Digital Commons Network^™

Building An Immune-Mediated Coagulopathy Consensus: Early Recognition And Evaluation To Enhance Post-Surgical Patient Safety, Paul Ness, Michael Creer, George M. Rodgers, Joseph J. Naoum, Kenneth Renkens, Stacy A. Voils, W. Allan Alexander

Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science Publications

Topical hemostats, fibrin sealants, and surgical adhesives are regularly used in a variety of surgical procedures involving multiple disciplines. Generally, these adjuncts to surgical hemostasis are valuable means for improving wound visualization, reducing blood loss or adding tissue adherence; however, some of these agents are responsible for under-recognized adverse reactions and outcomes. Bovine thrombin, for example, is a topical hemostat with a long history of clinical application that is widely used alone or in combination with other hemostatic agents. Hematologists and coagulation experts are aware that these agents can lead to development of an immune-mediated coagulopathy (IMC). A paucity of …

Mutations In Many Genes Affect Aggressive Behavior In Drosophila Melanogaster, Alexis C. Edwards, Liesbeth Zwarts, Akihiko Yamamota, Patrick Callaerts, Trudy F.C. Mackay

Psychiatry Publications

Background Aggressive behavior in animals is important for survival and reproduction. Identifying the underlying genes and environmental contexts that affect aggressive behavior is important for understanding the evolutionary forces that maintain variation for aggressive behavior in natural populations, and to develop therapeutic interventions to modulate extreme levels of aggressive behavior in humans. While the role of neurotransmitters and a few other molecules in mediating and modulating levels of aggression is well established, it is likely that many additional genetic pathways remain undiscovered. Drosophila melanogaster has recently been established as an excellent model organism for studying the genetic basis of aggressive …

Cpg Islands Or Cpg Clusters: How To Identify Functional Gc-Rich Regions In A Genome?, Leng Han, Zhongming Zhao

Psychiatry Publications

Background CpG islands (CGIs), clusters of CpG dinucleotides in GC-rich regions, are often located in the 5' end of genes and considered gene markers. Hackenberg et al. (2006) recently developed a new algorithm, CpGcluster, which uses a completely different mathematical approach from previous traditional algorithms. Their evaluation suggests that CpGcluster provides a much more efficient approach to detecting functional clusters or islands of CpGs.

Results We systematically compared CpGcluster with the traditional algorithm by Takai and Jones (2002). Our comparisons of (1) the number of islands versus the number of genes in a genome, (2) the distribution of islands in …

Hydrothermal Preparation Of Gd+3 -Doped Titanate Nanotubes: Magnetic Properties And Photovoltaic Performance, Hoda S. Hafez, M Saif, James T. Mcleskey Jr., M.S.A. Abdel-Mottaleb, I S. Yahia, T Story, W Knoff

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Publications

Pure and Gd+3 -doped titanate nanotubes (TNTs) materials were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Their morphology, optical properties, thermal stability, and magnetic properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and magnetic measurements. It was found that doping renders Gd+3-TNT visible light active and results in smaller crystallite size and larger surface area as well as higher thermal stability compared to pure titanate nanotubes. The estimated magnetic moments point to presence of weak antiferromagnetic interaction. Application of the prepared Gd+3-TNT for modifying conventional photoanodes in polymer solar cells was attempted. Preliminary results show …

Nanostructured Solid-State Hybrid Photovoltaic Cells Fabricated By Electrostatic Layer-By-Layer Deposition, Rolf Kniprath, James T. Mcleskey Jr., Jürgen P. Rabe, Stefan Kirstein

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Publications

We report on the fabrication of hybrid organic/inorganic photovoltaic cells utilizing layer-by-layer deposition of water-soluble polyions and nanocrystals. A bulk heterojunction structure was created consisting of alternating layers of the p-conductive polythiophene derivative poly[2-(3-thienyl)-ethoxy-4-butylsulfonate] and n-conductive TiO2nanoparticles. We fabricated working devices with the heterostructure sandwiched between suitable charge carrier blocking layers and conducting oxide and metal electrodes, respectively. We analyzed the influence of the thickness and nanostructure of the active layer on the cell performance and characterized the devices in terms of static and transient current response with respect to illumination and voltage conditions. We observed reproducible and stable photovoltaic …

