Digital Commons Network^™

Phenotypic Maps For Precision Medicine: A Promising Systems Biology Tool For Assessing Therapy Response And Resistance At A Personalized Level, Sayantan Bhattacharyya, Shafqat F Ehsan, Loukia G Karacosta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In this perspective we discuss how tumor heterogeneity and therapy resistance necessitate a focus on more personalized approaches, prompting a shift toward precision medicine. At the heart of the shift towards personalized medicine, omics-driven systems biology becomes a driving force as it leverages high-throughput technologies and novel bioinformatics tools. These enable the creation of systems-based maps, providing a comprehensive view of individual tumor's functional plasticity. We highlight the innovative PHENOSTAMP program, which leverages high-dimensional data to construct a visually intuitive and user-friendly map. This map was created to encapsulate complex transitional states in cancer cells, such as Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) …

A Neutrosophic Multi-Criteria Model For Evaluating Sustainable Soil Enhancement Methods And Their Cost Implications In Construction, Ahmed El-Douh, Songfeng Lu, Ahmed Abdelhafeez, Alber Aziz

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to promote sustainable soil practices in construction foundation projects. The aim is to evaluate the environmental impact and long-term sustainability of soil-related activities in construction through the lens of LCA. This assessment encompasses a wide array of factors, including soil quality, erosion control, contaminant remediation, soil stability, conservation, drainage management, and compliance with regulatory standards. To address this multifaceted evaluation, we employ a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model, specifically introducing the Multi-Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC) method. This MCDM technique is utilized to appraise the sustainability …

Decoding Meningioma Heterogeneity And Neoplastic Cell-Macrophage Interaction Through Single-Cell Transcriptome Profiling Across Pathological Grades, Hailang Fan, Lairong Song, Jian Fan, Junpeng Ma, Xiaojie Li, Junting Zhang, Jian Hu, Zhen Wu, Dake Zhang, Liang Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Analyzing meningioma of distinct pathological types at the single-cell level can provide new and valuable insights into the specific biological mechanisms of each cellular subpopulation, as well as their vital interplay within the tumor microenvironment.

Methods: We recruited patients diagnosed with four distinct types of meningioma and performed single-cell RNA sequencing on their tumor samples, concurrently analyzing a publicly available dataset for comparison. Next, we separated the cells into discrete clusters and identified their unique identities. Using pseudotime analysis, we demonstrated cellular differentiation and dynamics. To investigate biological function, we employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis, gene regulatory network, …

Faculty Senate Agenda

Faculty Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach Update, October 25, 2023, Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach

Office of Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Localized Cardiac Small Molecule Trajectories And Persistent Chemical Sequelae In Experimental Chagas Disease, Zongyuan Liu, Rebecca Ulrich Vonbargen, April L Kendricks, Kate Wheeler, Ana Carolina Leão, Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan, Danya A Dean, Shelley S Kane, Ekram Hossain, Jeroen Pollet, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J Hotez, Kathryn M Jones, Laura-Isobel Mccall

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Post-infectious conditions present major health burdens but remain poorly understood. In Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, antiparasitic agents that successfully clear T. cruzi do not always improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we reveal differential small molecule trajectories between cardiac regions during chronic T. cruzi infection, matching with characteristic CD apical aneurysm sites. Incomplete, region-specific, cardiac small molecule restoration is observed in animals treated with the antiparasitic benznidazole. In contrast, superior restoration of the cardiac small molecule profile is observed for a combination treatment of reduced-dose benznidazole plus an immunotherapy, even with less parasite burden reduction. Overall, …

Methyl-Branched Liposomes As A Depot For Sustained Drug Delivery, Yang Li, Rachelle Shao, Claire A Ostertag-Hill, Matthew Torre, Ran Yan, Daniel S Kohane

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Inadequate drug loading and control of payload leakage limit the duration of the effect of liposomal drug carriers and may cause toxicity. Here, we report a liposome system as a depot for sustained drug delivery whose design is inspired by the low permeability of Archaeal membranes to protons and solutes. Incorporating methyl-branched phospholipids into lipid bilayers decreased payload diffusion across liposomal membranes, thereby enhancing the drug load capacity by 10-16% and reducing the release of small molecules in the first 24 h by 40-48%. The in vivo impact of this approach was demonstrated by injection at the sciatic nerve. Methyl-branched …

