Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Recent publications
Soil heavy metals are among the most hazardous materials in the environment. Their harmful effects can extend to surrounding systems (air, plants, water), and given the appropriate conditions may ultimately have negative effects on human health. Thus, preventing pollution and protecting pristine soils and preindustrial areas from human activities that lead to the concentration of heavy metals (HMs) is a priority. Here, a novel methodology was proposed to establish background concentrations of eight soil HMs, cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), and digitally map their spatial distributions in an area (i.e., harrats region) that has not yet been impacted by industrial activity. The proposed methodology combined measurements of the target HMs and fifty-two environmental covariates (ECOVs) derived from 2017 to 2021 Landsat 8/9 OLI and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)-derived terrain attributes. Random forest and stepwise multiple linear regression models were further used to digitally map the studied HMs. The methodology is important for any future environmental pollution/monitoring studies in the area and can be applied in other similar environments. Machine learning algorithms show great ability to use available environmental variables and investigate the relationships between the factors influencing HMs accumulation under a given soil environment. The proposed methodology was effective for describing HMs spatial variability in the environments investigated. • The proposed method is a novel way to predict soil HMs and their spatial distribution over large areas. • Remote sensing/digital elevation models (DEMs)-derived ECOVs are useful for predicting and digitally mapping soil HMs, thus important for future environmental monitoring studies. • Explainable algorithms (i.e., RF and SMLR) are able to utilize ECOVs for HMs prediction and to establish background concentrations over large areas. Therefore, the combination of machine learning and RS/DEMs-based ECOVs is crucial to overcome the disadvantages of HMs determination via conventional methods.
A longstanding failure to achieve racial and ethnic equity in STEM doctoral programs in the United States exists alongside a research landscape struggling to comprehensively explain this enduring failure. Towards a comprehensive explanatory model of STEM doctoral persistence and disruption of this failure, I previously proposed critical capital theory (CCT). CCT integrates critical race theory, forms of capital, and fictive kinship. Using a small‐scale critical qualitative abductive study, I explored the extent to which CCT explained participants' experiences and their science doctoral program outcomes. Narratives of factors influencing doctoral persistence were interpreted from interviews of 3 female former science doctoral students from racially and ethnically marginalized communities. They experienced immediate, intense, and sustained overlapping forms of oppression in their doctoral programs. To cope, all activated different forms of capital including non‐Bourdieuan forms. However, oppressive tactics used by faculty and administrators devalued their capital including supposedly high value Bourdieuan forms, constrained their ability to form fictive kinships within departmental networks, and negatively impacted their mental health and allegiances to science. To explain these findings, which align with other studies, I expand CCT to incorporate intersectionality and community cultural wealth and refined it to explicitly link capital, field, and habitus. Although the study's scale is small, these findings underscore the potential of CCT as an increasingly comprehensive tool to examine and explain STEM doctoral persistence. Further exploration across diverse STEM disciplines and contexts is needed to refine and generalize CCT, optimizing its utility to disrupt enduring inequities in STEM doctoral programs.
Serving as Editor-in-Chief and contributing to the 50-year success of Criminal Justice and Behavior was a rewarding experience, and one for which I will always be proud. In this essay, I was asked to reflect on my experience, including research that I believed was most impactful, lessons learned, the future of Criminal Justice and Behavior, and the uniqueness of Criminal Justice and Behavior. As noted in this essay, I am proud of the accomplishments of my editorial team for continuing Criminal Justice and Behavior on a positive trajectory, and for the scientific contributions we published to serve the greater field. Criminal Justice and Behavior is well positioned to continue to serve the unique needs of correctional and forensic mental health professionals, and I believe it remains one of the premier journals for all professionals working in the criminal legal and forensic mental health sectors.
