Life Sciences Commons^™

Sensitivity Analysis With Iterative Outlier Detection For Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analyses, Zhuo Meng, Jingshen Wang, Lifeng Lin, Chong Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Meta-analysis is a widely used tool for synthesizing results from multiple studies. The collected studies are deemed heterogeneous when they do not share a common underlying effect size; thus, the factors attributable to the heterogeneity need to be carefully considered. A critical problem in meta-analyses and systematic reviews is that outlying studies are frequently included, which can lead to invalid conclusions and affect the robustness of decision-making. Outliers may be caused by several factors such as study selection criteria, low study quality, small-study effects, and so on. Although outlier detection is well-studied in the statistical community, limited attention has been …

Vhl Governs M6a Modification And Pik3r3 Mrna Stability In Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas, Hyemin Lee, Li Zhuang, Boyi Gan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), a prevalent posttranscriptional modification, plays an important role in cancer progression. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is chiefly associated with the loss of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, encoding a component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. In this issue of the JCI, Zhang and colleagues unveiled a function of VHL beyond its canonical role as an E3 ubiquitin ligase in regulating hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). It also governed m6A modification by orchestrating the assembly of m6A writer proteins METTL3 and METTL14, thereby stabilizing PIK3R3 mRNA. Mechanistically, PIK3R3 contributed to p85 ubiquitination, which restrained PI3K/AKT signaling and consequently …

Grazing On The Arizona Strip: Catchment History And Repair, Melanie Heaton

All Current Publications

Water, not forage, is the limiting factor for wildlife and livestock grazing the Arizona Strip, a nearly 3-million-acre piece of land located north of the Grand Canyon and south of the Utah border. Since springs and groundwater are rare or absent, harvesting of natural precipitation is the main source of water for animals. Catchment systems, which capture precipitation on a sloped rubber apron and contain it in a large tank or lined pond, are used by government agencies and grazing permittees to efficiently provide water for wildlife and livestock. As catchments reach the end of their useful lives, tank replacement …

Utah Hydroponic Solutions, Bruce Bugbee, Noah Langenfeld

Nutrients

The Utah Hydroponic solutions for monocots and dicots have been developed and refined using mass balance principles coupled with tissue analysis from studies in 25-cm deep, continuously aerated, liquid hydroponics where there is no absorption or desorption with media.

These solutions provide guidelines for irrigation of soilless substrates, but adjustments may need to be made to account for the significant cation exchange capacity and thus nutrient absorption and desorption with the substrates.

These recipes were developed for greenhouse conditions with ambient CO₂ and about 40% humidity. This results in a water use efficiency of about 3 grams per Liter. …

Metallic Light-Based Bird-Repellent Prototype To Reduce Paddy Yield Loss In Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, Ai Siti Santriyani, Ichsan Nurul Bari, Wahyu Daradjat Natawigena, Lindung Tri Puspasari, Syifa Nabilah Subakti-Putri

Jurnal Kultivasi

Munia birds (Lonchura spp.) are pests that attack paddy plants during the reproductive phase. The traditional methods of controlling birds are considered less effective because birds can adapt to the tools used. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a metallic light-based bird-repellent prototype to reduce paddy yield loss. The experiment was conducted in Cileles Village paddy fields, Jatinangor Subdistrict, Sumedang Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. The effectivity of the prototype was tested by measuring the effective distance (m2), counting the frequency of bird visits (number of visits), bird populations, and the level of paddy damage (%), and paddy …

The Effect Of Tryptone And Tomato Juice Addition On The Growth Performance Of Strawberry (Fragaria Ananassa) Explant Under In Vitro Condition, Zulfa Ulinnuha, Etik Wukir Tini, Noor Farid, Dhianing Shalatin

Jurnal Kultivasi

Strawberries are a fruit commodity that has high economic value. The obstacle in strawberry production is the lack of high-quality seed availability with disease-free properties. Tissue culture offers a promising solution to increase both the quantity and quality of strawberry seeds. This study aims to assess the effect of different concentrations of tomato juice and tryptone on the growth of strawberry explants under in vitro growing condition. The research was conducted at the Plant Breeding Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, from December 2022 to May 2023. The study employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors. The …

Growth And Yield Response Of Tanjung Ii And Unpad Cb2 Red Chili Varieties Grown In The Medium Land, Rahma Wati Lestari, Kusumiyati, Syariful Mubarok, Yusuf Eka Maulana

