Digital Commons Network^™

Integrated Guidance For Enhancing The Care Of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia In Australia, Gerald F. Watts, David R. Sullivan, David L. Hare, Karam M. Kostner, Ari E. Horton, Damon A. Bell, Tom Brett, Ronald J. Trent, Nicola K. Poplawski, Andrew C. Martin, Shubha Srinivasan, Robert N. Justo, Clara K. Chow, Jing Pang, Zanfina Ademi, Justin J. Ardill, Wendy Barnett, Timothy R. Bates, Lawrence J. Beilin, Warrick Bishop, J. Andrew Black, Peter Brett, Alex Brown, John R. Burnett, Christina A. Bursill, Alison Colley, Peter M. Clifton, Elif I. Ekinci, Luke Elias, Gemma A. Figtree, Brett H. Forge, Jacquie Garton-Smith, Dorothy F. Graham, Ian Hamilton-Craig, Christian R. Hamilton-Craig, Clare Heal, Charlotte M. Hespe, Amanda J. Hooper, Laurence G. Howes, Jodie Ingles, John Irvin, Edward D. Janus, Nadarajah Kangaharan, Anthony C. Keech, Andrew B. Kirke, Leonard Kritharides, Campbell V. Kyle, Paul Lacaze, Kirsten Lambert, Stephen C. H. Li, Wynand Malan, Stjepana Maticevic, Brendan M. Mcquillan, Sam Mirzaee, Trevor A. Mori, Allison C. Morton, David M. Colquhoun, Joanna C. Moullin, Paul J. Nestel, Kristen J. Nowak, Richard C. O'Brien, Nicholas Pachter, Michael M. Page, Annette Pedrotti, Peter J. Psaltis, Jan Radford, Nicola J. Reid, Elizabeth N. Robertson, Jacqueline D. M. Ryan, Mitchell N. Sarkies, Carl J. Schultz, Russell S. Scott, Christopher Semsarian, Leon A. Simons, Catherine Spinks, Andrew M. Tonkin, Frank Van Bockxmeer, Kathryn E. Waddell-Smith, Natalie C. Ward, Harvey D. White, Andrew M. Wilson, Ingrid Winship, Ann Marie Woodward, Stephen J. Nicholls, Fh Australasia Network Consensus Working Group

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a dominant and highly penetrant monogenic disorder present from birth that markedly elevates plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentration and, if untreated, leads to premature atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). There are approximately 100,000 people with FH in Australia. However, an overwhelming majority of those affected remain undetected and inadequately treated, consistent with FH being a leading challenge for public health genomics. To further address the unmet need, we provide an updated guidance, presented as a series of systematically collated recommendations, on the care of patients and families with FH. These recommendations have been informed by …

Molecular Analyses Reveal Consistent Food Web Structure With Elevation In Rainforest Drosophila – Parasitoid Communities, Christopher T. Jeffs, J. Christopher D. Terry, Megan Higgie, Anna Jandová, Hana Konvičková, Joel J. Brown, Chia H. Lue, Michele Schiffer, Eleanor K. O'Brien, Jon Bridle, Jan Hrček, Owen T. Lewis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The analysis of interaction networks across spatial environmental gradients is a powerful approach to investigate the responses of communities to global change. Using a combination of DNA metabarcoding and traditional molecular methods we built bipartite Drosophila – parasitoid food webs from six Australian rainforest sites across gradients spanning 850 m in elevation and 5°C in mean temperature. Our cost-effective hierarchical approach to network reconstruction separated the determination of host frequencies from the detection and quantification of interactions. The food webs comprised 5–9 host and 5–11 parasitoid species at each site, and showed a lower incidence of parasitism at high elevation. …

Associations Between Fruit Intake And Risk Of Diabetes In The Ausdiab Cohort, Nicola P. Bondonno, Raymond J. Davey, Kevin Murray, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Catherine P. Bondonno, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Marc Sim, Dianna J. Magliano, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan E. Shaw, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Context

Fruit, but not fruit juice, intake is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, questions remain about the mechanisms by which fruits may confer protection. Objective The aims of this work were to examine associations between intake of fruit types and 1) measures of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and 2) diabetes at follow-up.

