Digital Commons Network^™

Postmastectomy Radiotherapy For Left-Sided Breast Cancer Patients: Comparison Of Advanced Techniques, Yibo Xie, Daniel Bourgeois, Beibei Guo, Rui Zhang

Faculty Publications

Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) has been shown to improve the overall survival for invasive breast cancer patients, and many advanced radiotherapy technologies were adopted for PMRT. The purpose of our study is to compare various advanced PMRT techniques including fixed-beam intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), non-coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (NC-VMAT), multiple arc VMAT (MA-VMAT), and tomotherapy (TOMO). Results of standard VMAT and mixed beam therapy that were published by our group previously were also included in the plan comparisons. Treatment plans were produced for nine PMRT patients previously treated in our clinic. The plans were evaluated based on planning target volume (PTV) …

The Nbp35/Apbc Homolog Acts As A Nonessential [4fe-4s] Transfer Protein In Methanogenic Archaea, Cuiping Zhao, Zhe Lyu, Feng Long, Taiwo Akinyemi, Kasidet Manakongtreecheep, Dieter Söll, William B. Whitman, David J. Vinyard, Yuchen Liu

Faculty Publications

© 2019 Federation of European Biochemical Societies The nucleotide binding protein 35 (Nbp35)/cytosolic Fe-S cluster deficient 1 (Cfd1)/alternative pyrimidine biosynthetic protein C (ApbC) protein homologs have been identified in all three domains of life. In eukaryotes, the Nbp35/Cfd1 heterocomplex is an essential Fe-S cluster assembly scaffold required for the maturation of Fe-S proteins in the cytosol and nucleus, whereas the bacterial ApbC is an Fe-S cluster transfer protein only involved in the maturation of a specific target protein. Here, we show that the Nbp35/ApbC homolog MMP0704 purified from its native archaeal host Methanococcus maripaludis contains a [4Fe-4S] cluster that can …

Utilization Of Artificial Neural Network To Explore The Compositional Space Of Hollandite-Structured Materials For Radionuclide Cs Incorporation, Dipta B. Ghosh, Bijaya B. Karki, Jianwei Wang

Faculty Publications

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Hollandite with the general formula A2B8O16 is known for its potential to immobilize radionuclide Cs in the tunnel along the z-axis of the crystal structure. The effective Cs incorporation in a hollandite phase with an optimal loading capacity and the long term stability depends significantly on the B-site cations, which, in addition to providing optimal structural compatibility, must ensure the phase's resistance to chemical weathering in an aqueous environment that includes external thermodynamic conditions such as temperature and solution chemistry. Based on the importance of the B-site cations, we explored in detail the possible B-site compositions …

The Relative Importance Of Local And Regional Processes To Metapopulation Dynamics, Tad A. Dallas, Marjo Saastamoinen, Torsti Schulz, Otso Ovaskainen

Faculty Publications

© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2019 British Ecological Society Metapopulation dynamics – patch occupancy, colonization and extinction – are the result of complex processes at both local (e.g. environmental conditions) and regional (e.g. spatial arrangement of habitat patches) scales. A large body of work has focused on habitat patch area and connectivity (area-isolation paradigm). However, these approaches often do not incorporate local environmental conditions or fully address how the spatial arrangement of habitat patches (and resulting connectivity) can influence metapopulation dynamics. Here, we utilize long-term data on a classic metapopulation system – the Glanville fritillary butterfly …

Potential Population Growth Of Melanaphis Sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Under Six Constant Temperatures On Grain Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.), M. F. Souza, J. A. Davis

Faculty Publications

Sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is now widely established in sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae), production areas of the USA, and is an important economic pest. To calculate economic thresholds, population growth parameters under varied temperature conditions are needed. However, detailed laboratory studies of temperature effects on the biology and population parameters of M. sacchari since the sorghum outbreak in the US have not been performed previously. Therefore, this study evaluated the response of M. sacchari to 6 different constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 32, and 35 °C) on sorghum tissue. Aphid development, age-specific survivorship, fecundity, …

Insect Herbivores Associated With Nymphaea Mexicana (Nymphaeaceae) In Southern United States: Potential Biological Control Agents For South Africa, Megan K. Reid, Julie A. Coetzee, Martin P. Hill, Rodrigo Diaz, Lyn A. Gettys, James P. Cuda, Christopher S. Reid

