Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of An Indole Derivative On Cell Proliferation, Transfection, And Alternative Splicing In Production Of Lentiviral Vectors By Transient Co-Transfection, Nataly Carolina Mier, Donald Keith Roper

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Lentiviral vectors derived from human immunodeficiency virus type I are widely used to deliver functional gene copies to mammalian cells for research and gene therapies. Post-transcriptional splicing of lentiviral vector transgene in transduced host and transfected producer cells presents barriers to widespread application of lentiviral vector-based therapies. The present study examined effects of indole derivative compound IDC16 on splicing of lentiviral vector transcripts in producer cells and corresponding yield of infectious lentiviral vectors. Indole IDC16 was shown previously to modify alternative splicing in human immunodeficiency virus type I. Human embryonic kidney 293T cells were transiently transfected by 3^rd generation …

The Future Of Intergenerational Transmission Research: A Prospective, Three-Generation Approach, Mariann A. Howland, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Dr. Dante Cicchetti’s pioneering theory and research on developmental psychopathology have been fundamental to the proliferation of research on intergenerational transmission over the last 40 years. In part due to this foundation, much has been learned about continuities and discontinuities in child maltreatment, attachment, parenting, and psychopathology across generations. Looking towards the future, we propose that this field stands to benefit from a prospective, three-generation approach. Specifically, following established prospective, longitudinal cohorts of children over their transition to parenting the next generation will afford the opportunity to investigate the developmental origins of intergenerational transmission. This approach also can address key …

Exploring Associations Between Poverty, Race/Ethnicity, Gender, And Childhood Obesity In Cherokee County, South Carolina, Lillie Mae Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity (CHO) rates have increased significantly worldwide over the last decade. The magnitude of CHO extends beyond physical health to include economic stability, social connections, and access to daily living resources. CHO is complex and requires a multifaceted approach that may differ from traditional prevention approaches and treatment. Over the years, interventions have focused on maintaining a balance of healthy eating and active living to reduce weight and promote lifelong behavior change. Body mass index (BMI) surveillance studies have been conducted in Cherokee County, South Carolina since 2012 to assess and inform CHO interventions. However, the data have not …

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity, And Cytotoxicity Of Ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, And N-Hexane Kluwak (Pangium Edule) Extract On Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Raniindra Khalisha Soediro Abidin, Ade Arsianti

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Introduction: Breast cancer occurs quite high and is one of the main causes of death in Indonesia and the world. Current treatment for cancer is expensive and has varying degrees of success and can cause side effects for patients. Kluwak (Pangium edule), whose reseach is still limited has the potential to be used as an alternative treatment for breast cancer. Methods: Kluwak powder was macerated using three different types of solvents to obtain ethanol extract, ethyl acetate extract and n-hexane kluwak extract. Phytochemical tests and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were carried out to determine the type and amount …

Draft Genome Assembly Of Lactobacillus Johnsonii Umb3423 From A Voided Urine Sample, Natalie Stegman, Maria Steiling, Briana Jackson, Cerena Sedano, Catherine Putonti

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

While the urogenital microbiota of asymptomatic females is often dominated by species of Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus johnsonii is not a common member. It is more frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of L. johnsonii UMB3423, which was isolated from a voided urine sample.

The Role Of Micrornas In Lung Inflammation After Alcohol And Burn Injury, Connor O'Neal Guzior

Master's Theses

Acute lung injury (ALI) and the subsequent development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are among the leading causes of post-burn morbidity and mortality. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that are known to regulate gene expression and help regulate lung homeostasis. In this study, we profiled four anti-inflammatory miRNAs (miR-146a, miR-150, miR-194, and miR-671) in lung tissue following an alcohol and burn injury. We found that miR-146a and miR-671 were significantly downregulated in lungs one day after combined injury, leading to increased lung inflammation and pathology. Biological sex did not have an effect on this pathophysiological process. We also …

