Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2025

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 10441 - 10470 of 31592

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Bold New Bioweapons: Part 1 — The Burdens Of Detection And Attribution, James Giordano Jul 2025

Bold New Bioweapons: Part 1 — The Burdens Of Detection And Attribution, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary, Pt. 1 of the Bold New Bioweapons series, examines how advances in gene editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence are reshaping the biological weapons threat landscape and challenging the effectiveness of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Dr. Giordano argues that decentralized research ecosystems, AI-enabled pathogen design, and dual-use biotechnology complicate detection, attribution, and deterrence. Emerging techniques can produce synthetic or modified biological agents that evade traditional surveillance systems and blur distinctions between legitimate research and weaponization. The absence of clear adjudication mechanisms within the BWC creates governance gaps exploitable by state and non-state actors. The article emphasizes that …


Tlr4 Asp299gly Snp (Rs4986790) Protects From Periodontal Inflammatory Destruction By Altering Tlr4 Susceptibility To Lps Stimulation, Franco Cavalla, Cláudia Cristina Biguetti, Ariadne Letra, Renato Silva, Alexandre R. Vieira, Franz J. Strauss, Gustavo P. Garlet Jul 2025

Tlr4 Asp299gly Snp (Rs4986790) Protects From Periodontal Inflammatory Destruction By Altering Tlr4 Susceptibility To Lps Stimulation, Franco Cavalla, Cláudia Cristina Biguetti, Ariadne Letra, Renato Silva, Alexandre R. Vieira, Franz J. Strauss, Gustavo P. Garlet

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Simple Summary

Periodontitis is a common disease that affects the gums and the bone supporting the teeth, often leading to tooth loss. It results from a complex interaction between bacteria and the body’s immune response. Some people are more susceptible than others, and genetics may play a role. In this study, we focused on a genetic variation (called a polymorphism) in a gene known as TLR4, which helps the immune system recognize harmful bacteria. We examined over 1400 individuals from different populations and found that people carrying this specific variation, known as Asp299Gly, were less likely to develop severe periodontal …


The Effect Of Transformer Based Pre-Trained Language Models On Biomedical Relation Extractions, Eman Saad, Sherif Kishk, Amr Ali-Eldin, Ahmed I. Saleh Jul 2025

The Effect Of Transformer Based Pre-Trained Language Models On Biomedical Relation Extractions, Eman Saad, Sherif Kishk, Amr Ali-Eldin, Ahmed I. Saleh

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Biomedical relation extraction represents a critical advancement in healthcare research. As the volume of biomedical publications continues to grow exponentially, efficient extraction of entity relationships has become essential for accelerating knowledge discovery, drug development, and precision medicine initiatives. The field has evolved from focusing on simple binary relations, such as Protein-Protein Interactions (PPI), which are fundamental to understanding cellular processes and therapeutic development, to addressing more complex multi-class classification challenges like Drug-Drug Interactions (DDI) and Chemical-Protein Interactions (CPI).Pre-trained language models have become the cornerstone of modern approaches of extracting biomedical relations. Models like BioBERT, PubMedBERT, and SciBERT, along with general-purpose …


Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Xl. Barbaracurus Lowei Sp. N. From Ethiopia (Buthidae), František Kovařík, Hassan Sh A. Elmi Jul 2025

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Xl. Barbaracurus Lowei Sp. N. From Ethiopia (Buthidae), František Kovařík, Hassan Sh A. Elmi

Euscorpius

Barbaracurus lowei sp. n. from Ethiopia is described and compared with other species of the genus, fully complemented with color photos of specimens of both sexes of the new species, as well as of their habitat. Included is a key for Barbaracurus and a map of the distribution of the genus in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.


