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The Defining Role Of Ago4 And Its Catalytic Activity During De Novo Rna-Directed Dna Methylation, Tianyi Li Aug 2026

The Defining Role Of Ago4 And Its Catalytic Activity During De Novo Rna-Directed Dna Methylation, Tianyi Li

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Plant transposable elements and transgenes are continuously targeted for transcriptional repression via the pathway of RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). Although perpetual RdDM of the endogenous genomic loci has been well studied in the field, much less is known about the de novo RdDM pathway, the pioneering round of DNA methylation responsible for triggering and initiating silencing of new transgenes. Despite being two distinct pathways, both perpetual and de novo mechanisms of RdDM require the production of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and the key proteins of the ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4) clade. However, the order and likely mechanism of recruitment of AGO4 to …


Interplay Between Patterning And Morphogenesis During Zebrafish Embryonic Development, Chia-Teng Chang Aug 2026

Interplay Between Patterning And Morphogenesis During Zebrafish Embryonic Development, Chia-Teng Chang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Patterning and morphogenesis occur concurrently during embryonic development. In many contexts, both processes are regulated by morphogen signaling: morphogens specify spatially organized cell identities while also influencing the cell behaviors that shape tissues. This creates a reciprocal problem. Morphogen signaling can affect how cells move, while cell movement can change how cells experience and interpret morphogen signals. This dissertation investigates this reciprocal problem during zebrafish gastrulation and neurulation. First, it examines how the ventral-to-dorsal bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) activity gradient regulates germ-layer morphogenesis during gastrulation. BMP signaling is known to pattern dorsal–ventral cell fate and regulate mesodermal convergence and extension …


Scalable And Accurate Computational Frameworks For Complex Genetic Variants: From Repeat Expansion Discovery To Somatic Mosaicism Benchmarking, Zitian Tang Aug 2026

Scalable And Accurate Computational Frameworks For Complex Genetic Variants: From Repeat Expansion Discovery To Somatic Mosaicism Benchmarking, Zitian Tang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) offers a comprehensive view of genetic variation in human disease, but translating sequencing data into reliable biological and clinical insight depends on both the deployment of appropriate computational tools and the availability of rigorous benchmarking resources to evaluate them. This dissertation addresses both requirements through two complementary lines of work. In a cohort of 788 patients with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (IPN) from the Peripheral Neuropathy Research Registry, a WGS-based pipeline integrating ExpansionHunter Denovo and ExpansionHunter with unsupervised genotype clustering identified biallelic RFC1 AAGGG repeat expansions in 2.3% of all IPN cases and 6.9% of patients with pure …


Assessing Non-Thermal Plasma In Cutaneous Regeneration, Arden Rodriguez, Meliah Martin, Graeme Grainger, Arineh Shahbazi Aug 2026

Assessing Non-Thermal Plasma In Cutaneous Regeneration, Arden Rodriguez, Meliah Martin, Graeme Grainger, Arineh Shahbazi

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Chronic and acute wounds remain a significant clinical challenge, particularly in austere and resource-limited environments where access to advanced care is restricted. Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive modality with reported antimicrobial and regenerative properties; however, its mechanisms of action and effects on human skin tissue require further characterization. The scope of this project is to engineer and utilize a 3D human skin epithelial model to evaluate the effects of NTP on wound healing. We will first build a 3D epithelial tissue model that will simulate human skin, followed by modeling and evaluation of wound pathology and …


The Osteocyte-Osteoblast Network Requires Dynamic Mechanical Loading For Key Functions, Kevin Kowalski Aug 2026

The Osteocyte-Osteoblast Network Requires Dynamic Mechanical Loading For Key Functions, Kevin Kowalski

