Digital Commons Network^™

Anti-Cancer Mechanisms Of Action Of Therapeutic Alternating Electric Fields (Tumor Treating Fields [Ttfields]), Shadi Shams, Chirag B Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite improved survival outcomes across many cancer types, the prognosis remains grim for certain solid organ cancers including glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer. Invariably in these cancers, the control achieved by time-limited interventions such as traditional surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy is short-lived. A new form of anti-cancer therapy called therapeutic alternating electric fields (AEFs) or tumor treating fields (TTFields) has been shown, either by itself or in combination with chemotherapy, to have anti-cancer effects that translate to improved survival outcomes in patients. Although the pre-clinical and clinical data are promising, the mechanisms of TTFields are not fully elucidated. Many …

Multipolymer Microsphere Delivery Of Sars-Cov-2 Antigens, Farah Shahjin, Milankumar Patel, Jatin Machhi, Jacob D. Cohen, Mohammad Ullah Nayan, Pravin Yeapuri, Chen Zhang, Emiko Waight, Mahmudul Hasan, Mai Mohamed Abdelmoaty, Prasanta K. Dash, You Zhou, Irene Andreu, Howard E. Gendelman, Bhavesh D. Kevadiya

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Effective antigen delivery facilitates antiviral vaccine success defined by effective immune protective re- sponses against viral exposures. To improve severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV- 2) antigen delivery, a controlled biodegradable, stable, biocompatible, and nontoxic polymeric micro- sphere system was developed for chemically inactivated viral proteins. SARS-CoV-2 proteins encapsulated in polymeric microspheres induced robust antiviral immunity. The viral antigen-loaded microsphere sys- tem can preclude the need for repeat administrations, highlighting its potential as an effective vaccine.

Kidney Proximal Tubule Glut2-More Than Meets The Eye, Majdoleen Ahmad, Ifat Abramovich, Bella Agranovich, Alina Nemirovski, Eyal Gottlieb, Liad Hinden, Joseph Tam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tubulopathy plays a central role in the pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Under diabetic conditions, the kidney proximal tubule cells (KPTCs) are exposed to an extensive amount of nutrients, most notably glucose; these nutrients deteriorate KPTCs function and promote the development and progression of DKD. Recently, the facilitative glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in KPTCs has emerged as a central regulator in the pathogenesis of DKD. This has been demonstrated by identifying its specific role in enhancing glucose reabsorption and glucotoxicity, and by deciphering its effect in regulating the expression of the sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) in KPTCs. Moreover, reduction/deletion …

Effect Of Freeze Thaw Cycles On Elbow Mobility In A Long Evans Rat, Sophia Miller

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

Throughout the 2022 Fall semester I worked in Dr. Lake’s musculoskeletal soft tissue lab on the Post Traumatic Joint Contracture(PTJC) project. Previous work on this project used a rat model of the elbow to explore different factors affecting this disease and potential treatments. There are many different tests used to quantify the rats progress through this condition. One is range of motion testing. The typical procedure for this project is to sacrifice the animals and then freeze them before performing range of motion testing. This project tested the animals range of motion immediately after sacrifice and then again after the …

The Genus Barbaracurus In Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae), With Description Of A New Species, František Kovařík, Graeme Lowe, František Šťáhlavský, Pavel Just

Euscorpius

The genus Barbaracurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia. B. yemenensis Kovařík et al., 2018 was found in the extreme southwest of the country, near its border with Yemen. The diagnosis of the species is emended based on the finding of adult males and a large adult female. The proximal margins of the pedipalp fingers of male B. yemenensis are strongly undulate, leaving a gap with the fingers closed. This character differentiates it from all other species of Barbaracurus in the Arabian Peninsula. A second species, B. kabateki sp. n. from Saudi Arabia is described …

Saint Jude's, December 25, 2022

Saint Jude's

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Waltham, MA

Saint Jude's Finding Aid

Potential Antihyperlipidemia Effect Of Lactoferrin In Hyperlipidemia-Induced Male Sprague–Dawley Rats, Louis Fabio Jonathan Jusni, Valencia Chandra, Tena Djuartina, Dion Notario, Zita Arieselia, Linawati Hananta

