Digital Commons Network^™

Methylated Arginine Metabolites As Biomarkers For Clinical Status And Response To Type 5 Phosphodiesterase Inhibition In Patients With Fontan Circulation., Ari Cedars, Cedric Manlhiot, Bhargava Kumar Chinni, Alexander R. Opotowsky, Kristian Becker, Anne Le, Pratik Khare, Jong Love Ko, Allen Everett, Shelby Kutty, Mark W. Russell, R Mark Payne, Andrew M. Atz, Brian W. Mccrindle, Rahul H. Rathod, Matthew Lewis, David Goldberg, Kevin Hill, Michelle Ploutz, Jon Detterich, Kurt Schumacher, Robert Whitehill, Daniel J. Penny, Mark Cartoski, Rachel Sullivan, Matthew Files, Ruchira Garg, Jonathan B. Wagner, Roni Jacobsen, Todd Nowlen, Scott Fletcher, Jennifer Conway, Gi Boem Kim, Fred Wu, Victor Zak

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: There is significant interest in NO pathway modulators, specifically type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5is), to treat patients with a Fontan circulation. Trials, however, have had mixed results. The relationship between the NO pathway and clinical status in patients with Fontan circulation is a significant knowledge gap.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed targeted metabolomic analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to quantify plasma NO pathway metabolite concentrations from 2 well-characterized populations of patients with Fontan circulation: the Boston Adult Congenital Heart Disease Biobank and Fontan Udenafil Exercise Longitudinal studies. We investigated associations between NO metabolite concentrations and clinical …

The Human Touch: Exploring Emotional Attachment Responses To Human And Artificial Intelligence (Ai)-Generated Imagery, Belyn P. Thompson

Posters - 2025

Considering the new age of marketing, consumer reactions and interactions with marketing have drastically changed and flexed over the decades. The most recent hit revelation is AI marketing, specifically AI-generated images, and the worry that it brings to not only marketing specialists but to the whole community. Within other studies, there is often mention of an emotional connection to images used in advertisements (among videos, media, etc.) through various methods such as senses, loyalty, connection, and empathy. This paper works to better understand how AI-generated images used for advertising could affect emotional attachment and purchase behavior in consumers.

Comparison Between Antigen And Aalelic Hla Mismatches, And The Risk Of Acute Rejection In Kidney Transplant Recipients, Ryan Gately, Anne Taverniti, Narelle Watson, Armando Teixeira-Pinto, Esther Ooi, Rowena Lalji, Ross Francis, Lucy Sullivan, William Mulley, Kate Wyburn, Scott Campbell, Carmel Hawley, Germaine Wong, Wai H. Lim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Deceased donor kidney allocation relies on HLA compatibility at the antigen level, as optimal matching reduces the risk of acute rejection. Whether HLA allele-level mismatches improve, the prediction of acute rejection after transplantation remains unclear. Using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) from 2017 to 2020, HLA antigenic and allelic mismatches between recipients and deceased donors were calculated with imputation of two-field allelic equivalents undertaken where required. The discordance between antigen and allele mismatches was calculated, and oblique random survival forest models were used to predict acute rejection. Predictive performance of antigen (HLA-A, -B, …

El Campanario (Volume 1, Issue 2), St. Mary's University

Honors Program Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Nitrogen Processes Within Tropical Mangroves In Australia, M. F. Adame, N. Iram, J. N. Gamboa-Cutz, P. Masque

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal wetlands have long been identified as ecosystems that can ameliorate N inputs into the ocean. The processes associated with N uptake, transformation, and losses are relatively well understood for temperate wetlands; however, information on tropical wetlands is scarce. In this study, we conducted a whole ecosystem approach to measure N processes within tropical mangroves in the Moresby estuary in northeast Australia. We measured N stocks (trees and soils), inputs from sedimentation, fixation, and accumulation as woody biomass, and outputs through denitrification, anammox, and soil respiration (N2O emissions). Potential denitrification was detected along anammox (average, min-max) at 883 (485–1,450) gN …

Exploring University Student Mental Health And Wellbeing Through A Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From The Living Room, Amanda L. Cole, Fiona Navin, Dawn Reid

