Digital Commons Network^™

Behavioral Ecology Of The Colorado Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma Hentzi): Activities Displayed Around The Burrow Through Juvenile Group Dispersal, Bradley Allendorfer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The life history strategy of the Colorado brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) typically includes males spatially scattering in search for a female mate in the fall, followed by female attendance of fertilized eggs the following summer. Here, I highlighted aspects associated with this female parental care. Specifically, I compared the activities of maternal (egg-attending) tarantulas to their non-maternal (not egg-attending) counterparts, as this may be a costly time for these egg-attending individuals. I concluded that maternal individuals tended to show reduced activity at the burrow entrance, however; these, results were significant in only one comparison. After weeks of this parental care, …

Guide To The George M. Austin Research Collection, Department Of Archives And Special Collections, Loma Linda University

The Dr. George M. Austin Neurology Research Collection

The Dr. George M. Austin Research Collection was donated to the Loma Linda University Department of Archives and Special Collections in 2023. The collection is available for consultation within the department, in the Del E Webb Memorial Library, Loma Linda, Ca. Many of the files have been digitized and are also available via the Universities institutional repository, "Scholars Repository."

The collection includes research materials spanning 1948-1995, primarily focusing on Dr. Austin's work on brain aneurysms and related neurological topics. The collection also contains personal and professional papers, reflecting Dr. Austin's career as a neurosurgeon, researcher, and educator.

Characterizing Human Schwann Cell Behavior Using Hyaluronic Acid Material Properties, Christine Hampton

Wayne State University Theses

Schwann cells are the principal glia in the peripheral nervous system, supporting normal peripheral nerve function, particularly in the myelination of motor and sensory axons of the peripheral nerves. Disruptions in normal Schwann cell function such as injury and disease can lead to decreased motor function, sensory capability, and neuropathic pain. Efforts to treat this do not always have consistent or favorable outcomes, so there has been an increased interest in developing tissue engineering solutions to address these problems. Studies have been conducted on various cell types to characterize the cellular response to material properties such as topography and material …

Age-Related Longitudinal Changes In Gray Matter Microstructure, Jessica Hayes

Wayne State University Theses

Measures of the brain’s microstructure may be more sensitive markers of aging than macrostructural measures. However, it remains unclear exactly how gray matter microstructure changes during aging and how this relates to changes in macrostructure. The present study evaluated how neurite density, orientation dispersion, and gray matter volume changed over a three-year period in a sample of healthy older adults. The role of age in modifying structural change within the hippocampus, precuneus, and rostral anterior cingulate cortex was also considered. Repeated measures general linear models additionally evaluated whether degree of change in microstructure between the first two measurement occasions modified …

High-Throughput Screening Of Fda-Approved Drugs For Protecting Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Against Er Stress Induced Cell Death: Implications For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Shaima Ali Jawarneh

Wayne State University Theses

Purpose: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the elderly population, characterized by the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The link between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and AMD is well established, however FDA-approved medications for the treatment of AMD caused by unregulated ER stress are limited and have potential side effects. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive screening of the FDA-approved drug library in order to identify potential candidates that could be repurposed in order to protect against the degeneration and death of RPE cells due to ER stress.

Methods: …

Plasma Neurofilament Light As A Biomarker Of Neurodegeneration And Memory Function In Older Adults, Youjin Jung

Wayne State University Dissertations

Plasma neurofilament light (NfL) is a promising biomarker for monitoring and predicting cognitive function and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the field still needs a better understanding of what plasma NfL reflects about neurodegenerative and cognitive changes occurring in AD, especially in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, for the optimized use of plasma NfL as a biomarker for AD for clinical and research purposes. Therefore, here I investigated how NfL is associated with memory function, the functional connectivity of the default mode network, and the microstructural properties of white matter and gray matter regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s pathologies …

Probing Microscopic Properties Of Next Generation Materials Using Coherent Vibrational And Electronic Spectroscopy, S Mudiyanselage Sachithra Tikiri Kumara Wanasinghe