Survivor Experiences Of Male Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Literature Review, Elizabeth Burch B.S., Joseph T. Kenneally Psy.D., Stephanie Zepeda Phd

Psychology from the Margins

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes childhood sexual abuse (CSA) as a global health issue. CSA is a human violation that affects both female and male children and has a stronger detrimental impact on mental health than other traumatic childhood experiences. Despite a growing awareness of male survivors of CSA, male survivors are a marginalized group as most CSA research focuses on females. In addition, masculine norms can keep male adults from disclosing further, which can delay support and increase mental health issues. This meta- analysis reviews the current literature on this group of marginalized people and concludes with a …

Colorism Among Black Youth In The United States: An Examination Of Impacts On Education, Jasmine Major, Teneeshia R. Johnson, Antoinette Wilson, Stacie Defreitas

Psychology from the Margins

Black students with darker complexions experience a disproportionate application of exclusionary practices within educational settings (Crutchfield et al., 2022). This review seeks to highlight colorism’s impact on the Black community in the education system through examining the historical context of colorism, the connection between colorism and racism, and how colorism is manifested and perpetuated in contemporary society in the United States. “Antiblackness” is an enduring trait of the United States that has rooted and fixed itself to its school structures (Coles & Powell, 2019). Schools are inherently political in that they adhere to and perpetuate the dominant ideologies of society …

History Untold: A Historical Review Of Psychological Harm Of Racialized Minorities, Coralann M. Garcia, Kyana D. Hamilton

Psychology from the Margins

The legacy of social sciences is riddled with examples of harm toward racial minorities. Since its inception, the field of psychology has enforced power imbalances between researchers and research participants (APA, 2021a). Due to this imbalance, there have been violations of human dignity by psychological researchers from disciplines including social, clinical, cognitive, and counseling psychology (Winston, 2020). As the field of psychology continues to expand, it is necessary to redress the harmful legacies of psychological practices hindering help-seeking behaviors for many minoritized groups. As future practitioners and researchers, we recognize the instrumental role of past and current psychologists in shaping …

Navigating The Ethical And Legal Terrains Of Ai Tool Deployment: A Comparative Legal Analysis, Roland Akindele, Stella Jesuloluwa Adewuyi

Communications of the IIMA

The pervasive influence of technology has revolutionised numerous sectors across the globe, underscoring the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the tools that technology has engendered. Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a prominent technological tool, has exceeded expectations and proven immensely beneficial to humanity. Consequently, it is imperative to scrutinise the ethical and regulatory frameworks governing its application. This paper employs a doctrinal methodology to analyse the regulatory landscape and ethical guidelines surrounding AI technology in Nigeria and some selected jurisdictions. The findings highlight the necessity of establishing a robust governance system to govern the utilisation of this transformative technology. In …

The Jewish Tradition: Religious Beliefs And Healthcare Decisions, 2002, Elliot N. Dorff

Historical Documents - Combined

Chicago, IL: Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics published this handbook on the Jewish faith is part of a series entitled "Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions". Sections include Judaism and:

• The Individual and the Patient-Caregiver Relationship, p. 6
• Family, Sexuality, and Procreation, p. 8
• Genetics, p. 15
• Organ and Tissue Transplantation, p. 17
• Mental Health, p. 19
• Medical Experimentation and Research, p. 20
• Death and Dying, p. 21
• Special Concerns, p. 26

The Lutheran Tradition: Religious Beliefs And Healthcare Decisions, 2002, Deborah Abbott, Paul Nelson

Historical Documents - Combined

Chicago, IL: Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics published this handbook on Lutheranism as part of a series entitled "Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions". Sections include Lutheranism and:

• The Individual and the Patient-Caregiver Relationship, p. 4
• Family, Sexuality, and Procreation, p. 6
• Genetics, p. 12
• Organ and Tissue Transplantation, p. 14
• Mental Health, p. 15
• Medical Experimentation and Research, p. 15
• Death and Dying, p. 16
• Special Concerns, p. 19

