Digital Commons Network^™

A Myostatin Inhibitory Antibody Combined With Insulin, Partially Rescues The Musculoskeletal Phenotype Of Female Insulin-Deficient Diabetic Mice, R. Clay Bunn, Reuben Adatorwovor, Philip D. Ray, Alexander R. Keeble, Christopher S. Fry, Sasidhar Uppuganti, Jeffry S. Nyman, John L. Fowlkes, Evangelia Kalaitzoglou

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes is associated with deficits in both skeletal muscle and bone. Inhibition of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass, was explored as a druggable target to improve the musculoskeletal phenotype associated with insulin-deficient diabetes in female mice. Methods: We investigated whether administration of an inhibitory myostatin antibody (MyoAb) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in female mice is protective for skeletal muscle and bone. DBA/2J female mice were injected with low-dose streptozotocin or with citrate buffer (vehicle). Subsequently, mice were implanted with insulin-containing or vehicle pellets, with groups being randomized to myostatin or control antibody for 8 weeks. At …

Diagnosing Statistical Education Needs Of Health Science Learners, Amy S. Nowacki, Ann M. Brearley, Robert A. Oster, Emily Slade, Katrina L. Devick, Matthew J. Hayat, Sally W. Thurston

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Many types of health science learners, including clinical and translational scientists, students, researchers, and clinicians, seek to increase their knowledge of biostatistics. These learners are heterogeneous in their field, career stage and career focus. Based on the collective experience of an expert panel with over 115 years teaching statistics to health science learners, we propose a framework for considering the needs of health science learners motivated by their career goals. This framework defines four types of health science learners seeking statistical training: (a) consumers, (b) “milestone makers”, (c) biomedical researchers with statistical support, and (d) biomedical researchers without statistical support. …

Pecto-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block With Or Without Rectus Sheath Block In Cardiac Surgery, Anne L. Castro, Hemanckur Makker, Laura S. Gonzalez, Audrey Jensen, Sergey S. Tarima, Adam Pagryzinski, Rozalin Thapa, Ali Qureshi, Christopher Fadumiye, Krystal Weierstahl, Paul Pearson, Julie K. Freed

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background Median sternotomy and chest tube sites drive pain following cardiac surgery. Prior research has demonstrated that pecto-intercostal fascial plane blocks (PIFBs) reduce median sternotomy pain after cardiac surgery. Prior studies examining the addition of a rectus sheath block (RSB) to localize the insertion site of subxiphoid chest tubes have had mixed results. Methods In this single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 62 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternotomy and subxiphoid chest tubes were randomized to receive PIFB and RSB with local anesthetic versus PIFB with local anesthetic and RSB with saline placebo. The primary outcome was pain at rest …

The Association Between Four Neighborhood Disadvantage Indices And Child Chronic Health Classifications, Kahir Jawad, Yana B. Feygin, Michelle Stevenson, Bethany A. Wattles, Jennifer Porter, V. Faye Jones, Deborah Winders Davis

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Neighborhood advantage/disadvantage is a social determinant of health. We aimed to examine the distribution and associations between child chronic health conditions and four commonly used indices. Methods: Children with outpatient visits and valid addresses (n = 115,738) were included and outcomes were categorized as having no chronic disease (N-CD), non-complex chronic disease (NC-CD), and complex chronic disease (C-CD). Four measures of neighborhood characteristics (Child Opportunity Index, Area Deprivation Index, Neighborhood Disadvantage Index, Social Vulnerability Index were calculated from census data. Separate multinomial logistic regression models were used. Results: The indices’ scores were correlated (r = 0.80–0.92). Children in low …

Cloning, Expression, And Characterization Of Collagen Galactosyltransferases From Human, Sponge, And Sea Walnut, Jeong Seon Kim, Tingfei Chen, Botao Zhang, Tristin M. Miller, Marisa E. Gilliam, Houfu Guo