Halorhodospira (Hlr.) halophila strain BN9622 is an extremely halophilic and alkaliphilic phototrophic purple sulfur bacterium isolated from a hypersaline lake in the Libyan Desert whose total salinity exceeded 35% at pH 10.7. Here we present a cryo-EM structure of the native LH1–LH2 co-complex from strain BN9622 at 2.22 Å resolution. Surprisingly, the LH1–LH2 co-complex consists of a double-ring cylindrical structure with the larger LH1 ring encircling a smaller LH2 ring. The Hlr. halophila LH1 contains 18 αβ-subunits and additional bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) molecules that absorb maximally at 797 nm. The LH2 ring is composed of 9 αβ-subunits, and the BChl a molecules in the co-complex form extensive intra- and inter-complex networks to allow near 100% efficiency of energy transfer to its surrounding LH1. The additional LH1-B797 BChls a are located in such a manner that they facilitate exciton transfer from monomeric BChls in LH2 to the dimeric BChls in LH1. The structural features of the strain BN9622 LH1–LH2 co-complex may have evolved to allow a minimal LH2 complex to maximize excitation transfer to the core complex and effectively harvest light in the physiologically demanding ecological niche of this purple bacterium.
Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are a notable class of heterocyclic compounds with potent protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) activity, playing a critical role in targeted cancer therapy. Protein kinases, key regulators in cellular signalling, are frequently disrupted in cancers, making them important targets for small-molecule inhibitors. This review explores recent advances in pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine synthesis and their application as PKIs, with emphasis on inhibiting kinases such as CK2, EGFR, B-Raf, MEK, PDE4, BCL6, DRAK1, CDK1 and CDK2, Pim-1, among others. Several synthetic strategies have been developed for the efficient synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines, including cyclization, condensation, three-component reactions, microwave-assisted methods, and green chemistry approaches. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling and click chemistry have enabled the introduction of diverse functional groups, enhancing the biological activity and structural diversity of these compounds. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies highlight the influence of substituent patterns on their pharmacological properties. Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines act as ATP-competitive and allosteric inhibitors of protein kinases, with EGFR-targeting derivatives showing promise in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Their inhibitory effects on B-Raf and MEK kinases are particularly relevant in melanoma. Biological evaluations, including in vitro and in vivo studies, have demonstrated their cytotoxicity, kinase selectivity, and antiproliferative effects. Despite these advances, challenges such as drug resistance, off-target effects, and toxicity persist. Future research will focus on optimizing synthetic approaches, improving drug selectivity, and enhancing bioavailability to increase clinical efficacy.
The increasing prevalence of dairy protein allergies, lactose intolerance, and environmental concerns associated with dairy production have spurred interest in plant-based alternatives. Among these, pulse proteins are gaining recognition as promising ingredients due to their lower production costs, rich nutritional content, functional versatility, and health benefits. This review explores the nutritional, antinutritional, and functional properties of pulse proteins and their application in the development of dairy alternatives. It also examines how different processing techniques impact the characteristics of pulse proteins and assesses the environmental benefits of pulse production. The literature highlights that pulses are an excellent source of protein, particularly lysine, and are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and starch, though variations exist depending on the type of pulse. Additionally, pulses are a valuable source of prebiotics, which support gut health. Their functional properties, such as emulsification, solubility, gelation, and water holding capacity, vary significantly depending on the pulse type, composition, processing techniques, and factors like pH. In terms of product applications, researchers have explored developing yogurt, cheese, kefir, and ice cream alternatives using pulses. However, challenges remain in achieving desirable texture properties and sensory characteristics. Various traditional and novel processing techniques have been investigated to ensure microbial safety, mitigate antinutritional factors, and enhance the digestibility of pulse components. Pulse-based dairy alternatives present a sustainable and nutritious option, particularly for individuals with lactose intolerance. Despite their potential, challenges persist in optimizing protein content, refining processing parameters, and addressing scalability for commercial production. Overcoming these obstacles is crucial to advancing the development and market adoption of pulse protein–based dairy alternatives. Future studies should focus on generating robust literature to optimize pulse protein content, refine processing parameters, and develop effective strategies for scaling up production to enable successful commercialization.
