Digital Commons Network^™

Visual Pigment-Deficient Cones Survive And Mediate Visual Signaling Despite The Lack Of Outer Segments, Hui Xu, Nange Jin, Jen-Zen Chuang, Zhao Zhang, Xiaoyue Zhong, Zhijing Zhang, Ching-Hwa Sung, Christophe P Ribelayga, Yingbin Fu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Rhodopsin and cone opsins are essential for light detection in vertebrate rods and cones, respectively. It is well established that rhodopsin is required for rod phototransduction, outer segment disk morphogenesis, and rod viability. However, the roles of cone opsins are less well understood. In this study, we adopted a loss-of-function approach to investigate the physiological roles of cone opsins in mice. We showed that cones lacking cone opsins do not form normal outer segments due to the lack of disk morphogenesis. Surprisingly, cone opsin-deficient cones survive for at least 12 mo, which is in stark contrast to the rapid rod …

A Call For An Integrated Approach To Improve Efficiency, Equity And Sustainability In Rare Disease Research In The United States, Meghan C Halley, Hadley Stevens Smith, Euan A Ashley, Aaron J Goldenberg, Holly K Tabor

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

To build a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable approach to rare disease research in the United States, we must prioritize integrated research infrastructure and approaches that focus on understanding connections across rare diseases.

P16 Represses Dna Damage Repair Via A /Novel Ubiquitin-Dependent Signaling Cascade, David P Molkentine, Jessica M Molkentine, Kathleen A Bridges, David R Valdecanas, Annika Dhawan, Reshub Bahri, Andrew J Hefner, Manish Kumar, Liangpeng Yang, Mohamed Abdelhakiem, Phillip M Pifer, Vlad Sandulache, Aakash Sheth, Beth M Beadle, Howard D Thames, Kathryn A Mason, Curtis R Pickering, Raymond E Meyn, Heath D Skinner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Squamous cell carcinoma driven by human papillomavirus (HPV) is more sensitive to DNA-damaging therapies than its HPV-negative counterpart. Here, we show that p16, the clinically used surrogate for HPV positivity, renders cells more sensitive to radiotherapy via a ubiquitin-dependent signaling pathway, linking high levels of this protein to increased activity of the transcription factor SP1, increased HUWE1 transcription, and degradation of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) and TRIP12. Activation of this pathway in HPV-positive disease led to decreased homologous recombination and improved response to radiotherapy, a phenomenon that can be recapitulated in HPV-negative disease using USP7 inhibitors in clinical development. This …

Genome-Wide Identification Of Novel Srnas In Streptococcus Mutans, Madeline Claire Krieger, Justin Merritt, Rahul Raghavan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Streptococcus mutans is a major pathobiont involved in the development of dental caries. Its ability to utilize numerous sugars and to effectively respond to environmental stress promotes S. mutans proliferation in oral biofilms. Because of their quick action and low energetic cost, non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) represent an ideal mode of gene regulation in stress response networks, yet their roles in oral pathogens have remained largely unexplored. We identified 15 novel sRNAs in S. mutans and show that they respond to four stress-inducing conditions commonly encountered by the pathogen in human mouth: sugar-phosphate stress, hydrogen peroxide exposure, high temperature, and …

In Silico Analysis Of Dnd1 And Its Co-Expressed Genes In Human Cancers, Yun Zhang, Yafang Li, Dhruv Chachad, Bin Liu, Jyotsna D Godavarthi, Abie Williams-Villalobo, Latifat Lasisi, Shunbin Xiong, Angabin Matin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dead-End (DND1) is an RNA-binding protein involved in translational regulation. Defects in DND1 gene causes germ cell tumors and sterility in rodents. Experimental studies with human somatic cancer cells indicate that DND1 has anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic function in some while oncogenic function in other cells. We examined The Cancer Genome Atlas data for gene alterations and gene expression changes in DND1 in a variety of human cancers. We found that DND1 is amplified, deleted or mutated in multiple human cancers. In different cancers, DND1 alteration correlates with increased diagnosis age of patients, shift in tumor spectrum or change of tumor …

