Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Fmri In Drug Development: An Update, Owen Carmichael

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain is a technology that holds great potential for increasing the efficiency of drug development for the central nervous system (CNS). In preclinical studies and both early- and late-phase human trials, fMRI has the potential to improve cross-species translation of drug effects, help to de-risk compounds early in development, and contribute to the portfolio of evidence for a compound’s efficacy and mechanism of action. However, to date, the utilization of fMRI in the CNS drug development process has been limited. The purpose of this chapter is to explore this mismatch between potential and …

Aberrant Lipid Accumulation In The Mouse Visceral Yolk Sac Resulting From Maternal Diabetes And Obesity, Man Zhang, J. Michael Salbaum, Sydney Jones, David Burk, Claudia Kappen

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Maternal diabetes and obesity in pregnancy are well-known risk factors for structural birth defects, including neural tube defects and congenital heart defects. Progeny from affected pregnancies are also predisposed to developing cardiometabolic disease in later life. Based upon in vitro embryo cultures of rat embryos, it was postulated that nutrient uptake by the yolk sac is deficient in diabetic pregnancies. In contrast, using two independent mouse models of maternal diabetes, and a high-fat diet-feeding model of maternal obesity, we observed excessive lipid accumulation at 8.5 days in the yolk sac. The numbers as well as sizes of intracellular lipid droplets …

Development And Biological Evaluation Of Selective Small-Molecule Inhibitors Of The Human Cytochrome P450 1b1, Austin Hachey

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The human cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is an emerging target for small- molecule therapeutics. Several solid tumors overexpress CYP1B1 to the degree that it has been referred to as a universal tumor antigen. Conversely, its expression is low in healthy tissues. CYP1B1 may drive tumorigenesis through promoting the formation of reactive toxins from environmental pollutants or from endogenous hormone substrates. Additionally, the expression of CYP1B1 in tumors is associated with resistance to several common chemotherapies and with poor prognoses in cancer patients. However, inhibiting CYP1B1 with small molecules has been demonstrated in cellular and murine model systems to reverse this …

Paper Gowns, Cold Hands, Or Something Else? Black Women's Barriers To Gynecologic Screening, Nadia Ayesha Sesay

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Cervical cancer mortality burden is carried disproportionately by African American women. Early indicators of cervical cancer are identified through prevention screening, a procedure typically performed by a gynecologist. Ideally, the patient group with the most severe mortality would likewise be the group with the most robust communication exchange with their physician to prevent cervical cancer incidence. However, a slew of factors contributes to continued mortalities among Black women. This study uses semi-structured interviews (n=10) and the health belief model to examine one barrier to Black women’s prosocial behaviors regarding routine gynecologic care—awkwardness, which here is conceptualized as social anxiety. The …

Identity And Perception Among Aspec Consumers Of Mass Media, Jericho Franke

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

The portrayals of sex and romance, as well as asexuality and aromanticism, in mass media can have a profound impact on the way asexual and aromantic media consumers view relationships and their own identities, and affect the perception and treatment of the aspec community as a whole. This study uses mixed qualitative methods of online discourse analysis and participant interviews to examine the how mass media has shaped the self-perception and life experiences relating to sex and romance among aspec audience members.

Prayer In A Time Of Pandemic: Loneliness, Liturgy, And Virtual Community, Lois Dubin

Religion: Faculty Books

Book Abstract:

Emet le-Ya‘akov comprises a collection of essays celebrating the career and achievements of Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, who has served the American and international Jewish community with distinction in his roles as a synagogue rabbi, university professor, and public intellectual. These articles, like the honoree, recognize the importance of both history and memory, emphasize the necessity of accuracy in historiography, and do not shy away from inconvenient truths. They are divided into three categories that help frame the discussion around “facing the truths of history”: Textual Traditions, Memory and Making of Meaning, and (Re)Creating a Usable Past. …

Annual Report Hudson, New Hampshire For Year Ending June 30, 2023., Hudson Town Representatives

Hudson, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Full Issue

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

No abstract provided.

A Novel Smarcc1-Mutant Bafopathy Implicates Epigenetic Dysregulation Of Fetal Neural Progenitors In The Pathogenesis Of Congenital Hydrocephalus, Amrita K. Singh

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is a common disorder requiring neurosurgery in children, however its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Recent studies have implicated SMARCC1 as a candidate CH gene but variants have not been conclusively linked with a human syndrome, nor functionally validated in vivo. This study aims to (i) assess the extent of CH risk associated with SMARCC1 variants; (ii) describe associated clinical and radiographic phenotypes; and (iii) assess the pathogenicity and mechanisms of SMARCC1 depletion in a novel animal model of CH. A genetic association study was conducted using whole-exome sequencing from a CH discovery cohort consisting of 492 neurosurgically-treated …

