Master's Theses
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
The UA Master's Theses Collection provides open access to masters theses and reports produced at the University of Arizona, including theses submitted online from 2005-present and theses from 1895-2005 that were digitized from microfilm and print holdings, in addition to master's reports from the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture from 1966 onwards. The collection includes hundreds of titles not available in ProQuest.
We have digitized the entire backfile of master's theses and doctoral dissertations that have been submitted to the University of Arizona Libraries - since 1895! If you can't find the item you want in the repository and would like to check its digitization status, please contact us.
The UA Master's Theses collection is not comprehensive; master's theses from 1993-2015 were only received and archived by the UA Library and ProQuest if the student chose to pay the optional archiving fee. The Library does not have copies of many master's theses submitted during this time period. Some academic departments may keep copies of theses submitted to their programs. Colleges and departments wishing to archive master's theses not available in the University Libraries are encouraged to contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.
QUESTIONS?
Please refer to the Dissertations and Theses in the UA Libraries guide for more details about UA Theses and Dissertations, and to find materials that are not available online. Email repository@u.library.arizona.edu with your questions about UA Theses and Dissertations.
Recent Submissions
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A Constitutive Model for Simulating Weak Rock Mass BehaviorThis thesis develops an advanced constitutive model for simulating the behavior of weak rock masses, which are often characterized by low strength and high deformability. Addressing the complexities inherent in geological formations, the model integrates key factors such as stress anisotropy, pore pressure, deviatoric stress, and thermal effects. Traditional models often fail to capture the nonlinear and probabilistic responses of weak rock masses under varied stress conditions. This study overcomes these limitations by employing Monte Carlo simulations combined with Weibull distributions to better reflect the variability and heterogeneity of geological properties. The model's validity is confirmed through a comprehensive comparison of simulated data with experimental results, employing statistical methods such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and visual analysis techniques. The findings demonstrate that the proposed model accurately predicts the mechanical behavior of different rock types, such as Claystone, Mudstone, Sandstone, Shale, and Siltstone, under diverse loading scenarios. Practical applications of this model are highlighted in fields like mining engineering, geothermal energy, and oil reservoir management, where predicting rock mass stability and behavior is critical. While the model shows significant advancements over existing methods, it also acknowledges limitations and suggests areas for future research, such as incorporating long-term environmental factors and expanding empirical data calibration.
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A Nation Trapped in TimeThis thesis explores the complex interplay of time and national identity in Soviet and post-Soviet Russia through the metaphor of a house. Structured around the elements of a house—floor, walls, windows, doors, and roof—this paper examines how time operates as the framework for constructing and containing identity. Drawing on literary and cinematic works, the study reveals how the floor symbolizes the past, the walls represent the present, the windows and doors signify transitions and possibilities for the future, and the roof encapsulates stagnation and unresolved trauma. By analyzing Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris, Natalya Baranskaya's A Week Like Any Other, and Svetlana Alexievich's Chernobyl Prayer and Secondhand Time, the thesis investigates the tension between historical memory and cultural evolution. Zamyatin’s We critiques the manipulation of historical foundations under totalitarian control, while Tarkovsky’s Solaris portrays the haunting of the present by unresolved pasts. Baranskaya’s works highlight the constrained opportunities for societal transition, particularly for women. Alexievich’s oral histories delve into the weight of collective trauma, depicting the roof of the house as a site of stagnation, where unresolved crises impede forward movement. The metaphor of the house of time offers a fresh perspective on Russian identity, emphasizing the necessity of confronting historical ghosts and engaging with cultural diversity to foster a more dynamic and inclusive future. This study demonstrates how the intersections of time, memory, and identity shape a nation’s struggle to navigate its past while envisioning new possibilities for growth and transformation.
