Digital Commons Network^™

Engineered Cord Blood Megakaryocytes Evade Killing By Allogeneic T-Cells For Refractory Thrombocytopenia, Bijender Kumar, Vahid Afshar-Kharghan, Mayela Mendt, Robert Sackstein, Mark R Tanner, Uday Popat, Jeremy Ramdial, May Daher, Juan Jimenez, Rafet Basar, Luciana Melo Garcia, Mayra Shanley, Mecit Kaplan, Xinhai Wan, Vandana Nandivada, Francia Reyes Silva, Vernikka Woods, April Gilbert, Ricardo Gonzalez-Delgado, Sunil Acharya, Paul Lin, Hind Rafei, Pinaki Prosad Banerjee, Elizabeth J Shpall

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The current global platelet supply is often insufficient to meet all the transfusion needs of patients, in particular for those with alloimmune thrombocytopenia. To address this issue, we have developed a strategy employing a combination of approaches to achieve more efficient production of functional megakaryocytes (MKs) and platelets collected from cord blood (CB)-derived CD34+ hematopoietic cells. This strategy is based on ex-vivo expansion and differentiation of MKs in the presence of bone marrow niche-mimicking mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), together with two other key components: (1) To enhance MK polyploidization, we used the potent pharmacological Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, KD045, …

Analyse Du Travail Des Premiers Répondants En Gestion De Crise Pandémique : Maximiser La Performance Et La Résilience, Sébastien Tremblay, Marie-Eve Drouin, Isabelle Turcotte, Fanny Audet Paradis, Gabrielle Côté, Jean-Michel Lavertu

États de la question, rapports d’expertise et revues de littérature

En ces temps de crise pandémique, les intervenants de première ligne se trouvent en situation de vulnérabilité accrue, alors que leurs interventions se diversifient et se complexifient. L’arrivée soudaine de la pandémie de COVID-19 a ajouté une certaine incertitude exacerbée par les fréquentes mises à jour des lignes directrices, des procédures et des protocoles dans un contexte d’intervention déjà critique où les temps de décision et de réaction sont limités. Se retrouvant au front de cette crise sanitaire, ces travailleurs sont donc plus susceptibles d’en ressentir les effets.

Ce projet de recherche a permis d’analyser le travail de ces intervenants, …

Seasonal Factors Affecting Sea Turtle Nesting In The Southeastern Caribbean Sea (Gulf Of Paria, Venezuela), Clemente Balladares, Digna T. Rueda-Roa, Diego Rodríguez, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Hector Barrios-Garrido

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The nesting characteristics (number of nests and eggs, time of year, nesting initiation, and nesting length) of leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles of the southern Caribbean Sea (specifically in the Gulf of Paria in Venezuela), were examined in association with weekly precipitation averages and number of rainy days per week during the period between 2009 and 2018. We hypothesized about the influence of rainfall intensity and patterns as the main abiotic factor for sea turtle nesting. On average, leatherbacks preferred nesting during the drier season of each year (March, April, and May), …

An Investigation Of Teenagers’ Advertising Literacy In The Context Of The Brand-Rich Environment Of Social Media, Emma Sweeney

Doctoral

Teenagers are avid consumers of social media and consequently, constitute attractive target audiences for marketers. On social media, advertising can be integrated into content such as YouTube videos and Instagram posts which means the boundary between commercial content (the advertisement) and non-commercial content (e.g., the video in which the ad appears) becomes increasingly blurred. Therefore, in this context, the consumer must be able to navigate a minefield of overt and covert advertising that is disseminated by a range of sources, including brands and social media influencers. A resulting concern for academics, parents and policy makers alike relates to young people’s …

Constructing The Social In The Fiscal: A Discourse Analysis Of Irish Budget Speeches (1970-2015), Ewan Alexander Macdonald

Doctoral

Budget speeches are important discursive institutional practices in which fiscal and monetary policy are presented to parliaments on an annual basis. The issue of ideology and the contingent nature of discourse is rarely considered with budgets delivered in specific policy contexts presented as pragmatic truth statements unhindered by the distorting lens of ideology. Employing contributions from post-structural discourse theory, dialogism, critical realism and corpus linguistics this thesis addresses three research questions: what discourses are employed in Irish budget speeches from 1970 to 2015? How are these discourses structured? How are social imaginaries and subject positions constructed through these discourses? Methods …