We consider the restriction to SL2(ℚp) of an irreducible p-adic unitary Banach space representation Π of GL2(ℚp). If Π is associated, via the p-adic local Langlands correspondence, to an absolutely irreducible 2-dimensional Galois representation ψ, then the restriction of Π decomposes as a direct sum of r ≤ 2 irreducible representations. The main result of this paper is that r is equal to the cardinality s of the centralizer in PGL2 of the projective Galois representation ψ\overline{\psi} associated to ψ, and the restriction is multiplicity-free, except if ψ is triply-imprimitive, in which case s = 4 and the restriction of Π is a direct sum of two equivalent representations.
Background: Early prediction of functional outcome after rtPA helps clinicians in prognostic conversations with stroke patients and their families. Three prognostic tools have been developed in this regard: DRAGON, MRI-DRAGON, and S-TPI scales. These tools, all performing with a comparable accuracy, have been internally and externally validated in tertiary care centers. However, their performance in rural areas remains uncertain. This study addresses this gap in the literature by evaluating the effectiveness of those prognostic tools in stroke patients treated in a rural area of the Midwest. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of stroke patients treated with thrombolytics at Southern Illinois Healthcare Stroke Network from July 2017 to June 2024. Data on demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory values, neuroimaging, and stroke metrics were collected. modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at one month, classified into good (mRS ≤2) and poor (mRS ≥5) outcomes was noted. DRAGON and MRI-DRAGON scores were calculated. S-TPI model was built. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with its 95% confidence interval was calculated for each prognostic model. Results: A total of 279 patients were included in this study. Of those, 43% (n=119) were male. Median age (IQR) was 69 (57-80) years. NIHSS at presentation (IQR) was 7 (4-13). 12% of the cohort (n=34) had posterior circulation stroke. At one month, 66% of patients (n=185) had mRS≤2, whereas 14% of patients (n=39) mRS≥5. MRI-DRAGON showed the highest accuracy in predicting both good (AUC=0.86, 95%CI:0.81-0.90) and poor outcomes (AUC=0.84, 95%CI:0.76-0.91). DRAGON also demonstrated high accuracy for good (AUC=0.85, 95%CI:0.80 -0.89) and poor (AUC=0.82, 95%CI:0.75-0.90) outcomes. Conversely, in our population, the S-TPI model had the lowest accuracy for good (AUC=0.56, 95%CI:0.49-0.63) and poor (AUC=0.68, 95%CI:0.61-0.76) outcomes. Conclusions: Among the available grading scores, MRI-DRAGON score can be considered the more accurate short-term prognostic tool for stroke patients treated with rtPA in the rural setting. As the care of acute stroke patients change, prognostic tools should be updated, and newer ones developed to aid clinicians in guiding prognostic conversations with patients and their families.
Objective: To determine if any difference exists in safety and outcomes of patients treated with thrombolytic therapy via telemedicine, based on the subspeciality of the treating neurologist. Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using data from our local stroke registry of patients evaluated via telemedicine and treated with thrombolytic therapy at our rural stroke network over five years. The cohort was divided into two groups based on the subspecialty of the treating neurologist: vascular neurology (VN) and neurocritical care (NCC). Demographics, clinical characteristics, stroke metrics, thrombolytic complications, and final diagnosis were reviewed. In-hospital mortality and mRS at 30 days were noted. Primary outcome was symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH); secondary outcome was mRS 0-1 at 30 days. Results: Among 142 patients who received thrombolytic therapy via telemedicine, 44 (31%) were evaluated by a VN specialist, whereas 98 (69%) by an NCC specialist. There was no difference in baseline clinical characteristics between the VN and NCC groups. The stroke metrics, including door-to-needle time within 60 minutes (55% vs. 62%), and final diagnosis of ischemic stroke (64% vs. 60%), were similar between the two groups (p>0.5 for all). Compared to NCC group, VN group had a higher trend of sICH (7% vs. 1%, p=0.05). However, in a logistic regression analysis, after correcting for NIHSS, SBP, door-to-needle time, and baseline use of antiplatelet therapy, the type of neurology subspecialty was not independently associated with development of sICH (OR 0.141, SE 0.188, p=0.141). The rate of in-hospital mortality was also similar between VN and NCC (7% vs. 5%, p=0.8). In a model that accounted for stroke severity, no association was established between the type of neurology subspecialty and mRS at 30 days (OR 1.589, SE 0.662, p=0.266) Conclusions: In our population, safety and outcome of thrombolytic therapy via telemedicine were not influenced by the subspecialty of treating neurologist. Our study supports the continued use and expansion of telemedicine in acute stroke care, leveraging the expertise of both vascular neurologists and neurocritical care specialists to improve accessibility and outcomes for patients in rural and underserved areas.
