Life Sciences Commons^™

Fluid Intake And Hydration Responses To Mass Participation Gravel Cycling, Carly Schuerger, Brandon Raik, Francis Salmon, Kian Foote, Angelo Madlambayan, Maya Vega, Grace Handler, Matthew M. Schubert

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1648-1662, 2024. Gravel cycling is a relatively new cycling discipline, with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) hosting their first World Championships in 2022. Gravel races combine features of road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking, including terrain of varying technical difficulty, long distances, substantial elevation gain, obstacles, and limited opportunities to stop for in-race nutrition. This study assessed hydration responses to gravel races of three different distances. Data were collected on saliva osmolarity (SOsm), body mass (BM), fluid intake, and nutrition knowledge at a gravel cycling race in April 2023. A total of 121 participants …

Studies Of Media To Maximize The Expression Of Bacterial Metalloprotease Genes As Potential Therapeutics For Human Alzheimer’S Disease, Uday Kiran Chigurupati

Honors Capstones

This study investigates the potential of bacterial metalloprotease genes as therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The research focuses on Pseudomonas 20ei1 (P. 20ei1), a bacterial species isolated from lagoon water, which contains pitrilysin genes that share similarities with human insulysin. Six pqqL-related genes were identified in P. 20ei1 for this study. The research methodology involved bioinformatic studies, bacterial cell culture in various media, RNA extraction, purification, and cDNA synthesis. Quantitative PCR analysis was performed to analyze gene expression levels in different cDNA samples. The bacteria grown in the medium with insoluble phosphate has shown higher expression of selected genes …

Exploration In Cell Growth: Rac3 And Its Effect On Ewing Sarcomas Tumorigenic Properties, Allie Woods, Samuel De La Cruz, Catherine Garcia, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Multiple experiments were conducted to measure the effectiveness of certain genes on cell growth. In the exploration of this process, RAC3 acted as the target gene and was applied to both SOX18 overexpressing and normal expressing cells (control). RAC3 is a gene that typically controls the intercellular signaling pathway of a cell. This means it helps with the movement of cells and allows for migration.The purpose of these experiments were to determine how the gene RAC3 would work when introduced to carcinogenic cells, specifically Ewing Sarcoma. Typically, RAC3 acts as a messenger for the cell, but when in conjunction with …

The Effect Of Knockdown Of Gene Kit On Sox18 Gene Expression Through The Jak2/Stat3 Signaling Pathway Within An Ewing Sarcoma Cell, Samantha Aragon, Cristina Herrera, Felicity Rodriguez, Riley Smith, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer that affects children & adolescents. Common treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, yet individuals have a poor survival rate and often develop side effects from treatment, including fertility issues, secondary cancer, heart problems, and growth abnormalities.1SOX18 is a gene identified to aid in cell proliferation and cell differentiation, leading to the development of several cancers, such as gastric, bladder, and lung cancer.2,3 SOX18 resides in the JAK2/STAT3 pathway as a regulator, along with another gene named KIT that instigates the formation of the cell signaling pathway.4KIT is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, which instigates cell …

The Effects Of Ewing Sarcoma Through The Overexpression And Knockdown Of Transcription Factors Sox18 And Stat1, Victoria Castillo, Melany Cervantes, Nicole Robles, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

SOX18, a transcription factor with a DNA-binding HMG domain, plays a critical role in regulatory processes linked to cancer progression. Exhibiting oncogenic properties, SOX18 has been linked to various cancers, where it promotes tumor growth by enhancing cell invasion, uncontrolled proliferation, and resistance to apoptosis through dysregulated signaling pathways. STAT1, a protein crucial for immune system regulation, is prominently expressed in immune-associated tissues like the lymph nodes, and bone marrow, suggesting it could play a role in tumor growth. Ewing Sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive cancer that targets bone and soft tissue, carries a high mortality rate of 90% without treatment …

Developing Resilient Organic Dryland Wheat Systems In The Face Of Climate Change., Jennifer R. Reeve

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Climate Change Affecting Waterfowl Migration, Destiny Fox

D.U.Quark

Climate Change is a major environmental factor in waterfowl migration patterns. Migratory waterfowl are species of birds that live in or around wetlands, mainly including lakes, streams, and marshes. Contaminated bodies of water at stopover sites during migratory seasons can lead to death among many species of waterfowl, as well as water borne diseases from snail eggs. Changing environmental factors can also lead to negative effects on the bird’s ability to forage properly. These environmental factors include the evaporation of several wetlands that have led to waterfowl foraging in local farmers’ land. Focusing more heavily on improving satellite tracking could …

