Digital Commons Network^™

Roles Of Mir-223 In Platelet Function And High On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity: A Brief Report And Review, Shayan Askari, Lawrence E. Goldfinger

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

BACKGROUND: Platelets are highly enriched in microRNAs (miRNAs), which are genomically encoded 19-25 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that target complementary mRNAs through total or near-total base pairing. MiR-223 is among the most abundant miRNAs in human and murine platelets, but despite ongoing investigations in recent years, miR-223 roles in platelet physiology and its putative roles in high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) remain controversial, as studies showed varying findings.

OBJECTIVES: In the current hybrid review/report, we aim to compare studies that investigated miR-223 in platelet function and HTPR. Additionally, we briefly report our own findings on murine miR-223-deficient platelets.

METHODS: We have …

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes March 6, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Spectator 2025-03-06, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Experiences Of Grandparenting During Covid-19 For Grandparents Geographically Distanced From Their Grandchildren, Eva Louise Benevit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 2015, the number of retirees relocating after retirement has increased significantly, leading grandparents to be distant from their grandchildren. Isolation and distance from families has increased due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to high rates of loneliness and isolation for older adults. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore experiences during COVID-19 for grandparents geographically distanced from their grandchildren. This research was grounded using Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory, with a focus on the maturity stage, and thematic analysis was used to guide interviews and analysis. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit five …

Dynamic Spectral And Systems-Theoretic Approaches For Inference And Control Of Heterogeneous Complex Networks, Bharat Kumar Singhal

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Networks of nonlinear systems are commonly employed to describe a diverse range of phenomena across physics, engineering, neuroscience, and biology. The undesirable behaviors of such systems, in the form of neurological disorders, power grid failures, or ecological collapses, have spurred significant interest in understanding their dynamic structures and developing effective control strategies. These systems are typically large-scale, consist of heterogeneous units, and are partially observable with limited measurement data, presenting theoretical and computational challenges for control design and connectivity inference. This thesis addresses these challenges by developing novel algorithms for pattern formation in populations of stable limit-cycle oscillators and connectivity …

Dynamic Spectral And Systems-Theoretic Approaches For Inference And Control Of Heterogeneous Complex Networks, Bharat Kumar Singhal

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Networks of nonlinear systems are commonly employed to describe a diverse range of phenomena across physics, engineering, neuroscience, and biology. The undesirable behaviors of such systems, in the form of neurological disorders, power grid failures, or ecological collapses, have spurred significant interest in understanding their dynamic structures and developing effective control strategies. These systems are typically large-scale, consist of heterogeneous units, and are partially observable with limited measurement data, presenting theoretical and computational challenges for control design and connectivity inference. This thesis addresses these challenges by developing novel algorithms for pattern formation in populations of stable limit-cycle oscillators and connectivity …

Nanoengineered Constructs For Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Delivery, Zoe Elisa Clapacs

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Immune processes are central to aspects of human health ranging from wound healing to pathogen recognition, yet even within the field of drug delivery, immunomodulatory therapeutics remain relatively niche. In this work we apply nanoscale peptide, lipid and polymer engineering principles to address present challenges in immunomodulatory therapeutics delivery, particularly in the treatment of non-healing wounds and vaccination against flaviviruses and other pathogens that exhibit antibody dependent enhancement. In both cases, nanoengineered delivery systems allowed us to overcome challenges associated with immune hyperactivation using targeted immune stimuli rather than nonspecific signals. A frequent driver of non-healing wounds is failure of …

Nanoengineered Constructs For Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Delivery, Zoe Elisa Clapacs

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Immune processes are central to aspects of human health ranging from wound healing to pathogen recognition, yet even within the field of drug delivery, immunomodulatory therapeutics remain relatively niche. In this work we apply nanoscale peptide, lipid and polymer engineering principles to address present challenges in immunomodulatory therapeutics delivery, particularly in the treatment of non-healing wounds and vaccination against flaviviruses and other pathogens that exhibit antibody dependent enhancement. In both cases, nanoengineered delivery systems allowed us to overcome challenges associated with immune hyperactivation using targeted immune stimuli rather than nonspecific signals. A frequent driver of non-healing wounds is failure of …

Structure-Function Relationship Of Ash1l And Histone H3k36 And H3k4 Methylation, Kendra R Vann, Rajal Sharma, Chih-Chao Hsu, Maeva Devoucoux, Adam H Tencer, Lei Zeng, Kevin Lin, Li Zhu, Qin Li, Catherine Lachance, Ruben Rosas Ospina, Qiong Tong, Ka Lung Cheung, Shuai Yang, Soumi Biswas, Hongwen Xuan, Jovylyn Gatchalian, Lorena Alamillo, Jianlong Wang, Suk Min Jang, Brianna J Klein, Yue Lu, Patricia Ernst, Brian D Strahl, Scott B Rothbart, Martin J Walsh, Michael L Cleary, Jacques Côté, Xiaobing Shi, Ming-Ming Zhou, Tatiana G Kutateladze