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Collagen is an extracellular matrix protein conserved across animals and viruses, with its function regulated by post-translational modifications of lysine residues. Specifically, certain lysine residues in collagen are hydroxylated to form hydroxylysine, which serves as an attachment site for hydroxylysine-linked glycosylation. This glycosylation process is initiated by collagen galactosyltransferases from the GT25 family, also known as GLT25D or COLGALT proteins. Despite their biological importance, efficient methods for expressing and isolating GLT25Ds have yet to be fully developed, and the biochemical mechanisms underlying their function still need to be better understood. To address this, we performed sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses …

All-Cause And Exacerbation-Related Readmissions In Thrombotic Microangiopathy Requiring Plasmapheresis: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Alexander R. Thebert, Toru Yoshino, Sae X. Morita, Misa Ito, Ayman Qasrawi, Hirotaka Kato

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a serious condition characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, with high exacerbation rates. This study examined all-cause and exacerbation-related readmission risks among patients hospitalized with TMA requiring plasmapheresis.

Materials and Methods: Secondary analysis of the 2020 Nationwide Readmission Database was conducted, including discharge data from non-federal hospitals in 31 U.S. states. Patients aged 18 years or older admitted non-electively with a primary or secondary diagnosis of TMA requiring plasmapheresis were included. Exacerbation-related readmission was defined as subsequent admission requiring plasmapheresis within 7 or 30 days after the original discharge. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox …

Clonal Hematopoiesis Of Indeterminate Potential And The Risk Of Cognitive Impairment In The Women’S Health Initiative Memory Study, Yasminka A. Jakubek, Aaron P. Smith, Xiaoyan I. Leng, Megan E. Hall, Daniel Ezzat, Yash Pershad, Jason M. Collins, Md Mesbah Uddin, David W. Fardo, Pradeep Natarajan, Alexander G. Bick, Jacob O. Kitzman, Michael C. Honigberg, Kathleen M. Hayden, Joann E. Manson, Siddhartha Jaiswal, Eric A. Whitsel, Alexander P. Reiner

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) confers an increased risk of several chronic aging-related diseases. Paradoxically, CHIP was associated with lower risk of dementia in recent studies.

METHODS

We examined associations between baseline CHIP and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or probable dementia in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. CHIP was detected using blood-based targeted sequencing. Cox proportional hazards models examined time to onset of cognitive impairment, adjusting for traditional risk factors.

RESULTS

Using a conventional variant allele fraction (VAF) threshold of 2%, CHIP was not associated with incident cognitive impairment. The presence of larger CHIP clone (VAF …

Dual Biologic Therapy Induces Remission In Refractory Crohn’S Disease With Vedolizumab And Ustekinumab, Syed Adeel Hassan, Courtney Perry, Patrick Carey, Durham Colohan, Mohamed Gebril Eltaher, Nabila Dawoud, Mahmoud Elkammar, Waqas Rasheed, Casie Mayne, Amy Stuffelbeam, Deborah R. Auer Flomenhoft, Terrence A. Barrett

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Despite advancements in the therapeutic armamentarium for Crohn’s disease (CD), biologic and small molecule monotherapies are associated with sub-optimal response and remission rates. Utilizing dual biologic therapy (DBT) holds the potential to increase efficacy in the treatment of refractory or partially responsive CD. Evidence pertaining to this strategy remains limited. Methods

We retrospectively examined refractory CD patients treated with a combination of ustekinumab and vedolizumab. Outcomes to DBT at week (wk) 52 were compared to monotherapy. The primary outcome constituted corticosteroid-free remission. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, infections, hospitalizations, surgeries, treatment persistence, and disease clearance. Results

Sixteen of 21 …

Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste Using Machine Learning Based Imaging And Chemical Analysis, Enyonam Ahadzi

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023-billion-ton report, the United States generates nearly 300 million tons of municipal solid waste every year. More than 50% of that waste is underutilized and ends up in landfills. This poses serious public health and environmental risks. But beyond the environmental and health implications, this is also a wasted opportunity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that, for every 100 lbs of waste we throw away, about 85% can be used as fuel or for electricity generation. However, its complex and heterogeneous nature poses challenges for efficient sorting and valorization in waste to …

