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Skin Carotenoid Scores Reflect Immune Status Among Children Living With Hiv In Tanzania, Wilbert Mbuya, Thobias Boniphace, Michael Mwagala, Peter Agrea, Nazareth M Mbilinyi, Nancy E Moran, Andrew R Dinardo, Mkunde Chachage

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Many individuals living with HIV experience persistent inflammation despite antiretroviral treatment, increasing their risk for cardiovascular diseases, cognitive decline, and other noncommunicable diseases. Carotenoids can inhibit this inflammation by reducing lipid peroxidation. Carotenoid intake and plasma concentrations can be approximated using a noninvasive cutaneous spectrophotometer. This study quantified skin carotenoid levels in Tanzanian children ages 5 to 15 years old (N = 185) both with and without HIV. Over 95% had low to moderate skin carotenoid scores (< 400 units). In children living with HIV, higher viral loads were linked to lower skin carotenoid scores (rho = -0.57, P < 0.001), whereas higher CD4 counts correlated with increased skin carotenoid scores (rho = 0.52, P < 0.001). Overall, carotenoid levels were low and associated with immune status, suggesting that elevated carotenoid scores correlate with lower inflammation in children living with HIV. Future studies investigating dietary carotenoid interventions to support immune function are warranted.

Part Iii. Uncanny Spaces And The Trauma Of The Misplaced: Revisiting Psychological Athetosis As The Ecogothic, George Conesa

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

After climbing mount “Ktaadn” [Katahdin] in Maine, Thoreau observed that not all of nature was a one size-fits-all walk in the friendly woods with foxes cavorting and butterflies a-fluttering. While revisiting ecogothic perspectives (Conesa, 2024), a topical turn is made toward understanding interconnected fear responses to uncanny landscapes as a factor of previous and new traumatic events. A deep historical and comprehensive appraisal of organisms in their natural and newly found umwelten suggests that the ecogothic uncanny is a common experience of organism-territory accommodations to “place.” During these place-mind interstices, past traumatic events are amplified into newly …

Genomic Analysis Reveals New Subspecies Of Cercyonis Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Todd L. Stout, Michael S. Fisher, Robb Hannawacker, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genomic analysis of Cercyonis (Cercyonis) Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815) partitions the subgenus into three species groups and reveals five new subspecies from the USA (type localities in parentheses): Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala koosharem Stout and Grishin, ssp. n. (Utah, Sevier Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala lasala Grishin, M. Fisher, and Hannawacker ssp. n. (Utah, Grand Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala hortoni Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Gila Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii maculana Grishin, ssp. n. (Colorado, Montezuma Co.), and Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii rimana Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Yavapai Co.). A neotype is designated for Satyrus boopis Behr, 1864 (USA, California, Contra Costa Co.). …

Ai-Supported Analysis Of Jury Deliberation Impact Factors, Jennifer Siciliani Phd

Generative AI Teaching Activities

Students conduct a controlled, two-run generative AI jury simulation to examine how a single socio-legal variable affects simulated jury deliberation. They compare and manually code the AI-generated outcomes against peer-reviewed human jury research to evaluate the model’s accuracy, limitations, and potential biases.

Identification Of Ca2 As A Potential Candidate Gene Involved In The Therapeutic Effect Of Huatan Huoxue Decoction On Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Integrated Study Of Network Pharmacology, Mendelian Randomization, And Experimental Validation, Chan Zhu, Yijin Zhang, Panwei Hu, Cong Qi, Qiu Chen, Hong Yang, Jing Li

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Purpose: Huatan Huoxue decoction (HTHXD) is effective in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, its underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. Methods: Gene targets were obtained through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using druggable genes from public databases and genome-wide association study data for PCOS from the FinnGen R12 database. These targets were integrated with the active ingredients and protein targets of HTHXD retrieved from the TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases for network pharmacology analysis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted. Core targets were validated using molecular docking. Experimental validation was performed using a letrozole-induced …

Analysis Of Diterpenoid Alkaloids From American Aconitum Using Lc-Ms Metabolomic Methods, Yi Zhao