When Culture Becomes Law: Mayan Heritage And The New Constitutional Recognition Of Collective Rights In Mexico, José Israel Herrera, Victor Manuel Colli Ek Jul 2025

When Culture Becomes Law: Mayan Heritage And The New Constitutional Recognition Of Collective Rights In Mexico, José Israel Herrera, Victor Manuel Colli Ek

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract. The constitutional reform of September 30, 2024 to article 2 marks a substantive change in the recognition of indigenous peoples as subjects of public law, with their own patrimony, valid normative systems and express right to conserve, protect and develop their cultural, material and immaterial heritage. This article analyzes the legal implications of this reform in the context of the Maya people, especially with regard to collective intellectual property, the right to prior consultation and the constitutional recognition of bioculturality. A critical reading of the new normative framework is proposed, with emphasis on its transformative potential for the territorial …


Pharmacogenetic Exploration Of Burenorphine And Related Metabolites In Umbilical Cord Blood, Amelia Monfared, Derek E. Murrell, Darshan S. Shah, Melissa Hoang, Stacy D. Brown, Sam Harirforoosh Jul 2025

Pharmacogenetic Exploration Of Burenorphine And Related Metabolites In Umbilical Cord Blood, Amelia Monfared, Derek E. Murrell, Darshan S. Shah, Melissa Hoang, Stacy D. Brown, Sam Harirforoosh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The goal of this study was to explore associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and umbilical cord blood concentrations of buprenorphine and its metabolites following maternal administration. This is a sub-study of a prospective observational cohort investigation which included pregnant women receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder during pregnancy. Following delivery, umbilical cord blood samples were collected and genotyped using a pharmacogenetic panel. The drug and metabolite concentrations were analyzed through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and genetic association analysis was completed using PLINK software. The included neonates (n = 14) had a mean birth weight of 3.00 ± 0.39 kg and were …


Anti-Dirt Hand Sanitizer: A Zeolite-Enhanced Approach To Hygiene And Microbial Protection, Theo Uskoković, Evangelina Uskoković, Victoria Wu, Vuk Uskoković Jul 2025

Anti-Dirt Hand Sanitizer: A Zeolite-Enhanced Approach To Hygiene And Microbial Protection, Theo Uskoković, Evangelina Uskoković, Victoria Wu, Vuk Uskoković

Administration and Staff Articles and Research

Children love to play with dirt and their outdoor activities oftentimes make their hands heavily soiled. Meanwhile, improper sanitation of the hands prior to making contact with food or bodily fluids can result in potentially dangerous infection. In situations where handwashing is not available, hand sanitizers present a common cleaning agent of choice. However, as it is shown here, standard sanitizers, albeit acting effectively against skin microbes, do not have the ability to remove the dirt deposits off children's hands, where microbial colonies may remain protected against the antiseptic effect of the sanitizer. To circumvent this limitation, we designed and …


Strengthening Scientific Integrity: Digital Forensics For Biomedical Research Imaging, João Phillipe Cardenuto, Daniel Moreira, Anderson Rocha Jul 2025

Strengthening Scientific Integrity: Digital Forensics For Biomedical Research Imaging, João Phillipe Cardenuto, Daniel Moreira, Anderson Rocha

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

To fight against the increasing misconduct cases in science, this Ph. D. research confronted the challenge of scientific integrity with a pioneering investigation into digital forensic analysis specifically tailored for biomedical images. This work conducted extensive research into key manipulation types–copy-move forgery, image reuse, and AI-generated content–developing novel, fully explainable, and auditable computational detection methods for each. In a commitment to transparency and to promote research to the area, these techniques are provided as open-source resources. Besides the isolated techniques for each type of image forged, a central contribution is the development of an end-to-end system, created through collaboration with …


Higher Blood Lipid Levels After The Transition To Menopause In Two Forager-Horticulturalist Populations, M. J. Getz, J. E. Aronoff, C. L. Jenkins, S. Ghafoor, J. Vazquez, N. T. Appel, M. Gatz, Daniel K. Cummings, Paul L. Hooper, B. Beheim, K. H. Buetow, C. E. Finch, G. S. Thomas, J. Stieglitz, M. Gurven, Hillard Kaplan, B. C. Trumble Jul 2025

