Digital Commons Network^™

Dendrimer Nanogels With Built-In Free Radical Scavenging Enable Efficient Topical Delivery Of A Hydrophilic Antioxidant To Restore Lens Redox Balance For Cataract Treatment, Lin Qi, Huari Kou, Anna Chernatynskaya, Da Huang, Vimalin Jeyalatha Mani, Humeyra Karacal, Nuran Ercal, Hu Yang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide and are primarily caused by oxidative stress that damages and aggregates lens proteins, leading to lens opacification. However, the eye's anatomical barriers limit the penetration and bioavailability of antioxidant therapies. To address this challenge, a dendrimer-based nanogel with a built-in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capability developed by us was employed to deliver the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to the lens. NAC was loaded into a generation-5 PEGylated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (G5-PEG-TK, termed the GPT) nanogel. The resulting NAC-GPT was characterized for its ROS-scavenging activity, bioavailability, and corneal permeability. The efficacy of NAC-GPT was …

Optimizing Duckweeds Harvesting Strategies To Maximize Nutrient Recovery And Its Role As A Phytosensor In Different Water Sources While Maintaining Sustainable Biomass Growth, Basma Ghannam

Theses

This thesis is concerned with determining the optimal water treatment and harvesting strategy for Lemna minor duckweed plants. The main objective of this thesis is to examine how duckweed plants grow in terms of biomass, photosynthetic activity, leaf morphology, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and their efficiency in nutrient removal from different water sources. The methodology of the study included assessing duckweed in three water samples including tap water, saline water, and greywater and three harvesting strategies, including low, medium, and high harvesting intensities to assess their growth and nutrient removal efficiency. The results of the study showed that L. minor …

Polyhydroxybutyrate (Phb) From Biofloc Systems Enhances The Growth And Immune Performance Of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia, Menaga Meenakshisundaram, Jimmy B. Mboya, Felix Sugantham

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study characterised polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-producing bacteria from the culture water of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) in biofloc ponds and investigated the influence of PHB on the growth and immune performance of GIFT. Out of 40 bacterial isolates, Bacillus infantis, Exiguobacterium profundum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus hirae showed positive results for PHB against fluorescent stains. The PHB yield in the range of 5%–95.45% (w/w) was recorded, with the highest from K. pneumoniae (95.45% w/w). The experimental treatments included a basal diet as a control (C), a basal diet with PHB (5 g kg⁻¹) from …

Evolution Of Antibiotic Responses During Chronic P. Aeruginosa Infections In The Human Lung, David Frank Ritz

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Typical antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of microbial samples is performed in homogeneous cultures in batch environments, which does not account for the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of antibiotic responses. The most common mutation found in P. aeruginosa lineages evolved during chronic cystic fibrosis infections in the human lung, a loss of function of repressor MexZ, increases basal levels of multidrug efflux MexXY, but does not increase resistance by traditional minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Here, we use single cell microfluidics to show that P. aeruginosa’s response to aminoglycosides is highly heterogeneous, with only a subpopulation of cells surviving exposure. …

Role Of Listeria Adhesion Protein In Monocyte-Associated And Extracellular Translocation Of Listeria Monocytogenes Across The In Vitro Placental Barrier Co-Culture Model, Ayesha Atique

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular foodborne pathogen capable of crossing the placental barrier, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal sepsis, and has a fetal/neonatal fatality rate of ~20–30%. Although the importance of canonical virulence factors such as Internalin A (InlA) and Internalin B (InlB) in L. monocytogenes crossing of the placental barrier has been demonstrated, clinical strains lacking functional canonical internalins have been reported to cause severe neonatal disease, suggesting additional mechanisms of placental translocation.

