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Faculty Senate Xxix 2024-2025 - May 6, 2024 Agenda, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas & Minutes

No abstract provided.

University Of New Hampshire 2024-2025 Faculty Senate Xxix - May 6, 2024 Minutes Summary, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas & Minutes

No abstract provided.

Eviction-Driven Infanticide And Sexually Selected Adoption And Infanticide In A Neotropical Parrot, Steven R. Beissinger, Karl S. Berg

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Significance

Infanticide and adoption are puzzling forms of sexual conflict and cooperation, respectively. However, both may be explained by sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. Our long-term study of a parrotlet in Venezuela found infanticide attacks were mostly enacted by nonbreeding pairs attempting to evict parents from their nests to usurp the cavity. Infanticide attacks occurred less often at nests where a parent died, and adoption by stepparents was as common as infanticide. Becoming an adoptive …

Therapeutic Advances In The Management Of Type Ii Diabetes, Ashfod Mukula

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. This condition occurs due to two main factors: β-cell dysfunction and reduced response to insulin by cells and tissues with insulin receptors (insulin resistance). Insulin resistance occurs when the body fails to respond to insulin; therefore, cells and tissues are impaired in transporting glucose, leading to abnormally high glucose levels in circulation. Insulin resistance is a multifactorial condition; thus, the eminent cause is not fully known. Individual health conditions and genetic predisposition have been postulated to cause it. Molecularly, insulin resistance has been associated with complications in …

Investigating The Involvement Of Gabaergic Interneurons And A Gene Therapy Strategy For Epilepsy In Cln2 Disease, Keigo Takahashi

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a group of neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders affecting children and young adults. CLN2 disease, or classic late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, is one of the most common forms of NCL and is caused by a deficiency of tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1). Although an FDA-approved enzyme replacement therapy for CLN2 disease now exists, a poor understanding of pathophysiology has hampered the development of more effective and persistent therapy. While Cln2R207X/R207X knock-in mice which carry one of the most common pathogenic mutations in human patients were developed in 2017, this genetically accurate mouse model for CLN2 …

The Perfect Model: Exploring Gender Differences Within Commercial Graphic Design Preferences, Adeline Roberts

Undergraduate Theses

Personal preferences within graphic design are heavily shaped by social factors, including cultural practices. This project explores the effect of gendered-based experiences on visual design preferences, through investigating men’s and women’s preferences regarding graphic design elements, and the source of these opinions. The data was then used to create two educational images, which mimic contemporary magazine covers, visually illustrating the effects of gendered marketing and experiences on personal design preferences. These images were then attached to an interactive website, so that the findings and pieces from this project can be easily accessed by future audiences.

Measuring The Effects Of Selenium Exposure On Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis (Bd) Growth In Vivo In Larval American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana)., Taylor Morrison

Honors Thesis

Most amphibians in today’s world are exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. This project’s main objective was to determine any effects of selenium on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and infection levels in South Dakota amphibians. I selected American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) as they are susceptible to Bd and are found throughout eastern South Dakota. The secondary objective of this project was to measure any impact of Bd and selenium, combined, on growth measures of the frogs. The third objective was to see if survival rates were reduced when amphibians were exposed to Bd and selenium. Tadpoles were collected (n=225) from …

Cn Stretches Around 4.4 Microns Dominate The Ir Absorption Spectra Of Cyanopolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Vincent J. Esposito, Ryan C. Fortenberry, Christiaan Boersma, Alexandros Maragkoudakis, Louis J. Allamandola

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Anharmonic quantum chemical computations reveal a strong, narrow (width = 0.075 μm) band in the 4.3–4.5 μm region of the absorption spectra of the cyano-substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CN-PAHs) cyanonaphthalene, cyanoanthracene, c yanophenanthrene, and c yanopyrene. This narro w windo w with intense IR lines implies that CN-PAHs of various shapes and sizes offer little variation in both wavelength and intensity in this region. Subsequently, this band can be used as a tracer for CN-PAHs. The distinct features making up the band are assigned to mixed vibrational states consisting of the CN stretch fundamental and various combination bands, including in-plane …

A Hierarchical Decision Model For Evaluating The Strategy Readiness Of Quantitative Machine Learning/Data Science-Driven Investment Strategies, Mohammadsaleh Saadatmand