Methods

Among participants of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, fruit and fruit juice intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Associations between fruit and fruit juice intake and 1) fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postload plasma glucose, updated homeostasis model …

Irf7-Associated Immunophenotypes Have Dichotomous Responses To Virus/Allergen Co-Exposure And Om-85-Induced Reprogramming, Emma De Jong, Jean-Francois Lauzon-Joset, Jonatan Leffler, Michael Serralha, Alexander N. Larcombe, Claus T. Christophersen, Patrick G. Holt, Deborah H. Strickland, Anthony Bosco

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

High risk for virus-induced asthma exacerbations in children is associated with an IRF7loimmunophenotype, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we applied aSystems Biology approach to an animal model comprising rat strains manifesting high(BN)versuslow susceptibility (PVG) to experimental asthma, induced by virus/allergencoexposure, to elucidate the mechanism(s)-of-action of the high-risk asthmaimmunophenotype. We also investigated potential risk mitigationviapretreatment withthe immune training agent OM-85. Virus/allergen coexposure in low-risk PVG rats resultedin rapid and transient airways inflammation alongside IRF7 gene network formation. Incontrast, responses in high-risk BN rats were characterized by severe airways eosinophiliaand exaggerated proinflammatory responses that failed to resolve, and complete absenceof …

Perennial Ryegrass Contains Gluten-Like Proteins That Could Contaminate Cereal Crops, Sophia Escobar Correas, James A. Broadbent, Alicja Andraszek, Sally Stockwell, Crispin A. Howitt, Angela Juhasz, Michael Colgrave

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: To ensure safe consumption of gluten-free products, there is a need to understand all sources of unintentional contamination with gluten in the food chain. In this study, ryegrass (Lolium perenne), a common weed infesting cereal crop, is analysed as a potential source of gluten-like peptide contamination. Materials and Methods: Ten ryegrass cultivars were analysed using shot gun proteomics for the presence of proteins from the prolamin superfamily. A relative quantitative assay was developed to detect ryegrass gluten-like peptides in comparison with those found in 10 common wheat cultivars. Results: A total of 19 protein accessions were found across 10 …

Vitamin K Intake And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In The Danish Diet Cancer And Health Study, Jamie W. Bellenge, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Emma Connolly, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim, Kevin D. Croft, Gunnar Gislason, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Carl Schultz, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Dietary vitamin K (K1 and K2) may reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk via several mechanisms. However, studies linking vitamin K intake with incident ASCVD are limited. We aimed to determine the relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and ASCVD hospitalizations. Methods and Results In this prospective cohort study, participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study, with no prior ASCVD, completed a food‐frequency questionnaire at baseline and were followed up for hospital admissions of ASCVD; ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Intakes of vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 were estimated from the food‐frequency questionnaire, …

Intake Of Products Containing Anthocyanins, Flavanols, And Flavanones, And Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Michael Weinborn, Catherine P. Bondonno, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this review is to examine human research studies published within the past 6 years which evaluate the role of anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavanone consumption in cognitive function, and to discuss potential mechanisms of action underlying any observed benefits. Evidence to date suggests the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries and cocoa, may have the potential to limit, or even reverse, age-related declines in cognition. Over the last 6 years, the flavonoid subgroups of anthocyanins, flavanols, and flavanones have been shown to be beneficial in terms of conferring neuroprotection. The mechanisms by which flavonoids positively modulate cognitive …

