Digital Commons Network^™

Mediation Analysis To Investigate Differences In Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Stage Through Environmental Risk Factors In Louisiana, Nubaira Rizvi, Randy Hamilton, Xiao-Cheng Wu, Michael D. Celestin, Tung-Sung Tseng, Qingzhao Yu

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men. In Louisiana (LA), Black men are disproportionately diagnosed at later stages compared to White men. This study explores environmental risk factors as potential intermediate variables linking race to cancer diagnosis stage. The Louisiana Tumor Registry data included 24,647 male patients diagnosed with PCa in LA between 2010 and 2018. Among them, 15,875 (64.40%) were Caucasian American (CA) and 8772 (35.59%) African American (AA). Mediation analysis using multiple additive regression trees (MART) identified possible intermediate variables that potentially explain the observed disparity. …

Deciphering The Apomixis Reproductive Trait And Its Manipulation Strategies To Enhance Crop Improvement, Mohd Razik Midin, Aiesyaa Majdiena Emlee, Mohamad Azimi Shaharudin, Fadzlin Qistina Fauzan, Siti Fatimah Zakaria, Emelda Rosseleena Rohani, Farah Ayuni Farinordin

Turkish Journal of Botany

In plants, apomixis is the process of asexual reproduction when seeds are produced from the maternal tissues of the ovule. Gametophytic and sporophytic apomixis develop with distinctive mechanisms and are molecularly triggered either by hybridization or polyploidization. As apomixis involves meiosis suppression and parthenogenesis, these events are likely to be genetically driven. T he apomictic trait is associated with several genes that need a diploid or aneuploid gamete for their transfer in polyploid species. T he molecular mechanisms driving apomixis in various plant species have been explained by previous investigations into apomictic genes. Apomixis offers agronomic advantages, such as reducing …

Anxious Traits Intensify The Impact Of Depressive Symptoms On Stigma In People Living With Hiv, Alexia Koukopoulos, Antonio Maria D'Onofrio, Alessio Simonetti, Delfina Janiri, Flavio Cherubini, Paolo Vassalini, Letizia Santinelli, Gabriella D'Ettorre, Gabriele Sani, Giovanni Camardese

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Despite medical advances, stigma remains a major challenge for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined clinical, sociodemographic, and psychological predictors of HIV-related stigma, and explored whether affective temperament moderates the impact of depression on stigma.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 97 PLWH attending a tertiary infectious disease unit in Rome, Italy. Participants completed a battery of validated psychometric instruments assessing depressive symptoms, anxiety, manic symptoms, mixed affective states, general psychopathology, impulsivity, and affective temperament. HIV-related stigma was evaluated using the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, which measures personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concerns …

Choline-An Essential Nutrient With Health Benefits And A Signaling Molecule, Brianne C. Burns, Jitendra D. Belani, Hailey N. Wittorf, Eugen Brailoiu, G. Cristina Brailoiu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Choline has been recognized as an essential nutrient involved in various physiological functions critical to human health. Adequate daily intake of choline has been established by the US National Academy of Medicine in 1998, considering choline requirements for different ages, sex differences and physiological states (e.g., pregnancy). By serving as a precursor for acetylcholine and phospholipids, choline is important for cholinergic transmission and the structural integrity of cell membranes. In addition, choline is involved in lipid and cholesterol transport and serves as a methyl donor after oxidation to betaine. Extracellular choline is transported across the cell membrane via various transport …

Efficient Packaging Of Hiv-1 Genomes Via Recognition Of Its Adenosine-Rich Content By A Heterologous Rna-Binding Domain, Hung Ryan Vuong

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

RNA-protein interactions underlie many key processes in viral replication and antiviral immune responses. In this thesis, I reported our investigations on the roles of two RNA-binding proteins, Gag and IFIT1, in mediating HIV-1 genome packaging and regulating innate immune gene expression, respectively. The HIV-1 genome comprises a dimer of unspliced, positive sense mRNA (gRNA) that is packaged with high efficiency, with more than 90% of viral particles containing two copies of gRNA. Gag is the major HIV-1 structural protein that coordinates all steps of virion assembly and possesses a nucleocapsid domain (NC) required for gRNA binding and genome packaging. In …

Graduate Student Paper: Aging In A Changing Japan: Gendered Adaptation To Changing Family Structure, Miki Izu, Clayton Chalmers

