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Continuous Consumption Of Whey Protein Maintains Neuroinflammation In A Mouse Model Of Asymptomatic Cow’S Milk Allergy, Geetika Verma

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Using a mouse model of cow’s milk allergy (CMA), we previously showed that C57BL/6J mice sensitized to a bovine whey allergen, β-lactoglobulin (BLG), exhibited anxiety/depression-like behavior and neuroinflammation in the absence of overt anaphylaxis upon allergen exposure

Cortical Demyelination And Depression-Like Behavior Are Associated With Histaminergic Dysregulation In A Mouse Model Of Peripheral Inflammation, Danielle Germundson-Hermanson

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

▪ Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system are increasing in prevalence world-wide1,2 and manifest as motor, behavioral, and/or cognitive defects3 . The etiology and pathophysiology of demyelinating diseases remain unclear.

▪ We have previously observed cortical demyelination in our mouse model of non-anaphylactic cow’s milk allergy4 . The demyelination was associated with depression-like behaviors and region-specific increases in brain histamine and H3 receptor (H3R) levels4,5 .

❖ The brain’s central histaminergic system is tightly controlled and regulates many behaviors. Additionally, signaling through H3R plays a crucial role in oligodendrocyte differentiation, and thus, demyelination and remyelination6 .

▪ We hypothesized …

Winter 2023, University Of North Dakota Alumni Association

ALL: UND Alumni Review Master List

Winter 2023 issue of "The University of North Dakota Alumni Magazine." 52 pages

Volume 106, Number 4

The Ambassador Program: Improving Functional Community Participation For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Kathryn Elizabeth College

Occupational Therapy Capstones

This scholarly project aims to create more functional engagement opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) in a community setting. Individuals with ID/DD experience a multitude of barriers when attempting to become active members of the community and engage in meaningful opportunities and social interactions (Doerpinghaus et al., 2022; Trembath et al., 2010). These barriers can include a lack of individualized support, low self-esteem, difficulty finding valuable volunteer experiences, and a prejudice in community settings (Milot et al., 2020; Trembath et al., 2010).

Volume Vi, Spring 2023, International Anchoritic Society

International Anchoritic Society Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Submitting Research Grant Applications To Fund A Study Examining The Effect Of Equine-Assisted Therapy On Compassion Fatigue In Caregivers, Briana Minette Kent

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Caregivers are expected to provide the best care possible to their patients, no matter the circumstances. Depending on the need of the individual being cared for, a caregiver’s job can cause an abundance of stress at various levels and can even lead to decreased mental health. This is often accompanied by a lack of self-care, poor health, and overall diminished wellness, otherwise known as compassion fatigue. Occupational therapists can address poor mental health due to compassion fatigue in caregivers by introducing a variety of important skills, habits, routines, and activities that patients need or want to engage in on a …

Nohwi Nadeesh Diyih: Honoring Indigenous Health Through Research, Evaluation, And Policy, Danya S. Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in the United States (US) represent culturally rich food landscapes, traditions, and languages. Food access remains a public health issue in AI/AN communities that is influenced by a myriad of factors. Indigenous food cultures and Indigenous languages are also underappreciated factors in the health of AI/AN communities. This dissertation in practice is guided by both the Social Ecological Model (SEM) and Indigenous Evaluation Framework (IEF) Model with the intent of highlighting multilevel culturally aligned approaches to promoting AI/AN health through food access and Indigenous languages. Specifically, this dissertation in practice sought to platform …

Diversity, Phylogenetics And Life Cycles Of Diplostomoidean (Digenea: Diplostomoidea) Of The Upper Midwest, Jakson Martens

Theses and Dissertations

The superfamily Diplostomoidea Poirier, 1886 consists of a diverse, globally distributed group of parasitic flatworms parasitic as adults in reptiles, birds, mammals, and very rarely, fish. The superfamily Diplostomoidea has a tumultuous history full of genus synonymizations and resurrections. Currently, the superfamily consists of 39 genera parasitizing primarily piscivorous animals as adults to include birds, reptiles, and mammals. This group of parasitic worms remains a highly active area of research and has recently undergone several major systematic changes including the abandonment of a subfamily-based system. Additionally, the influx of data entries in GenBank has lead to confusing nomenclature and misidentifications …

Perinatal Mental Health For Indigenous Women And Birthing People, Amy Lynn Stiffarm

Theses and Dissertations

Before for the impacts of colonization, Indigenous women and birthing people were deeply cared for by their communities during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.There is a serious lack of literature on perinatal mental health (PMH) for Indigenous Peoples in the US. Based on what limited data does exist, high rates of PMH complications are consistently reported for Indigenous birthing people. Exploring the unique circumstances experienced by Indigenous birthing people is crucial to addressing the PMH disparity gap. A concept map illustrating the systematic, community, and individual levels of PMH complications for Indigenous Peoples was used to organize and guide …

