Life Sciences Commons^™

Absolute Quantification And Identification Of Rna From Rna-Lipid Nanoparticles Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Jason C. Funderburk

Theses and Dissertations

RNA therapeutics are a rising drug category with potential use for a range of conditions encompassing infectious diseases to therapies for cancer, diseases, and genetic disorders. RNA-lipid nanoparticles (RNA-LNPs) are the prominent delivery method for these therapeutics approved products include mRNA vaccines and polyneuropathy treatments. The emergency use authorizations and orphan drug status of current RNA-LNP drugs has allowed approval without finalization of the regulatory analytical procedures for quality monitoring. The objective of the study was to develop an LC-MS assay to simultaneously measure identity and concentration of two therapeutically relevant intact RNA constructs extracted from RNA-LNPs to enhance quality …

Characterization Of Microrna Expression In Neuron-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles During Early Life, Allison Molen

Theses and Dissertations

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound sacs released by cells that carry molecular cargo reflective of their cell of origin. EVs enriched using L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) as a marker of putative neuronal origin can cross the blood–brain barrier and provide a minimally invasive window into brain-related processes. Exosomal microRNA (miRNA) regulate gene expression and have been implicated in psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD). However, measuring and analyzing miRNA from L1CAM-positive EVs presents substantial analytical challenges due to low abundance and sparse detection across samples.

Plasma samples from participants recruited through the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry (MATR) were used …

A Mathematical Frameworks For Singular, Nonlinear Phenomena: Applications To Nematocyst Firing And Inhomogeneous Nls With Coulomb Potential, Abdulrahman Alharbi

Theses and Dissertations

Nematocysts are specialized cellular organelles found in all cnidarians, including corals and jellyfish, as well as in some single-celled protists such as dinoflagellates. These organelles display remarkable diversity in morphology and function, playing roles in prey capture and defense. The firing of a nematocyst is one of the fastest accelerations in nature, yet the underlying physical mechanisms remain not fully understood. In this work, we address key questions: how sufficient force is generated to overcome the fluid boundary layer, whether fluid–structure interaction models can reproduce observed dynamics, and what mechanisms trigger discharge.

Our research investigates models based on osmotic pressure …

Chromnet: A Multi-Task Learning Framework For Cross-Cell Type Prediction Of 3d Chromatin Interactions Using Epigenetic Signals, Bin Wang, Shaokai Wang, Liqing Ding, Hongdong Li, Yaohang Li, Jianxin Wang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The 3D organization of chromatin plays a fundamental role in gene regulation, cellular function, and disease mechanisms. However, current experimental techniques, such as Hi-C, remain costly and labor-intensive, limiting their application in large-scale and disease-related studies. To address this challenge, ChromNet is presented, a multi-task learning framework that integrates epigenetic signals across diverse cell types to enable high-precision prediction of chromatin architecture. By incorporating noise perturbation and auxiliary classification tasks, ChromNet improves the identification of topologically associating domains (TADs) and cell-type-specific chromatin structures, demonstrating superior generalization performance. Notably, ChromNet accurately predicts chromatin interactions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples by …

Reduced Threat-Related Neural Efficiency: A Possible Biomarker For Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Julia O. Linke, Reut Naim, Simona P. Haller, Parmis Khosravi, Beck Scheinberg, Meghan E. Byrne, Anita Harrewijn, Ellen Leibenluft, Melissa A. Brotman, Anderson M. Winkler, Daniel Samuel Pine

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: Pediatric anxiety disorders are common and predict adult psychopathology, yet current treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), produce lasting remission in less than 50% of affected youths. To support the search for improved, mechanistically grounded interventions, this study evaluated neural efficiency, defined as similarity in functional connectivity between a threat task and rest, as a potential biomarker. The study evaluated neural efficiency in relation to anxiety diagnosis and treatment response.

