Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of K-12 Stem Education On The Retention Of Black Women Stem Majors In Texas Higher Education Institutions, Brittany Shallyne Reid-Phillips

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of K-12 STEM education on the retention rates of Black women pursuing STEM majors in higher education institutions in Texas. The problem addressed in this study is the unknown influence of K-12 STEM education on Black women majoring in STEM in Texas higher education institutions. This research aims to describe the K-12 STEM education experiences that influence the retention of Black women STEM majors in Texas higher education institutions. The methodology used is qualitative, and the design is phenomenological. Data was collected through qualitative questionnaires and individual semi-structured interviews and analyses that aimed at depicting …

Assessing Two Methodologies To Protect Stored Rice From Insect Infestation, Md Naim Uddin

Student Theses and Dissertations

Rice can be infested with various insects during storage. Long-lasting insecticide netting (LLIN) can be a good barrier for insects if LLIN can be employed to air vents in rice mills. However, accumulated dust from milling practices could impact LLIN efficacy. Two experiments were conducted, in one experiment, lesser grain borer (LGB), Rhyzopertha dominca (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) exposed to LLIN for 1 and 10 min and assessed mortality after 1 h and 1 week. In another experiment, maize weevil (MW), Sitophilus zeamais [Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)] exposed to the same LLIN and examined knockdown after 24 h. LLIN demonstrated higher mortality …

Neurosymbolic Cognitive Methods For Enhancing Foundation Model-Based Reasoning, Kaushik Roy, Siyu Wu, Alessandro Oltramari

Faculty Publications

Foundation models have emerged as powerful tools, exhibiting extraordinary performance across various tasks, such as language processing, visual recognition, code generation, and human-centered engagement. However, recent studies have highlighted their limitations when grounded, abstract, and generalized reasoning capabilities are required. Complex tasks often involve multiple hierarchical reasoning steps, which are typical features of human thinking processes. In fact, in this chapter we claim that cognitively-inspired computational models, such as the so-called Common Model of Cognition, are key to enable complex reasoning within foundation model-based artificial intelligence (AI) systems. We investigate neurosymbolic approaches for mapping AI system components to those of …

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 2, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Mouse Monocytes Express Cd127 By Immune Cells, Not Lps, Reza Yazdani, Mozhde Askari, Amir Moghadam-Ahmadi, Gholamreza Azizi, Bogoljub Ciric, Alexandra Boehm, Guang-Xian Zhang, Mohamad Rostami

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

The essential role of interleukin 7 (IL-7) signaling via its receptor (IL-7Rα; CD127) in T cell development and function has been well documented. However, CD127 expression and function in myeloid cells, including monocytes, are less clear, especially in mice. In the present study we report an inducible CD127 expression in mouse monocytes/macrophages. This induction is dependent on the presence of other immune cells, highlighting that regulation of CD127 expression on monocytes differs in mice and humans. We demonstrate that CD127 is functional, as IL-7 downregulated its expression. We also saw decreased CD127 expression during inflammation in vivo. Overall, upregulation …

Unh Launches Stem-Mobile To Educate And Inspire, Unh Communications And Public Affairs

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Preparing For The Worst: Enhancing Seedling Traits To Reduce Transplant Shock In Semi-Arid Regions, Douglas Evan Mainhart, Bradley O. Christoffersen, R. Alexander Thompson, Charlotte M. Reemts, Alejandro Fierro-Cabo

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The spatial extent of semi-arid hot regions is forecasted to grow through the twenty-first century, complicating restoration and reforestation plans. In arid and semi-arid climates, seedlings are more susceptible to transplant shock due to lower soil moisture throughout the year. Determining strategies to reduce seedling stress and improve survival post-planting will be paramount to continued reforestation efforts in a changing climate. We quantified seedling physiological, morphological, and field performance (mortality and growth) response for five species native to the semi-arid region of South Texas (Erythrina herbacea L., Celtis pallida Torr., Fraxinus berlandieriana DC, Malpighia glabra L., and Citharexylum berlandieri B.L …

Discovery Of Small Molecules To Alleviate Heart Disease-Induced Proteinopathy And Proteotoxicity Characteristic Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Nirjal Mainali

