Electronic Supporting Data: Tetrachloroanthracene Walled Glycoluril Dimer Undergoes Self-Association and 1:1, 2:2, and 1:3 Host•Guest Binding

We report the design, synthesis and characterization of a tetrachloroanthracene walled methylene bridged glycoluril dimer (H1). According to 1H NMR spectroscopy and symmetry considerations we formulate H1 as a C2v-symmetric monomer in DMSO but it exists as a C2h-symmetric dimer (H1•H1) in water. The H1•H1 dimer persists below 25 uM in water and displays high thermodynamic stability (Ks ≥ 1.8 x 106 M-1). H1•H1 is also stable up to 70 ˚C in water. We investigated the binding of H1 with a panel of five dyes by isothermal titration calorimetry and 1H NMR spectroscopy and found that H1 engages with dyes with several different stoichiometries of binding. For example, NMeAc and Berb are capable of causing the dissociation of H1•H1 resulting in the formation of the 1:1 intracavity dye complexes H1•NMeAc and H1•Berb. In contrast, Rh6G and ThT do not dissociate the H1•H1 dimer and instead stack on the exterior of the dimer to form Rh6G•H1•H1•Rh6G and ThT•H1•H1•ThT, respectively. Finally, 3 equivalents of NDI+ causes dissociation of H1•H1 and binds both intracavity and on the exterior to form the H1•(NDI+)3 complex.We thank the National Science Foundation (CHE-1807486) for past financial support. We thank the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (R35GM153362) for current financial support of this project

Association between smoking cessation and risk for type 2 diabetes, stratified by post-cessation weight change: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: While smoking cessation reduces health risks, its impact on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains complex when considering post-cessation weight gain. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between smoking cessation and diabetes risk stratified by weight change and cessation duration. METHODS: We searched seven databases through April 14, 2025. Observational studies examining smoking cessation, weight changes, and T2DM were included. Random-effects models pooled hazard ratios (HRs) comparing recent and long-term quitters to continuous/never smokers, stratified by weight gain. RESULTS: Among eleven cohort studies, quitters with weight gain showed increased diabetes risk versus continuous smokers (HR = 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.12, 2.62), with recent quitters having greater risk (HR = 2.20, 95 % CI: 1.27, 3.82) but long-term quitters showing reduced risk (HR = 0.91, 95 % CI: 0.87, 0.95). Quitters without weight gain demonstrated no increased risk (recent: HR = 0.99, 95 % CI: 0.81, 1.02) and lower risk (long-term: HR = 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.81, 0.87). Compared to never-smokers, recent quitters had a higher T2DM risk regardless of weight status (with gain: HR = 1.61, 95 % CI: 1.03, 2.50; without gain: HR = 1.25, 95 % CI: 1.05, 1.48), while long-term quitters showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation temporarily increases T2DM risk, particularly with weight gain, but becomes protective long-term, emphasizing weight management.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.10842

CrabFormer: RGB-D Segmentation and Pose Estimation for Front-End Loading of Piled Chesapeake Blue Crabs

CrabFormer is a multitasking transformer model developed to tackle the challenges of front-end loading in the automated processing of Chesapeake blue crabs. Existing methods often struggle to accurately identify crabs in chaotic, piled configurations, where occlusions and overlapping are common. CrabFormer addresses this by combining instance segmentation and keypoint prediction using RGB-D inputs to detect crabs and estimate their orientation. Utilizing a dual-patch Swin-T backbone, the model processes RGB and depth data separately, effectively capturing visual and geometric features. CrabFormer is evaluated on a custom dataset comprising discrete, overlapping, and piled crabs. It achieves a segmentation Average Precision (AP) of 67.84 and Average Recall (AR) of 76.29, while its keypoint prediction AP and AR are 62.43 and 77.23, respectively. The model outperforms state-of-the-art transformer-based segmentation and keypoint prediction models, particularly in the most complex piled cases, demonstrating improvements in both AP and AR. It excels in identifying the topmost crab in a pile, a key task for automated processing. Additionally, CrabFormer achieves competitive inference times while maintaining superior multitasking performance. These results highlight CrabFormer’s potential to enhance the automation of front-end loading in the seafood industry, reducing labor reliance and improving operational efficiency. Future work will expand the dataset and explore the model’s applicability to other crustaceans with similar morphological complexities

The cruciferous vegetable Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, (Kale) protects against pro-inflammatory- lipopolysaccharide formation, translocation, and endotoxicity.

