Digital Commons Network^™

The Antifungal Mechanism Of Entv-Derived Peptides Is Associated With A Reduction In Extracellular Vesicle Release, Giuseppe Buda De Cesare, Melissa R Cruz, Shane A Cristy, Luis A Vega, Robert Zarnowski, Antonino Zito, Shantanu Guha, David R Andes, Danielle A Garsin, Michael C Lorenz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, causes systemic and superficial infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Treatment of fungal infections is complicated by limited antifungal options and the development of drug resistance. Previous work from our group demonstrated the efficacy of the anti-virulence peptide EntV and shorter variants against C. albicans infection in various animal models, including mouse models of oropharyngeal candidiasis and disseminated infection and a rat venous catheter model. However, the mechanism of action, which abrogates fungal virulence without fungicidal or fungistatic activity, has remained unknown. We used a combination of cell biological, biochemical, genomic, and genetic approaches to …

Trop2 Expression In Salivary Gland Adenoidcystic Carcinoma (Acc) According To Histologic Subtype: Therapeutic Implications, Juliana Mota Siqueira, Yoshitsugu Mitani, Mario L Marques-Piubelli, Camilla Oliveira Hoff, Flavia Bonini, Luana Guimaraes De Sousa, Mutsumi Mitani, Giovanna Lopes Carvalho, Fabio Daumas Nunes, Leandro Luongo Matos, Shiaw-Yih Lin, Michael T Spiotto, Ehab Y Hanna, Daniel J Mcgrail, Adel K El-Naggar, Renata Ferrarotto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a common salivary gland carcinoma with high recurrence and distant metastasis rates. Currently, there is no standard systemic treatment available. TROP2 is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in the oncogenesis of several tumors that can be therapeutically targeted by a TROP2-antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). We aimed to characterize TROP2 expression in ACC and assess TROP2 as a potential therapeutic target.

Methods: TROP2 immunohistochemistry was performed in a tissue microarray including 165 ACC of salivary gland. The tumors were grouped according to the histological pattern as non-solid, solid + non-solid, or solid. TROP2 protein expression in ACC …

Wuse-Oil Compound 03 Mitigates Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis By Modulating Oral Microbiota To Mediate Tlr4/Nf-Κb Pathway And Inhibit M1 Macrophage Polarization, Liqun Jia, Rong Huang, Chen Chen, Feng Teng, Tian Gu, Huafeng Liu, Li Ma, Ye Feng, Jingyi Long, Zihan Jin, Dong Li, Dongmei Chen, Yanni Lou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is a prevalent condition among patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. It is characterized by a high incidence and severe symptoms that significantly compromise patients' quality of life. Currently, there exists no consensus regarding an effective treatment modality. Wuse-oil Compound 03 (WC03), a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, demonstrates potential in managing RIOM.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of WC03 in treating RIOM through the modulation of oral microbiota and associated biological pathways.

Study design: Mechanism study experimental design.

Methods: A rat model of RIOM was established via radiation exposure. WC03 …

Auricular Point Acupressure For Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jennifer Kawi, Chao Hsing Yeh, Nada Lukkahatai, Hulin Wu, Natalia E Morone, Ronald Glick, Elizabeth A Schlenk, Claudia Campbell, Johannes Thrul, Xinran Huang, Hongyu Wang, Hejingzi Monica Jia, Paul Christo, Constance Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Efficacious modalities are limited in chronic low back pain (cLBP). We determined the efficacy of auricular point acupressure (APA) in older adults with cLBP.

Design: 3-arm randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Baltimore, Maryland.

Participants: Participants, ≥60 years with cLBP, were randomized (1:1:1) to APA with ear points targeted to cLBP (T-APA, n = 92), points nontargeted to cLBP (NT-APA, n = 91), or waitlist education control (n = 89), and followed up to 6 months (6M). Participants in the APA groups received 4 weekly APA sessions; the education control group received 4 weekly educational sessions.

Intervention: APA.

