Life Sciences Commons^™

Molecular Mechanisms Of Niemann-Pick Type C: Investigating Gene Expression, Lipid Metabolism, And Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Fibroblasts, Sarah Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) is a progressive lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of lipids, particularly cholesterol, within cells, leading to severe neurological manifestations and developmental issues. This study employs RNA-seq to compare gene expression profiles between fibroblasts derived from a healthy individual and a patient with the NPC1 mutation. A total of 12,978 genes were analyzed, revealing 191 differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment analysis disclosed significant associations with biological processes related to development, lipid metabolism, embryonic organ development, vascularization, and neuroinflammation. Additionally, the connection between mitochondrial function and lysosomal impairment was explored, revealing that NPC1 mutant fibroblasts …

Pulmonopoly: A Game-Based Approach To Teach And Reinforce Basic Concepts Of Pulmonary Medicine To Medical Students, Michael Dong, James Uricheck, Urvashi Vaid

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonopoly is an innovative active-learning medical board game addressses core pulmonary concepts in an engaging, competitive style. The strength of Pulmonopoly lies in its ability to combine ease of setup and play with comprehensive content coverage that comprises a significant proportion of national board examinations, offering a gamification experience that can be readily applied in different settings and modified for learner levels.

METHODS: We created an instructional game, Pulmonopoly, based on pulmonary content delivered to preclinical medical students and required for national board examinations. We invited first-year medical students to participate in 60-minute small-group sessions. Content addressed pulmonary subject …

Effect Of Buckwheat And Silage Tarps On Sweetpotato Between-Row Weed Control, Emmanuel G. Cooper, Stephen L. Meyers, Katherine Jennings, Ashley Adair, Kevin D. Gibson, William G. Johnson

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

Field studies were conducted on certified organic land in Lafayette and Vincennes, IN, in 2023 to determine the impact of different between-row weed control methods on weed suppression and sweetpotato yield. Between-row treatments consisted of organic buckwheat (108 kg ha−1) broadcast seeded immediately after sweetpotato transplanting followed by silage tarping from 3 wk after transplanting (WATr) through harvest, organic buckwheat (108 kg ha−1) broadcast seeded 3 WATr and terminated 7 WATr, and cultivation as a grower standard. Weed density at 6 WATr was 0, 184, and 162 plants m−2 for the silage tarping, living mulch buckwheat, and cultivation treatments, respectively. …

The Bacterial Microbiome Modulates The Initiation Of Brain Metastasis By Impacting The Gut-To-Brain Axis, Matteo Massara, Michelle Ballabio, Bastien Dolfi, Golnaz Morad, Vladimir Wischnewski, Eleni Lamprou, Joao Lourenco, Stéphanie Claudinot, Hector Gallart-Ayala, Rui Santalla Méndez, Annamaria Kauzlaric, Nadine Fournier, Ashish V Damania, Matthew C Wong, Julijana Ivanisevic, Nadim J Ajami, Jennifer A Wargo, Johanna A Joyce

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Brain metastases (BrMs) are the most common brain tumors in patients and are associated with poor prognosis. Investigating the systemic and environmental factors regulating BrM biology represents an important strategy to develop effective treatments. Toward this goal, we explored the contribution of the gut microbiome to BrM development by using in vivo breast-BrM models under germ-free conditions or antibiotic treatment. This revealed a detrimental role of gut microbiota in fostering BrM initiation. We thus evaluated the impact of antibiotics and BrM outgrowth on the gut-brain axis. We found the bacterial genus Alistipes was differentially present under antibiotic treatment and BrM …

