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Osmosis Magazine - Spring 2022

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Let’S Worm In To The Guinea Worm Disease, Rachel Decker

Osmosis Magazine

Imagine living with another organism in your body, cohabiting for months before you are even aware of its presence. Slowly, a lesion starts to form on your leg. The lesion grows bigger everyday, starting at a couple millimeters but growing up to a couple centimeters. The burning sensation starts with the lesion and can only be dimmed by submerging your leg in water. Suddenly, a worm emerges from the lesion along with pus and blood. The patient is infected with Guinea Worm Disease.

The Science Of Tattoos, Isabel Dilandro

Osmosis Magazine

From face paint to temporary stick-on tattoos, children are taught that art on bodies is something beautiful and playful, associated with memories of fun and joy. Why is it then that tattoos get such an infamous reputation? The answer is pretty simple: tattoos are not temporary. But why? How does the ink get there? How does it stay put? In order to understand this process a bit more, it is important to have a basic understanding of the skin’s structure and function.

The Asu Tribe And Customs, Isabel Dilandro

Osmosis Magazine

Chandra Thapar, an Indian anthropologist, dedicated a portion of his career to the study of foreign cultures and how they relate to his native country. One in particular caught his specific attention due to its similarities in the reverence of a sacred animal, akin to how the cow is sacred to India. See below a short consolidation of his findings:

The tribe Dr. Thapar studied is called the Asu and is found on the North American continent north of the Tarahumara of Mexico.

Kennewick Man: A Rare Window Into Prehistoric Life In North America, Jack Dupuy

Osmosis Magazine

What would you do if you found a human skull on the banks of the James River? On July 28, 1996, two college students stumbled across a skull on the banks of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington. They believed it was a murder victim at first, but archeologists and scientists discovered that the skull was part of a nearly complete, 9,000 year-old skeleton.

Zaire Ebolavirus: A Silent Killer, Joshua Pandian

Osmosis Magazine

In 2014, the West African country Guinea experienced a major outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) that ended in 2016. Patient zero is believed to be an 18-month old boy from a small village who received the virus from bats, a potential reservoir host. After spreading rapidly through rural areas, the virus made its way to major urban centers for the first time, significantly increasing the infection and death rates.

A Creature That Has Seen It All, Dusan Vukcevic

Osmosis Magazine

What if there was a creature that is so indecisive about its habitat, that it decides to live both in rainforests and in the Antarctic? What if this creature was taking a swim in the Mariana Trench, and warming itself up at the bottom of a mud volcano? Their appearance gave them many names, so today we call them water bears, moss piglets or simply, Tardigrades. Be that as it may, the number of their names is negligible compared to the number of harsh conditions they are able to withstand. Just how resilient are these creatures?

Osmosis Magazine - Fall 2021

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Complete Genome Characterizations Of Two Novel Mitoviruses Hosted By The Hypogeous, Mycorrhizal Fungi Statesia Pompholyx And Tuber Sp., Ilgaz Akata, Gülce Edi̇ş, Eda Kumru, Emre Keski̇n, Ergi̇n Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Botany

The study of viral diversity in uncultivated fungi, including those involved in mycorrhizal relationships, alongside research on viral communities in phytopathogenic and economically important fungi, is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of mycovirus diversity and evolution. Mycorrhizal fungi host various viruses, contributing to our understanding of virus diversity and evolution. Here, we report on the identification and complete genome characterization of two novel mitoviruses that naturally infect the hypogeous, mycorrhizal fungi Statesia pompholyx and Tuber sp. The identified viruses, denominated as “Statesia pompholyx mitovirus 1” (SpMV1) and Tuber mitovirus 3 (TruMV3), have genome lengths of 2549 and 3292 nucleotides and …

Effects Of Humic Acid And Salt Stress On Growth, Physiological Parameters And Mineral Substance Uptake In Artemisia Dracunculus L. (Tarragon), Serhat Seven, Şener Akinci

Turkish Journal of Botany

In this study, the physiological changes in Artemisia dracunculus L. plants under salinity stress and the remediative roles of leonardite-derived liquid humic acid (HA) were investigated. Salt stress caused a significant decrease in measured growth parameters (plant height, fresh weight of leaves and stems, dry weight of leaves and stems, number of leaves and leaf area). HA had a positive effect on growth parameters at 75 mM NaCl concentration, except for leaf number, but its effect was limited at 150 mM NaCl concentration. The total amount of protein was found to be lower in the leaves of seedlings grown under …

Designing Accessible Ui/Ux For Epileptic Patients: A Scalable Solution For Music Therapy Delivery, Amethyst G.H. Mckenzie

Computer Science Senior Theses

How can we design an accessible, scalable UI/UX system tailored to the cognitive, visual, and motor impairments of epileptic patients, that ensures safe and effective interactions with music therapy applications? This research explores the intersection of accessibility, user-centred design, and digital health, using an iterative design process to develop and refine the SONATA app—a clinically deployable music therapy platform.

