Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey On Mosquito Control Knowledge And Insecticide Use In New Orleans, La, 2020–2021, Erin R. Cloherty, Janet C. Mcallister, James A. Ottea, Kristen Healy, Claudia Riegel

Faculty Publications

Mosquitoes are a known public nuisance and can vector various diseases. Historically, New Orleans, LA, has long been acquainted with the burden of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever in the 20th century and West Nile virus in the 21st century. Government mosquito control awareness campaigns have been around for decades as has the use of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides by mosquito abatement districts. However, few data are available on public perception of mosquito control and public usage of insecticides to kill mosquitoes in New Orleans. We conducted a survey from August 2020 to July 2021 to evaluate …

Droid: Dose-Ranging Approach To Optimizing Dose In Oncology Drug Development, Beibei Guo, Ying Yuan

Faculty Publications

In the era of targeted therapy, there has been increasing concern about the development of oncology drugs based on the “more is better” paradigm, developed decades ago for chemotherapy. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated Project Optimus to reform the dose optimization and dose selection paradigm in oncology drug development. To accommodate this paradigm shifting, we propose a dose-ranging approach to optimizing dose (DROID) for oncology trials with targeted drugs. DROID leverages the well-established dose-ranging study framework, which has been routinely used to develop non-oncology drugs for decades, and bridges it with established oncology dose-finding designs to …

Building Resilience To Extreme Weather And Climate Events In The Rural Water And Wastewater Sectors, Nathan P. Kettle, Sarah F. Trainor, Renee Edwards, Donald Antrobus, Curt Baranowski, Tina Buxbaum, Kevin Berry, Michael Brubaker, Kristine L. De Long, Steve Fries, Davin Holen, Barry Keim, Danielle Meeker, Harry Penn, Cheryl Rosa, Rick Thoman, John Walsh, Jian Zhang

Faculty Publications

Extreme weather and climate events pose significant risks to rural water and wastewater systems. We examine the vulnerability of the water sector to weather and climate extremes in rural, predominantly Indigenous and underserved coastal areas and analyze how networks support resilience. Drawing on the analysis of 39 web-based questionnaire responses and 19 interviews with rural water and wastewater managers and service providers in southern Louisiana and western Alaska, this article reports a range of interrelated historical, environmental, and social factors that influence vulnerability to extreme weather events. Formal and informal social networks serve multiple roles in building resilience. These roles …

A Trait Dataset For Freshwater Mussels Of The United States Of America, Garrett W. Hopper, Jamie R. Bucholz, Traci P. Dubose, Kaelyn J. Fogelman, Sean M. Keogh, Megan E. Kubala, Matthew B. Lodato, David H. Nichols, Irene Sánchez González, John M. Pfeiffer, James A. Stoeckel, Jeffrey D. Lozier, Carla L. Atkinson

Faculty Publications

The United States of America has a diverse collection of freshwater mussels comprising 301 species distributed among 59 genera and two families (Margaritiferidae and Unionidae), each having a unique suite of traits. Mussels are among the most imperilled animals and are critical components of their ecosystems, and successful management, conservation and research requires a cohesive and widely accessible data source. Although trait-based analysis for mussels has increased, only a small proportion of traits reflecting mussel diversity in this region has been collated. Decentralized and non-standardized trait information impedes large-scale analysis. Assembling trait data in a synthetic dataset enables comparison across …

New Insights In The Mechanisms Of Weight-Loss Maintenance: Summary From A Pennington Symposium, Emily W. Flanagan, Redin Spann, Sarah E. Berry, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, Stephanie Broyles, Gary D. Foster, Jonathan Krakoff, Ruth J.F. Loos, Michael R. Lowe, Danielle M. Ostendorf, Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Leanne M. Redman, Michael Rosenbaum, Philip R. Schauer, Randy J. Seeley, Boyd A. Swinburn, Kevin Hall, Eric Ravussin

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 650 million adults worldwide. Obesity not only is a significant health concern on its own, but predisposes to cardiometabolic comorbidities, including coronary heart disease, dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Lifestyle interventions effectively promote weight loss of 5% to 10%, and pharmacological and surgical interventions even more, with some novel approved drugs inducing up to an average of 25% weight loss. Yet, maintaining weight loss over the long-term remains extremely challenging, and subsequent weight gain is typical. The mechanisms underlying weight regain remain to be fully elucidated. The purpose …

