Digital Commons Network^™

Disruption Of G3bp1 Granules Promotes Mammalian Cns And Pns Axon Regeneration, Pabitra K. Sahoo, Manasi Agrawal, Nicholas Hanovice, Patricia J. Ward, Meghal Desai, Terika P. Smith, Haomin Sima, Jennifer N. Dulin, Lauren S. Vaughn, Mark H. Tuszynski, Kristy Welshhans, Larry I. Benowitz, Arthur W. English, John D. Houle, Jeffery L. Twiss

Faculty Publications

Depletion or inhibition of core stress granule proteins, G3BP1 in mammals and TIAR-2 in Caenorhabditis elegans, increases the growth of spontaneously regenerating axons. Inhibition of G3BP1 by expression of its acidic or “B-domain” accelerates axon regeneration after nerve injury, bringing a potential therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve repair. Here, we asked whether G3BP1 inhibition is a viable strategy to promote regeneration in injured mammalian central nervous system (CNS) where axons do not regenerate spontaneously. G3BP1 B-domain expression was found to promote axon regeneration in the transected spinal cord provided with a permissive peripheral nerve graft (PNG) as well as …

Use Of A Taqman Array Card For Identification Of Enterotoxins And Colonization Factors Directly From Stool Samples In An Enterotoxigenic E Coli Vaccine Study, Jie Liu, T Sakari Jokiranta, Nils Carlin, Suzanne Stroup, Jixian Zhang, Bjorn Sjostrand, Ann-Mari Svennerholm, Eric R Houpt, Anu Kantele

Faculty and Staff Publications

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a leading cause of childhood and travelers' diarrhea. The vaccine candidate ETVAX encompasses several ETEC colonization factors (CFs) with a hybrid LT (heat-labile toxin)/cholera toxin B subunit adjuvanted with a double-mutant LT. Stool samples from a Phase 2b ETVAX trial were tested by a PCR-based customized TaqMan Array Card (TAC), including three ETEC toxin genes (LT and heat-stable toxins, STh and STp) and 18 ETEC CFs. Stool samples were also tested with the molecular platform Amplidiag and culture, followed by GM1-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and inhibition GM1-ELISA for LT and ST and dot blot for …

Heterogeneity Of Layer 1 Interneurons In The Mouse Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Chen Shen, Wanpeng Cui, Wen Cheng Xiong, Lin Mei

Faculty Scholarship

Cortical Layer 1 (L1) acts as a critical relay for processing long-range inputs. GABAergic inhibitory interneurons (INs) in this layer (Layer 1 interneurons [L1INs]) function as inhibitory gates, regulating these inputs and modulating the activity of deeper cortical layers. However, their characteristics and circuits in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) remain poorly understood. Using biocytin labeling, we identified three distinct morphological types of mPFC L1INs: neurogliaform cells (NGCs), elongated NGCs (eNGCs), and single-bouquet cell-like (SBC-like) cells. Whole-cell recordings revealed distinct firing patterns across these subtypes: NGCs and eNGCs predominantly exhibited late-spiking (LS) patterns, and SBC-like cells displayed a higher prevalence …

March 2025 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.

Community Pharmacy: The Foundation Of Public Health, Jessica Joi Gordon

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Towards Greater Standardisation In Benthic Trait Research To Support Application To Environmental Management, Irene Susini, Heidi M. Tillin, Louise Anderson, Craig M. Robertson, Sian Rees, Kerry L. Howell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Functional trait-based approaches have enriched our understanding of key ecological processes such as species assembly and biodiversity loss. This focus on traits, rather than taxonomy, promotes comparability across spatial and organisational scales, further enabling the application of trait-based methodologies to systems where species identity is difficult to recognise. Among other issues, however, the lack of standardisation is preventing trait-based approaches from unlocking their true potential. Here, 407 published articles (peer-reviewed and grey literature) are reviewed alongside the Biological Traits Information Catalogue (BIOTIC) to document inconsistencies in the understanding and use of trait terminology in the context of marine benthic ecosystems. …