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The histone H3K36-specific methyltransferase ASH1L plays a critical role in development and is frequently dysregulated in human diseases, particularly cancer. Here, we report on the biological functions of the C-terminal region of ASH1L encompassing a bromodomain (ASH1LBD), a plant homeodomain (ASH1LPHD) finger, and a bromo-adjacent homology (ASH1LBAH) domain, structurally characterize these domains, describe their mechanisms of action, and explore functional crosstalk between them. We find that ASH1LPHD recognizes H3K4me2/3, whereas the neighboring ASH1LBD and ASH1LBAH have DNA binding activities. The DNA binding function of ASH1LBAH is a driving force for the association of ASH1L with the linker DNA in the …

Identification Of Genes Associated With Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Susceptibility Through A Transcriptome-Wide Association Study, Emilio Ugalde-Morales, Rona Wilf, John Pluta, Alexander Ploner, Mengyao Fan, Mohammad Damra, Katja K Aben, Lynn Anson-Cartwright, Chu Chen, Victoria K Cortessis, Siamak Daneshmand, Alberto Ferlin, Marija Gamulin, Jourik A Gietema, Anna Gonzalez-Niera, Tom Grotmol, Robert J Hamilton, Mark Harland, Trine B Haugen, Russ Hauser, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Robert Karlsson, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Jung Kim, Davor Lessel, Ragnhild A Lothe, Chey Loveday, Stephen J Chanock, Katherine A Mcglynn, Coby Meijer, Kevin T Nead, Jeremie Nsengimana, Maja Popovic, Thorunn Rafnar, Lorenzo Richiardi, Maria S Rocca, Stephen M Schwartz, Rolf I Skotheim, Kari Stefansson, Douglas R Stewart, Clare Turnbull, David J Vaughn, Sofia B Winge, Tongzhang Zheng, Alvaro N Monteiro, Kristian Almstrup, Peter A Kanetsky, Katherine L Nathanson, Fredrik Wiklund, Testicular Cancer Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) have the potential to identify susceptibility genes associated with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). We conducted a comprehensive TGCT TWAS by integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data with predicted expression models from normal testis, TGCT tissues, and a cross-tissue panel that encompasses shared regulatory features across 22 normal tissues, including the testis. Gene associations were evaluated while accounting for variant-level effects from GWASs, followed by fine-mapping analyses in regions exhibiting multiple TWAS signals, and finally supplemented by colocalization analysis. Expression and protein patterns of identified TWAS genes were further examined in relevant tissues. Our analysis …

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Hypophosphatasia., L Seefried, F Genest, C Hofmann, M L Brandi, Eric T. Rush

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by deficient activity of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) caused by variants in the ALPL gene. Disease manifestations encompass skeletal hypomineralization with rickets and lung hypoplasia, vitamin B6-dependent seizures, craniosynostosis, and premature loss of deciduous teeth. The clinical presentation can comprise failure to thrive with muscular hypotonia, delayed motor development, and gait disturbances later in childhood. In adults, pseudofractures are a characteristic indicator of severely compromised enzyme activity, but non-canonical symptoms like generalized musculoskeletal pain, weakness, and fatigue, frequently accompanied by neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal issues are increasingly recognized as key findings in …

A Role For The Actin Cytoskeleton And Plastin-3 In Osteoblast Mineralization And Mechanosensation, Samantha Meagan Chin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The great diversity in actin network architectures and dynamics is exploited by cells to drive fundamental biological processes including cell migration, intracellular trafficking, and cell division. One such system that relies on the actin cytoskeleton to fulfill its physiological function are osteoblasts, which are mesenchymal lineage bone cells that promote bone formation through depositing a collagen scaffold and subsequently promoting mineralization of this matrix. A number of factors are known to drive osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblast cells including extracellular matrix cues such as substrate stiffness, which are primarily detected via mechanosensitive machinery linked to the actin cytoskeleton. Disruptions to β-actin, …

