Texas Tech University

Novel Lipoprotein (a) Therapies: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Purpose of Review Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined, independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve stenosis. Plasma Lp(a) levels are 70–90% heritable, largely unresponsive to lifestyle changes, and poorly co...

Financial Vulnerability: A Latent Class Approach to Understanding the Relationship Between Student Success and Financial Situations at Community Colleges

As institutions strive to enhance their interventions for students facing financial stress, additional research into who these students are and how their financial choices are associated with their persistence is critical. In this study, we focus on how student tuition financing...

Learning nothing from everything

Abstract I analyze how a Sender can use verifiable evidence to influence a Receiver about a binary state when the relevance of information is ex ante uncertain and asymmetrically known by the Sender. The Sender has access to two pieces of binary evidence, one they know to be perf...

Evaluation of the Relative Citation Ratio Versus the H-Index as Measures of Citation-Based Scholarly Influence in Academic Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluating citation-based scholarly influence among academic faculty is foundational to academic medicine, as retention, promotion, and tenure to govern career advancement at every level. The h-index has been the standard metric across fields, including...

Field evaluation of polished desalinated produced water for alfalfa irrigation in a semi-arid environment

Abstract Water scarcity is a critical challenge in West Texas, where agriculture and the oil and gas industry compete for limited water resources. The oil and gas industry generates approximately 32% of the nation’s produced water, presenting significant opportunities for benefic...

Developing Correction Methods for New Fibrogram-Based Length Measurements

Cotton fiber length is a key determinant of yarn quality, and High Volume Instrument (HVI) measurements are widely used to assess fiber length characteristics. Recent research has shown that the complete HVI fibrogram contains substantially more information than the conventional...

Architecture-Dependent Stability, Cellular Uptake,and Redox Modulation of Poly(p-Coumaric Acid) Hybrid Nanoparticlesfor Ovarian Carcinoma Intervention

Abstract The clinical efficacy of fluorescence-guided surgery is often compromised by the poor photostability and biologically inert nature of conventional contrast agents such as Indocyanine Green (ICG). While nanocarriers can enhance dye stability, they often function primarily...

Remote Sensing and Machine Learning for Monitoring Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Crop Nitrogen Status in Field Conditions

Efficient nitrogen (N) management is essential for sustaining crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts associated with nitrogen losses. However, the high spatial and temporal variability of soil nitrogen dynamics and crop nitrogen status makes field-scale monitori...

Regulation of PCSK9 During Oxidized LDL-Induced Foam Cell Formation in RAW264.7 Cells

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is traditionally known for regulating plasma LDL cholesterol levels via LDL receptor degradation. This exploratory study examined the association between chemically induced changes in Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), a vasoprotec...

Artificial Intelligence Use for Financial Advice and Financial Behaviors: The Role of Financial Knowledge

ABSTRACT With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐driven tools in financial services and planning, there is concern about the role of AI‐driven financial advice and openness to these in relation to individual financial behaviors, particularly regarding clients' interpretat...

Effect of a free sugar-restricted diet on anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and glycemic control in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background High-sugar diets rich in fructose and other simple sugars are associated with increased lipogenesis and insulin resistance, potentially increasing the risk of metabolic syndrome, a condition closely linked with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aime...

Bridging risk and retention: risk coping with privacy and hallucination in AI

Abstract This study examines how users engage with generative AI systems in the presence of perceived technological risks, focusing on the interplay between risk perception, adaptive behavior, and continued use. Drawing on a risk coping perspective, the study conceptualizes gener...

Unlocking potassium secretion: the roles of aldosterone, ROMK, and WNK kinases in kidney potassium handling

The normal human kidney possesses a prodigious capacity to excrete dietary potassium (K+). This evolutionary adaptation is rooted in the high-K+ diets of prehistoric hominids, which are estimated to have reached 15,000 mg/day. Despite the progressive reduction in dietary K+ since...