Higher Blood Lipid Levels After The Transition To Menopause In Two Forager-Horticulturalist Populations, M. J. Getz, J. E. Aronoff, C. L. Jenkins, S. Ghafoor, J. Vazquez, N. T. Appel, M. Gatz, Daniel K. Cummings, Paul L. Hooper, B. Beheim, K. H. Buetow, C. E. Finch, G. S. Thomas, J. Stieglitz, M. Gurven, Hillard Kaplan, B. C. Trumble

ESI Publications

Background: Reproduction affects health and longevity among females across the life course. While significant focus has been devoted to the role of menarche, menopause remains understudied. Most menopause research is conducted in industrialized populations, where the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases progressively during the menopausal transition.

Methodology: Weworked with the Tsimane, Indigenous Bolivian forager-farmers with physically active lifestyles, and the Moseten, genetically and culturally related horticulturalists experiencing greater market integration. We assessed relationships between menopause status and lipid biomarkers (HDL, LDL, non-HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein-B). Using linear mixed-effects models, in an all-age sample of n = …


A Model Intercomparison Study Of Aerosol-Cloud-Turbulence Interactions In A Cloud Chamber: 1. Model Results, Sisi Chen, Steven K. Krueger, Piotr Dziekan, Kotaro Enokido, Theodore Macmillan, David Richter, Silvio Schmalfuß, Shin Ichiro Shima, Fan Yang, Jesse C. Anderson, Will Cantrell, Dennis Niedermeier, Raymond Shaw, Frank Stratmann Jul 2025

A Model Intercomparison Study Of Aerosol-Cloud-Turbulence Interactions In A Cloud Chamber: 1. Model Results, Sisi Chen, Steven K. Krueger, Piotr Dziekan, Kotaro Enokido, Theodore Macmillan, David Richter, Silvio Schmalfuß, Shin Ichiro Shima, Fan Yang, Jesse C. Anderson, Will Cantrell, Dennis Niedermeier, Raymond Shaw, Frank Stratmann

Michigan Tech Publications

This study presents the first model intercomparison of aerosol-cloud-turbulence interactions in a controlled cloudy Rayleigh-Bénard Convection chamber environment, utilizing the Pi Chamber at Michigan Technological University. We analyzed simulated cloud chamber-averaged statistics of microphysics and thermodynamics in a warm-phase, cloudy environment under steady-state conditions at varying aerosol injection rates. Simulation results from seven distinct models (DNS, LES, and a 1D turbulence model) were compared. Our findings demonstrate that while all models qualitatively capture observed trends in droplet number concentration, mean radius, and droplet size distributions at both high and low aerosol injection rates, significant quantitative differences were observed. Notably, droplet …


Potential Biological And Genetic Links Between Dementia And Osteoporosis: A Scoping Review, Abayomi N Ogunwale, Paul E Schulz, Jude K Des Bordes, Florent Elefteriou, Nahid J Rianon Jul 2025

Potential Biological And Genetic Links Between Dementia And Osteoporosis: A Scoping Review, Abayomi N Ogunwale, Paul E Schulz, Jude K Des Bordes, Florent Elefteriou, Nahid J Rianon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The biological mediators for the epidemiologic overlap between osteoporosis and dementia are unclear. We undertook a scoping review of clinical studies to identify genetic and biological factors linked with these degenerative conditions, exploring the mechanisms and pathways connecting both conditions.

