Life Sciences Commons^™

Cryptic Diversity Within Nyctixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae): A New Species, A Resurrection, And A Redescription, Jennifer Dever, Jimmy A. Mcguire, Djoko T. Iskandar, Amir Hamidy, Lee L. Grismer

Biology Faculty Publications

The examination of molecular markers confirms hidden diversity and reveals a new species within the Nyctixalus pictus (Peters, 1871) complex. Three genetically distinct clades were recovered: one from the Thai-Malay Peninsula; one from Sumatra, Indonesia; and one from Sarawak, Borneo, East Malaysia. Voucher specimens from each region were compared, and significantly different mean values were found through morphological analyses. The populations also differ significantly in morphospace, as determined by PCA, DAPC, and MFA analyses. The Thai-Malay Peninsula individuals have a distinct, rounded and slightly elongated snout shape compared to the other two clades. Based on these combined data, these three …

Sustainable Guiding Framework Of The Egyptian Rural Development Initiative (Hayah Karima), Eman Badawy Ahmed

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The Hayah Karima initiative launches to improve the standard of living for the most needy community groups across the Egyptian countryside, and it also contributes to improving the quality of services provided to the neediest villages. The research aims to propose a guiding framework for sustainability in villages of the Hayah Karima Initiative to achieve Egypt’s Sustainable Vision 2030. To achieve the goal, the research will study the goals, strategies, and principles of the Hayah Karima Initiative, the Egypt Vision 2030, COP 27, the sustainability evaluation criteria, and the Green Villages Initiative. Consequentially, in addition to A questionnaire to measure …

Culvert Retrofit With Green Filter Media For The Removal Of Phosphorus From Stormwater Runoff, Somdipta Bagchi, Zhiming Zhang, Olayinka Olayiwola, Bharadwaj Mandala, Rupali Datta, Subhasis Giri, Richard Lathrop, Dibyendu Sarkar

Michigan Tech Publications

Phosphorus is a ubiquitous contaminant in urban and agricultural landscapes. A retention basin located in the southern part of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, was identified as receiving stormwater runoff with elevated phosphorus concentrations. The basin is surrounded by expanding urban development, contributing to the progressive degradation of water quality in the bay, which is already highly eutrophic. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a culvert retrofit with a green filter media composed of granulated-aluminum-based drinking water-treatment residuals (Al-WTR) and granular carbon (5:1 ratio, w/w) for the removal of phosphorus and suspended sediments from stormwater runoff. The performance of the filter …

Genetic Variants And Molecular Components Associated With Metabolic Dysfunctional-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease And Depression: Shared Association Of Adamts7 And Thrap3, Eron G. Manusov, Vincent P. Diego, Marcio A. Almeida, Jacob A. Galan, Kathryn Herklotz, Edwardo Abrego Ii, Habiba Sultana, Luis A. Peña Marquez, Marco Arriaga, Marcelo Leandro, Juan M. Peralta, Ana C. Leandro, Tom Howard, Joanne Curran, Sandra Laston, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and depression frequently occur together. Identifying the genes that influence both MASLD and depression may facilitate the discovery of biological pathways associated with disease risk.

Methods: We recruited 525 participants from Mexican American families living in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. We collected clinical data, biometric measurements, hepatic health assessments using Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE), and depression evaluations determined with the Beck Depression Inventory-II. We estimated the heritability (h2) of MASLD-related measures, depression status, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the AST/ALT ratio, and Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography measurements. For each gene, …

Polθ Activity Modulates Sensitivity To Standard Therapies In Dnmt3a-Deficient Leukemia, Bac Viet Le, Umeshkumar Vekariya, Monika M. Toma, Margaret Nieborowska-Skorska, Marie-Christine Caron, Malgorzata Gozdecka, Zayd Haydar, Martin Walsh, Jayashri Ghosh, Elaine Vaughan-Williams, Paulina Podszywalow-Bartnicka, Anna-Mariya Kukuyan, Sylwia Ziolkowska, Jessica Atkins, Emir Hadzijusufovic, Gurushankar Chandramouly, Reza Nejati, Katarzyna Piwocka, Richard T. Pomerantz, George S. Vassiliou, Brian J.P. Huntly, Peter Valent, Mariusz Wasik, Alfonso Bellacosa, Jean-Yves Masson, Gaorav P. Gupta, Grant A. Challen, Tomasz Skorski

