Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying Factors Linked To A Higher Prevalence Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Younger Us Military Veterans, Jordan Hathorn

Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program Theses

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder is a significant public health concern in the U.S., with military veterans disproportionately affected. Although younger veterans exhibit a higher prevalence of PTSD compared to their older counterparts, the mechanisms driving this age-related difference remain unclear. This study examined sociodemographic, trauma-specific, and psychosocial factors that may contribute to the elevated prevalence of PTSD in younger (age < 50) vs. older (age 50 and older) veterans.

Methods: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), which surveyed a nationally representative sample of US military veterans (n=4,069).

Results: Younger veterans were three times more likely to screen positive for PTSD compared to …

The Bison, September, 19, 2025

The Bison Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Erratum To “Anatomical And Palynological Studies On Turkish Primula Taxa (Primulaceae) And Their Taxonomic And Phylogenetic Significance [Turkish Journal Of Botany 49 (4) 2025 325-348 ] ”, Deni̇z Ulukuş, Esengül Özkaymakoğlu, Rebecca Stubbs, Hüseyi̇n Baykal, Kami̇l Coşkunçelebi̇, Osman Tugay, Barbara Keller, Elena Conti, Ferhat Celep

Turkish Journal of Botany

This erratum addresses an error concerning Figure 5 in the original published version of this article. During the typesetting process, Figure 5 was partially omitted, resulting in an incomplete figure being published.To correct this oversight and ensure the accuracy of the scholarly record, the complete Figure 5 is provided below for reference.

Link to the original article: https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-008X.2866

Floral Trait Diversity Supports Multiple Pollination Systems Across Urban Habitats In One Of The World's Greenest Cities, Ana Paula Sales De Araujo Franco, Maxwell Da Rosa Oliveira, Evaldo Benedito De Souza, Ingrid Lohani Degering Brand, Marcus Paulo Goncalves Rosa, Bruno Henrique Dos Santos Ferreira, Maria Rosângela Sigrist

Turkish Journal of Botany

Green cities comprise a variety of habitats subject to different levels of anthropogenic pressure, ranging from completely unvegetated areas to vast green spaces such as linear parks. In this scenario, cities can support different ecological processes and ecosystem functions, which vary qualitatively and quantitatively between different habitat types along the urbanization gradient. Specifically, green spaces and ruderal plants can support pollination services in urban ecosystems, providing food resources (e.g., nectar, pollen, oil), reproduction supports (copulation sites), and nesting sites for pollinators. As a result, plant species and their floral resources are important for pollinator diversity and the maintenance of the …

Plasticity Of Epigenomic And Transcriptomic Aging Reveals Common Targets For Reprogramming By Environmental Exposures, Cheryl Walker, Sandra Grimm, Rahul Jangid, Marisa Bartolomei, Dana Dolinoy, David Aylor, Gokhan Mutlu, Shyam Biswal, Bo Zhang, Robert Hamanaka, Justin Colacino, Maureen Sartor, Laurie Svoboda, Ting Wang, Cristian Coarfa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Environmental exposures during early life are increasingly recognized as key determinants of health and disease in adulthood (1) but how they durably shape disease risk across the lifecourse remains poorly understood. Here, we show early-life toxicants reprogram the epigenome and redirect age-associated transcriptional trajectories-polarizing cell-specific gene expression and predisposing to liver disease. The TaRGET II Consortium (2) exposed mice to diverse toxicants from pre-conception through weaning and followed individual animals though adulthood with multi-omic profiling. Analysis of >800 liver epigenomic and transcriptomic profiles from male and female mice revealed that despite differing chemical classes and mechanisms of action, multiple toxicants …

Medical Guidelines For Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Frederick S. Kaplan, Mona Al Mukaddam, Genevieve Baujat, Alberto Hidalgo Bravo, Matthew Brown, Amanda Cali, Tae-Joon Cho, Corrie Crowe, Carmen L. De Cunto, Patricia L. R. Delai, Robert J. Diecidue, Elisabeth Marelise W Eekhoff, Lisa Friedlander, Clive S. Friedman, Zvi Grunwald, Nobuhiko Haga, Edward C. Hsiao, Richard Keen, Joseph A. Kitterman, Charles Levy, Vrisha Madhuri, Rolf Morhart, J. Coen Netelenbos, Christiaan Scott, Eileen M. Shore, Michael Zasloff, Keqin Zhang, Robert J. Pignolo

