Life Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of Pelvic Bone Of Ovariectomized Rats Using Infrared And Raman Spectroscopies, Nurwentari Dyah Fitriyawardhani, Ariadne Lakshmidevi Juwono, Neng Nenden Mulyaningsih

Makara Journal of Science

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that generally occurs in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis can be studied using an animal model such as rats because rat bone structure is similar to human bone structure. This research aimed to analyze pelvic bones of ovariectomized rats that showed osteoporosis signs for the first time. In this study, 20 Rattus norvegicus were given ovariectomy at 12 weeks of age and were used as an animal model for menopausal women. The rats were euthanized every 2 weeks from 13 to 21 weeks of age. In addition, the pelvic bones of ovariectomized rats will be analyzed using …

Evaluation Of Nitrite Concentration In Edible Bird’S Nest (White, Yellow, Orange, And Red Blood), Siti Gusti Ningrum, Bagus Uda Palgunad, Rochiman Sasmita

Makara Journal of Science

The color of edible bird’s nest is associated with its nitrite concentration, but this relationship remains inconclusive. This investigation aimed to evaluate the nitrite content in edible bird’s nest of four different colors: white, yellow, orange, and red blood. Fifty-eight edible bird’s nest samples were obtained from five swiftlet farmhouses in Borneo Island, Indonesia and analyzed for nitrite content using Genesys 30 visible spectrophotometer. Results showed that the dark-colored edible bird’s nests (yellow, orange, and red blood) had higher nitrite concentrations of 304, 317, and 309 ppm, respectively, compared with the white-colored one (15 ppm). Therefore, the color of edible …

Geotemporospatial And Causal Inferential Epidemiological Overview And Survey Of Usa Cannabis, Cannabidiol And Cannabinoid Genotoxicity Expressed In Cancer Incidence 2003–2017: Part 3 – Spatiotemporal, Multivariable And Causal Inferential Pathfinding And Exploratory Analyses Of Prostate And Ovarian Cancers, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The epidemiology of cannabinoid-related cancerogenesis has not been studied with cutting edge epidemiological techniques. Building on earlier bivariate papers in this series we aimed to conduct pathfinding studies to address this gap in two tumours of the reproductive tract, prostate and ovarian cancer. Methods: Age-standardized cancer incidence data for 28 tumour types (including “All (non-skin) Cancer”) was sourced from Centres for Disease Control and National Cancer Institute using SEER*Stat software across US states 2001–2017. Drug exposure was sourced from the nationally representative household survey National Survey of Drug Use and Health conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental …

Geotemporospatial And Causal Inferential Epidemiological Overview And Survey Of Usa Cannabis, Cannabidiol And Cannabinoid Genotoxicity Expressed In Cancer Incidence 2003–2017: Part 2 – Categorical Bivariate Analysis And Attributable Fractions, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: As the cannabis-cancer relationship remains an important open question epidemiological investigation is warranted to calculate key metrics including Rate Ratios (RR), Attributable Fractions in the Exposed (AFE) and Population Attributable Risks (PAR) to directly compare the implicated case burden between emerging cannabinoids and the established carcinogen tobacco. Methods: SEER*Stat software from Centres for Disease Control was used to access age-standardized state census incidence of 28 cancer types (including “All (non-skin) Cancer”) from National Cancer Institute in US states 2001–2017. Drug exposures taken from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health 2003–2017, response rate 74.1%. Federal seizure data provided …

Alzheimer's And Patient Caregiver Burnout: A Review Of The Literature, Madeline Hekeler

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The term “silent epidemic” is fitting for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as its negative impact is widely felt but rarely discussed. Burnout among AD caregivers has become an epidemic of its own as caregivers experience an increase in health risks, stress, and financial burden. This literature review focuses on caregiver burnout and how imperative it is that caregivers are better supported in their role. Researchers have developed instruments to assess and intervene in caregiver burnout that have shown effectiveness among caregivers and their families.Nevertheless, further longitudinal research is warranted regarding more effective interventions, including stress management and social support mechanisms.

Knowledge Regarding Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Survey Of Physical Therapists And Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer, Shana Harrington, Mary Insana Fisher, Jeannette Lee, Joy C. Cohn, Daniel Malone

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common side effect and remains under-diagnosed. Screening of CRF by physical therapists (PTs) and patient perspectives of their experiences has not been comprehensively examined.

Purpose: To survey PTs to understand the frequency of CRF screening, and to assess the knowledge and experiences of survivors as it relates to CRF.

Methods: Two separate electronic surveys developed by the authors were distributed. One targeted oncology PTs, the other for adult survivors of cancer.

