Digital Commons Network^™

Neutrophil-Microglia Interaction Drives Motor Dysfunction In A Neuromyelitis Optica Model Induced By Subarachnoid Aqp4-Igg, Fangfang Qi, Vanda A Lennon, Shunyi Zhao, Yong Guo, Husheng Ding, Caiyun Liu, Whitney M Bartley, Tingjun Chen, Claudia F Lucchinetti, Long-Jun Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to early neuromyelitis optica (NMO) histopathology initiated by IgG targeting astrocytic aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels. Yet, the mechanisms underlying neutrophil recruitment and their pathogenic roles in disease progression remain unclear. To investigate molecular-cellular events preceding classical complement cascade activation in a mouse NMO model, we continuously infused, via spinal subarachnoid route, a non-complement-activating mouse monoclonal AQP4-IgG. Parenchymal infiltration of netting neutrophils containing C5a ensued with microglial activation and motor impairment but no blood-brain barrier leakage. Motor impairment and neuronal dysfunction both reversed when AQP4-IgG infusion stopped. Two-photon microscopy and electron microscopy-based reconstructions revealed …

Structural-Functional Analyses Of The Huntingtin/Hap40 Complex In Drosophila And Humans, Stephen M Farmer, Amanda Solbach, Shiyu Xu, Beatriz Rios, Xin Ye, Amy Gao, Daniela Covarrubias, Yue Yu, Lili Ye, Vicky Chuong, Erin Furr Stimming, Haiqing Zhao, Sheng Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an abnormal CAG expansion in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Given its simple genetic cause but complex pathogenic mechanisms, interest in targeting HTT for HD treatment is growing, necessitating a clear understanding of HTT regulation. HTT protein primarily exists in a core complex with HAP40, forming a highly ordered structure with two large globular domains connected by a bridge. We previously demonstrated that HAP40 is conserved in

Comparing Stress Levels And Experiences Between Mothers And Fathers Of Children With Angelman Syndrome, Katherine Helen Fix

Theses and Dissertations

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by significant developmental and cognitive impairments, disruptive behaviors, and a hallmark happy demeanor. Past studies have shown that certain features of AS contribute to increased parental stress. Other studies report that in general the stress of parents of children with disabilities is influenced by stereotypical gender roles surrounding factors including daily care taking tasks, financial responsibility, and medical care involvement. This study aimed to compare perspectives among mothers and fathers of individuals with AS to identify discrepancies and themes relating to stress, specific hardships, and caregiving roles. Parents of children with AS …

Assessing Hereditary Cancer Risk And Genetic Counseling Knowledge And Interest In Appalachian Kentuckians, Ashton Farmer

Theses and Dissertations

Appalachian Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence in the United States and about 5-10% of all cancer has a hereditary cause. Despite this, there are no board- certified genetic counselors located in the area, and few genomic studies have been done in this population. This study aimed to define Appalachian Kentuckians’ interest in cancer genetic counseling and knowledge of cancer risk factors. An original online survey including multiple choice, Likert scale, and open response items was utilized to assess interest in pursuing cancer genetic counseling and how knowledge of cancer causes impacts interest in cancer genetic counseling. A total of …

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Of Dopaminergic Reward Pathways Across The Adult Lifespan, Julia Cardarelli

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effect of age on three major dopaminergic reward pathways using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Resting state imaging refers to low-frequency brain connectivity in the absence of task demands or directed thought patterns. The pathways included in this thesis are as follows: the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and mesocortical pathways. These pathways rely on dopamine and are known for a variety of functions, most notably regulating responses to rewarding and aversive stimuli. This analysis compared the connectivity between key regions of interest, where transmission originates in the midbrain and substantia nigra, and terminates in the orbitofrontal cortex, …

Soil Macroinvertebrate Biodiversity Patterns In Congaree National Park And The Role Of Dna Barcoding, Sharon Ann Kendrick

