Life Sciences Commons^™

Neural Oscillations Enable Concurrent Visual Perception And Visual Working Memory Processing, Khayla Santiago

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Successful goal-directed behavior requires balancing task-relevant information stored in working memory and the continuous processing of incoming sensory input, yet the neural mechanisms underlying this coordination remain unclear. This study examines how neural oscillations support concurrent visual perception and visual working memory. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we recorded brain activity while participants performed a dual task paradigm requiring them to simultaneously maintain one orientation in their memory while monitoring another orientation on the screen. After variable time intervals (50 different SOAs between 500-1500ms), participants compared a probe against either the memorized or visually monitored orientation. Analysis of response times and accuracy …

Hormonal Modulation Of Perineuronal Net Density In The Female Peromyscus Californicus Hippocampus And Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Nazlee Harunani

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized extracellular matrix structures that regulate synaptic plasticity and stabilize neural circuits, particularly during the closure of critical periods, a time when the brain is highly plastic and susceptible to environmental influence. Emerging evidence suggests that PNNs may be sensitive to hormonal fluctuations associated with critical periods such as puberty and pregnancy, yet their role in the female brain, particularly in relation to other well-characterized hormonally-mediated events, remains underexplored. This project investigated whether PNN expression in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex varied following vaginal opening, or across different stages of the estrous cycle in Peromyscus …

Regulation Of Spermatogenesis By The Notch Signaling Pathway, Emma O'Flaherty

Master's Theses

The Notch signaling pathway plays a significant role in gonad development and spermatogenesis, but little is known about its specific targets in the testis. The Drosophila testis contains two populations of stem cells: germline stem cells and cyst stem cells, which give rise to differentiating germline and somatic cyst cells, respectively. Notch signaling is activated in the somatic cyst cells by the Delta ligand from the germline in a region of the testes coined the “transition zone”, where somatic cyst cells progress from early cyst cells surrounding gonialblasts and 2-cell germline cysts to late cyst cells surrounding 16-cell spermatocyte cysts. …

Foldit Education Mode, Brett Schulz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Foldit education mode is a puzzle campaign within the protein folding video game Foldit. Education mode, initially designed as a classroom supplement for undergraduate biochemistry courses, has been expanded to provide a more comprehensive learning tool to players without a background in biochemistry. The edited and added levels teach players about protein biochemistry through playing puzzles designed to convey information and gameplay mechanics. The new Foldit education mode campaign features 49 levels grouped into 11 categories. The campaign has 6 new levels designed specifically for education mode and 4 levels adapted from the traditional Foldit campaign for use within education …

Abstract 2853 Prmt7 Negatively Regulates The Expression P53 In Response To Dna Damage, Molly Niswender, Lorenzo Pessi, Cecilia Lopez, Marco Bisoffi

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) is the only member of the protein arginine methyltransferase protein family that monomethylates its protein substrates. PRMT7 is found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of breast cells and is believed to play a robust role in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer. The goal of this project is to uncover possible pathways for PRMT7 to promote cancer progression. A preliminary antibody array was performed to determine the regulation of known cancer-related proteins by PRMT7. An early-stage human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, was transfected with plasmid pCDH1-hPRMT7-GFP to over-express PRMT7. Qualitative and quantitative …

The Impact Of Temperature Induced Vertebral Anomalies On C-Start Swimming Performance In Astyanax Mexicanus (Teleostei: Characidae), Kaleigh Arnold

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the impact that temperature-induced vertebral anomalies have on the C-start escape response of Astyanax mexicanus, a model species in evolutionary developmental biology. Employing three temperature treatments to induce varying degrees of skeletal anomalies, we assessed their effects on key swimming performance metrics including, C-start time, the curvature coefficient, head displacement distance, and displacement velocity. Through the use of linear mixed models (LMMs) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), our results reveal that specific anomalies such as vertebral fusions and anomalous haemal and neural spines affected the curving ability of c-start escape responses, however, these did not negatively …

