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John Kearney, Ph.D., Named An Aai Distinguished Fellow, Jeff Hansen

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

The Weekly Challenger, February 2, 2023, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The February 2, 2023, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

Curriculum Minutes 02/02/2023, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

February 2023 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.

Improving Focality And Consistency In Micromagnetic Stimulation, Hui Ye, Vincent Hall, Jenna Hendee

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The novel micromagnetic stimulation (μMS) technology aims to provide high resolution on neuronal targets. However, consistency of neural activation could be compromised by a lack of surgical accuracy, biological variation, and human errors in operation. We have recently modeled the activation of an unmyelinated axon by a circular micro-coil. Although the coil could activate the axon, its performance sometimes lacked focality and consistency. The site of axonal activation could shift by several experimental factors, including the reversal of the coil current, displacement of the coil, and changes in the intensity of the stimulation. Current clinical practice with transcranial magnetic stimulation …

Conformity And Tradition Are More Important Than Environmental Values In Constraining Resource Overharvest, Glenn Wright, Carl Salk, Piotr Magnuszewski, Joanna Stefanska, Krister Anderson, Jean Paul Benavides, Robin Chazdon

Faculty, Staff, and Students

We present the results of a hybrid research design that borrows from both experimental techniques—experimental games—and observational techniques—surveys—to examine the relationships between basic human values and exposure to natural ecosystems, on the one hand, and collective action for resource governance, on the other. We initially hypothesize that more frequent exposure to forests, and more pro-environmental values will be associated with more conservation action. However, we find that other values—tradition and conformity—are more important than pro-environmental values or exposure to nature. Our results imply that resource governance is likely to be more successful where resource users hold values that facilitate cooperation, …

Deciphering Microbiota Of Acute Upper Respiratory Infections: A Comparative Analysis Of Pcr And Mngs Methods For Lower Respiratory Trafficking Potential, Sadia Almas, Rob E. Carpenter, Anuradha Singh, Chase Rowan, Vaibhav Tamrakar, Rahul Sharma

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although it is clinically important for acute respiratory tract (co)infections to have a rapid and accurate diagnosis, it is critical that respiratory medicine understands the advantages of current laboratory methods. In this study, we tested nasopharyngeal samples (n = 29) with a commercially available PCR assay and compared the results with those of a hybridization-capture-based mNGS workflow. Detection criteria for positive PCR samples was Ct < 35 and for mNGS samples it was >40% target coverage, median depth of 1X and RPKM > 10. A high degree of concordance (98.33% PPA and 100% NPA) was recorded. However, mNGS yielded positively 29 additional microorganisms (23 bacteria, 4 viruses, and …

Fetal Demise And Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome In A Patient With Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report, Alisa Olmsted, Andrea Desimone, Jahaira Lopez-Pastrana, Madeleine Becker

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Background: Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by thiamine deficiency composed of two related disorders accounting for an acute presentation and chronic progression. Hyperemesis gravidarum presents a significant risk factor for Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome as symptoms may rapidly progress in the setting of pregnancy. We present the first-reported case of hyperemesis-gravidarum-associated Wernicke encephalopathy in a patient in the first half of pregnancy in which a missed diagnosis led to septic shock, fetal demise, and eventual profound Korsakoff syndrome.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 33-year-old primigravid African American woman at 15 weeks gestational age who initially presented at …

Interactions Between Humans And Dogs During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Recent Updates And Future Perspectives, Mohamed S. Kamel, Amr A. El-Sayed, Rachel A. Munds, Mohit S. Verma

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

COVID-19 is one of the deadliest epidemics. This pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the role of dogs in spreading the disease in human society is poorly understood. This review sheds light on the limited susceptibility of dogs to COVID-19 infections which is likely attributed to the relatively low levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the respiratory tract and the phylogenetic distance of ACE2 in dogs from the human ACE2 receptor. The low levels of ACE2 affect the binding affinity between spike and ACE2 proteins resulting in it being uncommon for dogs to …

Intraguild Predation Is Increased In Areas Of Low Prey Diversity In A Generalist Predator Community, Stella F. Uiterwaal, Amber J. Squires, Bennett A. Grappone, Brian Dillard, Ariadne Castaneda, Sora L. Kim, John P. Delong

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1. Niche differentiation and intraguild predation (IGP) can allow ecologically similar species to coexist, although it is unclear which coexistence mechanism predominates in consumer communities. Until now, a limited ability to quantify diets from metabarcoding data has precluded the use of sequencing data to determine the relative importance of these mechanisms.

