Digital Commons Network^™

Beeutiful Partnership For Pollinators And Our Ecosystems, Cassie Hollasch

Sustainability Institute Blog

No abstract provided.

The Daily Gamecock, Traditions, November 2021, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

November

No abstract provided.

Audacious Hope: The Inauguration Of Vincent D. Rougeau, 2021, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

Audacious Hope: The Inauguration of Vincent D. Rougeau
Relive the three-day celebration of the College's 33rd president and the events that surrounded his installation as Holy Cross' first lay leader. From faculty symposium to fireworks, dive into the photos and words that accompanied three historic days in October 2021.

From the Chair of the Board of Trustees
“The Character and Vision of Vincent D. Rougeau”
By Richard “Rick” Patterson ’80

“Global Engagement and Democratic Citizenship” Faculty Symposium Keynote Address
A transcript of the speech presented by Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University

What is Holy Cross’ Role, Responsibility …

Protocol For Qualitative Systematic Review, Abigail Ekeigwe, Bethany S. Mcgowan, Kari Clase, Stephen Byrn, P. Shivanand, L. Parker

BIRS Technical Report Papers

No abstract provided.

Anthropocentrism: More Than Just A Misunderstood Problem, Helen Kopnina, Haydn Washington, Bron Taylor, John Piccolo

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Anthropocentrism, in its original connotation in environmental ethics, is the belief that value is human-centered and that all other beings are means to human ends. Environmentally-concerned authors have argued that anthropocentrism is ethically wrong and at the root of ecological crises. Some environmental ethicists argue, however, that critics of anthropocentrism are misguided or even misanthropic. They contend: first that criticism of anthropocentrism can be counterproductive and misleading by failing to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate human interests. Second, that humans differ greatly in their environmental impacts, and consequently, addressing human inequalities should be a precondition for environmental protection. Third, since …

Discovery Of Imidazole-Based Inhibitors Of Plasmodium Falciparum Cgmp-Dependent Protein Kinase, Rammohan R. Yadav Bheemanaboina, Mariana Laureano De Souza, Mariana Lozano Gonzalez, Shams Ul Mahmood, Tyler Eck, Tamara Kreiss, Samantha O. Aylor, Alison Roth, Patricia Lee, Brandon S. Pybus, Dennis J. Colussi, Wayne E. Childers, John Gordon, John J. Siekierka, Purnima Bhanot, David P. Rotella

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The discovery of new targets for the treatment of malaria, in particular those aimed at the pre-erythrocytic stage in the life cycle, advanced with the demonstration that orally administered inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PfPKG) could clear infection in a murine model. This enthusiasm was tempered by unsatisfactory safety and/or pharmacokinetic issues found with these chemotypes. To address the urgent need for new scaffolds, this paper presents initial structure–activity relationships in an imidazole scaffold at four positions, representative in vitro ADME, hERG characterization, and cell-based antiparasitic activity. This series of PfPKG inhibitors has good in vitro PfPKG potency, …

Comparative Phylogeography Across Multiple Scales: Small Mammals, Their Ecology, Pathogens, And Drivers Of Diversification, Schuyler W. Liphardt

Biology ETDs

Comparative phylogeography has historically been defined as the study of how genetic variation of co-distributed species has been shaped by biogeographical history. This is a mature field of study out of which several techniques have been developed directed at identifying the role ecology and geography in diversification patterns across time. I employ the tools developed in classical comparative phylogeography across multiple taxonomic scales and across regions that historically have been understudied. My first two chapters study the complex history of host-switching, codiversification, and reassortment of hantaviruses in their mammal hosts across North America. By taking a host-centric comparative phylogeographic approach …

Testing For A Smad Requirement In Wnt Signaling In Drosphila Embryos, Samantha Giannantonio, Laurel Raftery Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Cells communicate by producing molecular signals that activate a signal-specific pathway to elicit a response in neighboring cells. Signaling pathways share similar elements that include the signal and receptor, and intracellular components to relay the signal and effect a change in gene expression. Two signaling pathways, the Wnt pathway and the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) pathway, which contribute to the establishment of body plans for all multicellular animals, have been thought to be independent of one another. However, recent evidence suggests that the Wnt and BMP pathways share a signal transducer that has a necessary function in both pathways. This …

