Digital Commons Network^™

Efficacy Of Novel Agents Against Cellular Models Of Familial Platelet Disorder With Myeloid Malignancy (Fpd-Mm), Christopher P Mill, Warren C Fiskus, Courtney D Dinardo, Patrick Reville, John A Davis, Christine E Birdwell, Kaberi Das, Hanxi Hou, Koichi Takahashi, Lauren Flores, Xinjia Ruan, Xiaoping Su, Sanam Loghavi, Joseph D Khoury, Kapil N Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Germline, mono-allelic mutations in RUNX1 cause familial platelet disorder (RUNX1-FPD) that evolves into myeloid malignancy (FPD-MM): MDS or AML. FPD-MM commonly harbors co-mutations in the second RUNX1 allele and/or other epigenetic regulators. Here we utilized patient-derived (PD) FPD-MM cells and established the first FPD-MM AML cell line (GMR-AML1). GMR-AML1 cells exhibited active super-enhancers of MYB, MYC, BCL2 and CDK6, augmented expressions of c-Myc, c-Myb, EVI1 and PLK1 and surface markers of AML stem cells. In longitudinally studied bone marrow cells from a patient at FPD-MM vs RUNX1-FPD state, we confirmed increased chromatin accessibility and mRNA expressions of MYB, MECOM and …

Aneuploid Embryonic Stem Cells Drive Teratoma Metastasis, Rong Xiao, Deshu Xu, Meili Zhang, Zhanghua Chen, Li Cheng, Songjie Du, Mingfei Lu, Tonghai Zhou, Ruoyan Li, Fan Bai, Yue Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aneuploidy, a deviation of the chromosome number from euploidy, is one of the hallmarks of cancer. High levels of aneuploidy are generally correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the causality of aneuploidy in cancer metastasis remains to be explored. Here we demonstrate that teratomas derived from aneuploid murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), but not from isogenic diploid ESCs, disseminated to multiple organs, for which no additional copy number variations were required. Notably, no cancer driver gene mutations were identified in any metastases. Aneuploid circulating teratoma cells were successfully isolated from peripheral blood and showed high capacities …

A Proposed Method For Quality Evaluation Of Covid-19 Reusable Face Mask, Mehrbakhsh Nilashi, Rabab Ali Abumalloh, Hossein Ahmadi, Mesfer Alrizq, Abdullah Alghamdi, Omar A. Alghamdi, Sultan Alyami

School of Nursing and Midwifery

During the time of COVID-19, the use of face masks has become an essential control and prevention measure. The wide usage of disposable face masks has presented a great challenge to governments to face the impact of plastic waste on humans health and the environment. The quality of reusable face masks was assessed in previous research based on general measures such as the fabric, size fit, arrival time, price, and convenience, and based on more-specific measures related to the number of layers and the included filters. However, as the quality of reusable face masks includes several other dimensions, the general …

Immune Response To Sars-Cov-2 Variants After Immunization With Different Vaccines In Mexico, Erika Garay, Sean P J Whelan, Rebecca M Dubois, Sara M O'Rourke, Angel Eduardo Salgado-Escobar, José Esteban Muñoz-Medina, Carlos F Arias, Susana López

2020-Current year OA Pubs

There is limited information on the antibody responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in subjects from developing countries with populations having a high incidence of co-morbidities. Here, we analysed the immunogenicity of homologous schemes using the ChAdOx1-S, Sputnik V, or BNT162b2 vaccines and the effect of a booster dose with ChAdOx1-S in middle-aged adults who were seropositive or seronegative to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein before vaccination. The study was conducted post-vaccination with a follow-up of 4 months for antibody titre using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and pseudovirus (PV) neutralization assays (PNAs). All three vaccines elicited a superior …

The Novel Phosphatase Nudt5 Is A Critical Regulator Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Growth, Jing Qian, Yanxia Ma, William M Tahaney, Cassandra L Moyer, Amanda Lanier, Jamal Hill, Darian Coleman, Negar Koupaei, Susan G Hilsenbeck, Michelle I Savage, Brent D G Page, Abhijit Mazumdar, Powel H Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The most aggressive form of breast cancer is triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), and does not have overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Treatment options for women with TNBC tumors are limited, unlike those with ER-positive tumors that can be treated with hormone therapy, or those with HER2-positive tumors that can be treated with anti-HER2 therapy. Therefore, we have sought to identify novel targeted therapies for TNBC. In this study, we investigated the potential of a novel phosphatase, NUDT5, as a potential therapeutic target …

