Digital Commons Network^™

Cancer Research Provides A Model For Advancing Clinical Trials In Dementia In The Era Of Disease-Modifying Alzheimer’S-Type Dementia Therapies, Gregory Jicha, Thomas Tucker, Susanne Arnold, Peter T. Nelson

Neurology Faculty Publications

Dementia and cancer are multifactorial, widely-feared, age-associated clinical syndromes that are increasing in prevalence. There have been major breakthroughs in clinical cancer research leading to some effective treatments, whereas the field of dementia has achieved comparatively limited success in clinical research. The lessons of cancer research may help those in the dementia research field in confronting some of the dilemmas faced when the clinical care regimen is not entirely safe or efficacious. Cancer clinical trials have assumed that untreated individuals with cancer are at high risk for morbidity and mortality after primary diagnoses. Thus, patients deserve a choice of clinical …

Multiomics Analysis To Explore Blood Metabolite Biomarkers In An Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Cohort, Takaki Oka, Yuki Matsuzawa, Momoka Tsuneyoshi, Yoshitaka Nakamura, Ken Aoshima, Hiroshi Tsugawa, Alzheimer’S Disease Metabolomics Consortium

Neurology Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that commonly causes dementia. Identifying biomarkers for the early detection of AD is an emerging need, as brain dysfunction begins two decades before the onset of clinical symptoms. To this end, we reanalyzed untargeted metabolomic mass spectrometry data from 905 patients enrolled in the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort using MS-DIAL, with 1,304,633 spectra of 39,108 unique biomolecules. Metabolic profiles of 93 hydrophilic metabolites were determined. Additionally, we integrated targeted lipidomic data (4873 samples from 1524 patients) to explore candidate biomarkers for predicting progressive mild cognitive impairment (pMCI) in patients diagnosed with AD …

Evaluating A Rapid Coaching Intervention Delivered Remotely: Teaching Naturalistic Language Strategies To A Parent Of Child With Down Syndrome, Pallie Gullett

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Parents of young children play a significant role in their child’s communication development during early childhood. Many parents of children with or at risk for disabilities could benefit from learning ways to promote their child’s communication. This study implemented a rapid coaching intervention to teach a parent of a child with Down syndrome how to implement naturalistic language strategies such as expanding on their child’s play, providing linguistic input during play, and arranging the environment to create an opportunity for their child to communicate.

Building Rural Resilience: A Rural And Farm Youth Safety And Well-Being Curriculum, Kelly Mcfarland

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Mental health is a growing concern in today’s youth (CDC, 2023). The suicide rates in youth have been on a rise, increasing the need for mental health literacy (CDC, 2023). Mental health is often neglected in people’s lives, especially in rural areas (Boyd et al., 2008). This study answers four research questions: 1) Has the Building Rural Resilience: A Rural and Farm Youth Safety and Well-being Curriculum increased students' knowledge to recognize stress factors among rural communities and farmers? 2) Has the Building Rural Resilience: A Rural and Farm Youth Safety and Well-being Curriculum increased students' knowledge to recognize stress …

Nalfurafine Promotes Myelination In Vitro And Facilitates Recovery From Cuprizone + Rapamycin-Induced Demyelination In Mice, Ross Van De Wetering, Rabia Bibi, Andy Biggerstaff, Sheein Hong, Bria Pengelly, Thomas E. Prisinzano, Anne C. La Flamme, Bronwyn M. Kivell

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The kappa opioid receptor has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for promoting remyelination. In the current study, we evaluated the ability of nalfurafine to promote oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation and myelination in vitro, and its efficacy in an extended, cuprizone-induced demyelination model. Primary mouse (C57BL/6J) OPC-containing cultures were treated with nalfurafine (0.6–200 nM), clemastine (0.01–100 μM), T3 (30 ng/mL), or vehicle for 5 days. Using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy, we found that nalfurafine treatment increased OPC differentiation, oligodendrocyte (OL) morphological complexity, and myelination of nanofibers in vitro. Adult male mice (C57BL/6J) were given a diet con- taining …

Ezh2 Inhibition Promotes Tumor Immunogenicity In Lung Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Tanner Ducote, Xiulong Song, Kassandra J. Naughton, Fan Chen, Daniel Plaugher, Avery R. Childress, Abigail R. Gellert, Erika M. Skaggs, Xufeng Qu, Jinze Liu, Jinpeng Liu, Fei Li, Kwok-Kin Wong, Christine F. Brainson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Two important factors that contribute to resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are an immune-suppressive microenvironment and limited antigen presentation by tumor cells. In this study, we examine whether in- hibition of the methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) can increase ICI response in lung squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC). Our in vitro experiments using two-dimensional human cancer cell lines as well as three-dimensional murine and patient-derived organoids treated with two inhibitors of the EZH2 plus IFNγ showed that EZH2 inhibition leads to expression of both MHC class I and II (MHCI/II) expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. …

