Digital Commons Network^™

Chronic Β3-Ar Stimulation Activates Distinct Thermogenic Mechanisms In Brown And White Adipose Tissue And Improves Systemic Metabolism In Aged Mice, Duraipandy Natarajan, Bhuvana Plakkot, Kritika Tiwari, Shoba Ekambaram, Weidong Wang, Michael Rudolph, Mahmoud A Mohammad, Shaji K Chacko, Madhan Subramanian, Stefano Tarantini, Andriy Yabluchanskiy, Zoltan Ungvari, Anna Csiszar, Priya Balasubramanian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Adipose thermogenesis has been actively investigated as a therapeutic target for improving metabolic dysfunction in obesity. However, its applicability to middle-aged and older populations, which bear the highest obesity prevalence in the United States (approximately 40%), remains uncertain due to age-related decline in thermogenic responses. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic thermogenic stimulation using the β3-adrenergic (AR) agonist CL316,243 (CL) on systemic metabolism and adipose function in aged (18-month-old) C57BL/6JN mice. Sustained β3-AR treatment resulted in reduced fat mass, increased energy expenditure, increased fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial activity in adipose depots, improved glucose homeostasis, and a …

'Buy Me Some Peanuts And Cracker Jacks': How Peanuts, Chewing Gum, Hot Dogs, And Beer Became Icons Of Americana Through Baseball, Miles Houman Cipriano

Graduate Masters Theses

BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS’: HOW PEANUTS, CHEWING GUM, HOT DOGS, AND BEER BECAME ICONS OF AMERICANA THROUGH BASEBALL December 2024 Miles Houman Cipriano B.A., Westfield State University M.A., University of Massachusetts Boston Directed by Professor Bonnie Miller Peanuts, chewing gum, hot dogs, and beer are often closely associated with the game of baseball. Beginning in the mid to late nineteenth century, baseball was a rising form of entertainment in the United States of America, and part of the spectator experience was the purchase of concessions. The business of concessions in America has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry …

The Application Of High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry For The Analysis Of Biopolymers, Metabolites, And Biologically Relevant Small Molecules, Christ Duc Tran

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), as its name suggests, possesses high resolving power that enables the separation of ions with very close mass values. This is particularly beneficial for analyzing complex samples where numerous compounds may have similar masses, as it helps prevent signal overlaps and ensures an accurate spectral analysis. The current work explores the diverse applications of high-resolution mass spectrometry in oligonucleotide research, organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Oligonucleotide research: Chapters 2-5 present the research results from studies that employed ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to understand the pharmacokinetics of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. The …

Chemogenetic Neuronal Silencing Decouples C-Jun Activation From Cell Death In The Temporal Cortex, Caleb A Wood, Preethi Somasundaram, Jacob M Dundee, Melissa A Rudy, Trent A Watkins, Joanna L Jankowsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Initial symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases are often defined by the loss of the most vulnerable neural populations specific to each disorder. In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, vulnerable circuits in the temporal lobe exhibit diminished activity prior to overt degeneration. It remains unclear whether these functional changes contribute to regional vulnerability or are simply a consequence of pathology. We previously found that entorhinal neurons in the temporal cortex undergo cell death following transient suppression of electrical activity, suggesting a causal role for activity disruption in neurodegeneration. Here we demonstrate that electrical arrest of this circuit stimulates the injury-response transcription …

Bst2 Facilitates Activation Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Through Erk Signaling, Marcus A Florez, Apoorva Thatavarty, Duy T Le, Holly A Hill, Youngjae Jeong, Brian M Ho, Pawel Kus, Trisha K Wathan, Bailee N Kain, Shixia Huang, Dongsu Park, Katherine Y King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The proinflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNγ) is upregulated in a variety of infections and contributes to bone marrow failure through hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activation and subsequent exhaustion. The cell surface protein, bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST2), is a key mediator of this process, as it is induced upon interferon stimulation and required for interferon-dependent HSC activation. To identify the mechanism by which BST2 promotes interferon-dependent HSC activation, we evaluated its role in niche localization, immune cell function, lipid raft formation, and intracellular signaling. Our studies indicated that knock out (KO) of BST2 in a murine model does not disrupt …

“Go, Rebuild My House”: Empowering The Church Of The Poor Through The Eyes Of Saint Vincent De Paul, Daniel Franklin E. Pilario

Vincentian Studies

Daniel Franklin E. Pilario interprets the Vincentian charism by relating the concepts of mercy, mission, and synodality to Vincent de Paul’s teaching and ministry. Pope Francis has identified these as the keys to the Church’s reform, which is meant as the Christian response to suffering. Mercy (or compassion) is God’s defining characteristic. As Vincent de Paul taught, God was incarnated as a servant of the world to relieve its pain. We, who are made in God’s image, should therefore also be defined by compassion. If we are, then our most fundamental religious practice (mission) is service to the poor. Mission …