In this paper, we develop a methodology for ranking countries and continents in their use of renewable energy. We then rank the countries and continents by using data for 150 countries over the period 1990–2019. The methodology involves calculating country and continent premiums in the use of renewable energy using regression analysis. South America comes the best in terms of renewable energy consumption with Paraguay taking the lead, and Europe comes second with Iceland taking the lead. Since in calculating the premiums, we control for per-capita gross domestic product, using cubic specifications we are also able to confirm the existence of an inverted N-shaped Environment Kuznets curve. The paper then tries to make a distinction between clean and dirty sources of renewable energy as robustness checks. Our findings suggest that since the use of renewable energy is vital for a sustainable environment, there is a need for greater financial development and interventions by governments to ensure that environmental quality could improve with income, given that the technical effect that comes with the relationship between income and environment quality has been shown in the literature to overshadow the scale effect. Significant heterogeneity among countries that we have found in this paper also suggests that countries can learn from each other for the benefit of everyone.
Detailed descriptions of three patterned rich fens, located along the Hyland River, approximately 155 km north of the town of Watson Lake, are reported for the first time. Similar to rich fens farther south in boreal and montane Alberta, these fens are characterized by high species richness and a ground layer dominated by Scorpidium scorpioides and S. revolvens. Despite the similarities in dominant ground layer species, these northern cordilleran rich fens differ in water chemistry and in having a number of species characteristic of northern or coastal locations, and lack many of the characteristic rich fen species found to the south. Therefore, these Yukon rich fens represent a unique variation within rich fen peatlands and indicate that S. scorpioides and S. revolvens are not strictly confined to high Ca²⁺ conditions. This distinct combination of water chemistry and plant composition not only sets these Yukon fens apart ecologically, but also underscores their importance as habitat for rare and specialized plant communities. Protecting these fens would ensure these distinctive wetlands continue to serve as refuges for species with specialized habitat requirements. Additionally, The locations of 425 patterned fens in the Yukon are documented using SPOT 5 imagery, ESRI world imagery, and Google Earth Pro. Less than 10 of these patterned fens have been visited and surveyed and little is known about their vegetation and chemistry.
The fixing number of a graph Γ\Gamma is the minimum number of vertices that, when fixed, remove all nontrivial automorphisms from the automorphism group of Γ\Gamma . Gibbons and Laison extended the concept of fixing numbers of graphs to fixing sets of groups. The fixing set of a finite group G is the set of all fixing numbers of graphs whose automorphism groups are isomorphic to G. For nZn \in {\mathbb {Z}} with n2n \ge 2, Gibbons and Laison conjectured that the fixing set of the symmetric group on n symbols is {1,2,,n1}\{1,2,\ldots , n-1\}. In this article, we will disprove this conjecture, which also answers an open question of theirs. Moreover, we will establish previously unknown elements of fixing sets of symmetric groups by using Johnson graphs. Fixing sets of other groups have also been considered; however, there are very few fixing sets of groups that have been completely established. We will begin this article by proving the fixing sets of both quasi-dihedral groups and quasi-abelian groups; these results then determine the fixing set of every group that is isomorphic to a member in one of the six infinite families of 2-groups that contain a cyclic subgroup of index 2.
Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations have decreased substantially in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) over the past decades, so considerably that two of the four genetically distinct runs are now listed in the Endangered Species Act. One factor responsible for this decline is the presence of contaminants in the Delta. Insecticides, used globally in agricultural, industrial, and household settings, have the potential to contaminate nearby aquatic systems through spray drift, runoff, and direct wastewater discharge. Chinook Salmon are therefore exposed, as they out-migrate through the Delta, to insecticides that have been associated with adverse biological effects in aquatic species, ranging from sub-lethal impairments to lethality. The goal of this study was to assess whether bifenthrin, a ubiquitous pyrethroid insecticide in the Delta, impacts thermal tolerance, hypoxia tolerance and behavior of juvenile Chinook Salmon. Fish were exposed for 10 days to environmentally relevant (125 ng/L, associated with resulting body residues in wild-caught fish) and sub-lethal bifenthrin concentrations (500 and 1000 ng/L). Juvenile Chinook Salmon exposed to bifenthrin were tolerant to increases in hypoxia but not temperature. Fish exposed to bifenthrin showed dose-dependent behavior changes: hypoactivity at 125 ng/L, hyperactivity at 1000 ng/L, and reduced anxiety-like behavior, including lower thigmotaxis and decreased social interaction. The results revealed that exposure to sublethal concentrations of bifenthrin, leading to environmentally relevant body burden residues, significantly altered upper thermal tolerance and caused non-linear behavioral changes. The study suggests the existence of behavioral effect thresholds in wild-caught fish and emphasizes that higher concentrations of contaminants may impair Chinook Salmon's ability to avoid predators in natural environments.
MHP is a renewable energy technology that transforms the kinetic energy of flowing water into electrical power. With the rising interest in sustainable energy, there is a potential for enhanced integration of micro-hydropower (MHP) with water distribution networks (WDNs) for energy generation and pressure regulation. The deployment of this technology in Malaysia has been impeded by several obstacles. The possibility of integrating MHP into WDNs will be assessed in the context of Malaysian urban environments. The evaluation emphasizes that WDNs ensure consistent water flow and quality, hence decreasing operational expenses and turbine degradation, rendering MHP a dependable and sustainable energy source. Analysis indicates that interest in MHP escalated in 2011, with pertinent studies rising by 70% by 2020. MHP systems are feasible for decentralized and sustainable energy production; nevertheless, problems including infrastructure constraints, substantial initial costs, and the requirement for technical proficiency persist. This study examines MHP systems, including their classification, components, power production, and efficiency within the specific infrastructural and energy context of Malaysia. The article evaluates Malaysia's hydropower potential in water distribution networks, utilizing methodology derived from successful European models, and examines how strategic policies could enhance installed capacity. The findings indicate that Malaysia may achieve its renewable energy objectives by formulating effective policies to optimize the current water infrastructure, while promoting environmental, economic, and energy security aims. Malaysia can lead Southeast Asia's sustainable energy initiatives by advancing micro-hydropower, hybrid energy systems, and community engagement. The evaluation aims to guide future research and policy initiatives to expedite the country's energy transformation through the integration of micro-hydropower in water distribution networks.
Rhodothalassium (Rts.) salexigens is a halophilic purple nonsulfur bacterium and the sole species in the genus Rhodothalassium, which is itself the sole genus in the family Rhodothalassiaceae and sole family in the order Rhodothalassiales (class Alphaproteobacteria). The genome of this phylogenetically unique phototroph comprises 3.35 Mb and is highly chimeric, with nearly half of its genes originating from families other than the Rhodothalassiaceae, many of which lack phototrophic species. Photosynthesis genes in Rts. salexigens are not arranged in a typical photosynthesis gene cluster but are scattered across the genome, suggesting an origin from horizontal transfers. Despite an encoded RuBisCO, autotrophy has not been observed in Rts. salexigens, and enzymes that oxidize common inorganic electron donors are not encoded. Phospholipid biosynthesis in Rts. salexigens is restricted, and phosphoglycerolipids are the only phospholipids present in its intracytoplasmic membranes. Rts. salexigens fixes nitrogen using a Mo-containing nitrogenase and uses ammonia despite previous results that indicated it was a glutamate auxotroph. Glycine betaine is the sole osmolyte in Rts. salexigens, and enzymes are encoded that facilitate both its uptake and its biosynthesis from glycine. The genomic data also support chemotactic swimming motility, growth over a range of salinities, and the production of membrane-strengthening hopanoids.
