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Cytological Changes In Buccal Mucosa Among Yemeni Qat Chewers In Hadhramout Governorate: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Saleh H. Ben Sumaidea, Hassan Pyar, Abdullah O. Bin Nashwan, Abdullah M. Bin Fadhl, Abeer A. Marabi, Ahmed A. Al-Shetri, Gumaan S. Rassam, Halima K. Joher, Mashhoor A. Bin Shehab, Mohammed S. Bin Mosalem Dec 2025

Cytological Changes In Buccal Mucosa Among Yemeni Qat Chewers In Hadhramout Governorate: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Saleh H. Ben Sumaidea, Hassan Pyar, Abdullah O. Bin Nashwan, Abdullah M. Bin Fadhl, Abeer A. Marabi, Ahmed A. Al-Shetri, Gumaan S. Rassam, Halima K. Joher, Mashhoor A. Bin Shehab, Mohammed S. Bin Mosalem

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Qat (Catha edulis) chewing is a common practice in Yemen, associated with oral mucosal irritation. The objective of the current study is to compare cytological findings of buccal mucosa between Qat chewers and non-chewers. A comparative cross-sectional study was designed. Buccal smears were collected from chewers (n = 100) and non-chewers (n = 100), fixed, and stained with Harris hematoxylin staining. Smears were assessed for inflammatory changes and cytological atypia by two blinded examiners; disagreements were resolved by consensus. The inflammatory cells were observed in 21% of chewers compared to 8% of controls (P = 0.009), while …


Concentration-Dependent Effects Of Green Tea Extract On The Growth And Metabolism Of Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus: An In Vitro Analysis, Jingxian Zeng, Francesco Noci, Kishor Keekan, Ulrich Hoeche Dec 2025

Concentration-Dependent Effects Of Green Tea Extract On The Growth And Metabolism Of Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus: An In Vitro Analysis, Jingxian Zeng, Francesco Noci, Kishor Keekan, Ulrich Hoeche

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Green tea extract (GTE) is widely recognised for its bioactive compounds, which exhibit potential health benefits, including modulation of gut microbiota. However, the concentration-dependent effects of GTE on specific probiotic strains remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the concentration-dependent effects of green tea extract (GTE) on Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus). The promoting and inhibiting effects of GTE in the range of 0–50 mg/mL were analysed in vitro by OD₆₀₀ growth curve, pH change and colony forming unit (CFU) count. The experimental results showed that the concentration range of 0.05–2.05 mg/mL in the low concentration group …


The Influence Of Perceived Social Support On Mental Health During Injury In Female Gaa Athletes., Clodagh M. O’Connor, Samantha Glynn Kelly Dec 2025

The Influence Of Perceived Social Support On Mental Health During Injury In Female Gaa Athletes., Clodagh M. O’Connor, Samantha Glynn Kelly

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Injury recovery in sport involves not only physical rehabilitation but also significant psychological challenges, particularly for female athletes in amateur and elite environments. This study aimed to explore the perceived social support received by injured female Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) athletes and the effect it had on their mental health during injury. A qualitative research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of injured female athletes. Data were collected through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, allowing for open-ended responses and the exploration of individual perspectives. The sample consisted of 10 female athletes aged between 18 and 32 years, …


Advancing Skin Cancer Diagnostics: A Comparative Analysis Of Convolutional Neural Network Models For Skin Lesion Classification, Jesse Osuji, Tania Malik Dec 2025

Advancing Skin Cancer Diagnostics: A Comparative Analysis Of Convolutional Neural Network Models For Skin Lesion Classification, Jesse Osuji, Tania Malik

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

For many years, skin cancer diagnosis and cancer research have been major focal points in the healthcare sector. Accurate classification of different types of skin lesions, including cancerous ones, is essential for proper diagnostics. Many machine learning (ML) techniques and models are used to solve various problems across various domains. One of such techniques is called neural networks. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are primarily used in computer vision-based problems, allowing computer systems to process and understand images. CNNs offer a potential tool for diagnosing skin lesions from images, occasionally demonstrating superior accuracy compared to trained dermatologists. This project explores various …


Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney Dec 2025

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …


Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy Dec 2025

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.