To investigate these virulence mechanisms, we adapted a physiologically relevant co-culture human placental barrier Transwell model composed of BeWo trophoblasts and primary human placental …

Optimal Control Strategies For Infectious Diseases: A Numerical Simulation Approach, M. Abu Salek, Jannatun Nayeem, Romana Yesmin, M. Haider Ali Biswas, M. Humayun Kabir

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

Various infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B virus (HBV), caused by Mycobacterium bacteria and hepatitis B virus, respectively, pose serious threats worldwide. This paper examines the spread of these diseases using a mathematical model that incorporates control measures, including vaccination and awareness programs. We use a system of differential equations with control variables and apply Pontryagin's principle to determine optimal control strategies. The stability of the Disease Free Equilibrium (DFE) has been analysed and demonstrated to be both locally and globally asymptotically stable when the basic reproduction number remains below unity, thereby ensuring disease elimination. Furthermore, the Endemic …

A Randomized Study Of Digital Versus Genetic Counselor Return Of Actionable Genetic Research Results To Biobank Participants (Respect3 Study), Anuja Rajendra Godbole, Elisabeth Wood, Brian Egleston, Lily Hoffman-Andrews, Sarah Brown, Sarah Howe, Sanjana Shastri, Rajia Mim, Justin Feng, Anjali Owens, Susan Domchek, Reed Pyeritz, Bryson Katona, Staci Kallish, Giorgio Sirugo, Joellen Weaver, Linda Fleisher, Kuang-Yi Wen, Elena Elkin, Katherine Nathanson, Daniel Rader, Angela Bradbury

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There is consensus that research participants should be informed about plans for return of genetic research results. However, best practices for return of results in large biobank and cohort studies do not exist currently, and how best to communicate actionable genetic research results remains unclear. While having genetic counselors disclose these results may be ideal to ensure understanding, minimize distress, and optimize medical follow-up, genetic counselor (GC) workforce shortages and costs are barriers. The RESPECT3 study evaluates whether digital delivery alternatives for pre-disclosure education and return of actionable genetic research results is non-inferior to remote telehealth disclosure by a …

Challenges Of Selected Philippine Higher Educational Institutions In Facilitating Extension Services: Application Of The Best-Fit Framework, Kay Guiriba-Losabia, Allan G. Dalo, Calyd T. Cerio

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This paper deals with a case study that uses the best-fit framework to analyze the challenges faced by the HEIs in facilitating the effective delivery of extension services. Specifically, it seeks to identify the factors that influence the HEI in identifying its thrusts and directions and developing extension programs. It also aims to assess the factors that facilitate and limit the implementation of extension programs. The study used a qualitative case study. Participants in the study include HEI Extension Unit Heads and project or program leaders. Key informant interview, survey, and secondary data review were conducted to collect data. Content …

Impact Of Tropical Cyclones On Food And Nutrition Security: A Global Scoping Review And Thematic Analysis, Patience M. Chiotha, Budi Haryanto

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

The increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones driven by climate change pose growing threats to food and nutrition security. Globally, an estimated 80–90 tropical cyclones occur annually, affecting approximately 119 million people. Evidence regarding their impact on food systems, dietary patterns, and nutritional status remains fragmented. This scoping review aimed to map global evidence on the impacts of tropical cyclones on food and nutrition security, identify key pathways of impact, and examine affected indicators at household and individual levels. The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google …

Evaluating Forearm Strength Variability In Collegiate Tennis Players Over The Course Of A Competitive Season, Jeffrey Williams, Payton Jensen, Kevin Laudner

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

The muscles of the forearm undergo routine, forceful, and repetitive contractions while playing tennis and may experience adaptive changes that can precede injury. An understanding of forearm strength profiles of tennis players following a competitive season would assist clinicians’ evidence-based management of the forearm’s readiness for training, competition, and return-to-sport participation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a competitive tennis season on forearm strength among collegiate tennis athletes. A prospective, case-series design was used to examine a convenience sample of 15 asymptomatic NCAA Division I tennis players (males = 10, height = 182.88 [SD …

Comfort Level Of Collegiate Student-Athletes In Opposite And Same-Gender Patient/Provider Relationships In Athletic Training, Samantha Dickie, Yashu Tang, Sydney Nelson, Emily Madrak

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Gender-based comfort in patient-provider relationships is a vital aspect of athletic training care. As the profession continues to evolve—particularly with a growing number of women athletic trainers (ATs) and progression of athletic training curriculum—it is essential to understand how gender dynamics influence the comfort of collegiate athletes when receiving care. This cross-sectional survey study examined how athlete comfort varies when treated by same- versus opposite-gender ATs in general patient care and in pathology-based scenarios. Ninety-six collegiate student-athletes (62.5% female) with the mean age of 20.26 (SD 1.7) years from NCAA and NAIA institutions completed the Gender Comfort with Athletic Trainer …