Theses and Dissertations

Soil and leaf-litter invertebrates are important components of terrestrial biodiversity and contribute to key ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil formation. Despite their ecological importance, these communities remain difficult to document because many taxa are small, cryptic, or challenging to identify using morphology alone. This study examined patterns of soil macroinvertebrate biodiversity across habitats within Congaree National Park while also evaluating the usefulness of DNA barcoding for documenting taxonomic diversity. Sampling was conducted at 39 sites between September 2022 and October 2024 across upland, bottomland, and bluff habitats. Macroinvertebrates were collected separately from leaf litter and soil …

Developing Drosophila Melanogaster As An In Vivo Model Of Diet- Induced Chronic Inflammation, David Jonith Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Diet impacts organismal health. Sub-optimal diets, such as obesogenic diets, can lead to long-term detrimental health effects. Over 60% of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, however the link between obesity and associated disease, such as chronic inflammation, remains unclear. Drosophila melanogaster is a useful in vivo model to better understand the effects of obesogenic diets on the immune response and begin examining the potential therapeutics of dietary plant compounds. Thus far, we find there is a difference in lifespan and reproduction patterns across the different control lines fed different standard diets. Oregon-R and yw control lines …

Assessing The Impacts Of Wastewater In Occupational Health Risks And Monitoring Infectious Diseases Within Communities, Sarah Catherine Sellers

Theses and Dissertations

Wastewater and wastewater treatment plants can both positively and negatively influence public health, due to their central role in socio-ecological systems in many communities. This dissertation aimed to fill key gaps in understanding their roles: as possible sources of occupational exposure and as tools for community disease monitoring and control. The three projects in this work examined these roles, focusing on how WWTPs can impact and inform public health at both occupational and community levels. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of chronic low-dose exposure to ARGs on WWTP workers' resistomes, evaluated the potential of WBE for building-level surveillance as …

The Effects Of Whole-Body Vibration On Countermovement Jump Kinetics And Performance, Garrett Reese Evans

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: Whole-body vibration (WBV) is reported to be an effective training modality for increasing vertical jump height. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear because limited studies have examined the effects of WBV on kinetic variables underling jump height. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of WBV on jump height (JH), modified reactive strength index (RSImod), and eccentric rate of force development (eRFD) during the countermovement jumps (CMJ) in recreationally-active young adults.

METHODS: Fifteen participants (13 male, 2 female, 21.5±1.89yr, 1.78±0.10m, 80.2±15.0kg) completed three randomly-ordered WBV exposures (0s, 30s, or 60s: 35Hz, 2mm amplitude). Three CMJ were …

Sex Differences In Cardiac Autonomic Response To Physical Exertion Following Concussion In Adolescents, Kiersten Isabella Mangold

Theses and Dissertations

Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries, are common amongst adolescent populations. Despite the qualifier of “mild”, these injuries can have a lasting impact on quality of life and school function. It has long been suggested that females experience poorer outcomes following concussion compared to their male counterparts, yet much research focuses primarily on male populations. Various theories have been proposed to explain these reported sex differences in concussion outcomes, ranging from socio-cultural differences in symptom reporting to neuroanatomical differences and the influence of sex hormones. Cardiac autonomic function (C-ANS) has emerged as a potential contributing mechanism to post-concussive symptoms. Although …

Bias Effects Of Priming Towards Huntington’S Disease Among Second- Year Medical, Physician Assistant, And Genetic Counseling Students, Cameron Lynn Galley

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Huntington’s Disease (HD) have experienced bias in their interactions with the public and with health professionals. This study explored perceptions of HD and potential bias among students in interdisciplinary health professions. We hypothesized that the presence of symptoms in vignettes would reflect increased implicit bias, participants with exposure to HD would show less bias than those without, and genetic counseling students would exhibit lower bias towards HD than medical and physician assistant students.