Coping Strategies And Life Satisfaction Among Romanian Emerging Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Delia Ștefenel, Jose-Michael Gonzalez, Silviu Rogobete, Raluca Sassu

Psychology Faculty Publications

The aim of the present study was to understand coping mechanisms among Romanian youth in their response to institutional COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Data were collected from emerging adults (N = 214), aged 18–29, enrolled in various fields of study throughout a public university in Romania. Adopted versions of the Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences Scale (Brief-COPE, Carver, 1997) and Satisfaction with Life Scales (SLWS, Diener et al., 1985) were administered to explore the impact of the specific social distancing and isolation enforced pandemic restrictions. Findings elucidate the response styles, impact of coping skills, and strategies employed by students toward their …

A Comparative Test Of Creative Thinking In Preschool Children And Dolphins, Dawn Melzer, Deirdre Yeater, Madison Bradley, Heather M. Hill, Gonzalo Guerra, Kimberly Salazar, Teresa Bolton, Kathleen M. Dudzinski

Psychology Faculty Publications

Creativity is considered one aspect of intelligence. Including creativity allows for more room for expression (e.g., participants can respond with movement instead of written or verbal responses) than in standard intelligence assessments. The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT; Torrance, 1974) are the leading method of assessing creative abilities in school-aged humans and above. To assess creativity in young humans and nonhuman animals, modifications must be made to facilitate nonverbal responses. In the current study, a cross-species comparison was conducted between preschoolers and bottlenose dolphins to examine responses to a modified creativity task in which both species were trained to …

Consumer Reactions To Alcohol Advertising Health Warnings In Ireland: An Experimental Research Study, Vania Filipova

Doctoral

Introduction and Aims As part of several measures to inform consumers about the health risks of alcohol and reduce alcohol consumption, the Irish Government signed into law the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, with Section 13 requiring the implementation of multiple health warnings in all alcohol ads. While health warnings on product labels have been subject to intensive political discussion and academic research, health warnings in alcohol ads have received little attention and empirical support. This doctoral dissertation investigates whether health warnings in alcohol ads can promote cognitive and affective reactions in consumers. Furthermore, this thesis also examines whether the …

Aneuploidy And Sex Concordance Rate Between Cell-Free Dna Analysis From Spent Culture Media Of Preimplantation Embryo And Dna From Whole Embryo With Respect To Different Morphological Grading, Hiroki Sonehara, Ryoya Matsumoto, Naoki Nakayama, Masato Kobanawa, Koki Numata, Akiko Kawasaki, Makio Shozu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: The aneuploidy and sex concordance between cell-free DNA in spent culture media (SCM) and DNA from whole embryo with respect to different morphological grading were examined to evaluate the feasibility of non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A).

METHODS: A total of 46 pairs of embryos and corresponding SCM were divided into two groups based on the morphological grade. DNA was extracted from 22 and 24 pairs of low- and high-grade embryos, respectively, and respective SCM followed by chromosomal analysis using next-generation sequencing. Aneuploidy study and sex determination were conducted for both groups, and concordance rates were calculated.

RESULTS: …

Invasive Haemophilus Influenza Type B In An Infant During The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Return Of Diseases We Hoped Never To See Again…, Christy Tabarani, Stephen A Fletcher, Gloria P Heresi, Susan H Wootton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Regenerative Medicine Technologies Applied To Transplant Medicine An Update, Astgik Petrosyan, Filippo Montali, Andrea Peloso, Antonio Citro, Lori N Byers, Catherine La Pointe, Mara Suleiman, Alice Marchetti, Eoin P Mcneill, Allison L Speer, Wai Hoe Ng, Xi Ren, Benedetta Bussolati, Laura Perin, Paolo Di Nardo, Vincenzo Cardinale, Jerome Duisit, Alexandra Rose Monetti, John Richard Savino, Amish Asthana, Giuseppe Orlando

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Regenerative medicine (RM) is changing how we think and practice transplant medicine. In regenerative medicine, the aim is to develop and employ methods to regenerate, restore or replace damaged/diseased tissues or organs. Regenerative medicine investigates using tools such as novel technologies or techniques, extracellular vesicles, cell-based therapies, and tissue-engineered constructs to design effective patient-specific treatments. This review illustrates current advancements in regenerative medicine that may pertain to transplant medicine. We highlight progress made and various tools designed and employed specifically for each tissue or organ, such as the kidney, heart, liver, lung, vasculature, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas. By combing both …