Main outcomes and …

Variants In Cald1, Esrp1, And Rbfox1 Are Associated With Orofacial Cleft Risk, Jenna C Carlson, Xinyi Zhang, Zeynep Erdogan-Yildirim, Terri H Beaty, Azeez Butali, Carmen J Buxó, Lord J J Gowans, Jacqueline T Hecht, Ross E Long, Lina Moreno, Jeffrey C Murray, Ieda M Orioli, Carmencita Padilla, George L Wehby, Eleanor Feingold, Elizabeth J Leslie-Clarkson, Seth M Weinberg, Mary L Marazita, John R Shaffer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (OFCs) are common, heritable birth defects caused by both genetic and environmental risk factors. Despite the identification of many genetic loci harboring OFC-risk variants, there are many unknown genetic determinants of OFC. Furthermore, while the process of embryonic facial development is well characterized, the molecular mechanisms that underly it are not. This represents a major hurdle in understanding how disruptions in these biological processes result in OFC. Thus, we sought to identify novel OFC-risk loci through a genome-wide multi-ancestry study of five nested OFC phenotypes (isolated cleft lip [CLO], isolated cleft palate [CPO], cleft lip and palate …

Mature And Migratory Dendritic Cells Promote Immune Infiltration And Response To Anti-Pd-1 Checkpoint Blockade In Metastatic Melanoma, Jiekun Yang, Cassia Wang, Doris Fu, Li-Lun Ho, Kyriakitsa Galani, Lee Chen, Jose Gonzalez, Jolene Fu, Amy Y Huang, Dennie T Frederick, Liang He, Mukta Asnani, Rahul Tacke, Emily J Robitschek, Sandeep K Yadav, Wentao Deng, Kelly P Burke, Tatyana Sharova, Ryan J Sullivan, Sarah Weiss, Kunal Rai, David Liu, Genevieve M Boland, Manolis Kellis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy, yet most patients fail to achieve durable responses. To better understand the tumor microenvironment (TME), we analyze single-cell RNA-seq (~189 K cells) from 36 metastatic melanoma samples, defining 14 cell types, 55 subtypes, and 15 transcriptional hallmarks of malignant cells. Correlations between cell subtype proportions reveal six distinct clusters, with a mature dendritic cell subtype enriched in immunoregulatory molecules (mregDC) linked to naive T and B cells. Importantly, mregDC abundance predicts progression-free survival (PFS) with ICIs and other therapies, especially when combined with the TCF7 + /- CD8 T cell ratio. Analysis …

Secretogranin 2 Binds Lilrb4 Resulting In Immunosuppression, Xing Yang, Ryan Huang, Meng Fang, Yubo He, Jingjing Xie, Xiaoye Liu, Chengcheng Zhang, Qi Lou, Mi Deng, Wei Xiong, Cheryl Lewis, Zade Sadek, Ankit Gupta, Lianqi Chen, Xuewu Zhang, Lei Guo, Lin Xu, Ningyan Zhang, Zhiqiang An, Cheng Cheng Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immunosuppressive myeloid cells are important in a variety of physiological and pathological contexts, including tumor development, but how hormones might regulate their activity is unclear. Secretogranins, a family of secretory proteins in endocrine and neuronal cells, are proposed to function as prohormones or hormones, but their specific receptors are unknown. Here we show that secretogranin 2 (SCG2), a granin family member, functionally interacts with leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4) on monocytic cells. Tumor-derived SCG2 promotes tumor growth in myeloid-specific LILRB4 transgenic mice in a T cell-dependent manner, whereas SCG2 deficiency in host mice impairs tumor progression and reduces infiltration of …