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Faculty Papers

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare genetic condition characterized by congenital malformations of the great toes and progressive heterotopic ossification (HO) in specific anatomic patterns. Present management summarized here is focused on early diagnosis, assiduous avoidance of injury and iatrogenic harm, symptomatic amelioration of painful flare-ups, and optimization of residual function. Twenty-one members of the International Clinical Council on FOP (ICC) and seven consultants from 15 countries, chosen for their clinical expertise in FOP, developed this summary statement. Further advances in therapeutics will be based on rigorous clinical trials to assess novel and emerging treatment and prevention strategies. A …

Community Survey Report: The Rebuild Survey Conducted In Response To The January 2025 Palisades Fire And Eaton Fire In Los Angeles County, Andrew J. Whelton, Cristiane Ferrarezzi, Lauryn Spearing, Anna Hoover, Mónica Palomo, Caitlin Proctor, Jianxi Su, Joseph Toland

Resilience to Emergencies and Disasters

No abstract provided.

Cells Stably Expressing Shrna Against Myo10 Display Altered Cell Motility, Joanna A. Mas, Chase E. Cristella, Vu Hao M. N. Phan, Lillian S. Wendt, Charlotte A. Rose, Abigail Ali, David F. Carpio, Christine Cole, Paige Embley, Jack E. Hoskins-Harris, Delia Johnson, Noelle Ledoux, Hannah W. Lwin, Sarah Salah, Erin Weisbart, Stacey J. Criswell, Omar A. Quintero-Carmona

Biology Faculty Publications

Myosin-X (MYO10) is an actin-based motor protein involved in cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane interactions, and integrin-mediated adhesion. To investigate MYO10's cellular roles, we generated MYO10 knockdown (MYO10KD) HeLa and COS7 cell lines using lentiviral shRNA. Compared to wild-type cells, both MYO10KD lines showed reduced proliferation and impaired cell migration in wound assays. Additionally, there were fewer edge filopodia in HeLa cells. Furthermore, MYO10KD cells demonstrated increased spreading on laminin-coated substrates, suggesting altered integrin activation and cytoskeletal linkage. Our results reinforce MYO10’s importance in cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. These MYO10KD lines provide an accessible cell culture model for future study of …

Ground-Based Modeling Of Deep-Space Risks To The Spleen And Intestine In Mice, Edith Nathalie Pineda Sotomayor

Theses and Dissertations

Deep-space missions, such as those planned for the cis-lunar space and Mars, pose unique challenges to astronaut health due to prolonged microgravity (MG) exposure and low-dose chronic irradiation (CIR). Understanding the impact of these stressors on secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and intestine, is crucial for ensuring crewmembers' well-being, given the impracticality of conducting this research with human samples. Using a ground-based facility, we exposed C57BL/6 female and male mice to CIR (1.74 Gy at a dose rate of 0.0029 Gy/h) and/or simulated MG (SMG) via hind limb unloading (HLU) for one month. Spleen and intestinal tissues were …

M6a Rna Methylation In Psychiatric Disorders: An Emerging Epitranscriptomic Axis, Ambrose Loc Ngo, Linda Nguyen, Niki Gharavi Alkhansari, Huiping Zhang

Student Publications

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) and plays a vital role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. In recent years, m⁶A has emerged as a pivotal epitranscriptomic signal involved in neural development, synaptic remodeling, and the molecular pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the deposition, removal, and recognition of m⁶A by dedicated methyltransferases, demethylases, and RNA-binding proteins. We further explore how these dynamic modifications influence neuronal differentiation and memory formation. Recent studies have linked aberrant m⁶A regulation to psychiatric …

Prenatal Metabolomics Analysis And Fetal Congenital Anomalies And Genetic Conditions: A Review Of Current Literature, Sarah Araji, Onur Turkoglu, Mohamad Ali Maktabi, Tracy Ashby, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Library Staff Publications