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Spaceflight investigations have demonstrated that reduction in gravity-induced loading regimes is detrimental to maintenance Earth-normal bone and marrow. Mechanistically, however, there are still gaps in knowledge about how the reduction in gravity influences the different niches within the tissue. For example, cortical bone is a stable semi-solid structure that allows for only minor deformations before failure, while marrow is a viscous hydrogel-like material that can resist significant fluidic and compressive forces. We hypothesize that maintenance of different niches within the bone microenvironment are dependent on different loading regimes, and that the collective impact if gravity-induced loading needs to be considered …


Modeling Population Growth With Logistic And Modified Logistic Equations, Mihil Dimpal Patel Aug 2026

Modeling Population Growth With Logistic And Modified Logistic Equations, Mihil Dimpal Patel

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Population growth models are essential tools for understanding how biological populations change over time under environmental constraints. This study examines population dynamics by comparing the classical exponential growth model with the logistic growth model. While exponential growth assumes unlimited resources and results in unbounded population increase, the logistic model incorporates a carrying capacity that limits growth as resources become scarce. To better represent real-world conditions, the logistic model is extended by introducing modifications such as harvesting terms and time-varying carrying capacities, which account for external removal of individuals and changing environmental limits. The equilibria of these models are determined, and …


Exercise Intensity And The Effects On Mood And Wellbeing, Emily Amortegui, Ashley Albert, Riley Ensor, Keyanna Keyanna Jackson Aug 2026

Exercise Intensity And The Effects On Mood And Wellbeing, Emily Amortegui, Ashley Albert, Riley Ensor, Keyanna Keyanna Jackson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

With many students dealing with anxiety, sadness, and high levels of stress, mental health issues among college students have grown in intensity. A lot of research has been done on the possible benefits of physical activity for mental health, but most of it focuses on correlations rather than the biological mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of varying exercise intensities on physiological stress markers and mood in college students ages 18 to 25. To assure precise intensity levels, participants from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will work out at low, moderate, and high intensities while wearing heart …


Cross-Reactivity Of 15 Jev Antigen-Directed Rabbit Antisera With Three Clinically Important Jev Serogroup Members: Wnv, Mvev, And Slev, Sang-Im Yun, Young-Min Lee Aug 2026

Cross-Reactivity Of 15 Jev Antigen-Directed Rabbit Antisera With Three Clinically Important Jev Serogroup Members: Wnv, Mvev, And Slev, Sang-Im Yun, Young-Min Lee

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), the prototype member of the JEV serogroup within the genus Orthoflavivirus (family Flaviviridae), is closely related to West Nile virus (WNV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV). To characterize antigenic cross-reactivity within this group, we evaluated 15 region-specific rabbit antisera, previously generated against nearly the entire JEV protein-coding region, by immunoblotting whole-cell lysates from BHK-21 cells infected with WNV, MVEV, or SLEV, with JEV included as a reference. Six antisera (α-EN-term, α-NS2B, α-NS3N-term, α-NS3C-term, α-NS5N-term, and α-NS5C-term) robustly recognized homologous …


Phenotypic And Biochemical Responses Of High-Yield Tomato Varieties To Salinity And Drought Stress, Shahida Ferdousee, Myung Hwangbo, Md Sakil Arman, Muhammad Abul Kalam Azad, Ajit Ghosh, Jongsun Kim Aug 2026

Phenotypic And Biochemical Responses Of High-Yield Tomato Varieties To Salinity And Drought Stress, Shahida Ferdousee, Myung Hwangbo, Md Sakil Arman, Muhammad Abul Kalam Azad, Ajit Ghosh, Jongsun Kim

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Abiotic stresses can influence plant growth and productivity by causing physiological, biochemical, molecular, and morphological changes. Salinity and drought are increasing in frequency and intensity because of climate change. Therefore, this study assessed four high-yield tomato cultivars under 150 mM NaCl and 260 mM mannitol treatments to characterize physiological (i.e., chlorophyll level, root/shoot length, and relative water content) and biochemical responses (i.e., GLY I/II and DLDH enzyme activities, proline, and hydrogen peroxide). Results indicated that the four BARI tomato varieties showed genotype- and treatment-specific physiological and biochemical responses rather than a single uniform tolerance pattern. BARI tomato 2 maintained relatively …


