Digital Commons Network^™

Inhibition Of Neurogenic Inflammatory Pathways Associated With The Reduction In Discogenic Back Pain, Jose A. Canseco, Hannah A. Levy, Brian A. Karamian, Olivia Blaber, Michael Chang, Neil Patel, John G. Curran, Alan S. Hilibrand, Gregory D. Schroeder, Alex R. Vaccaro, Dessislava Z. Markova, David E. Surrey, Christopher K. Kepler

Rothman Institute Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether the initiation of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP inhibitor) medication therapy for migraines was also associated with improvements in back/neck pain, mobility, and function in a patient population with comorbid degenerative spinal disease and migraine.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: CGRP upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor in spinal spondylotic disease, which results in disc degeneration and sensitization of nociceptive neurons. Although CGRP inhibitors can quell neurogenic inflammation in migraines, their off-site efficacy as a therapeutic target for discogenic back/neck pain …

Predictive Modeling Of Asphalt Pavement Performance Using Artificial Neural Networks, Rami Khalifah

Civil Engineering Theses

This thesis highlights the significance of using the Resilient Modulus (Mr) and Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) coefficients within the scope of pavement design. It aims to demonstrate the importance of pavement quality and safety by developing a prediction model for bleeding and rutting depth in asphalt pavements using data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database and the National Catalog of Natural Subgrade Properties Database. Additionally, the thesis builds predictive models using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), which include a single hidden layer and multiple neurons. The developed Mr and SWCC models in this thesis utilized the basic soil index properties …

A Prototype Of Simple Implantable Optofluidic Device Enabled By 3d Printing Technology, Yu Chang

Theses

Superhydrophobic surface-based optofluidics have been introduced to biosensors and unconventional optics recently with unique advantages such as dynamic adjustable optical properties, low light loss, and high versatility. Most of these platforms were manufactured by Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing technology and usually need to be further packaged or sealed. Although the MEMS-based technology is prone to make an integrated device containing sensing and electronic components, the technology may constrain the design of the morphology of the featured structures. For example, it was hard to manufacture a three-dimensional, fully enclosed round channel with complex structures along the inner surface. The limitations could …

Expression Of The Vesicular Gaba Transporter Within Neuromedin S+ Neurons Sustains Behavioral Circadian Rhythms, Ivana L. Bussi, Alexandra F. Neitz, Raymond E. A. Sanchez, Leandro P. Casiraghi, Michael Moldavan, Divya Kunda, Charles N. Allen, Jennifer A. Evans, Horacio O. De La Iglesia

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is the site of a central circadian clock that orchestrates overt rhythms of physiology and behavior. Circadian timekeeping requires intercellular communication among SCN neurons, and multiple signaling pathways contribute to SCN network coupling. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is produced by virtually all SCN neurons, and previous work demonstrates that this transmitter regulates coupling in the adult SCN but is not essential for the nucleus to sustain overt circadian rhythms. Here, we show that the deletion of the gene that codes for the GABA vesicular transporter Vgat from neuromedin-S (NMS)⁺ neurons—a subset of neurons …

Association Between Viral Infections And Glioma Risk: A Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Sheng Zhong, Wenzhuo Yang, Zhiyun Zhang, Yangyiran Xie, Lin Pan, Jiaxin Ren, Fei Ren, Yifan Li, Haoqun Xie, Hongyu Chen, Davy Deng, Jie Lu, Hui Li, Bo Wu, Youqi Chen, Fei Peng, Vinay K Puduvalli, Ke Sai, Yunqian Li, Ye Cheng, Yonggao Mou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Glioma is one of the leading types of brain tumor, but few etiologic factors of primary glioma have been identified. Previous observational research has shown an association between viral infection and glioma risk. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the direction and magnitude of the causal relationship between viral infection and glioma.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample bidirectional MR analysis using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Summary statistics data of glioma were collected from the largest meta-analysis GWAS, involving 12,488 cases and 18,169 controls. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exposures were used as instrumental …

Islamic Economics: The Polar Opposite Of Capitalist Economics, Ambreen Sultan

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

Islam is a complete way of life. The primary sources of Islamic teachings—the Qur’ān and Sunnah guide Muslims on personal and communal matters in social, commercial, and political spheres to attain falāh (welfare) in this world and the hereafter. The Islamic worldview guides Muslims to act as Khalīfah (vicegerent) and utilize the resources of the planet at their disposal as amānah (trust). Islam sees material sustenance as a means to attain spiritual transformation to elevate humans from their base desires to the content servants of Allah (SWT). In this book, the author explores the diverse and unique aspects of Islamic …