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world and in the United States. Reduced cardiac output due to CVD has been previously associated with decreases in systemic and cerebral perfusion. Cerebral hypoperfusion increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), accompanied by accumulation of aggregates that feature Aβ amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau. Protein aggregation is a shared hallmark of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. We previously reported elevated aggregation in hearts of hypertensive and aged mice and now find that aggregation is induced in hearts and brains of male C57BL/6 mice after transient ligation of the left coronary …

Characterization Of Dna Damage Repair Pathway Utilization In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancers Yields Rational Therapeutic Approaches, Erika Nakatsuka, Lijun Tan, Brianna Cunneen, Caroline Foster, Yu Leo Lei, Karen Mclean

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

While poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have improved the prognosis of ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) tumors that are homologous recombination (HR) deficient (HRD), new therapeutic strategies are needed for tumors that are HR proficient (HRP) because they demonstrate greater resistance to current treatments and thus have poorer clinical outcomes. Additionally, clinical precautionary statements regarding potential risks associated with PARPi, such as myelodysplastic syndrome, highlight the need for combinatorial approaches that can lessen the dose and duration of PARPi treatment to reduce toxicities. Here, we evaluated DNA double-strand damage repair pathways in HRD and HRP ovarian cancer cell lines …

Expanding The Crispr Base Editing Toolbox In Drosophila Melanogaster, Michael Clark, Christina Nguyen, Hung Nguyen, Aidan Tay, Samuel J Beach, Maciej Maselko, Víctor López Del Amo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

CRISPR base editors can introduce point mutations into DNA precisely, and cytosine base editors (CBEs) catalyze C to T transitions. While CBEs have been thoroughly explored in cell culture and organisms such as mice, little is known about DNA base editing in insects. In this study, we evaluated germline editing rates of three different CBEs expressed under actin (ubiquitous) or nanos (germline) promoters utilizing Drosophila melanogaster. The original Rattus norvegicus-derived cytosine deaminase APOBEC1 (rAPO-1) displayed high base editing rates (~99%) with undetectable indel formation. Additionally, we show that base editors can be used for generating male sterility and female lethality. …

Evaluation Of High-Affinity Monoclonal Antibodies And Antibody-Drug Conjugates By Homogenous Time-Resolved Fret, Harmon Greenway, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The rapid growth of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies demands greater accessibility to scalable methods of evaluating antigen binding. Homogenous TR-FRET is ideal for preliminary screening but has not been reported to assay these interactions due to their high-affinity and complex solution-phase kinetics. Here we report the development of a competition assay to rank-order the relative affinities of these drugs for a common antigen. The assay is compatible with automation, requires no modification of the analytes, and measures affinities as low as single-digit picomolar. We further demonstrate applications to inform the development of antibody-drug conjugates. The assay may aid discovery and manufacturing …

Synthesis And Optimization Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Of Prostate Specific Antigen, Jeffery A Erickson, Ravikumar Jimmidi, Prashanth Anamthathmakula, Xuan Qin, Jian Wang, Leyi Gong, Jaehyeon Park, Gary Koolpe, Caitlin Tan, Martin M Matzuk, Feng Li, Srinivas Chamakuri, Wipawee Winuthayanon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Semen liquefaction is a postejaculation process that transforms semen from a gel-like (coagulated) form to a water-like consistency (liquefied). This process is primarily regulated by serine proteases from the prostate gland, most prominently, prostate-specific antigen (PSA; KLK3). Inhibiting PSA activity has the potential to impede liquefaction of human semen, presenting a promising target for nonhormonal contraception in the female reproductive tract. This study employed triazole B1 as a starting compound. Through systematic design, synthesis, and optimization, we identified compound 20 (CDD-3290) as a 216 nM inhibitor of PSA with better stability in media than triazole B1. Further, we also evaluated …

Context-Aware Single-Cell Multiomics Approach Identifies Cell-Type-Specific Lung Cancer Susceptibility Genes, Erping Long, Jinhu Yin, Ju Hye Shin, Yuyan Li, Bolun Li, Alexander Kane, Harsh Patel, Xinti Sun, Cong Wang, Thong Luong, Jun Xia, Younghun Han, Jinyoung Byun, Tongwu Zhang, Wei Zhao, Maria Teresa Landi, Nathaniel Rothman, Qing Lan, Yoon Soo Chang, Fulong Yu, Christopher I Amos, Jianxin Shi, Jin Gu Lee, Eun Young Kim, Jiyeon Choi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified over fifty loci associated with lung cancer risk. However, underlying mechanisms and target genes are largely unknown, as most risk-associated variants might regulate gene expression in a context-specific manner. Here, we generate a barcode-shared transcriptome and chromatin accessibility map of 117,911 human lung cells from age/sex-matched ever- and never-smokers to profile context-specific gene regulation. Identified candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) are largely cell type-specific, with 37% detected in one cell type. Colocalization of lung cancer candidate causal variants (CCVs) with these cCREs combined with transcription factor footprinting prioritize the variants for 68% of the GWAS loci. …

