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Sumoylation-Mediated Psme3-20s Proteasomal Degradation Of Transcription Factor Cp2c Is Crucial For Cell Cycle Progression, Seung Han Son, Min Young Kim, Young Su Lim, Hyeon Cheol Jin, June Ho Shin, Jae Kyu Yi, Sungwoo Choi, Mi Ae Park, Ji Hyung Chae, Ho Chul Kang, Young Jin Lee, Vladimir N. Uversky, Chul Geun Kim

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Transcription factor CP2c (also known as TFCP2, α-CP2, LSF, and LBP-1c) is involved in diverse ubiquitous and tissue/stage-specific cellular processes and in human malignancies such as cancer. Despite its importance, many fundamental regulatory mechanisms of CP2c are still unclear. Here, we uncover an unprecedented mechanism of CP2c degradation via a previously unidentified SUMO1/PSME3/20S proteasome pathway and its biological meaning. CP2c is SUMOylated in a SUMO1-dependent way, and SUMOylated CP2c is degraded through the ubiquitin-independent PSME3 (also known as REGγ or PA28)/20S proteasome system. SUMOylated PSME3 could also interact with CP2c to degrade CP2c via the 20S proteasomal pathway. Moreover, precisely …

Exploring The Mechanisms By Which Camel Lactoferrin Can Kill Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium And Shigella Sonnei, Hussein A. Almehdar, Nawal Abd El-Baky, Ehab H. Mattar, Raed S. Albiheyri, Atif Bamagoos, Abdullah A. Aljaddawi, Vladimir N. Uversky, Elrashdy M. Redwan

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

There is a continuously increasing pressure associated with the appearance of Salmonella enterica Serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Shigella sonnei (S. sonnei) that have developed pathogenic multiple antibiotic resistance and the cost of cure and control of these enterobacteriaceae infections increases annually. The current report for first time demonstrated the distinguished antimicrobial action of camel lactoferrin (cLf) obtained from the milk of different clans of camel in Saudi Arabia against S. typhimurium and S. sonnei. These cLf subtypes showed comparable antimicrobial potential when tested against the two bacterial strains but were superior to either bovine (bLf) …

Paving The Way For Synthetic Intrinsically Disordered Polymers For Soft Robotics, Orkid Coskuner-Weber, Elif Yuce-Erarslan, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Nature is full of examples of processes that, through evolution, have been perfected over the ages to effectively use matter and sustain life. Here, we present our strategies for designing intrinsically disordered smart polymers for soft robotics applications that are bio-inspired by intrinsically disordered proteins. Bio-inspired intrinsically disordered smart and soft polymers designed using our deep understanding of intrinsically disordered proteins have the potential to open new avenues in soft robotics. Together with other desirable traits, such as robustness, dynamic self-organization, and self-healing abilities, these systems possess ideal characteristics that human-made formations strive for but often fail to achieve. Our …

Limosilactobacillus Fermentum 3872 That Produces Class Iii Bacteriocin Forms Co-Aggregates With The Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Strains And Induces Their Lethal Damage, Vyacheslav M. Abramov, Igor V. Kosarev, Andrey V. Machulin, Tatiana V. Priputnevich, Eugenia I. Deryusheva, Ekaterina L. Nemashkalova, Irina O. Chikileva, Tatiana N. Abashina, Alexander N. Panin, Vyacheslav G. Melnikov, Natalia E. Suzina, Ilya N. Nikonov, Marina V. Selina, Valentin S. Khlebnikov, Vadim K. Sakulin, Vladimir A. Samoilenko, Alexey B. Gordeev, Gennady T. Sukhikh, Vladimir N. Uversky, Andrey V. Karlyshev

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

LF3872 was isolated from the milk of a healthy lactating and breastfeeding woman. Earlier, the genome of LF3872 was sequenced, and a gene encoding unique bacteriocin was discovered. We have shown here that the LF3872 strain produces a novel thermolabile class III bacteriolysin (BLF3872), exhibiting antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Sequence analysis revealed the two-domain structural (lysozyme-like domain and peptidase M23 domain) organization of BLF3872. At least 25% residues of this protein are expected to be intrinsically disordered. Furthermore, BLF3872 is predicted to have a very high liquid-liquid phase separation. According to the electron microscopy data, the bacterial …

Pre-Molten, Wet, And Dry Molten Globules En Route To The Functional State Of Proteins, Munishwar Nath Gupta, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Transitions between the unfolded and native states of the ordered globular proteins are accompanied by the accumulation of several intermediates, such as pre-molten globules, wet molten globules, and dry molten globules. Structurally equivalent conformations can serve as native functional states of intrinsically disordered proteins. This overview captures the characteristics and importance of these molten globules in both structured and intrinsically disordered proteins. It also discusses examples of engineered molten globules. The formation of these intermediates under conditions of macromolecular crowding and their interactions with nanomaterials are also reviewed.

