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Predicting The Peak Bloom Of Yoshino Cherry Blossoms In Washington, Dc With Random Forest Regression, James Watkins, Ian Forde, Rene Salinas

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Springtime ushers in a bouquet of flowering arrangements that create ripe economic and social opportunities. Since the Japanese ambassador's gift of 3020 Yoshino cherry trees to the National Mall in Washington, DC, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has occurred annually beginning in 1935. This festival is unique in that over one million visitors parade the Capitol area each year, drawing inspiration from the peak blooming date of the characteristic cherry trees. The NPS provided data on the several stages of Yoshino cherry trees leading to peak bloom from 2004–2024, while local climate data exists for temperature, rainfall, and other factors …

Decoding Early Covid-19 Responses Using Mathematical Modeling Of Social Distancing Strategies Across Multiple Countries, Sri Gunturu, Suki Lewis, Katelyn Nguyen, Asma Azizi

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccines were available, countries implemented diverse combinations of social-distancing (SD) measures shaped by cultural norms and public acceptance. These differences produced varied outcomes in controlling viral spread, offering lessons for future health-crisis preparedness. We performed a reverse-engineering analysis of early COVID-19 case data from five socioculturally distinct countries—India, Vietnam, Italy, Finland, and the United States—selected to capture a range of initial prevalence levels. Using mathematical modeling and data fitting, we inferred the relative contributions of three SD interventions: face masking, quarantine, and isolation of infected individuals. We then employed an efficiency …

Inhomogeneous Branching Random Walks: Incorporating Genealogy And Density Effects, Lauren Ajax, Beatrice Durham, Pratima Hebbar, Cade Johnston, Jiayi Zhang

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

We introduce a novel framework using inhomogeneous branching random walks (BRWs) to model biological processes, specifically by introducing genealogy-dependence in branching rates and displacement distributions to model bacterial colony growth. Current stochastic models often either assume independent and identical behavior of individual agents or incorporate only spatiotemporal inhomogeneity, ignoring the effect of genealogy-based inhomogeneity on the long-time behavior of these processes. Such asymptotics are of independent mathematical interest and are crucial in understanding the emergence of patterns. We propose several inhomogeneous BRW models in 2D space where displacement distributions and branching rates vary with time, space, and genealogy. A combined …

Sheep Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Biological Characteristics, Ethical Considerations, And Translational Applications, Hasan M. Agha, Mohammed A. Abdalqader, Oh Chin Kin Michelle, Sabaa M. Agha, Jantson Hoh, Abdulmutalib Alabeed Allaq, Amjad Abdulhadi Mohammed, Muneer Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal capacity, multilineage differentiation potential, and paracrine activity. Limitations associated with the sourcing and scalability of human MSCs have increased interest in xenogeneic alternatives, particularly sheep umbilical cord–derived MSCs (sUC-MSCs). These cells display high proliferative capacity, stable karyotypes, and a typical MSC immunophenotype (CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105), with low basal immunogenicity. sUC-MSCs exhibit osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation potential and secrete angiogenic and immunomodulatory factors, including VEGF, HGF, IGF-1, TGF-β, and IL-10. Owing to their biological similarities to human MSCs and accessibility from perinatal tissue, …

The Role Of Exotic Plants In The Diet Of Black-And-White Colobus Monkeys (Colobus Guereza) In Kibale National Park, Uganda, Michelle Gaykov

Theses and Dissertations

Exotic plants have both positive and negative impacts on their environment. They may act as additional food sources for the local fauna or as competition for local flora or leading to changes within a landscape or ecosystem. To considere the role of exotics in primate diet, this study focused on the dietary role of exotic plant species in the diet of a leaf-eating foregut fermenting monkey, the black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Int this study, I followed individuals in two groups of black-and-white colobus monkeys for 21 days recording their food intake (0700-1900). I also …

Structural Characterization Of Peptide Nanoaggregates At Varying Concentrations And Their Impact On Cellular Responses, Malika Rozmetova

Theses and Dissertations

Peptide nano-assemblies can regulate cellular pathways in a structure-dependent manner. Here, we show that the enzyme-responsive peptide NapFFK(NBD)Yp forms distinct nanoscale assemblies at different concentrations, triggering differential ER stress and extracellular vesicle release in MDA-MB231 cells. These results highlight the importance of supramolecular organization in peptide–cell interactions.

