Life Sciences Commons^™

Random C-Peptide And Islet Antibodies At Onset Predict Β Cell Function Trajectory And Insulin Dependence In Pediatric Diabetes, Mustafa Tosur, Saima Deen, Xiaofan Huang, Serife Uysal, Marcela Astudillo, Richard A Oram, Maria J Redondo, Farook Jahoor, Ashok Balasubramanyam

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: Identification of prognostic biomarkers in pediatric diabetes is important for precision medicine. We assessed whether C-peptide and islet autoantibodies are useful to predict the natural history of children with new-onset diabetes.

Methods: We prospectively studied 72 children with new-onset diabetes (median follow-up: 8 months) by applying the Aβ classification system ("A+": islet autoantibody positive, "β+": random serum C-peptide ≥1.3 ng/mL at diagnosis). Beta-cell function was assessed longitudinally with 2 hours postprandial/stimulated urinary C-peptide-to-creatinine ratio (UCPCR) 3-12 weeks (V1) and 6 to 12 months after diagnosis (V2). We obtained a type 1 diabetes genetic risk score for each participant, and …

Predation Rates On Flatback Turtle Natator Depressus Eggs And Hatchlings At An Island Rookery, Casper Avenant, Sabrina Fossette, Scott Whiting, Glenn A. Hyndes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Predation can significantly threaten the vulnerable egg and hatchling stages of sea turtles, yet for most populations this remains poorly quantified for use in conservation. We provided the first quantified predation rates of flatback turtle eggs and hatchlings at Thevenard Island, a medium-sized rookery on the northwest coast of Australia, with a focus on ghost crabs as potential predators. Burrow densities were used as proxy for ghost crab densities, while start- and end-of-season nest inventories and infrared videography were used to quantify egg and hatchling predation, respectively. Inventories of 27 nests suggested a mean hatching success of 74.2 ± 4.6% …

2024 Personal-Sized Seedless Watermelon Cultivar Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

The annual watermelon cultivar evaluation trial is conducted at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, Indiana. It evaluates yield, fruit quality, and overall plant performance of commercial watermelon cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Purdue Extension and seed companies financially support the trial. The 2024 personal-sized triploid watermelon cultivar trial evaluated 18 cultivars.

Anthocyanin Extraction Methods: Synthesis Of Morpho-Anatomical Knowledge For Decision-Making Based On Decision-Tree, Gabriel Laquete De Barros, F.T.S. Silva, R.S. Teixeira, J.G. Wagner, C.V. Rombaldi, M. Vizzotto, A. Ubeyitogullari, L. Nora

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Efficient anthocyanin extraction from emerging food matrices is essential in food technology and requires a precise, consistent, and clear extraction method. This study aimed to develop a decision-tree tool for selecting the optimal anthocyanin extraction technique. A comprehensive data synthesis covering the years 2018 to 2023 was conducted using leading academic databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, and SciELO. A combination of systematic and non-systematic approaches was employed to guide the decision-making process. The keywords used included “anthocyanin extraction methods,” and studies with more than 10 citations were prioritized, along with recent and relevant publications. Thirty-six articles were analyzed …

Individual Dynamic Prediction For Cure And Survival Based On Longitudinal Biomarkers, Can Xie, Xuelin Huang, Ruosha Li, Alexander Tsodikov, Kapil Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To optimize personalized treatment strategies and extend patients' survival times, it is critical to accurately predict patients' prognoses at all stages, from disease diagnosis to follow-up visits. The longitudinal biomarker measurements during visits are essential for this prediction purpose. Patients' ultimate concerns are cure and survival. However, in many situations, there is no clear biomarker indicator for cure. We propose a comprehensive joint model of longitudinal and survival data and a landmark cure model, incorporating proportions of potentially cured patients. The survival distributions in the joint and landmark models are specified through flexible hazard functions with the proportional hazards as …

Investigation Of Magnesium-Potassium Phosphates As Potential Nuclear Waste Form For The Immobilization Of Minor Actinides, Hans Conrad Zur Loye, Petr Vecernik, Monika Kiselova, Vlastislav Kašpar, Hana Korenkova, Vlastimil Miller, Petr Bezdicka, Jan Šubrt, Natalija Murafa, Volodymyr Shkuropatenko, Sergey Sayenko