Impacts Of Anthropogenic Sedimentation On Shell-Bed Habitats In Lake Tanganyika, Africa, Michael Soreghan, Andrew Cohen, Michael M. Mcglue, Kevin M. Yeager, Emily Ryan, Alison Johns, Ishmael Kimirei

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Lake Tanganyika, in central Africa, contains a diverse and endemic fauna under threat from global climate change, overfishing, and nearshore sediment pollution. Previous studies of sediment pollution focused justifiably on impacts along rocky shorelines where diversity is high, but Lake Tanganyika also contains widespread shelly accumulations (shell beds) unprecedented in the modern East African lakes, but where impacts are less con- strained. Here we integrate multiple datasets from three sites along the Tanzanian shoreline to explore how variation in sedimentation rates and sediment quality impacts shell-bed substrate and diversity and abundance of ostracodes and sponges across sites that exhibit varying …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Performance Assessment Of Reusable And Biodegradable Antimicrobial Polymeric Membranes For Aerosolized Pathogen Inactivation And Filtration, Ebuka Ogbuoji

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Air filtration technology has proven effective in purifying air by trapping particulates which can cause adverse health effects. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, capable of capturing over 99.99% of PM_0.3, are recommended for critical applications. However, conventional non-woven HEPA filters rely on electrostatic interactions to trap smaller particles, which can deplete over time or after cleaning, reducing filtration efficiency and posing health risks. Additionally, these filters contribute to plastic waste.

This dissertation investigated the feasibility of using flat sheet polymeric membranes fabricated via nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) as reusable and biodegradable alternatives to commercially available non-biodegradable air …

Long-Term Cardiometabolic Effects Of Preconceptional And Prenatal Opioid Exposure In The Adult Offspring, Nermin Hassan Mohamed Selim Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Opioid use disorder (OUD), one of the greatest public health threats in the US, requires urgent attention. In 2022, the CDC reported 107,941 overdose deaths, over 70% attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl (FEN). An alarming increase in opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnoses in pregnant people resulted in a 5-fold rise in cases of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). This condition elicits sympathetic overactivity, neural hyperexcitability, and a stress reaction characterized by tachycardia and hypertension. Whether prenatal exposure to fentanyl induces cardiovascular dysfunction in the offspring remains undetermined, impeding the timely development of strategies to mitigate OUD-related health risks …

The Impact Of Dissolved Organic Matter On Photodegradation Rates, Byproduct Formations, And Degradation Pathways For Two Neonicotinoid Insecticides In Simulated River Waters, Josephus F. Borsuah, Tiffany L. Messer, Daniel D. Snow, Steven D. Comfort, Shannon Bartelt-Hunt

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The influences of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on neonicotinoid photochemical degradation and product formation in natural waters remain unclear, potentially impacting the sustainability of river systems. Therefore, our overall objective was to investigate the photodegradation mechanisms and phototransformation byproducts of two neonicotinoid pesticides, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, under simulated sunlight at the microcosm scale, to assess the implications of DOM for insecticide degradation in rivers. Direct and indirect photolysis were investigated using twelve water matrices to identify possible reaction pathways with two DOM sources and three quenching agents. Imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and potential degradants were measured, and reaction pathways identified. The photodegradation …

Physiological Adaptation/Phenotypic Plasticity: A Vital Core Concept From The Medical And Health Care Perspective, Thad E. Wilson, Kristen Metzler-Wilson

UK CARES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Feeding Systems And Fresh Lamb Color Stability, Koushik Mondal

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Consumers consider the surface color of fresh lamb as the indicator of freshness and wholesomeness, which affects their purchase decisions. The redox chemistry of myoglobin (Mb) determines the color of fresh lamb. Artificial raising on milk replacer (a pre-weaning strategy) as well as red clover supplementation are management strategies used in lamb production. This thesis focuses on the effects of artificial raising on milk replacer and red clover supplementation on the color and oxidative stability of fresh lamb.