Development Of Novel Synthetic Methods Of Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1(Lsd1) Inhibitors As Anti-Cancer Reagents, Citlally Lopez, Lilian Huynh, Jun Yong Kang Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Cancer is the malignant growth and division of abnormal cells. The proliferation of cancerous cells is harmful to the human body since it interferes with many biological processes. Lysine-specific demethylase 1(LSD1) protein levels are expressed at high levels in many types of cancers such as teratocarcinoma, embryonic carcinoma, and embryonic stem cells. Gene expression in cancerous cells can be repressed by lysine-methylation on histones which ensures the maintenance of a tightly organized histone. Targeting LSD1 protein levels can significantly impair the growth of cancer due to the methylated histones being unable to participate in gene expression. Lysine-specific demethylase 1(LSD1) inhibitors …

Evolutionary Analysis Of Nlr Genes In Metrosideros Through Comparative Genomics, Sarem Khilji, Elizabeth Stacy Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Plants rely heavily on innate immunity toward pathogens due to the fact that many of them do not contain specialized adaptive immune system cells. In order to mount proper immune responses, plants must come up with several broad defense mechanisms. One such mechanism in these plants, nucleotide-binding domain & leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins, are key players when it comes to intracellular immune-related functions. While the biological functions and protein structure of NLR genes are similar across species, variation in NLR gene numbers and sequences among closely related plant taxa can play a key role in diversification and the evolution of …

High Precision In-Situ Raman Spectroscopy On A Novel Room-Temperature Superconductor, Carbonaceous Sulfur Hydride, Under Pressure And Cryogenic Temperatures, Faraz Mostafaeipour, Keith V. Lawler Ph.D., Ashkan Salamat Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Superconductivity is an incredible quantum phenomenon that historically only occurred at low temperatures. Recently, room-temperature superconductivity was discovered and will have various benefits and advantages in application, such as revolutionizing the energy grid, making medical imaging more accessible, and solving problems in related sciences. We have experimentally investigated carbonaceous sulfur hydride (CSH), a novel room-temperature superconductor, at varying cryogenic temperatures and pressures through high precision Raman spectroscopy. The current understanding of the material lacks information about the chemical structure and stoichiometry. Investigating the temperature and pressure space of its Raman spectra will give insight on important details about its structure, …

Carnivore Use Of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Willaine Mae Kahano, Sean A. Neiswenter Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are one of the most well-known carnivorous species on the planet. Despite our familiarity with them, their effects on native fauna in protected areas is still unclear; however, many studies warn that dogs are a potential threat to wildlife. To understand the relationships between domestic dogs and native species, we conducted a preliminary carnivore survey at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Camera traps were placed in 14 different locations for an average of 28 trap nights. They were affixed to approximately 50 cm above the ground and were adjusted …

Synthesis Of Novel Fluorescent Molecular Probes For The Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’S Disease, David King, Pradip Bhowmik Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a pervasive form of dementia that accounts for 60% to 70% of progressive cognitive impairment within the elderly population.1 This neurodegenerative disease manifests itself through a progressive decline in motor function, memory, and cognition.2 AD is closely associated with the accumulation of amyloid- β (Aβ) proteins that form insoluble plaques.2 The formation of Aβ is a hallmark of AD and can serve as a means for diagnosis. Our objective is to synthesize potential candidates for a practical and safe means to detecting AD in its early stages. We synthesized the target fluorescent probes by Knoevenagel condensation …

Predicting Variant Pathogenicity With Machine Learning, Zachary Fitzhugh, Martin R. Schiller Ph.D., Fatma Nasoz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

There are roughly 22,000 protein-coding genes in the human body, many of which play important roles in biological functions. The proteins fold in 3D space, and this is most often necessary for function. A genetic variant can disrupt the secondary structure of a protein (one aspect of structure) or eliminate a site important in protein-protein interaction or post-translational modification. The loss of function or deregulation can result in disease. Thus, there is great biomedical interest in identifying disease-causing single-nucleotide variants.

