Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile Of Biofield Treated Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella Oxytoca, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Harish Shettigar, Mayank Gangwar, Snehasis Jana

Mahendra Kumar Trivedi

Engaging Youth In Lifelong Outdoor Adventure Activities Through A Nontraditional Public School Physical Education Program, Keri Schwab, Daniel L. Dustin

Keri Schwab

Engaging Youth in Lifelong Outdoor Adventure Activities through a Nontraditional Public School Physical Education Program

Tsu Faculty Publication Database, David Owerbach

David Owerbach

THE TSU faculty publication database is for the years 2012-2014. The database was constructed by the Office of Research and was last updated on November 20, 2014.

Longitudinal Transcriptomic Dysregulation In The Peripheral Blood Of Transgenic Huntington’S Disease Monkeys, Jannet Kocerha, Yuhong Liu, David Willoughby, Kumaravel Chidamparam, Joseph Benito, Kate Nelson, Yan Xu, Tim Chi, Heidi Engelhardt, Sean Moran, Shang-Hsun Yang, Shi-Hua Li, Xiao-Jiang Li, Katherine Larkin, Adam Neumann, Heather Banta, Jinjing Yang, Anthony W. S. Chan

Jannet Kocerha

Background: Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion in the polyglutamine (polyQ) region of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The clinical features of HD are characterized by cognitive, psychological, and motor deficits. Molecular instability, a core component in neurological disease progression, can be comprehensively evaluated through longitudinal transcriptomic profiling. Development of animal models amenable to longitudinal examination enables distinct disease-associated mechanisms to be identified.

Results: Here we report the first longitudinal study of transgenic monkeys with genomic integration of various lengths of the human HTT gene and a range of polyQ repeats. With this unique group …

Physical Properties Of Yogurt Fortified With Various Commercial Whey Protein Concentrates, Isabelle Sodini, John Montella, Phillip S. Tong

Phillip S. Tong

The effects of whey protein concentrates on physical and rheological properties of yogurt were studied. Five commercial whey protein concentrates (340 g kg−1 protein nominal) were used to fortify milk to 45 g protein kg−1. Fermentation was performed with two different starters (ropy and non-ropy). Resulting yogurts were compared with a control yogurt enriched with skim milk powder. The water-holding capacity of the yogurt fortified with skim milk powder was 500 g kg−1 and ranged from 600 to 638 g kg−1 when fortified with whey protein concentrates. Significant rheological differences have been noticed between the yogurts fortified with different whey …

Advances In Profiling Of Noncoding Rnas In Neurological Disease, Murray J. Cairns, Jannet Kocerha

Jannet Kocerha

No abstract provided.

Expression Of Fused In Sarcoma Mutations In Mice Recapitulates The Neuropathology Of Fus Proteinopathies And Provides Insight Into Disease Pathogenesis, Christophe Verbeeck, Mariely Dejesus-Hernandez, Carolina Ceballos-Diaz, Jannet Kocerha, Todd Golde, Pritam Das, Rosa Rademakers, Dennis W. Dickson, Thomas Kukar

Jannet Kocerha

Background: Mutations in the gene encoding the RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) can cause familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and rarely frontotemproal dementia (FTD). FUS accumulates in neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) in ALS patients with FUS mutations. FUS is also a major pathologic marker for a group of less common forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), which includes atypical FTLD with ubiquitinated inclusions (aFTLD-U), neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease (NIFID) and basophilic inclusion body disease (BIBD). These diseases are now called FUS proteinopathies, because they share this disease marker. It is unknown how FUS mutations cause disease …

G73-73 Sweet Potatoes (Revised June 1992), R.E. Neild, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

Varieties, requirements and culture, harvesting and storage of sweet potatoes. The sweet potato, a member of the morning glory plant family, is native to tropical America. It is an important food plant in warmer regions of the world and is adapted to southeastern Nebraska. Sweet potatoes may be boiled, baked, fried, or candied. They have high food value. Varieties with deeply yellow colored roots are a good source of vitamin A.