The Impact Of Response To Iron Therapy On Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes Among Pregnant Women With Anemia, Sarah E Detlefs, Michael D Jochum, Bahram Salmanian, Jennifer R Mckinney, Kjersti M Aagaard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Anemia during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of preterm birth, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and maternal morbidity. The most prevalent modifiable cause of pregnancy-associated anemia is iron deficiency. However, it is still unclear whether iron therapy can reduce the risks of adverse outcomes in women with anemia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether response to iron therapy among women with anemia is associated with a change in odds of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study (2011-2019) using an institutional database composed of obstetrical patients from 2 delivery hospitals. Patients with adequate …

Clinical Opinion: The Diagnosis And Management Of Suspected Fetal Growth Restriction: An Evidence-Based Approach, Christoph C Lees, Roberto Romero, Tamara Stampalija, Andrea Dall'asta, Greggory A Devore, Federico Prefumo, Tiziana Frusca, Gerard H A Visser, John C Hobbins, Ahmet A Baschat, Caterina M Bilardo, Henry L Galan, Stuart Campbell, Dev Maulik, Francesc Figueras, Wesley Lee, Julia Unterscheider, Herbert Valensise, Fabricio Da Silva Costa, Laurent J Salomon, Liona C Poon, Enrico Ferrazzi, Giancarlo Mari, Giuseppe Rizzo, John C Kingdom, Torvid Kiserud, Kurt Hecher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This study reviewed the literature about the diagnosis, antepartum surveillance, and time of delivery of fetuses suspected to be small for gestational age or growth restricted. Several guidelines have been issued by major professional organizations, including the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The differences in recommendations, in particular about Doppler velocimetry of the ductus venosus and middle cerebral artery, have created confusion among clinicians, and this review has intended to clarify and highlight the available evidence that is pertinent to clinical management. A fetus who is small for gestational age is …

Isoform-Specific Functions Of Pparγ In Gene Regulation And Metabolism, Wenxiang Hu, Chunjie Jiang, Mindy Kim, Yang Xiao, Hannah J Richter, Dongyin Guan, Kun Zhu, Brianna M Krusen, Arielle N Roberts, Jessica Miller, David J Steger, Mitchell A Lazar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor that is a vital regulator of adipogenesis, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism. Activation of PPARγ by antidiabetic thiazolidinediones (TZD) reverses insulin resistance but also leads to weight gain that limits the use of these drugs. There are two main PPARγ isoforms, but the specific functions of each are not established. Here we generated mouse lines in which endogenous PPARγ1 and PPARγ2 were epitope-tagged to interrogate isoform-specific genomic binding, and mice deficient in either PPARγ1 or PPARγ2 to assess isoform-specific gene regulation. Strikingly, although PPARγ1 and PPARγ2 contain identical DNA binding domains, …

Evaluation Of Factors Underlying Sex-Based Disparities In Cardiovascular Care In Adults With Self-Reported Premature Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Vardhmaan Jain, Mahmoud Al Rifai, Rodman Turpin, Hatice Nur Eken, Ankit Agrawal, Dhruv Mahtta, Zainab Samad, Stephanie Coulter, Fatima Rodriguez, Laura A Petersen, Salim S Virani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: There are limited data regarding sex-based differences in physical and mental health domains and health care access in adults with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of sex with physical and mental health domains as well as health care access-related factors among adults with self-reported premature ASCVD.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort analysis of 748 090 adults aged 18 to 55 years in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2016 to 2019 in the US. Data were analyzed from June to July 2021.

EXPOSURES: Self-reported ASCVD, defined as having a history of coronary artery …

Developmental Trajectories Of Positive Emotion Regulation: The Moderating Effects Of Gender And Parenting, Hailey Caudle

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

This study examined the frequency of daily positive events as a predictor of positive emotion regulation strategies in adolescence, particularly dampening and positive rumination. Furthermore, I hypothesized this relationship may be moderated by the gender of the adolescent and their parent’s socialization of positive emotion, through enhancing or dampening their adolescent’s positive emotion. Lastly, I hypothesized that the moderation of parental socialization of positive emotion on emotion regulation would differ based on the gender of the adolescent. Adolescents in Belgium participated in a longitudinal self-report study (n_baseline= 815) assessed at three timepoints. Cross-sectionally, daily positive events significantly …