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Universities are increasingly recognising the importance of addressing the social and emotional wellbeing of their students. Mental health challenges experienced while at university can hinder academic achievement and exacerbate existing mental ill-health. In response to this identified need, many institutions have implemented mental health services, such as psychological and counselling support. However, barriers such as stigma, accessibility, and effectiveness often limit their reach and impact. Many students do not avail themselves to services, or access the supports available, due to these barriers. This study gathered initial data from 110 participants who visited Edith Cowan University’s “The Living Room” (TLR) within …

Female Beluga Behavior During Breeding Season - It's All About The Males, Alondra-Sophia Martinez, Heather Manitzas Hill, Katie Kolodziej

Posters - 2025

This poster was created for the 5th annual Research Showcase. From the poster:

The current study examined the behavior of adult female belugas during courtship/breeding.

Exploring Biostimulant Efficacy Under Limited Fertilizer And Water In Utah's Watermelon Production, Evan Christensen, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira, Prakriti Nepal, Youping Sun

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The western U.S. has recently experienced some of the driest conditions on record, and Utah has been in a multi-year drought (2019-2023) that affected the agricultural sector, including vegetable producers. While vegetables are not a primary agricultural crop in Utah, they are still an important part of the horticultural economy with 763 farms growing 6,138 acres. As the fourth largest acreage vegetable crop in Utah (almost 10% of the acreage) watermelon and related crops in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae (nearly 36% of total vegetable acreage) are important to vegetable growers. Watermelon is a water-intensive crop and requires an adequate supply …

Trapping The Effects Of Tobacco Smoking: The Regulation And Function Of Acp5 Expression In Lung Macrophages, Suzanne H. Willems, Shilei Qian, Pernilla Lång, Bjarne E. Overtoom, Sina Alimostafazadeh, Rocío Fuentes-Mateos, Gwenda F. Vasse, T. Anienke Van Der Veen, Jelmer Vlasma, Marina H. De Jager, Victor Guryev, Gyorgy Fejer, Göran Andersson, Barbro N. Melgert

School of Biomedical Sciences

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase [TRAP, gene acid phosphatase 5 (Acp5; gene name for TRAP)] is highly expressed in alveolar macrophages with proposed roles in lung inflammation and lung fibrosis development. We previously showed that its expression and activity are higher in lung macrophages of smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggesting involvement in smoke-induced lung damage. In this study, we explored the function of TRAP and regulation of its different mRNA transcripts (Acp5 201-206) in lung tissue exposed to cigarette smoke to elucidate its function in alveolar macrophages. In mice exposed to cigarette smoke or air for 4–6 …

Analysis Of Mapt On Alzheimer’S Disease, Elaine Vanterpool

Student Posters

There are multiple factors that contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. These include genetic causes, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices. Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau. (MAPT) is a gene that is associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. There are 2 main alleles of the APOE gene: H1 haplotype and H2 haplotype. H1 haplotype is the more common variant and is associated with an increased risk of developing tau-related neurodegenerative diseases.H2 haplotype is less common and is thought to have originated from an ancient inversion on chromosome 17q21. It may have some protective effects against certain tauopathies. The H1 haplotype is …

An Analysis Of Htt Involvement In Huntington’S Disease, Elaine Vanterpool, Micah Andrews

Student Posters

Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder which affects every three to seven out of 100,000 individuals. Huntington’s is categorized by behavior change, such as reward perception, motivation, decision making, self perception, and struggle with interpersonal skills. Personality change, such as isolation, anxiety, and depression are also commonly seen in cases of Huntington’s. Even though dietary restrictions and physical exercise can slow the progression of Huntingtons, stress has shown to significantly contribute to the manifestation of Huntingtons disease. •Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder causing atrophy of the brain over time, more specifically cortical and subcortical gray matter. •Most impacted by …

Analysis Of Mutations Of Hydin Gene Associated With Hypertension, Elaine Vanterpool, Savania Simms

Student Posters

Hypertension also called “High Blood Pressure” is a disorder caused by factors such as old age, genetics, weight, physical activeness, and diet. Today hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide (Mayo Clinic, 2024). When hypertension is in the range of 180/120 it can cause symptoms such as headache, chest pain, dizziness, blurred vision, and other symptoms . It is important to study the genes associated with this disorder because it helps to identify what genetic risk factors cause this as well as it helps develop more treatments for it. The gene HYDIN associated with hypertension has 51 variants …