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Plus Debulking Surgery For Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Outcomes And Immunological Correlates Of A Prospective Pilot Trial, Sangeeta Goswami, Jianjun Gao, Sreyashi Basu, Daniel D Shapiro, Jose A Karam, Rebecca Slack Tidwell, Kamran Ahrar, Matthew T Campbell, Yu Shen, Alexandro E Trevino, Aaron T Mayer, Alexsandra B Espejo, Christian Seua, Marc D Macaluso, Yulong Chen, Wenbin Liu, Zhong He, Shalini S Yadav, Ying Wang, Priya Rao, Li Zhao, Jianhua Zhang, Sonali Jindal, Nizar M Tannir, Andrew Futreal, Linghua Wang, Padmanee Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Surgical removal of primary tumors reverses tumor-mediated immune suppression in pre-clinical models with metastatic disease. However, how cytoreductive surgery in the metastatic setting modulates the immune responses in patients, especially in the context of immune checkpoint therapy (ICT), is not understood. We report the first prospective, pilot, non-comparative clinical trial (NCT02210117) to evaluate the feasibility, clinical benefits, and immunologic changes of combining three different ICT-containing strategies with cytoreductive surgery or biopsy for patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Primary safety endpoint of this trial has been met, with 43 patients completing cytoreductive surgery, 36 patients undergoing …

Exploring The Therapeutic Potential Of Barbaloin: A Wonder Constituent From Aloe Vera Plant, Akanksha Andhare, Kranti Satpute, Shoaeb Mohammad Syed

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

The aim of current study was to explore chemistry and therapeutic potential of barbaloin. A detailed literature review was carried out at various data bases such as PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, etc. The healing plant aloe emodin's main compound is barbaloin (C21H22O9), anthrone's C-glucoside. The Liliace family includes perennial succulent aloe vera. Barbaloin, a pale-yellow aloe vera powder, is a first-group glucoside of the alove emodin anthrone molecule. Barbaloin has anti-inflammatory, cathartic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities that prevent cancer. Barbaloin also improves cardiovascular health, test perception, enzyme metabolism, and bioavailability. Barbaloin may help treat eczema, psoriasis, …

Does Following The Mind Diet Slow Cognitive Decline And Alzheimer’S Disease?, Abby Spaulding, Hannah Waters

Research on Capitol Hill

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills. The prevalence of AD increases with age and is expected to double by the year 2060. 

Carotenoids, pigments in plants that have antioxidant and inflammatory properties when consumed, might slow AD and can be tested for on skin. High-carotenoid eating patterns like the MIND diet may protect against age-related cognitive decline and development of AD.

Overlooked Habitats Buffer Spawning Opportunities For Cutthroat Trout, Autumn Zierenberg, Skylar Rousseau

Research on Capitol Hill

Temporarily available streams account for roughly 79% of streams in Utah alone. Intermittent streams are often overlooked as suitable habitats but are inundated during Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) spawning season.

Evaluating Invasive Plant Management To Keep Bear Lake Clear, Blue, And Deep, Tia Lawrence, Ola Adeyemi

Research on Capitol Hill

Eurasian watermilfoil grows more rapidly in Bear Lake water, producing more shoots per plant and growing taller (bottom left). In greenhouse settings, herbicide treatment was unable to provide complete control of plants when applied in Bear Lake water. Plants are grown and tested in galvanized feed tanks (right) in USU’s greenhouses.

Microbes From Native Plants Promote Growth And Drought Tolerance In Non-Native Plants, Ty Wilson

Research on Capitol Hill

With growing populations, shrinking farmland, and increasingly dry climates, preserving our agricultural land is of highest importance.

The Majority Of Usu Students Lack Adequate Access To Food, Janna Cook, Sarah Makar

Research on Capitol Hill

13% of households in Utah were considered food insecure at some point in the year 2023.

A New Crispr System Uses Energy Storage Indiscriminately, Brendon Guinn

Research on Capitol Hill

CRISPR systems are Immune systems used by bacteria to defend against viruses. Recently, tools such as CRISPR Cas9 that are derived from CRISPR systems have been developed as a powerful tool to treat disease. 

Here we are studying a different CRISPR system related to the one used to develop the Cas9 tool. We study this system to discover new proteins that may be used to develop tools to cure diseases and diversify our arsenal of disease-fighting genetic sequences. 

