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Fungal Foes And Fatty Defenses: How Simulated Snake Skin Lipids Influence Ophidiomyces Ophiodiicola Growth, Thalia Rodriguez, Jacey Cardenas, Lizbeth Delarosa, Krupa Patel, John Niedzwiecki Nov 2025

Fungal Foes And Fatty Defenses: How Simulated Snake Skin Lipids Influence Ophidiomyces Ophiodiicola Growth, Thalia Rodriguez, Jacey Cardenas, Lizbeth Delarosa, Krupa Patel, John Niedzwiecki

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Emerging fungal diseases are a continuous threat to wildlife health as well as biodiversity. Fungal diseases, such as white nose syndrome in bats, can devastate populations by disrupting their ecosystems. Many other species around the world are affected by fungal diseases, such as amphibians, birds, and snakes. In more recent years, snake fungal disease (SFD) emerged due to the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (O.o). Like Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal pathogen responsible for white nose syndrome, O.o targets the skin which contains many fatty acids. Some studies have shown that fatty acids present in bat skin are able to inhibit fungal …


Surviving The Seasons: Climate And Time Effects On Native Songbirds, Essence Donaldson, Todd Hoskinson, John Niedzwiecki Nov 2025

Surviving The Seasons: Climate And Time Effects On Native Songbirds, Essence Donaldson, Todd Hoskinson, John Niedzwiecki

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Bird populations across North America have declined sharply in recent decades due to habitat loss, climate change, and changes in food availability. As bird numbers fall, ecosystems lose essential pollinators, seed dispersers, and insect predators. Long-term monitoring of bird populations is vital for understanding how environmental changes influence their survival and abundance. This study examines capture data from a long-term bird banding station at Percy Warner Nature Center in Nashville, Tennessee, focusing on five native species: Northern Cardinal (NOCA), American Robin (AMRO), American Goldfinch (AMGO), Tufted Titmouse (TUTI), and Carolina Chickadee (CACH), from fall 1983 to fall 2023. We analyzed …


Kairiomone Moderated Anti-Predator Responses In Pleurocera Laqueta, Daisy V. Mcleod, John Webb, Amanda Waggoner, John Niedzwiecki Nov 2025

Kairiomone Moderated Anti-Predator Responses In Pleurocera Laqueta, Daisy V. Mcleod, John Webb, Amanda Waggoner, John Niedzwiecki

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Predator-prey coevolution in freshwater ecosystems often involves chemical communication, where the prey detect predator released compounds known as kairomones. These chemical cues allow prey to alter behavior to reduce risk of predation. In Middle Tennessee streams, the native snail Pleurocera laqueata commonly coexists with predator crayfish, and previous studies have shown that exposure to crayfish kairomones can induce an anti-predator “crawl out” response. This response is commonly demonstrated through snails climbing above the waterline to avoid crayfish predators below. We hypothesized that Pleurocera laqueata would display a similar anti-predator response when exposed to both native and non-native crayfish cues. After …


Physiological Response To Concealed Information In A Mock-Crime Paradigm​, Ezra Koenigsberg, Tamya Mchenry, Jasmine Manzana, Taylor Powell, Samantha Jackson Nov 2025

Physiological Response To Concealed Information In A Mock-Crime Paradigm​, Ezra Koenigsberg, Tamya Mchenry, Jasmine Manzana, Taylor Powell, Samantha Jackson

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Concealed Information Test (CIT), based on Lykken’s guilty knowledge framework, measures physiological responses when individuals recognize crime-related details compared to neutral alternatives. Previous studies show that variations in stimulus presentation enhance the CIT’s accuracy, especially through changes in electrodermal activity and heart rate. However, few studies have tested whether a Qualtrics-based mock-crime version of the CIT can replicate these physiological patterns. This study addresses that gap by adapting the CIT for a digital research environment. The goal is to determine whether participants show greater physiological arousal—measured through skin conductance, heart rate, and respiration—when exposed to crime-related “critical” stimuli compared …


Deconstructing The Black Box: An Explainability Analysis Of Deep Learning Architectures In Cytopathology, Chase A. Garrett Nov 2025