Characterization Of Tnsalp Expression And Activity In Porcine Utero-Placental Tissues, Claire Stenhouse, Nirvay Sah, Katherine M. Halloran, Robyn M. Moses, Makenzie G. Newton, Joe W. Cain, Heewon Seo, Guoyao Wu, Gregory A. Johnson, Fuller W. Bazer

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Abstract: Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) regulates postnatal phosphate homeostasis, but its role in utero-placental phosphate availability remains poorly understood. Gilts were bred and hysterectomized on Day 60 or Day 90 of gestation (n = 6/day). Phosphate was less abundant in allantoic and amniotic fluids on Day 90 compared to Day 60. TNSALP protein was immunolocalized, and enzymatic activity was quantified and localized in endometrial and chorioallantois tissues. Day had no effect on TNSALP activity in the chorioallantois. In contrast, endometrial TNSALP activity was lower on Day 90 compared to Day 60. Phosphate abundance in allantoic fluid correlated positively with …

An Exploratory Study Of Disclosure Of X-Linked Conditions Between Mothers And Daughters, Madge Isabella Stuhlreyer

Theses and Dissertations

Carriers of X-linked conditions, both asymptomatic and symptomatic, face unique challenges regarding their experiences navigating the healthcare system and understanding implications of their carrier status. Studies show that mothers are known to be the main communicators of genetic information within their families, but in families affected with X-linked conditions, communication between mothers and daughters are hindered by factors such as lack of knowledge about the condition and reproductive implications, lack of emotional support, anxiety, and uncertainty about how to initiate these conversations. The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations behind mothers' decisions to initiate conversations with their …

Increasing Diversity In The Genetic Counseling Profession: Determining Effective Career Education Strategies For Underrepresented Youth, Bryel Marie Frasch

Theses and Dissertations

Genetic counseling is a professional career path that is lacking in diversity, and diversity in healthcare has been shown to improve health outcomes. Studies suggest student engagement as a way to increase diversity, as early knowledge of genetic counseling increases the likelihood of considering it as a career and is especially true for racial or ethnic minoritized students. This study focused on educating high school students underrepresented in genetic counseling about the career and exploring the effectiveness of two different types of education methods (video vs in-person) to give valuable information for future outreach efforts. Upward Bound and Federal TRIO …

Associations Between Cardiovascular Disease And Utilization Of Dental Preventive And Periodontic Services, Amirhossein Fakhre Yaseri

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, remains a leading cause of global mortality, with approximately 20.5 million deaths in 2021. Despite advancements in medical science, CVD prevalence continues to rise, underscoring the need for preventive approaches and increased awareness. CVD is closely associated with oral diseases, and poor oral health is linked to worse cardiovascular outcomes. This study investigates the association between CVD and the utilization of dental preventive and periodontal services using data from the Dental Experience and Research Exchange (DERE) database, which aggregates clinical data from dental practices across the U.S. …

Reclaiming The Body: Gender Politics And Embodied Meaning In Piano Performance And Pedagogy, Rachel Misheff

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of the mind-body duality and its gendered metaphor on the lived experiences of historical and contemporary female pianists. Specifically, it explores how the principles of mind-body dualism have constructed gendered practices in piano performance and pedagogy that have both marginalized female pianists and engendered distinct embodied relationships to music. The study draws upon research from other disciplines, such as phenomenology, theories of embodiment, feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and Embodied Music Cognition, to examine how these gendered musical norms resulting from mind-body dualism functioned as forces of social inscription. This research, therefore, suggests that the body’s lived …

Estimating Proximity To Failure Using Repetitions In Reserve In Adults Treated For Cancer, Kylah Elizabeth Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: There is a consensus from governing bodies that more evidence is needed in understanding how to properly prescribe, monitor and progress resistance training (RT) in oncology populations. Repetitions in reserve (RIR) has been demonstrated as a quick/easy tool to monitor proximity to failure and interventions using RIR have shown promise in improving muscle strength and mass in older adults and apparently healthy populations. However, the validity of RIR in RT in oncology has yet to be examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of RIR predications in individuals treated for cancer in a pragmatic …