Fetal congenital anomalies and genetic disorders complicate 3%-5% of pregnancies and can have a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes. Precise and individualized prenatal diagnosis is crucial for effective counseling and management. The identification of new biomarkers holds promise for enhancing prenatal screening, diagnosis, and prognostic counseling in affected pregnancies. Recently, metabolomics has emerged as a potential adjunct in the interpretation of genetic variants identified through genome-wide sequencing for rare genetic conditions. To assess the potential of metabolomic profiling as a functional assay capable of providing deeper insights into the pathological processes and genetic findings associated with prenatal congenital anomalies, we …

Protocol For Non-Invasive Pulsed-Doppler Evaluation Of Blood Flow In The Mouse Ophthalmic Artery, Radwa Awad, Emil Martin, Anilkumar K Reddy, Iraida Sharina

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The number of reliable and non-invasive techniques to characterize ocular blood flow is limited. Here, we present a protocol for identifying a soft tissue window in the orbital aperture using pulsed-Doppler ultrasonography to offer real-time, non-invasive blood flow velocity monitoring in the mouse ophthalmic artery. We describe steps for preparing a mouse, positioning the ultrasound probe, and acquiring and recording signals. We then detail procedures for analyzing results using a workstation equipped with Doppler flow velocity software. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sharina et al.

A Computational Framework For Multi-Scale Analysis Of Mouse Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation, Hadi Esfandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Cerebral hemodynamic imaging is increasingly used as a non-invasive technique to study brain function and dysfunction in both research and clinical settings. Recent advances in imaging technologies have enabled high-speed, high-resolution, whole-brain measurements of blood flow and oxygenation. Improving the interpretation of these cerebral hemodynamic signals through a mechanistic understanding of their cellular drivers would enable more accurate characterization of brain function and pathology. However, no existing biophysical model fully captures the fine-grained dynamics observed in these signals. This dissertation introduces a biophysically grounded computational framework for multi-scale analysis of the mouse cerebral blood flow regulatory system, which captures mechanistic …

Grit, A Component Of Resident Well-Being, Nathan W. Olson, Kelly Williamson, Nicholas Hartman, Navneet Cheema, Adriana S. Olson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Trainees experiencing burnout, depression, or career dissatisfaction challenge educators and may have patient care consequences. Grit, defined as the “perseverance and passion for long-term goals,” buffers against hopelessness and quantifies an aspect of personality shown to predict fewer career changes. Higher grit has been associated with positive outcomes in physicians, including lower burnout rates. Our objective was to determine the correlation between emergency medicine (EM) resident Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) scores and components of well-being: burnout, a positive depression screen, and career satisfaction.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter trial involving ten urban/suburban EM residencies. The subjects …

Blue-Shifted Ancyromonad Channelrhodopsins For Multiplex Optogenetics, Elena G Govorunova, Oleg A Sineshchekov, Hai Li, Yueyang Gou, Hongmei Chen, Shuyuan Yang, Yumei Wang, Stephen Mitchell, Alyssa Palmateer, Leonid S Brown, François St-Pierre, Mingshan Xue, John L Spudich

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Light-gated ion channels from protists (channelrhodopsins or ChRs) are optogenetic tools widely used for controlling neurons and cardiomyocytes. Multiplex optogenetic applications require spectrally separated molecules, which are difficult to engineer without disrupting channel function. Scanning numerous sequence databases, we identified three naturally blue-shifted ChRs from ancyromonads. They form a separate branch on the phylogenetic tree and contain residue motifs characteristic of anion ChRs (ACRs). However, only two conduct chloride, whereas the closely related Nutomonas longa homolog generates inward cation currents in mammalian cells under physiological conditions, significantly exceeding those by previously known tools with similar spectral maxima (peak absorption at …

Variability In Arthropod Community Surveys: Observations Of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods Are Dependent On Methodological Choices, Katherine Mcnamara Manning, Kayla I. Perry, Christie A. Bahlai

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Sampling approaches are commonly adapted to reflect the study objectives in biodiversity monitoring projects. This approach optimizes findings to be locally relevant but comes at the cost of generalizability of findings. Here, we detail a comparison study directly examining how researchers’ choice of arthropod trap and level of specimen identification affects observations made in small-scale arthropod biodiversity studies. Four arthropod traps (pitfall traps, yellow ramp traps, yellow sticky cards, and novel jar ramp traps) were compared with respect to an array of biodiversity metrics calculated at two levels of identification. The arthropod community captured varied by trap type. Pitfalls and …