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Hyperlipidemia is a condition that is characterized as an increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Lactoferrin is a protein that can serve as an antioxidant. This study aims to determine whether lactoferrin can reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Methods: This study used 24 Sprague–Dawley rat strains, which were divided into six groups: normal group; negative control; positive control; and dose groups 1, 2, and 3. The normal group was given standard feed, whereas the other group was given high cholesterol and fat. The positive control group and dose groups 1, 2, and …

Mechanical And Thermal Load Effect On Piston Crown Of A Biogas Engine: A Simulation Approach, Truc Nguyen The, Anh Duc Tran, Cam Van Nguyen, Khac Tung Nguyen, Dinh Long Hoang, Xuan Phong Trinh, Nguyen Duc Khanh

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This paper presents the study results on stress and deformation of the piston crown of a biogas engine converted from a conventional diesel engine using dedicated software. The original diesel engine was modified to reduce the compression ratio to suit biogas fuel. The original engine's combustion chamber and compression ratio were changed by modifying the piston crown to a heron type. The parameters of in-cylinder pressure and temperature were determined by the thermodynamic simulation software AVL Boost. Research results show that the in-cylinder pressure decreased compared to diesel when using biogas fuel, but the temperature increased. The infinite element method-based …

Análisis De Referentes Metodológicos Para La Elaboración De Una Taxonomía De Animación Funcional, Raquel Ávila Muñoz, Jorge Clemente Mediavilla, María José Pérez-Luque

Artículos científicos

El uso de animaciones en el diseño de interfaces ha experimentado un incremento vertiginoso en los últimos años. La animación ha pasado de ser denostada por los expertos en usabilidad a ser un elemento fundamental a la hora de configurar el diseño visual de las aplicaciones para móviles. Baecker y Small desarrollan en 1990 la que está considerada como la primera taxonomía general de la animación en la interfaz, recogiendo los usos presentes en las primeras interfaces gráficas de usuario. En este artículo revisamos la metodología seguida por los pioneros y analizamos la perspectiva adoptada por otros autores que elaboran …

Role Of Adenylyl Cyclase Type 7 In Functions Of Bv-2 Microglia, Yawen Hu, Rebecca A. Hill, Masami Yoshimura

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

To assess the role of adenylyl cyclase type 7 (AC7) in microglia’s immune function, we generated AC7 gene knockout (AC7 KO) clones from a mouse microglial cell line, BV-2, using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. The ability of BV-2 cells to generate cAMP and their innate immune functions were examined in the presence or absence of ethanol. The parental BV-2 cells showed robust cAMP production when stimulated with prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1) and ethanol increased cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. AC7 KO clones of BV-2 cells showed diminished and ethanol-insensitive cAMP production. The phagocytic activity of the parental BV-2 cells was …

Apoptotic Effect Of Bortezomib On Pancreatic Islet Cells In Stz-Induced Diabetic Rats, Çiğdem Ekin, Neslihan Tekin Karacaer, Mehtap Tarhan Karaoğlan, Ibrahim Örün, Kamile Öztürk

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to investigate the possible apoptotic role of bortezomib (BMZ) on pancreatic islets of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups that were administered BMZ alone or in combination with STZ. To evaluate the effect of BMZ on the development of diabetes, blood glucose levels were measured regularly in the animals. Islet cell viability was determined by staining the islets with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. Expression of the Bcl-2 and bax genes was determined in islet cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Administering STZ-induced hyperglycemia in the …

New Semi-Dwarfing Alleles With Increased Coleoptile Length By Gene Editing Of Gibberellin 3-Oxidase 1 Using Crispr-Cas9 In Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.), Jingye Cheng, Camilla Hill, Yong Han, Tianhua He, Xingguo Ye, Sergey Shabala, Ganggang Guo, Meixue Zhou, Ke Wang, Chengdao Li

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

The green revolution was based on genetic modification of the gibberellin (GA) hormone system with “dwarfing” gene mutations that reduces GA signals, conferring shorter stature, thus enabling plant adaptation to modern farming conditions. Strong GA-related mutants with shorter stature often have reduced coleoptile length, discounting yield gain due to their unsatisfactory seedling emergence under drought conditions. Here we present gibberellin (GA) 3-oxidase1 (GA3ox1) as an alternative semi-dwarfing gene in barley that combines an optimal reduction in plant height without restricting coleoptile and seedling growth. Using large-scale field trials with an extensive collection of barley accessions, we showed that a natural …

