Digital Commons Network^™

Rho/Rock Pathway As A Therapeutic Target In Multiple Diseases, Zixiu Cheng, Shannon Erhardt, Jun Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Rho/ROCK (Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating diverse cellular processes, including cytoskeletal organization, cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, neurological conditions, and fibrotic diseases. Accumulating evidence supports the therapeutic potential of targeting Rho/ROCK, with several inhibitors currently under investigation or in clinical use. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying Rho/ROCK signaling, explores its involvement in disease progression, and discusses recent advances in the development of and the clinical application of ROCK inhibitors as promising therapeutic …

Optimization Of Proximity Labeling In Endothelial Cells: Overcoming Endogenous Biotin Interference And Cost Barriers, Ying Jiang, Kuizhi Qu, Mengjun Dai, Yan-Ning Rui, Zhen Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Proximity labeling has become a powerful technique for mapping protein-protein interactions under physiologically relevant conditions, with TurboID offering high enzymatic activity and rapid labeling. However, its application in endothelial systems has been limited, partly due to the presence of endogenous biotin in specialized media, which reduces labeling specificity. Here, we optimized TurboID-mediated proximity labeling in brain microvascular endothelial cells by addressing two key challenges: endogenous biotin interference and cost-effective depletion. We discovered that endothelial cell medium contains substantial biotin levels, which saturate TurboID labeling and obscure the effects of exogenous biotin. Using High Capacity NeutrAvidin

Recovery Of Verbal Working Memory Depends On Left Hemisphere White Matter Tracts, Randi C Martin, Junhua Ding, Ali I Alwani, Steve H Fung, Tatiana T Schnur

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Researchers propose that the recovery of language function following stroke depends on the recruitment of perilesional regions in the left hemisphere and/or homologous regions in the right hemisphere. Many investigations of recovery focus on changes in gray matter regions, whereas relatively few examine white matter tracts and none address the role of these tracts in the recovery of verbal working memory. The present study addressed these gaps, examining the role of left versus right hemisphere tracts in the longitudinal recovery of phonological and semantic working memory. For 24 individuals with left hemisphere stroke, we assessed working memory performance within 1 …

The Primary Cilia: Orchestrating Cranial Neural Crest Cell Development, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Matthew D Meyer, William B Barrell, Maryam Faisal, Rebecca Berdeaux, Karen J Liu, Yoshihiro Komatsu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary cilia (hereafter "cilia") are microtubule-based antenna-like organelles projecting from the surface of vertebrate cells. Cilia can serve as cellular antennae controlling cell growth and differentiation. Absent or dysfunctional cilia frequently lead to craniofacial anomalies known as craniofacial ciliopathies. However, the detailed pathological mechanisms of craniofacial ciliopathies remain unclear. This perspective discusses our current understanding of the role of cilia in cranial neural crest cells. We also describe potential mechanisms of ciliogenesis in cranial neural crest cells, which may contribute to unraveling the complex pathogenesis of craniofacial ciliopathies.

Inducing Hypertension In Myh11r247c/R247c Mice Triggers Aortic Dissections With Increased Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling, Callie S Kwartler, Shanzhi Wang, Zhen Zhou, Pujun Guan, Yang Yu, Xue-Yan Duan, Theodore Zhang, Jiyuan Chen, Elaine C Davis, Dianna M Milewicz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: We sought to determine if hypertension in combination with a "variant of uncertain significance" that disrupts protein function, MYH11 p.Arg247Cys, would induce aortic dissections in a mouse model.

Approach and results: Administration of L-NAME via drinking water and a high salt diet increased blood pressure in WT and Myh11R247C/R247C mice and triggered type A dissections with cardiac tamponade in 20% of the Myh11R247C/R247C mice. Myh11R247C/R247C aortas have aberrant smooth muscle contractile unit-elastin connections by transmission electron microscopy, along with increased focal adhesion signaling at baseline, which further increases with hypertension.