Poly(Styrene-Co-Vinylbenzylchloride-Co-Divinylbenzene) Coated Iron Oxide: Synthesis And Effects On Size And Morphology, M. D. Shultz, J. R. Marin, S. H. Naik, J. Wilkins, J. M. Laza, J. L. Vilas, M. Rodriguez, N. Perez, E. E. Carpenter

Chemistry Publications

Iron oxide nanoparticles were coated with a polymer synthesized from the monomers of styrene, divinylbenzene, and vinylbenzylchloride. The resultant polymer microspheres from synthesis without nanoparticle loading are primarily monodispersed with a diameter of 3.45 μm as measured by scanning electron microscopy. The addition of 1% nanoparticles by mass appears to decrease the size of the microspheres down to 2.04 μm as well as increase the polydispersity. This trend is also seen to continue as you add more nanoparticles to the system going from 3.45 μm with 0% nanoparticles down to below 1 μm for 5% nanoparticles. This indicates that the …

Synchronization Of Pancreatic Islet Oscillations By Intrapancreatic Ganglia: A Modeling Study, B. Fendler, M. Zhang, L. Satin, R. Bertram

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Abstract

Plasma insulin measurements from mice, rats, dogs, and humans indicate that insulin levels are oscillatory, reflecting pulsatile insulin secretion from individual islets. An unanswered question, however, is how the activity of a population of islets is coordinated to yield coherent oscillations in plasma insulin. Here, using mathematical modeling, we investigate the feasibility of a potential islet synchronization mechanism, cholinergic signaling. This hypothesis is based on well-established experimental evidence demonstrating intrapancreatic parasympathetic (cholinergic) ganglia and recent in vitro evidence that a brief application of a muscarinic agonist can transiently synchronize islets. We demonstrate using mathematical modeling that periodic pulses of …

Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate And Professional Programs Bulletin [2009], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Graduate and professional programs bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2009-2010. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for graduate and professional programs.

Mast Cell Regulation Of The Immune Response, John J. Ryan, Johanna K. Morales, Yves T. Falanga, Josephine Fa Fernando, Matthew R. Macey

Biology Publications

Mast cells are well known as principle effector cells of type I hypersensitivity responses. Beyond this role in allergic disease, these cells are now appreciated as playing an important role in many inflammatory conditions. This review summarizes the support for mast cell involvement in resisting bacterial infection, exacerbating autoimmunity and atherosclerosis, and promoting cancer progression. A commonality in these conditions is the ability of mast cells to elicit migration of many cell types, often through the production of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor. However, recent data also demonstrates that mast cells can suppress the immune response through interleukin-10 …

Suggestive Linkage Detected For Blood Pressure Related Traits On 2q And 22q In The Population On The Samoan Islands, Karolina A. Aberg, Feng Dai, Satupaitea Viali, John Tuitele, Guangyun Sun, Subba R. Indugula, Ranjan Deka, Daniel E. Weeks, Stephen T. Mcgarvey

Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine Publications

Background

High blood pressure or hypertension is a major risk factor involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases. We conducted genome-wide variance component linkage analyses to search for loci influencing five blood pressure related traits including the quantitative traits systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP), the dichotomous trait hypertension (HT) and the bivariate quantitative trait SBP-DBP in families residing in American Samoa and Samoa, as well as in the combined sample from the two polities. We adjusted the traits for a number of environmental covariates such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and material …

In Silico Whole Genome Association Scan For Murine Prepulse Inhibition, Bradley Todd Webb, Joseph L. Mcclay, Cristina Vargas-Irwin, Timothy P. York, Edwin J. C. G. Van Den Oord

Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine Publications

Background

The complex trait of prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a sensory gating measure related to schizophrenia and can be measured in mice. Large-scale public repositories of inbred mouse strain genotypes and phenotypes such as PPI can be used to detect Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) in silico. However, the method has been criticized for issues including insufficient number of strains, not controlling for false discoveries, the complex haplotype structure of inbred mice, and failing to account for genotypic and phenotypic subgroups.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have implemented a method that addresses these issues by incorporating phylogenetic analyses, multilevel regression with mixed …

