Digital Commons Network^™

Diffusional Fractionation Of Helium Isotopes In Silicate Melts, Haiyang Luo, Bijaya Karki, Dipta B. Ghosh, Huiming Bao

Faculty Publications

Estimating Helium (He) concentration and isotope composition of the mantle requires quantifying He loss during magma degassing. The knowledge of diffusional He isotope fractionation in silicate melts may be essential to constrain the He loss. Isotopic mass dependence of He diffusion can be empirically expressed as D3He/D4He = (4/3)^β, where D is the diffusivity of a He isotope. However, no studies have reported any β values for He in silicate melts due to technical challenges in both experiments and computations. Here, molecular dynamics simulations based on deep neural network potentials trained by ab initio data …

Revealing Public Opinion Towards Covid-19 Vaccines With Twitter Data In The United States: Spatiotemporal Perspective, Tao Hu, Siqin Wang, Wei Luo, Mengxi Zhang, Xiao Huang, Yingwei Yan, Regina Liu, Kelly Ly, Viraj Kacker, Bing She, Zhenlong Li

Faculty Publications

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a large, initially uncontrollable, public health crisis both in the United States and across the world, with experts looking to vaccines as the ultimate mechanism of defense. The development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines have been rapidly advancing via global efforts. Hence, it is crucial for governments, public health officials, and policy makers to understand public attitudes and opinions towards vaccines, such that effective interventions and educational campaigns can be designed to promote vaccine acceptance.

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate public opinion and perception on COVID-19 vaccines in the United …

New Approach For Assigning Mean Oxidation Number Of Carbons To Organonitrogen And Organosulfur Compounds, Pong Kau Yuen, Cheng Man Diana Lau

Faculty Publications

Organonitrogen and organosulfur compounds are abundant in the natural environment. To understand the biological redox pathways properly, it is important for learners to be able to count the oxidation number of organic carbons. However, the process of counting is not always easy. In addition, organonitrogen and organosulfur molecules are seldom studied. To compensate these problems, this paper explores the bonddividing method, which can effectively determine the mean oxidation number of carbons of organonitrogen and organosulfur molecules. This method uses the cleavage of carbon-sulfur and carbon-nitrogen bonds to obtain the organic and inorganic fragments. The mean oxidation numbers of carbon atoms, …

Toward A Methodology For Evaluating Dna Variants In Nuclear Families, Dustin B. Miller, Reid Robison, Stephen Piccolo

Faculty Publications

The genetic underpinnings of most pediatric-cancer cases are unknown. Population-based studies use large sample sizes but have accounted for only a small proportion of the estimated heritability of pediatric cancers. Pedigree-based studies are infeasible for most human populations. One alternative is to collect genetic data from a single nuclear family and use inheritance patterns within the family to filter candidate variants. This approach can be applied to common and rare variants, including those that are private to a given family or to an affected individual. We evaluated this approach using genetic data from three nuclear families with 5, 4, and …

Enviromic Assembly Increases Accuracy And Reduces Costs Of The Genomic Prediction For Yield Plasticity In Maize, Germano Costa-Neto, Jose Crossa, Roberto Fritsche-Neto

Faculty Publications

Quantitative genetics states that phenotypic variation is a consequence of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Predictive breeding is based on this statement, and because of this, ways of modeling genetic effects are still evolving. At the same time, the same refinement must be used for processing environmental information. Here, we present an “enviromic assembly approach,” which includes using ecophysiology knowledge in shaping environmental relatedness into whole-genome predictions (GP) for plant breeding (referred to as enviromic-aided genomic prediction, E-GP). We propose that the quality of an environment is defined by the core of environmental typologies and their frequencies, which …

Trajectories Of Heart Activity Across Infancy To Early Childhood Differentially Predict Autism And Anxiety Symptoms In Fragile X Syndrome, Abigail Hogan Ph.D., Erin Hunt, Kayla Smith, Conner Black, Katherine Bangert, Jessica Klusek Ph.D., Ccc-Slp, Jane Roberts

