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Vimentin Cytoskeleton Collapses in Response to the Small Molecule Inhibitor of FH2 Domains (SMIFH2)-Induced Electrophilic Stress
No full textElevated levels of vimentin are detectable in cancerous tissue from malignant neoplasms as well as fibrotic tissue. Vimentin constitutes one of the polymer-based components of the cytoskeleton that regulates cellular morphology and promotes effective and efficient cellular migration and motility. These aspects of cellular behavior contribute to the homeostatic repair of tissue, as evidenced by the trafficking of immune cells and fibroblasts to the lesion site, as well as the progression of pathological conditions, as demonstrated by the invasion of tumor cells through the stromal matrix. Within the cell, the vimentin cytoskeletal network serves as a viscoelastic, load-bearing scaffold that surrounds the nucleus and radiates throughout the cell. Through direct and/or indirect interactions, the vimentin cytoskeleton bidirectionally communicates with the actin and microtubule cytoskeletal networks. To date, the formin family of actin-modifying proteins have not been implicated as mediators of crosstalk between the actin and vimentin cytoskeletal networks. However, recent work in our lab has demonstrated that treatment with the small-molecule inhibitor of formin homology 2 domains (SMIFH2) disrupts vimentin organization and collapses the network to the perinuclear region of the cell. However, this inhibitor has also been found to affect other proteins and cellular pathways independent of formin function. Therefore, potentially uncovering a connection between formins and the vimentin cytoskeleton or discovering the off-target, formin-independent, mechanism that SMIFH2 collapses the vimentin network warrants interest as a necessary research direction in order to expand the area of vimentin-related biomedical research. The work presented in Chapter 2 of this dissertation presents sufficient evidence that the disruptive effect SMIFH2 induces on the vimentin cytoskeleton is the result of the inhibitor's electrophilic characteristic and not formin-dependent inhibition. Importantly, we have shown that formin depletion, actin cytoskeleton disruption, or potential off-target inhibition of actomyosin contractility do not disrupt the vimentin cytoskeleton in a manner similar to SMIFH2 treatment. SMIFH2 exerts its electrophilic effect directly onto vimentin and interferes with network dynamics. These findings, as well as the general discussion in Chapter 3, address whether formins regulate vimentin organization, but also highlight the need to further refine and develop more specific cellular manipulations in order to limit unintended, off-target effects of drugs and therapeutics.Upstate Medical UniversityCell & Developmental BiologyPh
Elucidating the relationship between hearing loss, social isolation, and dementia: data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study
No full textObjectives: Dementia is a growing public health challenge affecting millions. Hearing loss is a potentially modifiable risk factor, though its precise pathway to dementia remains unclear. Social isolation may influence this relationship. This study examines the association between hearing loss and dementia, assessing for a moderating role of social isolation. Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), including individuals aged 65+ without baseline dementia. Hearing loss was assessed via pure tone audiometry, categorized as normal, mild, or moderate-severe. Social isolation was evaluated using a validated composite measure derived from NHATS items. The NHATS dementia classification algorithm was used. Stratified multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between hearing loss and dementia and to examine the moderating effect of social isolation. Results: Moderate-severe hearing loss significantly increased dementia odds (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.11–3.29)—with attenuation observed among hearing aid users (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 0.97–3.49). Individuals with hearing impairment demonstrated higher rates of social isolation (p < 0.001), which independently correlated with increased dementia incidence (p = 0.001). Stratified analyses revealed a significant association between moderate-severe hearing loss and odds of dementia among non-socially isolated individuals, (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.18–4.43), but not among socially isolated individuals (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.39–4.04). Discussion: Moderate-severe hearing loss is associated with increased dementia risk—a relationship which appears moderated by social isolation status. This data may provide preliminary insights into potentially mediating effects. Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify this pathway and inform dementia prevention strategies.SMURUpstate Medical UniversityPublic Health and Preventive Medicin
Anna Maria Ortese and Roberto Rossellini in the Underworld
Full text linkThe product of centuries of systemic violence and active marginalization, the lumpenproletariat haunts modernity and its afterlives, from the dark corners of the industrial metropolis to present-day slums. Ascetic Images explores the Neapolitan version of this enigmatic social group as it enters the works of writer Anna Maria Ortese and filmmaker Roberto Rossellini in the post–World War II era. An exercise in critical narratology of film and literature, the book reconstructs the "ascetic images" inscribed in their texts—the traces of the traumatic experience of the urban underclass, obscured by dominant discourses. Looking especially at Ortese’s "The Silence of Reason" (1953) and Rossellini’s Journey to Italy (1954), Achille Castaldo proposes a method of close reading that reveals the narrative articulation of social invisibility and gestures toward the political crises of the present as marginalized groups are increasingly pushed beyond the limits of our fragile social awareness.This book is freely available in an open access edition thanks to the generous support of Emory University and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.VoRSUNY Pres
