Digital Commons Network^™

Cholesterol In Class C Gpcrs: Role, Relevance, And Localization, Ugochi H. Isu, Shadi A. Badiee, Ehsaneh Khodadadi, Mahmoud Moradi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), one of the largest superfamilies of cell-surface receptors, are heptahelical integral membrane proteins that play critical roles in virtually every organ system. G-protein-coupled receptors operate in membranes rich in cholesterol, with an imbalance in cholesterol level within the vicinity of GPCR transmembrane domains affecting the structure and/or function of many GPCRs, a phenomenon that has been linked to several diseases. These effects of cholesterol could result in indirect changes by altering the mechanical properties of the lipid environment or direct changes by binding to specific sites on the protein. There are a number of studies and …

Using The I3 Model To Understand Overeating, Kenneth Herbst, Mark Peterson, Suman Saha

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This paper uses a conceptual framework, the I³ Model (pronounced the ‘I-Cubed Model’), for understanding the influence of external and internal factors on eating behavior. According to the I³ Model (Instigation, Impellance and Inhibition), three processes can explain how overeating can occur. This paper provides support for the I³ Model through a field experiment and two laboratory experiments. The I³ Model sheds light on the nature of overeating when a perfect storm arises in which instigation and impellance are strong and inhibition is weak. The identification of this perfect-storm condition suggests that …

Early Introduction Of 3d Modeling Modules Promotes The Development Of Simulation Skills In Downstream Biomedical Engineering Curricula, Mary S. Jia, Raj R. Rao, Mostafa Elsaadany

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Recent advancements in additive manufacturing have made 3D design a desirable skill in combating the historically slow development of biomedical products. Due to the broad applicability of additive manufacturing to biomedical engineering, 3D design and 3D printing are attractive educational tools for biomedical engineering students. However, due to the multidisciplinary nature of biomedical engineering, finding a suitable spot in the curriculum to teach students basic and application-based skills for 3D manufacturing is difficult. Furthermore, prior training in fundamental 3D design skills may be needed to support the use of application-based supplementary content.

Results

We designed a SolidWorks Simulations toolkit …

His Ship Has Sailed--Expelling Columbus From Cultural Heritage Law, Emily Behzadi

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Latin America is a region rich with cultural heritage that existed for centuries before its antiquities were looted, trafficked, and sold on the international market. The language used to classify these objects of cultural heritage has been a tool of oppression and erasure. In reference to those objects of historical importance, auction houses, dealers, museums, and even looters themselves consistently use the term “Pre- Columbian.” “Pre-Columbian,” which means “before Columbus,” defines the historical period prior to the establishment of the Spanish culture in the national territories of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean islands. In fact, this definition …

Aadhaar: India’S National Identification System And Consent-Based Privacy Rights, Anvitha S. Yalavarthy

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

India’s national identification program, Aadhaar, created the largest national biometric database in the world. While the program is touted as voluntary, the increasing dependence on it, and the laws surrounding it, make it de facto mandatory. This Note examines the social and legal landscapes surrounding the Aadhaar program along with the principles of data privacy and biometric data collection in the European Union and the United States to show how those principles can and should apply to the Aadhaar system.

This Note suggests that the way to strengthen the Aadhaar system’s privacy regime is by balancing the principles of necessity …

Disruption Of Gcn2 Pathway Aggravates Vascular And Parenchymal Remodeling During Pulmonary Fibrosis, Diana Santos-Ribeiro, Marylène Lecocq, Michèle De Beukelaer, Stijn Verleden, Caroline Bouzin, Jérôme Ambroise, Peter Dorfmuller, Yousef Yakoub, François Huaux, Rozenn Quarck, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Maria-Rosa Ghigna, Juliette Bignard, Sophie Nadaud, Florent Soubrier, Sandrine Horman, Frederic Perros, Laurent Godinas, Charles Pilette