Dissertations and Theses

Big data and computational technologies are increasingly important worldwide in asset and investment management. Many investment management firms are adopting these data science methods and technologies to improve performance across all investment processes. Researchers actively use these methods to develop more effective systematic investment strategies and produce more reliable outcomes less vulnerable to human decision-making biases. However, the success of such a strategy depends heavily on the scientific rigor applied throughout the process. "Best practices involve understanding how to make better decisions in the research design process. A good question is whether we can make better decisions in developing quantitative …

Investigation And Synthesis Of 2-Deoxy-Pyr(Mp), Juanita Monteiro-Pai

Poster Presentations

Cellular energy metabolism is complex, and NAD, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, plays a huge role as an organic redox cofactor, driving metabolic reactions. The abundance of pathways dependent on NAD has led to an increase in the studies of NAD and its precursors. As a result, NR, or nicotinamide riboside, is now a popular nutraceutical taken to increase levels of NAD in the body. NR is a precursor to NAD inside cells. Metabolites with the same molecular formula as NR are found in urine and blood. Yet, NR is usually associated with these species in extracellular regions although NR is …

Lmpact Of Salmonella Enterica Effector Proteins On Plant Physiology And Immunity, Sara Qader

Honors Theses

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are primarily recognized as pathogens associated with foodborne illnesses in humans. Salmonella also can colonize plant tissue effectively. The pathogen relies on type III secretion systems (T3SS) to infect mammals and plants successfully and counteract the immune response. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Salmonella’s interactions with plants is essential for developing effective strategies to reduce its impact on human health and agriculture. Effector proteins, known for their role in modulating host-pathogen interactions, have been implicated in the virulence and pathogenicity of Salmonella. However, their specific functions and contributions to Salmonella’s interactions with plants remain largely unknown. …

Attention Lstm U-Net Model For Drosophila Melanogaster Heart Tube Segmentation In Optical Coherence Microscopy Images, Xiangping Ouyang, Abigail Matt, Fei Wang, Elena Gracheva, Ekaterina Migunova, Saathvika Rajamani, Edward B Dubrovsky, Chao Zhou

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) imaging of the

The Echo: May 6, 2024, Taylor University

2023-2024 (Volume 111)

No abstract provided.

Participant 002: Reiki Master With Five Years Of Experience (White; Female; Indiana, Usa)

0885: Reiki and Well-Being Interviews

This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding five years of experience (White/Female/Indiana, USA). She was interviewed on May 6, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her early experience with energy before she knew about Reiki, familial experiences, and Reiki as a tool for being a more balanced person. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified …

Computational Framework For Parameter Identification In The Nearly Incompressible Linear Elasticity System, Rachel Hawks

Theses

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and early detection is a key component in the treatment of cancer and can lead to drastic improvement of patient survival rates. Cancerous tissue is stiffer on average than healthy soft tissue, and in the presence of a compressive force, the stiffer areas tend to deform less than the softer areas. The problem being analyzed is based on a linear elasticity system that describes displacement in soft tissue under applied body forces in biomedical applications, specifically in the case of identifying soft tissue cancers. Elasticity imaging, or elastography, can …

Data Normalization For Addressing The Challenges In The Analysis Of Single-Cell Transcriptomic Datasets, Raquel Cuevas-Diaz Duran, Haichao Wei, Jiaqian Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Normalization is a critical step in the analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets. Its main goal is to make gene counts comparable within and between cells. To do so, normalization methods must account for technical and biological variability. Numerous normalization methods have been developed addressing different sources of dispersion and making specific assumptions about the count data.

MAIN BODY: The selection of a normalization method has a direct impact on downstream analysis, for example differential gene expression and cluster identification. Thus, the objective of this review is to guide the reader in making an informed decision on the most …

Hormonal Basis Of Brain Fog In Cancer Treatment, Yuan Pan, Jian Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The cognitive side effects of cancer treatment are common, but no targeted therapy exists yet to treat or prevent such neurological sequelae. We explore the role of hormones as mediators between cancer therapy and cognitive impairment, discussing potential future directions.

