Digital Commons Network^™

Piezo1-Mediated Mechanotransduction Regulates Collagen Synthesis On Nanostructured 2d And 3d Models Of Fibrosis, Neda Rashidi, Natalia S Harasymowicz, Alireza Savadipour, Nancy Steward, Ruhang Tang, Sara Oswald, Farshid Guilak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Progressive fibrosis can lead to tissue malfunction and organ failure due to the pathologic accumulation of a collagen-rich extracellular matrix. In vitro models provide useful tools for deconstructing the roles of specific biomechanical or biological mechanisms, such as substrate micro- and nanoscale architecture, in these processes for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated how the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 influences fibrotic gene and protein expression in adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). Specifically, we examined the role of PIEZO1 and the mechanosensitive transcription factors YAP/TAZ in sensing aligned or non-aligned substrate architecture to regulate collagen formation. We utilized both 2D microphotopatterned …

Large Negative Magnetoresistance In The Off-Stoichiometric Topological Semimetal Prsbxte2-X, Gokul Acharya, Krishna Pandey, M. M. Sharma, Jian Wang, Santosh Karki Chhetri, Md Rafique Un Nabi, Dinesh Upreti, Rabindra Basnet, Joshua Sakon, Jin Hu

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Magnetic topological materials LnSbTe (Ln = lanthanide) have attracted intensive attention because of the presence of interplay between magnetism, topological, and electron correlations depending on the choices of magnetic Ln elements. Varying Sb and Te composition is an efficient approach to control structural, magnetic, and electronic properties. Here, we report on the composition-dependent properties in PrSbxTe2-x. We identified the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structure transitions in this material system and very large negative magnetoresistance in the x = 0.3 composition, which might be ascribed to the coupling between magnetism and transport. Such unusual magnetotransport enables PrSbxTe2-x topological materials as a promising platform for …

A Paper-Based Hpv E7 Oncoprotein Assay For Cervical Precancer Detection At The Point Of Care, Chelsey A Smith, Sai Paul, Karen E Haney, Sonia G Parra, Meaghan Bond, Leticia López, Mauricio Maza, Juan Felix, Preetha Ramalingam, Pablo Escobar, Philip E Castle, Kathleen M Schmeler, Rebecca R Richards-Kortum

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cervical cancer, while preventable through screening and treatment of cervical precancer, remains a global challenge with a disproportionately high burden of disease in resource-limited settings, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Lack of affordable, easy-to-use screening and diagnostic tests contributes to this disparity. Most commercially available tests are not appropriate for use in LMICs due to resource constraints. Specifically, HPV mRNA and oncoprotein tests that have high specificity for cervical precancer and cancer require complex sample preparation protocols and expensive instrumentation. To address these limitations, an HPV E7 oncoprotein assay for HPV16, 18, and 45 was developed that is …

Multicolor Surface Protein Detection And Cancer Classification Using Plasmonic/Magnetic Raman Nanotags And Machine Learning Algorithm, Alberto Luis Rodriguez-Nieves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Gold and magnetic-based hybrid nanoparticles have demonstrated their usefulness in the biomedical field due to their ability to multitask including combined optical and magnetic properties, ease of surface modification, biocompatibility, and synthesis versatility. These physical and chemical properties have allowed the development of new applications in the medical field, such as therapeutic and detection of biological markers. Our research has focused on the development of gold and magnetic-based hybrid nanoparticles for early detection, quantification, and classification of circulating biomarkers. Circulating markers are composed of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, and proteins. The clinical significance of …

Single-Chain Variable Fragments: Targeting Snake Venom Phospholipase A2 And Serine Protease, Ying Jia, Ariane Garcia, Elizabeth Reyes

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Snakebite is a critical global public health issue, causing substantial mortality and morbidity, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The development of innovative antivenoms targeting snake venom toxins is therefore of paramount importance. In this study, we adopted an epitope-directed approach to design three degenerate 15-mer peptides based on amino acid sequence alignments of snake venom phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) and snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs) from snake (Crotalus atrox). By leveraging their immunogenic and inhibitory profiles, these peptides were specifically designed to target the Asp49 and Lys49 variants of PLA2 and SVSP toxins. Groups of five mice were immunized with …