Wayne State University Dissertations

The dissertation research focused on understanding the relationship between the chemical structure of organic molecules and their photophysical properties, particularly examining coherent electronic and vibrational coupling within and between molecules, with implications for next-generation energy technologies. In Chapter 2, we employed both steady-state and transient optical and magnetic spectroscopic techniques to understand the electronic delocalization in both singlet and triplet exciton delocalization in weakly bound porphyrin dimeric molecules. Our results highlight that the delocalization of singlet exciton delocalization does not guarantee the delocalization of triplet excitons between weakly bound porphyrin macromolecules. Our studies demonstrate how one can access the electronic …

The Relationship Between Mild Cognitive Dysfunction And Diabetes Self-Management In Community Dwelling Older Adults, Hossein Hafezi Nia

Wayne State University Dissertations

Background. Cognitive dysfunction is an important comorbidity of diabetes, which may reflect brain changes as a consequence of diabetes. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the association between specific cognitive domains and diabetes self-management behaviors in individuals with diabetes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, the association between social determinats of health and MCI was investigated. Design A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used to address the study aims using data extracted from the 2022 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) datasets. Participants Of the total HRS and HCAP participants, 2035 …

Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of Class Iia Histone Deacetylase (Hdac) Inhibitors, Lauren Nicole Kotsull

Wayne State University Dissertations

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins are linked to disease states, including cancer, and have become important targets for therapeutic development. Many inhibitors have been developed to target HDAC proteins, including FDA-approved inhibitors Vorinostat (SAHA), Belinostat, Romidepsin, and Panobinostat. These inhibitors non-specifically influence most of the 11 metal-dependent HDAC isoforms, which might contribute to the side effects that patients experience during treatment. The lack of selectivity also diminishes the use of HDAC inhibitors as biomedical research tools. To address these drawbacks, the development of selective inhibitors has been heavily studied. Yet, reported inhibitors are predominantly selective for class I HDAC isoforms (HDACs …

Introduction, Kimberly J. Brown, Robert A. Green

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Sexual Polymorphism And The Hyoid Bone: The Potential For The Identification Of Transgender Individuals From Skeletal Remains, Hermes M. Wilson

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The purpose of this research is to explore the potential use of the hyoid bone for sex estimation as a way to increase the accuracy in the identification of deceased transgender individuals from skeletonized remains. Being able to recognize transgender status from the hyoid bone could be crucial to the positive identification of these individuals, to provide closure for families, and to seek justice in situations of foul play. The program Amira 3D™ 2023 was used to create 3D models of the hyoid bone and to take measurements to determine whether transgender individuals can be differentiated from phenotypical, cisgender male …

A Structured Review Of The Associations Between Breast Cancer And Exposures To Selected Organic Solvents, Sydney Westra, Mark S. Goldberg, France Labrèche, Jill Baumgartner, Vikki Ho

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Introduction

Our objective was to identify published, peer-reviewed, epidemiological studies that estimated associations between the risk of developing or dying from malignant breast cancer and past exposure to selected organic solvents with reactive metabolites, to delineate the methods used and to synthesize the results.

Content

We undertook a structured review of case-control and cohort studies used to investigate breast cancer risk and exposure to selected organic solvents that produce reactive metabolites in the body. We used SCOPUS, MEDLINE (Ovid) and Web of Science databases from 1966 to December 31, 2023 to identify epidemiological studies that estimated associations between the risk …

Uni Panthers 2024-25 Wrestling Media Guide, University Of Northern Iowa

Athletics Media Guides

Contents:

Contents / Staff / Schedule --- 2
Quick Facts / Media Information --- 3
Roster --- 4
2023-24 Recap / 2024-25 Preview --- 5
The Panther Program --- 6
Media Protocols --- 7
Parking Map --- 8
Big 12 Conference --- 9
2024 Big 12 Championships --- 10
2024 NCAA Championships --- 11
McLeod Center --- 12
Head Coach Doug Schwab --- 14-17
Coaching Staff --- 18
Athlete Bios 20-63
2023-24 Dual Results --- 64
2023-24 Tournament Results --- 65
Conference Championships/Honors --- 66-67
Career / Season Leaders --- 68
Awards --- 69
NCAA Champions --- 70
All-Americans --- …

2024 Volleyball Media Guide, University Of Northern Iowa

Athletics Media Guides

Contents:

Contents --- 2
Quick Facts --- 3
2024 Roster --- 4
2024 Schedule --- 5
McLeod Center --- 6
Staff --- 7-13
Meet the Panthers --- 14-26
2023 Overall Stats --- 27
2023 MVC Stats --- 28
Record Book --- 29-60
Career Records --- 29
Single-Season Records --- 30
Single-Match Records --- 31
Team Season Records --- 32
Team Match Records & Records by Class --- 33
Additional Records --- 34
Annual Leaders --- 35
Year-By-Year Stats & Coaching Wins --- 36
Conference Tournament History --- 37
Postseason & Top 25 Archives --- 38
Memorable Milestones --- 39-40
Awards …

Africa’S Overlooked Top Predator: Towards A Better Understanding Of Martial Eagle Feeding Ecology In The Maasai Mara, Kenya, Richard Stratton Hatfield, Allison G. Davis, Ralph Buij, John J. Cox, Shiv Kapila, Lemein Parmuntoro, Simon Thomsett, Munir Z. Virani, Peter Njoroge, Frank Van Langevelde

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Raptors exert top-down influences on ecosystems via their effects on prey population dynamics and community composition. Most raptors are sympatric with other predators, thus complicating our understanding of their relative influence in these systems. Estimates of kill rates and prey biomass recycling have been used as predation metrics that allow quantitative comparison among species and assessment of the relative role of single species within complex food webs. Few studies have produced findings of kill rates or prey biomass recycling for raptors. We used a supervised machine learning algorithm to behaviourally classify high resolution accelerometer informed GPS locations of tagged adult …

Intuition And The Apophatic Way Of Unknowing: A Fruitful Dialogue Between Science And Religion, Jeffrey P. Bishop

Intersections of Science and Faith

Apophatic theology is a form of thinking and religious practice that attempts to approach God, the Divine, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. This presentation will explore how this line of thought can inform and illuminate current scientific thinking.

Penicillin And The Pope: Antimicrobial Resistance In Light Of Laudato Si’, Fred C. Tenover

Intersections of Science and Faith

Increasing antimicrobial resistance—that is the ability of bacteria to avoid the killing action of antibiotics—has become a global crisis, making some infections untreatable. Antibiotics, which are a natural resource, are frequently used indiscriminately, which increases the likelihood of resistance. Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ calls to use resources wisely and justly; this should include prudent use of antibiotics.

Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking, And Molecular Dynamic Studies Of Novel Quinazoline Derivatives As Phosphodiesterase 7 Inhibitors, Marwa M. Safar Prof. Dr.

Pharmacy

Introduction: Phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7) is a high-affinity cyclic AMP (cAMP)- specific PDE that is expressed in immune and proinflammatory cells. In this work, we explore the possibility that selective small molecule inhibitors of this enzyme family could provide a novel approach to alleviate the inflammation that is associated with many inflammatory diseases. Methods: A series of novel substituted 4-hydrazinoquinazoline derivatives and fused triazoloquinazolines were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro for their PDE7A inhibition activities, in comparison with Theophylline, a non-selective PDE inhibitor, and BRL50481, a selective PDE7A inhibitor. This series of novel quinazoline derivatives were synthesized via multi-step reactions. …

Exploring The Role Of Uncharacterized Gene Yjbe In Bacterial Persistence, Isaac Kovash

Schultz-Werth Award Papers

Antibiotic resistance has become a major global health concern as it decreases antibiotic efficacy and continues to emerge each year. A major driving force behind antibiotic resistance is a small subset of the bacterial population (known as persisters) that enter a metabolically repressed state in response to antibiotics, allowing them to survive long-term antibiotic treatments. After the antibiotic treatment period is over persisters can reestablish and reoccur the infection. However, the central mechanism behind persister formation remains debated and unclear. Our previous transcriptomic analysis of the persister population of Escherichia coli Dh5αZ1 showed that several genes are upregulated during persister …

Where Does The Church Stand In Today’S Mental Health Landscape?, Noah T. Mursu

Schultz-Werth Award Papers

Religious involvement in care for those living with mental illness has been going on for centuries, and perspectives on it have changed throughout the years. This literature review evaluates the place of religious groups, mainly Christian churches, in today's mental health situation by considering past and present involvement. It incorporates sources regarding different eras of mental hospital reform, modern perspectives of mental health clinicians and clergy, and the current gaps in mental health support among a variety of groups, including veterans, African Americans, and people in developing countries. This review then considers potential future involvement, especially considering how these gaps …

