Digital Commons Network^™

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words: Understanding How People Conceptualise Autism Through Images, Gray Atherton, Emily Dawson, Andrea Piovesan, Lauren Hawksworth-Quill, Liam Cross

School of Psychology

Conceptions of autism and neurodiversity vary widely, with differing views on how they are portrayed in contemporary culture. Although autism scholars have long advocated for greater involvement of autistic individuals in knowledge creation, meaningful co-production between autistic stakeholders, researchers, and the broader community remains limited. To explore differences in autism knowledge between autistic and non-autistic people, we used a qualitative method called visual elicitation. We invited the public to upload an image they felt represented autism and explain their choice. Through thematic analysis of these images and their accompanying descriptions, we identified three key themes highlighting how autism is currently …

A Novel Sialylation Pathway Mediated By Extracellular Vesicles In Aggressive Prostate Cancer, Camila A. Bach, Md Niamat Hossain, Ishan J. Chaudhari, Cecilia E. Verrillo, Nicole M. Naranjo, Isabella Amoroso, Anna Testa, Samuel Sey, W. Kevin Kelly, Susan L. Bellis, Aurelio Lorico, Ada G. Blidner, Gabriel A. Rabinovich, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Altered cell surface glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer; among aberrant glycan structures, hypersialylated proteins contribute to disease progression. The enzyme ST6 β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) mediates α2,6-linked sialylation of N-glycosylated proteins and is upregulated in many cancers, including prostate cancer (PrCa). We propose that ST6GAL1 may be released by cancer cells in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in the PrCa tumor microenvironment to potentially modulate cell surface sialylation in recipient cells. We isolated sEVs from PrCa cells by density gradient separation and characterized them by nanoparticle tracking analysis using ZetaView and immunoblotting analysis. We identified ST6GAL1 in both its membrane-bound …

The Hidden Link Between Hiv And Cardiomyopathy: Unraveling Hiv's Impact On The Heart, Toluwalase Awoyemi, Oluwaremilekun Zeth Tolu-Akinnawo, Andrew Greek, Oluwakemi Adenuga, Chukwuebuka Asogwa, Isaac Ekundayo, Olamide Odusola, Oyinlola Fasehun, Mercy Ajayi, Onyinye Ugoala, Luther-King Fasehun, Adeleke Oluwaseun Dorcas, Michael Angarone

Student Publications

This comprehensive review examines the complex relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cardiomyopathy, focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies. It highlights the significant global health burden posed by HIV and its potential to cause long-term cardiovascular complications. The review investigates the pathogenesis of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy. It elucidates the intricate cellular and molecular pathways involved, including the actions of neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes in cardiac inflammation. Key signaling pathways such as TNF-NF-κB and the caspase-1 inflammasome are detailed, as they contribute to cardiac infection and injury. The clinical manifestations of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy …

Systematics And Phylogeography Of Mundochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, In The Pacific Northwest (Chelicerata, Pseudoscorpiones), Amanda Rai Montoya-Cowan

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding the processes that drive genetic divergence and species formation is central to evolutionary biology. Invertebrates with low dispersal ability, such as pseudoscorpions, are especially prone to cryptic diversification due to their occupancy of niche microhabitats and sensitivity to landscape barriers. Despite their ecological roles as predators and bioindicators, pseudoscorpions remain one of the least studied arachnid groups, with limited taxonomic resolution and few integrative studies. This research focuses on the genus Mundochthonius in the Pacific Northwest, particularly M. pacificus, a morphologically conserved species whose true diversity and distribution remain poorly understood.

Field surveys guided by a GIS-based habitat …

Loss Of Ptdss1 In Tumor Cells Improves Immunogenicity And Response To Anti-Pd-1 Therapy, Jielin Liu, Shelley Herbrich, Sreyashi Basu, Yulong Chen, Ashwat Nagarajan, Swetha Anandhan, Sangeeta Goswami, Liangwen Xiong, Baoxiang Guan, Padmanee Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PTDSS1 (phosphatidylserine synthase 1) encodes an enzyme that facilitates production of phosphatidylserine (PS), which mediates a global immunosuppressive signal. Here, based on in vivo CRISPR screen, we identified PTDSS1 as a target to improve anti-PD-1 therapy. Depletion of Ptdss1 in tumor cells increased expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-regulated genes, including B2m, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, and Stat1, even in the absence of IFN-γ stimulation in vitro. Loss of Ptdss1 in tumor cells also led to increased expression of MHC-I, enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, and increased frequency of an iNOS+ myeloid subset. A gene signature derived from the …