Faculty Publications

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a monogenic disorder characterized by high rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety. A longstanding "hyperarousal hypothesis" in FXS has argued that ANS dysfunction underpins many symptoms of FXS. However, the developmental onset and trajectory of ANS dysfunction, as well as the consequences of ANS dysfunction on later psychiatric symptoms, remain poorly understood in FXS. Insight into the emergence, trajectory, and consequences of ANS dysfunction across early development in FXS has critical implications for prevention, intervention, and optimal outcomes in both typical and atypical development. This longitudinal study investigated whether and when males with …

The Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (Iwise) Scale: Reliability, Equivalence And Validity Of An Individual-Level Measure Of Water Security, Sera L. Young, Hilary J. Bethancourt, Zacchary R. Ritter, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

Objective: The lack of a validated and cross-culturally equivalent scale for measuring individual-level water insecurity has prevented identification of those most vulnerable to it. Therefore, we developed the 12-item Individual Water InSecurity Experiences (IWISE) Scale to comparably measure individual experiences with access, use, and stability (reliability) of water. Here, we examine the reliability, cross-country equivalence, and cross-country and within-country validity of the scale in a cross-sectional sample.

Methods: IWISE items were implemented by the Gallup World Poll among nationally representative samples of 43 970 adults (15 y) in 31 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Internal consistency was assessed …

Big Bird Plots: Benchmarking Neotropical Bird Communities To Address Questions In Ecology And Conservation In An Era Of Rapid Change, W. Douglas Robinson, Dan Errichetti, Henry S. Pollock, Ari Martinez, Philip C. Stouffer, Fang Yu Shen, John G. Blake

Faculty Publications

Extensive networks of large plots have the potential to transform knowledge of avian community dynamics through time and across geographical space. In the Neotropics, the global hotspot of avian diversity, only six 100-ha plots, all located in lowland forests of Amazonia, the Guianan shield and Panama, have been inventoried sufficiently. We review the most important lessons learned about Neotropical forest bird communities from those big bird plots and explore opportunities for creating a more extensive network of additional plots to address questions in ecology and conservation, following the model of the existing ForestGEO network of tree plots. Scholarly impact of …

Developing Nutritional Component Chrysin As A Therapeutic Agent: Bioavailability And Pharmacokinetics Consideration, And Adme Mechanisms, Song Gao, Nyma Siddiqui, Imoh Etim, Ting Du, Yun Zhang, Dong Liang

Faculty Publications

Chrysin is a promising naturally occurring flavonoid mainly found in honey and propolis. Although chrysin's biological activities have been demonstrated and the mechanism of actions has been determined using in vitro and in vivo models, results from the current clinical studies were largely negative. A potential reason for chrysin's low efficacy in humans is poor oral bioavailability. In this paper, we reviewed the preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics studies of chrysin and analyzed the mechanism of poor in vivo efficacy with emphasis on its bioavailability and ADME mechanism. Low aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism mediated by UGTs and SULT, efficient excretion through …

The Therapeutic Potential Of The Novel Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 In The Treatment Of Coronavirus Disease-19, Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagbemi, Temitayo Olabisi Ajibade, Yapo Guillaume Aboua, Idayat Titilayo Gbadamosi, Aduragbenro Deborah A. Adedapo, Abimbola Obemisola Aro, Olumuyiwa Abiola Adejumobi, Emma Thamahane-Katengua, Temidayo Olutayo Omobowale, Olufunke Olubunmi Falayi, Taiwo Olaide Oyagbemi, Blessing Seun Ogunpolu, Fasilat Oluwakemi Hassan, Iyanuoluwa Omolola Ogunmiluyi, Olufunke Eunice Ola-Davies, Adebowale Benard Saba, Adeolu Alex Adedapo, Sanah Malomile Nkadimeng, Lyndy Joy Mcgaw, Prudence Ngalula Kayoka-Kabongo, Momoh Audu Yakubu