Methods: The authors compared 103 youths with an anxiety disorder diagnosis (mean age, 12.5 years [SD=2.91], 62% female) to 103 youths with no psychiatric diagnosis (mean age, 13.4 years …

Accuracy Of Voluntary Force Modulation During The Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull, S. Alexander Long, Olivia Vadas, Stephanie Balint, Michael H. Stone, Christopher Taber

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate voluntary force modulation accuracy during the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and to investigate biological sex and relative strength as factors relating to error. Strength-trained males (n = 18) and females (n = 18) completed ascending (ASC) (25%, 50%, 75%) or descending (DESC) (75%, 50%, 25%) submaximal testing followed by maximal testing. Subjects rested before completing the opposite submaximal testing sequence. External feedback was not provided during testing. Measured and intended (INT) forces were analyzed with two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs with within- (ASC, DESC, and INT) and between-subject factors (male or female). Independent-samples t-tests …

Neuromuscular Adaptations Following Eight Weeks Of French Contrast Training In Elite Youth Football Players: Implications For Athletic Performance, Okan Demir, Tolga Altug, Christopher B. Taber, Mehmet Bayansalduz

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Neuromuscular training is increasingly recognised for enhancing football performance and athletes’ capacity to tolerate the repetitive high-intensity demands of match play. The French Contrast Method (FCM) combines heavy resistance, plyometric, and ballistic exercises within a post-activation performance enhancement framework, yet evidence in elite youth players during the competitive season remains limited. This study examined the effects of an eight-week in-season FCM program on reactive strength, neuromuscular performance, maximal strength, anaerobic performance, and short-distance sprint ability. Twenty-eight elite male youth football players were randomly assigned to an experimental group (FCM plus regular football training; n = 14) or a control group …

Dgamlss: An Exact, Distributed Algorithm To Fit Generalized Additive Models For Location, Scale, And Shape For Privacy-Preserving Population Reference Charts, Fengling Hu, Jiayi Tong, Margaret Gardner, Chris Adamson, Sophie Adler, Aaron F. Alexander-Bloch, Evdokia Anagnostou, Kevin M. Anderson, Ariosky Areces-Gonzalez, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Motivation There is growing interest in estimating population reference ranges across age and sex to better identify atypical clinically-relevant measurements throughout the lifespan. For this task, the World Health Organization recommends using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS), which can model non-linear growth trajectories under complex distributions that address the heterogeneity in human populations. Fitting GAMLSS models requires large, generalizable sample sizes, especially for accurate estimation of extreme quantiles, but obtaining such multi-site data can be challenging due to privacy concerns and practical considerations. In settings where patient data cannot be shared, privacy-preserving distributed algorithms for federated …

Forcing A Molecule To Switch: Quantifying Mechanical Control At The Atomic Scale, A. M. Shashika D. Wijerathna, Markus Zirnheld, Michael L. Hildebrand, Myles Perry, Marjorie Cenese, Yuan Zhang

Physics Faculty Publications

Mechanically induced conformational switching at the single-molecule level represents a fundamental mechanism for molecular functionality, yet quantitative characterization of the underlying force and energy landscape remains limited. Here, we study individual TBrPP-Co(II) molecules on Au(111) using qPlus atomic force microscopy. By reconstructing interaction potentials from 3D Δf(x,y,z) data, we determine a threshold force of ∼96 ± 8 pN and a tip-induced switching interaction energy of ∼38 ± 4 meV associate with the conformational transition. The isolated tip-molecule force follows a power law (exponent ∼6), indicating dominance of long-range van der Waals interactions. …

A Hybrid Response Surface Methodology And Machine Learning Framework For Quantifying Effects Of Physicochemical Parameters On Pfas Distribution, Harsh V. Patel, Jazmin Green, Hyoshin Park, Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Renzun Zhao

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Predicting PFAS adsorption across diverse adsorbents and environmental matrices remains challenging because adsorbent physicochemical properties, PFAS molecular descriptors, and operational conditions simultaneously influence adsorption. This study develops and evaluates a unified hybrid modeling framework that integrates Response Surface Model (RSM) with machine-learning algorithms to quantify how six key variables, surface area, Log K_ow, pH_pzc, pK_a, log dose, and log-initial concentration, affect PFAS distribution coefficients (Log K_d). A data set of more than 1000 adsorption observations spanning 15 PFAS compounds, multiple adsorbent types, and a broad operational range was compiled and preprocessed using …

Physical Activity And Health Outcomes In Children With Dyslexia During Summer Versus School Months, Tina J. Glatz

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Children in the United States continue to experience rising rates of overweight and obesity. Children with learning disabilities are twice as likely to have obesity than typically developing peers, partly due to difficulties with motor skills and behavior regulation. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare differences in health outcomes and physical activity (PA) during summer versus school months in children with dyslexia, using a within- subject study design.

