Digital Commons Network^™

An Artifact In Intracellular Cytokine Staining For Studying T Cell Responses And Its Alleviation., Zheng Gong, Qing Li, Jiayuan Shi, Guangwen Ren

Faculty Research 2022

Intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) is a widely employed ex vivo method for quantitative determination of the activation status of immune cells, most often applied to T cells. ICS test samples are commonly prepared from animal or human tissues as unpurified cell mixtures, and cell-specific cytokine signals are subsequently discriminated by gating strategies using flow cytometry. Here, we show that when ICS samples contain Ly6G⁺ neutrophils, neutrophils are ex vivo activated by an ICS reagent - phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) - which leads to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) release and death of cytokine-expressing T cells. This artifact …

Independent Dsg4 Frameshift Variants In Cats With Hair Shaft Dystrophy., Sarah Kiener, Ana Rostaher, Silvia Rüfenacht, Vidhya Jagannathan, John P Sundberg, Monika Welle, Tosso Leeb

Faculty Research 2022

Investigations of hereditary phenotypes in spontaneous mutants may help to better understand the physiological functions of the altered genes. We investigated two unrelated domestic shorthair cats with bulbous swellings of the hair shafts. The clinical, histopathological, and ultrastructural features were similar to those in mice with lanceolate hair phenotype caused by loss-of-function variants in Dsg4 encoding desmoglein 4. We sequenced the genomes from both affected cats and compared the data of each affected cat to 61 control genomes. A search for private homozygous variants in the DSG4 candidate gene revealed independent frameshift variants in each case, c.76del or p.Ile26fsLeu*4 in …

Identification Of Quantitative Trait Loci For Survival In The Mutant Dynactin P150glued Mouse Model Of Motor Neuron Disease., Guillermo M Alexander, Terry D Heiman-Patterson, Frank Bearoff, Roger B Sher, Laura Hennessy, Shannon Terek, Nicole Caccavo, Gregory A Cox, Vivek M. Philip, Elizabeth A Blankenhorn

Faculty Research 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common degenerative motor neuron disorder. Although most cases of ALS are sporadic, 5-10% of cases are familial, with mutations associated with over 40 genes. There is variation of ALS symptoms within families carrying the same mutation; the disease may develop in one sibling and not in another despite the presence of the mutation in both. Although the cause of this phenotypic variation is unknown, it is likely related to genetic modifiers of disease expression. The identification of ALS causing genes has led to the development of transgenic mouse models of motor neuron disease. …

The Th1/Tfh-Like Biased Responses Elicited By The Rasp-1 Innate Adjuvant Are Dependent On Trif And Type I Ifn Receptor Pathways., Parakkal Jovvian George, Radu Marches, Djamel Nehar-Belaid, Jacques Banchereau, Sara Lustigman

Faculty Research 2022

No abstract provided.

Targeting Sars-Cov-2 Infection Through Car-T-Like Bispecific T Cell Engagers Incorporating Ace2., Mikail Dogan, Lina Kozhaya, Lindsey Placek, Fatih Karabacak, Mesut Yigit, Derya Unutmaz

Faculty Research 2022

OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in antibody treatments and vaccines, COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a major health problem resulting in excessive morbidity and mortality and the emergence of new variants has reduced the effectiveness of current vaccines.

METHODS: Here, as a proof-of-concept, we engineered primary CD8 T cells to express SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein-specific CARs, using the extracellular region of ACE2 and demonstrated their highly specific and potent cytotoxicity towards Spike-expressing target cells. To improve on this concept as a potential therapeutic, we developed a bispecific T cell engager combining ACE2 with an anti-CD3 scFv (ACE2-Bite) to target infected cells and …

Intergenomic And Epistatic Interactions Control Free Radical Mediated Pancreatic Β-Cell Damage., Jing Chen, Renhua Li, Sarah Knapp, Guizhi Zhu, Robert L Whitener, Edward H. Leiter, Clayton E Mathews

