Digital Commons Network^™

Inorganic Pyrophosphate Plasma Levels In Patients With Ggcx-Associated Pxe-Like Phenotypes, Qiaoli Li, Catherine Troutman, Mary Peckiconis, Tamara Wurst, Sharon Terry

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

ntroduction: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive ectopic calcification disorder clinically affecting the skin, eyes, and vascular system. Most cases of PXE are caused by inactivating pathogenic variants in the ABCC6 gene encoding a hepatic transmembrane efflux transporter, which facilitates the extracellular release of ATP, the precursor of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent endogenous inhibitor of calcification. Pathogenic variants in GGCX, encoding γ-glutamyl carboxylase required for activation of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors as well as matrix Gla protein (MGP) and Gla-rich protein (GRP), two inhibitors of ectopic calcification, have also been reported to cause cutaneous changes like those seen …

A Dosimetric Comparison Of Treatment Techniques For Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy For Pancreatic Patients, Kameron Lemley

Masters Projects

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is utilized in radiation therapy to deliver ablative radiation doses to tumor volumes while achieving high conformity and minimal dose to surrounding critical structures. This treatment technique allows for faster dose fall-off which allows tighter treatment margins. SBRT for pancreatic cancer has been investigated for its efficacy and has proven to be an effective treatment choice for neoadjuvant radiation therapy. Since pancreatic cancer is extremely aggressive with a high mortality rate, it is important to have a treatment option that can reduce cost and increase convenience for the patient while simultaneously providing a conformal treatment plan. …

Preliminary Molecular Study Of Chloramphenicol Anchoring On Laccase Enzyme From Trametes Hirsuta, Hanzhola Gusman Riyanto, Afiten Rahmin Sanjaya

Makara Journal of Science

Antibiotics are one of emerging pollutants generally emitted from livestock production and the food industry to the environment. The presence of this pollutant could initiate the development of resistant bacteria that can be fatal to human health. The degradation of antibiotics using enzymes or microbe could be an alternative because the residue or intermediate product is less harmful than of the conventional method. This research aims to support a preliminary study of the degradation of antibiotics using enzyme through molecular docking via Molecular Operating Environment software and molecular dynamics (MD) study via CABSFLEX 2.0 and WebGro macromolecular simulations. The molecular …

Evaluation Of The Water Quality And Distribution Of Heavy Metals In The Gomti River Flowing Through The Urban Region Of Lucknow, India, Neha Gondial, Sandhya Bharti

Makara Journal of Science

The physicochemical properties and heavy metals contents of the Gomti River water (GRW) samples collected from five selected sites covering a stretch of ~31 km in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India were ascertained. The sites were Ghaila Pul, Mehndi Ghat, Shaheed Smarak, Kukrail Junction, and Bande Dam, represented as S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, respectively, following from upstream to downstream. S1 was considered as a reference site. The values of pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total hardness (TH), total chloride (TC), total alkalinity (TA), total acidity (TAC), total …

2024 - Faculty & Staff Research Symposium, Elizabeth Outka, Lidia Radi

Faculty and Staff Research Symposium Programs

[Excerpt from the "Welcome"]

"Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the second Faculty and Staff Research Symposium!

We are delighted to see such enthusiasm for this event, following the extraordinary response to last year’s inaugural Symposium. It is truly a testament to the vibrant, engaged community we have here — a group of colleagues deeply committed to ideas, creativity, and collaboration. Across our campus, faculty and staff continue to push the boundaries of research, to design and maintain new learning and gathering spaces, to craft remarkable art and performances, and to develop innovative programs that enrich our collective experience. . . . …

Spatial Organization Of Adenylyl Cyclase And Its Impact On Dopamine Signaling In Neurons, Léa Ripoll, Yong Li, Carmen W Dessauer, Mark Von Zastrow

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The cAMP cascade is increasingly recognized to transduce physiological effects locally through spatially limited cAMP gradients. However, little is known about how adenylyl cyclase enzymes that initiate cAMP gradients are localized. Here we address this question in physiologically relevant striatal neurons and investigate how AC localization impacts downstream signaling function. We show that the major striatal AC isoforms are differentially sorted between ciliary and extraciliary domains of the plasma membrane, and that one isoform, AC9, is uniquely concentrated in endosomes. We identify key sorting determinants in the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain responsible for isoform-specific localization. We further show that AC9-containing endosomes …

