Digital Commons Network^™

A Current Update On Human Papillomavirus-Associated Head And Neck Cancers., Ebenezer Tumban

Michigan Tech Publications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the cause of a growing percentage of head and neck cancers (HNC); primarily, a subset of oral squamous cell carcinoma, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The majority of HPV-associated head and neck cancers (HPV + HNC) are caused by HPV16; additionally, co-factors such as smoking and immunosuppression contribute to the progression of HPV + HNC by interfering with tumor suppressor miRNA and impairing mediators of the immune system. This review summarizes current studies on HPV + HNC, ranging from potential modes of oral transmission of HPV (sexual, self-inoculation, vertical and horizontal …

Development And Characterization Of An Antimicrobial Polydopamine Coating For Conservation Of Humpback Whales., Ariana Tyo, Sonja Welch, Maureen Hennenfent, Pegah Kord Fooroshani, Bruce P Lee, Rupak Rajachar

Michigan Tech Publications

Migration patterns of humpback whales have been monitored using 316L stainless steel (SS) satellite telemetry tags. The potential for tissue infection and necrosis is increased if the bacteria, naturally a part of the diverse microbiome on the skin of humpback whales, can adhere to and colonize the surface of the tags. Polydopamine (pDA) has the potential to prevent the adhesion of one of the most prevalent bacterial strains on the surface of the skin of cetaceans (

Evaluation Of Copper-Contaminated Marginal Land For The Cultivation Of Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon Zizanioides) As A Lignocellulosic Feedstock And Its Impact On Downstream Bioethanol Production, Emily Geiger, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta

Michigan Tech Publications

Metal-contaminated soil could be sustainably used for biofuel feedstock production if the harvested biomass is amenable to bioethanol production. A 60-day greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate (1) the potential of vetiver grass to phytostabilize soil contaminated with copper (Cu), and (2) the impact of Cu exposure on its lignocellulosic composition and downstream bioethanol production. Dilute acid pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation parameters were optimized sequentially for vetiver grass using response surface methodology (RSM). Results indicate that the lignocellulosic composition of vetiver grown on Cu-rich soil was favorably altered with a significant decrease in lignin and increase in hemicellulose and …

Perspectives On Micrornas And Phased Small Interfering Rnas In Maize (Zea Mays L.): Functions And Big Impact On Agronomic Traits Enhancement, Zhanhui Zhang, Sachin Teotia, Jihua Tang, Guiliang Tang

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Small RNA (sRNA) population in plants comprises of primarily micro RNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). MiRNAs play important roles in plant growth and development. The miRNA-derived secondary siRNAs are usually known as phased siRNAs, including phasiRNAs and tasiRNAs. The miRNA and phased siRNA biogenesis mechanisms are highly conserved in plants. However, their functional conservation and diversification may differ in maize. In the past two decades, lots of miRNAs and phased siRNAs have been functionally identified for curbing important maize agronomic traits, such as those related to developmental timing, plant architecture, sex determination, reproductive development, leaf morphogenesis, root development …

Whole Blueberry Protects Pancreatic Beta-Cells In Diet-Induced Obese Mouse, Weixiang Liu, Yiping Mao, Jacob Schoenborn, Zhihong Wang, Guiliang Tang, Xiaoqing Tang

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background

Blueberry is rich in bioactive substances and possesses powerful antioxidant potential, which can protect against oxidant-induced and inflammatory cell damage and cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to determine how blueberry affects glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell proliferation in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.

Methods

Wild type male mice at age of 4 weeks received two different kinds of diets: high-fat diet (HFD) containing 60% fat or modified HFD supplemented with 4% (wt:wt) freeze-dried whole blueberry powder (HFD + B) for 14 weeks. A separate experiment was performed in mice fed with low-fat diet (LFD) containing 10% …

