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Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and DNA Damage in Structural Firefighters: An Analysis of IL-6, TBARS, and BPDE-DNA Adducts
No full textFirefighters are routinely exposed to combustion byproducts, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are linked to increased oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and genotoxicity. Biomarkers such as Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE-DNA) adducts can assess the biological impact of PAH exposure. We recruited firefighters from various fire departments in the Columbus metropolitan area between 2016 and 2023 through advertisements. Our recruitment targeted both firefighters diagnosed with cancer (cases) and those with no cancer history (controls). After recruitment, participants completed a questionnaire providing baseline information, including biological age, job tenure, height, medical history (including self-reported cancer diagnosis), smoking habits, and firefighting history. This study analyzes a subset of participants, with blood samples taken from consenting structural firefighters. We processed these samples to assess specific biomarkers: TBARS, which measures lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress; IL-6, a proinflammatory cytokine reflecting the body's immune response to stress and toxin exposure. This study aims to conduct a preliminary analysis of PAH exposure, oxidative stress, and inflammation among structural firefighters.No embargoAcademic Major: Public Healt
Rapid Near Infrared Screening for Quality of Various Soybean Cultivars
Get PDFSoybeans are one of the world’s most valuable crops due to their high protein and fat content. Traditional methods to determine the nutritional profile are time consuming and require benchtop equipment. Non-destructive and rapid techniques, such as vibrational spectroscopy in the Near Infrared region (780-2526 nm), can be paired with chemometrics to rapidly assess soybean quality traits. This project explored the capability of handheld NIR scanners to rapidly predict protein, moisture, fat content, and fatty acid profile of soybeans for accurate pricing of crops and monitor traits of gene edited soybeans.
The partial least squares regression model predicted the protein, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid with a correlation coefficient of 0.90 or greater in 90 samples. The handheld NIR scanner performed similarly to the benchtop NIR equipment. The model differentiated between the high oleic variety, which is more stable against lipid oxidation, and conventional soybeans with distinguishing bands at 1702 and 1683 cm-1. Soxhlet and Karl Fischer methods overestimated the fat and moisture values, respectively. NIR scanners show great promise in implementation of real-time quality testing of soybeans with limited sample preparation and training. This technology will allow farmers to price soybean crops based on higher-quality characteristics and help predict quality traits of genetically modified strains of soybeans.FOODSure program in the Food Science DepartmentThe Ohio State University Horticulture and Crop Science DepartmentNo embargoAcademic Major: Food Science and Technolog
Against Surveillance and Security: Exploring Muslim Geographies of Detroit
Get PDFIn the decades following 9/11, Muslim communities in Detroit have often been framed through the lens of national security, counterterrorism, and surveillance. This narrative, while significant, is incomplete. Long before the events rendered them as national objects of security, Detroit was home to a Muslim population shaped by waves of migration that challenged power structures and built alternative institutions. These communities established mosques, cultural centers, businesses, and ways of life that laid the groundwork for a presence connected to global geographies that transcend the boundaries of metropolitan Detroit, with their roles not only being one of local actors but also participants in global political ecologies. Their lives and struggles are deeply intertwined with transnational flows of labor, capital, and cultural exchange. Through the lens of space dialectics, we can see how these communities navigate and resist the spatial and ecological inequalities produced by global capitalism. While counterterrorism and surveillance have undeniably shaped the experiences of Muslim communities in Detroit, these frameworks alone cannot capture the full scope of their lives. Understanding Detroit’s Muslim communities requires expanding our frameworks to examine how surveillance, racialization, geopolitics, and economic structures intersect to shape their experiences. By bringing together analyses of state power, racialized violence, and the historical trajectories of Muslim communities, we can more effectively illuminate the complexities of their lived realities.No embargoAcademic Major: Geograph
Peripartum opioid exposure impaired maternal behavior, increased inflammatory gene expression, and reduced perineuronal nets in the maternal brain network
