Digital Commons Network^™

Targeting Dendritic Cell Dysfunction To Circumvent Anti-Pd1 Resistance In Head And Neck Cancer, Shin Saito, Michihisa Kono, Hoang C B Nguyen, Ann Marie Egloff, Cameron Messier, Patrick Lizotte, Cloud Paweletz, Douglas Adkins, Ravindra Uppaluri

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant anti-PD1 (aPD1) therapies are being explored in surgically resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Encouraging responses have been observed, but further insights into the mechanisms underlying resistance and approaches to improve responses are needed.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We integrated data from syngeneic mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) models and neoadjuvant pembrolizumab HNSCC patient tumor RNA-sequencing data to explore the mechanism of aPD1 resistance. Tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes (DLN) from MOC models were analyzed for antigen-specific priming. CCL5 expression was enforced in an aPD1-resistant model.

RESULTS: An aPD1-resistant mouse model showed poor priming in the tumor DLN due …

Architects Of Influence: Pioneers Who Shaped Today's Architecture, Carlynn Olinger

University Honors College

Architecture is a world that many people take advantage of and don’t understand the complexity behind it. There are many people in history who made a path for the way the world functions today, some of these people are architects. There are five men specifically: Antoni Gaudi, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Meis Van Der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Louis Kahn, who pioneered the way for technology, education, aesthetics, and functionality of architecture. By researching we can learn who they were, what they did, and how they did it. Each one of these architects had different struggles, goals, backgrounds, and ideas. …

Development And Characterization Of A Low Intensity Vibrational System For Microgravity Studies, Omor Khan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The advent of extended-duration human spaceflight demands a better comprehension of the physiological impacts of microgravity. One primary concern is the adverse impact on the musculoskeletal system, including muscle atrophy and bone density reduction. Ground-based microgravity simulations have provided insights, with vibrational bioreactors emerging as potential mitigators of these negative effects. Despite the potential they have, the adaptation of vibrational bioreactors for space remains unfulfilled, resulting in a significant gap in microgravity research. This paper introduces the first automated low-intensity vibrational (LIV) bioreactor designed specifically for the International Space Station (ISS) environment. Our research covers the bioreactor's design and characterization, …

Key Variants Via The Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project Whole Genome Sequence Data, Yanbing Wang, Chloé Sarnowski, Honghuang Lin, Achilleas N Pitsillides, Nancy L Heard-Costa, Seung Hoan Choi, Dongyu Wang, Joshua C Bis, Elizabeth E Blue, Eric Boerwinkle, Philip L De Jager, Myriam Fornage, Ellen M Wijsman, Sudha Seshadri, Josée Dupuis, Gina M Peloso, Anita L Destefano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) but did not identify specific causal genes or variants within those loci. Analysis of whole genome sequence (WGS) data, which interrogates the entire genome and captures rare variations, may identify causal variants within GWAS loci.

METHODS: We performed single common variant association analysis and rare variant aggregate analyses in the pooled population (N cases = 2184, N controls = 2383) and targeted analyses in subpopulations using WGS data from the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP). The analyses were restricted to variants within 100 kb of 83 previously …

Application Of Microphytes For Soil Reclamation, Lalit Saini, Hina Upadhyay, Arindam Chakraborty

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

Microphytes incorporate several characteristics that are becoming increasingly important in a complex farming setting and the process of land reclamation. Microalgae/microphytes boost soil productivity and structure by adding minerals and improving microbial soil quality metrics and nutrient cycling. Protecting plants from disease, producing phytohormones and other bioactive compounds, and associating with plant roots are the ways through which microalgae contribute to plant development. These results are significant as they could lead to further advancements in the discovery of substances that can boost growth or the development of crops that do not need nitrogen. Microalgae have massive untapped capabilities as natural …

Identification Of The Phosphatase Nudt5 As A Target For The Treatment Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Jing Qian

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer, characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression, as well as the lack of overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Unlike ER-positive and HER2-positive tumors that can be treated with hormone therapy or HER2-targeted treatment, respectively, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a challenge with limited treatment alternatives for affected women. The currently FDA-approved systemic regimens for TNBC patients remain as conventional chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors (only applicable for a subset of BRCA-mutated TNBC patients). Consequently, our …

Synthesis, Characterization , Thermal Studies And Antioxidant Activities Of Transition Metal Complexes With Azo Dye Ligand, Amnah Mahdi Abdullah, Abbas Ali Salih Al-Hamdani