Life-Centered Ethics And The Human Future In Space, Michael Noah Mautner

Chemistry Publications

In the future, human destiny may depend on our ethics. In particular, biotechnology and expansion in space can transform life, raising profound questions. Guidance may be found in Life-centered ethics, as biotic ethics that value the basic patterns of organic gene/protein life, and as panbiotic ethics that always seek to expand life. These life-centered principles can be based on scientific insights into the unique place of life in nature, and the biological unity of all life. Belonging to life then implies a human purpose: to safeguard and propagate life. Expansion in space will advance this purpose but will also raise …

Microscopic Dynamics Of The Orientation Of A Hydrated Nanoparticle In An Electric Field, C. D. Daub, D. Bratko, A. Towshif, A. Luzar

Chemistry Publications

We use atomistic simulations to study the orientational dynamics of a nonpolar nanoparticle suspended in water and subject to an electric field. Due to molecular-level effects we describe, the torque exerted on the nanoparticle exceeds continuum-electrostatics based estimates by about a factor of two. The reorientation time of a 16.2×16.2×3.35 ̊A3 nanoparticle in a field E > 0.015V/ ̊A is an order of magnitude less than the field-free orientational time (∼ 1 ns). Surprisingly, the alignment speed is nearly independent of the nanoparticle size in this regime. These findings are relevant for design of novel nanostructures and sensors and development of …

A Transcriptional Network Associated With Natural Variation In Drosophila Aggressive Behavior, Shannon Roulet

Psychiatry Publications

Background Aggressive behavior is an important component of fitness in most animals. Aggressive behavior is genetically complex, with natural variation attributable to multiple segregating loci with allelic effects that are sensitive to the physical and social environment. However, we know little about the genes and genetic networks affecting natural variation in aggressive behavior. Populations of Drosophila melanogaster harbor quantitative genetic variation in aggressive behavior, providing an excellent model system for dissecting the genetic basis of naturally occurring variation in aggression.

Results Correlating variation in transcript abundance with variation in complex trait phenotypes is a rapid method for identifying candidate genes. …

New Genomic Structure For Prostate Cancer Specific Gene Pca3 Within Bmcc1: Implications For Prostate Cancer Detection And Progression, Raymond A. Clarke, Zhongming Zhao, An-Yuan Guo, Kathrein Roper, Linda Teng, Zhi-Ming Fang, Hema Samaratunga, Martin F. Lavin, Robert A. Gardiner

Psychiatry Publications

Background

The prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3/DD3) gene is a highly specific biomarker upregulated in prostate cancer (PCa). In order to understand the importance of PCA3 in PCa we investigated the organization and evolution of the PCA3 gene locus.

Methods/Principal Findings

We have employed cDNA synthesis, RTPCR and DNA sequencing to identify 4 new transcription start sites, 4 polyadenylation sites and 2 new differentially spliced exons in an extended form of PCA3. Primers designed from these novel PCA3 exons greatly improve RT-PCR based discrimination between PCa, PCa metastases and BPH specimens. Comparative genomic analyses demonstrated that PCA3 has …

Dental Anatomy Carving Computer-Assisted Instruction Program: An Assessment Of Student Performance And Perceptions, Elizabeth T. Nance, Sharon K. Lanning, John C. Gunsolley

Periodontics Publications

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of students exposed to two different instructional modalities for dental anatomy wax carving: CAI (computer-assisted instruction) using DVD technology, or traditional laboratory instruction. Students’ self-assessment scores were also compared to faculty scores, and students’ perceptions of their teaching modality were analyzed. Seventy-three first-year dental students (response rate 81 percent) participated in this randomized single blind trial, in which faculty graders were blinded to student group assignment. There were no statistical differences, as determined by the Wilcoxon non-parametric test and a t-test, between the faculty grades on the wax carving from …

Proteomic And Network Analysis Characterize Stage-Specific Metabolism In Trypanosoma Cruzi, Seth B. Roberts, Jennifer L. Robichaux, Arvind K. Chavali, Patricio A. Manque, Vladimir Lee, Ana M. Laura, Jason A. Papin, Gregory A. Buck

Study of Biological Complexity Publications

Trypanosoma cruzi is a Kinetoplastid parasite of humans and is the cause of Chagas disease, a potentially lethal condition affecting the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of the human host. Constraint-based modeling has emerged in the last decade as a useful approach to integrating genomic and other high-throughput data sets with more traditional, experimental data acquired through decades of research and published in the literature.