Deconstructing The Black Box: An Explainability Analysis Of Deep Learning Architectures In Cytopathology, Chase A. Garrett

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Deep learning shows strong potential in medical-image analysis, yet adoption in cyptopathology remains limited. Cytopathology could benefit from deep learning applications by improving diagnostic efficiency and accuracy. However deep learning comes with a notorious “black box” that keeps the models from being transparent and trustworthy for widespread clinical adoption. We conducted a comprehensive and comparative analysis of several deep learning architectures for multi-class classification of acute leukemia types, ALL, AML, and normal healthy cells from peripheral blood smear images. The models in this research include a Vision Transformer (ViT) and a diverse selection of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models. The …


Characterization Of Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) Adherence Phenotypes And Psychosocial Symptom Clusters Among Black/African American (Aa) And Hispanic/Latine Adolescents And Young Adults (Ayas) With Hiv In The Adherence Connection For Counseling, Education, And Support (Access-Ii) Trial, Ann-Margaret Navarra, Taehoon Ha, Eva Liang, Maurade Gormley, David R. Garcia, Jason Fletcher, Lloyd A. Goldsamt, Michael G. Rosenberg, Karin Hasegawa, Jie Yang Nov 2025

Characterization Of Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) Adherence Phenotypes And Psychosocial Symptom Clusters Among Black/African American (Aa) And Hispanic/Latine Adolescents And Young Adults (Ayas) With Hiv In The Adherence Connection For Counseling, Education, And Support (Access-Ii) Trial, Ann-Margaret Navarra, Taehoon Ha, Eva Liang, Maurade Gormley, David R. Garcia, Jason Fletcher, Lloyd A. Goldsamt, Michael G. Rosenberg, Karin Hasegawa, Jie Yang

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence behavior is heterogeneous among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with HIV and influenced by individual and interpersonal psychosocial factors. The primary objective of this study is to characterize ART adherence phenotypes and psychosocial symptom clusters, as related to ART adherence and HIV viral load suppression. This analysis included 60 AYAs with HIV enrolled in an ART adherence support clinical trial. Self-reported ART adherence at baseline, 12-weeks, and 24-weeks was used to define four ART adherence phenotypes: consistently high adherence (YY), early-only adherence (YN), late-only adherence (NY), and consistently low adherence (NN). Symptom clusters were empirically derived …


Some Like It Hot -Structural Changes In Extremophile Rubredoxin At 120 °C., Tzanko Doukov, Igor Leontyev, Francis E. Jenney, Dominic George, Stephen P Cramer Nov 2025

Some Like It Hot -Structural Changes In Extremophile Rubredoxin At 120 °C., Tzanko Doukov, Igor Leontyev, Francis E. Jenney, Dominic George, Stephen P Cramer

PCOM Scholarly Works

How does the structure of a protein change as the temperature is raised from cryogenic conditions at 100 K to 393 K? Understanding the structure and dynamics of proteins under environmental extremes is relevant for human health, biotechnological applications, and our search for life elsewhere in the universe. Here we reveal the high temperature crystal structure of a hyperthermophilic (Pyrococcus furiosus) rubredoxin at 393 K (120 °C), together with multiple complementary structures down to 100 K. The results are compared with molecular dynamics calculations. Significant changes in H-bonding are observed. Discussions about high-temperature protein structure and stability need to recognize …


A Geothermal Amoeba Sets A New Upper Temperature Limit For Eukaryotes, H Beryl Rappaport, Natalie A. Petek-Seoane, Tomáš Tyml, Felix Mikus, Kurt Labutti, Godwin Ani, Jessica K. Niblo, Ethan Macvicar, Rachel M. Shepherd, Ignacio De La Higuera, Samuel J. Lord, Kenneth M. Stedman, Multiple Additional Authors Nov 2025

A Geothermal Amoeba Sets A New Upper Temperature Limit For Eukaryotes, H Beryl Rappaport, Natalie A. Petek-Seoane, Tomáš Tyml, Felix Mikus, Kurt Labutti, Godwin Ani, Jessica K. Niblo, Ethan Macvicar, Rachel M. Shepherd, Ignacio De La Higuera, Samuel J. Lord, Kenneth M. Stedman, Multiple Additional Authors