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Although Japanese seniors are very healthy, research shows that they are not very happy. Compared to seniors in other developed countries, Japanese elders have lower ratings of subjective well-being and are increasingly alone. This paper argues that changes to Japanese family life help explain why Japanese elders are struggling with low subjective well-being. Specifically, declining marriage rates and declining rates of elders living with their children (co-residency) have made it harder for elders to get the support they need. Moreover, the effect and the adaptations to these changes are not equal between men and women. While elderly Japanese men are …

Global Training In Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Addressing Growing Challenges In Ibd, Jalpa Devi, Anuraag Jena, Adil Hassan, Rushali Lohia, Ignacio Catalan-Serra, Vishal Sharma, Shaji Sebastian

Open Access Articles Funded by the University of Nebraska Open Access Publishing Agreements or the former UNO Open Access Fund

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is increasing in incidence globally, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing a rapid surge in disease burden. However, the availability of structured training programs for IBD care remains highly unequal. This review evaluates the current global landscape of IBD workforce training, with an emphasis on identifying gaps and proposing solutions to enhance multidisciplinary preparedness. The IBD care team extends beyond gastroenterologists and includes surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, IBD nurses, dietitians, and mental health professionals. Yet, structured training pathways and credentialing mechanisms are scarce outside of high-income countries. Key barriers include limited access, financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, …

Scarna1 Expression Levels Affect Alternative Splicing Of Mrna, Madeleine Brown, Brittnei Earl, Michael Filla, Nataliya Kibiryeva, James E. O'Brien Jr., Douglas C. Bittel

Student Publications

Our previous research identified 12 small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) with reduced expression in the right ventricle in infant patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Likewise, we showed that there were significant changes in mRNA processing in the RV in these patients. ScaRNAs play a crucial role in the biochemical maturation of spliceosomal RNAs (pseudouridylation and 2′-O-methylation). We showed that variations in scaRNA1 levels resulted in changes in alternative splicing in human cells. To investigate further the role that scaRNAs play in mRNA processing, we examine here the impact of knocking down scaRNA1 in quail myoblast cells (Coturnix japonica, a well-established …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Botany

No abstract provided.

Biochemical And Proteomic Analyses Explain The Role Of Thiourea In Improving Tolerance Against Cadmium Toxicity In Maize, Mustafa Yildiz, Hakan Terzi̇, Nurgül Sönmez

Turkish Journal of Botany

Thiourea (TU), a sulfur-containing compound, is recognized for its ability to ameliorate the deleterious impacts of metal ions on plant growth. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms by which TU regulates metabolic activities in maize (Zea mays L.) under cadmium (Cd) stress remain largely unexplored. This study seeks to clarify how TU (35 μM) mitigates or enhances tolerance to Cd toxicity (50 μM) through physiological and proteomic methods. Cd exposure resulted in inhibited plant growth, leaf chlorosis, and lipid peroxidation; however, the addition of TU reduced Cd toxicity by decreasing Cd accumulation and modulating antioxidant enzyme activity. The global proteome profile was …

The Effects Of S-Metolachlor On Some Fatty Acids And Fatty Acids Gene Expressions In Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.), Gi̇zem Nardemi̇r, Güleray Ağar, Mahmut Si̇nan Taşpinar

Turkish Journal of Botany

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius (L.)) is one of the widely studied plants due to its resistance to abiotic stress, suitability for summer and winter cultivation, rich in nutrients and linoleic acid. Thus, it has become more important compared to other oil plants in recent years. Weed infestation affects the growth of this cultivated plant during the greening period. S-metolachlor is one of the widely used herbicides that prevent the growth of weeds. In this study, three different doses of S-metolachlor (1, 2 and 4 g of active substance/L) were applied to two different safflower genotypes (Dinçer and Remzibey-05), and their effects …

Scarna1 Expression Levels Affect Alternative Splicing Of Mrna., Madeleine Brown, Brittnei Earl, Michael Filla, Nataliya Kibiryeva, James E. O'Brien, Douglas C. Bittel

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Our previous research identified 12 small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) with reduced expression in the right ventricle in infant patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Likewise, we showed that there were significant changes in mRNA processing in the RV in these patients. ScaRNAs play a crucial role in the biochemical maturation of spliceosomal RNAs (pseudouridylation and 2'-O-methylation). We showed that variations in scaRNA1 levels resulted in changes in alternative splicing in human cells. To investigate further the role that scaRNAs play in mRNA processing, we examine here the impact of knocking down scaRNA1 in quail myoblast cells (Coturnix japonica, …

Abalone And Seaweed Co-Culture: Growth And Shell Biomineralization Of An Iconic California Gastropod, Noah R. Kolander