Baghdad Science Journal

Diazotization reaction between 1-(2,4,6-Trihydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone and diazonium salts was carried out resulting in ligand 4-(3-Acetyl-2,4,6-trihydroxy-phenylazo)-N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, this in turn reacted with the next metal ions (V4+ , Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+) forming stable complexes with unique geometries such as (Octahedral for both Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+ ,squar pyramidal for V4+). The creation of such complexes was detected by employing spectroscopic means involving ultraviolet-visible which proved the obtained geometries, fourier transfer proved the formation of azo group and and the coordination with metal ion through it. Pyrolysis (TGA & DSC) studies proved the coordination of water residues with metal ions inside …

Biotinylated Protein Capture And Tween-20 Assisted Exosome Isolations Via Capillary Chanelled Polymer Fiber, Md Khalid Bin Islam

All Theses

In the past two decades, Marcus and colleagues have led the advancement of capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fiber stationary phases for biomacromolecule separations, including proteins and nanovesicles. These stationary phases offer notable advantages, including low cost ($5/column), straightforward column fabrication, and the capacity for on-column surface modification, enabling high chemical selectivity. This study examines a C-CP fiber modification strategy for capturing target proteins and develops a Tween-20-assisted C-CP-based hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) method for the isolation and quantification of exosomes from human urine.

The quest for higher-throughput and cost-effective protein isolation techniques remains a key focus in a variety of end …

​Behavioral, Physiological, And Circadian Effects Of Constant Light On Bling C3h/Hen And C3h/Hej, Samantha G. Burke

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Circadian disruptions are quite detrimental to one’s health- leading to many different diseases. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) (center of regulation of the circadian clock) can perceive light from the retina, allowing the SCN to register cues such as light to aid in regulating the biological clock. Due to this connection constant light is a common disruption, which can cause increased hyperactivity, anxiety, and altered circadian rhythm in mice. This study’s purpose is to determine how two rhodopsin lacking blind sub-strains of C3H mice respond to constant light regarding their behavior, physiology, and their circadian clock, as well as investigating any …

Direct Implantation Of Patient Brain Tumor Cells Into Matching Locations In Mouse Brains For Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Model Development, Lin Qi, Patricia Baxter, Mari Kogiso, Huiyuan Zhang, Frank K Braun, Holly Lindsay, Sibo Zhao, Sophie Xiao, Aalaa Sanad Abdallah, Milagros Suarez, Zilu Huang, Wan Yee Teo, Litian Yu, Xiumei Zhao, Zhigang Liu, Yulun Huang, Jack M Su, Tsz-Kwong Man, Ching C Lau, Laszlo Perlaky, Yuchen Du, Xiao-Nan Li

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Despite multimodality therapies, the prognosis of patients with malignant brain tumors remains extremely poor. One of the major obstacles that hinders development of effective therapies is the limited availability of clinically relevant and biologically accurate (CRBA) mouse models.

Methods: We have developed a freehand surgical technique that allows for rapid and safe injection of fresh human brain tumor specimens directly into the matching locations (cerebrum, cerebellum, or brainstem) in the brains of SCID mice.

Results: Using this technique, we successfully developed 188 PDOX models from 408 brain tumor patient samples (both high-and low-grade) with a success rate of 72.3% …

Human Papillomavirus And Associated Cancers: A Review, Janiese E Jensen, Greta L Becker, J Brooks Jackson, Mary B Rysavy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. Most HPV infections clear spontaneously within 2 years of infection; however, persistent infection can result in a wide array of diseases, ranging from genital warts to cancer. Most cases of cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers are due to HPV infection, with cervical cancer being one of the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide. Screening is available for HPV and cervical cancer, but is not available everywhere, particularly in lower-resource settings. HPV infection disproportionally affects individuals living with HIV, resulting in decreased clearance, increased development of …

2024 Lynn University Student Research Symposium, Lynn University

Student Research Symposium Programs

2024 Lynn University Student Research Symposium Program

Analyzing Drosophila Melanogaster Circadian Rhythms Using Dam3 And Shiny-R Analysis, Maria Eduarda Couto Dourado, Kimberly D. Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Circadian rhythms are changes in behavior over a 24-hour period, that most animals experience. Light and darkness have the biggest influence on the behavior change. (U.S. DHHS). Flies reared in dark environments even more than 300 generations still have circadian rhythms (reference). This study analyzes data from the DAM, which allows us to study circadian rhythms in flies after various treatments and conditionings. Flies exposed to a dark environment for a week after two treatments were analyzed for any changes to their normal patterns. Comprehending the circadian rhythms of Drosophila is essential for grasping the molecular and genetic foundations of …

