Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Doxorubicin On Extracellular Matrix Regulation In Primary Cardiac Fibroblasts From Mice, Cameron Skaggs, Steve Nick, Conner Patricelli, Laura Bond, Kali Woods, Luke Woodbury, Julia Thom Oxford, Xinzhu Pu

Biomedical Research Institute Publications and Presentations

Objective Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic used to treat many adult and pediatric cancers. However, its use is limited due to a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which can lead to lethal cardiomyopathy. In contrast to the extensive research efforts on toxic effects of DOX in cardiomyocytes, its effects and mechanisms on cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis and remodeling are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the potential effects of DOX on cardiac ECM to further our mechanistic understanding of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Results DOX-induced significant down-regulation of several ECM related genes in primary cardiac fibroblasts, including Adamts1, Adamts5, Col4a1, Col4a2, …

Engaging Students In A Genetics Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience Utilizing Caenorhabditis Elegans In Hybrid Learning To Explore Human Disease Gene Variants, Natalie Forte, Virginia Veasey, Bethany Christie, Amira Carter, Marli Hanks, Alan Holderfield, Taylor Houston, Anil Challa, Ashley Turner

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Genetic analysis in model systems using bioinformatic approaches provides a rich context for a concrete and conceptual understanding of gene structure and function. With the intent to engage students in research and explore disease biology utilizing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans model, we developed a semester-long course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) in a hybrid (online/in-person) learning environment—the gene-editing and evolutionary nematode exploration CURE (GENE-CURE). Using a combination of bioinformatic and molecular genetic tools, students performed structure-function analysis of disease-associated variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in human orthologs. With the aid of a series of workshop-style research sessions, students worked in teams …

Quantifying Non-Gaussian Intermittent Fluctuations In Physiology: Multiscale Probability Density Function Analysis Using The Savitzky-Golay Detrending, Madhur Mangalam, Damian G. Kelty-Stephen, Eiichi Watanabe, Ken Kiyono

Journal Articles

When measuring physiological data, the central limit theorem typically implies a consistent variance, resulting in data that closely follow a Gaussian distribution. However, physiological measurements often deviate from this expectation, increasing variance due to nonlinear correlations across various scales. The challenge lies in testing these tails, which comprise only rare and extreme values. We introduce multiscale probability density function (PDF) analysis, a method that estimates this non-Gaussianity parameter for physiological fluctuations in each of multiple timescales. We gain valuable insights into the observed distributions with heavier tails and nonlinear correlations by exploring the relationship between non-Gaussianity and logarithmic scale. To …

Guide To Pivot Track Management, Matt Yost, Behnaz Molaei, R. Troy Peters, Clara Anderson, Burdette Barker, Jonathan Holt, Dustin Larsen

All Current Publications

Irrigation uniformity can be reduced by wheel track rutting because of tire slippage (Meyer & Hoffman, 1983). These impacts can result in costly repairs to equipment, including gear boxes (about $700 each) and center-drive motors (about $550 each), or hydraulic pumps and motors on certain makes of pivot. Labor and crop damage associated with freeing or repairing a pivot or caused by downtime can also be a great expense to the farmer. This guide covers different strategies for managing wheel track rutting for center pivots and lateral-move systems.

Iron Deficiency In Pregnancy And Children, Brianna Kane, Stacy Bevan, Carrie Durward, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Meeting the proper iron recommendations is important for both children and mothers because iron is essential for growth and development. An inadequate intake of iron is the most common reason for iron deficiency. Eating appropriate amounts of iron during these stages of life is of upmost importance. Including sources of heme iron and vitamin C can help increase absorption of iron.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Blue Mountainsnail (Oreohelix Strigosa Delicata), Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Blue mountainsnail (Oreohelix strigosa delicata) using NatureServe methodology, 2023.

Oregon State Ranking Assessment For Harney Basin Duskysnail (Colligyrus Depressus), Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon State Ranking Assessment for Harney Basin Duskysnail (Colligyrus depressus) by the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, following NatureServe 2023 methodology.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Columbia Sideband (Monadena Fidelis Columbiana), Eleanor P. Gaines, Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Columbia sideband (Monadenia fidelis columbiana) using NatureServe methodology, 2023.