Faculty Research 2022

Alloxan (AL)-generated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) selectively destroy insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. A previous genome-wide scan (GWS) using a cohort of 296 F2 hybrids between NOD (AL-sensitive) and ALR (AL-resistant) mice identified linkages contributing to β-cell susceptibility or resistance to AL-induced diabetes on Chromosomes (Chr) 2, 3, 8, and a single nucleotide polymorphism in

Engineering A "Detect And Destroy" Skin Probiotic To Combat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus., Changhui Guan, Peter J Larson, Elizabeth Fleming, Alexander P Tikhonov, Sara Mootien, Trudy H Grossman, Caroline Golino, Julia Oh

Faculty Research 2022

The prevalence and virulence of pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MRSA), which can cause recurrent skin infections, are of significant clinical concern. Prolonged antibiotic exposure to treat or decolonize S. aureus contributes to development of antibiotic resistance, as well as depletion of the microbiome, and its numerous beneficial functions. We hypothesized an engineered skin probiotic with the ability to selectively deliver antimicrobials only in the presence of the target organism could provide local bioremediation of pathogen colonization. We constructed a biosensing S. epidermidis capable of detecting the presence of S. aureus quorum sensing autoinducer peptide and producing lysostaphin …

Proceedings From The Albert Charitable Trust Inaugural Workshop On 'Understanding The Acute Effects Of Exercise On The Brain', Jill N. Barnes, Jeffrey M. Burns, Marcas M. Bamman, Sandra A. Billinger, Sue C. Bodine, Frank W. Booth, Patrice Brassard, Tameka A. Clemons, Paul J. Fadel, Paige C. Geiger, Swathi Gujral, Jacob M. Haus, Scott E. Kanoski, Benjamin F. Miller, Jill K. Morris, Kristen M S O'Connell, David C. Poole, Darleen A. Sandoval, J Carson Smith, Russell H. Swerdlow, Shawn N. Whitehead, Eric D. Vidoni, Henriette Van Praag

Faculty Research 2022

An inaugural workshop supported by "The Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust," was held October 4-7, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona, to focus on the effects of exercise on the brain and to discuss how physical activity may prevent or delay the onset of aging-related neurodegenerative conditions. The Scientific Program Committee (led by Dr. Jeff Burns) assembled translational, clinical, and basic scientists who research various aspects of the effects of exercise on the body and brain, with the overall goal of gaining a better understanding as to how to delay or prevent neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, research topics included the links …

Pdpn Marks A Subset Of Aggressive And Radiation-Resistant Glioblastoma Cells, Aram S. Modrek, Eskil Eskilsson, Ravesanker Ezhilarasan, Qianghu Wang, Lindsey D. Goodman, Yingwen Ding, Ze-Yan Zhang, Krishna P. Bhat, Thanh-Thuy T. Le, Floris P Barthel, Ming Tang, Jie Yang, Lihong Long, Joy Gumin, Frederick F. Lang, Roel G W Verhaak, Kenneth D. Aldape, Erik P. Sulman

Faculty Research 2022

Treatment-resistant glioma stem cells are thought to propagate and drive growth of malignant gliomas, but their markers and our ability to target them specifically are not well understood. We demonstrate that podoplanin (PDPN) expression is an independent prognostic marker in gliomas across multiple independent patient cohorts comprising both high- and low-grade gliomas. Knockdown of PDPN radiosensitized glioma cell lines and glioma-stem-like cells (GSCs). Clonogenic assays and xenograft experiments revealed that PDPN expression was associated with radiotherapy resistance and tumor aggressiveness. We further demonstrate that knockdown of PDPN in GSCs in vivo is sufficient to improve overall survival in an intracranial …

A-Kinase Anchor Protein 1 Deficiency Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Mouse Model Of Hyperoxia Induced Acute Lung Injury., Ramani Soundararajan, Helena Hernández-Cuervo, Timothy M Stearns, Anthony J Griswold, Sahebgowda Sidramagowda Patil, Jutaro Fukumoto, Venkata Ramireddy Narala, Lakshmi Galam, Richard Lockey, Narasaiah Kolliputi

Faculty Research 2022

No abstract provided.