Flux Crystal Growth Of Potassium Lanthanide Double Vanadates With Lanthanide-Dependent Coordination Number Variance, Hunter B. Tisdale, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

A series of potassium rare earth double vanadates is presented. Single crystals of double vanadates with stoichiometry K₃Ln(VO₄)₂ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, and Sm) and crystallizing in the glaserite structure type were synthesized via a molten alkali chloride/fluoride flux reaction. Different structures were observed depending on the constituent rare earth: K₃La(VO₄)₂ crystallizes in an as-of-yet unreported modification of the typical glaserite structure in the space group P2₁/c, likely due to its larger ionic size that results in an increase in the lanthanide coordination number …

Circadian-Shaped Immune Variability Predicts Infection Outcome, Jonathan Lalsiamthara, Mariko Locke, Alejandro Aballay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Disease risk and severity are influenced by genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. However, immune responses vary even among genetically similar or related individuals, shaped by inherited and noninherited factors. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we found that pathogen susceptibility can be predicted by preinfection biomarkers. Individuals with high-basal expression of irg-5, an infection response gene regulated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (PMK-1) pathway, were more susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. A genome-wide screen identified the myeloid ecotropic viral integration site-1 (MEIS) homeobox protein UNC-62 as a regulator of irg-5 expression, acting through PMK-1 and GATA binding erythroid-like transcription factor …

Cholesterol Efflux Protein, Abca1, Supports Anticancer Functions Of Myeloid Immune Cells, Shruti V Bendre, Yu Wang, Basel Hajyousif, Rajendra K C, Shounak G Bhogale, Dhanya Pradeep, Natalia Krawczynska, Claire P Schane, Erin Weisser, Avni Singh, Simon Han, Hannah Kim, Lara Kockaya, Anasuya Das Gupta, Adam T Nelczyk, Hashni Epa Vidana Gamage, Yifan Fei, Desirée Rodríguez-Casiano, Xingyu Guo, Haoyun Li, Ryan J Deaton, Fei Mo, Maria Sverdlov, Peter H Gann, Saurabh Sinha, Sahil Sahni, Kun Wang, Kevin Van Bortle, Emad Tajkorshid, Wendy A Woodward, Wonhwa Cho, Erik R Nelson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Breast and other solid tumors respond poorly to immune therapy. Myeloid cells (MCs) such as macrophages contribute to resistance. Established clinical evidence links cholesterol to cancer outcomes, with MC function being regulated by cholesterol metabolism. We screened MC-expressed regulators of cholesterol homeostasis linked to survival and identified the cholesterol efflux protein ABCA1. ABCA1 activity increases anticancer functions of macrophages: enhancing tumor infiltration, decreasing angiogenic potential, reducing efferocytosis, and improving support of CD8+ T cell activity. Mechanistically, different AKT isoforms are involved, through both PI3K-dependent and PI3K-independent mechanisms. Highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings are correlations between ABCA1 in macrophages …

Nf2 Loss Malignantly Transforms Human Pancreatic Acinar Cells And Enhances Cell Fitness Under Environmental Stress, Yi Xu, Michael H Nipper, Angel A Dominguez, Chenhui He, Francis E Sharkey, Sajid Khan, Han Xu, Daohong Zhou, Lei Zheng, Yu Luan, Jun Liu, Pei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) occurs as a complex, multifaceted event driven by the interplay of tumor-permissive genetic mutations, the nature of the cellular origin, and microenvironmental stress. In this study, using primary human pancreatic acinar 3D organoids, we performed a CRISPR-KO screen targeting 199 potential tumor suppressors curated from clinical PDAC samples. Our data revealed significant enrichment of a list of candidate genes, with neurofibromatosis type 2 associated gene (NF2) emerging as the top target. Functional validation confirmed that loss of NF2 promoted the transition of PDAC to an invasive state, potentially through extracellular matrix modulation. NF2 inactivation …

Racial, Ethnic, And Socioeconomic Survival Disparities In Early-Onset Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Jennifer S Wang, Benny Johnson, Caitlin C Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Rates of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are rising among young adults. Disparities by race and ethnicity and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) among this population are understudied.

Objective: To examine the association of race and ethnicity and neighborhood-level SES with mortality among a community-based sample of young adults with mCRC.

Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study used a large electronic health record-derived database of young adults with cancer treated at 280 community-based US clinics between 2013 and 2021. Eligible patients were young adults aged 18 to 49 years diagnosed with de novo or recurrent mCRC. Patients were followed up …

Public Support For Alcohol-Control Policies And Political Ideology In The Us, Joël Fokom Domgue, Robert Yu, Ernest Hawk, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This cross-sectional study examines the role of US adults’ political affiliation, perception about alcohol use and cancer, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors in banning outdoor alcohol advertising and adding cancer warnings on alcohol containers.