Conclusion: Gene-environment interactions trigger aortic dissections in Myh11R247C/R247C mice.

Immune Responses In Rodent Whole Eye Transplantation: Elucidation And Preliminary Investigations Into Rejection Diagnosis And Monitoring, Bing Li, Yong Wang, Charles R Owens, Touka Banaee, Charleen T Chu, Kayvon Jabbari, Anna D Lee, Neil J Khatter, Alan G Palestine, An-Jey A Su, Christene A Huang, Kia M Washington

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Whole Eye Transplantation (WET) offers potential for vision restoration but is hindered by the complex challenge of immune rejection. Understanding and closely monitoring these immunological responses is crucial for advancing WET. This study delves into the timeline and nature of immune responses in a rodent model of WET without immunosuppression, aiming to elucidate a detailed picture of the immune landscape post-transplantation and establish innovative diagnostic and monitoring methods.

Methods: We employed a multi-faceted approach to analyze immune responses post-WET, including assessments of gross changes in corneal transparency, thickness, and skin condition. Histopathological examinations of both ocular and surrounding skin …

Clinical Criteria For Limbic-Predominant Age-Related Tdp-43 Encephalopathy, David A Wolk, Peter T Nelson, Liana Apostolova, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Patricia A Boyle, Cynthia M Carlsson, Nick Corriveau-Lecavalier, Penny Dacks, Bradford C Dickerson, Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, Brittany N Dugger, Rebecca Edelmayer, David W Fardo, Michel J Grothe, Timothy J Hohman, David J Irwin, Gregory A Jicha, David T Jones, Claudia H Kawas, Edward B Lee, Karen Lincoln, Gladys E Maestre, Elizabeth C Mormino, Chiadi U Onyike, Ronald C Petersen, Gil D Rabinovici, Rosa Rademakers, Rema Raman, Katya Rascovsky, Robert A Rissman, Emily Rogalski, Philip Scheltens, Reisa A Sperling, Hyun-Sik Yang, Lei Yu, Henrik Zetterberg, Julie A Schneider

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is highly prevalent in late life and a common co-pathology with Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC). LATE-NC is a slowly progressive, amnestic clinical syndrome. Alternatively, when present with ADNC, LATE-NC is associated with a more rapid course. With the emergence of anti-amyloid therapeutics, discrimination of LATE-NC from ADNC is critical and will lead to greater clinical recognition of amnestic patients without ADNC. Furthermore, co-pathology with LATE-NC may influence outcomes of these therapeutics. Thus there is a need to identify patients during life with likely LATE-NC. We propose criteria for clinical diagnosis of …

A Biomechanical Study Of Neck Strength And Impact Dynamics On Head And Neck Injury Parameters, Rahid Zaman, Mohammad Ibrahim Hossain, Ahmed Zubayer Raiyan, Shuvo Chowdhury, Aaron Jackson, Arthur Thomas Koster, Ashfaq Adnan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Head and neck injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), are a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. It affects millions of people worldwide, from automobiles to sports to military personnel. This study investigates the influence of impact locations, severities, and neck strength on head and neck injury parameters using a musculoskeletal head-neck model in OpenSim software.

Methods: We hypothesize that eccentric impacts, particularly those on the anterolateral side, increase GAMBIT and Neck Injury Criteria (NIC) due to elevated rotational accelerations, and that higher neck strength mitigates GAMBIT and NIC under these impacts. To test our hypotheses, we investigated …

New Insights Into The Mechanisms Of Electroconvulsive Therapy In Treatment-Resistant Depression, Ana C Ruiz, Abdul Haseeb, William Baumgartner, Edison Leung, Giselli Scaini, Joao Quevedo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains one of the most effective interventions for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), particularly in cases involving severe symptomatology, suicidality, or psychotic features. Despite advancements aimed at enhancing the safety and cognitive tolerability of ECT, concerns about cognitive side effects continue to limit its broader acceptance. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying ECT is therefore critical for refining its use and maximizing clinical outcomes. Through a narrative review of recent literature, this paper synthesizes current evidence comparing the efficacy of ECT, ketamine, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of TRD. Then, the review delves into …