Cannabinoid Exposure As A Major Driver Of Pediatric Acute Lymphoid Leukaemia Rates Across The Usa: Combined Geospatial, Multiple Imputation And Causal Inference Study, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary K. Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood cancer whose incidence is rising in many nations. In the USA, between 1975 and 2016, ALL rates (ALLRs) rose 93.51% from 1.91 to 3.70/100,000 < 20 years. ALL is more common in Caucasian-Americans than amongst minorities. The cause of both the rise and the ethnic differential is unclear, however, prenatal cannabis exposure was previously linked with elevated childhood leukaemia rates. We investigated epidemiologically if cannabis use impacted nationally on ALLRs, its ethnic effects, and if the relationship was causal. Methods: State data on overall, and ethnic ALLR from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results databank of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) were combined with drug (cigarettes, alcoholism, cannabis, analgesics, cocaine) use data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health; 74.1% response rate. Income and ethnicity data was from the US Census bureau. Cannabinoid concentration was from the Drug Enforcement Agency Data. Data was analyzed in R by robust and spatiotemporal regression. Results: In bivariate analyses a dose-response relationship was demonstrated between ALLR and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), cocaine and cannabis exposure, with the effect of cannabis being strongest (β-estimate = 3.33(95%C.I. 1.97, 4.68), P = 1.92 × 10− 6). A strong effect of cannabis use quintile on ALLR was noted (Chi.Sq. = 613.79, P = 3.04 × 10− 70). In inverse probability weighted robust regression adjusted for other substances, income and ethnicity, cannabis was independently significant (β-estimate = 4.75(0.48, 9.02), P = 0.0389). In a spatiotemporal model adjusted for all drugs, income, and ethnicity, cannabigerol exposure was significant (β-estimate = 0.26(0.01, 0.52), P = 0.0444), an effect increased by spatial lagging (THC: β-estimate = 0.47(0.12, 0.82), P = 0.0083). After missing data imputation ethnic cannabis exposure was significant (β-estimate = 0.64(0.55, 0.72), P = 3.1 × 10− 40). 33/35 minimum e-Values ranged from 1.25 to 3.94 × 1036 indicative of a causal relationship. Relaxation of cannabis legal paradigms had higher ALLR (Chi.Squ.Trend = 775.12, P = 2.14 × 10− 112). Cannabis legal states had higher ALLR (2.395 ± 0.039 v. 2.127 ± 0.008 / 100,000, P = 5.05 × 10− 10). Conclusions: Data show that ALLR is associated with cannabis consumption across space-time, is associated with the cannabinoids, THC, cannabigerol, cannabinol, cannabichromene, and cannabidiol, contributes to ethnic differentials, demonstrates prominent quintile effects, satisfies criteria for causality and is exacerbated by cannabis legalization.

The Role Of C-Reactive Protein And Fibrinogen In The Development Of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Mendelian Randomization Study In European Population, Biyan Wang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Di Liu, Jie Zhang, Mingyang Cao, Xin Tian, Isinta E. Maranga, Xiaoni Meng, Qiuyue Tian, Feifei Tian, Weijie Cao, Wei Wang, Manshu Song, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The causal association of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains uncertain. We investigated the causal associations of CRP and fibrinogen with ICH using two-sample Mendelian randomization. Method: We used single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with CRP and fibrinogen as instrumental variables. The summary data on ICH were obtained from the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (1,545 cases and 1,481 controls). Two-sample Mendelian randomization estimates were performed to assess with inverse-variance weighted and sensitive analyses methods including the weighted median, the penalized weighted median, pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) approaches. MR-Egger regression was used to explore the pleiotropy. …

Calliope, Georgia Southern University

Calliope Magazine

Volume 38

Environmental Gradients And Physical Barriers Drive The Basin-Wide Spatial Structuring Of Mediterranean Sea And Adjacent Eastern Atlantic Ocean Prokaryotic Communities, Marta Sebastián, Eva Ortega-Retuerta, Laura Gómez-Consarnau, Marina Zamanillo, Marta Álvarez, Javier Arístegui, Josep M. Gasol

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Mediterranean Sea is a miniature ocean divided by the Sicily Strait into two basins with a marked west to east trophic gradient and separated of the nearby eastern Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar. Here, we test the hypothesis that these physical and environmental barriers favor the development of specific prokaryotic assemblages, leading to changes in community structure both in the vertical and horizontal spatial scales. By analyzing taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity using amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of the 16S rRNA gene, we show that there is indeed marked vertical segregation of prokaryotic groups, similar to that found …

Prediction Of Mean Wave Overtopping At Simple Sloped Breakwaters Using Kernel-Based Methods, Shabnam Hosseinzadeh, Amir Etemad-Shahidi, Ali Koosheh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The accurate prediction of the mean wave overtopping rate at breakwaters is vital for a safe design. Hence, providing a robust tool as a preliminary estimator can be useful for practitioners. Recently, soft computing tools such as artificial neural networks (ANN) have been developed as alternatives to traditional overtopping formulae. The goal of this paper is to assess the capabilities of two kernel-based methods, namely Gaussian process regression (GPR) and support vector regression for the prediction of mean wave overtopping rate at sloped breakwaters. An extensive dataset taken from the EurOtop database, including rubble mound structures with permeable core, straight …