In the first experiment, the effect of pre-weaning with milk replacer on the carcass attributes, color stability and lipid oxidation of lamb …

A Breast Cancer Stem Active Cobalt(Iii)-Cyclam Complex Containing Flufenamic Acid With Immunogenic Potential, Jiaxin Fang, Owamagbe N. Orobator, Chibuzor Ngozi Olelewe, Ginevra Passeri, Kuldip Singh, Samuel G. Awuah, Kogularamanan Suntharalingam

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The cytotoxic and immunogenic-activating properties of a cobalt(III)-cyclam complex bearing the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, flufenamic acid is reported within the context of anti-cancer stem cell (CSC) drug discovery. The cobalt(III)-cyclam complex 1 displays sub-micromolar potency towards breast CSCs grown in monolayers, 24-fold and 31-fold greater than salinomycin (an established anti-breast CSC agent) and cisplatin (an anticancer metallopharmaceutical), respectively. Strikingly, the cobalt(III)-cyclam complex 1 is 69-fold and 50-fold more potent than salinomycin and cisplatin towards three-dimensionally cultured breast CSC mammospheres. Mechanistic studies reveal that 1 induces DNA damage, inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and prompts caspase-dependent apoptosis. Breast CSCs treated with 1 exhibit …

An Efficient And High-Throughput Method For The Evaluation Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Frozen Brain Samples After Traumatic Brain Injury., Hemendra J Vekaria, Olivia J. Kalimon, Paresh Prajapati, Gopal V. Velmurugan, Patrick G Sullivan

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Mitochondrial function analysis is a well-established method used in preclinical and clinical investigations to assess pathophysiological changes in various disease states, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although there are multiple approaches to assess mitochondrial function, one common method involves respirometric assays utilizing either Clark-type oxygen electrodes or fluorescent-based Seahorse analysis (Agilent). However, these functional analysis methods are typically limited to the availability of freshly isolated tissue samples due to the compromise of the electron transport chain (ETC) upon storage, caused by freeze-thaw-mediated breakdown of mitochondrial membranes. In this study, we propose and refine a method for evaluating electron flux through …

The Effects Of Secretion Regulators, Α-Synuclein And Cysteine String Protein-Α, In Thrombosis And Hemostasis, Alexis N. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Platelets play many critical roles in the vasculature ensuring proper hemostasis and maintaining vascular integrity. They can mediate these different processes via the release of different cargo molecules from granules. Cargo release from the granules is mediated by a family of proteins called Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptors (SNAREs). This process is complex and is regulated by several protein-protein interactions that are not completely characterized. SNARE chaperones have been identified for the t-SNAREs such as Munc18b/STXBP2 for Syntaxin-11, but none have been identified for the VAMPs and SNAP proteins. Proteins of interest as potential chaperones for VAMPs and SNAP proteins …

Revolutionizing Our Understanding Of Specific Platelet-Pathogen Interactions, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Aside from their classical role in maintaining hemostasis, platelets are considered first-line vascular guardians that influence both the innate and adaptive immune systems. This is mediated by either direct interactions with immune cells or through the release of pre-stored cytokines and chemokines upon interacting with pathogens such as viruses. While this establishes platelets as potential players in the response to pathogens, it remains unclear what platelets can do with pathogens and how important that is to immune responses, especially against viruses. Most systemic viremias, such as HIV-1, present with mild thrombocytopenia, which is mediated through several mechanisms such as a …

The Role Of Microglia In Sex- And Region-Specific Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity During Nicotine Withdrawal, Mohit Kumar, Jack V. Keady, Surya P. Aryal, Marissa Hessing, Christopher I. Richards, Jill R. Turner

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, with ,5% of quit attempts being successful. Microglia activation and proinflammatory neuroimmune signaling in reward neuro- circuitry are implicated in nicotine withdrawal symptomology. Microglia are integral regulators of blood-brain barrier (BBB) functionality as well; however, whether the effects of nicotine withdrawal on microglia function impact BBB integrity is unknown.

METHODS: Mice were treated with chronic nicotine (12 mg/kg/day) and subjected to 48 hours nicotine withdrawal. Regional BBB permeability, together with messenger RNA and protein expression of tight junction proteins, were assessed. PLX5622 chow was used …

Chemical Control Of Turfgrass Diseases 2024, Bruce B. Clarke, Paul Vincelli, Paul Koch, Ming-Yi Chou

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

Turfgrasses under intensive management are often subject to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Diseases usually are most damaging when weather or cultural conditions favor the disease-causing agent but not plant growth and vigor. Cultural conditions that predispose turfgrass to diseases include close mowing, inadequate or excessive fertility, light or frequent irrigation, excessive thatch, poor drainage, and shade. Good turf management practices often greatly reduce the impact of disease by promoting healthy plants that are better able to resist infections. Even under good management, however, diseases sometimes cause excessive damage to highly managed turfgrasses. The proper use of fungicides in these instances, …