Methods: Studies selected (1) involved clinical research investigating genetic factors or biomarkers associated with dementia or osteoporosis, and (2) were published in English in a peer-reviewed journal between July 1993 and March 2025. We searched Medline Ovid, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science databases, Google Scholar, and the reference lists of studies following the guidelines for …


Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles (Mic And Mmc) Against Mycoplasma Gallisepticum And M. Synoviae Isolated From Chicken Farms In Thailand, Kriengwich Limpavithayakul, Alongkorn Amonsin, Nataya Charoenvisal, Arithat Limsatanun, Katanyu Yangsuk, Sumrit Toopiya, Füsun Güngör, Esther Schonewille, Javier Uriarte, Somsak Pakpinyo Jul 2025

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles (Mic And Mmc) Against Mycoplasma Gallisepticum And M. Synoviae Isolated From Chicken Farms In Thailand, Kriengwich Limpavithayakul, Alongkorn Amonsin, Nataya Charoenvisal, Arithat Limsatanun, Katanyu Yangsuk, Sumrit Toopiya, Füsun Güngör, Esther Schonewille, Javier Uriarte, Somsak Pakpinyo

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) are important pathogens causing significant economic losses in poultry production. Disease prevention and control strategies include vaccination, antimicrobial therapy, and strict biosecurity measures. The present study provides, for the first time, both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum mycoplasmacidal concentration (MMC) values as antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Thai MG and MS field isolates. This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of five MG and ten MS isolates to various antimycoplasma drugs: doxycycline, lincomycin-spectinomycin, tiamulin, tilmicosin, tylosin, and tylvalosin, using a microdilution broth assay. For MG isolates, tilmicosin had the highest mean MIC (12.5 …


Effects Of Maackia Amurensis Seed Lectin (Masl) On Oscc Cell Morphology, Pdpn Expression, Growth, And Motility In A Phase 1 Clinical Trial, Ariel C Yin, Cayla J Holdcraft, Tyler J Hellmig, Eamonn J Brace, David I Suster, Alan J Shienbaum, Dylan Roden, Evelyne Kalyoussef, Ghayoour Mir, Eugenio Capitle, Soly Baredes, Rabie M Shanti, Mika K Kaneko, Yukinari Kato, Hisataka Kobayashi, Aki Furusawa, Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, Gary S Goldberg Jul 2025

Effects Of Maackia Amurensis Seed Lectin (Masl) On Oscc Cell Morphology, Pdpn Expression, Growth, And Motility In A Phase 1 Clinical Trial, Ariel C Yin, Cayla J Holdcraft, Tyler J Hellmig, Eamonn J Brace, David I Suster, Alan J Shienbaum, Dylan Roden, Evelyne Kalyoussef, Ghayoour Mir, Eugenio Capitle, Soly Baredes, Rabie M Shanti, Mika K Kaneko, Yukinari Kato, Hisataka Kobayashi, Aki Furusawa, Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Podoplanin (PDPN) has emerged as a functionally relevant biomarker and chemotherapeutic target expressed by OSCC cells. PDPN signaling can directly increase tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and also inhibit host lymphocyte activation and immune response. Accordingly, antibodies and Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL) can target the PDPN receptor to inhibit OSCC cell migration and viability. However, the effects of MASL on OSCC cells in oral cancer patients has not yet been reported.

METHODS: We conducted a Phase 1 human clinical trial to examine the effects of a single 100 mg oral dose of MASL on OSCC cell morphology, PDPN …


Smartboot: Real-Time Monitoring Of Patient Activity Via Remote Edge Computing Technologies, Gozde Cay, Myeounggon Lee, David G Armstrong, Bijan Najafi Jul 2025

Smartboot: Real-Time Monitoring Of Patient Activity Via Remote Edge Computing Technologies, Gozde Cay, Myeounggon Lee, David G Armstrong, Bijan Najafi

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes, associated with high recurrence and amputation rates. Adherence to offloading devices is critical for wound healing but remains inadequately monitored in real-world settings. This study evaluates the SmartBoot edge-computing system-a wearable, real-time remote monitoring solution integrating an inertial measurement unit (Sensoria Core) and smartwatch-for its validity in quantifying cadence and step count as digital biomarkers of frailty, and for detecting adherence. Twelve healthy adults wore two types of removable offloading boots (Össur and Foot Defender) during walking tasks at varied speeds; system outputs were validated against a gold-standard wearable and …


