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Mechanism for cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmia associated with a novel human titin variant
No full textA 62-year-old male presented with ventricular arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy and family history of cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Whole exome sequencing of proband and affected and unaffected family members revealed a novel five- nucleotide insertion in exon 193 of the titin (TTN) gene introducing a premature stop codon. TTN is a sarcomeric protein spanning the length of the sarcomere acting as passive tensioner in contraction dynamics. Previous studies have identified TTN variants resulting in expression of truncated titin (TTNtv), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), heart failure (HF), contractile dysfunction, and/or increased risks of ventricular arrythmias [1], [2]. To investigate the pathogenicity of this variant, the same insertion was introduced in the analogous locus in the mouse TTN gene (TTHtv-KI). TTNtv-KI heterozygous crosses yielded no homozygous offspring, suggesting embryonic lethality. Adult (>2mo) TTNtv-KI heterozygous (TTN+/-) and wild type (WT) mice were evaluated at baseline (no interventions) and subjected to a transaortic constriction (TAC) procedure to observe the impact of the heterozygous mutation on the cardiac remodeling response to chronic pressure overload. Animals were for cardiac function in vivo using echocardiograph (ECHO) and surface electrocardiograms (ECG). In vitro isolated ventricular myocytes were immunostained for titin at the C-terminus and N-terminus. Our findings showed compelling evidence that a novel TTN truncating mutation leads to functional cardiac impairment, altered electrophysiological responses, and structural changes in myocytes, contributing to a growing body of literature on the role of TTN in cardiac disease and highlight the importance of early functional assessments in understanding the impact of TTN mutations on heart disease.JB Cardiovascular Undergraduate Fellowship ProgramA three-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Biomedical Engineerin
Beyond the B: Examining B Corp Certification's Depth and Breadth
Get PDFThis research investigates the role of B Corp certification in shaping and supporting sustainability signaling. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks are becoming increasingly central to market self-regulation. Systems like B Corp, covering more than 9,000 firms, offer structured, voluntary methods for evaluating business impact. However, concerns remain about the reliability of scoring systems and the extent to which the information they generate meaningfully reaches consumers and other stakeholders.
This research draws from public policy, business ethics, and data analysis to conduct a dual inquiry into the internal consistency of B Corp’s metrics and the external flow of its sustainability messaging by focusing on the cohort of certified firms. Methodologically, the inquiry combines quantitative analysis and exploration of B Lab’s self-published B Impact score data with qualitative content analysis of firm-level communications. The latter employs a micro-meso-macro framework to examine how B Corp information is presented by twenty leading firms across distinct communication levels: product packaging, firm websites and CSR reports, and B Lab’s member directory. These efforts offer insights for policymakers evaluating the strengths and limitations of private sustainability certifications as tools for public-private governance and future ESG policy development.No embargoAcademic Major: Public Policy Analysi
Mindscapes: Building Resilience Together For A Brighter Tomorrow
No full textPediatrics and Family Health (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research
Forum)Mindscapes is a research-driven interior design project to foster emotional resilience, self-discovery, and well-being among teenagers. Inspired by a canyon's natural flow and structure, the space is designed to provide a supportive and engaging environment where teens can explore and manage their emotions. Housed in the historic Engine House 10 in Franklinton, the project embraces adaptive reuse, preserving the building’s original materials while integrating innovative design elements to create a safe and inspiring atmosphere. The design incorporates biophilic principles, color psychology, and biomimicry to enhance relaxation, cognitive function, and emotional balance. Research highlights the impact of natural elements—such as greenery, natural light, and organic forms—on reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm. A carefully curated material palette evolved through research, shifting from bold, grounding hues to softer, muted tones that foster a more tranquil connection to nature. Mindscapes also prioritizes inclusivity and engagement, ensuring accessibility through universal design, gender-neutral restrooms, and interactive spaces that encourage creativity and personal growth. The space offers a mix of private and communal areas, allowing teens to reflect independently or participate in group activities that build connections and resilience. By integrating evidence-based design strategies, Mindscapes creates an inviting, restorative space that empowers young individuals to navigate their emotions and develop the tools they need for a brighter future.No embargoAcademic Major: Interior Desig
Get Yo' Life: Black Queer Placemaking
No full textWaking up in Aunt Jeanette's place -- Starlite, the Warehouse, and Langston's -- Care-work, performance, and kinship labor in Happiness Lounge.Item embargoed for three year
A Study of Type 2 Diabetes on Isla Mujeres, Mexico: A Critical Medical Anthropological Perspective