Jurnal Kultivasi

Red chili is an important commodity that is daily needed by the community. Non-central chili areas often experience deficits due to the high consumption volume and low productivity of chili peppers. To increase the productivity of chili in non-central areas, expand it in the medium land. This study aims to determine the productivity of two introduced chili varieties in the medium land whose adaptation areas came from lowland and highland areas. This study was analyzed using an independent sample T-test at a significant level of 5%. The results of the data analysis showed that the Tanjung II variety significantly influenced …

Risk Assessment And Sources Apportionment Of Toxic Metals In Two Commonly Consumed Fishes From A Subtropical Estuarine Wetland System, Md Moudud Ahmed, As-Ad Ujjaman Nur, Salma Sultana, Yeasmin N Jolly, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Jimmy Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The widespread occurrence of heavy metals in aquatic environments, resulting in their bioaccumulation within aquatic organisms like fish, presents potential hazards to human health. This study investigates the concentrations of five toxic heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Zn, Cu, and Cr) and their potential health implications in two economically important fish species (Otolithoides pama and Labeo bata) from a subtropical estuarine wetland system (Feni estuary, Bangladesh). Muscle and gill samples from 36 individual fish were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The results revealed that the average quantities of heavy metals in both fishes' muscle followed the declining …

Discovery Of Strong 3-Nitro-2-Phenyl-2h-Chromene Analogues As Antitrypanosomal Agents And Inhibitors Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Glucokinase, Shane M. Carey, Destiny M. O’Neill, Garrett B. Conner, Julian Sherman, Ana Rodriguez, Edward L. D'Antonio

Natural Sciences Faculty Publications

Chagas disease is one of the world’s neglected tropical diseases, caused by the human pathogenic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. There is currently a lack of effective and tolerable clinically available therapeutics to treat this life-threatening illness and the discovery of modern alternative options is an urgent matter. T. cruzi glucokinase (TcGlcK) is a potential drug target because its product, D-glucose-6-phosphate, serves as a key metabolite in the pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis. In 2019, we identified a novel cluster of TcGlcK inhibitors that also exhibited anti-T. cruzi efficacy called the 3-nitro-2-phenyl-2H-chromene analogues. This was achieved by performing a target-based …

Gucy2c Signaling Limits Dopaminergic Neuron Vulnerability To Toxic Insults, Lara Cheslow, Matthew Byrne, Jessica Kopenhaver, Lorraine Iacovitti, Richard Smeyne, Adam Snook, Scott Waldman

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are central drivers of dopaminergic (DA) neuron death in Parkinson's disease (PD). Guanylyl cyclases and their second messenger cyclic (c)GMP support mitochondrial function, protecting against ROS and promoting cell survival in several tissues. However, the role of the guanylyl cyclase-cGMP axis in defining the vulnerability of DA neurons in the SNpc in PD remains unclear, in part due to the challenge of manipulating cGMP levels selectively in midbrain DA neurons. In that context, guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C), a receptor primarily expressed by intestinal epithelial cells, …

Habitat Suitability For Age-0 Lake Sturgeon In The Grand River, Benjamin D. Gunnett

Masters Theses

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) are a state-threatened species in Michigan and have become a focus for conservation. The lower Grand River is home to a remnant population of lake sturgeon between the 6th Street dam in downtown Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan. There has been limited research on age-0 lake sturgeon habitat use in low-gradient and more turbid rivers. To address this deficit, we developed a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for age-0 lake sturgeon based on prior literature in the Great Lakes. A HSI combines parameters representing in-stream habitat characteristics to score habitat suitability on a scale of 0-1, 0 …

Afamitresgene Autoleucel For Advanced Synovial Sarcoma And Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma (Spearhead-1): An International, Open-Label, Phase 2 Trial, Sandra P D'Angelo, Dejka M Araujo, Albiruni R Abdul Razak, Mark Agulnik, Steven Attia, Irene Carrasco Garcia, Edwin Choy, George D Demetri, Mihaela Druta, Edouard Forcade, Kristen N Ganjoo, John Glod, Vicki L Keedy, Axel Le Cesne, David A Liebner, Victor Moreno, Seth M Pollack, Scott M Schuetze, Gary K Schwartz, Sandra J Strauss, William D Tap, Fiona Thistlethwaite, Claudia Maria Valverde Morales, Michael J Wagner, Breelyn A Wilky, Cheryl Mcalpine, Laura Hudson, Jean-Marc Navenot, Tianjiao Wang, Jane Bai, Stavros Rafail, Ruoxi Wang, Amy Sun, Lilliam Fernandes, Erin Van Winkle, Erica Elefant, Colin Lunt, Elliot Norry, Dennis Williams, Swethajit Biswas, Brian A Van Tine

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Afamitresgene autoleucel (afami-cel) showed acceptable safety and promising efficacy in a phase 1 trial (NCT03132922). The aim of this study was to further evaluate the efficacy of afami-cel for the treatment of patients with HLA-A*02 and MAGE-A4-expressing advanced synovial sarcoma or myxoid round cell liposarcoma.