Master's Theses

Climate change threatens shellfish aquaculture worldwide, with ocean acidification (OA) accelerating shell dissolution and reducing calcification, hindering growth. This study addressed the negative impacts of OA on juvenile red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), a life stage that is particularly susceptible to climate stressors, and the ability of the red seaweed, dulse (Devaleraea mollis), to mitigate these effects. I tested the hypothesis that Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), with abalone and seaweed grown in co-culture, can raise seawater pH through photosynthesis to yield more favorable conditions for abalone growth and shell construction. A 5-month experiment was conducted to determine the benefits of IMTA …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Black Female Swimmers' Experiences Of Belonging, Felicity E. Passon

Master's Theses

Although swimming participation has grown in the United States, the experiences of Black female swimmers remain significantly underrepresented in academic literature. This study addresses that gap by exploring the lived experiences of Black women participating in Division 1 (D1) college swimming. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Black feminist thought, the research explored how Black female D1 swimmers experienced belonging in this underrepresented sport. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine D1 Black female swimmers, and six major themes illustrate the varied factors that shaped their experiences of belonging. Even with racially gendered barriers to inclusion, they identified strategies to foster …

Fluid-Structure Interaction Comsol Model For Unsteady Flow Through A 3d Bi-Leaflet Mechanical Heart Valve, Aya Zaky

Master's Theses

In this study, we developed a 3D Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) model using COMSOL© to analyze the unsteady flow through a bi-leaflet mechanical heart valve. The model incorporates sufficient complexity to test various factors, such as leaflet angle rotation, material selection for rigid components, fluid properties, and different simulation modes. Simultaneously, the model maintains a simplified structure and is developed using a single software platform, facilitating ease of modification and expansion by other researchers or developers. The mechanical heart valve (MHV) design was created using St. Jude’s geometric parameters as a reference. The input and output pressure waveforms are derived from …

Cultivating Belonging: Empowering Hispanic Parents In The U.S. Education System, Kalpana Galagali

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the experiences of Hispanic families at Bay Area Middle School and the strategies I employed to create a sense of belonging and support for both students and their families. Key strategies included fostering effective communication through Spanish interpreters, celebrating cultural traditions, and organizing inclusive events like the annual cultural fair. Parents expressed gratitude for the personal attention their children received and noted how these initiatives positively impacted their sense of belonging. The findings highlight that cultural integration and community-building efforts significantly enhanced family engagement, transforming perceptions of the school environment from feelings of disconnection to appreciation …

Feasibility Of Manufacturing And Antitumor Activity Of Til For Advanced Endometrial Cancers, Yongliang Zhang, Kathleen N Moore, Amir A Jazaeri, Judy Fang, Ilabahen Patel, Andrew Yuhas, Patrick Innamarato, Nathan Gilbert, Joseph W Dean, Behzad Damirchi, Joe Yglesias, Rongsu Qi, Michelle R Simpson-Abelson, Erwin Cammaart, Sean R R Hall, Hequn Yin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lifileucel, a tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy approved for advanced melanoma, demonstrates promise for treating other solid tumors, including endometrial cancer (EC). The current study evaluates the feasibility of manufacturing TILs from EC tumors using Iovance’s proprietary 22-day Gen2 manufacturing process. Key parameters, including TIL yield, viability, immune phenotype, T-cell receptor clonality, and cytotoxic activity, were assessed. Of the 11 EC tumor samples processed at research scale, 10 (91%) successfully generated >1 × 109 viable TIL cells, with a median yield of 1.1 × 1010 cells and a median viability of 82.8%. Of the four EC tumor samples processed at …

Machine-Learning Driven Strategies For Adapting Immunotherapy In Metastatic Nsclc, Maliazurina B Saad, Qasem Al-Tashi, Lingzhi Hong, Vivek Verma, Wentao Li, Daniel Boiarsky, Shenduo Li, Milena Petranovic, Carol C Wu, Brett W Carter, Girish S Shroff, Tina Cascone, Xiuning Le, Yasir Y Elamin, Mehmet Altan, Simon Heeke, Ajay Sheshadri, Joe Y Chang, Percy P Lee, Zhongxing Liao, Don L Gibbons, Ara A Vaporciyan, J Jack Lee, Ignacio I Wistuba, Cara Haymaker, Seyedali Mirjalili, David Jaffray, Justin F Gainor, Yanyan Lou, Alessandro Di Federico, Federica Pecci, Mark Awad, Biagio Ricciuti, John V Heymach, Natalie I Vokes, Jianjun Zhang, Jia Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), either as monotherapy (ICI-Mono) or combined with chemotherapy (ICI-Chemo), improves survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, prospective guidance for choosing between these options remains limited, and single-feature biomarkers like PD-L1 prove inadequate. We develop a machine learning model using clinicogenomic data from four cohorts (MD Anderson n = 750; Mayo Clinic n = 80; Dana-Farber n = 1077; Stand Up To Cancer n = 393) to predict individual benefit from adding chemotherapy. Benefit scores are calculated using five distinct functions derived from 28 genomic and 6 clinical features. Our integrated model, A-STEP (Attention-based …

