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Factors Influencing Plant Community Structure And Composition Of Restored Tamaulipan Thornscrub Forests, Jerald T. Garrett, Audrey J. Hicks, Christopher A. Gabler Oct 2025

Factors Influencing Plant Community Structure And Composition Of Restored Tamaulipan Thornscrub Forests, Jerald T. Garrett, Audrey J. Hicks, Christopher A. Gabler

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas is a biodiversity hotspot due to its high alpha, beta, and gamma diversity and high regional endemism, which are at high risk of degradation. The region has lost 95% of its native thornforest habitat primarily due to agricultural and urban expansion. This study aims to evaluate the current vegetative structure and composition of restored thornforest sites located in the LRGV to identify restoration methods and site characteristics that affect forest restoration outcomes. Twelve restored thornforest sites were selected for this study that varied in time since restoration, patch size, degree of isolation, …


Development Of Students Worksheet Based On Project-Based Learning To Train Critical Thinking Skills At Vocational High School, Dia Ayu Permatasari, Harun Nasruddin Oct 2025

Development Of Students Worksheet Based On Project-Based Learning To Train Critical Thinking Skills At Vocational High School, Dia Ayu Permatasari, Harun Nasruddin

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Critical thinking is a cognitive skill that helps identify problems and generate solutions, leading to logical decisions or considerations for solving those problems. Students' critical thinking skills can be trained through learning activities to further improve students' critical thinking skills with learning tools. Therefore, this research intends to produce a student worksheet based on project-based learning to train students' critical thinking skills on the colligative properties of solutions. The development research uses the 4D development model from Thiagarajan, limited to the development stage. A limited trial was conducted with 30 students of industrial chemical engineering expertise at Vocational High School …


Development Of Digital Comic Learning Media Based On Mobile Learning On Media: Making Media Materials In Plant Tissue Culture, Sufina Intan Pertiwi, Fauziyah Harahap, Aline Gusti Yolanda Harahap, Marsya Amira Indrawati, Aline Jelita Christiani Simanullang, Yanda Febry Gracea Br Tarigan, Maureen Efriyanti Sitinjak Oct 2025

Development Of Digital Comic Learning Media Based On Mobile Learning On Media: Making Media Materials In Plant Tissue Culture, Sufina Intan Pertiwi, Fauziyah Harahap, Aline Gusti Yolanda Harahap, Marsya Amira Indrawati, Aline Jelita Christiani Simanullang, Yanda Febry Gracea Br Tarigan, Maureen Efriyanti Sitinjak

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

his research was conducted based on student needs analysis, analysis of learner characteristics, and curriculum analysis, namely the lack of visualization and presentation of concepts and the lack of utilization of interactive technology in the learning process on media material and media making in tissue culture for college students. This study intends to develop digital comic media based on mobile learning and making media materials in tissue culture. This research method used research and development (R&D) with the ADDIE model: analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate. The subjects of this study were students of the Department of Biology, Universitas Negeri …


Problem-Based Learning Assisted By Augmented Reality On The Respiratory System Topic: A Study Of Students’ Critical Thinking Skills And Learning Motivation, Nyimas Dilviana, Ade Yeti Nuryantini, Sumiyati Sa'adah Oct 2025

Problem-Based Learning Assisted By Augmented Reality On The Respiratory System Topic: A Study Of Students’ Critical Thinking Skills And Learning Motivation, Nyimas Dilviana, Ade Yeti Nuryantini, Sumiyati Sa'adah

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model assisted by Augmented Reality (AR) technology regarding the respiratory system in improving students’ critical thinking skills and learning motivation. The research method used was a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest model. The subjects were 30 eleventh-grade students from a public high school in Garut City. Research instruments included a critical thinking test and a learning motivation questionnaire. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ critical thinking scores after the implementation of PBL with AR support. Additionally, learning motivation data analyzed from 16 statement items revealed …


Interview With Orca Award Winner Donald Weeks; Unl Biochemistry; Biotechnology, Mark Griep, Donald Weeks Oct 2025