Synthesis And Antibacterial Evaluation For Some New Schiff-Bases Derived From P-Aminoacetanilide, Eman M. Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

Derivatives of Schiff-bases possess a great importance in pharmaceutical chemistry. They can be used for synthesizing different types of bioactive compounds. In this paper, derivatives of new Schiff bases have been synthesized from several serial steps. The acid (I) was synthesized from the reaction of dichloroethanoic acid with 2 moles of p-aminoacetanilide. New acid (I) converted to its ester (II) via the reaction of (I) with dimethyl sulphate in the present of anhydrous of sodium carbonate and dry acetone. Acid hydrazide (III) has been synthesized by adding 80% of hydrazine hydrate to the new ester using ethanol as a solvent. …

Antifungal Potential Of Cladosporium Sp. (Endophytic Fungi) Associated With Olea Europaea L. Leaves, Milad Adnan Mezher, Rabab Majead Abed

Baghdad Science Journal

In the leaves of Olea europaea L. Olive trees an endophytic fungus was discovered. Cladosporium sp. was identified to be the fungus based on its morphological characteristics and nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequence analysis and was registered in NCBI as the Cladosporium genus has been registered under the number (0P939922.1) The species was not specified, and it was considered of unknown species after comparing it to global isolates. In comparison to olive leaf extract, Cladosporium sp. including total flavonoid, total phenolic, total terpenoid, and total saponins, Which were 121.9%, 198.1%, 89.13%, and 29.87 % respectively compared to its content in …

An Improved Neurogenetic Model For Recognition Of 3d Kinetic Data Of Human Extracted From The Vicon Robot System, Ivan V. Stepanyan, Safa A. Hameed

Baghdad Science Journal

These days, it is crucial to discern between different types of human behavior, and artificial intelligence techniques play a big part in that. The characteristics of the feedforward artificial neural network (FANN) algorithm and the genetic algorithm have been combined to create an important working mechanism that aids in this field. The proposed system can be used for essential tasks in life, such as analysis, automation, control, recognition, and other tasks. Crossover and mutation are the two primary mechanisms used by the genetic algorithm in the proposed system to replace the back propagation process in ANN. While the feedforward artificial …

Microbiome-Enabled Genomic Selection Improves Prediction Accuracy For Nitrogen-Related Traits In Maize, Zhikai Yang, Tianjing Zhao, Hao Cheng, Jinliang Yang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Root-associated microbiomes in the rhizosphere (rhizobiomes) are increasingly known to play an important role in nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance of plants. However, it remains largely unclear to what extent these rhizobiomes contribute to trait variation for different genotypes and if their inclusion in the genomic selection protocol can enhance prediction accuracy. To address these questions, we developed a microbiome-enabled genomic selection method that incorporated host SNPs and amplicon sequence variants from plant rhizobiomes in a maize diversity panel under high and low nitrogen (N) field conditions. Our cross-validation results showed that the microbiome-enabled genomic selection model significantly …

Emerging Trends In Wheat (Triticum Spp.) Breeding: Implications For The Future, Mujahid Alam, P. Stephen Baenziger, Katherine Anna Frels

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Wheat (Triticum spp and, particularly, T. aestivum L.) is an essential cereal with increased human and animal nutritional demand. Therefore, there is a need to enhance wheat yield and genetic gain using modern breeding technologies alongside proven methods to achieve the necessary increases in productivity. These modern technologies will allow breeders to develop improved wheat cultivars more quickly and efficiently. This review aims to highlight the emerging technological trends used worldwide in wheat breeding, with a focus on enhancing wheat yield. The key technologies for introducing variation (hybridization among the species, synthetic wheat, and hybridization; genetically modified wheat; transgenic …

Improving Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction And Grow A Hospital's Revenue, Dr. Shayma Pushpa Firoz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

A Literature Review On Thermogenesis As A Prospective Obesity Treatment, Kellyn Sheppard

Senior Honors Theses

The disease of obesity has quickly escalated from an epidemic to a worldwide pandemic in the last few decades, and viable treatment methods are being investigated with urgency. One such treatment method is increased induction of the thermogenesis pathway that is active in brown adipose tissue. This pathway is typically activated in mammals when they are exposed to cold temperatures for extended periods of time but can also be induced exogenously. Thermogenesis is a metabolically inefficient process that occurs in the mitochondria of a cell, meaning it uses substrate energy without generating ATP. The inefficiency of this process allows excess …