Enzyme Kinetics Of Deoxyuridine Triphosphatase From Western Corn Rootworm, Carlos Riera‑Ruiz, Hideaki Moriyama

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objective The Western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is a highly adaptable insect pest that has evolved resistance to a variety of control strategies, including insecticides. Therefore, it is interesting to examine how housekeeping proteins in WCR have been changed under WCR-controlling strategies. In this study, we focused on one of such proteins in WCR, a ubiquitous enzyme 5’-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase). In the thymidine synthetic pathway, dUTPase hydrolyzes deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) and supplies the substrate, deoxyuridine monophosphate, for the thymidylate synthase (TS). It decreases the cellular content of uracil, reducing uracil misincorporation into DNA. Suppressing the dUTPase activity, …

Investigating The Role Of The Metabolite Je As An Inflammatory Modulator, Rim Ahmed Noufal

Master's Theses

Innate immunity represents the first line of defense against pathogens that invade our bodies. It greatly relies on a family of abundant receptors called pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). These are germ-line encoded proteins abundant in immune cells like macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. PRRs encompass five categories, one of which includes toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs could either be located on the surface of the cells or intracellularly. The mechanism by which TLRs act is through recognizing a myriad of foreign structures derived from microbes, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates as well as their genetic material. Generally, these …

Role Of The Glutamine-Polyamine-Hypusine Axis In Cd8+ T Cell Fate And Function, Aya Gamal Aly Sadek Elmarsafawi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

T cells are critical effectors of the immune response against pathogens and malignancies and, given the recent success of T-cell immunotherapies in cancer, there is now an urgent need to enhance the efficacy and durability of T-cell immune responses to improve anti-tumor immunity. Formation of memory T cells is a critical step of a successful immune response as it ensures maintenance of long-term immunity and protection from re-exposure to foreign antigens. Notably, metabolism regulates the fate and function of T cells and is a powerful tool to modulate T-cell activity and memory differentiation. Accordingly, metabolic interventions to augment T-cell memory …

Cytomulate: Accurate And Efficient Simulation Of Cytof Data, Yuqiu Yang, Kaiwen Wang, Zeyu Lu, Tao Wang, Xinlei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recently, many analysis tools have been devised to offer insights into data generated via cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF). However, objective evaluations of these methods remain absent as most evaluations are conducted against real data where the ground truth is generally unknown. In this paper, we develop Cytomulate, a reproducible and accurate simulation algorithm of CyTOF data, which could serve as a foundation for future method development and evaluation. We demonstrate that Cytomulate can capture various characteristics of CyTOF data and is superior in learning overall data distributions than single-cell RNA-seq-oriented methods such as scDesign2, Splatter, and generative models like LAMBDA.

A Neotropical Perspective On The Uniqueness Of The Holocene Among Interglacials, Mark Bush, Jacob Daniel Schiferl, M. Kingston, C. M. Akesson, B. G. Valencia, A. Rozas-Davila, D. Mcgee, A. Woods, C. Y. Chen, R. G. Hatfield, D. T. Rodbell, M. B. Abbott

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding how tropical systems have responded to large-scale climate change, such as glacial-interglacial oscillations, and how human impacts have altered those responses is key to current and future ecology. A sedimentary record recovered from Lake Junín, in the Peruvian Andes (4085 m elevation) spans the last 670,000 years and represents the longest continuous and empirically-dated record of tropical vegetation change to date. Spanning seven glacial-interglacial oscillations, fossil pollen and charcoal recovered from the core showed the general dominance of grasslands, although during the warmest times some Andean forest trees grew above their modern limits near the lake. Fire was very …

Circular Food Education: Developing A Food Education Programme Based On Sustainability, Experiential Learning And Pleasure In Irish Primary Schools, Michelle Darmody Dr