Neuronal Alpha-Synuclein Disease Integrated Staging System Performance In Ppmi, Pasadena, And Spark Baseline Cohorts, Tien Dam, Gennaro Pagano, Michael C Brumm, Caroline Gochanour, Kathleen L Poston, Daniel Weintraub, Lana M Chahine, Christopher Coffey, Caroline M Tanner, Catherine M Kopil, Yuge Xiao, Sohini Chowdhury, Luis Concha-Marambio, Peter Dibiaso, Tatiana Foroud, Mark Frasier, Danna Jennings, Karl Kieburtz, Kalpana Merchant, Brit Mollenhauer, Thomas J Montine, Kelly Nudelman, John Seibyl, Todd Sherer, Andrew Singleton, Diane Stephenson, Matthew Stern, Claudio Soto, Eduardo Tolosa, Andrew Siderowf, Billy Dunn, Tanya Simuni, Kenneth Marek, Parkinson’S Progression Markers Initiative Collaborators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Neuronal alpha-Synuclein Disease (NSD) biological definition and Integrated Staging System (NSD-ISS) provide a research framework to identify individuals with Lewy body pathology and stage them based on underlying biology and increasing degree of functional impairment. Utilizing data from the PPMI, PASADENA, and SPARK studies, we developed and applied biologic and clinical data-informed definitions for the NSD-ISS across the disease continuum. Individuals enrolled as Parkinson's disease, Prodromal, or Healthy Controls were defined and staged based on biological, clinical, and functional anchors at baseline. Across the three studies 1741 participants had SAA data and of these 1030 (59%) were S+ consistent …

Authentication Of Shallots From Brebes Using Gas Chromatography Fingerprinting Technique Combined With Chemometrics, Yana Setyani Pradina, Adelia Puteri, Gina Fauzia Rachma, Nazwa Balqis, Gerli Puspita Anggraini, Hendri Wasito

Makara Journal of Science

Shallots from Brebes, also called Bima Brebes, have a more pungent aroma compared to other varieties. Its high demand results in increased prices in the market, leading to frequent cases of fraud wherein Bima Brebes shallots are replaced with other types of shallots. This study aimed to develop an analytical method using gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID) fingerprinting combined with chemometrics to authenticate Bima Brebes shallots. Essential oils were extracted through ultrasonic hydrodistillation, followed by organoleptic, refractive index, GC-FID fingerprinting and chemometric analysis. The yield value of the five studied shallot varieties ranged from 0.02% to 0.08% w/w. Meanwhile, the …

Phenotypic Correlation, Path Analysis, And Quantitative Trait-Based Selection Of Elite Wheat Genotypes Under Heat Stress Conditions In The Terai Region Of Nepal, Radhakrishna Bhandari, Binod Panthi, Shivalal Nyaupane, Sandesh Shrestha, Prabin Sharma, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Sansar Sahani, Mukti Ram Poudel

Makara Journal of Science

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, but the production and productivity of wheat is affected by heat stress. A field experiment using an alpha lattice design with seven blocks was conducted on 35 elite wheat genotypes in the Terai region of Nepal to identify the most appropriate trait resulting in a high-yielding wheat genotype with high tolerance to heat stress. Correlation analysis revealed that booting-to-heading duration (BtoH), booting-to-anthesis duration (BtoA), plant height (Ph), spike length (SL), spike weight (SW), thousand grain weight (TGW), straw yield (SY), and total biomass yield (TY) had a significant positive correlation …

Polyvinyl Alcohol–Red Cabbage Nanofibers As Ph-Responsive Freshness Sensors For Advanced Food Packaging Technology, Foliatini Foliatini, Singgih Wibowo, Henny Rochaeni, Suhartini Suhartini, Fachrurrazie Fachrurrazie, Arzzaq Imanda Prianditya, Pradnadia Putri Hadriansyah, Naura Athira Putri Siregar, Novi Nurpadilah, Putri Alfiani, Maudi Rahim, Endah Sriwahyuni

Makara Journal of Science

The development of innovative food packaging technologies, particularly those capable of monitoring freshness, has become increasingly important in the food industry. This research explores the development of a pH-responsive freshness sensor using polyvinyl alcohol–red cabbage (PVA/RC) nanofibers. The nanofibers are fabricated through the electrospinning technique and meticulously analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results underscore the fine structure of the nanofiber matrix, with an average diameter of ~68 nm. FTIR analysis substantiates the presence of anthocyanin compounds from RC within the PVA/RC nanofibers, which confirms the integration of beneficial components into …