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Qacs) In Wastewater Influent And Effluent Throughout The Covid-19 Pandemic, Anna K. Mahony, Patrick J. Mcnamara, William A. Arnold

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used in consumer and industrial products, including disinfectants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfectant use has increased, purportedly increasing loads to wastewater treatment plants and the environment. To understand how the increased usage has affected QAC loadings to treatment plants and to determine how effectively plants remove QACs from liquid effluent that is discharged to surface and groundwaters, influent and effluent wastewater samples were collected from four treatment plants (treatment capacities < 5 MGD to > 100 MGD) for 21 months beginning in May 2020. Influent QAC concentrations were hundreds of μg/L and effluent QAC concentrations were < 1 μg/L, corresponding to an average removal of 98% from all four plants. The most prevalent QACs in influent were those used most commonly in disinfectants, specifically benzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (BACs) and short-chain dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs), and influent levels of these compounds were correlated with QAC sales. Prior to this study, ethylbenzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (EtBACs) had not been studied, and they comprised 13 ± 6% of QACs in influent. While removal was high at all plants, low μg/L concentrations were still continuously discharged into the environment. For QACs with equivalent alkyl chain lengths, those with aromatic substituents (BACs and EtBACs) appear to be removed more effectively than those with only alkyl chains (DADMACs).

Tidygeo Preparing Analysis-Ready Datasets From Gene Expression Omnibus, Avery Mecham, Ashlie Stephenson, Badi I. Quinteros, Grace S. Brown, Stephen R. Piccolo

Faculty Publications

TidyGEO is a Web-based tool for downloading, tidying, and reformatting data series from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). As a freely accessible repository with data from over 6 million biological samples across more than 4000 organisms, GEO provides diverse opportunities for secondary research. Although scientists may find assay data relevant to a given research question, most analyses require sample-level annotations. In GEO, such annotations are stored alongside assay data in delimited, text-based files. However, the structure and semantics of the annotations vary widely from one series to another, and many annotations are not useful for analysis purposes. Thus, every GEO series …

Nonan Gaitprint: An Imu Gait Database Of Healthy Young Adults, Tyler M. Wiles, Madhur Mangalam, Joel H. Sommerfeld, Seung Kyeom Kim, Kolby J. Brink, Anaëlle Charles, Alli Grunkemeyer, Marilena Kalaitzi Manifrenti, Spyridon Mastorakis, Nicholas Stergiou, Aaron Likens

Journal Articles

An ongoing thrust of research focused on human gait pertains to identifying individuals based on gait patterns. However, no existing gait database supports modeling efforts to assess gait patterns unique to individuals. Hence, we introduce the Nonlinear Analysis Core (NONAN) GaitPrint database containing whole body kinematics and foot placement during self-paced overground walking on a 200-meter looping indoor track. Noraxon Ultium MotionTM inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors sampled the motion of 35 healthy young adults (19–35 years old; 18 men and 17 women; mean ± 1 s.d. age: 24.6 ± 2.7 years; height: 1.73 ± 0.78 m; body mass: …

Uniquely Tailored Ionic Materials For Implementation In Energy, Imagining, And Antibacterial Applications, Amanda Jalihal

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, the novel class of ionic materials is explored. Ionic materials are easily tuned and tailored to fit a wide variety of applications. The synthesis of ionic materials is extremely simple and prompt. Briefly, two ionic moieties are joined electrostatically through a double displacement resulting in a new compound without complicated synthesis. This process leads to a close proximity of the ions which allows for enhancement of the FRET mechanism between a fluorophore and chromophore. A potential application of a FRET active ionic material is explored as a photosensitizer using IR820 and Nile Blue A. The ionic material, …

Chromosome 10q2432 Variants Associate With Brain Arterial Diameters In Diverse Populations: A Genome-Wide Association Study, Minghua Liu, Farid Khasiyev, Sanjeev Sariya, Antonio Spagnolo-Allende, Danurys L Sanchez, Howard Andrews, Qiong Yang, Alexa Beiser, Ye Qiao, Emy A Thomas, Jose Rafael Romero, Tatjana Rundek, Adam M Brickman, Jennifer J Manly, Mitchell Sv Elkind, Sudha Seshadri, Christopher Chen, Saima Hilal, Bruce A Wasserman, Giuseppe Tosto, Myriam Fornage, Jose Gutierrez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Brain arterial diameters (BADs) are novel imaging biomarkers of cerebrovascular disease, cognitive decline, and dementia. Traditional vascular risk factors have been associated with BADs, but whether there may be genetic determinants of BADs is unknown.