Targeted Delivery Of Rapamycin Via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Pancreatic Cancer Cells Inhibits Cell Proliferation And Induces Apoptosis, Nawab Ali, Adeolu S. Oluremi, Christopher Baldwin, Nickolas Gustavison, Mujeebat Bashiru, Adeniyi Oyebade, Noureen Siraj, Raj Raghavendra Rao Jul 2025

Targeted Delivery Of Rapamycin Via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Pancreatic Cancer Cells Inhibits Cell Proliferation And Induces Apoptosis, Nawab Ali, Adeolu S. Oluremi, Christopher Baldwin, Nickolas Gustavison, Mujeebat Bashiru, Adeniyi Oyebade, Noureen Siraj, Raj Raghavendra Rao

Faculty Scholarship

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is aggressive and deadly; most PC cells overexpress an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR-targeting peptide (GE11) was conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for delivering rapamycin (Rap), an mTOR inhibitor that reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis. Biophysical techniques confirmed the conjugation. Rap loading efficiency was 41.5%, with sustained release at a lower pH. Conjugates showed higher uptake in PANC-1 cells than unmodified AuNPs. It also inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via pathways involving reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage, and caspase activation. This approach represents a promising nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategy targeting PC cells, utilizing GE11-EGFR interactions to minimize …


Rayion Smith, Rayion Smith '26, Nathalie Romero '25, Posse Legacy Project, Illinois Wesleyan University Jul 2025

Rayion Smith, Rayion Smith '26, Nathalie Romero '25, Posse Legacy Project, Illinois Wesleyan University

All oral histories

Interview of Rayion Smith on July 19, 2025. Rayion Smith is a Posse 6 Scholar. Her major is in Biology with a minor in Public Health.


Stratifying The Population Based On Health Risk: Identification Of Patient Key Health Risk Factors Through Consensus Techniques, Carolina Castagna, Andrew Huff, Aaron Douglas, Phd, Matteo Garofano, Massimo Fabi, Richard W. Hass, Vittorio Maio Jul 2025

Stratifying The Population Based On Health Risk: Identification Of Patient Key Health Risk Factors Through Consensus Techniques, Carolina Castagna, Andrew Huff, Aaron Douglas, Phd, Matteo Garofano, Massimo Fabi, Richard W. Hass, Vittorio Maio

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification is a population health management approach that classifies patients according to their health risks and projected care needs. This strategy is especially valuable in primary care, where timely interventions for high-risk individuals can lead to better health outcomes, reduced healthcare expenditures, and a more sustainable healthcare system. The goal of this study was to establish expert consensus on the clinical and sociodemographic patient factors that should be incorporated into a primary care risk stratification tool.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary expert panel of 24 healthcare professionals, including primary care providers (PCPs), specialists, and allied health professionals, was convened in …


Mouse Metastable Epialleles Are Extremely Rare, Chathura J Gunasekara, Uditha Maduranga, Taylor Zhang, Jonathan N Wells, Maria S Baker, Eleonora Laritsky, Yumei Li, Cristian Coarfa, Yi Zhu, Robert A Waterland Jul 2025

Mouse Metastable Epialleles Are Extremely Rare, Chathura J Gunasekara, Uditha Maduranga, Taylor Zhang, Jonathan N Wells, Maria S Baker, Eleonora Laritsky, Yumei Li, Cristian Coarfa, Yi Zhu, Robert A Waterland