Sensory Spinal Interoceptive Pathways And Energy Balance Regulation, Heike Münzberg, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, Winfried L. Neuhuber

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Interoception plays an important role in homeostatic regulation of energy intake and metabolism. Major interoceptive pathways include gut-to-brain and adipose tissue-to brain signaling via vagal sensory nerves and hormones, such as leptin. However, signaling via spinal sensory neurons is rapidly emerging as an additional important signaling pathway. Here we provide an in-depth review of the known anatomy and functions of spinal sensory pathways and discuss potential mechanisms relevant for energy balance homeostasis in health and disease. Because sensory innervation by dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons goes far beyond vagally innervated viscera and includes adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and skin, it …

Amazonian Mixed-Species Flocks Demonstrate Flexible Preferences For Vertical Forest Structure, Charles P.J. Coddington, W. Justin Cooper, Cameron L. Rutt, Karl Mokross, Bruna R. Amaral, Philip C. Stouffer, David A. Luther

Faculty Publications

How species interact with human-disturbed environments is a central focus of conservation biology. Within disturbed landscapes, regenerating forests have potential to provide habitat for forest species, especially as increasing amounts of primary forest are lost. As secondary forest regenerates beside primary forest, it increases habitat heterogeneity. However, relatively little is known about the influence of habitat heterogeneity on space use. In this study, we analyzed the topography and vertical vegetation structure of regenerating forest, small forest fragments, and undisturbed rainforest in the central Amazon to determine (1) how these structural characteristics influence understory mixed-species flock space use and (2) how …

Modeling Of Cryopreservation Pathway Operation At An Aquatic Biomedical Stock Center For Zebrafish, Sarah Bodenstein, Fidan Abdullayeva, Joy M. Murphy, Zoltan M. Varga, Terrence R. Tiersch

Faculty Publications

Aquatic biomedical model organisms play a substantial role in advancing our understanding of human health, however, comparably little work has been directed towards developing dependable, high-throughput storage programs for valuable genetic resources. The Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) has developed a standardized cryopreservation pathway and stored thousands of genetic lines in their repository for use by the biomedical research community. This has yet to be replicated in other facilities, and an overall repository-level pathway has never been analyzed for aquatic species. To encourage repository development for other biomedical models and to improve the ZIRC storage process and system, this study …

Leslie Paul Kozak, Phd (1940-2023), Eric Ravussin, Sven Enerback, Robert Koza

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of An Acute Long-Duration Exercise Bout On Skeletal Muscle Lipid Droplet Morphology, Glut 4 Protein, And Perilipin Protein Expression, Sudip Bajpeyi, Jehu N. Apaflo, Victoria Rosas, Keisha Sepulveda-Rivera, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Jeffrey D. Covington, Jose E. Galgani, Eric Ravussin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Purpose: Smaller lipid droplet morphology and GLUT 4 protein expression have been associated with greater muscle oxidative capacity and glucose uptake, respectively. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an acute long-duration exercise bout on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 expressions. Methods: Twenty healthy men (age 24.0 ± 1.0 years, BMI 23.6 ± 0.4 kg/m2) were recruited for the study. The participants were subjected to an acute bout of exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% VO2max until they reached a total energy expenditure of 650 kcal. The study …

Body Shape Perception In Men And Women Without Obesity During Caloric Restriction: A Secondary Analysis From The Calerie Study, Maci M. Jacobson, Alexis M. Gardner, Camilla E. Handley, Michael W. Smith, William F. Christensen, Chad R. Hancock, Paule V. Joseph, Michael J. Larson, Corby K. Martin, James D. Lecheminant

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine body shape perception in 218 adults without obesity or history of eating disorders during caloric restriction (CR). Methods: Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) is a 2-year, randomized clinical trial using a 2:1 assignment (CR, 25% reduction in calories; Control, typical diet). For this secondary analysis, we examined perceived body shape using the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Analyses of BSQ scores are reported by group, over time, by sex, and by BMI. Data for body fat percentage, symptoms of depression, food cravings, maximal oxygen consumption, and stress were analyzed for their association …

