Digital Commons Network^™

Maternal Choline And Betaine Supplementation Modifies The Placental Response To Hyperglycemia In Mice And Human Trophoblasts, Khatia Nanobashvili, Chauntelle Jack-Roberts, Rachel Bretter, Naudia Jones, Kathleen Axen, Anjana Saxena, Kali Blain, Xinyin Jiang

Publications and Research

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by excessive placental fat and glucose transport, resulting in fetal overgrowth. Earlier we demonstrated that maternal choline supplementation normalizes fetal growth in GDM mice at mid-gestation. In this study, we further assess how choline and its oxidation product betaine influence determinants of placental nutrient transport in GDM mice and human trophoblasts. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat (HF) diet 4 weeks prior to and during pregnancy to induce GDM or fed a control normal fat (NF) diet. The HF mice also received 25 mM choline, 85 mM betaine, or control drinking water. We observed …

Evidence For Maxwell's Equations, Fields, Force Laws And Alternative Theories Of Classical Electrodynamics, Max Tran

Publications and Research

The set of equations known today as Maxwell's equations along with a few constitutive equations lie at the heart of classical electromagnetism. A common misconception held by many is that Maxwell's equations are essential, and that classical electromagnetic theory is settled science and is no longer an active field of investigations. We will review the four Maxwell's equations and related equations, their supporting experimental evidence, the field concept, and the Lorentz and Ritz force laws. We will give a brief outline of two approaches to classical electromagnetism which bypass Maxwell's equations, the propagated potential approach and the direct action approach …

Using Drosophila Behavioral Assays To Characterize Terebrid Venompeptide Bioactivity, Anders Eriksson, Prachi Anand, Juliette Gorson, Corina Grijuc, Elina Hadelia, James C. Stewart, Mandë Holford, Adam Claridge-Chang

Publications and Research

The number of newly discovered peptides from the transcriptomes and proteomes of animal venom arsenals is rapidly increasing, resulting in an abundance of uncharacterized peptides. There is a pressing need for a systematic, cost effective, and scalable approach to identify physiological effects of venom peptides. To address this discovery-to-function gap, we developed a sequence driven:activity-based hybrid approach for screening venom peptides that is amenable to large-venom peptide libraries with minimal amounts of peptide. Using this approach, we characterized the physiological and behavioral phenotypes of two peptides from the venom of predatory terebrid marine snails, teretoxins Tv1 from Terebra variegata and …

Human Rights Litigation Against Corporations After Jesner V. Arab Bank, Patrick C. Reed

Publications and Research

In this paper, Dr. Reed explores issues of corporate civil liability for human rights violations. The paper analyzes the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Jesner v. Arab Bank where the Court rejected federal subject-matter jurisdiction over corporate defendants under the Alien Tort Statute. The paper then moves beyond the Supreme Court ruling to identify potential legal exposure for corporations outside the Alien Tort Statute.

A Survey Of Doctoral Dissertations In Restorative Justice (1997-2018), Teresa A. Booker

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Brownfields To Greenfields: Environmental Justice Versus Environmental Gentrification, Juliana A. Maantay

Publications and Research

Gentrification is a growing concern in many urban areas, due to the potential for displacement of lower-income and other vulnerable populations. This process can be accelerated when neighborhood “greening” projects are undertaken via governmental or private investor efforts, resulting in a phenomenon termed environmental or “green” gentrification. Vacant land in lower-income areas is often improved by the existing community through the creation of community gardens, but this contributes to these greening efforts and paradoxically may spur gentrification and subsequent displacement of the gardens’ stewards and neighbors. “Is proximity to community gardens in less affluent neighborhoods associated with an increased likelihood …

Brownsfields To Greenfields: Environmental Justice Versus Environmental Gentrification, Juliana A. Maantay, Andrew Maroko

Publications and Research

Gentrification is a growing concern in many urban areas, due to the potential for displacement of lower-income and other vulnerable populations. This process can be accelerated when neighborhood “greening” projects are undertaken via governmental or private investor efforts, resulting in a phenomenon termed environmental or “green” gentrification. Vacant land in lower-income areas is often improved by the existing community through the creation of community gardens, but this contributes to these greening efforts and paradoxically may spur gentrification and subsequent displacement of the gardens’ stewards and neighbors. “Is proximity to community gardens in less affluent neighborhoods associated with an increased likelihood …

Johnson Practices, Teaches The Art Of Journalism, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

“While studying abroad in Tanzania, I was fascinated by wildlife, but I realized that I don't really have the temperament to be a scientist. So I decided to come back to the U.S. and become a journalist.” That’s how Emily Johnson settled on what her profession would be.