Center for Life in Extreme Environments Publications

The study of temperature limits has transformed our knowledge of the boundaries of life but has been largely focused on bacteria and archaea. We isolated a novel geothermal amoeba, , that divides at 63°C (145.4°F), establishing a new record for the upper temperature limit across all eukaryotes. We demonstrated cellular proliferation with growth experiments and visualized mitosis expansion microscopy. Using high-temperature live-cell imaging, we quantified movement up to 64°C. We assembled the genome of and using comparative genomics found an enrichment of genes related to proteostasis, genome stability, and sensing the external environment. Taken together, our findings challenge the current …


Navigating The Future: Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives On Cobot Integration In Hospitals, Amanda Spence, Kellie Patterson, Stephanie Rogers, Paige Merring, Wendy Bassett, Stephanie Roth, Sanaz Taherzadeh, Susan Smith Birkhoff, Briana Abernathy, Hannah Rackie, Erin Mitchell, Morgan Tallo Nov 2025

Navigating The Future: Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives On Cobot Integration In Hospitals, Amanda Spence, Kellie Patterson, Stephanie Rogers, Paige Merring, Wendy Bassett, Stephanie Roth, Sanaz Taherzadeh, Susan Smith Birkhoff, Briana Abernathy, Hannah Rackie, Erin Mitchell, Morgan Tallo

Biennial Convention (CONV)

There is growing interest in the implementation of delivery robots in healthcare, yet a lack of understanding remains regarding frontline clinicians’ views on the implementation of these robots. Limited research exists addressing the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of staff following the integration of delivery robots into clinical practice. Gaining insight into staff perspectives is essential for the effective integration and optimization of robots in healthcare settings.

This study aims to explore the perceptions of healthcare workers after the implementation of delivery robots within a large tertiary care hospital setting.

Guided by Bowden’s feasibility framework, a mixed methods design with a …


From Fairy Tales To Fascist Nightmares: Countering Ron Desantis’ Florida, Ronald Mize, Et. Al Nov 2025

From Fairy Tales To Fascist Nightmares: Countering Ron Desantis’ Florida, Ronald Mize, Et. Al

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

The recent spate of anti–‘woke’, don’t say gay, anti–trans, and anti–immigrant legislation, led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, puts the sunshine state in the unenviable position of serving as the nation’s test case for Republicans’ neofascist agendas. This paper explores the exclusionary, targeting, and banning aspects of these culture war assaults on public education and outgroups. The specific banning of Critical Race Theory is discussed alongside cis–heteronormative efforts to target queer and trans communities, as well as DeSantis’ executive memoranda of transporting those at the border to sanctuary cities and S.B. 1718 aimed at excluding immigrant communities from public life …


Macrophyte Community Analysis Of The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, The Pearl River, And The Pascagoula River, Samuel A. Schmid, Nicholas J. Engle-Wrye, Gray Turnage Nov 2025

Macrophyte Community Analysis Of The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, The Pearl River, And The Pascagoula River, Samuel A. Schmid, Nicholas J. Engle-Wrye, Gray Turnage

Research Data

The macrophyte Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Pearl River, and Pascagoula River were surveyed using point surveys. Data collected from these surveys were used to determine differences in species composition among macrophyte communities, how latitude affected species richness, and how the presence/absence of introduced species was affected by native richness. Differences in species composition were measured using NMDS, and the latitude-richness and introduced-native relationships were modeled using linear modeling methods. This record includes the data and code used for these analyses.


Single-Cell Genomics Reveals Complex Microbial And Viral Associations In Ciliates And Testate Amoebae, Frederik Schulz, Ying Yan, Agnes K. M. Weiner, Ragib Ahsan, Laura A. Katz, Tanja Woyke Nov 2025

Single-Cell Genomics Reveals Complex Microbial And Viral Associations In Ciliates And Testate Amoebae, Frederik Schulz, Ying Yan, Agnes K. M. Weiner, Ragib Ahsan, Laura A. Katz, Tanja Woyke