The Hepatocellular Model Of Fatty Liver Disease: From Current Imaging Diagnostics To Innovative Proteomics Technologies, Renee Hernandez, Natasha Garcia-Rodriguez, Marco A. Arriaga, Ricardo Perez, Auwal A. Bala, Ana C. Leandro, Vincent P. Diego, Marcio A. Almeida, Jason Parsons, Eron G. Manusov, Jacob Galan

School of Medicine Publications

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition characterized by lipid accumulation and inflammation, often progressing to severe liver damage. We aim to review the pathophysiology, diagnostics, and clinical care of MASLD, and review highlights of advances in proteomic technologies. Recent advances in proteomics technologies have improved the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets, offering insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying MASLD progression. We focus on the application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics including single cell proteomics, proteogenomics, extracellular vesicle (EV-omics), and exposomics for biomarker discovery, emphasizing the potential of blood-based panels for noninvasive diagnosis and …

Addressing Health Disparities In Hematologic Malignancies: From Genes To Outreach, Christopher R Flowers, Rachel W Anantha, Veronica Leautaud, Pinkal Desai, Chancellor E Donald, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Jean L Koff, Rulla M Tamimi, Wendy Cozen, Chijioke Nze, Ari M Melnick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This review underscores our shared responsibility to champion multidimensional strategies rooted in basic and translational science, community involvement, and societal responsiveness for a meaningful impact. Unifying themes include the need to enhance collaborative infrastructure to engage laboratory researchers, epidemiologists, data scientists, clinicians, patients, community leaders, and policymakers; patient-level support services; outreach, education, and navigation for patients at the community level; recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in the healthcare and research workforce; and funding for these efforts.

Historical Perspective And Contribution Of Aquaculture To The Amr Global Pandemic, Miriam Reverter, Sarahi Vega-Heredía, Philip Warburton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The global rise in the emergence and spread of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) that have developed or acquired new resistance mechanisms to drugs, commonly referred as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is alarming. The emergence and spread of AMR, which is mostly attributed to the use (often overuse and misuse) of antimicrobial substances such as antibiotics, is not a new phenomenon. In fact, AMR was discovered several decades ago. However, exponential increases in global antimicrobial use have led to a rise in the emergence and spread of AMR, which is nowadays considered as one of the top ten global public …

State-Powered Acceleration Of Cannabis Economy Growth Engines, Benjamin C. Varadi

Pace Law Review

Small cannabis companies in state-regulated markets have driven extraordinary job creation and economic growth, but now face extinction as consolidation looms. Government intervention can build a future populated with prosperous small business growth engines, while failure to act will magnify economic disparity. This Article proposes state-backed loan guarantees, funded by municipal “cannabonds,” as a novel solution to guide the industry toward a healthier and more diverse economic landscape. This approach offers constitutionally resilient strategies to express explicit preference for local stakeholders and inverts traditional risk metrics to leverage historic institutional lending bias as a force for positive change. In doing …

Silent Trees, William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of Silent Trees (2024), directed by Agnieszka Zwiefka.

When Grief Comes To Court: Supporting Bereaved Court Involved Youth, Lane Pease, Erin Richter

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Youth who are court involved have higher rates of bereavement than the general population. Learn how grief impacts youth involved in the Juvenile Court. This session will focus on how bringing together court stakeholders and partnering with outside experts to provide grief support can decrease further court involvement and lead to positive outcomes.