Untargeted Metabolomic Identification Of Diagnostic Biomarkers In Ectopic Pregnancy, Onur Turkoglu, Robert Quinn, Stewart F. Graham, Ray Bahado-Singh

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a potentially life-threatening condition and early diagnosis still remains a challenge, causing a delay in management leading to tubal rupture. Targeted metabolomics has been shown to identify novel biomarkers for the detection of ectopic pregnancy. Using untargeted metabolomics approach, we sought to identify putative plasma biomarkers for the detection of tubal EP compared to intrauterine pregnancies. Methods: This case-control study included prospective recruitment of 50 tubal EP cases and 50 early intrauterine pregnancy controls. Plasma samples were biochemically profiled using tandem liquid chromatographymass (MS/MS) spectrometry with untargeted metabolomics approach. To avoid over-fitting, datasets were randomly …

Estimation Of The Optimal Nitrogen Dose In A Brachiaria Humidicola-Corn Rotation System In The Colombian Eastern Plains, K. Enciso, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency by optimizing the N fertilizer application dose is one way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture and livestock production, especially in higher demanding crops such as corn. Taking a Brachiaria humidicola (Bh)-corn rotation system in the Colombian Eastern Plains, we seek to determine both the optimal economic dose (OED) and the optimal technical dose (OTD) of N, which allow to maximize income at producer level and minimize environmental impacts. This particular rotation system was chosen as research subject given the presence of the residual effect of Biological Nitrogen Inhibition (BNI) in …

Screening And Breeding For Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (Bsm) Resistance Using U.S. Bermudagrass Germplasm, W. F. Anderson, D. Hancock, L. Baxter, W. Hudson, Esteban F. Rios

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) is an important perennial forage grass grown in many parts of the world. Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (BSM) (Atherigona reversura Villeneuve) is an insect pest that reduces forage yield and nutritive value if it is not controlled. The pest, native to SE Asia, was first documented in North America in 2009 and is now considered invasive. A collection of over 300 forage bermudagrass accessions was evaluated in the field for susceptibility to BSM in 2014 and 2015. Tolerant lines and susceptible checks were then evaluated for yield loss due to BSM in a replicated field study …

Women In Bujuur Society: Marriage, Imah-Itu And Ethnic Lineage, Elija Chara

Journal of Gender, Ethnic, and Cross-Cultural Studies

The role of women in Bujuur social identity is often overlooked by emphasizing the general patrilocal and patrilineal customs. Traditional Bujuur society was characterized by ambilineage as well as matrilocality whereby women contributed to the making and remaking of Bujuur identity. This paper explores two spaces within the theme of marriage: i) Imah-Itu (the residence of a husband at his wife’s house) and ii) children of mixed marriages identifying with the mother’s Bujuur ethnicity. The objective is to critique the everyday emphasis on patriarchy, patrilineality and patrilocalism among the Bujuur, all of which are in contrast to historical traditions. A …

“Baby Donato” In Abruzzo (Italy): From A Mother’S Veneration To Popular Devotion, Lia Giancristofaro

Journal of Gender, Ethnic, and Cross-Cultural Studies

The article considers a cult that developed and still thrives in a small Abruzzo town in the years between the two world wars. During these decades, the mummified body of a baby became the object of worship and devotional practices. The epileptic Baby Donato died and after few months his body was given to the Sanctuary of St Donatus in Celenza sul Trigno. St Donatus is the saint who protects epileptics and in Italian Catholicism is therefore the master of disease. The name Donato means ‘given’ and the ailment (epilepsy) is given by the saint to his subjects in exchange …

Bioinorganic Chemistry Of Mineralized Titanium, Ann Valentine

Sustainability Seminar Series

Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the earth’s crust, and titanium minerals are widespread, yet conventional wisdom holds that biology has very little to do with titanium. The element has a reputation for extreme inertness that is belied by data from several experimental systems. This talk will address interactions between titanium minerals and biology at the molecular level, and will examine cases in which organisms and/or biomolecules induce the formation of, bind to, or dissolve titanium minerals.