Co-Option Of Mitochondrial Nucleic Acid-Sensing Pathways By Hsv-1 Ul12.5 For Reactivation From Latent Infection, Patryk A. Krakowiak, Matthew E. Flores, Sean R. Cuddy, Abigail L. Whitford, Sara A. Dochnal, Aleksandra Babnis, Tsuyoshi Miyake, Marco Tigano, Daniel A. Engel, Anna R. Cliffe

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Although viruses subvert innate immune pathways for their replication, there is evidence they can also co-opt antiviral responses for their benefit. The ubiquitous human pathogen, Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), encodes a protein (UL12.5) that induces the release of mitochondrial nucleic acid into the cytosol, which activates immune-sensing pathways and reduces productive replication in nonneuronal cells. HSV-1 establishes latency in neurons and can reactivate to cause disease. We found that UL12.5 is required for HSV-1 reactivation in neurons and acts to directly promote viral lytic gene expression during initial exit from latency. Further, the direct activation of innate immune-sensing pathways triggered …

Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems & International Law: Growing Momentum Towards A New International Treaty, Benjamin Perrin

All Faculty Publications

While existing international humanitarian law, international criminal law, and international human rights law provide foundational rules and principles governing LAWS, gaps in specificity and enforcement highlight the pressing need for a dedicated international treaty. Such a treaty could harmonize interpretations, establish clear prohibitions and restrictions, and ensure accountability in the use of these technologies.

Sandpiper Food Search Algorithm: A New Optimization Approach For Agents With Limited Knowledge, Jessica Christa Wira Hadipoernomo

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Optimization plays a crucial role in refining complex system designs, improving performance, and maximizing efficiency across various applications. Traditional methods like convex optimization and the Newton-Raphson method are often insufficient for today’s increasingly complex challenges. To address this challenge, numerous metaheuristic algorithms, often inspired by nature, have emerged including Particle Swarm Optimization, Genetic Algorithm, Bat Algorithm, and Firefly Algorithm. However, most of these existing algorithms have global knowledge, which is unrealistic for some real-world complex systems such as underground mining and spacecraft trajectory. To bridge this gap, this article develops and presents a new biologically inspired optimization algorithm, the Sandpiper …

Remote Sensing In Iberá Wetlands, Argentina: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems And Service Learning Supporting Environmental Resilience, James Tyler Deal

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Mapping wetland regions is challenging. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) have inherent abilities to sense rapidly and efficiently remotely difficult to access locations. Wetland regions around the world are under pressure due to increasing human presence and climate change. Iberá Wetlands in Argentina provides an example of a region that rebounded from detritus effects of human activity. Although the Iberá Wetlands suffered great environmental degradation causing large animals to be driven from the area, visitors today see a biologically diverse region bearing the fruit of restoration. It serves as a prime location for demonstrating the ability of UAS to efficiently collect …

Working With The Immune System To Fight Infection: An Innovative Alternative To Chemical Anti Fungal Treatment, Riley Dienna

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Current clinical treatments for blood-based fungal infections mainly rely on systemic Amphotericin B, which, despite its effectiveness, is biologically toxic and remains the sole method for infection management. To explore safer alternatives, this project aims to introduce a gene therapy strategy as a promising treatment for fungal infections caused by Candida albicans biofilms. Through genetic engineering, we intend to deliver a powerful antimycotic enzyme, endo-alpha-mannosidase, into monocytes using plasmid gene therapy, thereby enhancing immune and antifungal responses. This initiative will create an effective alternative therapy to treat systemic fungal infections. Furthermore, the methodologies developed will provide proof of concept for …

Aging Popular Exoplanet Hosts, Grace Henry

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

This paper presents an analysis of stellar ages and properties for a sample of stars hosting exoplanets in their habitable zones, using the BASE-9 software. BASE-9 employs Bayesian statistics to model stellar parameters such as age, mass, metallicity, and distance by fitting observed photometric data to theoretical isochrones. The primary goal of this study is to determine more accurate ages for these host stars, which is critical for understanding the long-term habitability of their exoplanets.

