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Mitochondrial Dna Analysis By Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography For The Characterization And Separation Of Mixtures In Forensic Samples, Richard Kristinsson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A mixture of different mtDNA molecules in a single sample is a significant obstacle to the successful use of standard methods of mtDNA analysis (i.e., dideoxy dye-terminator sequencing). Forensic analysts often encounter either naturally occurring mixtures (e.g., heteroplasmy) or situational mixtures typically arising from a combination of body fluids from separate individuals. The ability to accurately resolve and interpret these types of samples in a timely and cost efficient manner would substantially increase the power of mtDNA analysis and potentially provide valuable investigative information by allowing its use in cases where the current approach is limited or fails. Therefore, this …

Sequence Detection And Comparative Analysis Of The Hv1 And Hv2 Control Regions Of Human Mitochondrial Dna By Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Sarah E. Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was the evaluation and forensic validation of Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC) as a sequencingindependent means of detecting the presence of sequence differences in pair-wise mixtures of non-concordant amplicons of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The reproducibility and efficacy of DHPLC results, including amplification reproducibility, injection reproducibility, and column-to-column reproducibility were measured, showing negligible assay-to-assay variability. In addition, cross-contamination on the DHPLC columns demonstrated very low level DNA carryover between a high-abundance sample and subsequent zero-volume injections.

The accuracy with which DHPLC technology can be used to screen both evidence and control samples in the context …

Mass Loss History Of Evolved Stars, Kathleen M. Geise

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We provide high-resolution maps of the circumstellar dust shells of several dozen Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars using data from the Spitzer space telescope Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) imaged at 70µm. AGB stars are the major contributors of chemical elements such as carbon, oxygen and silicon, which are essential to the existence of life in the universe, through mass loss processes that take place at the surface of the star. We probe the spatial distribution of cold (~40 K) dust grains in order to trace the history of mass loss from the observed radial density variation in these shells. Our …

Camp And Calcium Interactions In Endocrine Cells, Colette Crane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inhibitors of cAMP phosphodiestereses (PDEs) promoted an increase in intracellular [cAMP]_c and an influx of Ca²⁺, in both MMQ pituitary cells and α-Pancreatic cells. The specific targets for PDEs and the domains of PDEs are still unknown. Pituitary MMQ cells were used as a model to test modulation of calcium influx through the L-type calcium channel with PDE inhibitors. cAMP analogs were used to determine cAMP molecular targets. 8-cpt-cAMP initiated an Epac mediated pathway and had strong effects on calcium influx in the cell; suggesting, a relatively strong cAMP target. Experiments of α-Pancreatic cells were done in …

Functional Activation Of Cartilaginous Fish Melanocortin Receptors, Christina Lee Reinick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of the melanocortin receptor (MCR) gene family has been dictated by two genome duplication events (2R hypothesis). The gnathostomes are thus predicted to possess a minimum of four MCR genes. Previous studies on cartilaginous fish have shown evidence for the presence of only three MCRs. The purpose of this thesis is to functionally express the MC5R from the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and the putative MC2R and MC3R from the elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii); these receptors have not yet been fully characterized. In this study, SacMC5R was able to be expressed in CHO cells …

The Lgbt Community And Public Space: A Mixed Methods Approach, Emily L. Sanschagrin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public space researchers have created a body of literature describing how women feel in and access public spaces and have briefly explored men and race in public space, but have not explored other identities adequately including sexuality. Geographical queer theory provides a foundation for public space research, but literature is limited to the creation of and contest over space. The goal of this research is to explore LGBT feelings in public spaces in St. Louis, MO. There are three components including a survey, interviews, and hand mapping of emotional associations within the city. Overall, feelings in public space were found …

Trends In Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions And Analyses Of Colorado's Light-Duty Vehicle Inspection And Maintenance Program, Brent G. Schuchmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emission trends are reported and discussed resulting from the multi-year study of Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (HDDV) at the Port of Los Angeles and at a weigh station in Peralta also in the L.A. basin. Remote sensing data were also collected from the Port of Houston and compared to the data from California. As part of San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) to fast track the turnover rate of cleaner trucks, many truck operators have been subject to modifying their trucks, or have purchased new trucks, with more advanced control technologies to reduce exhaust particulate matter (PM) and …

Blue Lines, Greenbelts, And The Effects Of Growth Management: The Geographical Effects Of Growth Management Policies In Boulder, Colorado, Anna Talucci