Methods: SPEARHEAD-1 was an open-label, non-randomised, phase 2 trial done across 23 sites in Canada, the USA, and Europe. The trial included three cohorts, of which the main investigational cohort (cohort 1) is reported here. Cohort 1 included patients with HLA-A*02, aged 16-75 years, with metastatic or unresectable synovial sarcoma or myxoid …

Comparative Genomics Of Selected Lactobacillus Helveticus Strains, Cain Petty

Undergraduate Research Conference

My research is to compare two strains (D76 and H10) of Lactobacillus helveticus and a shared gene between them. I would want to experiment with overexpression to test for any difference in the regulatory function of genes associated with CggR - the central glycolytic genes regulator. The poster I am presenting would outline this and provide a clearer understanding of genes and potential overexpression.

Doxorubicin-Induced Nuclear Localization Of Scube3 Essential For Cell Survival In Tnbc, Ayooluwa Ilesanmi

Undergraduate Research Conference

Mediation of Doxorubicin-Induced SCUBE3 Nuclear Localization by A Functional NLS Involved in Pro-Tumorigenic Actions in Breast Cancer.

Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 3 (SCUBE3) is a glycosylated secreted and cell membrane-associated protein considered a signature gene in cancers and known to mediate its actions in the cytoplasm where its localizes prior to its secretion. However, our study observed that SCUBE3 protein localized to the nucleus following doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. In this study, we investigated SCUBE3 nuclear localization in triple-negative breast cancer, intending to dissect the mechanism of its nuclear trafficking induced by DOX treatment. Bioinformatic analysis of the SCUBE3 protein sequence …

Upregulation Of The Predominant Cystic Fibrosis Causing Mutation Df508-Cftr By Triazole Compounds In Epithelial Cells, Maggie Taylor

Undergraduate Research Conference

Cystic fibrosis is a common genetic disease that is caused by a mutation in the plasma membrane protein CFTR, which stands for Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane-conductance Regulator. When this membrane protein is mutated, it impairs its chloride ion channel function, blocking the movement of chloride ions that travel in and out of the cell. Previous studies have demonstrated that the most prevalent CFTR mutation, ∆F508-CFTR, can be partially reversed using small molecules (Heda and Marino, BBRC, 271:659-664, 2000). In this study, I have investigated the effects of several triazole compounds known to bind and transport chloride ions in cultured cells, on …

Bec-1 Survey Of Parasites In Ictalurus Punctatus (Channel Catfish) Of The Savannah River Basin At Little River In Mccormick, South Carolina, Savannah Cade, Jason Lee

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Ictalurus punctatus, more commonly known as the Channel Catfish, is common throughout the Savannah River Basin. Fifteen specimens were captured by hook and line from the Little River in McCormick County, South Carolina. The gills and viscera were examined for metazoan parasites and prevalence and mean intensity were computed. The monogenean Ligictaluridus pricei and the copepod Ergasilus arthrosis were recovered from the gills. Two digenetic trematodes (Megalonia ictaluri and Alloglossidium corti), one tapeworm (Corallobothrium fimbriatum), two nematodes (Camallanus oxycephalus and Spinitectus carolini) and one acanthocephalan (Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus) were recovered from the …

Hgs-3 The Influence Of A Tandem Cycling Program In The Community On Physical And Functional Health, Therapeutic Bonds, And Quality Of Life For Individuals And Care Partners Coping With Parkinson’S Disease, Leila Djerdjour, Jennifer L. Trilk

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Purpose Statement: Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on alleviating symptoms experienced by individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite this evidence, the potential benefits of exercise for both PD patients and their care partners (PD dyad) remain unexplored. This research project investigates the effectiveness, therapeutic collaborations, and physical outcomes of a virtual reality (VR) tandem cycling program specifically designed for PD dyads.

