Digital Commons Network^™

Dynamics Of Serum-Neutralizing Antibody Responses In Vaccinees Through Multiple Doses Of The Bnt162b2 Vaccine, Jared Sheehan, Caleb M. Ardizzone, Mayank Khanna, Amber J. Trauth, Michael E. Hagensee, Alistair J. Ramsay

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are administered as effective prophylactic measures for reducing virus transmission rates and disease severity. To enhance the durability of post-vaccination immunity and combat SARS-CoV-2 variants, boosters have been administered to two-dose vaccinees. However, long-term humoral responses following booster vaccination are not well characterized. A 16-member cohort of healthy SARS-CoV-2 naïve participants were enrolled in this study during a three-dose BNT162b2 vaccine series. Serum samples were collected from vaccinees over 420 days and screened for antigen (Ag)-specific antibody titers, IgG subclass distribution, and neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses. Vaccine boosting restored peak Ag-specific titers with sustained α-RBD IgG and …

Urinary Tract Infections: A Review Of The Current Diagnostics Landscape, Braith Grey, Mathew Upton, Lovleen Tina Joshi

School of Biomedical Sciences

Urinary tract infections are the most common bacterial infections worldwide. Infections can range from mild, recurrent (rUTI) to complicated (cUTIs), and are predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Antibiotic therapy is important to tackle infection; however, with the continued emergence of antibiotic resistance there is an urgent need to monitor the use of effective antibiotics through better stewardship measures. Currently, clinical diagnosis of UTIs relies on empiric methods supported by laboratory testing including cellular analysis (of both human and bacterial cells), dipstick analysis and phenotypic culture. Therefore, development of novel, sensitive and specific diagnostics is an important means to …

Nad+ Rescues Aging-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Damage Via The Cx43-Parp1 Axis, Rui Zhan, Xia Meng, Dongping Tian, Jie Xu, Hongtu Cui, Jialei Yang, Yangkai Xu, Mingming Shi, Jing Xue, Weiwei Yu, Gaofei Hu, Ke Li, Xiaoxiao Ge, Qi Zhang, Mingming Zhao, Jianyong Du, Xin Guo, Wenli Xu, Yang Gao, Changyu Yao, Fan Chen, Yue Chen, Wenxin Shan, Yujie Zhu, Liang Ji, Bing Pan, Yan Yu, Wenguang Li, Xuyang Zhao, Qihua He, Xiaohui Liu, Yue Huang, Shengyou Liao, Bin Zhou, Dehua Chui, Y Eugene Chen, Zheng Sun, Erdan Dong, Yongjun Wang, Lemin Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) function deteriorates during aging, contributing to cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. It is unclear what drives BBB leakage in aging and how it can be prevented. Using single-nucleus transcriptomics, we identified decreased connexin 43 (CX43) expression in cadherin-5

The Role Of Noncoding Rnas In Pancreatic Birth Defects, Ziyue Zoey Yang, Ronald J Parchem

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Congenital defects in the pancreas can cause severe health issues such as pancreatic cancer and diabetes which require lifelong treatment. Regenerating healthy pancreatic cells to replace malfunctioning cells has been considered a promising cure for pancreatic diseases including birth defects. However, such therapies are currently unavailable in the clinic. The developmental gene regulatory network underlying pancreatic development must be reactivated for in vivo regeneration and recapitulated in vitro for cell replacement therapy. Thus, understanding the mechanisms driving pancreatic development will pave the way for regenerative therapies. Pancreatic progenitor cells are the precursors of all pancreatic cells which use epigenetic changes …

Associations Between Birth Defects With Neural Crest Cell Origins And Pediatric Embryonal Tumors, Eugene C Wong, Philip J Lupo, Tania A Desrosiers, Hazel B Nichols, Susan M Smith, Charles Poole, Mark Canfield, Charles Shumate, Tiffany M Chambers, Jeremy M Schraw, Wendy N Nembhard, Mahsa M Yazdy, Eirini Nestoridi, Amanda E Janitz, Andrew F Olshan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: There are few assessments evaluating associations between birth defects with neural crest cell developmental origins (BDNCOs) and embryonal tumors, which are characterized by undifferentiated cells having a molecular profile similar to neural crest cells. The effect of BDNCOs on embryonal tumors was estimated to explore potential shared etiologic pathways and genetic origins.

