2 macrophages are alternatively activated or anti-inflammatory, contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis. M1 macrophage functions extend beyond the recognition and elimination of foreign antigens. They also participate in the phagocytic process, clearing cellular debris and promptly alerting the immune system upon encountering viral, bacterial, or foreign particles in the body. Their versatile role in immune surveillance and response makes them vital components of the immune defense mechanism. In this study, the first biomolecule-based approach evaluated the efficacy of extracellular particles (EPs) containing their native luminal content derived from M1 macrophages to induce apoptosis in triple negative breast cancer cells. Our in vitro approach showed the toxic nature of EPs against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) within 2 days after the incubation of M1 macrophage-derived EPs using MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, we found differences in the number of EPs secreted by M0, M1, and M2 macrophage-specific stages. Our results also demonstrate the potential tumor tropism of EPs on MDA-MB-231 cells. In the second approach, the study was designed to improve the therapeutic outcome by reversing the immune system or modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Modulating the TME represents a strategy that aims to harness the tumor-supporting characteristics within the TME and redirect them toward attacking the tumor. This is achieved by manipulating infiltrated immune cells and shifting the TME dynamics. One of the types of immune cells that are highly infiltrated in TME are macrophages. Macrophages in TME that help tumors grow are M2 macrophages. We have developed a multi-component nano-core-complex (NCC), characterized its individual components, and optimized the NCC formation. NCC can convert M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages. After the internalization of NCC, M1 macrophages not only secrete anti-cancer agents in the form of cytokines, chemokines, and proteins, but they also do secrete EPs, that can induce apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer, which has been shown in the first approach. Taken together, this research indicates the initial success in leveraging macrophage-derived EPs alone and in the form of NCC. The studies were conducted to develop a novel proof of concept using EPs to fight against triple-negative breast cancer that expands the use of immune cells-derived vesicles from EVs to EPs. This approach should not be limited only to TNBC but to other solid tumor types as well. In conclusion, these studies will open new avenues for more biocompatible and cost-effective breast cancer immunotherapy
Mechanical evaluation of various geometrical designs in additive manufacturing for future knee brace harness
Full text linkAdditive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, has gained significant inclination due to its numerous benefits in processing and manufacturing. Among all human joints, the knee joint is the most involved in day-to-day activities and is highly susceptible to injuries. Therefore, a well-designed knee brace with enhanced mechanical and geometric properties holds the potential to offer effective diverse support to the knee joint in the future. This project explored the use of additive manufacturing and computer-aided design, specifically OpenSCAD, to design and print six (3) different geometric shapes (simple grid, offset grid, and grid with diamond holes) with five (5) different photopolymer resins (thermochromic resin, water washable resin, standard translucent photopolymer resin, standard plant-based photopolymer resin and ABS-like resin). The ultimate tensile strength of each print and young’s modulus were also analyzed using the stable micro system analyzer. Analysis revealed the simple grid has the best tensile strength with a stress value (4.136 N/mm2) and (YM~2.299MPa) whilst the geometry with the least tensile strength was the offset grid with a tensile strength value of (0.217 N/mm2) and YM~0.111MPa). Other mechanical properties such break strain and elastic behavior were also analyzed. Thermochromic and standard photopolymer resin exhibited the highest ultimate tensile strength. This depicts the effects of varying geometries and resin types on the mechanical properties of materials which provides a valuable insight for future development in the field of customizable knee brace fabrication
Navigating renewable energy markets in Saudi Arabia : residential rooftop solar panels and potential consumer preferences
Full text linkThis three-article dissertation investigated the main factors shaping consumer preferences for residential rooftop solar panels in Saudi Arabia. Particular attention is focused on how individual socio-economic characteristics, the built environment, social networks, and fiscal incentives influence the willingness to adopt and pay for solar panels. Much of this sort of research has been neglected in a non-Western setting. Drawing from data collected through an online survey of 1,647 respondents in Saudi Arabia, the three papers employed chi-square tests of association to unravel these interactions for three different, nonwestern geographic settings in Saudi Arabia: a large urban area (Riyadh City), a medium-sized urban area (Buraydah City), and the rural areas of Al-Qassim Province. The first study revealed that the willingness to adopt was influenced by personal environmental values, financial incentives, previous cost-benefit perceptions, and the built environment. The second study found that the willingness to pay was strongly associated with prior perceptions and expectations linked to household energy budgets and solar panel costs, fiscal incentives, and existing environmental beliefs. In the third study, the focus shifted to the actual price individuals were willing to pay for solar installations, where socio-economic factors such as gender and income levels emerged as significant determinants. Geographic variation was evident in the associated factors with the willingness to adopt, pay, and price preference for rooftop solar panels. The study's results underscore the necessity for customized policy approaches to promote renewable energy use in Saudi Arabia, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the local solar energy market and offering insights for policymakers to foster inclusive and sustainable energy transitions