Trichoderma spp. are among the most studied biocontrol agents. While extensive work has been done to understand Trichoderma antagonistic mechanisms, additional research is needed to fully understand how Trichoderma spp. recognize the pathogen-host and the intra-species variability i frequently observed upon interaction with a specific pathogen-host. This study focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying observed phenotypic differences among the T. afroharzianum isolates Th19A and Th4 during confrontation with Fusarium virguliforme by investigating differences in their transcriptome at different stages of interaction. In a dual plate assay, Th19A overgrows F. virguliforme, whereas Th4 forms an inhibition zone. Significant differences were observed in the F. virguliforme transcriptome upon interaction with Th19A compared to Th4 and across the different stages of interaction. GO molecular function categories enriched for F. virguliforme genes differed, indicating possible transcriptional plasticity upon interaction with Th19A versus Th4. Significant transcriptome changes were also observed in T. afroharzianum, with several differences in GO-enriched categories between isolates. Several differentially expressed genes-encoding secreted proteins, including CAZymes and CBM1-domain-containing proteins, were up-regulated in Th19A and Th4 upon interaction with the pathogen, even before physical contact, demonstrating possible volatile-mediated recognition of both isolates by F. virguliforme. This study contributes to a better understanding of the interaction between T. afroharzianum and F. virguliforme, which is crucial for developing efficient biological control programs.
This paper presents a new paradigm for abnormality detection using a novel power signature that characterizes the rising and descending patterns of energy consumption. The proposed methodology includes a low-overhead power signature generation circuit, computation-light analysis methods, and optimal generation of the golden signature used in the analysis. The proposed power signature generation circuit is designed using 90 nm CMOS technology, and its operation is validated via circuit simulations. The effectiveness of the proposed method in detecting the insertion of potentially malicious code is demonstrated with data obtained from hardware experiments and circuit simulations.
Objectives From January 2020 to the end of August 2020, preliminary research gathered data about the need for and the feasibility of an ADEA‐led joint Climate Study of dental schools and allied dental programs in the United States and Canada. Informed by these findings, the first ever ADEA‐led joint Climate Study took place in 2022. The objectives of this manuscript were to describe the timeline of this climate study and provide information about its methodology, specifically about (a) who participated in this research, (b) what was assessed, (c) how the study was conducted, and (d) how the results were communicated. Methods In 2021, the consulting company Nonprofit HR, members of the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment and campus liaisons collaborated on designing the 2022 ADEA‐led Climate Study. Results Between January 1 and April 1, 2022, survey data were collected in the United States ( N = 16,518), Canada ( N = 1042), and Puerto Rico ( N = 145) from 10,281 students, 2591 staff, 4026 faculty, 359 administrators, and 443 administrators with faculty positions in dental schools and allied dental programs. Social identity information about the respondents’ gender identity, ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, and ability status was assessed. Survey questions focused on assessing respondents’ perceptions/experiences with their own institutions’ climate and the degree to which it was inclusive. The questionnaire collected information about their well‐being, sense of belonging and cultural competence, their perceptions/experiences with harassment and discrimination, with their institutions’ diversity, equity, and inclusion‐related programming, activities, and leadership practices. Careful attention was given to how the data were collected and how the results were shared with the participating academic institutions and the dental education community at large. Conclusions Institution‐specific results of this 2022 ADEA Climate Study were shared with the participating dental schools and allied dental programs to provide them with a better understanding of their own cultural climate. This special issue of the Journal of Dental Education provides dental educators with an overview of the results of this first ever ADEA‐led Climate Study of U.S. and Canadian dental schools and allied dental programs.
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Smith Mc
  • School of Education
Kanchan Mondal
  • School of Mechanical
Dale Buck Hales
  • Department of Physiology
Rasit Koc
  • Departament of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes
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