Digital Commons Network^™

Precision Phenotyping For Curating Research Cohorts Of Patients With Unexplained Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19, Alaleh Azhir, Jonas Hügel, Jiazi Tian, Jingya Cheng, Ingrid V Bassett, Douglas S Bell, Elmer V Bernstam, Maha R Farhat, Darren W Henderson, Emily S Lau, Michele Morris, Yevgeniy R Semenov, Virginia A Triant, Shyam Visweswaran, Zachary H Strasser, Jeffrey G Klann, Shawn N Murphy, Hossein Estiri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Scalable identification of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is challenging due to a lack of reproducible precision phenotyping algorithms, which has led to suboptimal accuracy, demographic biases, and underestimation of the PASC.

METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study, we developed a precision phenotyping algorithm for identifying cohorts of patients with PASC. We used longitudinal electronic health records data from over 295,000 patients from 14 hospitals and 20 community health centers in Massachusetts. The algorithm employs an attention mechanism to simultaneously exclude sequelae that prior conditions can explain and include infection-associated chronic conditions. We performed independent chart reviews …

Tunneling Nanotube-Like Structures Regulate Distant Cellular Interactions During Heart Formation, Lianjie Miao, Yangyang Lu, Anika Nusrat, Guizhen Fan, Shaohua Zhang, Luqi Zhao, Chia-Ling Wu, Hongyan Guo, Trang Le Nu Huyen, Yi Zheng, Zhen-Chuan Fan, Weinian Shou, Robert J Schwartz, Yu Liu, Ashok Kumar, Haixin Sui, Irina I Serysheva, Alan R Burns, Leo Q Wan, Bin Zhou, Sylvia M Evans, Mingfu Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In the developing mammalian heart, the endocardium and the myocardium are separated by so-called cardiac jelly. Communication between the endocardium and the myocardium is essential for cardiac morphogenesis. How membrane-localized receptors and ligands achieve interaction across the cardiac jelly is not understood. Working in developing mouse cardiac morphogenesis models, we used a variety of cellular, imaging, and genetic approaches to elucidate this question. We found that myocardium and endocardium interacted directly through microstructures termed tunneling nanotube-like structures (TNTLs). TNTLs extended from cardiomyocytes (CMs) to contact endocardial cells (ECs) directly. TNTLs transported cytoplasmic proteins, transduced signals between CMs and ECs, and …

Genetic Counseling Student Anxiety, Self-Efficacy, And Study Strategy Use For The Genetic Counseling Board Certification Exam., Teagan E. Nunnery

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With a 76% pass rate for the 2024 American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) certification exam, it's crucial to evaluate the study strategies used by candidates and their alignment with evidence-based practices. This study surveyed 84 genetic counseling students and graduates from 35 U.S. and Canadian training programs, focusing on demographic data, study strategy usage, anxiety, and self-efficacy. Study strategies were categorized into one of three groups: 1) active strategies, which promote recall and understanding, 2) passive strategies, and 3) hybrid, for strategies that involve both active and passive engagement as well as three metacognitive strategies: regulating learning, monitoring learning, …

The Expression Profile Of The Rank/Rankl/Opg Pathway In Breast Cancer Stem Cells Isolated From Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Mohamed M. Kamal, Hassnaa H. Elgohary, Sherine Maher Rizk, Nadine H. Maurice

Pharmacy

The RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway plays a crucial role in breast cancer progression and metastasis. However, its expression patterns and potential implications in breast cancer stem cells remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the expression profile of this pathway in breast cancer stem cells isolated from two distinct breast cancer cell lines: MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7. Mammospheres (MS), representing breast cancer stem cells, were generated using agar‐coated 6 well tissue culture plates in suitable mammospheres culture conditions. Flow cytometric analysis showed enrichment of the CD44+/ CD24− subpopulations in the mammospheres cultures, with MDA‐MB‐231 exhibiting a higher percentage compared to MCF‐7. …

Impact Of Changes In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Diagnostic Criteria During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica Neville, Kelly Foley, Seán Lacey, Antoinette Tuthill, Oratile Kgosidialwa, Mairead O’Riordan, Fiona O’Halloran, Seán J. Costelloe

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background/Aims

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recommended fasting and random plasma glucose (FPG/RPG) alongside glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) to replace the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).