Correspondence To Letter To The Editor On “Genomic Biomarkers To Predict Response To Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Immunotherapy In Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights From The Imbrave150 Trial”, Sung Hwan Lee, Sun Young Yim, Ji Hoon Kim, Sunyoung S Lee, Ahmed O Kaseb, Peng Wei, Ju-Seog Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (Fgf21) As A Prognostic And Diagnostic Biomarker In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Joe R Eid, Merih Yalciner, Lianchun Xiao, Ryan Sun, Mahesh Kumar Kannan, Manal Hassan, Asif Rashid, Shadi Chamseddine, Hop S Tran Cao, Hesham M Amin, Ahmed O Kaseb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone synthesized and released by liver cells. Deficiency in FGF21 has been shown to be associated with steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that elevated FGF21 levels may paradoxically correlate with worse outcomes in HCC. We aimed to evaluate the association between serum FGF21 levels, clinicopathological parameters, and overall survival (OS) in HCC patients.

Patients and methods: From 2001 to 2014, newly diagnosed HCC patients were recruited as part of an IRB-approved protocol. Blood samples were prospectively collected and a CLIA-certified lab measured …

Isatuximab For The Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma: Current Clinical Advances And Future Directions, Paul G Richardson, Elisabeth K O'Donnell, Peter O'Gorman, Lisa B Leypoldt, Jacob Laubach, Francesca Gay, Xavier Leleu, Thierry Facon, Philippe Moreau, Meletios A Dimopoulos, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Elias K Mai, Michele Cavo, Katja C Weisel, Jesus G Berdeja, Robert Z Orlowski, Meral Beksaç, Aurore Perrot, Joseph Mikhael, Thomas Martin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The addition of the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab to standard therapies is transforming the care of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), as previously seen in the relapsed/refractory setting. This is particularly important for patients with NDMM as early treatment with effective, well tolerated therapies may ensure better clinical outcomes.

Areas covered: Here, we examine recent results from pivotal Phase 3 and 2 clinical trials that demonstrate efficacy and safety of isatuximab across multiple combinations, for both transplant-ineligible and transplant-eligible NDMM patients. We then evaluate long-term outcomes from the IKEMA and ICARIA-MM trials as well as real-world evidence …

Predicting Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma Attachment Using Machine Learning: Current Lessons And Future Directions, Sean P Mckee, Xiaomin Liang, William C Yao, Brady Anderson, Jumah G Ahmad, David Z Allen, Salman Hasan, Andy J Chua, Chinmay Mokashi, Samia Islam, Amber U Luong, Martin J Citardi, Luca Giancardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Hyperostosis is a common radiographic feature of inverted papilloma (IP) tumor origin on computed tomography (CT). Herein, we developed a machine learning (ML) model capable of analyzing CT images and identifying IP attachment sites.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated for IP at our institution was performed. The tumor attachment site was manually segmented on CT scans by the operating surgeon. We used a nnU-Net model, a state-of-the-art deep learning-based segmentation algorithm that automatically configures image preprocessing, network architecture, training, and post-processing to identify the IP attachment site. The model was trained and evaluated using a 5-fold cross …

Enl Mutation And Aml: A New Model That Reveals Oncogenic Condensate’S Function In Leukemogenesis, Zhong Fan, Yanan Jiang, Xiaotian Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Precise regulation of gene expression is essential for proper development and the maintenance of homeostasis in organisms. Studies have shown that some transcriptional regulatory proteins influence gene expression through the formation of dynamic, locally concentrated assemblies known as condensates, while dysregulation of transcriptional condensates was associated with several cancers, such as Ewing sarcoma and AML [Wang Y et al. (2023) Nat Chem Biol 19, 1223-1234; Chandra B et al. (2022) Cancer Discov 12, 1152-1169]. Mutations in the histone acetylation "reader" eleven-nineteen-leukemia (ENL) have been shown to form discrete condensates at endogenous genomic targets, but it remains unclear how ENL mutations …