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Protists play important roles in nutrient cycling across ecosystems, yet the composition and function of their associated microbiomes remain poorly studied. Here, we use cultivation-independent single-cell isolation and genome-resolved metagenomics to investigate the microbiomes and viromes of more than 100 uncultivated ciliates and amoebae from diverse environments. Our findings reveal unique microbiome structures and complex associations with bacterial symbionts and viruses, with stark differences between ciliates and amoebae. We recover 117 microbial genomes affiliated with known eukaryotic endosymbionts, including Holosporales, Rickettsiales, Legionellales, Chlamydiae, and Babelota, and 258 genomes linked to host-associated Patescibacteriota. Many show …


Development And Applications Of A Health Equity Summary Score Using The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Ronald R. Sanchez Nov 2025

Development And Applications Of A Health Equity Summary Score Using The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Ronald R. Sanchez

Dissertations and Theses

Despite sustained national efforts, disparities in healthcare delivery persist among racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and socially at-risk populations. Monitoring modifiable aspects of care delivery, such as the structures and processes that health systems can directly improve, is a key strategy for addressing these gaps. However, most measures evaluate modifiable aspects of care delivery separately, limiting understanding of how improvements in one domain reinforce the other and how their combined effect influences equitable care.

This dissertation addresses this gap by combining patient experience and clinical quality, two modifiable aspects of care that captures how patients interact with the health …


Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Neurocranium, Gabriella K. Flora, David W. Kerstetter Nov 2025

Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Neurocranium, Gabriella K. Flora, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.


Assessment Of Traffic Related Air Pollution Effects On Indoor Air Quality In Educational Buildings, Ahmed Gouda Mohamed, Mohamed Sherif Dr., Fahad Alqahtani Dr., Yousif Deeb Eng. Nov 2025

Assessment Of Traffic Related Air Pollution Effects On Indoor Air Quality In Educational Buildings, Ahmed Gouda Mohamed, Mohamed Sherif Dr., Fahad Alqahtani Dr., Yousif Deeb Eng.

Civil Engineering

This study assesses the impact of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on indoor air quality (IAQ) within a Riyadh school. The main objectives are to pinpoint factors influencing IAQ and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ventilation and filtration systems. Air quality Egg sensors monitored nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10) levels both indoors and outdoors over 30 days. Findings revealed average indoor PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of 14.09 µg/m3 and 18.15 µg/m3, respectively, while outdoor concentrations averaged 20.63 µg/m3 and 27.88 µg/m3. A strong positive correlation was observed between indoor and outdoor PM levels, …


High-Throughput Screens Identify Genotype-Specific Therapeutics For Channelopathies, Christian L. Egly, Alex Shen, Tri Q. Do, Carlos Tellet Cabiya, Paxton A. Ritschel, Suah Woo, Matthew Ku, Brian P. Delisle, Brett M. Kroncke, Björn C. Knollmann Nov 2025

High-Throughput Screens Identify Genotype-Specific Therapeutics For Channelopathies, Christian L. Egly, Alex Shen, Tri Q. Do, Carlos Tellet Cabiya, Paxton A. Ritschel, Suah Woo, Matthew Ku, Brian P. Delisle, Brett M. Kroncke, Björn C. Knollmann

Physiology Faculty Publications

Genetic diseases such as ion channelopathies substantially burden human health. Existing treatments are limited and not genotype specific. Here, we report a 2-step high-throughput approach to rapidly identify drug candidates for repurposing as genotype-specific therapy. We first screened 1,680 medicines using a thallium-flux trafficking assay against Kv11.1 gene variants causing long QT syndrome (LQTS), an ion channelopathy associated with fatal cardiac arrhythmia. We identified evacetrapib as a suitable drug candidate that improves membrane trafficking and activates channels. We then used deep mutational scanning to prospectively identify all Kv11.1 missense variants in an LQTS hotspot region responsive to treatment with evacetrapib. …


The Global Hypophosphatasia Registry: Lessons Learned From A Decade Of Real-World Data., Priya S. Kishnani, Lothar Seefried, Keiichi Ozono, Gabriel Ángel Martos-Moreno, Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, Deborah Fowler, Luke K. Burke, William R. Mowrey, Eric T. Rush, Peter R. Ebeling, Wolfgang Högler, Agnès Linglart, Shona Fang, Anna Petryk, Kathryn M. Dahir Nov 2025