Antibacterial Activities And Chemical Composition Of Essential Oils From Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis), Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon Citratus), And Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Peels, Olumide Omoboye, Toyosi Sotola, Olaoye Balogun, Ololade Bamigbade, Olusola Oluwole, Adebowale Odeyemi, Anthonia Oluduro

Makara Journal of Science

This study investigated the chemical composition and antibacterial activities of lime Citrus aurantifolia (Cc) and lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus (Ca) essential oils (EOs). Standard methods were used to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine their composition. Each EO and their combination showed promising results in treating test bacterial infections. Cc EO showed the largest inhibition zone diameter (43 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens, and Ca EO showed the largest (30 mm) and smallest (12 mm) inhibition zone diameters against Bacillus stearothermophilus and S. marcescens …

Disparities In Stage At Diagnosis Among Hispanic Patients With Gastric Cancer In The United States, Antoine Jeri-Yabar, Liliana Vittini-Hernandez, Renzo Aller-Rojas, Francisco Arias-Reyes, Sirish Dharmapuri

School of Medicine Publications

Simple Summary

This study investigates racial disparities in the stage of gastric cancer at diagnosis and overall survival among different racial groups using data from the SEER database (2018–2021). The retrospective cohort study of 18,984 patients found that Hispanics are 19% more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of gastric cancer compared to non-Hispanics. Additionally, both Hispanics and Black patients showed poorer overall survival compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. The disparities are attributed to factors such as healthcare access, insurance coverage, language barriers, and preventive health service utilization. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these …

Expanded Gene And Taxon Sampling Of Diplomonads Shows Multiple Switches To Parasitic And Free-Living Lifestyle, Monika Wiśniewska, Erik Salomaki, Jeffrey D. Silberman, Kristina Terpis, Eva Mazancová, Petr Táborský, Vasana Jinathama, Eleni Gentekaki, Ivan Čepička, Martin Kolisko

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Diplomonads are anaerobic flagellates classified within Metamonada. They contain both host-associated commensals and parasites that reside in the intestinal tracts of animals, including humans (e.g., Giardia intestinalis), as well as free-living representatives that inhabit freshwater and marine anoxic sediments (e.g., Hexamita inflata). The evolutionary trajectories within this group are particularly unusual as the free-living taxa appear to be nested within a clade of host-associated species, suggesting a reversal from host-dependence to a secondarily free-living lifestyle. This is thought to be an exceedingly rare event as parasites often lose genes for metabolic pathways that are essential to a …

Noninvasive Multi-Cancer Detection Using Blood-Based Cell-Free Micrornas, Jason Zhang, Hallgeir Rui, Hai Hu

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Patients diagnosed with early-stage cancers have a substantially higher chance of survival than those with late-stage diseases. However, the option for early cancer screening is limited, with most cancer types lacking an effective screening tool. Here we report a miRNA-based blood test for multi-cancer early detection based on examination of serum microRNA microarray data from cancer patients and controls. First, a large multi-cancer training set that included 1,408 patients across 7 cancer types and 1,408 age- and gender-matched non-cancer controls was used to develop a 4-microRNA diagnostic model using 10-fold cross-validation. In three independent validation sets comprising a total of …

Usf2 And Tfeb Compete In Regulating Lysosomal And Autophagy Genes, Jaebeom Kim, Young Suk Yu, Yehwa Choi, Do Hui Lee, Soobin Han, Junhee Kwon, Taichi Noda, Masahito Ikawa, Dongha Kim, Hyunkyung Kim, Andrea Ballabio, Keun Il Kim, Sung Hee Baek

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Autophagy, a highly conserved self-digestion process crucial for cellular homeostasis, is triggered by various environmental signals, including nutrient scarcity. The regulation of lysosomal and autophagy-related processes is pivotal to maintaining cellular homeostasis and basal metabolism. The consequences of disrupting or diminishing lysosomal and autophagy systems have been investigated; however, information on the implications of hyperactivating lysosomal and autophagy genes on homeostasis is limited. Here, we present a mechanism of transcriptional repression involving upstream stimulatory factor 2 (USF2), which inhibits lysosomal and autophagy genes under nutrient-rich conditions. We find that USF2, together with HDAC1, binds to the CLEAR motif within lysosomal …

The Association Of The Oral Microbiota With Cognitive Functioning In Adolescence, Oxana Y Naumova, Pavel V Dobrynin, Galina V Khafizova, Elena L Grigorenko

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: A growing body of research supports the role of the microbial communities residing in the digestive system in the host's cognitive functioning. Most of these studies have been focused on the gut microbiome and its association with clinical phenotypes in middle-aged and older adults. There is an insufficiency of population-based research exploring the association of normative cognitive functioning with the microbiome particularly with the oral microbiota.