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are chronic diseases of the pulmonary parenchyma and circulation, respectively, which may coexist, but underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Mutations in the GCN2 (general control nonderepressible 2) gene (EIF2AK4 [eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 4]) were recently associated with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. The aim of this study is to explore the involvement of the GCN2/eIF2α (eukaryotic initiation factor 2α) pathway in the development of PH during PF, in both human disease and in a laboratory animal model. Lung tissue from patients with PF with or without PH was collected at the …

Trpv4 Functional Status In Cystic Cells Regulates Cystogenesis In Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease During Variations In Dietary Potassium, Kyrylo Pyrshev, Anna Stavniichuk, Viktor N Tomilin, Naghmeh Hassanzadeh Khayyat, Guohui Ren, Mariya Kordysh, Oleg Zaika, Mykola Mamenko, Oleh Pochynyuk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mechanosensitive TRPV4 channel plays a dominant role in maintaining [Ca2+] i homeostasis and flow‐sensitive [Ca2+] i signaling in the renal tubule. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) manifests as progressive cyst growth due to cAMP‐dependent fluid secretion along with deficient mechanosensitivity and impaired TRPV4 activity. Here, we tested how regulation of renal TRPV4 function by dietary K+ intake modulates the rate of cystogenesis and mechanosensitive [Ca2+] i signaling in cystic cells of PCK453 rats, a homologous model of human autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD). One month treatment with both high KCl (5% K+) and KB/C (5% K+ with bicarbonate/citrate) diets significantly increased TRPV4 …

Updated Clinical Practice Recommendations For Managing Adults With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome., Erik Boot, Sólveig Óskarsdóttir, Joanne C Y Loo, Terrence Blaine Crowley, Ani Orchanian-Cheff, Danielle M. Andrade, Jill M. Arganbright, René M. Castelein, Christine Cserti-Gazdewich, Steven De Reuver, Ania M. Fiksinski, Gunilla Klingberg, Anthony E. Lang, Maria R. Mascarenhas, Edward M. Moss, Beata Anna Nowakowska, Erwin Oechslin, Lisa Palmer, Gabriela M. Repetto, Nikolai Gil D. Reyes, Maude Schneider, Candice Silversides, Kathleen E. Sullivan, Ann Swillen, Therese A M J Van Amelsvoort, Jason P. Van Batavia, Claudia Vingerhoets, Donna M. Mcdonald-Mcginn, Anne S. Bassett

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

This review aimed to update the clinical practice guidelines for managing adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). The 22q11.2 Society recruited expert clinicians worldwide to revise the original clinical practice guidelines for adults in a stepwise process according to best practices: (1) a systematic literature search (1992-2021), (2) study selection and synthesis by clinical experts from 8 countries, covering 24 subspecialties, and (3) formulation of consensus recommendations based on the literature and further shaped by patient advocate survey results. Of 2441 22q11.2DS-relevant publications initially identified, 2344 received full-text review, with 2318 meeting inclusion criteria (clinical care relevance to 22q11.2DS) including …

A Bidirectional Single-Cell Migration And Retrieval Chip For Quantitative Study Of Dendritic Cell Migration, Ning Shao, Yufu Zhou, Jun Yao, Pengchao Zhang, Yanni Song, Kai Zhang, Xin Han, Bin Wang, Xuewu Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dendritic cell (DC) migration is a fundamental step during execution of its adaptive immunity functions. Studying DC migration characteristics is critical for development of DC-dependent allergy treatments, vaccines, and cancer immunotherapies. Here, a microfluidics-based single-cell migration platform is described that enables high-throughput and precise bidirectional cell migration assays. It also allows selective retrieval of cell subpopulations that have different migratory potentials. Using this microfluidic platform, DC migration is investigated in response to different chemoattractants and inhibitors, quantitatively describe DC migration patterns and retrieve DC subpopulations of different migratory potentials for differential gene expression analysis. This platform opens an avenue for …