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Age, Sex, and APOE4: Insights into Metabolic Changes in a Novel Mouse Model of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s DiseaseLate-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LOAD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and brain atrophy. Age, chromosomal sex, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype are well-documented risk factors for the development of AD, each having a systemic impact and significant implications for disease progression. Understanding the interactions among these risk factors is essential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of disease development. Prior to clinical onset, LOAD is preceded by a decades-long prodromal phase. Previous studies have suggested that metabolic dysregulation during midlife aligns with this prodromal period. We hypothesize that age, APOE genotype, and chromosomal sex interact to drive AD risk through mechanisms that extend beyond traditional amyloid and tau pathology, involving systemic metabolic dysregulation. Specifically, we propose that these factors shape sex- and genotype-specific metabolic profiles, with female APOE4 carriers exhibiting metabolic dysregulation, and earlier than their male counterparts. To test this hypothesis, we utilized a novel mouse model combining humanized amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) and apolipoprotein E (hAPOE) to investigate sex- and genotype effects on metabolic profiles, evaluating energy metabolism and circulating lipids. Our findings revealed significant sex-driven differences, with females demonstrating earlier metabolic changes. Female hAPP+hAPOE4 mice exhibited disrupted glucose and lipid metabolism, and lower circulating cholesterol. This study provides a novel investigation into the effects of age, sex, and APOE genotype in a LOAD risk mouse model. By utilizing a preclinical model expressing humanized APOE and APP without dominant, disease-causing mutations, we examined the nuanced effects of APOE4 metabolic regulation across aging in a potentially more translational context. Furthermore, this work emphasizes sex-driven metabolic changes, providing additional insight into the increased vulnerability to LOAD in females.
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Automated Analysis of Scattering-based Light Sheet Microscopy Images of Anal Squamous Intraepithelial LesionsAnal cancer presents diagnostic challenges, particularly in identifying high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), with its increasing incidence and mortality rates. Current diagnosis methods, including cytology, biopsy, and high resolution anoscopy (HRA), provide important diagnostic information. However, cytology is often limited by suboptimal sensitivity and specificity, while high resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy is limited by its long processing times due to unnecessary biopsies and staining requirements. Scattering-based light sheet microscopy (sLSM) can offer an alternative approach by utilizing intrinsic tissue scattering properties to visualize morphologic features without the need for additional labeling or staining.In this study, we developed and evaluated an automated algorithm for analyzing 187 sLSM images obtained from 80 anal biopsies. The method employed a row-by-row binarization technique for nuclear segmentation, achieving high precision (0.97) and recall (0.91). Seven nuclear features, including nuclear intensity, intensity slope as a function of depth, nuclear-to-nuclear distance, nuclear-to-cytoplasm ratio, cell density, nuclear area, and proportion of pixels corresponding to nuclei were extracted and statistically analyzed. Among the seven features, six showed statistically significant differences between HSIL and non-HSIL (non-dysplastic or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, LSIL). A linear support vector machine (SVM) was trained and tested using five-fold cross validation on these features. The classifier achieved a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 70%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 for per-image diagnosis, and sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 80%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93 for per-biopsy diagnosis.
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Changes in Photosynthetic Net CO2 Assimilation Rates on Theobroma cacao L. From In Situ Artificial Leaf Warming: A Study in the Biosphere 2 Tropical RainforestA 33-week long in situ leaf warming experiment was performed to determine the change in the rate of photosynthetic net CO2 assimilation rates (A) in the tropical understory species, Theobroma cacao L. (cacao) in the controlled environment of the tropical rainforest biome of Biosphere 2 (B2), Oracle, Arizona, USA. A sustained multi-week in situ leaf level temperature increase of 3 °C was performed to understand rate changes in A, stomatal conductance (gsw), evapotranspiration (E), and vapor pressure deficit at leaf temperature (VPDleaf). Three warming experiments were performed on two mature, fruit producing cacao trees from 17 November 2023 to 8 May 2024 . One leaf was heated using a custom designed leaf heating device where it was continuously heated to 3 °C above ambient leaf temperature; another had the same heating structure installed but not heated, and an ambient leaf used as a control. Sustained leaf warming at 3 °C caused a decrease in photosynthetic net assimilation rates (A), evapotranspiration (E), and stomatal conductance (gsw), and an increase in vapor pressure deficit at leaf temperature (VPDLeaf). Together, these indicated that heating the leaf caused a net photosynthetic decline, supported by the decreased gas exchange that would limit CO2 uptake, reduce A rates, and increase VPDleaf due to reduced E. The presence of the heating apparatus in the Unheated treatment showed mixed results, and no statistical conclusions could be drawn about its effect on the response of A and results did not significantly vary from the control leaf.