Faculty Publications

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus has become a global pandemic with unprecedented mortality and morbidity along with attendant financial and economic crises. Furthermore, COVID-19 can easily be transmitted regardless of religion, race, sex, or status. Globally, high hospitalization rates of COVID-19 patients have been reported, and billions of dollars have been spent to contain the pandemic. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, which has a significant role in the entry of the virus into the host cell. ACE2 is highly expressed in the type …

Anticipating And Adapting To The Future Impacts Of Climate Change On The Health, Security And Welfare Of Low Elevation Coastal Zone (Lecz) Communities In Southeastern Usa, Thomas Allen, Joshua Behr, Anamaria Bukvic, Ryan S.D. Calder, Kiki Caruson, Charles Connor, Christopher D’Elia, David Dismukes, Robin Ersing

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Placental Adaptation To Maternal Malnutrition, M. Carey Satterfield, Ashley K. Edwards, Fuller W. Bazer, Kathrin A. Dunlap, Chelsie B. Steinhauser, Guoyao Wu

Faculty Publications

Maternal malnutrition gives rise to both short- and long-term consequences for the survival and health of the offspring. As the intermediary between mother and fetus, the placenta has the potential to interpret environmental signals, such as nutrient availability, and adapt to support fetal growth and development. While this potential is present, it is clear that at times placental adaptation fails to occur resulting in poor pregnancy outcomes. This review will focus on placental responses to maternal undernutrition related to changes in placental vascularization and hemodynamics and placental nutrient transport systems across species. While much of the available literature describes placental …

Genetic Knockouts Indicate That The Abcc2 Protein In The Bollworm Helicoverpa Zea Is Not A Major Receptor For The Cry1ac Insecticidal Protein, Omaththage P. Perera, Nathan S. Little, Heba Abdelgaffar, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

Members of the insect ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily C2 (ABCC2) in several moth species are known as receptors for the Cry1Ac insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Mutations that abolish the functional domains of ABCC2 are known to cause resistance to Cry1Ac, although the reported levels of resistance vary widely depending on insect species. In this study, the function of the ABCC2 gene as a putative Cry1Ac receptor in Helicoverpa zea, a major pest of over 300 crops, was evaluated using CRISPR/Cas9 to progressively eliminate different functional ABCC2 domains. Results from bioassays with edited insect lines support that mutations …

Stability Analysis Using Generalized Sup-Delay Inequalities, Frederic Mazenc, Michael Malisoff, Miroslav Krstic

Faculty Publications

We provide a new generalization of a recent trajectory-based approach for proving global asymptotic stability properties, using new sup-delay inequalities. Our generalization eliminates the usual contractivity requirement from previous sup-delay inequality approaches. We show how the requirements of our generalization hold under less restrictive Halanay's conditions than those that were previously reported. While the usual Halanay's inequality requires the decay rate to exceed the gain, our less restrictive conditions allow the gain to exceed the decay rate. We apply our work to systems with switching delays and to a continuous-discrete system.

Nest Survival Of Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza Maritima) In The Wake Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Megan E. Hart, Anna Perez-Umphrey, Philip C. Stouffer, Christine Bergeon Burns, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Sabrina S. Taylor, Stefan Woltmann

Faculty Publications

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, damaging coastal ecosystems. Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima)—a year-round resident of Gulf Coast salt marshes—were exposed to oil, as shown by published isotopic and molecular analyses, but fitness consequences have not been clarified. We monitored nests around two bays in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, USA from 2012–2017 to assess possible impacts on the nesting biology of Seaside Sparrows. A majority of nests failed (76% of known-fate nests, N = 252 nests, 3521 exposure-days) during our study, and predation was the main cause …

Analysis Of A New Multispecies Tumor Growth Model Coupling 3d Phase-Fields With A 1d Vascular Network, Marvin Fritz, Prashant K. Jha, Tobias Köppl, J. Tinsley Oden, Barbara Wohlmuth