Methods: Following approval from the Prisma Health Institutional Review Board, individuals with PD were identified and screened by clinical neurologists. The pre-testing measures for PD dyads (N=9) included emotional and cognitive status …

Effects Of Delayed Hca Exposure On A Rat Model Of Bipolar Disorder, Eden Comer, Natalie Olander

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychological disorder featuring cyclical periods of depressive and manic behaviors. The Chase lab aims to develop a reliable animal model for BD in order to characterize its critical neurological triggers. Previous work has shown that daily injection of rat pups from postnatal day 3 through 19 (P3-P19) with homocysteic acid (HCA) produces a mixed manic and depressive state after puberty. These behaviors can be reversed by lithium treatment and involve changes in gene expression in the prefrontal cortex that are also improperly regulated in BD. Despite this model's reproducibility, we observed critical changes in the …

Examining The Validity Of The Polar Grit X Pro And Two Step Tests In Predicting Vo2max, Alex Skupa, Olivia Sprys-Tellner, Madeline Moore, Christian Clark, Fiona Brown

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Smartwatches and submaximal tests, such as step tests, are utilized to predict maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). The Polar Grit X Pro watch claims to predict VO2max via its Fitness Test Function (FTF). However, this watch and its FTF have not been validated. The purpose of this study was to determine if the Polar Grit X Pro watch, the Queens College Step Test, and the Forestry Step Test accurately predict VO2max in experienced runners aged 18-22 (n=15). Participants included 7 males (20.29 ± 1.11 years) and 8 females (19.63 ± 1.06 years). All participants performed a graded maximal treadmill test, two …

The Santa Clara, 2024-04-12, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

The Behavioral Impacts Of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Exposure On The House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus), John Wenderski, Brooke Fox, Jacob Bergstrom, Olivia Sprys-Tellner, Peyton Hallemann, Sarah Grimes

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

In response to a rapidly growing world population, there has been a dramatic increase in global urbanization and industrialization. With these increases comes increased air pollution, which includes metallic nanoparticles that are small enough to pass through an animal’s blood-gas and blood-brain barriers and cause damage. Some animals show behavioral changes in response to metallic nanoparticle exposure; for example, zinc oxide nanoparticle-exposed chicks displayed less antipredator behavior compared to controls. Additionally, mice injected with silver traveled less and more slowly than controls. Observationally, urban birds, compared to their rural conspecifics, tend to take more risks and explore more, which are …

Lysine 473 Regulates The Activity And Trafficking Of The Cystine/Glutamate Transporter, System XC-, Anna Koppin

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

System x_c^- is a membrane transport system that plays a critical role in mitigating oxidative stress. Past work in our lab has shown that System x_c^- localizes to the plasma membrane allowing for increased activity to support production of antioxidants during oxidative stress. In this study, we sought to determine if post-translational modification (PTM) of the transporter regulates its trafficking. A C-terminal 3KR mutant (K422,472,473R) exhibited decreased membrane localization and activity, suggesting that PTM at one of these sites increases activity. Further, we observed that K473R exhibits a 7 kD decrease in the molecular weight, indicating …

Former College Athletes' Experiences Of Post-Sport Exercise: How Institutions Can Do Better, Samantha M. Vermeesch, Keegan J. Dekuiper, Madelynn Struck, Christian Clark

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Former college athletes (FCAs) can exhibit detrimental changes to physical and mental perceptions following sports retirement. Because FCAs no longer engage in regular sports training, they also experience a loss of social support through teammates and coaches, and struggle with enacting their newfound autonomy to exercise. To understand how to help FCAs maintain exercise and health long-term, the purpose of this study is to explore former Division III (DIII) athletes' experiences with exercise maintenance following retirement from sport and graduation from college, and understand their opinions on how their institution could have better prepared them for this transition. Fourteen former …

An Ecology Against The Right. Learning Uncertainty And Humility From Ecosystems, Pierre L. Ibisch, Mona Eikel-Pohen, Elias Iceman, Jake Snelling

Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics - All Scholarship

This article is a translation from the German to English. The title of the original is:

Ibisch, P.L. (2020): Eine Ökologie gegen rechts. Von Ökosystemen Unsicherheit und Demut lernen. In: Leitschuh, H., A. Brunnengräber, P.L. Ibisch, R. Loske, M. Müller, J. Sommer & E.-U. v. Weizsäcker (eds. J. Sommer, P.L. Ibisch, A. Brunnengräber): Ökologie und Heimat. Jahrbuch Ökologie 2021. Hirzel-Verlag, Stuttgart, 191-205.