Piga Mutations And Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor Dysregulation In Polyposis-Associated Duodenal Tumorigenesis, Elena Meuser, Kyle Chang, Angharad Walters, Joanna J Hurley, Hannah D West, Iain Perry, Matthew Mort, Laura Reyes-Uribe, Rebekah Truscott, Nicholas Jones, Rachel Lawrence, Gareth Jenkins, Peter Giles, Sunil Dolwani, Bilal Al-Sarireh, Neil Hawkes, Emma Short, Geraint T Williams, Melissa W Taggart, Kim Luetchford, Patrick M Lynch, Diantha Terlouw, Maartje Nielsen, Sarah-Jane Walton, Andrew Latchford, Susan K Clark, Julian R Sampson, Eduardo Vilar, Laura E Thomas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The pathogenesis of duodenal tumors in the inherited tumor syndromes familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) is poorly understood. This study aimed to identify genes that are significantly mutated in these tumors and to explore the effects of these mutations. Whole exome and whole transcriptome sequencing identified recurrent somatic coding variants of phosphatidylinositol N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase subunit A (PIGA) in 19/70 (27%) FAP and MAP duodenal adenomas, and further confirmed the established driver roles for APC and KRAS. PIGA catalyzes the first step in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis. Flow cytometry of PIGA-mutant adenoma-derived and CRISPR-edited duodenal organoids confirmed loss of …

Orthogonal Proteogenomic Analysis Identifies The Druggable Pa2g4-Myc Axis In 3q26 Aml, Matteo Marchesini, Andrea Gherli, Elisa Simoncini, Lucas Moron Dalla Tor, Anna Montanaro, Natthakan Thongon, Federica Vento, Chiara Liverani, Elisa Cerretani, Anna D'Antuono, Luca Pagliaro, Raffaella Zamponi, Chiara Spadazzi, Elena Follini, Benedetta Cambò, Mariateresa Giaimo, Angela Falco, Gabriella Sammarelli, Giannalisa Todaro, Sabrina Bonomini, Valentina Adami, Silvano Piazza, Claudia Corbo, Bruno Lorusso, Federica Mezzasoma, Costanza Anna Maria Lagrasta, Maria Paola Martelli, Roberta La Starza, Antonio Cuneo, Franco Aversa, Cristina Mecucci, Federico Quaini, Simona Colla, Giovanni Roti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The overexpression of the ecotropic viral integration site-1 gene (EVI1/MECOM) marks the most lethal acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subgroup carrying chromosome 3q26 abnormalities. By taking advantage of the intersectionality of high-throughput cell-based and gene expression screens selective and pan-histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) emerge as potent repressors of EVI1. To understand the mechanism driving on-target anti-leukemia activity of this compound class, here we dissect the expression dynamics of the bone marrow leukemia cells of patients treated with HDACi and reconstitute the EVI1 chromatin-associated co-transcriptional complex merging on the role of proliferation-associated 2G4 (PA2G4) protein. PA2G4 overexpression rescues AML cells from the …

Teen Pregnancy Involvement Among African, Caribbean And Black Adolescent Boys And Girls: A Scoping Review Protocol, Emmanuela Ojukwu, Eunice Bawafaa, Emily Mckay, Harsimran Grewal, Sara Afsah, Shivangi Singh, Elizabeth Saewyc

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the incidence, associated factors and interventions to address teen pregnancy involvement (TPI) among African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) adolescents in North America.

DESIGN: We conducted a scoping review of the literature, guided by the social-ecological model.

DATA SOURCES: Studies were retrieved from databases such as Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, CINAHL, CAB Direct and Google Scholar and imported into COVIDENCE for screening.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping reviews protocol guided the establishment of eligibility criteria. Included studies focused on rates, associated factors and interventions related to TPI among ACB boys and girls aged …

The Above L-Band And P-Band Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar Surveys, Charles E. Miller, Peter C. Griffith, Elizabeth Hoy, Naiara S. Pinto, Yunling Lou, Scott Hensley, Bruce D. Chapman, Jennifer Baltzer, Kazem Bakian-Dogaheh, W. Robert Bolton, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Richard H. Chen, Byung Hun Choe, Leah K. Clayton, Thomas A. Douglas, Nancy H. French, Jean E. Holloway, Gang Hong, Lingcao Huang, Go Iwahana, Liza K. Jenkins, John S. Kimball, Tatiana Loboda, Michelle Mack, Philip Marsh, Roger J. Michaelides, Mahta Moghaddam, Andrew Parsekian, Kevin Schaefer, Paul R. Siqueira, Debjani Singh

Michigan Tech Publications

Permafrost-affected ecosystems of the Arctic-boreal zone in northwestern North America are undergoing profound transformation due to rapid climate change. NASA's Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) is investigating characteristics that make these ecosystems vulnerable or resilient to this change. ABoVE employs airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) as a powerful tool to characterize tundra, taiga, peatlands, and fens. Here, we present an annotated guide to the L-band and P-band airborne SAR data acquired during the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 ABoVE airborne campaigns. We summarize the g 1/480 SAR flight lines and how they fit into the ABoVE experimental design (Miller et …