Methods and results: The authors studied 4150 participants from 6 geographically diverse population-based cohorts (40% European, 14% African, 22% Hispanic, 24% Asian ancestries). Brain arterial diameters for 13 segments were measured and averaged to obtain a global measure of BADs as well as the posterior and anterior circulations. A genome-wide association study revealed 14 variants at one locus associated with global BAD at genome-wide …

Skills To Support Mental Health In Uncertain Times, Part 2: Cultivating Awareness, Heather H. Kelley, Rachel Byers, Ty Aller, Timothy Keady

All Current Publications

Uncertainty and worry can be a common struggle for many people, whether they are uncertain about their jobs, health, or relationships. Events such as COVID-19 and the recent wars in Israel and Ukraine increase the stress and uncertainty many people face. This fact sheet discusses awareness, a fundamental part of psychological flexibility, which can help individuals maintain a high quality of life—even when experiencing uncertainty and mental health concerns.

Nurses’ Lived Experiences Of Coping With The Long-Term Effects Of Compassion Fatigue From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Philip Joseph Nelan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

An Efficacy And Safety Evaluation Of Montelukast + Fluticasone Propionate Vs Fluticasone Propionate In The Treatment Of Cough Variant Asthma In Children: A Meta-Analysis, Zhengbo Wei, Sheng Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of montelukast (Mon) + fluticasone propionate (Flu) versus Flu in the treatment of cough variant asthma (CVA) in children.

METHODS: Eligible documents were selected from various databases. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate continuous variables, and categorical variables were evaluated using risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI. Heterogeneity analysis was performed using Cochran's Q test and I

RESULTS: Nine studies were included, and Flu + Mon was found to significantly improve the total effective rate and reduce cough recurrence compared to Flu. The …

Red Ginger's Anti-Anxiety Effect On Balb/C Strain Mice (Mus Musculus) Pro-Inflammatory And Anti-Inflammatory Measurements As Anxiety Model, Ira Aini Dania, Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Urip Harahap, Elmeida Effendy, Tuti Wahmurti, Syafruddin Ilyas, Muhammad Rusda, Mustafa Mahmud Amin

Baghdad Science Journal

There is a correlation between the occurrence of anxiety and the production of inflammatory mediators, and red ginger rhizome is a well-known herbal product with a high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that can be used as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. The aim of study to evaluate the effect of red ginger as antianxiety in mice (Mus musculus) BALB/c strain by measuring levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Anxiety model mice were carried out by giving treatment with the Forced Swimming Test (FST) for 7 days then assessed by carrying out the Elevated Plus Maze for Mice (EPM) test for …

Ecofriendly Control For Stored-Product Pest, Oryzaephilus Surinamensis (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Silvanidae), Fatma H. Galal

Baghdad Science Journal

Dates are considered one of the most important foods consumed in Arab countries. Dates are commonly infested with the sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis. Consequently, the date yield, quantity, and quality (economic value and seed viability) are negatively affected. This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of air evacuation as eco-friendly and safe control method against adult O. surinamensis. Insects were obtained from the infested date purchased from a private store in sakaka city, Aljouf region, Saudi Arabia. Air evacuation (using a vacuum pump) and food deprivation were applied to O. surinamensis, and insect mortality was observed daily in …

A Novel Water Quality Index For Iraqi Surface Water, Zahraa Z. Aljanabi, Abdul-Hameed M. Jawad Al-Obaidy, Fikrat M. Hassan

Baghdad Science Journal

The study aims to build a water quality index that fits the Iraqi aquatic systems and reflects the environmental reality of Iraqi water. The developed Iraqi Water Quality Index (IQWQI) includes physical and chemical components. To build the IQWQI, Delphi method was used to communicate with local and global experts in water quality indices for their opinion regarding the best and most important parameter we can use in building the index and the established weight of each parameter. From the data obtained in this study, 70% were used for building the model and 30% for evaluating the model. Multiple scenarios …

Cytotoxic Activities, Determining Toxin, And Molecular Docking Of Ovary Pufferfish (Tetraodon Leiurus) In Singkarak Lake As Cancer Chemoprevention Candidate, Dewi Imelda Roesma, Djong Hon Tjong, Monica Mulnia Hanif

