DRUM - Digital Repository at the University of Maryland

DRUM collects, preserves, and provides public access to the scholarly output of the university. Faculty and researchers can upload research products for rapid dissemination, global visibility and impact, and long-term preservation.

Submit to DRUM

Submit to DRUM

To submit an item to DRUM, login using your UMD credentials. Then select the "Submit Item to DRUM" link in the navigation bar. View DRUM policies and submission guidelines.
Equitable Access Policy

Equitable Access Policy

The University of Maryland Equitable Access Policy provides equitable, open access to the University's research and scholarship. Faculty can learn more about what is covered by the policy and how to deposit on the policy website.
Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations

DRUM includes all UMD theses and dissertations from 2003 forward.

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UM Community-managed Collections

Recent Submissions

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    Solid-State Battery Database Mastersheet
    (2025) Petracci, M. Florencia; Albertus, Paul
    Despite thousands of annual publications on battery devices, standard reporting practices are distinctly absent, resulting in a wide variation of reported data that is difficult to search and analyze. To address this, we constructed a database of research-level solid-state batteries with a preliminary ontological framework reflected in 167 columns and populated with 245 batteries resulting in over 40,000 data-points. This project’s significance is threefold: (1) Our variables include materials, components, fabrication, and cell testing, whose combination is essential to describe and properly assess a solid-state battery. (2) Our inclusion of “not applicable” and “not reported” values allow us to analyze reporting practices and gain insights on ”missing data” in battery publications. (3) We present a structure for battery data with well-defined variables, facilitating formatted reporting. Key applications include a streamlined visualization and search workflow employing numerical and categorical criteria, quantitative analysis of reporting practices, a training set for AI paper-data extraction, and connections with existing battery ontologies.
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    Intersectional effects of race and gender on first impressions of Black and White autistic adults
    (Autism, 2025-11-14) Jones, Desiree R; Sasson, Noah J
    Non-autistic adults often harbor negative attitudes about autism and show a reluctance to interact with autistic people. For autistic people with multiple marginalized identities, the compounding effects of stigma based on race and disability may worsen peer attitudes. This study investigated first impressions of Black and White autistic adults made by non-autistic observers. Autistic adults (N = 29) stratified by race (15 Black, 14 White) completed a videotaped semi-structured conversation, and non-autistic raters provided their first impressions of each participant. Black autistic people were rated as more likable and trustworthy, and raters endorsed a greater interest in interacting with them, compared to White autistic people. Evidence of intersectional effects of race, gender, and autism was also observed. White autistic men, but not Black autistic men, were evaluated less favorably than non-male autistic participants, with Black autistic men being evaluated more favorably on some items. These results suggest that the intersection of race and autism may, in some cases, counter stereotypes about Blackness and autism, and that holding multiple marginalized identities can modify the characteristics of peer stigma toward autistic adults. Lay abstract Many non-autistic adults have negative feelings about autism and may not want to interact with autistic people. For people who face more than one kind of discrimination, like being part of a racial minority and being disabled, a combination of racism and ableism might make others’ opinions even more negative. This study looked at how people’s race, gender, and how others judge them are connected when people view videos of Black and White autistic adults. In the first part of the study, 29 autistic adults (15 Black, 14 White) had a conversation with the main researcher, which was recorded on video. In the second part, people who were not autistic watched these videos and shared their thoughts about each person. The results showed that Black autistic people were seen as more likable and trustworthy, and the people watching the videos were more interested in getting to know them compared to White autistic people. The study also found that race, gender, and autism together influenced how people were judged. Black autistic men were often judged similarly to, or better than, non-male participants, while White autistic men were judged less positively than non-male participants. This means that having more than one identity that is discriminated against can change the ways that people view autistic adults, such as allowing Black autistic men to avoid common stereotypes.
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    Are we safe? Seeking information and knowledge sharing by individuals with hidden disabilities
    (2025-10-27) Winkler, Bran
    This study explores how individuals with invisible disabilities seek, access, and utilize information across medical and online platforms. This article uses research and studies conducted that examined the life-world of people living with or who have lived with invisible disabilities to examine the motivations, barriers, and strategies that shape their information behavior. Data were analyzed to identify key patterns of information needs, value, and trust. Findings suggest that individuals prefer informal sources over formal sources and report to social media to seek new information rather than their General Practitioners. The study conducted should be beneficial to information and medical professionals to better understand the needs of those with invisible disabilities. However, future research should be conducted to better understand those who avoid or are unsure of how to seek out their information needs.
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    ROLE OF TRPV4 MECHANOSENSING IN DIFFERENTIATION OF VALVULAR INTERSTITIAL CELLS AND AORTIC ENDOTHELIAL CELLS
    (2025) Mukherjee, Pritha; Rahaman, Shaik O. SOR; Nutrition; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and aortic valve stenosis, have continued to remain the leading cause of death for the past several decades. Although, due to the improvement in medical science, the mortality rates have decreased over time, the number of cases diagnosed in recent years has increased at a significant rate. While patients from higher socio-economic backgrounds can afford the treatment procedures, there has been a pressing need for preventative therapies to support the greater population, compelling us to study the fundamental process of the disease initiation and progression. Aortic valve stenosis (AVS), one of the most complicated disease conditions, leads to increased stiffness (rigidity) of the heart valve tissue, causing valvular interstitial cells (VICs) to differentiate into myofibroblasts. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (Endo-MT) is a process where endothelial cells (ECs) differentiate into mesenchymal cells, which may lead to the endothelial dysfunctions which are involved in major cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Matrix stiffness is recognized as a risk factor in both AVS and atherosclerosis development and progression. This study investigated the role of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (Trpv4), a mechanosensitive ion channel in VIC-myofibroblast activation and Endo-MT in response to both matrix stiffness and TGFβ, a major promoter of tissue fibrosis. We confirmed Trpv4 functionality in primary mouse VICs and aortic ECs (aECs) and found that its genetic and pharmacologic deletion/antagonism blocked VIC to myofibroblast and Endo-MT induced by matrix stiffness and TGFβ1, as indicated by changes in cell morphology, α-smooth muscle actin, and F-actin expression. Key findings revealed that residues 30-130 in Trpv4 were essential in stiffness-mediated VIC to myofibroblast differentiation and Endo-MT. Furthermore, Trpv4 was shown to regulate PI3K-AKT activity necessary for myofibroblast differentiation and cellular traction force generation. Moreover, we found that Trpv4 regulates the stiffness-mediated phosphorylation of MLC2, A major regulator which in turn regulates Endo-MT in aECs. These results highlight Trpv4's novel role in VIC- myofibroblast activation and mechanotransduction in regulating Endo-MT. Altogether our results suggest that Trpv4-based targeted therapeutic strategies may have the potential to prevent or suppress cardiovascular diseases.
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