METHODS: With the use of a multistate, registry-linkage cohort study, BDNCO-embryonal tumor associations were evaluated by generating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with Cox regression models. BDNCOs consisted of ear, face, and neck defects, Hirschsprung disease, and a selection of congenital heart defects. Embryonal …

A Multi-Institutional Phase 2 Trial Of Ablative 5-Fraction Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance-Guided On-Table Adaptive Radiation Therapy For Borderline Resectable And Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer, Parag Jitendra Parikh, Hyun Kim, Lauren E Henke, Alex T Price, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance (MR) image guidance may facilitate safe ultrahypofractionated radiation dose escalation for inoperable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a prospective study evaluating the safety of 5-fraction Stereotactic MR-guided on-table Adaptive Radiation Therapy (SMART) for locally advanced (LAPC) and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with LAPC or BRPC were eligible for this multi-institutional, single-arm, phase 2 trial after ≥3 months of systemic therapy without evidence of distant progression. Fifty gray in 5 fractions was prescribed on a 0.35T MR-guided radiation delivery system. The primary endpoint was acute grade ≥3 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity definitely attributed to …

A Paracrine Circuit Of Il-1Β/Il-1r1 Between Myeloid And Tumor Cells Drives Genotype-Dependent Glioblastoma Progression, Zhihong Chen, David H. Gutmann, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from blood circulation infiltrate glioblastoma (GBM) and promote growth. Here, we show that PDGFB-driven GBM cells induce the expression of the potent proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in MDM, which engages IL-1R1 in tumor cells, activates the NF-κB pathway, and subsequently leads to induction of monocyte chemoattractant proteins (MCPs). Thus, a feedforward paracrine circuit of IL-1β/IL-1R1 between tumors and MDM creates an interdependence driving PDGFB-driven GBM progression. Genetic loss or locally antagonizing IL-1β/IL-1R1 leads to reduced MDM infiltration, diminished tumor growth, and reduced exhausted CD8+ T cells and thereby extends the survival of tumor-bearing mice. In contrast …

Response Of Co2 And Ch4 Emissions From Arctic Tundra Soils To A Multifactorial Manipulation Of Water Table, Temperature And Thaw Depth, K Best, D Zona, E Briant, C-T Lai, Da Lipson, Kr Mcewing, Sj Davidson, Wc Oechel

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Significant uncertainties persist concerning how Arctic soil tundra carbon emission responds to environmental changes. In this study, 24 cores were sampled from drier (high centre polygons and rims) and wetter (low centre polygons and troughs) permafrost tundra ecosystems. We examined how soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes responded to laboratory-based manipulations of soil temperature (and associated thaw depth) and water table depth, representing current and projected conditions in the Arctic. Similar soil CO2 respiration rates occurred in both the drier and the wetter sites, suggesting that a significant proportion of soil CO2 emission occurs via anaerobic respiration under water-saturated conditions in …

The Effect Of Aicar-Induced Ampk Activation On Gene Expression In Sarcopenic Muscle, Daniel M. Rasch, Steven D. Dray, Jouber Dos Santos, Shalene E. Wilcox, David M. Thomson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) afflicts 11-74% of all aging adults, with prevalence increasing with age. Exercise training is clearly effective in preventing or attenuating sarcopenia. The cellular mechanisms of exercise’s protective effects are not entirely clear, but AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is thought to play an important role, in part by regulating gene expression. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of chronic pharmacological AMPK activation on skeletal muscle gene expression in sarcopenic muscle. METHODS: 24-month-old C57Bl/6J mice received either one acute injection or chronic daily saline injections of the AMPK-activating drug AICAR for 31 days. …

The Ecological Consequences Of Salty Fresh Waters, Bill Hintz

Sustainability Seminar Series

Freshwater ecosystems worldwide are getting saltier. This will change the ecology and functioning of freshwater ecosystems and threatens the services fresh waters provide us as humans, such as drinking water quality. In this presentation, Dr. Hintz will explain new research that investigates the ecological consequences of freshwater salinization and how current water quality guidelines need to be reevaluated to protect freshwater ecosystems.