We hypothesize that we can accurately predict variant pathogenicity. We used machine learning to predict the pathogenicity of a set …

Isolation Of Salt Tolerant Bacteria And Investigation Of Perchlorate Biodegradation At High Salinity Conditions, Aymen Shafique, Yasaman Saedi, Jacimaria Batista Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Perchlorate (ClO4-), known as a highly soluble oxidizer contaminant, has been detected in soil and groundwater throughout the United States for the last two decades. Biological reduction has been seen as a promising technology through which perchlorate reducing bacteria (PRB) occurring naturally in most environments utilize ClO4- as an electron acceptor. However, biological reduction of perchlorate is influenced by high salinity levels because the PRBs’ activity is hindered at salinities over 1%. The goal of this study is to investigate the impact of salinity (NaCl: 0-6.5%) on perchlorate biological reduction. Actual soil samples from the contaminated site containing PRBs were …

Comparison Of Biochar Attained From Various Feedstocks For The Adsorption Of Arsenic In Water, Fabianny Anez, Suraj Pochampally, Christina Obra, Jaeyun Moon, Erica J. Marti

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Water is a fundamental human right, yet in many developing countries, it is a luxury. Water shortages and polluted water have become routine for millions of Venezuelans in the last two decades due to a failing economy and infrastructure mismanagement. According to the World Health Organization, arsenic (As) is a worldwide pollutant. Though it occurs naturally, As is toxic and may cause chronic poisoning with prolonged exposure. An estimated 4.5 million individuals in Latin America are chronically exposed to high levels of As (>50 𝜇g/L), some up to 2000 𝜇g/L. Biochar, a carbon-based material, effectively adsorbs and sequesters pollutants. …

A Gud Toolbox: Implementation Of Giving-Up Densities With Mammals, Brandon Preston, Jordan Tandy, Kundil Patel, Karissa Coffield

Scholars Week

Giving-up densities are the density of food remaining within an artificial foraging patch over a specified time and are an indicator of how an organism perceives its environment. The GUD method is particularly useful to study the foraging behavior of an organism relative to predation risk and interactions with other environmental variables (e.g., cover, conspecifics, and food quantity and quality) to address larger ecological and evolutionary questions. The GUD methodology is commonly used with the mammalian taxonomic group due to their general size, detectability, and abundance in comparison to other taxa. However, development of protocols that maximize the potential for …

Peruvian Fur Seals As Archivists Of El Niño Southern Oscillation Effects, Mickie Rae Edwards, Susana Cardenas-Alayza, Michael Adkesson, Mya Daniels-Abdulahad, Amy Hirons

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Peru’s coastal waters are characterized by significant environmental fluctuation due to periodic El Niño- La Niña- Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. This variability results in ecosystem-wide food web changes which are reflected in the tissues of the Peruvian fur seal (Arctocephalus australis). Stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in Peruvian fur seal vibrissae (whiskers) are used to infer temporal primary production and dietary variations in individuals. Sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) recordings from the Niño 1+2 Index region captured corresponding ENSO conditions. Fluctuations in δ¹⁵N values were correlated to SSTA records, indicating that …

Which Outcomes Are Most Important To Measure In Patients With Covid-19 And How And When Should These Be Measured? Development Of An International Standard Set Of Outcomes Measures For Clinical Use In Patients With Covid-19: A Report Of The International Consortium For Health Outcomes Measurement (Ichom) Covid-19 Working Group, William H. Seligman, Luz Fialho, Nick Sillett, Christina Nielsen, Farhala Mari Baloch, Philip Collis, Ingel K M. Demedts, Marcelo P. Fleck, Maiara A. Floriani, Nasreen Muhammad

Section of Cardiology

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread morbidity and mortality with the consequences expected to be felt for many years. Significant variation exists in the care even of similar patients with COVID-19, including treatment practices within and between institutions. Outcome measures vary among clinical trials on the same therapies. Understanding which therapies are of most value is not possible unless consensus can be reached on which outcomes are most important to measure. Furthermore, consensus on the most important outcomes may enable patients to monitor and track their care, and may help providers to improve the care they offer through …

Crow's Nest, November 15, 2021, Crow's Nest Staff

Crow's Nest

The November 15, 2021, issue of the Crow's Nest.

Methodological Approaches To Measuring Amyloid Pet: A Scoping Review In Ethnoracial Minorities, Amy Nguyen, Stacey Moeller M.Sc, Samantha John

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latinx (H/Lx) and Black/African American (B/AA) individuals, who face about 1.5-fold and 2-fold more risk of disease development, respectively, than non-Hispanic whites. Few studies examine AD biomarkers within ethnoracial minorities, especially for newer research techniques, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET). This study reviews current literature on amyloid PET within H/Lx and B/AA populations, exploring methodological approaches.