Johnson is a native of Providence, Rhode Island. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and animal behavior from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and a master’s in arts and international reporting from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. Today she is an assistant professor in the Department of …

Using Libguides Or Eportfolio As Hosting Platforms For Ztc Courses., Ellen Sexton, Vee Herrington

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Using Augmented Reality To Enhance Learning Experiences About Electrical Circuits, Juan Estrella

Publications and Research

The term Augmented Reality (AR) refers to the technologies that superimpose digital content generated by computers over the user’s view of the real world. AR technologies enhance the version of the physical environment with computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, or graphics overlaid on top of the real-world view. In recent years, AR has moved beyond expensive military applications and has now entered a wide variety of domains. In engineering education, AR technologies can serve as a learning aid as well as a basis for innovation. The technology provides 3-D visualizations that allow to: (i) observe flaws in designs …

Re-Thinking Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Targets Using Gene-Based Tests, Man Ki Kwok, Shi Lin Lin, C Mary Schooling

Publications and Research

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating condition with no known effective drug treatments. Existing drugs only alleviate symptoms. Given repeated expensive drug failures, we assessed systematically whether approved and investigational AD drugs are targeting products of genes strongly associated with AD and whether these genes are targeted by existing drugs for other indications which could be re-purposed.

Methods: We identified genes strongly associated with late-onset AD fromthe loci of genetic variants associated with AD at genome-wide-significance and from a gene-based test applied to the most extensively genotyped late-onset AD case (n=17,008)-control (n=37,154) study, the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project. …

Unravelling The Structure Of Glycosyl Cations Via Cold-Ion Infrared Spectroscopy, Eike Mucha, Mateusz Marianski, Fei-Fei Xu, Daniel A. Thomas, Gerard Meijer, Gert Von Helden, Peter H. Seeberger, Kevin Pagel

Publications and Research

Glycosyl cations are the key intermediates during the glycosylation reaction that covalently links building blocks during the synthetic assembly of carbohydrates. The exact structure of these ions remained elusive due to their transient and short-lived nature. Structural insights into the intermediate would improve our understanding of the reaction mechanism of glycosidic bond formation. Here, we report an in-depth structural analysis of glycosyl cations using a combination of cold-ion infrared spectroscopy and first-principles theory. Participating C2 protective groups form indeed a covalent bond with the anomeric carbon that leads to C1-bridged acetoxonium-type structures. The resulting bicyclic structure strongly distorts the ring, …

Study Of The Kinetic Energy Densities Of Electrons As Applied To Quantum Dots In A Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

There are three expressions for the kinetic energy density t(r) expressed in terms of its quantal source, the single‐particle density matrix: t_A(r), the integrand of the kinetic energy expectation value; t_B(r), the trace of the kinetic energy tensor; t_C(r), a virial form in terms of the 'classical' kinetic field. These kinetic energy densities are studied by application to 'artificial atoms' or quantum dots in a magnetic field in a ground and excited singlet state. A comparison with the densities for natural atoms and molecules in their ground state is made. The near nucleus …

Hyperphosphorylation Of Tau Associates With Changes In Its Function Beyond Microtubule Stability, Alejandra D. Alonso, Leah S. Cohen, Christopher Corbo, Viktoriya Morozova, Abdeslem Elldrissi, Greg R. Phillips, Frida E. Kleiman

Publications and Research

Tau is a neuronal microtubule associated protein whose main biological functions are to promote microtubule self-assembly by tubulin and to stabilize those already formed. Tau also plays an important role as an axonal microtubule protein. Tau is an amazing protein that plays a key role in cognitive processes, however, deposits of abnormal forms of tau are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD), the most prevalent, and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), the most recently associated to abnormal tau. Tau post-translational modifications (PTMs) are responsible for its gain of toxic function. Alonso et al. …

"Our Stories" Of Becoming A College Student: A Digital Writing Project For First Year Students, Philip Kreniske, Karen Goodlad, Jennifer Sears, Sandra Cheng

Publications and Research

This blogging assignment serves as a low-stakes activity that encourages students to make sense of the social, emotional, and bureaucratic challenges in their transition to college, and to simultaneously develop digital literacy.