At three timepoints (May, August, December 2025), children’s height, weight, and fitness were measured via a portable stadiometer, dual-frequency foot-to-foot bioelectric impedance device, and Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance …

Ecological And Evolutionary Divergence Of A Shared Sympatric Color Polymorphism In Paracirrhites Hawkfish, Samuel Greaves

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Color polymorphism provides a tractable window into how selection, gene flow, and ecology interact to maintain phenotypic diversity and initiate divergence. I investigate the ecological and genomic basis of sympatric light and melanistic morphs in two reef hawkfishes, Paracirrhites arcatus and P. hemistictus, across Guam and Hawai‘i. This study aims to determine whether the color morphs of these hawkfishes are a stable polymorphism or have begun the process of ecological speciation. For P. arcatus revealed substantially lower density on Guam (0.086 ind/m²) than reported for Hawai‘i (0.292 ind/m²) and a strong skew away from the melanistic morph on Guam …

Computational Methods For Rna 3d Structure Classification And Structural Motif Discovery, Nabila Shahnaz Khan

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Non-coding RNAs perform diverse and essential cellular functions, and the study of RNA structures is expanding rapidly. The growing volume of RNA 3D structures highlights the need for efficient computational methods to identify recurring structural motifs, which are often conserved and critical to RNA function. However, the complexity and redundancy of RNA structures in existing databases pose significant challenges for motif discovery and structural analysis. To address these challenges, this dissertation presents three complementary computational approaches. First, a non-redundant RNA structural dataset, RNA-NRD, was developed to systematically reduce redundancy in RNA structural data and provide a reliable foundation for downstream …

A Sensory Ecology Of Fear: Moonlight-Mediated Predation Risk And Foraging Behavior In Neotropical Electric Fish, Chiu Lok Poon

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Animals must forage to acquire energy for survival and reproduction, yet foraging exposes them to predators. This creates a trade-off between energy intake and safety, wherein the perception of predation risk alone can alter activity patterns. Within this trade-off, risk, energetic needs, and sensory adaptations vary, shifting the balance and favoring different foraging strategies. Using Neotropical electric fish as a study system, I investigated how foraging under predation risk is shaped across biological scales, including environmental dynamics, interspecific sensory differences, activity-timing mechanisms, and intraspecific variations. These nocturnal fish emit continuous electric signals to sense their environment, allowing non-invasive monitoring of …

Exercise-Induced Muscle Swelling And Impedance Changes Of The Elbow Flexor, Sofea Smith

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a non-invasive method that assesses body fluid distribution using impedance (Z), resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (PhA). These values have previously been used to interpret cellular health and fluid shifts. Acute muscle edema known as a “pump,” has been reported during and after resistance training exercise and the extent to which bioelectrical properties of the muscle tissue are affected during this process remains relatively unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess changes in EIM during exercise-induced muscle swelling via resistance training. Thirty-one resistance-trained adults (male=21, female=10; age=23.4±6.5 years, BMI=26.17±3.04 kg/m2) …

Site Use And Demographic Changes In A Northwest Atlantic Sea Turtle Foraging Ground, Ryan C. Welsh

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

and site fidelity, making mortality difficult to distinguish from redistribution. We developed a behaviorally explicit framework to separate true mortality from changes in availability caused by movement and redistribution. We evaluated this problem for juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) captured at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant intake canal on Florida’s Atlantic coast using a multi-decade capture–mark–recapture record spanning 1977 - 2023. Hidden Markov Models classified individuals into latent habitat-use strategies (Nomadic, Resident, and Transient) based on capture timing and body size. Across both species, these strategies captured consistent differences in site fidelity and recapture …