2. Here, we pair a recent metabarcoding quantification approach with stable isotope analysis to examine diet composition in a wolf spider community.

3. We compare the prevalence of resource partitioning and IGP in these spiders and test whether factors that influence foraging performance, including individual identity, morphology, prey community and environmental conditions, …

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The Waxy Mutation In Sorghum And Other Cereal Grains Reshapes The Gut Microbiome By Reducing Levels Of Multiple Beneficial Species, Qinnan Yang, Mallory J. Suhr Van Haute, Scott E. Sattler, Devin J. Rose, Anthony Juritsch, Jing Shao, Kristin A. Beede, Robert J. Schmaltz, Jeff Price, John Toy, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Andrew K. Benson

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Waxy starches from cereal grains contain >90% amylopectin due to naturally occurring mutations that block amylose biosynthesis. Waxy starches have unique organoleptic characteristics (e.g. sticky rice) as well as desirable physicochemical properties for food processing. Using isogenic pairs of wild type sorghum lines and their waxy derivatives, we studied the effects of waxy starches in the whole grain context on the human gut microbiome. In vitro fermentations with human stool microbiomes show that beneficial taxonomic and metabolic signatures driven by grain from wild type parental lines are lost in fermentations of grain from the waxy derivatives and the beneficial signatures …

National Digital Infrastructure And India’S Healthcare Sector: Physician’S Perspectives, Rajesh Chandwani, Saneesh Edacherian, Mukesh Sud

The Qualitative Report

Patient-centric digital infrastructure can potentially enhance the efficiency of healthcare systems. However, even in developed nations, evidence suggests low adoption rates for such infrastructure and lack of support from clinicians is considered as one of the most critical hindering factors. In this study, we examine physicians' perceptions of the proposed large-scale information technology initiative in India that aims to transform the health sector and provide universal health coverage to all residents of India. We employed the information ecology lens to understand the broader changes in the healthcare system that could result from the initiative. We use focus group discussion and …

February 2, 2023, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Sacred Heart University Self-Study 2023, Sacred Heart University

News, Magazines and Reports

Sacred Heart University Self-Study, February 2, 2023. Prepared for the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE).

Supporting Compliance Of Occupational Safety And Health Requirements - European Labour Inspection Systems Of Sanctions And Standardised Measures, Victor Hrymak

Articles

European legislation for occupational safety and health (OSH) is based on the prevention of accidents and ill health. Apart from European directives, all Member States have national laws and strategies and expect enterprises to implement this preventative ethos, and thereby ensure adequate performance in OSH. Labour Inspectorates monitor and if necessary enforce these laws by deploying individual Labour Inspectors to chosen enterprises. If workplace safety and health conditions are found to be substandard, Labour Inspectors are expected to improve the situation using persuasion and, if necessary, their authority to compel enterprises through specific sanction powers. Bruhn (2009) describes this interaction …

Perspectives Of 2d Mxene Tribology, Andreas Rosenkranz, Maria Clelia Righi, Anirudha V. Sumant, Babak Anasori, Vadym Mochalin