The Global Hypophosphatasia Registry: Lessons Learned From A Decade Of Real-World Data., Priya S. Kishnani, Lothar Seefried, Keiichi Ozono, Gabriel Ángel Martos-Moreno, Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, Deborah Fowler, Luke K. Burke, William R. Mowrey, Eric T. Rush, Peter R. Ebeling, Wolfgang Högler, Agnès Linglart, Shona Fang, Anna Petryk, Kathryn M. Dahir

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inherited, metabolic, rare disease characterized by a high level of clinical heterogeneity. In response to this robust heterogeneity, the Global HPP Registry was formed to characterize the types of manifestations that patients may experience, as well as to compile information on genetic underpinnings of the disease, overall impact on patient quality of life, and safety and effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy. The objective of this review was to synthesize key learnings gained from the Global HPP Registry, which is now in its tenth year of enrolling patients.

METHODS: Registry data were analyzed to provide up-to-date …


Candida Glabrata Vertebral Osteomyelitis Following L3-4 Transforaminal Lumbar Fusion: Illustrative Case, Bryce R. Michael, Adam Youssef, Paige Grafton, Saleh Mostafa, Jonathan Sayegh, Luis A. Robles, Abduljabbar Alhammoud Nov 2025

Candida Glabrata Vertebral Osteomyelitis Following L3-4 Transforaminal Lumbar Fusion: Illustrative Case, Bryce R. Michael, Adam Youssef, Paige Grafton, Saleh Mostafa, Jonathan Sayegh, Luis A. Robles, Abduljabbar Alhammoud

Student Publications

Background: Candida vertebral osteomyelitis is rare, particularly following instrumented spine surgery. Candida glabrata presents additional management challenges due to its frequent resistance to azole antifungal treatment and its association with immunocompromised hosts.

Observations: A 74-year-old immunosuppressed man underwent L3-4 transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with cyst excision. Seven weeks postoperatively, he presented with constitutional symptoms and elevated inflammatory markers but was discharged with presumed viral illness. Nine months after surgery, imaging revealed cage displacement. Intraoperative cultures during hardware removal identified C. glabrata. The patient underwent repeat irrigation and debridement with hardware exchange and was treated with intravenous micafungin and oral fluconazole …


Critical Technology Areas Part 2: Implications And Recommendations For The Warfighter And Warfighting, James Giordano Nov 2025

Critical Technology Areas Part 2: Implications And Recommendations For The Warfighter And Warfighting, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary builds on the designation of six Critical Technology Areas defined by the U.S. Department of War: Applied Artificial Intelligence, biomanufacturing, contested logistics technologies, quantum and battlefield information dominance, scaled directed energy, and scaled hypersonics, to analyze their implications for future warfighting and to offer practical recommendations. Dr. Giordano explains how these technologies will compress decision timelines, blur attribution, and integrate across domains, fundamentally altering operational tempo and strategic risk. Preparing warfighters for these changes requires heightened technical literacy, updated education and training, organizational adaptation, and robust ethical frameworks. The article argues that doctrinal evolution, iterative experimentation, and interdisciplinary …


Chimes: November 24, 2025, Calvin University Nov 2025

Chimes: November 24, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Student Senate welcomes LCS council by Ellery Johnson

Administrators respond to student questions in second academic transition town hall by Ian Tjoelker & Ashley Hammons

Matins: A poetry collection by Professor Otto Selles by McKenna Wilkinson

No Noise November: A spiritual, physical and mental practice by Ella Vanden Berg

Seminary: A "seedbed" for growth by Joe Toly

Calvin's Women's Rugby on the rise by Hendrik Beelen

Furry friends on campus keep watch over students by Ashley Hamons & Maya Oeverman

"You Will Be Like God": On freedom and the fall of Anakin Skywalker by Joe Toly


Population Dynamics, Host Range, And Impact Of The Naturalized Weevil Ochyromera Ligustri: A Potential Biological Control Agent Of Invasive Ligustrum Sinense, Brandi H. Misiaszek Nov 2025

Population Dynamics, Host Range, And Impact Of The Naturalized Weevil Ochyromera Ligustri: A Potential Biological Control Agent Of Invasive Ligustrum Sinense, Brandi H. Misiaszek

