Digital Commons Network^™

Adipose Tissue Dysfunction And Energy Balance Paradigms In People Living With Hiv, Claudia E Ramirez Bustamante, Neeti Agarwal, Aaron R Cox, Sean M Hartig, Jordan E Lake, Ashok Balasubramanyam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the past 4 decades, the clinical care of people living with HIV (PLWH) evolved from treatment of acute opportunistic infections to the management of chronic, noncommunicable comorbidities. Concurrently, our understanding of adipose tissue function matured to acknowledge its important endocrine contributions to energy balance. PLWH experience changes in the mass and composition of adipose tissue depots before and after initiating antiretroviral therapy, including regional loss (lipoatrophy), gain (lipohypertrophy), or mixed lipodystrophy. These conditions may coexist with generalized obesity in PLWH and reflect disturbances of energy balance regulation caused by HIV persistence and antiretroviral therapy drugs. Adipocyte hypertrophy characterizes visceral …

Expanded Clinical Phenotype And Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis In Rars2-Related Mitochondrial Disorder: A Case Report, Ameya S Walimbe, Keren Machol, Stephen F Kralik, Elizabeth A Mizerik, Yoel Gofin, Mir Reza Bekheirnia, Charul Gijavanekar, Sarah H Elsea, Lisa T Emrick, Fernando Scaglia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background

RARS2-related mitochondrial disorder is an autosomal recessive mitochondrial encephalopathy caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene encoding the mitochondrial arginyl-transfer RNA synthetase 2 (RARS2, MIM *611524, NM_020320.5). RARS2 catalyzes the transfer of L-arginine to its cognate tRNA during the translation of mitochondrially-encoded proteins. The classical presentation of RARS2-related mitochondrial disorder includes pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH), progressive microcephaly, profound developmental delay, feeding difficulties, and hypotonia. Most patients also develop severe epilepsy by three months of age, which consists of focal or generalized seizures that frequently become pharmacoresistant and lead to developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). …

Integrating Genome Sequencing And Untargeted Metabolomics In Monozygotic Twins With A Rare Complex Neurological Disorder, Rulan Shaath, Aljazi Al-Maraghi, Haytham Ali, Jehan Alrayahi, Adam D Kennedy, Karen L Debalsi, Sura Hussein, Najwa Elbashir, Sujitha S Padmajeya, Sasirekha Palaniswamy, Sarah H Elsea, Ammira A Akil, Noha A Yousri, Khalid A Fakhro

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Multi-omics approaches, which integrate genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have emerged as powerful tools in the diagnosis of rare diseases. We used untargeted metabolomics and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a rare disease with a complex presentation affecting female twins from a consanguineous family. The sisters presented with polymicrogyria, a Dandy–Walker malformation, respiratory distress, and multiorgan dysfunctions. Through WGS, we identified two rare homozygous variants in both subjects, a pathogenic variant in ADGRG1(p.Arg565Trp) and a novel variant in CNTNAP1(p.Glu910Val). These genes have been previously associated with autosomal recessive polymicrogyria and hypomyelinating neuropathy with/without …

Microglia At Sites Of Atrophy Restrict The Progression Of Retinal Degeneration Via Galectin-3 And Trem2, Chen Yu, Yun Chen, Jinchao Hou, Marco Colonna, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Outer retinal degenerations, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are characterized by photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy. In these blinding diseases, macrophages accumulate at atrophic sites, but their ontogeny and niche specialization remain poorly understood, especially in humans. We uncovered a unique profile of microglia, marked by galectin-3 upregulation, at atrophic sites in mouse models of retinal degeneration and human AMD. In disease models, conditional deletion of galectin-3 in microglia led to phagocytosis defects and consequent augmented photoreceptor death, RPE damage, and vision loss, indicating protective roles. Mechanistically, Trem2 signaling orchestrated microglial migration to atrophic sites and induced galectin-3 …