Faculty Publications

Nymphaea mexicana Zuccarini (Nymphaeaceae) (Mexican waterlily) is an emergent floating-leaved aquatic plant from the southeastern USA that is invasive in South Africa. In invaded waterbodies this plant restricts water movement, increases siltation, decreases recreational activities, and can deplete water oxygen levels, which in turn negatively impacts aquatic fauna. Currently there are no chemical, mechanical, or biological control programs in place for N. mexicana in South Africa, but the sustainability of biological control makes this the most desirable option. Field surveys for potential biological control agents were conducted in the native range of N. mexicana in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas from …

A Target Enrichment Bait Set For Studying Relationships Among Ostariophysan Fishes, Brant C. Faircloth, Fernando Alda, Kendra Hoekzema, Michael D. Burns, Claudio Oliveira, James S. Albert, Bruno F. Melo, Luz E. Ochoa, Fábio F. Roxo, Prosanta Chakrabarty, Brian L. Sidlauskas, Michael E. Alfaro

Faculty Publications

© 2020 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Target enrichment of conserved nuclear loci has helped reconstruct evolutionary relationships among a wide variety of species. While there are preexisting bait sets to enrich a few hundred loci across all fishes or a thousand loci from acanthomorph fishes, no bait set exists to enrich large numbers (>1,000 loci) of ultraconserved nuclear loci from ostariophysans, the second largest actinopterygian superorder. In this study, we describe how we designed a bait set to enrich 2,708 ultraconserved nuclear loci from ostariophysan fishes by combining an existing genome assembly with low coverage …

Carbonized Cellulose Nanofibers As Dielectric Heat Sources For Microwave Annealing 3d Printed Pla Composite, Ju Dong, Xingyan Huang, Pranjali Muley, Tongyao Wu, Mohamad Barekati-Goudarzi, Zhengjie Tang, Meichun Li, Sunyoung Lee, Dorin Boldor, Qinglin Wu

Faculty Publications

Filament fused fabrication (FFF) is an extrusion-based 3D printing technology for manufacturing thermoplastic components. One major obstacle facing 3D printed thermoplastic material is the reduced crystallinity resulting from a fast quench when material exiting the 3D printer hot nozzle solidifies quickly at the low-temperature platform, leading to weak mechanical performance. Here, we report an accelerated annealing strategy with the assistance of microwave heating, aiming to enhance crystallinity and mechanical performance of FFF 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) composite. We selected naturally abundant cellulose fibers as precursors for producing carbonized cellulose nanofibers (CCNFs), and compounded CCNFs with PLA to produce bi-component …

Spatial And Pregnancy-Related Changes In The Protein, Amino Acid, And Carbohydrate Composition Of Bovine Oviduct Fluid, Beatriz Rodríguez-Alonso, Veronica Maillo, Omar Salvador Acuña, Rebeca López-Úbeda, Alejandro Torrecillas, Constantine A. Simintiras, Roger Sturmey, Manuel Avilés, Patrick Lonergan, Dimitrios Rizos

Faculty Publications

Knowledge of how the biochemical composition of the bovine oviduct is altered due to the oviduct anatomy or the presence of an embryo is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of (І) oviduct anatomy and (ІІ) embryo presence on oviductal fluid (OF) protein, amino acid, and carbohydrate composition. Cross-bred beef heifers (n = 19) were synchronized and those in standing estrus were randomly allocated to a cyclic (non-bred) or pregnant (artificially inseminated) group. All heifers were slaughtered on Day 3 after estrus. The oviducts ipsilateral to the corpus luteum from each animal were isolated, …

The 21st Century Agriculture: When Rice Research Draws Attention To Climate Variability And How Weedy Rice And Underutilized Grains Come In Handy, Noraikim Mohd Hanafiah, Muhamad Shakirin Mispan, Phaik Eem Lim, Niranjan Baisakh, Acga Cheng

Faculty Publications

Rice, the first crop to be fully sequenced and annotated in the mid-2000s, is an excellent model species for crop research due mainly to its relatively small genome and rich genetic diversity. The 130-million-year-old cereal came into the limelight in the 1960s when the semi-dwarfing gene sd-1, better known as the “green revolution” gene, resulted in the establishment of a high-yielding semi-dwarf variety IR8. Deemed as the miracle rice, IR8 saved millions of lives and revolutionized irrigated rice farming particularly in the tropics. The technology, however, spurred some unintended negative consequences, especially in prompting ubiquitous monoculture systems that increase agricultural …

Seasonal Population Patterns Of A New Scale Pest, Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae Kuwana (Hemiptera: Sternorrhynca: Eriococcidae), Of Crapemyrtles Intexas, Louisiana, And Arkansas, Erfan Vafaie, Michael Merchant, Cai Xiaoya, John D. Hopkins, James A. Robbins, Yan Chen, Mengmeng Gu

