Digital Commons Network^™

An Introduction To The Comparison Of Seismocardiography And Phonocardiography, Anna C. Voyatzoglou

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to lay groundwork for examining the relationship between seismocardiography (SCG) and phonocardiography (PCG). Both are methods of measuring and describing heart mechanical function. SCG is described as chest vibrations while the heart beats, and PCG is described as acoustic chest surface signal believed to represent the heart valves opening or closing. SCG and PCG have both been used separately in clinical and research settings, but there is currently no clear comparison between the two. Therefore, there has been no way at the present to understand how one signal might inform the other. This study …

Design And Development Of Medical Devices For Multifaceted Applications, Madisyn Messmore

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The fields of biotechnology and biomedical sciences are rapidly evolving and involve the constant growth of knowledge. As a consequence, engineering design has to also remain at the cutting edge in order to not inhibit the growth of these fields. This study focuses on engineering design and analysis as it pertains to the field of biotechnology, at every step of the engineering process. More specifically, how the engineering design and analysis approach can assist in solving medical problems relating to bone diseases and biomaterials. The first part of the study focuses on a project to design and manufacture a novel …

Forage News [2022-01], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Phip Variants Associated With Chung–Jansen Syndrome Disrupt Replication Fork Stability And Genome Integrity, Neysha Tirado-Class, Caitlin Hathaway, Wendy K. Chung, Huzefa Dungrawala

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

Chung–Jansen syndrome (CJS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability/cognitive impairment, behavioral challenges, obesity, and dysmorphic features. CJS is associated with heterozygous variants in PHIP (Pleckstrin-Homology Interacting Protein), a gene that encodes one of several substrate receptors for Cullin4-RING (CRL4) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Full-length PHIP, also called DCAF14, was recently identified to function as a replication stress response protein. Herein, we report the identification of two PHIP missense variants identified by exome sequencing in unrelated individuals with CJS. The variants p.D488V and p.E963G occur in different functional elements of DCAF14-WD40 repeat domain and pleckstrin …

Sequence Properties Of An Intramolecular Interaction That Inhibits P53 Dna Binding, Emily Gregory, Gary W. Daughdrill

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

An intramolecular interaction between the p53 transactivation and DNA binding domains inhibits DNA binding. To study this autoinhibition, we used a fragment of p53, referred to as ND WT, containing the N-terminal transactivation domains (TAD1 and TAD2), a proline rich region (PRR), and the DNA binding domain (DBD). We mutated acidic, nonpolar, and aromatic amino acids in TAD2 to disrupt the interaction with DBD and measured the effects on DNA binding affinity at different ionic strengths using fluorescence anisotropy. We observed a large increase in DNA binding affinity for the mutants consistent with reduced autoinhibition. The ΔΔG between DBD and …

Land Reversion And Zoonotic Spillover Risk, John E. Vinson, Nicole L. Gottdenker, Luis Fernando Chaves, Rajreni B. Kaul, Andrew M. Kramer, John M. Drake, Richard J. Hall

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Deforestation alters wildlife communities and modifies human–wildlife interactions, often increasing zoonotic spillover potential. When deforested land reverts to forest, species composition differences between primary and regenerating (secondary) forest could alter spillover risk trajectory. We develop a mathematical model of land-use change, where habitats differ in their relative spillover risk, to understand how land reversion influences spillover risk. We apply this framework to scenarios where spillover risk is higher in deforested land than mature forest, reflecting higher relative abundance of highly competent species and/or increased human–wildlife encounters, and where regenerating forest has either very low or high spillover risk. We find …

Analysing Economic Costs Of Invasive Alien Species With The Invacost R Package, Boris Leroy, Andrew M. Kramer, Anne-Charlotte Vaissière, Melina Kourantidou, Franck Courchamp, Christophe Diagne

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

1. The reported costs of invasive alien species from the global database InvaCost are heterogeneous and cover different spatio-temporal scales. A standard procedure for aggregating invasive species cost estimates is necessary to ensure the repeatability and comparativeness of studies.
2. We introduce here the invacost r package, an open-source software designed to query and analyse the InvaCost database. We illustrate this package and its framework with cost data associated with invasive alien invertebrates.
3. First, the invacost package provides updates of this dynamic database directly in the analytical environment R. Second, it helps understand the heterogeneous nature of monetary cost data for invasive …

The Women’S Health And Cancer Rights Act (Whcra) And Breast Reconstruction Policy: An Evaluation Of Physician Attitudes And Perceptions, Christine Grogan