Glutamine Produces Ammonium To Tune Lysosomal Ph And Regulate Lysosomal Function, Jian Xiong, Thi Thu Trang Luu, Kartik Venkatachalam, Guangwei Du, Michael X Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glutamine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the cell. In mitochondria, glutaminases 1 and 2 (GLS1/2) hydrolyze glutamine to glutamate, which serves as the precursor of multiple metabolites. Here, we show that ammonium generated during GLS1/2-mediated glutaminolysis regulates lysosomal pH and in turn lysosomal degradation. In primary human skin fibroblasts BJ cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, deprivation of total amino acids for 1 h increased lysosomal degradation capacity as shown by the increased turnover of lipidated microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3-II), several autophagic receptors, and endocytosed DQ-BSA. Removal of glutamine but not any other amino …

Florida Frontiers Radio Program #493, Dr. Ben Brotemarkle, Florida Historical Society

Florida Frontiers Radio Transcripts

SEGMENTS | Fort Christmas Historical Park | Literary Depictions of Christmas | The Steamboat Noah's Ark

30 Años De Transformacion Regional Ubate, Myriam Rocío Páez Saboya, Ana Lucia Hurtado Mesa, Carlos Felipe Bosa Ochoa, César Rodríguez Buitrago, Cristian Eduardo Cano López, Daniel Humberto Arévalo Sierra, Guillermo León Murcia, Javier Cortés Cortés, Johanna Andrea Gil Palacios, John Henry Vásquez Calderón, Luis Eduardo Sánchez Sarrazola, Luisa Johana Lara Rodríguez, Marbel Yulieth Monroy González, Miguel Alejandro Flechas Montaño, Sandra Milena Melo Perdomo, Segundo Leonardo Cortes, Yeny Liliana Casas Méndez

Institucional

El desarrollo del proyecto permitió establecer el estado actual de los planes de estudio vigentes a la fecha, con el fin de realizar y presentar la propuesta de resignificación curricular con los resultados de la fase diagnóstica, adicional al estudio comparativo con programas de administración de empresas acreditados en alta calidad de instituciones de educación superior nacionales e internacionales. Esto dio como resultado el documento con el diseño macro y microcurricular contribuyendo a la solución de necesidades y demandas del entorno local, regional e internacional y en la comprensión de la transformación indispensable para alinear la propuesta al modelo educativo …

Never Silent: Development Of Gay Activism In The Cold War Midwest, Braydon Conell

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Though not typically seen as a burgeoning environment for gay life, the Midwest nevertheless has a rich history of queer culture. Focusing on gay activism during the Cold War era, this thesis discusses the rise and influence of homophile organizations in the Midwest. Homophile organizations and the movement's ideals of accommodation and integration played an integral role in the activism coming out of World War II. The homophile movement, though, did not wane with the development of the more radical gay liberation movement. Instead, the homophile movement in the Midwest evolved and played its own part alongside radical activists. Historically, …

Deciphering The Role Of Rna Structure In Translation Efficiency., Jianan Lin, Yang Chen, Yuping Zhang, Haifan Lin, Zhengqing Ouyang

Faculty Research 2022

BACKGROUND: RNA secondary structure has broad impact on the fate of RNA metabolism. The reduced stability of secondary structures near the translation initiation site/start codon of the coding region promotes the efficiency of translation in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic species. However, the inaccuracy of in silico folding and the focus on the coding region limit our understanding of the global relationship between the whole mRNA structure and translation efficiency. Leveraging high-throughput RNA structure probing data in the transcriptome, we aim to systematically investigate the role of RNA structure in regulating translation efficiency.