Faculty Publications

The crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae, is an invasive scale insect pest of crapemyrtles. Crawler populations were monitored using double-sided sticky tape on established crapemyrtle trees in Tyler (TX), Huntsville (TX), Dallas (TX), College Station (TX), Shreveport (LA), and Little Rock (AR) from 2015-2017 to determine crawler activity and determine if degree-day models could predict the first peak in crawler activity. Difference in crawler densities on upper and lower branches of trees was also determined by using double-sided sticky tapes. The first peak in crapemyrtle bark scale crawler activity was between March 26th and May 22nd across all locations and …

Modeling Quality Of Urban Life Using A Geospatial Approach, Helena Merschdorf, Michael E. Hodgson, Thomas Blaschke

Faculty Publications

The rapid global urbanization of the past century poses several challenges for planners and policy makers. In particular, the conflation of social and urban issues must be understood to create sustainable and livable urban places. In this regard, it was our aim to model and understand the relationship between urban characteristics and peoples’ perceived quality of urban life (QoUL) using statistical analysis and geospatial modeling. We selected objective variables representing urban characteristics based on literature and used principal components analysis to develop uncorrelated components. These components served as the independent variables in a multiple linear regression analysis. The subjective, dependent …

Pollen Placement On Petals, Kyle E. Harms

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Inhibition Deficits Are Modulated By Age And Cgg Repeat Length In Carriers Of The Fmr1 Premutation Allele Who Are Mothers Of Children With Fragile X Syndrome, Jessica Klusek, Jinkuk Hong, Audra Sterling, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, Marsha R. Mailick

Faculty Publications

Individuals who carry a premutation (PM) allele on the FMR1 gene may experience executive limitations associated with their genetic status, including inhibition deficits. However, poor understanding of individualized risk factors has limited clinical management of this group, particularly in mothers who carry the PM allele who have children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). The present study examined CGG repeat length and age as factors that may account for variable expressivity of inhibition deficits. Participants were 134 carriers of the PM allele who were mothers of children with FXS. Inhibition skills were measured using both self-report and direct behavioral assessments. Increased …

Hydrogen Peroxide Triggers An Increase In Cell Surface Expression Of System XC− In Cultured Human Glioma Cells, Leah A. Chase, Mary Verheulen Kleyn, Natasha Schiller, Abby Goltz King, Guillermo Flores, Sasha Balcazar Engelsman, Christina Bowles, Sara Lang Smith, Anne E. Robinson, Jeffrey Rothstein

Faculty Publications

System x_c⁻ exchanges extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate across the plasma membrane of many cell types. One of the physiological roles of System x_c⁻ is to provide cystine for synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Here we report that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) triggers the translocation of System x_c⁻ to the plasma membrane within 10 min of the initial exposure. Specifically, we observed a three-fold increase in ³⁵S-L-cystine uptake following a 10 min exposure to 0.3 mM H₂O₂. This effect was dose-dependent with an EC₅₀ for …

The Dyadic Dance During Deployment: Veteran And Partner Romantic Attachment, Warren Ponder, Jose Carbajal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Deep Learning For Toxicity And Disease Prediction, Ping Gong, Chaoyang Zhang, Minjun Chen

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Cyber-Physical Security With Rf Fingerprint Classification Through Distance Measure Extensions Of Generalized Relevance Learning Vector Quantization, Trevor J. Bihl, Todd J. Paciencia, Kenneth W. Bauer Jr., Michael A. Temple

Faculty Publications

Radio frequency (RF) fingerprinting extracts fingerprint features from RF signals to protect against masquerade attacks by enabling reliable authentication of communication devices at the “serial number” level. Facilitating the reliable authentication of communication devices are machine learning (ML) algorithms which find meaningful statistical differences between measured data. The Generalized Relevance Learning Vector Quantization-Improved (GRLVQI) classifier is one ML algorithm which has shown efficacy for RF fingerprinting device discrimination. GRLVQI extends the Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) family of “winner take all” classifiers that develop prototype vectors (PVs) which represent data. In LVQ algorithms, distances are computed between exemplars and PVs, and …

Restored Freshwater Flow And Estuarine Benthic Communities In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Research Trends And Future Needs, Jillian C. Tupitza, Cassandra N. Glaspie