Understanding The Potential Biogeochemical Effects Of Alternative Restoration Materials: A Study Of Basalt And Other Materials, Cadie L. Barnes

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Concern over the effects of microplastics on estuarine ecosystems and public health has prompted many restoration practitioners to switch from plastic materials to more “natural” substrates. These natural (BESE-biopolymer, cement-jute structures) and non-plastic (basalt fiber) materials should not contain harmful substances; however, their chemical composition is unknown. Natural materials may degrade faster in subtropical environments and release nutrients into surrounding waters, which is concerning for eutrophic restoration areas. Basalt fiber bags, made from melted basalt rock spun into fibers, have not been evaluated for biogeochemical impacts within estuaries. To address this knowledge gap, two field experiments and two laboratory experiments …

Club Sport Injury Rates, Injury Characteristics, Functional Movement Screen Relationships, And Impact Of Core Training, Rebecca Carson

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

It is estimated that over 10% of college students take part in club sports at their college or university, yet sport-related injuries are a common consequence of participation. The Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) is a movement analysis tool that identifies functional deficits and asymmetries and is widely applied in athletic settings to assess injury risk and inform rehabilitation and injury prevention programs. Core strength and stability play a crucial role in functional movement quality and may even reduce risk of injury and improve sport performance. This dissertation aimed to establish club sport injury rates and characteristics for club men’s ice …

Reliability Of Staged Maximal Aerobic Capacity Protocol Using A Combined Upper- And Lower-Body Air-Braked Ergometer, Jack J. Livingston

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) is widely recognized as the preeminent measure of aerobic capacity and is typically assessed using graded exercise testing (GXT). This study examined the test–retest reliability of VO₂peak and associated physiological responses during a staged GXT performed on a combined upper- and lower-body air-braked ergometer. Fifteen recreationally active adults (9 males, 6 females; age: 26.9 ± 7.2 years; body mass: 75.1 ± 11.0 kg) completed one familiarization session and two trials separated by ≥72 hours. Participants performed a staged GXT (40 RPM start, +3 RPM every 3 min to exhaustion) on a combined upper- and lower-body air-braked …

Viral Dynamics Across Managed And Wild Pollinators: Integrating Immunity, Ecology, And Community Structure, Allison Malay

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) are critical agricultural pollinators, yet colonies continue to experience persistently high losses across North America and Europe. These declines are driven by interacting stressors, including parasites, pathogens, nutrition, and landscape context. Viral pathogens are key contributors to colony morbidity and mortality, but the processes governing variation in viral prevalence, load, and host response remain incompletely understood. This dissertation investigates how viral dynamics in honey bees emerge from interactions among host immunity, colony condition, environmental context, and pollinator community structure. By integrating measures of viral prevalence, viral load, and immune gene expression across multiple …

Advances In Active And Passive Integrated Photonic Devices On Thin-Film Lithium Niobate, Pooja S. Kulkarni

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) has emerged as a powerful platform for integrated photonics, combining the exceptional electro-optic, nonlinear, and optical properties of bulk lithium niobate with the scalability and compactness of planar nanophotonic technologies. Building on these principles, advanced device architectures such as adiabatic dichroic filters have demonstrated exceptional spectral performance spanning over two octaves of bandwidth on the TFLN platform. Beyond reciprocal devices, it also offers promising pathways toward integrated nonreciprocal components. By leveraging broadband filtering structures and advanced nonlinear photonic design strategies, compact and monolithic optical isolators can be envisioned without relying on traditional magneto-optic materials. In the …

Γ-Aminobutyric Acid Improves Gut-Brain Axis Function And Behavioral Adaptation In Broilers Under Low-Protein Diet, Randi Randi, Anisa Aulia, Muhtadin Muhtadin, Chusnul Hanim, Michael Kidd, Al Anas Muhsin

