A Proposed Model for Translating Military Training into Academic Credits

This applied dissertation investigates the difficulties veterans face when transitioning from military service to higher education, specifically, the inconsistent process of awarding academic credit for military training despite the availability of the Joint Services Transcript (JST) and American Council on Education (ACE) criteria. Miami Dade College (MDC) in particular lacks a standardized mechanism for ensuring fair and consistent credit evaluations, which can hamper the academic and social integration of veterans who want to use their service coursework to complete a degree. Drawing upon Tinto&#39;s Departure Theory, Astin&rsquo;s Involvement Theory, Schlossberg&rsquo;s Transition Theory, and Maslow&rsquo;s Hierarchy of Needs, this project emphasizes the importance of recognizing military-acquired learning to support veterans&#39; college transition. Through a literature review and analysis of best practices at other institutions&mdash;such as the University of North Carolina&#39;s Military Equivalency System and Eastern Kentucky University&#39;s VETS|Ready Opportunity Portal&mdash;this dissertation identifies gaps in MDC&rsquo;s current process and proposes a phased approach to implement a centralized, transparent credit evaluation system. The project aims to improve veteran retention, reduce academic delays, and provide a clearer pathway for military-affiliated students to succeed in higher education.</p

Computational Approaches for Predicting DNA Methylation and Constructing Whole-Genome Structures Based on Hi-C Data

Recently, a biochemistry experiment named methyl-3C was developed to simultaneously capture the chromosomal conformations and DNA methylation levels on individual single cells. However, the number of data sets generated from this experiment is still small in the scientific community compared with the greater amount of single-cell Hi-C data generated from separate single cells. Therefore, a computational tool is needed to predict single-cell methylation levels based on single-cell Hi-C data on the same individual cells. We developed a graph transformer named scHiMe to accurately predict the base-pair-specific (bp-specific) methylation levels based on single-cell Hi-C data and DNA nucleotide sequences. We benchmarked scHiMe for predicting the bp-specific methylation levels on all of the promoters of the human genome, all of the promoter regions together with the corresponding first exon and intron regions, and random regions on the whole genome. Our evaluation showed a high consistency between the predicted and methyl-3C-detected methylation levels. Moreover, the predicted DNA methylation levels resulted in accurate classifications of cells into different cell types, which indicated that our algorithm successfully captured the cell-to-cell variability in the single-cell Hi-C data. scHiMe is freely available at http://dna.cs.miami.edu/scHiMe/.&nbsp;</p

Interleukin-2 Instructs Regulatory T Cell Heterogeneity in the Periphery

Over 20 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease with the incidence steadily increasing over the past twenty years. Perturbations in regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to cause autoimmunity, which is a population that is essential to keep autoreactive T cells in check. Non-functional mutations in the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) in humans cause autoimmune diseases, leading many to conclude that IL-2 provides an essential survival signal for Tregs. However, recent evidence indicates that this role for IL-2 is overly simplistic. The Treg pool is highly heterogeneous, with functionally distinct subsets that are affected asymmetrically by a loss of IL-2R signaling. Attempts to understand the role of peripheral IL-2 signaling in Tregs have been frustrated by its critical role in Treg development in thymus, whereby IL-2R signaling is essential to generate Tregs effective at maintaining T cell homeostasis and preventing lethal autoimmunity. Yet, the post-thymic role of IL-2 has critical therapeutic implications because any IL-2-based therapy needs to target Tregs in tissues where an effector response is ongoing. We use a mouse model of tamoxifen-induced, Treg-specific knockout of CD25 (IL2R?) which forms the high-affinity IL-2 receptor to study post-thymic Tregs after IL-2R signaling is ablated. Previous work with this model shows IL-2 has an unequivocal role in Treg survival as evidenced by Tregs that cannot survive past 15 weeks once they lose CD25. Yet prior to their disappearance, Tregs undergo significant changes in their subset distribution as well as in their metabolism. CD62Lhi cTregs are disproportionately affected by a loss of CD25 with a corresponding increase in the abundance of CD62Llo eTregs. Similarly, the mevalonate pathway, which is critical to generate cholesterol and other important cellular components, is altered in Tregs after loss of CD25. The work in this dissertation focuses on clarifying IL-2&rsquo;s regulation of Treg heterogeneity and metabolism so that its role in post-thymic Tregs can be capitalized on in our therapeutic approaches to autoimmunity.</p

The Association between Acculturation and Depression among Latino Immigrants: A Secondary Data Analysis of NHANES