Single Neuronal Firing Dynamics In A Mouse Model For Absence Seizures, Waleed Khan

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

SINGLE NEURONAL FIRING DYNAMICS IN A MOUSE MODEL FOR ABSENCE SEIZURES

Waleed Khan1, Samiksha Chopra1, Xinyuan Zheng2, Shixin Liu1, Marcus Valcarce-Aspegren1, Lim-Anna Sieu1, Sarah Mcgill3, Cian Mccafferty4, Hal Blumenfeld1.1 Department of Neurology, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. 2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. 3 Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. 4 Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Background: Absence seizures are generalized seizures that occur mostly in children and often manifest as staring spells. Absence seizures can often occur hundreds of …

Hyperinsulinemic Lew.1wr1 Rats Develop Insulin Resistance And Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Madushika M. Wimalarathne

Dissertations

The pathophysiological causes of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development are not fully understood but are often associated with hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and ectopic lipid accumulation. A subpopulation of type 1 diabetes patients develops the pathophysiological parameters to be termed “double diabetes,” which is associated with NASH. The objective of this work was to identify metabolic features of double diabetes and assess if LEW.1WR1 rats develop NASH. I assessed pathophysiologically relevant protein changes using proteomics and western blotting. I found that 17-week-old LEW.1WR1 rats showed protein changes related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to NASH. We tested a second population …

Factors That Predict Weight Loss Success Differ By Diet Intervention Type, Jordan Losavio, Michael J. Keenan, Elizabeth A. Gollub, Heidi J. Silver

Faculty Publications

Background: Many types of diet intervention can achieve negative energy balance and successful weight loss in persons with obesity. However, within any dietary strategy, there is large inter-individual variation in the weight loss response. The aim of this study is to determine factors that predict weight loss success for diet interventions that vary by macronutrient and caloric composition. Methods: Participants with BMI 30.0 to 49.9 kg/m2 self-selected one of three diet intervention trials for weight loss: low carbohydrate (LOW CHO), low fat (LOW FAT), or low calorie (LOW KCAL). Multivariable regression models were developed to determine the significance of predictor …

Effect Of Storage Temperature And Produce Type On The Survival Or Growth Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Peeled Rinds And Fresh-Cut Produce, Juan Moreira, Erika Mera, Vijay Singh Chhetri, Joan M. King, Thanos Gentimis, Achyut Adhikari

Faculty Publications

Whole and fresh-cut produce are minimally processed and susceptible to microbial contamination. This study evaluated the survival or growth of L. monocytogenes on peeled rinds, and fresh-cut produce at different storage temperatures. Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, including cantaloupe, watermelon, pear, papaya, pineapple, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, bell pepper, and kale (25 g pieces) were spot inoculated with 4 log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes and stored at 4 or 13°C for 6 days. Cantaloupe and bell pepper rind disks (20 cm2), mimicking whole produce were inoculated with low inoculum level (4 log CFU/mL) and high inoculum level (6 log CFU/mL) and stored …

Challenges In The Combination Of Radiotherapy And Immunotherapy For Breast Cancer, Rui Zhang, Samantha D. Clark, Beibei Guo, Tianyi Zhang, Duane Jeansonne, Samithamby J. Jeyaseelan, Joseph Francis, Weishan Huang

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Immunotherapy (IT) is showing promise in the treatment of breast cancer, but IT alone only benefits a minority of patients. Radiotherapy (RT) is usually included in the standard of care for breast cancer patients and is traditionally considered as a local form of treatment. The emerging knowledge of RT-induced systemic immune response, and the observation that the rare abscopal effect of RT on distant cancer metastases can be augmented by IT, have increased the enthusiasm for combinatorial immunoradiotherapy (IRT) for breast cancer patients. However, IRT largely follows the traditional sole RT and IT protocols and does not consider patient …

Targeting The Aspergillus Flavus P2c Gene Through Host-Induced Gene Silencing Reduces A. Flavus Infection And Aflatoxin Contamination In Transgenic Maize, Yenjit Raruang, Olanike Omolehin, Dongfang Hu, Qijian Wei, Surassawadee Promyou, Lidiya J. Parekattil, Kanniah Rajasekaran, Jeffrey W. Cary, Kan Wang, Zhi Yuan Chen

Faculty Publications

Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that infects maize and produces aflatoxins. Using biocontrol or developing resistant cultivars to reduce aflatoxin contamination has only achieved limited success. Here, the A. flavus polygalacturonase gene (p2c) was targeted for suppression through host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize. An RNAi vector carrying a portion of the p2c gene was constructed and transformed into maize B104. Thirteen out of fifteen independent transformation events were confirmed to contain p2c. The T2 generation kernels containing the p2c transgene had less aflatoxin than those without the transgene in six out of eleven …