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Myeloid malignancies carrying somatic DNMT3A mutations (DNMT3Amut) are refractory to standard therapy. DNMT3Amut leukemia cells accumulate toxic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and stalled replication forks, rendering them dependent on DNA damage response (DDR). We report here that DNA polymerase theta (Polθ), a key element in DSB repair by end-joining (Polθ-mediated end-joining [TMEJ]) and in fork restarting, promotes survival and proliferation of DNMT3Amut leukemia cells. Polθ is overexpressed in DNMT3Amut leukemia cells due to abrogation of PARP1 PARylation-dependent UBE2O E3 ligase-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Polθ. In addition, PARP1-mediated recruitment of the SMARCAD1-MSH2/MSH3 repressive complex to DSBs is diminished in …

Is The Long-Horned Grasshopper Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) A Novel, Nutritious, Functional, And Safe Alternative Food Product? A Review, Margaret Kababu, Collins Mweresa, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Geoffrey Ssepuuya, Karlmax Rutaro, Nicodemus Matojo, Faith Nyamu, Robert Mbeche, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Chrysantus Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is among the most widely consumed edible insect in Eastern and Central Africa, where it contributes to both household nutrition and income generation. As a nutrient-dense food source, it offers a promising alternative to curb food insecurity and malnutrition. Despite this, the consumption and use of the grasshopper is limited to its seasonal availability when it is collected from the wild. Coupled with this, is limited evidence on its domestication despite research advances to optimize conditions for mass production. This review was conducted to highlight research advances and gaps on production, processing, nutritional profile, and …

Structural Brain Analysis In Focal Upper Limb Dystonia, Danilo Donizete De Faria, Artur José Marques Paulo, Joselisa Péres Queiroz De Paiva, Anderson M. Winkler, Vanderci Borges, Sonia Maria Azevedo Silva, Henrique Ballalai Ferraz, Patricia De Carvalho Aguiar

Human Genetics Publications

Prior structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies that investigated structural alterations in focal dystonia have reported inconsistent findings, potentially due to methodological limitations or sample heterogeneity. This work investigates gray and white matter changes in patients with upper limb dystonia using T1-weighted images and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Imaging data collected with MRI at 3T from 28 right-handed individuals with right upper limb dystonia and 29 healthy controls were analyzed. T1-weighted images were analyzed using FreeSurfer to examine cortical thickness, volume and area. DTI data were assessed using tract-based spatial statistics, regions of interest (ROI) analysis and probabilistic tractography. ROI …

Primary School Physical Activity Culture In The Uk: Findings From A Four-Month Rapid Ethnography In Three Schools, Robert Walker, Lydia Emm-Collison, Danielle House, Simoona Kent-Saisch, Ruth Salway, Alice Porter, Abi Howard, Tom Reid, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Frank De Vocht, Russell Jago

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Physical activity is fundamental for children’s health and well-being, yet most children are not active enough. School-based interventions aiming to increase children’s physical activity have largely been ineffective, perhaps due to a lack of consideration of the unique culture within each school. The aim of this paper is to understand the key aspects of physical activity culture in English primary schools using the organizational culture framework.

Methods: A four-month rapid ethnography study was conducted within three primary schools in Bristol, UK, between March and July 2024. The findings draw on observations, interviews, documentary data, photo elicitation, informal conversations and …

Visdb 20: A Manually Curated Resource Of Viral Integration Sites And Their Regulatory Maps In Human Diseases, Citu Citu, Ajeet Singh, Xinyi Liu, Mounika Ashannagari, Rinki Ratnapriya, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The integration of viral sequence into the human genome plays critical role in the onset of various diseases, especially cancers. To facilitate systematic analysis of these events, we present VISDB 2.0, an expanded and updated database of human viral integration sites (VISs). The current release contains more than 270,000 manually curated VISs derived from 209 peer-reviewed publications, covering 11 viruses, including four retroviruses and seven DNA viruses. This represents a 3.5-fold increase in VIS entries compared with the previous version. Each VIS record includes standardized genomic coordinates and annotations describing local genomic context, CpG islands, repetitive elements, chromosomal fragile sites, …

Exploring The Influence Of Environmental Motivations On Consumer Attitudes And Purchase Intentions Toward Upcycled Foods, Peng Lu, Jennifer Waldeck, Keith Weber, Hualu Zhou

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Food loss and waste (FLW) present pressing environmental and economic challenges. Upcycling technologies provide a sustainable pathway by transforming food by-products into value-added products; however, consumer acceptance remains a critical barrier. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study investigates how environmental motivations influence consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions toward milk enriched with upcycled peanut skins. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1488 U.S. adults. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test hypothesized relationships among motivational constructs, and cluster analysis was used to identify consumer segments based on motivational profiles. The results show that intrinsic motivation and …