Faculty Publications

Restoring river connectivity to rebuild and sustain land is a promising restoration strategy in coastal areas experiencing rapid land loss, such as the Mississippi river delta. Results of these large-scale hydrologic changes are preliminary, and there exists limited empirical evidence regarding how benthic communities will respond, specifically in Barataria Bay and Breton Sound in southeast Louisiana. In this review, the body of existing research in this geographic region pertaining to the drivers of benthic community response that are related to restored freshwater flow and sediment deposition is examined. Overall trends include (1) potential displacement of some species down-estuary due to …

Analysis Of Identification Method For Bacterial Species And Antibiotic Resistance Genes Using Optical Data From Dna Oligomers, Ryan L. Wood, Tanner Jensen, Cindi Wadsworth, Mark Clement, Prashant Nagpal, William G. Pitt

Faculty Publications

Bacterial antibiotic resistance is becoming a significant health threat, and rapid identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is essential to save lives and reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance. This paper analyzes the ability of machine learning algorithms (MLAs) to process data from a novel spectroscopic diagnostic device to identify antibiotic-resistant genes and bacterial species by comparison to available bacterial DNA sequences. Simulation results show that the algorithms attain from 92% accuracy (for genes) up to 99% accuracy (for species). This novel approach identifies genes and species by optically reading the percentage of A, C, G, T bases in 1000s of short …

Analysis Of Identification Method For Bacterial Species And Antibiotic Resistance Genes Using Optical Data From Dna Oligomers, Ryan L. Wood, Tanner Jensen, Cindi Wadsworth, Mark Clement, Prashant Nagpal, William G. Pitt

Faculty Publications

Bacterial antibiotic resistance is becoming a significant health threat, and rapid identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is essential to save lives and reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance. This paper analyzes the ability of machine learning algorithms (MLAs) to process data from a novel spectroscopic diagnostic device to identify antibiotic-resistant genes and bacterial species by comparison to available bacterial DNA sequences. Simulation results show that the algorithms attain from 92% accuracy (for genes) up to 99% accuracy (for species). This novel approach identifies genes and species by optically reading the percentage of A, C, G, T bases in 1000s of short …

Icope A Multi-Level, Cluster Randomized, 36-Month, Parallel-Group Study To Assess The Efficacy Of Hiv Disclosure Intervention In Hiv Parental Disclosure Among Parents Living With Hiv In China, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Yuejiao Zhou

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Parents living with HIV who disclose their HIV status to their children could benefit from the parental HIV disclosure. However, it is also very challenging because of persistent stigma and discrimination against HIV. This report describes the study design and protocol of the “Interactive Communication with Openness, Passion, and Empowerment (iCOPE)” randomized controlled trial aimed at assisting parents living with HIV in conducting culturally and developmentally appropriate disclosure to their uninfected children in China through trainings among both parents living with HIV and healthcare providers.

Methods: A total of 791 parents living with HIV with children aged between 6 …

Phase 2 Study Of Vismodegib, A Hedgehog Inhibitor, Combined With Gemcitabine And Nab-Paclitaxel In Patients With Untreated Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Ana De Jesus-Acosta, Elizabeth A. Sugar, Peter J. O’Dwyer, Ramesh K. Ramanathan, Daniel D. Von Hoff, Zeshaan Rasheed, Lei Zheng, Asma Begum, Robert Anders, Anirban Maitra, Florencia Mcallister, N. V. Rajeshkumar, Shinichi Yabuuchi, Roeland F. De Wilde, Bhavina Batukbhai, Ismet Sahin, Daniel A. Laheru

Faculty Publications

Background: The Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway is overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Preclinical studies have shown that Hh inhibitors reduce pancreatic cancer stem cells (pCSC), stroma and Hh signalling. Methods: Patients with previously untreated metastatic PDA were treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Vismodegib was added starting on the second cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) as compared with historical controls. Tumour biopsies to assess pCSC, stroma and Hh signalling were obtained before treatment and after cycle 1 (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel) or after cycle 2 (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel plus vismodegib). Results: Seventy-one patients were enrolled. Median PFS and …

Model Sensitivity To Topographic Uncertainty In Meso- And Microtidal Marshes, Karim Alizad, Stephen C. Medeiros, Madeline R. Foster-Martinez, Scott C. Hagen