Survey on Undergraduate Student Use of Generative AI: Implications for Information Literacy in Academic Libraries
Full text linkIn 2024, 250 undergraduate students from a variety of majors completed an anonymous survey about their experiences using generative AI (genAI). Survey findings provide details on how students are using genAI for college coursework, students’ views of acceptable genAI uses for assignments, and their opinions on genAI and plagiarism. Results highlight a wide range of student perspectives, underscoring the need for greater foundational knowledge of genAI among students. Data from this survey also reveals connections between AI literacy and information literacy through the concepts of evaluating information and using information ethically.AMN/ALibraryN/
The US–Japan Alliance in the Post-9/11 Security Dilemma
Full text linkAfter Terrorism offers a groundbreaking analysis of how Japan navigated its alliance with the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Drawing from newly declassified diplomatic documents, Ryuji Hattori challenges conventional narratives and introduces the concept of the global alliance security dilemma, illustrating how Japan struggled to balance its pacifist constitution with growing international security demands. Providing a rare, document-based perspective on the Bush-Koizumi era, Hattori offers insights into high-level negotiations, security policymaking, and the shifting geopolitical landscape of East Asia. Through a meticulous analysis of primary sources and interviews with key policymakers, he reveals how Japan's foreign policy was shaped by both alliance asymmetries and domestic constraints. Ideal for scholars of international relations, security studies, and Asian diplomacy, After Terrorism is an essential resource for understanding the long-term impact of post-9/11 security decisions on US–Japan relations and the broader Indo-Pacific order.The open access version of this book has been made available thanks to the generosity of Ryuji Hattori.VoRSUNY Pres
Optimising early detection of degenerative cervical myelopathy: a systematic review of quantitative screening tools for primary care
Full text linkBackground: Early diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is often challenging due to subtle, non-specific symptoms, limited disease awareness and a lack of definitive diagnostic criteria. As primary care physicians are typically the first to encounter patients with early DCM, equipping them with effective screening tools is crucial for reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of quantitative screening methods for DCM that can be implemented in primary care settings.
Methods: A systematic search following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted across PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library up to July 2024 using keywords relevant to DCM screening. Studies were included if they evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of DCM screening tools applicable to primary care settings. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool.
Results: The search identified 14 studies evaluating 18 screening methods for DCM. Questionnaires consistently showed high diagnostic accuracy, with Youden indices exceeding 0.60, while only three out of nine conventional physical performance tests met the same threshold. Sensor-assisted tests, particularly those using advanced technology like finger-wearable gyro sensors, exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy but present challenges related to accessibility and learning curves.
Conclusion: This review highlights the potential of quantitative screening methods for early DCM detection in primary care. While questionnaires and conventional tests are effective and accessible, sensor-assisted tests offer greater accuracy but face implementation challenges. A tailored, multifaceted approach is crucial for improving outcomes. Future research should focus on validating these tools in diverse populations and standardising diagnostic criteria.VoRSUNY DownstateMedicineN/
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against severe omicron-related outcomes in children aged 5 to 11 years in Ontario: A Canadian immunization research network (CIRN) study
Full text linkBackground: Understanding how the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines translates from clinical trials to real-world settings is critical to inform evolving vaccination policies. The objective of this study was to assess COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe COVID-19-related outcomes in children aged 5-11 years, including COVID-19-related hospital admissions and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).
Methods: We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study using linked health administrative data in the first year following the emergence of the Omicron variant (January 2 to December 31, 2022) in Ontario, Canada. Baseline differences between subgroups of interest were compared using standardized differences. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models to estimate VE by time since last vaccine dose by treating vaccination as a time-varying exposure, compared to unvaccinated children.
