Digital Commons Network^™

Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Effects On The Mesolimbic Dopamine Circuitry And Adaptations With Chronic Ethanol Exposure, Rachel Ji-Hyae Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system contributes to reward and reinforcement learning for ethanol (EtOH). The nucleus accumbens (NAc) receives DA input from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) encoding rewarding information. Acute EtOH increases NAc DA levels, and this DA response is attenuated with chronic EtOH exposure. Furthermore, chronic EtOH results in reduced DA release, increased DA clearance and presynaptic D2-type auto-receptor sensitization. Further research into EtOH-induced neural adaptations that modulate NAc DA release is explored herein, including changes in cholinergic interneurons (CIN), which are known regulators of DA transmission. One potential class of regulators are immune related cytokines, that can …

Protein Structure Influences Redox Stability, Oxygen Affinity, And Heat-Induced Denaturation Properties Of Bovine Myoglobin, Hemoglobin, And Cytochrome C, Anuj Sharma, Runnan Li, Silan Bhandari, Surendranath P. Suman, Sadagopan Krishnan, Morgan Pfeiffer, Gretchen Mafi, Ranjith Ramanathan

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

While past research has predominantly focused on the role of myoglobin in meat color, investigations into the contributions of hemoglobin and cytochrome c are limited. Cytochrome c has the highest redox stability (P < 0.05), followed by myoglobin and hemoglobin. Electrochemistry analysis revealed that cytochrome c has a greater capacity (P < 0.05) to reduce than myoglobin and hemoglobin. Differential scanning calorimetry indicates that cytochrome c was most stable to heat (P < 0.05), while no differences were noted between myoglobin and hemoglobin. Structural analysis noted that greater heat and redox stability of cytochrome c might be attributed to fewer histidine residues (3) and more covalent bonds (4) than myoglobin (13), hemoglobin α (10), and hemoglobin β (6). This study suggests that the amino acid sequence and number of covalent bonds can impact the redox stability and heat-induced denaturation properties of myoglobin, hemoglobin, and cytochrome c.

A Glyoxal-Specific Aldehyde Signaling Axis In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa That Influences Quorum Sensing And Infection, Christopher J. Corcoran, Bonnie J. Cuthbert, David G. Glanville, Mailyn Terrado, Diana Valverde Mendez, Benjamin P. Bratton, Daniel E. Schemenauer, Valerie L. Tokars, Thomas G. Martin, Lawrence W. Rasmussen, Matthew C. Madison, Andrew F. Maule, Joshua W. Shaevitz, Boo Shan Tseng, Julian P. Whitelegge, Catherine Putonti, Amit Gaggar, Jordan R. Beach, Jonathan A. Kirk, Alfonso Mondragón, Abby R. Kroken, Jonathan P. Allen, Celia W. Goulding, Andrew T. Ulijasz

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The universally conserved α-oxoaldehydes glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) are toxic metabolic byproducts whose accumulation can lead to cell death. In the absence of a known, natural inducer of the GO-specific response in prokaryotes, we exploited RNA-seq to define a GO response in the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest upregulated operon consisted of the known glyoxalase (gloA2) and an antibiotic monooxygenase (ABM) domain of unknown function - renamed here Aldehyde responsive quorum-sensing Inhibitor (ArqI). The arqI-gloA2 operon is highly specific to GO induction and ArqI protein responds by migrating to the flagellar pole. An ArqI atomic structure revealed several …

Antibacterial Effect Of Acetylsalicylic Acid On The Efficiency Of Azithromycin Against Resistant Salmonella Enterica: An In Vitro Study, Sawsan M. Amin, Ihsan M. Ahmed, Ahmed N. Abed

Baghdad Science Journal

This study aimed to determine the antibacterial effect of combined acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and azithromycin (AZM) against resistant Salmonella enterica. For this, the MIC and MBC of both drugs were determined, and a checkerboard test, a time-killing assay, and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The results showed that ASA had an antibacterial effect with MIC value of 16000 μg/ml and MBC value of 32000 μg/ml. Also, the combination of ASA with AZM has an additive effect with FICI interaction value 1.5 at 8000 μg/ml of ASA and 16 μg/ml of AZM, and this has a direct effect on preventing …

