Digital Commons Network^™

Artificial Intelligence For Detecting Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (Nash), Muhammad Wildan Gifari, Yogi Ramadhani, Dhadhang Wahyu Kurniawan

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an inflammatory disease of the liver, has recently raised concern among healthcare professionals worldwide due to its asymptomatic features, making early diagnosis challenging. If left unnoticed, NASH often progresses to lethal diseases such as liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) might facilitate the early diagnosis of NASH in a more efficient manner, forming a promising strategy to diagnose patients. In simple terms, AI is any machine that is capable of human-level intelligence, including visual perception, speech recognition, or decision making. A subclass of AI, which particularly deals with knowledge-based …

Comparing Gutta Percha Backfill Leakage Over Multiple Heating Cycles, Hannah Battle, Thomas E. Lallier, Landon Boenke, Albert F. Mcmullen Iii

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Introduction: Warm vertical compaction of gutta-percha is a commonly used obturation technique due to the material’s thermoplastic properties. However, gutta-percha in backfill systems is often heated, cooled, and reheated multiple times before use, potentially altering its physical properties. This study investigated whether repeated heat cycling affects the sealing ability of gutta-percha, as measured by coronal dye leakage. Methods: Forty extracted single-rooted human teeth were cleaned, shaped, and randomly divided into four groups (n = 10) based on the number of heating cycles the gutta-percha underwent prior to obturation: Group A (1 cycle), Group B (3 cycles), Group C (5 cycles), …

Effects Of Meeting Exercise Guidelines On Depression And Anxiety In Multiple Sclerosis – A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sodiq Fakorede, Joseph Peters, Tanner Murphy, Ethan Truong, Libak Abou

Student Publications

Background: Depression and anxiety are common in multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly affecting quality of life. Previous studies on exercise interventions for mental health in persons with MS (PwMS) have shown mixed results, partly due to inconsistent adherence to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Multiple Sclerosis (PAG-MS).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PAG-MS-compliant exercise on depression and anxiety outcomes in PwMS.

Methods: A systematic search was performed in EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SPORTDiscuss, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL through October 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eligible studies involved adults with MS and focused on exercise …

Evaluating Nutrition, Exercise, And Education, On Mental Health And Quality Of Life In Menopause, Jill R. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and a lack of understanding of menopause adversely affect mental health and quality of life in women entering menopause. Metabolic changes during this period can lead to an increase in visceral fat, loss of muscle mass, depression, and anxiety. These metabolic changes are linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional quantitative study, guided by the health belief model, explored the contribution of adopting specific nutrition strategies, exercise, and education in women during menopause transition to help manage mental health (as measured by depression and tension), and quality …

Predictive Indicators For Graduation Upon Acceptance Into A Naacls-Approved Medical Laboratory Science Program, Warren Hovis

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the influence of selected academic and personal demographic characteristics on student success at a NAACLS-accredited medical laboratory science program in the southern portion of the United States.

Both academic and demographic categories were selected on students who entered the medical laboratory science program from 2014 to 2019 (pre-COVID). The sanitized, archived data set was provided by the MLS department and the registrar and student affairs office at the participating school. The extant data set contained academic and demographic variables, collected over a five-year period, of initially over 170 accepted MLS students. …

Cat: A Conditional Association Test For Microbiome Data Using A Permutation Approach, Yushu Shi, Liangliang Zhang, Kim-Anh Do, Robert R Jenq, Christine B Peterson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In microbiome analysis, researchers often seek to identify taxonomic features associated with an outcome of interest. However, microbiome features are intercorrelated and linked by phylogenetic relationships, making it challenging to assess the association between an individual feature and an outcome. This paper proposes a novel conditional association test, CAT, that can account for other features and phylogenetic relatedness when testing the association between a feature and an outcome. CAT adopts a permutation approach, measuring the importance of a feature in predicting the outcome by permuting operational taxonomic unit/amplicon sequence variant counts belonging to that feature from the data and quantifying …

The Theoretical Role Of The Wind In Aerosolising Microplastics And Nanoplastics From Coastal Combined Sewer Overflows, Lauren Biermann, David Moffat, Clive E Sabel, Thomas E Stovin