Hmong Parent Engagement: The Need To Provide Basic Needs Services In Hmong Charter Schools To Increase Parent Engagement, Kevin Xiong

Theses and Dissertations

The Hmong diaspora and settlement in the United States have a direct impact on how Hmong parents engage in their children’s academic journey. With the viewpoint of traditional Westernized parent engagement, Hmong parents may be perceived as engaging too little. However, in order for Hmong parents to be involved in their children’s educational journey as part of this Westernized concept, it is imperative that the families’ basic needs are met. Otherwise, they will primarily focus on meeting their fundamental basic needs rather than being engaged in their children’s academic progress. This research explored two Hmong charter schools in the Twin …

Changes In Crop Diversity And Associated Drivers In The Red River Of The North Valley, Zinat Ara

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Crop diversity is a part of the overall biodiversity of the world and includes the diversity of crops produced to feed humankind and those associated with domesticated animal grazing or feeding. A decline in diversity can reduce productivity of the farmlands by degrading soil health and introduction of plant diseases. So, it is crucial to study crop diversity and find the causes behind it to impede catastrophic consequences.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore changes in crop diversity and the factors affecting the changes in diversity by county and survey townships in the Red River of the …

A Generalized Approach To Partitioning Weighted Points In A Plane, Jacob Denault

Theses and Dissertations

A theorem commonly known as the Discrete Pancake Theorem states that for two finite disjoint sets S and T of points in a plane where the union of S and T contains no three collinear points, there exists a line that simultaneously bisects |S| and |T| within an error of at most one. This thesis considers a more general situation in which each point is assigned two non-negative weights and, instead of simply bisecting the plane to obtain a balance in the number of points, we prove there exists a line that simultaneously balances weight one and weight two accumulations …

Mitigating Global Temperature Change Through Industrial Sector Improvements: A Case Study In Automotive Manufacturing, Alec Joseph Ernst

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing is an integral part of our country’s flow of products and people and a top contributor to carbon emissions, promoting global temperature rise. During processing, toxic substances are emitted across the value chain. These emissions account for nearly 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and the World. Until 2023, an accessible pathway for manufacturing companies to transition to net-zero emissions hasn’t been made readily available. The current research was conducted to determine if reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing facilities through efficiency improvements, process optimization, and technology advancements can mitigate global temperature change.This quantitative, mixed-method approach …

Remote Sensing Of Chlorophyll-A In Small And Medium Lakes In The Minnesota Northern Forest Ecoregion, Jacob Alan Moll

Theses and Dissertations

Algae blooms have become increasingly common in many bodies of water and are occurring in more and more new locations. Past methods have relied on in-situ sampling to determine Chl-a concentrations and can be time and cost intensive. With the use of NASA’s Harmonized Landsat imagery existing methods of index calculation can be implemented, with the added benefit of an increase in temporal resolution. This increase in temporal resolution allows for more detailed spatial and temporal analysis such as hot spot analysis. Harmonized Landsat imagery was proven sufficient in spatial and temporal resolution for detection of Chl-a in small and …

“Blue” Hydrogen & Helium From Flare Gas Of The Bakken Formation Of The Williston Basin, North Dakota: A Novel Process, Martin R. Leipzig

Theses and Dissertations

Is it possible to curtail flaring in the Williston basin while simultaneously sequestering carbon dioxide, harvesting economic quantities of natural gas liquids, helium and other valuable products? Utilizing a novel approach described here, diatomic hydrogen and elemental helium, as well as other products, can be profitably extracted from the gas streams produced from horizontal, hydraulically-fractured Middle Bakken Member wells, in the Devonian-Mississippian Bakken Formation of the Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA.However, there are two vastly different methods employed to extract these gasses. Hydrogen is harvested from the gas stream by physically reforming methane (CH4) through the application of one or …

Neuromodulatory Mechanisms Of Neuropeptides In The Amygdala, Cody Adam Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

The amygdala is a limbic structure critical for emotional processing as well as roles in learning and memory. Disruption of the normal activity of the amygdala has been implicated in several disorders including phobia disorders, anxiety-like disorders, and substance abuse. The function of the amygdala and its role in various disorders is directly related to its underlying cellular activity. The amygdala is both a cortical- and striatal-like structure containing mainly glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, respectively. This dissertation has three aims related to the neuropeptide modulation of these cell types in the basolateral (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA). The first aim …