Doctoral

This research explored how an expanded and sustained education about food within the primary school curriculum in the Republic of Ireland could be achieved. A constructivist ontology underpinned the project, with multiple theoretical frameworks related to constructivist learning and building agency, informing the study. A multi-method action research methodology was used, providing practical solutions through action, reflection, practice and theory. A narrative review of the literature and existing policy preceded three sections of fieldwork. A scoping consultation with key stakeholders was followed by the development and piloting of a food education programme entitled the Global Citizenship Food and Biodiversity Theme …

Uncovering The Determinants Of Compositionally Distinct, Coexisting Biomolecular Condensates, Andrew Zijia Lin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Biomolecular condensates form via the phase transitions of proteins and nucleic acids. What is unclear is how unique condensates achieve compositional specificity. Of particular interest is the ability of distinct condensates to have shared and distinct components. This is readily apparent in the multinucleate filamentous fungi Ashbya gossypii, where condensates share a common cytoplasm. In Ashbya, the RNA-binding protein Whi3 forms condensates with CLN3, BNI1, and SPA2. These RNAs are responsible for initiating the cell cycle, forming actin cables, and directing polarized cell growth respectively. However in vivo observations have shown that certain Whi3-RNA condensates are capable of mixing while …

Prey Selection By Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles Minor) Across Seasons And Fire Management Regimes, Eliza D. Stein

LSU Master's Theses

Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor, hereafter nighthawks) belong to the aerial insectivore guild, which is rapidly declining in part because of changes in insect prey bases. To understand the ability of nighthawks to accommodate fluctuating prey communities, it is necessary to understand their degree of diet specialization, how specialization changes throughout the annual cycle, and the effects of land management practices on prey availability and nighthawk habitat use. We examined prey selection by breeding and non-breeding nighthawks by collecting fecal samples during two breeding seasons in Florida, USA, and two non-breeding seasons in Corrientes Province, Argentina. We used DNA …

Identification Of Cdk1, Pbk, And Chek1 As An Oncogenic Signature In Glioblastoma: A Bioinformatics Approach To Repurpose Dapagliflozin As A Therapeutic Agent, Alexander T H Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal primary brain tumor whose median survival is less than 15 months. The current treatment regimen comprising surgical resectioning, chemotherapy with Temozolomide (TMZ), and adjuvant radiotherapy does not achieve total patient cure. Stem cells' presence and GBM tumor heterogeneity increase their resistance to TMZ, hence the poor overall survival of patients. A dysregulated cell cycle in glioblastoma enhances the rapid progression of GBM by evading senescence or apoptosis through an over-expression of cyclin-dependent kinases and other protein kinases that are the cell cycle's main regulatory proteins. Herein, we identified and validated the …

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research Division 121st Annual Report. July 1, 2006 To June 30, 2007., Institute Of Agriculture And Natural Resources

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

Our Mission..... 4

Foreword..... 5

Research Highlights..... 6

Faculty Awards and Recognitions....14

Graduate Student Awards and Recognitions...17

Undergraduate Honors Student Research Program...22

Variety and Germplasm Releases....23

Patents.....24

Administration.....25

Administrative Personnel....25

Organizational Chart....26

Administrative Units....27

IANR Research Facilities....28

Faculty.....29

Agricultural/Natural Resources Units....30

Education and Human Sciences Departments...39

Off-Campus Research Centers....40

Interdisciplinary Activities....41

Visiting Scientists/Research Associates....42

Research Projects.....47

Agricultural/Natural Resources Units....47

Education and Human Sciences Departments...52

Off-Campus Research Centers....52

Interdisciplinary Activities....53

Publications.....55

Agricultural/Natural Resources Units....60

Education and Human Sciences Departments...82

Off-Campus Research Centers....85

Research Expenditures....88

Evolutionary Conservation And Times Of Action Of Heterochronic Genes, Maria Ivanova