Electrochemical Immunosensor Using Cooh-Functionalized 3d Graphene Electrodes For Sensitive Detection Of Tau-441 Protein, S. Nazir, M. Dogan, Y. Wei, G. Pan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is essential for effective treatment; however current diagnostic methods are often complex, costly, and unsuitable for point-of-care testing. Graphene-based biosensors offer an alternative due to their affordability, versatility, and high conductivity. However, graphene’s conductivity can be compromised when its carbon lattice is oxidized to introduce functional groups for biomolecule immobilization. This study addresses this challenge by developing an electrochemical immunosensor using carboxyl-modified commercial graphene foam (COOH-GF) electrodes. The conductivity of graphene is preserved by enabling efficient COOH modification through π–π non-covalent interactions, while antibody immobilization is optimized via EDC-NHS carbodiimide chemistry. The immunosensor detects …

Image-Based Inference Of Tumor Cell Trajectories Enables Large-Scale Cancer Progression Analysis, Yang Liu, Ling Cai, Ruichen Rong, Shidan Wang, Liwei Jia, Peiran Quan, Qin Zhou, Guanghua Xiao, Yang Xie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current approaches to estimating cell trajectories, tumor progression dynamics, and cell population diversity of tumor microenvironment often depend on single-cell RNA sequencing, which is costly and resource intensive. To address this limitation, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that leverages cell morphology features and histological spatial organization to classify tumor cell differentiation status, infer cell dynamic trajectories, and quantify tumor progression from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained whole-slide images. In three independent lung adenocarcinoma cohorts, our AI-based model accurately predicted cell differential status and provided quantifiable measures of tumor progression that were prognostic of patient survival. Spatial transcriptomic integrative analyses …

A Two-Stage Dual-Task Learning Strategy For Early Prediction Of Pathological Complete Response To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Images, Bowen Jing, Jing Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Early prediction of treatment response can facilitate personalized treatment for breast cancer patients. Studies on the I-SPY 2 clinical trial demonstrate that multi-time point dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCEMR) imaging improves the accuracy of predicting pathological complete response (pCR) to chemotherapy. However, previous image-based prediction models usually rely on mid- or post-treatment images to ensure the accuracy of prediction, which may outweigh the benefit of response-based adaptive treatment strategy. Accurately predicting the pCR at the early time point is desired yet remains challenging. To improve prediction accuracy at the early time point of treatment, we proposed a two-stage dual-task learning …

Truncated Ntrk2 Is Induced In Cap1 Endothelial Cells During Mouse Lung Injury-Repair, Celine Shuet Lin Kong, Mitheera V, Jezreel Pantaleón-García, Scott E Evans, Jichao Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pulmonary capillary endothelial cells (ECs) consist of two populations, CAP1 and CAP2; how each population reacts to diverse tissue injury is incompletely understood. Using single-cell multiome and mouse genetics, we characterize the induction and function of a truncated isoform of Ntrk2, Ntrk2-T1, in multiple lung injury models. Upon Sendai parainfluenza infection, Ntrk2-T1 is broadly induced in CAP1s after the initial interferon response, associated with increased intronic chromatin accessibility, and persists for weeks. Ntrk2-T1 ECs arise from CAP1s but not CAP2s-traced by

Ifn-Β Production Promotes Metabolic Rewiring And Protection Against Oxidative Stress In Hepatitis Delta Virus-Infected Hepatocyte Cultures, Olga A Khomich, Patrick Giavalisco, Romain Parent, George S Krasnov, Peter Tessarz, Philip Meuleman, Rani Burm, Natalia F Zakirova, Jennifer Molle, Enkhtuul Batbold, Eyal Gottlieb, Fabien Zoulim, Alexander V Ivanov, Birke Bartosch

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Type I interferons are secreted in response to various stimuli and are used as a treatment for many diseases, including infections with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its satellite virus, hepatitis delta (HDV). HDV significantly aggravates HBV-mediated liver damage and is - in contrast to HBV - a strong inducer of interferon responses, including IFN-β. As the role of IFN- β in liver metabolism is so far ill explored, we studied its impact on hepatocyte metabolism in HDV-infected cultures. Transcriptome analysis, isotope tracing and functional tests on differentiated, HDV-infected hepatocytes showed reduction of mitochondrial TCA cycle and respiratory activity …

Longitudinal Changes In Infant Attention-Related Brain Networks And Fearful Temperament, Courtney A. Filippi, Alice Massera, Jiayin Xing, Hyung G. Park, Emilio A. Valadez, Jed T. Elison, Dana Kanel, Daniel Samuel Pine, Nathan A. Fox, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Anxiety disorders may partly stem from altered neurodevelopment of attention-related networks. Neonatal alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) among the dorsal attention network (DAN), frontoparietal network (FPN), salience network (SN), and default mode network (DMN) relate to fearful temperament, a risk marker for anxiety. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the development of these networks beyond the first months of life, particularly in fearful infants. In this study, we examined how changes in these networks during the first 2 years of life relate to fearful temperament.

