Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Alginate Oligosaccharide On Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia In Orchiectomized Rats, You-Jee Jang, Hye-Yeon Jung, Ju-Yeong Myeong, Kwang Hoon Song, Joseph Kwon, Duwoon Kim, Jae-Il Park

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease of the urinary system that affects elderly men. Current treatments for BPH are associated with several adverse effects, thus highlighting the need for alternative agents. Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS), a water-soluble functional oligomer derived from brown algae, inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation. However, the effects of AOS on BPH and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, here, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of AOS in BPH by using human benign prostatic epithelial cells (BPH-1) and a rat model of testosterone-induced BPH. Treatment with AOS inhibited in vitro and in vivo …

Rare Variants Of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: Clinical, Histologic, And Molecular Features And Diagnostic Pitfalls, Celestine M Trinidad, Sintawat Wangsiricharoen, Victor G Prieto, Phyu P Aung

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a dermal malignant mesenchymal tumor. Most variants are associated with a high risk of local recurrence and a low risk of metastasis. The classic histomorphology of this tumor is made up of uniform, spindle-shaped cells, arranged in a storiform pattern. Tumor cells characteristically infiltrate the underlying subcutis in a honeycomb pattern. Less common variants of DFSP have been identified: myxoid, pigmented, myoid, granular cell, sclerosing, atrophic, and fibrosarcomatous. Only the fibrosarcomatous variant has been shown to differ significantly from classic DFSP in terms of clinical outcome; fibrosarcomatous DFSP has been shown to be associated with a …

The Known And Unknowns Of Aphid Biotypes, And Their Role In Mediating Host Plant Defenses, Neetu Khanal, Christopher Vitek, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Insect species are subjected to disparate selection pressure due to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Management practices including the heavy use of chemical insecticides and introduction of insect-resistant plant cultivars have been found to accelerate these processes. Clearly, natural selection coupled with human intervention have led to insect adaptations that alter phenotypes and genetic structure over time, producing distinct individuals with specialized traits, within the populations, commonly defined as biotypes. Biotypes are commonly found to have better fitness in the new environment and, in the case of aphids, the most commonly studied system for biotypes, have the ability to successfully …

Soc 331: Foundations Of Sociological Theory, Anahi Viladrich Dr.

Open Educational Resources

This is an online course intended to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of sociological theory. Through history, and across different disciplines, scientists have attempted to formulate explanations (paradigms and theories) that allow them to make sense of the social world around them. Sociological theories, similar to the ones used in other scientific disciplines, aim to identify patterns, forces, and power relations in order to interpret the past and present as well as to predict the future. In fact, we constantly construct and use theories in our everyday lives—from trying to make sense of group-leadership patterns and …

Kynureninase Upregulation Is A Prominent Feature Of Nfr2-Activated Cancers And Is Associated With Tumor Immunosuppression And Poor Prognosis, Ricardo A León-Letelier, Ali H Abdel Sater, Yihui Chen, Soyoung Park, Ranran Wu, Ehsan Irajizad, Jennifer B Dennison, Hiroyuki Katayama, Jody V Vykoukal, Samir Hanash, Edwin J Ostrin, Johannes F Fahrmann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway is frequently activated in various cancer types. Aberrant activation of NRF2 in cancer is attributed to gain-of-function mutations in the NRF2-encoding gene NFE2L2 or a loss of function of its suppressor, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1). NRF2 activation exerts pro-tumoral effects in part by altering cancer cell metabolism. Previously, we reported a novel mechanism of NRF2 tumoral immune suppression through the selective upregulation of the tryptophan-metabolizing enzyme kynureninase (KYNU) in lung adenocarcinoma. In the current study, we explored the relevance of NRF2-mediated KYNU upregulation across multiple cancer types. Specifically, …

On Video Games And Freedom, Warren Sexson

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Filling In The Gaps: A Multiple Imputation Approach To Estimating Aging Curves In Baseball, Quang Nguyen, Gregory J. Matthews

Mathematics and Statistics: Faculty Publications and Other Works

In sports, an aging curve depicts the relationship between average performance and age in athletes' careers. This paper investigates the aging curves for offensive players in the Major League Baseball. We study this problem in a missing data context and account for different types of dropouts of baseball players during their careers. In particular, the performance metric associated with the missing seasons is imputed using a multiple imputation model for multilevel data, and the aging curves are constructed based on the imputed datasets. We first perform a simulation study to evaluate the effects of different dropout mechanisms on the estimation …

Honors Recital: Isu String Project, January 29, 2023, Illinois State University School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall
January 29, 2023
Sunday Afternoon
1:00 p.m.