Theses and Dissertations

The heterochronic pathway of C. elegans is the most well-characterized system to date for controlling the sequence and timing of developmental events. However, we still have critical unanswered questions to address. First, little is known about the evolution of the heterochronic pathway, and of developmental timing in general. To determine if the roles of major heterochronic genes are conserved, I made mutants in orthologs of these genes in C. briggsae, using CRISPR/Cas9. My studies revealed a significant drift in the roles of some of the genes, although all of them are still involved in the developmental timing regulation, and several …

Phenological Activities Of Desert Bees Track Rainfall More Than Temperature And Predict Temporal Abundance Trends Over 16 Years, Jade Elijah Mclaughlin

Biology ETDs

Phenology, the timing of recurrent biological events, is a key mechanism by which species adapt or acclimatize to variable environmental conditions, including those influenced by climate change. Measurable traits, including the onset and end of activity, peak activity, and duration, characterize the phenology of life events, and could be significant predictors of trends in population abundance or stability in a changing climate. Bees provide critical pollination services, and understanding the covariates of bee phenological traits can refine predictions on the vulnerabilities of bees and their services to climate change. We paired 16 years of monthly bee survey data (2002-2019) with …

Manipulating And Assaying Chromatin Architecture Around Enhancer Elements In Vivo, John Lawrence Carter

Theses and Dissertations

There are about 20,000 genes in the human genome. The lowly nematode worm, C. elegans, has about the same number of genes. How could two organisms that are so different arise from a similar number of genes? The answer is epigenetics, or the factors that help control when and where genes are expressed. There are many layers that comprise the epigenetic control of genes. One of which is the structure or architecture of chromatin. Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins. Histone proteins with DNA wrapped around them form the fundamental component of chromatin, the nucleosome. Chromatin exists in …

Pass-Through Entity Tax Deduction, Tina N. Barrett

Cornhusker Economics

In 2023, the State of Nebraska became the 36th state to implement a Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) Deduction law. This law is in response to a change made by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 which limited the state and local tax deduction eligible for itemized deductions to $10,000. This new state law allows partnerships and s-corporations to pay the state income tax on behalf of their owners which qualifies it for a federal tax law deduction. The individuals will then receive a credit on their individual return for the tax paid on their behalf.

Conventional Solid-State Fermentation Impacts The White Lupin Proteome Reducing The Abundance Of Allergenic Peptides, Arineh Tahmasian, Roger Drew, James A, Broadbent, Angéla Juhász, Mitchell Nye-Wood, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The demand for high-quality and sustainable protein sources is on the rise. Lupin is an emerging plant-based source of protein with health-enhancing properties; however, the allergenic potential of lupins limits their widespread adoption in food products. A combination of discovery and targeted quantitative proteome measurements was used to investigate the impact of solid-state fermentation induced by Rhizopus oligosporus on the proteome composition and allergenic protein abundances of white lupin seed. In total, 1,241 proteins were uniquely identified in the fermented sample. Moreover, the effectiveness of the solid-state fermentation in reducing the abundance of the tryptic peptides derived from white lupin …

Susceptibility Of Northern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica Barberi) Populations To Cry3bb1 And Gpp34/Tpp35ab1 Proteins In Seedling And Diet Overlay Toxicity Assays, Adriano E. Pereira, Man P. Huynh, Kyle J. Paddock, Ryan W. Geisert, Veronica Calles Torrez, Janet J. Knodel, Daniel J. Moellenbeck, Jordan D. Reinders, Lance J. Meinke, Sharon K. Schneider, Thomas A. Coudron, Kent S. Shelby, Bruce E. Hibbard

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The northern corn rootworm, Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a major pest of maize in the United States Corn Belt. Recently, resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize was reported in North Dakota and increased use of Bt maize hybrids could facilitate resistance evolution in other maizeproducing states. In this study, susceptibility to Bt proteins was evaluated in wild D. barberi populations from 8 fields collected in 5 different states (Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and North Dakota). Field populations were compared to a susceptible D. barberi colony in seedling and diet toxicity assays conducted with 3 …

Optimizing Virulence And Understanding The Endophytic Colonization Of Metarhizium Spp. In Sweetpotato For The Control Of Cylas Formicarius Elegantulus (Summers), Santosh Bhandari