Interview With Orca Award Winner Donald Weeks; Unl Biochemistry; Biotechnology, Mark Griep, Donald Weeks

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Emeritus Professor Donald Paul Weeks was awarded the ORCA in 2014, a year before he retired. He grew up in a small farm south of Terre Haute, Indiana. In his youth, he participated in 4-H programs that must have sparked an interest in science because he earned his bachelor's degree from Purdue University in 1963. Purdue is about 90 miles north of Terre Haute. Don's doctoral work was at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for a project about protein synthesis during maize germination. Next, he did postdoctoral work at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where his research …


Chemical Analyses Of Grass Samples, Johan Du Toit, Shantell Garrett Oct 2025

Chemical Analyses Of Grass Samples, Johan Du Toit, Shantell Garrett

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Results of chemical analyses of grass samples collected in the foothills of the Henry Mountains, south-central Utah, in the fall of 2021.


Day-Night Shifts In Water-Soluble Ions Of Size-Resolved Aerosols Before And After The Covid-19 Lockdown In A Coastal Megacity: Metro Manila, Philippines, Grace Betito, Paola Angela Bañaga, Rachel A. Braun, Maria Obiminda Cambaliza, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Alexander B. Macdonald, James Bernard Simpas, Connor Stahl, Armin Sooroshian Oct 2025

Day-Night Shifts In Water-Soluble Ions Of Size-Resolved Aerosols Before And After The Covid-19 Lockdown In A Coastal Megacity: Metro Manila, Philippines, Grace Betito, Paola Angela Bañaga, Rachel A. Braun, Maria Obiminda Cambaliza, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Alexander B. Macdonald, James Bernard Simpas, Connor Stahl, Armin Sooroshian

SOSE Affiliate: Manila Observatory

The COVID-19 pandemic-driven lockdowns offer a unique opportunity to examine how reductions in anthropogenic emissions impacted atmospheric aerosol composition in urban environments. This study investigates the day-night variability of size-resolved water-soluble ions in ambient particulate matter (PM) collected in Metro Manila before (November 2019–February 2020) and after (November 2020–February 2021) lockdown implementation. Using tandem Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors (MOUDIs), aerosol samples were collected during daytime (06:00–18:00) and nighttime (18:00–06:00) periods and analyzed for key ionic species (sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, oxalate, sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium) via ion chromatography. Submicrometer water-soluble mass declined post-lockdown, particularly during daytime, reflecting suppressed secondary formation …


Plant Biomass (Dry) Per Square Meter, Johan Du Toit, Shantell Garrett Oct 2025

Plant Biomass (Dry) Per Square Meter, Johan Du Toit, Shantell Garrett

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Results of plant biomass clippings (dry mass / square meter) conducted in the foothills of the Henry Mountains, south-central Utah, over 2012-2022.


Insights Into Cardiac O-Glcnacylation As A Link Between The Diabetic State And Increased Cardiovascular Disease Susceptibility And Pathology, Samuel Formosa Chang Oct 2025

Insights Into Cardiac O-Glcnacylation As A Link Between The Diabetic State And Increased Cardiovascular Disease Susceptibility And Pathology, Samuel Formosa Chang

All ETDs from UAB

With diabetes prevalence around the world nearing 10%, and half of the US population having either diabetes or pre-diabetes, many epidemiological studies show diabetic patients have both increased risk for developing major cardiovascular disease (CVD), and increased mortality rates due to CVD. Additionally, within this field, studies have shown that indi-viduals with previously higher HbA1C levels have higher long-lasting risk for major ad-verse cardiac events compared to those with previously lower HbA1C levels—establishing the concept of “metabolic memory”. Within the diabetic milieu, cardiac protein O-GlcNAcylation (O-linked B-N-acetyl-glucosamine) is important for cardiac pathology de-velopment. Specifically, our lab generated a cardiomyocyte specific, …


Transcriptomic Analysis Demonstrates Moderators Of Muscle Quality Are Altered In Age-Related Sarcopenic Obesity, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ana Regina Cabrera, Ronald G. Jones Iii, Francielly Morena, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene, Tyrone A. Washington Oct 2025