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Low crude protein (CP) diets can improve feed efficiency and reduce ammonia emissions, but negative impacts on broiler productivity can occur. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation in low CP diets on productivity, enzyme activity, neuropeptidergic gene expression, and behavior of broilers. A total of 360 male Ross 308 broilers were used in a factorial design experiment with two CP levels (19.5 and 18.0%) and three GABA levels (0, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Dietary CP and GABA levels did not significantly affect broiler productivity (P>0.05). Reducing CP in the diet increased amylase and …

Markov Chain Wave Generative Adversarial Network For Bee Bioacoustic Signal Synthesis, Kumudu Samarappuli, Iman Ardekani, Mahsa Mohaghegh, Abdolhossein Sarrafzadeh

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents a framework for synthesizing bee bioacoustic signals associated with hive events. While existing approaches like WaveGAN have shown promise in audio generation, they often fail to preserve the subtle temporal and spectral features of bioacoustic signals critical for event-specific classification. The proposed method, MCWaveGAN, extends WaveGAN with a Markov Chain refinement stage, producing synthetic signals that more closely match the distribution of real bioacoustic data. Experimental results show that this method captures signal characteristics more effectively than WaveGAN alone. Furthermore, when integrated into a classifier, synthesized signals improved hive status prediction accuracy. These results highlight the potential …

Recent Insight And Perspective Of Marine-Inspired Biopolymers For Wound Healing Applications - A Review, Muhammad Umar Aslam Khan, Saiqa Yousaf, Abdalla Abdal-Hay, Mohd Faizal Bin Abdullah, Sahar Madani, Muhammad Shahzad Zafar, Goran M. Stojanović, Lobat Tayebi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

There is an increasing necessity for advanced, sustainable, and biocompatible materials for wound healing as therapeutic and diagnostic products. Marine environments, characterized by high biodiversity, offer an underutilized source of natural resources with enormous potential for creating novel materials for dressings. This review highlights the revolutionary nature of polymeric biomaterials of marine origin, with a focus on polysaccharides, like alginate, chitosan, and carrageenan; proteins, such as collagen and gelatin. These biopolymers are outstanding in their physicochemical properties, such as biodegradability, bioactivity, and modifiable mechanical strength, which enable their use in wound-healing systems. Besides, these biomaterials may be easily chemically and …

Brief Pulses Of High-Level Fluid Shear Stress Enhance Metastatic Potential And Rapidly Alter The Metabolism Of Cancer Cells, Amanda N. Pope, Devon L. Moose, Guy O. Hudson, Hank R. Weresh, Marion R. Dykstra, Aabha Y. Joshi, Patrick Breheny, Eric B. Taylor, Michael D. Henry

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) face challenges to their survival, including mechanical and oxidative stresses that are different from cancer cells in solid primary and metastatic tumors. The impact of adaptations to the fluid microenvironment of the circulation on the outcome of the metastatic cascade is not well understood. Here, we find that cancer cells exposed to brief pulses of high-level fluid shear stress (FSS) exhibit enhanced invasiveness and anchorage-independent proliferation in vitro and enhanced metastatic colonization/tumor formation in vivo. Cancer cells exposed to FSS rapidly alter their metabolism in a manner that promotes survival by providing energy for cytoskeletal remodeling …

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation And Physical Activity Associate With Extracellular Vesicle Size And Cargo In A Community-Based Cohort Of Women, Yvonne Baumer, Elizabeth M. Aquino Peterson, Matthew R. Bavuso, Noel Miller, Cristhian A. Gutierrez-Huerta, Nithya P. Vijayakumar, Sam J. Neally, Kaveri Curlin, Valerie M. Mitchell, Billy S. Collins, Neelam R. Redekar, Subrata Paul, Anca D. Dobrian, Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

African American (AA) women face disproportionate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk due to adverse social determinants of health (SDoH), including lower socioeconomic status (SES). Physical activity (PA) and plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) modulate CVD risk, but their relationships with SDoH remain unclear. This study examines associations between SDoH, PA, and plasma EVs in a Washington, DC-based cohort of at-risk AA women. Participants (N = 24, Age: 57 ± 12, BMI: 35 ± 6, ASCVD: 9 ± 5) joined the Step It Up Community-Engaged, Digital Health Physical Activity Intervention pilot study. EVs were isolated from fasting plasma samples. Multivariable regression, adjusted for …