Liaisons Dangereuses: Intrinsic Disorder In Cellular Proteins Recruited To Viral Infection-Related Biocondensates, Greta Bianchi, Stefania Brocca, Sonia Longhi, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is responsible for the formation of so-called membrane-less organelles (MLOs) that are essential for the spatio-temporal organization of the cell. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) or regions (IDRs), either alone or in conjunction with nucleic acids, are involved in the formation of these intracellular condensates. Notably, viruses exploit LLPS at their own benefit to form viral replication compartments. Beyond giving rise to biomolecular condensates, viral proteins are also known to partition into cellular MLOs, thus raising the question as to whether these cellular phase-separating proteins are drivers of LLPS or behave as clients/regulators. Here, we focus on …

Can Covid-19 Vaccines Induce Premature Non-Communicable Diseases: Where Are We Heading To?, Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić, Debmalya Barh, Vladimir N. Uversky, Alaa A. A. Aljabali, Murtaza M. Tambuwala, Fuad M. Alzahrani, Saleh Alshammeri, Kenneth Lundstrom

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

According to the WHO, as of January 2023, more than 850 million cases and over 6.6 million deaths from COVID-19 have been reported worldwide. Currently, the death rate has been reduced due to the decreased pathogenicity of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, but the major factor in the reduced death rates is the administration of more than 12.8 billion vaccine doses globally. While the COVID-19 vaccines are saving lives, serious side effects have been reported after vaccinations for several premature non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the reported adverse events are low in number. The scientific community must investigate the entire spectrum of COVID-19-vaccine-induced …

Yield And Composition Variations Of The Milk From Different Camel Breeds In Saudi Arabia, Amr A. El-Hanafy, Yasser M. Saad, Saleh A. Alkarim, Hussein A. Almehdar, Fuad M. Alzahrani, Mohammed A. Almatry, Vladimir N. Uversky, Elrashdy M. Redwan

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

With the increasing interest in the identification of differences between camel breeds over the last decade, this study was conducted to estimate the variability of milk production and composition of four Saudi camel breeds during different seasons. Milk records were taken two days per week from females of Majahem, Safra, Wadha, and Hamra breeds distributed over Saudi Arabia. The milk yield during winter indicated that the weekly average of the Wadha breed was significantly lower (27.13 kg/week) than Majahem and Hamra breeds. The Safra breed had the lowest milk yield (30.7 kg/week) during summer. During winter, the Hamra breed had …

From The Hydrophobic Core To The Globular-Disorder Interface: New Challenges And Insights Into Protein Design, Sankar Basu, Devlina Chakravarty, Qingzhen Hou, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Advanced Phytochemical-Based Nanocarrier Systems For The Treatment Of Breast Cancer, Vivek P. Chavda, Lakshmi Vineela Nalla, Pankti Balar, Rajashri Bezbaruah, Vasso Apostolopoulos, Rajeev K. Singla, Avinash Khadela, Lalitkumar K. Vora, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

As the world’s most prevalent cancer, breast cancer imposes a significant societal health burden and is among the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide. Despite the notable improvements in survival in countries with early detection programs, combined with different modes of treatment to eradicate invasive disease, the current chemotherapy regimen faces significant challenges associated with chemotherapy-induced side effects and the development of drug resistance. Therefore, serious concerns regarding current chemotherapeutics are pressuring researchers to develop alternative therapeutics with better efficacy and safety. Due to their extremely biocompatible nature and efficient destruction of cancer cells via numerous mechanisms, phytochemicals …

His Ship Has Sailed—Expelling Columbus From Cultural Heritage Law, Emily T. Behzadi

Faculty Scholarship

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 is …

Figure Set Update: An Inquiry-Based Module Aligned With The 4dee Framework For Teaching About Functional Responses And Biological Control, Rosny Jean, Linda Auker, Suann Yang, Jeremy Hsu

Open Educational Resources

THE ISSUE

Biological control agents are used in a wide range of contexts to limit damage from pests. However, the broader ecological consequences of such agents often are unclear before ecological risk assessments are performed. This Figure Set guides students to think through potential consequences of using biological control agents, and then uses a specific study to challenge students to interpret results from laboratory and caged field experiments. This Figure Set also introduces the concept of functional responses to students.