Results: We included a total of 1,058,740 children, of which 583,867 (55.1 %) had received at least one vaccine dose by the end of the study period. In total, there were 185 COVID-19-related hospital admissions and 39 cases of MIS-C. The rate of COVID-19-related admission was substantially higher in children with an underlying comorbid condition compared to children who were previously healthy (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 4.77, 95 %CI, 3.56-6.38). VE against COVID-19-related admission ranged from 93 % (95 %CI, 52-99 %) 7-29 days after a second dose to 63 % (95 %CI; 41-77 %) ≥120 days after a second dose. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of MIS-C in children who received at least one dose of the vaccine compared to unvaccinated children (aHR = 0.71; 95 %CI, 0.38-1.34).
Conclusions: We found that, for children aged 5-11 years, VE against COVID-19-related hospitalization was high in the first four months after a second dose. Children with comorbid conditions were found to be at much higher risk of COVID-19-related severe outcomes and thus may benefit most from COVID-19 vaccination.VoRSUNY DownstateEpidemiology and BiostatisticsN/
The Turks and the Byzantine Empire: cooperation and destruction by and against the Turks during the middle (9th-13th cent.) period of the Byzantine Empire
No full textNASUNY College at New PaltzHonorsN/AGatzke, Andre
Thermoregulatory Stress and the Ageing Mind: Investigating Environmental High Heat Exposure as a Risk Factor for Dementia
Full text linkBackground
As populations age globally, the health effects of extreme heat exposure are an increasing
public health concern. This study examines the association between cumulative high heat exposure
and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and Mild Cognitive
Impairment (MCI) among U.S. adults.
Methods
Data were obtained from the All of Us Research Program (n = 286,767). Heat exposure
was assessed using data from the CDC’s National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network
and mapped to 3-digit ZIP codes. Two exposure metrics were examined: (1) maximum
temperature and (2) maximum heat index. High heat exposure was defined as the total number of
extreme heat days (≥2 consecutive days with a maximum heat index above the 90th percentile for
May–September) occurring within multi-day heat events from 2019 to 2023. ADRD/MCI
diagnoses and medical comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, type 2
diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hearing impairment, and depression) were
identified from electronic health records. Demographics, smoking, alcohol use, and social isolation
were measured via survey. Socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed at both the individual level,
using educational attainment, and at the community level, using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI).
Logistic regression models estimated associations between high heat exposure and ADRD/MCI
risk, adjusting for demographic, medical, and socioeconomic factors. Mediation analysis examined
the role of SES and social isolation.
Results
Each additional extreme heat day was associated with a 0.39% increase in ADRD/MCI
odds (95% CI: 1.0026–1.0051) when measured by maximum temperature, and a 0.58% increase
(95% CI: 1.0044–1.0071) when measured by maximum heat index. Exposure to 10 extreme heat
days within multi-day heat events was associated with approximately a 4% increase in the odds of
ADRD/MCI when measured by maximum temperature, and approximately a 6% increase when
measured by maximum heat index. These findings indicate that sustained heat exposure has a
cumulative impact on cognitive risk. The association was stronger when exposure was assessed
using heat index rather than temperature alone, suggesting that humidity exacerbates heat-related
cognitive risks. Mediation analysis found that ADI accounted for 8.6%–9.6% of the total effect;
however, high heat exposure remained a significant independent risk factor for ADRD/MCI.
Neither educational attainment (as a proxy for individual-level SES) nor social isolation
significantly mediated or moderated the observed associations.
Discussion
These findings highlight an association between sustained extreme heat exposure and
ADRD/MCI, with stronger effects observed when using heat index, suggesting humidity may
exacerbate heat-related cognitive vulnerability. Area deprivation partially mediated this
association, reinforcing how environmental and social inequities jointly shape cognitive health.
Older adults are particularly vulnerable, and disparities in access to cooling resources may
compound these risks. The urban heat island effect may further amplify exposure, underscoring
the need for targeted public health interventions, such as early warning systems, urban planning
strategies, and equitable access to cooling. Increasing heat exposure calls for public health
approaches that recognize its potential impact on cognitive decline, especially among structurally
disadvantaged populations. Given the absence of disease-modifying treatments for ADRD/MCI,
addressing modifiable environmental risks remains essential to protect cognitive health in an
ageing populationVoRSUNY DownstateEpidemiologyN/AHelzner, ElizabethGeer, LauraMeyers, JacquelynBarr, Pete
Time for Success: Enhancing Task Engagement and Stamina with Assistive Technology
Full text linkThis project examines using a Pomodoro Timer Cube as a form of assistive technology to support a fourth-grade student with autism who struggles with on task work time. Results show an increase in assignment completion and a decrease in teacher dependence. Findings highlight that low-tech tools can foster independence and engagement in students.EducationLocquiao, Je