Ectoine, From A Natural Bacteria Protectant To A New Treatment Of Dry Eye Disease, Xin Chen, Na Lin, Jin-Miao Li, Haixia Liu, Anmar Abu-Romman, Ebru Yaman, Fang Bian, Cintia S De Paiva, Stephen C Pflugfelder, De-Quan Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Ectoine, a novel natural osmoprotectant, protects bacteria living in extreme environments. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of ectoine for dry eye disease. An experimental dry eye model was created in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls (UT). DS mice were dosed topically with 0.5-2.0% of ectoine or a vehicle control. Corneal epithelial defects were detected via corneal smoothness and Oregon Green dextran (OGD) fluorescent staining. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were evaluated using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescent staining. Compared with UT mice, corneal epithelial defects were observed as corneal smoothness irregularities and strong …

Aducanumab Anti-Amyloid Immunotherapy Induces Sustained Microglial And Immune Alterations, Mika P Cadiz, Katelin A Gibson, Kennedi T Todd, David G Nascari, Nashali Massa, Meredith T Lilley, Kimberly C Olney, Md Mamun Al-Amin, Hong Jiang, David M Holtzman, John D Fryer

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Aducanumab, an anti-amyloid immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease, efficiently reduces Aβ, though its plaque clearance mechanisms, long-term effects, and effects of discontinuation are not fully understood. We assessed the effect of aducanumab treatment and withdrawal on Aβ, neuritic dystrophy, astrocytes, and microglia in the APP/PS1 amyloid mouse model. We found that reductions in amyloid and neuritic dystrophy during acute treatment were accompanied by microglial and astrocytic activation, and microglial recruitment to plaques and adoption of an aducanumab-specific pro-phagocytic and pro-degradation transcriptomic signature, indicating a role for microglia in aducanumab-mediated Aβ clearance. Reductions in Aβ and dystrophy were sustained 15 but not …

24 Conference Program - Advancing Manufacture Of Cell And Gene Therapies Viii, Fernanda Masri, Carolyn Yeago, Gargi Maheshwari, John Moscariello, Bryan Wang

Advancing Manufacture of Cell and Gene Therapies VIII

No abstract provided.

Keyboard Collaborative Arts Faculty Recital, Clara Cheng, Janet Kao, Esther Kim, Hye Young Kim, Mikhail Korzhev, Louise Thomas, Hannah Yi, Marc Callahan, Jenny Kim, Kyla Mccarrel, Emily Dyer Reed, Phillip Triggs

Printed Performance Programs (PDF Format)

No abstract provided.

I Spy: Factors Influencing The Observation Of Oxytetracycline In Calcified Structures Of Fishes Viewed Using Standard Light And Fluorescence Microscopy, Meredith B. Pfennig, Derek P. Crane, Nate G. Smith, Dave L. Buckmeier

Biology

The antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) is a fluorochrome marker, and fluorescence microscopy is used to view OTC marks in fishes' calcified structures. However, OTC marks have been observed in calcified structures using standard light microscopy for multiple species. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to investigate potential factors (i.e., season, total length of fish, growth rate, and sex) influencing the observation of OTC in calcified structures (otoliths and fin rays or spines) from channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, gray redhorse Moxostoma congestum, Guadalupe bass Mircopterus treculii, and redbreast sunfish Lepomis auritus viewed using standard light and fluorescence microscopy. OTC stains were not observed …

Emoji Use In Social Media Posts: Relationships With Personality Traits And Word Usage, Shelia Kennison, Kameryn Fritz, Maria Andrea Hurtado Morales, Eric Chan-Tin