RESULTS: Here, we analyze the influences of hundreds …

Identification Of North Sea Areas Suitable For Cultivating Saccharina Latissima As An Alternative Source Of Protein, Ella Sykes

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Demands for food resources are increasing with the growing human population and the impacts of climate change on agricultural land. Protein is an essential macronutrient for human well-being and supplies are likely to face a global security crisis in the foreseeable future. However, research has shown that the brown seaweed species Saccharina latissima (S. latissima) could be an alternative plant-based source of protein for human consumption that can be sustainably farmed under North Sea conditions. Yet seaweed farming currently remains an underexploited resource in the United Kingdom (UK). This study aims to identify areas suitable for S. latissima cultivation in …

The Socio-Economic And Ecological Impact Of Regime Shifts On Small-Scale Fisheries In Northern Peru, Ana Paula Vidal

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Species composition is known to naturally change over time; however, these fluctuations happen frequently in shoreline ecosystems where warm and cold currents meet. This study aims to understand the social and economic impacts of changes in species composition and total catch in north-western Peru. A social perception analysis coupled with available small-scale fisheries landing data of three sites: Cabo Blanco, Los Organos, and Mancora was used to identify differences in species composition and total catch between sites from years 2010 to 2020. The results suggest that fishermen have a different perception of abundance across all sites as their responses do …

Diurnal And Tidal Influence On The Spatial Distribution And Surface Activity Of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) In The Shannon Estuary, Ireland, Rosie Wilson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The interactions between oceanographic processes and topography have an important role in driving the formation of localised biodiversity hotspots. These hotspots create predictable prey resources utilised by many large coastal marine vertebrates, such as the bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus. The abundance, behaviour and distribution of bottlenose dolphins is therefore largely driven by predator-prey interactions which are strongly influenced by physical ocean processes such as tides and the formation of hydrographic fronts. Understanding these interactions as well as the ecology of bottlenose dolphins is therefore vital for the effective conservation management of this species. Through the fine scale examination of the …

Biochar Amendment Of A Sandy Loam Improves Wheat Growth Under Drought And Control Conditions, Toby Anderson Von Trampe

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Drought stress is a major limiting factor in cereal crop growth. To meet the feeding requirements of an increasing population, cereal crop yields need to be significantly increased in a sustainable manner. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance derived from organic material. Here, the effects of biochar on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and stress responses under drought stress conditions were determined. Biochar was applied at 5% (w/w) and stressed plants weren’t watered during the four weeks of drought treatment to establish the rate of water loss in the different soil treatments. drought significantly decreased plant height, stem thickness, number of …

The Relationship Between Diet, Supplement Use, And The Prevalence And Severity Of Nausea And Vomiting During The 1st And 2nd Trimesters Of Pregnancy, Bailey Lentern

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are common conditions experienced by women throughout the world. However, despite their widespread occurrence, the prevalence and severity of symptoms range significantly, with the exact aetiology underpinning this variation relatively unclear. Several studies propose that NVP may serve as an adaptive function, protecting the embryo from harmful foodstuffs, implying that diet is implicated within the pathogenesis of the condition. However, there is limited literature focusing on this topic, specifically with regards to supplement use. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to examine the relationship between diet, both pre-pregnancy and current diet, including …

Hiv-Tat Exacerbates The Actions Of Atazanavir, Efavirenz, And Ritonavir On Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor (Ryr2), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Chengju Tian, Sean R. Bidasee, Zachary L. Venn, Evan Schroder, Nick Y. Palermo, Mohammad Alshabeeb, Benson J. Edagwa, Jason J. Payne, Keshoer R. Bidasee

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people living with HIV infection (PLWH), especially those with inadequate viral suppression, is high and the reasons for this remain incompletely characterized. The timely opening and closing of type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is critical for ensuring rhythmic cardiac contraction–relaxation cycles, and the disruption of these processes can elicit Ca²⁺ waves, ventricular arrhythmias, and SCD. Herein, we show that the HIV protein Tat (HIVTat: 0–52 ng/mL) and therapeutic levels of the antiretroviral drugs atazanavir (ATV: 0–25,344 ng/mL), efavirenz (EFV: 0–11,376 ng/mL), and ritonavir (RTV: 0–25,956 ng/mL) bind to and modulate the …

Multiomics Approach Captures Hepatic Metabolic Network Altered By Chronic Ethanol Administration, Isin Tuna Sakallioglu, Bridget Tripp, Jacy Kubik, Carol A. Casey, Paul G. Thomes, Robert Powers