Effectiveness Of Telemedicine In Diabetes Management: A Retrospective Study In An Urban Medically Underserved Population Area (Umupa), Lisa Ariellah Ward, Gulzar H. Shah, Jeffery A. Jones, Linda Kimsey, Hani M. Samawi

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

This paper examines the efficacy of telemedicine (TM) technology compared to traditional face-to-face (F2F) visits as an alternative healthcare delivery service for managing diabetes in populations residing in urban medically underserved areas (UMUPAs). Retrospective electronic patient health records (ePHR) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were examined from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2021. Multiple linear regression models indicated that T2DM patients with uncontrolled diabetes utilizing TM were similar to traditional visits in lowering hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The healthcare service type significantly predicted HbA1c % values, as the regression coefficient for TM (vs. F2F) showed a significant negative association …

Exploring The Past, Present, And Future Of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy In Glioblastoma., Ashley B. Zhang, Khashayar Mozaffari, Brian Aguirre, Victor Li, Rohan Kubba, Nilay C Desai, Darren Wei, Isaac Yang, Madhuri Wadehra

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Glioblastoma, a WHO grade IV astrocytoma, constitutes approximately half of malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Despite technological advancements and aggressive multimodal treatment, prognosis remains dismal. The highly vascularized nature of glioblastoma enables the tumor cells to grow and invade the surrounding tissue, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a critical mediator of this process. Therefore, over the past decade, angiogenesis, and more specifically, the VEGF signaling pathway, has emerged as a therapeutic target for glioblastoma therapy. This led to the FDA approval of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody designed against VEGF-A, for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. Despite the …

Frequency Of Von Willebrand Disease And Its Types: Data From A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Karachi, Pakistan, Jyoti Mohan Lal, Anila Rashid, Natasha Ali

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction: von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. It is classified into 3 main types, type I and III are quantitative defects whereas type II is qualitative defect which is further sub-classified in to II-A, II-B, II-M, II-N. The aim of the present study is to see frequency and types of von Willebrand disease in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan.
Materials and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the section of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the Aga Khan University hospital, Karachi, from May 2020 to April 2021 …

The Sflt-1/Plgf Ratio In Pregnant Patients Affected By Covid-19, Katarzyna Kosinska-Kaczynska, Ewa Malicka, Iwona Szymusik, Norbert Dera, Michal Pruc, Stepan Feduniw, Zubaid Rafique, Lukasz Szarpak

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

COVID-19 in pregnant women increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on sFlt-1/PIGF ratio during pregnancy. The study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies reporting the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in pregnant women with COVID-19. Results were compared using meta-analysis by the Mantel-Haenszel method. A total of 7 studies were included in the analysis. sFlt-1/PlGF ratios between COVID-19 positive vs. negative women were 45.8 ± 50.3 vs. 37.4 ± 22.5, respectively (SMD = 1.76; 95% …

Minimally Invasive Surgery Using A Shannon Burr For The Treatment Of Hallux Valgus Deformity: A Systematic Review, Tyler Gonzalez, Rodrigo Encinas, William Johns, J Benjamin Jackson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Recently there has been an increase in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for the correction of hallux valgus deformity. This systematic review aims to evaluate and present the current literature on MIS hallux valgus correction in studies reporting the use of the Shannon burr with distal metatarsal osteotomies to help establish evidence-based guidelines for surgeons using this technique.

METHODS: Two independent authors performed a systematic literature search using the following databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and the Cochrane Handbook guidelines were followed. All studies included were published …

Global Vaccinations: New Urgency To Surmount A Triple Threat Of Illness, Antiscience, And Anti-Semitism, Peter J Hotez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

A Still Small Voice, Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of A Still Small Voice (2023), directed by Luke Lorentzen.