Results: Of the 199 PT respondents, 36% reported screening for CRF at every encounter. Screening included interviews (46%) and/or standardized questionnaires (37%). The …

Agritourism As An Alternative On-Farm Enterprise For Small U.S. Farms: Examining Factors Influencing The Agritourism Decisions Of Small Farms, Reginald Holland, Aditya R. Khanal, Purushottam Dhungana

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

This study examines the adoption of agritourism by small farms in the U.S. Using primary survey data collected from small farms in Tennessee in 2020, we assessed adopter characteristics and investigated the factors influencing the farmers’ decision to adopt or add agritourism-related activities, including recreational, educational, and touristic attractions in the farm. We found that factors such as social media marketing, smartphone use in farm activities, and having farm insurance significantly increased the likelihood of agritourism adoption in addition to other demographic factors. Additionally, we found that a farmer’s perceived survival risk positively influences small farms to adopt agritourism. Small …

Management Strategies And Distribution Of Aphanomyces Root Rot Of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa), A Continuing Threat To Forage Production In The United States, Jennifer M. Giles, Conner L. Tordsen, Travis R. Rebstock, Bruna Bucciarelli, Deborah A. Samac, Andrew E. Sathoff

Research & Publications

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is one of several legumes that is affected by Aphanomyces root rot (ARR) caused by Aphanomyces euteiches. Symptoms of ARR on alfalfa seedlings include a yellow-grey discolouration of roots, rotting and loss of lateral roots, stunted growth, chlorotic foliage and reduction of nitrogen-producing nodules on roots. Infection can also occur on adult plants leading to loss of lateral roots and nodules. At the seedling stage, ARR decreases alfalfa stand establishment, and field longevity is reduced when adult plants are infected. A. euteiches is an oomycete pathogen that has motile zoospores and thick-walled oospores that …

The Relationship Between Attitudes Towards Exercise And Endorphin Release On Cognitive Performance Following Treadmill Running, Chance Swanson, Alex Ficarro, Timothy Schoenfeld Phd

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Exercise is cost-effective and reliably suggested to rescue cognitive decline in aging populations (Gomez-Pinilla & Hillman, 2013; Karssemeijer et al., 2017). In addition, exercise enhances cognitive functioning across the lifespan (Ellemberg & St. Louis-Deschenes, 2010; Jentsch & Wolf, 2020; Roig et al., 2013), however the specific mechanisms of exercise that enhance cognition are still unclear. Because exercise is linked with the brain’s opioid system (Farrell et al., 1982), the purpose of this project is to determine how the opioid system is activated by exercise to affect cognitive functioning. Additionally, we know that acute exercise enhances cognitive function and releases beta-endorphins, …

Aging-Associated Changes In Motor Function Are Ovarian Somatic Tissue-Dependent, But Berm Cell And Estradiol Independent In Post-Reproductive Female Mice Exposed To Young Ovarian Tissue, Tracy L. Habermehl, Kaden B. Underwood, Kevin D. Welch, Steven P. Gawrys, Kate C. Parkinson, Augusto Schneider, Michal M. Masternak, Jeffrey Mason

Center for Integrated Biosystems Publications

A critical mediator of evolution is natural selection, which operates by the divergent reproductive success of individuals and results in conformity of an organism with its environment. Reproductive function has evolved to support germline transmission. In mammalian ovaries, this requires healthy, active gonad function, and follicle development. However, healthy follicles do not contribute to germline transmission in a dead animal. Therefore, support of the health and survival of the organism, in addition to fertility, must be considered as an integral part of reproductive function. Reproductive and chronological aging both impose a burden on health and increase disease rates. Tremors are …

Amphiphilic Cell-Penetrating Peptides Containing Natural And Unnatural Amino Acids As Drug Delivery Agents, David Salehi, Saghar Mozaffari, Khalid Zoghebi, Sandeep Lohan, Dindyal Mandal, Rakesh Tiwari, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A series of cyclic peptides, [(DipR)(WR)₄], [(DipR)₂(WR)₃], [(DipR)₃(WR)₂], [(DipR)₄(WR)], and [DipR]₅, and their linear counterparts containing arginine (R) as positively charged residues and tryptophan (W) or diphenylalanine (Dip) as hydrophobic residues, were synthesized and evaluated for their molecular transporter efficiency. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized peptides was determined in human epithelial ovary adenocarcinoma cells (SK-OV-3), human lymphoblast peripheral blood cells (CCRF-CEM), human embryonic epithelial kidney healthy cells (HEK-293), human epithelial mammary gland adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-468), pig epithelial kidney normal cells (LLC-PK1), and human epithelial …