Methods

The study compared testing patterns and diagnostic rates for GDM before and after implementing the RCOG guidelines (01/05/2020) in pregnancies beginning 01/11/2018 to 31/03/2021. Trends were inspected using Cochrane-Armitage tests. Differences between General Practice (GP) and Secondary Care (SCare) were assessed by chi-square analysis. A significance level of p <  0.05 was used for all analyses. Information on maternal and pregnancy characteristics was accessed where available.

Results

Data indicated a significant reduction in …

Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats Application On The Identification Of Genetic Variation Of A New Indonesian Melon Cultivar “Melona”, Tantri Ajeng Salma Salsabila, Adib Fakhruddin Yusuf, Wiko Arif Wibowo, Prima Sekti Kusnanda, Budi Setiadi Daryono

Makara Journal of Science

The field of identification of molecular markers has seen significant advancements, with the Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) emerging as a prominent tool for characterizing genetic variation within species. This study focuses on the new Indonesian melon cultivar “Melona,” developed through selective breeding of commercial melons. This study aimed to assess the utility of ISSR markers in evaluating the genetic variation and stability of the “Melona” cultivar. Comparisons were made with established cultivars—‘Inthanon,” “Rich Sweetness,” “Chamoe,” and “Hikapel”—using five ISSR primers: UBC 807, UBC 808, UBC 810, UBC 812, and UBC 826. A total of 70 DNA fragments with a high …

Evaluating The Meditation Practices And Barriers To Adopting Mindful Medicine Among Physicians, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer, Chelsea G Ratcliff, Christine Bakos-Block, Francine Vega, Marylou Cardenas-Turanzas, Aila Malik, Radha Korupolu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronic pain affects over 25% of U.S. adults and is a leading cause of disability. Mindfulness meditation (MM) is a nonpharmacologic approach to manage pain and improve well-being. Despite mounting evidence supporting its efficacy, MM remains underutilized in medical practice. Understanding physicians' engagement with MM and the barriers they face can inform strategies for integration into clinical care. This study assessed physicians' attitudes toward MM, including barriers to practice and their likelihood of recommending it to patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of U.S. physicians was conducted from April to July 2024. Participants provided information on demographics, health struggles, and …

Prodrug Activation In Malaria Parasites Mediated By An Imported Erythrocyte Esterase, Acylpeptide Hydrolase (Apeh), Sesh A. Sundararaman, Justin J. Miller, Ellora C. Daley, Kelsey A. O'Brien, Paulina Kasak, Abigail M. Daniels, Rachel L. Edwards, Kenneth M. Heidel, Darean A. Bague, Madeleine A. Wilson, Andrew J. Koelper, Elexi C. Kourtoglou, Alex D. White, Sloan A. August, Georgia A. Apple, Regis W. Rouamba, Anthony J. Durand, John J. Esteb, Florian L. Muller, R. Jeremy Johnson, Geoffrey C. Hoops, Cynthia S. Dowd, Audrey R. Odom John

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

The continued emergence of antimalarial drug resistance highlights the need to develop new antimalarial therapies. Unfortunately, new drug development is often hampered by undesirable drug-like properties of lead compounds. Prodrug approaches temporarily mask undesirable compound features, improving bioavailability and target penetration. We have found that lipophilic diester prodrugs of phosphonic acid antibiotics, such as fosmidomycin (Fsm), exhibit significantly higher antimalarial potency than their parent compounds [R.L. Edwards et al., Sci. Rep. 7, 8400 (2017)]. However, the activating enzymes for these prodrugs were unknown. Here, we show that an erythrocyte enzyme, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH), is the major activating enzyme of multiple …

Avasimibe Abolishes The Efficacy Of Fluvastatin For The Prevention Of Cancer In A Spontaneous Mouse Model Of Breast Cancer, Anjana Bhardwaj, Alexander Koh, Rhea Bhala, Janvi Sandhu, Zhenlin Ju, Leslie Faye Cando, Jing Wang, Isabelle Bedrosian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The cholesterol biosynthesis pathway is upregulated during breast cancer development and progression. Inhibition of the aberrantly upregulated cholesterol pathway by statins reduces breast tumor incidence and burden by 50% in SV40 C3(1) TAg mice, a mouse model of triple negative breast cancer. We hypothesized that fluvastatin's preventive efficacy could be further enhanced by co-targeting the statin-induced restorative feedback pathways that tightly control the cholesterol pathway and are involved in resistance to statins. Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (

Mbti Results And Stereotypes: Should We Trust Them Or Not?, Sarah Su

Osmosis Magazine

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), is a popular personality test that’s been around for decades. With a huge test taking population, it is a personality test well known and generally accepted by the public (Delgado, 2023). It is almost everywhere, from day to day conversations to its presence in social media, to even workplaces, where managers are using it as a tool to simplify complex human interactions (Essig, 2014). This means a huge population is using it to determine individual personalities and seeking connections within the society.