LSU Master's Theses

Invasive woody plants have become dominant components of many forest understories in the southeastern United States. These species can displace native species, disrupt ecosystem processes, and reduce biodiversity. Chinese privet (Oleaceae: Ligustrum sinense Lour.) is an invasive shrub distributed through the Southeastern United States. The ligustrum weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ochyromera ligustri Warner) is a non-native insect that was first found in the U.S. on Ligustrum in 1959. This weevil is considered a potential fortuitous biological control agent of invasive Ligustrum spp. in the U.S. The objectives of this study were to evaluate O. ligustri as a potential biological control agent …


Sampling Gear Performance And Elasmobranch Distributions In The Upper Florida Keys, Ethan L. Dewald Nov 2025

Sampling Gear Performance And Elasmobranch Distributions In The Upper Florida Keys, Ethan L. Dewald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are vital marine predators, yet many populations are declining from overfishing and habitat loss. Marine protected areas like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) can support recovery, but knowledge gaps remain in habitat-specific community structure and survey effectiveness. I surveyed inshore (seagrass, hardbottom) and offshore (patch reef, bank reef) habitats in the Upper Florida Keys using longlines, drumlines, baited remote underwater video (BRUVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Inshore assemblages showed strong habitat-driven patterns, with Ginglymostoma cirratum dominating seagrass sites, whereas offshore reefs were more homogeneous. UAVs captured the highest inshore richness, and drumlines …


A Contemporary Review On Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction, Allison Weiss, Ambre Flowers, Scott D Eisenberg, Lingling Wu, Mario Rodriguez, Muzamil Khawaja, Errol Moras, Carl J Lavie, Gregg C Fonarow, W H Wilson Tang, Biykem Bozkurt, Chayakrit Krittanawong Nov 2025

A Contemporary Review On Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction, Allison Weiss, Ambre Flowers, Scott D Eisenberg, Lingling Wu, Mario Rodriguez, Muzamil Khawaja, Errol Moras, Carl J Lavie, Gregg C Fonarow, W H Wilson Tang, Biykem Bozkurt, Chayakrit Krittanawong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heart failure is a complex condition caused by various etiologies that reduce cardiac output or increase cardiac pressures. It is classified by left ventricular ejection fraction, a key prognostic factor. New therapies, devices, and better management of secondary causes have improved outcomes. A recently identified group-those with heart failure and improved ejection fraction-shows better prognosis. This review explores its definition, causes, clinical significance, and management strategies.


Stiefel Md Anderson Oropharynx Cancer (Mda-Opc) Cohort: A Single-Institution, Prospective Longitudinal Outcomes Study, Amy Moreno, Ariana J Sahli, Faye Johnson, Xiaowen Sun, Carly Barbon, Waree Rinsurongkawong, Wenye Song, Flavie M Luciani, Han Liang, Jun Li, Wei Liu, J Jack Lee, S J Frank, Stephen Lai, Clifton Fuller, Katherine Hutcheson Nov 2025

Stiefel Md Anderson Oropharynx Cancer (Mda-Opc) Cohort: A Single-Institution, Prospective Longitudinal Outcomes Study, Amy Moreno, Ariana J Sahli, Faye Johnson, Xiaowen Sun, Carly Barbon, Waree Rinsurongkawong, Wenye Song, Flavie M Luciani, Han Liang, Jun Li, Wei Liu, J Jack Lee, S J Frank, Stephen Lai, Clifton Fuller, Katherine Hutcheson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The MD Anderson Oropharynx Cancer (MDA-OPC) cohort is a unique single-institution, prospective longitudinal cancer cohort. The cohort aims to enhance the therapeutic index of OPC management by supporting data needs for independent investigators to conduct rigorous observational studies examining exposures and factors associated with acute and late toxicities, cancer progression, recurrence, new malignancies and quality of life in OPC survivors.