Physiologic Hormone Administration Improves Hba1c In Native Americans With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study And Review Of Insulin Secretion And Action, Candida J. Rebello, Tyler S. Morales, Katsya Chuon, Shu Dong, V. Tyrone Lam, Dan Purner, Stanley Lewis, Jonathan Lakey, Robbie A. Beyl, Frank L. Greenway

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Insulin is secreted in pulses from pancreatic beta-cells, and these oscillations maintain fasting plasma glucose levels within a narrow normal range. Within islets, beta-cells exhibit tight synchronization of regular oscillations. This control circuit is disrupted in type 2 diabetes, and irregularities in pulse frequency and amplitude occur. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is three times higher in American Indian and Native Alaskans compared to Whites, and their genetic ancestry is associated with low beta-cell function. Obesity in this population compounds their vulnerability to adverse outcomes. The purpose of this article is to review insulin secretion and action and its …

An Aerobic Exercise Intervention To Improve Metabolic Health Among People Living With Hiv With At-Risk Alcohol Use: The Alive-Ex Research Study Protocol, Liz Simon, Stefany D. Primeaux, Danielle E. Levitt, Brianna Bourgeois, Neil M. Johannsen, Adrianna Peters, Jameel Ahmed, Richard H. Marshall, Alexandra H. Fairchild, Tekeda F. Ferguson, Patricia E. Molina

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV (PLWH) has improved life expectancy and increased risk of age-associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. At-risk alcohol use is more frequent among PLWH and increases the risk of health challenges. PLWH with at-risk alcohol use are more likely to meet criteria for prediabetes/diabetes and this is associated with impaired whole-body glucose-insulin dynamics. Methods: The Alcohol & Metabolic Comorbidities in PLWH: Evidence Driven Interventions Study (ALIVE-Ex Study, NCT03299205) is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional study to determine the effects of an aerobic exercise protocol on improving dysglycemia among PLWH with at-risk alcohol use. The intervention …

An Examination Of The Relationships Between The Neighborhood Social Environment, Adiposity, And Cardiometabolic Disease Risk In Adolescence: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kara D. Denstel, Robbie A. Beyl, Denise M. Danos, Maura M. Kepper, Amanda E. Staiano, Katherine T. Theall, Tung Sung Tseng, Stephanie T. Broyles

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: Disadvantaged neighborhood environments are a source of chronic stress which undermines optimal adolescent health. This study investigated relationships between the neighborhood social environment, specifically, chronic stress exposures, adiposity, and cardiometabolic disease risk factors among 288 Louisiana adolescents aged 10 to 16 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from the Translational Investigation of Growth and Everyday Routines in Kids (TIGER Kids) study. Adolescent data were obtained using self-reported questionnaires (demographics and perceived neighborhood disorder), anthropometry, body imaging, and a blood draw while objective neighborhood data for the concentrated disadvantage index were acquired from the 2016 American Community Survey …

Spin-4/Spinster Supports Sperm Activation In C. Elegans Via Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Transport, Yash Flora, K. Adam Bohnert

Faculty Publications

Spermiogenesis, a sperm-activation step, is crucial for the transformation of immotile spermatids into motile sperm. Though membrane transport of ions and molecules across the sperm plasma membrane has been implicated in this process, the full repertoire of transporters involved, and their respective substrates, is unclear. Here, we report that the major facilitator superfamily transporter SPIN-4/Spinster governs efficient spermiogenesis and fertility in the hermaphrodite nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Unlike other C. elegans Spinster paralogs, SPIN-4 is germline-expressed. Moreover, SPIN-4 expression is gamete-specific; it is strongly expressed in developing sperm, where it localizes to the plasma membrane, but it is absent from oocytes. …

