Digital Commons Network^™

Material Residence Time In Marine Canopies Under Wave-Driven Flows, Maryam Abdolahpour, Marco Ghisalberti, Kathryn Mcmahon, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© Copyright © 2020 Abdolahpour, Ghisalberti, McMahon and Lavery. Coastal canopies (e.g., seagrasses, coral reefs, and kelp forests) are vitally important ecosystems that provide a range of ecological services (e.g., oxygen production, sediment stabilization and trapping, and recycling of nutrients). The long-term health, productivity, and survival of these canopies rely heavily on the residence time of ecologically-significant materials in these environments. Recent studies have shown that submerged canopies induce a strong mean current over the canopy top, even in purely wave-dominated environments. Thus, in addition to vertical mixing, the horizontal flushing of materials (resulting from these canopy-induced currents) will dictate …

Modulation Of Lymphocyte Potassium Channel Kv13 By Membrane-Penetrating, Joint-Targeting Immunomodulatory Plant Defensin, Seow Theng Ong, Saumya Bajaj, Mark R Tanner, Shih Chieh Chang, Bankala Krishnarjuna, Xuan Rui Ng, Rodrigo A V Morales, Ming Wei Chen, Dahai Luo, Dharmeshkumar Patel, Sabina Yasmin, Jeremy Jun Heng Ng, Zhong Zhuang, Hai M Nguyen, Abbas El Sahili, Julien Lescar, Rahul Patil, Susan A Charman, Edward G Robins, Julian L Goggi, Peng Wen Tan, Pragalath Sadasivam, Boominathan Ramasamy, Siddana V Hartimath, Vikas Dhawan, Janna Bednenko, Paul Colussi, Heike Wulff, Michael W Pennington, Serdar Kuyucak, Raymond S Norton, Christine Beeton, K George Chandy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We describe a cysteine-rich, membrane-penetrating, joint-targeting, and remarkably stable peptide, EgK5, that modulates voltage-gated KV1.3 potassium channels in T lymphocytes by a distinctive mechanism. EgK5 enters plasma membranes and binds to KV1.3, causing current run-down by a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent mechanism. EgK5 exhibits selectivity for KV1.3 over other channels, receptors, transporters, and enzymes. EgK5 suppresses antigen-triggered proliferation of effector memory T cells, a subset enriched among pathogenic autoreactive T cells in autoimmune disease. PET-CT imaging with 18F-labeled EgK5 shows accumulation of the peptide in large and small joints of rodents. In keeping with its arthrotropism, EgK5 treats disease in a rat …

Preservation Of Swallowing In Resected Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Examining Radiation Volume Effects (Preserve): Study Protocol For A Randomized Phase Ii Trial, Jessika Contreras, Noah Kalman

All Publications

Background: Patients with resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) are often treated with adjuvant radiation (RT) ± concomitant chemotherapy based on pathological findings. Standard RT volumes include all surgically dissected areas, including the tumour bed and dissected neck. RT has significant acute and long-term toxicities including odynophagia, dysphagia, dermatitis and fibrosis. The goal of this study is to assess the rate of regional failure with omission of radiation to the surgically dissected pathologically node negative (pN0) hemi-neck(s) compared to historical control, and to compare oncologic outcomes, toxicity, and quality of life (QoL) profiles between standard RT volumes and omission …

Diarrhea As A Potential Cause And Consequence Of Reduced Gut Microbial Diversity Among Undernourished Children In Peru, Saba Rouhani, Nicholas W Griffin, Pablo Peñataro Yori, Jeanette L Gehrig, Maribel Paredes Olortegui, Mery Siguas Salas, Dixner Rengifo Trigoso, Lawrence H Moulton, Eric R Houpt, Michael J Barratt, Margaret N Kosek, Jeffrey I Gordon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Detrimental effects of diarrhea on child growth and survival are well documented, but details of the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent evidence demonstrates that perturbations to normal development of the gut microbiota in early life may contribute to growth faltering and susceptibility to related childhood diseases. We assessed associations between diarrhea, gut microbiota configuration, and childhood growth in the Peruvian Amazon.

METHODS: Growth, diarrhea incidence, illness, pathogen infection, and antibiotic exposure were assessed monthly in a birth cohort of 271 children aged 0-24 months. Gut bacterial diversity and abundances of specific bacterial taxa were quantified by sequencing 16S …

The Impact Of Different Grassland Land‐Uses On Earthworm Populations In A New Zealand Fragi‐Pallic Soil, Todd A. White, Trevor L. Knight, C. L. Goulter, W. J. Clarke-Hill

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Patterns In Tropical Grass Silicification: Response To Substrate Fertilization, Valentin Kindomihou, Pierre Meerts, Brice Sinsin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On The Performance Of Library And Information Science Undergraduates In Delta State University, Abraka, Ogochukwu T. Emiri

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

No abstract provided.