First Insular Record And Dna Barcoding Of Euscorpius Vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 From Trizonia Island (Fokida, Greece), Konstantinos Kalaentzis, Francesco Frigioni, Alexios Panagiotopoulos, Elias Tzoras, Styliani Minoudi, Alexandros Triantafyllidis Aug 2026

First Insular Record And Dna Barcoding Of Euscorpius Vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 From Trizonia Island (Fokida, Greece), Konstantinos Kalaentzis, Francesco Frigioni, Alexios Panagiotopoulos, Elias Tzoras, Styliani Minoudi, Alexandros Triantafyllidis

Euscorpius

Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), originally described from Aitoloakarnania and Fokida (Greece), is herein reported from Trizonia Island in the Gulf of Corinth, representing the first insular record for the species. The examined specimens are consistent with the diagnostic morphology of E. vailatii. The first molecular data for the species are provided, based on both mainland and insular populations. Comparative analyses further highlight the distinctiveness of E. vailatii from geographically close congeners, while phylogenetic results indicate a sister-taxon relationship with E. erymanthius, supporting a Quaternary biogeographic history shaped by the evolution of the Gulf of …


Escherichia Coli Concentrations In Sand And Water At Tributary-Influenced Lake Michigan Beaches, Josie Elaine Kuhlman Aug 2026

Escherichia Coli Concentrations In Sand And Water At Tributary-Influenced Lake Michigan Beaches, Josie Elaine Kuhlman

Masters Theses

Contamination of public recreational water and sand is a human health concern, creating a management challenge for public health officials. Past research has shown that Escherichia coli can persist in sediment and can be washed into recreational water. Currently, beach monitoring practices only utilize E. coli concentrations in water samples to determine beach safety and do not consider potential exposure to sediment/sand concentrations. In this study, I investigated the relationship between E. coli concentrations in water and sand samples, which will aid public health officials in making more informed decisions about beach closures. I utilized culture-based measurements of E. coli …


Transcriptomic Profiling Of The Donkey Endometrium Reveals Dynamic Molecular Transitions Across The Estrous Cycle, Limeng Shi, Shuaishuai Wu, Mingyue Zhao, Wenhao Zhou, Abd Ullah, Muhammmad F. Akhtar, Changfa Wang, Muhammad Z. Khan, Ying Han Aug 2026

Transcriptomic Profiling Of The Donkey Endometrium Reveals Dynamic Molecular Transitions Across The Estrous Cycle, Limeng Shi, Shuaishuai Wu, Mingyue Zhao, Wenhao Zhou, Abd Ullah, Muhammmad F. Akhtar, Changfa Wang, Muhammad Z. Khan, Ying Han

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The endometrium undergoes extensive cyclical remodeling essential for reproductive success; however, the molecular mechanisms governing these processes in donkeys (Equus asinus) remain poorly characterized. To address this gap, we performed high-throughput RNA sequencing on endometrial tissues collected from Dezhou donkeys (n = 16) at four post-ovulation stages: Day 0 (ovulation), Day 3 (early luteal), Day 7 (mid-luteal), and Day 18 (late luteal/pre-luteolysis). Differential gene expression analysis, Gene Ontology enrichment, and KEGG pathway mapping were conducted to characterize temporal transcriptomic dynamics. We identified 2,474, 6,548, and 1,288 differentially expressed genes in Day 0 versus Day 3, Day 0 versus …


Adaptive Phishing Url Detection Using Hybrid Fuzzy C-Means Clustering And Xgboost, Muntadher Mohammed Kareem, Rawaa I. Farhan Aug 2026