Nf97-344 Weights And Measures Guidelines For Sales At Farmers' Markets, Roadside Stands And Other Commercial Outlets, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact focuses on the sale of fresh produce at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and other seasonal outlets.

Nf91-50 Bee Pollination Of Cucurbit Crops, Laurie Hodges, Fred Baxendale

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact discusses bee pollination of cucurbit crops.

Nf92-69 Selected Vegetable Cultivars For Nebraska, Susan Schoneweis, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact provides information about cultivars of garden vegetables available to grow in Nebraska.

G90-993 Basic Cultural Practices For Commercial Production Of Green (Snap) Beans, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebGuide discusses cultivar selection, production, pest management and packing of commercial green beans. Cultivars Selection of cultivars depends on intended use or market. "Processor" cultivars are low in fiber and are best for home garden and roadside markets as well as processing. These include the various Bush Blue Lake selections (BBL 47, BBL 92, BBL 274) and others such as Early Gallatin, Eagle, Slenderwhite, Labrador, Flo, and Peak. The "fresh market" or "shipping" beans have high fiber to maintain quality during long distance shipping. These include Strike, Podsquad, Blazer, Triumph, Atlantic, Gatorgreen, Greencrop, Sprite, and many others. Cultivars with …

G80-496 Tomatoes In The Home Garden, Laurie Hodges, Dale T. Lindgren, Susan Schoneweis

Laurie Hodges

This NebGuide outlines tomato rearing practices, cultivars and possible pest, disease and weed control problems.

Tomatoes come in a wide range of fruit colors, sizes, shapes and maturities. Ripe tomatoes may be red, yellow, orange, pink or even green. Shapes vary from globe or round to slightly flattened, pear-like or cherry-sized. Often consumers complain tomatoes purchased in grocery stores are lacking in flavor or have tough skin. In a home garden, you can grow the tomatoes you prefer, including a wide selection of fruit colors, flavors, textures and sizes. Although rumored, there is no direct link between fruit acidity and …

Nf96-313 Guides For Development Of A Farmers Market, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact contains a list of resources for starting and running a farmers' market.

Nf94-127 Growing Seedless (Triploid) Watermelons, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact has information on growing seedless watermelons.

Nf99-404 Income Generation Using Alternative Crops, Roger D. Uhlinger, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact examines considerations for utilizing alternative crops for income generation.

G74-108 Wilts Of Cucurbits (Revised October 1994), James R. Steadman, David L. Keith, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

Discussion covers the symptoms, disease cycles, and control measures for bacterial and Fusarium wilts of cucurbits, including cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelons, squash, and pumpkins. Wilt caused by squash vine borer also is covered.

Nf92-104 Post-Harvest Handling Of Commercial Vegetable Crops -- Resource List, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact gives a resource list for post-harvest handling of commercial vegetable crops.

Nf91-51 Kale: The "New" Old Vegetable, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact discusses kale.

Nf92-53 European Corn Borer Injury To Peppers, Frederick P. Baxendale, Laurie Hodges

Laurie Hodges

This NebFact discusses European corn borer injury to peppers.

The Path To Microrna Therapeutics In Psychiatric And Neurodegenerative Disorders, Anthony W. S. Chan, Jannet Kocerha

Jannet Kocerha

The microRNA (miRNA) class of non-coding RNAs exhibit a diverse range of regulatory roles in neuronal functions that are conserved from lower vertebrates to primates. Disruption of miRNA expression has compellingly been linked to pathogenesis in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and autism. The list of transcript targets governed by a single miRNA provide a molecular paradigm applicable for therapeutic intervention. Indeed, reports have shown that specific manipulation of a miRNA in cell or animal models can significantly alter phenotypes linked with neurological disease. Here, we review how a diverse range of biological systems, including Drosophila, …

G73-46 Hessian Fly On Wheat, John E. Foster, Gary L. Hein

John E. Foster

This NebGuide discusses the life cycle, control and prevention of the Hessian fly. Plant-safe dates and resistant wheat varieties are also examined. The Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), is not native to the United States, but was probably introduced by Hessian soldiers during the Revolutionary War. This insect was given its common name by Americans because of its damage on Long Island in 1779. The pest has become distributed throughout the United States wheat production areas since then. The Hessian fly belongs to the family of insects known as gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a group noted for their habit of …