Through two prototype iterations, usability testing, and quantitative event logging, this study compares the effectiveness of structured versus flexible navigation in improving user experience. Key findings reveal that structured navigation reduces unintended detours, while progressive disclosure techniques enhance instructional clarity. Additionally, …

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide And Its Receptor As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia, Elizaveta Mangutov

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are commonly prescribed for the treatment of pain and headache disorders. However, chronic opioid use can result in a paradoxical increased sensitivity to pain as well as an extension of pain area known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). One field OIH has been clearly identified is migraine, known as medication overuse headache (MOH). While opioids may provide acute relief, chronic use results in increased migraine pain severity and progression of migraine from an episodic to chronic state. The primary treatment is opioid cessation, which is difficult to implement as patients are reluctant to stop treatment they believe is helping them, …

Immunotherapy-Related Neurotoxicity In The Central Nervous System Of Children With Cancer, Jiasen He, Jeremy Connors, Andrew Meador, Shuo Xu, Heather Meador, Hong Jiang, Juan Fueyo, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Gregory K Friedman, Wafik Zaky, Zsila Sadighi, John M Slopis, Ali H Ahmad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Significant gaps remain in our understanding of immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity in pediatric patients, largely because much of our knowledge comes from studies in adults. Accurately identifying the adverse effects of immunotherapy in children is also challenging, owing to variations in terminology and grading systems. Moreover, the manifestation of immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity differs greatly across different diseases, various modalities, dosages, and delivery methods. Combining immunotherapy with other treatments might improve outcomes but introduces new complexities and potential for increased toxicities. Additionally, pediatric patients with intracranial malignancy have unique responses to immunotherapies and distinct neurotoxicity compared to those with extracranial malignancy. Consequently, we must …

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide And Its Receptor As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia, Elizaveta Mangutov

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are commonly prescribed for the treatment of pain and headache disorders. However, chronic opioid use can result in a paradoxical increased sensitivity to pain as well as an extension of pain area known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). One field OIH has been clearly identified is migraine, known as medication overuse headache (MOH). While opioids may provide acute relief, chronic use results in increased migraine pain severity and progression of migraine from an episodic to chronic state. The primary treatment is opioid cessation, which is difficult to implement as patients are reluctant to stop treatment they believe is helping them, …

Effects Of Phosphogypsum, Phsophorus And Lime On Andropogon Gayanus Kunth, V T. Paulino, E Malavolta

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There are several factors which determine the low animal productivity in the tropics. Among these factors, inadequate nutrition is the most limiting one followed by the low natural fertility and high acidity of the soils in these regions. Previous findings have shown important soil nutrient deficiencies in some Brazilian cerrado soils. Malavolta (1952) demonstrated sulfur (S) deficiencies, while Werner et al. (1967) found plant response to S. Responses to phosphorus addition are very common in this kind of soil and in tropical America there are rates of phosphorus being applied, which sometimes are uneconomical for the formation and maintenance of …

Red Clover Needs For Mobybdenum And Boron Soil Threshold Values Of Deficiency And Toxicity, H Gembrazewski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover is a precious and promising fodder crop in Poland. Even on acid soils its yields are satisfying, if sufficient level of exchangeable Ca is present. Symbiotically fixed N covers N needs, but fixing effectiveness and rate of further changing of nitrogen compounds depends on optimal molybdenum supply. It is a component of such enzymes as nitrogenase and nitrate reductase, which make it necessary for Rhizobium as well as clover. However, Mo surplus is toxic for animals (the relation of Mo:Cu is of import­ance). As other leguminous plants, red clover needs much boron. Yield of 15 t of dry …

Cardiometabolic Benefits Of A Non-Industrialized-Type Diet Are Linked To Gut Microbiome Modulation, Fuyong Li, Anissa M. Armet, Katri Korpela, Junhong Liu, Rodrigo Margain Quevedo, Francesco Asnicar, Benjamin Seethaler, Tianna B. S. Rusnak, Janis L. Cole, Zhihong Zhang, Shuang Zhao, Adele Gagnon, Edward C. Deehan, Joao F. Mota, Jeffrey A. Bakal, Russell Greiner, Dan Knights, Nicola Segata, Stephan C. Bischoff, Laurie Mereu, Andrea M. Haqq, Catherine J. Field, Liang Li, Carla M. Prado, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Industrialization adversely affects the gut microbiome and predisposes individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases. We tested a microbiome restoration strategy comprising a diet that recapitulated key characteristics of non-industrialized dietary patterns (restore diet) and a bacterium rarely found in industrialized microbiomes (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) in a randomized controlled feeding trial in healthy Canadian adults. The restore diet, despite reducing gut microbiome diversity, enhanced the persistence of L. reuteri strain from rural Papua New Guinea (PB-W1) and redressed several microbiome features altered by industrialization. The diet also beneficially altered microbiota-derived plasma metabolites implicated in the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases. Considerable …