Transcriptomic Analysis Demonstrates Moderators Of Muscle Quality Are Altered In Age-Related Sarcopenic Obesity, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ana Regina Cabrera, Ronald G. Jones Iii, Francielly Morena, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene, Tyrone A. Washington

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

BackgroundSarcopenic obesity (SO) is the combined condition of sarcopenia and obesity, which commonly occurs in the older adult population. SO is associated with poor physical function, increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, and reduced quality of life and independence. Information on the molecular underpinnings of this condition is limited. The aim of this study was to provide a transcriptomic analysis characterizing SO induced by lifelong obesity and to provide a deeper understanding of the etiology of the condition.ResultsYoung (Y) (6 mo) and aged (A) (21-24 mo) mice were fed either normal chow (L) (12% kcal from fat) or high-fat (O) (60% …


Mechanistic Distinction Between Oxidative And Chlorination Transformations Of Chloroperoxidase From Caldariomyces Fumago Demonstrated By Dye Decolorization, Norman Paz-Ramirez, Jacob Redwinski, Matthew A. Cranswick, Kyle A. Grice, Kari Stone Oct 2025

Mechanistic Distinction Between Oxidative And Chlorination Transformations Of Chloroperoxidase From Caldariomyces Fumago Demonstrated By Dye Decolorization, Norman Paz-Ramirez, Jacob Redwinski, Matthew A. Cranswick, Kyle A. Grice, Kari Stone

Chemistry Department Faculty Articles

Effluents from the textile industry, particularly those containing synthetic azo dyes, poses a significant environmental threat, necessitating the development of more effective and sustainable pollutant removal methods. Traditional dye removal techniques often fall short in efficiency and environmental impact, prompting the exploration of enzymatic degradation as a promising alternative. This study focuses on chloroperoxidase, a natural biocatalyst recognized for its ability to oxidize synthetic dyes into less harmful products. By exploring the mechanistic distinction between chlorination and oxidative processes, we investigate the enzyme’s specific degradation pathways for azo dyes and the resulting by-products. Utilizing analytical techniques, including liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry …


Germline Determinants Of Toxicity And Efficacy In Patients With Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With Car T-Cell Therapy, Paolo Strati, Amanda Brandt, Anath C Lionel, Jared Henderson, Jason R Westin, Sherry Adkins, Elizabeth J Shpall, Partow Kebriaei, Jeremy Ramdial, Neeraj Saini, Sairah Ahmed, Christopher Flowers, Sattva S Neelapu, Michelle A T Hildebrandt Oct 2025

Germline Determinants Of Toxicity And Efficacy In Patients With Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With Car T-Cell Therapy, Paolo Strati, Amanda Brandt, Anath C Lionel, Jared Henderson, Jason R Westin, Sherry Adkins, Elizabeth J Shpall, Partow Kebriaei, Jeremy Ramdial, Neeraj Saini, Sairah Ahmed, Christopher Flowers, Sattva S Neelapu, Michelle A T Hildebrandt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Recent data have suggested that germline genetic aberrations can affect outcomes in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CART). However, a comprehensive analysis of germline determinants of response and toxicity after CART has not yet been described.

Methods: Genome-wide genotyping was performed in 170 patients with LBCL treated with standard of care axicabtagene ciloleucel. Polygenic risk score instruments for blood cell traits and inflammatory markers were obtained from the PGS Catalog and analyzed using PRSice-2. Exploratory gene-based and genome-wide association study analyses were performed. Genetic ancestry of the patients with LBCL was …


Comprehensive Analysis Of The Tumor Targeting Efficiency Of Functionalized Nanoparticles In An Immunocompetent Environment, Nolan Jackson, Nasry Bouzeineddine, Daniel Cecchi, Safara Holder, Katrina Gee, Wayne Beckham, Sameh Basta, Sunil Krishnan, Devika B Chithrani Oct 2025