Development Of Enhanced Algae Strains And Sustainable Cultivation Processes For Production Of Algal Lipids For Biofuels And Bioproducts, Enlin Lo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The establishment of an algae industry is crucial for addressing global biofuel and bioproduct demand that meets the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) worldwide. Photosynthetic microalgae are excellent sources for food, fiber, fuel, feed, and fertilizer, which are the 5Fs of the SDG. However, at present, algae-based materials are not cost-competitive or sufficiently sustainable. Improved productivity, lower cultivation cost, and reduced use of resources are required to transition from lab to industry, necessitating the development of superior strains that have high productivity and can tolerate environmental stress, such as temperature and salinity, so they can be cultivated at large scale outdoors …

Defining The Role Of Oxidized Mitochondrial Dna In Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Grace Anne Ward

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous bone marrow (BM) failure malignancies characterized by constitutive innate immune activation, NLRP3 inflammasome (IFM) driven pyroptotic cell death, and the induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISG). MDS often diagnostically resembles other hematologic disorders, as such, additional tools are needed for the discrimination from overlapping disorders. We observed that oxidized mitochondrial DNA (ox-mtDNA) is released upon cytolysis. We hypothesize that levels of ox-mtDNA are high in MDS, allowing us to use it as a diagnostic biomarker; and that cell free ox-mtDNA is contributing to feedforward BM failure.

ROC/AUC analysis demonstrated that ox-mtDNA is a sensitive and specific …

The Use Of Nucleotide Salvage Pathway Enzymes As Suitable Tumor Targets For Antibody-Based And Adoptive Cell Therapies, Edwin J. Velazquez

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the progress made in cancer research, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although the development of new cancer treatments has improved cancer patients' survival rate, a significant number of patients experience refractory and recurrence events with serious side effects. It is known that the immune system actively participates in eliminating cancer. However, cancer cells can develop mechanisms to evade the immune system resulting in immunotolerance. Immunotherapy aids the patient's immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. During the last three decades, immunotherapy has gradually emerged as an effective and more specific approach to …

The Inhibition Of Valproic Acid-Induced Negative Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Through Nrf2-Mediated Redox Regulation, Ted Brenton Piorczynski

Theses and Dissertations

Valproic acid (VPA) is a commonly prescribed antiepileptic drug that causes negative neurodevelopmental outcomes, including neural tube defects (NTDs) and neurodevelopmental disorders, in fetuses exposed to it. While the exact mechanism by which VPA causes defects is unknown, research has shown that VPA increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to redox dysregulation. We hypothesize that VPA causes negative neurodevelopmental outcomes through the disruption of redox-sensitive signaling pathways that are critical for proper embryonic development, and that protection from the VPA-induced redox disruption may decrease the prevalence of the observed defects. Time-bred mice were treated with 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione …

Visuomotor Rotation Adaptation And Workspace Manipulation: A Behavioral And Cognitive Emphasis, Reuben N. Addison

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This is a three-study dissertation in which we aimed to broaden our knowledge of the mechanisms contributing to a 45° clockwise visuomotor adaptation by including variations in workspace. We provide behavioral and in one study physiological outcomes as evidence to support our conclusions. In the first experiment, we observed the adaptation of movement parameters such as pathlength, movement time, resultant velocity, and normalized jerk across groups trained with rotated visual feedback with both the left and right hands. Workspace location and hand differentially affected movement trajectory length. The group that practiced the task with their nondominant, left hand showed larger …

Prmt7 Ablation Stimulates Anti-Tumor Immunity And Sensitizes Melanoma To Immune Checkpoint Blockade, Nivine Srour, Oscar D Villarreal, Swanand Hardikar, Zhenbao Yu, Samuel Preston, Wilson H Miller, Magdelena M Szewczyk, Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy, Han Xu, Taiping Chen, Sonia V Del Rincón, Stéphane Richard

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the success of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for cancer, resistance and relapse are frequent. Combination therapies are expected to enhance response rates and overcome this resistance. Herein, we report that combining PRMT7 inhibition with ICI therapy induces a strong anti-tumor T cell immunity and restrains tumor growth in vivo by increasing immune cell infiltration. PRMT7-deficient B16.F10 melanoma exhibits increased expression of genes in the interferon pathway, antigen presentation, and chemokine signaling. PRMT7 deficiency or inhibition with SGC3027 in B16.F10 melanoma results in reduced DNMT expression, loss of DNA methylation in the regulatory regions of endogenous retroviral elements (ERVs) …

Ohio Anuran Gut Microbiomes, Serena Hoffman

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Recent studies focusing on the skin and gut microbiome of vertebrates have found how important microbiomes are to maintaining host health. Understanding the role the gut microbiome plays to host health is of great importance for conservation. Less is known about the gut microbiome than the skin microbiome for amphibians. Literature is especially lacking for local Ohio anuran species. The purpose of this study was to establish the baseline composition of the gut microbiome for local Ohio anurans and to determine whether host species or habitat is the best predictor of gut microbiome composition. Tadpoles were collected from seven different …