Metal Exposures And Their Interactions With The Dietary Inflammatory Index On Inflammatory Biomarkers In Mexican Adolescents, Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona, Ana Baylin, Peter X.K. Song, Edward Ruiz-Narvaez, Cindy W. Leung, James Hébert Scd, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Michael David Wirth Msph, Phd, Face, Aljandra Cantoral, John D. Meeker, Niladri Basu, Martha María Tellez-Rojo, Karen E. Peterson, Sung Kyun Park Dec 2025

Metal Exposures And Their Interactions With The Dietary Inflammatory Index On Inflammatory Biomarkers In Mexican Adolescents, Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona, Ana Baylin, Peter X.K. Song, Edward Ruiz-Narvaez, Cindy W. Leung, James Hébert Scd, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Michael David Wirth Msph, Phd, Face, Aljandra Cantoral, John D. Meeker, Niladri Basu, Martha María Tellez-Rojo, Karen E. Peterson, Sung Kyun Park

Faculty Publications

Background:

Heavy metals, like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, are linked to increased inflammation even in early life; however, anti-inflammatory diets may offset these effects.

Methods:

We evaluated associations between heavy metals and inflammatory biomarkers, and potential effect modification by diet in 399 adolescents aged 10 to 18 at baseline who attended two study visits 2 years apart (773 observations). At baseline, blood lead, urinary arsenic, and cadmium concentrations were measured, and the Children’s Dietary Inflammatory Index (C-DII) was calculated. Fasting serum interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured for both visits. Generalized …


Will Technology Help Us Understand Animals?, Frances I. Sacks Dec 2025

Will Technology Help Us Understand Animals?, Frances I. Sacks

Capstones

New technologies allow scientists to study animal communication like never before. Advanced surveillance devices ornament forests and oceans, recording animals over great stretches of distance and time. Artificial intelligence can absorb these enormous datasets, sorting tangled abstractions into coherent patterns. With a sufficiently robust library of analyzed data, some researchers believe that large language models will soon learn to translate whale communication systems.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ky6mPFjc-lNJFVK8CHebUa5zCSFUoMgkCB560pqxwfo/edit?tab=t.0


Discovery Of 5‑Chlorotryptophan-Containing Antibiotics Through Metabologenomics-Assisted High-Throughput Screening, Chantal D Bader, Isao Masuda, Angela Nichols, Edward Kalkreuter, Dong Yang, Thomas Christian, Yuko Nakano, Ya-Ming Hou, Ben Shen Dec 2025

Discovery Of 5‑Chlorotryptophan-Containing Antibiotics Through Metabologenomics-Assisted High-Throughput Screening, Chantal D Bader, Isao Masuda, Angela Nichols, Edward Kalkreuter, Dong Yang, Thomas Christian, Yuko Nakano, Ya-Ming Hou, Ben Shen

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Actinomycetota bacteria have specialized in the biosynthesis of antibacterial natural products (NPs), and extract and fraction libraries made from those strains remain a promising source of NP drug leads. Herein, we present a high-throughput screen (HTS), based on engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing the human (Trm5) or bacterial (TrmD) m1G37 tRNA methyltransferase, to discover NPs as novel anti-Gram-negative antibiotic leads. To harness the evolution of NPs with in vivo activity, the cell-based phenotypic HTS was applied to the Actinomycetota extract and fraction library at the Natural Products Discovery Center (NPDC), the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical …


Investigating Chronic Toxicity, Diet, Patient-Reported Outcomes And The Microbiome In Immunotherapy-Treated Metastatic Melanoma Survivors: A New Frontier, Margaux Robert, Satabdi Saha, Nazli Dizman, Michelle Rohlfs, Elizabeth Sirmans, Julie Simon, Rodabe N Amaria, Isabella C Glitza Oliva, Hussein A Tawbi, Michael A Davies, Alexandra Ikeguchi, Karen Basen-Engquist, Keri Schadler, Michael E Roth, Wenye Song, Xiaotao Zhang, Nadim J Ajami, Lorenzo Cohen, Jennifer A Wargo, Christine B Peterson, Jennifer L Mcquade, Carrie R Daniel Dec 2025

