Digital Commons Network^™

Met Pathway Inhibition Increases Chemo-Immunotherapy Efficacy In Small Cell Lung Cancer, Raúl Del Rey-Vergara, Miguel Alejandro Galindo-Campos, Pedro Rocha, Marina Carpes, Carlos Martínez, Laura Masfarré, Silvia Menéndez, Fabricio Quimis, Adrià Rossell, Albert Iñañez, Sandra Pérez-Buira, Federico Rojo, Ramon Gimeno, Dolores Isla, Jon Zugazagoitia, Cristina Martí Blanco, Rosario García-Campelo, Alberto Moreno-Vega, Luis León-Mateos, Ángel Callejo Mellén, Kwon-Sik Park, Simon Heeke, John V Heymach, Álvaro Taus, Luis Paz-Ares, Ana Rovira, Edurne Arriola

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The introduction of immunotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents significant progress, yet there remains an opportunity to further improve patient outcomes. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor (MET) pathway activation promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, driving chemoresistance and potentially impairing the efficacy of immunotherapy. In SCLC mouse models, adding MET inhibition to chemo-immunotherapy (anti-PD-L1) reduces tumor growth, extends survival, and reshapes the tumor microenvironment by decreasing suppressive myeloid cell infiltration and enhancing the immune response. Analysis of pretreatment human SCLC tumor samples reveals that myeloid-enriched immune infiltrates may contribute to chemo-immunotherapy resistance. Elevated serum HGF levels …

The Integrated Stress Response Pathway Coordinates Translational Control Of Multiple Immune Checkpoints In Lung Cancer, Shayna Thomas-Jardin, Shruthy Suresh, Ariana Arce, Nicole Novaresi, Qing Deng, Emily Stein, Lisa Thomas, Cheryl Lewis, Chul Ahn, Bret M Evers, Esra A Akbay, Maria E Salvatierra, Wei Lu, Khaja Khan, Luisa M Solis Soto, Ignacio I Wistuba, John D Minna, Kathryn A O'Donnell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The integrated stress response (ISR) is an adaptive pathway hijacked by cancer cells to survive cellular stresses in the tumor microenvironment. ISR activation potently induces PD-L1, leading to suppression of antitumor immunity. In this study, we sought to uncover additional immune checkpoint proteins regulated by the ISR to elucidate mechanisms of tumor immune escape. The ISR coordinately induced cluster of differentiation 155 (CD155) and PD-L1, enhancing translation of both immune checkpoint proteins through bypass of inhibitory upstream open reading frames in their 5' untranslated regions. Analysis of primary human lung tumors identified a significant correlation between expression of PD-L1 and …

Online Citizen Science In Higher Education Courses, Stacy Cotey, Amy K. Dunbar-Wallis, Yaela N. Golumbic, Pankaj Mehrotra, David A. Beamer, Heather D. Vance-Chalcraft

Michigan Tech Publications

Climate change and biodiversity loss require us to engage the next generation of scientists in addressing global ecological issues. Introducing undergraduate students to citizen science allows them to learn scientific processes and content while contributing to real-world applications. We conducted a systematic review of literature to (1) identify what types of undergraduate courses and institutions use citizen science, (2) list the projects and platforms that have been implemented in online courses in undergraduate education, (3) examine how students participated in the projects through online courses, and (4) summarize learning objectives and reported benefits of student participation. In all, 44 studies …

Rabbit Breeding And Management: A Guide For Producers, Joseph Okoh, Jessie Hadfield

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides essential information to help rabbit producers understand effective breeding goals and programs for managing and improving rabbit production.

Watching The Grass Grow: Expanding Outreach And Accessibility Of Itex-Aon, Justin Blough

Masters Projects

Science has an accessibility problem. Though results are published and the component data is archived and made publicly available, distrust in and misunderstanding of science by the lay populace remains common. This work focuses on bolstering the outreach component of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX)—Arctic Observing Network (AON) to increase public awareness, interactivity, and ultimately, the understanding of how the science of ITEX-AON takes place. This project uses several component methods to further outreach goals of ITEX-AON. These include: documentary photography of researchers, study sites, subjects and the surrounding environments, 360-degree imaging and interactive virtual tour building, building interactive data …

The Overlooked Impact Of Background Diet And Adherence In Nutrition Trials, Javier I Ottaviani, Hagen Schroeter, Dennis M Bier, John W Erdman, Howard D Sesso, Joann E Manson, Gunter G C Kuhnle