Effect Of Selected Insecticides On Calico Scale In Landscape Honey Locust Trees, 2024, Caleb J. Wilson, Zoë K. York

Entomology Faculty Publications

We evaluated the effect of selected insecticides on 6 mature Shademaster honey locust trees (Gleditsia triacanthos L., ‘Shademaster’) which were planted in 2 rows along a roadside on the University of Kentucky’s campus. We used a randomized complete block design where each tree represented a block, and within each tree, the effect of insecticides on scales was evaluated on separate labeled branches. All trees had been heavily infested with calico scale (CS) for multiple years. On each tree we sectioned off 11 randomly selected 30-cm branch sections with zip-ties. We applied treatments on 28 May 2024, when CS crawlers …

1 Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 And Apolipoprotein-E In Alzheimer’S Disease: Virus Entry And Innate Immunity, Jim Camilleri

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that has been detected in brains affected by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the leading global cause of cognitive decline. In vitro and epidemiological studies support a role for HSV-1 in AD. The strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD is the E4 allele of APOE, which codes for apolipoprotein-E (ApoE), a protein that mediates brain cholesterol homeostasis. Previous work has suggested that ApoE can affect HSV-1 entry into cells; however, APOE has three alleles (E2, E3, and E4) and allelespecific effects of ApoE on HSV-1 entry remain undetermined. We hypothesized that …

Global Patterns Of Genetic Diversity And Species Delimitation In The Lichen-Forming Fungus Cladia Aggregata: A Restriction Site Associated Dna Sequencing (Rad-Seq) Analysis Across Neotropical, Australasian, And Asian Populations, John De Abreu

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Cladia aggregata is a group of lichen-forming fungi comprising multiple species which are difficult to differentiate. C. aggregata has a wide distribution on several different continents but is primarily found in the southern hemisphere. We aimed to further delimit the species complex while also investigating the relatedness of the different species, where they can be found geographically, and what phenotypic traits they possess. We used Restriction Site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq) to compare thousands of loci across 91 individuals from the Americas, Asia, and Australasia. All Asian samples formed a distinct clade in all phylogenetic trees. Asia, as a distinct …

Thermal Rheological Properties Of Heat-Moisture Modified And Its Application In Multigrain Cookies, Thi Huyen Trang, Li Xianghong, Miao Jinxu, Wang Faxiang, Liu Yongle, Li Shuang

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To develop low -burden,high -nutrient functional baked foods.［Methods］ A single -factor experimental design is employed,with rapid visco analyzer,rheometer,and differential scanning calorimeter to analyze the physicochemical properties of heat -moisture modified wheat flour.The cookie formula is optimized based on sensory evaluation.［Results］ Heat -moisture treatment significantly enhances the pasting stability and resistant starch content of wheat flour.The optimal auxiliary ingredient formula is 50 g of heat-moisture modified wheat flour,20 g of oat flour,10 g of mung bean flour,and 6 g of resistant dextrin powder.Compared with the control group,the cookies made from the experimental formula show a significantly lower digestibility,with a glycemic …

Exploring The Relationship Between Country Socioeconomic Characteristics And Electronic Waste, Keliiakekaipuka Aria Mccomber

Theses and Dissertations

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing and most hazardous waste streams globally. Despite efforts to improve global e-waste management, 77.7 percent of e-waste remains improperly disposed of, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where environmental and health risks are greatest (Baldé et al., 2024). This study evaluates whether national socioeconomic, cultural, and governmental characteristics can predict three key e-waste outcomes: generation per capita, formal collection rates, and resulting burden per capita. Using data from 2015-2022 for 127 countries, we applied mixed effects models incorporating variables such as GDP, Human Development Index, institutional integrity, financial openness, and …