Nest Pollen Provisions From An Urban Population Of Megachile Campanulae (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) In Minnesota Are Consistent With Oligolectic Classification., Lam D. Le, Thea A. Evans, Colleen Satyshur

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The conservation of bees is crucial for maintaining the essential ecological services they provide. Understanding bee species' risk of extinction is a key part of conservation efforts, and can include assessment of dietary specialization, which has been linked to higher extinction risk. Dietary specialization in bees, called oligolecty, occurs when females select pollen only from closely related plants to feed their larvae. While the solitary bee, Megachile (Chelostomoides) campanulae (Robertson 1903), has been associated with flowers in the genus Campanula L. (Campanulaceae: Asterales), evidence from pollen analysis is limited, and dietary classification is reported inconsistently. This study examined dietary specialization …

Initial Changes In Ground Beetle (Carabidae: Coleoptera) Assemblages After Creating Gaps Of Varying Sizes In Mature Northern Hardwoods Forests In Wisconsin, Robert A. Haack, Robert E. Acciavatti, Toby R. Petrice, Robert L. Davidson, Terry F. Strong

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Managers of northern hardwood forests in the Great Lakes region create gaps in the forest canopy of various sizes during harvesting to achieve different silvicultural objectives. Single-tree harvesting favors recruitment of shade-tolerant tree species by creating small gaps in the canopy, whereas group selection creates larger gaps that can favor shade-intolerant tree species. We evaluated changes in carabid beetle abundance and diversity in harvest-created gaps of five sizes (gap diameters of 6, 10, 20, 30, and 46 m) and uncut forests in northern Wisconsin where sugar maple (Acer saccharum) was the dominant tree species. Gaps were cut during …

From Venom To Medicine: Harnessing Animal Toxins For Drug Discovery, Christine Vega, Ying Jia

Research Colloquium

Background: Drug development research has long focused on synthesizing novel therapeutics while overlooking isolation from naturally available sources such as animal venoms. Recently, the discovery of the therapeutic effects of highly bioavailable animal venom caused the field of venom research to soar in popularity. Animal venom serves as a natural, sophisticated tool optimized over millions of years by evolution with the ability to bind to ion channels such as nAChRs, non-specific ligand-gated ion channels distributed throughout the human nervous system. However, purifying individual venom toxins from crude venom is challenging due to its availability. Therefore, synthesizing large quantities of venom …

Synthesis Of Various Flavonoids For Effective Anti-Immune Thrombocytopenia Agents, Benjamin Valdivia, Alyssa Aguilar, Victoria Herrera, Shizue Mito

Research Colloquium

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a hematological disorder characterized by abnormally low platelet counts, often resulting in increased bleeding risk and impaired immune function. Current therapies may be costly, ineffective, or carry significant side effects, highlighting the need for safer, affordable alternatives. Carica papaya leaf extract has shown promise in increasing platelet counts, with flavonoids such as quercetin suggested as key bioactive constituents. However, unmodified plant compounds often suffer from limited potency or specificity. This research aims to synthesize structurally modified flavonoids derived from C. papaya to enhance their therapeutic activity for ITP. Our central hypothesis is that rational chemical …

Impact Of Stat3 Inhibition On Tumour Progression And Immune Evasion In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Alejandra Santos, Anjali Mukkamalla, Saranya Nallamothu, Sandy Henin

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) is a critical transcription factor that regulates cell growth, survival and immune responses. It is implicated in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), the most prevalent form of lung cancer categorized by aggressive tumour progression and high metastatic potential. NSCLC’s aggressiveness stems from the overactivation of STAT3, promoting cancer cell proliferation, survival, and invasion through mechanisms including genetic mutations, cytokine signalling and inflammatory pathways within the tumour microenvironment. This heightened STAT3 activity not only supports tumour growth but also suppresses anti-tumour immune responses and fosters an immunosuppressive environment. Currently, treatment for NSCLC patients …

Exploring The Role Of Hsv-1 In The Pathogenesis Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Kali Solages, Shruti Sreekanth, Anuita Kremsaliuk