Perovskite Cspbbr3 Solar Cells With Novel Hole-Transporting Layer Of Metal Complexes, Liqiu Zheng, Evynn S. Jackson, Ny'kesha S. Warren, Robert Owor, Zhongrui Li

Georgia Journal of Science

For the first time, the novel application of Schiff-base copper complexes in all-inorganic perovskite CsBrBr₃ solar cells has been explored and turns out they could be utilized as effective hole-transporting materials. Schiff-base copper complexes with halogen ligands (R=Cl and Br) are synthesized with an ease approach at a low cost, both of which exhibit decent power conversion efficiency of 4.55% and 5.71%, respectively, when being constructed into solar devices as hole transport layers. Thanks to high thermal/chemical stability of those Schiff-base metal complexes, the strengthened stability was achieved which is comparable to that of carbon-based CsBrBr₃ solar cells. …

Association Of Human Leukocyte Antigen (Hla) Alleles With Atopic Dermatitis In The Uae Population, Suhib Ziad Abu Jwayed

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In the face of the increasing global prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin condition, this thesis seeks to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of AD within the UAE population. Previous literature has underscored the ethnic-specific involvement of HLA genetic variations, especially within HLA-A and HLA-DRB1 genes, in the pathogenesis of various skin diseases, including AD. Leveraging this knowledge, our research specifically aimed to investigate the association between these HLA variants and AD in the UAE. Utilizing a comparative approach, the frequencies of HLA-A and HLA-DRB1 variants were assessed in AD patients vis-à-vis a control group. Our data, based …

Ecosystem Service Valuation Of Blue Carbon Habitats: A Review For Saltmarshes And Seagrasses, Geraldine Doolan, Stephen Hynes

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

Oceans and coastal marine ecosystems, particularly vegetated coastal habitats such as mangroves, seagrass, and saltmarsh, play a significant role in the global carbon cycle as long-term carbon sinks. Ensuring that these habitats continue to function as sinks and do not become sources of emissions through habitat degradation is vital for climate and environmental policy goals. These blue carbon ecosystems also provide a number of other important ecosystem services to societies. Understanding the economic value of blue carbon ecosystems is necessary to make informed policy decisions that weigh the costs and benefits of ecosystem management plans. This paper reviews the current …

Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Singhara – A Review Article., Soma Basu, A.J. Hemamalini

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Trapa Natans commonly known as Singhara or Paniphal in India. It grows throughout the East of India. Dried water chestnuts can be ground into flour to make a kind of porridge. Young nuts can be eaten raw with its greenish skin removed. The Singhara shell and core are rich in starch, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, certain types of phenols and minerals and have demonstrated various biological activities, including anticancer and antioxidant properties. Singhara contains several antioxidants that can reduce the risk of multiple chronic diseases and conditions.

The Therapeutic Potential Of Nelumbo Nucifera: A Comprehensive Review Of Its Phytochemistry And Medicinal Properties, Sparsh Bhat, Suresh Joghee, Meenakshi S. Iyer

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Nelumbo nucifera generally known as ‘sacred lotus’ is a plant with high medicinal value in traditional medicine system especially in Chinese medicine system which is having a wide distribution worldwide in Asian, Western European, American and Australian continent. All the parts of the plant have different medicinal value, as their extract contains various valuable chemical constituents which yield desired remedial effects against many diseases. The plant is used traditionally more compared to its commercial usage. It has also been used for dental and skin care products in many herbal formulations. In this review, data about its general description, its distribution, …

“Cost-Effective Markers To Identify Metabolically Healthy/Unhealthy Individuals And Their Future Risk For Cardiovascular Disorders”, Shobha C Ramachandra, Akila Prashant, Akshitha Shivanna, Ananth Koushik Bhujanga, Syeda Meherunnisa, Prashant Vishwanath

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background: With the rising prevalence of metabolically healthy obese, it becomes essential to identify markers to differentiate them from metabolically unhealthy obese and their future risk for cardiovascular disorders (CVD). The study aims to identify suitable markers for risk stratification of metabolically healthy/unhealthy individuals and their risk for CVD. Method: Total 84 individuals aged 18-60 years of age without any comorbidities were enrolled. Their demographic details along with anthropometric measurements were noted. The biochemical parameters like fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and serum adipokines were estimated. Insulin resistance (IR) markers and atherogenic indices were calculated. The data were analyzed on …

Effect Of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors On Blood Glucose In Euglycemic And Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Albino Wistar Rats, Nagma Firdose, Ranjith Raj, Bhavya Somaplara Gangadharappa, Suresha R N, Gubbi Vani Ishika, Ramith Ramu

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the serious health concerns around the globe, characterized by hyperglycemia. It is also linked with several other disorders including neuropathy. One of the most typical diabetes-related comorbidities is depression. Objectives: In this investigation, euglycemic albino rats and streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino Wistar rats were used to assess the effects of fluoxetine, escitalopram, and fluvoxamine on blood glucose levels. Method: To measure euglycemic index, the three medications were given to several groups. After administering glucose, the blood glucose level was checked at 0, 60, and 150 minutes. Additionally, starting on the third day following the induction …