Novel Genetic Regulators Of Fibrinogen Synthesis Identified By An In Vitro Experimental Platform, Dre'von A Dobson, Lori A Holle, Feng-Chang Lin, Jennifer E Huffman, James P Luyendyk, Matthew J Flick, Nicholas L Smith, Paul S De Vries, Alanna C Morrison, Alisa S Wolberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen has an established, essential role in both coagulation and inflammatory pathways, and these processes are deeply intertwined in the development of thrombotic and atherosclerotic diseases. Previous studies aimed to better understand the (patho) physiological actions of fibrinogen by characterizing the genomic contribution to circulating fibrinogen levels.

OBJECTIVES: Establish an in vitro approach to define functional roles between genes within these loci and fibrinogen synthesis.

METHODS: Candidate genes were selected on the basis of their proximity to genetic variants associated with fibrinogen levels and expression in hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were transfected with small interfering RNAs targeting …

Spatial Pd-L1, Immune-Cell Microenvironment, And Genomic Copy-Number Alteration Patterns And Drivers Of Invasive-Disease Transition In Prospective Oral Precancer Cohort, William N William, Jianjun Zhang, Xin Zhao, Edwin R Parra, Naohiro Uraoka, Heather Y Lin, S Andrew Peng, Adel K El-Naggar, Jaime Rodriguez-Canales, Jaejoon Song, Ann M Gillenwater, Ignacio I Wistuba, Jeffrey N Myers, Kathryn A Gold, Renata Ferrarotto, Patrick Hwu, Teresa Davoli, J Jack Lee, John V Heymach, Vassiliki A Papadimitrakopoulou, Scott M Lippman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Studies of the immune landscape led to breakthrough trials of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma therapy. This study investigated the timing, influence of somatic copy-number alterations (SCNAs), and clinical implications of PD-L1 and immune-cell patterns in oral precancer (OPC).

METHODS: The authors evaluated spatial CD3, CD3/8, and CD68 density (cells/mm

RESULTS: Epithelial, but not CD68 immune-cell, PD-L1 expression was detected in 28% of OPCs, correlated with immune-cell infiltration, 9p21.3 loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and inferior oral cancer-free survival (OCFS), notably in OPCs with low CD3/8 cell density, dysplasia, and/or 9p21.3 LOH. High …

Circulating Neutrophils And Tumor-Associated Myeloid Cells Function As A Powerful Biomarker For Response To Chemoradiation In Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer, Olsi Gjyshi, Adam Grippin, Lauren Andring, Anuja Jhingran, Lilie L Lin, Julianna Bronk, Patricia J Eifel, Melissa M Joyner, Jagannadha K Sastry, Kyoko Yoshida-Court, Travis N Solley, Tatiana Cisneros Napravnik, Madison P O'Hara, Venkatesh L Hegde, Lauren E Colbert, Ann H Klopp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: The immune system's role in mediating the cytotoxic effects of chemoradiotherapy remains not completely understood. The integration of immunotherapies into treatment will require insight into features and timing of the immune microenvironment associated with treatment response. Here, we investigated the role of circulating neutrophils and tumor-associated myeloid cells (TSAMs) as potential agents and biomarkers for disease-related outcomes in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hematologic parameters for two LACC patient cohorts, a retrospective clinical and a prospective translational cohort, were obtained at baseline, weekly during chemoradiotherapy for the retrospective cohort, biweekly during chemoradiotherapy for the prospective cohort, …

Electrophysiological Normative Responses To Emotional, Neutral, And Cigarette-Related Images, Francesco Versace, Nicola Sambuco, Menton M Deweese, Paul M Cinciripini