Implicit Bias Against Bipoc Patients In Clinical Settings: A Qualitative Review, Raisa Kabir, Sayeda Tazim Zaidi

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from stigmatized and marginalized communities face implicit bias in medicine. Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes and internalized discrimination developed through repeated practices based on stereotypes from a foundation of systematic racism. In clinical settings, it impacts individuals’ healthcare experience and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to characterize and address implicit bias among healthcare providers toward BIPOC patients in clinical settings. A literature search in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, PsyArticles, PsycINFO from EBSCO databases was conducted to include all peer-reviewed studies (2012-2021) about implicit bias toward BIPOC. Most healthcare providers have some form of implicit bias-positive …

A Systematic Literature Review On The Resilience Reported By Bipoc In The Face Of Discrimination, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez, Aldo Barrita, Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

The present study is a systematic literature review on the psychology of resilience, or the ability to bounce back after a difficult situation (Smith, 2008). Although resilience is a timely and relevant variable in social psychology, little is known about its connection to the racism-related experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This review explores how resilience manifests in the BIPOC community and its influence on the identity of minority groups. Previous research has shown that BIPOC reports higher resilience (Carter, 2012); however, there is still uncertainty around its connection to discrimination. Through the analysis of nine final …

Distribution And Movements Of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Along The Northern South Carolina Coast: A Research Partnership With Ecotourism, Courtney N. Dunn, Dani C. Silva, Emily P. Deborde, Robert F. Young

The Coastal Business Journal

Assessments of bottlenose dolphin stocks rely on current information about the distribution and abundance of specific populations. We partnered with two ecotourism dolphin watch businesses to investigate bottlenose dolphins along the northern South Carolina coast. The temporal and spatial distribution of dolphins was examined by comparing dorsal fin images from research-based surveys with photo-identification efforts from commercial dolphin watch groups. Matches between survey locations and times revealed patterns of seasonal residency, potential migratory dispersal between seasons, and variable patterns for home range size. An enhanced understanding of the structure of local populations will contribute to the management of local fisheries, …

Exposure To Online Classes As Determinant Of Student Perceptions, James A. Pope, Susan Rahmatian

The Coastal Business Journal

There is little research comparing the perceptions of university students who have been, and have never been, exposed to online classes. We show that about half the students surveyed, who have never taken online classes, have done so intentionally. We measure the perceptions of both groups of students along ten dimensions. The three dimensions along which the exposed students had a significantly favorable perception were a) the extent to which online classes utilize teaching materials personally created or structured by professors, b) the extent to which students feel frustrated by technology, and c) the benefit of interactions with fellow classmates.

A Revised Feedback Model For Task And Self-Regulated Learning, Thomas F. Hawk, Amit J. Shah

The Coastal Business Journal

Feedback plays a central role in a wide range of learning models and theories. When students engage in active learning processes, such as written case analyses and projects, presentations, and discussions, instructors have the opportunity to provide them with constructive developmental feedback on their progress toward achieving course learning goals. Instructors also have the opportunity to give them feedback on the way they learn, or self-regulated learning. This article presents an integrated model of feedback for both course content and self-regulated learning, showing where difficulties occur in the progress toward achieving the learning goals through the feedback.

Editorial Board And Call For Submissions

Journal of Graduate Education Research

No abstract provided.

Roadblocks And Enablers For Teacher Engagement In Professional Development Opportunities Aimed At Supporting Trauma-Informed Classroom Pedagogical Practice, Simone L. Collier Mrs, Karen Trimmer, India Bryce, Govind Krishnamoorthy

Journal of Graduate Education Research

This paper is based on a research approach that aims to explore and explain the roadblocks and enablers for mainstream classroom teachers engaging in professional development and training focused on trauma informed pedagogical practices.. Teachers seeking resources that promote discrete behavioural and cognitive skills in the social emotional developmental domain can easily access advocacy, policy articles and resource materials that are in the form of guides, toolkits, and programs. Notwithstanding this, a second focus area is the relational approach whereby the main tenet is children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development is dependent on the relational context in which they spend …

Multilevel Analysis Of Factors Predicting International Doctoral Students’ Time-To-Degree Completion, Osasohan Agbonlahor