Investigating The Relationship Among Environmental Factors, Reproductive Status, And Stress In A Preclinical Model Of Endocrine Function In Women’S Translational Health, Bianca A. Camacho, Laura Emma Garcia, Raquel Villarreal, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: The average menstrual cycle of a healthy adult woman is a duration of approximately 28 days, during which in the follicular phase (first 14 days) the progesterone hormone is at a stable level while estrogen increases to its peak level on day 14. Day 14 is known as ovulation, during which progesterone increases during its Luteinizing Hormone (LH) surge while estrogen decreases. Menses, known colloquially as a woman’s “period,” begins approximately at day 14 after ovulation and lasts an average of 7 days. The luteal phase, otherwise known as the secretory phase, lasts for the remaining 14 days until …

Dog Bite Prevalence And Severity Within Demographics: Age, Ethnicity, And Sex., Ashlyn Holubar, Jocelyn Torres, Mary Arden Guillory, Saloni Saldhi, Isabella Ortigoza Martinez, Shalika Padhi, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Dog bites are the most common animal bite injuries treated in emergency departments. Studies have shown a disproportional distribution of dog bites within demographics such as age group, ethnicity, and sex. This study aimed to identify the demographic groups with the highest prevalence of dog bites, analyze the relationship between injury type and gender, and explore the association between injury location and gender. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (2018-2022) were analyzed using ICD-10 code W54.0XXA, specific for dog bite incidents. Demographic factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity were extracted, and chi-square tests with Benjamini-Hochberg adjustments …

Exploring The Effects Of Serotonin And Ssris On The Neurological, Behavioral, And Cardiovascular Systems Under Induced Stress –Using The Animal Model Of The Syrian Hamster, Ariana V. Hinojosa, Esperanza I. Alaniz, Esmeralda Lopez-Garcia, Giselle Padilla, Fernando Dominquez, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been found to have a wide range of effects on not just the neuropsychological processes but has also been found to exert effects outside the central nervous system (CNS); regulating numerous biological processes, such as metabolism, gastrointestinal system, reproductive function, and even the cardiovascular system. However, there is still a limited understanding of how serotonin affects all these systems due to its complexity and ability to regulate homeostasis. This project aims to create a stronger foundation of knowledge about serotonin and its influence on the interaction between the CNS, behavior, and cardiac function …

Gut-Spine Connection: Unexplored Pathways To Improving Outcomes In Spinal Health And Disease, Anesu K. Murambadoro, Julia Saifetiarova, Priya Kale, Victor A. Bob-Yellowe, Paul Bonilla, Aun A. Bangash, Isabella Ortigoza, Anjana Ganesh, Mohammed S. Razzaque

Research Symposium

Introduction: Lumbar spinal fusion is among the most expensive procedures in the Medicare system, with costs exceeding $33 billion annually. Improving recovery outcomes for these procedures is critical, and emerging research suggests that microbiome-targeted therapies could play a key role. There is growing evidence linking spinal health with gut microbiota alterations, particularly through the gut-spine axis, which involves the gut-disc, gut-bone, and gut-immune interactions. This bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and spinal health offers a novel approach for understanding recovery mechanisms. Additionally, magnesium deficiency, which is prevalent, may exacerbate both gut dysbiosis and poor bone health, contributing to chronic skeletal …

First-In-Class Peptide Molecules Targeting The Mien1 Cancer Signaling Pathway, For Which No Inhibitors Have Been Identified To Date., Amit Tripathi, Jamboor K. Vishwanatha

Research Symposium

Background: Migration and Invasion Enhancer 1 (MIEN1) is a critical oncogene that drives cancer cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancers. MIEN1 overexpression is linked to aggressive tumor progression and poor prognosis. Despite its established role in cancer biology, targeted therapeutic options remain unexplored. This study aimed to identify and characterize first-in-class therapeutic molecules targeting the MIEN1 signaling pathway to inhibit cancer progression.

Methods: To develop novel bio-active peptides, we leveraged conserved immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) and prenylation motifs within the MIEN1 protein sequence. Using rational peptide design, we identified and synthesized bioactive peptides, namely LA3IK …

The Heart Of Higher Education: Rediscovering Meditation From The Margins Of Learning To A Liberatory Pedagogy In The Post-Pandemic University, Jinting Wu, Yuejia Wang, Yu Wu, Qi Zhang