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Prior research has demonstrated relationships between personality traits of social media users and the language used in their posts. Few studies have examined whether there are relationships between personality traits of users and how they use emojis in their social media posts. Emojis are digital pictographs used to express ideas and emotions. There are thousands of emojis, which depict faces with expressions, objects, animals, and activities. We conducted a study with two samples (n = 76 and n = 245) in which we examined how emoji use on X (formerly Twitter) related to users’ personality traits and language use …

Neuromodulation Techniques In Chronic Refractory Coccydynia: A Narrative Review, Richard Morgan

All Publications

Refractory coccydynia is a condition characterized by severe coccygeal pain and poses a challenging management dilemma for clinicians. Advancements in neuromodulation (NM) technology have provided benefits to people experiencing chronic pain that is resistant to standard treatments. This review aims to summarize the spectrum of current NM techniques employed in the treatment of refractory coccydynia along with their effectiveness. A review of studies in the scientific literature from 2012 to 2023 was conducted, revealing a limited number of case reports. Although the available evidence at this time suggests significant pain relief with the utilization of NM techniques, the limited scope …

Lyris Quartet, Lyris Quartet

Printed Performance Programs (PDF Format)

No abstract provided.

Development Of Yoghurt Incorporated With Beetroot Puree And Its Effect On The Physicochemical Properties And Consumer Acceptance, Mercia Lionel Adjei, Abena Boakye, Godwin Deku, Nana Baah Pepra-Ameyaw, Antoinette Simpah Anim Jnr, Ibok Nsa Oduro, William Otoo Ellis

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Yoghurt is one of the most popularly consumed fermented products which provides several nutritional benefits. Yoghurt products often include flavour and colour additives however, growing awareness of the risks associated with synthetic food additives has necessitated the need to explore more natural colour and flavour as food additives.

Methods

This study evaluated the effect of beetroot puree as flavouring and colourant in yoghurt production and quality. To develop the yoghurt product, incubation time and proportion of beetroot puree were optimized based on the resulting pH, titratable acidity, colour, and viscosity using response surface methods.

Results

Optimum yoghurt formulations were …

Honest Signalling Of Age In A Territorial Breeder, Brian A. Hoover, Walter H. Piper

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Age often indicates phenotypic quality, ecological experience or social status in animals. Consequently, behavioural signals in territorial animals that accurately convey age to potential mates or rivals might provide useful information for both signaller and receiver about the likelihood of aggression. We tested whether male territorial yodels convey information about age in the common loon, Gavia immer. Using a sample of male loons of known age, we found that the dominant frequency of Fintro3, a dominant syllable in the beginning sequence of a male yodel, increases strongly with age, but we were unable to replicate an earlier finding linking …

Upper Helical Reconstruction During Aesthetic Facelift Procedure: A Case Report, Zachary N. Goldberg, David S. Goldberg

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

We present a case of a two-stage reconstruction of a traumatic right upper helix deformity using a random pattern layover skin flap in conjunction with an aesthetic facelift procedure. This serves to encourage reconstructive surgeons to be mindful about seeking opportunities to address additional patient concerns when appropriate and safe.

Effects Of Hemiparasites In Grassland Restorations Are Not Universal, Anna Scheidel, Victoria Borowicz

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Root hemiparasites infiltrate the vascular tissue of host roots to acquire water and nutrients, which often reduces host growth. Hemiparasites are postulated to be keystone species in grassland communities if they suppress dominant species and increase plant community biodiversity, and ecosystem engineers if they increase nutrient accessibility for surrounding species. We examined keystone effects by evaluating species richness and evenness in 1 m2 plots in a recent prairie restoration where Castilleja sessiliflora was naturally present or absent, and in a longer-established prairie restoration with or without Pedicularis canadensis. We examined ecosystem engineer effects by determining nitrate and phosphate concentrations …

Visual Methods For Qualitative Research With Older Refugees: Reflection On Strengths And Drawbacks, Prince Chiagozie Ekoh, Christine A. Walsh

The Qualitative Report

Although older refugees have similar characteristics and vulnerabilities as other populations that have benefited from visual research methods, there is scarce evidence of these methods being used for qualitative social work studies with older refugees. In this article, we discuss the application of visual methods for social work research with older refugees for a better understanding of their experiences and challenges, highlighting how it can be evocative, improve discussions by reaching senses that ordinary interviews cannot grasp, avoid re-traumatisation during research, and build resilience and coping in older refugees. We propose that visual methods could address power dynamics that privilege …