Carbon Monoxide Releasing Polymeric Micelles, Riya Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carbon monoxide (CO), traditionally known as a toxic gas, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent due to its cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory properties. This study explores the development of CO-releasing polymeric micelles as a controlled delivery system for biomedical applications. Using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), we synthesized diblock copolymers incorporating CO-releasing moiety diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) with hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance solubility and stability of the overall CO releasing system. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy (EM) confirmed the formation of well-defined micelles, while fluorescence assays demonstrated efficient CO release with the use of Iridium photocatalyst under 470 …

Azacitidine, Venetoclax, And Magrolimab In Newly Diagnosed And Relapsed Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Phase Ib/Ii Study And Correlative Analysis, Naval Daver, Jayastu Senapati, Hagop M Kantarjian, Bofei Wang, Patrick K Reville, Sanam Loghavi, Musa Yilmaz, Courtney D Dinardo, Tapan M Kadia, Mhd Yousuf Yassouf, Abhishek Maiti, Sankalp Arora, Guillermo Montalban Bravo, Guilin Tang, Gautam Borthakur, Koji Sasaki, Naveen Pemmaraju, Joie Alvarez, Graciela M Nogueras Gonzalez, Jing Ning, Ghayas C Issa, Marina Konopleva, Michael Andreeff, Farhad Ravandi, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Hussein A Abbas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Magrolimab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the macrophage checkpoint CD47 on myeloid leukemia cells that was preclinically synergistic with azacitidine-venetoclax, warranting further clinical evaluation.

Patients and methods: In this phase Ib/II study, the triplet combination of azacitidine, venetoclax, and magrolimab was evaluated in adult patients with first-line (ineligible for intensive chemotherapy) and relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Azacitidine was dosed at 75 mg/m2 for 7 days, venetoclax at 400 mg/day for 28 days, and magrolimab (recommended phase II dose) as follows: 1 mg/kg dose on days 1 and 4, 15 mg/kg on day 8, and 30 mg/kg on days …

Time Dependency For Human Papillomavirus Circulating Tumor Dna Detection After Chemoradiation As A Prognostic Biomarker For Localized Anal Cancer, Van K Morris, Weihong Xiao, Kangyu Lin, Chi Wut Wong, Michael T Wotman, Emma B Holliday, Ryan W Huey, Sonal S Noticewala, Ethan B Ludmir, Alisha H Bent, Kaysia Ludford, Craig Messick, Eugene J Koay, Grace Smith, Tsuyoshi Konishi, Brian Bednarski, George J Chang, Albert C Koong, Y Nancy You, Prajnan Das, Maura L Gillison

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Although detection of ctDNA weeks after surgery is linked to recurrence for other solid tumors, the optimal time point for ctDNA assessment as a prognostic biomarker following chemoradiation for anal cancer is undefined.

Experimental design: Patients with stages I to III anal cancer treated with chemoradiation between December 2020 and March 2024 were evaluated for human papillomavirus (HPV) ctDNA status at baseline, at the end of chemoradiation, and during surveillance using a droplet digital HPV ctDNA PCR assay, targeting HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes for 13 oncogenic HPV types. Median recurrence-free survival (RFS) according to HPV ctDNA status was …

Integrated Metabolomics And Spatial Transcriptomics Of Cystic Pancreatic Cancer Precursors Reveals Dysregulated Polyamine Metabolism As A Biomarker Of Progression, Ricardo A León-Letelier, Yihui Chen, Rongzhang Dou, Ehsan Irajizad, Michele T Yip-Schneider, Ranran Wu, Rahmah Ejaz, Hamid K Rudsari, Yaxi Li, Rachelle Spencer, Riccardo Ballarò, Jody Vykoukal, Mark Hurd, Jennifer B Dennison, Kim-Anh Do, Anirban Maitra, Jianjun Zhang, Samir Hanash, C Max Schmidt, Johannes F Fahrmann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: We conducted metabolomics and spatial cell transcriptomics of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), recognized pancreatic cancer precursors, to identify oncometabolites that inform upon risk of malignancy of IPMNs.