The Collaborative Cross Strains And Their Founders Vary Widely In Cocaine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization., Sarah A Schoenrock, Leona H. Gagnon, Ashley A Olson, Michael Leonardo, Vivek M. Philip, Hao He, Laura G. Reinholdt, S J Sukoff Rizzo, James D Jentsch, Elissa J Chesler, Lisa M Tarantino

Faculty Research 2022

Cocaine use and overdose deaths attributed to cocaine have increased significantly in the United States in the last 10 years. Despite the prevalence of cocaine use disorder (CUD) and the personal and societal problems it presents, there are currently no approved pharmaceutical treatments. The absence of treatment options is due, in part, to our lack of knowledge about the etiology of CUDs. There is ample evidence that genetics plays a role in increasing CUD risk but thus far, very few risk genes have been identified in human studies. Genetic studies in mice have been extremely useful for identifying genetic loci …

Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Local Sudanese Sheep Populations Revealed By Whole-Genome Sequencing, A Amane, G Belay, Abdulfatai Tijjani, T Dessie, H H. Musa, O Hanotte

Faculty Research 2022

Local Sudanese sheep populations inhabiting diverse environmental conditions and holding opposing morphologies provide opportunities for molecular-genetic research. Characterizing their genome is crucial for sustainable breeding improvement and targeting favorable genes in breeding programs. However, the genome of these sheep populations, which comprises several subtypes, remains uncharacterized using whole-genome sequence data. This study aimed to elucidate genome-wide genetic diversity and population structure of 11 local Sudanese sheep populations, namely, Hammari, Kabbashi, Meidobe, Ashgar, Dubasi, Watish, Bega, Naili, Fulani, Zagawi, and Garag. Ninety whole blood samples were collected, and we extracted DNA using a Qiagen DNeasy® extraction kit. We used the Illumina …

Witch Nails (Krt90whnl): A Spontaneous Mouse Mutation Affecting Nail Growth And Development., John P Sundberg, Hannah Galantino-Homer, Heather Fairfield, Patricia F. Ward-Bailey, Belinda S. Harris, Melissa L. Berry, C Herbert Pratt, Nicholas E Gott, Lesley S Bechtold, Pauline R Kaplan, Blythe P Durbin-Johnson, David M Rocke, Robert H Rice

Faculty Research 2022

Numerous single gene mutations identified in humans and mice result in nail deformities with many similarities between the species. A spontaneous, autosomal, recessive mutation called witch nails (whnl) is described here where the distal nail matrix and nail bed undergo degenerative changes resulting in formation of an abnormal nail plate causing mice to develop long, curved nails. This mutation arose spontaneously in a colony of MRL/MpJ-Faslpr/J at The Jackson Laboratory. Homozygous mutant mice are recognizable by 8 weeks of age by their long, curved nails. The whnl mutation, mapped on Chromosome 15, is due to a 7-bp insertion identified in …

An Integrated Approach To Studying Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Using Animal And Human Cell-Based Models., Timothy J Hines, Cathleen Lutz, Stephen A Murray, Robert W. Burgess

Faculty Research 2022

As sequencing technology improves, the identification of new disease-associated genes and new alleles of known genes is rapidly increasing our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of rare diseases, including neuromuscular diseases. However, precisely because these disorders are rare and often heterogeneous, they are difficult to study in patient populations. In parallel, our ability to engineer the genomes of model organisms, such as mice or rats, has gotten increasingly efficient through techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, allowing the creation of precision human disease models. Such

Psilocybin Psychotherapy With Acceptance And Commitment Therapy: A Potential Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder, Elliot Sandberg