Angiogenin-Catalyzed Cleavage Within Trna Anticodon-Loops Identified By Cp-Rna-Seq, Megumi Shigematsu, Ryuma Matsubara, Justin Gumas, Takuya Kawamura, Yohei Kirino

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Angiogenin (Ang), an endoribonuclease belonging to the RNase A superfamily, cleaves the anticodon-loops of tRNAs to produce tRNA-half molecules. Although previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of Ang in the pathobiology of neurodegenerative disorders, the characterization of Ang-generated tRNA halves in neuronal cells remains limited. This is partly due to the technical limitations of standard RNA-seq methods, which cannot capture Ang-generated RNAs containing a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate (cP). In this report, we established an Ang-treatment model using SH-SY5Y, a human neuroblastoma cell line, and demonstrated Ang-dependent accumulation of tRNA halves. By performing cP-RNA-seq, which selectively captures cP-containing RNAs, we identified Ang-generated …

Precision Reclamation For Improving Mine-Land Reclamation Using Plant-Soil Chemical Analysis And Geospatial Technology, Haley Moon

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to assess plant-soil relationships and evaluate the use of multispectral drone imagery in predicting revegetation potential and soil properties at mine-land waste rock dumps. Field sampling of soils and vegetation was conducted, followed by Bayesian statistical significance tests and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to determine key soil variables influencing plant communities. Results indicated that pH and electrical conductivity (ECe) were significant factors in the LDA and identified several plant communities that were associated with similar soil types. In parallel, regression analyses were employed to correlate multispectral drone imagery with soil characteristics and plant cover. …

The Long Shadow Of Infection: The Long-Term Implications Of Herpes Simplex Virus And M. Tuberculosis Infection, Lydia Howell

Theses and Dissertations

Infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), have traditionally been seen as distinct, with separate etiologies and courses of disease. Recent research has shown that infection and autoimmune disease are more closely woven together than previously thought; certain pathogens like Epstein-Barr virus and M. tuberculosis have been shown to cause long-term disruption to the immune system, for example (Bordignon et al 2011, #1) (Zhang et al 2023, #2) (Bjornevik et al 2023, #3). Conversely, a distinct pattern has emerged in developed countries where as rates of infection fall, rates of autoimmune disease …

Directed Evolution Of Hedgehog Protein Autoprocessing Activity: Combined Experimental & Computational Approach, Ted Kuke

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sonic hedgehog protein is vital for embryonic development while also being linked to multiple cancers and holoprosencephaly. The native reaction of hedgehog is a sterolysis reaction whereby cholesterol binds to the HhC catalytic domain and attacks the HhN signaling domain, resulting in a covalent HhN-cholesterol signaling product. The structure of the sterol recognition region (SRR) of Sonic Hedgehog, where cholesterol binds, is currently unknown. In this thesis, I used directed evolution to select a triple mutant of Hedgehog’s catalytic HhC domain, (D46H, Q150H, A196T), which is over 5000 times more catalytically efficient at reacting with epicoprostanol (ECP), a non-native substrate …

Current Status And The Significance Of Local Wisdom Biofertilizer In Enhancing Soil Health And Crop Productivity For Sustainable Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review, Irwandhi, Fiqriah Hanum Khumairah, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Nadia Nuraniya Kamaluddin, Anne Nurbaity, Diyan Herdiyantoro, Tualar Simarmata

Jurnal Kultivasi

Soil fertility is recognized as a crucial factor in supporting plant growth and productivity. The utilization of biofertilizers as environmentally friendly fertilizers is aimed at enhancing soil fertility and plant productivity. This study aims to explore the potential of local material for developing local wisdom biofertilizers (LWB) for achieving sustainable agriculture. A systematic literature review was conducted using bibliometric analysis, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews, and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method, employing the Scopus search engine with the keywords "local AND wisdom AND biofertilizer" OR "biofertilizer" OR "local AND microorganism" OR "soil AND health OR crop AND productivity OR sustainable agriculture". …