Identifying Key Evolving Residues That Drive Cid/Cal1 Incompatibility In Drosophila Species, Hayden Yuan, Barbara Mellone

Honors Scholar Theses

The centromere, an essential locus on the chromosome critically important for faithful chromosome segregation during cell division, requires the incorporation of centromere protein A (CENP-A/CID) orchestrated by the chaperone CAL1. This thesis investigates the structural requirements governing the interaction between CAL1 and CID, with a focus on two diverged Drosophila species. Using a combination of structural analysis prediction and cellular assays, I explored the compatibility between the N-terminal region of CAL1 and the L1 domain of CID. Previous results demonstrate species specific interactions between CAL1 and CID, with endogenous Drosophila melanogaster (mel) CAL1 efficiently depositing Drosophila melanogaster CID …

Psychosocial Factors Associated With Substance Use Vulnerability In Black Americans, Aanya Mehta

Honors Scholar Theses

In 2010, the World Health Organization developed the Conceptual Framework for the Social Determinants of Health as a response to epidemiologists’ and public health workers’ need to estimate the impact of social inequality. Within this framework, psychosocial factors are intermediary determinants of health that influence an individual’s interactions with their environment. This paper analyzes data and results from ten articles from the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS), which looks at the impacts of psychosocial, contextual, and family effects on health and developmental outcomes in Black American families. The findings across the ten articles provide strong evidence that there are …

Open Resources For Biology Education (Orbe): A Resource Collection, Sanah Ahmed, Tiffany Adjei-Opong, Ashley B. Heim, Keenan Noyes, Kelly Schmid, Brian A. Couch, Mackenzie R. Stetzer, Lillian G. Senn, Erin Vinson, Michelle K. Smith, Kira Treibergs

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In undergraduate life sciences education, open educational resources (OERs) increase accessibility and retention for students, reduce costs, and save instructors time and effort. Despite increasing awareness and utilization of these resources, OERs are not centrally located, and many undergraduate instructors describe challenges in locating relevant materials for use in their classes. To address this challenge, we have designed a resource collection (referred to as Open Resources for Biology Education, ORBE) with 89 unique resources that are primarily relevant to undergraduate life sciences education. To identify the resources in ORBE, we asked undergraduate life sciences instructors to list what OERs they …

Preparing Students For Adulthood: Comparing The Experiences Of Degree And Non-Degree Seeking Graduates, Lacee R. Boschetto, Brian K. Warnick

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The role of secondary education is critical to preparing graduates for adulthood. This study explored the transition experiences of high school graduates and factors that impacted their preparation for adulthood. This descriptive study focused on the experiences of degree and non-degree-seeking graduates. Surveys were distributed to students enrolled in a general education course at a state university and marketing research participants not enrolled in post-secondary programs. The survey sought to identify overall preparedness, responsibilities deemed necessary to teach in high school, and influence factors that prepared them for adulthood. The overall findings displayed that graduates seeking degrees felt more prepared …

Regulation Of Intracellular Sorting Of The Bruno Protein In Drosophila Flight Muscles, Travis Main

Master's Theses

Understanding mechanisms of intracellular sorting is a fundamental inquiry of cell biology. We used the B-body and protein Bruno (Bru) as a model to study the formation of nuclear domains that are membraneless organelles inside the cell nucleus. Specifically, we sought to identify protein sequences that regulate Bru's affinity to B-bodies and protein aggregation. We generated various Bru mutants and subsequently tested them in vivo using fluorescence microscopy. We found that the protein solubility of Bru is determined through an interplay of RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Using truncation analysis, we identified a 31-amino acid region …

Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose

All ETDs from UAB

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a channel responsible for the transport of chloride and bicarbonate ions across the apical cell surface. In the respiratory tract, defective CFTR results in viscous and adherent mucus that becomes static within the airway, which leads to chronic infections, progressive lung damage, and early mortality. Historically, CF mucus stasis has been attributed to significant airway dehydration; however, growing evidence has demonstrated that aberrant electrostatic properties of mucins also contribute to mucus stasis in CF. Mucins are large, polymeric glycoproteins …