Role Of Centrosomal P4.1 Associated Protein (Cpap) In Tumor Suppression, Heena Dave

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

In eukaryotic cells, centrosomes are membrane-less organelles that function as the primary microtubules organizing center with a crucial role in cell division. For accurate bipolar spindle assembly and genetic transmission between generations, fidelity in centriolar duplication is critical. Disruption in this process can cause genomic instability, which could then lead to conditions like aneuploidy, a common feature of various cancers. Among the numerous proteins associated with mammalian centrioles, the centrosomal P4.1 associated protein (CPAP) stands out for its essential role in regulating centriole duplication. Dysfunctions in CPAP have been linked to abnormalities in centriole length that can contribute to conditions …

Changes In Working Memory Performance With Various Simultaneous External Stimulation, Mackenzie Korff, Wyatt Oonk, Riley Checkley, Mackenzie Halton

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

A physically active lifestyle is associated with improved quality of life. Consequently, technologies have advanced to create active walking or cycling workstations where individuals may increase their physical activity in an otherwise sedentary work-related setting. The effectiveness of these active workstations on the brain’s working memory; its ability to process linguistic and conscious perceptual stimuli, is not well understood. This study evaluated changes in working memory by comparing N back-2 scores while completing a heart rate monitored, low-intensity, cycle ergometer exercise protocol. Three conditions were tested during three visits, one week apart from each other. For each trial, the participants …

Environment And Sexual Expression: Hormone-Induced Sex Change In Sexually Plastic Trees, Jillian Hickok, Colin Kalkman, Michael Laporte, Arsh Mir, Samantha Weaver

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

In a small number of species, plant sex expression is an environmentally determined characteristic and can change throughout the organism’s lifetime. This plastic response to environmental changes has important and intrinsically interesting ecological and evolutionary implications, but is as yet an understudied phenomenon. In particular, little is known about the proximate hormonal cues that mediate plastic sex determination. This study examines the impact of selective hormonal treatment on sex expression in a sexually plastic tree species, Acer Pensylvaticum, with the aim of further elucidating this idiosyncratic process. Live A. pensylvanicum twig samples were taken from five trees in Sleeping …

Ubiquitination Of Xct: Impacts On The Protein's Stability, Turnover Rate, And Localization, Sofia Rosenberger

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

System x_c^- imports cystine and exports glutamate. Its presence on the plasma membrane has been shown to increase directly with oxidative insults. Ubiquitin, a small protein, is directly involved in the trafficking and degradation of numerous proteins within cells and has been shown to bind to System x_c^-. Moreover, upon oxidative insult, protein ubiquitination increases. However, it is not understood how ubiquitination of the transporter impacts its activity. Therefore, the objective of this project is to directly assess how ubiquitination affects the protein’s stability, turnover rate, and localization in the context of oxidative stress. We …

Percussive Massage And Dynamic Stretching As A Between-Race Warm Up For Collegiate Swimmers, Madeline Kievit, Madison Raymond, Elena Salazar, Madeline Tessin

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Swimming is a sport that often requires multiple events to be completed in a short-time frame. Breaks between races have the potential to negatively impact subsequent performances, causing athletes to resort to out-of-water warm-up methods. To date, no research has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of using a percussive massage gun (PMG) as a warm-up tool between races. This study evaluated percussive massage and dynamic stretching (DS) as a warm-up by determining impact on completion time between two 100-y freestyle sprints compared to passive recovery (NT) in collegiate swimmers. It was hypothesized that PMG and DS would lead to …

The Effects Of Self-Selected And Pre-Selected Music On Acute Exercise Perceptions And Performance In Insufficiently Active College Students, Alison J. Bache, Tiovanni M. Knight, Lazerick T. Smith Jr.

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Extensive research has investigated the effects of music on exercise. Researchers suggest that music can improve athletic performance and promote positive perceptions of exercise. However, previous research has focused on athletes or recreationally active participants, and often compares the presence of music during exercise to a lack of music. This study aims to determine whether listening to self-selected preferred music versus pre-selected motivational music improves acute exercise performance and perception of exercise in sedentary college students. Ten individuals will complete baseline testing by following the YMCA cycling protocol. Each participant will then complete two subsequent trials in which they will …