Use Of Electrical Household Appliances And Risk Of All Types Of Tumours: A Case-Control Study, Shabana Noori, Abdul Aleem, Imrana Niaz Sultan, Afrasiab Khan Tareen, Hayat Ullah, Muhammad Waseem Khan

Biological Engineering Student Research

Introduction: The use of electrical appliances using extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) has increased in the past few years. These ELF MF are reported to be linked to several adverse health effects. However, only a couple of studies have been conducted on the association between risk of tumours and use of electronic devices using low frequency (LF) EMF. Methods: We studied the use of common household electrical appliances and suspected risk of tumours in a multi-hospital-based case-control study. In total, 316 patients were included in the final analysis. Results: The study results showed a below unity risk for …

The Impact Of Small-Scale Conflicts On Post-Soviet Alliances, Ani Hakobyan

Journal of Strategic Security

Military alliances are crucial for international and regional security. However, conflicts may disrupt these connections, weakening alliance structures, particularly in complex regions such as the post-Soviet space. This article examines the effects of small-scale conflicts on the post-Soviet alliance network by analyzing the impact of three conflicts: the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) War. Using the temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM), the study finds that three conflicts significantly weakened alliance structures in the region, reducing the likelihood of new alliance ties within both the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and broader …

American Extremism: An Evolutionary Process, Christopher Young, Michael Damian Tucker

Journal of Strategic Security

This article critically examines the historical definitions of American right-wing extremism as utilized by the media, political community, academia, and the government. We suggest that the historical definitions of the right wing are inadequate and fail to describe extremism accurately and consistently. Using evolutionary game theory, this article further argues that right-wing extremism (and left wing) is based on an evolutionary process to secure social existence and will rise as predators challenge historical hierarchical systems.

The Contribution Of Individual Movements To The Learning Of A Movement Sequence, Hannah K. Ammons

Senior Theses

This thesis explores how the overall learning of a motor sequence through repeated practice is impacted by the individual movement’s components. Changes seen in the response time, peak velocity, and the hand path distance were examined whilst considering the Fitts’s ID and inertial demands of the individual movements. During data collection, twenty-four right-handed participants completed a series of repeated and random reaching movements that varied in direction and distance in a 3D virtual environment. When considering only the repeated sequences, the results indicated significant improvement in both the hand path distance and response time across all target combos, specifically Target …

The Pharmaceutical Applications Of Poisonous Compounds Found In Datura Stramonium, Ruby M. Raffaldt

Senior Theses

Datura stramonium is a plant that is known for its toxicity. However, a facet of this plant’s noxious chemicals, namely its tropane alkaloids, can be used medicinally. The aim of this paper was to compile knowledge on the botanical, chemical, and medicinal properties of Datura stramonium L with a focus on atropine, scopolamine, and anisodamine; three tropane alkaloid compounds with the ability to be both a poison and a medicine. Information was compiled using pre-existing studies, articles, and literature reviews on D. stramonium. For each of the three alkaloids, their biosynthetic pathways, targets, administration, distribution, metabolism, and excretion were discussed. …

Silver Nanoparticles And Vanillin Can Inhibit Collagenase Activities Of Serratia Marcescens, Elaine Vanterpool, Mya St. Louis, Josel Bryant, Kennedi Ewan, Taylor Hall, Leah Marcelle, Mayah Seal

Student Posters

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative, disease-causing agent that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. This rod-shaped microbe causes many infectious diseases such as urinary and respiratory infections, wound infections, and peritonitis, which can result in fatal bacteremia. Collagenase is an enzyme that breaks down collagen, while also playing a key role in the extracellular matrix. Collagenase uses zinc to operate that helps it break down the peptide bonds in collagen. Testing Agents ❖ Metronidazole is an antimicrobial drug used to treat infections caused by different anaerobic bacteria, such as infections in the blood, liver, bones, joints, and meninges. ❖ Vanillin is …

Silver Nanoparticles And Natural Compounds Can Modulate Proteolytic Activities Of Escherichia Coli, Elaine Vanterpool, Simone Chotan, Wendolyn Johnson, Emilee Duany, Antonio Ward