Altered Microrna Expression In Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration With Tdp-43 Pathology Caused By Progranulin Mutations, Jannet Kocerha, Naomi Kouri, Matt Baker, Nicole Finch, Mariely Dejesus-Hernandez, John Gonzalez, Kumaravel Chidamparam, Keith A. Josephs, Bradley F. Boeve, Neill R. Graff-Radford, Julia Crook, Dennis W. Dickson, Rosa Rademakers

Jannet Kocerha

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that can be triggered through genetic or sporadic mechanisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have become a major therapeutic focus as their pervasive expression and powerful regulatory roles in disease pathogenesis become increasingly apparent. Here we examine the role of miRNAs in FTLD patients with TAR DNA-binding protein 43 pathology (FTLD-TDP) caused by genetic mutations in the progranulin (PGRN) gene.

Results

Using miRNA array profiling, we identified the 20 miRNAs that showed greatest evidence (unadjusted P < 0.05) of dysregulation in frontal cortex of eight FTLD-TDP patients carrying PGRN mutations when compared to 32 FTLD-TDP patients with no apparent genetic abnormalities. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses provided technical validation of the differential expression for 9 of the 20 miRNAs in frontal cortex. Additional qRT-PCR analyses showed that 5 out of 9 miRNAs (miR-922, miR-516a-3p, miR-571, miR-548b-5p, and miR-548c-5p) were also significantly dysregulated (unadjusted P < 0.05) in cerebellar tissue samples of PGRN mutation carriers, consistent with a systemic reduction in PGRN levels. We developed a list of gene targets for the 5 candidate miRNAs and found 18 genes dysregulated in a reported FTLD mRNA study to exhibit anti-correlated miRNA-mRNA patterns in affected cortex and cerebellar tissue. Among the targets is brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 3, which was recently identified as an important player in synapse biology.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that miRNAs may contribute to the pathogenesis of FTLD-TDP caused by PGRN mutations and …

Drosophila Model For Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders: Role For The Insulin Pathway, Rachael L. French, K D. Mcclure, U Heberlein

Rachael L. French

Prenatal exposure to ethanol in humans results in a wide range of developmental abnormalities, including growth deficiency, developmental delay, reduced brain size, permanent neurobehavioral abnormalities and fetal death. Here we describe the use of Drosophila melanogaster as a model for exploring the effects of ethanol exposure on development and behavior. We show that developmental ethanol exposure causes reduced viability, developmental delay and reduced adult body size. We find that flies reared on ethanol-containing food have smaller brains and imaginal discs, which is due to reduced cell division rather than increased apoptosis. Additionally, we show that, as in mammals, flies reared …

Contemporary And Historical Separation Of Transequatorial Migration Between Genetically Distinct Seabird Populations, M J. Rayner, M E. Hauber, T E. Steeves, H A. Lawrence, D R. Thompson, P M. Sagar, S J. Bury, R A. Phillips, T J. Landers, L Ranjard, Scott A. Shaffer

Scott A. Shaffer

Pelagic seabirds are highly mobile, reducing the likelihood of allopatric speciation where disruption of gene flow between populations is caused by physically insurmountable, extrinsic barriers. Spatial segregation during the non-breeding season appears to provide an intrinsic barrier to gene flow among seabird populations that otherwise occupy nearby or overlapping regions during breeding, but how this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that the two genetically distinct populations of Cook's petrel (Pterodroma cookii) exhibit transequatorial separation of non-breeding ranges at contemporary (ca. 2–3 yrs) and historical (ca. 100 yrs) time scales. Segregation during the non-breeding season per se appears as …

Rnai Screen Indicates Widespread Biological Function For Human Natural Antisense Transcripts, Mohammad A. Faghihi, Jannet Kocerha, F. Modarresi, P. G. Engstrom, A. M. Chalk, S. P. Brothers, E. Koesema, G. St. Laurent, Claes Wahlestedt