The Role Of Transformable Facade Technologies In Enhancing The Architectural Environment Quality In Educational Buildings, Waad Marawan Elashry, Ahmed Eltantawy Elmaidawy, Esraa Elazab

Mansoura Engineering Journal

In recent times, Educational Buildings development has become an increasingly important issue at all locations, even in the areas with the least means. Progress in the field of technology has impacted the development of architecture and modern technologies have provided for the architect enormous possibilities in the formation and design of buildings. The facade of a building plays a crucial role in providing environmental comfort, depending on the type of envelope and design. Architects and engineers need to consider many issues when working with facade designs, including environmental issues, aesthetic appearance, comfort of building occupants, and the view; these aspects …

The Role Of Emerin In Myogenic Differentiation, Nicholas Marano

Theses and Dissertations

The nucleus harbors genetic material encapsulated by the nuclear envelope which is composed of an inner and outer nuclear membrane. The establishment and organization of chromatin at the INM is essential for cell fate during the differentiation program. Integral INM proteins are responsible for chromatin organization at the nuclear envelope. Emerin is a highly conserved type II integral INM protein with roles in chromatin organization, cell signaling, and nuclear structure. Mutations in the emerin gene cause Emery Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy 1 (EDMD1). Emerin is ubiquitously expressed, but loss of emerin function affects specifically skeletal muscle and cardiac tissue. The precise …

Inside 'N Out: Etv2 Specification Of Hemangiogenic Lineages From Flk1+ Mesoderm, Dereck Antonio Shakeel Alleyne

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The cardiovascular system is generated by mesodermal progenitors that give rise to endothelial, hematopoietic and muscle (smooth muscle and cardiomyocyte) lineages. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptor, FLK1/KDR and the transcription factor ETV2 are critically required for hemangiogenic specification, Flk1 and Etv2 expression has been observed in other mesodermal derivatives. During gastrulation, mesodermal progenitors are specified to contribute to the cardiovascular system; however, the early divergence of hemangiogenic and muscle progenitors, and their shared marker expression, complicates identification of common mesoderm progenitor populations contributing to both lineages. In this dissertation, I demonstrate how Flk1+ and Etv2+ lineage relationships …

The Relationship Between Smartphone Screen Time Duration And Individual Chronotype: A Systematic Literature Review, Diego Sergio Giasia Lumbantobing, Thalia Altamilano Pramudya

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

The rapid increase in smartphone use over the past decade led to prolonged screen time across age groups, particularly during nighttime hours. Exposure to artificial light and pre-sleep digital activities was associated with circadian rhythm disruption and alterations in individual chronotype. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize empirical evidence on the relationship between smartphone screen time duration and individual chronotype across all age groups and to identify key moderating factors influencing this association. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2015 and 2025. …

Phenol–Chloroform Dna Extraction For Dna Amplification From Personal Items, Aditya Rahman Ernanto, Dinda Amaliyatul Khasanah, Yunita Aldirahayu, Rizki Setiyaningrum, Arya Iswara

Makara Journal of Science

This study examined the feasibility of extracting DNA from various personal items using the phenol–chloroform–isoamyl alcohol (PCIA) method. A towel, collared shirt, toothbrush, shower puff, comb, hair tie, and buccal swabs were analyzed. The quality of the DNA extraction, along with DNA concentration, purity, and suitability for multiplex PCR amplification, were evaluated. The shower puff exhibited the highest DNA concentration (68.35 ng/µL), whereas the collared shirt yielded the lowest (26.43 ng/µL). All samples exhibited good DNA purity (A260 nm/A280 nm ranging from 1.827 to 1.985), emphasizing the potential of this method for forensic analysis. Factors influencing DNA concentration included material …

Effect Of Novel Antimicrobial Compounds On Fungal And Bacterial Pathogens, Megan Wilderman

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern in medicine¹ leading to a need for the development of novel compounds. Two compounds were tested in this study, 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine (HEH) and para-nitrophenyl-isocyanide (NPIC). HEH targets phosphatidylcholine (PC) production², and NPIC targets mitochondrial function³. Choline (Cho) is a compound that bypasses the inhibition of HEH through the Kennedy pathway.² Two-fold serial dilutions were conducted in 96-well plates to test the sensitivity of different bacteria to HEH and fungi to HEH and NPIC in different media types. A choline condition was also included in the HEH dilutions to test …

Carboxypeptidase O Expression In Ku812 Basophil Cells Decreases Upon Degranulation, Etien Balorda

Honors Theses

Basophils are leukocytes that mediate inflammatory responses through the exocytosis of granules containing enzymes and inflammatory mediators. Carboxypeptidase O (CPO) is a protease with Cterminal acidic amino acid specificity and is expressed in basophils. CPO expression and localization were assessed in KU812 basophil cells via Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. CPO expression decreased upon degranulation and is localized to cytosolic puncta. These data suggest that CPO may be localized in basophil granules and released upon degranulation.

Design And In Silico Modeling Of Heterocyclic-Based Xanthone Derivatives As Potential Anticancer Agents Through Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition, Yehezkiel Steven Kurniawan, Ervan Yudha, Nela Fatmasari, Radite Yogaswara, Harno Dwi Pranowo, Eti Nurwening Sholikhah, Jumina Jumina

Makara Journal of Science

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases nowadays, and tyrosine kinase receptors play crucial roles in cancer cell survival, differentiation, proliferation, and migration. This study designed and developed a new inhibitor from heterocyclic-based xanthone derivatives to target two tyrosine kinase receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), through in silico screening. Eighteen heterocyclic-based xanthones were evaluated through molecular docking for both receptors. All heterocyclic-based xanthones gave the root mean square deviation (RMSD) value lower than 2.00 Å. Xanthone with isobenzothiazole substituent (iBzThio) was found as the most potent inhibitor with binding energies of -10.60 and …

Dietary Oil From Hermetia Illucens L. Larvae Promotes Weight Gain And Alters Leukocyte Profiles In Mus Musculus L, Rudy Agung Nugroho Ran, Reni Kurniati, Widya Putri Ambar Sari, Reynaldo Imanuel Sompotan, Retno Aryani, Hetty Manurung, Rudianto Rudianto

Makara Journal of Science

The escalating global demand for high-quality animal-derived proteins has driven the search for sustainable alternatives. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens L.) oil presents a promising option, by addressing organic waste management while providing nutrient-rich feed. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with BSFL oil on growth performance, hematological characteristics, and blood lipid profiles in mice (Mus musculus). Male mice were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 5): positive control (fish oil, 5 mL/kg body weight [BW]), negative control (Aquadest, 5 mL/kg BW), and three treatment groups receiving BSFL oil at 2.5, 5, and …

Humin-Based Bioadhesives For Manufacturing Particleboard Panels, Papiya Bhowmik, Reza Hosseinpourpia

Michigan Tech Publications

This study focused on a novel approach to combine humin, derived from fructose-based biorefinery processes, with two-dimensional graphene nanoparticles and glyoxal, a bio-based crosslinker, to formulate functional bioadhesives for manufacturing particleboards. Five different single-layer 8 mm particleboard panels were prepared using the developed humin-based adhesive formulas with and without graphene and tested by means of their mechanical properties and thickness swelling in accordance with the EN 310 and EN 319standards. The results were compared with panels bonded with commercial melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF), showing that the mechanical properties of particleboards bonded with humin reinforced with graphene nanoparticles were almost comparable to those …

Fortification Of Flour Cultivated In The Territory Of The Republic Of Uzbekistan With Own Iron And Zinc, Nodira B. Kurbanova, Gulnoza Z. Djakhangirova, Bakhtiyar I. Kurbanov, Dase D. Klava

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of the study is to investigate the regional characteristics of iron and zinc content in wheat and flour produced in Uzbekistan using instrumental neutron activation analysis, and on this basis to provide a scientific justification for effective approaches to flour fortification and the preservation of micronutrients during grain processing. The study analyzed wheat flour produced from grain grown in five regions of Uzbekistan (Khorezm, Surkhandarya, Bukhara, Tashkent, and Fergana). Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was applied for the first time in Uzbekistan to comprehensively assess the microelement composition of flour. It was found that fortification using natural sources …

The Impact Of Social Media On Attention And Memory, Jared Mcfarlane, Nathan Mangum, Ryan Ensign, Andrew Lloyd, Samuel Storm, Jared Nielsen

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Social media has become nearly ubiquitous in recent years. However, relatively little is known about how its use is related to cognition. This study investigates the potential connection between our social media use habits and our cognitive abilities, specifically sustained attention and episodic memory.