Ketogenic Propensity Is Differentially Related To Lipid-Induced Hepatic And Peripheral Insulin Resistance, J. T. Mey, B. Vandagmansar, W. S. Dantas, K. P. Belmont, C. L. Axelrod, J. P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Aim: Determine the ketogenic response (β-hydroxybutyrate, a surrogate of hepatic ketogenesis) to a controlled lipid overload in humans. Methods: In total, nineteen young, healthy adults (age: 28.4 ± 1.7 years; BMI: 22.7 ± 0.3 kg/m2) received either a 12 h overnight lipid infusion or saline in a randomized, crossover design. Plasma ketones and inflammatory markers were quantified by colorimetric and multiplex assays. Hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity was assessed by the hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained to quantify gene expression related to ketone body metabolism and inflammation. Results: By design, the lipid overload-induced hepatic (50%, p < 0.001) and peripheral insulin resistance (73%, p < 0.01) in healthy adults. Ketones increased with hyperlipidemia and were subsequently reduced with hyperinsulinemia during the clamp procedure (Saline: Basal = 0.22 mM, Insulin = 0.07 mM; Lipid: Basal = 0.78 mM, Insulin = 0.51 mM; 2-way ANOVA: Lipid p < 0.001, Insulin p < 0.001, Interaction p = 0.07). In the saline control condition, ketones did not correlate with hepatic or peripheral insulin sensitivity. Conversely, in the lipid condition, ketones were positively correlated with hepatic insulin sensitivity (r = 0.59, p < 0.01), but inversely related to peripheral insulin sensitivity (r = −0.64, p < 0.01). Hyperlipidemia increased plasma inflammatory markers, but did not impact skeletal muscle inflammatory gene expression. Gene expression related to ketone and fatty acid metabolism in skeletal muscle increased in response to hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: This work provides important insight into the role of ketones in human health and suggests that ketone body metabolism is altered at the onset of lipid-induced insulin resistance.

Weight-Independent Effects Of Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery On Remission Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Mice, Christopher L. Axelrod, Ingeborg Langohr, Wagner S. Dantas, Elizabeth C. Heintz, Bolormaa Vandanmagsar, Shengping Yang, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, R. Leigh Townsend, Vance L. Albaugh, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Obesity is a driver of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and interventions that decrease body weight, such as bariatric surgery and/or calorie restriction (CR), may serve as effective therapies. This study compared the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) and CR on hepatic function in mice with obesity and NAFLD. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet to promote obesity. At 16 weeks of age, mice were randomized to sham surgery (sham), RYGB, or CR weight matched to RYGB (WM). Body weight/composition, food intake, and energy expenditure (EE) were measured throughout treatment. Liver histopathology was evaluated from …

Participant Characteristics In The Prevention Of Gestational Diabetes As Evidence For Precision Medicine: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Siew Lim, Siew Lim, Wubet Worku Takele, Kimberly K. Vesco, Leanne M. Redman, Wesley Hannah, Wesley Hannah, Maxine P. Bonham, Mingling Chen, Sian C. Chivers, Andrea J. Fawcett, Andrea J. Fawcett, Jessica A. Grieger, Nahal Habibi, Gloria K.W. Leung, Kai Liu, Eskedar Getie Mekonnen, Maleesa Pathirana, Alejandra Quinteros, Rachael Taylor, Gebresilasea G. Ukke, Gebresilasea G. Ukke, Shao J. Zhou, Paul W. Franks, Stephen S. Rich, Robert Wagner, Tina Vilsbøll, Miriam S. Udler, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Arianne Sweeting, Emily K. Sims, Jennifer L. Sherr, Robert K. Semple, Rebecca M. Reynolds

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Precision prevention involves using the unique characteristics of a particular group to determine their responses to preventive interventions. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the participant characteristics associated with responses to interventions in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevention. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Pubmed to identify lifestyle (diet, physical activity, or both), metformin, myoinositol/inositol and probiotics interventions of GDM prevention published up to May 24, 2022. Results: From 10347 studies, 116 studies (n = 40940 women) are included. Physical activity results in greater GDM reduction in participants with a normal body mass index (BMI) at baseline compared to …

Precision Subclassification Of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review, Shivani Misra, Shivani Misra, Robert Wagner, Bige Ozkan, Martin Schön, Magdalena Sevilla-Gonzalez, Katsiaryna Prystupa, Caroline C. Wang, Raymond J. Kreienkamp, Sara J. Cromer, Mary R. Rooney, Daisy Duan, Anne Cathrine Baun Thuesen, Amelia S. Wallace, Aaron Leong, Aaron J. Deutsch, Mette K. Andersen, Liana K. Billings, Liana K. Billings, Robert H. Eckel, Wayne Huey Herng Sheu, Torben Hansen, Norbert Stefan, Mark O. Goodarzi, Debashree Ray, Elizabeth Selvin, Jose C. Florez, Paul W. Franks, Stephen S. Rich, Tina Vilsbøll, Kimberly K. Vesco, Miriam S. Udler, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Arianne Sweeting