Excess Prevalence Of Preexisting Chronic Conditions In Older Adults With Incident Epilepsy, Siran M. Koroukian, Hannah L. Fein, Long Vu, Wyatt P. Bensken, Nicholas K. Schiltz, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: Prior studies have examined chronic conditions in older adults with prevalent epilepsy, but rarely among those with incident epilepsy. Identifying the chronic conditions with which older adults present at epilepsy incidence assists with the evaluation of disease burden in this patient population and informs coordinated care development. The aim of this study was to identify preexisting chronic conditions with excess prevalence in older adults with incident epilepsy compared to those without. Methods: Using a random sample of 4 999 999 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged >65 years, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of epilepsy incidence in 2019. Non-Hispanic Black …

Hairy Tongue Associated With The Use Of Baricitinib Therapy For Ophiasis Pattern Alopecia Areata, Anthony Gaspari

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

We report a case of hairy tongue that developed in a young Caucasian
/="/">woman during systemic baricitinib therapy for severe alopecia areata.
/="/">Because she experienced good clinical regrowth of her hair during
/="/">treatment, she did not want to interrupt therapy. We recommended she
/="/">use a toothbrush to debride her tongue on a daily basis, which was
/="/">successful. Hairy tongue most commonly occurs in elderly, debilitated
/="/">males with poor oral hygiene. It is thought to occur because of overgrowth
/="/">of chromogenic bacteria and/or yeast on the tongue. This unusual side
/="/">effect during baricitinib …

Prevention Of Brain Metastases: A New Frontier, Shreyas Bellur, Manmeet Ahluwalia

All Publications

This review discusses the topic of prevention of brain metastases from the most frequent solid tumor types, i.e., lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. Within each tumor type, the risk of brain metastasis is related to disease status and molecular subtype (i.e., EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer, HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer, BRAF and NRAF-mutant melanoma). Prophylactic cranial irradiation is the standard of care in patients in small cell lung cancer responsive to chemotherapy but at the price of late neurocognitive decline. More recently, several molecular agents with the capability to target molecular alterations driving tumor growth have proven as …

Understanding The Relationship Between [Atp], Growth Rate, And Inoculum Effect In Β-Lactamase Producing Bacteria, Ariane R. Kalifa

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

2.8 million Americans are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria on an annual basis, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. With the incidence of infection due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the rise, it is critical to understand the mechanisms bacteria use to resist antibiotics. The inoculum effect (IE) is a phenomenon that has been observed for many antibiotics and bacterial species. In IE, the density of the bacterial population determines the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic (MIC) of an antibiotic; as the density of the bacterial population increases, the MIC increases. IE is highly prevalent in bacteria that express β-lactamases where …

Rock Glaciers In Utah, Scott Hotaling, Kendall Becker, Matthew Morriss

All Current Publications

Utah’s primary water supply––winter snowpack––is in decline due to climate warming coupled with more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow. As snowpack dwindles, other sources of cold stream water, such as rock glaciers, will become more important. Rock glaciers contain significant volumes of internal ice covered by debris. This internal ice provides cold meltwater to mountain streams, sustaining flows in summer and supporting biodiversity. Rock glaciers are common in Utah’s mountains and are projected to be more stable under climate change than Utah’s snowpack. Thus, rock glaciers are likely to persist in their current form even as snowpack volumes …

Twelve Years Of Drug Prioritization To Help Accelerate Disease Modification Trials In Parkinson’S Disease: The International Linked Clinical Trials Initiative, Camille Carroll

Peninsula Medical School

In 2011, the UK medical research charity Cure Parkinson’s set up the international Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) committee to help expedite the clinical testing of potentially disease modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The first committee meeting was held at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2012. This group of PD experts has subsequently met annually to assess and prioritize agents that may slow the progression of this neurodegenerative condition, using a systematic approach based on preclinical, epidemiological and, where possible, clinical data. Over the last 12 years, 171 unique agents have been evaluated by the iLCT …

Comparison Of Different Pinning Techniques For 3d-Printed Radius With Salter-Harris Type I Fracture, Tea-Hyung Kim, Hwi-Yool Kim

