Digital Commons Network^™

Hydrolysis Of The Acetyl-Coa Allosteric Activator By Staphylococcus Aureus Pyruvate Carboxylase, Amanda J. Laseke, Jeremy R. Lohman, Martin St. Maurice

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) catalyzes the carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate which serves as an important anaplerotic reaction to replenish citric acid cycle intermediates. In most organisms, the PC-catalyzed reaction is allosterically activated by acetyl-coenzyme A. It has previously been reported that vertebrate PC can catalyze the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA, offering a potential means for the enzyme to attenuate its allosteric activation. However, in the years since this initial report, there has been no further investigation of this phenomenon. The allosteric binding site for acetyl-CoA is now well characterized, enabling more detailed studies on acetyl-CoA hydrolysis at the allosteric site. Here, …

High Shear Stress Reduces Erg Causing Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition And Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Tsutomu Shinohara, Jan-Renier Moonen, Yoon Hong Chun, Yannick C. Lee-Yow, Kenichi Okamura, Jason M. Szafron, Jordan Kaplan, Aiqin Cao, Lingli Wang, Weiguang Yang

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: Computational modeling indicated that pathological high shear stress (HSS; 100 dyn/cm2) is generated in pulmonary arteries (PAs; 100-500 µm) in congenital heart defects causing PA hypertension (PAH) and in idiopathic PAH with occlusive vascular remodeling. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a feature of PAH. We hypothesize that HSS induces EndMT, contributing to the initiation and progression of PAH.

Methods: We used the Ibidi perfusion system to determine whether HSS applied to human PA endothelial cells (ECs) induces EndMT when compared with physiological laminar shear stress (15 dyn/cm2). The mechanism was investigated and targeted to prevent PAH in a mouse with …

Ags3-Based Optogenetic Gdi Induces Gpcr-Independent Gβγ Signalling And Macrophage Migration, Waruna Thotamune, Sithurandi Ubeysinghe, Chathuri Rajarathna, Dinesh Kankanamge, Koshala Olupothage, Aditya Chandu, Bryan A Copits, Ajith Karunarathne

2020-Current year OA Pubs

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are efficient guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and exchange GDP to GTP on the Gα subunit of G-protein heterotrimers in response to various extracellular stimuli, including neurotransmitters and light. GPCRs primarily broadcast signals through activated G proteins, GαGTP and free Gβγ and are major disease drivers. Evidence shows that the ambient low threshold signalling required for cells is likely supplemented by signalling regulators such as non-GPCR GEFs and guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). Activators of G-protein signalling 3 (AGS3) are recognized as a GDI involved in multiple health and disease-related processes. Nevertheless, understanding of AGS3 is limited, …

Rapid And Scalable Personalized Aso Screening In Patient-Derived Organoids., John C. Means, Anabel L. Martinez-Bengochea, Daniel A. Louiselle, Jacqelyn Nemechek, John M. Perry, Emily G. Farrow, Tomi Pastinen, Scott T. Younger

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Personalized antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have achieved positive results in the treatment of rare genetic disease. As clinical sequencing technologies continue to advance, the ability to identify patients with rare disease harbouring pathogenic genetic variants amenable to this therapeutic strategy will probably improve. Here we describe a scalable platform for generating patient-derived cellular models and demonstrate that these personalized models can be used for preclinical evaluation of patient-specific ASOs. We describe protocols for delivery of ASOs to patient-derived organoid models and confirm reversal of disease-associated phenotypes in cardiac organoids derived from a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with a structural …

Dubai’S Future Mobility: Systems Thinking & Scenarios, Mohammed Mazloum Hanafy

Theses

Transportation is one of the essential pillars of any smart city. The future of transportation in Dubai faces enormous hurdles in urban mobility, including a growing population density, congestion, and environmental issues. Without careful planning and policy actions, these problems would certainly worsen in the future. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate the future of urban mobility in Dubai and to suggest solutions for constructing a sustainable, efficient, and equitable transportation system by employing future foresight tools. Dubai has emerged in recent years as a global center for technological innovation, altering its built environment and reevaluating its …

Revolutionizing The System: Designing A Safe Order Of Protection Mediation Program, Sabrina Saint-Marc

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Consider a situation where an African American man, Tony, residing in a rural southern jurisdiction, holds an order of protection against his partner, John, who is also an African American man. Furthermore, the presiding judge, an elderly white man, was known for denying orders of protection even when sought by white women, which creates an atmosphere where seeking court intervention might result in embarrassment and judgment for the client. This embarrassment and judgment stems from the stereotypes that mostly people who have engaged in criminal behavior belong in court; additionally, survivors experience shame about why they are appearing before a …

Time To Redress® Hazing: Changing The Way Universities Deal With Hazing Claims And Allegations, Katie Miles