Environmental Toxicity Of Isoxazoline Drugs On Non-Target Species, Haley M. Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease affects tens of thousands of people every year in the United States, causing serious illness and even death. It is caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, through infected black-legged tick bites. The range of these ticks is expanding, causing Lyme disease cases to increase. Considerable effort has been put toward research and eradication of Lyme disease, with limited success. Isoxazoline drugs, commonly used to prevent flea and tick infestations in dogs, could be dispatched in the field to keep black-legged ticks off the reservoir host of Lyme disease, the White-footed mouse. Little research has been done on …

Disability Awareness To Promote Inclusivity For Children In The Educational Setting, Abby Bauman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A large barrier to an effective and successful educational experience is the stigma and perceived judgment surrounding a child’s disability (Fontil et al., 2020). Implementing disability awareness materials into young classrooms is a way to prevent the development of stigma towards disability. Children who received disability awareness programming in the past have shown improved attitudes towards disabilities as opposed to those who have not (Chae et al., 2019). The purpose of this scholarly project is to assist teachers with implementing disability awareness materials to increase encouragement for young peers to accept, include, and support young individuals with disabilities.

Dietary Whey Protein Increases Brain Leukocytes In Mice Regardless Of Their Hypersensitivity Status, Dilini Ekanayake

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) often manifests as milder reactions and may be linked to neurological problems. Previously, we demonstrated that C57BL/6J mice sensitized to a bovine whey allergen, β-lactoglobulin (BLG, Bos d 5), moderately increased BLG-specific IgE levels and exhibited behavioral changes without severe allergic reactions. When these non-anaphylactic CMA mice were placed on a whey-protein (WP)-containing diet for 2 weeks to simulate continuous dairy consumption, we found neuropathology indicative of neuroinflammation and cortical demyelination. Since immune cells migrate to the central nervous system (CNS) and promote neuroinflammation in demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis, we hypothesized that the number …

Ccl2 Suppression In Lewis Lung Carcinoma Model Enhances Host Survival And Immune Response In The Tumor Microenvironment, Nivedita Biswas

Theses and Dissertations

CCL2, a chemokine also referred to as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and small inducible cytokine A, is chemotactic for monocytes. CCL2-induced recruitment of CCR2+Ly6C(hi) monocytes increases vascular permeability CCR2+ endothelium aiding the escape and migration of tumor cells. CCL2 is produced by cancers of varied immunogenicity and augments tumor proliferation and metastasis. Elevated CCL2 expression by tumor cells is linked to poor prognosis.We have previously shown that two bacterially derived superantigens, Staphylococcal enterotoxin G and I (SEG/SEI) stimulate large numbers of T cells in an antigen-independent fashion and promote enhanced survival in the poorly immunogenic B16-F10 melanoma model. Conversely, …

Natural Fractals And Facial Emotion Recognition, Nathaniel Joseph Pagel

Theses and Dissertations

The psychological benefits that come from visually processing natural imagery have been widely studied. The components of natural imagery that provoke positive responses are not fully understood. This study uses a mixed design approach to identify if the acute exposure to statistical fractal imagery, of both a high-range or mid-range complexity, affects cognitive workload, physiological arousal, and gaze patterns in the recognition and identification of emotions through facial expressions. Participants were undergraduate students fulfilling a partial course requirement (N = 87). Eye-tracking metrics were used to compare exposure to fractal complexities. Participants were randomly assigned to either be exposed to …

The Interplay Between Parp-1 And Histone Modifications In Transcriptional Regulation During Development And Heat Shock Response, Gbolahan Gbenga Bamgbose

Theses and Dissertations

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), a multifunctional nuclear enzyme, plays a crucial role in transcriptional regulation through its three functional domains: the N-terminal DNA-binding domain (DBD), the automodification domain (AD), and the C-terminal domain, which includes the WGR and the catalytic domains. Despite its importance, the mechanisms directing PARP-1 to chromatin remain unclear and PARP-1’s role in development is still poorly understood. In chapter II, we interrogated the role of PARP-1 domains in PARP-1 to chromatin. We used ChIP-seq of YFP-tagged deletional isoforms of PARP-1 and a construct that lacks only the first zinc finger domain (ΔZnI). Interestingly, our findings suggest …

Acaricidal Activity Of The Orally Administered Isoxazoline Drugs (Lotilaner, Fluralaner, And Afoxolaner) In White-Footed Mice Against Larval Ticks, Emily Marie Gisi

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is currently the most prevalent vector borne disease in North America. With the CDC estimating almost 500,000 new cases every year, methods are needed to control the vector, the black legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Like other tick-borne diseases, Lyme disease is zoonotic and involves tick parasitism on rodent reservoirs in the wild. The main reservoir host of Lyme disease is the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). This study aims to explore the effectiveness of a reservoir targeted control approach by the treatment of white-footed mice with oral isoxazoline class drugs. …