Gestational Diabetes Augments Group B Streptococcus Infection By Disrupting Maternal Immunity And The Vaginal Microbiota, Vicki Mercado-Evans, Marlyd E Mejia, Jacob J Zulk, Samantha Ottinger, Zainab A Hameed, Camille Serchejian, Madelynn G Marunde, Clare M Robertson, Mallory B Ballard, Simone H Ruano, Natalia Korotkova, Anthony R Flores, Kathleen A Pennington, Kathryn A Patras

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pervasive perinatal pathogen, yet factors driving GBS dissemination in utero are poorly defined. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a complication marked by dysregulated immunity and maternal microbial dysbiosis, increases risk for GBS perinatal disease. Using a murine GDM model of GBS colonization and perinatal transmission, we find that GDM mice display greater GBS in utero dissemination and subsequently worse neonatal outcomes. Dual-RNA sequencing reveals differential GBS adaptation to the GDM reproductive tract, including a putative glycosyltransferase (yfhO), and altered host responses. GDM immune disruptions include reduced uterine natural killer cell activation, impaired recruitment to placentae, …

Revision Of The Genus Olivierus In Xinjiang, China, With Comments On Mesobuthus Thersites (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Victoria Tang, Zhenbang Liu, Matthew R. Graham, Victor Fet, František Kovařík, František Šťáhlavský

Euscorpius

The genus Olivierus Farzanpay, 1987 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, is revised based on recently collected topotypes and other populations from 12 localities. Brief differential diagnoses are provided, with colored illustrations and photos in vivo habitus, emphasizing the key characters. Chinese appellations, conservation status, and documentation of behavior and post-envenomation symptoms are also included. Only two species are now recognized for this genus in Xinjiang: O. longichelus (Sun & Zhu, 2010) and O. przewalskii (Birula, 1897), based on both morphological and molecular evidence. The two species exhibit extensive distribution in Xinjiang (China) while also occurring in adjacent countries. Three …

Learning Science With Arts-Integrated Lessons: Student Experiences, Oliver Ellis, Lorraine C. Schmertzing, Richard Schmertzing

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Using a narrative approach (Clandinin & Connelly, 2004; Kim, 2016) to collect stories and explore the meaning six fine arts school graduates found in their arts-integrated learning (AIL) experiences in their science classes, vignettes (Seidman, 2019) of participants were developed to tell their stories and maintain the context (Maxwell & Miller, 2008) of their unique experiences while coding and categorizing strategies were used during data analysis to construct four themes that ran across participant experiences. Themes focused were supported by participants’ qualitative data (Maxwell, 2013) that were gathered using Seidman’s (2019) three-phase interview series and analyzed using Saldaña’s (2015) in …

Graduate School Newsletter Winter 2023-2204, Sandra Spiroff, Martha C. Helms

Newsletters of the Graduate School

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Vaccine And Survival Of Diabetes Patient On Dialysis, Luis Guillermo De Jesús Iii Vega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Nlgn4x Tcr Transgenic T Cells To Treat Gliomas., Christoper Krämer, Michael Kilian, Yu-Chan Chih, Alexandros Kourtesakis, Dirk C Hoffmann, Tamara Boschert, Philipp Koopmann, Khwab Sanghvi, Alice De Roia, Stefanie Jung, Kristine Jähne, Bryan Day, Leonard D. Shultz, Miriam Ratliff, Richard Harbottle, Edward W Green, Rainer Will, Wolfgang Wick, Michael Platten, Lukas Bunse

Faculty Research 2024

BACKGROUND: Neuroligin 4 X-linked (NLGN4X) harbors a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02-restricted tumor-associated antigen, overexpressed in human gliomas, that was found to induce specific cytotoxic T cell responses following multi-peptide vaccination in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

METHODS: T cell receptor (TCR) discovery was performed using droplet-based single-cell TCR sequencing of NLGN4X-tetramer-sorted T cells postvaccination. The identified TCR was delivered to Jurkat T cells and primary human T cells (NLGN4X-TCR-T). Functional profiling of NLGN4X-TCR-T was performed by flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays. Therapeutic efficacy of intracerebroventricular NLGN4X-TCR-T was assessed in NOD scid gamma (NSG) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I/II knockout (KO) …