Student Research Symposium Schedule 2024, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Student Research Symposium 2024 (Archived)

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Social Media Usage, Loneliness, And Mindfulness In College Students, Edward Cook

Liberty University Research Week

In recent years, both social media usage and loneliness have been increasing for young adults. While previous work has revealed a relationship between social media usage and loneliness among young adults, the purpose of the current study is to examine if mindfulness mediates this relationship and if different types of social media engagement moderate this relationship. We hypothesize that higher social media usage will be related to higher loneliness, which will be mediated by lower mindfulness, and that specific types of social media engagement will moderate the relationship between higher social media usage and higher loneliness. Participants will complete a …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Polymeric Nanoparticles To Enhance Celleullar Drug Delivery, Rahma Aly

Chemistry Theses

Medicines in the form of nanoparticles called nanomedicines, stand at the forefront of revolutionary advancements in healthcare, offering precise drug delivery and diagnostic capabilities. A recent example of nanomedicine in the clinic is the COVID-19 vaccine, which helped prevent death during the pandemic. While the potential benefits are immense, a myriad of challenges complicate their seamless integration into clinical practice. The design and fabrication of nanoparticles demand meticulous attention to biocompatibility and toxicity. Interactions with biological systems are complex, requiring a delicate balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety. The reticuloendothelial system's rapid clearance of nanoparticles, their instability in physiological environments, …

Deparylation Is Critical For S Phase Progression And Cell Survival, Litong Nie, Chao Wang, Min Huang, Xiaoguang Liu, Xu Feng, Mengfan Tang, Siting Li, Qinglei Hang, Hongqi Teng, Xi Shen, Li Ma, Boyi Gan, Junjie Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Poly(ADP-ribose)ylation or PARylation by PAR polymerase 1 (PARP1) and dePARylation by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) are equally important for the dynamic regulation of DNA damage response. PARG, the most active dePARylation enzyme, is recruited to sites of DNA damage via pADPr-dependent and PCNA-dependent mechanisms. Targeting dePARylation is considered an alternative strategy to overcome PARP inhibitor resistance. However, precisely how dePARylation functions in normal unperturbed cells remains elusive. To address this challenge, we conducted multiple CRISPR screens and revealed that dePARylation of S phase pADPr by PARG is essential for cell viability. Loss of dePARylation activity initially induced S-phase-specific pADPr signaling, which …

A Compendium Of Multi-Omics Data Illuminating Host Responses To Lethal Human Virus Infections, Amie J Eisfeld, Larissa B Thackray, Qing Tan, Michael S Diamond, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Human infections caused by viral pathogens trigger a complex gamut of host responses that limit disease, resolve infection, generate immunity, and contribute to severe disease or death. Here, we present experimental methods and multi-omics data capture approaches representing the global host response to infection generated from 45 individual experiments involving human viruses from the Orthomyxoviridae, Filoviridae, Flaviviridae, and Coronaviridae families. Analogous experimental designs were implemented across human or mouse host model systems, longitudinal samples were collected over defined time courses, and global multi-omics data (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics) were acquired by microarray, RNA sequencing, or mass spectrometry analyses. For …

Integrated Multiscale Mechano-Biological Study Of Lung And Liver Tissues, Hugh Xiao

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Tissues and bodily fluids undergo continuous changes as a natural life cycle process. Extracellular matrices (ECMs), which provide structural and biochemical support for the cells, and extracellular fluids (ECFs), which transport nutrients, oxygen, and waste products, exhibit several mechanical properties that can impact cell behaviors. These properties include, for example, fibrillar alignment, density, and stiffness of ECMs, and osmolarity and viscosity of ECFs. These mechano-biological cues can impact cell behaviors and change tissue landscapes. Fibrosis is known for thickened extracellular matrix, which involves many changes in mechanical properties of extracellular environment. There is much to be explored as to how …

Antioxidant Properties And Aldose Reductase Inhibitory Potency Of Viscum Album L. Extracts: Experimental And Computational Insights, Bilal Akyüz, Bülent Şengül