Infants' Visual Preference For Expansive And Contractive Body Postures: An Eye-Tracking Study, Maryam Rostami-Aghoui, Caroline Floccia, Farid Pazhoohi

School of Psychology

Nonverbal communication is pivotal in early social and emotional development, with body postures serving as crucial cues. While extensive research has explored infants' recognition of emotions from facial expressions, a significant gap remains in understanding their visual inclinations towards body postures. Despite some studies on adults, there has been a lack of investigation into how infants respond to deliberate displays, particularly using eye-tracking methods. This research addresses this gap by examining whether infants exhibit a preference for expansive postures over contractive ones. A sample of 18 infants aged 12–24 months participated in the study, with their gaze patterns measured across …

Designing Well-Being Intervention Trials For People With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: The Importance Of Understanding Usual Care Comparators, Marcia Finlayson, Silvia Poli, Federico Bozzoli, Giampaolo Brichetto, Lars Bø, Isolde Martina Busch, Ulrik Dalgas, Nikos Evangelou, Amanda Farrin, Jennifer Freeman, Helena Jidborg, Daphne Kos, Claudia H. Marck, Daniel Ontaneda, Jessica Podda, Michela Rimondini, Polly Swain, Emma Tallantyre, Lauren A. Taylor, Roshan Das Nair

School of Health Professions

Well-being captures an individual’s capacity to lead a mean ingful and engaged life. Interventions to address well-being go beyond managing symptoms or supporting daily activity performance. Designing trials to evaluate the effectiveness of such well-being interventions can be challenging. One such challenge is determining what the comparator or control arm should be. Several trials of complex interventions use usual care as a comparator, but this can be particularly challenging when planning trials across multiple countries and health care systems. Therefore, trial design decisions must be informed by a good understanding of what constitutes usual or routine well-being interventions across locations. …

Optimizing Thermal Performance Of Ag-Mgo/H2O Hybrid Nanofluid Flow In A Quarter-Circular Cavity Using Response Surface Methodology And Artificial Neural Network, M.S. Alam, M.N. Huda, M.M. Rahman, M. Al-Lawati

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

This research analyzes the optimization of the thermal performance of the natural convective flow of Ag-MgO/H2O hybrid nanofluid within a quarter-circular cavity utilizing response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques through a non-homogeneous dynamic mathematical model. The Galerkin-weighted residual finite element method numerically solves the governing dimensionless equations and boundary conditions. The numerical results are then used to train ANN and RSM models and evaluate their performance. The results indicated that both models are dependable for this investigation, exhibiting a notably high coefficient of determination for the performance control variable, the average Nusselt number. In addition, the …

Antibacterial Potential Of Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo Tapanuliensis) Food In Batang Toru Forest Against Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Typhi, Herna Febrianty Sianipar, Wahyu Widoretno, Luchman Hakim, Rezi Rahmi Amolia, Fatchiyah Fatchiyah

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Diarrhea is a common disease affecting orangutans, primarily caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi bacteria. To treat this disease, antibacterial food sources are essential as therapeutic agents for orangutans. The fruits consumed by Tapanuli orangutans include Campnosperma auriculatum, Agathis borneensis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Castanopsis argantea, and Aglaia tomentosa. This study aims to examine the amino acid and phytochemical components with potential antibacterial properties in these five fruit species and their inhibitory effects on E. coli and S. typhi growth through cell lysis, observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The samples were tested for amino acids, phytochemicals, vitamin C content, …

Uptake, Distribution, And Activity Of Pluronic F68 Adjuvant In Wheat And Its Endophytic Bacillus Isolate, Anthony Cartwright, Mohammad Zargaran, Anagha Wankhade, Astrid Jacobson, Joan E. Mclean, Anne J. Anderson, David W. Britt