Recent Advancements In Cell-Based Therapies In Melanoma, George Nassief, Angela Anaeme, Karen Moussa, Abdallah N Mansour, George Ansstas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Malignant melanoma outcomes have drastically changed in recent years due to the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, many patients still experience intolerable side effects, therapy resistance, and disease progression on ICI therapy. Therefore, there remains a need for novel therapeutics that address this gap in treatment options. Cell-based therapies have gained wide attention as a therapeutic option that could address this gap in treatment options for advanced melanoma. These therapies work by extracting certain cell types produced in the human body such as T-cells, modifying them based on a specific target, and transfusing them back into the patient. …

September 12, 2024, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Breakthrough Conductivity Enhancement In Deep Eutectic Solvents Via Grotthuss-Type Proton Transport, Desiree Mae Prado, Clemens Burda, Anthony Jahng, Kayla Poling

Faculty Scholarship

There is an increasing demand for the development of ion-conducting electrolytes for energy storage systems. Much attention is directed toward deep eutectic solvents as potential candidates. In the search for highly conductive systems, the possibility of designing deep eutectic solvents with Grotthuss-type proton transport is widely overlooked. Herein, ethaline, a mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol is used in a 1:2 molar ratio, to induce a significant conductivity increase with the addition of water and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). The achieved breakthrough conductivity is analyzed experimentally and simulated with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). At sufficient water content, an H-bonding …

Persistent Tailoring Of Msc Activation Through Genetic Priming, Michael A Beauregard, Guy C Bedford, Daniel A Brenner, Leonardo D Sanchez Solis, Tomoki Nishiguchi, Abhimanyu, Santiago Carrero Longlax, Barun Mahata, Omid Veiseh, Pamela L Wenzel, Andrew R Dinardo, Isaac B Hilton, Michael R Diehl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are an attractive platform for cell therapy due to their safety profile and unique ability to secrete broad arrays of immunomodulatory and regenerative molecules. Yet, MSCs are well known to require preconditioning or priming to boost their therapeutic efficacy. Current priming methods offer limited control over MSC activation, yield transient effects, and often induce the expression of pro-inflammatory effectors that can potentiate immunogenicity. Here, we describe a genetic priming method that can both selectively and sustainably boost MSC potency via the controlled expression of the inflammatory-stimulus-responsive transcription factor interferon response factor 1 (IRF1). MSCs engineered to …

On Explaining Why The (Human) World Is Rich, Bart J. Wilson

ESI Working Papers

The wealth of the modern world is a natural historical marvel. Explaining it has traditionally been the purview of economic historians, as exemplified by the recent book How the World Became Rich by Mark Koyama and Jared Rubin. Economic historians, though, tend to only ask process-oriented “how” questions and “by what means” questions of the Great Enrichment. The eight co-authors of Explaining Technology, who are not economic historians, engage the debate asking a different question. Their goal is to explain the exponential shape of our enrichment with a model of the combinatorial evolution of technology. With an eye toward how …

Role Of Poly(A)-Binding Protein Cytoplasmic 1, A Trna-Derived Rna Fragment-Bound Protein, In Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection, Devin V Davis, Eun-Jin Choi, Deena Ismail, Miranda L Hernandez, Jong Min Choi, Ke Zhang, Kashish Khatkar, Sung Yun Jung, Wenzhe Wu, Xiaoyong Bao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a significant cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) across all demographics, with increasing mortality and morbidity among high-risk groups such as infants under two years old, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Although newly approved vaccines and treatments have substantially reduced RSV hospitalizations, accessibility remains limited, and response to treatment varies. This underscores the importance of comprehensive studies on host-RSV interactions. tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs) are recently discovered non-coding RNAs, notable for their regulatory roles in diseases, including viral infections. Our prior work demonstrated that RSV infection induces tRFs, primarily derived from the 5'-end of …