Comprehensive Analysis Of The Tumor Targeting Efficiency Of Functionalized Nanoparticles In An Immunocompetent Environment, Nolan Jackson, Nasry Bouzeineddine, Daniel Cecchi, Safara Holder, Katrina Gee, Wayne Beckham, Sameh Basta, Sunil Krishnan, Devika B Chithrani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The success of nanoparticle-based cancer therapeutics relies on their efficient tumor uptake and retention. Given this, improving nanoparticle localization in tumors is paramount to maximize their therapeutic potential. A common approach to achieve this is to functionalize nanoparticles with active targeting moieties that bind to specific tumor-associated receptors. Among these, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides have shown a potential to promote tumor accumulation by targeting the ανβ3 integrin receptor, a receptor commonly overexpressed by tumors owing to its role in promoting angiogenesis, metastasis and proliferation. Yet, its efficacy is commonly assessed using immunocompromised mice models. While useful, these models do not …


Evaluating The Potential And Limitations Of Nanopore Adaptive Sampling For Targeted Transcriptome Sequencing, Nicole Debruyne, Feng Wang, Yang Xu, Lan Lin Oct 2025

Evaluating The Potential And Limitations Of Nanopore Adaptive Sampling For Targeted Transcriptome Sequencing, Nicole Debruyne, Feng Wang, Yang Xu, Lan Lin

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Long-read RNA sequencing is a powerful technology for transcriptomics, but low throughput and high cost pose challenges. Adaptive sampling, a feature of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, offers real-time enrichment by selectively ejecting non-target molecules. We evaluate adaptive sampling for human transcriptome analysis. Adaptive sampling modestly enriches target transcripts (1.3 × for cDNA sequencing, 1.9 × for direct RNA sequencing) while preserving gene expression and splicing profiles, but is significantly less effective than cDNA hybridization capture. Short read lengths and low sequencing quality limit performance. Adaptive sampling on direct RNA sequencing can boost target yield (~ 20%) within fixed run times, potentially …


Polychlorinated Biphenyls Alter Estrogen Receptor Β-Mediated Epigenetic Regulation, Promoting Endometriosis, Yuri Park, Nuri Sung, Eunsu Kim, Jaeyeong Jeong, Juhee Sim, Mi Jin Park, John P Lydon, Xiaoming Guan, Sang Jun Han Oct 2025

Polychlorinated Biphenyls Alter Estrogen Receptor Β-Mediated Epigenetic Regulation, Promoting Endometriosis, Yuri Park, Nuri Sung, Eunsu Kim, Jaeyeong Jeong, Juhee Sim, Mi Jin Park, John P Lydon, Xiaoming Guan, Sang Jun Han

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endometriosis is a pathological condition characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial cells, leading to chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Epidemiological studies have associated exposure to dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, particularly PCB126, with an increased risk of endometriosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain poorly understood. We utilized a surgically induced endometriosis mouse model and human endometrial cell lines to assess the impact of PCB126 on endometriosis progression. Mice were exposed to environmentally relevant doses of PCB126. Endometriotic lesion growth, estrogen receptor signaling, receptor tyrosine kinase activity, and gene expression changes induced by PCB126-mediated elevation of DNA methyltransferase 3A …


Dual Targeting Of Orphan Nuclear Receptors Nr4a1 And Nr4a2 For Nonhormonal Endometriosis Therapy, Wai Ning Tiffany Tsui, Yuri Park, Srijana Upadhyay, Da Mi Kim, Lei Zhang, Gus Wright, Amanuel Hailemariam, Arafat Rahman Oany, Sang Jun Han, Stephen Safe Oct 2025