Get PDF7% of pregnant people use opioids. Peripartum opioid use can cause preterm labor, preeclampsia, or pregnancy loss, and opioid withdrawal syndrome in infants. Opioid users are recommended to use medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), commonly buprenorphine, rather than abstaining, to avoid withdrawal and relapse. Little research has explored the impact opioids and MOUD have on the highly-plastic maternal brain. Opioids have well-established effects on immune signaling in the brain, and we have established that neuroimmune alterations contribute to maternal behavior. Opioids may thus influence the maternal brain by shifting neuroimmune function. We used a rodent model to test how chronic peripartum opioid or MOUD impacted maternal behavior and neuroinflammatory markers. We also examined perineuronal nets (PNNs), extracellular matrix proteins that regulate neuroplasticity. PNNs fluctuate in the maternal brain, and their expression is known to be impacted by opioid exposure and immune activity. PNN fluctuation can be regulated by the action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are proteases that can break down ECM components. Female rats were treated with vehicle (VEH), buprenorphine (BUP; 0.3mg/kg/day), or oxycodone (OXY; 10mg/kg/day) prior to pregnancy, throughout pregnancy, and in the postpartum period. We found that opioid mothers displayed deficits in maternal behavior in a pup retrieval task. PNNs were labeled via immunofluorescence across maternal brain regions including: prelimbic prefrontal cortex (plPFC), infralimbic prefrontal cortex (ilPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), motor cortex (mCTX), dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), amygdala (AMY), and periaqueductal gray (PAG). PNNs decreased in plPFC, ilPFC, OFC, CA2 subregion of dHPC, and PAG in opioid-treated mothers compared to VEH, but no differences were observed in AMY, mCTX, or CA3 and DG subregions of dHPC. Immunerelated transcripts that modulate PNNs, including IL33, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1, and TLR2, were analyzed via qPCR. In the PFC, MMP2 increased in BUP mothers compared to VEH. In the PAG, TLR2 decreased in BUP mothers compared to VEH. No changes were detected in the AMY. These novel peripartum opioid-induced changes PNN expression and immune signaling in the PFC and PAG could contribute to changes in neural plasticity and behavioral deficits associated with peripartum opioid use, which we will examine in future work.Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)No embargoAcademic Major: Neuroscienc
BRWD3 is required for proper mammalian forebrain development
No full textPolymicrogyria is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by excessive folding of the neocortex due to disruptions in neural migration which led to malformed sulci and gyri. The condition has an array of clinical presentations including impaired intellectual development, seizures, and cerebral palsy. Whole genome sequencing of a patient with polymicrogyria revealed a likely pathogenic variant in the X-linked gene bromodomain and WD-repeat domain containing 3 (BRWD3). Bromodomains are regions on histone acetyltransferases that are involved in epigenetic regulation and gene activation. Malformations in the human neocortex such as macrocephaly and microcephaly have previously been associated with pathogenic variants in bromodomain coding regions. Here, we created the mouse model of Brwd3 recapitulating the human variant (S1320L). In situ RNA hybridization revealed Brwd3 is differentially expressed in the neocortex at various points in embryonic development, as well as the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and neural tube. Brwd3 mRNA is also expressed in intermediate progenitors and radial glia cells. Brwd3S1320L/Y hemizygous male mice survive at normal rates. Immunohistochemistry revealed an abnormal distribution of known neocortical layer markers, CTIP2, SATB2, and CUX1 in Brwd3S1320L/Y males. Neuronal migration was more directly observed through tracking proliferating neurons in the neocortex through an EdU pulse chase experiment suggesting compromised migration of upper-layer cortical neurons. Whole genome RNA-sequencing revealed differential expression of many genes known for their roles in cell adhesion such as laminin. Cre-dependent stochastic labeling of neocortical neurons revealed a decrease in multipolar neurons in the cortical plate suggesting reduced neuronal complexity during cortical circuit formation. Here, we demonstrate BRWD3 is involved in neocortical development.Undergraduate Research Scholarship through The Ohio State UniversityChoose Development! Fellowship through the Society of Developmental BiologyNo embargoAcademic Major: Neuroscienc
The Influence of Gallbladder Environment on Biofilm DNA Structure and Host Cell Invasion
No full textTyphoid fever, a febrile illness caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), causes 14.3 million acute infections and over 110,000 deaths worldwide annually. In highly endemic regions like Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, typhoid fever remains a public health concern. 3-5% of individuals with acute S. Typhi infections become asymptomatic chronic carriers. Chronic carriage is associated with biofilm formation, specifically within the gallbladder on gallstone surfaces.