No full textDiabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and mortality globally (Bello-Chavollo et al., 2022). In Mexico, diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of death (Mendoza, 2024). With one of the highest obesity prevalence rates in the world, it is crucial to implement policies and educational programs that work toward positive health behaviors to battle the rising incidence of diabetes. This qualitative, ethnographic study documents and examines cultural beliefs and practices regarding food, nutrition, and exercise on Isla Mujeres in the Quintana Roo state of Mexico to understand how cultural beliefs influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and incidence and prevalence rates. Due to a dearth of information and data on type 2 diabetes rates in men, along with a lack of data on general health and nutrition practices, this study intends to reduce this knowledge gap while building upon existing data. Guided by a critical medical anthropological approach, we explore and examine how the cultural context of the island, an economy built around tourism, and gendered power dynamics potentially influence incidence and prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes. We consider a syndemics approach (Singer 2009, 2017) to address patients suffering from diabetes and other health problems (i.e., hypertension, heart problems. Lifestyle choices, economical, structural, and cultural influences can exacerbate these medical conditions. Through informal and semi-structured interviews, clinical data, and participant observation, all rooted in grounded theory, we found a lack of access to healthcare, poor health literacy, and an increase in the commercialization of food and beverage products contribute to the experiences of type 2 diabetes patients on Isla Mujeres. In partnership with the Isla Diabetes Clinic, we are working to design educational programs, create diabetes-friendly resources, and increase health literacy to manage type 2 diabetes.No embargoAcademic Major: Medical Anthropolog
Scrap Theory: Reproductive Injustice in the Black Feminist Imagination
No full textIntroduction: Black maternal dispossession in the age of Black Lives Matter -- The fictional archive of disappearance -- Margaret Walker, Jubilee, and the fight for Black feminist historicity in Alexander v. Haley -- The corporal archive of separation in contemporary Black women's cultural production -- Refused memorials and the Black feminist archival praxis of Samaria Rice -- Conclusion: The Black maternal superbody -- Epilogue: The infinitude of Black motherhood.Item embargoed for three year
Interview of Dr. George N'Namdi by McKenna Dunn and Daisy Roberts
No full textRemote interview.George N'Namdi discusses his time at Ohio State as a student and member of the Black Student Union. This interview was one of 15 conducted by students in English 4567 (Rhetoric and Community Service) to capture as many stories as possible from former Ohio State students associated with the 1968 sit-in at the Administration Building (now Bricker Hall) that led to the arrests of 34 Black students, now known as the "OSU 34." In the interview N'Namdi also discusses how his experiences at Ohio State shaped the development of his career and his life philosophy
Synergistic & Antagonistic Interactions of Phages and Two Antibiotic Classes Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Get PDFInnovations in Medicine (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)Introduction: The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has necessitated the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies, including the use of bacteriophages (phages) in combination with antibiotics. This study investigates the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between phages and tetracycline and fluoroquinolone class antibiotics, specifically focusing on tetracycline, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin against multidrug resistant bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
Methods: Ciprofloxacin, Tetracycline and Doxycycline susceptibility assays are completed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests against S. aureus isolates D712 (P3L#149) and C-62 (P3L#22). MIC tests are done based on CLSI (Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute). A serial dilution of antibiotic concentrations is added to a 96 well plate in addition to the bacterial isolate to determine the minimum concentration of antibiotic that hinders bacterial growth. Upon determination of MIC values, modified checkerboard experiments with Sb-1 phage and the antibiotics were performed. For this purpose, 96 well plates were used with varying concentrations of antibiotic in the horizontal axis and phage concentrations in vertical axis. All susceptibility tests were performed in cation adjusted Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB). Combination synergy was defined as clearance of bacterial growth inside the MIC range.
The bacteriophage used was Sb-1 phage purchased from Eliava Phage Institute, Tblisi, Georgia. Sb-1 is a myophage categorized as Herelleviridae, GenBank accession no HQ163896
Results: Our findings suggest that the mechanism of action of tetracycline antibiotics which inhibit protein synthesis plays a crucial role in determining the nature of phage-antibiotic interactions. Despite antagonism with tetracyclines we observed synergy with ciprofloxacin. The noted differences in antagonism and synergism between the various antibiotic phage combinations against S. aureus strains highlights the importance of assessing and enhancing the efficacy of such combination therapies in treating bacterial infections in a clinical setting.