Spatial Cues Gradient In Time Domain Based Audio Attention Computational Model, Hang Bo, Wang Yi, Changqing Kang, Huang Jian

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In virtual reality audio, sound source whose directions change rapidly should have higher attention level. But present bottom-up audio attention computational models extract the underlying characteristics of single channel audio such as energy, pitch, zero crossing rate etc., which can not effectively express the audio attention caused by such signals. To solve this problem, based on the psychological principles that spatial information affects attention, a model was proposed to introduce the short-term spatial gradient cues to measure the attention caused by the single audio source space direction changing. Compared to the traditional audio attention computational model, the recall of …

Particle Swarm Optimization Method Based On Weighted Dynamic Constraints For Interactive Intelligent Fish Swarm, Xingquan Cai, Buni Honghao, Mengxuan Li, Fengxia Li

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: For particle swarm algorithm not being applied to the rapid evolution of virtual biological cluster in short range, a particle swarm optimization method was provided that oriented to interactive intelligent fish with weight dynamic constrained. This method let particle swarm through the state of the particle separation, and dynamic constraint particle swarm. This method used the concept of "convergence coefficient manager" to retain the differential movement between the particles. On this basis, setting the evaluation function and using the dynamic constraint weights, the fast particle swarm was completed, applying to virtual biological cluster. The experiments results show the best …

Kinect Based Serious Game Of Entertainment And Body Exercise For Elderly, Chen Hao, Liu Zhen, Chen Tian, Tingting Liu, Cuijuan Liu, Xianying Zhu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: China's population is aging rapidly and it is an interesting topic to use information technology to help the elderly to improve the quality of life. Based on the study of relative researches on Kinect applications, a 3D interactive table tennis game for the elderly was designed to improve the upper limb movement of the elderly. Emotion reasoning rules were built with agent theory to let virtual human display the feedback of the user’s operation by facial expression and voice. Preliminary test results show that the game is easy to operate and can provide a new method for elderly to …

Robust Inference On Effects Attributable To Mediators: A Controlled-Direct-Effect-Based Approach For Causal Effect Decomposition With Multiple Mediators, An-Shun Tai, Yi-Juan Du, Sheng-Hsuan Lin

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Effect decomposition is a critical technique for mechanism investigation in settings with multiple causally ordered mediators. Causal mediation analysis is a standard method for effect decomposition, but the assumptions required for the identification process are extremely strong. By extending the framework of controlled direct effects, this study proposes the effect attributable to mediators (EAM) as a novel measure for effect decomposition. For policy making, EAM represents how much an effect can be eliminated by setting mediators to certain values. From the perspective of mechanism investigation, EAM contains information about how much a particular mediator or set of mediators is involved …

Effects Of Mind–Body Exercises On Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, Gao Xia Wei, Lin Yang, Kellie Imm, Paul D. Loprinzi, Lee Smith, Xiangyang Zhang, Qian Yu

Faculty and Student Publications

© Copyright © 2020 Wei, Yang, Imm, Loprinzi, Smith, Zhang and Yu. Background: Mind–body exercises (MBEs) have been widely accepted as a complementary therapy for the patients with low exercise tolerance. Currently, the number of experimental studies investigating the effect of MBEs for improving symptoms in people with schizophrenia is increasing. However, results are inconsistent. Methods: We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effects of mind–body exercises on schizophrenia. Seven electronic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL], CNKI and Wangfang) were screened through October 2019 and risks of bias of included studies were …

Therapeutic Efficacy Of Antioxidants In Ameliorating Obesity Phenotype And Associated Comorbidities, Steven Tun, Caleb James Spainhower, Cameron Lee Cottrill, Hari Vishal Lakhani, Sneha S. Pillai, Anum Dilip, Hibba Chaudhry, Joseph I. Shapiro, Komal Sodhi

Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology

Obesity has been a worldwide epidemic for decades. Despite the abundant increase in knowledge regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity, the prevalence continues to rise with estimates predicting considerably higher numbers by the year 2030. Obesity is characterized by an abnormal lipid accumulation, however, the physiological consequences of obesity are far more concerning. The development of the obesity phenotype constitutes dramatic alterations in adipocytes, along with several other cellular mechanisms which causes substantial increase in systemic oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). These alterations promote a chronic state of inflammation in the body caused by the redox …

The Education Of Multiple Family Members And The Life-Course Pathways To Cognitive Impairment, Jenjira J. Yahirun, Sindhu Vasireddy, Mark D. Hayward

Sociology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: This article asks how the educational attainments of multiple family members, including parents and offspring, are associated with the cognitive health of older adults in the United States.