Attitudes towards those with HD were assessed through one of four vignettes about a fictional character in which a presymptomatic diagnosis was present or absent, …

Small Jellyfish, Large Consequences: The Overlooked Predatory Role Of Hydromedusae In Subtropical Estuarine Ecosystems, Guilherme M. Von Montfort, Kelly R. Sutherland, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, Renato M. Nagata

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Hydromedusae are often overlooked in pelagic trophic ecology compared to large scyphozoans. We investigated the diet, prey selectivity, ingestion rates, digestion times, and predation impacts of the native Liriope tetraphylla and non-indigenous species Cnidostoma fallax and Moerisia inkermanica in a subtropical estuary of the southwestern Atlantic. While all three species predominantly consumed copepods, L. tetraphylla exhibited the broadest diet and highest number of preys in gut content (up to 13). Digestion time for L. tetraphylla decreased significantly with increasing temperature, from 94 min at 18°C to 64 min at 28°C, with Q10 values showing that digestion rates roughly double with …

Spider Mite Response, Agronomic Performance, And Stability Of A Urochloa Spp. Diversity Panel Under Field Conditions, Adrian Mating’I Kimani, David Kariuki Muruu, Paula Espitia-Buitrago, Sylvia Henga, Catherine Muui, Frank Chidawanyika, Rosa Noemi Jauregui

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Spider mites (Oligonychus trichardti) are emerging as a major constraint to Urochloa forage productivity in East Africa; however, knowledge of genotypic variation and tolerance remains limited. Herein, 55 Urochloa genotypes were evaluated under field-infested and non-infested conditions across two seasons using an alpha-lattice design. Agronomic and physiological traits, including plant height (PH), tiller number (TN), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), total dry weight (TDW), and mite damage indices (visual severity index (VSI) and stress tolerance index (STI)) were assessed. Infestation reduced biomass by 22.4% on average, with reductions of up to 45% in susceptible genotypes. Significant genotypic variation was …

Characterising Soil Microbial Communities In Thinned And Unthinned Eucalyptus Forest In Southwestern Australia, Aaron J. Brace, Laurence Dugal, Josephine Hyde, Kristen Fernandes, Anna J.M. Hopkins, Emma Stevens, Gavan S. Mcgrath, Katinka X. Ruthrof

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change stress in forested ecosystems globally has led to die-off events, and management actions are needed to help mitigate these pressures. Forest thinning has been proposed to reduce competition for moisture between trees, however, the effects of forest thinning on lesser-studied organisms, such as soil microbial communities, need quantification. Soil microbial communities are essential for processes such as nutrient cycling and can be used as indicators of below-ground health and as an overall proxy for biodiversity. This study examined soil microbial communities, and site and soil characteristics, directly at the base of trees and in inter-tree spaces in a …

Comparative Evaluation Of Five Bacterial Strains For The Fermentation Of Camel Milk, Sifatun Nesa Ali

Theses

In this study, the comparative fermentation performance of lactic acid bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lb. helveticus, Lb. casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Camel Milk (CM) and Bovine Milk (BM) was investigated. Fermentations were carried out at 42°C for 48 hours, and was monitored through bacterial growth, titratable acidity, pH evolution, proteolytic activity, microstructural properties, and rheological characteristics. Although comparable bacterial viability was observed in CM and BM, acidification kinetics varied significantly between CM and BM (p < 0.05). Proteolysis was significantly higher in fermented CM than in BM (p < 0.001), with consistently greater o-Phthalaldehyde Assay (OPA) values in CM across all strains during fermentation (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy revealed more porous, loose protein matrices in fermented CM than in BM, which supports the rheological results showing weaker gel networks and lower rheological strength in fermented CM. Among the tested bacteria, Lb. casei demonstrated superior adaptability, enhanced viability, balanced acidification, and favorable rheological properties in both milks. Overall, the results of this thesis demonstrate strain-specific fermentation responses and support the possible suitability of different starter cultures for improving the technological performance of fermented camel milk products.

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 …

Axillary Management After Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy (Net), Laura Leonard, Min Yi, Emma Wingate, Puneet Singh, Abigail Caudle, Rosa F Hwang, Isabelle Bedrosian, Vicente Valero, Jennifer Litton, Nuhad Ibrahim, Kelly K Hunt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients with clinical stage I-III, HR

RESULTS: A total of 230 patients were included; 120 (52.2%) were clinically node-negative (cN0), while 110 (47.8%) were clinically node-positive (cN+). In the cN+ group, 7.3% (8/110) had a nodal pathologic complete response (pCR). In total, 76.4% (84/110) in the cN+ group underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as the initial axillary procedure, and 90.9% (100/110) underwent ALND overall. In total, 98.3% (118/120) with cN0 disease underwent sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND), and 28 (23.7%) had positive nodes. …