Ras G-Domains Allosterically Contribute To The Recognition Of Lipid Headgroups And Acyl Chains, Neha Arora, Huanwen Mu, Hong Liang, Wenting Zhao, Yong Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mutant RAS are major contributors to cancer and signal primarily from nanoclusters on the plasma membrane (PM). Their C-terminal membrane anchors are main features of membrane association. However, the same RAS isoform bound to different guanine nucleotides spatially segregate. Different RAS nanoclusters all enrich a phospholipid, phosphatidylserine (PS). These findings suggest more complex membrane interactions. Our electron microscopy-spatial analysis shows that wild-types, G12V mutants, and membrane anchors of isoforms HRAS, KRAS4A, and KRAS4B prefer distinct PS species. Mechanistically, reorientation of KRAS4B G-domain exposes distinct residues, such as Arg 135 in orientation state 1 (OS1) and Arg 73/Arg 102 in OS2, …

May 6, 2024, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Reading Mood In The Post-Oslo Palestinian Novel: Shame, Melancholy, Hope, Sayed Qashou

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Modern Palestinian literature was born diasporic. Produced from different positions in the Palestinian diaspora, multilingual Palestinian literature maps itself onto Palestinianess as a state of mind. In dialogue with affect theory, the dissertation supplements this understanding of Palestinianness with an account of mood in post-Oslo Palestinian literature. Specifically, I analyze shame in Ayman Sikseck’s Hebrew novel Tishrin (2016) and melancholia in Adania Shibli’s Arabic novel Minor Detail (2020 [2017]). By “reading the mood,” this dissertation examines how iltizam (commitment) in Palestinian literature registers the social and political ruptures that the collapse of the Oslo accords brought upon the Palestinian experience.

The Relationships Among Economic Support And Hypertension And Diabetes Among The Adult Jamaican Population, Andrea Wolfe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A significant number of adult Jamaicans have been diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, and individual socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked to these health outcomes. SES included income, education and employment. Income may directly influence health; however, some individual’s income may not be sufficient to cover all financial obligations and income support may be necessary. Local or overseas family members may significantly augment an individual’s income and financial situation that could affect health outcomes. This quantitative cross-sectional study was used to examine whether there were relationships between health outcomes (hypertension and diabetes) and economic support (governmental and familial). The Jamaica …

Perceptions And Experiences Of Black Young Adults Regarding Depressive Symptoms And Strategies Used To Cope With Adverse Experiences During Adolescence, Sherral Harding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adversity has been a topic of study among scholars who have highlighted the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms increasing over time because of childhood experiences and exposure to traumatic situations. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of Black young adults age 18–35 regarding depressive symptoms and strategies used to cope with adverse experiences throughout their teenage years growing up in a low-income community and later in life. The perspectives were examined through a retrospective lens of the young adults’ adolescent years. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was used as the framework to …

Contraception And Menstrual Management In Transmasculine And Gender-Diverse Individuals, Adrian Chiem, Maria Cristina Marcos, Beth I. Schwartz

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Purpose of Review This review outlines the current evidence on the contraceptive and menstrual management methods that are used for transmasculine or gender-diverse (TGD) individuals, as well as the gaps in the literature for this population.

Recent Findings Contraception and menstrual management continue to be an understudied area in the care of TGD individuals, with much of existing research extrapolated from cisgender populations. Emerging studies have looked at contraceptive and menstrual management choices and outcomes in adolescents and highlight the 52 mg LNG-IUD as an option that is efficacious for both indications, as well as high-dose progestin-only pills for menstrual …

Serine Deamination By Human Serine Racemase Synergizes With Antibiotics To Curtail The Replication Of Chlamydia Trachomatis, Patricia D. Mott, Arnold H. Zea, Jamiya Lewis, Oygul Mirzalieva, Ashok A. Aiyar

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The obligate intracellular bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, has evolved to depend on its human host for many metabolites, including most amino acids and three of the four nucleotides. Given this, it is not surprising that depletion of a single amino acid in the host cell growth medium blocks chlamydial replication. Paradoxically, supra-normal levels of some amino acids also block productive replication of Chlamydia. Here, we have determined how elevated serine levels, generated by exogenous supplementation, impede chlamydial inclusion development and reduce the generation of infectious progeny. Our findings reveal that human serine racemase, which is broadly expressed in multiple tissues, potentiates …