Baghdad Science Journal

The primary toxin class discovered in freshwater pufferfish is a category of neurotoxins called PSTs (Paralytic shellfish toxins) and pufferfish toxin has been observed to have biological, biochemical, and cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the cytotoxic activity, toxins present in the ovary of T. leiurus, and interaction between ligand (toxin compound) and receptors test. This study used the MTT method in the T47D cell lines, liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and analysis of the molecular interaction using molecular docking. The ovary of T. leiurus had cytotoxicity on the T47D cell, having an IC50 …

College Student Mental Health In The Covid-19 Era: Results Of An Expressive Writing Prompt, Carissa Daniello-Heyda, Kevin Hynes, Rachel R. Tambling

The Qualitative Report

The novel SARS-CoV-2, or coronavirus, has greatly altered the landscape of college life for students across the United States. The ever-present health concerns and quarantine have been linked to increased anxiety, depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To this end, we examined the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of college students. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on levels of stress and distress in college students using a qualitative expressive writing methodology. Results of this study suggested that the college students included in the sample were moderately distressed – their scores on inventories of depression, anxiety, …

Tiny Drifters Amidst Global Change: Examining Environmental Drivers, Trophic Impacts, And Management Strategies Of Estuarine Plankton Communities In The Anthropocene, Taylor Nicole Dodrill

Dissertations and Theses

Plankton productivity supports estuarine food webs, and has been tied to the success of fisheries, macroinvertebrates, and cultured shellfish yields. Climate change and alterations to nutrient loads are thought to be influencing plankton assemblages, with toxin-producing harmful algal blooms (HABs) on the rise and nutritional quality of plankton declining globally. These shifts in plankton communities may contribute to low biomass yields and toxin-based closures of important fisheries. The objectives of this dissertation are to identify environmental drivers, trophic impacts, and management strategies to understand and respond to changing estuarine plankton communities. To address these objectives, I used a combination of …

Acss2 Gene Variants Determine Kidney Disease Risk By Controlling De Novo Lipogenesis In Kidney Tubules, Dhanunjay Mukhi, Lingzhi Li, Hongbo Liu, Tomohito Doke, Lakshmi P Kolligundla, Eunji Ha, Konstantin Kloetzer, Amin Abedini, Sarmistha Mukherjee, Junnan Wu, Poonam Dhillon, Hailong Hu, Dongyin Guan, Katsuhiko Funai, Kahealani Uehara, Paul M Titchenell, Joseph A Baur, Kathryn E Wellen, Katalin Susztak

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Worldwide, over 800 million people are affected by kidney disease, yet its pathogenesis remains elusive, hindering the development of novel therapeutics. In this study, we used kidney-specific expression of quantitative traits and single-nucleus open chromatin analysis to show that genetic variants linked to kidney dysfunction on chromosome 20 target the acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family 2 (ACSS2). By generating ACSS2-KO mice, we demonstrated their protection from kidney fibrosis in multiple disease models. Our analysis of primary tubular cells revealed that ACSS2 regulated de novo lipogenesis (DNL), causing NADPH depletion and increasing ROS levels, ultimately leading to NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis. Additionally, we discovered …

Antiseizure Effects Of Peganum Harmala L. And Lavandula Angustifolia, Zahra Rahimian, Seyedhassan Sadrian, Mina Shahisavandi, Hadi Aligholi, Mohammad M. Zarshenas, Alireza Abyar, Zahra Zeraatpisheh, Ali A. Asadi-Pooya

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Peganum harmala L. and Lavandula angustifolia are two traditional herbs with probable antiseizure effects. This study evaluated the effects of these two herbal extracts on pentylenetetrazol- (PTZ-) induced seizures in mice. We prepared hydroalcoholic extracts using P. harmala seeds and the aerial parts of L. angustifolia and then randomly divided 190 mice into 19 groups. Normal saline (10 mg/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg), P. harmala (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg), and L. angustifolia (200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally (IP) administrated 30 min before an IP administration of PTZ (90 mg/kg). Animals were observed for …

Registration Status, Reading Interest Level, And Library Use Habits Of Teaching Staff In Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria: An Investigation, Nse Emmanuel Akwang Phd, Cln

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study investigated registration status, reading interest level, and library use habits of teaching staff in Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design, with a total population of 467 teaching staff from eight (8) academic faculties. Out of the total study population, a sample of 212 was selected using an online sample calculator known as Survey Monkey Sample Size Calculator at 95% confidence level and confidence interval of 5%. The instrument used for data collection was a researcher-developed questionnaire, which was subjected to face and content validity and reliability coefficient of 0.80 using Cronbach’s Alpha technique. …