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study systematically investigates the antioxidant capacity and inhibitory impact of Viscum album L. plant extracts on the aldose reductase (AR) enzyme through a combined approach of in vitro and in silico methods. Various sections derived from distinct plant parts were examined, revealing potent inhibitory potential. Notably, the methanol extract sourced from the plant's stem displayed remarkable efficacy with an IC50 value of 0.156 µM. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity analyses were conducted, highlighting variations across plant parts and solvent types. Qualitative and quantitative phenolic compounds content in the extracts was also elucidated by LC-MS/MS analysis and it was …

Effect Of Lunar Magnetic Field And Lunar Regolith Simulant On The Growth And Bioactive Compounds Production Of Chlorella Vulgaris Microalgae, Jeries Philip Butros Abedrabbo

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Since humans last went to the moon on the Apollo missions, there has been a fascination with inhabiting and colonizing other planetary objects, starting with the Earth’s Moon, Mars, and recently Jupiter’s moon, Europa. However, there is still lack of knowledge and science behind many of the extraterrestrial environmental effects on biological organisms living on Earth. Therefore, there is a need to study how such environments would affect these organisms. Moreover, how can we attain sustainable living in such environments as well through self-providing life support systems (LSS), without the need to provide for additional necessities back and forth from …

Synthesis, Characterization And Bioactivity Evaluation For Some Metal Ions Complexes With New Ligand Derived From 2-Hydroxy-1- Napthaldehyed, Andy Mohammed Abd-Alaziz, Abbas Ali Salih Al-Hamdani, Waleed Ali Mahmmoud, Zinah Hazim Abdulraheem

Baghdad Science Journal

The newly synthesized Schiff base ligand (E)-2-((2-phenylhydrazono)methyl)naphthalen-1-ol (phenyl hydrazine derivative), is allowed to react with each of the next mineral ion: Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+andCd2+successfully resulting to obtain new metal complexes with different geometric shape. The formation of Schiff base complexes and also the origin Schiff base is indicated using LC-Mass that manifest the obtained molar mass, FT-IR proved the occurrence of coordination through N of azobenzene and O of OH by observing the shifting in azomethines band and appearing of M-N and N-O bands. Moreover, we can also detect by such apparatus, the presence of aquatic water molecule inside the …

Fluorescence Microscopy With Deep Uv, Near Uv, And Visible Excitation For In Situ Detection Of Microorganisms, Noel Case, Nikki Johnston, Jay Nadeau

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We report a simple, inexpensive design of a fluorescence microscope with light-emitting diode (LED) excitation for detection of labeled and unlabeled microorganisms in mineral substrates. The use of deep UV (DUV) excitation with visible emission requires no specialized optics or slides and can be implemented easily and inexpensively using an oblique illumination geometry. DUV excitation (<280 >nm) is preferable to near UV (365 nm) for avoidance of mineral autofluorescence. When excited with DUV, unpigmented bacteria show two emission peaks: one in the near UV ∼320 nm, corresponding to proteins, and another peak in the blue to green range, corresponding to …

Cytogenetic And Molecular Associations With Outcomes In Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treated With Hypomethylating Agents Plus Venetoclax, Alexandre Bazinet, Sai Prasad Desikan, Ziyi Li, Juan Jose Rodriguez-Sevilla, Sangeetha Venugopal, Samuel Urrutia, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, Koji Sasaki, Kelly S Chien, Danielle Hammond, Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna, Irene Ganan-Gomez, Tapan M Kadia, Gautam Borthakur, Courtney D Dinardo, Naval G Daver, Elias J Jabbour, Farhad Ravandi, Hagop Kantarjian, Guillermo Garcia-Manero

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Hypomethylating agents (HMA) combined with venetoclax are an emerging therapeutic strategy for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS). The cytogenetic and molecular factors associated with outcomes with this combination for HR-MDS are incompletely understood.