Risk Factors For Gut Dysbiosis In Early Life, Kimberley Parkin, Claus T. Christophersen, Valerie Verhasselt, Matthew N. Cooper, David Martino

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Dysbiosis refers to a reduction in microbial diversity, combined with a loss of beneficial taxa, and an increase in pathogenic microorganisms. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota can have a substantial effect on the nervous and immune systems, contributing to the onset of several inflammatory diseases. Epidemiological studies provided insight in how changes in the living environment have contributed to an overall loss of diversity and key taxa in the gut microbiome, coinciding with increased reports of atopy and allergic diseases. The gut microbiome begins development at birth, with major transition periods occurring around the commencement of breastfeeding, and the introduction …

Therapeutic Potential Of Mitophagy-Inducing Microflora Metabolite, Urolithin A For Alzheimer’S Disease, Dona Pamoda W. Jayatunga, Eugene Hone, Harjot Khaira, Taciana Lunelli, Harjinder Singh, Gilles J. Guillemin, Binosha Fernando, Manohar L. Garg, Giuseppe Verdile, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Mitochondrial dysfunction including deficits of mitophagy is seen in aging and neuro-degenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Apart from traditionally targeting amyloid beta (Aβ), the main culprit in AD brains, other approaches include investigating impaired mitochondrial pathways for potential therapeutic benefits against AD. Thus, a future therapy for AD may focus on novel candidates that enhance optimal mitochondrial integrity and turnover. Bi-oactive food components, known as nutraceuticals, may serve as such agents to combat AD. Uro-lithin A is an intestinal microbe-derived metabolite of a class of polyphenols, ellagitannins (ETs). Urolithin A is known to exert many health benefits. Its antioxidant, …

Fabrication Of Black Silicon Via Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching—A Review, Mohammad Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Aminul Islam, Ahmad W. B. Mahmood, Fairuz Abdullah, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Tiong Sieh Kiong, Nowshad Amin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) technique is commonly employed for texturing the wafer surfaces when fabricating black silicon (BSi) solar cells and is considered to be a potential technique to improve the efficiency of traditional Si-based solar cells. This article aims to review the MACE technique along with its mechanism for Ag-, Cu- and Ni-assisted etching. Primarily, several essential aspects of the fabrication of BSi are discussed, including chemical reaction, etching direction, mass transfer, and the overall etching process of the MACE method. Thereafter, three metal catalysts (Ag, Cu, and Ni) are critically analyzed to identify their roles in producing …

Progress, Georgia Southern University

College of Engineering & Computing: News & Publications (2010-2023)

Welcome to the new online version of Progress, the magazine of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. We are approaching 10,000 subscribers, and as we are the College of Engineering and Computing, we think online is the way to go! This issue features three of our first female engineering graduates, a recent student success story, two of our pre-eminent female faculty, as well as one of our most influential female industry/business collaborations. Welcome to the Women of Engineering and Computing issue of Progress!

Interpretable, Not Black-Box, Artificial Intelligence Should Be Used For Embryo Selection, Michael Anis Mihdi Afnan, Yanhe Liu, Vincent Conitzer, Cynthia Rudin, Abhishek Mishra, Julian Savulescu, Masoud Afnan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are starting to be used in IVF, in particular for selecting which embryos to transfer to the woman. AI has the potential to process complex data sets, to be better at identifying subtle but important patterns, and to be more objective than humans when evaluating embryos. However, a current review of the literature shows much work is still needed before AI can be ethically implemented for this purpose. No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published, and the efficacy studies which exist demonstrate that algorithms can broadly differentiate well between ‘good-’ and ‘poor-’ quality embryos but …

An Evolutionary Approach To Balancing And Disrupting Real-Time Strategy Games, Jacob Snell, Martin Masek, Chiou Peng Lam

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In most computer games, the level of challenge experienced by a player is dependent on a range of variable factors defined within the game environment. When the end goal of such games is entertainment, the variables are carefully tuned by the designers to achieve a sense of fair, balanced gameplay. For military force design and wargaming applications, where the purpose is to explore elements of a real scenario, the question turns to how the variables can be exploited so as to provide the maximum advantage, and to disrupt the balance in favour of a particular side. In this paper, an …