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes presentation and progression suggests that precision medicine interventions could improve clinical outcomes. We undertook a systematic review to determine whether strategies to subclassify type 2 diabetes were associated with high quality evidence, reproducible results and improved outcomes for patients. Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase for publications that used ‘simple subclassification’ approaches using simple categorisation of clinical characteristics, or ‘complex subclassification’ approaches which used machine learning or ‘omics approaches in people with established type 2 diabetes. We excluded other diabetes subtypes and those predicting incident type 2 diabetes. We assessed quality, reproducibility and clinical …

Impact Of Individual And Environmental Factors On Dietary Or Lifestyle Interventions To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Development: A Systematic Review, Dhanasekaran Bodhini, Robert W. Morton, Vanessa Santhakumar, Mariam Nakabuye, Hugo Pomares-Millan, Hugo Pomares-Millan, Christoffer Clemmensen, Stephanie L. Fitzpatrick, Marta Guasch-Ferre, James S. Pankow, Mathias Ried-Larsen, Paul W. Franks, Stephen S. Rich, Robert Wagner, Tina Vilsbøll, Kimberly K. Vesco, Miriam S. Udler, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Arianne Sweeting, Emily K. Sims, Jennifer L. Sherr, Robert K. Semple, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Maria J. Redondo, Leanne M. Redman, Richard E. Pratley, Rodica Pop-Busui, Toni I. Pollin, Wei Perng, Ewan R. Pearson, Susan E. Ozanne, Katharine R. Owen, Richard Oram, Rinki Murphy

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: The variability in the effectiveness of type 2 diabetes (T2D) preventive interventions highlights the potential to identify the factors that determine treatment responses and those that would benefit the most from a given intervention. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the evidence to support whether sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral, and molecular factors modify the efficacy of dietary or lifestyle interventions to prevent T2D. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies reporting on the effect of a lifestyle, dietary pattern, or dietary supplement interventions on the incidence of T2D and reporting the results stratified by any effect …

Treatment Effect Heterogeneity Following Type 2 Diabetes Treatment With Glp1-Receptor Agonists And Sglt2-Inhibitors: A Systematic Review, Katherine G. Young, Eram Haider Mcinnes, Robert J. Massey, Anna R. Kahkoska, Scott J. Pilla, Sridharan Raghavan, Maggie A. Stanislawski, Deirdre K. Tobias, Andrew P. Mcgovern, Andrew P. Mcgovern, Adem Y. Dawed, Angus G. Jones, Ewan R. Pearson, Ewan R. Pearson, John M. Dennis, John M. Dennis, Paul W. Franks, Stephen S. Rich, Robert Wagner, Tina Vilsbøll, Kimberly K. Vesco, Miriam S. Udler, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Arianne Sweeting, Emily K. Sims, Jennifer L. Sherr, Robert K. Semple, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Maria J. Redondo, Leanne M. Redman, Richard E. Pratley, Rodica Pop-Busui, Toni I. Pollin, Wei Perng

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: A precision medicine approach in type 2 diabetes requires the identification of clinical and biological features that are reproducibly associated with differences in clinical outcomes with specific anti-hyperglycaemic therapies. Robust evidence of such treatment effect heterogeneity could support more individualized clinical decisions on optimal type 2 diabetes therapy. Methods: We performed a pre-registered systematic review of meta-analysis studies, randomized control trials, and observational studies evaluating clinical and biological features associated with heterogenous treatment effects for SGLT2-inhibitor and GLP1-receptor agonist therapies, considering glycaemic, cardiovascular, and renal outcomes. After screening 5,686 studies, we included 101 studies of SGLT2-inhibitors and 75 studies …