“A Field Beaten Bare Of Grass”: Samuel Youd’S The Death Of Grass (1956) And The Scouring Of The Shire, Kristine Larsen

Journal of Tolkien Research

One of the novels Tolkien admits to liking (according to his published letters) was Samuel Youd’s thriller The Death of Grass (1956), published under the pen name John Christopher. Among the novel’s aspects that might have particularly resonated with Tolkien included environmental concerns, analogs with Tolkien’s World War II experience (especially rationing), and an emphasis on fairy-story Consolation and Recovery, among others. But in addition, parallels with “The Scouring of the Shire” and other late episodes in The Lord of the Rings clearly deserve further analysis. This paper therefore engages with Youd’s novel through that specific lens.

Bus Wire Designs For Minimizing Visibility Of Diffraction Artifacts, Kellie Shaw

Defensive Publications Series

A transparent panel includes an optically transparent substrate, and a plurality of electrically conducting tracks disposed over a surface of the substrate, the plurality of tracks arranged in intersecting rows and columns and defining therebetween an array of pixels having substantially identical areal shape and dimensions, where the tracks have a periodic shape of varying amplitude and frequency, with a peak-to-peak variability in the amplitude being less than approximately 10%.

Ontology Features-Based Arabic Text Augmentation Using Word2vec, Enas Tariq Khudair, Onsa Lazzez, Mourad Zaied, Tarek M. Hamdani, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Habib Chabchoub, Adel M. Alimi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Text augmentation plays a major role when data is scarce. In this context, there are few Arabic news texts for specific purposes, and hence, there is a dire need to generate Arabic text, especially news. This paper presents an enhanced approach to Arabic text augmentation based on Arabic ontology features. The Arabic part of speech, particularly adjectives, verbs, and prepositions, and the ontology properties regarding such parts to create new texts, make up the first stage of the system, which has multiple stages. Word2Vector (Word2Vec) plays a pivotal role in giving Arabic ontology features to the specific Arabic Part of …

Probiotic Biogeography In The Neonatal Intestine, Sierra Hansen

All ETDs from UAB

Neonatal infection remains a leading cause of both neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in preterm infants. Probiotic bacteria have been demonstrated to protect against the development of neonatal intestinal dysbiosis, however, formulations and efficacy vary substantially, highlighting a critical gap in the current understanding of the mechanisms governing probiotic efficacy in this population. This gap is exacerbated by regulatory standards which favor economic expansion over scientific rigor. Furthermore, current studies on probiotic efficacy largely rely on indirect or relative readouts of intestinal bacterial burden. Herein, we directly quantify the probiotic effects of Ligilactobacillus murinus V10 and Escherichia coli Nissle …

Investigating Temperature Influences On Shell Growth And Microstructural Variations In Bay Scallops: Insights From Multiscale Microscopy, Benazir Khurshid, Arnaud Benchetrite, Lise Guichaoua, Nicolas Brodusch, Bryce D. Stewart, Roland Kröger, Raynald Gauvin, Martin Mallet, Réjean Tremblay, Natalie Reznikov

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Scallops (order Pectinida) are well-known for their robust and beautiful calcitic shells that protect them from external impacts and predators. Scallops respond to environmental conditions, including water temperature, salinity, and food supply, which are reflected in the shell growth rates and patterning. The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) is a species of high ecological and aquacultural value in North America, and its habitat may expand towards higher latitudes with inevitable global warming. To investigate the effect of water temperature on the accretion rate and the polycrystalline microstructure of the Bay scallop shell, we conducted a controlled growth experiment on juveniles, 4 …

Effects Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On Streptococcus Mutans: Implications For Early Childhood Caries, Walaa Al-Turki