The Brescia International Multidisciplinary Consensus Guidelines On The Optimal Pathology Assessment And Multidisciplinary Pathways Of Non-Pancreatic Neoplasms In And Around The Ampulla Of Vater (Peripan), Mohammad Abu Hilal, Bas A Uijterwijk, Daniël H L Lemmers, Boris V Janssen, Marc G Besselink, Denise Bianchi, Arantza Fariña, Noriyoshi Fukushima, Anthony J Gill, Seung-Mo Hong, Alyssa Krasinskas, Claudio Luchini, Laura Melocchi, Giulio Rossi, Aldo Scarpa, Olca Basturk, Deyali Chatterjee, Angela Chou, Irene Esposito, Roger Feakins, Bas Groot Koerkamp, Ralph H Hruban, Stefano La Rosa, Chanjuan Shi, Aatur Singhi, Joanne Verheij, Huamin Wang, Sergio Alfieri, Fabio Ausania, Adnan Alseidi, Marco J Bruno, Ugo Boggi, Claudio Bnà, Christos Dervenis, Massimo Falconi, Michele Ghidini, Jakob W Kist, Giovanni Marchegiani, Michele Milella, Roberto Salvia, Ajith Siriwardena, Hanneke Wilmink, Alberto Zaniboni, Shaimaa Al-Janabi, Maia Blomhoff Holm, Eva Roos, Naoki Sano, In Hye Song, Zeynep Tarcan, Gianpaolo Balzano, Isabella Frigerio, Alfredo Guglielmi, Giuseppe Malleo, Horacio Asbun, Volkan Adsay, Caroline Verbeke

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: The lack of multidisciplinary workflow guidelines and clear definitions and classifications for neoplasms in and around the ampulla of Vater results in inconsistencies affecting patient care and research.

OBJECTIVE: The PERIPAN international multidisciplinary consensus group aimed to standardize the multidisciplinary diagnostic workflow and achieve consensus on definitions and classifications in order to ensure proper classification and optimal diagnostic assessment and consequently to improve patient care and future research.

DESIGN: An international team of 43 experts (pathologists, surgeons, radiologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists) from 12 countries identified knowledge gaps, reviewed 37061 articles, and proposed recommendations using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network methodology …

Peripartum Depression Pharmacotherapies Targeting Gaba-Glutamate Neurotransmission, Alan C Courtes, Louisa Smitherman, Lokesh Shahani, Jair C Soares, Laura Goetzl, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Peripartum depression (PPD) represents a significant public health concern, affecting 10-17% of women globally. Traditional monoaminergic treatments demonstrate limited efficacy and delayed onset of action. The glutamate-GABA imbalance hypothesis provides a novel theoretical framework for understanding depression pathophysiology and developing targeted therapeutic interventions. This review examines emerging pharmacotherapeutic approaches targeting glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems for PPD treatment. Search criteria targeted randomized clinical trials investigating GABA-A-positive allosteric modulators (brexanolone, zuranolone, and ganaxolone) and NMDA receptor antagonists (ketamine and esketamine) in PPD patients. Brexanolone was the first neurosteroid to receive FDA approval for PPD, while zuranolone also shows promise. Ketamine and …

Durability Of Tannin-Citric Acid Modified Scots Pine Against Weathering And Fungal Exposures, Sheikh Ali Ahmed, Gianluca Tondi, Reza Hosseinpourpia

Michigan Tech Publications

Wood modification is essential to enhance the performance and longevity of wood as a material while maintaining its natural and sustainable characteristics. By modifying wood, its properties can be significantly improved without the need for toxic preservatives. Thus bio-based wood modification is vital for enhancing wood properties sustainably, reducing environmental impact, and meeting the demand for eco-friendly, non-toxic, and renewable material solutions. In this study, bio-based formulae were used on pine sapwood for enhanced decay and weathering resistance. Quebracho tannin solutions (20 %) with different concentrations of citric acid (CA) as a cross-linker were prepared and then vacuum-pressure impregnated in Scots …

Spatial Distribution Of Microsporidia Mb Along Clinal Gradient And The Impact Of Its Infection On Pyrethroid Resistance In Anopheles Gambiae S.L. Mosquitoes From Nigeria And Niger Republic, Lamine M. Moustapha, Muhammad M. Mukhtar, Abdoul Nasser H. Sanda, Shuaibu Adamu, Yusuf Y. Aliyu, Hadizat K. Einoi, Maryam U. Maigari, Peter C. Okeke, David E. Nwele, Abiodun Obembe, Udoka C. Nwangwu, Jeremy K. Herren, Sulaiman S. Ibrahim