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder are in need of a more effective therapeutic intervention. Due to the nature of SAD, individuals tend to not seek care for their treatment, leading to the continuation of avoidance behaviors that significantly impact their daily existence. Psilocybin psychotherapy has the potential to lead to significant changes in the personality structure of individuals as well as reducing anxious responses to their environment in a relatively short period of time. Acceptance and commitment therapy can serve as the ideal therapeutic backing to psilocybin as it emphasizes mindfulness and psychological flexibility, both of which aid in …

Piceatannol, A Dietary Polyphenol, Alleviates Adipose Tissue Loss In Pre-Clinical Model Of Cancer-Associated Cachexia Via Lipolysis Inhibition, Jonathan Kershaw, Bennett D. Elzey, Xiao-Xuan Guo, Kee-Hong Kim

Public and Allied Health Faculty Publications

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is the nutrition-independent loss of lean muscle and adipose tissues, and results in reduced chemotherapy effectiveness and increased mortality. Preventing adipose loss is considered a key target in the early stages of cachexia. Lipolysis is considered the central driver of adipose loss in CAC. We recently found that piceatannol, but not its analogue resveratrol, exhibits an inhibitory effect on lipolysis. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of piceatannol in cancer-associated lipolysis and cachexia-induced weight loss. Cancer cell-induced lipolysis in adipocytes was stimulated using cancer-conditioned media (CCM) or co-culture with human pancreatic cancer cells …

Zephyrus, Western Kentucky University

Student Creative Writing

The fine arts magazine of Western Kentucky University at Bowling Green.

Idealism And Psychoanalysis In Architecture, John Shannon Hendrix

Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Designing Diplomacy: Jack Masey And Multiscreen Cinema At Expo 67, Brian Real

The Journal of e-Media Studies

The United States Information Agency (USIA) was America’s international public diplomacy arm throughout the Cold War. The agency used various media to counter Soviet messaging and portray the United States in a positive light. One of the agency’s most effective means of conveying such messaging was through exhibitions, such as trade fairs and world’s fairs. Jack Masey was a skilled designer and diplomat whose experiences on the ground in India and Afghanistan in the early 1950s would shape the USIA’s approach to exhibit design and execution for decades to come. One of his most significant contributions to the agency’s success, …

Useful Experimental Cinema: Usia's Experimental Film Programming And The Film Culture In Taiwan, 1973-1979, I-Lin Liu

The Journal of e-Media Studies

This article attempts to historicize the United States Information Agency (USIA)’s programming of experimental and student films in the sixties and early seventies. Previous scholarship mainly focuses on USIA-produced films during 1962-1967; it is argued that these films demonstrated that USIA was ideologically tolerant and allowed artists to express their creativity. Complementing this viewpoint, I suggest that it is fruitful to situate USIA’s film activities within a larger media environment and understand their programming and production choices as a way to respond to controversial films put out by Hollywood and other private media producers. The second part of the article …

Nicholas J. Cull In Conversation With Hadi Gharabaghi And Bret Vukoder, Hadi Gharabagh, Bret Vukoder

The Journal of e-Media Studies

Nicholas J. Cull is a Professor of Communication and Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California, where he founded the graduate program in Public Diplomacy.

Charles (Chas) W. Freeman In Conversation With Hadi Gharabaghi And Bret Vukoder, Hadi Gharabagh, Bret Vukoder

The Journal of e-Media Studies

Charles (Chas) W. Freeman Jr.’s career in foreign service and policy is among the most prolific and diverse.

Building Bridges To The Future: Fiscal Year 2022, Tennessee Council On Developmental Disabilities

Annual and Special Reports

This annual report highlights the accomplishments made during the fiscal year.