Experimental design: We pooled patient data from 3 prospective trials evaluating HMA-venetoclax in HR-MDS to study associations between cytogenetic and molecular factors and overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and event-free survival (EFS). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate time-to-event endpoints. Univariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression (for ORR) or the Cox proportional hazards model (for OS and EFS) were used to identify associations …

The Role Of Alkbh1 In The Epigenetic Regulation Of Extraembryonic Development And Early Embryogenesis, Myles Harris Alderman Iii

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Successful embryogenesis requires regulated and organized stem cell differentiation from the very first cell fate decision through terminal differentiation of daughter cells within tissues. A key regulatory mechanism of stem cell differentiation and cellular identity is epigenetic regulation, whereby sequence-preserving modifications to individual bases of DNA and histone-modifications work in concert to regulate nucleosome deposition and chromatin accessibility. The past several decades of stem cell and epigenetics research have uncovered a complex regulatory environment during placental development that is not only necessary for the propagation of any mammalian species or individual, but approximates that of malignant disease. Studying the basic …

A Comprehensive Review On Solenostemma Argel (Del.) Hayne, An Egyptian Medicinal Plant, Essam Abdel-Sattar, Riham A. El-Shiekh

Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy Cairo University

Solenostemma argel (Del.) Hayne, commonly known as Arghel or Hargal, is a desert plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae. It has been used in traditional medicine in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Sudan, where it is the primary source. The review is aimed at providing a comprehensive report on Solenostemma argel (Del.) Hayne, including its botanical identification and description, geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytoconstituents, and pharmacological and toxicological properties. A professional search in the available literature was performed through several databases. The search was performed using the following keywords: Solenostemma argel, Argel, chemical structures, biological effects, …

The Quest For A Sensitive And Accurate Flash Radiation Model: Whole Abdominal Irradiation And Real Time Dosimetry, Noah J G Daniel

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the US, and more than 50% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy (RT), often in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. However, the fundamental limit on radiotherapy treatment efficacy is normal tissue tolerance. One potential way to overcome this limitation is through ultra-high dose rate radiation (FLASH RT). Compared to conventional radiotherapy (CONV RT), FLASH RT has been shown to be just as damaging to cancerous tissue but far more sparing of healthy tissue.

However, clinical translation of FLASH research has been obstructed by the failure of many labs to …

Gut Microbiota Composition Is Associated With The Efficacy Of Delta-24-Rgdox In Malignant Gliomas, Natalie M Meléndez-Vázquez, Teresa T Nguyen, Xuejun Fan, Andrés R López-Rivas, Juan Fueyo, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Filipa Godoy-Vitorino

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor, has a 6.8% survival rate 5 years post diagnosis. Our team developed an oncolytic adenovirus with an OX-40L expression cassette named Delta-24-RGDOX. While studies have revealed the interaction between the gut microbiota and immunotherapy agents, there are no studies linking the gut microbiota with viroimmunotherapy efficacy. We hypothesize that gut bacterial signatures will be associated with oncolytic viral therapy efficacy. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the changes in gut microbiota in two mouse cohorts: (1) GSC-005 glioblastoma-bearing mice treated orally with indoximod, an immunotherapeutic agent, or with Delta-24-RGDOX by intratumoral injection and …

Gut Microbiota Composition Is Associated With The Efficacy Of Delta-24-Rgdox In Malignant Gliomas, Natalie M Meléndez-Vázquez, Teresa T Nguyen, Xuejun Fan, Andrés R López-Rivas, Juan Fueyo, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Filipa Godoy-Vitorino

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor, has a 6.8% survival rate 5 years post diagnosis. Our team developed an oncolytic adenovirus with an OX-40L expression cassette named Delta-24-RGDOX. While studies have revealed the interaction between the gut microbiota and immunotherapy agents, there are no studies linking the gut microbiota with viroimmunotherapy efficacy. We hypothesize that gut bacterial signatures will be associated with oncolytic viral therapy efficacy. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the changes in gut microbiota in two mouse cohorts: (1) GSC-005 glioblastoma-bearing mice treated orally with indoximod, an immunotherapeutic agent, or with Delta-24-RGDOX by intratumoral injection and …

Controlled Release Of Radioactive Water From The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: Should We Be Concerned?, Maria F. Ferreira, Andrew Turner, Awadhesh N. Jha

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, the decision to release more than 1 million tons of radioactive water into the ocean by the Japanese government, with approval from the IAEA, has divided public and scientific opinion. The discharge began on August 24, 2023, with the premise that, after removal of long-lived radionuclides (i.e., 137Cs and 90Sr), tritium (3H), the primary remaining radionuclide as tritiated water (HTO), will be sufficiently and safely diluted over a 30-year period. (1) Concerns, however, relate to (a) the safety of seafood and its consumers and (b) potential long-term consequences on human and environmental …