Addressing Barriers To Universal Screening For Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Risk In Elementary Schools, Crystal N. Taylor, Rebecca W. Lovelace, Caitlyn M. Weaver, Sarah Wright Harry, Terreca A. Cato, Meleah M. Ackley

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Early identification of students in need of additional support in the classroom is an important structure for school districts to have in place. Universal screening for social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) risk is one method that schools can use to identify students in need of SEB support and to begin early intervention programing. Unfortunately, recommendations about universal screening and resources for universal screening for SEB risk are limited. As a result, barriers to screening are increased and interventions are delayed – sometimes indefinitely -- for those who need them most. This paper discusses the barriers and challenges experienced by elementary schools …

Building Foundations For Friendship: Preventing Bullying Behavior In Preschool, Kara M. Mcgoey, Allison Aberson, Bridget Green, Seana Bandi Stewart

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Early childhood is an essential time for social-emotional learning and the development of appropriate peer interactions. Preschool children also begin to use more physical and verbal forms of aggression and bullying within their relationships with peers. The Building Foundations for Friendship (BFF) curriculum was designed to teach preschool-aged children appropriate social skills to prevent bullying. The topics discussed in this curriculum include developing friendship skills, identifying various peer interactions, and learning how to appropriately respond to a peer’s aggressive behavior. It was hypothesized that preschool students’ social skills and social behavior would improve after implementation of the BFF curriculum. The …

Impact Of Kindergarten Transition Practices In Promoting Positive Behavioral School Readiness Skills, Tyler M. Szydlo, Elyse M. Farnsworth

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Successfully adjusting to the behavioral demands of kindergarten is a pivotal, yet challenging, developmental milestone for students, making it imperative that schools have a comprehensive menu of universal transition practices and targeted transition interventions available. This systematic review was conducted to synthesize and evaluate the existing research on the outcomes associated with universal transition practices and targeted transition interventions aimed at improving social-emotional behavioral skills important to the transition to kindergarten. 17 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Results from this review highlight the utility of targeting self-regulation skills in students transitioning to kindergarten through multi-component interventions that …

Social-Emotional Interventions For Young Children In Rural Areas: A Single-Case Design Meta-Analysis, Tyler E. Smith, Melissa Stormont, Marina Antonova, Emily Singell, Wendy M. Reinke

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

For young children with early social-emotional difficulties, early intervention is imperative. A number of interventions are available for young children to promote social-emotional competencies. Yet, little is known regarding the impact of early childhood interventions among rural children. Rural communities have several barriers which impede access to early intervention, and rural children often are at increased risk for social-emotional difficulties. Thus, the purpose of this article is to conduct a meta-analysis of single case design studies of social-emotional interventions that have been implemented within rural settings with young children, in an effort to determine the effects and types of early …

Universal Screening In Early Childhood Populations: A Systematic Review, Mikayla Drymond, Alexis Sanchez, Nathaniel Von Der Embse, Gabrielle Francis, Dorie Ross, Samin Khallaghi

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Early childhood is an important period for the development of social, emotional and behavioral (SEB) skills. Deficits in these skills often lead to negative outcomes; thus, early identification is essential for the provision of services. Unfortunately, only a fraction of students with deficits are identified and receive services. One cause of this is the methods used to identify students, such as teacher nominations which do not identify all students in need (Dowdy et al., 2013). Proactive practices, such as universal screening, are a more systematic way of identification. The purpose of this review was to examine commonly used early childhood …

Strategies To Promote Positive Mealtime Behavior In Early Childhood, Hailey E. Ripple, Hallie M. Smith, Kayla Bates-Brantley

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Picky eating and problem behavior during meals are commonly reported issues among young children, particularly toddlers (Manikam & Perman, 2000). It is estimated that up to 50% of children under the age of 5 experience difficulties during mealtimes (Benjasuwantep et al., 2013). These difficulties may include tantrums when nonpreferred foods are presented, turning their head away from bites, pushing food away, crying, spitting out bites of nonpreferred food, and holding bites in the mouth. Over time, these behaviors can lead to significant limitations in the variety and amount of foods that children consume, thus compromising their growth and development. While …