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Deep Learning Models for Image-Based Damage and Microstructure Characterization in CFRP and CMC CompositesAs composite materials become more widely used in different industry fields other than automotive and aerospace, methods of investigating the microstructure are critical when testing the physical properties of the composite. Unlike metals, composites are made up of different material phases which cause them to fail and develop internal damage in unique ways. Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) has emerged as one of the most useful techniques to assess three dimensional (3D) microstructures and damage in composite materials. Machine Learning (ML) is becoming one of the essential tools used to analyze large volumes of experimental data in materials science. In this work, ML is used for automatic segmentation of micro-CT imaging data of low-velocity impact damage in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites and of the microstructure and damage in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). For CFRPs, deep learning models based on U-Net, BiSeNet, INet, and FC-DenseNet architectures were trained and refined to evaluate the accuracy of supervised ML compared to unsupervised ML. The unsupervised ML methods utilized statistical distances and greyscale threshold intensity segmentation to isolate damage in high-resolution image data. Results show that the Kullback-Leibler divergence is the most conservative and, thus, preferred statistical distance for unsupervised ML in CFRP composites. Furthermore, when comparing with the supervised ML models, FC-DenseNet provided the most accuracy but U-Net, which was the second most accurate, also provided much faster training and segmentation times. For CMCs, microstructure and damage in a minicomposite consisting of continuous silicon carbide (SiC) fibers embedded in a SiC matrix with boron nitride (BN) coating was investigated under a 40 N tensile load. Deep learning models based off of a 2.5D U-Net architecture were used to identify the different material phases and isolate cracks in the CMC minicomposite. A sequence of two-class semantic image segmentation models was created to isolate pores, fibers, fiber coating, and matrix, which were then used to build and train a five-class semantic image segmentation ML model. This model could identify fibers, fiber coating, matrix, pores, and background simultaneously. The segmentation results were analyzed to estimate volume fractions of composite phases and compared to literature values. Results show that prioritizing high contrast phases when training the U-Net model attained volume fractions that compared well to results reported in the literature. Furthermore, the use of deep learning models was investigated to determine their ability to identify and isolate matrix cracks within the microstructure.
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Effective Expectations: A Binomial Approach Toward Predicting Auto RegistrationsAutomotive manufacturers sell their products to consumers through dealerships in a successive market structure. Manufacturers have a vested interest in both monitoring and influencing the behavior of the dealers who sell their products, but the methods by which this monitoring is accomplished can be improved by accounting for variation in local markets. Indeed, US courts have found that the current methods used to monitor selling behavior, called sales effectiveness, are unreliable and ill-suited for monitoring automotive dealerships. In this paper, a method is presented which provides predicted automotive registrations of particular manufacturers for local markets by employing a log-odds regression with demographic covariates. The methodology provides a marked improvement from the methods which manufacturers have historically employed.