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Using a multiplatform and multiomics approach, we identified metabolites, lipids, proteins, and metabolic pathways that were altered in the liver after chronic ethanol administration. A functional enrichment analysis of the multiomics dataset revealed that rats treated with ethanol experienced an increase in hepatic fatty acyl content, which is consistent with an initial development of steatosis. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics data revealed that the chronic ethanol exposure selectively modified toxic substances such as an increase in glucuronidation tyramine and benzoyl; and a depletion in cholesterol-conjugated glucuronides. Similarly, the lipidomics results revealed that ethanol …

The Stockholm Paradigm Explains The Dynamics Of Darwin’S Entangled Bank, Including Emerging Infectious Disease, Salvatore J. Agosta

MANTER: Journal of Parasite Biodiversity

Pathogens and their hosts are embedded within the larger biosphere, what Darwin called the “entangled bank.” Emerging infectious disease occurs when a parasite “switches” to a new host. Understanding the dynamics of emerging disease requires understanding the dynamics of host-switching, which requires a more general understanding of how the biosphere and its constituent members cope when conditions change. The Stockholm paradigm is an integrative evolutionary framework that describes how living systems cope with change by oscillating between exploiting and exploring the geographical and functional dimensions of their environments. It combines organismal capacity, ecological opportunity, and the repeated external perturbations to …

Analysing Association Rates Of Reef Manta Rays (Mobula Alfredi) Situated In Chagos Archipelago, Lena Pollett

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are in rapid decline and threatened by multiple anthropogenic pressures. Conservation of this vulnerable marine species requires an understanding of the drivers of their movement patterns and group structuring. Aggregations have been presumed to be a function of resource availability. However, recent studies have suggested that association rates within these areas of aggregation may underpin social behaviour, furthering our understanding of these species' movement and social networking. Here we used acoustic telemetry technology to assess the extent that a group of 26 M. alfredi associates within Egmont Atoll, situated within the Chagos Archipelagos, over a …

Biological Recruitment On Static And Boat Hull Panels Coated With Non-Toxic Fibre Flock, Julia Hinrichs

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Marine biofouling, the settlement of aquatic organisms on submerged surfaces, creates an estimated cost of 20 billion USD annually for the shipping industry in increased fuel consumption due to overgrowth. However, the existing antifouling solutions are being restricted by international organisations due to their adverse effects on the marine environment. In recent years, the research focus has shifted to non-toxic methods highlighting the importance of settlement cues of invertebrates. Biofoulers, such as invertebrate larvae and algal spores have been shown to respond to physical cues such as surface structure. The aim of this study was to test the environmentally friendly …

The Effect Of Seagrass Components On The Associated Bacterial Diversity And Antimicrobial Activity In Zostera Marina, Caroline Millan

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Seagrasses are marine angiosperms located in intertidal and sub-tidal waters. They are important ecosystem engineers that play a crucial role in the structure of habitats, allowing them to support a comprehensive diversity of life. Through fundamental ecological processes and the generation of niches, each seagrass species has aggregated an associated microbiome that lives among the various seagrass components and exhibit symbiotic relations. There have been studies investigating the diversity of the associated bacteria and elements of the resulting microbial activity, however these have primarily focused on tropical seagrass species and have failed to examine the extent of this bioactivity. This …

Investigating The Impacts Of Heterotrophic Nutrition On Acropora Microclados, Heather O'Keefe

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The Scleractinian coral Acropora microclados is a commercially important species that functions as both an autotroph and heterotroph. In ex situ coral aquaculture, elucidating an optimal diet to improve growth and resilience is critical in improving the sustainability and success of rearing corals for trade and conservation. To investigate the impacts of diet on A. microclados, three groups of 15 nubbins were kept under three different feeding regimes for three months at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, UK. One group was fed nothing, the control (CTL), one group fed Artemia salina nauplii (ART) and one group fed a mixed diet …

Marine Mammals In The Western English Channel, A Survey From The Rame Head Peninsula, Janine Douglas

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This paper presents the first records of marine mammals in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (NMP), and over 1000 individual animal observations were recorded. Marine mammal temporal and spatial distributions were quantified for the first time at Rame Head, a vantage point overlooking the NMP and the Western English Channel. A biodiversity hotspot, the Western English Channel supports many species of marine mammals, yet it is subject to increasing anthropogenic pressures, such as heavy shipping, which could significantly impact populations. Whilst marine mammals are well studied, their distributions and population sizes remain largely unknown; effective conservation of these animals requires …