Digital Commons Network^™

Population Genomics And Evolution Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Samara T. Choudhury

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium ubiquitous in diverse environments and an opportunistic pathogen in humans. It is a leading cause of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients and of hospital-acquired pneumonia and sepsis. With a large flexible genome and abundant mobile genetic elements, P. aeruginosa exhibits high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making it a significant public health threat. Evolutionary processes such as homologous recombination, and horizontal gene transfer generate extensive genomic diversity in this species and facilitate the spread of resistance genes. In this dissertation, I investigate the genetic and evolutionary factors shaping P. aeruginosa population structure …

Advancing Skin Cancer Diagnostics: A Comparative Analysis Of Convolutional Neural Network Models For Skin Lesion Classification, Jesse Osuji, Tania Malik

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

For many years, skin cancer diagnosis and cancer research have been major focal points in the healthcare sector. Accurate classification of different types of skin lesions, including cancerous ones, is essential for proper diagnostics. Many machine learning (ML) techniques and models are used to solve various problems across various domains. One of such techniques is called neural networks. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are primarily used in computer vision-based problems, allowing computer systems to process and understand images. CNNs offer a potential tool for diagnosing skin lesions from images, occasionally demonstrating superior accuracy compared to trained dermatologists. This project explores various …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Functional Impact Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Rs4129009 (Ile775val) On Human Toll-Like Receptor 10, Audrey N. Koti

Biology Student Research

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a subclass of pattern recognition receptors within the

innate immune system that detect pathogen-associated and danger-associated molecular patterns,

thereby initiating host defense responses. The human TLR family comprises ten receptors (TLR1

– TLR10), each recognizing structurally conserved microbial motifs such as bacterial

lipoproteins and viral nucleic acids. The ligand specificities, adaptor protein recruitment, and

downstream signaling cascades have been well-characterized for TLR1 – TLR9, which

predominantly engage MyD88- or TRIF-dependent pathways to activate pro-inflammatory

transcription factors including NF-κB. In contrast, the ligand specificity and intracellular

signaling mechanisms of TLR10 have yet to be fully elucidated. Emerging …

Spatiotemporal Ecology Of Mycobacterium Ulcerans And Mycolactone Functions In French Guiana And Southeastern United States Aquatic Environments, Magdalene Dogbe

Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, produces mycolactone, a polyketide toxin traditionally studied for its role in human pathogenesis. This dissertation presents a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of M. ulcerans and mycolactone producing mycobacteria (MPM) ecology in the Americas and also reveals mycolactone's role in the environment as a microbial community regulator. Through comparative studies in French Guiana (endemic) and the southeastern United States (non-endemic), combined with experimental microcosm investigations, this research contributes to environmental pathogen ecology understanding. Environmental surveillance across 2,226 samples from French Guiana revealed complete MPM restriction to freshwater environments, with zero detections from 1,226 coastal …

Investigating Factors That Affect Total Ige Antibody Levels Of A Canine Population In Louisville, Ky, Iris N. Gillespie

Undergraduate Theses

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed condition that causes inflammatory and pruritic (itchy) skin reactions in response to environmental and food allergens. The main purpose of this study is to determine if there is a correlation between pollen counts and total canine IgE antibody levels of dogs living in Louisville, KY. Additionally, data is analyzed to look for trends documented in previous studies related to the impacts of sex, age, and allergic symptoms on total IgE count. In collaboration with the Downtown Animal Hospital, blood samples were drawn from 16 dogs at one point in February (when pollen …

Exploring The Relationship Between Loneliness And Real-Time Measurements Of Gsr And Hrv During Concept Mapping, And Cortisol And Oxytocin Levels, Jangwon Seo

Masters Theses

This study attempts to explore loneliness among college students from a bio-physio-psycho-social perspective, and it utilizes real-time physiological measurements (GSR and HRV) and biomarkers (cortisol and oxytocin) in conjunction with psychosocial assessments. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, which involve concept mapping exercises, with the aim of comprehending the full nature of how loneliness interacts with physiological and psychological processes. At Time 1 (T1) we found significant positive correlations between loneliness and elevated GSR levels, which is indicative of increased sympathetic arousal (r = .35, p < .01). Additionally, there were significant negative correlations between loneliness and mean RR intervals in HRV that indicated autonomic dysregulation featured by increased sympathetic activities as well as reduced parasympathetic functions (r = -.28, p < .05). However, at Time 2 (T2), these correlations were not significant indicating possible temporal fluctuations due to adaptive responses or extraneous variables such social support systems or coping mechanisms. The qualitative data from concept mapping enriched the analysis by providing deeper insights into the cognitive and emotional processes underlying loneliness. Despite limitations like demographic skewness, funding constraints, logistical challenges, etc., this, therefore, highlights the need for multidimensional investigations of psychological phenomena. This has implications for future research as well as clinical practice, which could include using these integrative measures to develop holistic interventions for mental health disorders.