Diel Activity Patterns Of Two Distinct Populations Of Aedes Aegypti In Miami, Fl And Brownsville, Tx, John-Paul Mutebi, André Barretto Bruno Wilke, Erik Ostrum, Chalmers Vasquez, Gabriel Cardenas, Augusto Carvajal, Maday Moreno, William D. Petrie, Arturo Rodriguez, Henry Presas, Jesus Rodriguez, Fred Barnes, Christopher Vitek, Xochitl Estrada, Thalia Rios, Jeremy Marshall

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The diel biting activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti, and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks. However, few contemporary studies are available regarding the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti. To assess the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti in southern Florida and Texas, we conducted 96-h uninterrupted mosquito collections once each month from May through November 2019 in Miami, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, using …

Extreme Development Of Dragon Fruit Agriculture With Nighttime Lighting In Southern Vietnam, Shenyue Jia, Son V. Nghiem, Seung-Hee Kim, Laura Krauser, Andrea E. Gaughan, Forest R. Stevens, Menas Kafatos, Khanh D. Ngo

Institute for ECHO Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Dragon fruit is widely grown in Southeast Asia and other tropical or subtropical regions. As a high-value cash crop ideal for exportation, dragon fruit cultivation has boomed during the past decade in southern Vietnam. Light supplementing during the winter months using artificial lighting sources is a widely adopted cultivation technique to boost productivity in the major dragon fruit planting regions of Vietnam. The application of electric lighting at night leads to a significant increase of nighttime light (NTL) observable by satellite sensors. The strong seasonality signal of NTL in dragon fruit cultivation enables identifying dragon fruit plantations using NTL images. …

Whole-Body Vibration Alleviates Symptoms Of Morphine Withdrawal, Gavin C. Jones, Dallin Z. Otteson, Christina A. Small, Taylor Purcell, Nathaniel Hill, Tyler Alger, Arren Hill, David W. Sant, Scott C. Steffensen, Kyle B. Bills

Annual Research Symposium

Whole-body vibration at 80 Hz has previously been shown to blunt neuropathological markers and behavioral symptoms of alcohol dependence. Here, we evaluate its ability to ameliorate symptoms of morphine use and withdrawal. Behavioral and neurophysiological symptoms of withdrawal were reduced significantly by whole-body vibration treatment.

Rna Sequencing Reveals That Cyp3a5 Sirna Treatment Induces Cell Cycle Blockade And Senescence In Mdapca2b Human Prostate Cancer Cells, Jeetesh Sharma

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Efforts To Increase The Ketamine-Like Activity Of The Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Ro-25-6981 (Mi-4) By Increasing Ampa Potentiation, Nathan Heger

Annual Research Symposium

The small molecule ketamine has generated much interest due to its rapid antidepressant effects. Despite having a rapid onset, ketamine has poor bioavailability, short duration of action, toxicities with long-term use, and a high potential for abuse. The molecule MI-4 (RO 25-6981) has also been shown to have both a rapid and sustained antidepressant effect. Most of the research into the mechanism of the rapid onset of MI-4 and ketamine has focused on their interaction with the NMDA receptor in addition to some monoamine transporters. Some recent publications have shown a significant role of AMPA receptors in the ketamine antidepressant …

Meta-Analysis Of Two Rnaseq Datasets To Determine Diagnostic Biomarkers And Drug Target Candidates For Periodontitis, Carlos Moreno

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Rna Broccoli Aptamer To Track Transcription Rates In Vitro, Sarah Hodson

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Cd5 In The Periodontal Disease: Insights Into Chronic Inflammation, Ellie Bybee

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Various Essential Oils Against The Sars Cov-2 Virus, Elizabeth Wagstaff, Chandrelyn Kraczek, Jack Brandon Lopez

Annual Research Symposium

A poster presentation and abstract for the Roseman Symposium. The project focuses on testing 3 essential oil blends and two disinfectants containing an essential oil blend against SARS CoV-2 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project procedure involves plaque assays, disinfection, and neutralization techniques.

Effects Of Alcohol On The Inflammatory Response During Toxoplasma Gondii Infection: Literature Review, Amani Sastry

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Meta-Analysis Of Transcriptomic Datasets For The Investigation Of Differential Expression In Hantavirus-Infected Human Tissue, John Krapohl

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Trkb Activity Alters Voluntary Alcohol Consumption In Nondependent Mice, Alfred Amendolara

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.