Our sample consists of 5 stars with well-characterized exoplanets, and we utilize a combination of observational data, including photometry and spectroscopy, to constrain the models. …

The Impact Of Light Pollution On The Erau Campus, Myles Curtis, Ahnika Gee

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

The 1-meter telescope at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus is the largest university-based research telescope in Florida. However, the light pollution from facilities and outdoor light fixtures greatly interferes with these resources, the quality of student life, and ecological systems in the area. Our team works to identify the greatest contributors to light pollution on campus so that we can develop cost effective and accessible solutions. A Unihedron Sky Quality Meter (SQM) is used to measure the amount of light being emitted from various sources of light. We are taking empirical and quantitative data, using the SQM, in …

Climatizing National Security, Mark Nevitt

University of Chicago Legal Forum

Is climate change a national security issue? Human security? Ecological security? This Article addresses the growing nexus between climate change and various conceptions of security with a particular emphasis on climate change's national security impacts. This Article argues that there is a growing connection between national security and climate change and a corresponding need to address the normative implications of "climatizing national security." This connection can be observed through three lenses: mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions from military and national security sources); adaptation (investing in climate resilient infrastructure in an effort to prepare for climate impacts), and response (addressing climate-exacerbated …

Addressing Ip And Technology Challenges To Pandemic Protection: A Need For Global Coordination To Promote National Security, Cynthia M. Ho

University of Chicago Legal Forum

This Article argues that effective national security mandates protection against the spread of infectious diseases, which requires addressing intellectual property (IP) and technology obstacles. Without modification, IP laws can bar the manufacture of needed treatments by anyone besides the IP owner and its licensees. Although there was some recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic that existing IP laws should be modified, there was strong resistance not only by IP-owning companies, but also by individual countries that impeded the ability to manufacture needed vaccines during the height of the pandemic.

Many global leaders have recognized that future pandemics are inevitable and that …

Deeper Magic: Theology Of The Body In C. S. Lewis And John Paul Ii, George French

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

C. S. Lewis tells us that science and magic are “twins.” “They were born,” he says “of the same impulse”3 of man to master the natural world. We think of them very differently because science has succeeded where magic has failed, but that should not make us blind to their “strong family likeness.”4 Science and magic are intertwined for much of their history, and it is in the Enlightenment that the two begin to separate. While magic died and science survived, Lewis thinks that modern applied science still retains much of the “family likeness.” Unfortunately, not all of the family …

N.I.C.E. Alchemy: The Quest For Immortality In That Hideous Strength, Joseph Weigel

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

In the third and final chapter of The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis makes what may be one of the most provocative statements in his entire corpus of writings: “The serious magical endeavour and the serious scientific endeavor are twins. . . . They were born of the same impulse.”1 This claim is jarring because science and magic are thought of as opposites. One seeks knowledge through observation, the other deals in spells, rites, and incantations. However, Lewis recognized something deeper that united the two disciplines. The impulse for “magic and applied science alike,” he continued in Abolition, “is …

One Dominant Age: The Technological Singularity In The Abolition Of Man, Christopher Tissell

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

I doubt whether we are sufficiently attentive to the importance of the third part of C. S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. Much ink has been spilled analyzing Lewis’s thoughts on the dangers of subjectivism as outlined in the first two parts of the book, but less so on the endpoint to which Lewis thinks subjectivism leads when whole societies succumb to it. Yet Lewis himself, or at least his editor, thought the final part important enough to name the lecture series after it, and dramatize it in a novel afterward. If Lewis saw the train leaving the station over …

The Abolition Of Man, Eighty Years Later: An Engineer’S Perspective, Paul G. Lorenzini

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

I n 2021 Michael Ward published After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. His purpose was to call attention to the continuing relevance and significance of Lewis’s book, originally published in 1943, now almost a century old. Among his many works, it is one of the least known, yet it was perhaps Lewis’s most highly acclaimed book among secular critics. Ranked seventh by the National Review in its list of 100 best non-fiction books in the 20th century, it is second on a similar list by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.1 While Abolition can be a difficult …