Methods: Using data from the Baby Connectome Project (from 180 infants across 396 sessions), …

Lgbt Young Adults’ Experience Of Exiting Foster Care, Shaylon Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The scholarly community understands little about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young adults as they transition out of the foster care system. This study explored the lived experiences and difficulties encountered by LGBT young adults after exiting foster care. Grounded in Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, this qualitative dissertation employed a phenomenological design to interpret how participants made sense of their transitions. Recruitment was conducted through a flyer posted on Facebook and the Department of Children and Family Services; 10 LGBT young adults participated in 60-minute interviews. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study revealed six overarching …

Prenatal Psychosocial Distress Screening For Individuals Experiencing Pregnancies Complicated By Fetal Anomalies., Kara Hansen, Lisa Mische Lawson, Abigail Wilpers

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Pregnant individuals who receive a fetal anomaly diagnosis experience significantly elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress-up to four to six times higher than those for individuals with low-risk pregnancies. In low-risk pregnancies, perinatal mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality and are associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. These risks are likely compounded in pregnancies involving fetal anomalies due to the intersecting psychological and social burdens that complicate maternal well-being and access to care. However, there is a critical gap in understanding how these mental health symptoms translate into …

Cdc1s Promote Atherosclerosis Via Local Immunity And Are Targetable For Therapy, Miguel Galán, Suin Jo, Tian-Tian Liu, Kenneth M. Murphy, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is characterized by immune cell accumulation in the arterial wall and adaptive CD4

METHODS: We tested atherosclerosis in

RESULTS: Expansion of DCs in

CONCLUSIONS: Using state-of-the-art strategies, our results establish that cDC1s have a proatherogenic role in atherosclerosis by boosting CD4

Correlation Between Asprosin And Irisin In Iraqi Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Or High Blood Pressure, Shaimaa Imad Ali, Qutban Ibrahim Hasan, Layla Imad Ali, Fayhaa M. Khaleel, Farah I. Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

Diabetics are twice as likely to experience high blood pressure as non-diabetics. Asprosin a protein hormone has 140 amino-acids, is secreted by white adipose-tissue in response to fasting. When the cAMP, protein kinase-A pathway is activated, it causes a fasting-induced increase in hepatic glucose release into the bloodstream. Irisin, a peptide consisting of 112 amino-acids, is produced by cleaving a protein in the plasma membrane to release an adipocytokine. Enhanced lipid and glucose metabolism, along with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, are among the advantageous impacts of irisin. The purpose of this study is to determine the function of Asprosin and …

Whole Genome Sequencing Of Curtobacterium Flaccumfaciens Strain Shgh, Isolated From The Nodes Of Olea Europaea In Mosul, Iraq, Shaimaa Yaseen Taha, Ghazwan Qasim Hasan, Igor Ivanovski

Baghdad Science Journal

Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens SHGH was associated with Koch's postulates about wilt disease in Olea europaea (olive trees) located in Mosul, Iraq. Since olive trees are an important cash crop for Iraq, a whole-genome analysis of SHGH was conducted. The complete genome was sequenced using the IIIumina MiSeq sequencer and uploaded to GenBank under the accession number JAUMSN000000000.1. The circular chromosome consists of 3,834,306 bp, 70.7 percent GC content, 4,176 protein-coding sequences, 53 RNA genes, 7 ribosomal RNA genes, and 42 transfer RNA genes. According to the in silico DNA-DNA hybridization technique are 11 strains closely related to the SHGH strain. The …

Calculate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Road Vehicles In Baghdad City Using Ipcc Methodology, Zainab N. Abdulateef, Adel H. Talib, Maitham A. Sultan

Baghdad Science Journal

The transportation sector plays a vital role in facilitating human well-being by moving people and goods. In Iraq, the sector faces significant challenges, including an annual fuel loss of up to 500 billion dinars and substantial fuel wastage. Each vehicle consumes approximately 570 liters of gasoline annually due to traffic congestion, as the number of vehicles at peak times is estimated per kilometer of the three-lane street (1,059 cars km/h). In contrast, their number is estimated at regular times (450 cars km/h), leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion used to operate vehicle engines. The current study analyzed …