(R2135) System Dynamical Analysis For Ann-Based Numerical Solutions Of A Compartmental Model: A Bio-Mathematical Model Of Drug Diffusion Through The Compartments Of Blood And Tissue, Rakesh Kumar, Sudarshan Dhua

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper provides a considerably efficient numerical approach to acquire the solutions of a biomathematical model administrating oral and intravenous distribution of pharmaceuticals in the human body. The proposed numerical approach based on an artificial neural network is employed to extract numerical solutions for a detailed set of ordinary differential equations and analyze the change in concentration of drug diffusion via the compartments of blood and tissue medium. We primarily focus on analyzing three different models established on the diffusion process, exercising laws of mass action and Fick’s principle. In this work, the existing model is reformulated as an optimization …

(R2107) Analysis Of A Bivalent Vaccine Model With Peer Influence Effect On Testing, Manoj Kumar Singh, Anjali .

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The coronavirus caused havoc around the world. There was a terrible situation in villages and cities, and no one knew how to deal with it. Although the governments of each country tried their best to save the common people, vaccination programs and testing centers were built everywhere. However, people were not utilizing it due to fear. Because of this, the infection spread rapidly. The qualitative study of the mathematical model here is in context with the situation when bivalent vaccination and testing are available for an epidemic. The mathematical model combines the exposed period and influenza model with vaccination included …

Host-Intrinsic Factors Determine Anti-Tumor Efficacy Of Exercise In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sumedha Pareek

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths with a low 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 13.3% for all stages combined. We have previously shown that exercise can improve quality of life and enhance functional capacity among patients with PDAC. Exercise induces a variety of changes in the tumor microenvironment with beneficial effects in several tumor types. However, our understanding of the clinical effects of exercise and the mechanisms that mediate anti-tumor effects are limited in pancreatic cancer.

In this project, using C57BL/6 mice from Taconic Biosciences (Tac) and Jackson Laboratories (Jax), we established a …

Prevalence Of Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli In Illinois Bison Herds, Adam M. Baldocchi

Honors Capstones

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) represents an important group of zoonotic pathogens that pose ongoing risks to public health through foodborne outbreaks and environmental transmission. This project evaluated the prevalence and genetic distribution of stx1 and stx2 toxin genes in fecal samples collected from Illinois bison Bison bison) managed under either commercial or preservation conditions. A total of 320 fecal samples were screened for STEC presence by performing enrichment culturing and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for stx1, stx2, and uidA, which confirmed E. coli identity. Of all tested samples, 28.4% were STEC-positive, with stx2 (21.3%) …

Applicability Of Cementochronology To Estimate Season-Of-Death In Humans: Insights From Modern Documented Collections, Olga Ibarra-Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

Dental cementum is characterized by lifelong deposition of alternating opaque annuli in fall/winter and translucent bands in spring/summer. This study aims to test the applicability of cementochronology to estimate season-of-death, by observing the properties of the last layer, with direct implications for forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. The sample includes canine teeth from 146 adults (84 males, 62 females), age-at-death ranging from 20-97 years (mean=61.7 years, SD=18.6 years), from two contemporary skeletal collections. Of these individuals, 78 (53.4%) died in spring/summer and 68 (46.6%) died in fall/winter. Overall accuracy was low at 64.4% (94/146). Accuracy was higher for spring/summer deaths 100.0% …

Advancing Trypanosoma Cruzi N-Myristoyltransferase As A Drug Target For Chagas Disease Through In Silico Discovery And Biochemical Evaluation, Diana Citlali González García

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chagas disease remains one of the most persistent and neglected parasitic infections in the Americas, advancing silently through the intracellular replication of Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes and the invasive spread of trypomastigotes. The survival of the parasite is critically reliant on protein N-myristoylation, a lipid modification catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferase (NMT). This dissertation aims to advance beyond prior studies by systematically investigating NMT inhibition across multiple biological levels, spanning from the characterization of the purified enzyme, through cellular infection models, to the global proteomic remodeling induced within the parasite, thereby evaluating TcNMT as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in T.cruzi.Recombinant TcNMT was expressed, …