Stat3 Inhibition In Combination With Cd47 Blockade Inhibits Osteosarcoma Lung Metastasis, Pradeep Shrestha, Rejeena Shrestha, You Zhou, Rafal Zielinski, Waldemar Priebe, Eugenie S Kleinerman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: New therapies are urgently needed for patients with osteosarcoma (OS). STAT3 and CD47 are potential therapeutic target in OS. Here we investigated the therapeutic activity of the orally bioavailable STAT3 inhibitor, WP1066, and anti-CD47 antibody using OS mouse models.

Methods: Cytotoxic effect of WP1066 against OS cell lines and its immunomodulatory effects were evaluated in vitro. Experimental metastasis and orthotopic syngeneic mouse models were used to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of WP1066 and anti-CD47 antibody. Further flow cytometric analysis was performed.

Results: STAT3 was constitutively activated in multiple human and mouse OS cell lines. WP1066 suppressed STAT3 activation …

Cord Blood-Derived Ink T Cells As A Platform For Allogeneic Car T Cell Therapy, Maison Grefe, Abel Trujillo-Ocampo, Jelita Clinton, Hong He, Ling Yu, Dan Li, Qing Ma, Elizabeth J Shpall, Jeffrey J Molldrem, Jin S Im

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

CD1d-restricted invariant Natural Killer (iNK) T cells are a suitable candidate for allogeneic Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy as they do not cause graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) due to the monomorphic nature of CD1d proteins. However, the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of iNK T cells from adult donors (AD) may lead to the inconstant CAR-iNK T cell products. Cord blood-derived (CB) iNK T cells, in contrast, exhibit inter-donor homogeneity in phenotype including uniform CD4 expression and are enriched in memory iNK T cell populations. Thus, we evaluated the preclinical therapeutic potential of iNK T cells derived from cord blood …

Il-7: A Potential Next-Generation Adjuvant For Immune Cell Therapies, Richard S Hotchkiss, John F Dipersio, Cassian Yee, Russell K Pachynski, Marcel R M Van Den Brink

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cell-based immune therapies ranging from CAR-T cells to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and endogenous T-cell products, have produced unprecedented clinical responses in hematologic malignancies and are currently under active investigation for solid tumors. Nevertheless, several key challenges continue to limit the durability and breadth of clinical benefit. IL-7 is a pleiotropic cytokine that increases both the number and function of lymphocytes. Although not yet clinically approved, IL-7 has been used in over 620 adult and pediatric patients for a variety of reasons including, for example, to hasten bone marrow recovery after allogenic stem cell transplantation, to reverse lymphopenia due to …

Understanding The Evolution Of The Apical Organ In The Early Branching Metazoan, Nematostella Vectensis, Eleanor Gilbert

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The apical organ is a key sensory structure in marine invertebrate larvae that is involved in sensory processing and neural coordination, thereby influencing larval locomotion, settlement, and metamorphosis. This thesis explores the evolution, development, and function of the apical organ and wider apical domain in cnidarian larvae, with a particular focus on Nematostella vectensis. As an early-branching metazoan, N. vectensis is a unique model for studying evolution of the apical organ, and subsequently the origins of the nervous system. Through generating tissue-specific transcriptomes and integrating this data with an existing single-cell RNA sequencing dataset, this research identified a distinct neuronal …

Raising Information Literacy Of Biology Pre-Service Teachers: Study On Three Problem Solving Methods, Muhammad Saefi, Hadi Suwono, Rifka Fachrunnisa, Widi Cahya Adi, Herawati Susilo, Ahmad Kamal Sudrajat