Investigating Chronic Toxicity, Diet, Patient-Reported Outcomes And The Microbiome In Immunotherapy-Treated Metastatic Melanoma Survivors: A New Frontier, Margaux Robert, Satabdi Saha, Nazli Dizman, Michelle Rohlfs, Elizabeth Sirmans, Julie Simon, Rodabe N Amaria, Isabella C Glitza Oliva, Hussein A Tawbi, Michael A Davies, Alexandra Ikeguchi, Karen Basen-Engquist, Keri Schadler, Michael E Roth, Wenye Song, Xiaotao Zhang, Nadim J Ajami, Lorenzo Cohen, Jennifer A Wargo, Christine B Peterson, Jennifer L Mcquade, Carrie R Daniel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have significantly improved outcomes in metastatic melanoma. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and persistent chronic toxicities (CTs) among this emerging survivor population likely influence different facets of quality of life. This study characterized CT, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), diet, physical activity and gut microbiome features in a cohort of long-term survivors with a history of ICB-treated metastatic melanoma.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with a history of metastatic melanoma who initiated ICB treatment at least 3 years earlier and were not currently on treatment were prospectively enrolled from a melanoma survivorship clinic. Participants completed screening …


Epcam Activates The Erk-Egr1 Signaling Axis And Promotes Tnf-Α-Induced The Progression Of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Chi-Chiu Lee, Yi-Jen Su, Sushree Shankar Panda, Chiung-Yi Chiu, Chung-Hsuan Wu, Tsai-Ming Lu, Pi-Chun Li, Yen-Lin Huang, Ruey-Long Hong, Shao-Hsi Hung, Cassian Yee, Stephen Y Lai, Han-Chung Wu Dec 2025

Epcam Activates The Erk-Egr1 Signaling Axis And Promotes Tnf-Α-Induced The Progression Of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Chi-Chiu Lee, Yi-Jen Su, Sushree Shankar Panda, Chiung-Yi Chiu, Chung-Hsuan Wu, Tsai-Ming Lu, Pi-Chun Li, Yen-Lin Huang, Ruey-Long Hong, Shao-Hsi Hung, Cassian Yee, Stephen Y Lai, Han-Chung Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a pleotropic transmembrane glycoprotein comprising an extracellular domain (EpEX), a single transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain (EpICD). For several types of cancer, high EpCAM expression is associated with tumor progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and overall poor prognosis. A rare but aggressive form of thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), has a mean survival time of only 3–6 months after diagnosis.

Methods: The levels of EpEX and EpICD cleavage in clinical patient samples was evaluated by using tissue microarray. Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to explore the of shedding EpEX and …


Energetics And Kinetics Of Alkali Ion Exchange In Analcime, Jinyi Liu, An T. Ta, R. Seaton Ullberg, Jean Wilfried Hounfodji, Michael Badawi, Hans Conrad Zur Loye, Simon R. Phillpot Dec 2025

Energetics And Kinetics Of Alkali Ion Exchange In Analcime, Jinyi Liu, An T. Ta, R. Seaton Ullberg, Jean Wilfried Hounfodji, Michael Badawi, Hans Conrad Zur Loye, Simon R. Phillpot

Faculty Publications

We employ density functional theory calculations to investigate the energetics and diffusion mechanisms of alkali metal ions (Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) within the analcime framework. While Na+preferentially adsorbs at the center of the 8-member ring, DFT calculations show that larger ions, such as Cs+, occupy the center of the cage due to steric constraints. The computed exchange energies indicate that exchange of Na+by Cs+is thermodynamically favorable. Migration energy barriers, determined using the climbing image nudged elastic band method, show that Na+is …