Utilizing Trichoderma Harzianum And Semi In-Planta For Management Damping-Off Fusarium Solani In Corn Varieties, Zul Fauzi Nugroho Hadi, Suhartiningsih Dwi Nurcahyanti, Rachmi Masnilah, Ankardiansyah Pandu Pradana, Sigit Prastowo, Hardian Susilo Addy, Syaiful Khoiri, Ali Wafa

Baghdad Science Journal

The utilization of Trichoderma harzianum (Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) as a biological control agent against plant pathogenic fungi has gained extensive recognition in the field of agriculture. Fusarium solani (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) is a pathogen that causes damping-off in corn plants and poses a significant global challenge to corn farmers. This study aimed to investigate the potential management of damping-off disease caused by F. solani in three varieties of corn, utilizing T. harzianum in conjunction with the semi in-planta method. It was demonstrated that both in vitro and semi in-planta T. harzianum treatments had the ability to suppress damping-off disease in corn varieties. …

Indirect Excitons And Many-Body Interactions In Ingaas Double Quantum Wells, Christopher L. Smallwood, Rachel Owen, Matthew W. Day, Takeshi Suzuki, Rohan Singh, Travis M. Autry, Smriti Bhalerao, Fauzia Jabeen, Steven T. Cundiff

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Spatially indirect excitons in semiconductor quantum wells are relevant to basic research and device applications because they exhibit enhanced tunability, delocalized wave functions, and potentially longer lifetimes relative to direct excitons. Here we investigate the properties of indirect excitons and their coupling interactions with direct excitons in asymmetric InGaAs double quantum wells using optical multidimensional coherent spectroscopy and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. Analyses of the spectra confirm a strong influence of many-body effects and reveal that excited-state zero-quantum coherences between direct and indirect excitons in the quantum wells dephase faster than the much-higher-energy single-quantum coherences between excitonic excited states and ground …

The Impact Of Inorganic Nitrate On Endothelial Function: A Systematic Review Of Randomized Controlled Trials And Meta-Analysis, Esther Muriuki

School of Health Professions

Context: Inorganic nitrate is an exogenous source of nitric oxide, an established regulator of vascular homeostasis via the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. Here, we evaluate the impact of inorganic nitrate on endothelial function, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Objective: A systematic review of the existing literature and meta-analysis was performed. Trials testing inorganic nitrate compared with a control were selected and the change in forearm endothelial function (as assessed by flow-mediated dilatation [FMD]) were included. Data Sources: The following databases were searched: Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data Extraction: and Analysis Standardized mean differences in %FMD were pooled using …

The Physical Characteristics Linked To The Perception Of Criminality Of Female Offenders, Jennifer Anne Chapman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender disparities can be seen throughout the criminal justice system, where females are seen as weak and incapable of causing harm. This quantitative study sought to add to the existing research regarding physical characteristics linked to criminality. The labeling theory explains how physical characteristics labeled as deviant can alter a person’s perception when deciding whether an individual is violent. The research questions explored the physical characteristics linked to the perception of violent female offenders as well as the relationship between the gender of the participant and their ability to successfully identify a violent female offender. A mixture of statistical designs …

Limited Soil Water Recharge In Summer Affects Seasonal Isotopic Signatures Of Tree Xylem Water, Marius G. Floriancic, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Harsh Beria, Scott T. Allen, James W. Kirchner

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Recent studies have reported that xylem waters in forest trees during the summer growing season are often isotopically similar to winter, rather than summer, precipitation. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this observation, which can be viewed as a form of ecohydrological separation, but empirical tests spanning space and time remain limited. We hypothesise that variations in the seasonal origin of precipitation found in tree xylem waters can be explained by seasonal differences in soil water recharge. We test this hypothesis by evaluating to what extent climatic aridity can explain seasonal signals in extensive surveys of the isotope ratios …

Atopy-Related Immune Profiles Are Subject To Genetic Influence As Evaluated Using School-Aged Twin Pairs, Jonatan Leffler, James F. Read, Danny Mok, Michael Serralha, Anthony Bosco, Patrick G. Holt, Richard Saffery, Deborah H. Strickland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The interaction of genetic and environmental contributions to immunological traits and their association with atopic disease remain unclear. Flow cytometry and in vitro cytokine responses were used to characterize immune profiles from 93 school-aged twin pairs. Using an established twin pair analytical strategy, the genetic and environmental influences on immunological traits were evaluated, along with their association with atopy. Our findings suggest strong genetic influence on several traits, particularly B cell abundance. In contrast, cytokine responses from in vitro stimulations appeared mainly shaped by environmental exposures. Regarding associations with atopy, greater abundance of both B cells and basophils were observed …

High Achievers Awards 2014

University anniversary celebration materials

No abstract provided.