Descriptive And Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Of Water Quality Parameters Of Vidyaranyapuram Treatment Plant: A Case Study, Snehalatha Basavaraju, Sushma Pradeep, Sahana K S, Stavelin Abhinandithe, Jamuna Bai Aswathanarayan

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

The fundamental need of human beings is safe water, but urban development is generating more polluted water creating the scarcity for drinkable water. Wastewater plants are used reduce the pollutants to less than maximum permissible limits to prevent the threat to the environment and human health. Henceforth, maintaining the waste water plant’s water quality standards before permitting into the water cycle. Subsequently, statistical prediction and evaluation are critical for determining the performance and improvement of wastewater treatment plants. The impact of multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the characteristics of the Vidyaranyapuram Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Mysuru was investigated …

Shell Pnw, Victoria B. Martinez Bruno, Amy C. Hirons Dr.

Hirons Field Techniques

No abstract provided.

Ritualized Affective Performances: Syriac Etiquette Guides And Systems Intelligence In Early Christian-Muslim Encounters, Luis Josué Salés

Scripps Faculty Publications and Research

In 2009, Michael Penn published a transcription and English translation of two Syriac texts, To the Rulers of the World (ܠܘܬ ܪ''ܝܫܢܐ ܕܥܠܡܐ) and Concerning the Entrance before a New Emir (ܕܡܥܠܬܐ ܨܝܕ ܐܡܝܪܐ ܚܕܬܐ). This essay proposes a new historiographical approach to these texts based on the concepts and theoretical apparatus of systems intelligence theory and affect theory. I show how these texts use key Islamic theological and cultural ideas that would affectively resonate with the Muslim authorities while remaining non-objectionable to the orthodoxy of the Assyrian Church of the East. Specifically, I argue that Christians sometimes sought to …

Impacts Of Hydrophobic Mismatch On Antimicrobial Peptide Efficacy And Bilayer Permeabilization., Steven Meier, Zachary M Ridgway, Angela L Picciano, Gregory A. Caputo

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a major threat to world health, with the continued emergence of resistant bacterial strains. Antimicrobial peptides have emerged as an attractive option for the development of novel antimicrobial compounds in part due to their ubiquity in nature and the general lack of resistance development to this class of molecules. In this work, we analyzed the antimicrobial peptide C18G and several truncated forms for efficacy and the underlying mechanistic effects of the sequence truncation. The peptides were screened for antimicrobial efficacy against several standard laboratory strains, and further analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate binding to …

Compound Flooding In A Non-Stationary World: A Primer For Practice, Gerarda M. Shields, J. Rolf Olsen, Miguel Medina Jr., Jayantha Obeysekera, Poulomi Ganguli, Carlo Demichele, Gianfausto Salvadori, Mohammad Reza Najafi, Hamed Moftakhari, Ferdinand Diermanse, Amir Aghakouchak

Publications and Research

Compound flooding conditions present a significant challenge for civil engineers in their pursuit to design for and maintain the integrity of a structure’s entire life cycle. Coupled with non-stationary processes due to a changing climate and land use change, risk is a moving target. Through the support of ASCE’s Task Committee on Compound Flooding, the Hydroclimatology Engineering Adaptation (HYDEA) sub-committee is developing a Manual of Practice (MOP) to provide a synthesis of available tools and methods of best practice for civil engineers designing for compound flooding conditions. This paper presents a primer for practicing civil engineers on this work. Hydrodynamic …

Pcbp1 Regulates Lifr Through Fam3c To Maintain Breast Cancer Stem Cell Self-Renewal And Invasiveness, William S. Streitfeld

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The poly(rC) binding protein 1 gene (PCBP1) encodes the heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein E1 (hnRNPE1), a nucleic acid-binding protein that plays a tumor-suppressive role in mammary epithelial cells by regulating phenotypic plasticity and cell fate. Following the loss of PCBP1 function, the FAM3C gene (encoding the Interleukin-like EMT inducer, or “ILEI” protein) and the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) gene are upregulated. Interaction between FAM3C and LIFR in the extracellular space induces phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3). Overexpression and/or hyperactivity of STAT3 has been detected in 40% of breast cancer cases and is associated with a …

Binding Interactions Of Biologically Relevant Molecules Studied Using Surface-Modified And Nanostructured Surfaces, Palak Sondhi

Dissertations

This research focuses on the field of surface nanobioscience, wherein different nanosurfaces that will be used as working electrodes in the electrochemical cell are manufactured and surface modified to understand the critical binding interactions between biologically significant molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, small drug molecules, and glycoproteins. This research is essential if we are to determine whether a synthetic molecule can serve as a therapeutic candidate or diagnose a disease in its early stages. In order to fully understand the binding interactions, the study begins with defining some of the fundamental concepts, principles, and analytical tools for biosensing.