Gender And The Abolition Of Man: The Masculine And The Feminine In Lewis’S Natural Law Thought, Joshua P. Herring

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

C. S. Lewis wrote extensively about gender in both nonfiction and fiction works. In nonfiction, he lays out a specific understanding of gender with logical clarity; in fiction, Lewis develops a series of poetic images magnifying the depth of meaning found in being masculine and feminine. In both forms of writing, Lewis celebrates the goodness of God’s gift of gender, and summons his readers to receive the gift with gratitude. Reading Lewis’s works on gender functions as an antidote to gender ideology. Rather than a severing of felt experience and bodily reality, Lewis calls his readers to see the ideas …

The Eschatological Vision Of The Abolition Of Man, Joshua J. Paladino

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

C. S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man is ultimately an eschatological work, a vision of the end of history, a warning about the fully conditioned society, an insight into the nature of the universal and homogeneous state, and even a prophecy of Hell on Earth. The end-times significance of the Abolition is perhaps overlooked because it lacks an apocalyptic framing. Lewis presented, rather, a “snug” eschatology.1 There is none of the apocalyptic drama that Lewis crafted in The Last Battle. We do not hear the Lion roar, “Now it is time,” before watching Father Time squeeze the sun in his …

The Riddle Of The Sphinx, Owen Barfield, Rory O'Connor

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Owen Barfield, whom C. S. Lewis described archetypally as his “Second Friend” —“the man who disagrees with you about everything . . . not so much the alter ego as the antiself ”1 —expressed his agreement with the argument of The Abolition of Man and his admiration of the book on a number of occasions. For example, describing various means by which one can become aware of the presuppositions of one’s thoughts, Barfield once wrote: One, of which the best example I know is C. S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man, is to take some typical utterance by a contemporary …

Deep-Learning Based Unobtrusive Estimation Of Pilot Adverse Interactions And Loss Of Energy State Awareness, Stephen Brutch, Gabriela Gavilanez, Rocio Jado-Puente, Dr. Hever Moncayo

BCAAS Annual Safety Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Secondary Metabolites From Usnea Sp. And An Evaluation Of Their Cytotoxic And Antibacterial Activities, Dewi Meliati Agustini, Riga Riga, Elvira Hermawati, Budi Saputra

Baghdad Science Journal

The genus Usnea was reported to synthesize the bioactive secondary metabolites, including cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. To continue our study on bioactive compounds from Usnea sp, we studied secondary metabolites and their bioactivities of Usnea sp. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical constituents of lichen Usnea sp. Methanol extract of Usnea sp. was prepared by solid liquid extraction followed by fractionation and purification of the crude extract by several chromatographic techniques using n-hexane and ethyl acetate as solvents to obtain two pure compounds (1 and 2). The …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Thermal Studying Of Vo(Ii), Cu(Ii), Zn(Ii), Cd(Ii), And Au(Iii) Complexes With Azo Dye And Evaluation As Antioxidants, Areeg Malek Fadhel, Abbas Ali Salih Al-Hamdani, Wail Al Zoubi

Baghdad Science Journal

Complexes of Vanadyl, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, and Aureate with their double valence and Aureate with its triple valence were prepared using the azo dye (2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-((3-hydroxyphenyl) dixenyl)phenyl)ethane-1-one prepared newly from diazonium salt With 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone, after isolation. The prepared materials were identified by available spectroscopic methods and diagnostic techniques for C.H.N, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H&¹³C-NMR, Mass, thermogravimetric analysis curve, differential scanning calorimetry, and complexes, these techniques included as well as determining the metal percentage, determining the chlorine content, magnetic susceptibility, and molar conductivity. The results showed that the ligand is anionic (negative) tetradentate when coordinated with Vanadyl, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium …

Synthesis And Description Of Some New Heterocyclic Imideis Compounds Derived From Ciprofloxacin Drug, Jinan D. Ayyash, Sameaa J. Khammas