Faculty Publications

In this work, we present and analyze a mathematical model for tumor growth incorporating ECM erosion, interstitial flow, and the effect of vascular flow and nutrient transport. The model is of phase-field or diffused-interface type in which multiple phases of cell species and other constituents are separated by smooth evolving interfaces. The model involves a mesoscale version of Darcy's law to capture the flow mechanism in the tissue matrix. Modeling flow and transport processes in the vasculature supplying the healthy and cancerous tissue, one-dimensional (1D) equations are considered. Since the models governing the transport and flow processes are defined together …

Modeling And Simulation Of Vascular Tumors Embedded In Evolving Capillary Networks, Marvin Fritz, Prashant K. Jha, Tobias Köppl, J. Tinsley Oden, Andreas Wagner, Barbara Wohlmuth

Faculty Publications

In this work, we present a coupled 3D–1D model of solid tumor growth within a dynamically changing vascular network to facilitate realistic simulations of angiogenesis. Additionally, the model includes erosion of the extracellular matrix, interstitial flow, and coupled flow in blood vessels and tissue. We employ continuum mixture theory with stochastic Cahn–Hilliard type phase-field models of tumor growth. The interstitial flow is governed by a mesoscale version of Darcy's law. The flow in the blood vessels is controlled by Poiseuille flow, and Starling's law is applied to model the mass transfer in and out of blood vessels. The evolution of …

Insights Into The Tectonostratigraphic Setting Of The Southern Appalachians During The Blountian Tectophase From An Integrated Geochemical Analysis Of Magmatic Phenocrysts In The Ordovician Deicke K-Bentonite, Achim D. Herrmann, John T. Haynes, Richard M. Robinet, Jürgen Konzett, Norlene R. Emerson

Faculty Publications

We evaluate competing hypotheses regarding tectonic models of the early Taconic Orogeny in the Southern Appalachians during the Blountian tectophase with new geochemical data obtained from analyses of apatite and zircon phenocrysts, and melt and mineral inclusions therein, from the Ordovician Deicke K-bentonite (453.35 ± 0.10 Ma). Apatite geochemistry confirms that samples from different locations represent the same eruptive event, and zircon geochemistry and U[sbnd]Pb geochronology (including several Grenville-age inherited detrital cores) confirm an evolved magma of continental-arc composition, with the trace-metal geochemistry of magmatic Taconic-age rims on Deicke zircons pointing to a provenance of continental crustal igneous rock melts, …

Atlas Of Receptor Genes Expressed By The Bovine Morula And Corresponding Ligand-Related Genes Expressed By Uterine Endometrium, Lei Sang, Yao Xiao, Zongliang Jiang, Niamh Forde, Xiuchun Cindy Tian, Patrick Lonergan, Peter J. Hansen

Faculty Publications

Regulation of the mammalian embryo involves cell-signaling molecules produced by the maternal oviduct and endometrium. Here, datasets on the transcriptome of the gestational Days 5 and 6 bovine morula and Day 5 maternal endometrium were examined to identify receptor genes expressed by the morula and expression of the corresponding ligand-related genes in the endometrium. A total of 175 receptor genes were identified in the morula, including 48 encoding for growth factors or WNT signaling molecules, 25 for cytokines and chemokines, 35 involved in juxtacrine and matricellular signaling and 25 encoding for receptors for small molecules. Some of the highly-expressed pairs …

Robotic Communications For 5g And Beyond: Challenges And Research Opportunities, Yuanwei Liu, Xiao Liu, Xinyu Gao, Xidong Mu, Xiangwei Zhou, Octavia A. Dobre, H. Vincent Poor