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To create reproducible emotional probes, affective scientists rely on sets of standardized pictures that are normed using subjective ratings of valence and emotional arousal. However, when emotional responses are investigated using neurophysiological measures, it might be more appropriate to select pictures integrating information from normative subjective reports and normative neurophysiological responses. Here, we provide electrophysiological normative responses for 323 emotional pictures (215 from the IAPS) covering a wide range of categories (erotica, romantic, appetizing foods, landscapes, people engaged in mundane activities, household objects, disgusting objects, accidents, sad people, violence, mutilations, and cigarette-related contents). Event-related potentials (ERPs) and subjective ratings of …

Metallic Implant-Related Osteosarcoma, Frawa Mohsin, Mustafa Bin Ali Zubairi, Kulsoom Fatima, Muhammad Asad Diwan

Department of Radiology

Orthopedic metallic prostheses are commonly used in the current practice of orthopedic surgery. Although, biomaterials used in these implants are generally considered to be biologically inert, there have been consequences of foreign body reactions and potential carcinogenesis. Majority of implant-related malignancies are high grade, and develop in bone or soft tissue around the implant site. No clear association has been identified between the biomaterial implanted and the type of sarcoma. We report the case of a 36-year-old male who underwent intramedullary nailing of femur for mid-shaft fracture secondary to trauma and presented with osteogenic sarcoma of femur 14 months later.

Endotrophin Neutralization Through Targeted Antibody Treatment Protects From Renal Fibrosis In A Podocyte Ablation Model, Yu A An, Wei Xiong, Shiuhwei Chen, Dawei Bu, Joseph M Rutkowski, Joel P Berger, Christine M Kusminski, Ningyan Zhang, Zhiqiang An, Philipp E Scherer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Renal fibrosis is a hallmark for chronic kidney disease (CKD), and often leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD). However, limited interventions are available clinically to ameliorate or reverse renal fibrosis.

METHODS: Herein, we evaluated whether blockade of endotrophin through neutralizing antibodies protects from renal fibrosis in the podocyte insult model (the "POD-ATTAC" mouse). We determined the therapeutic effects of endotrophin targeted antibody through assessing renal function, renal inflammation and fibrosis at histological and transcriptional levels, and podocyte regeneration.

RESULTS: We demonstrated that neutralizing endotrophin antibody treatment significantly ameliorates renal fibrosis at the transcriptional, morphological, and functional levels. In …

A Potent And Broad Neutralization Of Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Concern By Darpins, Vikas Chonira, Young D Kwon, Jason Gorman, James Brett Case, Zhiqiang Ku, Rudo Simeon, Ryan G Casner, Darcy R Harris, Adam S Olia, Tyler Stephens, Lawrence Shapiro, Michael F Bender, Hannah Boyd, I-Ting Teng, Yaroslav Tsybovsky, Florian Krammer, Ningyan Zhang, Michael S Diamond, Peter D Kwong, Zhiqiang An, Zhilei Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We report the engineering and selection of two synthetic proteins-FSR16m and FSR22-for the possible treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. FSR16m and FSR22 are trimeric proteins composed of DARPin SR16m or SR22 fused with a T4 foldon. Despite selection by a spike protein from a now historical SARS-CoV-2 strain, FSR16m and FSR22 exhibit broad-spectrum neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 strains, inhibiting authentic B.1.351, B.1.617.2 and BA.1.1 viruses, with respective IC

Traveling Wave Solutions Of Fractional Differential Equations Arising In Warm Plasma, Krishna Ghode, Kalyanrao Takale, Shrikisan Gaikwad

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper aims to study the fractional differential systems arising in warm plasma, which exhibits traveling wave-type solutions. Time-fractional Korteweg-De Vries (KdV) and time-fractional Kawahara equations are used to analyze cold collision-free plasma, which exhibits magnet-acoustic waves and shock wave formation respectively. The decomposition method is used to solve the proposed equations. Also, the convergence and uniqueness of the obtained solution are discussed. To illuminate the effectiveness of the presented method, the solutions of these equations are obtained and compared with the exact solution. Furthermore, solutions are obtained for different values of time-fractional order and represented graphically.