Faculty Publications

Several recent studies have evaluated technologies of spent nuclear fuel processing specifically for solidifying transuranic (TRU) waste as a by-product of fission. Of the TRU group, plutonium and the minor actinides will be responsible for the bulk of the radiotoxicity and heat generation of spent nuclear fuel in the long term (300 to 20,000 years). In this study, we investigated magnesium potassium phosphate (MKP)-based compounds as host waste forms for the encapsulation of inactive trivalent Nd and Sm as analogues of the minor trivalent actinides, Am and Cm. Waste forms were fabricated under ambient atmospheric conditions by adding 5 wt.% …

Alteration Of Peripheral Cytokines In Alzheimer’S Disease, Zhengshi Yang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with the clinical symptoms of gradual cognitive decline and memory loss. Biologically, abnormal accumulation of Aβ (Aβ) plaque and tau tangles in the brain are the core pathological hallmarks in AD. Although inflammatory response is not specific to AD, emerging evidence suggests that the disrupted innate immune system within the central nervous system, particularly microglial activation, might act as the bridge linking Aβ aggregation to pathological phosphorylation and aggregation of tau. The inflammatory response was suggested to initially have a neuroprotective role of attempting to clear Aβ plaques, and then become neurotoxic …

Understanding The Interactions Between Pollen-Borne Ilarviruses And Pollinators In Peach Orchards, Mandeep Tayal

All Dissertations

Pollen-mediated virus transmission is a common problem in fruit crops. Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) are pollen-borne ilarviruses endemic to the southeastern U.S. and cause substantial losses in peach production. PNRSV and PDV are primarily transmitted through vegetative propagation (grafting) as well as via pollen and seed. However, the role of pollinators in transmission dynamics of these viruses is not well understood. First, I documented the bee diversity and abundance during peach bloom in South Carolina, identifying Bombus and Apis as the most dominant genera, followed by Eucera, Andrena and Habropoda. Bee community composition …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 33. The Story In Evolution., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) is best known for his independent formulation of the principle of natural selection. In this work I first review my understanding of Wallace’s intellectual development on this subject, including the notion that he had no model for the evolution of higher consciousness as of his first treatment of natural selection in 1858. This leads to some conclusions about his approach to the subject, and links to parallel ideas inherent in the philosophy of Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677).

Heat Acclimated Algae Improves Heat Tolerance And Longevity In Daphnia, Ashit Dutta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Xenohormesis suggests that consuming stressed food provides physiological adaptation to the consumer for similar stresses. To evaluate this, Daphnia magna was provided with heat-stressed Nannochloropsis limnetica grown at 25℃ whereas the control group was provided Nannochloropsis limnetica grown at 12℃. In the heat tolerance experiment, Daphnia kept at 28℃ and 20℃ while consuming 25℃ algae had significantly higher heat tolerance compared to the control. Additionally, in stressed conditions, Daphnia consuming 25℃-grown food had significantly higher lifespan compared to the control. Next, Daphnia consuming 25℃-grown algae had significantly higher levels of antioxidants which could explain the lifespan extension. Finally, in fatty …

Psychological Distress Among Family Caregivers Of Persons With Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementias In Uganda, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations, such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support provided to patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges. This study examined psychological distress, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among family caregivers of patients with ADRD in Wakiso District, Uganda. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 90 caregivers from three sub-counties in Wakiso, selected through purposive sampling to capture diverse experiences. Participants included caregivers aged 18 years …

Cmos-Based Rotational Spectroscopy: Massive Spectral Fingerprint Generation And Molecular Detection With Deep Learning, Yasamin Fozouni

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Rotational Spectroscopy is a powerful spectral fingerprinting approach that can be used for identifying different gas molecules in a sample. Gas molecules are free to rotate, with inertia, in fixed states of quantized energy. In Rotational Spectroscopy, radiative beams are shown onto a sample to cause an energy-based transition between quantized rotational states. By sweeping the frequency of the radiative beams and monitoring the absorption with a sensor, one can profile the different rotational states, monitoring for energy based transitions. These transitions are dependent on unique properties of the molecules, thus presenting a unique molecular identification fingerprint (in the form …