In order to form biofilms on gallstones within the gallbladder, Salmonella must first infect and invade host cells. Salmonellae use a type III secretion system (T3SS) that is encoded on the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) which allows for invasion. The gallbladder is responsible for the storage of bile, which is needed for the emulsification of lipids after ingestion of food. It is known that Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) invasion is repressed in the presence of bile while S. Typhi invasion is enhanced in the presence of bile. However, the mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in the invasion of both S. Typhimurium and S. Typhi remain poorly understood. Gaining insight into the role of bile in this invasion process is crucial for enhancing our understanding of this pathogen.
Similar to S. Typhi, invasive NTS (iNTS) bloodstream infections cause typhoid-like symptoms, are increasing in prevalence, and are responsible for 60,000 deaths annually. We have identified biofilm-related characteristics of iNTS strains that contribute to chronic carriage in our mouse model. The extracellular matrix (ECM) that encases Salmonella biofilms include cellulose, DNA, curli fimbriae, O-antigen capsule, colonic acid, and Vi antigen (S. Typhi only). These levels vary among iNTS strains examined and are key to biofilm development. As a result, we want to further elucidate the composition of the ECM, specifically the role of extracellular DNA (eDNA) in biofilm formation.Nationwide Children's HospitalR01 AI116917 from NIH/NIAIDA one-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Neuroscienc
Cortisol Analysis Using a Novel Method of Saliva Collection
No full textBackground: Preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience many stressors. Salivary cortisol levels can quantify preterm infants' stress responses. However, better methods are needed to obtain saliva from preterm infants. This study aimed to (1) compare cortisol levels from saliva collected using standard methods to saliva collected using swabs, and (2) determine if duration of saliva collection using standard methods affects cortisol concentration.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, adults recruited via convenience sampling provided two saliva samples using spit or passive drool methods and timed their collections. The first sample was split into two aliquots, with the first aliquot undergoing no further processing and the second aliquot utilized to saturate a flocked polyester swab. Swabs were centrifuged to extract the saliva. For aim 1, cortisol levels from the first participant-collected sample and the sample absorbed and subsequently extracted from swabs were compared. For aim 2, cortisol levels in the two sequentially collected samples provided using standard methods were compared.
Results: Samples were collected from 24 adults. Cortisol levels from saliva collected by standard methods had a strong positive correlation with cortisol levels from saliva extracted from swabs (rho=0.98, p<.0005). Additionally, the cortisol levels from two saliva samples collected sequentially from each participant were strongly correlated (rho=0.97, p<.0005).
Conclusions: Flocked polyester swabs provide a solution to collecting adequate saliva volumes for cortisol analysis in populations that cannot provide samples using standard spit or drool methods, including preterm infants. In future studies, researchers should consider the amount of time participants take to collect their samples, as cortisol concentrations change over time.A five-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Nursin
A Quantification and Exploration of Perceptions Related to Farmers' Roles in Climate Change Issues
Get PDFClimate risk presents challenges to people and places around the world, and sectors like agriculture are highly vulnerable. Like many individuals who experience the pressures associated with climate risk, farmers worry about physical harm, policy implications, social consequences, and pressures related to profitability and labor. At the same time, farmers hold the potential to address and mitigate climate risk. Little is known about perceptions of farmers – specifically, perceptions of farmers’ roles in climate change.