Cruciferous vegetables have been widely studied for cancer prevention and cardiovascular health. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable whose phytochemistry and physiological effects have been most extensively studied. Kale is often on the list of ‘most healthy foods,’ but there is a paucity of scientific data on it. Easily cultivated with resistance to extreme weather, kale is rich in phytochemicals and micronutrients. Compared to other Brassica, including broccoli, arugula, and cabbage, kale has the highest density of sulforaphane, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene, quercetin, and minerals (Zn, K, P). The gut microbiota influences host phenotype through direct contact with intestinal cells or indirectly via bacterial metabolites. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the most potent activators of innate immune signaling, is a causal or complicating factor in several diseases, and is an important mediator of the microbiome’s influence on host physiology. The structure, chemical properties, and immunogenicity of LPS vary depending on the specific gut bacterial species that produce it. Pro-inflammatory LPS (P-LPS) activates the innate immune system, leading to inflammatory responses. In contrast, immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory LPS (A-LPS) is not a ligand for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and therefore does not trigger immune signaling. Host-mediated inflammation, whether from the diet, a pathogen, chemical induction, or deficiency in immunity, favors the growth of aerobic bacterial taxa, e.g., Enterobacteriaceae, the main producers of P-LPS. The P-LPS is a highly immunogenic antigen that further exacerbates inflammation and is detrimental to gut barrier function. The goal of this study was to determine the protective impacts of kale supplementation as a functional food against diet-induced fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and inflammation. In two studies in C57BL6 mice, we found that whole ‘curly green kale’ is protective against systemic low-grade inflammation induced by a high fat (HF) diet and acute inflammation induced chemically by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The second goal of the study was to determine mechanisms by which kale protects against the formation, translocation, and functioning of P-LPS. Using C56BL6J mice and in vitro models, we show that kale imparts this protection by changing the gut microbiota composition, reducing the abundance of P-LPS-producing Enterobacteriaceae while increasing the representation of Bacteroidaceae, including species like Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, which is known to produce immunosuppressive A-LPS. Kale thus modulates the P-LPS to A-LPS ratio. Relative levels of this ratio will exacerbate or inhibit inflammation. In addition, kale promotes the outgrowth of gram-positive taxa, specifically the species Turicibacter sanguinis. In follow-up studies in co-cultures of bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells), we show that T. sanguinis protects gut barrier integrity by attenuating the adhesion and proliferation of E.coli O157:H7 (the source of P-LPS) and enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins. Further experiments in Caco-2 cells treated with P-LPS showed that the extract of kale promotes the expression and activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), an enzyme that deactivates P-LPS by dephosphorylating its lipid A moiety, thus rendering it unable to bind to TLR4 and initiate signaling. Lastly, using flow cytometry, we showed that in mouse primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and RAW 264.7 macrophages, kale extract inhibited the ability of P-LPS to bind to the TLR4-MD2 complex and CD14 receptors, thus attenuating the downstream inflammatory responses. In summary, dietary supplementation with kale is protective against inflammation. Particularly inflammation induced by the bacterial metabolite P-LPS. It is protective against (i) P-LPS formation (by modulating the gut microbiota), (ii) P-LPS translocation (by strengthening the gut barrier), and (iii) the functioning of P-LPS (promoting its dephosphorylation and hence detoxification and preventing its binding to TLR4

Point Lookout Sea-Level Rise Resilience Design Plan

Final report for LARC331: Regional Design and GIS Studio (Spring 2025). University of Maryland, College ParkPoint Lookout State Park is valued for its rich culture and natural history. The park exhibits signs of rising sea-levels -- especially in low lying areas -- and needs extra care to build resiliency for the next 25-50 years. A masterplan is presented here that addresses healthy marsh migration, oyster reef construction, and site-specific proposals for protecting and enhancing important site amenities. Issues of sea-level rise, habitat preservation, educational opportunities, and accessibility are given special consideration. By implementing coastal resilience techniques, the plan aims to prepare the park to respond to its changing environment and accommodate users of all ages and abilities!St. Mary's County, M