Evaluating The Duckweeds Lemna Minor And Spirodela Polyrhiza As Alternative Aquatic Hosts For The Spread Of The Bacterial Wilt Pathogen, Ralstonia Solanacearum, Irelynn Smith

Honors Theses

Ralstonia solanacearum is a plant pathogen that causes bacterial wilt disease in major crops such as tomatoes and potatoes. Recently, this bacterium was discovered in floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) and Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pennysylvanicum), two previously unsuspected aquatic plants. Duckweed is an aquatic plant with a high level of resilience and short doubling time. Common duckweed (Lemna minor) has previously demonstrated its capability as a versatile high-yield infection model for other types of pathogenic bacteria. Given this newfound branch of aquatic hosts and the fact that duckweed is a common pond weed previously identified in several ponds located nearby infected …

Apoa2 Increases Cholesterol Efflux Capacity To Plasma Hdl By Displacing The C-Terminus Of Resident Apoa1, Snigdha Sarkar, Jamie Morris, Youngki You, Hannah Sexmith, Scott E. Street, Stephanie M. Thibert, Isaac K. Attah, Chelsea M. Hutchinson Bunch, Irina V. Novikova, James E. Evans, Amy S. Shah, Scott M. Gordon, Jere P. Segrest, Karin E. Bornfeldt, Tomas Vaisar, Jay W. Heinecke, W. Sean Davidson, John T. Melchior

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Abstract The ability of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to promote cellular cholesterol efflux is a more robust predictor of cardiovascular disease protection than HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma. Previously, we found that lipidated HDL containing both apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1) and A-II (APOA2) promotes cholesterol efflux via the ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA1). In the current study, we directly added purified, lipid-free APOA2 to human plasma and found a dose-dependent increase in whole plasma cholesterol efflux capacity. APOA2 likewise increased the cholesterol efflux capacity of isolated HDL with the maximum effect occurring when equal masses of APOA1 and APOA2 coexisted on the particles. Follow-up …

Untargeted Lipidomics Reveals Novel Hdl Metabotypes And Lipid-Clinical Correlates, Peer W. F. Karmaus, Scott M. Gordon, Marcus Y. Chen, Alison A. Motsinger-Reif, Rodney W. Snyder, Timothy R. Fennell, Suramya Waidyanatha, Reshan A. Fernando, Alan T. Remaley, Michael B. Fessler

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL), originally studied for its role in lipid transport, is now appreciated to have wide-ranging biological functions that become defective during disease. While >200 lipids have collectively been detected in HDL, published HDL lipidomic analyses in different diseases have commonly been targeted to prespecified subsets of lipids. Here, we report the results of untargeted lipidomic analysis of HDL isolated from 101 subjects referred for computed tomographic coronary imaging for whom multiple additional clinical and lipoprotein metadata were measured. Unsupervised clustering of the total HDL lipidome revealed that the subjects fell into one of two discrete groups, herein …

Encapsulation Of Probiotics By Cellulose Nanocrystal-Alginate Composite Beads For Ph Stimuli-Responsive Delivery, Akrip Jati

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Microencapsulation has garnered significant interest, with oral probiotics delivery systems showing enormous potential to help restore the gut microbiome. This method holds vast potential to protect and release specific microbial strains to the desired target site (i.e., colon) within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). However, current encapsulation methodologies, utilizing either synthetic or biological materials as carriers, encounter challenges such as suboptimal encapsulation efficiency, premature probiotic release, and inadequate control over release kinetics. In this work, hydrogel microsphere (HM) composites of different cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) forms (i.e., colloidal (c), and crosslinked (x)) and alginate (ALG) were used as advanced controlled release systems …

The Informal, Non-Prescribed Use Of Antiretroviral Medications For Prep Among A National Us-Based Sample Of Gay, Bisexual, And Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mance E. Buttram, Matthew S. Ellis, Krishen D. Samuel, Matthew Hayhurst