Baghdad Science Journal

The target of this work included synthesis of several new derivatives (B-B17) from Ciprofloxacin drug and evaluating antibacterial activities for some derivatives. The analogs were synthesized, designed, and characterized by ¹HNMR, and FTIR. The first step involved the preparation of a 2-Chloroacetyl Ciprofloxacin drug from the reaction of Ciprofloxacin with chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. Then, the yield B with 2-aminobenzothiazole in the presence of glacial acetic acid as a catalyst to produce derivatives (B1-B8), Potassium phthalimide or Succinimide was used to prepared (B9-B12) compounds , and the (B13-B17) compounds were synthesis from 4-acetyl ciprofloxacin (B).The antibacterial …

Evaluating The Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Levels In Sera Of Iraqi Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tabarak Siraj Ibrahim, Bushra Faris Hasan

Baghdad Science Journal

The biomarker significance of chemokine (Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein) was evaluated in the sera of 80 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 40 control men and women. A test ELISA kit was used in the Human Reader HS apparatus to measure the serum COMP, CRP, and RF. The Nihon Kohden Europes (MEK-6550K) analyzer apparatus was used for the testing of Complete Blood Count and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), The Westergren device was used in this evaluation. The results demonstrated that COMP, CRP, RF, and ESR showed a significantly increased median in RA patients compared to control (COMP:104.79±1.95 vs. 47.79±1.34 ng/ml; …

Synthesis, Identification, And Biological Evaluation Of New Coumarin-Pyrazoline Derivatives As Anti-Oxidant Agents, Wafaa Yusuf Khalaf, Leaqaa Abdulredha Raheem, Rita Sabah Elias Youssef

Baghdad Science Journal

The coumarin scaffold was combined with nitrogen containing heteroatom molecule known as pyrazoline to increase its biological activity, and it demonstrated a wide range of activity. The study involved the synthesis of a new compound by condensation method, and the structural structures of the prepared compounds were characterized using spectroscopic and analytical studies FT-IR, 1H-NMR,13CNMR, and mass spectrometry, through which it was proven that pyrazoline ring through the appearance of protons of the methylene group in different coupling constants. On the other hand, the proton of C11’, adapts to two different adjacent angles for the two protons of the methylene …

Impact Of Ultraviolet Radiation On The Aging Properties Of Pvc Films Doped By Tin(Iv) Complexes, Hanan Ibrahiem, Emad Yousif, Gamal A. El-Hiti, Mohammed H. Al-Mashhadani, Dina S. Ahmed, Muna Bufaroosha

Baghdad Science Journal

Using ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ¹¹⁹Sn-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies in addition to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for structural identification, we synthesized and studied three tin complexes of Ibuprofen in this study. To improve poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)'s photo-stability, the produced complexes were mixed one at a time. FTIR techniques were employed to evaluate their effectiveness, and the results indicated the formation of new groups inside the polymer structure following exposure to ultraviolet radiation. We also investigated the weight loss of the polymer under irradiation and calculated the average molecular weight by comparing the viscosity before and after …

Animal-Based Economy And Local Ecology: The Early Bronze Age Ii Fauna From Qiryat Ata––Area S (Pp. 99–109), Edward F. Maher

'Atiqot

The species exploited at Qiryat Ata are dominated by domestic animals, the most common being sheep and goats. Very few wild animals are present in the assemblage, comprising less than 6% of the identifiable remains, including fallow deer, wild pig and sea turtle.

Mollusk Shells From Bet She’An (Youth Hostel) (Hebrew Pp.149–151; English Summary, P. 132*), Frida Ben-Ami

'Atiqot

Five mollusk shells were retrieved from the excavation at the site of the Bet She’an Youth Hostel: Hexaplex trunculus, Glycymeris glycymeris, Spondylus gaederopus, Charonia sp., Tridacna maxima. Four shells originated in the Mediterranean Sea, and one, in the Red Sea. One specimen, the Charonia sp., is not found along the shore of Israel, and was most probably collected somewhere else in the Mediterranean basin, possibly Italy. One of the shells found at the site, H. trunculus, is known to have been used for dyeing in biblical times. The other four were used as decorative ornaments (beads), or as storage containers, …