Valorizing Municipal Solid Waste For Sustainable Aviation Fuel And Polyhydroxyalkanoate Bioplastics: Pyrolysis And Microbial Pathways, Emon Das

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The escalating global burden of municipal solid waste (MSW), projected to reach 3.88 billion tons annually by 2050, calls for innovative valorization strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a circular bioeconomy. This thesis investigates the conversion of MSW into two high-value products: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. Chapter one presents comprehensive physicochemical characterization and pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis of MSW feedstocks. The physicochemical results reveal that densification enhances handling and storage properties, while pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis indicates that plastic-rich MSW streams produce bio-oils with favorable hydrocarbon profiles suitable for SAF production, potentially contributing to decarbonization efforts in the aviation …

Smart Qos-Aware Resource Management For Edge Intelligence Systems, Minoo Hosseinzadeh

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

There are several definitions for Smart Cities. One common key point of these definitions is that smart cities are technologically advanced cities which connect everything in a complex urban environment including infrastructure, information, and even people to cope with the crucial problems linked with the urban life such as traffic, pollution, city crowding, health, and poverty. Central to this vision are the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data, where interconnected devices with sensors collect vast amounts of data for informed decision-making. However, the rapid expansion of IoT devices challenges efficient data processing while meeting diverse Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements; for …

Optimization, Machine Learning, And Networking Solutions For Cyber-Physical Systems, Xu Tao

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) represent a transformative paradigm that integrates sensing, computation, and actuation through networked systems to enable intelligent, context-aware applications across various domains. Despite their growing potential, CPS still face critical challenges, particularly in maintaining reliable, low-latency communication and efficient data processing in resource-constrained and dynamic environments. These challenges are further magnified in rural or remote deployments, where traditional network infrastructure is often unavailable or unreliable. This dissertation addresses these challenges through the development of optimization and inference algorithms that enhance network performance in Software-Defined Networks (SDN), using techniques such as reinforcement learning and network tomography for efficient routing. …

Covid-19 Impacts On Refugee-Serving Ngos In Clarkston And The Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Georgia, United States, Ghazal Khaksari

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

This study provides a unique anthropological perspective on how technology, language, NGO staff, and culture intersect during emergency times, which can affect NGOs’ abilities to reach and help communities. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of equality in digital access and of available and culturally competent interpreters in reducing the gap between NGOs and refugee communities. The digital divide has played a fundamental role during the pandemic, often leading to other problems for both NGOs and refugees. This issue has taken a variety of forms in terms of access to education, language classes, community cohesion, and communication with and …

Intracellular Survival Of Staphylococcus Aureus In Macrophages During Osteomyelitis, William A. Lathram, Christopher D. Radka

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Staphylococcus aureus, traditionally viewed as an extracellular pathogen, is increasingly recognized for its ability to persist intracellularly, particularly within macrophages. This intracellular lifestyle is central to osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection characterized by persistent inflammation, bone destruction, and impaired repair. Within bone, S. aureus exploits macrophage plasticity by driving a shift from pro-inflammatory, bactericidal M1-like states to anti-inflammatory, tissue-reparative M2-like phenotypes. This polarization suppresses immune clearance and promotes an environment conducive to bacterial survival and dissemination. Additional strategies – including biofilm formation, small colony variants, and inhibition of phagolysosomal killing – further enhance persistence and immune evasion. While these …

Serglycin Controls Megakaryocyte Retention Of Platelet Factor 4 And Influences Megakaryocyte Fate In Bone Marrow, Joshua Lykins, Isabelle C. Becker, Virginia Camacho, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar, Joonwoo Park, Joseph Italiano, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Megakaryocytes (MKs) produce platelets, and similar to other hematopoietic progenitors, they are involved in homeostatic aspects of their bone marrow niche. MKs release and endocytose various factors, such as platelet factor 4 (PF4)/CXCL4. Here, we show that the intra-α-granular proteoglycan, serglycin (SRGN), plays a key role in this process by retaining PF4, and perhaps other factors, during MK maturation. Immature, SRGN–/– MKs released ~80% of their PF4, and conditioned media from these cells negatively affected wild-type MK differentiation in vitro. This was replicated in wild-type MKs by treatment with the polycation surfen, a known inhibitor of glycosaminoglycan (GAG)/protein interactions. In …