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

This brief report presents findings on informal, non-prescribed PrEP use among an online sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (n = 196). Mean age was 33.4. Participants were Hispanic (13.3%), African American (15.8%), white (63.8%), and other race/ethnicity (6.6%). Informal PrEP users (11%) more frequently reported past year sexually transmitted infections (p < 0.001), group sex (p < 0.001), sex in public (p < 0.01), transactional sex (p < 0.001), ever receiving a formal PrEP prescription (p < 0.05), and ease of finding diverted HIV medications on gay dating/sex apps (p < 0.05). Formal PrEP uptake should be encouraged to mitigate potential negative consequences of informal use.

Investigating Nekton Response To Changing Salinities In The Mississippi Sound: An Experimental And Statistical Approach, Adam Murray

Master's Theses

The Mississippi Sound provides nursery habitats for many coastal species and is recognized for its commercial fisheries. Previous freshening events linked to the Bonnet Carré Spillway, a Mississippi River flood diversion structure, proved catastrophic for oyster populations in the Mississippi Sound, but effects on mobile fish and shellfish species are not well-defined. The planned Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion (MBSD), an initiative to combat wetland loss, is also forecasted to lower salinities in the region, increasing the need to better understand responses of commercially and ecologically important species to freshening events. The objective of this study was to characterize effects of salinity …

Geomorphic Assessment And Flow Modeling Of Pearl Darter (Percina Aurora) Habitat In The Pascagoula River Watershed, Malia Davidson

Master's Theses

Freshwater ecosystems are complex ecosystems driven by hydrologic, geomorphic, and biological processes. Considering both abiotic and biotic factors is important to understanding resident species habitat. Geomorphology is a known, but often neglected factor in habitat assessment for freshwater fishes. A crucial feature commonly seen in alluvial stream systems are sandbars, which are dynamic and variable sediment structures that are known to have many associated species. One such species is the Pearl Darter, Percina aurora, a federally threatened species that only resides in the Pascagoula River watershed. Despite its status, habitat preference remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, I …

Lack Of Inflammatory Response In Mouse Embryonic Cells To Listeria Infection, Damilola Oyebode

Master's Theses

Approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies in the United States results in miscarriage, with a significant percentage of these losses attributed to failed implantation due to immunological challenges encountered by the early embryo. Recent research has shown that key cell types within mouse blastocysts, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), exhibit remarkable resilience against the cytotoxic effects associated with viral infections and embryotoxic cytokines, such as TNFα and IFNγ, both of which are known to hinder blastocyst development. However, the immune properties of the preimplantation stage embryo, specifically the blastocyst, remain poorly understood. Using mouse cell model, …

Juvenile And Subadult Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser Desotoi) Use Of The Pascagoula River Estuary, Sarah Stovall

Master's Theses

Gulf Sturgeon (GS) are an anadromous species currently listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. They reside in habitats across the northern Gulf of Mexico including coastal rivers, estuaries, and marine waters, making annual migrations between freshwater and marine habitats for spawning/summer resting and feeding, respectively. Since past studies prioritize adult movement, understanding how and when juvenile and subadult GS use the Pascagoula River estuary (PRE), a complex, bifurcated river delta federally designated as critical habitat is necessary to improve conservation efforts. My thesis assessed juvenile and subadult GS use of the PRE across four years (2020-2024) by analyzing …

Are Prediction Models Moving Closer To Clinical Application In The Diagnosis Of Type Of Diabetes In Youth?, Fida Bacha

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Relative Uptake Of Tomato Carotenoids By In Vitro Intestinal And Prostate Cancer Cells, Nancy E Moran, Brianna Alexander, Shivi Garg, Nathan Marchant, Noor A Hason

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Consumption of tomatoes and tomato carotenoids is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Prostate tissue accumulates tomato carotenoids, including lycopene, β-carotene, and phytoene. Phytoene accumulation is relatively greater in the prostate than that of lycopene, but the metabolic determinants of tissue carotenoid profiles are poorly understood.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in stability, cellular uptake, and clearance of phytoene compared with lycopene or β-carotene by prostate and intestinal cells may explain differences in observed tissue carotenoid profiles.