Biological Engineering Student Research

Surfactants are widely utilized in agriculture as emulsifying, dispersing, anti-foaming, and wetting agents. In these adjuvant roles, the inherent biological activity of the surfactant is secondary to the active ingredients. Here, the hydrophilic non-ionic surface-active tri-block copolymer Pluronic^® F68 is investigated for direct biological activity in wheat. F68 binds to and inserts into lipid membranes, which may benefit crops under abiotic stress. F68’s interactions with Triticum aestivum (var Juniper) seedlings and a seed-borne Bacillus spp. endophyte are presented. At concentrations below 10 g/L, F68-primed wheat seeds exhibited unchanged emergence. Root-applied fluorescein-F68 (fF68) was internalized in root epidermal cells and …

Assay Development For The Identification Of Novel Therapeutics To Treat Heart Failure And Skeletal Muscle Disorders, Micah C. Israel, Brooke Ferkull, Thomas Goyne

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This project is a collaborative effort between Pelagos Pharmaceuticals & Valpo U. Overall goal = develop drugs that will halt &/or reverse congestive heart failure and skeletal muscle disorders by targeting two nuclear receptors: Rev-Erb & the estrogen-related receptors (ERRs). The work reported here is focused on the treatment of mouse myoblasts (skeletal muscle cell precursors) with potential ERR agonists & then looking for protective changes in gene expression.

Exploring Therapeutic Potential Of Low Dose Naltrexone For Fibromyalgia Patients, Lauren Bartlett

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: This study aims to compare and evaluate current research on the use and efficacy of low dose naltrexone (LDN) in reducing pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and an Valparaiso University's library database. Search items included "low dose naltrexone" and "fibromyalgia." Studies were included if they focused on LDN treatment in FM populations, emphasizing symptom outcomes and safety profiles. Eligible publications comprised randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and clinical studies.

Results: Five studies met inclusion criteria: one randomized, double-blind trial, three systematic reviews, and one randomized, single-blinded clinical …

Judith Winston, Phd, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson

Miscellaneous Documents

No abstract provided.

Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy For Treatment Refractory Mental Illness, Mackenzie R. Ketterhagen

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This project explores the potential of Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy (KMT) as adjunctive therapy for refractory mental illness. Evidence suggests that ketogenesis can reverse mitochondrial dysfunction, a pathophysiological feature commonly associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia disorder (SD), leading to measurable improvements in psychiatric symptoms, metabolic biomarkers, and body composition. While preliminary results are promising, current data are based on small sample sizes and short study durations, limiting the generalizability of findings. Therefore, KMT cannot yet be considered a broadly validated adjunctive treatment for severe mental illness. Continued research, particularly longitudinal studies, is essential to determine …

Effect Of Simulated Microgravity On Candida Albicans Amphotericin B Resistance, James Livengood, Patrice G. Bouyer

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

It is conjectured that exposing Candida albicans (C. albicans) to microgravity increases drug resistance gene expression. To research whether simulated microgravity increases amphotericin B resistance, we inoculated six plates with C. albicans that have been exposed to microgravity (using a clinostat) for 72 hours and six plates with C. albicans exposed to gravity for 72 hours. A disc diffusion (Kirby-Bauer) test was performed as such: the plates were divided into quarters, with 1 disc, either an antifungal or pure water control, placed in each quarter. The test discs were loaded with 10 micrograms (40 microliters) of amphotericin B …

Structural Differential Privacy In Graph Neural Networks, Bibek Giri

Master’s Dissertations

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have demonstrated impressive performance across a range of graph-based learning tasks. However, their application to domains with sensitive relational data raises serious privacy concerns, as the graph structure itself may leak confidential information. This thesis investigates a decentralized framework for enforcing edge-level local di!erential privacy (LDP) in graph-structured data. We introduce two mechanisms that perturb a node’s neighborhood in a privacy-preserving yet utility-aware manner. The first approach replaces randomly selected neighbors with feature-similar nodes from the 2-hop neighborhood, ensuring structural realism while preserving degree. The second approach eliminates the need for explicit 2-hop propagation and dummy …

Temporal And Generational Changes In Depression Among Young American Adults, Ashley W. Kranjac, Dinko Kranjac, Valentine Chung

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The prevalence of depression among young American adults has risen significantly over the past two decades, but the mechanisms that underlie the population-level changes in depressive symptoms severity remain unclear. We used data from the 2005–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and hierarchical age–period–cohort (HAPC) analysis to examine developmental (i.e., age), life stage (i.e., period), and generational (i.e., cohort) distribution of depressive symptoms among American adults aged 20–30 years old over an 18-year period. Our model results indicate that the probability of either mild, moderate, or severe depression increased among young adult females and males between 2005 and …