Student Posters

Investigating the impact of antibacterial agents on Escherichia coli (E. coli) protease activity is vital for advancing new approaches to combat bacterial infections. Proteases are crucial enzymes in bacterial physiology that contribute to immune system evasion, biofilm development, and host tissue degradation. Due to these enzymes being directly involved in E. coli virulence, understanding how antibacterial compounds affect protease function may lead to innovative treatment strategies. E. coli is a gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium that exists both as a harmless intestinal commensal and a significant human pathogen. Many lives have been negatively affected by severe E. coli infections in the …

Analyzing The Inhibition Of Chemical Compounds On Protease In P. Aeruginosa, Elaine Vanterpool, Micah Andrews, Marielle Cooper, Mitspah Eshette, Anaya Moodie-Lee, Jayda Russell, Jordon Vanterpool

Student Posters

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, bacillus-shaped opportunistic pathogen, notorious for invading immunocompromised individual leading to secondary infections. These opportunistic microbes typically are implicated mild to more severe infections including burn or wound infections to more serious systemic infections. The bacterium Ps. aeruginosa utilizes a variety of virulence factors to enhance the pathogenicity of the organism. Virulence factors secreted by Ps. aeruginosa include its pili, adhesins, capsule, exotoxin A, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The proteases produced by Ps. aeruginosa are powerful virulence factors that can lead to tissue destruction and immune invasion. It is imperative that we find ways of regulating the …

Improving Biocompatibility And Structural Integrity Of Decellularized Biomaterials, Elaine Vanterpool, Jayden Vanterpool, Ayanna Liburd, Andrew Mcintosh, Cayden Pyform, Cameron Scott, Jea Joseph Msie

Student Posters

Venous grafting using synthetic and biomaterials has been one of the forefront issues of the scientific community. For years, in vitro experimentation of both bio and synthetic materials has been carried out with the hope of treating issues like chronic venous insufficiency, heart attacks, artery blockage, etc. Within these issues, there has been much success. Numerous cases have made it to clinical trials with grafts lasting as long as two years within the patient. Nonetheless, some common and persistent issues occur within all the cases observed. Despite extensive experimentation and development of the most prestigious technology, thrombosis, negative immune response, …

The Influence Of Mef2c Variants On Autism Development, Elaine Vanterpool, Maya O'Reilly

Student Posters

MEF2C (Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2C) is a gene that is important for brain development and function, especially in neurons that help transmit signals across the brain. It is crucial for learning, memory, and movement. Mutations in the MEF2C gene can lead to MEF2C-related disorder, a neurodevelopmental condition that causes developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, low muscle tone, seizures, and behaviors often associated with autism. People with this disorder may also experience speech difficulties, sleep problems, vision issues, and heart complications. About half of those affected by MEF2C related disorder may not be able to walk independently due to motor skill issues. …

Using Secreted Biomarkers In The Development Of The Detection Of Advanced Cancer Screening System, Elaine Vanterpool, Jaydan Vanterpool, Jordon Vanterpool, Robert Lister, Shania Swain, Enock Ngoga, Jovaughn Redley, Imani Shields, Dalen Jones, Santiago Moreno, Ronnie Nichalson, Jea Joseph Msie

Student Posters

As of 2020, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10 million cancer deaths. Among the different types of cancers in the world, the most prevalent cancer, lung cancer, accounted for 23% of all cancer deaths (CDC) and has been relatively steady since 1999. However, by using Detection of Advanced Cancer Screening (D.A.C.S), many patients with cancer cases would receive efficient, reliable treatment in a timely manner. According to Cancer.gov, multiple participants reported being screened for cancer, “After they had ‘aged out of the recommended range for routine cancer screening”. (Dr. Moss) “We found that over …

Mutations In The Pms1 Gene Associating With Ovarian Cancer, Elaine Vanterpool, Erin Hough

Student Posters

Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the ovaries grow and divide uncontrollably, destroying healthy body tissue. Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include weight loss, fatigue, discomfort in the pelvic area, or changes in bowel habits. This study focuses on how ovarian cancer is related to the PMS1 gene. The PMS1 gene encodes MLH1, a protein involved in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. MMR helps connect errors that occur during DNA replication, preventing mutations and potential cancer development. When this gene is mutated, there is an increased risk of developing ovarian and other endometrial cancer. Bioinformaic softwares allow us to …