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metastable epialleles (MEs) are genomic loci at which epigenetic marks are established stochastically during early embryonic development and maintained during subsequent differentiation and throughout life, leading to stable epigenetic and phenotypic variation among genetically identical individuals. Although MEs were first described in mice over 20 years ago, the extent of epigenetic metastability in the mouse genome remains unknown. We present the first unbiased genome-wide screen for MEs in mice. Using deep whole-genome bisulfite sequencing across tissues derived from the three embryonic germ layers in isogenic C57BL/6J mice, we identified only 29 MEs, precisely localizing them and documenting their rarity. Consistent …


Genes Encoding Multiple Modulators Of The Immune Response Are Methylated In The Prostate Tumor Microenvironment Of African Americans, Vinay Kumar, Tara Sinta Kartika Jennings, Lucas Ueta, James Nguyen, Liankun Song, Michael Mcclelland, Weiping Chu, Michael Lilly, Michael Ittmann, Patricia Castro, Arash Rezazadeh Kalebasty, Dan Mercola, Omid Yazdanpanah, Xiaolin Zi, Farah Rahmatpanah Jul 2025

Genes Encoding Multiple Modulators Of The Immune Response Are Methylated In The Prostate Tumor Microenvironment Of African Americans, Vinay Kumar, Tara Sinta Kartika Jennings, Lucas Ueta, James Nguyen, Liankun Song, Michael Mcclelland, Weiping Chu, Michael Lilly, Michael Ittmann, Patricia Castro, Arash Rezazadeh Kalebasty, Dan Mercola, Omid Yazdanpanah, Xiaolin Zi, Farah Rahmatpanah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Prostate cancer (PCa) is diagnosed at an earlier median age, more advanced stage, and has worse clinical outcomes in African American (AA) men compared to European Americans (EA).

Methods: To investigate the role of aberrant DNA methylation in tumor-adjacent stroma (TAS), methyl binding domain sequencing (MBD-seq) was performed on AA (n = 17) and EA (n = 15) PCa patients. This was independently confirmed using the long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) assay. Pathway analysis was performed on statistically significantly differentially methylated genes for AA and EA TAS. DNA methylation profiles of primary cultured AA and …


Inter-Effort Recovery Intermittent Hypoxia And Force Parameters In Sprint Interval Exercise, Tarine Botta De Arruda, Felipe Alves Ribeiro Ms, Germano Marcolino Putti, Marcelo Papoti Jul 2025

Inter-Effort Recovery Intermittent Hypoxia And Force Parameters In Sprint Interval Exercise, Tarine Botta De Arruda, Felipe Alves Ribeiro Ms, Germano Marcolino Putti, Marcelo Papoti

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 672-685, 2025. Performing training sessions in hypoxia leads to a decrease in effort quality. The inter-effort recovery intermittent hypoxia model seems to ensure training session performance. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of sprint interval exercise under normoxic (NOR), continuous hypoxic (HYP), and inter-effort hypoxic (IEH) conditions on force parameters. Seven swimmers (age: 26.04 ± 4.64 years) volunteered and performed one session of the 10 × 30-s all-out tethered swimming efforts with 4-min passive recovery intervals for each condition. Considering the simulated altitude at FiO2 = 0.13 …


Data Please!: Expanding The Role Of Libraries In Data Science Through Digital Scholarship, Halie Kerns Jul 2025

Data Please!: Expanding The Role Of Libraries In Data Science Through Digital Scholarship, Halie Kerns

Library Scholarship

Objective: As data science becomes more integrated into research and teaching, libraries are well-positioned to support this work. This study examines how a digital scholarship team at Binghamton University enhanced engagement with data science by assessing faculty, staff, and graduate student needs. Through focus group interviews, the study identifies key support gaps and outlines strategic initiatives to strengthen interdisciplinary data science programming within the library.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used, involving 26 focus group interviews with faculty, staff, and graduate students across STEM and related fields. Participants discussed their data science work, tools, training, and perceived resource …


A Cancer Education Needs Assessment: Informing Middle-Aged Female Patients About The Relationships Between Obesity And Women’S Health Concerns In The Reproductive System, Breast, And Endometrial Health, Batul Mirza Jul 2025