Rapid Kitchen Compost As A Growing Media, Rebecca Kerr, Shannon V. Nelson, Bryan G. Hopkins

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

ReencleTM composters decompose most food waste within 24 hours (~90% reduction).

Compost can be an excellent source of nutrients for plants and improve soil structure and water retention.

Objective: Determine the effectiveness of kitchen compost as a soil amendment for growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

Investigating The Role Of Tnf In Hiv-1 Infected Cell Death, Brennan B. Wells, Sidney Sithole, Bradford Berges

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

HIV-1 is the causative agent of the terminal disease AIDS. Clinical studies have determined that patients infected with a mutant of HIV-1, Vpr-R77Q, do not progress towards AIDS. Subsequently, our lab has discovered two notable differences between the Vpr- R77Q variant and WT HIV-1: increased levels of apoptosis in infected cells (which is thought to contribute to the lack of AIDS progression), and decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines, namely Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). The purpose of this ongoing experiment is to investigate the potential inverse correlation between TNF levels and apoptosis levels through the introduction of additional TNF cytokines to …

Cache Water District Conservation Program, Autumn Matthews

Spring Runoff Conference

Conservation and Education Programs.

Conservation Goals:

Increase community awareness through outreach, workshops, and community programs that support water conservation.

Expand and improve programs that encourage water savings and more efficient water use across the community.

Help residents save money by promoting water efficiency and reducing unnecessary water use.

Recombinant Hagfish Intermediate Filament Proteins Enable Neural Culture Substrates That Promote Neurite Extension And Reduce Oxidative Stress, Justin Jones, Kristin Durrant

Browse all Datasets

This dataset supports the production, characterization, and biological validation of a novel recombinant hagfish intermediate filament (rHIF) protein functionalized with spider silk motifs (rHIF-alpha-GRGGL). The data demonstrates a scalable bioprocess resulting in a 7.76 g/L yield, high structural alpha-helicity (77.2%), and significant support for N2a cells.

Artificial Intelligence In Mycology: A Systematic Review Of Species Identification, Biotechnological Assessment, And Explainable Deep Learning Methods, Fati̇h Eki̇nci̇, Mehmet Serdar Güzel, Ilgaz Akata

Turkish Journal of Botany

This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mycological research. It highlights how AI supports the identification of fungal taxa at both microscopic and macroscopic levels, facilitates the detection of toxic species, contributes to ecological mapping, aids in discovering new fungal bioproducts, and enhances precision agriculture practices. Advanced techniques such as convolutional neural networks, you only look once, U-shaped network (UNet), and residual network have demonstrated strong performance in classification, segmentation, and object detection tasks. Additionally, explainable AI (XAI) methods like gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM), local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME), and SHapley …

Global Transcriptomic Insights Into Nla-Dependent Boron Toxicity Responses In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Doğa Seli̇n Kayihan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Boron (B) toxicity disrupts multiple metabolic and signaling processes in plants, yet its interaction with post-translational regulators remains poorly understood. The E3 ubiquitin ligase NITROGEN LIMITATION ADAPTATION (NLA) is known to control nutrient transporter turnover, but its role in B toxicity responses has not been previously characterized. Here, we present the first genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of nla mutant Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to mild (1 mM) and moderate (2 mM) B toxicity. Loss of NLA caused a profound reprogramming of gene expression, marked by constitutive activation of ribosome- and translation-related pathways and strong repression of MAPK signaling, α-linolenic acid metabolism, and …

Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants Used By The Local Population In And Around Kozak Plateau (Bergama, İzmir, Türkiye), Şükrü Arasan, Hasan Yildirim

Turkish Journal of Botany

This research was conducted between 2020 and 2022 in 21 villages located on the Kozak Plateau and its surroundings, in the Bergama district of İzmir province, Türkiye. The main aim of the study is to document the medicinal uses of plants by the local population and to contribute to the preservation and transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge—passed down through generations— to future generations before it disappears. Interviews were conducted with 159 informants, and the traditional medicinal uses of 126 plant taxa belonging to 54 families were identified. Among these, the therapeutic uses of 37 taxa were recorded for the first time. …