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Every year, excited eighteen-year-olds step foot on a college campus ready to start a new chapter. Ready to try new things, these students join various organizations eager to make new friends and connections. Daniel Santulli was no different. He was an excited nineteen-year-old freshman at the University of Missouri in the fall of 2021. Santulli decided to join the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was ready to make lifelong friendships. However, on October 20, 2021, Santulli suffered a life-altering injury due to an alcohol-related hazing incident. Santulli was “marched, shirtless and blindfolded, into the basement of the Phi Gamma Delta …

The Effect Of The Druze Education Reform In Israel And Druze Students’ Achievements In Higher Education, Aml Amer, Nitza Davidovitch

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Science Across The Elementary Curriculum, Cora E. Fields

Undergraduate Theses

Science has increasingly become marginalized in the United States today. This is largely due to educational reforms and movements placing an emphasis on standardized testing and mastery of math and reading exclusively. This focus stems from initiatives such as the Back-to-the-Basics movement (1980s), the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (2001), and the development of the Common Core standards (2010), which prioritize data collection and test results over the hands-on experiences and inquiry-based learning that good science education gives. Because of this, many of our students are not receiving consistent, meaningful access to science instruction. This limits their engagement with …

Front Matter

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

The U.S. Grand Strategy Toward The Pacific Islands, Angela Vasovic

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The United States has recently placed its relations with the Pacific Islands, fourteen small states far out in the Pacific Ocean, on its high-priority diplomatic agenda. Although it has been interacting with the islands since the 1800s and had heavily relied on their cooperation during World War II, the importance of the islands waned in the eyes of the United States in the late twentieth and the beginning of the twenty first century as the country turned its attention to other regions of the world. However, in recent years, the U.S. has recognized the need to strengthen relations with the …

Synchronizing Work And Teaching Practices With The Spatial Dna Of Distributed Work And Learning, Manju Aishwarya Adikesavan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Phygitality, the seamless and synergistic integration of physical and digital realms, is an indispensable and irrevocable part of contemporary office-based work. Phygitality facilitates spatially and temporally distributed or multi-local working where employees work from diverse locations such as their home, office, and third places at any time of day or night. It also makes nonterritorial working at temporary workspaces accessed on a session-by-session basis possible.

This dissertation examines how phygital, multi-local, and nonterritorial working reshape individual and group work behaviors, organizational spatial practices, work-centric settings, non-work-centric settings, neighborhoods, cities, and regions. The Spatial DNA of Distributed Work encapsulates a conceptual …

Whose Innovation? Philanthropic And School-Based Visions Of High School In The Xq Super School Competition, Brett G. Murphy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The XQ Institute, funded by Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective, launched a design competition in 2015 to find the most innovative high schools in the country. Their goal was to spark a movement that would revolutionize secondary school in the United States, a system they claimed was 100 years behind the times. Called the Super School Project, the winning ten teams each received $10 million. While XQ claims that the best ideas about high school reform come from communities and student voice, they also have funded selective ideas about “innovation,” including computer-based personalized learning. The organization’s efforts have grown in …

Visualizing The Rise Of American Women's Soccer, Hoi Wah Tang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The rise of American women’s soccer is a compelling narrative of determination, talent, and triumph on the global stage. From the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 to the ongoing dominance of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), this journey encapsulates not only athletic excellence but also the broader struggles for equality, representation, and respect in sports.

This project aims to bring this story to life by presenting a rich tapestry of data visualizations, timelines, and multimedia elements that showcase key moments, players, and milestones. Through engaging graphics and interactive features, users will explore how the sport evolved, the …

Quantified Lives: Data, Bias, And The Cost Of Categorization, Colin F. Geraghty

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project critically examines how statistical methods and data visualization have historically been used to categorize, rank, and control human populations. By exploring the works of key figures like Francis Galton, Karl Pearson, and R.A. Fisher, it traces the evolution of categorization frameworks from their eugenic roots to modern applications in artificial intelligence and global metrics like the World Happiness Report. Through interactive visualizations and historical analysis, the project invites users to question the legitimacy of these frameworks and reflect on their impact on society. At its core, this work emphasizes the need to move beyond rigid classification systems, challenging …

Decades Of Division: Analyzing Hate Crimes In The Usa (1991–2022), Sangeeth Sajan Baby

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project comprehensively analyses hate crime data in the United States, leveraging advanced data analysis and visualization techniques to unmask patterns and insights. By utilizing datasets of criminal offenses reported by law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, this study explores the dynamics of hate crimes across racial, religious, gender, and sexual orientation groups. The analysis reveals key findings, including the disproportionate targeting of African Americans and LGBTQ+ individuals, the prevalence of hate crimes in specific locations like residences and educational institutions, and the consistent patterns of attack types and locations across different racial groups. Analysis of crime data over …

The Power Of Music To Empower Health And Wellbeing: In Support Of A Music Therapy Discipline At Lehman College, City University Of New York, Felicity A. Howlett