Beyond Charity: The Development Of The Mission Of The Daughters Of Charity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Theresa Eke

Vincentian Studies

Theresa Eke recounts the history of the Daughters of Charity’s service in Africa and explains the evolution of their approach to poverty alleviation there. The Daughters learned the importance of knowing the cultures and languages of those they served. At first, they addressed poverty with donations of material goods, but later they empowered the poor, teaching them skills and helping them establish farms and businesses, particularly through helping them to purchase equipment. They learned to listen to what the poor themselves said would help them. They supported high school and university education, especially for women and girls. The Daughters also …

Lack Of Inflammatory Response In Mouse Embryonic Cells To Listeria Infection, Damilola Oyebode

Master's Theses

Approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies in the United States results in miscarriage, with a significant percentage of these losses attributed to failed implantation due to immunological challenges encountered by the early embryo. Recent research has shown that key cell types within mouse blastocysts, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), exhibit remarkable resilience against the cytotoxic effects associated with viral infections and embryotoxic cytokines, such as TNFα and IFNγ, both of which are known to hinder blastocyst development. However, the immune properties of the preimplantation stage embryo, specifically the blastocyst, remain poorly understood. Using mouse cell model, …

French Foreign Policy And Its Tendencies While Approaching International Relations Through Multilateralism, Dipin Subedi

Master's Theses

This paper studies the pattern of French foreign policy with respect to one objective: whether through the means available – namely economic, diplomatic, and military – it adheres to the principle of achieving multilateral goals or not. The multilateral institutions that are used in this study as a ground for comparison are NATO, the E.U., and the U.N. all of whom hold France as their member. Nine different categories with distinct characteristics are created that contain one primary case study. Certain expectations on how France could deal with the nation in a particular case study is gathered through hints contained …

A Study Of The Ceramics At The Ebert Canebrake Site (1mc25), Andrew Patterson

Master's Theses

The Ebert Canebrake site is a small multi-component village in Macon County, Alabama. The primary focus of this thesis is to explain the presence of two distinct ceramic traditions on-site during the Mississippi period (AD 1000-1450). Local Shine II ceramics are typified by sand tempering and are related to the Lamar culture of eastern Georgia and western Alabama. Big Eddy phase ceramics are typified by shell tempering and Moundville-like designs from the Black Warrior River Valley in western Alabama. The temporal and spatial relationship of these materials on site is examined through an artifact analysis based upon stratified samples recovered …

Recast, Reform, Reshape: Surreal Figurative Painting, Keely Wu

Theses

This thesis explores the use of surreal imagery and the reimagining of historical subjects as a means to discuss complex ideas of identity. In this exploration, I chose to use the human figure as a vessel for expressing my own intimate viewpoints and experiences. Through a series of paintings, I investigate how the juxtaposition of human forms with non-human elements challenges conventional notions of gender and sexuality to empower marginalized perspectives. My Master’s degree started with my transition from commercial illustration to fine art. The study examines my evolution of thematic and stylistic choices, emphasizing the creation of new works …

Shape Between Intimacy, Mackenzie Serwa

Theses

This thesis examines the parallel exploration of raw tactile materials and relationships to develop a personal dialogue of intimacy. It breaks down the materiality of glass, clay, and the impulse of collecting, aiming to communicate the human connections shared between each. By engaging with materials in this way, this study aims to foster a deeper understanding of the existence, influence, and expression of intimate relationships.

Unstable, Virginia Guerrero

Theses

Unstable is a film about a music-driven, psychedelic journey of reality slipping into a frenzy of madness. It explores bringing music to life with emphasis placed on music pacing, mood, and my own simultaneous, involuntary experience of color when listening to music. The film tells the story of a trapped, creepy, skeletal character escaping his shackles and causing mayhem. He bends reality and experiences several transformations as the music becomes increasingly aggressive. The story is primarily narrative with experimental features, including abstract backgrounds, varying art styles, and unexpected transitions. The main character goes through painful, physical changes and eventually reaches …

The Mythical Nexus: Illuminating The Rich Tapestry Of Global Folklore, Trishala Parmar

Theses

There is a lack of accessibility and exposure to global folklore for a wider audience. Despite the richness and diversity of folktales worldwide, many people may not have access to them due to limited resources, language barriers, cultural isolation, and a lack of exposure. I saw a need to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage through stories and make it fun. I created an interactive website called The Mythical Nexus which allows an audience to interact with different stories and cultures through a series of rotating cubes. This website connects stories and folklore from around the globe through the power of …

Robust And Efficient Active Inference For Perception, Action, And Learning, Zhizhuo Yang