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Time-to-doctoral degree has consistently increased in American universities since the 1960s. The elongated time-to-degree has cost implications, not only for the degree granting institutions, but for doctoral recipients, particularly their international counterparts. This paper examined the effect of various factors, including financial aid, demographic characteristics, and home country economic conditions on international doctoral students’ time-to-degree completion. The Push-Pull Model and human capital theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Utilizing multiple regression and multilevel analysis on a set of student demographic characteristics, country-level economic factors, financial aid packages, and institutional level variables, the study finds that that foreign government …

Sebastian Faulks’ Human Traces:A Journey Into The Depths Of The Human Psyche, Essam Fattouh

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Sebastian Faulk’s novel, Human Traces (2006), embarks on a new trend in contemporary English fiction. Through its representations of two main protagonists, pioneers in the field of psychology between the 1870s and 1918, Faulks traces the formative years of the development of the young discipline of psychiatry. Even though Faulks works in the realist traditions of Charles Dickens and George Eliot, yet he delves into such major questions as the role of unconscious motivations in human individual behaviour, the causes of mental illness, and the very attempt to understand the nature of the human being. The time frame of the …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Adherence To Refills And Medications Scale (Arms) Among Adults Patients With Chronic Disease: The Lebanese Version, Mohamad Ismail, Mayssah El Nayal, Pascale Salameh, Souraya Domiati

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Background: Non-adherence to medications can lead to several consequences that range from waste of drugs to death. Consequently, a tool to assess the adherence to chronic medication is a necessity. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process of ARMS into the Lebanese Arabic version (ARMS-A) and to examine its psychometric properties (validity and reliability assessment). Design: The original English version of ARMS was translated into Arabic based on the established guidelines. Eight expert panels were involved in content validation, while face validation was conducted on twenty participants during pilot testing. A cross-sectional …

The Need For An Integrated Preschool Efl Curriculum In Lebanon, Amal J. Yazigy Dr.

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

An Integrated Curriculum for Preschool enriches the children’s linguistic environment that leads to better, more natural learning of the target language and concepts of different fields. This paper starts by reviewing available literature about child development, foreign language learning, EFL in this context, and the integrated curriculum. The development of a holistic curriculum for preschoolers in Lebanon is given taking into consideration the healthy cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor development of preschoolers.

Golden Hour, Christoffer A. Amdahl

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Art is a vital part of the human experience. We spend so much time completely immersed in the biological sciences in medicine, which explain how we mechanically operate, looking at various neurological theories and various pharmacological therapies. However, there is not a discrete science that allows for the shared perceptions of emotions as much as the arts. A painting can immerse the viewer in a myriad of different feelings from the artist in a way that language and numbers simply cannot comprehend. The arts are not only important, they are a necessary component of being human that allows us to …

Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome And Psychosis: A Case Report, Tarvis Peacock, Ubaid Khokhar, Jaclyn Murphy, Zach Murphy

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Hallermann-Streiff syndrome is a rare genetic congenital disorder, with fewer than 200 cases reported to date, that is characterized by brachycephaly with frontal bossing, micrognathia, a “bird-like” beaked nose, microphthalmia with congenital cataracts, dental abnormalities, hypotrichosis, skin atrophy, and short stature. There is limited data on psychosis in individuals with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome; the information available depicts mania rather than psychosis. This case report reviews the presentation and treatment of psychosis in a 32-year-old male with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome who was involuntarily admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit for persecutory delusions and hallucinations. The patient’s psychosis responded well to risperidone with a …

The Effectiveness Of A Counseling Program Based On Positive Psychology To Reduce Emotional Divorce Among A Sample Of Women, Aseel Raif Qanaze

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

The study aimed to reveal the effectiveness of a counseling program based on positive psychology to reduce emotional divorce. The study sample consisted of (30) women from the Association of the Jordanian Women's Solidarity Institute. The study used the emotional divorce scale, and the counseling program based on positive psychology (all prepared by the researcher). The study followed the quasi-experimental approach, and the study concluded that there were no statistically significant differences at the level (a = 0.05) between the performance averages of the experimental and control groups in the tribal application on the emotional divorce scale due to the …