Intracranial Mast Cell Activation And Central Histaminergic Dysregulation In Food Allergy-Associated Neuropathology And Behavioral Changes, Danielle Germundson-Hermanson

Theses and Dissertations

Food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts inappropriately to an otherwise harmless food. The hypersensitivity response is known to cause physical symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Curiously, there is growing evidence that some food-allergic individuals experience changes in mood and behavior after consuming an offending food despite not experiencing severe physical symptoms. However, the mechanism(s) through which food allergy may affect the brain and behavior has yet to be elucidated. Previously, we found that inducing non-anaphylactic cow’s milk allergy (CMA) in mice resulted in abnormal behavior, neuroinflammation, and an increased the number of brain mast …

Computational Framework For Neuro-Optics Simulation And Deep Learning Denoising, Cecilia Ling

Theses and Dissertations

The application of machine learning techniques in microscopic image restoration has shown superior performance. However, the development of such techniques has been hindered by the demand for large datasets and the lack of ground truth. To address these challenges, this study introduces a computer simulation model that accurately captures the neural anatomic volume, fluorescence light transportation within the tissue volume, and the photon collection process of microscopic imaging sensors. The primary goal of this simulation is to generate realistic image data for training and validating machine learning models. One notable aspect of this study is the incorporation of a machine …

Assessing Neuropsychological Changes Post Covid-19 Infection Using The Global Neuropsychological Assessment, Jeremy M. Raines

Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 is characterized by a respiratory syndrome with severity ranging from mild upper respiratory tract illness to severe interstitial pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although physical symptoms are most common in those infected with COVID-19, patients may present with several neuropsychiatric sequelae caused by direct central nervous system infection, neuroinflammation, and/or prolonged hypoxia encephalitis. Though extent literature on COVID-19 related cognitive decline is still in its infancy, it has been suggested neurological impairment is most common in those with severe symptom presentation, requiring hospitalization and among those who have experienced hypoxic events. In the current study, sixty-two healthy controls …

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin I Immunotherapy Combined With Hla-Dq8 Induces Tumoricidal Activity, With Low Superantigen Toxicity, Leading To Long-Term Survival And Tumor-Specific Memory Against Established B16-F10 Melanoma In Humanized Hla-Dq8 Transgenic Mice, Nathan Velaris

Theses and Dissertations

Immunotherapies now stand at the forefront of cancer treatment as a versatile arsenal of cutting-edge tools wielded by medical professionals to combat and conquer a spectrum of formidable diseases. Most notably, immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have revolutionized the field of oncology offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments like chemo and radiation therapy with significant improvements for patients in terms of quality of life and survival. Immunotherapies can be uniquely personalized to a patient's genetic and immune system profile leading to more effective treatments and durable long-lasting responses. Our research group has identified Staphylococcal enterotoxin I as a …

Integrating Technology Into Wildlife Surveys, Sally E. Yannuzzi

Theses and Dissertations

Technology is rapidly improving and being incorporated into field biology, with survey methods such as machine learning and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) headlining efforts. UAS paired with machine learning algorithms have been used to detect caribou, nesting waterfowl and seabirds, marine mammals, white-tailed deer, and more in over 19 studies within the last decade alone. Simultaneously, UAS and machine learning have also been implemented for infrastructure monitoring at wind energy facilities as wind energy construction and use has skyrocketed globally. As part of both pre-construction and regulatory compliance of newly constructed wind energy facilities, monitoring of impacts to wildlife is …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Soybean Feedstock-Based Composite Systems For Sustainable Material Application., Temofeh Nathaniel Esenamunjor

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of soybean-based composites with a focus on their potential for sustainable material applications. Soybean meal (SBM), known for its high protein content, is blended with the biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) using eco-friendly manufacturing processes. The solvent casting and hot-pressing methods are employed to fabricate composites, and their mechanical and thermal properties are investigated. Tensile strength of the composites decreases with higher concentrations of soybean meal, while thermal properties remain comparable to PLA. The hot press method, optimized at 250°C and 235 MPa, shows promising results in enhancing compressive strength with increased SBM concentration …

Enhancing Resin Composite Using Nanoparticle Embedded Jute Fiber And Exploring Plant Polymer For Biomedical Applications, Md Sultan Mahmud

Theses and Dissertations

The severe detrimental effect of nondegradable and toxic synthetic materials on the environment in the last couple of decades has led researchers to focus more on eco-friendly products such as building materials, medical instruments, sports, textile, and automobile industries. Lignocellulosic plants and their fibers are the first choices for both material and biological science researchers due to their chemical structure, abundance, low cost, and nontoxic nature. These plants are composed of three major biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose is the most abundant polymer. In the recent past natural fibers have attracted substantial importance as potential structural materials …