Society For Immunotherapy Of Cancer: Standards For Reporting Of Multiplex Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence Assays (Stormi), Sam Sater, Carlo B Bifulco, Jaime Rodriguez-Canales, Joe Yeong, Guray Akturk, Michael Angelo, Carmen Ballesteros-Merino, Peter Bankhead, Subham Basu, Jorge M Blando, Saska Brajkovic, Marco Cassano, Benjamin J Chen, Ahmet F Coskun, Tricia R Cottrell, Carlos E De Andrea, Robin H Edwards, Colt Egelston, Logan L Engle, Marc S Ernstoff, Rong Fan, Michael Feldman, Bernard A Fox, Jerome Galon, Robyn Gartrell, Sacha Gnjatic, Benjamin F Green, James L Gulley, Anne Hellebust, Stephen Hewitt, Travis J Hollmann, Lucas A Horn, William J Howat, Clifford C Hoyt, Shawn M Jensen, Arutha Kulasinghe, Wiem Lassoued, Steven Lott, James Mansfield, Sebastian Marwitz, George Netto, David B Page, Edwin Parra, David L Rimm, Scott J Rodig, Roberto Salgado, Denis Schapiro, Kurt A Schalper, Joel C Sunshine, Michael J Surace, Alexander S Szalay, Magdalena Thurin, Jose C Villasboas, Keith Wharton, Ignacio I Wistuba, Jennifer H Yearley, Yinyin Yuan, Geroge Zaki, James Ziai, Janis M Taube Dec 2025

Society For Immunotherapy Of Cancer: Standards For Reporting Of Multiplex Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence Assays (Stormi), Sam Sater, Carlo B Bifulco, Jaime Rodriguez-Canales, Joe Yeong, Guray Akturk, Michael Angelo, Carmen Ballesteros-Merino, Peter Bankhead, Subham Basu, Jorge M Blando, Saska Brajkovic, Marco Cassano, Benjamin J Chen, Ahmet F Coskun, Tricia R Cottrell, Carlos E De Andrea, Robin H Edwards, Colt Egelston, Logan L Engle, Marc S Ernstoff, Rong Fan, Michael Feldman, Bernard A Fox, Jerome Galon, Robyn Gartrell, Sacha Gnjatic, Benjamin F Green, James L Gulley, Anne Hellebust, Stephen Hewitt, Travis J Hollmann, Lucas A Horn, William J Howat, Clifford C Hoyt, Shawn M Jensen, Arutha Kulasinghe, Wiem Lassoued, Steven Lott, James Mansfield, Sebastian Marwitz, George Netto, David B Page, Edwin Parra, David L Rimm, Scott J Rodig, Roberto Salgado, Denis Schapiro, Kurt A Schalper, Joel C Sunshine, Michael J Surace, Alexander S Szalay, Magdalena Thurin, Jose C Villasboas, Keith Wharton, Ignacio I Wistuba, Jennifer H Yearley, Yinyin Yuan, Geroge Zaki, James Ziai, Janis M Taube

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multiplex immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry (mIF/IHC) are increasingly employed antibody-based technologies that use tissue sparingly and facilitate the detection of co-localized or neighboring biomarkers. Specifically, these platforms enable spatial analyses of the tumor microenvironment as well as extended applications, for example, describing normal tissue anatomy, autoimmunity, infectious diseases, etc. mIF/IHC has greatly enhanced biomarker discovery efforts, and a growing number of studies suggest superiority to traditional IHC. Standardization of staining approaches, reporting of image analysis strategies and resultant data is critical for facilitating cross-study comparisons, validation, deployment, and generalization of findings. To address this challenge, The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer …


Chaos Engineering In Multi-Gigahertz Solid-State Lasers: A Novel Approach To Optoelectronic Control, Mikhail V. Gorbunkov, Yulia Ya. Maslova, Yulia A. Sinichkina Dec 2025

Chaos Engineering In Multi-Gigahertz Solid-State Lasers: A Novel Approach To Optoelectronic Control, Mikhail V. Gorbunkov, Yulia Ya. Maslova, Yulia A. Sinichkina

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This paper presents a comprehensive study of a multi-gigahertz chaotic generator of light pulses based on solid-state laser sources, including fiber lasers, governed by carefully designed positive and negative feedback loops. It harnesses the inherent nonlinear dynamics within a solid-state laser controlled by a combination of two inertial feedback loops, enabling the realization of complex chaotic behavior, including the logistic map scenario, under moderate amplification conditions. The laser system dynamics are rigorously investigated through theoretical modeling, employing a nonlinear map approach, and high-resolution picosecond simulations. The results of our numerical simulations highlight the efficacy of fast electro-optical feedback system with …


Unveiling The Anticancer Potential Of Syzygium Cumini: In Silico Insights Into Its Mechanistic Action Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Nur Sofiatul Aini, Win Darmanto Dec 2025

Unveiling The Anticancer Potential Of Syzygium Cumini: In Silico Insights Into Its Mechanistic Action Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Nur Sofiatul Aini, Win Darmanto