Adaptive Phishing Url Detection Using Hybrid Fuzzy C-Means Clustering And Xgboost, Muntadher Mohammed Kareem, Rawaa I. Farhan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Phishing attacks continue to evolve in sophistication, rendering static detection methods increasingly ineffective. Existing URL-based approaches suffer from limited adaptability to emerging phishing patterns, mislabeled training data, and insufficient validation protocols. This paper proposes a hybrid phishing URL detection system that integrates Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering with XGBoost classification, enhanced by a novel Micro Adaptive Feature Extractor (MAFE). The system employs a multi-stage pipeline: feature engineering generating 36 statistical and interaction features, MAFE producing 15 adaptive features through class-aware dynamic weighting, micro-pattern detection, and entropy analysis, and FCM with K=2 clusters providing soft membership features to XGBoost. A two-pass confidence-based …


Ai-Enhanced Fluorescein Angiography Detection Of Diabetes-Induced Silent Retinal Capillary Dropout And Rna-Seq Identification Of Pre-Symptomatic Biomarkers, Yiyan Peng, Huishi Toh, Dennis Clegg, Peng Jiiang Aug 2026

Ai-Enhanced Fluorescein Angiography Detection Of Diabetes-Induced Silent Retinal Capillary Dropout And Rna-Seq Identification Of Pre-Symptomatic Biomarkers, Yiyan Peng, Huishi Toh, Dennis Clegg, Peng Jiiang

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Objective: Retinal capillary dropout, characterized by acellular capillaries or "ghost vessels," is an early pathological sign of diabetic retinopathy (DR) that remains undetectable through standard clinical imaging techniques until visible morphological changes, such as microaneurysms or hemorrhages, occur. This study aims to develop a non-destructive artificial intelligence (AI)-based method using fluorescein angiography (FA) images to detect early-stage, silent retinal capillary dropout.

Methods: We utilized 94 FA images and corresponding destructive retinal capillary density measurements obtained through retinal trypsin digestion from 51 Nile rats. Early capillary dropout was defined as having an acellular capillary density of >= 18 counts per mm2. …


Phenological Plasticity Provides Limited Resilience To Climate Warming In A Sea Turtle Species With Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, Blair P. Bentley, Lisa M. Komoroske, Cintia M. Santos, Armando J. B. Santos, Estefany Argueta, Vic Quennessen, Christina M. Coppenrath, Camille Kynoch, Vincent S. Saba, Claudio Bellini, Rafaely N. M. S. Ventura, J. Wilson White, Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes Aug 2026

Phenological Plasticity Provides Limited Resilience To Climate Warming In A Sea Turtle Species With Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, Blair P. Bentley, Lisa M. Komoroske, Cintia M. Santos, Armando J. B. Santos, Estefany Argueta, Vic Quennessen, Christina M. Coppenrath, Camille Kynoch, Vincent S. Saba, Claudio Bellini, Rafaely N. M. S. Ventura, J. Wilson White, Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Anthropogenic climate change is threatening global biodiversity, with sea turtles particularly vulnerable as offspring sex and developmental success are strongly influenced by incubation temperature. Behavioral plasticity, including the seasonal distribution of reproductive output, may provide short-term mechanisms for mitigating these impacts. Here, we investigated season-wide hatchling sex ratios and emergence success in a small population of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), tracking individual females across their nesting seasons. Sex ratios varied markedly through the nesting season, with later nests producing a greater proportion of male hatchlings. Moreover, sex ratios were relatively consistent among nests laid by individual females. Overall, females producing …


Enzymatic Synthesis Of Salicylate In Yersina Pestis Proceeds Via Intramolecular Hydroxyl Group Transfer., Clarke Miller Aug 2026

Enzymatic Synthesis Of Salicylate In Yersina Pestis Proceeds Via Intramolecular Hydroxyl Group Transfer., Clarke Miller