Peroxisomal Integrity In Demyelination-Associated Microglia Enables Cellular Debris Clearance And Myelin Renewal In Mice, Joseph A Barnes-Vélez, Xiaohong Zhang, Yaren L Peña Señeriz, Kiersten A Scott, Yinglu Guan, Jian Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Demyelination associated microglia (DMAM) orchestrate the regenerative response to demyelination by clearing myelin debris and promoting oligodendrocyte maturation. Peroxisomal metabolism has emerged as a candidate regulator of DMAMs, though the cell-intrinsic contribution in microglia remains undefined. Here we elucidate the role of peroxisome integrity in DMAMs, using cuprizone-mediated demyelination coupled with conditional KO of peroxisome biogenesis factor 5 (PEX5) in microglia. Absent demyelination, PEX5 conditional KO (PEX5cKO) had minimal impact on homeostatic microglia. However, during cuprizone-induced demyelination, the emergence of DMAMs unmasked a critical requirement for peroxisome integrity. At peak demyelination, PEX5cKO DMAMs exhibited increased lipid droplet burden and reduced …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Delivery Of Trauma-Informed Services To Hospital-Based Clients Ot, Frank Czuba

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Hospitalization can traumatize clients and impact overall health outcomes, leading to increased hospital readmission rates and resulting in a negative impact for both clients and providers. Limited information exists regarding how hospital-based occupational therapists evaluate and address trauma, even though incorporating trauma-informed principles into professional practice can enhance the occupational therapy process. The study explored the comprehension and perceived significance of trauma-informed tenets among occupational therapists delivering services in hospital-based settings. A quantitative research study with an exploratory design was implemented to explore how occupational therapists (OT) understand and utilize trauma-informed practices with their clients in a hospital setting. An …

The Prophylactic Effect Of Aqueous Chamomile Extract On Nitrogen Dioxide Exposed Mice, Mariam Kbaysi, Ruzanna Petrosyan, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) a gaseous air pollutant resulting from industrial activities. It has been associated to various diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation, including cardiovascular and nervous system disorders. Chamomile is mainly recognized for its high content of antioxidant flavonoids and is extensively utilized in herbal medicine for treating several disorders. The aim of this study is to examen the protective effects of chamomile extract against NO₂-induced damage in female mice. Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: control, chamomile extract, NO₂ derivatives, and NO₂ derivatives combined with chamomile extract. Upon completion of the study, Blood was …

Exploring Alkaline Protease Activity Of Bacillus Strain Isolated From Sidon Dumpsite Lebanon, Zahra Farroukh, Dalia El-Badan, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Proteases are crucial hydrolytic enzymes present in all organisms, performing essential physiological and industrial tasks. This study was conducted to screen and isolate protease-producing bacteria from soil and water samples collected from Sidon dumpsite in Lebanon. Bacterial samples were cultured onto skim milk agar medium to identify the alkaline protease-producing ones. In this study, we report on the partial purification and characterization of one of the isolated alkaline protease-producing bacteria. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus subtilis Z3 based on 16S rRNA sequencing. The molecular weight of the partially purified protease was approximately 55 kDa, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate …

Efficacy And Safety Of Semaglutide In Adults Without Diabetes Who Are Overweight Or Obese, Rebecca Petty

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

INTRODUCTION:

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and contributes to the leading cause of death in the US — heart disease. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) have recently emerged as a treatment option for obesity. The purpose of this clinical review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in adults without diabetes who are overweight or obese.

METHODS:

PubMed was searched using a precise search strategy and the key terms “semaglutide,” “weight loss,” and “without diabetes.” Results were filtered and narrowed using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four high-quality studies were …

Species-Specific Manipulation Of Microbially-Derived Volatiles By Burying Beetle Parents, Stephen T. Trumbo

EEB Articles

1. Hosts and microbes interact in dynamic relationships that can alter the volatile profile emitted by the microbial community. The extent to which closely related species diverge in these relationships is not well known.

2. Burying beetles associate with a rich microbial community that is present on their breeding resource, a small vertebrate carcass. Prior work demonstrated that Nicrophorus orbicollis manage the microbial community during parental care to alter the volatile profile emanating from the nest, reducing cues for competitors that would usurp the resource.