Understanding Environmental Art: A Case Study Of Jason Decaires Taylor's Coral Greenhouse (2019), Laura Dean Hinson

Theses

This thesis highlights the need for a new way to analyze environmental art. In the past, environmental artwork has been discussed in terms of the abstract concepts that drove their creation and the role they played in moving artists outside of the gallery space in the1960s and 70s. However, in recent years environmental artists are increasingly driven by themes of environmental conservation and preservation, using scientific research as the basis of their designs. Because of the shift in focus, developing a new way to discuss environmental art that takes into consideration the influence scientific research has on art production and …

Modeling Radiation Exposure On Flight Missions To Analyze Aircrew Risk, Camila V. Quintero Hilsaca

Theses and Dissertations

GCR and SPE comprise the majority of the ionizing radiation experienced in the upper atmosphere within flight-altitude environments. Although previous studies have analyzed radiation doses from single sources on civilian flight operations, there is a lack of research focused on dose received by military personnel during flight from both sources simultaneously. In-flight radiation environments are modeled through the MCNP6 for two separate aircraft, an Air Force A-10 and a Boeing 737. Particle fluence values for galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events for four separate flight paths are determined using the CARI-7A software and the SIRE2 toolkit, respectively. MCNP6 code …

Student Performance In Traditional In-Person Vs. Online Sections Of An Introductory Graduate Mathematics Course, Lauran E. Kittle

Theses and Dissertations

The growth of technology impacts nearly every aspect of everyday life, to include education and learning. The availability of distance learning (online) classes has increased drastically in the last few decades, expanding access to education for millions of people. However, it is imperative to consider exactly how the growth of technology impacts education – whether it is a positive, negative, or neutral impact. Previous research comparing distance learning and in-residence (traditional) classes have widely mixed, disparate conclusions. This type of research, two-stage analysis, and modeling has yet to be conducted on a graduate school level. For this reason, a detailed …

Induced Correlation And Its Effects In The Performance Of Fused Classification Systems, Mary K. Collins

Theses and Dissertations

Classification systems are abundant in modern-day life. The United States Air Force uses classification systems across many applications such as radar, satellite, and infrared sensing just to name a few. Combining classification systems allows an opportunity to get more accurate results. Using the known information from already built and tested systems that can be mathematically combined can give insight into the performance of the fused system without having to build a combined system. Leveraging this can save time, resources, and money. This work examines the correlation effects of fusing two classifier systems, each with only two labels, using the Boolean …

Cellphone-Acoustics Based Suas Detection And Tracking, Ryan D. Clendening

Theses and Dissertations

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) are an easily accessible technology that has become an increasingly large threat to US critical systems. This threatening technology demands using fault-tolerant, low-cost, replaceable, and accurate sensing resources, which counter the ubiquitous nature of sUAS [1]. Therefore, the methods developed in this thesis detect and track sUAS using easily accessible sensing resources, such as cellphones. First, we develop an acoustics sensor network-based sUAS detection methodology. In the latter effort, a deep learning model is trained using the acoustics data from the data collection to predict sUAS range from a cellphone. Combined, these two efforts demonstrate …

Classification Tradeoffs In Multispectral Polarimetric Ladar Architectures, Connor B. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

An end-to-end LADAR system is modeled at the waveform level to perform material classification at a per-pixel basis. A K-Nearest Neighbors machine learning algorithm is chosen to make predictions using polarimetric material characteristics as features. A variable receiver design is modeled to allow for the use of multiple configurations of Polarization State Analyzers. This research investigates the inclusion of multiple wavelengths in the transmitted laser pulse to improve classification accuracy. Additionally, the effects of lowering the receiver’s detector bandwidth are investigated. Through the classification process, transmitting a multispectral laser pulse is shown to improve classification and may improve future LADAR …

Atmospheric Polarization And Solar Position As Kalman Updates To A Navigation Solution, Thomas J. Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

Simulation and physical testing of a sensor that measures relative position of the Sun and polarization of light in the atmosphere as a navigational aid in a Kalman filter.