FOUR DIMENSIONAL ECOLOGY EDUCATION (4DEE) FRAMEWORK

• Core Ecological Concepts:
• Organisms
• Resources and regulators
• Communities
• Predation
• Ecology Practices:
• Quantitative reasoning and …

Speech-Language Pathologists' And Speech-Language Therapists' Role Working With Youth In The Juvenile Justice System, Maria Cuza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to examine and provide insight into how speech-language pathologists and speech-language therapists (SLP/SLT) in Australia (AUS), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA) work with youth in the Juvenile Justice System (JJS). Currently, many youth involved in the JJS struggle with language barriers and need proper services to overcome them. Studies have shown that an SLP/SLT positively affects young people in the system. This study aimed to examine the demographic, educational, and occupational backgrounds of SLPs/SLTs working with youth in the JJS and the services provided to these youth by …

Advances In Precision Microfabrication Through Digital Light Processing: System Development, Material And Applications, Xinhui Wang, Jinghang Liu, Yang Zhang, Per Magnus Kristiansen, Aminul Islam, Michael Gilchrist, Nan Zhang

Articles

Digital Light Processing (DLP) is an advanced additive manufacturing technology which has garnered substantial recognition and has been extensively applications in various fields. This review focuses on the precision microfabrication process of DLP, providing an overview of the DLP 3D printing system, including the digital light engine, project lenses, motorised stage and resin vat for micro-structure fabrication. Additionally, this review paper comprehensively analyses commercially available DLP printers, covering resolution, cost and a detailed discussion on the importance of photopolymer resins, emphasising the monomer, photo-initiator, photoabsorber, etc. Based on the photopolymerisation theory, the DLP high-precision printing process is analysed, which is …

A Critical Approach To Engineering Mathematics Activities For Sustainable Development, Matheus Oliveira De Andrade, Mariam Makramalla

Practice Papers

Engineering projects are frequently experienced through the complexity of knowledge co-production between experts and local communities. This involves an ability to work critically and creatively within unfamiliar epistemologies, drawing from quantitative, social and scientific methods to realise high-impact solutions. In this work-in-progress paper, we put forward a prototype for a case-control study aiming to evaluate student buy-in and learning outcomes for a cross-cultural implementation of critical mathematics approaches contextualised by sustainability challenges. We outline and discuss aspects of mathematical modelling activities that can scaffold an environment where human subjectivity amplifies the quality and relevance of quantitative arguments. As proof-of-concept, we …

The Relationship Between Ventilation Rates In Schools And The Indoor Airborne Transmission Potential Of Covid-19, Seamus Harrington, Mark Mulville, Spyros Stravoravdis

Articles

The requirement for natural ventilation strategies in classrooms to perform in respect to both their inherent and adaptive capacity is necessary to mitigate the risk of transmission associated with infectious airborne pathogens such as COVID-19. This paper assesses the performance of ten classrooms considering (a) the designed versus actual ventilation capacity; (b) the probability of airborne disease transmission by unit time resulting from calculated ventilation rates and (c) the reduction of transmission risk associated with mask wearing by all occupants.

Monitored air changes per hour (ACH) range from 0.26–1.7, demonstrating that none of the classrooms meet designed ventilation rate whilst …

Measuring New Growth Of Kinnikinnick And Brown Elfin Butterfly Abundance At The Ma-Le’L & Lanphere Dunes: Implications For The Management Of The Seaside Hoary Elfin Butterfly, Aidan Jack Murphy, Verenice Elizabeth Sanchez, Leila M. Rahimi, Magdalena A. Villasenor

Environmental Science & Management Senior Capstones

The study assessed changes in inflorescence length of kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) new growth and the abundance of brown elfin butterflies (Callophrys augustinas) at the Ma-le’l and Lanphere Dunes. The research took place at the Ma-le’l and Lanphere Dunes in Humboldt County where a surrogate species for the seaside hoary elfin–the brown elfin–is abundant. In the larval stage, the brown elfin feeds on the new growth of kinnikinnick. Our study set out to analyze the food resource availability for brown elfin butterfly larvae, as they are forage on the tender leaves associated with the new growth of kinnikinnick …

Belowground Plant Communities: Seed Bank Dynamics And Relationship To Aboveground Vegetation In Grazing Allotment Of Klamath County, Oregon, Dellaina C. Morse, Scott M. Estepa