Multiparametric Mri To Predict Response To Irreversible Electroporation Plus Anti-Pd-1 Immunotherapy In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Qizhen Cao, Mark D Pagel, Charles V Kingsley, Jingfei Ma, James P Long, Xiaoxia Wen, Seth T Gammon, Jorge Delacerda, Sanaz Javadi, Chun Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To investigate contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for early prediction of tumor response to combined irreversible electroporation (IRE) and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

Methods: Murine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells KRAS* were inoculated into the pancreas of C57BL/6 mice. IRE was performed when tumors became palpable. After IRE, mice received six intraperitoneal injections of anti-PD-1 over 2 weeks. T2-weighted MRI, T1-weighted MRI with macromolecular contrast agent poly(L-glutamic acid)-conjugated gadolinium (PG-Gd), and DWI were performed before and after IRE. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Mice surviving at least 100 days without recurrence after IRE were considered complete …

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 …

Detection And Quantification Of Allergen Cross-Contact In Shared Frying Oil Using Targeted Mass Spectrometry, Francisca Asigri

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cow’s milk and egg allergies are prevalent IgE-mediated food allergies that pose significant public health concerns worldwide. Although strict avoidance remains the primary management strategy, unintended exposure can still occur through allergen cross-contact, particularly in commercial and industrial food operations that utilize shared frying oils. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify allergen transfer in shared frying oil and assess the robustness of existing targeted mass spectrometry methods (LC-MS/MS) for detecting milk and egg proteins in heated oil matrices.

Heated oil spikes were developed by incorporating non-fat dry milk (NFDM) and whole egg powder (WEP) into oil …

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. …

Mitochondria Dynamics In Microglia During Health, Inflammation, And Aging, Alicia Nicole Pietramale

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Microglia continually surveil the brain, allowing for rapid detection of tissue damage or infection. Microglial metabolism is linked to tissue homeostasis, yet how mitochondria are subcellularly partitioned in microglia and dynamically reorganize during surveillance, injury responses, and phagocytic engulfment in the intact brain has remained unclear. In this dissertation, I combine intravital imaging, ultrastructural analyses, and metabolic and cytoskeletal markers to investigate how mitochondrial organization relates to microglial function across health, inflammation, and aging.

I first show that microglial processes diverge in their mitochondrial content, with some containing multiple mitochondria while others are completely void. This heterogeneous partitioning is conserved …

Global Epidemiology Of Cephalopina Titillator Infestation In Camels: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis (1980–2025), Temesgen Mohammed, Aboma Zewude, Tsegaye Shamebo, Layaly Hamdan, Atef Oreiby, Hazim O. Khalifa, Gobena Ameni, Bojan Gajic

All Works

Background – Cephalopina titillator (C. titillator) is the causative agent of camel nasopharyngeal myiasis and is widespread in camel-rearing regions worldwide, causing impaired health, reduced productivity, and economic losses. However, despite the veterinary importance of C. titillator, global epidemiological evidence remains limited and fragmented, and no comprehensive synthesis of prevalence data across camel-rearing regions has previously been conducted. The objective of this review was to estimate the global pooled prevalence of C. titillator infestation in camels. In addition, subgroup analyses were made to assess the effect of camel species, geographic region, and study period on the pooled prevalence of C. …

Developing 'A Guide To Agricultural Education Advisory Committees: Development, Uses, And Transitions', Christine Schuler

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This project developed a practical guide to support agricultural education advisory committees in their development, use, and long-term sustainability. Strong school-community partnerships are essential to effective agricultural education programs, particularly in small, rural communities where programs serve as connections between the school and local industry. Advisory committees play a critical role in maintaining these relationships, yet many agricultural educators lack clear, accessible resources to guide this work. This project addressed that need by creating a comprehensive, practice-based guide established from research and professional experience.