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Inhaled microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have shown bio-persistence in the body, with concerning implications for human health. Airborne MNPs primarily originate from terrestrial sources, but sea air may contribute when onshore 'aerosolising' winds coincide with high concentrations of MNPs in surface waters. From the thousands of cities worldwide with Combined Sewer Overflows, millions to billions of MNPs can be discharged daily into rivers, estuaries, and the sea. To assess the possible links between water pollution and air quality, we analysed two years of Combined Sewer Overflows (spills) off Plymouth, UK, alongside same-day and long-term meteorological and satellite data. Winds exceeding …

A Sensory Investment Syndrome Hypothesis: Personality And Predictability Are Linked To Sensory Capacity In The Hermit Crab Pagurus Bernhardus, Ari Drummond, Summer Nash, Tianna Holloway, Alexander Wilson, Lucy Turner, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Correlated phenotypic traits (i.e., syndromes) may manifest as associations between different behavioural types or between behavioural and non-behavioural phenotypes. While syndromes research is extensive, correlations involving behavioural type and sensory morphology have yet to be investigated. Sensation is essential in decision-making and should be correlated with behavioural phenotypes involved in risk response, including boldness. We investigated correlations between boldness and sensory capacity in Pagurus bernhardus hermit crabs, taking repeat measures of startle response durations to assess hermit crab personality and predictability. The correlation between startle response and the sensillar density (i.e., number of sensilla per unit surface area) of both …

Vibrio Cholerae Endemic To The Lower Rio Grande Delta Segregate Into Urban And Rural Phylotypes, Daniele Provenzano, Jeffrey W. Turner, Jorge Duran-Gonzalez, David A. Laughlin, David Silva, Viviana Trevino, Miguel F. Gonzales, Boris Ermolinsky, Stefan Pukatzki

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The lifestyle of Vibrio cholerae is primarily environmental, yet a chance encounter with a human host can lead to cholera, a potentially lethal form of diarrhea. Strains belonging to O1 and O139 serogroups have pandemic potential, but the contribution of non-O1/non-O139 serovars towards the genesis of cholera remains unclear. Endemic V. cholerae lineages were investigated given several historical accounts describing cholera epidemics and sporadic, contemporary cholera-like outbreaks along the lower Rio Grande Delta (LRGD). Seven isolates were recovered from an urban segment of the Rio Grande and six from a rural segment where the river empties into the Gulf of …

Medical Biotechnology Symposium Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman 5th And 6th February 2024 Gene Hunting In Breast Tumours And Cells To Reveal Chemotherapy Resistance As Predictive Markers Of Response, Sultan Qaboos University

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Chimerism In Males And Recurrent Miscarriages: A Case Study, Abdelhamid Bouramtane, Ahmed Lazraq, Badreddine Elmakhzen, Saadia Amasdl, Laila Bouguenouch, Karim Ouldim, Mohamed Ahakoud

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Chimerism is a rare biological phenomenon in which an individual harbors two or more genetically distinct cell lines, typically resulting from the fusion of two embryos or from twin-to-twin cell transfer in utero. Though often asymptomatic, chimerism can have significant implications for fertility, development, and immunological compatibility. Its true prevalence remains unknown due to frequent underdiagnosis, especially in the absence of phenotypic clues.

Recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as the occurrence of two or more consecutive miscarriages, is often attributed to chromosomal abnormalities, uterine malformations, thrombophilia, or immune dysfunction. Paternal contributions, particularly involving rare genetic anomalies, are far less investigated. Here, …

Genetic Gain And Loss In The Evolution Of Amniote T Cell Receptor And Immunoglobulin Genes, Jordan M. Sampson

Biology ETDs

The immune system of most jawed vertebrates consists of three major cell types: αβ T cells, γδ T cells, and B cells. Every species evaluated contains the loci that encode the highly conserved αβ T cells, however, γδ T cells are less conserved and have been lost in squamate reptiles. The loci that encode the B cell receptor have also varied across evolution. Seven immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain isotypes have been identified in amniotes: IgM, IgD, IgY, IgG, IgE, IgO, and IgA. Some are found in most species (IgM and IgD) and others only in specific lineages (IgY or IgG). …

Irradiation Of Prostate Cancer Alters Circulating Small Extracellular Vesicle Functions, Aejaz Sayeed, Vaughn Garcia, Cecilia E. Verrillo, Rachel M. Derita, Md Niamat Hossain, Shiv R. Krishn, Samuel Sey, Christopher D. Shields, Adrian D. Altieri, Qin Liu, Khalid Sossey-Alaoui, William K. Kelly, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