All ETDs from UAB

Effects of Probiotic Lactobacilli on Streptococcus mutans: Implications for Early Childhood Caries WALAA MOHIEDEN AL TURKI DENTISTRY ABSTRACT Purpose: Probiotic Lactobacillus species have been shown to have beneficial effects against early childhood caries (ECC) by inhibiting the growth of cariogenic bacteria. However, the acidogenicity of Lactobacillus spp. could have potential carcinogenic effect. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotic lactobacilli and cariogenic lactobacilli on the growth, biofilm formation, and acid production of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Methods: Growth competition between probiotic L. rhamnosus GG (L-GG) or caries-associated L. rhamnosus M72-26 (L-M72) and S. mutans UA159 …

Identifying Functional Regional Changes In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease And Freezing Of Gait, Taylor Robin Davis

All ETDs from UAB

Freezing of gait (FOG) affects anywhere from 20-80% of those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) with the prevalence increasing with disease severity and length. This detrimental symptom is unpredictable and poorly characterized, which adds to the negative experience of FOG as it is difficult to treat. Using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI), we set out to determine the functional changes in those with PD-FOG and map onto regions of the brain where signal power, measured using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), synchronicity, as measured by regional homogeneity (ReHo), and strength and direction of intra-network connections as measured by static effective connectivity, are …

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination: Implications For The Ecology, Evolution, And Conservation Of Sea Turtles, Forrest William Collins

All ETDs from UAB

For reptiles, their method of sex determination is temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). This is where the environmental temperature directly influences the sex ratio being produced within a clutch. For sea turtles, sex is determined within a thermosensitive period (TSP) in which incubation temperatures will result in either males (cooler), females (warmer), or 50:50 even sex ratio. For this dissertation, 2 species of sea turtles were evaluated for their TSD and its implications on their ecology, evolution, and conservation: the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). For the Hawksbill, a major rookery in the …

Winter Supplementation Of Beef Cows In The Intermountain West, David Secrist

All Current Publications

Feed costs are the most significant expense of most ranching operations in the Intermountain West. Year-round grazing opportunities, hay cost and availability, calving season, cow size, milk production, and feeding logistics are all considerations in a supplementation program. The key to effective winter feeding is to balance the cost/benefit ratio of the supplementation programs while meeting nutritional demands at a minimal cost.

The Meaning Of Christian Suffering In Aquinas, Pedro Cardoso Figueiredo Santiago

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This thesis investigates the theological meaning of Christian suffering in the thought of Thomas Aquinas. While much attention has been given to Aquinas’s treatment of the problem of evil, little has been written on the positive and salvific meaning of suffering as it appears in his Christology, sacramental theology, and moral theology. This study aims to demonstrate that for Aquinas, suffering—when united to Christ—acquires a redemptive value that transforms human pain into a means of configuration to the crucified and risen Lord.

The first chapter develops the Christological foundation of Christian suffering. Drawing primarily from Summa Theologiae III, q. 69, …

September 11, 2025, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Human Toxocariasis, Susana Lopez-Alamillo, Pravallika Padyala, Megan Carey, Megan M Duffey, Jill E Weatherhead

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human toxocariasis is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasitic infection caused by larvae of Toxocara species, primarily Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Toxocariasis is commonly transmitted to humans through the ingestion of embryonated Toxocara eggs found in contaminated soil, water, or on surfaces contaminated with animal feces. Unlike in dogs and cats, humans are not definitive hosts for Toxocara spp., and, as a result, Toxocara larvae do not complete their life cycle in humans. Instead, following accidental oral ingestion of embryonated eggs, Toxocara larvae undergo an aberrant larval migratory cycle to various organs including the lungs, liver, muscles, and central …

The Colonic Crypt: Cellular Dynamics And Signaling Pathways In Homeostasis And Cancer, Anh L. Nguyen, Molly A. Lausten, Bruce M. Boman

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

The goal of this review is to expand our understanding of how the cellular organization of the normal colonic crypt is maintained and elucidate how this intricate architecture is disrupted during tumorigenesis. Additionally, it will focus on implications for new therapeutic strategies targeting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). The colonic crypt is a highly structured epithelial unit that functions in maintaining homeostasis through a complex physiological function of diverse cell types: SCs, transit-amplifying (TA) progenitors, goblet cells, absorptive colonocytes, Paneth-like cells, M cells, tuft cells, and enteroendocrine cells. These cellular subpopulations are spatially organized and regulated by multiple crucial signaling pathways, including …

Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Socket Healing And Mronj, Yuki Arai, Chiaki Tsutsumi-Arai, Jeryl D English, Noriaki Ono, Wanida Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This review aims to summarise the current understanding of the biological processes involved in socket healing after tooth extraction and the contribution of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) during these processes. Additionally, it seeks to explore the mechanisms underlying medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), often linked to tooth extraction, to provide insights for future research directions. Socket healing is a complex biological process consisting of three phases: inflammatory, proliferative and modelling/remodelling. MSCs, particularly those derived from periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and bone lining cells, are known to play a significant role in the initial and subsequent stages of healing. However, …

Roadkill Scavenging Behavior Of White-Throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax Formosus) In Northwestern Costa Ricacomportamiento De Carroñeo En Carretera De La Urraca Copetona (Cyanocorax Formosus) En El Noroeste De Costa Rica, Juan De Dios Astorga-Acuña, José Manuel Mora

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Corvids are opportunistic omnivores and facultative scavengers, but there are no direct records of Cyanocorax species scavenging on carrion. We documented opportunistic feeding behavior of the White-throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax formosus) on a road-killed Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) in northwestern Costa Rica. On 25 August 2023, we observed three White-throated Magpie-Jays feeding on the carcass of a Common Pauraque, likely killed by collision with a vehicle, along a gravel road near the Taboga Forestry Reserve. This provides de first documented evidence of the White-throated Magpie-Jay scavenging on roadkill, and of carrion consumption by a Central American corvid. Given the White-throated Magpie-Jay's …

Breath Acetone As A Biomarker For Concussion, Allyn Abadie

All ETDs from UAB

Concussions represent a critical public health concern, affecting millions annually yet remain challenging to diagnose and manage. Concussions involve a range of often invisible signs and symptoms. Traditional assessments rely heavily on subjective symptom reporting, with limited objective data which may complicate return-to-play decisions. Objective physiological biomarkers are needed to complement traditional methods, detect subtle disruptions, and improve decision-making. Following concussion, the brain undergoes a neurometabolic cascade involving disrupted glucose utilization, ionic imbalances, neurotransmitter release, and reduced cerebral blood flow. This cascade creates a metabolic crisis, potentially shifting energy metabolism toward alternative substrates such as ketones. Breath acetone, a measurable …

Immune And Endothelial Cell Mechanisms Of Cardiovascular And Kidney Disease Risk In Obesity, Claudia Edell

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. Both inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are hallmark signs of adverse health outcomes in obesity. Previous data from our lab has shown that a 2-week time restricted feeding (TRF) intervention reduces kidney CD3+ (T) cells and fibrosis and improves endothelial function in a mouse model of diet induced obesity (DIO). There is little known about kidney damage and T cells in obesity. We hypothesized that TRF reduces kidney damage in obese mice through mitigating T cell inflammation. We use a 20-week DIO model, with 18 weeks of ad libitum …

Mechanism Of Targeted Cancer Therapeutics-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Angelica Toro-Cora

All ETDs from UAB

Targeted cancer therapies are known to cause cardiovascular (CV) complications in human patients. Agents such as osimertinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been demonstrated to induce severe cardiotoxicities, including heart failure and myocarditis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of TKIs and ICIs-induced cardiotoxicity remain poorly understood. Herein, we developed the first in vivo preclinical model of osimertinib-induced cardiotoxicity using a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model. Osimertinib-treated mice displayed severe cardiac dysfunction, elevated markers of heart failure and fibrosis, and failed to undergo compensatory hypertrophic remodeling, resulting in cardiomyocyte death. Mechanistically, we identified suppression …

Identifying The Neurobiological Substrates Of Gulf War Illness, Chloe Lisette Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Gulf War Illness (GWI) affects approximately 30% of veterans who served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and is characterized by chronic pain and fatigue, as well as cognitive, mood, gastrointestinal, and respiratory symptoms. Animal research has suggested that GWI is caused by a combination of neurotoxicants such as nerve gas, anti-nerve agent pills, and pesticides, though a definitive pathophysiological model has not been established. In this human observational study, 20 veterans with GWI and 20 healthy Gulf War veterans (HV) underwent whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to non-invasively measure several metabolites associated with neuroinflammation. Whole blood was also collected …