3. The present study extended this work to N. marginatus to first determine the distinctive …

Peptide Sequencing Via Protein Language Models, Thuong Le Hoai Pham

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Protein sequencing is fundamental to understanding biological processes, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic developments. Current protein sequencing techniques, primarily relying on mass spectrometry and Edman degradation, face significant limitations in accurately identifying all amino acids within a protein, hindering comprehensive proteome analysis. Recent advances in click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry have enabled the identification of specific amino acids and their positions within a peptide; however, these techniques are still limited by the number of amino acids that can be identified with high accuracy and specificity, resulting in partially known sequences. This thesis presents a novel computational approach that leverages protein language …

Capacity-Building Project To Progress The Implementation Of International Instruments To Combat Iuu Fishing (Capfish) : Summer Academy: West Africa, World Maritime University, Korea Maritime Institute, Ministry Of Oceans And Fisheries

Reports

The CAPFISH Project was created in response to an identified need for capacity-building to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related matters - a complex problem affecting aquatic ecosystems, coastal communities, fishers and fish workers, and economic and national security. Over the last five years, the CAPFISH Project has provided training and educational materials on IUU fishing to developing country administrations around the world, most recently with a two-week regional Summer Academy for West Africa. This Academy ran for two weeks and included delegates from fisheries, maritime and enforcement agencies, industry, maritime training institutions, regional fisheries bodies, and …

Comparative Finite Element Method-Based Optimisation Of Coir Fibre Laminates: Aluminium Skins Versus Carbon Cloth Skins, Muhamed Swaleh Ahmed, Bernard Wamuti Ikua, Abel Nyakundi Mayaka

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Natural fibre composites offer a sustainable alternative to conventional composite materials. Their mechanical efficiency is influenced by laminate structure and skin material selection. This study presents a comparative finite element analysis and optimisation of coir fibre-reinforced laminates employing either aluminium skins or carbon cloth skins. COMSOL Multiphysics was used to determine their mechanical response. Optimisation was performed using the BOBYQA algorithm to enhance load sharing between the coir core and skin materials. Results indicated that aluminium-skinned laminates achieve superior compressive and flexural performance, achieving a peak compressive strength of 210 MPa and sustaining a flexural load of 0.65 kN at …

Elli’S Liquid Flow In A Wavy Channel With Slip Effect, Wall Properties, And Heat Transfer, P. Devaki, Yatin Sood

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The dual behavior of Elli’s fluid motivated us to work on it. The fluid behaves as both Newtonian/ non-Newtonian based on the low and high shear rates, respectively. The paper focused on the flow of Ellis fluid in a peristaltic channel with wall properties and heat transfer. The channel is symmetric in nature, and slip conditions are considered near the elastic walls. The governing equations of the flow are solved analytically using suitable boundary conditions, which yield velocity and temperature functions. The novelty of the paper is to analyze the nature of Newtonian/non-Newtonian fluids under the same conditions so that …

Liver X Receptor Α (Lxrα) Regulates 5Β-Reductase (Akr1d1) Expression In Avian Embryos: Implications For Yolk Steroid Metabolism, Ryan T. Paitz, Sara E. Waters, Delaney K. Reynolds, Emily M. Drew, Emily P. Harders

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Steroid-mediated maternal effects are well-studied as a source of phenotypic variation. In bird eggs, the yolk contains various steroids that can influence embryonic development. However, one complicating factor in understanding how yolk steroids affect development is that the embryo metabolizes yolk steroids to regulate exposure. The 5β-reduction of steroids by the enzyme 5β-reductase (AKR1D1) has been identified as a pathway through which yolk progesterone, testosterone, and corticosterone are all metabolized early in avian development. We set out to characterize the mechanism through which AKR1D1 expression is regulated in chickens (Gallus gallus) during embryonic development. We found …

Genetic Determinants Associated With Persistence Of Listeria Species And Background Microflora From A Dairy Processing Environment, Vaishali Poswal, Sanjeev Anand, Jose L. Gonzalez-Hernandez, Brian Kraus

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Listeria monocytogenes is a persistent foodborne pathogen capable of surviving in food processing environments, often in association with diverse environmental microflora. This study examines genomic determinants of persistence, specifically stress adaptation and biofilm-associated traits, in environmental Listeria species and other environmental microflora from a dairy processing facility by analyzing whole-genome sequences of 6 environmental Listeria isolates, 4 ATCC reference strains, and 22 air and floor swab cultures, annotated using the RAST platform. Subsystem analysis revealed that Listeria isolates carried a defined set of genes linked to biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and stress response, though in lower abundance than environmental cultures. …

Low Energy Availability (Lea) And Its Relationship To Nutritional Status And Bone Health In Collegiate Athletes, Anthony Dempsey

UNH URC Open (2026 and after)