Pspc1 Exerts An Oncogenic Role In Aml By Regulating A Leukemic Transcription Program In Cooperation With Pu1, Juyeong Hong, Pinpin Sui, Ying Li, Kerryn Y Xu, Ji-Hoon Lee, Juan Wang, Shi Chen, Peng Zhang, Noah Wingate, Asra Noor, Yaxia Yuan, Robert Hromas, Hongwei Zhou, Karina Hamamoto, Rui Su, C Cameron Yin, Fengxi Ye, Andrés E Quesada, Jianjun Chen, Suming Huang, Daohong Zhou, M James You, Feng-Chun Yang, Jianlong Wang, Mingjiang Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy characterized by the blockage of myeloid cell differentiation and uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells. Here, we show that paraspeckle component 1 (PSPC1) is aberrantly overexpressed and associated with poor survival in AML patients. Using human AML cells and mouse models, we demonstrate that PSPC1 is not required for normal hematopoiesis, but it is critical and essential for AML cells to maintain their leukemic characteristics. PSPC1 loss induces robust differentiation, suppresses proliferation, and abolishes leukemogenesis in diverse AML cells. Mechanistically, PSPC1 exerts a pro-leukemia effect by regulating a unique leukemic transcription …

Structure-Function Relationship Of Ash1l And Histone H3k36 And H3k4 Methylation, Kendra R Vann, Rajal Sharma, Chih-Chao Hsu, Maeva Devoucoux, Adam H Tencer, Lei Zeng, Kevin Lin, Li Zhu, Qin Li, Catherine Lachance, Ruben Rosas Ospina, Qiong Tong, Ka Lung Cheung, Shuai Yang, Soumi Biswas, Hongwen Xuan, Jovylyn Gatchalian, Lorena Alamillo, Jianlong Wang, Suk Min Jang, Brianna J Klein, Yue Lu, Patricia Ernst, Brian D Strahl, Scott B Rothbart, Martin J Walsh, Michael L Cleary, Jacques Côté, Xiaobing Shi, Ming-Ming Zhou, Tatiana G Kutateladze

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The histone H3K36-specific methyltransferase ASH1L plays a critical role in development and is frequently dysregulated in human diseases, particularly cancer. Here, we report on the biological functions of the C-terminal region of ASH1L encompassing a bromodomain (ASH1LBD), a plant homeodomain (ASH1LPHD) finger, and a bromo-adjacent homology (ASH1LBAH) domain, structurally characterize these domains, describe their mechanisms of action, and explore functional crosstalk between them. We find that ASH1LPHD recognizes H3K4me2/3, whereas the neighboring ASH1LBD and ASH1LBAH have DNA binding activities. The DNA binding function of ASH1LBAH is a driving force for the association of ASH1L with the linker DNA in the …

A Role For The Actin Cytoskeleton And Plastin-3 In Osteoblast Mineralization And Mechanosensation, Samantha Meagan Chin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The great diversity in actin network architectures and dynamics is exploited by cells to drive fundamental biological processes including cell migration, intracellular trafficking, and cell division. One such system that relies on the actin cytoskeleton to fulfill its physiological function are osteoblasts, which are mesenchymal lineage bone cells that promote bone formation through depositing a collagen scaffold and subsequently promoting mineralization of this matrix. A number of factors are known to drive osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblast cells including extracellular matrix cues such as substrate stiffness, which are primarily detected via mechanosensitive machinery linked to the actin cytoskeleton. Disruptions to β-actin, …

Assessing The Biological Impacts And Health Risks Of Uv Radiation In The Context Of Sustainable Development Goals: Review, Ruaa H. Abbas, Lina M. Shaker

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, while essential for certain biological processes, presents significant risks to human health and ecosystems. Increased UV exposure, driven by ozone depletion and climate change, heightens threats such as DNA damage, skin cancer, immune suppression, and eye disorders, directly aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being. Additionally, UV radiation disrupts marine and terrestrial ecosystems, impacting biodiversity and productivity, relevant to SDGs 14 and 15. This review evaluates the health and environmental impacts of UV radiation and highlights recent advancements in UV monitoring technology. Key findings reveal substantial evidence linking UV exposure to accelerated skin …

Osmosis Magazine - Fall 2018

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

The Elephant In The Room: Why Don't The Largest Animals Get Cancer, Abigail Watterson

Osmosis Magazine

There is a famous conundrum in the field of cancer research called the Peto Paradox that questions why animal body mass and rates of cancer development are not actually correlated. It seems reasonable to think that more cells and more cell division would lead to a higher rate of developing mutations that lead to cancer. But as it turns out, larger animals have hidden mechanisms that can fight off cancer and prevent tumor growth.