Conclusions: This research underscores the potential of phage-antibiotic combinations to overcome antibiotic resistance, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate phage-antibiotic combinations to maximize therapeutic efficacy. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions is essential for optimizing phage therapy protocols and improving clinical outcomes in the treatment of resistant bacterial infections.No embargoAcademic Major: Pharmaceutical Science
Investigation of Quinone Methide Precursors as Potential Therapeutics for Organophosphorus-exposed Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase
No full textOrganophosphorus (OP) compounds covalently inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an essential enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh). Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a non-essential enzyme that is also inhibited by OP compounds, making it a suitable bioscavenger to protect AChE. When exposed, OP compounds significantly inhibit both AChE and BChE by phosphylating the catalytic serine residue of each respective enzyme, leading to cholinergic crisis and eventually death if not treated. The current treatment for OP exposure consists of an oxime capable of reactivating OP-inhibited AChE. However, current oximes have limited blood-brain permeability, thus limiting their efficacy to treat AChE found predominantly in the central nervous system. Furthermore, the OP-inhibited structure of AChE and BChE can undergo spontaneous O-dealkylation, leading to what is referred to as the aged forms which, for both AChE and BChE, are recalcitrant to oxime recovery. This two-part study seeks to enhance the broad-spectrum recovery of AChE while optimizing the scavenging efficiency of BChE by using quinone methide precursors (QMPs). Previous efforts have identified QMPs as a valuable class of compounds capable of reactivating OP-inhibited AChE and BChE as well as recovering OP-aged AChE in a process termed “resurrection.” Two QMP libraries—benzamide derivatives of 4-amidophenol for AChE and 6-methylpyridin-3-ol for BChE—were evaluated using Ellman’s assays to determine their reactivation and resurrection efficacy. Reactivation kinetics experiments were also conducted to gain further insight on the interaction between the QMP and the OP-inhibited enzymes. Top-performing compounds in the 4-amidophenol library display major design improvements, resulting in noteworthy resurrection capabilities and expanded reactivation efficacy across several OP compounds, including historically difficult pesticide compounds. Moreover, leading compounds from the 6- methylpyridin-3-ol library demonstrate effective reactivation for a wide range of OP-inhibited BChE structures. This library demonstrates superior reactivation efficacy over both oxime controls and across all tested OP-inhibited BChE structures, making significant progress toward achieving pseudo-catalytic protection by BChE.Joint Science and Technology Office (CB10791 MCDC1905-006)A one-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Biochemistr
Letters, Words, Characters: Documenting and Analyzing Literacy Learning in Marion, Ohio
No full textMarion, Ohio is filled with the possibility of growth, strengthened by a longstanding commitment to literacy development among its citizens. This current research serves as a follow-up to “Reading Together in Marion: Connecting Legacies of Language & Literacy,” an interdisciplinary undergraduate summer research project. This project led students to explore the past, present, and future of community sponsorship for literacy support in Marion. The students navigating this project had provided the leeway for me to branch beyond the history of Marion to provide reflections of literacy within the county.
The Marion community has two primary rhetorical sites of literacy that promote development, the Marion Public Library and The Ohio State University at Marion. To gain a deeper understanding of the residents and community invested in the progression, I chose these sites as they are accessible and have pre-established connections to literacy. In my project, I am conducting ethnographic research to document these connections by recording video narratives to create an archival data set for analysis. Using the grounded theory method, I identify notable keywords, patterns, and unique narrative moments to explore literacy development within this collection of narratives. I am developing my own themes of formation in literacy by using these narratives as insights into the Marion, Ohio community. Based on a preliminary study, “Growing Marion Legacies: Understanding Literacy through Narratives of Individuals Pursuing Pedagogy,” I had recognized two continuing patterns in the collected narratives: first, the prevalence of story as a thematic concept, and second, the importance of mentor figures as literacy sponsors. The latter factor in particular is prevalent as it serves as the crossroads of individual and community literacy.
Analysis of these narratives uncovered several common themes of literacy identity, spaces, and community growth. The connections of Marion, Ohio go beyond the developments made by STEM and the sciences to provide a more rounded culture around the themes of literacy. The literate culture of Marion is one of reciprocal growth and learning through the experiences of developing reading and writing skills within these primary spaces.
Another aspect I wish to point out is the mislabeling of literacy. Literacies as a term can be narrowly assigned to the practices associated with writing and reading proficiency, which is highly restrictive to our understanding of the complex nature of human learning. Addressing this misconception is essential to identifying preconceived biases found in popular conceptions of literacy. This method of data collection therefore serves as a primary source of understanding the complexities of foundational literacy development.A five-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Englis