Methods: In this study, using metagenomics and metabolomics, we characterized the salivary microbiome diversity in a sample of 51 males of Hispanic and African American origin aged 12-18 years and explored …

Prevalence Of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors In Women: Insights From The Houston Heartreach Study, Arjun R Raghuram, Matthew W Segar, Stephanie Coulter, Joseph G Rogers

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Past research has highlighted the importance of the relationship between female-specific demographics and traditional risk factors. The present analysis aimed to identify the prevalence of modifiable risk factors in women attending a community cardiovascular health screening.

METHODS: Data collected between 2011 and 2019 were obtained from the Houston HeartReach Registry. Participants were classified as having or not having each of 4 traditional cardiometabolic risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, body mass index indicating overweight or obesity, and dyslipidemia. Differences in prevalence were compared using the Pearson χ2 …

Management Strategies Of Cesarean Section Ectopic Pregnancy: A Case Report, Hannah E. Daley, Ava R. Hansen, Priyanka Raju Md, Jonathan Buerger Md

Transformative Medicine

Introduction:

Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy is a rare form of pregnancy with potential life-threatening complications such as severe hemorrhage, uterine rupture, and emergency hysterectomy Currently, there is no consensus regarding a standardized treatment algorithm for this specific variant of ectopic pregnancies.

Case Description:

This case describes a 28-year-old female with history of two prior cesarean sections who was diagnosed with cesarean section scar ectopic pregnancy. Initial management with intramuscular methotrexate was unsuccessful in the setting of inadequate decrease in β-hCG level. The patient ultimately underwent surgical management with dilation and suction evacuation under ultrasound guidance for removal of the ectopic …

An Optimal Schedule Recovery Model For Transportation Carriers Under Uncertain Typhoon Disruption Periods, Yi-Chun Chen, Shangyao Yan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Due to the unsettled weather conditions caused by typhoons, it is not possible to forecast the time when a typhoon will arrive or depart accurately. The uncertainty regarding the duration of typhoon disruptions makes it challenging for transportation carriers to efficiently adjust their schedules. In this study, to deal with the problem of airline fleet rerouting, flight rescheduling, and passenger reassignment for uncertain disruption periods caused by a typhoon, we utilize network flow techniques with the concept of probability to construct a stochastic model for minimizing the total operating costs. A heuristic algorithm based on the divide-and-conquer technique is adopted …

Vol.52 N.10 September 26th 2024, Voice Media Ventures

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

The Rattler (Volume 113, Issue 2), St. Mary's University

The Rattler (Previous issues)

Founded in 1919, The Rattler is the student voice of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. The newspaper documents campus life, academic and social issues, student opinion, and local and national events as they relate to the University community. Content typically includes news articles, editorial commentary, arts and culture coverage, sports reporting, and advertisements.

It’S A Question At The ‘Root’ Of The Problem: Fungal Associations Of Dionaea Muscipula (Venus’ Flytrap) Roots In Its Native Habitat, Anna A. Carnaggio, Michelle M. Barthet

Biology

Carnivorous plants survive in harsh habitats with limited nutrients and a low pH. Much focus has been placed on carnivorous trap evolution as the primary mechanism to increase nutrient acquisition through insect digestion. Soil microbiome, however, may also play a pertinent role in nutrient acquisition influencing plant vigor and overall success. Dionaea muscipula, commonly known as the Venus’ flytrap, is endemic to rims of the Carolina Bays located in southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina, where D. muscipula survives in nutrient poor soils with a vestigial root system. We utilized a combination of microscopy, plating, and metagenomics, to investigate …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - September 26, 2024, Lindsay Hughes

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the Thursday, September 26, 2024 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter -- Watercooler.