Abcg5/Abcg8-Independent Mechanisms Fail To Maintain Sterol Balance In Mice Fed A High-Cholesterol Diet, Garrett B. Anspach, Rupinder Kaur, Isha Chauhan, Erika L. Savage, Brittney Poole, Victoria P. Noffsinger, Xiaoming Fu, Zeneng Wang, Clairity Voy, Ryan E. Temel, Scott M. Gordon, Robert N. Helsley, Gregory A. Graf

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

The ABCG5/ABCG8 (G5G8) sterol transporter opposes the accumulation of dietary xenosterols but is also the primary mediator of biliary cholesterol secretion. In humans and in mouse models of disrupted biliary cholesterol secretion, fecal neutral sterols (FNSs) remain constant, indicating the presence of an alternate pathway for cholesterol excretion. Transintestinal cholesterol elimination or excretion (TICE) is thought to compensate for biliary disruptions and G5G8 insufficiency. We sought to measure the compensatory increase in intestinal cholesterol secretion and provide mechanistic insight for how TICE maintains sterol balance in the absence of hepatic G5G8. Differences were not observed in FNSs between control, acute, …

Rad Reduction Reveals Therapeutic Potential Of Targeting Cardiomyocyte L-Type Calcium Channel Regulation For Heart Failure, Garrett Elmore

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Heart failure (HF) is prevalent and is predicted to increase with the aging population. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of systolic HF. Current therapies fail to address principal issues: compromised systolic function and dysfunctional Ca²⁺ handling. No therapeutic approach exists for direct, positive modulation of cardiomyocyte L-type calcium channels (LTCC). RAD (Ras associated with diabetes) is a key regulator of the cardiac LTCC. RAD is a downstream phosphorylated target of the ß-adrenergic receptor (ß-AR)/cAMP/protein kinase A pathway; phosphorylation augments LTCC activity, contributing to chronotropy, inotropy, and lusitropy. RAD overexpression results in LTCC inhibition, whereas knockout positively modulates …

“It’S An Honor To Be In This Body”: A Black Feminist Grounded Theory Of Embodiment Among Black Womxn Yoga Practitioners (Bwyps), Natalie Malone

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Black womxn (i.e., individuals whose experiences align with Black girlhood/womanhood or whose bodies are perceived as Black, female, womanly, femme, or a combination) experience significant health and well-being challenges that may hinder their embodiment. Yoga is a complementary therapy that may help Black womxn improve their embodiment. This dissertation qualitatively explores the processes Black womxn yoga practitioners (BWYPs) engage in to cultivate positive embodiment. Participants were N=30 Black womxn who were short- (≤ five years; n=11), medium- (five–10 years; n=10), and long-term (>11 years; n=9) yoga practitioners. Participants completed individual interviews as part of the …

Assessment Of Cerebrospinal Fluid And Blood-Based Biomarkers In Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Harshit Arora, Hassan Darabi, Cassandra C. Wolsh, Kelsey N. Karnik, John C. Gensel, Francis Farhadi

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

Study Design: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the leading cause of spinal cord injury globally, may clinically manifest with hand numbness and tingling, loss of hand dexterity and impaired balance and gait. Biomarkers have been identified as disease indicators with recent studies exploring the role of structural and inflammatory biomarkers in diagnostic and treatment outcome prediction. The review aims to identify relevant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood-based biomarkers associated with DCM diagnosis and prognostication.