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project seeks to encourage the development of a music therapy curriculum at the City University of New York (CUNY) and specifically at Lehman College. The following paper presents the case and highlights the contents of three data collections that support this goal: 1) The Zotero Digital Music Therapy Reference Collection is a custom-designed index of over 1600 items containing references to published material highlighting significant aspects of the profession. Zotero, a free, open-source reference management software for organizing research, houses the collection and functions as a living library; 2) Music Therapy Degree Programs in New England and the Mid-Atlantic …

Jamaica In The Olympics: The Rise Of Usain Bolt, Micaiah Davis

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Summer Olympics is a global competition that encourages athletes worldwide to participate in various events. For many countries, especially smaller ones, it allows gaining national recognition for themselves and their country. This project offers insight into how an athlete's Olympic participation can impact their country and the event. Specifically, this project serves as intangible evidence that Jamaica has made an undeniable contribution to the sports world and its legacy by way of prominent athletes such as Usain Bolt. To that end, public Olympic data was analyzed and visualized in Tableau. The resulting visualizations are accessible through a website.

The Evolution Of The Electrical Market: A Texas Journey, David A. Sastre Perez

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The journey of electricity, transitioning from a scientific marvel to an indispensable service, has profoundly shaped our society. In the landscape of the United States, the power market of Texas stands out as a unique case study and offers us a peek into a future where renewables are not only possible but integral in the energy mix. Through a series of interactive data visualizations, this project aims to expose the rapid surge in renewables and their current state. This analysis will reveal some of the selective pressures that will determine the evolution of the electrical market in Texas and the …

3bb: Loss And Remembrance In The Anthropocene, Amanda J. Woolsey

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Undisputedly, we are living in a time of tremendous and unprecedented ecological loss. Various forms of life on earth are disappearing at a rate unheard of in human history, with a growing amount of evidence suggesting that we are in a period of mass biodiversity loss and extinction. This extinction event is marked by a series of environmental catastrophes that vary in acceleration, intensity, and impact, such as climate-change driven weather events wiping out an endemic island species, to habitat loss and fragmentation leading to the slow death of a once-common species. One such piece of supporting evidence is Rosenberg …

Caedmon Records & The Power Of Youth: How Audiobooks Revolutionized Children’S Literature, Faihaa Khan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The first known spoken-word recording was introduced to the world by Thomas Edison through the invention of the phonograph. Originally intended for a visually impaired audience to read without exertion, the first known recording was a recitation of the English nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb" by Edison himself. The inclusion of a children’s nursery rhyme since the genesis of such an invention has become significant in observing the rise and success of the audiobook industry and its direct impact in increasing literacy proficiency in children.

Interactions between children’s literature and the history of the audiobook have been many …

Guaqueras And Campesinas In Western Boyacá, Colombia, María F. Buitrago

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Guaqueras and Campesinas in Western Boyacá (https://mariabuitsan.github.io/guaqueras-ycampesinas/) is a digital memory project chronicling the lives and labors of women residing in the emerald-producing municipalities of Colombia. The project explores women’s remarkable resilience amidst a historically extractive and patriarchal emerald economy by co-creating an online collection enriched with various sources such as interviews, photos of artifacts, and audio from fieldwork. The collection uses Dédalo, a free and open-source Cultural Heritage and Management System, to store, digitize, and index all the unedited material and presents a selection of these resources through a static website. The collection intends to illuminate and honor the …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Probiotic And Multivalent Vaccination Strategies In Mitigating Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness Using A Hybrid Challenge Model, Amanda Anthney, Khawla Alharbi, Ruvindu Perera, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Andi Asnayanti, Reginald Onyema, Sara Reichelt, Antoine Meuter, Palmy R.R. Jesudhasan, Adnan Alrubaye

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is caused by Salmonella, Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and Mycoplasma spp. It is a leading cause of broiler lameness, resulting in economic losses and welfare concerns. BCO occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and colonize bone tissue. It is exacerbated by rapid growth, mechanical stress (e.g., repetitive pressure on hock joints and footpads), uneven flooring, or excessive body weight in commercial settings. This study tested the effectiveness of a probiotic program and an inactivated vaccine in reducing BCO lameness. The probiotic program included an Enterococcus faecium spray at hatch and a triple-strain Bacillus-based …

Use Of Generative Ai In Aiding Daily Professional Tasks: A Survey Of Librarians’ Experiences, Lili Luo

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This study examines how librarians are using third-party generative AI (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT to aid their daily professional tasks. An online survey of 272 librarians found that text-generating AI tools were the most popular. The majority of respondents felt that GAI tools were effective in improving productivity. Key challenges included ensuring content accuracy and designing effective prompts. Top suggestions for better preparing librarians to use GAI include practical training on using GAI, establishing AI policies and guidelines, fostering collaboration and communities of practice, and providing access to useful GAI resources. The study highlights popular use cases that can …