Causal Relationship Between Lung Function And Atrial Fibrillation: A Two Sample Univariable And Multivariable, Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study, Qiaoyun Zhang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jie Zhang, Biyan Wang, Xiaoni Meng, Qiuyue Tian, Jinxia Zhang, Mengyang Jiang, Yiqiang Zhang, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Wei Wang, Baoguo Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Observational studies have identified impaired lung function accessed by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) or the ratio of FEV1 over FVC (FEV1/FVC) as an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the result may be affected by confounders or reverse causality. Methods: We performed univariable MR (uvMR), multivariable MR (mvMR) and bidirectional two-sample MR to jointly estimate the causality of lung function with AF. Apart from the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach as the main MR analysis, three complementary sensitive analyses approaches including MR-Egger regression, weighted median (WM) MR and Pleiotropy Residual …

Follow The Leader: Child-Led Inquiries To Develop Science Learning Of Young Children, Pauline Roberts

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Science education in the early years has been found to be lacking when compared to other content areas, specifically numeracy and literacy. It has been suggested that this lack of opportunity for young children to learn science is due to educator’s lack of confidence to teach science, fuelled by concerns regarding a reduced understanding of science concepts. For young children, however, science is everywhere and is embedded in all aspects of their lives as they explore and interact to make sense of the world around them. Given this natural connection to science, it is important for educators to notice and …

Opportunities To Identify And Develop People Skills: What University Students Need Early In Their Degree Journey, Ros Sambell, Lesley Andrew, Amanda Devine, Jill Darby, Shelley Beatty, Stephanie Godrich

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Employability skills can be categorised as ‘people’ or ‘soft skills’ and ‘technical’ or ‘industry specific’ skills. Australian employers are increasingly seeking to employ university graduates with well-developed people skills. Evidence from industry suggests these skills, in particular communication skills are lacking in today’s graduates. The aim of this study was to raise student awareness of the importance of people skills, assess their perception of personal competence across a range of these skills and support them to develop plans that will help them strengthen these skills in preparation for graduation. An online survey was emailed to 222 first year undergraduate students; …

Pleural Fluid Investigations For Pleural Infections, Bapti Roy, Hui Juin Shak, Y. C.Gary Lee

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Over 1.5 million patients are admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the United States each year. Up to 50% of them can develop a parapneumonic effusion which is associated with higher mortality. The incidence of pleural infection continues to rise, particularly in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Parapneumonic effusions cover a spectrum of presentations from a free-flowing 'simple parapneumonic effusion' to a septated 'complicated parapneumonic effusion' (CPE) (usually from bacterial pleural invasion) and 'empyema' (presence of pleural pus). Pleural infection is defined as either CPE or empyema, and usually requires evacuation of the infected fluid. Laboratory investigations play an …

Gut Microbiota Interplay With Covid-19 Reveals Links To Host Lipid Metabolism Among Middle Eastern Populations, Mohammad Tahseen Al Bataineh, Andreas Henschel, Mira Mousa, Marianne Daou, Fathimathuz Waasia, Hussein Kannout, Mariam Khalili, Mohd Azzam Kayasseh, Abdulmajeed Alkhajeh, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Samuel F. Feng, Ahmed F. Yousef, Habiba S. Alsafar, Uae Covid-19 Collaborative Partnership

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The interplay between the compositional changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility and severity, and host functions is complex and yet to be fully understood. This study performed 16S rRNA gene-based microbial profiling of 143 subjects. We observed structural and compositional alterations in the gut microbiota of the SARS-CoV-2-infected group in comparison to non-infected controls. The gut microbiota composition of the SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals showed an increase in anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Faecalibacterium (p-value = 1.72 × 10–6) and Bacteroides (p-value = 5.67 × 10–8). We also revealed a higher relative abundance of the highly …

Led Illumination For High-Quality High-Yield Crop Growth In Protected Cropping Environments, Md Momtazur Rahman, David L. Field, Soyed M. Ahmed, Md Tanvir Hasan, Mohammad Khairul Basher, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vegetables and herbs play a central role in the human diet due to their low fat and calory content and essential antioxidant, phytochemicals, and fiber. It is well known that the manipulation of light wavelengths illuminating the crops can enhance their growth rate and nutrient contents. To date, it has not been easy to generalize the effects of LED illumination because of the differences in the plant species investigated, the measured traits, the way wavelengths have been manipulated, and the plants’ growing environments. In order to address this gap, we undertook a quantitative review of LED manipulation in relation to …