The Story Of Utah Soils Influences Land Use And Management, Kylie Hansen

Research on Capitol Hill

The purpose of this study was to investigate how soil minerals vary across Cache Valley with respect to this lake. This helps us understand the history of these soils and explains variation in land use possibilities.

Saving Money Encourages Usu Students To Accept Suboptimal Produce, Micaela Garcia

Research on Capitol Hill

About 50% of edible fresh produce is wasted annually in US farms and retail stores because consumers seek produce that meets aesthetic standards like a nice shiny color or no scars.

A Mammoth Pain In The Back: Diagnosing Advanced Bone Disease In Two Columbian Mammoths, B. Shaun Bryner

Research on Capitol Hill

Two Columbian mammoth specimens, one in California and one in Utah, show signs of advanced bone disease. 

Observations of these specimens allow us to learn more about the progress of these diseases on surviving bone specimens. We can then apply this knowledge to our understanding of diseases that affect modern elephants.

Specific Bacteria In Commercial Cheddar Cheese Can Cause Rubbery Texture And Poor Taste, Jordan Bond

Research on Capitol Hill

Unexpected pH changes often lead to a rubbery texture, off flavor and poor taste in commercially produced Cheddar, negatively affecting the quality of the cheese. Use of fast-acid producing (thermophilic) starter cultures in cheese manufacture is becoming common. 

Our goal was to discover the cause(s) for this pH variation. Knowing what causes pH changes will save Utah cheese manufacturers’ money, allowing them to pass the savings on to consumers and reduce waste. We posit that excessive use of fast acid producing thermophilic bacteria (S. thermophilus) can be the cause for pH variation.

Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Lepidota) Identification And Management In Pastures, Jacob Hadfield, Taun Beddes, Michael Caron, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Wild licorice, also known as American licorice, is a perennial legume native to North America, commonly found in the western United States. Wild licorice reproduces rapidly through seeds and rhizomes, leading to large infestations, particularly in pastures. The low preference of livestock for wild licorice results in overgrazing of other plant species, leaving them at a competitive disadvantage, further promoting the spread of wild licorice and contributing to pasture infestations. This fact sheet reviews the identification and management of wild licorice in pastures.

Starter Transplant Solutions Do Not Improve Cabbage Yield In High-Fertility Soil, Charlie Rohwer, Jesen Hosch

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Starter fertilizers, generally high in phosphorus, are often used when transplanting vegetable crops. However, many small-scale vegetable growers have very high soil phosphorus levels, and phosphorus may be unnecessary in such conditions. Alternatively, enhanced soil microbial activity at transplant may help to make the soil phosphorus more available to the transplants. We tested this by using molasses or high-P fertilizer in the transplant solution when planting cabbage into high-fertility soil. Results indicate no benefit to cabbage from any transplant solution in high-fertility conditions, and detrimental effects from the large amount of molasses used.

Бадхызские Архивы. Том 2, Р. И. Горелова, В. Я. Фет

Open Access Books

Gorelova, RI, Fet V, editors. The Badkhyz Archives, Vol. 2. Huntington, WV: Marshall University Libraries; 2025. 387 p.

This book represents the second volume of the series started in 2021. It compiles memoirs and research information about the unique Badkhyz Natural Reserve, now in Turkmenistan, formerly at the southernmost point of the USSR. Established in 1941, the Reserve—nicknamed a Serengeti of Central Asia— housed many unique and endangered species, with an iconic wild ass, or kulan, preserved only there. The second volume includes unique and otherwise unavailable information about the workers of the Reserve in 1940s-1980s. We continuento publish …