• Infectious diseases physician-researcher joins internal medicine faculty
• Augustine to present case report at American Academy of Pediatrics National Convention
• Blueprint for Success aims to empower new academic physicians and scientists
• Lunch & Learn to focus on promotion and tenure
• Whiddon COM welcomes alumna Carly McRae to emergency medicine

Research Priorities For Childhood Apraxia Of Speech: A Long View, Patricia Mccabe, Molly Beiting, Elaine R Hitchcock, Edwin Maas, Amy Meredith, Angela T Morgan, Nancy L Potter, Jonathan L Preston, Laura Moorer, Pooja Aggarwal, Kirrie Ballard, Laura Baskall Smith, Nicole F Caballero, Kathryn Cabbage, Julie Case, Susan Caspari, Karen V Chenausky, Shina Cook, Ewa Grzelak, Maryane Gomez, Aubrie Hagopian, Chantelle Highman, Anne Hodits, Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, Jillian Levos-Carlson, Barbara A Lewis, Patricia Mayro, Jyutika Mehta, Gabrielle Miller, Kimberly D Mory, Elizabeth Murray, Megan S Overby, Lucia Pasquel-Lefebvre, Derrick Peavy, Caitlin V Raaz, Brooke Rea, Denise Santos Ford, Lynn Smith, Michelle T. Swartz, Melissa Taberski, Hayo Terband, Donna C Thomas, Hannah Valentine, Mirjam Van Tellingen, Shelley Velleman, Emily Wang, Sarah White, Eddy C H Wong, Maria I Grigos

Department of Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Papers

This article introduces the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research Special Issue: Selected Papers From the 2022 Apraxia Kids Research Symposium. The field of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) has developed significantly in the past 15 years, with key improvements in understanding of basic biology including genetics, neuroscience, and computational modelling; development of diagnostic tools and methods; diversity of evidence-based interventions with increasingly rigorous experimental designs; and understanding of impacts beyond impairment-level measures. Papers in this special issue not only review and synthesize the some of the substantial progress to date but also present novel findings addressing critical research …

Efforts Toward The Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Ym/Fr Analogs, Siyue Liu

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Natural products FR900359 and YM254890, selective inhibitors of the Gq/11 protein signaling pathway, are crucial for therapeutic development, particularly in treating uveal melanoma. This dissertation focuses on efforts to understand the mechanisms behind this selective inhibition. A versatile synthetic approach to these natural product analogs and a potential method for evaluating their biological activity on the microelectrode array are presented. Chapter 1 provides an overview of Gq/11 proteins, detailing their roles in cellular signaling. Mutations lead to constitutively active oncogenic Gq/11 proteins, contributing to uveal melanoma. The building-block synthetic concept is introduced in the YM/FR synthesis, enabling relatively scalable and …

Efforts Toward The Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Ym/Fr Analogs, Siyue Liu

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Natural products FR900359 and YM254890, selective inhibitors of the Gq/11 protein signaling pathway, are crucial for therapeutic development, particularly in treating uveal melanoma. This dissertation focuses on efforts to understand the mechanisms behind this selective inhibition. A versatile synthetic approach to these natural product analogs and a potential method for evaluating their biological activity on the microelectrode array are presented. Chapter 1 provides an overview of Gq/11 proteins, detailing their roles in cellular signaling. Mutations lead to constitutively active oncogenic Gq/11 proteins, contributing to uveal melanoma. The building-block synthetic concept is introduced in the YM/FR synthesis, enabling relatively scalable and …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session ,September 26, 2024, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes (June 27, 2024 Meeting)
• Remarks by the Chair of the Board
• Remarks by the President
• Updates by the Faculty Senate President
• Updates by the Western Student Association President
• Updates by the Graduate Student Association President
• Western Michigan University Employee Graduates
• Bridging Classroom to Career: WMU Sales Program and Industry Collaboration
• Driving Student Success
• Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

• State Capital Outlay – Building Project Priority List
• Western Michigan University External Audit, 2024

Consent Item

1. Personnel Report
2. Curriculum Proposals
3. Special Liquor License Applications (October 25, 2024 and October 26, 2024 …

Automation & Ai In Southern Nevada: A High Stake Game For Hospitality Workers, An Pham

Student Research

After a year filled with excitement around artificial intelligence, it’s easy to overlook that both AI and automation have already been present in various capacities. Thankfully, fanfare in AI and automation has come at a critical time as it shifts the focus from questioning whether machines will replace human workers to understanding when that will happen. In my paper, titled “Automation & AI in Southern Nevada: A High-Stakes Game for Hospitality Workers,” I aim to highlight both the disruptive consequences of automation and AI on the hospitality workforce in Southern Nevada and the importance of addressing these issues without delay. …

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 3, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 2 - September 26, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 2 - September 26, 2024. 16 pages.