Wine, Other, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Mineral, Spring, Table, And Bottled Water, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Liquors And Spirits, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Wine, Red, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Wine, White, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Beyond Grotesque: Contemporary Artists Confronting Abjection, Katherine Gemperline

Graduate Thesis Exhibition Catalogue Gallery, 2024

The artists in Beyond Grotesque: Contemporary Artists Confronting Abjection address the monstrous aspects of life by portraying repulsive encounters in a direct manner. In its abject nature, the grotesque defies conventional notions of art as beautifying. The contemporary artists in Beyond Grotesque subvert the idea that beauty is an indication of good moral character and instead, they assert the grotesque as a device that challenges our expectations of the good and expands our humanity.

Yvonne Petkus delves into the intricacies of struggle, survival, and vulnerability within the human experience. Through pieces like Headwind, Collapse, and Colossus, Petkus portrays the …

Empowering Caregivers In The Prevention Of Clinical Delirium For At Risk Older Adults Boarding In The Emergency Department Setting, Danielle Brewer

DNP Projects

Background: Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding is a global healthcare crisis documented in the literature for more than a decade, impacting patient outcomes and resource availability. While awaiting delayed transfer to an inpatient room, older adults in the ED remain vulnerable to developing acute delirium. Boarding potentiates the risk for worsening health outcomes, which are further compounded by delirium. Scarcity of resources and time constraints delay delirium detection and increase risk for down-stream hospital-acquired complications, higher cost, and prolonged length of stay. Current ED models do not prioritize caregiver partnership or involvement in delirium-conscious care, which is a holistic approach to …

Associations Between Physical Activity Levels And Physical And Mental Health In Military Veterans., Troy Hubert

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Research suggests that higher rates of health conditions are associated with lower levels of physical activity, but this association is not well characterized in U.S. Military Veterans. The current study utilized a sample of U.S. military veterans (n = 3,989) from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resiliency in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Physical activity levels (insufficient, moderate, and active), physical and mental health were evaluated with a variety of self-report questionnaires. After controlling for covariates, veterans with any disability, asthma, chronic pain, diabetes, high cholesterol, and stroke were significantly less likely to report sufficient physical activity compared to insufficient physical …

Answering Big Questions With Big Data: Using Analytics Across The Research Ecosystem, Ann Beynon

Research Analytics Summit 2024

The research landscape continues to shift and evolve. With challenges around research integrity and security growing, research leaders must rely on the highest quality data to make confident decisions. Universities and funders need to understand the societal impact of research investments in addition to the scholarly impact. Has research helped to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals? What are the emerging research areas that will lead to commercial innovations and sustainability advancements? We will discuss how quantitative data from Web of Science and InCites can help research stakeholders understand these big questions and inform their strategic research decisions.

Collabnext -A Person-Focused Open Knowledge Graph For Collaborations With Emerging Researchers, Lew Lefton

Research Analytics Summit 2024

CollabNext is being developed as part of the NSF ProtoOKN (Prototype Open Knowledge Network) effort. This project originated as a partnership between Georgia Tech and the Atlanta University Center, and is now being developed jointly by Fisk University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse College, Texas Southern University, and University at Buffalo with support from the NSF TIP Directorate.

Our goal is to develop a knowledge graph based on people, organizations, and research topics. We are adopting an intentional design approach which initially prioritizes HBCUs and emerging researchers in a deliberate effort to counterbalance the Matthew effect, a naturally accumulated advantage of well-resourced …

The Semiotics Of Smell: Gender, Materiality, And The Language Of Fragrances, Kathryn Copeland

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

Fragrances have long been used in a variety of cultures to communicate or articulate perceptions of different types of people or personae (Classen, Howes, & Synnott; 1994); however, the meanings “articulated” by fragrances have rarely been studied through the analytical frameworks of indexicality, enregisterment, and materiality (Eckert, 2008; Johnstone, 2016; Miller, 2005; Silverstein, 2003).

To do this, I first conducted a quantitative corpus analysis of user-generated reviews of popular perfumes on the fragrance database Fragrantica to identify differences in how reviewers of “men’s” fragrances and “women’s” fragrances describe their experience with the fragrances, and what these patterns indicate about how …

Ductus Exemplo: A Model Municipal Executive Order On Food Waste Reduction, Linda Breggin, Darby Hoover, Jessica Sugarman

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.