Theses

Active Inference (AIF) is an emerging framework rooted in neuroscience aimed at elucidating human perception, action, and cognitive processes. Recent advances in machine learning have facilitated the non-invasive study of human cognition through the lens of this framework. This dissertation expands upon this theoretical foundation to address practical challenges in robotic control and human cognitive behavior analysis. We initiate our exploration with a review of the eye-tracking studies that underpin the motivation for AIF research. This provides a background for understanding how AIF can model cognitive processes. First, we present a minimal AIF model within a discrete state space, framed …

Compact Solar-Powered Plasma Water Generator: Enhanced Germination Of Aged Seed With The Corona Dielectric Barrier Discharger, Yiting Xiao, Yang Tian, Haizheng Xiong, Ainong Shi, Jun Zhu

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Seed aging adversely affects agricultural productivity by reducing germination rates and seedling vigor, leading to significant costs for seed banks and companies due to the need for frequent seed renewals. This study demonstrated the use of plasma-activated water (PAW), generated by a solar-powered corona dielectric barrier discharger, to enhance germination rates of spinach seeds that had been stored at 4 °C for 23 years. Treating seeds with PAW at 17 kV for 15 min improved germination (by 135%) and seedling growth compared to untreated seeds. Through detailed analysis, beneficial PAW properties for seed development were identified, and a molecular mechanism …

Clearing, Kaiser Kelly

Gandy Dancer Archives

No abstract provided.

Hot With The Bad Things: A Review, Mollie Mcmullan

Gandy Dancer Archives

No abstract provided.

Use Of Sea Buckthorn Oil In The Treatment Of Skin Disease: Anti-Inflammatory Benefits, Clinical Applications, And Formulary Challenges, Evadne Rodriguez, Justin Flores, Kathleen Click, Vivian Li, Alexandra Loperfito, Marissa Ruppe, Kelly M. Frasier

Student Publications

Skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, burns, and other barrier insults pose ongoing therapeutic challenges, often requiring treatments that address both inflammation and skin barrier repair. The primary aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential benefits of sea buckthorn oil, derived from Hippophae rhamnoides, as a treatment for various skin diseases, detailing its anti-inflammatory properties, reporting benefits across several skin conditions, and highlighting challenges in formulation as well as preservation of the oil’s nutritional benefits. Drawing from a wide array of existing literature, this review investigates sea buckthorn oil’s rich composition of …

The Constitutional Limits To The Taxing Power, Ari Glogower

Fordham Law Review

The modern U.S. Supreme Court has elevated the apportionment requirement for direct taxes into the most important constitutional limitation to Congress’s taxing power. The U.S. Constitution requires that any “direct tax” must be apportioned among the states by population, which is impracticable or impossible for a tax today. The modern interpretative approach focuses on the formal categorization of the tax base, as either a “direct tax” or not. This approach could bar Congress from enacting certain taxes—such as a federal wealth tax or possibly even capital income tax reforms—simply through their formal labeling as direct taxes.

This interpretation inflates apportionment’s …

Ecological And Pathological Applications Of The Heat Shock Response, Taylor Rae Stanley

Theses and Dissertations

The heat shock response (HSR) is a cytoprotective stress response pathway that regulates cellular proteostasis. The HSR is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that is essential for normal cellular functioning. Here, we explore the broad ecological and pathological impacts of the HSR. In an ecological context, we perform gene level analysis of the transcriptomes of two closely related sunfish. We found that the more invasive bluegill sunfish has gene expansions in two HSR gene families, the HSP70 family and the HSP90 family compared to the redear sunfish. These gene expansions were also observed in several other teleost fish species and were …

Adsorption Of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins Using Biochar, Cadianne Chambers

Theses and Dissertations

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events involve the proliferation of microalgae which discharge lethal toxins into fresh and brackish water bodies due to anthropogenic and climatic activities. Common examples of HABs include causative organisms such as Cyanobacteria, Pyrodinium bahamense and more. These genera are known to release potent toxins including Microcystins, and Saxitoxins, respectively, which can seriously endanger human and marine health. Ingestion of these toxins can result in several health problems, such as nausea, vomiting, gastroenteritis, skin irritation, liver damage, paralysis, and respiratory arrest. The Great Lakes, Gulf of Maine, Florida’s coasts, Lake Erie, and Lake Okeechobee have all been …

Investigation Of Reproductive Inhibition During Chronic Heat Stress In C. Elegans, Macy Makenna Nielander

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly all organisms experience heterogeneity in environmental conditions that can negatively impact fitness. A common adaptive strategy to reduce the impact of this stress is called facultative diapause, where development and reproduction are temporarily arrested to promote survival. Facultative diapause is characterized by three major criteria, the arrest must be (i) induced by an unfavorable environmental condition, (ii) reversible, and (iii) driven by genetically regulated mechanisms. The aim of this thesis was to determine whether chronic heat-induced inhibition of egg laying in Caenorhabditis elegans represents a novel form of facultative diapause. It was found that the inhibition of egg-laying is …