Georgia Journal of Science

The salicylate synthase (YbtS) of Yersinia pestis catalyzes the initial step in the biosynthesis of yersiniabactin, an iron-scavenging siderophore and critical virulence factor. While YbtS is proposed to share a  reaction mechanism with other anthranilate synthase homologs, the exact catalytic pathway has remained unresolved.  In this work, stable isotope (18O) labeling and mass spectrometry are utilized to clarify the catalytic mechanism of YbtS.  The results of the following set of experiments demonstrate that the salicylate hydroxyl group does not originate from solvent water, directly challenging previously proposed models. Instead, the lack of solvent-labeled oxygen incorporation and the absence …


Snails In The Diet Of The Cutlip Minnow, Exoglossum Maxillingua, Tess A. Taloumis, Steven L. Powers Aug 2026

Snails In The Diet Of The Cutlip Minnow, Exoglossum Maxillingua, Tess A. Taloumis, Steven L. Powers

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

The Cutlip Minnow, Exoglossum maxillingua, is an important stream fish native to the eastern United States. It has an unusual lower jaw morphology. Early hypotheses suggested the jaw morphology is an adaptation for feeding on snails. Despite the publication of numerous diet studies on this species, there is no documentation of snails as prey items. During recent snorkel observations in the Roanoke River, E. maxillingua was spotted carrying snails within their mouths, prompting further investigation. An in-depth temporal examination of the diet from 145 specimens of E. maxillingua across multiple sites was conducted to further investigate the diet of …


Comparative Analysis Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Implications For Active Learning And Assessment At Various Curricular Levels Of Stem And Health Sciences In Developed Versus Underprivileged Countries, Vinay Munlapudi, Santanu De Aug 2026

Comparative Analysis Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Implications For Active Learning And Assessment At Various Curricular Levels Of Stem And Health Sciences In Developed Versus Underprivileged Countries, Vinay Munlapudi, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

Today’s all-pervasive emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of its role in education, especially for occupational disciplines in health sciences and STEM. AI has reshaped student learning and instructors’ navigation of the evolving, post coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) global academic landscape. This study aimed at encapsulating evidence-based AI implications for student-centered, active learning and assessment at various curricular levels of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and health sciences education in developed versus underprivileged or less developed countries. An extensive, scoping review of 65 recent, scholarly publications was conducted over six months through diverse search engines (PubMed, Google …


In Vitro Digestion Modifies Lepidium Meyenii Extract, Altering Its Major Glucosinolates, Lepidilines, Β-Carbolines, And Gut Bacterial Growth, Dominik Tarabasz, Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik, Paweł Szczeblewski, Tomasz Laskowski, Klaudia Gustaw, Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk, Dominik Szwajgier, Rita Cristina Orihuela-Campos, Henry O. Meissner, Julia Borzyszkowska-Bukowska, Wirginia Kukula-Koch Aug 2026

In Vitro Digestion Modifies Lepidium Meyenii Extract, Altering Its Major Glucosinolates, Lepidilines, Β-Carbolines, And Gut Bacterial Growth, Dominik Tarabasz, Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik, Paweł Szczeblewski, Tomasz Laskowski, Klaudia Gustaw, Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk, Dominik Szwajgier, Rita Cristina Orihuela-Campos, Henry O. Meissner, Julia Borzyszkowska-Bukowska, Wirginia Kukula-Koch

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The tubers of Lepidium meyenii (commonly known as maca) have been used in the Andean cuisine for ages. The study aims to determine the behavior of the extract from the red phenotype of maca in the in vitro gastrointestinal tract model and also to define the overall impact of the extract on the microbiota. Glucosinolates, lepidilines, and a derivative of β-carboline alkaloid, i.e. 1-methyltetrahydro-β-5,6-hydride-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, as representatives of one of the main groups of metabolites were selected for the quantitative analysis after in vitro digestion at every stage of the digestion model. The results showed that lepidilines …


A Comprehensive In-Silico Pipeline For The Discovery Of Non-Toxic, Stable Antimicrobial Peptides From Databases For Targeting Multi-Drug Resistant K. Pneumoniae, Pranab D. Sharma, Abdullah A. Noman, Al Hafiz Aug 2026