Methods: The systematic review was conducted as per PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy was devised to identify articles evaluating biomarkers in …

Frailty Indices In Patients Undergoing Functional Neurosurgical Procedures: A Systematic Review, Carmelo Venero Jr., Joanna M. Roy, Nirbha Ghurye, Akshay Warrier, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Niels Pacheco-Barrios, Farhan A. Mirza, Christian A. Bowers

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

Introduction: Functional neurosurgery covers a wide array of neurological disorders with an equally vast array of treatment modalities, including neuromodulation, decompressive, and ablative therapies for disparate pathologies such as pain, neuromodulation, disconnection, and refractory epilepsy. One of the most common functional treatments is deep brain stimulation for movement disorders and select psychiatric diseases. Functional neurosurgery treats patients with reduced quality of life from pathological neuronal pathways. Optimal patient selection by preoperatively identifying high-risk patients is critical for avoiding as many operative complications as possible, in addition to managing complications better once they occur. Frailty indices have demonstrated superior discrimination in …

Strategic Alignment Of Lexington Public Library And Art Community, Jonnisa Ferguson, Samantha Metzger-Elder

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Amidst the evolving economic, political, religious, social, and technological landscape of the United States, one enduring element across communities has been the presence and importance of public libraries. Despite the decreasing number of genuinely public spaces in America, public libraries remain accessible and welcoming to all (Howard, 2019). Modern public libraries unite people and are "rewriting common assumptions of what people think a library does" (Carlson, 2024). Going far beyond books, libraries are serving as a "trusted public common for social innovation and civic engagement," partnering with community organizations to address daily living issues (i.e., food insecurities and professional development), …

Ensuring A Future For The Past: Balancing Heritage Tourism And Historic Preservation, Kyra Frew Sexauer

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Savannah’s historic city plan, Charleston’s colonial architecture, and New Orleans’ Creole and Cajun culture and cuisine all have a commonality: they tangibly and intangibly connect the past to the present. Each city has a distinct and recognizable landscape, shaped by its built environment, history, and culture, which is listed as a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) – the most prestigious recognition a historic district can receive in the United States. Heritage tourists are drawn to these places by their history, culture, and authenticity. In 2022, a combined 42,320,000 million tourists poured into the streets of Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans. …

A Comparative Study Of State-Level Fast Programs To Identify Best Practices For Kentucky, Alana Morgan

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines best practices among state-level innovation programs participating in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, with a specific focus on the Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF). As a key player in Kentucky’s innovation ecosystem, KSEF supports small businesses and entrepreneurs in pursuing federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. This study evaluates KSEF’s current program effectiveness and identifies strategies from similar states that could strengthen Kentucky’s outcomes in securing federal innovation funding.

Using a qualitative comparative research design, this study analyzes interviews with program …

The Impact Of Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Expansion On Insurance Coverage In California, Akuoma Nwannunu

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This study examines the impact of California’s 12-month Medicaid postpartum expansion on insurance coverage outcomes among recent mothers using pooled data from the American Community Survey (ACS) microdata from 2018-2019 and 2022-2023. A quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design compared postpartum mothers with non-postpartum mothers to assess whether the policy altered Medicaid enrollment, private coverage, or uninsurance in the first two years after implementation. Findings show that Medicaid coverage increased slightly and uninsurance declined modestly among postpartum mothers, while private coverage remained stable. Across all three outcomes, however, the DID estimates were small and statistically insignificant, which indicates early but limited measurable effects. …

Exploratory Analysis Of Gait Mechanics In Farmers, Mariana V. Jacobs, Kate N. Jochimsen, Jody L. Clasey, Michael A. Samaan

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Farmers may be at a higher risk of developing hip osteoarthritis (OA) due to the high demands of their occupation. To the authors’ knowledge, the gait patterns of farmers that may be associated with hip joint degeneration have yet to be analyzed. Therefore, this study compares gait mechanics between farmers and non-farmers (controls). It is hypothesized that farmers would exhibit altered lower extremity joint mechanics during walking when compared to matched controls. This exploratory study included five farmers and five sex-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. A 3D gait analysis was performed while study participants walked at a …

Assessment Of Hip Joint Mechanics During Walking In People With Marfan Syndrome, Mariana V. Jacobs, Justin Melan Pol, Aaron D. Fain, Jody L. Clasey, Brecca M. M. Gaffney, Christopher J. Mclouth, Mary B. Sheppard, Michael A. Samaan

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Background: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder and is associated with muscle dysfunction. Individuals with MFS exhibit quadriceps weakness, hip joint pain, and an increased incidence of hip osteoarthritis (OA) compared to the general population, yet the underlying biomechanical factors associated with these poor hip-related outcomes are not well understood.