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

On May 14^th, 2022, a racially motivated mass shooting occurred in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Western New York. The trauma brought fresh anguish to a fraught social landscape already shaken by COVID-19 and resurgent racism. This paper explores the formation of a campus meditation group that emerged in light of the shooting tragedy and prolonged pandemic suffering, and its members’ journeys of healing, self-discovery, and transformation. While scholars have critiqued the neoliberal higher education for producing self-enterprising individuals motivated by economic rationality, this paper offers our humble attempt to re-center meditation as a liberatory pedagogy in fostering …

A Time For Change- Issues Arising From The Xvii International Grassland Congress Developed World Viewpoint, Barney Foran

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A number of major issues raised at the conference, if they are accepted by farmers and grassland scientists, will mean a major realignment of both the philosophy and practice of grassland science. The first of these is future world trade flows and a bleak prognosis for traded livestock products. Jf the developed world accepts that developing nations have to trade in order to develop, and trade in commodities where they have a cost advantage, this suggests that bulk production of livestock commodities will decline ln total. Thus grassland exports will have to concentrate on high value niche markets. This poses …

Animal Production From Tropical Semi-Arid Savannah Woodland In Subcoastal Queensland, Australia, H G. Bishop, H J. Chamberlain, R M. Dodt, T B. Hilder, G A. Lambert, E R. Anderson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Annual live-weight gain of steers grazing on virgin tropical semi­arid poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) savannah woodland in subcoastal central Queensland fluctuated between 59 kg/head and 200 kg/head over a 7-year period. Average live-weight gain for the 7 years was 136 kg/head/year, which is above expected levels for this vegetation type. Reasons suggested for this animal performance are the use of a stocking rate more lenient than the district average and above-average winter rainfall received during the 7 years of this demonstration project. Removing trees doubled the pasture dry matter yield, which subsequently allowed a doubling of stocking rate …

Evaluation Of Animal Productivity And Pasture Yield After Treatment Of Brigalow (Acacia Harpopylla) Regrowth With Tebuthiuron, G W. Fossett, P C. Venamore

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth was aerially treated with 2.0 kg/ha tebuthiuron (Graslan TM) at Blackwater, Australia in November 1989. Control of brigalow regrowth increased in grass production 2- fold, which resulted in dramatic animal live-weight gains. The live­weight advantage of steers grazing the tebuthiuron treated area was 31 kg/head compared with similar steers grazing the control paddock at similar stocking rates. After 20 months this advantage enabled 44% of stock to be marketed at premlum prices. A subset of steers implanted with a long-term hormonal growth promotant (HGP) (Compudose400™) and grazing the tebuthiuron-treated paddock recorded a 75 kg …

A Legume Ley System In Australia's Semi-Arid Tropics, R L. Mccown, K Thiagalingam, T Price, P S. Carberry, R K. Jones, N P. Dagliesh, D.C I. Peake

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A large part of the Australian continent is semi-arid and tropical. While extensive beef cattle grazing is the most significant agricultural industry in this region, there Is some potential for dryland cropping. There are strong economic and- ecological reasons for exploring the possibility of a no-till tropical ley system. Work at Katherine, Northern Territory, found that a ley system based on Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano showed considerable promise based on both contributions to dry-season animal performance and nitrogen contribution to succeeding coarse grain crops. Subsequent research and development in the wetter Douglas-Daly district of the Northern Territory has demonstrated even …

Potential Of Crotalaria Ochroleuca (Marejea) In Traditional Crop And Livestock Production Systems In Tanzania, S V. Sarwatt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In experiments to study the role of Crolalaria ochrroleuca (marejea) in traditional farming systems, the plant was used in the following way: (l) broadcast alone at a rate of 10 kg/ha of seed to determine dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive value and kg N/ha it can fix at different stages of growth, i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8, IO, 12, 14 and 16 weeks. (2) sown under after 3 weeks on alternate ridges with maize and maize alone as control. (3) the leaves at 10 weeks were harvested and supplemented to young sheep grazing 8 h/day. 12 male sheep …