A researcher-developed survey was launched nationally and 2,191 individuals participated. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three constructs within the 22 items rated by participants to measure farmers’ roles in climate risk. The factors captured different aspects related to farmers’ involvement in climate risk including, 1) farmer response to climate risk, 2) farmer challenges with climate change, and 3) farmer protections. Overall, participants were most supportive of the farmer response to climate change, which had items that focused on farmers’ beliefs in and feelings about climate change, and their willingness to adapt. The item with the highest overall mean was “Farmers deserve support in navigating the effects of climate change on their farms and ranches,” and the item with the lowest overall mean was “Farmers believe in climate change less than many other groups.” Few differences in perceptions existed between regional groups, and participants shared largely neutral responses on many items.
As those in agriculture seek mitigation strategies to adapt to climate change an understanding of perceptions about farmers in this area will be key. The data in this study suggest U.S. residents appear to hold a largely neutral stance on the issue but do hold some support for farmers. As no region was partial to extreme opinion toward farmers' roles in climate change there may be a unique opportunity for communicators to encourage greater understanding of both farmer and rancher roles in climate change to a population in a possible state of open-mindedness and neutrality.Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company AgTech Innovation HubNo embargoAcademic Major: Sustainable Plant System
Investigating the Compatibility of Weekly Prednisone with Daily Finerenone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mouse Models
No full textDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to progressive skeletal muscle degeneration, cardiomyopathy, and fibrosis. Glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, are the standard-of-care for managing DMD due to their anti-inflammatory effects, but long-term use is associated with significant side effects and may exacerbate cardiac and skeletal muscle pathology. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), including finerenone, have demonstrated promise in reducing fibrosis and improving muscle function in dystrophic models. However, glucocorticoids and MRAs share overlapping receptor interactions, potentially diminishing the efficacy of MRAs when administered concurrently. This study aimed to determine whether a clinical compromise—using weekly prednisone in combination with daily finerenone—could preserve the anti-inflammatory benefits of glucocorticoids while maximizing the anti-fibrotic effects of MRAs. A short-term study using mdx mice and a long-term 16-week study using het mice were conducted. Mice were treated with either daily prednisone, daily finerenone, or a combination of weekly prednisone and daily finerenone. Muscle damage, fibrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration were assessed using immunofluorescence staining for IgG, fibronectin, CD11b, and matrix Gla protein (MGP).
Results demonstrated that daily finerenone significantly reduced muscle damage compared to prednisone, with lower IgG staining in quadriceps muscles. In contrast, the combination of prednisone and finerenone did not reduce fibrosis or muscle damage in long-term studies, and in some cases exacerbated pathology. MGP expression was selectively upregulated by glucocorticoids, suggesting GR-dependent regulation, rather than MR-specific signaling. These findings highlight the complexity of combining glucocorticoids and MRAs in DMD therapy. While finerenone alone improves muscle pathology, its benefits may be diminished when co-administered with glucocorticoids. Future studies should investigate modified MRAs or alternative dosing regimens to optimize combination treatment strategies for DMD.A five-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Molecular Genetic
River Revive
No full textIntroduction: The health of our waters is one of the most significant factors in the health of our planet, and ultimately, the health of our bodies. Keeping our waters clean directly correlates to keeping ourselves healthy. The problem is that so many people hold the belief that their actions don’t truly make a difference, or that they cannot make a meaningful impact as an individual. This is simply not true, and the health of our ecosystems is directly impacted by this mindset. Where there’s a problem, there is an opportunity to create a solution. In this instance, the opportunity is to create a fun way to inspire individuals to get involved and help them to realize that they can make a difference. In comes River Revive, an Columbus-based organization and online platform designed to inspire young adults to engage in environmental conservation and connect them with the resources to take action in their local community.
Methods: In terms of primary research, I sent out a survey in order to get a feel for people’s thoughts and habits in relation to environmental efforts. For secondary, I reviewed some literature on the topic and did a media scan and competitive comparison. From there, I developed my designs based on my insights, putting emphasis on aspects such as environmental importance and sense of community.
Results: My final media for River Revive took the form of a website, social media page, and material applications all branded within the identity that I created for the organization.
Conclusion: River Revive creates a way to engage the people of Columbus in doing something good for our city, and encourages them to continue helping the environment in other ways.No embargoAcademic Major: Visual Communication Desig