The Nitrogen-Dependent Gaba Pathway Of Tomato Provides Resistance To A Globally Invasive Fruit Fly, Hao Li, Yuan Zhang, Hu Li, Gadi V. P. Reddy, Zhihong Li, Fajun Chen, Yucheng Sun, Zihua Zhao

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The primary metabolism of plants, which is mediated by nitrogen, is closely related to the defense response to insect herbivores. Methods: An experimental system was established to examine how nitrogen mediated tomato resistance to an insect herbivore, the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). All tomatoes were randomly assigned to the suitable nitrogen (control, CK) treatment, nitrogen excess (NE) treatment and nitrogen deficiency (ND) treatment. Results: We found that nitrogen excess significantly increased the aboveground biomass of tomato and increased the pupal biomass of B. dorsalis. Metabolome analysis showed that nitrogen excess promoted the biosynthesis of amino acids in healthy …

Invasiveness, Biology, Ecology, And Management Of The Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda, Marc Kenis, Giovanni Benelli, Antonio Biondi, Paul André Calatayud, Roger Day, Nicolas Desneux, Rhett D. Harrison, Darren Kriticos, Ivan Rwomushana, Johnnie Van Den Berg, François Verheggen, Yong Jun Zhang, Lakpo Koku Agboyi, Régis Besmer Ahissou, Malick N. Ba, Julio Bernal, Adeney Freitas De Bueno, Yves Carrière, Geraldo Andrade Carvalho, Xue Xin Chen, Lizette Cicero, Hannalene Du Plessis, Regan Early, Patrick Fallet, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Dnyaneshwar M. Firake, Georg Goergen, Astrid T. Groot, Raul N.C. Guedes, Ankita Gupta, Gao Hu, F. N. Huang, Lara R. Jaber

Faculty Publications

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith, 1797), is a serious pest of several crops, particularly maize and other cereals. It has long been known as a pest in the Americas and has invaded most of Africa and parts of the Middle East, Asia, and Australia in the last six years. Its new status as an invasive species causing serious damage in many regions worldwide has highlighted the need for better understanding and has generated much research. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of FAW covering its (i) taxonomy, biology, ecology, genomics, and microbiome, (ii) worldwide status …

Leaves Of Grass, Meg Groeling

Civil War Book Review

"Walt Whitman hoped his small, green, unassuming chapbook Leaves of Grass would set the poetic and literary world on fire, but there was, initially, nothing but a spark and then a fizzle. Reviews suggested that Whitman be sent to an insane asylum and that the book itself was “intensely vulgar, nay, absolutely beastly.” Even in 2023, there are divergent opinions concerning the literary worth of Whitman’s masterpiece. But how was it received in 1855?"

The Impact Of Increasing Dietary Levels Of Hybrid Rye On Growing-Finishing Pig Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Meat Quality, Caitlyn Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of increasing dietary levels of hybrid rye on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and product quality of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 2,400 barrows and gilts (FAST x PIC 800, initial wt. 44.9 kg) were utilized, as pigs were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments. Diets were corn-soybean based and hybrid rye replaced corn at 0, 40, 70, or 100%. All diets were formulated to meet or exceed the 2012 NRC requirements for all nutrients and fed through a five-phase feeding program (44.9 to 125 kg, respectively). Pigs …

Feeding Strategies To Improve Gastrointestinal Health And Growth Performance Of Confinement Fed Ruminants, Forest Laine Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how feed additives, orally administered direct fed microbials, and dietary management strategies may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health and growth performance of confinement fed ruminants. Four studies were conducted using confinement fed steers (n = 3) and wether lambs (n = 1) to determine the effects of the products and management strategies used. The first study was conducted on finishing steers to investigate the effects of increasing doses of an encapsulated butyric acid and zinc supplement (BZ) on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal health. …

Genome-Wide Association Studies And Advanced Genomic Selection Strategies: Towards The Optimization Of Oat (Avena Sativa L) Breeding, Girma Ayana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oats are important cereal crops worldwide, primarily valued for their nutritional and health benefits. The primary goal of oat breeding programs is to accelerate genetic gain to develop oat varieties with the desired product profiles, with the aim of meeting the needs and expectations of growers, processors, and consumers. Achieving this goal involves conducting extensive and resource-intensive field trials, particularly for traits such as crop yield and grain quality, which are strongly influenced by environmental factors. The availability of cost-effective molecular markers and tools like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection have the potential to accelerate the oat breeding …

5 Poems, Rebecca Ruth Gould

Comparative Woman

These poems examine the challenges facing the woman creator, and focus in particular on the problem of the muse, and how this relates to the feminist reconceptualization of traditional notions of gender and sexuality. As part of this broader poetic inquiry, I also challenge traditional notions of monogamy and heterosexual desire.