The Effect Of Token Economies On Student Behavior In The Preschool Classroom: A Meta-Analysis, Lynda B. Hayes, Brad A. Dufrene, Crystal Taylor, D. Joe Olmi, Leonard Troughton, Evan H. Dart, Caitlyn M. Weaver

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

There has been a recent push in the literature to identify and use more evidence-based practices for positive behavioral supports for challenging student behaviors in the classroom environment. Further, interest in targeting early education environments such as preschool has been growing given the persistence of behavioral difficulties in the absence of early and effective intervention (Campbell & Ewing, 1990; Kazdin, 1987; Powell et al., 2006; Stormont, 2002). Two previous meta-analyses (Maggin et al., 2011; Soares et al., 2016) provided some initial support for effectiveness of token economies with challenging student behavior; however, the inclusion of the preschool setting was limited …

An Intervention Targeting Academic And Behavioral Skill Deficits In Early Childhood: A Case-Study, Kayla Bates-Brantley, Mallie Donald, Jasmine Sorrell, Meredith Staggers, Rylee Mchenry, Sarah Harry Wright

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Early literacy skills are considered prerequisites for early learners to eventually become effective readers (Storch & Whitehurst, 2002). Increasing early literacy skills is often the goal of teachers and schools, but skill acquisition can be hindered due to the bidirectional relationship between behavior difficulties and academic skill deficits. To compound this struggle, there is limited research available on the use of behavioral interventions that exist in conjunction with early academic interventions (Volpe et al., 2012). The goal of the current study was to pilot three emerging early literacy interventions: Fluency Letter Wheel; Letter Flash; and I Do, We Do, You …

An Evaluation Of A Teaching Interaction Procedure Implemented In A Recess Setting, Kate A. Helbig, Stefanie R. Schrieber, Keith C. Radley, James R. Deriuex

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

The teaching interaction procedure (TIP) is a strategy that has been demonstrated as effective in promoting social skill acquisition in school settings for young students with social communication deficits (Leaf et al., 2009; Leaf et al., 2010). However, a frequently cited criticism of social skills training is the lack of generalizability of target skills to novel contexts (Bellini et al., 2007). The purpose of the study was to evaluate a TIP-based social skills intervention conducted on the playground, intended to promote generalizability through training in naturalistic settings and to evaluate generalizability of skill acquisition to the classroom. Eight students 5-8 …

Introduction To Special Focus, Zachary C. Labrot, Kayla Bates-Brantley, Sarah Wright Harry

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Early childhood is a period that is marked by rapid changes in development. Exposure to enriched experiences such as positive family interactions, participation in early childhood education, and community engagement can foster healthy development and prevent many behavioral and mental health difficulties. Conversely, young children’s development can be negatively influenced by a variety of risk-factors that have unfortunate long-term outcomes. Given the pervasive impact of behavioral development on young children’s overall developmental outcomes, research examining strategies to enhance young children’s positive behavioral outcomes is needed. The purpose of this paper is to introduce Part 1 of a two part special …

Bagdad On Fire, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Bagdad on Fire (2023), directed by Karrar Al-Azzawi.

Good Grief, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Good Grief (2023), directed by Rob Sharp.

Don't Worry About It, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Don't Worry About It (2023), directed by Melissa Kong.

The Impact Of Covid-19 And Associated Policy Responses On Global Food Security, Edward J. Balistreri, Felix Baquedano, John C. Beghin

Department of Economics: Faculty Publications

We analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated policy responses on the global economy and food security in 80 low- and middle-income countries. We use a global economy-wide model with detailed disaggregation of agricultural and food sectors and develop a business-as-usual baseline for 2020 and 2021 called “But-for-COVID” (BfC). We then shock the model with aggregate income shocks derived from the IMF World Economic Outlook for 2020 and 2021. We impose total-factor productivity losses in key sectors as well as consumption decreases induced by social distancing. The resulting shocks in prices and incomes from the CGE model simulations …

The Pod Generation, Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Pod Generation (2023), directed by Sophie Barthes.