Gene Expression Networks Regulated By Human Personality, Coral Del Val, Elisa Díaz De La Guardia-Bolívar, Igor Zwir, Pashupati Mishra, Alberto Mesa, Ramiro Salas, Guillermo F. Poblete, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Emma Raitoharju, Mika Kähönen

School of Medicine Publications

Genome-wide association studies of human personality have been carried out, but transcription of the whole genome has not been studied in relation to personality in humans. We collected genome-wide expression profiles of adults to characterize the regulation of expression and function in genes related to human personality. We devised an innovative multi-omic approach to network analysis to identify the key control elements and interactions in multi-modular networks. We identified sets of transcribed genes that were co-expressed in specific brain regions with genes known to be associated with personality. Then we identified the minimum networks for the co-localized genes using bioinformatic …

Variations In Student Approaches To Problem Solving In Undergraduate Biology Education, Jeremy L. Hsu, Rou-Jia Sung, Su L. Swarat, Alexandra J. Gore, Stephanie Kim, Stanley M. Lo

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Existing research has investigated student problem-solving strategies across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; however, there is limited work in undergraduate biology education on how various aspects that influence learning combine to generate holistic approaches to problem solving. Through the lens of situated cognition, we consider problem solving as a learning phenomenon that involves the interactions between internal cognition of the learner and the external learning environment. Using phenomenography as a methodology, we investigated undergraduate student approaches to problem solving in biology through interviews. We identified five aspects of problem solving (including knowledge, strategy, intention, metacognition, and mindset) that define three …

Review Of Our Brains At War: The Neuroscience Of Conflict And Peacebuilding, Laura Sinville

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Relational Leadership And Governing: Somali Clan Cultural Leadership, Farhia Abdi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This research is focused on exploring the distinction between theories of leadership and more contemporary visions of relational leading. In order to do so, the specific case of traditional clan structure seen in the Somali state will be examined, and parallels between the two will be drawn. This paper argues that the old Somali tradition shares much in common with current writing on relational leadership (Uhl-Bien, 2006) and, therefore, can expand our understanding and support for a form of leadership that transcends traditional, individualist, hierarchical leadership. This argument will be supported by a detailed investigation into clan politics, leadership, and …

The Un Security Council In Conflict: How Does The Protection Of The Environment Related To Armed Conflict Fit Into Its Structural And Inequal Dynamics?, Gabriel Lagrange

The Journal of Social Encounters

Recent conflicts have emphasized the multidirectional linkages between the environment and conflicts and therefore peace and security. As the organ responsible for international peace and security issues, the UN Security Council has the mandate to tackle the environment- conflicts nexus. Although it has delivered several resolutions on a case-by-case basis, the UN Security Council has never included environmental protection through a thematic resolution. Such a resolution is crucial due to the current ecological crisis while the binding nature and implementation capacities of the Council would tangibly improve the current political and legal framework protecting the environment. Yet, obstacles resulting from …

Guns, Bombs, And Pollution: Unraveling The Nexus Between Warfare, Terrorism, And Ecological Devastation In Iraq, Hogr Tarkhani

The Journal of Social Encounters

Iraq's environment has experienced significant pollution and degradation, earning it the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted and degraded regions globally, according to the Globe Pollution Review. The past three decades of armed conflict have exacted a heavy toll on the country, resulting in widespread human suffering, including countless fatalities, injuries, and a massive displacement of people. Amidst this death and destruction, the ecosystem has also endured severe damage, and its decline carries long-lasting implications.

The environmental crisis in Iraq has been worsened by the presence of extremist groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS) and various …

On Dialogue And Beyond: Positive Environmental Peacebuilding In Palestine, Elsa Barron

The Journal of Social Encounters

In Palestine, environmental management has been used as a tool of military occupation and oppression. Yet even within that context, many community-based organizations have established programs relating to environmental peacebuilding. Of these initiatives, environmental dialogue programs have received significant attention and resources, even more so since the war in Gaza began in October, 2023. However, a deeper interrogation of these programs reveals the danger that dialogue and collaboration devoid of a critical analysis of power and injustice further perpetuates systemic oppression. Moving these programs into the realm of positive environmental peacebuilding requires a willingness to engage in this structural analysis. …

The Role Of Symbolic Resistance In The Permanence Of Islamic Forms, Riyam Rajab Fanjan Rr.