The Roman Catholic Tradition: Religious Beliefs And Healthcare Decisions, 2002, Ronald P. Hamel, Kevin O'Rourke

Historical Documents - Combined

Chicago, IL: Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics published this handbook on Roman Catholicism as part of a series entitled "Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions". Sections include Roman Catholocism and:

• The Individual and the Patient-Caregiver Relationship, p. 7
• Family, Sexuality, and Procreation, p. 12
• Genetics, p. 17
• Organ and Tissue Transplantation, p. 18
• Mental Health, p. 19
• Death and Dying, p.20
• Special Concerns, p. 24

The Buddhist Tradition: Religious Beliefs And Healthcare Decisions, 2001, Paul David Numrich

Historical Documents - Combined

Chicago, IL: Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics published this handbook on Buddhism as part of a series entitled "Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions". Sections include Buddhism and:

• Beliefs Relating to Healthcare, p. 2
• Overview of Religious Morality and Ethics, p. 3
• The Individual and the Patient-Caregiver Relationship, p. 4
• Family, Sexuality, and Procreation, p. 5
• Genetics, p. 6
• Organ and Tissue Transplantation, p. 7
• Mental Health, p. 8
• Medical Experimentation and Research, p. 9
• Death and Dying, p. 9
• Special Concerns, p. 11

Workshop Abstracts: The International Conference & Workshop On Lobster (And Crab) Biology And Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia, Western Rock Lobster Council, Fisheries Research And Development Corporation

International Conference on Lobster (and Crab) Biology and Management (ICWL)

The theme of the 12th ICWL is ‘ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM)’. EBFM is a holistic approach to fisheries management that recognises all the interactions within an ecosystem rather than considering a single species or issue in isolation. We consider this represents best practice for fisheries management and reflects that fisheries research and management focus is now broader than just sustainability. Therefore, in addition to presentations that focus on lobster (and crab) biology and stock assessment, we have also welcomed presentations that examine other aspects of EBFM, such as ecosystem effects of fishing, economic assessments, social issues, governance, and compliance with …

Volume 63-3 Complete Issue, Casey D. Allen

The Geographical Bulletin

The complete issue of Volume 63, Issue 3, originally uploaded to Gamma Theta Upsilon Novemeber 2022

Cover, Forewards, And Editor Note, Casey D. Allen

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 63-3 Cover, Forewords, Table of Contents, and Note from the Editor

Tadpoles And Turtles: Can You Smell That Smell?, Laila Kiara Manigault, Shem Unger

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

Animal behavior is a vast field of study, including experiments into predator prey relationships across freshwater ecosystems. Previous studies have demonstrated that tadpoles are capable of responding to aquatic predator chemical cues, including dragonfly larvae, fish, snake, crayfish, and even conspecific tadpoles. However, little is known regarding tadpole anti-predatory responses to freshwater turtles. Therefore, we investigated whether tadpole respond to chemical cues of turtles found in the same pond. We found Upland Chorus frog tadpoles decreased their movement, increased their latency to move, and avoided areas where Painted turtle stimulus was injected. Our study adds to the body of knowledge …

A Wild Pseudomonas Has Appeared: An Exercise In Bacterial Isolation And Identification, Alexander O. Gomez, Sarahai Jimenez, Arianna J. Swindle, Lisa Wang

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

The aim of our research was to isolate and identify wild type Pseudomonas putida from soil in various cities of San Gabriel Valley. P. putida iscapable of biomineralization. Biomineralization can potentially be used as a method of phosphorus recovery by using bacteria to produce phosphate rich struvite. In isolating bacteria for further observation, fluorescence was used as a primary determinant in identifying possible Pseudomonas strains as fluorescence is a common trait shared among varying Pseudomonas species; P. putida, P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, P. cichorii, P. chlororaphis, P. syringae,and P. aureofaciens. King’s B agar was used to promote the production of …

The Psychology Of The Nature Of Evil: Evaluating The Evil Within Us All, Tiffany Ann Bickett

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

This paper evaluates the psychological facets of the nature of evil; particularly, the relationships between evil and the concepts of neurobiology, personality characteristics, and social environments are explored. The notions of what constitutes evil and what causes it are also discussed in order to synthesize and formulate an established definition of evil. Furthermore, the idea that all people have evil capabilities is analyzed in this paper. All in all, this paper is centered around the complex nature of evil and the factors that contribute to evil in the world.