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by excessive amyloid beta(Aβ) plaque and tau protein tangles in the brain. While the exact cause of AD remains unclear, recent research implicates viral vectors, particularly Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), in its progression. This review investigates how HSV-1 infection can contribute to the development and transmission of AD through viral mechanisms, including pathological amyloid beta and tau protein deposition. A systematic review of 30 peer reviewed articles from the past 10 years was conducted, focusing on HSV-1’s influence in AD, using databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar with …

The Role Of Body Shape And Size On Burst Swimming Performance In Marine Reef Fishes, Erica A. Molnar

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

One of the most important behaviors many animals possess is the ability to flee or escape from predators. In fishes, burst swimming is one of the most common strategies during a predation event. With such strong evolutionary pressure, it is noteworthy that reef fishes from the same habitat exhibit such a wide range in body and fin morphology. For the first time, studies focused on fast-start acceleration have been documented in the field, which offers a more realistic and comprehensive look at natural prey escape response to stimuli. With this level of understanding and observation of more realistic escape responses, …

Comparison Between Aunp And Tio2np Nanocarriers For The Treatment Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Andrew Thomas, Vedant Patel, Rohit Borra, Joy Yang

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most fatal diseases in the world, leading to lung tissue damage and persistent inflammation. Patients with COPD are typically treated with a bronchodilator and steroids to alleviate bronchoconstriction and inflammation; however, the steroids have limited effects. Inhaled nanomedicine utilizes small agents that facilitate pulmonary-targeted delivery, which improves the absorption and potency of the medication. Over a century ago, Paul Ehrlich proposed the 'magic bullet' theory—targeting diseases precisely while minimizing side effects. Recently, nanomedicine has emerged to support Ehrlich’s theory by fostering nanoparticle drug delivery systems, such as gold (AuNPs) and titanium …

Cardiopulmonary Interactions In Heart Failure And Chronic Lung Disease, Krish Makhija, Rithvik Bhathivi, Riya Narwani, Stuti Dibbur

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Globally, cardiovascular diseases, which are directly related to cardiopulmonary interactions, affect over half a billion people and cause 20.5 million deaths in 2021. Cardiopulmonary interactions refer to the complex interactions between the heart and lungs, particularly in diseases where dysfunction in one organ significantly impacts the other. This research aims to discover treatments and prevention methods for Cardiopulmonary Interactions in Heart Failure and Chronic Lung Disease. The aim is to help find early detections of these diseases and educate the public on how to prevent these diseases. A systematic review analyzed 22 peer-reviewed studies out of 45 from 2010 to …

Gpcr-Mediated Mechanisms In Obesity: The Role Of Ghrelin And Glp-1 Receptors​, Ryan Singh, Tuana Cenberoglu, Jonathan Budlong, Jaclyn Alejandro, Andrea Weitoschova, Libin Ye

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate metabolism and transmit appetite cues throughout the brain and digestive system. Binding to GPCRs, ghrelin, and GLP-1 are ligands that influence hunger, energy balance, and insulin secretion. Understanding the relationship between GPCRs and ligands such as ghrelin and GLP-1 offers critical insights into treating metabolic disorders such as obesity, a growing issue in America. Our methodology involved a literature review using USF, NIH, and JSTOR databases. Search terms like “GPCR obesity,” “GLP-1 obesity,” and related keywords identified articles from 2000 onward, yielding 59 studies on GLP-1 and ghrelin in obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), initially …

Film Review: Wicked Part 1, Isai Martinez

History in the Making

No abstract provided.

Taking It To The People: Nikki Giovanni (1943- 2024), Cameron Smith

History in the Making

No abstract provided.

A Familiar Taste: Considerations On Honey In California’S Historical Record, Ahlys Gandara

History in the Making

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Elite Patriot Women, Anthony Luna

History in the Making

This research paper explores the overlooked yet pivotal contributions of elite patriot women had on the American Revolution. It argues that their participation in the revolution was instrumental in shaping its outcome through grassroots organizing, frontline support, and propaganda creation. While men like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton dominated popular narratives, women from influential families played critical roles by organizing boycotts, producing goods, delivering intelligence, and rallying financial and moral support for the Continental Army. This study investigates how elite women such as Mercy Otis Warren, Sarah Fulton, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and Martha Washington didn’t just support the revolution from …