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The Islamic forms reflect a symbolic content and spiritual and ideological dimensions. Between their resistance to change and their response to the formal transformations resulting from technology and contemporary techniques, new ideas and forms are generated. This puts the Islamic form in a challenge that could lead to its emptying of its symbolism and semantic expressions and between its flexible transitions across time and space. Therefore, the research raises the concept of resistance (symbolic-formal) that is known as the interconnected relationship between form, meaning, symbol, and spiritual values. Therefore, the research problem appears " The variation and formal diversity of …

Help Or Hindrance: Latinx College Graduates’ From Stem Majors Perceptions Of University Culture Following Vincent Tinto’S Theoretical Framework Of Student Persistence, Carmen Gonzalez, Carmen Lucia Gonzalez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Latinx college graduates who have achieved STEM degrees perceive the culture of their university and the STEM program they were enrolled in as supporting or not supporting a Latinx college student’s persistence to graduation.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological approach was the methodology selected for this study. This phenomenological research captured and described the lived experiences of study participants through interviews and artifacts.

Findings: The findings of this research illustrate (a) Research participants all perceived that creating relationships with STEM program faculty was important in supporting them toward degree completion, …

Planktonic Marine Fungi: A Review, Xuefeng Peng, Anthony S. Amend, Federico Baltar, Leocadio Blanco-Bercial, Eva Breyer, Gaëtan Burgaud, Michael Cunliffe, Virginia P. Edgcomb, Hans Peter Grossart, Paraskevi Mara, Hossein Masigol, Ka Lai Pang, Alice Retter, Cordelia Roberts, Judith Van Bleijswijk, Allison K. Walker, Syrena Whitner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Fungi in marine ecosystems play crucial roles as saprotrophs, parasites, and pathogens. The definition of marine fungi has evolved over the past century. Currently, “marine fungi” are defined as any fungi recovered repeatedly from marine habitats that are able to grow and/or sporulate in marine environments, form symbiotic relationships with other marine organisms, adapt and evolve at the genetic level, or are active metabolically in marine environments. While there are a number of recent reviews synthesizing our knowledge derived from over a century of research on marine fungi, this review article focuses on the state of knowledge on planktonic marine …

“You Take My Place; Let’S Switch!” What It Means To Be A Woman Powerlifter In Parasport, Aaron Carl S. Seechung, Maria Luisa M. Guinto

The Qualitative Report

Gendered disability in elite sport has emerged as a pertinent area of inquiry in sport psychology. However, qualitative research aimed at amplifying the voices of marginalized subgroups is notably sparse. Employing a phenomenological approach, we examined the lived experience of a Filipina para powerlifter, probing the intersection of gender, disability, and socioeconomic status in shaping how the participant made sense of life and identity, both within and outside the realm of sport. Three personal experiential themes were generated from the interview data's interpretative phenomenological analysis: “survival of the fittest,” “the voices in my head did not allow me to give …

Breaking Silence: Women And Men’S Experiences Of Preventing Ipv, Fatmeh Ahmad Alzoubi, Reem Ali

The Qualitative Report

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious problem in all cultures. This study aimed to identify Jordanian men’s and women’s strategies of preventing IPV using focus groups and open-ended questionnaires. Participants identified many strategies to prevent IPV, which fell within three themes: (1) shields of prevention; (2) understanding the triggers of IPV; and (3) resources of prevention. Participants described their opinions on preventing IPV and discussed the role of extended family, financial dependence, triggers of IPV, and coping strategies used by women. Preventing IPV requires substantial changes in the personal characteristics of men and women, communication skills, and law enforcement.