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Abstract In 2021, approximately 276,480 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, yet less than 30% were aware of their reconstruction options. The Women’s Healthcare Cancer Right Act (WHCRA) of 1998 stated those with breast cancer are entitled to breast reconstruction. WHCRA of 1998 set the first step in ensuring women get reconstruction if they chose. An exceptionally low percentage of women receive reconstruction after mastectomies each year, and the reasons are yet to be fully understood. Some initial thoughts are that women with breast cancer do not have or receive the information regarding their options to see a plastic surgeon. …

Posthuman Ethics In The Science Fiction Of Rosa Montero And Rita Indiana, Brittany Frodge

Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies

In this dissertation I put Posthumanist theory in tension with the ‘lived’ experiences of the posthuman protagonists of two recent Science Fiction trilogies. My aim in doing so is to uncover the shortcomings of Posthumanist accounts of ethics and discover alternative paths forward.

The first chapter of my dissertation is an overview of Posthumanist theory and Science Fiction, with a particular emphasis on the contributions Hispanic authors and women have made to the genre. In the second chapter, I develop a critique of Posthumanist ethics that place the onus of ethical-political intervention on marginalized subjects through a close reading of …

The Bi-Partisan Enabling Of Presidential Power: A Review Of David Driesen's 'Specter Of Dictatorship: Judicial Enabling Of Presidential Power, Jed H. Shugerman

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Regulation Of Rnai Recruitment And Lncrnas By Epithelial Adherens Junctions, Mary Catherine Bridges

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Adherens junctions (AJs) are architectural components of the cell that are essential for epithelial tissue integrity. These adhesive structures tether intracellularly to an apical actin ring to form the zonula adherens (ZA). Our previous work revealed that PLEKHA7, a E-cadherin-p120 catenin partner at the ZA, recruits the microprocessor, the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), and distinct sets of miRNAs and mRNAs specifically to the ZA. There, the processing of and silencing by a set of miRNAs suppresses oncogenic mRNA expression. PLEKHA7 depletion results in compromised epithelial integrity, altered miRNA function, and pro-tumorigenic cell transformation; we have found extensive dysregulation of this …

Use Of Heterothallic Mat Deletion Strains Of Fusarium Graminearum As Test Mates In Crosses To Evaluate The Genetics Of Pathogenicity And Fitness, Gabdiel Emmanuel Yulfo-Soto

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto and other members of the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC), is a plant disease that occurs on cereal crops worldwide. FHB causes yield losses not only by reducing grain weight, but also by contaminating the kernels with dangerous trichothecene mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON). There is a high degree of genotypic and phenotypic variation among pathogen species and strains, but current FHB risk assessment models and treatments do not account for pathogen diversity. Therefore, it is difficult to predict what will happen if a new, potentially more aggressive variant is introduced, …

Ic025: Transcripts Of Video Presentations, University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston. School Of Nursing

Cizik School of Nursing 50th Anniversary

Transcripts of edited video presentations, including "Pioneers of Nursing Education, Practice and Discovery", Marianne Marcus Remembers, Janet C. Meininger Oral History, Dr. Vaunette Fay retires after 4 years at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston and Dean Emerita Patricia Starck, PhD, RN, FAAN Shares Her Leadership History and Achievements.

Ic025: Janet C. Meininger, Transcript, University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston. School Of Nursing

Cizik School of Nursing 50th Anniversary

Transcipt of the oral history interview with Janet C. Meininger. See more at University of Texas School of Nursing records and its finding aid.

A Nonsense Mutation In Gsdmc Is Associated With Cancer Mortality In Dogs, Hang Li

Public Health Theses

Over 400 distinct canine breeds today were result from artificial selection during the last centuries. And due to the selection pressure from human interest and the founder effects, the difference among individual genomes from one same breed is less than the difference between breeds. 446 samples were included in this study to recognize the cancer-associated nonsense mutations in canine genome. 17 of the 446 samples were lab-recruited dogs, and the other 429 samples were downloaded from Sequence Read Archive. One nonsense mutation in GSDMC protein is found significantly associated with cancer risk in dogs. Since nonsense mutations could provide premature …

Defining And Demystifying Automated Decision Systems, Rashida Richardson

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Self-Powered Microgravity Resistance Exercise With Soft Pneumatic Exoskeletons, Aislinn Marcee, Emma Treadway

Engineering Faculty Research

As preparations continue towards sending humans on a 3-year mission to Mars, space programs must find solutions to combat muscular atrophy experienced by astronauts during extended time in microgravity. One method currently used to combat muscle deterioration is daily resistance training sessions using an apparatus like the ARED or CEVIS exercise devices, but these daily exercise sessions are not expected to be enough to protect the muscles during longer missions. To help combat muscular atrophy, we propose self-resistance outside of the daily exercise sessions implemented through soft pneumatic exoskeletons that could be integrated into astronauts’ suits, augmenting the formal exercise …

2022 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The purpose of beef cattle and beef product research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is to provide reference information that represents the various populations (cows, calves, heifers, feeders, carcasses, retail products, etc.) of beef production.