Proteomic And Network Analysis Characterize Stage-Specific Metabolism In Trypanosoma Cruzi, Seth B. Roberts, Jennifer L. Robicahux, Arvind K. Chavali, Patricio A. Manque, Vladimir Lee, Ana M. Laura, Jason A. Papin, Gregory A. Buck

Study of Biological Complexity Publications

Background

Trypanosoma cruzi is a Kinetoplastid parasite of humans and is the cause of Chagas disease, a potentially lethal condition affecting the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of the human host. Constraint-based modeling has emerged in the last decade as a useful approach to integrating genomic and other high-throughput data sets with more traditional, experimental data acquired through decades of research and published in the literature.

Results

We present a validated, constraint-based model of the core metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzistrain CL Brener. The model includes four compartments (extracellular space, cytosol, mitochondrion, glycosome), 51 transport reactions, and 93 metabolic reactions …

Discovery Mentoring: Creating Student Connections, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Amy Armstrong, Melanie Boynton, Sylvestine Branch, Bettina Peacemaker, Rebecca Pousson

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

Discovery Mentoring: Creating Student Connections proposes to develop a student-to-student mentoring program which would match undeclared, incoming first year students to mentors. This program facilitates the objectives of University College by building upon their efforts to create a “small community,” feel in a large university. This project is intended to address Theme II of VCU’s 2020 Strategic Plan: “Achieve national recognition as a learning-centered research university that embraces a world-class student experience.” Such a mentoring program would enhance the student experience of our incoming first-year students and help out declared students to connect more strongly with VCU through personal relationships …

Endothelial Cells And Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Apoptosis, Proliferation, Interaction And Transdifferentiation, Seiichiro Sakao, Koichiro Tatsumi, Norbert F. Voelkel

VCU Health Publications

Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, whether idiopathic or secondary, is characterized by structural alterations of microscopically small pulmonary arterioles. The vascular lesions in this group of pulmonary hypertensive diseases show actively proliferating endothelial cells without evidence of apoptosis. In this article, we review pathogenetic concepts of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and explain the term "complex vascular lesion ", commonly named "plexiform lesion", with endothelial cell dysfunction, i.e., apoptosis, proliferation, interaction with smooth muscle cells and transdifferentiation.

Menorah Review (No. 70, Winter/Spring, 2009)

Menorah Review

A Poem by Richard E. Sherwin -- Believing Christian... Agnostic Believer -- From the Classics -- New and Notable Books -- Oy Vey Is Mir -- The Ancient Grudge: The Merchant of Venice and Shylock's Christian Problem

Origin Of The Anatase To Rutile Conversion Of Metal-Doped Tio2, Sa Li, Puru Jena

Physics Publications

Extensive calculations using density functional theory enable us to explain the origin of the surprising room-temperature conversion of anatase to rutile phase of TiO2 when doped with Co and Ni, but not with Cu. Contrary to earlier suggestion, neither high spin nor strain of the transition metals is found to be responsible for this phase conversion. The driving mechanism, instead, is attributed to the increased interaction between Co and Ni atoms forming a linear chain in the rutile phase. We predict that Cr and Mn which have even larger spins than Co and Ni cannot induce this phase conversion.

Magnetic Properties Of Transition-Metal-Doped Zn1−Xtxo (T=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, And Ni) Thin Films With And Without Intrinsic Defects: A Density Functional Study, Qian Wang, Qiang Sun, Puru Jena, Y. Kawazoe

Physics Publications

Theoretical calculations based on density-functional theory and generalized gradient approximation have been carried out in studying the electronic structure and magnetic properties of transition-metal-doped Zn1−xTxO (T=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) (112¯0) thin films systematically with and without intrinsic point defects (e.g., vacancies and interstitials), and as function of concentration and distribution of dopants and vacancies. Using large supercells and geometry optimization without symmetry constraint, we are able to determine the sites that metal atoms prefer to occupy, their tendency to cluster, the preferred magnetic coupling between magnetic moments at transition-metal sites, and the effect of intrinsic point defects on …

Electronic Behavior Of The Zn- And O-Polar Zno Surfaces Studied Using Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy, J. C. Moore, S. M. Kenny, C. S. Baird, H. Morkoç, A. A. Baski