Osmosis Magazine - Fall 2024

Osmosis Magazine

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

Cloning And Expression Of Scamp3 In Escherichia Coli Bl21(De3) With In Silico Sequence-Based Cancer Epitopes Prediction, Selly Setiati Rajagukguk, Sabar Pambudi, Astari Dwiranti, Doddy Irawan Setyo Utomo, Anom Bowolaksono

Makara Journal of Science

Secretory carrier membrane protein 3 (SCAMP3) is a crucial membrane protein involved in intracellular vesicle traffick-ing and exocytosis. The SCAMP3 expression has been observed in diverse cancer types, such as melanoma, glioma, hepatocellular and breast cancer. Increased SCAMP3 expression has been reported in certain cancer cells relative to that in normal cells, suggesting the potential role of SCAMP3 in cancer development or progression. In this study, we successfully cloned and expressed SCAMP3 in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3). SCAMP3 was amplified and insert-ed directionally into the prokaryotic expression vector pET21d(+). The transformation of recombinant plasmid into E. coli BL21(DE3) cells were …

Antibacterial Activity Of Endophytic Actinobacteria Isolated From Ziziphus Mauritiana Against Multidrug-Resistant Strains, Hafifatunil Khairani, Jepri Agung Priyanto, Muhammad Eka Prastya, Dwi Retnowati

Makara Journal of Science

Increasing resistance to existing antibiotics has led to a need for new alternative sources. Among the possibilities that need to be explored is the endophytic actinobacteria associated with Ziziphus mauritiana. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of endophytic actinobacteria isolated from Z. mauritiana against five multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. Thirty actinobacteria isolates were obtained from the roots, stem, and leaves of the plant using the serial dilution technique. Using a double-layer agar test, we found that colonies from five of the 30 isolates (16%) exhibited antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the M18 strain of Bacillus …

Removal Of Cr(Vi) From Aqueous Solution Using Magnetic Activated Carbon Prepared From Waste Shell Of Marigold Flower Straw: Kinetics, Isotherm And Mechanism Studies, Shanmukha Rao Metta, Uttam Kumar Sahu

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

When Cr(VI) was released from industrial waste into water bodies harms aquatic ecosystems and poses risks to human well-being. To reduce risks, it's crucial to lower Cr(VI) levels through the sustainable process. In order to extract Cr(VI) from a liquid, the magnetic activated carbon adsorbent was created for the current investigation. H₃PO₄ was utilised as an activating agent in the thermal procedure to prepare activated carbon from marigold flower straw for the first time. The marigold flower straw activated carbon (MFSAC) was further decorated with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/MFSAC) in the …

Virulence Analysis, Characterization Of Integron, And Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Strains Of Acinetobacter Baumannii Recovered From The Hydrological Sub-Region Of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Tunde Olarinde Olaniyan, Ana Verónica Martínez Vázquez, Susana Silvia Fernández Dávila, Cesar Marcial Escobedo Bonilla, Virgilio Bocanegra Garcia

Research Symposium

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important bacterium due to its frequent recovery as a multidrug-resistant pathogen in hospital settings. Its antimicrobial resistance capacities made it an important challenge to health care. Colistin has been adopted as the last resort drug for managing infections associated with A. baumannii and many other multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). Because of the rise in the use of colistin for the treatment of MDR-GNB, the evolution and spread of colistin-resistant bacteria is possible thus raising a potential threat to public health. However, we have chosen to focus on A. baumannii, a …

Letter From The Editor, Caterina Erdas

Osmosis Magazine

Dear reader,

I am always surprised by how quickly the spring semester flies by. Thank you for curiously opening this issue of Osmosis during this crazy time. I hope our articles can delight and distract you. I will miss using this magazine to productively procrastinate as I did for three years. Being the Editor-in Chief-has been an honor, and I am thankful to everyone who contributed. Happy reading!