Diagnostic Performance Of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound In Traumatic Solid Organ Injuries In Children: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Payam Jannatdoust, Parya Valizadeh, Amir Hassankhani, Melika Amoukhteh, Delaram J Ghadimi, Mahsa Heidari-Foroozan, Paniz Sabeghi, Paniz Adli, Jennifer H Johnston, Pauravi S Vasavada, Ali Gholamrezanezhad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is a significant contributor to pediatric mortality, often causing liver and spleen injuries. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), the gold standard for diagnosing solid organ injury, poses radiation risks to children. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) may be a promising alternative imaging modality.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of CEUS for detecting solid organ injuries following BAT in the pediatric population.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted through a thorough literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases up to October 1, 2023. Diagnostic accuracy metrics were aggregated using a bivariate model, …

Selling Homemade Food Products In New Hampshire - The Basics - Health And Hygiene [Fact Sheet], Mary S. Choate

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Understanding Hip Pain Through Social Media: An Initial Overview Of An International Web-Based Survey, John M. Gaddis, Erika Shults, Bretton Laboret, Ryan Bialaszewski, Katerina Wells, Charles South, Joel Wells

School of Medicine Publications

Background: We aimed to understand the adult experience of hip pain through a web-based REDCap platform via social media. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of collecting patient-reported data through social media in people with hip pain while outlining the contents of the survey and analyzing the demographics of the sample population.

Methods: The survey link was active from October 1, 2023, to May 1, 2024, and available on social media platforms. Respondents provided consent prior to survey participation. Responses were anonymous, and only unique, fully complete surveys were analyzed. The comprehensive hip survey included demographic …

Efficacy Of 3d-Printed Chitosan-Cerium Oxide Dressings Coated With Vancomycin-Loaded Alginate For Chronic Wounds Management, Sharareh Shahroudi, Amir Parvinnasab, Erfan Salahinejad, Shaghayegh Abdi, Sarah Rajabi, Lobat Tayebi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Multifunctional wound dressings with antibacterial and antioxidant properties hold significant promise for treating chronic wounds; however, achieving a balance of these characteristics while maintaining biocompatibility is challenging. To enhance this balance, this study focuses on the design and development of 3D-printed chitosan-matrix composite scaffolds, which are incorporated with varying amounts of cerium oxide nanoparticles (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) and subsequently coated with a vancomycin-loaded alginate layer. The structure, antibiotic drug delivery kinetics, biodegradation, swelling, biocompatibility, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cell migration behaviors of the fabricated dressings were evaluated in-vitro. The findings reveal that all of the formulations …

Pancreatic Organogenesis Mapped Through Space And Time, Marissa A Scavuzzo, Wojciech J Szlachcic, Matthew C Hill, Natalia M Ziojla, Jessica Teaw, Jeffrey C Carlson, Jonathan Tiessen, Jolanta Chmielowiec, James F Martin, Malgorzata Borowiak

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The spatial organization of cells within a tissue is dictated throughout dynamic developmental processes. We sought to understand whether cells geometrically coordinate with one another throughout development to achieve their organization. The pancreas is a complex cellular organ with a particular spatial organization. Signals from the mesenchyme, neurons, and endothelial cells instruct epithelial cell differentiation during pancreatic development. To understand the cellular diversity and spatial organization of the developing pancreatic niche, we mapped the spatial relationships between single cells over time. We found that four transcriptionally unique subtypes of mesenchyme in the developing pancreas spatially coordinate throughout development, with each …

Protocol For A Field Trial Of A Hearing And Vision Support Intervention For People Living In Long-Term Care In Australia, Carly Meyer, Najwan El-Saifi, Naomi Rose, Kasia Bail, Colette Browning, Dayna Cenin, Antonio Ahumada-Canale, Megan Campbell, Tim England, Melanie Ferguson, Yuanyuan Gu, Reema Harrison, Chyrisse Heine, Lisa Keay, Sheela Kumaran, Iracema Leroi, Gerald Liew, Angelita Martini, Ralph Martins, John Newall, Smriti Raichand, Emma Scanlan, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Melinda Toomey, Johanna Westbrook, Piers Dawes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Hearing and vision impairments are prevalent among residents in long-term care settings. Hearing and vision impairments frequently go unsupported, affecting residents' quality of life and healthcare costs. This paper describes the protocol for a pre−post evaluation and process evaluation of a pragmatic sensory support intervention (SSI) that was developed with residents, informal caregivers and long-term care workers. Methods and Analysis: A prospective pre−post-intervention trial within long-term care will be conducted, including three groups: residents (n = 87), informal caregivers (n = 87) and long-term care workers (n = 40). Outcome measures include health-related quality of life and well-being measures …