A scoping review of AD literature was conducted to identify publications with H/Lx and B/AA study samples and amyloid PET data. Two researchers combined search results from three databases, deleted duplicates, and independently reviewed publication abstracts to determine …

The Potential Health Effects Of Bacterial Use In Self-Healing Concrete: A Systematic Literature Review, Brandon Polimeni, Moses Karakouzian Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In due course, structures developed from concrete create microcracks exposing it to degradation via the reinforcement steel's formation of ferric oxide. The aforementioned declines the loading capacity and lessens durability. A corrective technique used to counteract the effects above is bio-mineralization, self-healing the crevices with microorganisms' metabolic processes. Literature has explored some specific organisms used, and the research strongly supports that the existing bacteria used positively strengthen the concrete's durability. This literature analysis examines if the selected microorganisms: Sporosarcina pasteurii, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis used in some current constructional methods will harm the health of consumers or …

Defining Antisemitism, Mark Goldfeder

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

An Employee Services Model: Morale And Satisfaction, David L. Groves, Bryan Cavins

Visions in Leisure and Business

The Raube manuscript was used as a secondary source to obtain a historical perspective about important factors that influence employees. Included in this assessment was a perspective from employees, management, and unions. This type of analysis is essential to understand the relationships between management and employees and be able to develop a model of collaboration and cooperation from both perspectives.

It is obvious that diverse factors are important during different time periods. It is essential though to understand the different time periods and their influences. This type of information will provide a longitudinal perspective and a better understanding of the …

Editorial: Perturbations In Metabolic Cues: Implications For Adverse Cardiac Function Leading To Sudden Cardiac Death, Brian P. Delisle, Ademuyiwa S. Aromolaran

Physiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Engineering Dean Inducted Into National Academy Of Inventors, Edwin B. Smith

University of Mississippi News

Organization recognizes academic innovation, technology

Artificial Intelligence: An Interprofessional Perspective On Implications For Geriatric Mental Health Research And Care, Brenna N. Renn, Matthew Schurr, Oleg Zaslavsky, Abhishek Pratap

Psychology Faculty Research

Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare aims to learn patterns in large multimodal datasets within and across individuals. These patterns may either improve understanding of current clinical status or predict a future outcome. AI holds the potential to revolutionize geriatric mental health care and research by supporting diagnosis, treatment, and clinical decision-making. However, much of this momentum is driven by data and computer scientists and engineers and runs the risk of being disconnected from pragmatic issues in clinical practice. This interprofessional perspective bridges the experiences of clinical scientists and data science. We provide a brief overview of AI with the main …

University Philharmonic Orchestra & University Band Program, Nancy Conley, Hannah Rudy

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

Program for University Philharmonic Orchestra & University Band

Intersectionality, Relational Positionality, And The Lived Experiences Of Inequality: Contextualizing Intergenerational Opioid Use And The Constrained Choices Of Indigenous, Latina, And White Women Caregivers In Rural New Mexico, Carmela M. Roybal

Sociology ETDs

Opioid addiction is a serious and persistent global health issue. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that between 1999 and 2016, more than 630,000 people in the United States died of an overdose of a prescription opioid or illicit drug (CDC 2018). Extant research has suggested that for nearly a century, New Mexico has experienced some of the highest rates of prescription and illicit opioid death in the nation (Goldstein and Herrera, 1995; Landon, 2003; Shah et al., 2008). I examined intergenerational opioid dependence through the lived experience of women caregivers of opioid-addicted family members. Data …

Declines Of Juvenile Coastal Cutthroat Trout And Coho Salmon Over Fifteen Years In A Salmon-Bearing Stream In The Salish Sea, Anne-Marie Flores, Morgan M. Davies, Katrina Kushneryk, Pippi T.E.S. Lawn, Sibylla Helms, Hanna M. Thomson, Kyle R. Nelson, Christopher W. Burns, Steven Roias, Travis G. Gerwing

Western North American Naturalist

Pacific salmon are ecologically, economically, and culturally important species indigenous to British Columbia, Canada. Unfortunately, some populations of Pacific salmon have been declining due to climate change, habitat loss, overfishing, and anthropogenic development. As such, considerable resources have been invested to study, restore, protect, and monitor Pacific salmon and their habitat. Since 2004, Lyall Creek, a salmon-bearing stream in the Salish Sea in British Columbia, Canada, has been monitored. Using 2-pass electrofishing, we investigated changes in observed densities over 15 years (2004–2019) for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and juvenile coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) …