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Integrating information literacy teaching methods with subject-content curricula to develop prospective biology teacher students' abilities is still problematic. This quasi-experimental research, with a nonrandomized pretest-posttest control group design, intends to compare the influences of challenge-based learning (CBL), problem-based learning (PBL), and problem-solving through classroom discussion (PCD) – as the control- in improving information literacy. This study involved 183 students from three classes of freshmen and three sophomores in the biology education program. The results showed that CBL significantly improved students' information literacy compared to PBL and PCD across five indicators: 1) identifying the required information, 2) attaining the required information …

Deep Learning For Precise Mri Segmentation Of Lower-Grade Gliomas, Wusat Ullah, Hamza Naveed, Saalam Ali

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Brain tumors represent a significant public health issue worldwide, affecting individuals across all age groups and leading to severe neurological and cognitive deficits. Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs), classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as grade II or III, are characterized by more diffuse infiltration into brain tissue compared to high-grade gliomas but exhibit a slower growth rate. Precise evaluation of tumor resection and detection of residual tumor cells are critical, as incomplete resection is associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence. This study reviews an automated, deep learning-based approach for brain tumor segmentation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using …

Advanced Fruit Quality Assessment Using Deep Learning And Transfer Learning Technique, Walid Abdullah

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Ensuring the quality of fruits is essential for consumer satisfaction and food industry standards. Accurately identifying and classifying high-quality fruits is essential for maintaining good health and nutrition. The subjective and labor-intensive nature of traditional techniques of evaluating quality highlights the need for automated solutions. This study utilized transfer learning with Four pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models—MobileNetV2, ResNet50, VGG16, and EfficientNetB0 —to detect the quality of five fruits: apple, banana, strawberry, orange, and mango. All models were trained and tested with a public labeled fruit images dataset, and their performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and …

A Hybridized Cnn-Lstm-Mlp-Knn Model For Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting, Doaa El-Shahat, Ahmed Tolba

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

The accurate prediction of solar irradiance is essential for maximizing renewable energy production. Despite some researchers struggling to achieve sufficient prediction accuracy and model quality, we are working on developing a forecasting model for solar radiation using advanced artificial intelligence techniques. Solar energy offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and has a wide range of applications, making the development of an effective forecasting model crucial. This paper proposes a hybrid model that combines deep learning and machine learning methods, denoted as CNN-LSTM-MLP-KNN. By combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), …

Enhancing Software Effort Estimation In Healthcare Informatics: A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models With Correlation-Based Feature Selection, Muhammad Abid, Sama Bukhari, Muhammad Saqlain

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Software effort estimation is one of the most crucial processes in the management of software projects predominantly related to the healthcare industry. It involves the prediction of efforts needed to develop and endorse different software applications. To render clinical projects on time within the budget range, flawless projection with efficient planning is incumbent. This paper discloses the techniques that utilize machine learning models for ameliorating software effort estimation by using biomedical datasets, including Breast Cancer Wisconsin, COVID-19, Sleepy Drivers EEG Brainwave, Heart Disease Prediction and Food Nutrition. All of these datasets are cleaned and prepared by handling missing values, converting …

An Hplc-Ms/Ms Method For The Quantification Of Heat Stress-Related Milk Metabolites In Milk From Holstein-Friesian Cross-Bred Cows In Tanzania, Vincent Habimana, A.S Nguluma, Z.C Nziku, C.C Ekine-Dzivenu, G Morota, R Mrode, S.W Chenyambuga

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The main objective of this study was to develop and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination and quantification of three metabolites in raw milk samples: creatinine, citrate, and β-hydroxybutyrate (3-BHB). The effect of the temperature-humidity index (THI) on the concentrations of these metabolites was also investigated. The study used 29 Holstein-Friesian × Tanzanian Shorthorn Zebu cross-bred cows of two genotypes from the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute in Tanga, Tanzania. The cows were in their second or third parity and their second or third month of lactation. Chromatographic separation of the three metabolites was performed …