Entering Hyperspace: Conditional Hyperspectral Reflectance Image Generation Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Bret M. Wagner

Theses and Dissertations

The field of remote sensing continues to expand in both commercial and defense domains. Development of advanced space based EOIR sensors has driven corresponding demand for sensor data for algorithm development. The AFIT Sensor and Scene Emulation Tool (ASSET) produces realistic synthetic electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) data with absolute truth for the purpose of clutter suppression, target detection, and tracking algorithm development. This thesis presents a novel model which transforms panchromatic images into realistic hyperspectral reflectance images. The direct application of this model is to allows users to generate hyperspectral background images as inputs to ASSET allowing users to benefit …

Topological Variability In Water Distribution Networks, James M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Water distribution networks are critical infrastructure characterized by difficulties in their assessment and deteriorating performance due to aging components. Resilience analysis of networked infrastructure has replaced traditional risk analysis to focus on performance. Global Resilience Analysis can provide useful information to decision makers and system managers regarding repair and expansion of networks. Network performance has been found to be directly informed by network structure. This work leverages graph theory to assess network qualities that correlate with resiliency characteristics across 69 real world water networks. These networks are then grouped by their structural properties through k-means clustering and compared using parametric …

Environmental Trade-Offs Of Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (Rowpus) And Bottled Water, Caleb A. Boone

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts many remote missions around the globe. As part of any remote basing strategy, potable water needs to be secured. Currently, there are three primary means of procuring potable water at remote locations: bottled water, on-site purification, or tie-in to existing, local infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to determine the environmental tradeoffs of bottled water and on-site treatment via a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU), which uses multiple levels of filtration to make potable water from freshwater or saline water. A cradle-to- gate assessment was developed for both systems to create a …

The Kinetics Of Biocontaminant Inactivation: A Comparative Study With Bacillus Globigii And Bacillus Anthracis, Leigh M. Durden

Theses and Dissertations

Bacillus anthracis has been a biological threat for decades and after the 2001 terrorist attack via the U.S. Postal Service where five people died, there was heightened awareness and inquiry on the subject (Goel, 2015; Greenberg et al., 2010; Nicholson & Galeano, 2003; Spotts Whitney et al., 2003). The health risk to humans makes this biological agent, a Tier 1 agent and one of the most likely to be used in an attack (Anthrax as a Bioterrorism Weapon | CDC, n.d.; Driks, 2009; Rose & Rice, 2014). B. anthracis is one of most resistant and potent biological warfare agents as …

Method Development Biological Agent Personal Decontamination Effectiveness For Airman Battle Uniform Fabric Material: Ms2 Bacteriophage, Alisha Helm

Theses and Dissertations

This article presents a study that investigates the effectiveness of a common decontamination (decon) strategy used by Airmen in the United States Air Force who may find themselves in a densely populated area during an emergency evacuation. Ultimately, this study addresses the following questions: Is there a significant difference in the number of viral particles being re-aerosolized before and after the applied decon strategy, and is this difference significant enough to consider the decon strategy effective? The study entails using MS2 bacteriophage to contaminate swatches of Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) fabric. Swatches were secured to a vortex centered in the …

Introvert Personality Labor: A Unique Theoretical Construct That Describes The Effects Of Introverts Existing In The Extrovert Idea, Kathleen S. Hendershott

Theses and Dissertations

The Extrovert Ideal led to a society that has a favorable bias toward extroverts. Classrooms, workplaces, and the general public have been designed with extroverts in mind. Introverts, who make up more than half the world’s population, are forced to act in extroverted ways due in part to the extrovert ideal. Previous studies indicate introvert performance declines when working with more extroverted preferences, like open offices that favor group work, but fail to discuss the acting introverts are forced to do in workplaces created for their extroverted counterparts. The purpose of this study is to present a unique theoretical construct, …