Environmental Science & Management Senior Capstones

Seed banks are valuable resources for restoration but are understudied. The species present in the aboveground composition influence the seed bank through seed inputs. Land managers utilize herbicides to selectively reduce certain species in the above- and belowground composition. The aim of this paper is to observe and assess the species present in a seed bank post-herbicide application, and to discuss the seed bank potential for future restoration at the specific site in Klamath County, Oregon. Soil core samples were collected in the field and brought to the lab where they were processed and prepared for germination. We watered and …

Assessment Of Microplastics In The Surface Water Of Sitio Pulo, Navotas, Metro Manila, Mark Lester C. Galicia, Carl Luis P. Flestado, Jeff Ryan S. Magalong, Ronald Benz L. Rivera, Kim M. Villacorte, William Peter G. Sarmiento, Chester C. Deocaris

Applied Environmental Research

Microplastics are synthetic polymer particles with a length of 5 mm or less with no well-defined lower boundary. These debris particles are known to affect marine and aquatic organisms which poses a threat to biodiversity and marine resources. In this study, the isolated microplastic from the coastal and lagoon surface waters of Sitio Pulo is described. Sitio Pulo is a barrier island mangrove sanctuary located at Brgy. Tanza I, Navotas City surrounded by Manila Bay. The samples collected last July 4 and 25, 2019, were isolated, profiled, and analyzed. A total of four hundred forty-nine (449) microplastic fragments were isolated …

An Urban Tree (Tabebuia Argentea) Exhibits Higher Sensitivity To Environmental Conditions Than An Urban Palm (Ptychosperma Macarthurii) Growing In The Same Roof Garden: An Implication For Sustainable Urban Water Use, Ratchanon Ampornpitak, Prangwilai Khobpee, Weerapong Unawong, Nisa Leksungnoen, Pantana Tor-Ngern

Applied Environmental Research

Roof gardening is popular for increasing green space in cities due to the restricted urban areas. However, when watering plants on a roof garden, one should consider loading capacity of the roof, which may limit water supply to the plants therein. To improve the efficiency in irrigating trees in a roof garden, we evaluated plant water status, represented by midday leaf water potential (ΨL), and leaf gas exchange parameters including stomatal conductance (gs) and net photosynthesis (An) of a tree (Tabebuia argentea, Ta) and a palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii, Pm) species, which dominate the garden. …

Impact Of Covid-19 Nationwide Lockdowns And Unlock Phases In India On River Water Quality Of Upper Part Of The Ganga River, Dhara Kakwani, Abha Kumari, Kumar Suranjit Prasad, Bablu Prasad

Applied Environmental Research

The river water quality index (RWQI) of the upper Ganga canal has been computed to assess the effect of lockdown and unlock phases lead down by COVID-19 in India. Geospatial distribution of RWQI from January 2019 to December 2021 in the study area revealed significant impacts of lockdown on water quality. However, unlock phases (post lockdown) have deteriorated water quality since August 2020 and reached to actual conditions of the river by August 2021. To evaluate the lockdown as a management strategy to clean the river, other factors were reviewed including rainfall data, migration, and other activities. The results revealed …

Creating Portfolio Management Concepts For Highly Agile And Innovative Government Research Programs Using Design Thinking And Learn Start Up Methodologies, Vanessa Aubuchon, Resit Unal, Pilar Pazos, Holly Handley, Cindy Daniels

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Managing a research and development (R&D) portfolio presents numerous challenges, such as prioritizing research areas, remaining agile, strategic workforce planning, and measuring return on investment, impact, and innovation. One government R&D program is charged with producing a high degree of innovative, transformational breakthroughs in aviation technology. A practical, structured methodology for strategically prioritizing emerging aviation R&D in such an environment is lacking. The existing multi-criteria decision aid tools are primarily utilized at an enterprise level, take months to set up and collect data, require large teams of experts, are used on an infrequent basis, and are not conducive to a …

Vibrio Bacteria Surveillance Post-Hurricanes Ian And Nicole: How Climate Change Affects Pathogens, Lillian Walker

Theses & ETDs

Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria typically found in warm, brackish water. Some Vibrio species can infect humans, such as Vibrio vulnificus, also known as flesh-eating bacteria, which infects roughly 50 to 100 people and kills 16 of them annually in the United States, mostly in Gulf Coast states such as Florida[1], [2]. In fact, Florida alone had 74 cases and 17 deaths in 2022, an increase from 34 cases and 10 deaths in 2021[3]. This increase is thought to be correlated with the Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian that made landfall in Cayo Costa in late September of …