“Blue Rings” In Engelmann Spruce From The Greater Yellowstone Ecoregion: Their Presentation And Efficacy As Proxies For Ephemeral Cooling Events, Isaac Grimm, Maegen Rochner

The Cardinal Edge

As the polar jet stream’s activity transforms under climate change’s influence, short-term, or ephemeral, cooling events could become more frequent. Understanding how such cooling events may affect forest dynamics and tree-growth can allow us to predict how the morphing jet stream may reflect in our future forests. “Blue rings” (BRs) have presented themselves as subsections of annual rings, made clear through the double-staining of microsections of wood, which have been associated with the interruption of conifers’ lignification process. Such features could allow us to peer back into pre-instrumental records and assess how a tree’s growth and their surrounding canopy may …

Filifactor Alocis Disrupts Efferocytosis To Sustain Inflammation In Periodontitis, Ella Dye, Silvia Uriarte, Ruth Idowu

The Cardinal Edge

Background: Filifactor alocis is a Gram-positive, obligate anaerobe that has emerged as a diagnostic marker of periodontitis. Neutrophils and macrophages are key players in oral immune homeostasis. Neutrophils are short-lived cells and constitutively undergo apoptosis. This apoptotic program can be accelerated or delayed by bacterial interactions. Macrophages clear apoptotic neutrophils via “efferocytosis,” a crucial mechanism for resolving inflammation and preventing tissue damage. The efferocytic process downregulates the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-23 while promoting anti-inflammatory responses. Our previous findings demonstrated that F. alocis delays neutrophil apoptosis, with fewer apoptotic cells observed after 18 …

Activation Of Autophagy In Human Neutrophils In Response To Emerging Oral Pathogen Peptoanaerobacter Stomatis, Mya Philipose, Shikha Srivastava, Silvia Uriarte

The Cardinal Edge

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects over 50% of the global population and is a leading cause of tooth loss. It is associated with the accumulation of oral pathogens that thrive in inflamed environments and contribute to the destruction of gum tissue and underlying bone. Neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in the oral cavity, serve as the first line of defense against these pathogens. However, some bacteria can alter neutrophil responses to promote their survival, leading to sustained inflammation and tissue damage. This study focuses on Peptoanaerobacter stomatis, a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that is highly …

Egf Enhances Re-Epithelization In Our Ex-Vivo Pig Eye Model, Andrew D. Le, Lisandra Plana-Ramos, Kate Tarvestad, Brian Ceresa

The Cardinal Edge

The cornea, the foremost anterior portion of the eye, plays a critical role in vision by refracting light and serving as a protective barrier. Its three distinct layers—the outermost epithelial layer, the thick stromal layer, and the innermost endothelial layer work together to maintain corneal transparency and function. The epithelial layer is particularly susceptible to damage, which can compromise the eye’s defense against foreign particles such as bacteria and viruses, potentially leading to infection and blindness. In this study, we established an ex vivo porcine corneal model to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate corneal re-epithelialization. Using adult pig eyes sourced from …

Hsp90 Inhibitor In Reducing Integrated Stress Response In An Experimental Mouse Model Of Spinal Cord Injury, Yousef Abozaid, Aditya Sarkar, Lukasz P. Slomnicki, Michal Hetman

The Cardinal Edge

Spinal cord injury (SCI) initiates a complex cascade of molecular events, including protein misfolding and neuroinflammation, contributing to neural damage and impaired functional recovery. Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), a critical molecular chaperone involved in cellular stress responses, emerges as a promising therapeutic target to mitigate secondary damage after SCI. This study was designed to validate the in-vivo effects of different doses of HSP90 inhibitor, HSP990-i, administered acutely after moderate T9 SCI mouse model. The level of HSP70 protein level is measured through western blot from the injury epicenter. Adult mice underwent experimental contusive SCI at the T9 level, followed …

Effects Of Phosphorus Addition On Fungal Colonization In Little Bluestem, Isabel M. Zanartu, Alexx Nicholas, Mckenzie Goodwyn, Connor Morozumi

The Cardinal Edge

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a North American perennial grass that is able to tolerate high heat and droughts. This is possible by its extensive underground root network that taps deep into the ground for resources. Within the same soil systems are fungal endophytes, which are symbionts that live within plant tissues including roots. Fungal endophytes can affect host growth and nutrient acquisition, but the functional role these endophytes play in plant health may be dependent on the abiotic conditions the plant is facing. In the modern era, one large driver of abiotic conditions is synthetic fertilizer use which alters …