Faculty Publications

The ongoing surge in applications of robotics brings both opportunities and challenges for the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond (B5G) of communication networks. This article focuses on 5G/B5G-enabled terrestrial robotic communications with an emphasis on distinct characteristics of such communications. First, signal and spatial modeling for robotic communications are presented. To elaborate further, both the benefits and challenges derived from robots' mobility are discussed. As a further advance, a novel simultaneous localization and radio mapping (SLARM) framework is proposed for integrating localization and communications into robotic networks. Furthermore, dynamic trajectory design and resource allocation for both indoor and outdoor robots are …

Enhanced Detection Of Desmoplasia By Targeted Delivery Of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles To The Tumour-Specific Extracellular Matrix, Meenu Chopra, Jiansha Wu, Yen Ling Yeow, Louise Winteringham, Tristan D. Clemons, Martin Saunders, Venkata Ramana Kotamraju, Ruth Ganss, Kirk W. Feindel, Juliana Hamzah

Faculty Publications

Diagnostic imaging of aggressive cancer with a high stroma content may benefit from the use of imaging contrast agents targeted with peptides that have high binding affinity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we report the use of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (IO-NP) conjugated to a nonapeptide, CSGRRSSKC (CSG), which specifically binds to the laminin-nidogen-1 complex in tumours. We show that CSG-IO-NP accumulate in tumours, predominantly in the tumour ECM, following intravenous injection into a murine model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PNET). In contrast, a control untargeted IO-NP consistently show poor tumour uptake, and IO-NP conjugated to a pentapeptide. …

How Analogizing Socio-Legal Responses To Organ Transplantation Can Further The Legalization Of Reproductive Genetic Innovation, Myrisha S. Lewis

Faculty Publications

The Nobel Foundation emphasized the significance of genetic innovation to society, science, and medicine by awarding the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to “the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors.” This Article focuses on “reproductive genetic innovation,” a term that includes cytoplasmic transfer, mitochondrial transfer, and germline or heritable gene editing techniques that are all categorized as “experimental” in the United States. These techniques all use in vitro fertilization, a legal and widely available practice. Yet reproductive genetic innovation has resulted in controversy and numerous barriers including a recurring federal budget rider, threats of federal enforcement action, and the unavailability of federal funding. …

Biblical Hermeneutical Principles Dealing With Race, Racism And Social Justice Issues, Jiří Moskala

Faculty Publications

Many modern problems arise from the misinterpretation of the Bible, unfortunately. One of my best Church History teachers Amadeo Molnár at the Protestant Faculty in Prague told us: “The history of the Christian Church is the history of the interpretation of the Bible.” At first, I doubted this statement’s truth, but after some reflections, I understood. Divisions were created and wars were fought because of certain dogmas, and millions were tortured, killed, or enslaved due to specific ideologies and wrong belief systems by believers. So many atrocities were committed in the name of God!

Reinvigorating A Technical Countering Weapons Of Mass Destruction Distance Learning Graduate Certificate Program, James C. Petrosky, Gaiven Varshney, Jeremy Slagley, Sara Shaghaghi

Faculty Publications

Current Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) demands can be divided broadly into policy and science. The science of chemical, biological, and radiological/nuclear weapons informs the limits of development, production, employment, operation, detection, risk characterization, human and material protection, and medical intervention. In short, the science of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) should precede and inform the development of policy. It is to this end that the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) CWMD program was re-established, providing a technical educational option for practitioners to understand the science behind a very technically challenging subject.

Exploring Performance In Air Force Science And Technology Programs, Eric A. Plack, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Edward D. White, Clay M. Koschnick

Faculty Publications

Science and technology (S&T) programs serve an important function in the defense acquisition process as the initial phase leading to discovery and development of warfighting technology. The results of these programs impact the larger major defense acquisition programs, which integrate the technologies in subsequent phases of the life cycle. Despite this important role, little prior research has examined the performance of S&T programs. In this study, the authors investigate the impact of technological maturation as a critical success factor in Air Force S&T programs. The results suggest that S&T programs with mature technologies are more likely to experience above average …