Should Minor League Mean Minor Pay: A Student Analysis Of The Public Debate, Mia Isabella Napolitano, Jafrā D. Thomas

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

Historically, and at the time of this study’s project, many minor league baseball players in the United States were paid below the federal minimum wage, which has been recently circulating in the media and has been a source of ongoing controversy (McDaniel, 2022). This article is a write-up to the first author’s end-of-term course project, which was supervised by the second author. The objective of the present study was to perform a historical and philosophical analysis of the public debate on minor league pay as well as describe ethical arguments within the debate. This should guide future debates on labor …

[Open Access Fair] Open Educational Resources Station, Anne Marie Gruber, Nikki Harken, Gabriela Olivares, Geneva Bell, Christian Johnson

Open Access Week Events

Open Educational Resources station at the morning Open Access Fair for the 2023 Open Access Day event at UNI

• Date: 10/24/2023
• Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
• Location: Rod Library main floor hallway
• People manning station: Anne Marie Gruber, Nikki Harken, Gabriela Olivares, Geneva Bell, and Christian Johnson

[Open Access Fair] Uni Scholarworks Station, Ellen Neuhaus, Edye Johnson, Bill Maravetz

Open Access Week Events

UNI ScholarWorks station at the morning Open Access Fair for the 2023 Open Access Day event at UNI

• Date: 10/24/2023
• Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
• Location: Rod Library main floor hallway
• People manning station: Ellen Neuhaus, Bill Maravetz, and Edye Johnson

Campus Assembly Minutes 10/24/2023, Campus Assembly

Campus Assembly

No abstract provided.

Phenotypic Plasticity Of Male Calls In Two Populations Of The Katydid Neoconocephalus Triops (Insecta: Tettigoniidae), Oliver M. Beckers, Teiya Kijimoto, Johannes Schul

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

The ability to respond to environmental changes plays a crucial role for coping with environmental stressors related to climate change. Substantial changes in environmental conditions can overcome developmental homeostasis, exposing cryptic genetic variation. The katydid Neoconocephalus triops is a tropical species that extended its range to the more seasonal environment of North America where it has two reproductive generations per year. The harsher winter conditions required adults to diapause which resulted in substantially different mating calls of the diapausing winter animals compared to the non-overwintering summer animals in northern Florida. The summer call corresponds to that of tropical populations, whereas …

Wics Conference 2023: Moving Beyond The Ordinary, Daren Redfearn, Daran Rudnick

Water and Integrated Cropping Systems Conferences

The theme of this year’s WICS Conference is Moving Beyond the Ordinary with the goal of addressing Team Science. Our vision is to provide opportunities and connection points among IANR faculty to leverage their individual knowledge, skills, abilities, and passions. A tendency for land grant institutions is often to deliver information biased from a single, primary discipline and perspective. This is known as comfort zone mega bias and has been defined as “the tendency to drag a problem into our comfort zone and solve the problem that we know how to solve, rather than solving the problem that needs to …

Ai And The Creative Process: Part One, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Article discussing the effects of artificial intelligence on the creative process in the art world.

2023 Open Access Week Day [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

No abstract provided.

Degendering Parents On Birth Certificates, Timothy E. Murphy, Jennifer Parks

Philosophy: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Birth certificates typically designate parents as ‘mothers’ or ‘fathers’ although some U.S. states offer non-gendered designations. We argue that gendered characterizations offer scant legal or moral value and that states should move to degender parental status on birth certificates but retain that information in registrations of birth. Registrations of birth identify the person giving birth to a child, when and where, and they report demographic and health information useful for civic and public health purposes. Birth certificates typically report a child’s name, sex, date and location of birth, and parentage so far as known. As documents establishing parents’ standing in …