Light As An Environmental Toxin: Impacts Of Temporal Circadian Misalignment On Physiology, Behavior, And Lifespan In Drosophila, Aubrey Reitzel, Krish Patel, Breanna Beard, Dae-Sung Hwangbo

The Cardinal Edge

In the modern world, we are exposed to irregular light patterns, which can disturb circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are patterns of behavior that operate on a 24-hour cycle and are regulated by the interactions between external signals and the internal circadian clock, which regulates sleep/wake patterns, feeding and sleep behavior, and resistance to starvation. Little is known about the impact of misalignment of these circadian rhythms as related to dietary composition on the lifespan, behaviors, and physiological changes of Drosophila. We hypothesized that circadian misalignment would significantly reduce lifespan and alter behaviors and physiologies. In this study, mated female …

Impact Of Legacy Amf Communities On Vegetative Growth & Yield Of Soybean, Dylan Habeeb, Connor Morozumi, Natalie Christian

The Cardinal Edge

Soil microbial communities are increasingly recognized as an important factor in sustainable agriculture. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), are key players in these communities, known to benefit their plant host in a number of ways, such as increased nutrient uptake. Plants can partner with multiple AMF species; however, little is known about how interactions between multispecies communities of AMF impact plant growth and yield. In an agricultural setting, the long-term development of these communities following practices such as rotational planting or cover cropping is also an important consideration, but there is little research on the long-term legacy of AMF communities or …

Effects Of Salinity On Interactions Between Epichloë Amarillans And Fusarium Spp. In American Beachgrass, Emma G. Mills, Dylan Habeeb, Natalie Christian, Connor Morozumi

The Cardinal Edge

Effects of Salinity on interactions between Epichloë amarillans and Fusarium spp. In American Beachgrass

Emma Mills, Dylan Habeeb, Natalie Christian, Connor Morozumi

Epichloë is a well-known genus of vertically transmitted fungal endophytes in many species of grasses. In Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass), Epichloë amarillans is a key endophyte species known to cause chemical and morphological changes to its host and provide protection from stressors. Additionally, Epichloë is thought to influence fungal endophyte community composition within its host. However, deepening research on the interaction of Epichloë with coexisting fungal endophytes may shed further light on its role in community composition. Additionally, …

Urban Areas Are Associated With Earlier Breeding Timing In American Robins, Lola Hackle, Jennifer Wickes, Elise Mittlestat, Ashley Stine, Keegan Abeson, Carolina Villalona, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Climate change and urban environment have been shown to affect bird reproductive timing. In particular, urban development can create the so-called “heat islands” – urban areas that are hotter than the surrounding environment. While the primary cue birds use to time their reproduction is daylength, birds also use temperature as a supplementary cue to fine-tune their reproductive timing. Change in the timing of breeding may impact the survivability of nestlings due to temperature fluctuations and food availability. The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a widespread songbird in North American cities and rural areas. We sought to see if urban heating …

The Effect Of Prenatal Cigarette Smoke Exposure And Adult High-Fat/High-Fructose Diet On Liver Triglyceride Levels, Toni A. Adedokun, Isaiah Burciaga, Megan Jacobs, Katelyn Chism, Anna-Lee Harris, Kristen Overton, Selma Podbicanin, Andrew Potts, Rachel Neal, Cynthia Corbitt

The Cardinal Edge

Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) is associated with chronic metabolic disease in adulthood, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. Maternal cigarette smoking reduces uterine and placental blood flow, limiting nutrients and oxygen supply to the fetus. According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis, these conditions may cause developmental adaptations that are maladaptive in calorie-rich environments. We hypothesized that gestational CSE would sensitize affected offspring to the effects of an adulthood high-fat (40 kcal%), high fructose (20 kcal%) diet. C57BL/6J mice were exposed either to filtered room air (sham) or the smoke generated …

Hallucinogens For Mood And Anxiety Disorders: A Critical Review Of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Georgia Chlebek

The Cardinal Edge

In quite a few people worldwide, there are several mental disorders that prevent the brain from operating in the “proper” way, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being among the most common. Luckily, there are several medications that are produced and used to treat these disorders, but some medications are hard to access, and others simply don’t help the patient. Firstly, these medications take time to study and prove safe for public use, though in some cases time is not readily available. In other cases, these medications are going through shortages and becoming increasingly difficult for patients to access …