Agile Project Management And The Future Of R&D, Aditi Vinayak Nalavade

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

The use of Agile methodologies in research and development (R&D) sectors is changing the project management landscape by profoundly altering approaches to innovation and execution. This research will delve into the benefits and challenges of implementing Agile in an R&D setting, with a particular focus on the increasing significance of AI. The research's central theme offers a comprehensive analysis of how Agile approaches are shaping the future of R&D. Agile's iterative process, with its high degree of adaptability, flexibility, and iterative methods, is particularly beneficial in R&D, where reshaping research teams' approaches to creativity and problem-solving even in the most …

Antibiotic-Induced Loss Of Gut Microbiome Metabolic Output Correlates With Clinical Responses To Car T-Cell Therapy, Rishika Prasad, Abdur Rehman, Lubna Rehman, Faezeh Darbaniyan, Viktoria Blumenberg, Maria-Luisa Schubert, Uria Mor, Eli Zamir, Sabine Schmidt, Tomo Hayase, Chia-Chi Chang, Lauren Mcdaniel, Ivonne Flores, Paolo Strati, Ranjit Nair, Dai Chihara, Luis E Fayad, Sairah Ahmed, Swaminathan P Iyer, Michael Wang, Preetesh Jain, Loretta J Nastoupil, Jason Westin, Reetakshi Arora, Joel Turner, Fareed Khawaja, Ranran Wu, Jennifer B Dennison, Meghan Menges, Melanie Hidalgo-Vargas, Kayla Reid, Marco L Davila, Peter Dreger, Felix Korell, Anita Schmitt, Mark R Tanner, Richard E Champlin, Christopher R Flowers, Elizabeth J Shpall, Samir Hanash, Sattva S Neelapu, Michael Schmitt, Marion Subklewe, Johannes Francois-Fahrmann, C K Stein-Thoeringer, Eran Elinav, Michael D Jain, Eiko Hayase, Robert R Jenq, Neeraj Y Saini

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Antibiotic (ABX)–induced microbiome dysbiosis is widespread in oncology, adversely affecting outcomes and side effects of various cancer treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies. In this study, we observed that prior exposure to broad-spectrum ABXs with extended anaerobic coverage such as piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem was associated with worse anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy survival outcomes in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (N = 422) than other ABX classes. In a discovery subset of these patients (n = 67), we found that the use of these ABXs was in turn associated with substantial dysbiosis of gut microbiome function, …

Aif3 Splicing Variant Elicits Mitochondrial Malfunction Via The Concurrent Dysregulation Of Electron Transport Chain And Glutathione-Redox Homeostasis, Mi Zhou, Shuiqiao Liu, Yanan Wang, Bo Zhang, Ming Zhu, Jennifer E Wang, Veena Rajaram, Yisheng Fang, Weibo Luo, Yingfei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genetic mutations in apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) have a strong association with mitochondrial disorders; however, little is known about the aberrant splicing variants in affected patients and how these variants contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and brain development defects. We identified pathologic AIF3/AIF3-like splicing variants in postmortem brain tissues of pediatric individuals with mitochondrial disorders. Mutations in AIFM1 exon-2/3 increase splicing risks. AIF3-splicing disrupts mitochondrial complexes, membrane potential, and respiration, causing brain development defects. Mechanistically, AIF is a mammalian NAD(P)H dehydrogenase and possesses glutathione reductase activity controlling respiratory chain functions and glutathione regeneration. Conversely, AIF3, lacking these activities, disassembles mitochondrial complexes, increases …

Marine Heatwave Conditions In Western Australia Marine Waters - 20 February 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Marine Heatwave Notification Reports

Marine heatwave (MHW) conditions across all Bioregions of Western Australia have eased over the last two weeks. MHW status no longer applies to the majority of the North Coast and West Coast Bioregions. MHW conditions in the Gascoyne and South Coast Bioregion have eased to Category 1 - Moderate.