Case Report: Novel Pathogenic Variant In Nfix In Two Sisters With Malan Syndrome Due To Germline Mosaicism, Elizabeth Langley, Laura S Farach, Kate Mowrey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Malan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in NFIX with less than 100 cases reported thus far. NFIX is important for stem cell proliferation, quiescence, and differentiation during development and its protein plays a role in replication, signal transduction, and transcription. As a result of pathogenic variants, symptoms of Malan syndrome include overgrowth, intellectual disability, speech delay, and dysmorphic features. Currently, the recurrence risk for this disorder is indicated at less than 1%, standard for de novo autosomal dominant disorders. Herein, we report an additional set of sisters with the same novel pathogenic variant in NFIX …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Nationwide Pediatric Otolaryngology Practice: Adenotonsillectomies (Ta) And Tonsil-Related Diagnoses Trends, David Z Allen, Sai Challapalli, Kyung Hyun Lee, Cynthia S Bell, Soham Roy, Sarah Bowe, Karthik Balakrishnan, C W David Chang, Zhen Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Adenotonsillectomies (TA), Tonsil Related Cases (TC), and Peritonsillar Abscess (PTA) Trends.

Study design: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System® (PHIS) database, which consists of 51 children's hospitals. Regions were defined according to PHIS rules with at least five children's hospitals per region. We compared monthly total TA, TC, TC as a proportion of all hospital visits, and PTA from all encounters at each hospital from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021.

Results: Compared to 2019, April 2020 saw mean …

The Psychological Impact Of The Covid-19 Outbreak On Pregnancy And Mother-Infant Prenatal Bonding, Muhammad O Awiwi, Khaled M Elsayes, Yehia I Mohamed, Lina Altameemi, Migena Gjoni, Omayr Muhammad Irshad, Ahmed Sayed Ahmed, Ahmad O Kaseb, Usama Salem

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic clinical and radiologic features in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical and imaging records of patients with unresectable HCC were retrospectively reviewed, and baseline features were recorded. Patients' records and imaging studies were used to determine the patients' overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine prognostic features. Subanalyses of treatment-naïve patients (who never received local or systemic therapy) and previously treated patients were also performed.

RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were included in the final analysis, 23 (41.8%) of whom were …

Impairment Of Autophagy After Spinal Cord Injury Potentiates Neuroinflammation And Motor Function Deficit In Mice, Yun Li, Zhuofan Lei, Rodney M Ritzel, Junyun He, Hui Li, Harry M C Choi, Marta M Lipinski, Junfang Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Autophagy is a catabolic process that degrades cytoplasmic constituents and organelles in the lysosome, thus serving an important role in cellular homeostasis and protection against insults. We previously reported that defects in autophagy contribute to neuronal cell damage in traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent data from other inflammatory models implicate autophagy in regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, with low levels of autophagic flux associated with pro-inflammatory phenotypes. In the present study, we examined the effects of genetically or pharmacologically manipulating autophagy on posttraumatic neuroinflammation and motor function after SCI in mice.

Methods: Young adult male C57BL/6, CX3CR1-GFP, autophagy …

A Haplotype Resolved Chromosomal Level Avocado Genome Allows Analysis Of Novel Avocado Genes, Onkar Nath, Stephen J Fletcher, Alice Hayward, Lindsay M Shaw, Ardashir Kharabian Masouleh, Agnelo Furtado, Robert J Henry, Neena Mitter

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Avocado (Persea americana) is a member of the magnoliids, an early branching lineage of angiosperms that has high value globally with the fruit being highly nutritious. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly for the commercial avocado cultivar Hass, which represents 80% of the world’s avocado consumption. The DNA contigs produced from Pacific Biosciences HiFi reads were further assembled using a previously published version of the genome supported by a genetic map. The total assembly was 913 Mb with a contig N50 of 84 Mb. Contigs assigned to the 12 chromosomes represented 874 Mb and covered 98.8% of …

Single-Cell And Single-Nuclei Rna Sequencing As Powerful Tools To Decipher Cellular Heterogeneity And Dysregulation In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Raquel Cuevas-Diaz Duran, Juan Carlos González-Orozco, Iván Velasco, Jia Qian Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide and there are currently no cures. Two types of common neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq) have become powerful tools to elucidate the inherent complexity and dynamics of the central nervous system at cellular resolution. This technology has allowed the identification of cell types and states, providing new insights into cellular susceptibilities and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative conditions. Exciting research using high throughput scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq technologies to study AD and PD is emerging. Herein we review the recent progress in understanding …

God Poezii 2022, Victor Fet

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Fet, V. (ed.). God poezii 2022 [Year of Poetry 2022]. Kyiv: Drukarskii dvir Oleha Fedorova. 2022. 656 p.