Disease-Modifying Therapies And Features Linked To Treatment Response In Type 1 Diabetes Prevention: A Systematic Review, Jamie L. Felton, Kurt J. Griffin, Kurt J. Griffin, Richard A. Oram, Richard A. Oram, Cate Speake, S. Alice Long, Suna Onengut-Gumuscu, Stephen S. Rich, Stephen S. Rich, Gabriela S.F. Monaco, Carmella Evans-Molina, Linda A. Dimeglio, Heba M. Ismail, Andrea K. Steck, Dana Dabelea, Randi K. Johnson, Marzhan Urazbayeva, Stephen Gitelman, John M. Wentworth, Maria J. Redondo, Emily K. Sims, Emily K. Sims, Paul W. Franks, Robert Wagner, Tina Vilsbøll, Kimberly K. Vesco, Miriam S. Udler, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Arianne Sweeting, Jennifer L. Sherr, Robert K. Semple, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. Prevention efforts have focused on immune modulation and supporting beta cell health before or around diagnosis; however, heterogeneity in disease progression and therapy response has limited translation to clinical practice, highlighting the need for precision medicine approaches to T1D disease modification. Methods: To understand the state of knowledge in this area, we performed a systematic review of randomized-controlled trials with ≥50 participants cataloged in PubMed or Embase from the past 25 years testing T1D disease-modifying therapies and/or identifying features linked to treatment response, analyzing bias using a …

The Partner-An Underutilized Facilitator To Support Healthy Gestational Weight Gain, Joshua R. Sparks, Suzanne Phelan, Kimberly L. Drews, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Deep Learning-Based Polygenic Risk Analysis For Alzheimer’S Disease Prediction, Xiaopu Zhou, Yu Chen, Fanny C.F. Ip, Yuanbing Jiang, Han Cao, Ge Lv, Huan Zhong, Jiahang Chen, Tao Ye, Yuewen Chen, Yulin Zhang, Shuangshuang Ma, Ronnie M.N. Lo, Estella P.S. Tong, Ansgar J. Furst, Joy L. Taylor, Jerome A. Yesavage, Gail Li, Eric C. Petrie, Elaine R. Peskind, Sandra Harding, J. Jay Fruehling, Dino Massoglia, Olga James, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Debra Fleischman, Karl Friedl, Shannon Finley, Jacqueline Hayes, Rosemary Morrison, Melissa Davis, Jordan Grafman, Thomas Neylan, Balebail Ashok Raj

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: The polygenic nature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suggests that multiple variants jointly contribute to disease susceptibility. As an individual’s genetic variants are constant throughout life, evaluating the combined effects of multiple disease-associated genetic risks enables reliable AD risk prediction. Because of the complexity of genomic data, current statistical analyses cannot comprehensively capture the polygenic risk of AD, resulting in unsatisfactory disease risk prediction. However, deep learning methods, which capture nonlinearity within high-dimensional genomic data, may enable more accurate disease risk prediction and improve our understanding of AD etiology. Accordingly, we developed deep learning neural network models for modeling AD …

Prognostic Relevance Of Gait-Related Cognitive Functions For Dementia Conversion In Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, Cosimo Tuena, Sara Maestri, Silvia Serino, Elisa Pedroli, Marco Stramba-Badiale, Giuseppe Riva, Lisa C. Silbert, Betty Lind, Rachel Crissey, Jeffrey A. Kaye, Raina Carter, Sara Dolen, Joseph Quinn, Lon S. Schneider, Sonia Pawluczyk, Mauricio Becerra, Liberty Teodoro, Karen Dagerman, Bryan M. Spann, James Brewer, Adam Fleisher, Helen Vanderswag, Jaimie Ziolkowski, Judith L. Heidebrink, Lisa Zbizek-Nulph, Joanne L. Lord, Colleen S. Albers, Ronald Petersen, Sara S. Mason, David Knopman, Kris Johnson, Javier Villanueva-Meyer, Valory Pavlik, Nathaniel Pacini

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Increasing research suggests that gait abnormalities can be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Notably, there is growing evidence highlighting this risk factor in individuals with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), however further studies are needed. The aim of this study is to analyze cognitive tests results and brain-related measures over time in aMCI and examine how the presence of gait abnormalities (neurological or orthopedic) or normal gait affects these trends. Additionally, we sought to assess the significance of gait and gait-related measures as prognostic indicators for the progression from aMCI to AD dementia, comparing those who converted …