A High-Salt Diet Modulates Renal Afferent Nerve Activity; Potential Role Of The Endothelin System, Jiaxi Shen

All ETDs from UAB

Hypertension is a prevalent disease around the world. Increased blood pressure leads to a higher risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Diet, lifestyle, and gene regulation are potential causative factors, and salt-sensitive hypertension is one common types of hypertension. In response to a high-salt diet, blood pressure may elevate with increasing risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelin-1, which binds to endothelin A (ETA) and B (ETB) receptors, is strongly involved in controlling the blood vessels and sensory nerve signaling pathway between the kidney and the central nervous system during high salt dietary challenge. The function of the ETB receptor …

Myelin Mapping In Psychosis, Victoria Lynn King

All ETDs from UAB

It is well established that myelin in the central nervous system is an axonal insulator which speeds the conduction velocity of action potentials. However, its role in the cortex has also been shown to support metabolic demands and aid in cortical plasticity. Myelin develops throughout childhood and adolescence from sensorimotor areas to association areas and peaks during adolescence. Importantly, this is the same time that psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSDs) begin to present clinically; thus, given the critical role of myelination in shaping the mature cortex, disruptions in this process – particularly during adolescence – are thought to partially explain the onset …

The Role Of Histone Deacetylase Complexes In Cardiomyocyes And Heart Diseases, Meimei Wang

All ETDs from UAB

Histone deacetylase complexes play pivotal roles in cardiac biology, however their specific functions in cell fate transitions and adult heart maintenance re-main unclear. We identified the role of HDAC complex in vitro during direct cardiac repro-gramming and in vivo through specific cardiomyocyte deletion of ELMSAN1, a core component of the MiDAC complex. We perform direct cardiac reprogram-ming using a polycistronic construct (hMGT133) expressing MEF2C, GATA4, TBX5, and miR-133. MEF2C expression peaked early, while cardiac markers such as cardiac troponin and α-actinin emerged by Day 9. HDAC1 levels and global histone acetylation (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac) declined over time. An RNAi screen …

A Noncanonical Role Of T Follicular Helper Cells In Promoting Peripheral Tolerance By Supporting T Regulatory Cells, Shivangi Dave

All ETDs from UAB

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a specialized subset of CD4+ T cells that sup-port germinal center (GC) B cells and promote antibody (Ab)-mediated immunity. There is growing recognition of the heterogeneity and functional diversity of Tfh cells, supported by accumulating evidence that highlights their context-specific roles across a range of disease settings. While their contribution to B cell responses is well-established, our data demonstrate that Tfh cells have a broader and more dynamic function. In this study, we uncover a novel function of Tfh cells in maintaining immune homeostasis by supporting T regulatory cell (Treg) responses under normal physiological …

Structural Basis For Promoter Recognition By Pseudomonas Phage Dev Virion Associated Rna Polymerase, Brittney Bird

All ETDs from UAB

Bacteriophage DEV, a member of the Schitoviridae family, encodes a large virion-associated RNA polymerase (vRNAP) and shows significant potential for use in phage therapy. However, many aspects of DEV’s biology remain poorly understood, especially how it regulates transcription once inside the host. Recent work in our lab suggests that gene product 71 (gp71) functions as a DNA-dependent vRNAP. Analogous to the vRNAP of coliphage N4, gp71 likely initiates transcription by recognizing single-stranded DNA templates that contain early gene hairpin promoters. Based on this, my working hypothesis is that specific interactions between gp71 and the DEV early promoters PE1 and PE5 …

Impact Of Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation On Corticostriatal Synaptic Function And Morphology, Charlotte Franziska Brzozowski

All ETDs from UAB

Lewy Body Dementias (LBDs), including Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), are defined by α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation in Lewy Pathology (LP). LP is abundant in cortical layer V intratelencephalic (IT) neurons, a subset of neurons that also degenerate in the pre-supplementary motor area (preSMA) in humans, which is homologous to the secondary motor cortex (M2) in mice, as observed in PD postmortem tissue. IT neuron projections to the striatum are an intrinsic part of the motor basal ganglia circuitry, believed to modulate cognitive aspects of executive motor control, such as updating motor plans. M2 projections to …