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From Functional Architecture to Cultural Heritage: Unveiling the Significance, Evolution, and Present Challenges of the Catalan MasiaA Masia is a traditional type of construction that originated for agricultural purposes in the early 10th century in the northern Mediterranean side of Spain. This type of construction, also known as Mediterranean or Catalan farmhouse is the main building type in the Mas, an agricultural site composed of the main house (Masia), the agricultural land that surrounds it, forests, and ranches. For many decades, Masies were the center of family life, with members working the fields from a young age. They also served as early navigational landmarks in towns, before named roads and streets existed. Each Masia represented the family that owned it, and its name was often linked to nearby landscape features or other local elements. This naming tradition is why the names of these houses were commonly preceded by the words Cal, Can, Mas, or Ca (shortened forms of the Catalan word casa, meaning house), followed by either the family’s last name or notable features of the surrounding environment. In other words, Masos and Masies are, and should be considered as, “Spatial Biographies”. Understanding Masies as spaces that hold historical and cultural narratives essential to understanding the past and informing future activism. In recent decades, the expansion of urban areas, together with the agricultural policies of the European Union, and the changes in agricultural production, have led to widespread abandonment of these lands, severing the traditional relationship between the farmhouses and their fields. As a result, many Masies have been repurposed into summer homes, secondary residences, rural tourist accommodations, or left abandoned. This thesis examines the current state of these farmhouses, focusing on the challenges they face today. The survey included in this research is centered on Santa Eulàlia de Ronçana, a small town in the central-southern area of Catalonia, Spain. The methodology combines physical and theoretical approaches, including a chronological analysis to trace the historical events that contributed to the decline of vernacular landscapes and Masies, an evaluation of existing heritage protection policies in Spain, and a survey to determine the current condition of these buildings. Additionally, geospatial mapping and data collection are employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the present rural landscape in a specific region. The findings of this research will target improvements in local heritage conservation policies and procedures, addressing a gap in the protection of Masies which has thus far remained underdeveloped. Furthermore, the study offers a better understanding and interpretation of the significance of these farmhouses to improve their conservation efforts, as well as their incorporation in rural development plans.
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GABA-T Inhibition and Its Effects on the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and AgingOutside of its role in the central nervous system as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, ɣ-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) acts as a hepatokine within the liver. NAFLD is associated with increased risk of developing HCC. We have previously demonstrated obesity increases production and excretion of hepatic GABA. Furthermore, GABA can drive the progression of HCC. In regards to aging, obesity shortens lifespan and healthspan, thus contributing to accelerated aging. We performed two studies assessing the effects of GABA-transaminase inhibition on NAFLD-associated HCC and age-associated metabolic and physical declines. To assess the role of GABA within NAFLD-associated HCC, we created an accelerated diet-sensitive mouse model and targeted hepatic GABA production using ethanolamine-O-sulfate (EOS), a GABA-transaminase inhibitor. We found HCC decreased mRNA expression of the GABA shunt enzymes (GABA-transaminase and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase), decreased mRNA expression of export-type GABA transporters (SLC6A12 and SCL6A13), and decreased mRNA expression of GABA A receptor subunits. Overall, GABA-transaminase inhibition using EOS had no effect on tumor burden after 16 weeks of exposure to cancer-causing stimuli. To assess the role of GABA in aging, we tested measures of metabolic and physical performance in 6 months-old-, 12 months-old-, and 18 months-old mice. After administering EOS for 4 weeks, we observed modest improvements to glucose clearance, basal insulin, and all-limb grip strength in aged mice. Additionally, GABA-transaminase inhibition caused weight loss and lowered serum triglycerides in both young and aged mice.
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Interparental Conflict, Support and Affection, and Coparenting Alliance Among Lower-Income, Unmarried Couples During the Transition to ParenthoodGuided by family systems theory and the spillover hypothesis, data from the Building Strong Families project was used to test how mothers’ and fathers’ constructive conflict, destructive conflict, and support and affection were associated with mothers’ and fathers’ coparenting alliance by utilizing a strengths-based approach. The study consisted of 1,516 different-sex couples from the United States who were primarily low-income, unmarried and experiencing the transition to parenthood when their children were around 36 months of age. The current study results are reported here, while noting that multiple tests of model fit yielded poor model fit; thus, the findings reported here should be interpreted with caution. The study findings provided support for family systems and the spillover hypothesis, specifically in regard to instances of positive spillover, such that higher constructive conflict and support and affection (e.g., partner encouragement) for both mothers and fathers was associated with higher coparenting alliance for both mothers and fathers. However, the current study did not find support for negative spillover seeing as mothers’ and fathers’ destructive conflict was not significantly associated with coparenting alliance. These results underscore the importance of including a variety of constructs, and reports from both mothers and fathers, to understand more about coparenting alliances for these families. Further, the current study highlights key areas within romantic relationships that, when strengthened, have the potential to positively spillover into other areas of the family.