LSU Master's Theses

In the United States, control of the sweetpotato weevil [SPW, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers)] occurs through quarantine and regular use of chemical insecticides. However, an overreliance on chemical control may lead to resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi have potential to act as an alternative to chemical control. In this study, we assessed four different strains of Metarhizium isolated from soil collected in Louisiana (Mp-K048, Ma-K056, Mr-K082, and Mr-K101) and compared them to a well-known licensed strain (Mb-ARSEF 1095) for virulence against C. formicarius elegantulus. Results suggested that Mp-K048, Ma-K056, and Mr-K082 …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Siskiyou Short-Horned Grasshopper (Chloealtis Aspasma), Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Siskiyou short-horned grasshopper (Chloealtis aspasma) using NatureServe methodology, 2023.

Co-Limitation Of Resources Reveals Adaptations Of A Tropical Tree To Heterogeneous Environments Along An Elevational Cline, Indira Paudel, Kyle M.E. Rose, Simon M. Landhausser, Douglass F. Jacobs

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Introduction: Plant species often exhibit significant variation in functional traits in populations along elevational gradients to cope with varying stress conditions. While plant development has been assumed to be most limited by a single resource, growing evidence suggests the potential for interactions of co-limiting resources to impact plant performance. Here, we aimed to determine how light, nitrogen, and water availability influence the growth and physiology of different populations of koa (Acacia koa), a tree species of concern that occurs across a large elevational gradient in tropical Hawaii, United States.

Methods: Populations from three seed sources [low (L), mid (M), and …

Identification Of Biomarkers Of Sub-Lethal Algal Toxin Exposure In Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) And Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Using Differential Gene Expression Analysis, Brandon Ellingson

Biology Theses

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are important culturally, recreationally, economically, and are a common aquaculture species in Canada and the United States. In the Pacific Northwest, blooms of toxic algae result in millions of dollars annually in losses for salmonid aquaculture producers. Blooms of harmful cyanobacteria produce microcystins which have been linked to net-pen liver disease which has large financial impacts on net pen salmon operations. Microcystin-LR, the most toxic variant, bioaccumulates in the liver and disrupts normal cellular activity by inhibiting protein phosphatases leading to deleterious effects on growth, immune status, and liver function. To …

Catalytic Activity Of Co (Ii)‑Porphyrin Anchored Onto Polymeric Support Of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber: Synthesis And Efficient Green Oxidation Of Crystal Violet Dye With Hydrogen Peroxide, Elbadawy A. Kamoun, Elbadawy A. Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

novel method was explored in this study to address water contamination challenges by utilizing nanofiber mat-supported metalloporphyrin materials. Specifically, electrospinning was employed to create various compositions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) mixed with different concentrations of Co(II) complex of tetrakis-5, 10, 15, 20 (4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin Co(II)TPHPP 1 anchored to chloroacetylated poly (p-hydroxy styrene) CAPS. These resulting nanofiber mat-supported metalloporphyrin materials were comprehensively analyzed using UV, FTIR spectrum, SEM, and TGA thermographs. The study found that the designed nanofibers acted as efficient catalysts for the oxidative breakdown of crystal violet (CV) dye using H2O2 in aqueous solutions. Among these materials, the nanofiber composed of …

Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose In Lignin–Phenol–Formaldehyde Adhesives For Plywood Production, Sheikh Ali Ahmed, Reza Hosseinpourpia, Stergios Adamopoulos

Michigan Tech Publications

Petrochemical-based phenol–formaldehyde (PF) adhesives are widely used in plywood production. To substitute phenol in the synthesis of PF adhesives, lignin can be added due to its structural similarity to phenol. Moreover, micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) can further enhance the bond performance, mechanical properties, and toughness of adhesive systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion performance of lignin–PF (LPF) adhesives reinforced with MFC. In LPF formulations, three levels of MFC (0, 15, and 30 wt% based on the total solid content of adhesives) were added to the homogenous adhesive mixture. Three-layer plywood panels from birch (Betula pendula …