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Microsporidia MB (MB), a promising biological control agent, suppresses Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Anopheles mosquitoes. This study examined the spatial distribution of MB infection in natural populations of An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes collected in Nigeria and Niger Republic, and its association with insecticide susceptibility in the mosquitoes. Microsporidia MB has wide geographic distribution across Nigeria and Niger Republic. The overall prevalence of MB in F0 mosquitoes was 12.25% (95% CI: 7.76–16.75%); 25 mosquitoes out of 204 were positive. Geographic variation was observed, with a higher prevalence (5/15 mosquitoes) in Ebonyi State (33.33%, CI: 9.48–57.19%, Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.008). …

Using Extension-Based Mrna Display To Design Antibody-Like Proteinogenic Peptides For Human Pd-L1, Justin N Ong, Brian J Grindel, Scott A Rankin, Sarah H Naylon, Anupallavi Srinivasamani, Guillaume J Trusz, Xiaowen Liang, Md Nasir Uddin, Lauren Fuller, Michael Curran, Stephane P Roche, Terry T Takahashi, Richard W Roberts, Steven W Millward

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Many peptide drugs rely on nonproteinogenic amino acids and chemical modifications for improved activity and proteolytic stability. However, these features also make drug production expensive and challenging to scale. Here, we engineered small, linear, proteinogenic peptides that bind human programmed death-ligand 1 (hPD-L1) with high affinity and stability using mRNA display affinity maturation. The resulting peptides, SPAM2 and SPAM3, have antibody-like affinities for hPD-L1 (dissociation constants between ~250 and 300 pM) and are selective for hPD-L1. Both SPAM2 and SPAM3 compete with hPD-L1 ligands known to interact with the programmed cell death protein 1 site and are stable in human …

Mechanisms Underlying Treatment-Resistant Depression: Exploring Sex-Based Biological Differences, Francisco E R Da Silva, Atakan Yucel, Antonio P M Menezes, Ana C Ruiz, Marcela C Carbajal Tamez, Tatiana Barichello, Giselli Scaini, Joao Quevedo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) represents a severe and complex subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD), affecting approximately 30% of patients who fail to respond adequately to multiple standard antidepressant therapies. While the pathophysiology of TRD remains incompletely understood, emerging evidence suggests that sex-based biological differences might influence its onset, progression, and treatment response. Women are disproportionately affected by depression and are more likely to experience residual symptoms and treatment resistance, potentially due to hormonal fluctuations, immune system differences, and variations in brain circuitry and neuroplasticity. This narrative explores the current literature on the mechanisms underlying TRD, with a particular emphasis on …

Spatial Colocalization And Molecular Crosstalk Of Myofibroblastic Cafs And Tumor Cells Shape Lymph Node Metastasis In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Ken Furudate, Shuya Kasai, Tadashi Yoshizawa, Yuya Sasaki, Kohei Fujikura, Shintaro Goto, Ryohei Ito, Koki Takagi, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Hiroshi Kijima, Kosei Kubota, Ken Itoh, Wataru Kobayashi, Koichi Takahashi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical prognostic factor for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Previous research has implicated the partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of tumor cells and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts (myCAFs) in the LNM process. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a comprehensive molecular analysis integrating original and publicly available OSCC data from bulk genome and transcriptome, single-cell transcriptome, and spatial transcriptome analyses. We found that myCAFs were quantitatively and functionally activated in LNM-positive samples and spatially colocalized with OSCC cells within the invasive tumor front (ITF), providing a niche that may facilitate …