Experimental design: Untargeted metabolomic analyses were performed on cystic fluid from 125 patients with low-grade (LG) dysplasia or high-grade (HG) dysplasia with/without concurrent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC; IPMN/PDAC). Predictive performance of individual metabolites for identifying HG or PDAC/IPMN was determined and compared with CA19-9 performance. Data were intersected with metabolic profiles of resected IPMN tissues and murine Kras;Gnas IPMN cell lines as well as spatial and single-cell transcriptomics of IPMNs.

Results: …

Roles Of Organic Agriculture For Water Optimization In Arid And Semi-Arid Regions, Shikha Sharma, Matt A. Yost, Jennifer R. Reeve

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Water scarcity is a critical challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, where agricultural water consumption accounts for a significant portion of freshwater use. Conventional agriculture (CA) methods with high reliance on chemical and mechanical inputs often exacerbate this issue through soil degradation and water loss. This review aims to examine how different organic practices, such as mulching, cover cropping, composting, crop rotation, and no-till (NT) in combination with precision technologies, can contribute to water optimization, and it discusses the opportunities and challenges for the adoption and implementation of those practices. Previous findings show that organic agriculture (OA) may outperform CA …

Dynamics Of Mangrove Carbon Stock In Selected Uae Coastline: A Remote Sensing Approach, Karthika Kandamkulathil Gopi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Mangrove ecosystems play a vital role in carbon sequestration by capturing atmospheric CO₂, storing it in aboveground and belowground biomass, and enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) through litterfall. Arid mangrove ecosystems, such as those in the UAE, experience extreme environmental stressors, leading to distinct variations in biomass allocation and carbon stock estimates compared to tropical regions. This study aims to evaluate biomass accumulation, litterfall production, and SOC storage in selected UAE mangroves. It analyses seasonal litterfall dynamics and assesses the influence of bulk density, soil moisture, and tidal regimes on SOC and aboveground biomass (AGB) across distinct mangrove zones. Field-based …

The Anticancer Activity Of Novel Chromene Derivatives Against Colorectal Cancer Cells, Rym Magramane

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as the third most common cancer globally, accounting for nearly 10% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases. In the UAE, CRC was ranked as the third most frequently diagnosed malignancy, and the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in 2023. Standard CRC treatment strategies include surgical resection, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of all, depending on the cancer stage and molecular profile. Despite these interventions, disease recurrence is experienced by a considerable number of cancer patients. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel alternative treatments to overcome poor prognosis. Recently, cancer research has …

Associations Between 24-Hour Movement Compositions And Cardiometabolic Health In Children And Adolescents: A Five-Part Compositional Analysis Using Data From The International Children’S Accelerometery Database (Icad), Zoë A. Marshall, Adam Runacres, Pedro Curi Hallal, Russ Jago, Soyang Kwon, Kate Northstone, Russell R. Pate, Jardena Puder, John J. Reilly, Luis B. Sardinha, Niels Wedderkopp, Ester Van Slujis

Faculty Publications

Objectives The benefits of physical activity (PA) and the negative impacts of sedentary time (SED) on health in youth are well established. However, uncertainty remains surrounding how PA and SED jointly influence cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors. The aim of this study was to determine the joint influence of SED, light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA and VPA), and sleep on CMR factors using five-part compositional analyses.

Methods Data were pooled from 16 cohort studies comprising 22 474 children and adolescents from the International Children’s Accelerometery Database. PA was measured using hip-mounted accelerometers with sleep self-reported. CMRs included body mass …

Functional Characterization Of Uncharacterized Essential Genes In The Oral Pathogen Streptococcus Mutans, Courtney Dover

Student Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus mutans is a pathogen associated with the formation of dental caries, and its genome contains many uncharacterized genes, including some which are classified as essential genes. These genes are required for the growth of the organism. Characterizing the function of these genes is important for understanding the organism, as well as identifying potential antimicrobial targets. This project used a CRISPRi (CRISPR interference) system to repress seven experimentally uncharacterized genes within the S. mutans genome and investigated the effects of their repression via RNA-seq transcriptomics, phylogenetic analysis, and TEM. The gene annotated as SMU_393 was then prioritized for further analysis …