Dual Targeting Of Orphan Nuclear Receptors Nr4a1 And Nr4a2 For Nonhormonal Endometriosis Therapy, Wai Ning Tiffany Tsui, Yuri Park, Srijana Upadhyay, Da Mi Kim, Lei Zhang, Gus Wright, Amanuel Hailemariam, Arafat Rahman Oany, Sang Jun Han, Stephen Safe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Previous studies show that orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) regulates endometriotic cell growth, survival, estrogen receptor β (ERβ), mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling and fibrosis. NR4A2 is also expressed in epithelial and stromal derived endometriotic cells, and in this study the effects of 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)-(3,5-disubstitutedphenyl)methane (DIM-3,5) dual NR4A1/nuclear receptor 4A2 (NR4A2) ligands and knockdown of NR4A1 and NR4A2 were investigated. The dual NR4A1/2 DIM-3,5 analogs inhibited previously identified proendometriotic pathways and gene products, and they also inhibited TWIST1 and multiple markers associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The results show that both NR4A1 and NR4A2 regulate the same pathways, including endometriotic cell …


Geogenie: A Deep Learning Approach To Predict Geographic Provenance Of Biodiversity Samples From Genomic Snps, Bradley T. Martin, Zachery D. Zbinden, Michael E. Douglas, Marlis R. Douglas, Tyler K. Chafin Oct 2025

Geogenie: A Deep Learning Approach To Predict Geographic Provenance Of Biodiversity Samples From Genomic Snps, Bradley T. Martin, Zachery D. Zbinden, Michael E. Douglas, Marlis R. Douglas, Tyler K. Chafin

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Motivation

Determining geographic origin of samples is a common objective in wildlife management, forensics, and conservation. Current methods often assume evolutionary models or require extensive reference datasets, which are costly and difficult to develop, that perform poorly with uneven or biased sampling. Supervised deep learning offers a promising alternative by learning complex patterns without prior model specifications. Combined with novel geo-genetic data augmentation and preprocessing techniques, it can reduce reference panel demands and improve performance across diverse sampling schemes, broadening accurate provenance determination to more study systems. Results

We present GeoGenIE, an open-source software package powered by PyTorch for geographic …


Multimodal Reprogramming Of The Tumor Microenvironment By Mmr And Dual Checkpoint Blockade In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Models, Mulu Z. Tesfay, Aleksandra Cios, Khandoker Usran Ferdous, Randal S. Shelton, Bahaa Mustafa, Camila C. Simoes, Murat Gokden, Isabelle R. Miousse, Kimberly J. Krager, Marjan Boerma, Alicja Urbaniak, Anuradha Kunthur, Sri Obulareddy, Joshua M. Eichhorn, Steven R. Post, Jean Christopher Chamcheu, Omeed Moaven, Chiswili Y. Chabu, Dan G. Duda, Matteo Conti, Bruno Nardo, Rang Govindarajan, Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico, Lewis R. Roberts, Mitesh J. Borad, Martin J. Cannon, Alexei G. Basnakian, Bolni M. Nagalo Oct 2025

Multimodal Reprogramming Of The Tumor Microenvironment By Mmr And Dual Checkpoint Blockade In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Models, Mulu Z. Tesfay, Aleksandra Cios, Khandoker Usran Ferdous, Randal S. Shelton, Bahaa Mustafa, Camila C. Simoes, Murat Gokden, Isabelle R. Miousse, Kimberly J. Krager, Marjan Boerma, Alicja Urbaniak, Anuradha Kunthur, Sri Obulareddy, Joshua M. Eichhorn, Steven R. Post, Jean Christopher Chamcheu, Omeed Moaven, Chiswili Y. Chabu, Dan G. Duda, Matteo Conti, Bruno Nardo, Rang Govindarajan, Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico, Lewis R. Roberts, Mitesh J. Borad, Martin J. Cannon, Alexei G. Basnakian, Bolni M. Nagalo

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, thus, there is an urgent need to develop more effective therapeutic options for this dismal condition. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with improved response to immune checkpoint blockade in HCC, but their low abundance in most cases limits their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we demonstrate, in mice, that low-dose intratumoral immunovirotherapy with the trivalent measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) induces superior tumor-growth delay and extended host survival compared to individually administered vaccines for measles, mumps, or rubella viruses. Further, our results show that MMR therapy synergizes with PD-1 and …