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Is Vigilance Something to Keep an Eye on? Understanding Ethnic Variance in Cardiovascular Disease RiskSocial vigilance, the active behavior of scanning one’s environment for possible interpersonal challenges or threats, is associated with the activation of stress responses related to downstream disease outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hispanics/Latinxs (H/L) living in the U.S. navigate significant economic, psychosocial, and physical stressors that may influence their vigilant behavior including high rates of poverty, neighborhood segregation, interpersonal discrimination, and poor healthcare access. Despite greater stress exposure, H/L exhibit relatively better physical health and lower mortality compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), a phenomenon known as the Hispanic Health Paradox. The sociocultural hypothesis suggests that collectivistic values within H/L communities may buffer stress perception, reducing the need for social vigilance. Related to culturally driven differences in health, Anglo acculturation, which is an individual’s sense of inclusion within English-speaking sociocultural contexts, has been shown to be related to worsening health status among H/L. To address possible ethnic differences in stress-related pathways to better health outcomes among H/L, our study aimed to test whether H/L display less social vigilance than expected compared NHW, and to examine differences in stress experience among ethnic groups as a pathway through which stress exposure is associated with social vigilance. Additionally, we explored if these differences were moderated by social support and acculturation. The current study assessed a subsample of H/L (n=1,297) and NHW (n= 1,118) young adults from a larger cross-sectional psychosocial survey across the U.S. Results revealed that H/Ls reported lower social vigilance than NHW, with the differences primarily driven by Latina women in the sample. Stress experience mediated the relationship between stress exposure and social vigilance, suggesting that perceptions of stress influence the need for vigilance, though no differences were observed among racial/ethnic groups. Consistent with the sociocultural hypothesis, social support moderated this relationship for the H/L group. Additionally, Mexican orientation predicted lower stress experience, indicating that lower acculturation was associated with reduced social vigilance scores. Our findings supported our main hypothesis, consistent with the literature on stress appraisal processes and cultural stress-buffering effects of collectivism and the benefits of larger, tighter social networks.
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Modeling Coherent Beam Combining Feasibility with Supercontinuum SourcesUsing numerical modeling methods, this thesis investigates the feasibility of coherent beam combining (CBC) using supercontinuum light generated by independent all-normal dispersion photonic crystal fibers (ANDi PCFs). Such a system would require a high degree of temporal coherence and near zero relative phase error over a large spectral bandwidth between multiple channels. Coherent supercontinuum can be achieved when pumping ANDi PCFs with a low noise mode locked source emitting very short pulses (∼200 fs or less). These conditions prevent noise-seeded processes like modulation instability and result in a spectrum generated solely through coherent effects such as self phase modulation. The generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation is used to calculate the spectral and temporal pulse evolution through ANDi PCFs with realistic noise applied. The resulting shot-to-shot coherence and relative phase are calculated and used to evaluate the expected coherent combining efficiency. It was found that >90% combining efficiency over a 850-1250 nm bandpass could theoretically be achieved between two channels when the relative intensity noise limited (RIN) to <1% and all other parameters are identical. Similar performance can be achieved over a smaller bandpass of 450-600 nm when pumping at 515 nm in the presence of 2% RIN. Additionally, tolerances are established for static differences in peak powers, pulse durations, and fiber lengths between channels. Finally, relative phase compensation after supercontinuum generation is explored by using bulk glass dispersion compensation. Least squares optimizations are performed to determine the ideal thicknesses of various glass types to provide the best dispersion compensation for a particular relative phase shape. Results are reported for seeding the fiber near the minimum dispersion wavelength at 1030 nm and for visible supercontinuum generation at 515 nm.