Physics Publications

We have used conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM) to study the morphology and electronic behavior of as-received and air-annealed (0001) Zn- and (0001¯) O-polar surfaces of bulk ZnO. Both polar surfaces exhibit relatively flat morphologies prior to annealing, which rearrange to form well-defined steps upon annealing in air at 1050 °C for 1 h. Long-term exposure to air results in surface layer pitting and the destruction of steps for both the as-received and air-annealed (0001¯)surfaces, indicating its enhanced reactivity relative to the (0001) surface. CAFM I-V spectra for polar surfaces are similar and indicate Ohmic to rectifying behavior that depends …

Magnetic Response Of Core-Shell Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles At Low Temperature, K. Maaz, M. Usman, S. Karim, A. Mumtaz, S. K. Hasanain, M. F. Bertino

Physics Publications

Cobaltferritenanoparticles (size: 26±4nm) have been synthesized by coprecipitation route. The coercivity of nanoparticles follows a simple model of thermal activation of particle moments over the anisotropy barrier in the temperature range of 30–300K in accordance with Kneller’s law; however, at low temperatures (

Photoelectron Imaging And Theoretical Investigation Of Bimetallic Bi1–2ga−0–2 And Pb−1–4 Cluster Anions, M. A. Sobhy, J. Ulises Reveles, Ujjwal Gupta, Shiv N. Khanna, A. W. Castleman Jr.

Physics Publications

We present the results of photoelectron velocity-map imaging experiments for the photodetachment of small negatively charged BimGan (m=1–2, n=0–2), and Pbn (n=1–4) clusters at 527 nm. The photoelectron images reveal new features along with their angular distributions in the photoelectron spectra of these clusters. We report the vertical detachment energies of the observed multiple electronic bands and their respective anisotropy parameters for the BimGan and Pbn clusters derived from the photoelectron images. Experiments on the BiGan clusters reveal that the electron affinity increases with the number of Ga atoms from n=0 to 2. The BiGa−2 cluster is found to be …

Doping Induced Anisotropic Growth In C60, Miao Miao Wu, Qiang Sun, Puru Jena, Yoshiyuki Kawazoe

Physics Publications

Using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation for exchange and correlation energy, we show that substitution of a Si atom at one of the C sites in C60 not only allows C59Si to have a hydrophobic head with a hydrophilic tail but also the Si atom acts as a seed for anisotropic growth of the heterofullerene. This is demonstrated by interacting C59Si with N7Sc and B8Si. The resulting complex structures exhibit enhanced electric dipole moments and anisotropy. Thus, doping induced anisotropic growth of nanostructures provides a novel route for the synthesis of bifunctional particles with atomic-level control on selectivity …

Stabilizing A 22 Karat Nanogolden Cage, Q. Wang, Q. Sun, P. Jena

Physics Publications

Since the discovery of C60 fullerene, considerable efforts have been devoted to find other elements with similar hollow cage structures. However, search for hollow metallic cages with a diameter similar to that of C60 fullerene has been elusive. We describe a procedure for the rational design of metallic cages by suitably choosing their size, composition, and charge state. A 22 karat nanogolden cage with a diameter of about 8.5 Å and consisting of 12 Al and 20 Au atoms is found to be metastable, which can be stabilized by embedding a Mn4 cluster. In contrast to bulk Mn, which is …

The Literary And Political Activity Of Manuscript Verse Collectors, Joshua Eckhardt

English Publications

Chapter One of Manuscript verse collectors and the politics of anti-courtly love poetry, by Joshua Eckhardt.

The book analyzes the distinctive contribution to literary history of early-seventeenth-century hand-written English poetry anthologies. Compiled by manuscript verse collectors, these anthologies preserved a number of pieces by major authors of the English Renaissance, yet they tended to surround them with unprintable verses on sex and politics.

Photoadsorption And Photodesorption For Gan, M. Foussekis, A. A. Baski, Michael A. Reshchikov

Physics Publications

The effect of an ambient environment on the surface photovoltage and photoluminescence observed for GaN is studied. In air ambient the upward band bending gradually increases under UVillumination and is explained by the photoinduced chemisorption of surface adsorbates. Specifically, the increase in negative surface charge is consistent with the transfer of electrons from surface states or bulk to oxygen species physisorbed at the GaNsurface. In contrast, the upward band bending gradually decreases in vacuum under UVillumination and can be explained by the photoinduced desorption of these species. The photoadsorption and photodesorption of negatively charged species cause the surface depletion region …