Estimation Of Genetic Parameters For Physiological And Milk Production Traits Of Holstein Friesian Crossbreds Reared In Tanzania, Vincent Habimana, Chinyere Charlotte Ekine-Dzivenu, Athumani Shabani Nguluma, Zabron Cuthibert Nziku, Gota Morota, Sebastian Wilson Chenyambuga, Raphael Mrode

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The main objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for physiological traits, milk yield, and milk composition in Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle raised at the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute’s (TALIRI) Tanga dairy farm. A total of 29 lactating Holstein Friesian × Zebu crossbred cows with 50% (HF50) and 75% (HF75) Holstein Friesian gene levels in their second and third months of lactation were included. Breed composition was determined based on the animal recording system at TALIRI, Tanga. A series of univariate and bivariate repeatability (r) test-day models was used to estimate genetic parameters, genetic (rg) and phenotypic …

Effect Of Malt Barley Cluster Farming On Food Security In Amhara Region, Ethiopia, Betelhem Tsedalu Adane, Irene Susan Egyir, Edward Ebo Onumah, Ama Asantewah Ahene-Codjoe, Taeyoon Kim

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Cluster farming is the practice of merging neighbouring farms into a unified production unit to grow specific crops collaboratively. This is a promising method to enhance food security by improving agricultural productivity through coordinated resource use and enabling access to inputs, technologies, and markets. Despite this benefit, no empirical studies have examined how malt barley cluster farming affects smallholder farmers’ food security. This study adopts descriptive and econometric analysis, including the endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) and control function approach to account for selection bias and endogeneity in estimating the causal effect of malt barley cluster farming. Cross-sectional data were …

Business Risk, Capital Markets, And Sustainable Companies, Christopher Bruner

Scholarly Works

Corporate sustainability is inherently bound up with corporate risk, and particularly with risk-taking incentives of various corporate actors – including directors and officers who manage the business, and shareholders who can exert pressure upon corporate governance in various ways. This article sets out a framework for thinking about corporate risk-taking incentives and how they might be reformed to curb excessive risk and externalization of costs, thereby improving corporate sustainability.

Corporate Personhood, Corporate Rights, And The Contingency Of Corporate Law, Christopher Bruner

Scholarly Works

Corporate personhood and corporate rights are co-constitutive in nature, meaning that they are mutually constructed – there is no singular, one-way causal path between a conception of corporate personhood and a conception of corporate rights. Consequently, modes of reasoning that purport to deduce the substance and extent of corporate rights from the mere fact of corporate personhood are logically circular. Although the relationship between corporate personhood and corporate rights is real and significant, this relationship cannot, in and of itself, comprehensively specify the content of corporate rights; their substance can only be specified by reference to external normative criteria. The …

Food Finding Ability Does Not Predict Annual Survival In Winter Resident Birds, Aidan Hand

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Small non-migratory birds in temperate locations face many challenges to survive the winter. They must be able to find enough food, which is in decreased supply, to fuel the energetic demands of staying warm. Prior work has demonstrated that birds show individual variation in their foraging behaviors that could contribute to the discovery of new foraging patches, such as novel environment exploration. A better ability to discover new food sources could increase a bird’s chance of surviving the winter by increasing its access to new food patches. To test this hypothesis, we used radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled bird feeders to …

“Take Eight Bits And Call Me In The Morning” Video Games, Well-Being, And The Psychology Of Nostalgia, Nicholas Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

For nearly 60 years, video games have arrested the attention of players, inviting us to interact and interface with on-screen content. More than just short-term entertainment experiences, video games are part of a broader cultural milieu—they are the most profitable media entertainment sector (global revenues nearly $400 billion USD in 2023) with more than 3.5 billion players globally (Clement, 2023). Similar to other entertainment media, some video game intellectual properties have transcended generations and, in many cases, grown beyond the medium itself: common cultural touchstones include Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog, along with seemingly endless subcultures of devoted …