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Large and Rapidly Growing Family of 2D Early Transition Metal Carbides, Nitrides, and Carbonitrides (MXenes) Raises Significant Interest in the Materials Science and Chemistry of Materials Communities. Discovered a Little More Than a Decade Ago, MXenes Have Already Demonstrated Outstanding Potential in Various Applications Ranging from Energy Storage to Biology and Medicine. the Past Two Years Have Witnessed Increased Experimental and Theoretical Efforts toward Studying MXenes' Mechanical and Tribological Properties When Used as Lubricant Additives, Reinforcement Phases in Composites, or Solid Lubricant Coatings. Although Research on the Understanding of the Friction and Wear Performance of MXenes under Dry and …

A Dlg1-Arhgap31-Cdc42 Axis Is Essential For The Intestinal Stem Cell Response To Fluctuating Niche Wnt Signaling, David Castillo-Azofeifa, Tomas Wald, Efren A Reyes, Aaron Gallagher, Julia Schanin, Stephanie Vlachos, Nathalie Lamarche-Vane, Carolyn Bomidi, Sarah Blutt, Mary K Estes, Todd Nystul, Ophir D Klein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A central factor in the maintenance of tissue integrity is the response of stem cells to variations in the levels of niche signals. In the gut, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) depend on Wnt ligands for self-renewal and proliferation. Transient increases in Wnt signaling promote regeneration after injury or in inflammatory bowel diseases, whereas constitutive activation of this pathway leads to colorectal cancer. Here, we report that Discs large 1 (Dlg1), although dispensable for polarity and cellular turnover during intestinal homeostasis, is required for ISC survival in the context of increased Wnt signaling. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and genetic mouse models demonstrated …

Paternity Patterns In A Long-Term Resident Bottlenose Dolphin Community, Debbie Duffield, Randall Wells

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Genetic analyses, initiated in 1984, have played a major role in our understanding of the structure and social relationships of the long-term resident community of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida (SBDC). One component of our ongoing study of the community’s social system involves using blood samples from periodic catch-and-release sampling for life history and health assessment studies, as well as skin from biopsy dart sampling studies and strandings, to investigate paternity and mating strategies in this community. These analyses, covering a span of four generations of calves, were originally based on chromosomes and protein electrophoresis, but …

Presence Of Symptoms 6 Weeks After Covid-19 Among Vaccinated And Unvaccinated Us Healthcare Personnel: A Prospective Cohort Study, Nicholas M. Mohr, Ian D. Plumb, Kari K. Harland, Tamara Pilishvili, Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, Anusha Krishnadasan, Karin F. Hoth, Sharon H. Saydah, Zachary Mankoff, John P. Haran, Melissa Briggs-Hagen, Eliezer Santos León, David A. Talan

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Although COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against infection and severe disease, there is limited information on the effect of vaccination on prolonged symptoms following COVID-19. Our objective was to determine differences in prevalence of prolonged symptoms 6 weeks after onset of COVID-19 among healthcare personnel (HCP) by vaccination status, and to assess differences in timing of return to work.

DESIGN: Cohort analysis of HCP with COVID-19 enrolled in a multicentre vaccine effectiveness study. HCP with COVID-19 between December 2020 and August 2021 were followed up 6 weeks after illness onset.

SETTING: Health systems in 12 US states.

PARTICIPANTS: HCP participating …

Systems Thinking Activities Used In K-12 For Up To Two Decades, Diana Fisher, Systems Thinking Association

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

Infusing systems thinking activities in pre-college education (grades K-12) means updating precollege education so it includes a study of many systemic behavior patterns that are ubiquitous in the real world. Systems thinking tools include those using both paper and pencil and the computer and enhance learning in the classroom making it more student-centered, more active, and allowing students to analyze problems that have been heretofore beyond the scope of K-12 classrooms. Students in primary school have used behavior over time graphs to demonstrate dynamics described in story books, like the Lorax, and created stock-flow diagrams to describe what was needed …

Insights Into Cell-Specific Functions Of Microtubules In Skeletal Muscle Development And Homeostasis, Lathan Lucas, Thomas A Cooper