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most periodic type of lung cancer and the second most diagnosed cancer globally. Syzygium cumini is plant that extensively used in cuisine and traditional medicine. However, its potential for NSCLC treatment has not yet been elucidated. This study determined the potential of S. cumini as anti-NSCLC using in silico approaches. The in silico study was applied to perform active compound analysis, selection of target candidates, network pharmacology, functional annotation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation, respectively. Based on open source databases, S. cumini contained 115 compounds and 14 of them predicted to have …


Trait-Like Visual Cortical Hyperactivity In Trait Anxiety, Zhaohan Wu, Yuqi You, Joshua A Brown, Raymond J Dolan, Wen Li Dec 2025

Trait-Like Visual Cortical Hyperactivity In Trait Anxiety, Zhaohan Wu, Yuqi You, Joshua A Brown, Raymond J Dolan, Wen Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sensory processing varies across individuals, with some traits-particularly sensory hypersensitivity to basic non-valenced stimuli-linked to emotional traits and psychiatric risk. Traditional accounts attribute this sensory-emotion linkage to limbic or prefrontal modulation, but empirical support is limited. Growing evidence suggests sensory cortex itself flexibly encodes value beyond labeled-line analysis. Across four high-density EEG experiments with multi-wave assessments, we identified reliable visual cortical hyperactivity in high trait anxiety. The effect emerged as early as 46 ms, localized to V1/V2, and was specific to the parvocellular pathway. It was reproducible across arousal states, stimulus valence, extended intervals, and paradigms, and evident for both …


An Integrative Systems Biology Approach To Study Metabolic Changes Associated With Pfas Exposure In Xenopus Laevis, Claire Wolfer-Jenkins Dec 2025

An Integrative Systems Biology Approach To Study Metabolic Changes Associated With Pfas Exposure In Xenopus Laevis, Claire Wolfer-Jenkins

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Straw Cover Increases Garden Soil Microbial Biodiversity, Emory Walker, Mara Welty, Emma Creviston Dec 2025

Straw Cover Increases Garden Soil Microbial Biodiversity, Emory Walker, Mara Welty, Emma Creviston

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


A Comparison Of White-Light And Monochromatic Led Sources For Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Emily Simmons Dec 2025

A Comparison Of White-Light And Monochromatic Led Sources For Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Emily Simmons

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Drug-resistant bacteria are an ongoing public health crisis for which alternative treatments are needed. One alternative is antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI), which uses potent photosensitizers and light irradiation to damage the bacteria. Our standard light source used in aPDI is a single-wavelength light source at 405-nm; however, we evaluated a white-light source for similarities in the resulting aPDI activities. This is done by comparing aPDI experiments using S. aureus and its methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) conducted with either the white LED light source or the 405-nm LED light source. Statistical analysis using t-tests revealed no significant differences in the aPDI activities …


Just "Beet" It? A Comparison Of Road Salt Effects On The Life History Of Daphnia Magna, Koby Sellner Dec 2025

Just "Beet" It? A Comparison Of Road Salt Effects On The Life History Of Daphnia Magna, Koby Sellner

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

In areas that experience snow and ice, deicing reagents such as road salts are often used on roads to promote safer driving conditions. However, road salts run off into local vegetation, soil systems, and (my focus) freshwater systems. The impacts of excess salt and chloride in freshwater have been studied extensively on a broad diversity of organisms under different conditions, but previous studies have rarely used different types of road salts. Zooplankton are primary consumers in many freshwater systems, feeding on phytoplankton and serving as prey for predator species higher in the trophic chain. These animals generally are impacted negatively …


Effects Of Alcohol Exposure On Recognition Memory And Marble-Burying Tasks In Male And Female Aged Mice, Roma Kamat, Tori Burke Dec 2025

Effects Of Alcohol Exposure On Recognition Memory And Marble-Burying Tasks In Male And Female Aged Mice, Roma Kamat, Tori Burke