Dna Methylation Cooperates With Genomic Alterations During Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Evolution, Francisco Gimeno-Valiente, Carla Castignani, Elizabeth Larose Cadieux, Nana E Mensah, Xiaohong Liu, Kezhong Chen, Olga Chervova, Takahiro Karasaki, Clare E Weeden, Corentin Richard, Siqi Lai, Carlos Martínez-Ruiz, Emilia L Lim, Alexander M Frankell, Thomas B K Watkins, Georgia Stavrou, Ieva Usaite, Wei-Ting Lu, Daniele Marinelli, Sadegh Saghafinia, Gareth A Wilson, Pawan Dhami, Heli Vaikkinen, Jonathan Steif, Selvaraju Veeriah, Robert E Hynds, Martin Hirst, Crispin Hiley, Andrew Feber, Özgen Deniz, Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, Nicholas Mcgranahan, Tracerx Consortium, Stephan Beck, Jonas Demeulemeester, Miljana Tanić, Charles Swanton, Peter Van Loo, Nnennaya Kanu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aberrant DNA methylation has been described in nearly all human cancers, yet its interplay with genomic alterations during tumor evolution is poorly understood. To explore this, we performed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing on 217 tumor and matched normal regions from 59 patients with non-small cell lung cancer from the TRACERx study to deconvolve tumor methylation. We developed two metrics for integrative evolutionary analysis with DNA and RNA sequencing data. Intratumoral methylation distance quantifies intratumor DNA methylation heterogeneity. MR/MN classifies genes based on the rate of hypermethylation at regulatory (MR) versus nonregulatory (MN) CpGs to identify driver genes exhibiting recurrent functional …

In Situ Programming Of The Tumor Microenvironment To Alleviate Immunosuppression For Pancreatic Cancer Immunotherapy, Man Sun, Huan Zhang, Yarui Ma, Simiao Wang, Jiayi Chen, Yaxin Cui, Yun Zhang, Siyuan Hu, Dan Zhou, Pengchen Zhang, Yahui Liu, Betty Y S Kim, Wen Jiang, Xiaobing Wang, Zhaogang Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the cGAS‐STING pathway in cancer immunotherapy. However, clinical trials with cGAS‐STING pathway agonists have faced setbacks thanks to their short biological half‐life, lack of tumor specificity, and potential to promote tumor immune evasion. To address these challenges, a novel exosome‐based drug delivery platform, termed cmExoaCD11b is developed, designed to precisely target and reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) in situ for pancreatic cancer immunotherapy. cmExoaCD11b is engineered to encapsulate high copy numbers of IL‐12 mRNA and 2′3’‐cGAMP (cGAMP) and is functionalized with CD11b antibodies for targeted delivery to macrophages. Notably, cmExoaCD11b facilitated the …

Sex Disparities In Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Treatment In Us Adult Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Rachel E Solnick, Rahi Patel, Ethan Chang, Carmen Vargas-Torres, Maaz Munawar, Carlin Pendell, Judith E Smith, Ethan Cowan, Keith E Kocher, Roland C Merchant

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Empiric antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) is common in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) due to the delayed availability of test results. Local studies have identified sex-based disparities in sexually transmitted infection (STI) care, with females potentially receiving less empiric treatment than males. This study evaluates how STI treatment aligns with laboratory-confirmed results to quantify potential overtreatment and undertreatment rates and investigates sex differences for these outcomes.

METHODS: We conducted a preregistered (PROSPERO #241429) systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between January 2010 and January 2025 in U.S. EDs, excluding studies conducted exclusively in pediatric settings. …

Miscanthus × Giganteus Increases Soil Maximum Water Holding Capacity Compared To Maize, Jessica T. Nelson, Maoz Dor, Andy D. Vanloocke, Jacob E. Studt, Perla K. Schrock, Marshall D. Mcdaniel

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Soil ecosystem services, like the ability to store water, have been depleted after a century of conventional, annual cropping, and perennial crops offer a solution to this and other agricultural environmental issues. We assessed the impact of Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus), a perennial biomass crop, on soil water holding capacity and structure compared to continuous maize (Zea mays L.) at two sites in Iowa. After three growing seasons, we measured the following: (1) maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) with and without soil structure, and (2) total porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) via micro-computed tomography (microCT). Miscanthus increased MWHC …

Whole Genome Sequence Analysis Of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Across 246 K Individuals, Margaret Sunitha Selvaraj, Xihao Li, Zilin Li, Eric Van Buren, Sara Haidermota, Darina Postupaka, Whitney Hornsby, Joshua C. Bis, Joanne Curran, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Rare genetic variation provided by whole genome sequence datasets has been relatively less explored for its contributions to human traits. Meta-analysis of sequencing data offers advantages by integrating larger sample sizes from diverse cohorts, thereby increasing the likelihood of discovering novel insights into complex traits. Furthermore, emerging methods in genome-wide rare variant association testing further improve power and interpretability.