It is known that β1 integrins and a downstream signaling molecule c-Src are upregulated in prostate cancer (PrCa) tissues, are co-expressed in circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and contribute to cancer progression. Here, we demonstrate that sEVs from PrCa patients show robust expression of both β1 integrins and c-Src. The impact of irradiation, a widely used therapy for the treatment of PrCa, on circulating sEVs is however not fully understood. We show that sEVs isolated from the plasma of transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, stimulate migration and anchorage-independent growth of recipient cancer cells, but sEVs are not active …

Differential Efficacy Of Bevacizumab And Erlotinib In Preclinical Models Of Renal Medullary Carcinoma And Fumarate Hydratase-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma, Niki M Zacharias, Manuel Ozambela, Menuka Karki, Rong He, Pankaj K Chauhan, Pedro I Pesquera, Andres E Hernandez Gonzalez, Oscar Ochoa, Alberto Pieretti, Huiqin Chen, Carolyn De La Cerda, Zhiyuan Yu, Abha Grover, Samantha Hicks-Peña, Natalie W Fowlkes, Lei Wang, Tapati Maity, Priya Rao, Giannicola Genovese, Nizar M Tannir, Jose A Karam, Pavlos Msaouel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) and fumarate hydratase (FH)-deficient renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are rare and highly aggressive cancers. Although the combination of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition by bevacizumab and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition by erlotinib is clinically used for both diseases, the differential effect of each component has not been investigated. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that RMC and FH-deficient tumor tissues demonstrate increased EGFR but not VEGF expression compared with adjacent normal kidney. Subsequent in vitro studies revealed that RMC and FH-deficient cell lines are sensitive to erlotinib treatment, whereas clear cell RCC cell lines are resistant. …

Pan-Cancer Copy Number Analysis Identifies Optimized Size Thresholds And Co-Occurrence Models For Individualized Risk Stratification, Minh P Nguyen, William C Chen, Kanish Mirchia, Abrar Choudhury, Naomi Zakimi, Vijay Nitturi, Tiemo J Klisch, Stephen T Magill, Calixto-Hope G Lucas, Akash J Patel, David R Raleigh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chromosome instability leading to aneuploidy and accumulation of copy number gains or losses is a hallmark of cancer. Copy number alteration (CNA) signatures are increasingly used for cancer risk stratification, but size thresholds for defining CNAs across cancers are variable and the biological and clinical implications of CNA size heterogeneity and co-occurrence are incompletely understood. Here we analyze CNA and clinical data from 691 meningiomas and 10,383 tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas to develop cancer- and chromosome-specific size-dependent CNA and CNA co-occurrence models to predict tumor control and overall survival. Our results shed light on technical considerations for biomarker …

Is My Stress Out Of Place? Bread Wheat Response To Saline Stress Varies In Pattern And Extent Across Experimental Settings, Anne Plessis

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Adopting crops and agricultural practices that help sustain yield under abiotic stress will be a major element of future food security under climate change. However, little of the intensive research into the mechanisms of plant abiotic stress response has translated into improved yield stability. A suspected obstacle to translatability of research findings in this area is artificial experimental conditions, but we lack evidence to support this explanation. Here, we combined a meta-analysis and an experimental approach to compare the effect of salt stress on wheat yield, growth, and physiology across four distinct experimental settings: field/field-like conditions, potted plants in a …

Z-Scores Outperform Similar Methods For Analyzing Crispr Paralog Synthetic Lethality Screens, Juihsuan Chou, Nazanin Esmaeili Anvar, Reem Elghaish, Junjie Chen, Traver Hart

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genetic screens offer a promising strategy for identifying tumor-specific therapeutic targets, but single-gene knockout screens often miss functionally redundant paralogs. Multiplex Cas9 and Cas12a CRISPR systems have been deployed to assay genetic interactions, but analysis pipelines vary considerably. Here we evaluate data from four in4mer CRISPR/Cas12a screens in cancer cell lines, using delta log fold change, Z-transformed dLFC, and rescaled dLFC approaches to identify synthetic lethal interactions. Both ZdLFC and RdLFC provide more consistent identification of synthetic lethal pairs across cell lines compared to the unscaled dLFC method, while ZdLFC benefits from not requiring a training set of known interactors.