Global Dataset Of Soil Organic Carbon In Tidal Marshes, Tania L. Maxwell, André S. Rovai, Maria Fernanda Adame, Janine B. Adams, José Álvarez-Rogel, William E.N. Austin, Kim Beasy, Francesco Boscutti, Michael E. Böttcher, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Richard H. Bulmer, Annette Burden, Shannon A. Burke, Saritta Camacho, Doongar R. Chaudhary, Gail L. Chmura, Margareth Copertino, Grace M. Cott, Christopher Craft, John Day, Carmen B. De Los Santos, Lionel Denis, Weixin Ding, Joanna C. Ellison, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis, Luise Giani, Maria Gispert, Swanne Gontharet, José A. González-Pérez, M. Nazaret González-Alcaraz, Connor Gorham, Anna Elizabeth L. Graversen, Anthony Grey

Faculty Publications

Tidal marshes store large amounts of organic carbon in their soils. Field data quantifying soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks provide an important resource for researchers, natural resource managers, and policy-makers working towards the protection, restoration, and valuation of these ecosystems. We collated a global dataset of tidal marsh soil organic carbon (MarSOC) from 99 studies that includes location, soil depth, site name, dry bulk density, SOC, and/or soil organic matter (SOM). The MarSOC dataset includes 17,454 data points from 2,329 unique locations, and 29 countries. We generated a general transfer function for the conversion of SOM to SOC. Using this …

Enviromic-Based Kernels May Optimize Resource Allocation With Multi-Trait Multi-Environment Genomic Prediction For Tropical Maize, Raysa Gevartosky, Humberto Fanelli Carvalho, Germano Costa-Neto, Osval A. Montesinos-López, José Crossa, Roberto Fritsche-Neto

Faculty Publications

Background: Success in any genomic prediction platform is directly dependent on establishing a representative training set. This is a complex task, even in single-trait single-environment conditions and tends to be even more intricated wherein additional information from envirotyping and correlated traits are considered. Here, we aimed to design optimized training sets focused on genomic prediction, considering multi-trait multi-environment trials, and how those methods may increase accuracy reducing phenotyping costs. For that, we considered single-trait multi-environment trials and multi-trait multi-environment trials for three traits: grain yield, plant height, and ear height, two datasets, and two cross-validation schemes. Next, two strategies for …

Labrad : Vol 48, Issue 2 - December 2023, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• Editorial
• Articles
• Navigating Lab Excellence in LARAD
• Lab Resilience in a Changing Climate: Sustainable Strategies for Future-Proof Clinical Laboratories
• Professional Insights from a Pioneer in Autoimmune Disease Testing: The Future of Antinuclear/Anticellular Antibody Testing
• Insights into CCHF and Other Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
• Bombay Blood Group
• Role and Application of Cytogenetics in Multiple Myeloma
• Low-grade Nasopharyngeal Papillary Adenocarcinoma in a Deceivingly "blue" Biopsy
• Transplant Immunology – Diagnostics
• The Best of the Past
• Farewell Chronicles: Celebrating Dr Anila Rashid's Journey
• The Best of the Past
• Farewell Chronicles: Celebrating Dr Anila Rashid's Journey
• Polaroid
• Chemical Pathology
• Radiology
• Hematology
• Histopathology
• Microbiology
• Molecular Pathology
• Tests …

An Exploration Of Two Information Literacy Open Learning Object Repositories: Value, Content, And Engagement, Tiffanie Lynn Ford-Baxter

Communications in Information Literacy

Information literacy (IL) open learning object repositories (LORs) provide a space for librarians to find and exchange instruction resources and lessons. Given many librarians enter the workforce with little or no formal training or educational opportunities to learn about pedagogy, these repositories are indispensable resources to the Library and Information Science field. This study explored the contents of two popular IL LORs, Project Cora and the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy Sandbox, to uncover how users engage with the resources and how the repositories differ. This study's findings suggest that while resources within the LORs …

Social Organization During Mating, But Not Offspring Care, Influences The Reproductive Success Of Male Degus, Octodon Degus, Chyanne Smith

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

We report results of a longitudinal study on the influence of social organization during different seasons on male reproductive success in the common degu (Octodon degus), a caviomorph rodent endemic to Chile. Male social organization was variable across years and seasons. The best fit model for male reproductive success included autumn-winter social organization unit type, year, spring group ID, and autumn-winter group ID. During the autumn-winter, male reproductive success was greatest in female/male pairs (FM) and was lowest for solitary male units (M) and units containing one female and multiple males (FMM). Spring male social organization did not have an …