Osmosis Magazine, Spring 2017

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Osmosis Magazine, Fall 2016, Alex Long, Kristen Rubenstein, Tony Da Lomba, Mary Burns, Liana Saleh, Nicole D'Ambrosio, Maron Tarekegn, Adrianna Guillard, Maggie Michel, Cassie Gilboy, Annie Scalet, Carew Bartley, Colette Buser, Amanda Focht, Ian Gallagher, Adriana Grimes, Helene Keirns, Miriam Mcbride, Joe Ortolani, Annie Ryan, Danielle Storozynsky, Niamh Sutherburg

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

The Role Of The Female Reproductive Cycle In Social Communication And Relevance To Mental Health, Julissa Amaro Castillo, Fernando Dominguez, Ariana Hinojosa, Giselle Padilla, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

The female reproductive cycle is characterized by fluctuating hormones, including estrogens and progesterone, that are involved in reproductive health; however, they have also been linked to disorders like Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), mood swings, depression and others. The goal of this study is to use the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) as an animal model to examine the influence of the reproductive cycle and hormones on behavior. Scent-marking activity known as flank marking is exhibited by territorial or sociable animals. In essence, animals mark their territory or convey information such as reproductive status by rubbing their flanks or …

Effects Of Arginine-Vasopressin In The Brain On Cardiovascular Function In A Psychosocial Stress Animal Model, Esmeralda Lopez-Garcia, Ariana V. Hinojosa, Esperanza I. Alaniz, Fernando Dominguez, Giselle Padilla, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: Psychosocial stress impacts cardiovascular health, increasing the risk of events like myocardial infarction (MI), stress cardiomyopathy, and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Anxiety. However, our understanding of the biological mechanisms that connect psychosocial stress with negative cardiovascular and psychological outcomes remains incomplete. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is linked to both mental and physical health by regulating social behavior, blood pressure, and anxiety-related behaviors. This study investigates the potential cardioprotective effects of the neuropeptide AVP, in an effort to generate evidence that it may strengthen heart function and lessen the severity of adverse cardiovascular events caused by stress, brain …

Nucleoredoxin Regulates Wnt Signaling During Pituitary Stem Cell Differentiation, Michelle L. Brinkmeier, Leonard Y M Cheung, Sean P. O'Connell, Diana K. Gutierrez, Eve C. Rhoads, Sally A. Camper, Shannon W. Davis

Faculty Publications

Nucleoredoxin (Nxn) encodes a multi-functional enzyme with oxidoreductase activity that regulates many different signaling pathways and cellular processes in a redox-dependent manner. Rare NXN mutations are reported in individuals with recessive Robinow syndrome, which involves mesomelic skeletal dysplasia, short stature, craniofacial dysmorphisms, and incompletely penetrant heart and palate defects. Here we report that Nxn is expressed in the ventral diencephalon and developing pituitary gland, and that Nxn deficient mice have pituitary dysmorphology and craniofacial abnormalities that include defects in the skull base and cleft palate. Nxn mutant mice exhibit reduced WNT signaling and reduced differentiation of pituitary stem …

Photoacoustic Imaging For Image-Guided Gastric Tube Placement: Ex Vivo Characterization, Samuel John, Yeidi Yuja Vaquiz, Nikhila Nyayapathi, Loay Kabbani, Anoop Nilam, Jonathan F Lovell, Nicole A Wilson, Yan Yan, Mohammad Mehrmohammadi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Over 250,000 gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) are placed annually in the United States. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the most widely used clinical method for placing G-tubes within the stomach. However, endoscope detectability is limited due to the scattering of light by tissues. Poor organ visibility and low sensitivity of the palpation techniques cause blind needle insertions, which cause colon/liver perforations, abdominal bleeding, and gastric resections. Additionally, imaging artifacts and the poor distinguishability between water-filled tissues make ultrasound (US) imaging-based techniques incompatible with G-tube placement. The risk of ionizing radiation exposure and the confinement of fluoroscopy to radiology suites limits its …

Production And Characterization Of Muc13 Monoclonal Antibodies For Differential Expression In Cancers, Shabnam Malik, Daniel Zubieta, Mohammed Sikander

Research Symposium

Background: MUC13 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a critical role in the progression of various cancers, including liver, pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancer. While its presence and implications in these malignancies have been recognized, the development of specific antibodies targeting MUC13 is limited. This study aims to produce a monoclonal antibody against MUC13 and evaluate its utility in assessing differential expressions associated with cancers progression.

Methodology: We employed hybridoma technology to generate specific monoclonal antibodies against MUC13. Mouse splenocytes were immunized with recombinant MUC13 protein and subsequently fused with myeloma cells to create hybridomas. Positive clones were selected …