Montana Kaimin, March 6, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Drbioright 20: An Llm-Powered Bioinformatics Chatbot For Large-Scale Cancer Functional Proteomics Analysis, Wei Liu, Jun Li, Yitao Tang, Yining Zhao, Chaozhong Liu, Meiyi Song, Zhenlin Ju, Shwetha V Kumar, Yiling Lu, Rehan Akbani, Gordon B Mills, Han Liang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Functional proteomics provides critical insights into cancer mechanisms, facilitating the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We have developed a comprehensive cancer functional proteomics resource using reverse phase protein arrays, incorporating data from nearly 8000 patient samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas and approximately 900 samples from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia. Our dataset includes a curated panel of nearly 500 high-quality antibodies, covering all major cancer hallmark pathways. To enhance the accessibility and analytic power of this resource, we introduce DrBioRight 2.0 ( https://drbioright.org ), an intuitive bioinformatic platform powered by state-of-the-art large language models. DrBioRight enables researchers …

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award: Biology Unbalanced: Genes, Gene Dosage, And Disease Susceptibility, James R Lupski

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This article is based on the address given by the author at the 2024 meeting of The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) in Denver, CO. A video of the original address can be found at the ASHG website.

Neurocellular Stress Response To Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study Of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human Ipsc-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model, Satish Kumar, Miriam Aceves, Jose C. Granados, Lorena Guerra, Felicia Juarez, Earl Novilla, Ana C. Leandro, Marcelo Leandro, Juan M. Peralta, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Elda E. Sánchez, Jacob Galan, John Blangero, Joanne E. Curran

School of Medicine Publications

The Mojave rattlesnake venom shows significant geographical variability. The venom of Type A animals primarily contains β-neurotoxin referred to as Mojave Toxin (MTX), which makes bites from this snake particularly feared. We performed a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of the neurocellular response to Mojave Type A rattlesnake venom using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying the damage caused by this snake’s envenomation. Our results suggest that snake venom metalloproteases, although having a limited repertoire in Type A venom, facilitate venom spread by digesting the tissue’s extracellular matrix. The MTX, which is composed of heterodimers …

Biological Infections Associated With Wearing Cosmetic Contact Lenses: Risks, Pathogens, And Preventative Measures: Mini Review, Lina M. Shaker, Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Cosmetic contact lenses are increasingly favored worldwide for their ability to enhance or alter aesthetic appearance. However, their use carries a higher risk of ocular infections, particularly when proper hygiene practices are neglected. This narrative review explores the biological and clinical aspects of infections associated with cosmetic lens usage, with a focus on pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Acanthamoeba. Key factors influencing infection susceptibility include microbial adhesion, biofilm formation, reduced oxygen permeability, and the effects of cosmetic pigments. The review further evaluates the role of lens material properties, including advancements in antimicrobial materials, …

Methylene Blue Dye Removal From Aqueous Solution Using Activated Carbon Prepared From Corn Cob Stem: Kinetics, Isotherms And Mechanism Studies, Gopi Narasimha Murthy, Uttam Kumar Sahu

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

In this study, a waste-to-wealth work has been proposed where activated carbon was synthesized from waste corn cob stems and used for methylene blue (MB) dye removal. Corn cob stems activated carbon (CCSAC) had been prepared in microwave technique using H₃PO₄ as an activating agent where the impregnation ratio of corn cob stems to H₃PO₄ was 1:4. Then CCSAC characterized by FTIR, BET, XRD, SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy. The CCSAC showed the mesoporous with a good surface area of 54.61 m²/g. Around 150 mg adsorbent dose, 120 min contact time, pH …

Assessing The Biological Impacts And Health Risks Of Uv Radiation In The Context Of Sustainable Development Goals: Review, Ruaa H. Abbas, Lina M. Shaker

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, while essential for certain biological processes, presents significant risks to human health and ecosystems. Increased UV exposure, driven by ozone depletion and climate change, heightens threats such as DNA damage, skin cancer, immune suppression, and eye disorders, directly aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being. Additionally, UV radiation disrupts marine and terrestrial ecosystems, impacting biodiversity and productivity, relevant to SDGs 14 and 15. This review evaluates the health and environmental impacts of UV radiation and highlights recent advancements in UV monitoring technology. Key findings reveal substantial evidence linking UV exposure to accelerated skin …

Development Of High Affinity Aptamers To Cd10 Recombinant Human Neprilysin Protein For Aptamer-Crispr Biosensor, Kory Punch, Christopher Hu, Yolanda Fortenberry, Khamequz Zaman

Research Symposium

Many inflammatory joint diseases are associated with the expression of CD10 protein, which plays a large part in the pro-inflammatory and pain transmission signaling of the infrapatellar fat pad. This pro-inflammatory mechanism is a prime indicator in the degradation of the articular cartilage of various joints found in human musculoskeletal tissue. CD10 expression in Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) is directly related to its immunomodulatory and chondroprotective effects. Thus, this project focuses on developing an aptamer-CRISPR based biosensor that will detect CD10 expression without perturbation of the sample. Aptamers are small, single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that can fold into distinctive structures, …

Phage Therapy: A Fresh Look At Last Century's Candidate For Fighting Bacteria, Savannah Del Cid

Osmosis Magazine

Humanity has fought infectious bacteria for ages, but it wasn't until recently that humans began to distil chemicals from nature to fight bacteria, which we know as antibiotics. At first, bacteria were easily treated with antibiotics, such as the well-known penicillin. However, the improper and overuse of antibiotics over the decades has created the perfect environment for mutated bacteria to thrive despite antibiotic treatments. This has become a major concern for doctors and patients because the need to utilize methods beyond the pharmaceutical has not become widely apparent until now.