Effects Of A Sprint Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Stimulus On Discus Throw Performance In Collegiate Division I Throwers: A Pilot Study, Reagan Hulet, Mark Debeliso Phd, Marcus M. Lawrence

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 251-262, 2025. No study has determined the impact a sprinting potentiating stimulus has on discus throwing performance in collegiate throwers. To test the hypothesis, that compared to a dynamic warm-up alone (DyWU), a dynamic warm-up with a multi-set sprinting potentiating stimulus (DyWU+SPR) would enhance discus throw performance. 12 NCAA Division I thrower athletes (18-25 year) randomly completed two sessions separated by at least 48 hours. One session involved a standardized dynamic warm-up (DyWU) and the other session involved a DyWU with multiple sets of a sprinting post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) stimulus (DyWU+SPR), with both …

From The Garden To The Lab, Harli Smith, Hannah Scruggs, Lindsey Whaley

JSU Student Symposium 2025

As a part of BY107 (Honors Introductory Biology Lab I), all students are tasked with creating a group presentation outlining the procedures conducted throughout the course. The purpose of the lab was to discover antibiotic producers in local, Alabama soil. Finding antibiotic producers is important due to the increasing prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens, or strains of bacterial infections that have evolved to be resistant to most mainstream antibiotics. By utilizing methods such as streaking for isolation, testing for zones of inhibition, gram staining, and Kirby Bauer Assays, we were able to prove that our soil sample, which was found in …

Is Spring Break Coming Early? Effects Of Climate Change On Alabama's Native Plant Phenology, Kathleen Madden, Madisyn Barksdale, Kelly Pruitt, Summer Zamora

JSU Student Symposium 2025

Please note: no video is available for this presentation.

Climate change has significantly impacted biodiversity, prompting many species to adapt by altering their phenology—the timing of life cycle events. Shifts in plant phenology can have far-reaching ecological consequences, particularly for species that rely on these plants directly or indirectly. One critical consequence is the temporal mismatch between plants and their pollinators, a phenomenon observed in multiple species. Studies using satellite imagery have documented advances in spring phenology across the United States, but species-specific data remain limited, especially in the biodiverse and ecologically vulnerable Southeastern region.

To address this gap, we …

The Correlation Between Temporomandibular Disorder (Tmd) And Vitamin D Deficiency, Iris Kim, Claudia Freitas

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Retrospective Analysis Of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers And Knee Cartilage Volume In Osteoarthritis: Evidence From The Osteoarthritis Initiative, Parv Kale, Vijay Kale

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Consumer Acceptance Of Gene-Edited Food: The Role Of Knowledge, Trust, And Information, Anubrata Deka, Syed Imran Ali Meerza, Amalia Yiannaka

Cornhusker Economics

The research aims to assess consumer preferences and attitudes toward CRISPR applications in the food sector and estimate consumer willingness to pay for a food product developed using CRISPR technology to enhance food safety and confer health benefits. Additionally, the research assesses the impact of information provision on perceptions, attitudes and willingness to pay. Specifically, we consider the potential effect of both the nature of information provided (i.e., whether it emphasizes the differences between GM and CRISPR technology or not) and the delivery format (i.e., text versus video) used to present content-equivalent information. In this context, we also assess consumer …

In-Silico Modeling And Characterization Of Kcc2 Protein Interaction With A Small Molecule Direct Agonist Identifies Potential Binding Sites For Modulating Behaviors Associated With Substances Of Abuse, William Hai Dang Ho, Alfred Amendolara, Kenyon Mitchell, Jaden Miner, Ruth Northcott, Braxton Bingham, Andrew J. Payne

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose

KCC2 is a potassium-chloride cotransporter that plays a critical role in neuronal function by regulating GABAergic signaling via chloride gradients. Maintaining this concentration gradient is crucial for balancing excitation and inhibition in the brain. While KCC2 dysregulation has been implicated in epilepsy and seizures, recent studies suggest that KCC2 inhibition results in phenotypes mirroring those seen in chronic opioid dependence. As such, increasing evidence support KCC2 being a potential therapeutic target for modulating behaviors associated with substances of abuse. Currently, only a few direct small molecule agonists against KCC2 have been reported, and no definitive active site on the …