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The purpose of the present study was to compare different pinning techniques for distal radius with Salter-Harris type I fracture. Computed Tomography (CT) images of a distal antebrachium of the 6.5 kg, growing, 6-month-old intact male mongrel dog were 3D-printed with Polycarbonate (PC) material. Twenty-one synthetic bones were classified into three groups. Cross pinning, Parallel pinning, and HK2 pinning techniques were applied to each group. A compressive shear test was applied to each group, and the results at 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm displacement and the load at failure were analyzed through statistical software. It was found that …

The Intersection Of Sleep, Pain, And Executive Function In Girls Following The Menarcheal Transition, Sofia Khatoon

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Menarche, the onset of menstruation, is marked by numerous psychological, physiological, and cognitive shifts, including pain, sleep (timing and quality), and executive functioning (EF). Pain impacts executive function; however, less is known about how pain and sleep might interact to impact EF. The current study addresses this gap and examines the relation between pain and various domains of EF, and whether sleep buffers this association in a sample of menarcheal girls.

A community sample of menarcheal girls (n = 159; M age = 12.8; SD age = 1.1) and their caregivers were recruited from a Midwestern metropolitan area. …

Ampicillin Resistance Dynamics And Adaptation In Evolved E. Coli Populations, Nina Sharma

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project explores the complex relationships between antibiotic resistance, nutrient limitation, and bacterial adaptation, focusing on E. coli. Antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges to public health. Nutrient limitation plays a crucial role in shaping E. coli’s ability to adapt and develop resistance against ampicillin. The Antibiotic Microbial Experiment (AME) provides valuable insights into bacterial adaptation dynamics over extended periods. I used growth curves to analyze bacterial growth kinetics and the differential effects of antibiotic concentrations on the evolved bacteria. The findings from this project give insight to the trade-offs E. coli populations exhibit when coping with antibiotic stressors.

Exploring The Relationship Between Microplastics And Neurotoxicity, John Stathopoulos

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This presentation will look at the relationship between microplastics and neurotoxicity, focusing on the limits of our current knowledge. Despite being an especially relevant topic of conversation in the realms of environmental and public health, little is known about the effects that microplastics have on the brain. As a neuroscience student with interests in medicine, neurodegeneration, and public health, I found the lack of research shocking. Throughout this semester, I looked at primary research and news articles to explore the extent of our knowledge and limits of current microplastic research, as well as their potential neurotoxic effects and future steps.

Introducing Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Phage Spongy, Alexis Avalos

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that has increasingly been a concern with regard to human health given its resistance to multiple antibiotics. To overcome this challenge, Western medicine has renewed interest in an alternative solution, the use of bacteriophages, i.e., phage therapy. Phages have been successfully used to combat P. aeruginosa infections including aortic graft infections, chronic rhinosinusitis infections, chronic lung infections, and urinary tract infections, to name a few. To increase our catalog of P. aeruginosa-infecting phages for future therapeutic use, we have been isolating temperate phages from clinical isolates. Here I present the temperate phage Spongy, induced …

Exploring Buddhism In Chicago, Tochukwu Enekamma

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

For my Engaged Learning Project for THEO 299, I chose to visit the Buddhist Temple of Chicago. I chose this site because Buddhism is highly prevalent in my community and in several pieces of media that often circulate in my community. This Buddhist temple in particular has a Japanese-American background that focuses on Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhism). I also chose this location because of its uniqueness and rich history. It was created as a haven for Japanese Americans after being freed from the internment camps in World War II, and has undergone many changes, becoming a temple that accepts all …

Analyzing The Impact Of The Bglb (M114s) Mutation On Catalytic Efficiency, Leonardo Vargas, Daniel Ghannad

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The BglB enzyme, B-glucosidase, is a component in cellulase. It plays a role in catalyzing the enzymatic reaction of glucose formation during cellulose hydrolysis (Wright RM et al, 1992). We performed a mutation (M114S) on the BglB enzyme and performed data analysis to characterize the mutation's effects on the protein’s structure and function. The series of laboratory methods performed included sequencing, bacterial transformation, affinity purification, enzymatic kinetic assay, and finally analyzing our data with unsuccessful submission to the D2D database. We hypothesized that our BglB mutation, M114S, would show decreased catalytic efficiency compared to the wild type. We confirmed that …

Anxiety And Depressive Symptoms Prior To Menarche: The Role Of Sleep And Physical Activity, Katherine Jabaay

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Although research has shown that female adolescents experience increased anxiety and depression symptoms following menarche, there is limited evidence in the months leading up to menarche and even less attention paid to behavioral effects on this transition. This study examines pubertal status, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and sleep health in 120 premenarchal, biological females. This study addresses: (1) the association between pubertal status, anxiety and depressive symptoms among female adolescents in the months leading up to menarche, and (2) considers the role of modifiable actions such as sleep health and physical activity on these symptoms.