Sperm Repository For A Breeding Program Of The Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica: Sample Collection, Processing, Cryopreservation, And Data Management Plan, Huiping Yang, Yuanzi Huo, Jayme C. Yee, Scott Rikard, William C. Walton, Eric A. Saillant

Faculty Publications

The Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica (Family Ostreidae) is one of the most important fishery and aquaculture species in the U.S. and is a keystone species for coastal reefs. A breeding program was initiated in 2019 to support the fast-growing aquaculture industry culturing this species in the Gulf of Mexico. Oysters from 17 wild populations in embayment along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast from southwest Florida to the Matagorda Bay, Texas were used as broodstock for the program to maximize genetic diversity in the base population. A sperm repository of the broodstock was established to support the breeding project. The …

Fe-Catalyzed Sulfide Oxidation In Hydrothermal Plumes Is A Source Of Reactive Oxygen Species To The Ocean, Timothy J. Shaw, George W. Luther Iii, Richard Rosas, Véronique E. Oldham, Nicole R. Coffey, John L. Ferry, Dewamunnage M. C. Dias, Mustafa Yücel, Aubin Thibault De Chanvalon

Faculty Publications

Historically, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ocean has been attributed to photochemical and biochemical reactions. However, hydrothermal vents emit globally significant inventories of reduced Fe and S species that should react rapidly with oxygen in bottom water and serve as a heretofore unmeasured source of ROS. Here, we show that the Fe-catalyzed oxidation of reduced sulfur species in hydrothermal vent plumes in the deep oceans supported the abiotic formation of ROS at concentrations 20 to 100 times higher than the average for photoproduced ROS in surface waters. ROS (measured as hydrogen peroxide) were determined in hydrothermal …

Analysis Of Body Condition Indices Reveals Different Ecotypes Of The Antillean Manatee, D. N. Castelblanco-Martínez, D. H. Slone, S. S. Landeo-Yauri, E. A. Ramos, A. Alvarez-Alemán, F. L. N. Attademo, C. A. Beck, R. K. Bonde, S. M. Butler, L. J. Cabrias-Contreras, D. Caicedo-Herrera, J. Galves, I. V. Gómez-Camelo, Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, J. Jiménez-Domínguez, F. O. Luna, Y. Mona-Sanabria, J. B. Morales-Vela, L. D. Olivera-Gómez, J. A. Padilla-Saldívar, J. Powell, J. P. Reid, G. Rieucau, A. A. Mignucci-Giannoni

Faculty Publications

Assessing the body condition of wild animals is necessary to monitor the health of the population and is critical to defining a framework for conservation actions. Body condition indices (BCIs) are a non-invasive and relatively simple means to assess the health of individual animals, useful for addressing a wide variety of ecological, behavioral, and management questions. The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) is an endangered subspecies of the West Indian manatee, facing a wide variety of threats from mostly human-related origins. Our objective was to define specific BCIs for the subspecies that, coupled with additional health, genetic and …

Recent Development Of Unpowered Exoskeletons For Lower Extremity: A Survey, Tao Liu, Bin Zhang, Bin Zhang, Micheal G. Pecht

Faculty Publications

Unpowered exoskeletons (UEs) have attracted extensive research attentions for their portability, handleability and simplicity. However, designing exoskeletons without any active actuators is a great challenge because essential criteria such as performance enhancement, low impedance, and comfort must be met. This paper reviews the UEs researches from three aspects including modeling for understanding gait pattern, mechanical designs, and validation methods, which are main considerations of designing UEs. This review is based on the reported works in the past two decades and underlines some practical opportunities and challenges. Statistical data analysis and critical reviews are stated to understand human gait patterns, designing …

Editorial: Unraveling Mechanisms Underlying Annual Plankton Blooms In The North Atlantic And Their Implications For Biogenic Aerosol Properties And Cloud Formation, Michael Behrenfeld, Sarah D. Brooks, Peter Gaube, Kristina D.A. Mojica

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.