Faculty Publications

Light detection and ranging (Lidar) derived digital elevation models are widely used in modeling coastal marsh systems. However, the topographic error in these models can affect simulations of marsh coverage and characteristics. We investigated the relevance and impact of this error in micro- and mesotidal systems. Lidar-derived and RTK-adjusted topography were each used in a dynamic marsh model, and the resulting marsh coverages were examined. For two microtidal sites (Apalachicola, FL, USA, and Grand Bay, MS, USA) using solely lidar-derived topography, the model produced Cohen Kappa values of 0.1 for both estuaries when compared with National Wetland Inventory data indicating …

Cysteine Dioxygenase Enzyme Activity And Gene Expression In The Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum Is In Both The Mold And Yeast Morphotypes And Exhibits Substantial Strain Variation, Melissa Adams, Glen Shearer

Faculty Publications

In the dimorphism (mold/yeast) Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) literature are reports that yeast (the so-called pathogenic form) uniquely expresses a cysteine dioxygenase (CDO, approx. 10,500 dal) activity which the mold morphotype (the so-called saprophytic soil form) does not express (C.F., Kumar et al., Biochem 22, 762, 1983). This yeast-specific CDO activity is postulated to play a critical role in the mold-to-yeast shift. A number of years ago, our lab isolated the gene encoding the Hc cysteine dioxygenase (CDO1, Genbank accession AY804144) and noted significant expression in the mold morphotype of several Histoplasma strains and also determined that the predicted protein would …

Respiration By The Opportunistic Spionid Polychaete Streblospio Gynobranchiata During Adjustment To And Recovery From Moderate Hypoxia, Alyssa D. Bennett, Chet F. Rakocinski

Faculty Publications

Understanding the capacity of estuarine organisms to acclimate to stressful conditions provides insights into how communities cope within fluctuating environments. The opportunistic spionid polychaete, Streblospio gynobranchiata Rice and Levin, 1998, regularly experiences intermittent moderate hypoxia within shallow sedimentary habitats. To better understand fine-scale adjustments by this opportunistic species to short-term moderate hypoxia, the aerobic respiration response of three size classes was examined over a 12 h period and after 24 h of exposure to moderate hypoxia (i.e., 20% air saturation) at 25 °C. In addition, the capacity to resume standard respiration was examined over a 12 h period following a …

Geology Of Nacogdoches, Texas: Texas Academy Of Science March 1, 2020, R. Larell Nielson, Mike Read, Mindy Faulkner, Hannah C. Chambers, Jessica O'Neal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Residual Effects Of Termiticides On Mortality Of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) On Substrates Subjected To Flooding, Rajani Sapkota, Michael J. Stout, Gregg Henderson

Faculty Publications

© 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. Concerns on efficacies of termiticides used for soil treatment to prevent Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) infestations have prompted pest control companies to suggest that retreatments are necessary after flooding of homes. Therefore, to address concerns about the efficacy of termiticides after flooding, we designed a flooding simulation experiment in the laboratory. We used four formulated termiticides containing fipronil, imidacloprid, chlorantraniliprole, or bifenthrin as active ingredients (a.i.) and two colonies of field-collected C. formosanus for this study. Evaluations of each chemical at …

The Manifestation Of Neighborhood Effects: A Pattern For Community Growth?, Michael R. Cope, Jorden E. Jackson, Scott R. Sanders, Lance D. Erickson, Tippe Morlan, Ralph B. Brown

Faculty Publications

Neighborhood effects, or the development of community by neighborhoods, are often studied in an urban context. Previous research has neglected to examine the influence of neighborhoods in nonurban settings. Our case study, however, contributes to the existing literature as it takes place in a small, rural-to-urban town at an important point in time where the town was urbanizing. We find that neighborhood effects also influence community satisfaction and attachment in Creekdale, an urbanizing town. Using survey data (N = 1006) drawn from the Creekdale Community Citizens Viewpoint Survey (CCVS), we find that, contrary to conventional wisdom, population size and density …

Exposure To Oil And Hypoxia Results In Alterations Of Immune Transcriptional Patterns In Developing Sheepshead Minnows (Cyprinodon Variegatus), Maria L. Rodgers, Danielle Simning, Maria S. Sepúlveda, Sylvain De Guise, Thijs Bosker, Robert J. Griffitt

Faculty Publications

The area and timing of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill highlight the need to study oil and hypoxia exposure in early life stage fishes. Though critical to health, little research has targeted the effect of oil and hypoxia exposure on developing immune systems. To this end, we exposed sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) at three early life stages: embryonic; post-hatch; and post-larval, to a high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) of oil, hypoxia, or both for 48 hours. We performed RNAseq to understand how exposures alter expression of immune transcripts and pathways. Under control conditions, the embryonic to post-hatch …