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Optimized Fidelity and Mobilization of an In-Vivo Photoacoustic Skin Imaging SystemBiomedical imaging of skin cancers for evaluation and non-invasivetracking of progress to therapies has a gap in mainstream industry for lesions that present in deep dermal areas of the body. Optical imaging methods available have varying limitations when assessing between healthy skin tissue and different types of skin cancers deep within the tissue. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) has gained popularity for its ability to provide specific tissue structure and composition at depths of 1 cm or greater. Data that can be resolved at sub 1 cm depths or can open a path in clinical imaging of lesions that is highly desirable. This master’s thesis lays out a variation of a cost-effective, second generation version of a portable clinical hybrid pulse echo (PE) and Photoacoustic tomography 3D imaging system that was originally developed for in-vivo assessment and monitoring of common cutaneous skin lesions in dermatology clinical settings. This second version addressed a few of the challenges and limitations of the original design in preparation for use at a clinic. This version offers many of the original systems features such as 3D volume PE and PAT scans capable of performing spectroscopy within the near infrared range (680 nm - 1000 nm) with the added value for potential to change transducers as the need arises for clinical imaging. The design changes to the system allow for maintenance time reduction of 48 hours turnaround time to 15 minutes. This thesis also introduces a portable cart-based system for patient imaging in a clinic. It enables imaging in a patient in a safe manner while allowing for a technician to both operate, monitor the exam, and characterize suspicious skin lesions in real time. The system also has potential use for a simple transducer substitution, as needed, depending on the clinician’s preference based on the characteristics of the transducer. This ability would open doors for tuned patient assessment and treatment monitoring.
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Synthesis and Characterization of Sodium Alginate and Polyacrylamide Based Hydrogel for Effective Encapsulation and Release of Pharmaceutical AgentsThis thesis investigates the synthesis, characterization, and applications of synthetic malleable hydrogels, specifically focusing on Sodium Alginate/Polyacrylamide (SA/PAAM) hydrogels for drug delivery systems in medical and cosmetic fields. The study highlights the development of stretchable hydrogels engineered for the controlled release of therapeutic agents, with Riboflavin (vitamin B2) serving as a model drug. The hydrogels exhibit a remarkable average swelling ratio of six times their dry volume when fully loaded, demonstrating their capacity to sustain the controlled release of pharmaceuticals. Release studies indicate that peak concentrations occur approximately 24 hours post-administration, following a diffusion-controlled release mechanism. Additionally, the research explores the encapsulation of antidepressant medications, specifically Venlafaxine Hydrochloride and Paroxetine Hydrochloride, utilizing the Free Radical Polymerization method. The synthesized hydrogels exhibited high porosity and excellent swelling properties, critical for maximizing drug encapsulation efficiency. Comprehensive drug release studies revealed sustained release profiles for both antidepressants, suggesting a controlled release mechanism advantageous for long-term therapeutic applications. The findings underscore the potential of SA/PAAM hydrogels as effective drug delivery platforms, with implications for improved patient compliance and treatment efficacy. Future research will focus on optimizing the hydrogel formulation to enhance drug loading and release kinetics, paving the way for advanced applications in drug delivery systems.