Bone Protection By Inhibition Of Microrna-182, Eugenia G. Giannopoulou, Kazuki Inoue, Zhonghao Deng, Yufan Chen, Ren Xu, Shiaoching Gong, Matthew B. Greenblatt, Lingegowda S. Mangala, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, David G. Kirsch, Anil K. Sood, Liang Zhao, Baohong Zhao

Publications and Research

Targeting microRNAs recently shows significant therapeutic promise; however, such progress is underdeveloped in treatment of skeletal diseases with osteolysis, such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we identified miR-182 as a key osteoclastogenic regulator in bone homeostasis and diseases. Myeloid-specific deletion of miR-182 protects mice against excessive osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in disease models of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis and inflammatory arthritis. Pharmacological treatment of these diseases with miR-182 inhibitors completely suppresses pathologic bone erosion. Mechanistically, we identify protein kinase double-stranded RNA-dependent (PKR) as a new and essential miR-182 target that is a novel inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis via regulation of the …

Season-Ahead Forecasting Of Water Storage And Irrigation Requirements – An Application To The Southwest Monsoon In India, Arun Ravindranath, Naresh Devineni, Upmanu Lall, Paulina Concha Larrauri

Publications and Research

Water risk management is a ubiquitous challenge faced by stakeholders in the water or agricultural sector. We present a methodological framework for forecasting water storage requirements and present an application of this methodology to risk assessment in India. The application focused on forecasting crop water stress for potatoes grown during the monsoon season in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Pre-season large-scale climate predictors used to forecast water stress were selected based on an exhaustive search method that evaluates for highest ranked probability skill score and lowest root-mean-squared error in a leave-one-out cross-validation mode. Adaptive forecasts were made in the years …

Use And Awareness Of Reference Management Software Among Community College Students, Ajatshatru Pathak, Sarah C. Johnson

Publications and Research

This research study investigates the use and awareness of reference management software (RMS) among community college students. An in-person survey was conducted in April and May 2017 at two mid-sized urban public community colleges in New York City. Researchers recruited 124 participants for this survey. The 13-item survey instrument was designed to determine participants’ awareness and use of RMS. The results show a low awareness and use of RMS among community college students regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, field of study, undergraduate class level, English proficiency, or academic level. The article discusses areas for further research and suggests strategies …

A Dexterous, Glove-Based Teleoperable Low-Power Soft Robotic Arm For Delicate Deep-Sea Biological Exploration, Brennan T. Phillips, Kaitlyn P. Becker, Shunichi Kurumaya, Kevin C. Galloway, Griffin Whittredge, Daniel M. Vogt, Clark B. Teeple, Michelle H. Rosen, Vincent A. Pieribone, David F. Gruber, Robert J. Wood

Publications and Research

Modern marine biologists seeking to study or interact with deep-sea organisms are confronted with few options beyond industrial robotic arms, claws, and suction samplers. This limits biological interactions to a subset of “rugged” and mostly immotile fauna. As the deep sea is one of the most biologically diverse and least studied ecosystems on the planet, there is much room for innovation in facilitating delicate interactions with a multitude of organisms. The biodiversity and physiology of shallow marine systems, such as coral reefs, are common study targets due to the easier nature of access; SCUBA diving allows for in situ delicate …

Use And Awareness Of Reference Management Software Among Community College Students, Ajatshatru Pathak, Sarah Johnson,

Publications and Research

This research study investigates the use and awareness of reference management software (RMS) among community college students. An in-person survey was conducted in April and May 2017 at two mid-sized urban public community colleges in New York City. Researchers recruited 124 participants for this survey. The 13-item survey instrument was designed to determine participants’ awareness and use of RMS. The results show a low awareness and use of RMS among community college students regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, field of study, undergraduate class level, English proficiency, or academic level. The article discusses areas for further research and suggests strategies …

Developmental Transitions In Amygdala Pkc Isoforms And Ampa Receptor Expression Associated With Threat Memory In Infant Rats, Maya Opendak, Roseanna M. Zanca, Eben Anane, Peter Serrano, Regina M. Sullivan

Publications and Research

Although infants learn and remember, they rapidly forget, a phenomenon known as infantile amnesia. While myriad mechanisms impact this rapid forgetting, the molecular events supporting memory maintenance have yet to be explored. To explore memory mechanisms across development, we used amygdala-dependent odor-shock conditioning and focused on mechanisms important in adult memory, the AMPA receptor subunits GluA1/2 and upstream protein kinases important for trafficking AMPAR, protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ) and iota/lambda (PKCι/λ). We use odor-shock conditioning in infant rats because it is late-developing (postnatal day, PN10) and can be modulated by corticosterone during a sensitive period in early life. Our …

“I'M Gonna Get Me A Loosie” Understanding Single Cigarette Purchases By Adult Smokers In A Disadvantaged Section Of New York City, Klaus Von Lampe, Marin Kurti, Jacqueline Johnson