Malicious Compliance: Examining Revenge Behaviors In Organizations, Patricia Jewel Emily Morrison

Theses and Dissertations

Revenge is a multifaceted behavior that manifests in various forms. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine a particular form of revenge known as malicious compliance, which has yet to be sufficiently researched. A two-study approach was used to examine malicious compliance. In the first study, qualitative data was collected from an online forum for sharing malicious compliance experiences. In the second study, 352 participants completed a mixed-methods survey online. Data from both studies was analyzed in RStudio and MAXQDA. Study 1 utilized unsupervised machine learning techniques, non-machine learning techniques, and thematic coding techniques to analyze the forum dataset. …

User Acceptance Of Advice By Ai Agents: Expectation-System Fit Perspective, Jingyuan Cai, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Algorithms have increasing influence on our daily decisions, especially when the recommendations are presented by human-like AI agents. This study applies the Theory of Effective Use to investigate how the fit between the user’s role expectation for an AI agent and the agent’s interaction style impacts AI advice adoption. We proposed a new concept termed Perceived Expectation-System Fit (PESF) and empirically examined its impact on user perceptions and advice acceptance. We found that low PESF reduces advice acceptance by diminishing cognitive and affective trust in the AI agent. Furthermore, increased algorithm transparency increases PESF's impact on decision-making. Our findings provide …

Mvgamba : Unify 3d Content Generation As State Space Sequence Modeling, Xuanyu Yi, Zike Wu, Qiuhong Shen, Qingshan Xu, Pan Zhou, Joo-Hwee Lim, Shuicheng Yan, Xinchao Wang, Hanwang Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Recent 3D large reconstruction models (LRMs) can generate high-quality 3D content in sub-seconds by integrating multi-view diffusion models with scalable multi-view reconstructors. Current works further leverage 3D Gaussian Splatting as 3D representation for improved visual quality and rendering efficiency. However, we observe that existing Gaussian reconstruction models often suffer from multi-view inconsistency and blurred textures. We attribute this to the compromise of multi-view information propagation in favor of adopting powerful yet computationally intensive architectures (e.g., Transformers). To address this issue, we introduce MVGamba, a general and lightweight Gaussian reconstruction model featuring a multi-view Gaussian reconstructor based on the RNN-like State …

Centering Relevance In Information Literacy Teaching And Learning, Anne Jumonville Graf

Communications in Information Literacy

The process of determining whether a source of information is relevant is multidimensional, dynamic, and subjective. This essay puts information science scholarship on relevance, including the process and nature of making relevance judgments, in conversation with models of teaching and learning information literacy. Teaching librarians are encouraged to recognize students’ relevance judgments as sites of reflection and instruction. This essay suggests a variety of ways librarians might do this, from re-thinking source evaluation methods to emphasizing the opportunities available at the source selection stage. The process of determining relevance is a practical site of reflective possibility and deserves greater attention …

The Design And Implementation Of A Modular Tissue Engineering Test Bed To Pursue An Alternate Pathway Of Cell Culture Based Research, Ryley Patrick Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

The development of a Modular Automated Tissue Engineering Test Bed (MATETB) is the next step in the development of cheap and easily available in vitro cell regulatory systems for both academic and industrial purposes. This project outlined the framework and requirements for a device that could automatically regulate and collect data on a cell culture through the manipulation of its liquid environment. From this framework, a prototype was built. The device would fulfill cell culture needs while collecting data automatically and allowing for live viewing and imaging of cells. The device was comprised of a mechanical skeleton (MS), an environmental …

Thinking And Doing Beyond Science And Risk Communication As Mere Transmission, Inez Z. Ponce De Leon

Department of Communication Faculty Publications

I look back on my professional experience as both bench and social scientist, and examine my misun derstandings of science communication as a field, which were fueled by my ideologically-driven stance on the primacy of the bench sciences over all other fields of study. I begin with my work as a molecular biologist, continue with my socialization into the social sciences at the PhD level, and narrate my ex periences as a researcher attempting to break down the notion of science and risk communication as mere vessels for sharing scientific information. I do this by discussing my research findings, and …

Variation In Sorghum Aphid (Melanaphis Sorghi) 1 Populations Translates Into Life History Traits On Sorghum-Sudangrass (Sorghum´ Drummondii), Neetu Khanal, Christopher J. Vitek, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi; SA) (Theobald) is a new invasive pest of sorghum first reported in the USA in 2013. Since then, the use of synthetic pesticides and resistant cultivars have increased, which has caused levels of differences in the populations of SAs and led to the potential emergence of new biotype(s) of SA. However, most research has concentrated on comparing SA fed on sorghum, sugarcane, and other hosts, which may have obscured any population differences that may exist within sorghum. To understand this, we collected three populations of SA that fed on sorghum from three different locations around …