Viral Networks: Connecting Digital Humanities and Medical History

This volume of original essays explores the power of network thinking and analysis for humanities research. Contributing authors are all scholars whose research focuses on a medical history topic—from the Black Death in fourteenth-century Provence to psychiatric hospitals in twentieth-century Alabama. The chapters take readers through a variety of situations in which scholars must determine if network analysis is right for their research; and, if the answer is yes, what the possibilities are for implementation. Along the way, readers will find practical tips on identifying an appropriate network to analyze, finding the best way to apply network analysis, and choosing the right tools for data visualization. All the chapters in this volume grew out of the 2018 Viral Networks workshop, hosted by the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine (NIH), funded by the Office of Digital Humanities of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and organized by Virginia Tech

Nuclease mediated gene targeting of the sickle cell disease mutation utilizing non-viral delivery strategies

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by aberrant hemoglobin structure and is associated with global mortality and health disparities. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative therapy, but is not available for the vast majority of patients. Gene therapy involving the insertion and forced expression of normal or anti-sickling β-globin (HBB) variants have been proposed, however, safety concerns due to non-targeted gene insertion impedes its clinical application. A novel curative therapeutic approach involves utilizing the newly developed precision gene-editing tools, including TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 systems, to stimulate targeted correction of the disease-causing mutation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) isolated from the patient. Subsequent engraftment of gene corrected HSPCs will replace sickled cells with healthy red blood cells, thus curing SCD. One major hurdle for advancing a gene-editing based treatment for SCD is delivering nucleases along with donor template into HSPCs. This dissertation explores the use of different delivery strategies, including nucleofection and microinjection, and determines the efficiency and off-target effects of nuclease-based gene modification by completing the following aims: (1) developing and characterizing a glass needle-mediated microinjection method for the direct delivery of molecules into human hematopoietic cells, (2) demonstrating proof-of principle for microinjecting gene-editing tools for targeting the SCD mutation within hematopoietic cells, and (3) optimizing nucleofection of gene-editing reagents into human HSPCs. This work systematically evaluates microinjection and nucleofection as delivery methods for gene correction in human hematopoietic cells and provides insight into the clinical applicability of gene-editing tools for treating sickle cell disease.Ph.D

Online Leader Training Course: Nebraska Equine Extension Leader Certification

The Nebraska Equine Advancement Level Leader Certification Program is an online learning tool that clarifies principles of the Nebraska 4-H Equine Advancement Programs. Through an online Moodle course through eXtension.org, 4-H leaders and Extension educators are able to fulfill the certification requirement from any location before allowing youth to progress through the Equine Advancement Levels. Participants of the course must read required materials, watch informational videos, and complete short assessments prior to being awarded certification. Participant survey results of the online course verify the course\u27s accessibility and feasibility and its ability to train equine leaders and educators at a distance