Biodegradable Nanoparticles Targeting Circulating Immune Cells Reduce Central And Peripheral Sensitization To Alleviate Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury., Michael N. Saunders, Kate V. Griffin, Irina Kalashnikova, Daniel Kolpek, Dominique R. Smith, Eiji Saito, Brian J. Cummings, Aileen J. Anderson, Lonnie D. Shea, Jonghyuck Park

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Neuropathic pain is a critical source of comorbidity following spinal cord injury (SCI) that can be exacerbated by immune-mediated pathologies in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In this article, we investigate whether drug-free, biodegradable, poly(lactide- co -glycolide) (PLG) nanoparticle treatment mitigates the development of post-SCI neuropathic pain in female mice. Our results show that acute treatment with PLG nanoparticles following thoracic SCI significantly reduces tactile and cold hypersensitivity scores in a durable fashion. Nanoparticles primarily reduce peripheral immune-mediated mechanisms of neuropathic pain, including neuropathic pain-associated gene transcript frequency, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 nociceptor expression, and MCP-1 (CCL2) chemokine …

Front Matter

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

End Matter

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

The Motherhood Penalty In The United Kingdom: An Unconditional Quantile Regression Analysis, Abhijit Sharma, Stefano Grillini, Richard Woodward

Articles

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Organisational Performance Through Patient-Focused Learning Excellence In The Biopharmaceutical Industry, Lori Richter

Dissertations

Drug shortages, quality defects and challenges regarding innovation within the biopharmaceutical industry pose significant risks to patient safety and organisational performance. These problems persist despite the many scientific, technological and economic advances over the past several years in a well-funded, high-revenue industry operated by highly qualified personnel. Evidence suggests that the industry has yet to fully realise the potential for building organisational capabilities to enable learning from mistakes to enhance performance outcomes. This research study explored how biopharmaceutical companies can learn from their mistakes and embrace a culture of learning in order to reduce quality defects and drug shortages by …

Structuring Extra-Classroom Pedagogical Partnership To Support Truth Telling For Equity And Inclusion: Recommendations For Practice, Alison Cook-Sather, Elena Marcovici

Education Program Faculty Research and Scholarship

Equity and inclusion efforts are undermined by individual and institutional inattention to the lived experiences of an increasingly diverse college student population. Extra-classroom, student–faculty/staff pedagogical partnerships can foster truth telling about and the development of practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. In this practice brief, we offer recommendations for (1) developing pedagogical partnership projects and programs, (2) dedicating regular meetings to supporting student partners in sharing the truths of their lived experiences, (3) scaffolding faculty and staff partners’ listening to and acting on the truths student partners tell, and (4) sharing truths more widely.

The Effect Of Phase-Separated Microstructures On Cell Migration In 3d Dextran Hydrogels, Jenifer Sidhwa

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Utilizing Plasmid Dna Hydrogels For Cell-Free Protein Production, Tinotenda Duche

Honors Theses and Capstones

Proteins play an important role in various biological processes and are crucial components in biomedical research and therapeutics. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has provided a valuable approach for rapid protein production outside living cells, involving both transcription and translation processes. However, traditional CFPS methods encounter challenges such as high cost, relatively low yields, and scalability. The end goal of our project is to incorporate our template into the hydrogel. In this work, we report advancements towards that by trying to optimize our solution of CFPS. Unfortunately, the standards for pDNA hydrogel synthesis are not met by the pDNA production and …

Investigation Of The Effects Of Ocean Acidification On Juvenile Homarus Americanus Feeding Behavior, Sophia Roy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Climate change has led to increased CO2 absorption by ocean surface waters, resulting in decreased pH levels, a phenomenon known as ocean acidification (OA). A primary class of marine organism behavior is impacted by OA, in particular, olfactory-mediated behaviors related to foraging and feeding success. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for the documented impairment of foraging and feeding-related behaviors remains in question. We find that juvenile American lobsters (H. americanus) exhibit significantly faster rates of total feeding times in response to short-term low pH exposure. However, total search time and total handling time were not affected by pH when examined …