Bacillus Sp. Sw14 Isolated From Arid Mangroves Sediments Enhances Tomato Plant Growth: Insights From Genome Analysis And Greenhouse Evaluation, Balamurugan Sadaiappan, Qurban Ali, Mahideen Afridi, Munawwar Ali Khan, Sunil Mundra Oct 2025

Bacillus Sp. Sw14 Isolated From Arid Mangroves Sediments Enhances Tomato Plant Growth: Insights From Genome Analysis And Greenhouse Evaluation, Balamurugan Sadaiappan, Qurban Ali, Mahideen Afridi, Munawwar Ali Khan, Sunil Mundra

All Works

Mangroves grow in arid regions with high temperatures, low precipitation, and evaporation. Despite low humidity and high salt concentration, these arid mangroves support diverse microorganisms, including salt-and temperature tolerant. The bacteria isolated from these arid mangroves have potential applications in arid agronomy, which alleviate plant stress and enhance plant growth. In this study, we characterize the genome of previously reported PGP and stress-tolerating bacteria, Bacillus sp. SW14, isolated from mangrove sediments of Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates. Further, we investigated its effects on tomato seed germination and plant growth. Genome size of the strain SW14 is 4.25 MB, with …


Chitosan Nanofibrous Dressing Increased Angiogenesis And Anti-Inflammatory Response In An Acute Wound Model In Rats: A Comparative Study, Yury Salkovskiy, Mahboubeh Ghanbari, Carlos P Jara, Sara Cartwright, Pinaki Mondal, Colman Freel, Sayed Ahmadreza Razian, Jason Mactaggart, Mark A. Carlson Oct 2025

Chitosan Nanofibrous Dressing Increased Angiogenesis And Anti-Inflammatory Response In An Acute Wound Model In Rats: A Comparative Study, Yury Salkovskiy, Mahboubeh Ghanbari, Carlos P Jara, Sara Cartwright, Pinaki Mondal, Colman Freel, Sayed Ahmadreza Razian, Jason Mactaggart, Mark A. Carlson

Journal Articles

Purpose

Chitosan-based materials are promising for wound healing because of their antibacterial efficacy, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, though their healing mechanisms remain unclear. This study explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing with chitosan nanofibrous dressings.

Methods

Thirty-nine Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups based on the type of dressings administered: (1) chitosan nanofibrous dressing + transparent film, (2) commercial scaffold + transparent film, and (3) transparent film alone (control). Full-thickness wounds (2 cm × 2 cm) were created on the dorsum, splinted, and covered with dressings. Evaluations at 7, 14, and 21 days included histological analysis, …


A Neuroimmune Cerebral Assembloid Model To Study The Pathophysiology Of Familial Alzheimer's Disease, Andrea Becerra-Calixto, Anik Banerjee, Huihui Fan, Chunfeng Tan, Eunyoung Lee, Louise D Mccullough, Juneyoung Lee Oct 2025

A Neuroimmune Cerebral Assembloid Model To Study The Pathophysiology Of Familial Alzheimer's Disease, Andrea Becerra-Calixto, Anik Banerjee, Huihui Fan, Chunfeng Tan, Eunyoung Lee, Louise D Mccullough, Juneyoung Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia globally. The accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins, neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation are seen with AD progression, resulting in memory and cognitive impairment. Microglia are crucial for AD progression as they engage with neural cells and protein aggregates to regulate amyloid pathology and neuroinflammation. Recent studies indicate that microglia contribute to the propagation of amyloid beta (Aβ) via their immunomodulatory functions including Aβ phagocytosis and inflammatory cytokine production. Three-dimensional cell culture techniques provide the opportunity to study pathophysiological changes in AD in human-derived samples that are difficult to recapitulate in …


Synaptic Transmission Promotes Brain Metastatic Outgrowth In Breast Cancer, Jayanta Mondal, Patrick Nylund, Prit Benny Malgulwar, William E Johnson, Jason T Huse Oct 2025

Synaptic Transmission Promotes Brain Metastatic Outgrowth In Breast Cancer, Jayanta Mondal, Patrick Nylund, Prit Benny Malgulwar, William E Johnson, Jason T Huse

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This work demonstrates that normal neuron-to-neuron signaling machinery is hijacked by metastasizing cancer cells during their outgrowth in the central nervous system.