A Comprehensive In-Silico Pipeline For The Discovery Of Non-Toxic, Stable Antimicrobial Peptides From Databases For Targeting Multi-Drug Resistant K. Pneumoniae, Pranab D. Sharma, Abdullah A. Noman, Al Hafiz

Faculty Articles

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has significantly reduced the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. This study employed a comprehensive in silico pipeline to identify antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) targeting the essential DNA replication initiator protein DnaA. A total of 28,361 peptide sequences were collected from publicly available AMP databases and sequentially filtered based on peptide length, net charge, GRAVY score, instability index, antimicrobial activity, toxicity, hemolytic potential, aggregation propensity, sequence similarity and favorable amphipathic properties. Four peptides satisfied all selection criteria and were subjected to structural prediction, membrane-binding analysis, protein–DNA docking, protein–peptide docking, …


Dose-Expansion Study Of Obi-999, A Globo H-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, In Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou, Darren Sigal, Anna Varghese, Daniel Vaena, Li-Yuan Bai, Ming-Huang Chen, Chun-Nan Yeh, Chia-Jui Yen, Mehmet A Baysal, Abhijit Chakraborty, Ingly Lee, Chi-Sheng Shia, Konul Ristoski, Dong Xu Aug 2026

Dose-Expansion Study Of Obi-999, A Globo H-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, In Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou, Darren Sigal, Anna Varghese, Daniel Vaena, Li-Yuan Bai, Ming-Huang Chen, Chun-Nan Yeh, Chia-Jui Yen, Mehmet A Baysal, Abhijit Chakraborty, Ingly Lee, Chi-Sheng Shia, Konul Ristoski, Dong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: OBI-999 is an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of the Globo H-targeting antibody OBI-888 linked to the cytotoxic payload monomethyl auristatin E. In a dose-escalation study, the OBI-999 recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) was 1.2 mg/kg every 3 weeks. This dose-expansion study evaluated the efficacy and safety of OBI-999 in patients with pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), or other tumor types ("basket cohort") and tumoral Globo H H-scores ≥100 (NCT04084366).

Patients and methods: Patients were treated at RP2D of OBI-999. We assessed response, progression-free survival (PFS), treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and pharmacokinetics of OBI-999.

Results: Of 29 patients treated, …


Descriptive Anatomy Of The Female Reproductive Organs In Thamin Eld’S Deer (Rucervus Eldii Thamin) And Fea’S Muntjac (Muntiacus Feae) With Utilizing Of The Glycerin Impregnation Technique For Specimen Preservation, Paisan Tienthai, Pawana Chuesiri, Itti Boonorrana, Piyaporn Kongmakee, Ampika Thongphakdee Aug 2026

Descriptive Anatomy Of The Female Reproductive Organs In Thamin Eld’S Deer (Rucervus Eldii Thamin) And Fea’S Muntjac (Muntiacus Feae) With Utilizing Of The Glycerin Impregnation Technique For Specimen Preservation, Paisan Tienthai, Pawana Chuesiri, Itti Boonorrana, Piyaporn Kongmakee, Ampika Thongphakdee

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The reproductive anatomy of rare cervid species remains insufficiently documented, limiting comparative studies and preservation efforts. This study describes the anatomical details in the female reproductive organs of Thamin Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii thamin) and Fea’s muntjac (Muntiacus feae), while the application of a modified glycerin impregnation technique was achieved for specimen preservation. Dissections of female reproductive tracts revealed morphological variations that correlate with the known female reproductive characteristics of domestic and closely related species. In both species, the ovaries were characterized as small, ovoid structures, exhibiting prominent follicles or corpora lutea consistent with the stage …


Fraction-Seq: An Integrated Experimental And Computational Workflow For Determining The Localization And Abundance Of Small Non-Coding Rnas In Subcellular Compartments, Siddhartha Shah, Tess Cherlin, Yi Jing, Stepan Nersisyan, Benjamin E. Leiby, Isidore Rigoutsos Aug 2026