An Empirical Model Of Carbon-Ion Relative Biological Effectiveness Based On The Linear Correlation Between Radiosensitivity To Photons And Carbon Ions, David B Flint, Scott J Bright, Conor Mcfadden, Teruaki Konishi, David K J Martinus, Mandira Manandhar, Mariam Ben Kacem, Lawrence Bronk, Gabriel O Sawakuchi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective.To develop an empirical model to predict carbon ion (C-ion) relative biological effectiveness (RBE).Approach.We used published cell survival data comprising 360 cell line/energy combinations to characterize the linear energy transfer (LET) dependence of cell radiosensitivity parameters describing the dose required to achieve a given survival level, e.g. 5% (D5%), which are linearly correlated between photon and C-ion radiations. Based on the LET response of the metrics D5%and D37%, we constructed a model containing four free parameters that predicts cells' linear quadratic model (LQM) survival curve parameters for C-ions,αCandβC, from the reference LQM parameters …

Micrornas: Where Brilliance, Perseverance, And Ambition Converged, Rares Drula, George A Calin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Victor Ambros at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Gary Ruvkun at Harvard University were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for the discovery of microRNAs. This “groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans” (1). This is a well-deserved and highly anticipated recognition for a seminal discovery published 31 years ago in back-to-back Cell publications (2, 3). This landmark finding changed the way we understand gene expression regulation among most multicellular organisms (4) and had …

Oligosaccharides, Onion Peel, And Essential Oils As Feed Additives In The Diet Of Dairycattle: In Vitro Fermentation, Greenhouse Gases, Ruminal Nutrient Degradability, Andvolatile Fatty Acid Production, Kelechi A. Ike, Oludotun O. Adelusi, Joel O. Alabi, Lydia K. Olagunju, Michael Wuaku, Chika C. Anotaenwere, Deborah O. Okedoyin, Oluteru E. Orimaye, Deandrea Gray, Peter A. Dele, Kiran Subedi, Ahmed E. Kholif, Uchenna Y. Anele

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study investigated the effect of inclusion of dietary oligosaccharides, onion peel, and an essential oil blend (EOB; containing anise, clove, oregano, cedarwood, and ginger in the ratio 4:2:2:1:1) individually and in combinations in the total mixed ration of dairy cattle on in vitro gas production (GP), dry matter disappearance (DMD), fiber fraction disappearance, and total and individual volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. EOB was used at 200 μL g–1 of feed while the other additives were administered at 3% of the feed on a dry matter basis. The in vitro batch culture technique was used for this experiment and …

Rhizobacterial Isolates From The Native Plant Ceanothus Velutinus Promote Growth In Two Genotypes Of Tall Fescue, Ananta Raj Devkota, Sukhmanjot Kaur, Amita Kaundal

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Global warming-induced climate change haunts the world, posing a critical threat to plant health and crop production. Overusing chemical fertilizers and pesticides poses a significant threat to soil health. Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush) is a drought-tolerant, actinorhizal native plant found in the Intermountain West region of the US that harbors many plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study, we evaluated the effects of PGPR CK-06, CK-22, CK-44, and CK-50 from C. velutinus on the growth and development of two tall fescue genotypes: (i) a lawn-type tall fescue blend and (ii) an endophyte-free forage-type tall fescue known as Armory. Tall fescue plants …

Phenotypic And Molecular Characterization And Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern Of Pasteurella And Mannheimia Species Obtained From Cattle And Sheep With Pneumonia, Eli̇f Karadeni̇z Pütür, Fati̇h Büyük, Yaren Ersoy

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Among the heterogeneous Pasteurellaceae family, Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica are the pathogenic species that cause enzootic pneumonia in cattle and sheep. This study aimed to characterise Pasteurella and Mannheimia species obtained from pneumonia cases in cattle and sheep. 100 cattle and 100 sheep lungs diagnosed with infectious pneumonia as a result of histopathological examination were analyzed for Pasteurellaceae members by phenotypic methods, VITEK 2 Compact system and PCR. Antibiotic susceptibilities and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates were done by VITEK 2 Compact System and 16S rRNA-PCR, respectively. Seven Pasteurella multocida and 9 Mannheimia haemolytica were identified. All strains were …

Honeybee Biodiversity Based On Five Mitochondrial Genes And New Evidence For Differentsublineages In Türkiye, Meral Kekeçoğlu, Songül Bi̇r, Merve Kambur Acar, Rustem Ilyasov

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, the genetic structure of honey bee populations in Türkiye was analyzed using eleven restriction endonuclease enzymes targeting the COI-COII, COI, 16S rDNA, ND5, and CYT B genes. A total of 553 worker honey bee samples were collected from 43 different districts across Türkiye, as well as from Greece, Bulgaria, and Georgia, neighboring countries of Türkiye. Analysis of the COI region using the HinfI restriction enzyme revealed the presence of two mitotypes. Type 1 was the predominant type in Türkiye, while Type 2 was detected exclusively in Hatay, a province in the southern part of the country. Notably, …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Heat Stress At Flowering On Spikelet Fertility And Grain Quality In Barley, Camilla Beate Hill, Tefera Angessa, Sharon Westcott, Lee-Anne Mcfawn, Hamid Shirdelmoghanloo, Yong Han, Chengdao Li