Dedicated in memory of Dr. Terry Klopfenstein (March 10, 1939-April 30, 2021), Professor Emeritus, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Cow-Calf Nutrition and Management

Impact of Cow Size on Economic Profitability in the Cow-Calf and Feedlot Production Systems

Comparison of Partially Confined and Traditional Cow-Calf Systems

Concepts in Stress Physiology

Inflammatory Modulators Improve Daily Gain of Heat-Stressed Wethers

Zilpaterol Supplementation Improved Indicators of Well-Being, but …

Effects Of Lime Amendment On Antibiotic Resistance In Beef Cattle Manure Of Open Feedlots, Noelle A. Mware, Galen E. Erickson, Amy Schmidt, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Xu Li

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lime amendment on the reduction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes in beef cattle manure in open feedlots. Hydrated lime was uniformly applied to the surface of feedlot pen floor 1 day prior to cattle harvest at a rate of 0.36 lb/ft² and samples were collected over time. Collected samples were analyzed for change in pH and levels of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes. Lime amendment elevated the pH of pen floor surface materials to pH > 12 for 4 hours and then pH > 11 …

Impact Of Spring Corn Residue Grazing On Soil Physical Properties And Crop Yield, Morgan T. Grabau, J. C. Macdonald, Zachary E. Carlson, M. E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effects of stocking density for spring corn residue grazing on soil physical properties and soybean yield were evaluated in an experiment with three treatments: no grazing, normal density, and high density. Normal density was stocked at 3 calves/acre and grazed 45 days starting in mid-February. High-density was stocked at 9 calves/acre and grazed 15 days starting in mid-March. Increased stocking density decreased residue cover and increased surface roughness. Bulk density and penetration resistance were increased for normal density compared to no graze, with no difference between grazed treatments, illustrating that grazing may cause minor compaction, regardless of stocking density. …

Evaluation Of Methane And Co2 Production In Growing And Finishing Cattle Raised In Conventional Or Partial Confinement-Based Herds, L. J. Mcphillips, Z. E. Carlson, Rick R. Stowell, J. C. Macdonald, Andrew E. Suyker, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Methane emissions from growing and finishing calves compared either a spring calving, conventional cow system or a summer calving, partially-confined cow system. Calves weaned from the confinement-based production system were smaller at weaning and compensated with greater gain during the growing phase. More days on feed in the finishing phase were needed for the calves from the confinement system to reach same backfat thickness. Over the entire growing and finishing phases, calves from the confinement-based system produced more total CH₄ and CH₄ per lb. HCW. Production of methane and CO₂ per lb. of gain was lower in …

Inflammatory Modulators Improve Daily Gain Of Heat-Stressed Wethers, Micah S. Most, Pablo C. Grijalva, Dustin T. Yates

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Inflammation during heat stress may mediate poor growth in livestock. The effects of anti-imflammatory treatments on muscle growth during chronic heat stress were evaluated by using meat lambs as a smaller cheaper model for feedlot steers. Wethers were maintained in normal (75^oF) or heat stress (105^oF for 12 hours/day, 85^oF for 12 hours/day) environments for 30 days and received dexamethasone injections every 3 days, oral fish oil supplementation twice daily, or no intervention. Growth was tracked and muscles were weighed when harvested afterward. Dexamethasone and fish oil both increased average daily gain over the …

Statistics Used In The Nebraska Beef Cattle Report And Teir Purpose, University Of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Te purpose of beef cattle and beef product research at UNL is to provide reference information that represents the various populations (cows, calves, heifers, feeders, carcasses, retail products, etc) of beef production. Obviously, the researcher cannot apply treatments to every member of a population; therefore he/she must sample the population. Te use of statistics allows the researcher and readers of the Nebraska Beef Cattle Report the opportunity to evaluate separation of random (chance) occurrences and real biological effects of a treatment. Following is a brief description of the major statistics used in the beef report. For a more detailed description …

Happiness – Concept, Measurement And Promotion, Yew Kwang Ng

eBooks

While interests in issues pertaining to happiness have been long-standing, we have witnessed recently an increasing focus by both scholars and members of the general public. ‘Subjective well-being (SWB) is an extremely active area of research with about 170,000 articles and books published on the topic in the past 15 years’ (Diener et al. 2018, Abstract). Not only psychologists (e.g. Kahneman et al. 1999, Diener et al. 2010, 2018) and sociologists (e.g. Veenhoven 1984, 1993, 2010, 2017), but also economists have made substantial investigations.1 After about 2–3 decades of gestation since the first publication on happiness issues by an economist …