Publications and Research

This study seeks to update and expand our understanding of the perceptions and purchasing patterns of smokers of single cigarettes (‘loosies’) in disadvantaged urban areas. Semi-structured guides were used in thirteen focus groups with 67 self-identified adult smokers from the South Bronx section of New York City in summer 2013. There is wideavailability ofsingle cigarettes inthe South Bronx, withlegitimate stores overwhelmingly being the preferred venue for purchases. Single cigarettes are sold at higher per-unit prices than illicit packs. However, buyers of single cigarettes can achieve cost savings compared to legal, fully taxed cigarette packs. Apart from cost-savings, smokers opt for …

Stop Disparaging Professors. They Work For A Better America, Aaron Barlow

Publications and Research

Many professors are involved, in one way or another, outside of campus but in much less incendiary activities than politics; they take seriously their roles as public intellectuals. Some actively promote the arts, others are involved with local planning, while even more work with adult education, in programs for school children and curriculum development on the local public-school level. Some even work to break down the barriers between academia and the commercial world, an unenviable but important task.

An Interview With Feminist Science Fiction Scholar Dr. Marleen S. Barr, Marleen S. Barr

Publications and Research

This is an interview with Marleen S. Barr about her single authored short fiction anthology WHEN TRUMP CHANGED; THE FEMINIST SCIENCE FICTION JUSTICE LEAGUE QUASHES THE ORANGE OUTRAGE PUSSY GRABBER.

Effect Of Wireless Communication Delay On Dc Microgrids Performance, Mahmoud Saleh, Yusef Esa, Ahmed Mohamed

Publications and Research

This paper investigates the effect of wireless communication technologies latency on the converters and the bus voltage of centrally communication based controlled DC microgrids (MGs) during islanding. A DC microgrid with its communication based control scheme was modeled to show the impact of latency. Simulation results show that the impact may be severe depending on the design, and the operational condition of the microgrid before latency occurs.

Total Eclipse Of The Court? Janus V. Afscme, Council 31 In Historical, Legal, And Public Policy Contexts, William A. Herbert, Sarah Cudahy, John Wirenius

Publications and Research

The article examines the historical rise and institutionalization of the agency shop in public sector labor relations and its sudden fall in the Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31 decision. The authors demonstrate that the rapid rise of public sector unionism took place during a period when most state laws did not require or even permit the agency shop. We also explore the history of the agency shop in New York including the leading role New York City government played in advocating in Albany for legal changes to permit the agency shop to be negotiated. The article then describe …

Could An Alternative Policy Design Have Produced A Stronger Mortgage Modification Outcome For Hamp?, Sean Macdonald

Publications and Research

This paper conducts a study of the relative effectiveness of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) - the primary federal mortgage loan modification program - from early 2009 through 2016. It evaluates U.S. Treasury Department and other data sources, and reviews the recent literature on the relative success of the program. The analysis suggests that HAMP’s success rate in modifying mortgage loans was likely constrained by its voluntary design, a structure that enabled lenders and servicers to prioritize the interests of investors in assessing the risks of modification. It then considers the economic issues surrounding the foreclosure issue and presents …

Radical Digital Media Literacy In A Post-Truth Anti-Trump Era, Alexandra Juhasz

Publications and Research

An article about Fake News Poetry workshops as radical digital media literacy given the truth of fake news.

Peaze Up! Adaptation, Innovation, And Variation In German Hip Hop Discourse, Matt Garley

Publications and Research

In this study, I investigate the stylistic use of various forms of the hip hop leave-taking peace in a 12.5-million-word corpus (2000-2011) of German-language Internet hip hop discussions. The English orthography is compared with a number of hybrid variants including, e.g., , , and . I analyze the distribution of these variants over time by comparison to use of the form in an American hip hop forum. I complement these results with a qualitative analysis of peace and its variants as situated in discourse, drawing a connection between linguistic features, discursive use, and corpus distribution. The discourse of German hip …

Global North And South In Scholarly Publishing: The Affiliations Of Authors And The Situating Of Journals, Beth Evans, Beth Evans, Nanette Johnson

Publications and Research

An important goal of the open access movement in scholarly publishing has been to broaden access to research globally. Electronic delivery and removing paywalls has allowed published, open access research to flow more readily across borders. Furthermore, although subscription publishing platforms continue to be maintained as they have been historically in the Global North (GN), new publishers, often located in the Global South (GS), have seen an opportunity to offer platforms of their own that publish in an open access environment. Journals situated in the GS, nonetheless, have often been suspected as being predatory, in part, because of their unfamiliar …