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Against the backdrop of a warming climate, heat stress has become one of the most limiting factors to crop productivity and food security worldwide. The flowering stage is susceptible to high temperatures in cereal crops, leading to severe grain yield losses by decreasing fertility and seed-setting rate. Our objective was to (1) assess a global panel of 572 barley varieties with contrasting genetic backgrounds for various agronomic traits related to spikelet fertility and grain quality, (2) identify barley germplasm with superior spikelet fertility and seed set under extreme heat conditions, and (3) understand the relationship between spikelet fertility and grain …

Host Mediated Rhizobiome Engineering To Develop Locally Adapted Soil Mycorrhizal Inocula To Facilitate The Establishment Of Native Plants On Contaminated Soils, Anna Nugent

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The microbial community in the rhizosphere of plants plays an important role in plant establishment and survival, soil stability during stormwater runoff, and potential biofiltration of stormwater. Locally adapted fungal symbionts may further improve these outcomes for native plants at restoration sites. This study assesses the potential of host plant cultured, locally adapted soil mycorrhizal inocula to facilitate the establishment and growth of Mountain Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana) on heavy-metal contaminated soils. Soil was obtained from the rhizosphere of native plants at three sites in the West Side Soils Operable Unit of the Butte, Montana Superfund Complex. One …

Na2B12Si6Se18: A Novel B12-Cluster-Containing Quaternary Selenoborate Framework Material, Gopabandhu Panigrahi, Hunter B. Tisdale, Gregory Morrison, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

We report the successful synthesis of the new quaternary, three-dimensional Na₂B₁₂Si₆Se₁₈ material using a solid-state synthesis route. This compound is characterized by a unique framework structure that features the rare icosahedral [B₁₂]¹⁰⁺ cation which is connected via Si2Se6 polyhedral units into a 3D framework structure with Na+ ions located inside the channels. The Na₂B₁₂Si₆Se₁₈ compound crystallizes in the cubic crystal system in the space group Im, with lattice parameter a = 11.91110(10) Å and unit cell volume of 1689.88(4) ų. …

Mountain Big Sagebrush Restoration In Former Dryland Pasture, Elizabeth Bailey, Eric Thacker, Thomas Monaco, Kari E. Veblen

All Current Publications

Our study supports using older naturally grown sagebrush plants (wildlings) for restoration efforts. Wildlings had already faced various environmental stresses before transplantation and then had a survival advantage when transplanted. Our study also demonstrates how successfully established transplants planted in “islands” aid in the future recruitment of sagebrush. Overall, because of their higher survival, we found that wildlings led to higher sagebrush densities and were a more cost-effective approach.

12.09.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Employee Profiles

In Person Account Reconciliation and Tableau Training

NSF Proposals with Consultant or Professional Services

Deciphering Immune Suppression Mechanisms Of Primary And Metastatic Breast Cancer, Seunghyun Lee

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer treatment, receiving FDA approval for various previously incurable cancers. In breast cancer, the combination of pembrolizumab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) with chemotherapy has become the standard-of-care for early-stage (Keynote-522) and advance-stage (Keynote-355) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Unfortunately, over 30% of TNBC patients fail to respond to the combined chemo-immune therapy treatment, and the causes are unknown. Furthermore, ICB has demonstrated poor results in hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. While it is well-established that breast cancer cells can evade immune responses, the specific mechanisms driving immune evasion remain unclear. Thus, deciphering the immune system's role in …

Goose Grubbing And Warming Suppress Summer Net Ecosystem Co2 Uptake Differentially Across High-Arctic Tundra Habitats, Matteo Petit Bon, Karen H. Beard, Kari Anne Bråthen, Hanna Lee, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Environmental changes, such as climate warming and higher herbivory pressure, are altering the carbon balance of Arctic ecosystems; yet, how these drivers modify the carbon balance among different habitats remains uncertain. This hampers our ability to predict changes in the carbon sink strength of tundra ecosystems. We investigated how spring goose grubbing and summer warming—two key environmental-change drivers in the Arctic—alter CO₂ fluxes in three tundra habitats varying in soil moisture and plant-community composition. In a full-factorial experiment in high-Arctic Svalbard, we simulated grubbing and warming over two years and determined summer net ecosystem exchange (NEE) alongside its components: …