Role Of Gut-Liver-Brain Axis In Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease, Raveena Dhanani Ratnayake

Student Theses and Dissertations

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as depression, and anxiety, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often precede motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), highlighting the need for early biomarkers and mechanistic insights. Gut-microbiome-related metabolites, including secondary bile acids, influence lipid homeostasis and mitochondrial function, impacting neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This study examines metabolic alterations in PD, focusing on lipid metabolism, bile acids, acylcarnitine, and amino acids. Our findings showed significant changes in lipid metabolism, transsulfuration pathway, bile acids, acylcarnitine, and amino acids in PD severity and NPS. Specific lipid subclasses were linked to NPS, cognitive impairment, and motor impairment. Given the limited …

Weather Impacts On Specialty Fruit Wholesale Prices, Oladayo Daniel Oluleye

LSU Master's Theses

This article investigates the relationship between temperature and precipitation variability and wholesale specialty fruit prices in the United States. Using fixed-effects panel regression and a comprehensive dataset of monthly price observations across ten major U.S. wholesale markets (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco) from 2000 to 2019, we examine how weather fluctuations affect wholesale market prices for five fruits including apples, avocados, grapes, oranges, and strawberries. Our analysis categorizes temperature into discrete bins representing the number of days per month within specific temperature ranges. The results show that extreme temperatures, particularly above …

Genetic Structuring Of The Ozark Pocket Gopher (Geomys Bursarius Ozarkensis) And Coevolution With Its Geomydoecus Ectoparasites, Monica Raquel Reusche

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Ozark pocket gopher Geomys bursarius ozarkensis is a highly isolated and restricted subspecies of the plains pocket gopher endemic to Izard Co., Arkansas. This isolation may have impacts genetically and may have caused speciation of their chewing louse. First, I updated the distribution and confirmed occupation at 46 previously documented and 91 additional sites, a 34% increase in areal range. Next, I evaluated natal dispersal which was rare (9.1%) and occurred over shorter distances (≤ 63 m) than for other gopher species. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms from contemporary populations and museum specimens indicated a high genetic structure among …

Stepping Into Motherhood: Pregnancy-Induced Changes To Foot Structure And Biomechanics, Lauren R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women have an elevated risk of developing lower limb musculoskeletal disorders, likely due to the rapid increase in body mass and joint laxity. While a few studies have evaluated changes in static foot posture due to pregnancy, it is unclear if body mass or joint laxity is the primary driver. Additionally, how pregnancy affects the mechanics of the foot during dynamic movements is still not understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the foot's response to pregnancy. First, we examined foot tissue characteristics across pregnancy, specifically plantar fascia (PF) stiffness, length, and thickness. Additionally, we …

Yield And Pungency Of Eight Onion Varieties And Their Response To Sulfur Fertilizer On Fine-Textured Soil, Charlie Rohwer, Jesen Hosch, Brianna Hayward, Cindy Tong

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Onions are notable for their pungency, caused by sulfur-containing compounds. Fine-textured soils high in organic matter, or soils fertilized with organic amendments, are unlikely to require additional sulfur for maximum onion yield. We were interested in the impacts of additional sulfur (in such a situation, unlikely to be sulfur-limited) on pungency, soluble solids, and yield in eight onion varieties. We carried out a study in 2024 in southern Minnesota, designed as a split-plot (onion variety as the whole-plot) with four replicates. Heavy rainfall caused substantial unmarketability in our trial, with ‘Ringmaster’ suffering the most loss (11% of planted ‘Ringmaster’ were …

Acute Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction During Low-Load Exercise And Recovery On Blood Flow And Performance, Shay B. Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Use of blood flow restriction (BFR) during strength training with light loads has been used to induce similar muscular benefits as traditional strength training with heavy loads. Safe and effective recommendations for the use of BFR relies on an understanding of how different methods of BFR alter blood flow during rest and exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare blood flow during exercise and recovery between continuous BFR (CONT), intermittent BFR (INT), and no BFR (NBFR) as a control. Methods: 16 participants (8 male, 8 female) participated in this study on three different days, separated by at …