The Development Of 2 Clonally And Histologically Distinct Subtypes Of Extranodal B-Cell Lymphomas In The Brain And Skin In 1 Individual, Daniel Joffe, Thomas Z. Rohan, Jenna Mandel, Jayson Suriano, Lauren Banner, Alexander Valiga, Pierluigi Porcu, Jerald Z. Gong, Jason B. Lee, Onder Alpdogan, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Genetic Sex Validation For Sample Tracking In Next-Generation Sequencing Clinical Testing, Jianhong Hu, Viktoriya Korchina, Hana Zouk, Maegan V Harden, David Murdock, Alyssa Macbeth, Steven M Harrison, Niall Lennon, Christie Kovar, Adithya Balasubramanian, Lan Zhang, Gauthami Chandanavelli, Divya Pasham, Robb Rowley, Ken Wiley, Maureen E Smith, Adam Gordon, Gail P Jarvik, Patrick Sleiman, Melissa A Kelly, Harris T Bland, Mullai Murugan, Eric Venner, Eric Boerwinkle, Emerge Iii Consortium, Cynthia Prows, Lisa Mahanta, Heidi L Rehm, Richard A Gibbs, Donna M Muzny

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Data from DNA genotyping via a 96-SNP panel in a study of 25,015 clinical samples were utilized for quality control and tracking of sample identity in a clinical sequencing network. The study aimed to demonstrate the value of both the precise SNP tracking and the utility of the panel for predicting the sex-by-genotype of the participants, to identify possible sample mix-ups.

RESULTS: Precise SNP tracking showed no sample swap errors within the clinical testing laboratories. In contrast, when comparing predicted sex-by-genotype to the provided sex on the test requisition, we identified 110 inconsistencies from 25,015 clinical samples (0.44%), that …

The Unregulated World Of Your Most Personal Of Personal Information: A Proposal For A Federal Biometric Information Privacy Law, Isabel M. Vuyk

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Species Delimitation Of Slimy Salamanders, Plethodon Kisatchie And Plethodon Mississippi, Across The Lower Mississippi River, Brock Hunter Stevenson

Master's Theses

Species are fundamental units of biodiversity yet delimiting species can be challenging. Slimy Salamanders of the Plethodon glutinosus species complex are a classic example of cryptic species for which species boundaries and relationships have proved difficult to determine. Once thought to be a single species ranging across the eastern United States, protein analysis revealed high genetic divergences among geographically distinct groups of populations, leading to 16 species being recognized within the group. Two of these species, the Louisiana Slimy Salamander (Plethodon kisatchie) and the Mississippi Slimy Salamander (Plethodon mississippi), are closely related but occur on opposite sides of the Mississippi …

Blow-Spun Hybrid Pcl-Peo/Hnts Scaffolds With Enhanced Biological And Mechanical Properties, Meichen Liu

Doctoral Dissertations

With the development of technology and engineering, nanotechnology has been a multidisciplinary scientific field applied in nearly all science areas, including medicine, genetics, food industry, robotics. In this respect, nanomedicine has gained increasing attention and been a useful, effective therapy for cancer diagnosis, gene transfer, and drug delivery. To design an ideal nano drug delivery system with controlled drug releasing and improved encapsulated drug’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, hydrogels and polymer composites have witnessed increased research interest during the last decades. Recently, numerous polymers have been studied to fabricate the ideal wound dressing with biocompatibility, biodegradability, porous structural, and suitable …

Influence Of Maternal Supplementation With Vitamins, Minerals, And (Or) Protein/Energy On Placental Development And Angiogenic Factors In Beef Heifers During Pregnancy, Bethania J. Dávila Ruiz, Carl R. Dahlen, Kacie L. Mccathy, Joel S. Caton, Jennifer L. Hurlbert, Friederike Baumgaertner, Ana Clara B. Menezes, Wellison J. S. Diniz, Sarah R. Underdahl, James D. Kirsch, Kevin K. Sedivec, Kerri A. Bochantin, Pawel P. Borowicz, Sebastián Canovas, Lawrence P. Reynolds