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Analysis of Diterpenoid Alkaloids from American Aconitum Using LC-MS Metabolomic Methods

by

Yi Zhao

Advisor: Edward J. Kennelly

Aconitum plants have been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries for millennia to treat pain, rheumatism, syncope, fever, and other conditions. These therapeutic effects are mainly due to the bioactive diterpenoid alkaloids accumulated in the roots. Comparing with the large records and studies of Asian Aconitum and their medicinal use and the broad bioactive compounds, American Aconitum has been rarely investigated, not to mention how American Aconitum has been used medicinally. Based on previous phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic studies of Aconitum …

Waste Streams From Next Generation Molten Salt Reactors: The Challenge Of Creating An Insoluble Ceramic For Chloride Salt Waste, Alevtina A. Maksimova, Jake W. Amoroso, Matthew Page, Gregory Morrison, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) design development is of interest to many research groups and companies. Waste management for MSRs is one of the most important issues that needs to be resolved due to its impact on environmental safety, primarily via the dissolution of radionuclides in water. Furthermore, the waste treatment strategy will have a significant influence on the operating cost of MSRs, which is why a reliable process for the immobilization, transportation, storage and disposal of MSR waste must be addressed. This work presents a new approach for the immobilization of chloride salts from molten salt reactors in stable oxyhalide …

Sec-Saxs And Sans Analyses Of The Talin•Vinculin Complex, Gilbert Reyes

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Focal adhesions (FA) are integrin-based cell-matrix adhesion sites composed of adaptor proteins that facilitate the generation of traction forces important for biological functions such as cell migration, embryo development, wound healing, tissue organization and stability, and immune responses. Mature FA are observed when both autoinhibited multi-domain scaffolding protein talin and membrane-cytoskeletal protein vinculin are activated and interact thus promoting the assembly and function of FA. While research has resolved truncated sections of autoinhibited talin and recruitment of vinculin due to mechanotransduction that exposes cryptic vinculin binding sites (VBS), little is known about the global modifications of full length talin in …

The Effects Of Chronic Nicotine Exposure On Dopamine-Mediated Reinforcement Learning And Striatal Neurotransmission, Srishti Bose

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Tobacco is one of the most widely used substances across the United States; tobacco consumption is linked with several diseases and is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the country. Nicotine is the active substrate found in tobacco products, acting as a stimulant, which reinforces continued use. The introduction of tobacco-free options such as e-cigarettes and oral pouches has driven an increase in nicotine exposure across the population, especially in young adults. Acute nicotine use induces neuroadaptations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, which mediates reinforcement learning and addiction, that potentiates reward-related neurotransmission. Furthermore, there are clinical studies …

Riluzole As A Dual-Targeted Radiosensitizer For Osteosarcoma: Targeting Tumor Cells And Angiogenic Vasculature To Enhance Single High-Dose Radiotherapy Efficacy, Pooja P. Rao

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Osteosarcoma (OS), the most common primary bone malignancy of children and young adults, is intrinsically radioresistant, and outcomes for patients with unresectable or metastatic disease have not improved in over four decades. Single-dose radiation therapy (SDRT) is a potent modality against radioresistant, highly vascularized sarcomas, but its application in OS is constrained by dose-dependent normal tissue toxicity. Radiosensitizers achieving tumor control at lower doses therefore offer a direct route to widening the therapeutic window. Critically, OS radioresistance is not tumor-cell-autonomous. It emerges from two coordinated compartments: aberrant DNA repair and antioxidant capacity intrinsic to the tumor cell, and a radioprotective, …

Individualized Bayesian Inference Identifies Novel Genetic Variants For Parkinson's Disease, Jin Ren, Yasaman J. Soofi, Md Asad Rahman, Qing Lu, Jinling Liu

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with a significant genetic component. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been instrumental in identifying genetic variants associated with PD, the reliance on large sample sizes and population-level analyses may overlook variants with lower minor allele frequencies or individual-specific relevance. Individualized Bayesian Inference (IBI) offers a promising method to complement GWAS by identifying and prioritizing candidate genetic markers at both the individual and patients-like-me subgroup levels. This study evaluates the application of IBI to PD genetics, using GWAS as a baseline for comparison. We analyzed genetic data from the Fox Insight online …

Building Wellbeing Through Nature And Adventure For Justice-Involved Youth, Lewis Kogan, Meagan Ricks, Janna Coulter, Miranda Margetts, Lori Butterfield, Ben Ukoh-Eke

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Justice-involved youth often experience elevated levels of stress, mental health challenges, and reduced access to positive developmental opportunities. A nature- and adventure-based youth development program designed to strengthen resilience, self-efficacy, nature-connectedness, and well-being among justice-involved youth was piloted in 2025 to address these challenges. Pilot findings indicated improvements in resilience, self-efficacy, hopefulness, and connectedness to nature.

A Qualitative Exploration Of Drinking Culture For Women In The Workforce, Anna Savage

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

This study investigates how the drinking culture of companies differ for women in male-dominated industries compared to female-dominated industries. Through interviews with six women in a convenience sample, I compared the experiences of women in different industries to examine a variety of factors including whether they felt pressured to drink alcohol in social settings, how their experiences at office events impacted how they view and are viewed by their coworkers and managers, and what the effects of the drinking culture are on the culture inside their company. I found that women in male-dominated industries were much more likely to be …

The Cranial Nerves And Electrical Stimulation, Devin K. P. Adair

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cranial nerves provide afferent pathways that enable bottom-up modulation of central autonomic and cognitive neural pathways. Because these pathways project to brainstem nuclei such as the nucleus tractus solitarius and engage neuromodulatory systems, including the locus coeruleus, electrical stimulation offers a mechanistically grounded approach to influencing brain function. This thesis tested whether active transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) produces physiological responses indicative of parasympathetic engagement, defined as decreases in heart rate, increases in heart rate variability, and decreases in respiration relative to a dose-matched earlobe control condition. Using cardiac and respiratory measures as physiological markers, taVNS at the tragus …

Skin Carotenoid Scores Are A Valid Approximation Of Fruit And Vegetable Intake Among Adults With Obesity, Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, Elizabeth Gates, Melissa N Laska, Andrew R Dinardo, Nancy E Moran

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Skin carotenoid score (SCS) as measured using pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy has been validated among adults with normal and overweight body mass index, with little validation research among adults with obesity. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the validity of SCS as an approximation of fruit and vegetable intake among adults with obesity. We used samples from adults with obesity from three prior studies: The first study examined the validity of SCS among 213 adults, 34 with obesity; the second, examined sensitivity of SCS to a β-carotene-rich juice intervention among 162 adults, 14 with obesity; the third …

The Role Of External Factors In Shaping Carbohydrate Conformational Landscapes, Murat Yaman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Carbohydrates (glycans) are among the most structurally diverse biomolecules and participate in a wide range of biological processes, including molecular recognition, cell adhesion, immune response, host-pathogen interactions, and cellular signaling. Their biological functions are governed by a complex interplay between sequence, stereochemistry, conformational flexibility, and environmental factors. However, the structural heterogeneity and dynamic nature of glycans present significant challenges for both experimental characterization and theoretical modeling. In particular, the relationships between glycan structure, conformational dynamics, and the resulting potential energy surfaces remain incomplete.

This dissertation investigates how external factors modulate the potential energy surfaces of carbohydrates through a combination of …

Towards Identifying Fear And Safety Network States Across Sex, Rhonda Kolaric

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma- and stressor-related disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 5-6% in men, and 10-12% in women (National Center for PTSD). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent anxiety- and depression-related psychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 1-2% in men, and 3-4% in women (National Institutes of Health). Both of these disorders disproportionately affect women. A hallmark feature of both disorders is the maladaptive generalization of fear, in which defensive responses extend beyond the original traumatic or threatening stimulus to neutral or unrelated cues. This overgeneralization can become debilitating, disrupting cognitive, emotional, and …

Architects Of Mrna Fate: Molecular And Cellular Control Of P-Body Organization In The Drosophilia Melanogaster Female Germline, Samantha Milano

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Processing bodies (P-bodies) are cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein condensates that regulate mRNA storage, translational repression, and decay. While the biochemical principles governing condensate assembly have been extensively studied in vitro, how P-body organization is established and dynamically regulated in vivo to control specific mRNA populations remains poorly understood. This dissertation investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern P-body architecture and function in the Drosophila melanogaster female germline. First, I identified the conserved LSm protein Trailer Hitch (Tral) as a central organizer of P-body architecture. Using quantitative confocal and super-resolution microscopy combined with chemical perturbations, I showed that Tral coordinates the …

Guide To The Crawford-Beck Vineyard Collection, Linfield University Archives

Linfield Archives Finding Aids

In 2005, David Beck and Jeanne Crawford purchased Casa-Blanca Vineyard and renamed it as Crawford-Beck Vineyard and owned it for 17 years. This collection focuses on the evolution of Crawford-Beck Vineyards from 2005 to 2023. It contains multiple business documents and records, such as expansion plans, invoices, and LIVE evaluation records. The collection also explores the personal growth and achievements of David and Jeanne Beck, the owners of Craw-Beck Vineyard. This includes their enrollment at Chemeketa Community College, their involvement in the wine industry in Oregon, and their personal assortment of books and articles. The collection also contains material outside …

Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca) In The Indo-Pacific: A Review Of Their Distribution, Population Structure, And Ecology, Paola Lacetera, Paul Tixier, Isabella M. Reeves, Maeva Terrapon, Aaron Barnes, Christophe Guinet, Simon H. Elwen, John Totterdell, Jennah Tucker, Paul Cross, Georgia K. Bisset, John Dickie, John P.Y. Arnould

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Killer whales, Orcinus orca, are cosmopolitan top predators showing highly variable ecology and behaviour across populations. In the Indo-Pacific, baseline knowledge in general remains scarce, limiting the assessment of their vulnerability to the accelerated environmental changes, including expanding fisheries this region is undergoing.

Methodology: This review synthesises 170 sources found between 2000–2025 to evaluate the current knowledge on distribution, population structure, and feeding ecology (including depredation) of killer whales in the Indo-Pacific, and to identify priorities for future research and management.

Results: Occurrence was highly variable, from sporadic sightings in most tropical sectors to seasonal and year-round presence at …

Characterization Of Mettl3/14-Mediated M6a Modification In Human Transcriptome Using Nanopore Direct Rna Sequencing, Emily Kurtyan, Andrew J. Stein, Kelly J. Abdalla, Zhangerjiao Yuan, Miten Jain, Fadia Ibrahim

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Post-transcriptional RNA modifications modulate diverse aspects of RNA metabolism. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), one of the most abundant internal RNA modifications, is deposited by the core methyltransferase complex, METTL3 and METTL14. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform permits direct, single RNA molecule sequencing while preserving native modifications. However, without rigorous benchmarking, the accuracy and reproducibility of modification detection remain uncertain. Here, we leveraged ONT to comprehensively profile bona fide m6A modifications in cellular RNAs at single-nucleotide resolution by integrating two direct RNA sequencing chemistries (RNA002 and RNA004) with the m6Anet and Dorado modification-detection models. We independently depleted METTL3 and METTL14 in human cells …

An Observational Study Of The Effect Of Concomitant Levetiracetam On Apixaban Concentrations In A Hospital Cohort, Chazmyn Riley, Kevin Lam, Cristina Micale, Lynda Thomson, Douglas F. Stickle, Walter K. Kraft

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Despite the lack of evidence of a mechanism-based drug interaction, some professional organizations have advised caution coadministering apixaban and levetiracetam. Eligible patients taking apixaban with or without levetiracetam for any indication for at least 72 h were screened from the electronic medical records. Plasma samples from 77 patients were retrieved from salvaged clinical blood collections. Apixaban minimum and maximum concentrations (Cmin and Cmax) were compared using descriptive statistics in R. While the median Cmin and Cmax appear to be marginally elevated, there were no apparent differences relative to apixaban alone. These findings suggest no apparent interaction of levetiracetam and support …

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

Topical Peony And Licorice Decoction Attenuates Exercise-Induced Muscle Pain: A Randomized Double-Blind Self-Controlled Trial In Taiwan, Daniel Tzu-Li Chen, Chang-Wei Hsieh, Chia-Han Tsai, Tzung-Yan Lee, Pin-Chun Chen, Pu-Wei Hou, Kuan-Pin Su, Hen-Hong Chang

BioMedicine

Background

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common phenomenon that occurs after exercise training, resulting in pain and reduced muscle performance. Previous basic and animal studies have reported that oral use of Peony and Licorice Decoction (PLD), a traditional Chinese formula with anti-inflammatory and muscle-relaxing properties, may be safe and effective for DOMS. However, there have been no clinical studies, particularly on the topical use of PLD, in this field to date.

Material and Methods

Our study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. We recruited healthy male athletes to assess the effect of external PLD, whose bioactive compounds were …

Crosstalk Between Upr And Mitochondria: The Triad Of Er-Mitochondria Contacts, Ca²⁺, And Ros, Ester Zito, György Hajnóczky

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is triggered by several cellular perturbations causing protein misfolding, and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), an initially adaptive signaling network that aims to restore ER and cellular homeostasis. Growing evidence indicates that UPR signaling extends beyond ER proteostasis, influencing mitochondrial function and bioenergetics through ER-mitochondria contact sites (ERMCs). The CHOP-ERO1A-IP3R axis has a primary role in recruiting mitochondria to adaptive UPR. However, its sustained activation renders UPR signaling maladaptive, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction through both outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (OMMP) and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, ultimately contributing to irreversible cell injury and disease …

Alexithymia In Substance Use Disorders: A Scoping Review Of Therapeutic Approaches, Pratami Diah Herliani, Shelly Iskandar, Angela Vera Herman Efendi

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Alexithymia, defined as the inability to recognize and express emotions, has a high prevalence (40–50%) among individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), particularly alcohol use disorder, and is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Despite this, comprehensive mapping of psychotherapeutic interventions targeting this condition within the SUD population remains limited. This study aimed to systematically map the therapeutic approaches investigated to address alexithymia among individuals with substance use disorders and to summarize the reported outcomes. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines using systematic literature searches in the PubMed and Scopus databases. Relevant studies were screened based …

Three-Dimensional Cell And Nuclear Geometries Inform Tissue Level Fluid Mechanics During Epithelial Remodeling, Liam Joseph Russell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During epithelial remodeling, mechanical and molecular programs must coordinate to drive the cell shape changes that enable new tissue topologies. Dynamic morphogenesis requires epithelia to preferentially exhibit solid- or fluidlike properties depending on developmental and biophysical constraints. Convergent extension in the Drosophila germband epithelium is one such remodeling event, during which the lateral ectoderm lengthens by two-fold along the primary body axis while concomitantly shortening orthogonally. This process is an incredibly dynamic and attractable system for studying tissue morphogenesis mechanics in vivo.

Germband extension is driven by oriented cell intercalation through T1 transitions, where cells directionally interdigitate with one another …

Investigating Caveolar Systems: Spatiotemporal Quantification Of Caveolin-1 And The Mechanotransducive Function Of Ehd2, Jasper Stanae Farrington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Caveolae are 50-100nm cholesterol rich flask shaped invaginations found in many differentiated cells. Namely, these structures have been seen to be abundant in endothelial cells where they are involved in many signaling contexts. However, under mechanical stress, the characteristics of caveolae alter, flattening to increase membrane compliance, while displaced proteins can shift from structural roles to mechanosensitive signaling functions. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is the principal protein required for Caveolar formation while Eps15 Homology Domain Containing Protein 2 (EHD2) is a membrane ATPase that acts to stabilize caveolae at the surface. Despite their emerging importance, understanding the organization and dynamic regulation of …

Exploring Foundations Of Animal Host-Microbe Interactions In A Freshwater Sponge, Jacob S. Pawley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The most ancient eukaryotic immune defense mechanisms evolved in unicellular species. Multicellular eukaryotes, however, expanded these mechanisms to meet challenges unique to multicellular life, including barrier formation, long-distance cell signaling, and coordinated responses that eliminate microbial threats while minimizing damage to the host. As such, animal immune signaling pathways are exceptionally intricate and diverse. Though, most of what is understood about animal host–microbe interactions stems from a small handful of model systems. Here, I evaluate host–microbe interactions and innate immunity in sponges using the highly tractable freshwater sponge, Ephydatia muelleri. I report the discovery of an external host-derived matrix …

Cells And Networks In Flux: Rethinking Ontogenesis And Pathogenesis, Mark L. Tykocinski

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Organ and tissue functions emerge from the coordinated activity of cell networks. Therapeutics that act on pathogenic cell networks, modulating their cellular interplay, follow naturally. Over several decades, our laboratory has developed a series of approaches for rewiring cell networks, culminating in a class of cell surface-directed signal converter proteins (SCPs) that do so by modulating juxtacrine and autocrine signaling in and among their nodal cells. A first such SCP has now produced encouraging clinical data for cancer immunotherapy. Yet, these early network-directed fusion proteins rest on a deliberately simplified picture: discrete end-cell types plugged into graphically tractable networks. That …