Isolated Joint Block Progression Training Improves Leaping Performance In Dancers, Paige E. Rice, Kiisa Nishikawa, Sophia Nimphius

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week ankle-specific block progression training program on saut de chat leaping performance [leap height, peak power (PP), joint kinetics and kinematics], maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion (MVIP) strength, and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness. Dancers (training group n = 7, control group n = 7) performed MVIP at plantarflexed (10◦) and neutral ankle positions (0◦) followed by ramping isometric contractions equipped with ultrasound to assess strength and AT stiffness, respectively. Dancers also performed saut de chat leaps surrounded by 3-D motion capture atop force platforms to determine center of …

Shale Adhesion Force Measurements Via Atomic Force Microscopy, Nikolai Mitiurev, Michael Verrall, Svetlana Shilobreeva, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Wettability of sedimentary rock surface is an essential parameter that defines oil recovery and production rates of a reservoir. The discovery of wettability alteration in reservoirs, as well as complications that occur in analysis of heterogeneous sample, such as shale, for instance, have prompted scientists to look for the methods of wettability assessment at nanoscale. At the same time, bulk techniques, which are commonly applied, such as USBM (United States Bureau of Mines) or Amott tests, are not sensitive enough in cases with mixed wettability of rocks as they provide average wettability values of a core plug. Atomic Force Microscopy …

Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Modulates Neural Processing Of Sensory And Motor Circuits – From Potential Cellular Mechanisms To Behaviour: A Scoping Review, Weronika Potok, Onno Van Der Groen, Marc Bächinger, Dylan Edwards, Nicole Wenderoth

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Noise introduced in the human nervous system from cellular to systems levels can have a major impact on signal processing. Using transcranial stimulation, electrical noise can be added to cortical circuits to modulate neuronal activity and enhance function in the healthy brain and in neurological patients. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a promising technique that is less well understood than other non-invasive neuromodulatory methods. The aim of the present scoping review is to collate published evidence on the effects of electrical noise at the cellular, systems, and behavioural levels, and discuss how this emerging method might be harnessed to …

Glucosinolates From Cruciferous Vegetables And Their Potential Role In Chronic Disease: Investigating The Preclinical And Clinical Evidence, Emma Connolly, Marc Sim, Nikolaj Travica, Wolfgang Marx, Gemma Beasy, Gordon S. Lynch, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

An increasing body of evidence highlights the strong potential for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables to delay, and often prevent, the onset of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions, and certain cancers. A possible protective component, glucosinolates, which are phytochemicals found almost exclusively in cruciferous vegetables, have been identified from preclinical and clinical studies. Current research suggests that glucosinolates (and isothiocyanates) act via several mechanisms, ultimately exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemo-protective effects. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding cruciferous vegetables and their glucosinolates in relation to the specified health conditions. Although there is evidence that …

Kinetic Study Of Product Distribution Using Various Data-Driven And Statistical Models For Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Yixiao Wang, Jing Hu, Xiyue Zhang, Abubakar Yusuf, Binbin Qi, Huan Jin, Yiyang Liu, Jun He, Yunshan Wang, Gang Yang, Yong Sun

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Three modeling techniques, namely, a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), a comprehensive kinetic with genetic algorithm (CKGA), and a response surface methodology (RSM), were used to study the kinetics of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Using a 29 × 37 (4 independent process parameters as inputs and corresponding 36 responses as outputs) matrix with total 1073 data sets for data training through RBFNN, the established model is capable of predicting hydrocarbon product distribution i.e., the paraffin formation rate (C2-C15) and the olefin to paraffin ratio (OPR) within acceptable uncertainties. With additional validation data sets (15 × 36 matrix with total 540 …

Assessing The Utility Of Environmental Dna Techniques To Monitor White Shrimp (Litopenaeus Setiferus) Abundance On The Georgia Coast, Raven Hurt

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys have developed over the last decade from once being a novel tool to now acting as an effective technology often used in complement to traditional capture surveys for assessing the distribution of organisms in freshwater and marine environments. However, many uncertainties on how to properly develop, operate, and analyze eDNA based techniques still hinder this technology effectiveness in the field. The white shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus, is a common, commercially and recreationally important species in the United States, with landings exceeding $254 million in 2020. L. setiferus is also used as a key indicator species to changes …