Results: Here, we conduct the largest meta-analysis of whole genome sequencing for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), a therapeutic target for coronary artery disease, analyzing data from 246 K participants and integrating 1.23B variants from the UK Biobank and the Trans-Omics …

Evaluation Of Tracheal And Cecal Microbial Composition In Heat Stressed Broilers Supplemented With Phytogenic Additives, Andressa Silveira Stein

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rise in global temperatures has become a concern due to its significant impact on the agricultural sector, including poultry production. Heat stress caused by high temperatures directly affects animal welfare, health and productivity, leading to major losses in the poultry sector. In broilers, heat stress affects feed consumption, weight gain, mortality and may also lead to changes in the microbiome, which can increase the predisposition to disease and impact the overall performance of these animals. The aim of this thesis was to reproduce field conditions, simulating an increase in temperature, and to evaluate possible changes in the respiratory and …

Understanding Glufosinate Resistance In Palmer Amaranth And Examination Of Additives For Improved Weed Control, Pamela Carvalho-Moore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation was to: 1) provide an in-depth review about the potential use of natural and synthetic glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitors to enhance herbicidal activity or induce crop safety; 2) determine if the addition of metabolic inhibitors to glufosinate is an effective approach to enhance weed control; 3) investigate the mechanism conferring resistance to glufosinate in a highly-resistant Palmer amaranth accession; 4) characterize the genomic rearrangement involved in glutamine synthetase 2 amplification in a Palmer amaranth accession resistant to both glufosinate and glyphosate; 5) quantify the distribution of glufosinate resistance among Palmer amaranth accessions within a 15-km …

Dual Investigations Into Broiler Health: Mitochondrial Gene Expression In Ascites Susceptibility And G-1,25(Oh)₂D₃-Driven Modulation Of Bone And Gut Integrity In Lameness, Layla Hussein Al-Mitib

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern broiler production faces persistent challenges from metabolic and skeletal disorders, particularly ascites and bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), which compromise animal welfare and production efficiency. This dissertation examines two key factors that contribute to these conditions: mitochondrial gene expression associated with pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) and the role of intestinal barrier integrity in mitigating lameness. In the first study, the expression of mitochondrial genes COXII and ATP6 was evaluated in the breast, thigh, and lung tissues of three broiler genetic lines—ascites-susceptible (SUS), ascites-resistant (RES), and unselected relaxed (REL). While no significant expression differences were observed in muscle tissues, SUS …

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus 2 Infection In 5 African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) At Multiple North American Zoological Institutions, Taylor J Willis, Anne Burgdorf-Moisuk, Maren Connolly, Jan Raines, Cameron Ratliff, Zoltan S Gyimesi, Erica Lipanovich, Genevive A Dumonceaux, Kathryn L Perrin, Lauren L Howard, Matthew E Kinney, Kirk Suedmeyer, Erin Latimer, Tiffany L Kim, Jessica R Watts, Jie Tan, Paul Ling

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To acknowledge that elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is a well-recognized major threat to Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and can cause acute and often fatal hemorrhagic disease (HD). Historically, EEHV-HD has been less frequently identified in African elephants (Loxodonta africana). This case series describes 5 recent cases of EEHV2 infection in African elephants within managed care at 5 North American institutions.

Animals: 5 African elephants (L africana).