Year of Poetry 2022 brought together around 90 authors of different generations from various countries who continue to write in Russian beyond the borders of the crumbling empire. We are proud that this book is being published in Kyiv. Whatever we write about, the hearts and poems of those who cannot remain silent are with fighting Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!

Год поэзии 2022. (Сост. В. Фет). Київ: Друкарський двiр Олега Федорова. 2022. 656 c …

Perishable Goods Versus Re-Tradable Assets: A Theoretical Reappraisal Of A Fundamental Dichotomy, Sabiou M. Inoua, Vernon L. Smith

ESI Working Papers

Although various typologies of goods are commonly adopted in economics, one stood out in market experiment results contrasting market stability and efficiency with market instability: non-durable, or perishable, goods (Smith, 1962) versus durable re-tradable assets (Smith et al., 1988; Dickhaut et al., 2012; S. D. Gjerstad et al., 2015). This dichotomy of goods also proved central for understanding macroeconomic instability more broadly: about 75% of consumer spending is bought for final consumption, and is a rock of stability; instability arises from the other 25% re-tradable goods, most prominently, houses (S. D. Gjerstad & Smith, 2014). In this chapter, we revisit …

Mechanisms And Treatment Of Pain-Depressed Behavior In Male And Female Mice, Clare M. Diester

Theses and Dissertations

One of the largest discrepancies between preclinical and clinical assessment of pain and analgesia is the type of behavioral endpoint used. Although most preclinical research has historically focused on drug effectiveness to block reflexive withdrawal behaviors stimulated by a noxious stimulus, increasing evidence shows that drug-induced restoration of pain-depressed behaviors provides increased clinical translation with decreased susceptibility to false-positives. Accordingly, the first portion of this dissertation designed a behavioral battery that featured pain-depressed behaviors as well as more conventional pain-stimulated behaviors for testing candidate analgesics in male and female mice. The main findings are as follows. (1) Intraperitoneal injection of …

The Experiences Of Religiously And Spiritually Diverse Counselors And Psychotherapists Who Work With Survivors Of Sexual Violence, John M. Waters

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of religiously and spiritually diverse counselors and psychotherapists who work with survivors of sexual violence. The researcher used a transcendental phenomenological approach to understand how the participants engaged their religious and/or spiritual identity to cope with the traumatic stress that accompanies continuous exposure to their clients’ trauma narratives over time. As the only study that has examined these phenomena qualitatively, the present study aimed to enhance counselors and counselor educators’ understanding of the ways that religiously and spiritually diverse counselors make meaning of their experiences. The researcher collected …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Child Anxiety Symptoms: The Influence Of The Caregiver-Child Relationship, Rebecca Hoppe

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that youth are dealing with a myriad of worries during the COVID-19 pandemic (Ellis et al., 2020), which highlights the need for investigations focused on child anxiety. However, to date little research has examined children’s anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic nor the potential protective effects of the caregiver-child relationship. Therefore, this research aimed to contribute to the literature by investigating the influence of COVID-19 related stressors in younger children and leveraging children’s report of their own attachment security within their relationship with their caregiver and mental health. The current study used a national, quantitative survey of young children …

Generation 1.5 Students’ Academic Success: The Interrelationship Between Capital Used And Identity Formation, Susan D. Dudley

Theses and Dissertations

As the number of people immigrating to the United States increases, so does the number of generation 1.5 students in K-12 education (Kanno & Cromley, 2013). With more generation 1.5 students graduating from U.S. high schools, more are also matriculating into higher education institutions (Harklau & Siegal, 2009; Kanno & Cromley, 2013; Kanno & Harklau, 2012; Roberge, 2009). While some generation 1.5 students are successful in U.S. higher education, others are not, and the percentage of generation 1.5 students who are successful is disproportionately less than the percentage of those students who have a U.S. heritage culture (Kanno & Harklau, …

Dna Condensation State Regulates Nuclear Lamina Strain And Cellular Adaptation To Physiological Forces, Brooke E. Danielsson