Methods: Gene and protein expression for carotenoid metabolism in prostate cell lines were analyzed …

Exploring The Relationship Between Nutrition-Related Attitudes And Use Of Scrappy’S Cupboard Among College Students At The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, Emma Rosenberger

Honors Theses

Introduction This thesis examines the relationship between nutrition-related attitudes and the use of Scrappy’s Cupboard, a campus food pantry, among undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). This study aims to determine how students’ attitudes toward nutrition influence their likelihood of utilizing campus food resources, highlighting differences between users and non-users of Scrappy’s Cupboard. A correlation between nutrition-related attitudes and the use of Scrappy's Cupboard was expected, with pantry users reporting more positive attitudes towards nutrition compared to non-users. Methods A survey was administered to UTC students to assess their nutrition-related attitudes, food pantry usage, …

Timigp: A Computational Framework To Determine The Tumor Immune Microenvironment Associated With Prognosis And Immunotherapy Response, Chenyang Li

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Accumulating evidence has suggested that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) drastically impacts cancer patients’ clinical outcomes, including prognosis and immunotherapy response. However, understanding TIME remains challenging due to its complexity and heterogeneity. In this dissertation, we introduce TimiGP (Tumor Immune Microenvironment Illustration based on Gene Pairs), a computational framework designed to address this challenge. Leveraging single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and bulk gene expression data alongside clinical information, TimiGP constructs a cell-cell interaction network that elucidates the relationship between immune cell function and relevant clinical outcomes, such as prognosis and treatment response. With immunological insights, these cell-cell interactions also facilitate the development …

The Role Of Wt1 In Müllerian Duct Development, Jace Aloway

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

WT1 is a zinc finger transcription factor widely expressed in the urogenital system. Human mutations of WT1 lead to pediatric nephroblastoma as well as frequent differences of sex development (DSDs). Previous studies have suggested that WT1 acts as an activator for Amhr2, a necessary component of typical male differentiation. We used the mouse as a model to investigate the role of WT1 in sex development, where we deleted Wt1 in the Müllerian duct (MD) mesenchyme using a novel conditional null reporter allele, Wt1 flox-RFP. This allele utilizes the Cre-lox system to delete exons 8 and 9 of Wt1 …

Pharmacological Inhibition Of Lsd1/Kdm1a In Diffuse Midline Glioma Models And Impact On Kinase Signaling, Faith Angelina Hernandez, Faith Angelina Hernandez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Diffuse Midline Gliomas (DMG) occur in the midline structures of the brain such as the brainstem. DMG, a subset of pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), confers poor prognosis in children with survival rates below two years post-diagnosis. This is heavily due to limited treatment options as radiation and chemotherapy are only temporarily effective and surgery pose high risks. DMG are characterized by histone mutations typically occurring in histone 3.1 and 3.3 alleles, with about more than 80% of patients containing the H3K27 mutation. Recent publications, highlight epigenetic modulators as promising cancer-specific targets emphasizing their potential as a novel therapeutic strategy. Epigenetic …

Characterizing And Targeting The Genomic Consequences Of Atrx Deficiency In Glioma, Sharvari Dharmaiah

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mutational inactivation of histone chaperone ATRX (a-thalassaemia/mental retardation X-linked) represents a defining molecular feature in several cancers, including malignant glioma. As standard of care only leads to transient responses and poor outcomes, there is an unmet clinical need for developing new therapies that target ATRX-deficient glioma. Loss of ATRX gives rise to abnormal G-quadruplex DNA secondary structures at GC-rich sites of the genome, such as telomeric and pericentromeric regions, enhancing replication stress and genomic instability. These mutations are mutually exclusive with TERT promoter mutations, promoting the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway as a telomere maintenance mechanism in ATRX-deficient glioma. …

Front Matter

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Giving A Voice To The Voiceless: The Benefits Of Music Therapy For Children With Autism, Isabelle Brown-Lyden

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.