Clinical presentation: The cases involved 4-, 7-, and 10-year-old males that died despite receiving aggressive medical therapy and 4- and 14-year-old females that survived. Clinical signs included lethargy, decreased appetite, lameness, changes in …

Systematic Review And Evidence Gap Mapping Of Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Studies In Those With Intellectual And Developmental Disability, Lubnaa B. Abdullah, Ney Alex Alliey, Emma Elizondo, Ney Alliey Rodriguez, Gladys Maestre, James Hall

School of Medicine Publications

There are a relatively small number of investigations into brain aging in those with intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD). This project seeks to (1) characterize the internationally available multi-omics Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker studies including those with I/DD, and (2) discuss future research directions. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched under the following criteria: cross-sectional or longitudinal AD-omics studies on adults (18 +) with I/DD. 532 studies were identified, 186 studies were evaluated for full-text, 79 studies were excluded, and 117 studies were extracted. Most biological specimens were analyzed in blood, plasma, or serum. Metabolomics, hormonomics, and transcriptomics …

A Review Of Androctonus Of Iran, With Redescription Of A. Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) And A. Orientalis (Birula, 1900) Stat. N., And Descriptions Of Four New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, František Kovařík, Victor Fet, Graeme Lowe, Mohammad Moradi, Farzaneh Kalami

Euscorpius

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Hip And Knee Assistance For Walking And Sit-To-Stand Transitions: An Intrinsic Muscle Mechanics Based Predictive Approach, Neethan Ratnakumar

Dissertations

As the global population ages, the demand for wearable assistive technologies continues to rise, driven by their potential to enhance mobility and independence in older adults. Effectively designed controllers for lower-limb exoskeletons to assist sit-to-stand (STS) and walking are crucial for delivering efficient, safe, and comfortable assistance during daily activities. Traditionally, controller optimization involves biomechanical modeling and user-specific customization. Musculoskeletal simulations play a central role in this process by providing insights into human-exoskeleton interaction dynamics, thereby informing and refining control strategies.

This work presents a simulation-driven approach for developing exoskeleton controllers for walking and STS using two distinct methods: optimal …

Development And Implementation Of Novel Mass Spectrometric Methods For Metabolism Studies In Drug Discoveries, Huifang Yao

Dissertations

The field of drug discovery has evolved significantly over the past few decades, with a growing emphasis on understanding the metabolic pathways and biotransformation processes that influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug candidates. Novel mass spectrometric methods have emerged as powerful tools in this domain, facilitating the comprehensive analysis of metabolic profiles and enabling the identification of metabolites with implications for safety, efficacy, and overall drug development. However, challenges remain in quantifying metabolic flux—an essential aspect of understanding drug action—particularly due to the limitations of traditional isotope kinetic assays, which often involve lengthy sample preparation and the use of …

Potential Biological Hazards In Health Clinics: Key Strategies For Enhancing Worker Safety In Malaysia, Subki Ahmad, Normah Awang, Ermie Abdull Hamid, Anuar Ithnin, Nurul Farahana Kamaludin, Noraizah Muhd Nor

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Biological hazards in health clinics may lead to acute or chronic health issues for healthcare workers. This study aims to identify potential biological hazards within health clinics, with a focus on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers, in order to improve their safety.

Methods: Samples from environmental surfaces were collected and cultured to identify bacterial pathogens. A cross-sectional study involving 203 healthcare workers was conducted using a questionnaire derived from CDC-adapted guidelines. Descriptive analysis and multivariate regression were used to assess KAP.

Results: Bacterial growth was observed in all clinics. The Kruskal-Wallis Test …

Exploring Potential Impacts Of Polyethylene Mesh And Polypropylene Rope Leachate On Bay Scallop (Argopecten Irradians) Survival And Growth, Katherine R. Johnson

Graduate Masters Theses

The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), a commercially and ecologically significant bivalve along the Eastern coast of the United States, has faced severe population declines due to various anthropogenic impacts. At the same time, the proliferation of plastics, particularly in maritime industries, has introduced new threats to marine environments through both physical pollution and chemical leaching. This study aimed to assess the acute toxicological effects of leachates from two commonly used plastic products, polyethylene Netron and polypropylene rope, on A. irradians larvae. Experiments were conducted in June–July 2023 at the Nantucket Shellfish Hatchery. Leachates were prepared by incubating 0.5, …

Design And Development Of A Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction And Classification For Biomedical Imaging And Optical Diagnostics, Charlotte Kyeremah

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable …