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Computational Drug Repositioning And 3d Skin-Like Tissues Identify Anti-Fibrotic Targets For Systemic Sclerosis (Ssc), Dillon Popovich

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by dermal and internal organ fibrosis, including heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract, and autoantibody formation. Although disease etiology is currently unknown, like other autoimmune diseases, SSc likely develops due to environmental factor exposure in genetically susceptible individuals. Fibrotic diseases are notoriously difficult to treat. Coupled with the autoimmune aspect, SSc is difficult to study scientifically due to the lack of complex disease models that can recapitulate the immune-fibrotic axis of the disease. Due to this, there are only two FDA approved medical treatments for SSc approved for symptomatic treatment of SSc …

The F Plasmid Conjutome: The Repertoire Of E Coli Proteins Translocated Through An F-Encoded Type Iv Secretion System, Abu Amar M Al Mamun, Kimberley Kissoon, Yang Grace Li, Erin Hancock, Peter J Christie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bacterial conjugation systems pose a major threat to human health through their widespread dissemination of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying cargoes of antibiotic resistance genes. Using the Cre Recombinase Assay for Translocation (CRAfT), we recently reported that the IncFV pED208 conjugation system also translocates at least 16 plasmid-encoded proteins to recipient bacteria. Here, we deployed a high-throughput CRAfT screen to identify the repertoire of chromosomally encoded protein substrates of the pED208 system. We identified 32 substrates encoded by the Escherichia coli W3110 genome with functions associated with (i) DNA/nucleotide metabolism, (ii) stress tolerance/physiology, (iii) transcriptional regulation, or (iv) toxin inhibition. …

3d Printed Mounts For Liquid Microdroplet Resonators, Parker A. Awerkamp

Theses and Dissertations

Liquid microdroplet resonators provide an excellent tool for optical studies due to their innate smoothness and high quality factors, but they can be difficult to control. By using 3D printed mounts to support the droplets, we can obtain precise control over the droplet geometries and positions. We here present our work with oil, water, and ice microdroplets, as well as tools required to enable their study. We first present methods for creating 3D printed mounts for oil microdroplet resonators. The mounts enable precise positioning of the droplets relative to a tapered optical fiber. The oil microdroplet resonators exhibited quality factors …

Potential Targeting Mechanisms For Bone-Directed Therapies, Betul Celik, Andrés Leal, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Bone development is characterized by complex regulation mechanisms, including signal transduction and transcription factor-related pathways, glycobiological processes, cellular interactions, transportation mechanisms, and, importantly, chemical formation resulting from hydroxyapatite. Any abnormal regulation in the bone development processes causes skeletal system-related problems. To some extent, the avascularity of cartilage and bone makes drug delivery more challenging than that of soft tissues. Recent studies have implemented many novel bone-targeting approaches to overcome drawbacks. However, none of these strategies fully corrects skeletal dysfunction, particularly in growth plate-related ones. Although direct recombinant enzymes (e.g., Vimizim for Morquio, Cerezyme for Gaucher, Elaprase for Hunter, Mepsevii for …

Mixed Potential Sensor For Natural Gas Leak Detection Design, Manufacturing, And Simulation, Sleight Halley

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

There is a need for a low-cost robust sensor accurately detecting leaks from oil and gas infrastructure. This work presents the development of an electrochemical sensor based on an yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte with La_0.87Sr_0.13CrO₃, Indium Tin Oxide (In₂O₃ 90 wt%, SnO₂ 10 wt%), Au, Pt electrodes. Selectivity to target gasses of the three sensing electrodes in conjunction with machine learning allows for the accurate discrimination between possible methane sources as well as the quantification of methane concentration. Sensor sensitivity is improved through a low-ionic conductivity substrate of magnesia …

Agricultural Extension Service, Technology Adoption, And Production Risk Nexus: Evidence From Bangladesh, Muhammad Jangir Alarm, Pavesh Kumar Sarma, Ismat Ara Begum, Jeff Connor, Lin Crase, Shiek Mohammad Sayem, Andrew M. Mckensie

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rice production is inherently risky and volatile, and farmers in Bangladesh face a wide range of risks, including weather, pest and disease attacks, interruptions to input supply, and market-associated risks. Moreover, poor farm households often perceive risks in adopting new technology, even though it could improve productivity and food security. Such households are thus caught in a “risk-induced trap” that precludes them from realizing the benefits of technological innovation. Extension service is one way to help farmers improve risk management skills and escape risk-induced traps, but there is limited empirical analysis of its impact in Bangladesh. The objective of …

State Of Utah Plaintiff/ Appellee V. Andrew Donn Whytock Defendant/ Appellant : Brief Of Appellee, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

Appeal from two convictions for aggravated assault, a first degree felony, in the Fourth Judicial District, Millard County, the Honorable Donald Eyre presiding

CHERISE BACALSKI, FREYJA JOHNSON, EMILY ADAMS, Counsel for Appellant

MARIAN DECKER, SEAN D. REYES, PATRICK S. FINLINSON, Counsel for Appellee

The Interaction Of Endorepellin And Neurexin Triggers Neuroepithelial Autophagy And Maintains Neural Tube Development, Lei Lu, Meizhu Bai, Yufang Zheng, Xiukun Wang, Zhongzhong Chen, Rui Peng, Richard H Finnell, Tongjin Zhao, Chengtao Li, Bo Wu, Yunping Lei, Jinsong Li, Hongyan Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2) gene encodes the matrix protein Perlecan, and genetic inactivation of this gene creates mice that are embryonic lethal with severe neural tube defects (NTDs). We discovered rare genetic variants of HSPG2 in 10% cases compared to only 4% in controls among a cohort of 369 NTDs. Endorepellin, a peptide cleaved from the domain V of Perlecan, is known to promote angiogenesis and autophagy in endothelial cells. The roles of enderepellin in neurodevelopment remain unclear so far. Our study revealed that endorepellin can migrate to the neuroepithelial cells and then be recognized and bind with the …

The Isr Downstream Target Atf4 Represses Long-Term Memory In A Cell Type-Specific Manner, Niaz Mahmood, Jung-Hyun Choi, Pei You Wu, Sean W Dooling, Trent A Watkins, Ziying Huang, Jesse Lipman, Hanjie Zhao, Anqi Yang, Jake Silversmith, Yanis Inglebert, Constantinos Koumenis, Vijendra Sharma, Jean-Claude Lacaille, Wayne S Sossin, Arkady Khoutorsky, R Anne Mckinney, Mauro Costa-Mattioli, Nahum Sonenberg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The integrated stress response (ISR), a pivotal protein homeostasis network, plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory (LTM). The precise mechanism by which the ISR controls LTM is not well understood. Here, we report insights into how the ISR modulates the mnemonic process by using targeted deletion of the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a key downstream effector of the ISR, in various neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. We found that the removal of ATF4 from forebrain excitatory neurons (but not from inhibitory neurons, cholinergic neurons, or astrocytes) enhances LTM formation. Furthermore, the deletion of ATF4 in …

Pocket Gophers, Mark Nelson, S. Nicole Frey, Earl Creech, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Linden Greenhalgh, Cory Farnsworth, Jody Gale, Melanie Heaton, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Steve Price

All Current Publications

Pocket gophers can damage agriculture and human development infrastructure. In agricultural fields, pocket gophers cause conflicts by directly consuming plants, destroying plants when their soil mounds cover them, and causing premature loss of field stands such as alfalfa, necessitating expensive alfalfa stand replacement. They can chew through electrical, internet, and other utility cables, damaging irrigation pipes, and compromising the integrity of canals and ditch banks. They also cause significant damage to lawns and gardens in urban areas. Understanding pocket gopher habits, especially the burrow system, is the key to effective control. Management methods include trapping, hand or mechanical baiting, fumigation, …

Interpreting Ppv And Npv Of Diagnostic Tests With Uncertain Prevalence, Yakov Ben-Haim, Clifford C Dacso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Medical decision-making is often uncertain. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) are conditional probabilities characterizing diagnostic tests and assessing diagnostic interventions in clinical medicine and epidemiology. The PPV is the probability that a patient has a specified disease, given a positive test result for that disease. The NPV is the probability that a patient does not have the disease, given a negative test result for that disease. Both values depend on disease incidence or prevalence, which may be highly uncertain for unfamiliar diseases, epidemics, etc. Probability distributions for this uncertainty are usually unavailable. We develop …

Computer Simulation Of Catheter Cryoablation For Pulmonary Vein Isolation, Solange I. Rivera, Clara P. Bernal, Rafael Martínez-Peláez, Rogelio Robledo-Nolasco, Gerardo De León-Larios, Vanessa G. Félix, Rodolfo Ostos, Gladys Maestre, Jesus Melgarejo, Luis J. Mena

School of Medicine Publications

Cryoablation is a well-established medical procedure for surgically treating atrial fibrillation. Cryothermal catheter therapy induces cellular necrosis by freezing the insides of pulmonary veins, with the goal of disrupting abnormal electrical heart signals. Nevertheless, tissue damage induced by cold temperatures may also lead to other complications after cardiac surgery. In this sense, the simulation of catheter ablation can provide safer environments for training and the performance of cryotherapy interventions. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel approach to help better understand how temperature rates can affect this procedure by using computer tools to develop a simulation framework to predict …

Lipidomic Risk Score To Enhance Cardiovascular Risk Stratification For Primary Prevention, Jingqin Wu, Corey Giles, Aleksandar Dakic, Habtamu B. Beyene, Kevin Huynh, Tingting Wang, Thomas Meikle, Gavriel Olshansky, Agus Salim, John Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Accurate risk stratification is vital for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, traditional tools such as the Framingham Risk Score(FRS) may underperform within the diverse intermediate-risk group, which includes individuals requiring distinct management strategies.

Objectives

This study aimed to develop a lipidomic-enhanced risk score (LRS), specifically targeting risk prediction and reclassification within the intermediate group, benchmarked against the FRS.

Methods

The LRS was developed via a machine learning workflow using ridge regression on the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab; n = 10,339). It was externally validated with the Busselton Health Study (n = 4,492), and …

Advocate Christ Hospital And Medical Center Year-In-Review Report, 2000, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL: Annual report for the year 2000. Includes data, statistics, news, and development plans.

Advocate Christ Medical Center Year-In-Review Report, 2001, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL: Annual report for the year 2001. Includes data, statistics, news, and development plans.

Advocate Christ Medical Center Year-In-Review Report, 2002, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL: Annual report for the year 2002. Includes data, statistics, news, and development plans.

Advocate Christ Medical Center Year-In-Review Report, 2003, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL: Annual report for the year 2003. Includes data, statistics, news, and development plans.

Caring, 1992 Winter, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Caring", a semiannual patient education publication. This issue has feature stories on the pediatric Developmental Diagnostic and Treatment Center programs and a day in the life of a first-year medical resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department.

Caring, 1992 Fall, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Caring", a semiannual patient education publication. This issue has feature stories on a one-pound baby and the NICU, a history of the Katharine Wright Center and Department of Psychiatry, and a profile of a trustee.

Caring, 1993 Summer, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Caring", a semiannual patient education publication. This issue has feature stories on the Pathology Department and on Same Day Surgery.

Caring, 1995 Summer, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Caring", a semiannual patient education publication. This issue features interviews with different types of employees at IMMC, from the carpenter to the security sergeant.

Caring, 1998 Winter, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Caring", a semiannual patient education publication. This issue features services for IMMC's elderly patients, including home health care and the Warren Barr Adult Day Care Program.

Teacher Outcomes Of An Intensive Stem-Focused Professional Learning Initiative: An Examination Of Their Beliefs, Practices, And Perceptions, Elizabeth L. Adams, Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Caitlin T. Cox, Karen Pierce

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The purpose of this paper is to describe teacher outcomes from participating in an intensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional learning (PL) initiative for middle school science teachers in the United States. The initiative included intensive summer coursework and ongoing support (e.g., individual coaching, professional learning communities), and focused on enhancing teachers’ STEM instruction and their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.

In this mixed method study, we examine change across time in teachers’ beliefs, use of STEM instruction, and PCK. In general, we did not observe statistically significant change in teachers’ …

Quantitative Reasoning: What’S Math Got To Do With It?, Pamela Burdman

Numeracy

This keynote address explores the history and role of college math requirements with a focus on ensuring math courses serve to expand students’ horizons, rather than serve as gatekeepers. It discusses the advent of general education math courses, which brought more students into math departments, which ultimately contributed to broadening the scope of the courses to align with more students’ interests and majors, since their purpose was to advance quantitative reasoning, not mathematics skill per se. It also examines several practices to address calculus’ gatekeeping role: revising placement practices and prerequisites, redesigning courses, and updating instruction and assessment practices. Lastly, …

Economics - The Neglected Dimension Of Pasture Disease R&D, N D. Macleod

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pasture utilisation underpins a significant contribution of livestock industries to Australia’s economic well-being. Pasture disease represents a direct threat to these enterprises but the economic magnitude of this threat remains largely unknown as the contribution of agricultural economics to pasture disease R&D, management and policy making has been minimal to date. Some insights to explain this apparent neglect are highlighted and a suggestion is made for a multiple disciplinary approach to R&D.

The 'Pendulum Paradigm' - Trends In Nitrogen Fertilizer Use On Temperate Grass/ Clover Pastures, R J. Eckard, F R. Mckenzie, P A. Lane

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen fertiliser responses, on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) / white clover (Trifolium repens) dominant pastures, are compared between sub-tropical South Africa and temperate Australia. The data highlight the similarity in inflection point of the response curve, while emphasising the influence of high residual soil N at lower N application rates. The propensity of communities to oscillate between extremes in terms of N fertiliser use on intensive pasture, or the ‘Pendulum Paradigm’ is discussed. Particular reference is made to the dramatic increase in N fertiliser use in dairy pasture of temperate Australia and New Zealand. Emphasis is …

Linking Grassland And Range National Goals With The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative For National Benefit, David B. Hannaway, Walter F. Wedin, Gerald W. Evers

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland and Range National Goals (GRNGs) were developed to identify national research and education needs for these resources, both public and private. The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) developed within the NRCS to address the need for technical assistance for the management of privately held grazing lands. These activities are complimentary and, when combined, will address the national need for research, education, and technical assistance leading to better management of grassland and range resources.

The Effect Of Grazing On Etiolated Regrowth In Eight Grass Species, H A. Lardner, S.B M. Wright, R.D H. Cohen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing by herbivores affects grass species both morphologically and physiologically. A grazing study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada during the summers of 1991 and 1992 to determine etiolated regrowth after grazing of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. trachycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus beibersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in …

A Vison Of The Future World Food Production And Implications For The Environment And Grasslands, Per Pinstrup Andersen, Rajul Pandya Lorch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Increases in world population, projected to rise to 8 billion by 2020, and the resultant demand for food places great pressure on our agricultural and aquacultural resources. Anxiety about the future is exacerbated by decreasing grain stocks. Production increases of many commodities are projected to be between 1 and 2% per annum and will generally be higher in developing than in developed countries. Cultivatable land area will increase in some areas of the world but not in others. To cope with these challenges, yield increases will be essential and the application of existing knowledge and technologies will not suffice. Accelerated …

Canada's Forage Resources, D Mccartney, P R. Horton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Canada is the second largest country in the world and stretches 5,500 km east to west and 4,600 km north to south. About 90% of Canada is uninhabited with 90% percent of the population living within 500 km of the Canadian-American border. About 60% of Canadians live in southern Ontario and Quebec. The grazing industry is located primarily in western Canada with British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba having 84% of the national beef herd. Ontario and Quebec have 73% of the national dairy herd. The majority of harvested forage, dehydrated alfalfa and forage seed crops are grown in western …