Participants: A total of 1811 patients with OPC with a minimum follow-up of 6 months have been consented to our prospective registry between 18 March 2015 and 29 December 2023. Clinical and treatment (Tx) data are available on all …


Mycobacterium Chelonae Outbreak Investigation At A Quaternary Pediatric Hospital Following The Opening Of A Leed-Certified Critical Care Tower: Where Does Water Sustainability Intersect With Infection Control?, Andrea L Ankrum, Silvia M Caceres, Michael Torsell, Elaine Epperson, Vinicius Calado Nogueira De Moura, Jennifer J Gilick, Michael Strong, Qingyun Liu, Matthew J Strand, Rachel N Wilsey, Jennifer R Honda, Jane E Gross, Felicia A Scaggs-Huang Nov 2025

Mycobacterium Chelonae Outbreak Investigation At A Quaternary Pediatric Hospital Following The Opening Of A Leed-Certified Critical Care Tower: Where Does Water Sustainability Intersect With Infection Control?, Andrea L Ankrum, Silvia M Caceres, Michael Torsell, Elaine Epperson, Vinicius Calado Nogueira De Moura, Jennifer J Gilick, Michael Strong, Qingyun Liu, Matthew J Strand, Rachel N Wilsey, Jennifer R Honda, Jane E Gross, Felicia A Scaggs-Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Investigate the increased incidence of Mycobacterium chelonae positive respiratory cultures in hospitalized patients.

Design: Apply the Healthcare-Associated Links in Transmission of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (HALT NTM) toolkit to an outbreak investigation of M. chelonae.

Setting: Quaternary-care pediatric hospital and medical center in the United States with a recently opened LEED-certified critical care tower.

Patients: Adult and pediatric patients with M. chelonae positive respiratory cultures between June 2022 and January 2024.

Methods: An epidemiological investigation involving clinical and laboratory practices, water management, building construction and renovation projects. Environmental sampling of air vents, water sources and endoscope reprocessing equipment was performed. M. …


Analysis Of A Deeply-Phenotyped Familial Hypercholesterolemia Cohort From Mexico Shows A Role For Both Rare And Common Alleles Across Known Dyslipidemia Genes And Reveals Structural Variation In A Novel Locus, Nicholas Katsanis, Niki Mourtzi, Consuelo D Quinto-Cortés, Alexandro J Martagon, Alexander G Ioannidis, Francisco M De La Vega, Jeff Gulcher, Ming Ta Michael Lee, Mohammad A Faghihi, Arturo Lopez-Pineda, Sonia Moreno-Grau, Daniel Mas Montserrat, Míriam Barrabés, David Bonet, Pavel Salazar Fernandez, Jeff Wall, Babak Moatamed, Roopa Mehta, Gabriela A Galan-Ramirez, Rafael Zubirán, Daniel Elias-Lopez, Teresa Tusié-Luna, Carlos A Aguilar-Salinas, Carlos D Bustamante Nov 2025

Analysis Of A Deeply-Phenotyped Familial Hypercholesterolemia Cohort From Mexico Shows A Role For Both Rare And Common Alleles Across Known Dyslipidemia Genes And Reveals Structural Variation In A Novel Locus, Nicholas Katsanis, Niki Mourtzi, Consuelo D Quinto-Cortés, Alexandro J Martagon, Alexander G Ioannidis, Francisco M De La Vega, Jeff Gulcher, Ming Ta Michael Lee, Mohammad A Faghihi, Arturo Lopez-Pineda, Sonia Moreno-Grau, Daniel Mas Montserrat, Míriam Barrabés, David Bonet, Pavel Salazar Fernandez, Jeff Wall, Babak Moatamed, Roopa Mehta, Gabriela A Galan-Ramirez, Rafael Zubirán, Daniel Elias-Lopez, Teresa Tusié-Luna, Carlos A Aguilar-Salinas, Carlos D Bustamante

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder driven in part by mutations in three genes that encode components of the cholesterol pathway: LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9. However, the majority of FH genetics has been performed in individuals of European descent. Here, we leveraged a cohort of 300 patients from the Mexican FH registry to understand how rare, high liability alleles and common variants might contribute to shaping individual risk. Using a combination of whole exome and of short- and long-read whole genome sequencing, we report three key findings. First, we observed that rare pathogenic point mutations and structural variants in …