Maternal Drivers Of Reproductive Output In The Lizard Family Scincidae: A Phylogenetic Comparative Approach, William Zang

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of squamates, comprising over 1,300 species of lizards with a variety of life history and ecological traits. This diversity includes three reproductive modes, where some species reproduce via oviparity (egg-laying), viviparity (live birth) or use of a mixed strategy (females switch modes). In this study, it was sought whether reproductive output differs between scincid species using these reproductive modes. Reproductive output is defined as the average product of offspring abundance and size per reproductive event, representing the reproductive effort of an individual. Additionally, the importance of phylogeny (evolutionary relatedness) and a suite …

Providing A Helping Hand: Metabolic Regulation Of T Follicular Helper Cells And Their Association With Disease., Colleen L Mayberry, Natalie A Logan, John J Wilson, Chih-Hao Chang

Faculty Research 2022

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells provide support to B cells upon arrival in the germinal center, and thus are critical for the generation of a robust adaptive immune response. Tfh express specific transcription factors and cellular receptors including Bcl6, CXCR5, PD-1, and ICOS, which are critical for homing and overall function. Generally, the induction of an immune response is tightly regulated. However, deviation during this process can result in harmful autoimmunity or the inability to successfully clear pathogens. Recently, it has been shown that Tfh differentiation, activation, and proliferation may be linked with the cellular metabolic state. In this review …

Editorial: Stromal And Immune Microenvironment In Breast Cancer Metastasis., Xin Lu, Xia Liu, Toni Celià-Terrassa, Guangwen Ren

Faculty Research 2022

No abstract provided.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition Is Protective In Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury., Zachary M Harris, Ying Sun, John Joerns, Brian Clark, Buqu Hu, Asawari Korde, Lokesh Sharma, Hyeon Jun Shin, Edward P Manning, Lindsey Placek, Derya Unutmaz, Gail Stanley, Hyung Chun, Maor Sauler, Govindarajan Rajagopalan, Xuchen Zhang, Min-Jong Kang, Jonathan L Koff

Faculty Research 2022

AIMS: Studies have linked severe hyperoxia, or prolonged exposure to very high oxygen levels, with worse clinical outcomes. This study investigated the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in hyperoxia-induced lung injury at very high oxygen levels (>95%).

RESULTS: Effects of severe hyperoxia (100% oxygen) were studied in mice with genetically inhibited EGFR and wild-type littermates. Despite the established role of EGFR in lung repair, EGFR inhibition led to improved survival and reduced acute lung injury, which prompted an investigation into this protective mechanism. Endothelial EGFR genetic knockout did not confer protection. EGFR inhibition led to decreased levels …

Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic, And Transcriptomic Analysis Of Chronic Levetiracetam Treatment In 5xfad Mice: A Model-Ad Preclinical Testing Core Study, Kristen D. Onos, Sara K. Quinney, David R. Jones, Andrea R. Masters, Ravi S Pandey, Kelly J Keezer, Carla Biesdorf, Ingrid F. Metzger, Jill A. Meyers, Johnathon Peters, Scott C. Persohn, Brian P. Mccarthy, Amanda A. Bedwell, Lucas L. Figueiredo, Zackary A. Cope, Michael Sasner, Gareth R Howell, Harriet M. Jackson, Adrian L. Oblak, Bruce T. Lamb, Gregory W. Carter, Stacey J. Rizzo, Paul R. Territo

Faculty Research 2022

INTRODUCTION: Hyperexcitability and epileptiform activity are commonplace in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and associated with impaired cognitive function. The anti-seizure drug levetiracetam (LEV) is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for ability to reduce epileptiform activity and improve cognitive function in AD. The purpose of our studies was to establish a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship with LEV in an amyloidogenic mouse model of AD to enable predictive preclinical to clinical translation, using the rigorous preclinical testing pipeline of the Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Preclinical Testing Core. METHODS: A multi-tier approach was applied that included quality assurance …

Sport Specialization Participants: Motivating Factors And The Impact On Academic Achievement And Emotional Well-Being During And After High School, Michael Wayne Prichard

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the phenomenon of sport specialization through the vantage points of participants and the parents of participants. Research questions were related to motivating factors, academic performance, and emotional well-being for the specialized athlete. Participants that passed a screening survey that indicated background knowledge on sport specialization, where they or their child only participated in one sport throughout high school, were chosen for the study. A series of semi-structured interviews took place with participants and parents of participants to acquire a deeper knowledge on the dealings with the sport specialization experience. …