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Alcohol consumption in aging humans is a risk factor for cognitive impairment. This experiment assessed the effects of binge-like alcohol drinking in aged mice on memory (using the object recognition memory [ORM] task) and on anxiety-and compulsive-like behavior (using the marble-burying task). Subjects were 8 female and 10 male mice, 14–15 months old, selectively bred for low alcohol preference (LAP). Mice consumed either tap water or a 20% alcohol (v/v) solution in tap water through a drinking in the dark (DID) procedure for 4 consecutive days per week, for 3 consecutive weeks. One and 11 days after DID, mice completed …


Immunohistochemical Analysis Of The Effects Of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes On Mouse Testis, Rory E. Field, Brianna R. Demaio, Hannah R. Fioramonti, Makenna M. Landis, Jing Xu Dec 2025

Immunohistochemical Analysis Of The Effects Of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes On Mouse Testis, Rory E. Field, Brianna R. Demaio, Hannah R. Fioramonti, Makenna M. Landis, Jing Xu

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

Because diabetes mellitus (DM) poses harm to the reproductive systems of humans and mice on both the cellular and histological levels, we sought to understand the effects of streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetes mellitus on the spermatogenesis and Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) production of mice. The structural integrity of the testes is disrupted due to the high levels of oxidative stress caused by DM, which also hinders spermatogenesis. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been found to induce autophagy in Sertoli cells, and the Sertoli cells of diabetic models have fewer tight junctions between them. This disorganization and decreased integrity of the seminiferous …


Substantial Contribution Of Woody Components To Rainfall Interception In Chinese Forests: Insights From A Refined Analytical Model, Zhi-Ang Chen, Zhi-Yun Jiang, Wei He, John T. Van Stan Ii, Et. Al. Dec 2025

Substantial Contribution Of Woody Components To Rainfall Interception In Chinese Forests: Insights From A Refined Analytical Model, Zhi-Ang Chen, Zhi-Yun Jiang, Wei He, John T. Van Stan Ii, Et. Al.

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Assessing rainfall interception (I-R) is a critical yet uncertain aspect in hydrological cycle, particularly the quantification of relative contributions from leaves and woody components (e.g., branches, stems, and trunks) to I-R. Nevertheless, the role of woody components in I-R estimation remains largely unexplored and thereby has been constantly overlooked. This study addressed this challenge and refined the widely-used Gash model to distinguish woody interception (I-W) from leaf interception (I-L). We incorporated the spatial variability of vegetation traits alongside satellite data in 2019 into the refined model, and spanned China's major forest types. The refined model showed a strong agreement with …


Development Of Self-Assembled Polymeric Polyplexes For Microrna Delivery: Toward Treatment Of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease, Marjina Akter Kalpana Dec 2025

Development Of Self-Assembled Polymeric Polyplexes For Microrna Delivery: Toward Treatment Of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease, Marjina Akter Kalpana

Theses & Dissertations

Self-assembled polymeric polyplexes have the potential to serve as an RNA interference (RNAi) delivery platform for the combined inhibition of CXCR4 and miR-155 in the treatment of alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD). A central challenge in RNA delivery is balancing the extracellular stability of polyplexes, cellular uptake, and intracellular release of RNA cargo. We developed polymeric polyplexes using the CXCR4-antagonist polymer PAMD, designed to target CXCR4 on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and deliver therapeutic miRNA to activated Kupffer cells (KCs) in fibrotic liver. We improved the polyplexes by cholesterol modification of PAMD and by PEGylation of PAMD-Ch. The cholesterol modification …


Mechanistic Insight Of Neuropilin-2 Expression During The Progression Of Prostate Cancer, Sanika Bodas Dec 2025

Mechanistic Insight Of Neuropilin-2 Expression During The Progression Of Prostate Cancer, Sanika Bodas

Theses & Dissertations

Advanced prostate cancer represents a particularly aggressive and challenging form of prostate cancer (PCa) that shows resistance to both traditional therapies, such as androgen deprivation therapy, and newer treatment modalities like hormone therapies and immunotherapies. For patients diagnosed with advanced stages of PCa, treatment options are limited, and chemotherapy is often the last line of defense. Unfortunately, chemotherapy can severely diminish the quality of life, particularly in older patients, due to its harsh side effects, including fatigue, immune suppression, and overall physical decline. Despite these challenges, researchers and clinicians remain focused on developing more effective and targeted treatments for patients …


Evaluating Bmx-001 As A Selective Radioprotector For Healthy Tissue In Pelvic Cancers, Molly Myers Dec 2025