Modified Artificial Neural Networks In Stochastic Differential Equations To Estimate The Occurrence Rate Of A New Process For Software Reliability Growth Modelling, Adel Sufyan Hussain, Zedan Zubair Mashikhin, Noora Taha Abduirazzaq Nov 2025

Modified Artificial Neural Networks In Stochastic Differential Equations To Estimate The Occurrence Rate Of A New Process For Software Reliability Growth Modelling, Adel Sufyan Hussain, Zedan Zubair Mashikhin, Noora Taha Abduirazzaq

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper aims to utilize modified artificial neural networks under stochastic differential equations to improve the estimation of occurrence rates on models towards the growth of software reliability through such models. There has never been a time when reliable assessment methods have been more important as software systems grow ever more sophisticated. This study covers the risks arising from software bugs, security weaknesses, and the need to meet legal requirements. The authors use a new method that combines artificial intelligence techniques with classical reliability models to achieve their goal of a more efficient computational tool for predicting software reliability. It …


Serum Levels Of Uchl1 And S100b In Covid-19 And Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Comparative Study In Erbil City, Krg, Iraq, Daldar Fares Jeejo, Mayada Noori Iqbal, Nisreen Sherif Alyasiri Nov 2025

Serum Levels Of Uchl1 And S100b In Covid-19 And Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Comparative Study In Erbil City, Krg, Iraq, Daldar Fares Jeejo, Mayada Noori Iqbal, Nisreen Sherif Alyasiri

Baghdad Science Journal

Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) and S100B are proteins involved in neuronal development and damage. Their levels in serum have been proposed as potential biomarkers for various neurological conditions, including COVID-19 and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The study aimed to compare serum levels of UCHL1 and S100B among COVID-19 patients, MS patients, and healthy controls, and to assess the correlation between these biomarkers in the context of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study included 91 COVID-19 patients, 29 MS patients, and 50 healthy controls from the Kurdistan Region (KRG) of Iraq. Serum levels of UCHL1 and S100B were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay …


Efficient Face Mask Recognition Model Based On Deep Learning And Multi-Machine Learning Classifiers, Hassenien Ali Hussein, Firas Muneam Bachay, Saffa Jasim Mosa, Mohammed Hasan Abdulameer Nov 2025

Efficient Face Mask Recognition Model Based On Deep Learning And Multi-Machine Learning Classifiers, Hassenien Ali Hussein, Firas Muneam Bachay, Saffa Jasim Mosa, Mohammed Hasan Abdulameer

Baghdad Science Journal

Safety in chemical and biological laboratories requires face masks. Nevertheless, the masked face images present obstacles to accommodate the wide pose variations, low resolution, changes in size and incomplete cropping, and varying emotive expressions, making feature extraction and recognition robust difficult. To decern between faces with proper, improper, and no facemask, Deep Learning (the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)) and classifiers such as SoftMax, Support Vector Machines (SVM) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) were used. The methodology utilized the 2075 AR face images that contain various resolutions, orientations, and occlusions. The paper develops a Deep Learning-based model utilizing CNNs and …


Thinning Antarctic Glaciers Expose High-Altitude Nunataks Delivering More Bioavailable Iron To The Southern Ocean, Kate Winter, John Woodward, Stuart A. Dunning, James R. Jordan, Joseph A. Graly, Matthew J. Westoby, Sian F. Henley, Robert Raiswell Nov 2025

Thinning Antarctic Glaciers Expose High-Altitude Nunataks Delivering More Bioavailable Iron To The Southern Ocean, Kate Winter, John Woodward, Stuart A. Dunning, James R. Jordan, Joseph A. Graly, Matthew J. Westoby, Sian F. Henley, Robert Raiswell

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Glacial systems entrain and transfer sediment, rich in essential nutrients, from continental sources to the ocean, where they are released by meltwater. In the Southern Ocean, primary producers are limited by the availability of micronutrients, like iron (Fe), so any increase in continental sediment supply could enhance primary productivity and subsequent drawdown of atmospheric CO2. Here we provide a systematic account of labile Fe concentrations in Antarctic continental sediments. Ferrihydrite and crystalline Fe (oxyhydr)oxides were extracted from 27 Antarctic samples collected from nunataks, lateral moraines and blue ice areas in the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. We report …