Theses and Dissertations

The nucleus is the largest and stiffest organelle and is exposed to mechanical forces transmitted through the cytoskeleton from outside the cell, as well as from forces generation within the cell. In recent years, the nucleus has been proposed to act as a cellular mechanosensor, with changes to nuclear shape and architecture playing an important role in how the cell responds to physiological forces. Aberrant forms of the nuclear envelope protein lamin A/C, as well as epigenetic modifications to chromatin, has been shown to modify nuclear stiffness and viscosity, therefore effecting nuclear mechanics and mechanotransduction. Altered nuclear mechanics is associated …

Development And Validation Of A Volunteer Adult Literacy Tutor Perception Feedback Scale, Robert Craig

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory study developed and validated a Volunteer Adult Literacy Tutor Perception Feedback Scale (VALTPFS). The VALTPFS is a self-report questionnaire that measures the perceptions of one-on-one adult literacy tutors about their values, knowledge sharing, and satisfaction. This instrument is designed to assess the perceptions of adults who volunteer to provide literacy instruction to tutees who are U.S. born native English language speaking adults. The theoretical framework used to inform the development of the VALTPFS is the community of practice (CoP). The CoP framework was used to identify subscales from instruments with established psychometric credentials to operationalize the VALTPFS. As …

Therapeutic Approaches For Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Franck J. Kamga Gninzeko

Theses and Dissertations

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is characterized by shortness of breath and low oxygen levels. RDS affects the neonatal and adult populations. In the neonatal population, RDS can be classified as NRDS (Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome), while in adults, it is known as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). This dissertation examines a therapeutic approach to NRDS and a mechanistic approach to ARDS with in vivo and in vitro models of lung injury. NRDS is characterized by a deficiency or lack of surfactant. Surfactant is an essential compound composed of phospholipids and proteins to prevent the lungs from collapsing. There are several …

Race, Weight, Gender And The Embodied (Odied, Odied) Consciousness Of Big-Bodied Black Women Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Kendra D. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Big-Bodied Black women in the United States have perpetually navigated the veritable dichotomy of being hyper-visible and invisible (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2003; Fleetwood, 2001; Strings, 2019). Fat Black female bodies have borne the burden of exaggerated tropes and exploitation throughout history, stripping them of their femininity and humanity and resulting in a unique form of objectification (Strings, 2019). Inconsistent messages about BBWs, their bodies, and their value in society have endured for generations. They have been essential in constructing the controlling images of Black womanhood in the U.S. (Collins, 2000). The controlling images all evoked thoughts about the suitability of Black women …

Effect Of Clear Aligner Attachment Design On Extrusion Of Maxillary Lateral Incisors: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Justin Groody

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The aims of this randomized clinical trial were to compare the efficacy of extrusion of maxillary lateral incisors among “optimized”, rectangular “horizontal”, rectangular horizontal “incisally beveled”, rectangular horizontal “gingivally beveled” attachments, and to provide a clinically relevant recommendation for attachment planning for extrusion of maxillary lateral incisors during aligner treatment.

Methods: 30 16-to-58 year old Invisalign patients and 56 maxillary lateral incisors requiring extrusion were randomly allocated to one of four attachment groups (optimized, horizontal, incisally beveled, and gingivally beveled). Participants were recruited from two private practice offices and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. The outcome assessor …

Culturally Relevant Coping Strategies Within Bicultural Latine College Students In The Face Of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment And Policy, Cindy M. Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Despite their protective potential against anti-immigrant sentiment and policy, the connections between bicultural identity development and culturally relevant coping among temporarily documented Latinx college students remain unstudied. Therefore, this study (a) describes culturally relevant coping strategies used by bicultural Latinx college students, (b) examines the role cultural identity plays in bicultural Latinx college students’ coping strategies, and (c) illuminates the role institutional level systems play in liminally-documented college students’ coping with anti-immigrant sentiment and policy. Participants in this study included 16 Latine college students (M_age = 21.19, SD = 3.21) with DACA (n = 14) or TPS (n = …

Less Water, More Holy: Tools For Sustainable Ablution, Faheem Khan

Theses and Dissertations

Prayer is an important part of life for many people, whether it takes the form of meditation or talking to God. Muslims pray five times a day, and before each prayer, they first clean themselves by performing ritual ablution (wudu). The eight-step purification process of wudu cleanses the body from head to toe. The Hadiths of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim tell us the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ needed just one mudd of water (650ml) to complete wudu, but most people consume many times that amount—four-to-seven liters is more common today.

To visualize and better understand the nature …