A Biologically Modified World, Maxim Ermoshkin

Osmosis Magazine

The field of synthetic biology has received more attention in the last decade to become a leading emerging technology. The field merges engineering concepts with the study and manipulation of biology. Synthetic biology fosters new solutions to biological problems by reconstructing biological phenomena as well as creating entirely new organisms. Venture capitalists and governments have dramatically increased investment and funding in this field because of its potential in reimagining how medicine, energy, and food are developed.

Origins And Ethics Of Biohacking, Lindsey Paul

Osmosis Magazine

Since its first mention in a 1988 Washington Post article, the biohacking movement has taken on many definitions, with the overarching goal of disseminating information and techniques to allow people outside of the traditional scientific community to modify biological systems. Biohackers, then, are the members of this movement, viewing themselves as boundary-pushers and explorers.

Osmosis Magazine - Fall 2018

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Osmosis Magazine, Spring 2017

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Maximum Engagement, Minimum Distraction, And Knowledge Transference, Jooyoung Kim, Sharmita Lahiri

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

In the Indian academia, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the focus on teaching “writing” is relatively new; traditional focus has been on teaching the English language or Communication Skills. The novelty of academic writing has called for rigorous efforts in its operation in the Indian context. In addition, the virtual learning environment required by the pandemic posed the serious challenge of adopting the academic writing pedagogy to the new format of the virtual classroom. This article showcases successful strategies adopted for graduate and undergraduate foundation writing courses at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, which ensured maximum engagement and …

Transformative Learning Outcomes: Shifting The Learning Outcome Conversation From Assessment To Design, Mat Duerden, Jamin Rowan

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

What if the focus of learning outcomes shifted from telling students what they will know at the end of a course to who they will become? Learning outcomes have drifted away from informing curriculum design to providing parameters for external assessment. This article reviews this shift along with a proposal to reimagine learning outcomes as transformative learning outcomes. It discusses previous work on transformative learning outcomes and proposes a new conceptual definition: learning outcomes that articulate habits of mind or ways of being that students will develop because of a learning experience or sequence of learning experiences. Such learning outcomes …

Uncertainty As A Catalyst For Growth: Learning Through Dialogue, Questioning, And Reflection, Eric Jennings, Hans Kishel

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Higher education institutions strive to turn out graduates that are well-rounded, engaged, and civic-minded individuals no matter their discipline or major. The authors believe that more can be done to ensure that this goal is attained. To address this issue, two librarians designed a learner-centered course that embraced the uncertainty found in today’s information landscape through the use of dialog, questioning, and reflection. This article will describe the social and educational atmosphere at colleges that necessitates looking deeper into how and why colleges and universities need to build these new types of courses to meet their goals. From there, it …

Examining How The Pandemic Impacted Opinions For Course Formats, Angela Kelling, Nicholas J. Kelling, Leebrian Gaskins

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Previous research has produced mixed results related to online courses with selection often driven by their benefits. However, some students and instructors were avoiding this format because of their drawbacks. Given that the pandemic forced a shift to online education, those reluctant individuals gained experience with online courses. Being forced into a particular format could lead to acceptance because of the experience or resentment because of the lack of choice. Therefore, it is important to examine if the pandemic altered opinions of online courses. The current study was a replication of previous pre-pandemic work (Kelling et al., 2019) and examined …

Academic Honesty During The 2020 Covid-19 Shutdown: Perspectives From Instructors And Students In Higher Education, M'Lyn Spinks, Stacy L. Kluge, Jody L. Langdon, Mike Metzler, Tiffany A. Esmat

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

The higher education Spring semester of 2020 was heavily impacted by stakeholders' calls for a complete shutdown of in-person gatherings. This call to action forced instructors and students to transition from face-to-face education to the virtual, online classroom. Institutions were given a few days to 2 weeks for this transition. During this crisis, 14 faculty from across Georgia formed a research consortium to investigate the perspectives of instructors and students on multiple topics, including academic honesty. As part of a mixed method approach, surveys were distributed via email across the university system, which included both quantitative items and narrative, open-text …