METHODS: We use panel data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (2000-2012) to examine how the education of an individual, their parent(s), and their offspring are associated with the prevalence of moderate/severe cognitive impairment and the onset of cognitive impairment among older adults using logistic regression and discrete-time event history analysis, respectively.

RESULTS: We found that when combined, only the education of the individual is inversely associated with cognitive impairment …

Image Skeleton Extraction Method Based On Flood-Fill, Xingquan Cai, Zhe Yang, Runbo Cai, Yakun Ge, Yang Bo

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the burr phenomenon and skeleton redundancy in current image skeleton extraction, a method based on flood-fill is proposed. The target image is pre-processed to obtain a threshold binary image and the foreground and background are segmented. A mask image and axis map are constructed to provide data sources and judgment basis for the subsequent calculation process. The diffusing water process is simulated by traversing the horizontal grayscale histogram. The foreground contour of the mask image is shrinked. According to the change of the connected components of the neighborhood, a skeleton feature point is determined . When …

Research On Quasi-Passive Walking Control Of Biped Robot With Variable Leg Stiffness, Qingqing Wu, Qizhi Zhang, Yali Zhou

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The stable control of quasi-passive biped robot on level ground is studied. The bipedal spring-mass model of three degrees of freedom with variable leg stiffness is studied as the object, the force supplied by the variable stiffness spring and the force of the moment of inertia provided by the hip joint are applied as the walking power source, and the dynamic equations is established by Lagrange method. The force of the hip joint is designed on the basis of the PD controller and the rotation angle of the upper body is controlled. The controlled force produced by the variable …

Uab Study Named Best Research Article In Movement Disorders Journal, Adam Pope

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Cyclic Peptide [R4w4] In Improving The Ability Of First-Line Antibiotics To Inhibit Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Inside In Vitro Human Granulomas, Joshua Hernandez, David Ashley, Ruoqiong Cao, Rachel Abrahem, Timothy Nguyen, Kimberly To, Aram Yegiazaryan, Ajayi Akinwale David, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Vishwanath Venketaraman

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Tuberculosis (TB) is currently one of the leading causes of global mortality. Medical non-compliance due to the length of the treatment and antibiotic side effects has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) that are difficult to treat. A current therapeutic strategy attempting to circumvent this issue aims to enhance drug delivery to reduce the duration of the antibiotic regimen or dosage of first-line antibiotics. One such agent that may help is cyclic peptide [R₄W₄], as it has been shown to have antibacterial properties (in combination with tetracycline) …

Testing The Combined Module Swapping And Repair By Modification Strategies: A Step Toward Universal Toolbox, Catherine A. Martini

Biology Theses

The crux of synthetic biology is the engineering of biological components to modulate the activity of specific DNA-based promoter(s) to drive gene expression; thus, providing a means to modulate pathways between signal detection and cellular response. However, the longstanding frustration of synthetic biologists has been the inability to transfer those engineered components between cellular systems — this lack of “modular universality” or “universal toolbox” impedes research by forcing a metaphorical reinvention of the wheel in new systems. The modular swapping strategy expanded the available “toolbox” with customizable hybrid repressors formed from “swapping” the DNA-recognition modules (DRMs) and environmental-sensing modules (ESMs) …

2020-August-13-Etsus First Major Covid-19 Research Grant To Explore Diseases Impact On Diabetes, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY (Aug. 13, 2020) – East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Zhi Q. Yao was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to explore the impact of diabetes on COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on diabetes and related complications.

The grant is ETSU’s first major funding for COVID-19-specific research.

COVID-19 Research Grant

The ADA states that “recent clinical results have shown that people with diabetes are at higher risk of death from COVID-19 and that COVID-19 drives an increased risk …

Oceanographic Determinants Of The Abundance Of Common Dolphins (Delphinus Delphis) In The South Of Portugal., J. Castro, A. Couto, F. O. Borges, M. I. Laborde, H. C. Pearson, R. Rosa, A. Cid, Heidi C. Pearson

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Off mainland Portugal, the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is the most sighted cetacean, although information on this species is limited. The Atlantic coast of Southern Portugal is characterized by an intense wind-driven upwelling, creating ideal conditions for common dolphins. Using data collected aboard whale-watching boats (1929 sightings and 4548 h effort during 2010–2014), this study aims to understand the relationships between abundance rates (AR) of dolphins of different age classes (adults, juveniles, calves and newborns) and oceanographic [chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature (SST)] variables. Over 70% of the groups contained immature animals. The AR of adults was negatively …

Feasibility Of Infiltration Galleries For Managed Aquifer Recharge In The Cache River Critical Groundwater Area, Arkansas, Ian Alexander Godwin