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Sotorasib Versus Docetaxel in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Kras G12C Mutation: Cost-Effectiveness and Value of Information AnalysesBackground: Sotorasib is a first-in-class oral KRAS G12C inhibitor and has shown improved safety and efficacy compared to docetaxel in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have KRAS G12C mutation and have previously been treated.Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of sotorasib compared to docetaxel in KRAS G12C mutated advanced NSCLC and to determine the cost of uncertainty and whether future research will be beneficial by estimating the expected value of perfect information (EVPI). Methods: A 3-state partitioned survival model (progression-free, progressed, death) over a time horizon of 5 years and from a payer perspective in the United States was developed. Estimates of the progression-free and overall survival were determined from the Kaplan-Meier curves of the CodeBreak 200 trial based on the best-fitting parametric distribution. Costs of drugs and subsequent systemic treatments were sourced from Redbook, administration costs from Physician Fee Schedule, cost of adverse events management, and utilities from published literature. Model outcomes included incremental cost, quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), and incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR). One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were used to account for the uncertainties in the model. Discounting at 3% per year was utilized. Using results from the PSA, the net health benefits (NHBs) and net monetary benefits (NMBs) forgone and population EVPI were calculated. Results: Sotorasib yielded an increase of 0.35 QALYs at an incremental cost of $329,619. At a willingness to pay threshold (WTP) of $150,000 per QALY, the incremental cost per QALY gained (ICUR) was $941,768. The acceptability curve indicated that the likelihood of attaining cost-effectiveness at $150,000 WTP was 3% vs. 97% for sotorasib and docetaxel respectively. The average per-patient NHBs and NMBs forgone were 0.061QALYs and $5019 respectively, while the population EVPI was estimated to be $627.3 million. Conclusion: Sotorasib may require a higher WTP threshold or a reduction in acquisition cost for it to be considered cost-effective. Additionally, uncertainty in its clinical efficacy compared to docetaxel persists, and future research to acquire additional evidence may be beneficial.
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Biosymbiotic Wearable Platform for High-Fidelity Monitoring of Biosignals for Personalized Wound CareChronic wounds require continuous assessment to ensure timely and effective treatment, yet traditional monitoring methods are limited by intermittent evaluations and the inability to capture real-time wound dynamics. Current solutions for wound monitoring, such as temperature-sensing insoles or pH-sensitive hydrogels, fall short due to their single-parameter focus, limited durability, or need for frequent replacements. In this work, we introduce a fully integrated biosymbiotic wearable device capable of long-term, multi-parameter wound assessment through sensors measuring tissue oxygenation, humidity, and thermal conductivity. The flexible structure of the biosymbiotic device enables comfortable, continuous wear while power management solutions support long-term operation suitable for continuous physiological monitoring and wireless recharging. Validation across benchtop, on-body, and preliminary clinical tests confirms stable and reliable sensor performance over time, demonstrating the ability of the biosymbiotic device to detect early signs of healing complications without direct patient intervention. This biosymbiotic device sets a foundation for real-time, responsive wound care, advancing toward a future of seamless, data-driven healthcare at home and in clinical settings.
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The Image and Memory of Vladimir Lenin: An Evolution from the Early Soviet Period to the Twenty-First CenturyRussia is a country filled with remnants of its Soviet past; instead of Russia’s losing sight of the glory and brutality of its Soviet decades, Russia has chosen in many ways to honor the Soviet Union and keep its memory alive. One of the most interesting and constant aspects of Soviet history that has survived the collapse of the USSR is the image of Vladimir Lenin, the founding father of the Soviet Union. This thesis focuses on the evolution of Lenin’s image and memory from the dawn of the Soviet era to today’s Russia.This thesis explores themes that include the following: Lenin’s image in the early Soviet period and his veneration through his cult of followers; the fracturing of his legacy and reputation during the Gorbachev years and the collapse of the Soviet Union; and the restoration of Lenin’s image as Vladimir Putin emerged to power and strived to rehabilitate the legacy of the Soviet Union. Finally, this thesis further examines Lenin’s polarizing image in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, and where Lenin’s legacy stands today, at the close of 2024.