Left Ventricle Function And Post-Transcriptional Events With Exercise Training In Pigs, Stephanie L. Samani, Shayne C. Barlow, Lisa A. Freeburg, Traci L. Jones, Marlee Poole, Mark A. Sarzynski Ph.D., Faha, Facsm, Michael R. Zile, Tarek Shazly, Francis G. Spinale

Faculty Publications

Background

Standardized exercise protocols have been shown to improve overall cardiovascular fitness, but direct effects on left ventricular (LV) function, particularly diastolic function and relation to post-transcriptional molecular pathways (microRNAs (miRs)) are poorly understood. This project tested the central hypothesis that adaptive LV remodeling resulting from a large animal exercise training protocol, would be directly associated with specific miRs responsible for regulating pathways relevant to LV myocardial stiffness and geometry.

Methods and results

Pigs (n = 9; 25 Kg) underwent a 4 week exercise training protocol (10 degrees elevation, 2.5 mph, 10 min, 5 days/week) whereby LV chamber stiffness (KC) …

Volume Cxliii, Number 12, February 2, 2024, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Oystershell Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) Population Growth, Spread, And Phenology On Aspen In Arizona, Usa, Connor D. Crouch, Richard W. Hofstetter, Amanda M. Grady, Nylah N.S. Edwards, Kristen M. Waring

Aspen Bibliography

Oystershell scale (OSS; Lepidosaphes ulmi L.) is an invasive insect that threatens sustainability of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the southwestern United States. OSS invasions have created challenges for land managers tasked with maintaining healthy aspen ecosystems for the ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits they provide. Active management is required to suppress OSS populations and mitigate damage to aspen ecosystems, but before management strategies can be implemented, critical knowledge gaps about OSS biology and ecology must be filled. This study sought to fill these gaps by addressing 3 questions: (i) What is the short-term rate of aspen mortality in …

Fiber-Based Speckle Contrast Optical Tomography In Humans, Chen-Hao Lin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is an important biomarker for indicating many brain diseases, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury. Therefore, the development of real-time CBF measures in the clinic is desired, and many techniques have been developed to measure CBF. However, the current standard techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET), arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI), and computed tomography (CT) perfusion are limited to the high instrument cost, massive size, and the requirement of ionizing radiation, and thus are not able to map CBF at the bedside. Furthermore, these techniques offer only snapshots due to scanner logistics. An …

Food And Mood: The Correlation Between Vitamin B12 And Folate Intake And Depression, Jana Soucar, Hawley Almstedt

Honors Thesis

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that metabolizes homocysteine, which is a potentially neurotoxic molecule when in excess. Folate is a B vitamin that is essential to the production of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain. Studies show that a deficiency in vitamin B12, as well as folate, may be associated with mental health conditions. Additionally, the prevalence of depression is higher in college students than other demographic populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between vitamin B12 and folate intake with signs and symptoms of depression in college students. METHODS: This …

Targeting Alk Averts Ribonuclease 1-Induced Immunosuppression And Enhances Antitumor Immunity In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Chunxiao Liu, Chenhao Zhou, Weiya Xia, Yifan Zhou, Yufan Qiu, Jialei Weng, Qiang Zhou, Wanyong Chen, Ying-Nai Wang, Heng-Huan Lee, Shao-Chun Wang, Ming Kuang, Dihua Yu, Ning Ren, Mien-Chie Hung

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tumor-secreted factors contribute to the development of a microenvironment that facilitates the escape of cancer cells from immunotherapy. In this study, we conduct a retrospective comparison of the proteins secreted by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in responders and non-responders among a cohort of ten patients who received Nivolumab (anti-PD-1 antibody). Our findings indicate that non-responders have a high abundance of secreted RNase1, which is associated with a poor prognosis in various cancer types. Furthermore, mice implanted with HCC cells that overexpress RNase1 exhibit immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments and diminished response to anti-PD-1 therapy. RNase1 induces the polarization of macrophages towards a …