Expression And Purification Of Prohibitin Proteins And Investigation Of Their Interaction With Mycobacterium Tuberculosis’S Virulence Factors, Zeina Rhaim

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prohibitin (PHB) is a highly conserved mitochondrial protein involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, mitochondrial integrity, macrophage activation, cytokine production and many other critical cell functions. The prohibitin complex, formed by Prohibitin-1 (PHB1) and Prohibitin-2 (PHB2), functions as a mitochondrial membrane-associated receptor. Cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and renal conditions were found to be linked to an irregular PHB expression. Emerging evidence has also highlighted a significant role for PHB in tuberculosis (TB), particularly through its interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) virulence determinants. The molecular mechanisms by which PHB influences TB pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Our preliminary studies showed that PHB1 was …

The Influence Of Tert-Butylhydroquinone (Tbhq) On Acod1/Irg1-Driven Inflammatory Pathways, Alyssa M. Whisel

All Dissertations

The demand for processed foods has led to increased use of synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), notably tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), to inhibit lipid oxidation and prolong shelf life. While TBHQ is deemed safe at regulated levels, concerns arise from studies indicating potential adverse effects such as oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and impaired immune function. To investigate TBHQ's immunomodulatory effects, RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were pre-treated with TBHQ and subsequently stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C, PIC) to simulate bacterial or viral challenges. Results demonstrated that TBHQ at high non-cytotoxic doses reduced nitric oxide and IL-10 production while promoting phagocytosis and …

Antifungal Effects Of Fatty Acids On The Growth Of Ophidiomyces Ophiodiicola In A Simulated Snake Skin Environment, Krupa S. Patel, Lizbeth Delarosa, Jacey Cardenas, Thalia Rodriguez, John Niedzwiecki

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Emerging infectious diseases have increasingly threatened wildlife populations worldwide, with devastating impacts observed in frogs, bats, and more recently, snakes. Snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by the pathogenic fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo), currently poses a serious threat to snake populations across multiple regions. Infected snakes exhibit disrupted skin shedding, rough or scaly patches, crusty sores, and ulcers that compromise their health and survival. Although the mechanisms underlying transmission and susceptibility to SFD remain unclear, the snake cutaneous microbiome is known to act as a defensive barrier, mediating interactions between the host and invading pathogens. The lipid layer is a key …

Pd-1 Blockade Induced Bone Loss Occurs In A T-Cell Dependent Manner And May Be Mediated By Ifnγ-Driven Osteoclast Activation, Elena Amonette, Paige M. Hill

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

PD-1 Blockade Induced Bone Loss Occurs in a T-Cell Dependent Manner and May Be Mediated by IFNγ-Driven Osteoclast Activation

^†Elena Amonette¹, ^†Paige Hill¹, Gwenyth J. Joseph², Rachelle W. Johnson^2,3

¹Belmont University, Nashville, TN; ²Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; ³Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

^†These authors contributed equally to this work

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in the treatment of various cancers due to their ability to reduce tumor mediated T cell death and lengthen the anti-tumor response. One such therapy that is increasingly utilized …

[Kyda] The Behavioral Spillover Effect: Modeling Behavioral Interdependencies In Multi-Pathogen Dynamics, Leah Lejeune, Omar Saucedo, Lauren M. Childs, Navid Ghaffarzadegan

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Organ-Specific And Extraction-Dependent Metabolite Profiles In Endemic Tajik Species Ferula Violacea Korovin, Sylhiya Mavlonazarova, Kenneth Acosta, Rinat Abzalimov, Saidbeg Satorov, Vyacheslav Dushenkov

Publications and Research

Ferula violacea Korovin, an endemic Tajikistani plant with purported medicinal properties, remains understudied. This study employs untargeted metabolomics to characterize the metabolite profiles of ethanol extracts and juices from F. violacea roots and seeds. In total, 540 distinct metabolites are putatively identified, 419 of which are previously unreported in the Ferula genus, representing a substantial expansion of its known chemical diversity. The most abundant metabolites are terpenoids, amino acid derivatives, and alkaloids. A particularly abundant group of daucane sesquiterpenoids, sharing a common (6-methyl-azulen-4-yl) cyclohexanecarboxylate substructure, is identified, including known metabolites such as ferutidin and ferutinin. Comparative analysis reveals organ-specific metabolic …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Tracking Livestock Heart Rate & Location Using Long-Range Radio Networks. An Immediate Solution For Farms Without Reliable Wi-Fi, Dermott Harkin, Martin Bradley

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.