Beyond The Clinic: Characterizing The Long-Term Individual And Familial Implications Of Art-Linked Birth Defects, Grace Ellerbeck, Delano Gonzalez

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Infertility, the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, affects millions of couples. As a result, individuals often turn to assisted reproductive technology (ART) to grow their family. Despite great success, ARTs have been associated with a higher risk of birth defects compared to natural pregnancy. Furthermore, isolating the factors that contribute to this increased risk has been a challenge thus far. Our research has characterized the factors that have been identified as potential modulators and proposed critical ethical concerns related to informed consent and longitudinal care for ART infants and their families “beyond the clinic.”

Finding My Path: Transitioning From Clinician To Professor, Jordan Tinsley

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

This manuscript is a reflection on the author’s transition from practicing as a clinical speech-language pathologist (SLP) to entering the academic arena as a clinical assistant professor. The author considers various steps that may be supportive of the transition from clinical practice to academia for SLPs without a research degree (i.e., Ph.D.). Lessons learned throughout the job transition process are shared to illuminate the path for SLPs who are curious entering a university setting. Additionally, the author’s experience in the TLCSD SoTL Fellows Program is discussed.

The 2024 Defence Policy Update And Its Predecessors: Why The Caf Is In A “Death Spiral”, Allan English

Canadian Military History

In March 2024 the Minister of National Defence characterised the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) inability to attract new members as a “death spiral” for the force. While the latest defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence, recognises the seriousness of the CAF’s personnel crisis, it provides no concrete actions to solve it. However, this defence policy update is just the latest in a series of actions used by the CAF to manage perceptions of its personnel problems rather than addressing their root causes. This article examines the latest defence policy in the …

Medmicromaps, A Novel Decision-Tree Guide For Infectious Diseases Differential Diagnoses, And Evaluation Of Pre- And Post-Pandemic User Engagement By Preclinical Medical Students, Jason Ceballos, Tavsimran Luthra, Lucia Garces-Torres, Valerie Lentz, Jack Nelson, Claudia Carceles-Roman, Ian Holyoak, Jane Harrington

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Background: Medical education has undergone major changes in the past 5 years to adapt to the digital-centered student population with diverse learning preferences. To address the challenges of shifting delivery modalities, multimedia resources were created to provide interactive e-learning material on infectious diseases for year 2 medical students.

Methods: Medical students at a USA-accredited Caribbean medical school were provided with supplemental e-learning materials including animations, illustrations, diagnostic algorithms aka MedMicroMaps, and Case-Based tutorials. Participants were classified by semester and lecture delivery: In-person: Cohort 1 (n=526); Virtual: Cohort 2 (n=651); and Hybrid: Cohort 3 ( …

Embracing The Irreplaceable: The Role Of Neurodiversity In Cultivating Human-Ai Symbiosis In Education, Piper Hutson

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

This study investigates the indispensable role of human skills—such as empathy, ethical judgment, and nuanced understanding—in the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) within higher education, highlighting the unique contributions of neurodivergent perspectives in creating a symbiotic human-AI relationship. Drawing upon research that evidences the superior performance of diverse teams in creativity and innovation, the paper argues for the integration of neurodiversity into AI development as a means to address the philosophy of 'fearing the Other,' thereby mitigating biases and fostering ethical AI interactions. The technology sector's adoption of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, including biopsychosocial interventions and …

Functional Characterization Of Potato Arp1 Gene Encoding Auxin- Repressed Protein In Arabidopsis Thaliana Under Salinity Stress Conditions, Sara Ali Alneyadi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Auxin-repressed proteins (ARPs) are conserved in higher plants and are involved in plant growth anddevelopment by controlling gene expression. ARP1 has been studied for its role in biotic stress response, but its role in abiotic stress response remains unclear. In this study, transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing potato ARP1 were evaluated for their salinity stress response. By gradually increasing NaCl concentrations from 0 to 200mM, plants were subjected to high salinity stress. As compared to wild-type (WT) control plants under stressed conditions, the ARP1 transgenic plants demonstrated improved height and root length and higher chlorophyll content. Under NaCl-induced salinity stress, the …