Structural And Functional Characterization Of Creb-Binding Protein (Crebbp) As A Histone Propionyltransferase, Guiling Cui, Marie Ley, Ariel E Mechaly, Linh-Chi Bui, Christina Michail, Jérémy Berthelet, Julien Dairou, Haopeng Yang, Guillaume Chevreux, Gautier Moroy, Michael R Green, Ahmed Haouz, Fernando Rodrigues Lima

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In addition to histone acetylation, histone lysine propionylation (such as the H3K18Pr mark) has recently attracted significant attention as a common and abundant modification linking the cellular metabolic state and gene expression. CREB-binding protein (CREBBP) and EP300 are key histone acetyltransferases that play a critical role in gene expression through their catalytic activity. Although CREBBP and EP300 are homologous enzymes with high structural similarities, they exhibit both redundant and specific functions. Dissecting the shared and divergent properties of CREBBP and EP300 is thus important to understand their roles. However, despite the importance of CREBBP, most mechanistic and structural studies have …

Protective Role Of Dietary Short-Chain Fatty Acid Propionate Against Autoimmune Responses And Pathology Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In Mrl-Lpr Mice, Hui Wang, Yuejin Liang, Paul J Boor, Kamil Khanipov, Yuanyi Zhang, Xiaoying Yu, Chandra Shekar R Ambati, Nagireddy Putluri, M Firoze Khan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs, including the skin and kidneys. The etiology of SLE remains unclear but involves hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors. Environmental factors, such as diet and microbiota-derived metabolites, among which short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are major players, can influence autoimmune disease pathogenesis.

Objectives: This study investigates the involvement of SCFAs in the pathogenesis of SLE and further investigates the effect of propionate (PA) supplementation on SLE disease outcome in MRL-lpr mice.

Methods: Cecal SCFAs from mouse models with varying degrees of SLE disease activities (C57BL/6, MRL+/+, and MRL-lpr) …

Community Members’ Perspectives On A Community-Engaged Process For Supporting Vibrant Greenspaces In Detroit, Alysha D. Matthews, Guilherme Hebling Costa, Karl Erickson, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Amber L. Pearson, Benjamin V. Dougherty

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Greenspaces provide several well-being (Dinnie et al., 2013) and psychosocial benefits (Addy et al., 2004). Community-engaged research affords community partners a voice in the project (Cushman et al., 2004). This study assessed Detroit community members’ perceived benefits of and suggestions for engaging with the community to support greenspaces. Through qualitative analysis, a three-step process for community-engaged planning was revealed. Findings highlight strategies that involve community members in this process to enhance community engagement and well-being.

Introducing The Loyola Way: An Ignatian Pedagogy Framework Reinvigorated By Anti-Oppressive And Student-Centered Approaches, Bridget M. Colacchio, Jessica Mansbach, Justin D. Wright, Harrison Seeling, Sydnee O'Donnell

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Our center for teaching and learning at a mid-sized, private, Catholic, Midwest university responded to recent challenges and opportunities presented by current sociopolitical factors (such as ongoing racial injustice, global conflict, the climate crisis, and the aftermath of a global health pandemic) by rethinking our approach to teaching and learning. To better meet the needs of faculty and students in today’s world, we arrived at an integrated pedagogical approach to amplify interpersonal and societal humanization and justice. In this paper, we introduce this new framework for teaching and learning called The Loyola Way, an innovative combination of three pedagogical …

An Unusual Case Of Obstructive Uropathy By, Kundoly Velayudhan Suseela, Therattil D. Darwin

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Fusarium is a soil fungus and plant pathogen. Invasive infections by this fungus have been reported in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of obstructive uropathy by Fusarium solani infection in an immunocompetent young woman who was misdiagnosed as urolithiasis of the right pelvicalyceal system in ultrasonogram. Later, on removal, it was proved to be F. solani infection.

Trends In Selected Renal Diseases Among Patients From Below Poverty Line Population In Karnataka During 2010-2021, D. C. Nanjunda Devajana, Amit Kumar Mishra, Jyothi S. Lakshmi

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

INTRODUCTION:

Renal disorders are becoming increasingly common today. There is a clear correlation between social and economic deprivation and the advancement of many kidney illnesses, as well as premature death.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective is to reveal trends in the prevalence of renal diseases among the population below the poverty line (BPL) using the Karnataka method.

METHODS:

The current study is based on the data available on the government-managed website containing details about people who received treatment for several renal diseases under various government health insurance schemes by the BPL population from 2010 to 2020 in Karnataka state, South India.