A Cancer Education Needs Assessment: Informing Middle-Aged Female Patients About The Relationships Between Obesity And Women’S Health Concerns In The Reproductive System, Breast, And Endometrial Health, Batul Mirza

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Obesity significantly impacts women’s health, particularly among middle-aged women, by increasing the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, endometrial, and reproductive system cancers. This study examines the educational needs of this demographic group regarding obesity-related cancer risks and explores effective intervention strategies. Obesity-induced mechanisms – hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance – drive cancer susceptibility, emphasizing the need for targeted health education. The study employs a qualitative design, which includes interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) and surveys of middle-aged women. The goal is to assess awareness, perceived barriers, and preferred learning methods. Findings suggest that with many …


State-Level Immigrant Policies And Diabetes Prevalence In Latino And Asian American Groups: A Weighted Multilevel Analysis, Md Towfiqul Alam, Jennifer Toller Erausquin, Erica Payton, Elizabeth Vásquez, Sandra Echeverria Jul 2025

State-Level Immigrant Policies And Diabetes Prevalence In Latino And Asian American Groups: A Weighted Multilevel Analysis, Md Towfiqul Alam, Jennifer Toller Erausquin, Erica Payton, Elizabeth Vásquez, Sandra Echeverria

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Growing literature has shown that immigrant-related policies influence population health by limiting or enhancing immigrants’ rights. However, less is known about the role of state-level immigrant policies shaping chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This cross-sectional study examined the association between state-level immigrant policies (both criminalising and inclusive) and prevalence of T2DM among individuals of Latin American and Asian American origin.

Method: We included adults aged 18+years sampled in the 2014–2018 behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) (n=201 824), a survey design that allows the calculation of state-level estimates. Using existing policy measures, states …


Detection Of Neuron Derived Cfdna In Blood Plasma: A New Diagnostic Approach For Neurodegenerative Conditions, Chad Alan Pollard Jul 2025

Detection Of Neuron Derived Cfdna In Blood Plasma: A New Diagnostic Approach For Neurodegenerative Conditions, Chad Alan Pollard

Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are characterized by the progressive loss of distinct neuronal subtypes, yet current diagnostic tools are either invasive, limited in resolution, or poorly suited for early detection and longitudinal monitoring. This dissertation began with a proof-of- concept study using bisulfite-PCR at a neuron-enriched locus to detect cortical neuron-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in AD plasma samples, establishing the potential of cfDNA as a marker of neuronal injury. Building on these preliminary findings, a novel framework was developed utilizing Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to profile genome-wide native DNA …


Novel Tools And Datamining Techniques To Visualize And Interpret Historical Sugarcane Datasets, Zachary A. Taylor Jul 2025

Novel Tools And Datamining Techniques To Visualize And Interpret Historical Sugarcane Datasets, Zachary A. Taylor

LSU Master's Theses

Heritable genetic variation is an essential raw ingredient of variety development programs. This variation is acted upon via selection by identifying elite progeny that can be utilized agronomically or exploited as parents. Sugarcane breeders are tasked with creating optimal genetic variation through crossing. Prior knowledge of pedigree and parental performance allows breeders to discern which crosses to prioritize, since the time to make crossing decisions and the space to evaluate tens and thousands of progenies are both limited resources in sugarcane variety development programs. In this project, we have updated and validated the U.S. sugarcane pedigree …


Ud In The News July 12-18, University Of Dayton Jul 2025

Ud In The News July 12-18, University Of Dayton

News Releases

A pair of publications listed the schools of engineering and business among the best in the nation. Local media highlighted biology research, legal expertise, and the transition from outgoing board chair Rick Omlor to new board chair Deb Tobias.