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The contractile cells of skeletal muscles, called myofibers, are elongated multinucleated syncytia formed and maintained by the fusion of proliferative myoblasts. Human myofibers can be hundreds of microns in diameter and millimeters in length. Myofibers are non-mitotic, obviating the need for microtubules in cell division. However, microtubules have been adapted to the unique needs of these cells and are critical for myofiber development and function. Microtubules in mature myofibers are highly dynamic, and studies in several experimental systems have demonstrated the requirements for microtubules in the unique features of muscle biology including myoblast fusion, peripheral localization of nuclei, assembly of …

Presence Of Trans-Fatty Acids Containing Ingredients In Pre-Packaged Foods And The Availability Of Reported Trans-Fat Levels In Kenya And Nigeria, Liping Huang, Adedayo E Ojo, Judith Kimiywe, Alex Kibet, Boni M Ale, Clementina E Okoro, Jimmy Louie, Fraser Taylor, Mark D Huffman, Dike B Ojji, Jason H Y Wu, Matti Marklund

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In most African countries, the prevalence of industrially produced

Diagnostic Performance Of Screening Tools For Depressive Symptoms In Vulnerable Older Patients With Cancer Undergoing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (Cga): Results From The Screen Pilot Study, Laura Tack, Ann Sophie Maenhoudt, Lore Ketelaars, Zutter J De, Stefanie Pinson, Laura Keunebrock, Lorenz Haaker, Kathleen Deckmyn, Mathilde Gheysen, Cindy Kenis, Hans Wildiers, Laurence Depoorter, Pieter Jan Geerts, Rebecca Chandler, Tom Boterberg, Patricia Schofield, Christopher N. Parris, Philip R. Debruyne

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Depression is a common and disabling disorder in later life, particularly among people with poor physical health. There are many screening tools available that can be used to examine depressive symptoms; however, not all of them may be appropriate or accurate for older adults with cancer. This pilot study was designed to test the diagnostic performance of two screening tools and their short versions in a cohort of vulnerable (G8 score ≤ 14/17) older patients with cancer undergoing comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). The prospective analysis covered 50 vulnerable patients with cancer aged ≥70 years. The diagnostic performance of the Geriatric …

Monitoring And Modelling Marine Zooplankton In A Changing Climate, Lavenia Ratnarajah, Rana Abu-Alhaija, Angus Atkinson, Sonia Batten, Nicholas J. Bax, Kim S. Bernard, Gabrielle Canonico, Astrid Cornils, Jason D. Everett, Maria Grigoratou, Nurul Huda Ahmad Ishak, David Johns, Fabien Lombard, Erik Muxagata, Clare Ostle, Sophie Pitois, Anthony J. Richardson, Katrin Schmidt, Lars Stemmann, Kerrie M. Swadling, Guang Yang, Lidia Yebra

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Zooplankton are major consumers of phytoplankton primary production in marine ecosystems. As such, they represent a critical link for energy and matter transfer between phytoplankton and bacterioplankton to higher trophic levels and play an important role in global biogeochemical cycles. In this Review, we discuss key responses of zooplankton to ocean warming, including shifts in phenology, range, and body size, and assess the implications to the biological carbon pump and interactions with higher trophic levels. Our synthesis highlights key knowledge gaps and geographic gaps in monitoring coverage that need to be urgently addressed. We also discuss an integrated sampling approach …

The Roles Of Mathematical Metaphors And Gestures In The Understanding Of Abstract Mathematical Concepts, Omid Khatin-Zadeh, Zahra Eskandari, Danyal Farsani

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

When a new mathematical idea is presented to students in terms of abstract mathematical symbols, they may have difficulty to grasp it. This difficulty arises because abstract mathematical symbols do not directly refer to concretely perceivable objects. But, when the same content is presented in the form of a graph or a gesture that depicts that graph, it is often much easier to grasp. The process of solving a complex mathematical problem can also be facilitated with the use of a graphical representation. Transforming a mathematical problem or concept into a graphical representation is a common problem solving strategy, and …

Teaching End-Of-Life Care In Speech-Language Pathology: A Tutorial, Amanda Stead, Sara Haynie, Monica Vinson