RESULTS: …

Sexual Dimorphism And Sex Estimation: Review In Forensic Odontology, Brijesh Kumar Negi, Deepak Gurung

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Sexual dimorphism traditionally refers to physical differences between males and females of a species. This variability is crucial for maintaining diverse phenotypic traits. In essence, sexual dimorphism reflects a complex interplay of genetic, gonadal, hormonal, and behavioral factors that shape the traits observed in males and females. Sex estimation involves determining whether skeletal remains belong to a male or female. This can be done through two primary approaches: nonmetric methods, which rely on visual inspection of skeletal features, and metric methods, which use equations based on measurements of skeletal dimensions. Because the degree of sexual dimorphism can differ significantly across …

New Dimensions Of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Navigating The Future, Vinay Hazarey

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

No abstract provided.

Partially Reducible Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia With Organoaxial Gastric Rotation In An Asymptomatic Child, Sohini Sengupta, Anmol Mishra, Narayan Pandit, Ankita Mishra, Sabyasachi Sarkar

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Paraoesophageal hernias are an extremely rare variety of hiatal hernias commonly encountered in elderly. This article illustrates the case of a 3-year-old child with features of urinary tract infection but incidentally diagnosed with paraesophageal hiatal hernia with associated organoaxial gastric rotation and a preprandial intrathoracic stomach with no symptoms congruent with his diagnosis. The diagnosis was suspected initially on ultrasonography of the right hemithorax and confirmed with barium studies and computed tomography with oral contrast. Although an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was advised by the clinician, the patient never underwent the procedure during our follow-up period.

The Radiographic Breadth Of The Talus Bone For Forensic And Clinical Use, Beryl Shitandi Ominde, Princess Uzoma Nwokolo, Princess Enakpoya, Joyce Ekeme Ikubor, Faithful Orovwoghene Omoro, Patrick Sunday Igbigbi

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

BACKGROUND:

The accurate identification of unknown human remains plays a critical role in natural disaster scenarios and medico-legal cases in forensic anthropology and forensic medicine. This study aimed to determine normal reference values for the breadth of the talus bone using ankle radiographs from a Teaching Hospital in Delta State, Nigeria.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

This cross-sectional study retrospectively reviewed 107 digital ankle radiographs from patients aged 20 to 60 years (60 males and 47 females). Ethical clearance was obtained before accessing the digital images archived in a radiological unit of a Hospital in Delta State, Nigeria. The talus breadth was …

A Case–Control Study On The Levels Of Serum Lipid In The Suicide Attempters Attending Psychiatric Hospital In North Karnataka, Sameer Belvi Mangalwedhe, M. S. Anusha, Anantkumar P. Miskin

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

BACKGROUND:

In today’s society, suicide is major public problem and has become a global issue accounting for about 1.4% of the death worldwide. It is highly undesirable event and urgently requires development of preventive approaches. Hypothesis: Cholesterol is a core component of central nervous system essential for cell membrane stability and the correct functioning of neurotransmission. It is hypothesized that reduced serum cholesterol level may be accompanied by changes in function of serotonin receptors and transporters.

AIMS:

The project ‘Serum Lipid Profile Levels in Suicide Attempters’ aimed to find out the relation of serum lipid levels in Suicide Attempters.

METHODOLOGY: …

National And International Regulatory Requirements On Stem Cell Research-A Systematic Review, Sanjana Sutar, Revansiddappa Devarinti, Kurubara Amaresh

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Stem cells are the constructing blocks of the organism; they are the cells from which all different cells with uniquefeatures develop. Stem cells have a seemingly limitless capacity to create all kinds of cells. Review research was carried out by utilizing the search engines Scopus and PubMed indexed journals, in conjunction with the ICMR committee stem cell standard procedures and USFDA guidelines. The present research indicate that the US adheres to more guidelines compared to Indian guidelines. While a considerable amount of research on stem cells is prohibited or restricted in India. The systematic review is to examine and contrast …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Xxxix. Buthus Pygmaeus Sp. N. From Somaliland (Buthidae), František Kovařík, Graeme Lowe, František Šťáhlavský, Hassan Sh A. Elmi

Euscorpius

New data are presented on the distribution of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 in the Horn of Africa, mainly in Somaliland. B. pygmaeus sp. n. is described, fully complemented with color photographs of live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitats. In addition to the analysis of external morphology and hemispermatophors, we provide a description of the karyotype of B. pygmaeus sp. n. (2n=22). A key and distribution map of Buthus in the Horn of Africa (six species) are included