Evaluating Bmx-001 As A Selective Radioprotector For Healthy Tissue In Pelvic Cancers, Molly Myers

Theses & Dissertations

Pelvic cancers, including rectal, anal, and prostate cancer, are relatively survivable cancers with high five-year survival rates, partially due to the addition of radiation to treatment regimens. Radiation confers excellent tumor control, but also causes damage to surrounding tissue, resulting in both short-term and long-term side effects. In a patient population that is surviving longer after treatment, limiting the impact of side effects is instrumental to improving patient quality of life. Radiation-induced ROS is instrumental in causing these side effects and provides a unique opportunity to protect healthy tissue from damage while sensitizing cancer tissue to treatment, as cancer cells …


Role Of Nadph Oxidase 4 In Murine Cancer-Associated Fibroblast, Faith M. Gomez Dec 2025

Role Of Nadph Oxidase 4 In Murine Cancer-Associated Fibroblast, Faith M. Gomez

Theses & Dissertations

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. Frontline hormone therapies for breast cancer prove ineffective in triple negative breast cancer tumors wherein the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 are downregulated or absent; therefore, patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer are primarily limited to chemotherapies which carry a higher failure and resistance rate. Here we target cancer associated fibroblasts as potential drivers of chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer. We investigated the mechanism by which Nox4 regulates the YAP/TAZ pathway in modulating DTX sensitivity and sought to determine if targeting Nox4 …


Immunoglobulin Germline Reference Sequences Enable Investigations And Reveal Insights Into Bat-Specific Immunity, Ashley B. Reers, Shijun Zhan, Taylor Pursell, Clara Reasoner, Natasha Hodges, Tanya M. Lama, Tony Schountz, Hannah K. Frank Dec 2025

Immunoglobulin Germline Reference Sequences Enable Investigations And Reveal Insights Into Bat-Specific Immunity, Ashley B. Reers, Shijun Zhan, Taylor Pursell, Clara Reasoner, Natasha Hodges, Tanya M. Lama, Tony Schountz, Hannah K. Frank

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We generated a highly contiguous, annotated genome of the Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis, including annotated germline immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IGH) and light-chain lambda (IGL) loci to understand bat B cell receptor repertoires. The bat germline shares many structures and features described in human immunoglobulin loci. However, some features are unique to A. jamaicensis, including an expansion of cysteine-rich IGHV genes. To investigate the relationship between the germline IGH locus and expressed B cell receptors (BCRs), we sequenced the BCRs of wild-caught and captive A. jamaicensis, finding an enrichment of IGHV3 and IGHV4 genes. Compared to humans, A. jamaicensis had shorter …


Public Perception About Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In South Central Nebraska, Rita Nnenne Oparaocha Dec 2025

Public Perception About Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In South Central Nebraska, Rita Nnenne Oparaocha

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

The COVID-19 pandemic created a shift in the trajectory of vaccination hesitancy, altering risk perceptions and vaccination attitudes among individuals in rural communities. The 5C framework highlights confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility as influencing factors of vaccine hesitancy. This study assessed the proportion of adults who refused COVID-19 vaccination and identified the individual reasons for hesitancy among those who refused the COVID -19 vaccines in South Central Nebraska. Data was analyzed from a local cross-sectional public health survey administered to 2,034 adult participants over a six-month period (March-August 2024), including 91 respondents who were from outside the seven-county …


Comparisons Of Fish Communities Between A Restored And A Control Pool Of The Mississippi River: A Before-And-After Examination, Hannah Lenning Dec 2025

Comparisons Of Fish Communities Between A Restored And A Control Pool Of The Mississippi River: A Before-And-After Examination, Hannah Lenning

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

The quality and availability of valuable backwater habitats have declined in many rivers, including the Upper Mississippi River (UMR), due to river modifications and land use change. Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Projects (HREPs) are implemented by the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program and often aim to mitigate accelerated sedimentation and degradation of backwater habitats. One HREP in Pool 12 of the UMR targeted overwintering fish habitat by restoring four backwaters within 14 RKM. Fish community data was collected before (2006-2012) and after (2020-2024) restoration in Pool 12 and a downstream, control reach, Pool 13. The first objective of my study …