Comparative Mass Spectrometry Analysis Of High And Low Centrifugation Extracellular Vesicle (Ev) Pellets From Healthy Urine Following Tamm-Horsfall Protein Removal, Dana Bielopolski, Luca Musante, Henrik Molina, Douglas Barrows, Samantha Upson, Lifang Yang, Thomas Carrol, Jonathan N. Tobin, Rhonda G. Kost, U. Erdbrügger

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Objectives

Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) are potential biomarkers for renal physiology and disease. Their isolation is challenged by Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) contamination, particularly in high-speed ultracentrifugation (P100) fractions. Low-speed (P20) fractions contain biologically relevant uEVs, yet their proteomic composition is underexplored. This study evaluates strategies for THP removal to optimize mass spectrometry analysis and characterizes P20 and P100 uEV proteomes and its combination in healthy urine.

Methods

Urine from a healthy volunteer was processed via sequential centrifugation at 21,200 g (P20) and 164,244 g (P100). THP removal was performed using low ionic strength buffer (P20) and size-exclusion chromatography (P100). Western …

Biomechanical Integrity Of The Female Pelvic Floor: A Comparison Of Military And Civilian Women, Vladimir Egorov, Peter Takacs, Vincent Lucente, Heather Van Raalte, Joy A. Greer, Noune Sarvazyan

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction

The health of the pelvic floor depends on the integrity of its muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, and their innervation. The female pelvic floor may be more vulnerable to repetitive heavy loads in a military environment than the male pelvic floor because of anatomical and physiological differences. The study aim was to identify and explore possible differences in the female pelvic floor conditions between active military and civilian women with similar demographics.To identify and explore possible differences in the conditions of the female pelvic floor between active military women and civilian women with similar demographics.

Materials and Methods

Military active …

Risk Of Gestational Diabetes By Aerobic And Resistance Exercise During The First And Second Trimesters, Takaki Tanamoto, George Saade, Leryn J. Reynolds, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Objective

While some studies have shown that exercise reduces the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), there is limited evidence on whether aerobic or resistance exercise is more beneficial. This study aimed to examine the rate of GDM according to the type of exercise during early pregnancy.

Study design

We analyzed data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b), a prospective cohort of individuals enrolled during the first and second trimesters. We excluded participants with pregestational diabetes or delivery < 20 weeks. The primary exposure was either aerobic or resistance exercises in the first or second trimester. For each trimester, the metabolic equivalent of task hours per week (MET-h/week) was calculated for each exercise. Participants were grouped as follows: "Aerobic exercise" (≥7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercises), "Resistance exercise" (≥2 times/week from resistance exercises), "Both types of exercise" (≥7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercise and ≥2 times/week from resistance exercises), and "Insufficient exercise" (≤7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercise and ≤2 times/week from resistance exercises). Our primary outcome was GDM. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

In both the first and second trimesters, analyses included 9049 individuals. In the first trimester, individuals who performed …

Evaluating The Mediating Role Of Gestational Phthalate And Replacement Biomarkers In The Associations Between Race/Ethnicity And Birthweight, Amir J. Lueth, Danielle R. Stevens, Sarahna A. Moyd, Elena Sinkovskaya, Ann Przybylska, Antonia M. Calafat, Julianne C. Botelho, George Saade, Alfred Abuhamad, Kelly K. Ferguson

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Gestational exposure to phthalates is higher among non-Hispanic black (NHB) women than non-Hispanic white (NHW) women and may contribute to racial/ethnic differences in birthweight z-scores.

Objective

We aimed to investigate whether gestational phthalate and replacement biomarkers mediate the association between race/ethnicity and birthweight z-scores.

Methods

We analyzed data from 271 pregnancies in the Human Placenta and Phthalates study, a prospective cohort recruited from 2017 to 2020. Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were measured at up to eight time points during pregnancy and averaged to represent gestational exposure. Metabolites were grouped by parent compound. Linear regression models estimated associations in phthalate …