Using The Companioning Model And Technological Innovations To Create Spaces Of Belonging In Counselor Education Programs, Kailey Bradley, Ellise Nolan, Fawn Gordon, Emily Horton

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

This conceptual manuscript seeks to address challenges experienced by counseling students regarding feelings of non-belonging. We propose that the companioning model of grief counseling be integrated into existing counselor education curriculum through technological innovations to cultivate a sense of belonging. Due to the model’s alignment with humanistic counseling principles, such as non-judgment and person-centered interventions, the companioning model is applicable to fostering belonging in counselor education learning environments. Each tenet of the companioning model will be described, and a corresponding activity that aligns with the tenet will be explored. Each activity leverages technological innovations that provide a unique intersection that …

Exploring The Environmental Impacts Of Telemental Health Counseling: Balancing Accessibility, Sustainability, And Climate Concerns, Daniel Bates, Greg Peterson, Vanessa Sinclair

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a nation-wide quarantine was mandated, which had a significant impact on the economy, healthcare, and lifestyle. It also dramatically changed the way mental health services were delivered. Many clinicians in private practice and at agencies rapidly transitioned the administration of mental health treatment to an online platform. The rapid upsurge of utilization of telemental health counseling (TMHC) yielded unexpected environmental benefits that have come to light by recent research. Some researchers shared concerns of TMHC efficacy compared to in-person counseling, however, other research comparing TMHC to in-person found comparable therapeutic outcomes. Research has also …

Mitigating School Counselor Burnout: Exploring The Ethical Dimensions Of Ai Assistance In Writing Letters Of Recommendation, Laurie Dickstein-Fischer, Megan M. Krell, Sean Godbout

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

This conceptual article explores the critical issue of burnout among high school counselors and examines the ethical considerations of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the professional practice of crafting letters of recommendation. The paper investigates how AI, when used ethically, may serve as a tool to reduce burnout by streamlining time-consuming administrative tasks. By focusing on recent advancements in AI technology, the discussion highlights how school counselors can integrate these tools to support their work without compromising ethical standards or professional integrity. Emphasizing the importance of maximizing direct service time with students, the article draws on research suggesting that leveraging …

Evaluating Counseling Skills Through Language Style Matching: A Computer-Aided Text Analysis Of Suicide And General Counseling Transcripts, Chung-Fan Ni, Justin Jacques, Charles Silber, Cass Dykeman

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

This pilot study applies Computer-Aided Text Analysis (CATA) to examine Language Style Matching (LSM) in counseling transcripts, offering a novel metric for counselor education and supervision. Analyzing 50 suicide-focused and 100 general counseling sessions using LIWC-22 software, we found high LSM scores in both contexts (suicide-focused: M = 0.906; general: M = 0.903). Bayesian analysis provided moderate evidence (BF01 = 5.048) in support of the null hypothesis, indicating no significant difference between the two session types. The consistently high LSM suggests counselors effectively build strong alliances and align with client goals across topics. LSM analysis provides an objective measure of …

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

First Ground Visit To The Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes Forsteri Colony At Jason Peninsula, Larsen C Ice Shelf, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Jonathan Zaccaria

Marine Ornithology

The growth of ecotourism leads tour operators to develop means of exploration that facilitate access to remote and difficult-to-reach areas. For instance, new ice-class expedition ships can now bring visitors to isolated places in Antarctica that have never before been visited. In November 2021, a first ground visit was made to the Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colony at the Jason Peninsula. The result is the first census of the population that has been conducted in situ. This example illustrates that reaching extremely isolated places through ecotourism is an opportunity to develop citizen science and collect useful data.

Reviews: Conservation Of Marine Birds (Young, L. & Vanderwerf, E.); Science, Secrecy And The Smithsonian: The Strange History Of The Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program (Regis, E.); New(Ish) And Noteworthy: Seabirds Count: A Census Of Breeding Seabirds In Britain And Ireland (Burnell, D., Perkins, A.J., Newton, S.F., Bolton, M., Tierney, T.D., Dunn, T.E.); Sea Change: An Atlas Of Islands In A Rising Ocean (Gerhardt, C.); Bird Day: A Story Of 24 Hours And 24 Avian Lives (Hauber, M.E.); Journeys With Emperors: Tracking The World’S Most Extreme Penguin (Kooyman, G.L. & Mastro, J.), Mark J. Rauzon, Eric Wagner

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.