Background: The growing Latino immigrant population in the U.S. has sparked interest in understanding their mental health, particularly depression. This study examines the relationship between acculturation and depression among Latino immigrants.Methods: Using data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study assessed depression among 1,369 Latino immigrants aged 20-80 years. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), categorizing severity as none-minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), moderately severe (15-19), and severe (20-27). Logistic regression models analyzed the association between depression (moderate/severe vs. none/mild) and factors like age, gender, marital status, income, insurance, country of birth, and acculturation (length of U.S. residency and primary language spoken at home). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.Results: Among the 1,369 participants (48.28% males; 51.72% females), depression severity was: none-minimal (72.90%), mild (17.75%), moderate (6.28%), moderately severe (2.26%), and severe (0.80%). Being female was significantly associated with higher odds of depression (aOR=1.964; 95%CI=1.318-2.927; p=0.0009). Widowed/divorced/separated individuals had higher odds in univariate analysis (OR=1.874; 95%CI=1.173-2.994; p=0.0086), but not in multivariable analysis (aOR=1.303; 95%CI=0.678-2.502; p=0.4267). Living below the poverty line showed higher odds in both univariate (OR=1.406; 95%CI=0.959-2.062; p=0.0809) and multivariable analyses (aOR=1.443; 95%CI=0.934-2.232; p=0.0987). Higher education levels were associated with reduced odds of depression in multivariable analysis (aOR=0.587; 95%CI=0.358-1.023; p=0.0348). Acculturation measures were not statistically significant predictors.Conclusions: Gender, marital status, and income significantly impact depression among Latino immigrants. Acculturation factors showed trends but were not statistically significant.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p

Hydrogen Storage: A Nano Sorbent Development, Capacity Assessment, and Structure-Property Relationship Investigation

The increased consumption of fossil fuels for energy production has led to higher greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions. Efficient hydrogen storage plays a crucial role in this transition, offering promise for energy storage applications. Adsorption-based storage gas (AGS) systems can reduce high-pressure requirements, and improve energy density, cyclability, and system efficiency. However, conventional hydrogen storage technologies face challenges related to cost, safety, and efficiency. This dissertation aims to develop high-performance nanoporous adsorbents optimized for hydrogen uptake and delivery, addressing these limitations. The goal is to meet the Department of Energy&rsquo;s 2025 hydrogen storage targets of 40 g/L volumetric and 5.5 wt.% gravimetric capacity with intermediate binding energies (&Delta;H = 15&ndash;25 kJ/mol). This research focuses on three key objectives: (1) developing advanced nanoporous sorbents, (2) assessing hydrogen storage capacity under different conditions, and (3) investigating the structure-property relationships for optimizing material performance.&nbsp;Key challenges for AGS technologies include low room-temperature capacities, stability, and efficiency over repeated cycling. This work explores the synthesis and functionalization of advanced nanoporous materials to balance gravimetric and volumetric storage capacities, focusing on working capacities, adsorption-desorption kinetics, binding strength, packing density, and cyclic stability. The dissertation is organized into three phases: (1) enhancing gravimetric storage in activated carbon (AC) at reduced pressures, (2) improving volumetric capacities in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through densification, and (3) optimizing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for hydrogen storage via combined physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms.&nbsp;This dissertation enhances the design of nanoporous adsorbents, offering scalable hydrogen storage solutions for a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.</p

The Power of Philanthropy: Development, Empire, and Non-State Actors in Cold War Colombia, 1961-1973

This dissertation investigates the formation and exertion of philanthropy&rsquo;s soft power in U.S. Cold War development policies in Colombia during President John F. Kennedy&rsquo;s Alliance for Progress era from 1961-1973. Specifically, the examination of the Rockefeller Foundation&rsquo;s, the Ford Foundation&rsquo;s, and the Population Council&rsquo;s interventions in population control, basic, vocational, and higher education reforms, and mass media development illuminate aid recipients&rsquo; active decision-making that provided the essential permission and support for U.S. philanthropies&rsquo; power exertion abroad. Philanthropies&rsquo; perceived power on the outside (contextual power) is assembled differently from its operational capacity on the ground (architectural power). Moreover, their high-level political and intellectual capital (executive power) usually does not translate directly into the ability to engage local resources in aid execution (execution power). Unraveling the various forms of &ldquo;soft power&rdquo; redirects the scholarly comprehension of modernization from an intellectual discourse to a series of dynamic social engagements. It, furthermore, includes a wider cast of actors, including Colombian bureaucrats and university students, private foundation staff, and academics, in the consideration of the current &ldquo;NGO Republic&rdquo; that is at the center of global politics. Instead of a monolithic extension of the U.S. government or a cast of charitable &ldquo;good doers,&rdquo; this dissertation demonstrates the &ldquo;collaborative empire&rdquo; that is a cocreation between U.S. philanthropies and their Colombian partners. The lessons extracted about effective public-private partnerships and philanthropic power yield valuable insights into contemporary international development and community-oriented giving.</p

Proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) nanomedicines toward cancer treatment: From synthesis to therapeutic delivery

Proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) has emerged as a groundbreaking therapeutic strategy by hijacking the endogenous ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) for targeted protein degradation. These heterobifunctional molecules recruit E3 ligases to recognize the protein of interest (POI) and facilitate its ubiquitination, leading to subsequent proteasomal degradation. Compared to conventional protein inhibitors, PROTACs offer a broader range of target degradation and remain effective even against proteins with drug-resistant mutations. Moreover, PROTACs function in a catalytic manner to degrade POIs, allowing for significantly lower administration dosages. In recent years, PROTACs have shown great promise in cancer therapy due to their high efficiency and broad applicability. However, their clinical applications remain challenging due to low bioavailability, limited tumor-targeting ability, and potential side effects. Utilizing nanomedicine for the delivery of PROTACs offers a promising strategy to enhance bioavailability, improve tumor selectivity, and minimize toxicity, thereby advancing their applications in cancer treatment. In this review, we outline the fundamental design principles of PROTACs, summarize the latest progress of nanomedicines from molecular design to drug delivery for improved tumor treatment, introduce PROTAC-based combination therapies and emerging design strategies, and discuss current challenges and future prospects of PROTAC nanomedicines toward clinical translation. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have garnered increasing attention in cancer treatment due to their exceptional protein degradation efficacy. However, their clinical applications are hindered by challenges such as low bioavailability, limited tumor-targeting capability, and potential off-target effects. The rational design of PROTAC-based nanomedicines holds great promise for overcoming these limitations and advancing their clinical translation. [Display omitted] •This review illustrates the design principles and delivery strategies of PROTACs.•This review highlights the latest advancement of PROAC-based synergistic therapies and novel PROTAC design strategies.•This review summarizes the key challenges and discusses future research direction of PROTAC nanomedicines

Desiring the Disabled Body How disabled women are represented in visual journalism

This chapter explores how journalists visually construct disabled women at the intersection of disability and sex. The authors draw from disability studies to examine two cases that featured disabled women in news media representations that interpellate them as sexual beings: the appearance of Gigi Robinson, an American influencer with chronic illnesses, in the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and English-language news coverage of Inclov, an Indian matchmaking app for people with disabilities founded in 2016. The findings elucidate how these images both challenged stereotypes associated with people with disabilities in the news media as well as reinforced ableist assumptions about the relationship between disability and sexuality. Ultimately, the coverage of Inclov suggested the potential of effectively integrating images of disabled people into visual imaginings of romantic life, while the framing of the Sports Illustrated photo shoot suggested that disabled bodies must conform to normative notions of sexiness

Hydrogel Platform for Localized and Sustained Delivery of Human IgG-Based Immunomodulatory Biologics

Beta cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires chronic systemic immunosuppression for long-term allograft survival. This causes general immunodeficiency and adverse events, which limits the applicability of these therapies. Therefore, I aimed to develop implantable IgG-capturing enzymatically degradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels to deliver IgG-based immunomodulatory biologics locally in the cell transplant site in a sustained and prolonged manner (>1 month) to prevent allograft rejection with negligible systemic adverse effects. Here, I tested the effects of in vitro PEGMAL concentration, hydrogel degradability, crosslinking density, and drug-gel binding on drug release kinetics. Additionally, I investigated in vivo hydrogel degradation by implanting fluorescently labelled hydrogels and insulinoma cell cluster allografts in C57BL/6 mice and quantifying graft site fluorescence over time. I found faster FITC-IgG drug release from 5% PEGMAL hydrogels compared to 10% PEGMAL hydrogels, as well as from fully degradable versus half degradable hydrogels. Additionally, I found that hydrogels with passively loaded FITC-IgG follow a first-order burst drug release kinetics, while drug-gel binding hydrogels achieve a zero-order constant release kinetics with reduced burst release. Moreover, the gel binding of FITC-IgG via the MAL Fc-III peptide was also shown to reduce the burst release of FITC-IgG compared to passively loaded hydrogels with no Fc-III. Lastly, I found that in vivo hydrogel degradation occurs 3.2 months after implantation. These experiments suggest that PEG hydrogel degradation can be tuned by varying the polymer concentration, crosslinking density, and using drug-gel conjugation to achieve desired drug release kinetics. This enzymatically degradable drug-binding PEG hydrogel biomaterial platform could enable the sustained delivery of clinically effective IgG-based biologics locally within the transplant site to increase safety and efficacy of allogeneic cell transplant-based regenerative medicine therapies