This guide started from a review of literature on school-community partnerships, advisory committees, and agricultural education …

Energy Management And Water Balance In Migrating Hummingbirds, Shayne R. Halter

Biology ETDs

Small body size and rapid metabolism make annual migrations challenging for North American hummingbirds. Many of these birds make annual journeys of over 10,000 km. During migrations, hummingbirds use stopover sites, where they remain for several days to accumulate body fat. At these stopovers, they often encounter uncertainties in food resources, competition, and weather. To save energy, hummingbirds sometimes enter nocturnal torpor. My dissertation uses respirometry data, lipid measurements from Quantitative Magnetic Resonance, and feather hydrogen stable isotopes to understand how energy levels, migration patterns, torpor use, and water balance interact in four species of migrating hummingbirds. I discovered lipid …

Biological Soil Crusts: Effects Of Environmental Change On Dryland Microbes, Mariah T. Patton

Biology ETDs

Climate change is increasing rainfall variability, altering nutrient availability, and causing warming in drylands, which comprise approximately ~36% of Earth's terrestrial surface. These expanding ecosystems contribute the most to interannual variability in the global carbon cycling. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts)—often called the "skin of the Earth"—are critical components of dryland surfaces, consisting of successional microbial communities dominated initially by Cyanobacteria and later by a more diverse composition with other bacteria, archaea, lichen, fungi, and algae. These communities play essential roles in soil aggregation, erosion prevention, and carbon and nitrogen cycling. However, our ability to predict biocrust responses to environmental change …

Dissecting The Etiology Of Alcohol Use Disorder By An Integrative Heritable Component Approach, Ivy Garrenton

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a pervasive condition characterized by complex interplay among genetic, phenotypic, and environmental factors. Although previous studies have identi fied genetic loci associated with alcohol consumption, these efforts have not captured the genetic heterogeneity and gene-environment interactions underlying AUD pathogenesis. To address this critical gap, we developed a novel statistical methodology that integrates phenotypic, genotypic, and environmental data through an environmentally modified Genetic Relationship Matrix (GRM) to derive AUD-related traits with enhanced heritability.

This approach demonstrated superior performance in both simulated and real-world datasets. Traits derived using the environmentally modified GRM exhibited significantly higher estimated heritability …

Effects Of “Zero Sugar” Energy Drinks On Microbial Proliferation In Relation To The Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Madison Hines

Honors Theses

Energy drinks have rapidly increased in popularity and availability in recent years. With the rise of high-caffeine beverages, complications due to caffeine consumption have become more common in younger populations. The aim of this study was to use controlled laboratory methods to determine the effect of energy drinks on a variety of organisms commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The diverse and dynamic nature of microbes in the gut makes conditions of the GI tract difficult to replicate in a laboratory setting. As an alternative, isolates of bacteria commonly found as normal flora in the GI tract were plated …

A Computational Assessment Of Halobacterium Salinarum Glutamate Dehydrogenase Enzymes, Maaz Abdalla

Theses

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a hexameric enzyme. GDH is involved in several pathways and cellular processes such as oxidation-reduction homeostasis, ammonia metabolism, lipid biosynthesis, insulin and lactate production, and acid-base equilibrium. The main objective of this thesis is to understand the structural and biochemical properties of this enzyme and why some organisms, for e.g., Halobacterium salinarum, have more than one GDH with different coenzyme specificities. The catabolism of glutamate is linked to NAD+ specific GDHs, meanwhile, NADP+ specific GDHs play an anabolic role in ammonia assimilation. Molecular docking and binding free energy calculations were employed followed by long-scale (500 nanoseconds) …

Variations In Attitudes Toward Working With Robots And Concerns About Robots Replacing Jobs Among Midwesterners, Kawsheha Muraleetharan, Julia Mcquillan, Philip G. Crandall, Corliss A. O'Bryan, Trey Fago, Jospeh Jochman

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study examines how social and worldview factors influence public attitudes toward workplace robotics in Nebraska, a major U.S. meat-producing state where automation adoption remains comparatively slow. Using data from the 2020 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey (n = 2,213), we analyzed two core outcomes: willingness to work with robots ("robot happy") and concern about job replacement ("robot concern"). Ordinary least-squares regression models revealed that women, older adults, and those with less education were less positive about working with robots, while respondents with more education, higher financial security, stronger trust in science, and liberal political orientations expressed greater acceptance. Education …