Western Ranch Management Institute, David Secrist Oct 2025

Western Ranch Management Institute, David Secrist

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.


Quiescent Oxphos-High Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells That Persist After Chemotherapy Depend On Bcl-Xl For Survival, Slawomir Andrzejewski, Marie Winter, Leandro Encarnacao Garcia, Olusiji Akinrinmade, Francisco Madeira Marques, Emmanouil Zacharioudakis, Anna Skwarska, Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, Marina Konopleva, Guangrong Zheng, Susan A Fineberg, Daohong Zhou, Evripidis Gavathiotis, Tao Wang, Eugen Dhimolea Oct 2025

Quiescent Oxphos-High Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells That Persist After Chemotherapy Depend On Bcl-Xl For Survival, Slawomir Andrzejewski, Marie Winter, Leandro Encarnacao Garcia, Olusiji Akinrinmade, Francisco Madeira Marques, Emmanouil Zacharioudakis, Anna Skwarska, Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, Marina Konopleva, Guangrong Zheng, Susan A Fineberg, Daohong Zhou, Evripidis Gavathiotis, Tao Wang, Eugen Dhimolea

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The persistent residual tumor cells that survive after chemotherapy are a major cause of treatment failure, but their survival mechanisms remain largely elusive. These cancer cells are typically characterized by a quiescent state with suppressed activity of MYC and MTOR. We observed that the MYC-suppressed persistent triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are metabolically flexible and can upregulate mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes and respiratory function ("OXPHOS-high" cell state) in response to DNA-damaging anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, but not to taxanes. The elevated biomass and respiratory function of mitochondria in OXPHOS-high persistent cancer cells were associated with mitochondrial elongation and remodeling, …


Design Principles For Deployable Fibers Inspired By Hagfish Defense, Mohammad Tanver Hossain, Wonsik Eom, Pallab Layak, Jeongmin Kim, Carolyn Darling, Andrew Lowe, Douglas S. Fudge, Sameh H. Tawfick, Randy Ewoldt Oct 2025

Design Principles For Deployable Fibers Inspired By Hagfish Defense, Mohammad Tanver Hossain, Wonsik Eom, Pallab Layak, Jeongmin Kim, Carolyn Darling, Andrew Lowe, Douglas S. Fudge, Sameh H. Tawfick, Randy Ewoldt

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Hagfish produce extraordinary slime as a defense mechanism, releasing exudate from glands that rapidly form a fibrous, soft, ultra-dilute, water-capturing network upon contact with seawater (up to 10 000 times its original volume). The gland thread cell (GTC) produces high-strength protein threads (filament diameter df = 1–3 µm) meticulously coiled into skeins (coil diameter Do ∼ 150 µm) that rapidly unravel upon deployment to reveal their hidden length (Lf = 15 cm), forming a cohesive fibrous slime network through interaction with mucin vesicles and seawater. To date, no engineered material is able to replicate the fiber …


A Novel Turmeric Drying Approach Based On Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, Sumanjot Kaur, Arda Tuhanioglu, Ali Ubeyitogullari Oct 2025

A Novel Turmeric Drying Approach Based On Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, Sumanjot Kaur, Arda Tuhanioglu, Ali Ubeyitogullari

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

As a widely used spice, turmeric is rich in curcuminoids, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the drying process, especially at high temperatures, often leads to significant curcumin degradation, impacting its bioactivity and quality. This study investigates drying turmeric using an innovative approach based on supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2), and conventional drying methods (oven drying and freeze-drying) in terms of curcuminoid retention, color, solubility, chemical interactions, crystallinity, and morphology. The results revealed that SC-CO2 drying preserved up to 82.3 mu g curcuminoids /mg dried turmeric, which was significantly higher than the levels retained by oven drying …