Leaf Droppage Delayed In Sugar Maple Trees On An Urban To Rural Gradient, Isabella S. Bastien, Isabella Bastien

The Cardinal Edge

This study investigates the timing of leaf abscission in Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) trees along an urban-to-rural gradient in Louisville, Kentucky, to determine how proximity to urban environments influences leaf drop. We hypothesized that urban trees would retain their leaves longer than suburban or rural trees due to environmental stressors and tested this using weekly leaf collection and canopy cover measurements from three locations—urban, suburban, and rural. Results showed that urban trees exhibited delayed leaf drop and slower canopy opening compared to suburban and rural trees. These findings suggest that urban stressors significantly alter tree phenology, which may signal underlying …

Disrupted Nuclear Function And Nucleocytoplasmic Transport In Parkinson’S Disease, Ichiro M. Matoba

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Asimina Triloba (L.) Dunal: The Complete Story Of America’S Forgotten Fruit, Autumn M. Howard

The Cardinal Edge

Asimina triloba, commonly known as the pawpaw, is a unique and historically significant native fruit tree of the eastern United States. This research paper explores the taxonomy, botanical description, distribution, habitat requirements, ecological interactions, economic importance, and reproductive biology of A. triloba. The species is distinguished by its tropical-flavored fruits, adaptation to temperate climates, and reliance on clonal reproduction and specific insect pollinators. While offering promising opportunities for sustainable agriculture and riparian restoration, A. triloba faces challenges related to limited seed dispersal, susceptibility to certain pests and diseases, and the presence of neurotoxic compounds. Despite its historical importance …

Lamin A/C And Linc Complex Expression Affects Nuclei's Mechanical Properties And Functions In Osteosarcoma, Shridha Rajeswar

The Cardinal Edge

The nucleus has long been simplified in the field of biology, despite being an important organelle. Until recently, it has been commonly depicted as a simple sphere located at the center of a cell, responsible mainly for regulating protein synthesis. However, current research indicates that the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes, the pillars of nuclear architecture, play a critical role in maintaining nuclear integrity and function. These complexes interact with proteins, such as Lamins, that modulate responses to biomechanical stimuli through the regulation of gene expression. As such, when these structures are downregulated, they can contribute to …

Preliminary Proportion Limits And Ultimate Strengths Of Steel Box Girder Using Different Codes, Amira Akram Ahmed Tolba, Nabil Said Mahmoud, Saad Eldeen Mostafa Abdrabou

Mansoura Engineering Journal

— Steel Box Girder (SBG) bridges represent a widely used structural solution for both straight and curved bridges of moderate spans, owing to their high torsional rigidity, significant bending resistance, and rapid construction characteristics. This study provides a comprehensive theoretical comparison of the preliminary proportion limits, shear resistance design strength, and flexural resistance design strength in both positive (sagging) and negative (hogging) moment regions of SBG bridges. The comparison encompasses major bridge design specifications (BDS), including those of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Egyptian Code of Practice (ECP 207 – Part 6), and the …

Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae) And Sooty Mold (Capnodium Sp.) Decrease Bloom And Fruit Number In ‘Natchez’ Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Xfauriei ‘Natchez’), Derald A. Harp, Beatriz Ruiz, Kara Bailey, Pedro Castillo, Phoebe Alvarez

Faculty Publications

Crepe myrtle bark scale (CMBS) (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an important pest of crepe myrtle in Texas, and infestations are accompanied by excessive growth of sooty mold (SM) that will cover stems, and, in severe cases, leaves. These combine to create significant stress on the plant, and anecdotal evidence suggests a decrease in bloom number under heavy infestation. In an existing planting of 24 ‘Natchez’ crepe myrtle in four blocks, three trees were randomly chosen in each block and treated with either a dinotefuran (year 1) or imidicloprid (year 2) drench. The three remaining trees were untreated. In February of year …

Black Medic (Medicago Lupulina) Identification And Control In Residential Landscapes, Michael Caron, Taun Beddes, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Black medic (Medicago lupulina) is an herbaceous winter or summer annual broadleaf landscape weed. This fact sheet provides a weed description and describes suppression and control options.

Alternative Tree Species For Utah Syrup Production, Abigail Porter, Steven Price, Youping Sun, Darren Mcavoy

All Current Publications

When thinking about producing syrup from trees, most people's minds go straight to maple trees. However, a variety of other species in the Intermountain West can be tapped for sap, including other maple species, birch, sycamore, aspen, and walnut. This fact sheet reviews alternative tree species for syrup production in Utah.