Oil Hydrocarbon Degradation By Caspian Sea Microbial Communities, John Miller, Stephen Techtmann, Julian Fortney, Nagissa Mahmoudi, Dominique Joyner, Jiang Liu, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The Caspian Sea, which is the largest landlocked body of water on the planet, receives substantial annual hydrocarbon input from anthropogenic sources (e.g., industry, agriculture, oil exploration, and extraction) and natural sources (e.g., mud volcanoes and oil seeps). The Caspian Sea also receives substantial amounts of runoff from agricultural and municipal sources, containing nutrients that have caused eutrophication and subsequent hypoxia in the deep, cold waters. The effect of decreasing oxygen saturation and cold temperatures on oil hydrocarbon biodegradation by a microbial community is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oxic and …

Coastal Ecosystem Investigations With Lidar (Light Detection And Ranging) And Bottom Reflectance: Lake Superior Reef Threatened By Migrating Tailings, Charlie Kerfoot, Martin M. Hobmeier, Sarah Green, Foad Yousef, Colin Brooks, Robert Shuchman, Michael Sayers, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Where light penetration is excellent, the combination of LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) and passive bottom reflectance (multispectral, hyperspectral) greatly aids environmental studies. Over a century ago, two stamp mills (Mohawk and Wolverine) released 22.7 million metric tons of copper-rich tailings into Grand Traverse Bay (Lake Superior). The tailings are crushed basalt, with low albedo and spectral signatures different from natural bedrock (Jacobsville Sandstone) and bedrock-derived quartz sands. Multiple Lidar (CHARTS and CZMIL) over-flights between 2008–2016—complemented by ground-truth (Ponar sediment sampling, ROV photography) and passive bottom reflectance studies (3-band NAIP; 13-band Sentinal-2 orbital satellite; 48 and 288-band CASI)—clarified shoreline and …

The Interaction Between Mir160 And Mir165/166 In The Control Of Leaf Development And Drought Tolerance In Arabidopsis, Tianxiao Yang, Yongyan Wan, Sachin Teotia, Zhaohui Wang, Chaonan Shi, Huwei Sun, Yiyou Gu, Zhanhui Zhang, Guiliang Tang

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that play important roles in plant development and abiotic stresses. To date, studies have mainly focused on the roles of individual miRNAs, however, a few have addressed the interactions among multiple miRNAs. In this study, we investigated the interplay and regulatory circuit between miR160 and miR165/166 and its effect on leaf development and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis using Short Tandem Target Mimic (STTM). By crossing STTM160 Arabidopsis with STTM165/166, we successfully generated a double mutant of miR160 and miR165/166. The double mutant plants exhibited a series of compromised phenotypes in leaf development …

Engineering Stem Cell Cardiac Patch With Microvascular Features Representative Of Native Myocardium, Zichen Qian, Dhavan Sharma, Wenkai Jia, Daniel Radke, Timothy Kamp, Feng Zhao

Michigan Tech Publications

The natural myocardium is a highly aligned tissue with an oriented vasculature. Its characteristic cellular as well as nanoscale extracellular matrix (ECM) organization along with an oriented vascular network ensures appropriate blood supply and functional performance. Although significant efforts have been made to develop anisotropic cardiac structure, currently neither an ideal biomaterial nor an effective vascularization strategy to engineer oriented and high-density capillary-like microvessels has been achieved for clinical cardiovascular therapies. A naturally derived oriented ECM nanofibrous scaffold mimics the physiological structure and components of tissue ECM and guides neovascular network formation. The objective of this study was to create …

Unconventional Oil And Gas Energy Systems: An Unidentified Hotspot Of Antimicrobial Resistance?, Maria Fernanda Campa, Amy K Wolfe, Stephen Techtmann, Ann-Marie Harik, Terry C Hazen

Michigan Tech Publications

Biocides used in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) practices, such as hydraulic fracturing, control microbial growth. Unwanted microbial growth can cause gas souring, pipeline clogging, and microbial-induced corrosion of equipment and transportation pipes. However, optimizing biocide use has not been a priority. Moreover, biocide efficacy has been questioned because microbial surveys show an active microbial community in hydraulic fracturing produced and flowback water. Hydraulic fracturing produced and flowback water increases risks to surface aquifers and rivers/lakes near the UOG operations compared with conventional oil and gas operations. While some biocides and biocide degradation products have been highlighted as chemicals of …