Pasture Legumes In Cuba: Past, Present, And Future, F Funes, Marta Monzote

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Before 1960 the utilisation of pasture legumes was scarce. During the decade 1960-1970 more than 10 thousand hectares of Medicago sativa. Neonolonia wightii, Cajanus cajan and Pueraria phaseoloides were sown, but interest decreased later. In the mid 1970s, research was reorganised and since 1980 results were attained showing outstanding performance of the species: N. wightii (10 t DM/ho/ year), ·Teramnus labialis (11.5 t), Lencaena leucocephala (12 I), Medicago sativa (12,5 t), Pueraria phaseoloides (14 t), Stylosanthes guianensis (IS I) and others. Results on ecological adaption, sowing, establishment, rhizobiology, seed production, pest and diseases and other agronomic aspects are …

Establishment And Animal Production Based On Tropical Grass-Legume Pastures, Marta Monzote, F Funes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Different experiments were carried out to study the establishment of grass-legume swards and animal performam;e from the pastures. Grasses were: Digitarla decumbens, Dichantum sp,, Botriocliloa sp,, Panicum maximum, Cllloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon, Cenchrus setigerus and Cenchrus ciliaris; legumes were: Neonotonia wightti, Macroptllium atropurpuretm, Desmodium intortum, Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema pubescens. Good establishment were obtained with minimum tillage of harrowing on the grass cover after heavy grazing or harvesting close to the ground, Broadcast sowing at 2-3 kg/ha was carried out. Growth was slow at I plant/m1 but rapid at S-10 plant/m1, In prepared …

The Aeschynomene Genus As A Source Of Pasture Legumes For Tropical And Subtropical Australia, H G. Bishop, T B. Hilder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Three Aeschynomene cultivars are currently used as pasture legumes for tropical and subtropical Australia; A. falcata·cv, Bargoo released in 1973, A. americana cv, Glenn released in 1983 and A. americana cv. Lee released in 1991. Five other Aeschynomene accessions from 2 species are on "pre-release" registration with the Queensland Herbage Plant Liaison Committee pending additional data on adaptation and animal production: A. brasiliana CPI 92519 and CPI 93592 and A. villosa CPI 37235, 91209 and 93621. A collection of over 300 Aesc/1y1wme11e accessions was grown at Mackay, Queensland, in 1982-83 to describe the diversity within this genus. This diversity supports …

Chapman Hood Frazier, Chapman Hood Frazier

Virginia Poets Database: A Literary and Educational Resource

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Aav-Microdystrophin Gene Therapy After Repeat Dosing By Blocking Phagocytosis, Rita Spathis, Deeva Robles Kuriplach, Sabrina Narvesen, Matthew Eybs, Karen Huang, Steven Torres, Madison King, Elizabeth Bagley, Pia Elustondo, Michael W. Lawlor, Kanneboyina Nagaraju, Melissa Morales

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Background: Inefficient transduction is a major limitation in achieving therapeutic levels of AAV-delivered microdystrophin capable of improving muscle function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Additionally, some patients experience acute complications due to activation of innate immune pathways, such as complement. We propose that inhibiting complement receptor 1/2/3 (CR 1/2/3)-mediated phagocytosis and endosomal TLR 7/8/9 signaling pathways may decrease immune and inflammatory responses while simultaneously increasing the availability of AAV virus for muscle transduction. Methods: Mdx mice were randomly assigned to the following three experimental conditions (n=8-9/group): Group 1, mdx untreated; Group 2, mdx + rAAV9-microdystrophin; Group 3, mdx + …

The Utah Statesman, March 3, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Sociolinguistic Interview With Meriam: A Study On Multilingualism And Identity, Brian Kapustka

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This study explores how a multilingual speaker—Meriam Kilden-Pedersen, a fellow COD graduate and employee—navigates her linguistic identity across a range of social contexts. Drawing on sociolinguistic theory and a recorded interview, the project analyzes Meriam’s code-switching, identity negotiation, and style-shifting between Danish, Standardized Arabic, Tunisian Arabic, French, and English. The interview reveals how emotional context, audience, and setting shape language use, offering insight into the adaptive strategies of multilingual speakers. This analysis has pedagogical implications for inclusive teaching practices that honor linguistic fluidity.