Develop Biochar-Based Control Release Nitogen Fertilizers Using Biodegradable Polypropylene, Abdulkarim Aldekhail

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable key nutrient for crop plant growth, health, and yield, which significantly affects crop productivity. N fertilizers are wildly utilized in agriculture. Managing N application stands as a necessity to achieve optimal crop yield. Urea is one of the most common N fertilizers in agricultural practices due to its high N content and cost-effectiveness. Due to its commercial scale, feasibility, and reliability, it is demonstrating potential as a medium to improve agricultural sustainability. However, economic challenges, and environmental pollution remain as setbacks. This research focuses on selecting cost-effective and environmentally friendly coating materials for the fabrication …

Extraction, Characterization, And Utilization Of Yellow Pea Starch, Abdulmalik Albu Tuwaybah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dry peas, a leguminous crop, are one of the world's oldest crops, accounting for 35–40% of total pulse trade. Pea starch is an inexpensive source of starch since it can be obtained as a by-product of protein extraction. Recovering the starch from protein isolation streams (i.e., before or after) improves the environmental impact of the protein isolation process. The goal of the study was to transform low-value pea starch into highvalue starch through starch extraction and food application. Two methods of starch extraction were used (47.5% ethanol treatment and SC CO2 + EtOH extraction). Starch samples were analyzed for chemical, …

Quantitative Change Analysis Of Undisturbed Lands In Eastern South Dakota: 2012-2021, Riley W. Wollschlager

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The actual rate of loss of undisturbed prairie and woodland in eastern South Dakota is unknown, and the landscape composition of the region continues to change. Undisturbed land is land with no proven prior cropping or other disturbance history. Agriculture, development, recreation, and other land use practices create disturbances resulting in the further conversion of undisturbed prairies and woodlands. Previous work by South Dakota State University (SDSU) quantified the remaining undisturbed land in eastern South Dakota as of 2012 (Bauman et al 2016). Farm Service Agency (FSA) common land unit (CLU) and National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery were the …

Impact Of Virtual Fence Technology On Yearling Steer Behavior, Performance, And Energetic Expenditure, Logan Riley Vandermark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Beef cattle production in the U.S. is largely dependent upon extensive rangelands like the Northern Great Plains. Solutions are needed to meet both the demand of animal-based protein products for a growing world population and the desire for producers to manage for several different ecosystem functions. Virtual fencing (VF) is an emerging precision technology that has the potential to revolutionize livestock management on extensive rangeland systems. However, the need to quantify animal behavior and performance differences using emerging precision technologies, like VenceTM, is ever growing. Thus, the objective of this research was to determine the impact of virtual fencing on …

Kinship Poems, K. Avvirin Gray

Comparative Woman

In the appended collection of three poems, canopied under the title, ”Kinship Poems” I explore the possibilities for and practice of kinship between Native and African American women. In my first poem, ”Auntie,” a prose poem, I center non-sanguineous kinship affiliation in the decolonial project. In my final poem, I give equal consideration to biological kinship, by staging a speaker’s direct address to her unborn child.

Magpies, Bridge And Goddess: Unearthing The Hidden Symbols And Rediscovering The Lost Goddess In Chinese Qiqiao Festival, Juan Wu

Comparative Woman

The Qiqiao Festival, also known as the Qixi Festival, or Chinese valentine’s day, is a festival celebrating the annual meeting of the Cowherd and Weaver Maid in mythology. The most influential version focuses on the romance or love theme; however, it ignores its underlying historical context, gender tension and mythical belief. This paper takes the texts, rituals and materials related to the Qiqiao festival to investigate its origin and evolution. First, it takes the anthological case of the Qiqiao festival in Xihe county to explore its core image of the holy bridge and Goddess Qiao. Second, it traces the bridge …

Civil War Treasures: "Louis Kossuth And The Unwinnable Dilemma Of Slavery", Hans Rasmussen

Civil War Book Review

Hans Rasmussen uses archival material from LSU Library's special collections to examine how and why nineteenth-century-Americans celebrated Louis Kossuth, an anti-Russian-imperialism activist, and how their behavior resembles pro-Volodymyr Zelensky sentiment today.

Louisiana Agriculture Magazine, Winter 2023

Louisiana Agriculture

Agricultural best management practices are measures that producers can take to reduce — or eliminate — farming byproducts that enter streams and groundwater. Many of these practices address fertilizer and irrigation management and the handling of pesticides and animal waste. LSU AgCenter research has helped establish these practices, and extension agents assist producers in implementing them.

This issue of Louisiana Agriculture highlights the best management practices for many of the state’s most production areas. Aquaculture specialists detail how crawfish farms can save money while meeting best management practices, and sugarcane experts tell how the AgCenter is developing new varieties to …