Afterwards, we addressed …

Blue Runner (Caranx Crysos) Neurocranium, Delaney Deinlein, Gabriel Droz, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from approximately 30 cm total length (TL) Blue Runner (Caranx crysos), collected from Dania Pier in 2023 by Charles Klinger.

Mimicking Biofilms: Photosynthetic Assessments Of C. Reinhardtii In 3 Physical Forms, John Michael Roesgen

Biology ETDs

Oxygenic photosynthesis supports the majority of life on Earth through the capture of energy from sunlight and the assimilation of CO₂ into basic building blocks of cells. Microalgae are fast growing and account for about half of global photosynthesis. In addition, they can be cultivated and their metabolism can be redirected to generate additional useful products ranging from biofuels to pharmaceuticals. However, the efficiency of metabolite production is severely impacted by the slow diffusion of CO₂ through water and the high energetic costs of harvesting microalgae from liquid cultures. Microalgae grow in open water, but they also form …

Oregon State Rank Assesment For Johnson's Hairstreak (Callophrys Johnsoni), Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Johnson's hairstreak (Callophrys johnsoni) using NatureServe methodology, 2023.

Circulating Tumor Dna Monitoring On Chemo-Immunotherapy For Risk Stratification In Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Bruna Pellini, Russell W Madison, Merrida A Childress, Shoshana T Miller, Ole Gjoerup, Jason Cheng, Richard S P Huang, Michael Krainock, Pratyush Gupta, Wei Zou, David S Shames, Solomon Moshkevich, Marcus Ballinger, Minetta C Liu, Amanda Young, Minu K Srivastava, Geoffrey R Oxnard, Mark A Socinski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Chemoimmunotherapy (chemoIO) is a prevalent first-line treatment for advanced driver-negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with maintenance therapy given after induction. However, there is significant clinical variability in the duration, dosing, and timing of maintenance therapy after induction chemoIO. We used circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring to inform outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving chemoIO.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This retrospective study included 221 patients from a phase III trial of atezolizumab+carboplatin+nab-paclitaxel versus carboplatin+nab-paclitaxel in squamous NSCLC (IMpower131). ctDNA monitoring used the FoundationOne Tracker involving comprehensive genomic profiling of pretreatment tumor tissue, variant selection using an algorithm to exclude nontumor …

Dietary L-Tryptophan Consumption Determines The Number Of Colonic Regulatory T Cells And Susceptibility To Colitis Via Gpr15, Nguyen Van, Karen Zhang, Rachel Wigmore, Anne Kennedy, Carolina Dasilva, Jialing Huang, Manju Ambelil, Jose Villagomez, Gerald O'Connor, Randy Longman, Miao Cao, Adam Snook, Michael Platten, Gerard Kasenty, Luis Sigal, George C Prendergast, Sangwon Kim

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Environmental factors are the major contributor to the onset of immunological disorders such as ulcerative colitis. However, their identities remain unclear. Here, we discover that the amount of consumed L-Tryptophan (L-Trp), a ubiquitous dietary component, determines the transcription level of the colonic T cell homing receptor, GPR15, hence affecting the number of colonic FOXP3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells and local immune homeostasis. Ingested L-Trp is converted by host IDO1/2 enzymes, but not by gut microbiota, to compounds that induce GPR15 transcription preferentially in Treg cells via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Consequently, two weeks of dietary L-Trp supplementation nearly double …

Functional Aggregation Of Cell-Free Proteins Enables Fungal Ice Nucleation, Ralph Schwidetzky, Ingrid De Almeida Ribeiro, Nadine Bothen, Anna T. Backes, Arthur L. Devries, Mischa Bonn, Janine Fröhlich-Nowoisky, Valeria Molinero, Konrad Meister

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biological ice nucleation plays a key role in the survival of cold-adapted organisms. Several species of bacteria, fungi, and insects produce ice nucleators (INs) that enable ice formation at temperatures above −10 °C. Bacteria and fungi produce particularly potent INs that can promote water crystallization above −5 °C. Bacterial INs consist of extended protein units that aggregate to achieve superior functionality. Despite decades of research, the nature and identity of fungal INs remain elusive. Here, we combine ice nucleation measurements, physicochemical characterization, numerical modeling, and nucleation theory to shed light on the size and nature of the INs from the …