Divine Justice, Human Injustice: The Legal Bifurcation Of Israeli And Jewish Law, Its Impact On The Palestinian Child, And Judaism’S Biblical Obligation To Protect The Non-Jew, Chloe Arizona Fodor

Theses & ETDs

Law and human rights research regarding the Palestinian child has long focused on physical abuse by Israeli security forces and the Israeli state’s violation of international human rights law. A small but emergent field works to problematize the legal structures that enable the abuse of Palestinian children, critiquing both Israeli law and the international human rights structures that fail to adequately address such abuses. This thesis contributes to that body of research by examining the legal bifurcation of Israeli and Jewish law into “rules” and “exceptions.” Building upon the work of Heidi Viterbo, Orna Ben-Naftali and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, this thesis …

Evolving Enemies: Red Guards And Victimhood In Mao’S Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Sydney Mclain

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the complex and evolving relationship the Red Guards had with the concept of victimhood during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Motivated by Mao’s anti-bourgeois rhetoric, young students in cities across China expressed their beliefs in the form of public humiliation and beatings directed towards class enemies during the period of continuous social upheaval initiated by Mao in the Cultural Revolution. Though there is a diversity of topics covered in modern scholarship on the subject, much of it follows the mainstream narrative of the Red Guards as a group of adolescents committing brutal arts of violence upon the bourgeois …

Artificial Light At Night Disrupts Male Dominance Relationships And Reproductive Success In A Model Fish Species, Lauren E. Closs, Muhammad Rahmad Rayan, Amin Sayyari, Ian Mayer, Finn-Arne Weltzien, Dianne M. Baker, Romain Fontaine

Biological Sciences Research

Environmental light is perceived and anticipated by organisms to synchronize their biological cycles. Therefore, artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts both diurnal and seasonal biological rhythms. Reproduction is a complex physiological process involving integration of environmental signals by the brain, and release of endocrine signals by the pituitary that regulate gametogenesis and spawning. In addition, males from many species form a dominance hierarchy that, through a combination of aggressive and protective behavior, influences their reproductive success. In this study, we investigated the effect of ALAN and continuous daylight on the behavior and fitness of male fish within a dominance hierarchy …

Just Tell Me: A Robot-Assisted E-Health Solution For People With Lower-Extremity Disability, Alexander Coutras, Omar Obidat, Michelle Zhu, Weitian Wang

School of Computing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Robotics technology has been increasingly applied to healthcare contexts to enhance efficiency and safety in healthcare processes in recent years. People with mobility impairments and disabilities often require caretakers in their lives. Fortunately, robots can provide attention and assistance consistently for them instead of human caretakers. Motivated by this, we develop a robot-assisted e-health solution to empower the patients' daily lives and improve their wellbeing in this study. A transfer learning-based approach is proposed to train the robot to understand and identify patients' needs through a small dataset. Using the proposed approach, the robot is able to understand the patient's …

Laboratories Of The Future: Tribes And Rights Of Nature, Elizabeth A. Kronk Warner, Jensen Lillquist

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

From global challenges such as climate change and mass extinction, to local challenges such as toxic spills and undrinkable water, environmental degradation and the impairment of Earth systems are well documented. Yet, despite this reality, the U.S. federal government has done little in the last thirty years to provide a comprehensive solution to these profound environmental challenges; likewise, significant state action is lacking. In this vacuum, environmental legal advocates are looking for innovative environmental solutions to these challenges. Against this backdrop, rights of nature have increasingly gained traction as a possible legal tool to help protect the natural environment from …

Trade Secret, Jorge L. Contreras

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

A trade secret is information that has commercial value to an organization due to its secrecy, is not known outside of the organization, and the continuing secrecy of which the organization has taken reasonable measures to protect. Trade secrets may include information embodied in documents, electronic records, products and other media, as well as information known to individuals. The EU and some other jurisdictions exclude from the definition of trade secrets trivial information or experience/skills gained by employees during the normal course of their employment and information that is generally known among, or is readily accessible to, persons within the …

Constitutional Confidentiality, Natalie Ram, Jorge L. Contreras, Laura M. Beskow, Leslie E. Wolf

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

Federal Certificates of Confidentiality protect sensitive information about human research subjects from disclosure and use in judicial, administrative, and legislative proceedings at both the state and federal levels. While Certificates originally covered sensitive information collected in research about drug addiction use when they were authorized by Congress in the 1970s, today they extend to virtually all personal information gathered by biomedical research studies. The broad reach of Certificates, coupled with their power to override state subpoenas and warrants issued in the context of law enforcement, abortion regulation, and other police powers reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment, beg …