DNA Aptamer Against Alzheimer’s β-Amyloid 42 Protein

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. Currently, there are 6.9 million cases in individuals aged 65+ in the US, with an expected rise to 13.8 million by 2060. Current diagnostic methods, such as spinal taps and brain scans, are invasive and not widely accessible, exacerbating public health inequities. Recently, antibody-based blood tests have been developed to detect Alzheimer's, but aptamer-based diagnostics can be a cheaper and more accessible alternative to these antibody-based diagnostics. This study aims to develop a DNA aptamer capable of binding to the β-amyloid 42 protein, a biomarker associated with Alzheimer's, for a wide range of potential diagnostic applications. We conducted positive and negative selections using a Ni-NTA bead-based in vitro selection method against a His-GST tagged β-amyloid 42 protein. During selection, we utilized asymmetric PCR and gel extraction to amplify the single-stranded DNA. Results indicated enrichment of target-binding sequences in early selection rounds, though we encountered issues with low yields from gel extraction. Future work includes optimizing gel extraction protocols, gel shift assays to measure binding affinity, and increasing selection stringency to enhance aptamer specificity and binding affinity. This research aims to further contribute to developing non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic tools for early Alzheimer's detection, aligning with the broader goals of improving access to diagnostic resources for all

Polysaccharides in Amyloid Aggregation and Hydrogel Mechanics: Insights from Molecular Modeling

Polysaccharides are linear polymeric carbohydrates with wide-ranging functions in biological contexts and constantly emerging applications at the intersection of biomedical and materials sciences. They often participate in soft matter systems—multi-component systems with a propensity for self-assembly—ranging from simple household agar gels to complex biofluids like mucus. In this thesis, we examined overlapping yet independent cases of polysaccharide-related self-assembly with relevance to materials design for engineering applications and disease-related amyloid aggregation. A common theme among them is the inherent dynamics and polymorphism of self-assembled structures, which pose challenges to complete characterizations with experimental techniques. We addressed the knowledge gaps in the experimental literature with molecular dynamics (MD), a method of physics-based simulations of molecular motions. The conventional MD approach, also known as “atomistic” MD, where each atom of a molecule is explicitly modeled, is accurate but inefficient at sampling the timescales necessary for large dynamical changes like self-assembly. To overcome this limitation, we opted for a simplified MD scheme known as “coarse-graining”, where degrees of freedom of atomistic molecules are reduced by approximating their chemical properties. With this approach to molecular modeling, four case studies of polysaccharide-based soft matter systems were performed, and mechanistic insights were reported. The first case study considered a pH-responsive hydrogel system composed of the polysaccharide chitosan, and an anionic surfactant. Experiments showed that the hydrogels had contrasting mechanical properties at the two pH extremes. Our simulations, which spanned atomistic, coarse-grained, and non-equilibrium MD, provided insight into the structural origins of these pH-dependent mechanical properties. Next, we showed that chitosan hydrogels inhibited the toxic aggregation of Alzheimer's disease-related amyloid-β by sequestering monomeric peptides throughout the hydrogel network. The inhibitory effect was minimal in dilute chitosan conditions where hydrogels did not form. The last two case studies focused on the influence of glycosaminoglycans, a class of polysaccharide that make up parts of the extracellular matrix (ECM), on amyloid aggregation. One was aimed at understanding how glycosaminoglycans enhanced amyloid aggregation far from the cell surface, the other at the role of glycosaminoglycans near the cell surface. In this way, we investigated two distinct microenvironments within the ECM, the biological milieu of many toxic amyloids. Concurrently, we investigated the aggregation of two different peptides, developed coarse-grained force fields for two different glycosaminoglycans, and collectively contributed to a transferable toolkit of force fields for the modeling of sub-cellular environments. We developed thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms for the ability of glycosaminoglycans to enhance amyloid aggregation in both contexts. Highlights include demonstrations of how the bending of glycsoaminglycans mediated peptide aggregation. In addition to contributing basic scientific knowledge, these insights may inspire strategies for amyloid inhibition, rational hydrogel design, or other applications

Scream Queen: Drag, Dance, and the Grotesque Beauty of Queer Imagination

Scream Queen is, if anything, an act of adoration for the medium of horror and the power of queer expression. This paper will detail the process and culminating product of my choreographed work, Scream Queen, presented in October 2024. I will discuss persona, drag, and the intimate relationship between horror and queerness. As a queer alternative movement artist, I hope to honor the subversive and revolutionary voices who have come before me. I will explore the belief and theory that queer people gravitate towards that which is grotesque, horrific, and villainous because it allows them to feel a sense of power within their otherness, actively witnessing aspects of their identity within figureheads that oppose the world which has demonized their existence