Agronomic Biofortification Of Calcium In Pak Choy (Brassica Rapa Subsp. Chinensis) Via Hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique, Regina Septiani Zahro, Khavid Faozi, Zulfa Ulinnuha, Agus Sarjito

Jurnal Kultivasi

Pak choy is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin K, all essential for health. Pak choy requires a proper balance of nutrients for optimal growth. In a hydroponic system, any imbalance in nutrient levels can negatively impact plant growth and reduce the nutritional value stored in the tissues. Selecting suitable varieties and providing appropriate calcium treatment can help increase calcium content and enhance productivity. This study aims to determine the effect of calcium concentration on growth, yield, and Ca content and the most responsive varieties to increased calcium concentration. The research design used was a Split Plot Design …

Oncologic Outcomes In Patients With Localized, Primary Head And Neck Synovial Sarcoma, Riddhi R Patel, Vancheswaran Gopalakrishnan, Behrang Amini, Alexander J Lazar, Patrick P Lin, Robert S Benjamin, Andrew J Bishop, Ryan P Goepfert, Dejka M Araujo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: this study aims to evaluate the survival outcomes of patients suffering from head and neck synovial sarcoma (HNSS), especially in relation to patients with a localized disease at diagnosis.

Methods: this retrospective chart review includes 57 patients diagnosed with primary HNSS between 1981 and 2020 who presented with a localized disease at diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) from diagnosis, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) from the end of the primary tumor treatment are estimated. The Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards regression are used.

Results: the 5-year OS, LRFS, and MFS are estimated …

Additional Expression Of T-Cell Engager In Clinically Tested Oncolytic Adeno-Immunotherapy Redirects Tumor-Infiltrated, Irrelevant T Cells Against Cancer Cells To Enhance Antitumor Immunity, Daisuke Morita, Amanda Rosewell Shaw, Greyson Biegert, Caroline Porter, Mae Woods, Spyridoula Vasileiou, Bora Lim, Masataka Suzuki

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Oncolytic adenoviruses (OAds) are the most clinically tested viral vectors for solid tumors. However, most clinically tested "Armed" OAds show limited antitumor effects in patients with various solid tumors even with increased dosages and multiple injections. We developed a binary oncolytic/helper-dependent adenovirus system (CAdVEC), in which tumors are coinfected with an OAd and a non-replicating helper-dependent Ad (HDAd). We recently demonstrated that a single low-dose CAdVEC expressing interleukin-12, programmed death-ligand 1 blocker, and HSV thymidine kinase safety switch (CAdTrio) induces significant antitumor effects in patients, including complete response. Similar to previous OAd studies, all patients primarily amplified Ad-specific T …

Prediction Of Npk Doses Based On Targeted Fruit Sugar Content In Cucumis Melo L. ‘Cantaloupe’ Using A Simple Regression Method, Rangga Wibawa, Syariful Mubarok, Kusumiyati, Fiky Yulianto Wicaksono, Ruminta, Rahmat Budiarto, Dina Putri, Irvan Varinto, Muhammad Rizki, Adrian Maolana, Kahirun Nisa, Gunes Giyarto

Jurnal Kultivasi

The fruit sweetness is the main target in melon plant production. The highest criterion of sweetness is excellent, with 16% of total sugar content. Modification of essential plant nutrients is the alternative to reach that category. So, this study aims to obtain optimum NPK doses using a simple regression method. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a soilless culture hydroponic system from August until November 2023 using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and four replications. The parameters included leaf area, plant dry matter, leaf nutrient uptake, fruit weight, and fruit sugar content. Pearson correlation analysis …

Potential Propagation Seedling Of Ramie (Boehmeria Nivea) From Various Types Of Stem Cuttings, Taufiq Hidayat Rahman Side, Mayasari Yamin, Sri Mulyani, Agung Pangestu Aji, Luthfi Ayunawati

Jurnal Kultivasi

Ramie is a fiber-producing plant that can replace cotton as a raw material for the textile industry. In general, ramie plants are reproduced using rhizomes, but it takes a long time, around two years, to be used as a source of planting material. Therefore, other sources of explants besides rhizomes are required, such as stem cuttings. Explants from stem cuttings are quickly available and only need 2-3 months to be used as planting material. This study aims to determine the potential of effective stem cuttings that can be used as planting material for the propagation of ramie seedlings. The research …