Jannet Kocerha

Natural antisense transcripts represent a class of regulatory RNA molecules, which are characterized by their complementary sequence to another RNA transcript. Extensive sequencing efforts suggest that natural antisense transcripts are prevalent throughout the mammalian genome; however, their biological significance has not been well defined. We performed a loss-of-function RNA interference (RNAi) screen, which targeted 797 evolutionary conserved antisense transcripts, and found evidence for a regulatory role for a number of natural antisense transcripts. Specifically, we found that natural antisense transcripts for CCPG1 and RAPGEF3 may functionally disrupt signaling pathways and corresponding biological phenotypes, such as cell viability, either independently or …

Striatal Microrna Controls Cocaine Intake Through Creb Signalling, Jonathan A. Hollander, Heh-In Im, Antonio L. Amelio, Jannet Kocerha, Purva Bali, Qun Lu, David Willoughby, Claes Wahlestedt, Michael D. Conkright, Paul J. Kenny

Jannet Kocerha

Cocaine addiction is characterized by a gradual loss of control over drug use, but the molecular mechanisms regulating vulnerability to this process remain unclear. Here we report that microRNA-212 (miR-212) is upregulated in the dorsal striatum of rats with a history of extended access to cocaine. Striatal miR-212 decreases responsiveness to the motivational properties of cocaine by markedly amplifying the stimulatory effects of the drug on cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signalling. This action occurs through miR-212-enhanced Raf1 activity, resulting in adenylyl cyclase sensitization and increased expression of the essential CREB co-activator TORC (transducer of regulated CREB; also known …

De Novo Truncating Fus Gene Mutation As A Cause Of Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Mariely Dejesus-Hernandez, Jannet Kocerha, Nicole Finch, Richard Crook, Matt Baker, Pamela Desaro, Amelia Johnston, Nicola Rutherford, Aleksandra Wojtas

Jannet Kocerha

Mutations in the gene encoding fused in sarcoma (FUS) were recently identified as a novel cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), emphasizing the genetic heterogeneity of ALS. We sequenced the genes encoding superoxide dismutase (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TARDBP) and FUS in 99 sporadic and 17 familial ALS patients ascertained at Mayo Clinic. We identified two novel mutations in FUS in two out of 99 (2.0%) sporadic ALS patients and established the de novo occurrence of one FUS mutation. In familial patients, we identified three (17.6%) SOD1 mutations, while FUS and TARDBP mutations were excluded. The de novo FUS …

The Delimitation Of Flammulina Fennae, Soňa Ripková, Karen Hughes, Slavomír Adamčík, Viktor Kučera, Katarína Adamčíková

Karen Hughes

Multivariate morphometric analyses of micromorphological characters measured on 35 specimens of Flammulina fennae and related species show that only a combination of spore dimensions and ixohyphidia characters are suitable for delimitation of this species. In order to confirm species identifications based on micromorphology, ribosomal ITS DNA sequences were obtained and compared with those previously deposited in GenBank, and phylogenetic analyses were performed using an ITS dataset of all known Flammulina species. All six specimens morphologically determined as F. fennae were identified by molecular data. Two of twelve specimens morphologically assigned to F. velutipes had F. elastica sequences. One ITS sequence …

A New Genus To Accommodate Gymnopus Acervatus (Agaricales), Karen Hughes, David A. Mather, Ronald H. Peterson

Karen Hughes

Phylogenies based on ITS and LSU nrDNA sequences show Agaricus (Gymnopus) acervatus as unique within the Gymnopus/Rhodocollybia complex. These phylogenies imply that a separate genus is necessary, and Connopus is proposed. Infraspecific morphological and DNA-based variation within C. acervatus suggests that a western North American clade might be reproductively isolated from the eastern North American/Scandinavian clade and that in this species complex the European and eastern North American clade might be conspecific. A Scandinavian exemplar is selected for bar-coding. Two GenBank sequences with name-phylogenetic placement inconsistencies are identified.