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The effect of vitamins and minerals supplementation (VTM) and/or two rates of body weight gain (GAIN) on bovine placental vascular development and angiogenic factors gene expression were evaluated in two experiments: In Exp. 1, crossbred Angus heifers (n = 34) were assigned to VTM/NoVTM treatments at least 71 days before breeding to allow changes in the mineral status. At breeding, through artificial insemination (AI), heifers were assigned to low-gain (LG) 0.28 kg/d or moderate-gain (MG) 0.79 kg/d treatments, resulting in NoVTM-LG (Control; n = 8), NoVTM-MG (n = 8), VTM-LG (n = 9), and VTM-MG (n = …

Development Of An Integrated Workflow For Nucleosome Modeling And Simulations, Ran Sun

Doctoral Dissertations

Nucleosomes are the building blocks of eukaryotic genomes and thus fundamental to to all genetic processes. Any protein or drug that binds DNA must either cooperate or compete with nucleosomes. Given that a nucleosome contains 147 base pairs of DNA, there are approximately 4^147 or 10^88 possible sequences for a single nucleosome. Exhaustive studies are not possible. However, genome wide association studies can identify individual nucleosomes of interest to a specific mechanism, and today's supercomputers enable comparative simulation studies of 10s to 100s of nucleosomes. The goal of this thesis is to develop and present and end-to-end workflow that serves …

Selective Targeting Of Microglia By Quantum Dots And Green Synthesis Of Metal Organic Biohybrids; Applications In Dynamic Cell And Assay Systems, Navya Uppu

Doctoral Dissertations

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of physical and cognitive disability across the globe, currently affecting approximately 15% of the worldwide population. Part of the glioma microenvironment are microglia, resident immune cells of the CNS that were thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Though it remains uncertain what triggers microglial activation in these disorders, targeting and tracking microglial functions using nanotools like Quantum Dots (QDs) could help us elucidate them in such neurological diseases. This research focuses on the comparative study of different QDs formulations and their selective uptake by brain microglia in primary cultures …

Development And Characterization Of Injectable, Cell-Encapsulated Chitosan-Genipin Hydrogels, Tyler R. Priddy-Arrington

Doctoral Dissertations

Over 150,000 patients undergo lower extremity amputation every year in the United States, most commonly caused by complications due to diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and trauma. Diseased or damaged tissues that are unable to naturally repair themselves must either be fully removed or replaced, otherwise the injuries can lead to further complications such as infection or death. Tissue resection and amputation, as forms of removing damaged tissue, are not favorable to patients as they can cause pain, reduce mobility, and negatively impact quality of life. However, replacing lost or damaged tissues with donor tissues carries the risks of tissue …

Structure-Based Targeting Of The Nemo:Ikk Interaction For Canonical Nf-Κb Inhibition, Amy Kennedy

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The NF-κB pathway is important for cell survival and proliferation, inflammation, and innate immunity, and its dysregulation is a common theme in many cancers, autoimmune disorders, and other disease states. The protein-protein interaction between the scaffolding protein NEMO and the kinase IKK in the NF-κB pathway represents a compelling target for selective NF-κB inhibition because it occurs only in the canonical branch of the NF-κB pathway. Disruption of the NEMO:IKK interaction has been established for decades in the literature as a safe and effective way to selectively inhibit overactivation of the canonical branch of the NF-κB pathway. The benchmark in …