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Peralkaline Sodic Metasomatism from the Wilson Ridge Pluton, Northwest ArizonaPeralkaline sodic alteration is well known with peralkaline magmatic systems such as carbonatites and some syenites, yet is essentially unreported in other settings. Possibly caused by hydrothermal circulation of alkaline lake fluids, distinctive peralkaline sodic metasomatism, characterized by the presence of hydrothermal riebeckite and aegirine, impacted at least 20 km² of the weakly peraluminous Miocene Wilson Ridge pluton in northwest Arizona. Mapping on the western edge (Kingman Wash) and satellite imagery across >50 km2 show that alteration is concentrated in the western, possibly upper parts of the tilted Wilson Ridge pluton. Where studied, the pluton primarily comprises biotite-hornblende granodiorite with subordinate diorite, aplites, and late biotite-bearing rhyolitic dikes. Over 20 km2 contain by volume approximately 1/3 peralkaline metasomatism consisting of sodic amphibole veinlets and breccias enveloped in zones where albite and sodic amphibole replace igneous K-feldspar, plagioclase and biotite. Intense zones contain albite + aegirine-augite ± sodic amphibole; these are often accompanied by quartz dissolution. Alteration, brecciation, and veining postdate all but the late rhyolite which appears to overlap in time with brecciation and extensive albite + sodic amphibole flooding. Whole rock geochemistry shows that although Na, Ca and K, and to a lesser extent Fe, are mobile, whereas high-field-strength elements (Ti, Zr, REE, Nb) are little changed. Initial 87Sr/86Sr is elevated in the sodically altered rocks (0.7095—0.7129) compared to their unaltered equivalents (0.7092—0.7101).Despite the mineralogical similarities to alteration linked with peralkaline magmas, an alternative, distinctive origin is implied by the unusually large area of alteration, the absence of peralkaline igneous rocks, the lack of minor element enrichments characteristic of fenites, and the distinctive, non-magmatic Sr isotopic signature. In contrast to typical sodic(-calcic) alteration which is found in many geologic settings, and which is consistent with near-neutral NaCl-rich fluids, alteration at Wilson Ridge requires a distinctly alkaline fluid. Given that the evidence seems to negate a peralkaline magmatic source, an evaporitic Na-CO3-SO4-Cl source similar to modern and ancient alkaline lakes seems most likely, perhaps contributed from contemporaneous evaporitic sediments of the nearby Horse Spring formation which have similarly elevated Sr isotopic ratios.
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Error Budget Boundaries for Mounting Interface Design of Diamond Turned MirrorsSingle point diamond turning can be a very powerful tool process in many medium-scale production environments for manufacturing large aperture metal freeform mirrors. However, as substrate sizes increase, achieving industry-demanded surface figure error becomes much more difficult due to errors incurred through mounting of the substrate onto a fixture plate. These mounting errors can be observed interferometrically and fit to Zernike polynomial terms like astigmatism, trefoil, and power, and can be mitigated through strategic design choices. Maintaining high surface flatness, applying appropriate bolt torques repeatably, and machining rings or pads into the mounting faces of substrates can significantly reduce the amount of mounting induced deformation. These decisions effectively trade an increase in upfront engineering labor and slightly higher production cycle times for improved performance. This process can lower the amount of error allocated to mounting effects in an error budget, freeing margin for other manufacturing steps or other components within a larger system.
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The Thermae Agrippae: A Reevaluation of the Modern ReconstructionThis paper re-evaluates the interpretation of the extant remains of the Thermae Agrippae and reconsiders the phasing of the building, focusing especially on the first phase designed by Marcus Agrippa. It argues that the rotunda known as the Arco della Ciambella is not part of the original construction but a later addition from the fourth century CE. This paper also revisits reconstructions by C. Hülsen and Luisa Migliorati (2015) demonstrating how new evidence can improve their models. Notably, ancient authors who describe earlier phases of the building do not mention a dome; Pliny the Elder refers to the frigidarium’s ceiling as a camara, indicating a vaulted structure rather than a dome. Some scholars have identified the Arco della Ciambella as part of an entryway to the social center of the first phase of the complex, yet this feature is also conspicuously absent in historical accounts. Through an analysis of archaeological features and digital mapping, this paper reassesses the layout of public buildings in the Campus Martius and examines the renovations made over time. The study incorporates measurements of contemporary bathhouses, as well as comparative measurements of the Arco della Ciambella and other Augustan era domes. By realigning this evidence, this paper will contribute to a deeper understanding of the Thermae Agrippae and provides a foundation for future scholarship.