Fraction-Seq: An Integrated Experimental And Computational Workflow For Determining The Localization And Abundance Of Small Non-Coding Rnas In Subcellular Compartments, Siddhartha Shah, Tess Cherlin, Yi Jing, Stepan Nersisyan, Benjamin E. Leiby, Isidore Rigoutsos

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have garnered considerable attention in recent years, following accumulating evidence of their critical roles in many cellular processes. Among sncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and their isoforms (isomiRs), tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), rRNA-derived fragments (rRFs), and Y RNA-derived fragments (yRFs) account for more than 95% of all sncRNAs found in cells. Despite their critical regulatory roles, most sncRNAs remain uncharacterized because their functionalization is a lengthy and challenging undertaking. Knowing an sncRNA's abundance helps prioritize among the various choices, while knowing where it localizes in the cell greatly limits the number and identity of its potential targets and helps …


Dry After-Ripening Increases Germination Of Critically Imperilled Physaria Thamnophila (Zapata Bladderpod), Christopher A. Gabler, Jerald T. Garrett Aug 2026

Dry After-Ripening Increases Germination Of Critically Imperilled Physaria Thamnophila (Zapata Bladderpod), Christopher A. Gabler, Jerald T. Garrett

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Effective endangered plant conservation and recovery require empirical knowledge of seed dormancy release and responses to post-collection handling, yet such information is lacking for many rare taxa. Physaria thamnophila (Zapata bladderpod; Brassicaceae), a critically imperilled (G1) species endemic to southern Texas, USA, is poorly studied, and basic questions regarding seed storage and germination remain unresolved. We evaluated the effects of short-term cool-storage duration (14–180 d), storage temperature (refrigeration vs. freezing), dry after-ripening and maternal plant identity on germination probability and timing in P. thamnophila. Dry after-ripening and increased cool-storage duration consistently increased germination and shortened germination time, whereas storage temperature …


Towards The Synthesis Of Dragonamide E And Analogs Thereof, Dante Glover Aug 2026

Towards The Synthesis Of Dragonamide E And Analogs Thereof, Dante Glover

Chemistry Theses

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a parasite spread through the female sand fly. It is categorized as a Neglected Tropical Disease and can cause very severe symptoms, even death, if left untreated. Symptoms include skin lesions that can cause permanent scarring, and mucosal membrane infections that can cause facial deformities. More aggressive forms of leishmaniasis can lead to infections of internal organs like the liver and/or spleen and can lead to death. Drug resistance of these parasites has rendered treatment limited and the side effects of which can be harmful as well.

Scientists looking towards new treatments for tropical …


Non-Enzymatic Hepatic Abhd6 Interacts With Akt-Foxo1 Axis To Regulate Metabolic Health, Guannan Li, Laurence T Maeyens, Jiyuan Yin, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Chanmin Joung, Ruizhen Li, Ziying Xu, Ting Wu, Xin Li, Nisi Jiang, Mbolle Ekane, Maria Paula Lopez, Pengju Cao, Sijia He, Adam B Salmon, S R Murthy Madiraju, Marc Prentki, Juli Bai, James F Nelson, Xianlin Han, Yi Zhu, Shangang Zhao Aug 2026

Non-Enzymatic Hepatic Abhd6 Interacts With Akt-Foxo1 Axis To Regulate Metabolic Health, Guannan Li, Laurence T Maeyens, Jiyuan Yin, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Chanmin Joung, Ruizhen Li, Ziying Xu, Ting Wu, Xin Li, Nisi Jiang, Mbolle Ekane, Maria Paula Lopez, Pengju Cao, Sijia He, Adam B Salmon, S R Murthy Madiraju, Marc Prentki, Juli Bai, James F Nelson, Xianlin Han, Yi Zhu, Shangang Zhao