- Caterina Erdas, a lifelong Osmosis reader

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.

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.

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, …

The Hidden Faces Behind The Covid-19 Vaccine, Julia Brittain

Osmosis Magazine

When you think about the COVID-19 vaccine, the names Pfizer or Moderna probably come to mind. It’s no surprise that these companies are often mentioned in discussions of the COVID- 19 vaccine. After all, in December 2020, Pfizer-BioNTech became the first biopharmaceutical company to receive emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine from the FDA, and Moderna followed shortly after.

Letter From The Editor, Ryan Shah

Osmosis Magazine

Dear Reader,

Thank you for opening this unique issue of Osmosis Magazine! The 10th issue of UR’s premier science and healthcare magazine looks quite different from previous issues, as the Osmosis Team has disaffiliated from UR in support of the Black Student Coalition and the Protect Our Web movement. Nevertheless, Osmosis Magazine remains dedicated to our mission of sharing interesting and educational science and healthcare stories. This “mini issue”

stays true to that goal, while giving the incredible Osmosis Team something to show for their hard work this semester. If you like what you read, please feel free to share …

Osmosis Magazine - Spring 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.

Studies On The Macropores Structure Of Grassland's Soil, K Sato, K Tokunaga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The purpose of this study is to examine the structure of macroporous soils which allows better aeration, water reten­tion and drainage. Previous investigations of macroporous soils have dealt with drainage (McIntyre and Sleeman, 1982), void forms (Tippkotter, 1983; Walker and Trudgill, 1983) and X-ray radiography (Rogaar, H. and R.A.H. Thiadens, 1975). Analyses of these studies have not proved sucessful to explain the effect of the soil structure as regards water retention and drainage. Therefore, the present study was designed to deter­mine the structure of macroporous soils by use of soft X-ray radiography and soil physical properties. Tokunaga et al.,(1984, 1986, …

Thermal Carbonization Of Biomass Wood Dust And Algae Wastes Via Microwave-Assisted H3Po4: Desirability Function And Statistical Optimization For Methylene Blue Dye Removal, Raja Razuan Raja Derisa, Hazierul F. Awang, Muhammad Hakim Azman, Intan Nur Hidayah Abdul Rashid, Ahmad Hapiz, Ruihong Wu, Abdallah Reghioua, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Lee D. Wilson

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research utilized a carbonization procedure via microwave irradiation assisted by H₃PO₄ to generate a cost-effective adsorbent (CWDAG) from wood dust (WD) and algal (AG) biomass. The resulting CWDAG adsorbent was characterized for its methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption properties. The activation process employs 800 W microwave radiation for 15 min under a nitrogen gas (99.99%) atmosphere. Multiple techniques were employed to study the physicochemical properties of CWDAG, such as FTIR, XRD, FSEM-EDX, pH_pzc, and BET. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the three important parameters of adsorption, as follows: A: CWDAG dosage …

Mechanisms Of Macrophage Metabolic Activation And Paracrine Wnt Signaling In The Pathogenesis Of Systemic Sclerosis, Emily Ann Morris

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. We have previously shown that macrophages (MØs) play a critical role in its pathogenesis; however, the mechanisms driving MØ activation in SSc remain poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the molecular signaling pathways and biochemical mechanisms underlying profibrotic MØ activity in SSc.

First, I identify a novel MØ-specific effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), the standard-of-care treatment for SSc. While MMF is a well characterized lymphostatic, my findings demonstrate that its active metabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA), is also capable of directly inhibiting myeloid viability and profibrotic MØ activation by suppressing de …

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 …

Biological Infections Associated With Wearing Cosmetic Contact Lenses: Risks, Pathogens, And Preventative Measures: Mini Review, Lina M. Shaker, Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Cosmetic contact lenses are increasingly favored worldwide for their ability to enhance or alter aesthetic appearance. However, their use carries a higher risk of ocular infections, particularly when proper hygiene practices are neglected. This narrative review explores the biological and clinical aspects of infections associated with cosmetic lens usage, with a focus on pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Acanthamoeba. Key factors influencing infection susceptibility include microbial adhesion, biofilm formation, reduced oxygen permeability, and the effects of cosmetic pigments. The review further evaluates the role of lens material properties, including advancements in antimicrobial materials, …

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 …