Research Question: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of MFS on gait mechanics and to determine the relationship of gait mechanics with hip-related outcomes within the MFS group. Methods: Eighteen people with MFS and 18 healthy, asymptomatic controls underwent 3D gait analysis. …

A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Thigh Mineral-Free Lean Mass Measures Using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Dxa) In Young Children, Trey R. Naylor, Mariana V. Jacobs, Michael A. Samaan, Laura C. Murphy, Douglas J. Schneider, Margaret O. Murphy, Hong Huang, John A. Bauer, Jody L. Clasey

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

This study aimed to (1) demonstrate the intra- and interrater reliability of quadriceps (QUADS) and hamstring (HAMS) mineral-free lean (MFL) mass measures using DXA scanning, (2) determine the association of total thigh MFL mass measures with MFL mass measures of the hamstrings and quadriceps combined and (3) analyze the association between total thigh MFL mass and total body MFL mass measures. A total of 80 young children (aged 5 to 11 yrs) participated and unique regions of interest were created using custom analysis software with manual tracing of the QUADS, HAMS, and total thigh MFL mass measures. Repeated-measure analysis of …

An Approach To Quantifying The Lifecycle Sustainability Impacts Of Tungsten Carbide Tools, Gatewood Arnold, Julian Polizzi, Syed Ibn Mohsin, Daniel Carnesi, Julius Schoop, Fazleena Badurdeen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Tungsten carbide cutting tools are widely used for their high machining performance and low cost. However, their cost does not currently reflect the material rarity, environmental costs, nor societal costs associated with their production. Critically, embodied energy makes a sizeable contribution to the total lifecycle energy consumption. This study quantifies the true triple bottom line cost of the tools with respect to established sustainability metrics by leveraging cross-disciplinary insights from the product, process, and system levels. Based on the adjusted cost, a comparative analysis of the cutting tool sustainability on the profitability of a nickel-based superalloy machining process was carried …

A Multi-Scale Finite Element Method For Investigating Fiber Remodeling In Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Mohammad Mehri, Kenneth S. Campbell, Lik Chuan Lee, Jonathan F. Wenk

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

A significant hallmark of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is fiber disarray, which is associated with various cardiac events such as heart failure. Quantifying fiber disarray remains critical for understanding the disease’s complex pathophysiology. This study investigates the role of heterogeneous HCM-induced cellular abnormalities in the development of fiber disarray and their subsequent impact on cardiac pumping function. Fiber disarray is predicted using a stress-based law to reorient myofibers and collagen within a multiscale finite element cardiac modeling framework, MyoFE. Specifically, the model is used to quantify the distinct impacts of heterogeneous distributions of hypercontractility, hypocontractility, and fibrosis on fiber disarray development …

Sex-Specific Roles Of The Adipocyte Mineralocorticoid Receptor In Obesity And Early Life Stress, Meghan B. Turner

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Obesity is a burgeoning health epidemic caused by chronic overnutrition and exacerbated by genetic, environmental and developmental factors. The adipocyte mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a transcriptionally active nuclear receptor, is speculated to contribute to metabolic dysfunction in the obese state. MR expression is increased in obese adipose tissue, and MR modulates the expression of fat-derived hormones such as leptin and adiponectin. In women, obesity can be exacerbated by early life stress, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Studies show that women display a positive association between cumulative ACE exposures and increased body mass index. Previously, we demonstrated that maternal separation and …