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates and describes the effects of growth management policies, established by the city of Boulder, Colorado, for the city and the surrounding region. A variety of techniques contribute to this evaluation, including remote sensing analysis of land-use change for the region, mapping of commuter flow patterns, and analysis of the distribution of housing values, housing units, number of jobs, and income values. Growth management policies focus on planning for development to ensure continuous, adjacent growth, while preventing haphazard, leapfrog development. In cases such as Boulder, when planning is implemented unilaterally by a city as opposed to on a …

Altered Calcium Handling In Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons With The Malignant Hyperthermia Mutation, Ryr1-Y522s/+, George C. Talbott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To investigate the etiology of malignant hyperthermia and central core disease, mouse models have recently been generated and characterized (Chelu et al., 2006). These RyRY522S/+ knock-in mutant mice provide an excellent tool to investigate calcium dysregulation, its pathological consequences, and potential therapeutic approaches. Skeletal muscle harboring this mutation exhibits calcium leak from internal stores and an increased sensitivity to activation by caffeine, voltage, and temperature (Durham et al., 2008). Although alterations in RyR1 channel function and resultant changes in cellular function have been characterized in skeletal muscle, the effects of MH mutations in RyR1 on central nervous system function have …

A Study Of Transient Variations In Cosmic Ray Proton Intensities Using Bess-Polar I Data, Neeharika Thakur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intensities of galactic cosmic rays are modulated upon entering the heliosphere. These variations, defined as solar modulations, are classified as long-term or transient modulations based on their durations.

Studies have correlated the transient variations with the characteristics of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field. Therefore, studies of transients augment our understanding of physical processes in the interplanetary medium. Processes causing transient variations may also induce geomagnetic storms. Precise measurements of cosmic ray fluxes during a transient phenomenon will have immense use in validating models of space weather prediction.

BESS (Balloon-borne Experiment with a Superconducting Spectrometer), a US-Japanese …

Colorado's Large Snow Events' Impact On Tree Ring Growth And Dillon Reservoir, Katrina Leona Marzetta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Meteorological observations from 1894 through 2010 suggest that 17 historically large snow events occurred in the mountains of Colorado within Denver's water supply region. Of these 16 events, 14 can be identified in precipitation sensitive tree ring records as positive climatic pointer years. If these storms were to occur today, they would have the potential to fill reservoirs in Denver Water's supply system, even after years of sustained drought. These "drought busters" have the potential to refill Dillon Reservoir by increasing average yearly inflow up to 146% of the previous year's inflow. Such drought busters can help Denver recover from …

Genetic Polymorphisms And The Treatment Outcome In Standard-Risk Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Qi Wei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer and accounts for 30 - 35% of all cancers in children. Significant improvement in the treatment of pediatric ALL has been achieved in recent years. Only 50 years ago, the disease was uniformly fatal with an Overall Survival (OS) rate < 5%. Modern-day, multi-drug chemotherapy is associated with an overall survival rate over 80%. Standard-risk ALL comprises the majority of ALL with an overall survival approaching 90%. Despite this success, children who relapse from this disease accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths in children. The backbone of treatment protocols have incorporated somatic but not host genetic features in the treatment regimens. The current study examined 12 genetic polymorphisms affecting the pharmacodynamics of antileukemic drugs in an attempt to identify biologic markers related to the risk of disease relapse.

In the current research program, 125 standard-risk ALL patients who were treated at The Children's Hospital were enrolled in a retrospective study. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms and risk of disease relapse in this study cohort. The GSTM1 null genotype was associated with a …

Hispanic Migration To Northeastern Colorado During The Nineteen Twenties: Influences Of Sugar Beet Agriculture, Gregory T. Chase

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growing beets to process into sugar was a large and important industry in 1920s Northeastern CO. The infrastructure to support the sugar beet industry was built and expanded in the first decades of the 1900s. Beyond infrastructure requirements the sugar beet industry relied on seasonal low skilled field labor. The migration and settlement patterns of sugar beet laborers in the 1920s to Northeastern Colorado were influenced by the actions of the Great Western Sugar Company. In 1909, German-Russian immigrants were the dominant demographic working the beet fields in Northeastern CO but by 1927 that trend shifted overwhelmingly to families of …

Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Cancer Stem Cell And Gene Therapy, Heba Samir Esmaeil Allam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that causes chronic hepatitis cirrhosis, steatosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Although current FDA-approved drugs are partially effective in the treatment of HCV, methods for cure and vaccine against the virus are still awaited. My thesis work presented here is focused on finding mechanism (s) of HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis and devising novel means to combat the HCV infection.

Herein, we have shown that long-term HCV expression results in the acquisition of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) traits in liver derived cell lines. These traits include enhanced expression of putative stem cell markers DCAMKL-1, …