A Preliminary, Photography-Based Assessment Of Bee Diversity At The Finca Botánica Organic Farm In The Central Pacific Coast Of Ecuador, Joseph S. Wilson, Tyler M. Wilson, Chris Packer, Orlando Pacheco Oct 2025

A Preliminary, Photography-Based Assessment Of Bee Diversity At The Finca Botánica Organic Farm In The Central Pacific Coast Of Ecuador, Joseph S. Wilson, Tyler M. Wilson, Chris Packer, Orlando Pacheco

Biology Faculty Publications

Understanding wild bee diversity is critical for pollinator conservation, particularly in understudied tropical regions like coastal Ecuador. This preliminary study provides a photography-based assessment of bee diversity at Finca Botánica, an organic and regenerative farm on Ecuador’s central Pacific coast. Over a 10-day survey in December 2024, researchers documented 51 bee species across four families, with Apidae being the most represented. The study highlights a predominance of solitary, ground-nesting bees and a lower-than-expected diversity of Meliponini (stingless bees) and Euglossini (orchid bees) compared to other regions of Ecuador. Many species were found in forest patches, ecological corridors, and cover-cropped maize …


Enhanced Piezo1 Function Contributes To The Pathogenesis Of Sickle Cell Disease, Luis O Romero, Manisha Bade, Laila Elsherif, Jada D Williams, Xiangmei Kong, Adebowale Adebiyi, Kenneth I Ataga, Shang Ma, Julio F Cordero-Morales, Valeria Vásquez Oct 2025

Enhanced Piezo1 Function Contributes To The Pathogenesis Of Sickle Cell Disease, Luis O Romero, Manisha Bade, Laila Elsherif, Jada D Williams, Xiangmei Kong, Adebowale Adebiyi, Kenneth I Ataga, Shang Ma, Julio F Cordero-Morales, Valeria Vásquez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation in the β-globin gene, is characterized by sickle erythrocytes that are prone to hemolysis, leading to anemia and vaso-occlusion crises. In sickle erythrocytes, hemoglobin aggregation is followed by altered cation permeability and subsequent dehydration. Interventions that restore cation permeability can decrease hemolysis and ameliorate the symptoms associated with SCD. PIEZO1 is a nonselective mechanosensitive cation channel that regulates erythrocyte volume. Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PIEZO1 cause hemolytic anemia by increasing cation permeability, leading to erythrocyte dehydration in humans and mice. Although PIEZO1 plays a key role in erythrocyte …


A Soft-Stiff Patterned Bioengineering Model Reveals Kinase Pathways Driving Directional Cell Migration In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Tamanna Islam, Jacob Hooper, Xiaojun Zhang, Clarissa Garcia, Md Mahedi Hasan, David H Drewry, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Taslim A Al-Hilal Oct 2025

A Soft-Stiff Patterned Bioengineering Model Reveals Kinase Pathways Driving Directional Cell Migration In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Tamanna Islam, Jacob Hooper, Xiaojun Zhang, Clarissa Garcia, Md Mahedi Hasan, David H Drewry, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Taslim A Al-Hilal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Directional cell migration by pulmonary arterial cells (PACs) is one of the important features of diseases involving arterial remodeling, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a disease that is often characterized by reduced arterial compliance and increased extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening. However, there are no therapeutics that can halt the directional cell migration of PACs in PAH. The inability to identify drug targets or drugs against the directional cell migration during PAH pathogenesis stems from an incomplete understanding of the process and a lack of effective translational models for screening of candidate small molecules. Here, for the first time, we …


Advances In Fret Methodologies For Probing Molecular Interactions, Geetika Verma, Vasanthi Jayaraman Oct 2025

Advances In Fret Methodologies For Probing Molecular Interactions, Geetika Verma, Vasanthi Jayaraman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has evolved into a powerful, quantitative approach for probing biomolecular structure, dynamics, and interactions. This research highlight brings together recent studies in Biophysical Journal that push the boundaries of traditional FRET. These innovations expand the spatial and temporal resolution of FRET, enabling its application to increasingly complex biological systems.