Common Aav Gene Therapy Vectors Show Nonselective Transduction Of Ex Vivo Human Brain Tissue, J P Mcginnis, Joshua Ortiz-Guzman, Maria Camila Guevara, Sai Mallannagari, Benjamin D W Belfort, Suyang Bao, Snigdha Srivastava, Maria Morkas, Emily Ji, Angela Addison, Evelyne K Tantry, Sarah Chen, Ying Wang, Zihong Chen, Kalman A Katlowitz, Jeffrey J Lange, Melissa M Blessing, Carrie A Mohila, M Cecilia Ljungberg, Guillermo Aldave, Ali Jalali, Akash Patel, Sameer A Sheth, Howard L Weiner, Shankar Gopinath, Ganesh Rao, Akdes Serin Harmanci, Daniel J Curry, Benjamin R Arenkiel

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The ability to deliver a therapeutic sequence to a specific cell type in the human brain would make possible innumerable therapeutic options for some of our most challenging diseases; however, studies on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector tropism have generally relied on animal models with limited translational utility. For this reason, establishing the tropism of common adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in living human brain tissue serves as an important baseline for further optimization, as well as a determination of human brain cell types transduced by clinically approved gene therapy vectors AAV2 and AAV9. We have adapted an

The Effect Of Functional Training On Dynamic Knee Valgus Of Youth Soccer Players. A Pilot Study, Ole Tovar, Dóra Molnár, Badis Soussi, Ádám Uhlár, Tamás Horváth, Mira Ambrus

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(7): 561-574, 2025. Knee injuries are very common in soccer players. High loads on the knee during landing or changes of direction can lead to a valgus shift of the knee, known as Dynamic Knee Valgus (DKV). Many studies have shown that a large shift in DKV is a predisposing factor for knee injuries and disease, such as anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL), patellofemoral pain syndrome or osteoarthritis. Functional training could be a great tool to reduce DKV. Thus, in this pilot study, nine male youth soccer players (mean age: 16.4 ± 0.2 years) took …

Impact Of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rates On Plant Growth And Yield Of Organic Kale And Swiss Chard In Vertical Farming System, Andruw Jones, Sai Prakash Naroju, Dilip Nandwani, Anthony Witcher, Shahidullah Chowdhary

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

To support the growing global population, sustainable farming methods like vertical farming must complement traditional agriculture. This study evaluated the effects of various nitrogen fertilizer application rates (N_low (1055.3 ppm), N_rec (1640.9 ppm), N_high (2811.3 ppm), and N_0 (469.9 ppm)) on organic kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala ‘Lacinato’) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. Vulgaris ‘Ruby/Rhubarb Red’), grown in a vertical growing system installed in a high tunnel during the spring and fall season of 2023 at the organic farm of Tennessee State University. Growth parameters studied included fresh weight, Brix, chlorophyll, plant height, and leaf count. Most parameters …

Highly Adaptable Dendrimer Gel Nanoparticles With Dual Targeting Of Upar And Ribonucleotide Reductase R2 For Better Retention And Improved Therapeutic Outcomes In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hsin Yin Chuang, Da Huang, Lin Qi, Vidit Singh, Anna Chernatynskaya, Yue-Wern Huang, Hu Yang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 15% of breast cancers and lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), rendering it unresponsive to hormonal or anti-HER2 therapies. Due to its poor prognosis and limited treatment options, there is an urgent need for targeted therapies. In this study, we developed highly adaptable polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-based gel nanoparticles with dual-targeting capabilities against urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and ribonucleotide reductase R2 (R2). These nanoparticles were designed to target both TNBC cells and cancer-associated stromal cells by leveraging uPA-uPAR interactions and delivering the antisense oligonucleotide …