Editorial: Critical Praxis And The Social Imaginary For Sustainable Food Systems, Max Stephenson Jr., Kim Niewolny, Laura Zanotti, Anna Erwin

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Volume 53-2 Complete Issue, Steven M. Schnell

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 53-2 Complete Issue

Geographical Variation In The Photosynthesis Characteristics Of Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) Lab- And Field-Grown Seedlings, David Goldblum, Christa Kennett, Alicia Lisowski

The Geographical Bulletin

A number of recent studies suggest that in light of anthropogenic climate change, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) may not be adapted to persist over much of its current range. We consider variation in the species’ photosynthetic properties across its range. Seeds from Tennessee, Illinois, and Michigan were grown under laboratory conditions and in two experimental plots in Illinois and Michigan forests. In the Michigan forest, seedlings derived from Michigan seeds had significantly higher rates of carbon assimilation than those from Illinois. In the Illinois forest, seedlings from Tennessee had significantly greater carbon assimilation rates and light saturation points than seedlings …

Weather Influences On Raptor Migration Along The Kittatinny Ridge, Pennsylvania, Tara E. Gettig, Timothy W. Hawkins

The Geographical Bulletin

This paper analyzes the relationship between weather patterns and bird migration to determine the feasibility of a site-specific migration forecast. Autumn migration data from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania for ten species were correlated with individual weather variables. Stepwise multiple linear regressions revealed a positive relationship with raptor migration to northwesterly winds and wind speed and an inverse relationship to sea level pressure. Composite maps were created using data from days with the greatest migration counts for each species and categorized by synoptic situations. A relationship between bird migration and cold-front passage was revealed, with five of the species having their …

Editorial: Centering Humanism In Stem Education, Desirée Forsythe, Sheila S. Jaswal, Bryan Dewsbury, Susannah Mcgowan

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"To understand why this Research Topic exists, it is important to recall the original goal from our call for proposals: to reorient STEM researchers and practitioners to reconsider the actual purpose of the practice of teaching and learning. Bryan Dewsbury often invokes us in his writing and talks to understand our why. As educators, we wish to provide insights, practices, and proposed theories to reflect on our WHY in STEM education—from one instructor’s empathetic approach to understanding the undergraduate student experience in gateway courses to the cultural initiation ceremonies at the disciplinary level. These components of humanism and the lens …

Senate Meeting, September 11, 2024, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Brain-Wide Projections Of Mouse Dopaminergic Zona Incerta Neurons, Bono, Kenichiro Negishi, Yasmina Dumiaty, Monica Ponce, Titilayo Akinbode, Kayla Baker, C. Duncan Spencer, Elizabeth Mejia, Marina Guirguis, Alex Herbert, Arshad Khan, Melissa Chee

Departmental Papers (Biology)

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Methods For Monitoring Of Winter-Flooding Of Agricultural Fields For Migratory Birds, Thomas Patrick Dill

Student Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural land conversion in Arkansas has caused the loss of 72% of wetland habitat, reducing wintering ground for migratory birds. Winter-flooded agriculture fields resemble seasonal wetlands. Federal agencies and private organizations have recognized the importance of this and have invested millions of dollars in subsidies. While remote sensing has been used in wildlife management, there is currently no method to remotely track adoption or monitor fields. To create this ability, we examined four spectral indices: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), and two different versions of the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI). We also compared …

Understanding Soil Fungi Could Fill Gap In Climate Change Prevention, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Scientists have long searched for ways to mitigate the amount of carbon entering Earth's atmosphere, but an upcoming international collaboration seeks to show that the answer may have been under our noses the whole time.

An Integral Approach To Philosophy Of Nature, Carol Richardson

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Abstract

Quantum physicists and quantum biologists enjoy a mathematically-inspired romance with the wonders of nature at the quantum level. Recognizing the romance of mathematics and the quantum-to-cosmic level relational energetics of Nature can lead to a more integral, romantic, and even embodied phenomenology of the intelligence inherent within Nature’s relational and embodied energies. Approaching this quantum nature of Nature from the more romantic, wholistic views of the right hemisphere of the brain, rather than from the fragmenting views of the left hemisphere of the brain, one can begin to discover the self-organizing abilities of the energies of Nature at all …

Assessing The Adequacy Of A Prediction Model, Abhaya Indrayan, Sakshi Mishra Ms

COBRA Preprint Series

No abstract provided.