Dignity, Intersectional Gendered Harm, And A Flexible Approach: Analysis Of The Right To One’S Image In Quebec, Yuan Stevens

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article draws on critical feminist theory and the framework of intersectionality to examine how courts in Quebec have begun — and are poised — to respond to the phenomenon of the non-consensual sharing of images, particularly if they are of an intimate or sexual nature. Dunn’s work has demonstrated that Quebec’s dignity-focused approach to the protection of identity and privacy ought to guide the development of similar civil recourse provided in common law Canada. This paper fills a gap by identifying the affordances and gaps of Quebec’s legal approach from the vantage point of equality-seeking groups, with a particular …

Nebline, January/February 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2021 Extension Highlights

Your Trusted Educational Resource

4-H Programs Engaged 24,313 Youth

A New Year, A New You, A Renewed Community by Emily Gratopp

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Extension’s 2022 Master Gardener Training, Two Sites Available

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

2022 Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Crop Production Clinics In-Person and Zoom

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Phil Wharton and Jenny DeBuhr

Watch Chicks Hatch on Egg Cam

4-H Rabbit Show, March 19

Dog Club Accepting New Members, Starts Jan. 10

4-H Club Gives Youth With Special Needs Opportunity to Show Lambs

4-H Announcements …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Samantha Ortega

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This project is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science in Environmental Biology at Regis University. Chapter 1 is a literature review that discusses the management implications of designing bird habitat on anthropogenic structures. Chapter 2 is a grant proposal to explore niche dominance by anthropophilic bird species in Denver, CO. Chapter 3 is a journal manuscript discussing how musth impacts captive bull Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) behavior at Denver Zoo. Finally, Chapter 4 is a stakeholder analysis for Northern Bobwhite recovery at Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness Area, White County, Tennessee.

Understanding Language Use Patterns Of People With Chronic Pain: A Novel Assessment Approach, Jodie Maccarrone

Theses and Dissertations

It is estimated that 35% of Americans or 116 million people report experiencing chronic pain daily (Nahin, 2015). Due to the unique and individualized nature of chronic pain, successful treatment of this condition is difficult to achieve. The heterogeneity and complexity in presentation may help explain why, as all methods of treatment have fallen short of providing consistent and reliable outcomes (Finnerup et al., 2015; Lumley & Schubiner, 2019), resulting in unsuccessful treatment approaches that can lead to compounding negative consequences such as hyperalgesia (Garland et al., 2013) and even death (Scholl, Seth, Kariisa, Wilson, & Baldwin, 2019). As such, …

"We Choose To Go To The Moon": An Analysis Of A Cold War Means-Developing Strategy, David Christopher Arnold

NDU Case Studies

Strategists often ask “With the means available right now, what end can we achieve?” However, in strategy design it can be more appropriate to ask, “What is the desired end, and what means are available to achieve it?” The answer to this question may be, “If this is the desired end, first this new capability has to be created.” This case study examines how Kennedy determined he could achieve his ends (beat the Soviets in the world competition) in a particular way (shape the world conversation) using means yet to be created (the moon landing).

The Imaginal Lexicon Of Aging Studies, William Ebenstein

Publications and Research

Aging Studies focuses on the cultural, humanistic and experiential aspects of aging insofar as these are already embedded in literature, art, language and everyday life. The lexicon of this multi-disciplinary field has evolved in response to shifts in cultural attitudes, social roles, and conceptual frameworks. At the same time, many age-related words have links to poetic imagery and ancient myths, and to evocative etymologies that conjure an historical context. The article looks at the ongoing and surprisingly difficult effort to find the right word to call an older person. It reviews the language and literary genres associated with longevity. And, …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Hannah Dekay

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Chapter 1: Literature Review - Human-Wildlife Conflict: Comparing Lethal and Behavioral Mitigation in Agricultural Settings

Chapter 2: Grant Proposal - Evaluating the Effectiveness and Impacts of Predator Odor Repellants for Elk Management in Colorado

Chapter 3: Journal Manuscript - Examining Post-release and Seasonal Movements in Wyoming Toads (Anaxyrus baxteri) for Current Recovery Efforts

Chapter 4: Resolving the Success of Grizzly Bear Conservation in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems: Learning to Live with Large Terrestrial Predators