This project aims to identify low energy availability in a sample of collegiate athletes and explore the relationship with bone mineral density and nutrient deficiencies. Participants (n=3,407) were recruited from a northeast university and self-reported athlete status and physical activity via online questionnaire. Food records were used to calculate energy and nutrient intake. Anthropometrics including height, weight, body composition and bone mineral status were measured in duplicate. Energy availability (EA) was calculated as (Energy Intake (EI) -Exercising Energy Expenditure) (EEE)) /Fat Free Mass (FFM) (kg) and categorized as optimal (>45 kcal/kg FFM), subclinical, or clinically low (< 30 kcal/kg FFM). Fifteen percent of participants were characterized as athletes (club or division I varsity); mean EA was lower among athletes vs. nonathletes (17.90.7vs.21.90.3, p< .001). Males were more likely to have optimal EA status vs. females (8.8vs4.7%, p< .001). Most females (75.1%) were categorized as clinically LEA; 20.3% had subclinical LEA. Among men, athletes’ EA was similar to nonathletes (21.11.2vs22.20.5, p=.4); among females, athletes had lower EA vs. nonathletes (16.220.9vs21.70.3, p< .001). Males with clinically low EA were most likely to consume inadequate intakes of potassium, fiber, iron, and vitamin D (77.1,94.0,10.4 and 97.3%, respectively); similarly, females with clinically low EA, were most likely to consume inadequate intakes (81.9,87.6,88.3, and 99.5%, respectively). Bone z-scores were higher among athletes vs. non athletes (-.27±.06vs-.67±.02, p< .001) but were not different by EA status. Given the prevalence of LEA within the college athlete and nonathlete populations, further research and tailored nutritional education is needed for this at-risk population.

Protocol For Stable Isotope Tracing Of Primary Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, Samantha N. Hart, Holden C. Williams, William B. Inabnet Iii, Joshua P. Steiner, Varun Jain, Philip A. Kern, Cecily R. Wood, Barbara S. Nikolajczyk, Lance A. Johnson

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Stable isotope tracing gives direct insight into the rate of metabolic reactions occurring in cells by analyzing the incorporation of labeled carbons into metabolic pathways. Here, we present a protocol for stable isotope tracing of primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We describe the steps for culturing and exposing PBMCs to stable isotopes U¹³C glucose and U¹³C glutamine. We then detail procedures for derivatization, metabolite purification, and tracing analysis via single-quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

A Live Cell Biosensor Protocol For High-Resolution Screening Of Therapy-Resistant Cancer Cells, Viral D. Oza, Colin S. Williams, Jessica S. Blackburn

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The Genetically Encoded Death Indicator (GEDI) is a ratiometric, dual-fluorescence biosensor that enables real-time detection of cell death through calcium influx. Originally developed for use in neurodegeneration models, GEDI can be applied to cancer cells to quantify therapy-induced death at single-cell resolution. This protocol details how to generate GEDI-expressing cancer cell lines, empirically determine stress-induced GEDI thresholds using radiation or chemotherapeutic agents, and perform time-resolved imaging and image analysis to track cell fate. This workflow is optimized for high-throughput drug and radiation screening in heterogeneous populations and is especially useful for identifying chemo- and radio-resistant subclones. Key limitations include the …

Behavior Of A Komodo Dragon In Relation To Whole-Prey Feeding, Gurkiran Kaur Natt

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In zoological settings, whole-prey feeding is an enrichment strategy widely used to prompt naturalistic behaviors; yet, the specific behavioral shifts this causes in reptiles are not well-documented. This study focused on the activity budgets and spatial use of a six-year-old male Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) housed at the Akron Zoo, analyzing his movements in direct response to whole-prey feeding sessions. Over an eight-week observation period, instantaneous scan sampling was utilized to quantify behaviors before and after two distinct whole-prey feeding sessions. Although active behaviors and "not visible" instances increased marginally post-feeding, paired t-tests confirmed these shifts were not statistically significant …

Social Influences On Exercise And Physical Activity, Domanick Speelman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Background: Regular exercise plays a big role in maintaining an individual’s physical and mental health, preventing diseases, and improving overall well-being. A plethora of things can influence an individual’s exercise habits, for better or worse, including social, environmental, and familial contexts. This study described exercise and social influences among undergraduate college students. More specifically, this study described exercising habits (frequency, duration, type, etc.) as well as the role of social media, environmental conditions, and family support during a typical week of the academic semester.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive survey

Methods: A sample of 33 undergraduate students from a public university in …

Biol 225 - Laboratory Manual For Human Physiology, Corey Sullivan, Kristin Thurlby, Gwen Wright

Human Physiology

This laboratory manual for Human Physiology represents the Creative Commons licensed (CC-BY-NC 4.0) material created as an Open Educational Resource.