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Randomised controlled trials in nutrition (RCTN) face unique challenges, including the considerable influence of the background diet and the challenge of assuring intervention adherence by participants. The impact of these factors on the outcome of RCTNs has been difficult to quantify, but nutritional biomarkers represent a valuable tool to address these challenges. Using flavanols as a model dietary intervention and a set of recently validated flavanol biomarkers, we here investigated the impact of background diet and adherence on the outcomes of a subcohort of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS, NCT 02422745). We found that 20% of participants …

Effects Of Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 11 (Ssl11) On The Host Immune Response During Lung Infection, Sajani Ghaju

LSU Master's Theses

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an opportunistic pathogen that produces numerous immune evasion molecules that target various components of the host immune defense to cause infection. One of these is a family of virulence factors, Staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) with 14 members that exhibit host immune-evasion functions. SSL11 has been reported to inhibit neutrophil migration, preventing its recruitment to sites of infection. However, its role in vivo and effect on neutrophil phagocytosis have not been known. This thesis focuses on studying the effect of recombinant SSL11 protein in an in vivo S. aureus-induced pneumonia model and in vitro …

The Effects Of A Combined Exercise Intervention On Body Composition, Gdf-15, Apelin-12, And Il-15 Among Older Korean Women According To Obesity Status, Jeongsook Kim, Eadric Bressel, Minkyo Kim, Taekyu Kim, Suhan Koh, Doyeon Kim

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 16-week exercise program combining aerobic and resistance training on body composition, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), apelin-12, and interleukin-15 (IL-15) in older Korean women according to obesity status. Methods: Participants were divided into obesity (n = 15) and normal-weight groups (n = 14). A walking exercise was performed at 60–70% heart rate reserve (RPE 13–15). The bodyweight resistance exercises were progressively intensified over 16 weeks. Analysis methods included two-way repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA, and paired and independent t-tests. Results: Significant main effects of time and …

Large B Cell Lymphoma Microenvironment Archetype Profiles, Xubin Li, Kartik Singhal, Qing Deng, Dai Chihara, David Russler-Germain, R Andrew Harkins, Jared Henderson, Kotaro Arita, Atish Kizhakeyil, Ryan Sun, Priya Lakra, Usama Hussein, Jennifer A Foltz, Ashley Wilson, Evelyn Schmidt, Imran Nizamuddin, Tommy Dinh, Akhil Kesaraju, Mark P Hamilton, Carl Allen, Maher K Gandhi, Joshua Tobin, Aixiang Jiang, Laura Hilton, David W Scott, Francisco Vega, Christopher R Flowers, Jason R Westin, Obi L Griffith, Todd A Fehniger, Malachi Griffith, Michael R Green

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Large B cell lymphomas (LBCL) are clinically and biologically heterogeneous lymphoid malignancies with complex microenvironments that are central to disease etiology. Here we have employed single-nucleus multiome profiling of 232 tumor and control biopsies to characterize diverse cell types and subsets that are present in LBCL tumors, effectively capturing the lymphoid, myeloid, and non-hematopoietic cell compartments. Cell subsets co-occurred in stereotypical Lymphoma Microenvironment Archetype Profiles (LymphoMAPs) defined by; (i) a sparsity of T cells and high frequencies of cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages [FMAC]; (ii) lymph node architectural cell types with naïve and memory T cells [LN]; or (iii) activated …

Selective Alanine Transporter Utilization Is A Therapeutic Vulnerability In Arid1a-Mutant Ovarian Cancer, Hao Nie, Liping Liao, Rafal J Zielinski, Javier A Gomez, Akshay V Basi, Erin H Seeley, Lin Tan, Agnes Julia Bilecz, Wei Zhou, Heng Liu, Chen Wang, Shuai Wu, Yuan Qi, Taito Miyamoto, Federica Severi, Aaron R Goldman, Shengqing Gu, Anil K Sood, Amir A Jazaeri, Ronny Drapkin, Daniel T Claiborne, Nan Zhang, Philip L Lorenzi, Jared K Burks, Ernst Lengyel, Eyal Gottlieb, Rugang Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex are altered in ~20% of human cancers. Exemplifying the alterations is the ARID1A mutation that occurs in ~50% ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC), a disease with limited therapeutic options. Here, we showed that ARID1A mutations create a dependence on alanine by regulating alanine transporters to increase intracellular alanine levels. ARID1A directly repressed alanine importer SLC38A2 and simultaneously promoted alanine exporter SLC7A8. ARID1A inactivation increased alanine utilization predominantly in protein synthesis and passively through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Indeed, ARID1A-mutant OCCCs were hyper-sensitive to inhibition of SLC38A2. In addition, SLC38A2 inhibition enhanced chimeric antigen …

Integrating Belowground Recovery Into Tropical Forest Restoration Design And Monitoring, Lauren Toro, Leland K. Werden, Shalom D. Addo-Danso, Kelly M. Andersen, Sarah Batterman, Matilde M. Bragadini, Pooja Choksi, Rebecca J. Cole, Liza S. Comita, Daniela Cusack, Daisy H. Dent, Lee H. Dietterich, Joshua B. Fisher, Katrin Fleischer, Lucia Fuchslueger, Nohemi Huanca-Nunez, Janey R. Lienau, Lindsay A. Mcculloch, Ember M. Morrissey, Jennifer S. Powers, Mareli Sánchez-Juliá, Oscar Valverde-Barrantes, Anita Weissflog, Michelle Y. Wong

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing recognition that tropical forest restoration is key for sequestering carbon and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Soils, roots, and soil biota are central to ecosystem function and services, but belowground recovery is largely overlooked in restoration monitoring frameworks. Here, we outline current understanding of the links between above- and belowground recovery in tropical forests by examining how belowground properties before and after intervention influence recovery; by evaluating whether aboveground recovery can serve as a proxy for belowground dynamics; and by proposing a blueprint for monitoring dynamic soil physical (bulk density, aggregate stability), chemical (organic matter or carbon, pH), and …

Investigating Molecular Mechanisms Of Meiosis And Mitosis In Cryptosporidium Parvum, Abigail Kimball

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum (Cp) is a major global contributor to infectious diarrhea in children and poses a serious threat to immunocompromised adults. This dissertation investigates Cp's unique life cycle, which alternates between sexual and asexual reproduction to achieve three critical objectives: producing oocysts capable of transmission, enhancing genetic variation through recombination, and generating sufficient progeny for survival. Sexual reproduction is essential for forming infectious oocysts that facilitate disease transmission. Yet, the process of meiosis in Cp has been historically understudied due to limitations of traditional in vitro culture methods. The newly developed air-liquid interface (ALI) culture system supports …

Assessing Natural Resources Conservation Service (Nrcs) Impacts On Rice And Soybean Efficiency In The Mid-South, Ayodeji Samuel Ayiti

LSU Master's Theses

The study investigates how the Mid-South region of the U.S. rice and irrigated soybean production efficiency is influenced by (NRCS) incentives. To evaluate the effect of crop insurance, subsidies, and conservation incentives on lowering inefficiency, this study used a stochastic frontier model (SFA). The dataset covered the years 2010 – 2023, which allowed for a thorough evaluation of efficiency trends over time. While crop insurance programs reduce inefficiency in rice production, it shockingly increases inefficiency in soybean production, according to the study, which highlights the disparate effects of net support (insurance-subsidy).

The results show that while external factors like changes …

Firefighters Versus Law Enforcement Officers: A Comparison Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Bethany C. Guerra, Steven E. Martin, Lisa C. Colvin, J. Jay Dawes, Matthew J. Mcallister, Drew E. Gonzalez

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(6): 659-671, 2025. Firefighters (FFs) and law enforcement officers (LEOs) have heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD), with data suggesting that ≈45% of on-duty FF fatalities are related to CVD, while LEOs have a 1.7 times higher CVD prevalence than the general public. This study compared CVD risk biomarkers, fitness, and body composition between FFs and LEOs. Ninety-eight career, structural male FFs (age = 35.1±9.6 yrs; weight = 94.3±15.4 kg; height = 178.4±13.2 cm) and seventy-three career LEOs (age = 41.4±9.0 yrs; weight = 92.3±16.8 kg; height = 179.6±8.1 cm) from local departments were studied. Participants completed …

Role Of Staphylococcus Aureus And Streptococcus Pyogenes Biofilms On The Alternation Of Cellular Immunity In Pediat-Ric Tonsillitis Patients, Shayma Ali Hussein, Taban Kamal Rasheed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study examines the effect of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms on cellular hematological parameters and distribution and phenotyping of cellular immunity in mucosal tissue of tonsils. Thirty healthy controls and fifty pediatric tonsillitis patients participated in the research. Thirty isolated S. aureus and S. pyogenes were tested for biofilm-forming capability (BFC). Hematological parameters were assessed before tonsillectomy, and 9 tonsil samples were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin stain to investigate the histopathological alterations. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was carried out for detecting dendritic cells (CD1a), neutrophils (CD15), macrophages (CD68), helper T cells (CD4), and cytotoxic T cells (CD8). Hematological …

Neurophysiology And Endocrine Responses To Hunger And Satiety Mechanisms: The Brain-Gut Crosstalk, Nour Shakir Rezaieg, Muthanna M. Awad

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Background: Obesity is a main public health problem which substantially increases the risk of many diseases. The complex neural circuitry controls energy homeostasis and food consumption by the incorporation of hormonal and neural signals. Circulating hormones, in specific the gut hormones, have been found to be very important in appetite regulation. These hormones transfer energy situation signs to the brain throughout three principle paths: the circulation system, activation of the vagus nerve, and direct modification of main brain regions such as the hypothalamus and brainstem. The control of food eating is not exclusively dependent on the homeostatic processes, rather it …

A Novel Chaotic Dna-Based Image Cryptosystem Leveraging Euclidean Division, Dynamic Josephus Traversal, And Reservoir Computing, Ahmed Kareem Shibeeb, Salah Albermany, Sadiq A. Mehdi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study presents a new chaotic DNA-based image cryptosystem that combines Euclidean division, dynamic Josephus traversal (DJT), and reservoir computing to address the weaknesses of current methods. Old chaotic DNA cryptosystems usually have problems such as using the same keys for different messages, simple DNA processes, and being vulnerable to attacks where the attacker can choose the input or try many options. The cryptosystem in this study uses a 7D hyperchaotic system that starts with keys created from SHA-512 hashes to produce changing keystreams based on the plaintext, making it very strong against such attacks. The proposed cryptosystem uses a …

The Cortical Motor Map For The Extensor Digitorum Communis Muscle Fails To Increase In Treatment-Related Clinically Significant Upper Limb Post-Stroke Recovery, Tomoko Kitago, Joshua Silverstein, Michael B. Gerber, Charlene Thomas, Linda M. Gerber, Gary W. Thickbroom, Dylan J. Edwards

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

Objectives: Cortical reorganization has been proposed as a mechanism for motor recovery of the upper limb. The objective of this study was to determine if intervention-related clinical improvement in post-stroke hemiparesis is associated with enlarged motor cortex representation. Methods: Data were analyzed from a single site subset of the NICHE trial. Clinical assessments of upper limb movement (Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Assessment, FM-UE, Action Research Arm Test, ARAT, and Wolf Motor Function Test, WMFT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) motor mapping of the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle were performed in 23 participants (3–12 months post-stroke, 10 female, 40–88 yrs) …

Cilia In The Brain Display Region-Dependent Oscillations Of Length And Orientation, Roudabeh Vakil Monfared, Sherif Abdelkarim, Pieter Derdeyn, Kiki Chen, Hanting Wu, Kenneth Leong, Tiffany Chang, Justine Lee, Sara Versales, Surya M. Nauli, Kevin Beier, Pierre Baldi, Amal Alachkar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we conducted high-throughput spatiotemporal analysis of primary cilia length and orientation across 22 mouse brain regions. We developed automated image analysis algorithms, which enabled us to examine over 10 million individual cilia, generating the largest spatiotemporal atlas of cilia. We found that cilia length and orientation display substantial variations across different brain regions and exhibit fluctuations over a 24-h period, with region-specific peaks during light-dark phases. Our analysis revealed unique orientation patterns of cilia, suggesting that cilia orientation within the brain is not random but follows specific patterns. Using BioCycle, we identified rhythmic fluctuations in cilia length …

Occurrence Of Pesticides In Oregon Coastal Waters And Effects On The Intertidal Sea Anemone, Anthopleura Elegantissima, Gabriella Mae Bleil

Dissertations and Theses

Pesticides are used globally for a wide range of applications including agricultural, forestry, roadsides, freshwater systems, and personal use. While pesticides have ensured efficient crop production, they are frequently transported away from application sites and are ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Pesticides are often detected in watersheds and rivers globally, which can have unintentional toxic effects on non-target organisms by interfering with cellular processes, behavior, feeding, reproduction, and disrupting endocrine processes. The aggregating anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima, is an important species along the North American Pacific coast due to its symbiotic relationships that contribute to high productivity, and its …

Ergonomic And Biomechanical Assessment Of Vertical Ladder Climbing For Exoskeleton Integration In Construction Tasks, Ehsan Shourangiz

LSU Master's Theses

Active exoskeletons are increasingly utilized in physically demanding industries such as construction and manufacturing to reduce strain and lower the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, supporting worker safety and long-term health. However, most existing systems are designed for repetitive tasks like lifting or prolonged standing, with limited consideration for dynamic activities such as vertical ladder climbing. Ladder climbing is common and physically demanding in industrial environments, often required to access elevated areas like scaffolding, tanks, or rooftops. Since exoskeletons are intended to remain worn throughout multiple tasks, requiring workers to remove and re-don the device during ladder climbing would reduce …

Hepatitis Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective Study, Jin-Long Ju, Yun-Tai Yao, Jun Li, Zhi Cheng, Ling-Ling Fan, Yu-Long Zhong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aimed to investigate whether there is difference among various clinical variables, especially blood loss and total drainage volume, among patients with different types of hepatitis undergoing cardiac surgery. A retrospective study was performed on 150 hepatitis patients (127 hepatitis B and 23 hepatitis C) who underwent cardiac surgery at a single cardiovascular center in 2020. Data on their preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected and statistically analyzed to assess the inter-group differences in the following variables: intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, proportion of patients treated with blood transfusion, proportion of patients treated with vasoactive drugs, and …

Src/Fn1 Pathway Activation Drives Tumor Cell Cluster Formation And Metastasis In Lung Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Target, Zujun Que, Zhichao Xi, Dan Qi, Rongchen Dai, Yang Li, Mengfan Liu, Bin Luo, Jiajun Liu, Pan Yu, Yun Yang, Erxi Wu, Hongxi Xu, Jianhui Tian

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death globally, with metastasis driven by circulating tumor cells (CTCs)-particularly clusters-being a major treatment challenge. Despite their critical role, the biological differences between single CTCs and CTC clusters remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively compared their behavioral, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles in lung cancer models. Compared with single cells, CTC clusters present enhanced metastatic potential, greater survival in the bloodstream and increased resistance to microenvironment. Mechanistically, the Src/FN1 pathway is centrally activated in clusters, promoting intercellular cohesion and protecting against immune clearance and stress in circulation. Pharmacological inhibition of Src with the clinical …

First Detection And Tracing Of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (Grbv) In Australia Using Tiled Amplicon Sequencing, Tonny Kinene, Andrew S. Taylor, Richard Fennessy, Brenda A. Coutts, David Lovelock, Cuiping Wang, Kamalpreet Kaur, Thao Tran, Brendan Rodoni, Fiona E. Constable, Monica A. Kehoe

Viticulture Research Articles

Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV; species Grablovirus vitis, genus Grablovirus, family Geminiviridae) poses a significant threat to viticulture worldwide, impacting grapevine health and wine quality. Here, we report the first detection and tracing of GRBV in Australia and provide a summary of a subsequent survey to determine the extent of GRBV distribution in Western Australia. Additionally, the study introduces a tiled amplicon sequencing method, which, when combined with long-read nanopore sequencing, enables rapid GRBV genome sequencing. Our analysis suggests a single introduction of GRBV from North America to Australia through the state of Victoria and subsequently to …

Differences In Children’S Food And Beverage Consumption Between School And Summer: Three-Year Findings From The What’S Up (Undermining Prevention) With Summer Observational Cohort Study, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Sarah Burkart, Christopher D. Pfledderer, Elizabeth L. Adams Phd, Robert Weaver Med, Phd, Bridget Armstrong, Keith Brazendale, Xuanxuan Zhu, Alexander Mclain, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Russell R. Pate, Andrew T. Kaczynski, Amanda Fairchild, Brian Saelens, Hannah Parker, Amy L. Yaroch, Emily Eglitis, Anthony J. Holmes

Faculty Publications

Background

Summer vacation is a time when youth gain excessive weight. A key driver of unhealthy weight gain is poor dietary quality. The absence of consistent structure (e.g., school), is hypothesized to be one of the reasons for lower diet quality during summer. This study examined differences in school and summer dietary quality among a diverse cohort of children across three years. We also examined the impact of attending structured programs on children’s diets.

Methods

Parents of 1,032 children (age 5–14 years, 48% girls) completed a time use diary each day for 14-days during school (April/May) and again in summer …

Identification Of Serum Exosome Proteins In Systemic Sclerosis With Interstitial Lung Disease By Aptamer Proteomics, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Simon T. Dillon, Xuesong Gu, Towia A. Libermann, Sergio A. Jimenez

Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine Papers and Presentations

OBJECTIVE: A major unmet need for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) clinical management is the absence of well validated biomarkers for early diagnosis of SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). The objective of this study was to identify proteins contained within serum exosomes that may serve as potential biomarkers to differentiate patients with Diffuse SSc without SSc-ILD from patients with Diffuse SSc with SSc-ILD employing aptamer-based proteomics.

METHODS: Serum exosomes were isolated from two cohorts of patients. The first cohort included 15 patients with Diffuse SSc without SSc-ILD and 14 patients with Diffuse SSc with SSc-ILD and the second cohort included 12 patients …

The Impact Of Genetic Ancestry On Survival Outcomes In Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report From The Children’S Oncology Group, Ekene A Onwuka, Christina L Magyar, Bailey A Martin-Giacalone, Michael E Scheurer, Deborah A Marquez-Do, Mark Zobeck, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Erin R Rudzinski, Michael A Arnold, Donald A Barkauskas, David Hall, Javed Khan, Jack F Shern, Paul Scheet, Brian Crompton, Corinne M Linardic, Douglas S Hawkins, Rajkumar Venkatramani, Lisa Mirabello, Chad D Huff, Melissa A Richard, Philip J Lupo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Emerging evidence suggests genetic ancestry may influence childhood cancer outcomes, but its impact on pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is unknown. We explored genetic ancestry's impact on survival among children with RMS. This multi-center observational cohort study is a secondary analysis of previously collected biobanking, genomic, and clinical data. The study included 920 individuals with newly diagnosed RMS under 40 years of age enrolled from 2005 to 2017 under the COG soft tissue sarcoma biobanking protocol D9902. The primary endpoints were (1) event-free survival (EFS), defined as the time from study enrollment to tumor recurrence/progression, secondary malignancy, or death from any cause; …

The Impacts Of Ocean Warming On Phytoplankton Dynamics And Links To Fisheries Management Around St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean, Shelby Bargo

The Plymouth Student Scientist

In the context of a rapidly changing climate, understanding how ocean warming is reshaping the foundation of marine ecosystems has never been more important. This research investigates factors contributing to ocean warming, and where anthropogenically influenced climate change plays a critical role in the functionality of the physical marine environment, phytoplankton, and trophodynamics throughout the pelagic zone. Phytoplankton, whilst microscopic, are vital; they are regulated by physical oceanographic factors that control their access to growth-limiting factors, such as nutrients. With the formidable climate-driven physical and biological changes occurring in the marine environment, alongside the decline in fish stocks, it is …

Blunted Cd40-Responsive Enhancer Activation In Crebbp-Mutant Lymphomas Can Be Restored By Enforced Cd4 T-Cell Engagement, Haopeng Yang, Wenchao Zhang, Vida Ravanmehr, Guiling Cui, Kevin Bowman, Ruidong Chen, Jared M Henderson, Shyanne Lockman, Estela Rojas, Ashley Wilson, Sydney Parsons, Ariel Mechaly, Leslie Regad, Ahmed Haouz, Christopher R Flowers, Sattva Neelapu, Loretta Nastoupil, R Eric Davis, Qing Deng, Fernando Rodrigues-Lima, Michael R Green

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The CREBBP lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) is frequently mutated in follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and has been studied using gene knockout in murine and human cells. However, most CREBBP mutations encode amino acid substitutions within the catalytic KAT domain (CREBBP KAT-PM) that retain an inactive protein and have not been extensively characterized. Using CRISPR gene editing and extensive epigenomic characterization of lymphoma cell lines, we found that CREBBP KAT-PM lead to unloading of CREBBP from chromatin, loss of enhancer acetylation, and prevention of EP300 compensation. These enhancers were enriched for those that are dynamically loaded by CREBBP in …

Weaning Beef Calves, David Secrist

All Current Publications

Weaning a beef calf is likely the most stressful event in the animal’s life. Future growth and reproductive performance can be compromised by health challenges encountered through the weaning process. Consequently, proper management aimed at reducing stress and preparing the beef animal for the next stage of production is critical to reach its genetic potential. Proper management involves applying good animal husbandry techniques, using sound science in developing health and feeding protocols, and implementing low-stress animal handling practices.