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Speech-language pathologists often lack preparation for working with patients near the end of life (EoL). Few academic training programs offer dedicated or sufficient content in the area of end-of-life care (EoLC). Furthermore, traditional knowledge-focused outcomes are not the most effective pedagogical strategy in teaching EoL and palliative care to students. Instead, a focus on self-awareness and personal beliefs in relation to death and dying have been shown to have a positive effect on attitudes toward EoLC. The purposes of this paper are three-fold: First, to explore what is known about the teaching and training of EoL in the discipline of …

Molecular Targets That Sensitize Cancer To Radiation Killing: From The Bench To The Bedside, Sushmitha Sriramulu, Shivani Thoidingjam, Stephen L. Brown, Farzan Siddiqui, Benjamin Movsas, Shyam Nyati

Radiation Oncology Articles

Radiotherapy is a standard cytotoxic therapy against solid cancers. It uses ionizing radiation to kill tumor cells through damage to DNA, either directly or indirectly. Radioresistance is often associated with dysregulated DNA damage repair processes. Most radiosensitizers enhance radiation-mediated DNA damage and reduce the rate of DNA repair ultimately leading to accumulation of DNA damages, cell-cycle arrest, and cell death. Recently, agents targeting key signals in DNA damage response such as DNA repair pathways and cell-cycle have been developed. This new class of molecularly targeted radiosensitizing agents is being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies to monitor their activity in …

Gender-Based Differences Of Inflammatory, Coagulation, And Cardiac Markers In Covid-19 Patients In Erbil City, Shukur Wasman Smail, Zhikal Omar Khudhur, Sonia Elia Ishaq, Rebaz Hamza Salih, Karzan Abdullah

Polytechnic Journal

In December 2019, a new coronavirus disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan city and quickly became a global health issue. COVID-19 causes various symptoms ranging from no symptoms to potentially deadly pneumonia. The study aimed to understand the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on immune response and the differences in inflammatory, coagulation, and cardiac biomarkers between male and female patients. Between June 1st and November 1st, 2020, 95 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals were studied at Zanko Hospital. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed using the real-time RT-PCR technique. All cases were analyzed for clinical, epidemiological, …

Sexual Selection As A Tool To Improve Student Reasoning Of Evolution, Sarah K. Spier, Joseph Dauer

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

There is an emphasis on survival-based selection in biology education that can allow students to neglect other important evolutionary components, such as sexual selection, reproduction, and inheritance. Student understanding of the role of reproduction in evolution is as important as student understanding of the role of survival. Limiting instruction to survival- based scenarios (e.g., effect of food on Galapagos finch beak shape) may not provide students with enough context to guide them to complete evolutionary reasoning. Different selection forces can work in concert or oppose one another, and sexual selection can lead to the selection of trait variants that are …

Bioaugmentation With Tetrasphaera To Improve Biological Phosphorus Removal From Anaerobic Digestate Of Swine Wastewater, Jiaxin Wang, Chiqian Zhang, Ping Li, Hui Xu, Weiqu Wang, Weizhao Yin, Jinhua Wu, Zhiqiang Hu

Faculty Publications

Tetrasphaera-enhanced biological phosphorus removal (T-EBPR) was developed by augmenting conventional EBPR (C-EBPR) with Tetrasphaera to improve phosphorus removal from anaerobic digestate of swine wastewater. At influent total phosphorus (TP) concentrations of 45 to 55 mg/L, T-EBPR achieved effluent TP concentration of 4.17 ± 1.02 mg/L, 54% lower than that in C-EBPR (8.98 ± 0.76 mg/L). The enhanced phosphorous removal was presumably due to the synergistic effect of Candidatus Accumulibacter and Tetrasphaera occupying different ecological niches. Bioaugmentation with Tetrasphaera promoted the polyphosphate accumulation metabolism depending more on the glycolysis pathway, as evidenced by an increase in intracellular storage compounds of glycogen …