Secondary Malignancies In Patients With Meningioma: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, And End Results Data Analysis, Maxwell W. Pickles, Thomas Z. Rohan, Shreya Vinjamuri, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Roger Murayi, David P. Bray, James J. Evans Jul 2025

Secondary Malignancies In Patients With Meningioma: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, And End Results Data Analysis, Maxwell W. Pickles, Thomas Z. Rohan, Shreya Vinjamuri, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Roger Murayi, David P. Bray, James J. Evans

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The risk of secondary primary malignancies (SPMs) in meningioma patients is not well understood. In this unidirectional analysis, we evaluated the risk of SPMs occurring following a primary diagnosis of meningioma.

METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER-17) database (2000-2020) was used to identify 124,769 meningioma patients from a total of 9,208,295 cancer cases. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using SEER's statistical analysis package to evaluate SPM risk. Basic demographic and treatment information was collected as well.

RESULTS: Of the 124,769 patients, 11,411 (9.2%) received diagnoses of an SPM, which correlates to a higher risk than the …


Matrix Molecules Associated With Both Regulation Of Inflammation And Pathogenic Outcomes Associated With The Surface Of The Lens In The Eyes Of Eau Mice, Phuong M. Le, Jodirae Dedreu, Mary J Mattapallil, Rachel R Caspi, Ryan Tomlinson, Mary Ann Stepp, A. Sue Menko Jul 2025

Matrix Molecules Associated With Both Regulation Of Inflammation And Pathogenic Outcomes Associated With The Surface Of The Lens In The Eyes Of Eau Mice, Phuong M. Le, Jodirae Dedreu, Mary J Mattapallil, Rachel R Caspi, Ryan Tomlinson, Mary Ann Stepp, A. Sue Menko

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Immune cells with immunoregulatory properties are recruited to the surface of the lens in the Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis (EAU) mouse and remain linked through resolution of EAU inflammation. Since protein components of the extracellular matrix provide biochemical and mechanical signals that regulate immune cell migration and phenotype, we investigated whether EAU inflammation caused matrix molecules to become associated with the lens surface. We focused on matrix proteins known to influence leukocyte phenotype and behavior, and/or lead to pathological outcomes in uveitis. We found that fibrinogen became associated with the lens capsule surface by the peak of EAU inflammation and increased …


Parthenocarpic Cucumber Cultivar Susceptibility Varies Among Common High Tunnel Insect And Mite Pests, Leslie Aviles, Elizabeth Maynard, Wenjing Guan, Laura Ingwell Jul 2025

Parthenocarpic Cucumber Cultivar Susceptibility Varies Among Common High Tunnel Insect And Mite Pests, Leslie Aviles, Elizabeth Maynard, Wenjing Guan, Laura Ingwell

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

High tunnels (HTs) are a protected agriculture tool used by specialty crop farmers. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativa L.) are well suited for HT production because of their vertical growth habit, allowing for space optimization, and repeated flowering, providing multiple harvest opportunities. However, twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch; TSSM), striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum Fabricius), and melon aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) are common pests of cucumbers in HT systems, limiting production. The unique environment of HTs lacks regulation of temperatures, which can reach high levels during summer, facilitating the rapid development of pests. Here, we present results …


Impacts Of Permafrost Thaw And Methane Cycling In A Northern Peatland, Hannah Defelice Jul 2025

Impacts Of Permafrost Thaw And Methane Cycling In A Northern Peatland, Hannah Defelice

Theses

Climate change is disproportionately impacting high latitude regions, resulting in thawing permafrost, changes in vegetation, hydrology and greenhouse gas emissions. As permafrost thaws in peatlands, ground subsidence occurs, resulting in a transition from elevated palsa to lower, wetter bogs and fens. Changes in vegetation and hydrology with thaw result in increased methane (CH4) fluxes and distinctive shifts in the carbon isotope signature of porewater and emitted CH4. Previous research has established the differences between these landcover classes; however, we know little about how CH4 cycling processes change during land class transitions. To address this gap, we compared recently formed bogs …