Student Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater levels within the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, the primary irrigation source for eastern Arkansas, have been declining for decades. The Grand Prairie and Cache River Critical Groundwater Areas (CGA) have experienced the worst declines, which threaten aquifer depletion in the near future. In addition to using surface water for irrigation and adopting water-efficient farming methods, managed aquifer recharge (MAR) may be a useful tool in reducing groundwater declines. This thesis investigated the feasibility of using infiltration galleries for MAR within the Cache River CGA of northeast Arkansas. Mapping, geophysical and sampling surveys suggested that much of the region …

Complement Activation By C-Reactive Protein Is Critical For Protection Of Mice Against Pneumococcal Infection, Sanjay K. Singh, Donald N. Ngwa, Alok Agrawal

ETSU Faculty Works

C-reactive protein (CRP), a component of the innate immune system, is an antipneumococcal plasma protein. Human CRP has been shown to protect mice against infection with lethal doses of Streptococcus pneumoniae by decreasing bacteremia. in vitro, CRP binds to phosphocholine-containing substances, such as pneumococcal C-polysaccharide, in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Phosphocholine-complexed human CRP activates the complement system in both human and murine sera. The mechanism of antipneumococcal action of CRP in vivo, however, has not been defined yet. In this study, we tested a decades-old hypothesis that the complement-activating property of phosphocholine-complexed CRP contributes to protection of mice against pneumococcal infection. …

Multi-Auv Complete Coverage Path Planning Based On Improved Neural Network, Daqi Zhu, Tingting Zhu, Mingzhong Yan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the working space search task of multiple AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) in 3-dimensional underwater environments, a complete coverage path planning algorithm based on an improved neural network-Glasius Bio-inspired Neural Network (GBNN) is presented in this paper. A discrete 3-D grid map of the underwater environment is constructed. A 3-D GBNN model is established topologically according to the map. Based on the dynamic activities of GBNN model, each AUV plans its own coverage path independently, and covers the whole working space collaboratively. The simulation results show that the multiple AUVs can collaboratively cover the working space completely, automatically …

G-Csf And Gm-Csf Are Different. Which One Is Better For Covid-19?, Hillard M. Lazarus

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Is Small Hydropower Beautiful? Social Impacts Of River Fragmentation In China’S Red River Basin, Tyler Harlan, Rui Xu, Jun He

Urban and Environmental Studies Faculty Works

Small hydropower (SHP) is promoted as a pro-poor renewable energy source that does not have the negative social impacts of large dams. This article challenges these claims, using data from a household survey in China’s upper Red River Basin. We find that SHP can fragment river systems in ways that reduce irrigation water availability, provoke changes to agricultural practices, and negatively impact river health. These social impacts of river fragmentation mainly occur in villages situated between a plant’s intake and outflow. The frequency of plant water diversions due to continued generation in the dry season significantly predicts all social impacts; …

Parent Emotion Coaching And Affect Recognition In Theory Of Mind In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Audrey L. O'Connor

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with deficits in social communication and social interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. Theory of Mind (ToM) has been identified as a key factor in social development in both typically developing (TD) children and children with ASD. One proposed explanation for the deficits in social development characteristic in ASD is that deficits in ToM, particularly the ability to infer the mental states of self and others, results in impairments in social development. Researchers have found that affect recognition is a precursor in the development of ToM which occurs …

A List Of Zea Books, Published By University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Zea Books

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

94 published titles (2005-2020), plus 1 forthcoming this fall.

Zea Books are produced by the Office of Scholarly Communications, and published by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.

With links to online pdf editions and Lulu.com print-on-demand online storefront.

Zea Books are online at https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/zeabook/

Print-on-demand editions are available @ http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/unllib

The Effect Of Neighborhood Social Environment On Prostate Cancer Development In Black And White Men At High Risk For Prostate Cancer, Shannon M Lynch, Elizabeth Handorf, Kristen A Sorice, Elizabeth Blackman, Lisa Bealin, Veda N. Giri, Elias Obeid, Camille Ragin, Mary Daly

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Neighborhood socioeconomic (nSES) factors have been implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) disparities. In line with the Precision Medicine Initiative that suggests clinical and socioenvironmental factors can impact PCa outcomes, we determined whether nSES variables are associated with time to PCa diagnosis and could inform PCa clinical risk assessment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample included 358 high risk men (PCa family history and/or Black race), aged 35-69 years, enrolled in an early detection program. Patient variables were linked to 78 nSES variables (employment, income, etc.) from previous literature via geocoding. Patient-level models, including baseline age, prostate specific antigen (PSA), …

Turning Campus Greenspaces Into A Home For Climate-Threatened Birds, Elizabeth Hunter

Sustainability Showcase (2014-2022)

Proposed by Drs. Elizabeth Hunter and Kevin Loope, and Corina Newsome (student), Department of Biology. ($25,847.35)