A Greb1-Steroid Receptor Feedforward Mechanism Governs Differential Greb1 Action In Endometrial Function And Endometriosis, Sangappa B Chadchan, Eryk Andreas, Stephanie J Gunderson, Patricia T Jimenez, Emily S Jungheim, Kelle H Moley, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cellular responses to the steroid hormones, estrogen (E2), and progesterone (P4) are governed by their cognate receptor's transcriptional output. However, the feed-forward mechanisms that shape cell-type-specific transcriptional fulcrums for steroid receptors are unidentified. Herein, we found that a common feed-forward mechanism between GREB1 and steroid receptors regulates the differential effect of GREB1 on steroid hormones in a physiological or pathological context. In physiological (receptive) endometrium, GREB1 controls P4-responses in uterine stroma, affecting endometrial receptivity and decidualization, while not affecting E2-mediated epithelial proliferation. Of mechanism, progesterone-induced GREB1 physically interacts with the progesterone receptor, acting as a cofactor in a positive feedback …

The Outcomes Measured And Reported In Intracranial Meningioma Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review, Christopher P. Millward, Sumirat M. Keshwara, Terri S. Armstrong, Heather Barrington, Sabrina Bell, Andrew R. Brodbelt, Helen Bulbeck, Linda Dirven, Paul L. Grundy, Abdurrahman I. Islim, Mohsen Javadpour, Shelli D. Koszdin, Anthony G. Marson, Michael W. Mcdermott, Torstein R. Meling, Kathy Oliver, Puneet Plaha, Matthias Preusser, Thomas Santarius, Nisaharan Srikandarajah, Martin J.B. Taphoorn, Carole Turner, Colin Watts, Michael Weller, Paula R. Williamson, Gelareh Zadeh, Amir H. Zamanipoor Najafabadi, Michael D. Jenkinson, Oliver Hanemann

Peninsula Medical School

Background. Meningioma clinical trials have assessed interventions including surgery, radiotherapy, and pharmacotherapy. However, agreement does not exist on what, how, and when outcomes of interest should be measured. To do so would allow comparative analysis of similar trials. This systematic review aimed to summarize the outcomes measured and reported in meningioma clinical trials. Methods. Systematic literature and trial registry searches were performed to identify published and ongoing intracranial meningioma clinical trials (PubMed, Embase, Medline, CINAHL via EBSCO, and Web of Science, completed January 22, 2022). Reported outcomes were extracted verbatim, along with an associated definition and method of measurement if …

Outcomes In Biomarker-Selected Subgroups From The Kestrel Study Of Durvalumab And Tremelimumab In Recurrent Or Metastatic Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Tanguy Y Seiwert, Sophie Wildsmith, Jérôme Fayette, Kevin Harrington, Maura Gillison, Myung-Ju Ahn, Shunji Takahashi, Jared Weiss, Jean-Pascal Machiels, Shrujal Baxi, Valerie Baker, Brent Evans, Nassim Morsli, Jill Walker, Katia Real, Anne L'Hernault, Amanda Psyrri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Selective biomarkers may improve outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. We investigated three independent biomarkers for association with efficacy in the randomized, phase III KESTREL study (NCT02551159) of first-line durvalumab monotherapy or durvalumab plus tremelimumab versus the EXTREME regimen: programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunohistochemistry, blood tumor mutational burden (bTMB) via circulating tumor DNA, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

METHODS: Tumor or blood samples from patients enrolled in the KESTREL study were analyzed for PD-L1, bTMB, and NLR. Associations with overall survival (OS) or objective …

The Proximate Regulation Of Prosocial Behaviour: Towards A Conceptual Framework For Comparative Research, Kathrin S. Kopp, Patricia Kanngiesser, Rahel K. Brügger, Moritz M. Daum, Anja Gampe, Moritz Köster, Carel P. Van Schaik, Katja Liebal, Judith M. Burkart

School of Psychology

Humans and many other animal species act in ways that benefit others. Such prosocial behaviour has been studied extensively across a range of disciplines over the last decades, but findings to date have led to conflicting conclusions about prosociality across and even within species. Here, we present a conceptual framework to study the proximate regulation of prosocial behaviour in humans, non-human primates and potentially other animals. We build on psychological definitions of prosociality and spell out three key features that need to be in place for behaviour to count as prosocial: benefitting others, intentionality, and voluntariness. We then apply this …