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The enzymatic role of ABHD6 in insulin secretion and resistance is well documented. However, its non-enzymatic function, especially its effects on metabolic health, including selective hepatic insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is poorly understood. To define the role of ABHD6 in liver physiology, we generated liver-specific ABHD6 knockout mice, as well as liver-specific native and enzymatically inactive mutant ABHD6 overexpression mouse models. We demonstrate that non-enzymatic ABHD6 contributes to the regulation of selective hepatic insulin resistance and MASLD progression. Mechanistically, we show that ABHD6 localizes to the nucleus and interacts with Akt/FoxO1 axis to regulate insulin …


Changes In Water Quality And Microbiota Over Two Years In Florida Hard Clam (Mercenaria Mercenaria) Hatcheries, Bonnie Getter Aug 2026

Changes In Water Quality And Microbiota Over Two Years In Florida Hard Clam (Mercenaria Mercenaria) Hatcheries, Bonnie Getter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis characterized the water quality and bacterial communities in nine hard clam hatcheries over two production years through weekly or biweekly water quality and chemistry monitoring, monthly bacterial plating in the second year of production, and select 16S microbiome sampling at select hatcheries to address production bottlenecks and support the reliable production of high-quality seed for Florida’s growing hard clam aquaculture industry. Logistic regression models showed that water source was distinguished by pH, salinity, alkalinity, and nitrite, whereas geographic location was distinguished by temperature, salinity, nitrate, and calcium; temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and alkalinity distinguished seasons. Vibrio bacteria differed …


Contributions Of Arginine And Nitrosative Stress To Huntington’S Disease Progression, Ian D. Gaudet Aug 2026

Contributions Of Arginine And Nitrosative Stress To Huntington’S Disease Progression, Ian D. Gaudet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neuroinflammation is a well-established component of Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis, yet the intricate molecular mechanisms that govern this process remain a topic of ongoing research and debate. This dissertation elucidates a novel pathway linking arginine metabolism and nitrosative stress to core HD pathology. We found that the arginine transporter SLC7A2 is selectively upregulated in various HD cellular models and patient samples. Our findings reveal that this upregulation drives an overactive inflammatory response, leading to abnormally high inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction and subsequent nitric oxide (NO) production, which causes excessive protein nitrosylation and an increase in mitochondrial fragmentation.

To …


A Poetic Call For And A Reflection And Commentary On Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, And Compassion, Carroy U. Ferguson Aug 2026

A Poetic Call For And A Reflection And Commentary On Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, And Compassion, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Finding a published poem I had written as a teenager, titled “The Heavens Weep.” this article uses that poem as the basis for a commentary that reflects on the state of the world today (2026),  As a commentary, the article uses the poetic and metaphoric words in the poem as a relevant "reality check" for what is still going on today.  In essence, the commentary is about a call for Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, and Compassion, or what I call Archetypal Energies, Higher Vibrational Energies that operate deep within our individual and collective psyches to creatively urge us to "see" …


Formalization Of Nomenclatural Acts Proposed In Tang (2026) (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Scorpiopidae), Victoria Tang Aug 2026

Formalization Of Nomenclatural Acts Proposed In Tang (2026) (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Scorpiopidae), Victoria Tang

Euscorpius

Several nomenclatural, taxonomic, and faunistic decisions put forth in Tang (2026) are formalized herein: (1) four nomina dubia, Chaerilus tessellatus Qi et al., 2005, Scorpiops langxian Qi et al., 2005, S. pococki Qi et al., 2005, and Isometrus (Reddyanus) wenjieae Huang et al., 2025; (2) two junior subjective synonyms, Scorpiops langxian = S. pococki = S. tibetanus Hirst, 1911 syn. n.; (3) one new “aspidonym”, Scorpiops obluda Tang, 2026 sp. indet. nomen nudum; and (4) removal of Scorpiops hardwickii (Gervais, 1843) and S. petersii Pocock, 1893 from the Chinese scorpiofauna. Reddyanus tibetanus (Lourenço & Zhu, 2008) is maintained …