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The Regulation And Packaging Of Synaptic Vesicles Related To Recruitment Within Crayfish And Fruit Fly Neuromuscular Junctions: Variations In Low- And High-Output Terminals, Wenhui Wu

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and at the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of invertebrate. The characteristic similarities to CNS glutamatergic synapses in vertebrate and the anatomical simplicity of invertebrate NMJs favor the investigation of glutamatergic synaptic functions in this system. This dissertation mainly aimed to physiologically separate two functional vesicle groups, the reserve pool (RP) and readily releasable pool (RRP) within presynaptic nerve terminals of Procambarus Clarkii and Drosophila melanogaster. This was addressed in part by blocking the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGlut) with bafilomycin A1. Various frequencies of motor nerve stimulation, exposure time, and concentration of …

Analysis Of Antiviral And Chemoprotective Effects Of Strawberry Anthocyanins, Jennifer A. Willig

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

This study investigated the antiviral, chemoprotective and proliferative effects of strawberry anthocyanins on herpes simplex virus type-1, cancerous cell lines HT-29 and AGS, and normal cell lines Hs 738.St/Int and CCD-18Co. Antiviral properties were measured by infecting vero cells from adult grivet (Cercopithecus aethiops) with herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and treating with a concentration of 1.25-20 µg/mL of strawberry anthocyanins. Infectivity and replication were quantified for herpes simplex virus type-1 using the direct plaque assay and reporting PFU/mL. Strawberry anthocyanins (>20 µg/mL) inhibited the herpes simplex virus infectivity in vero cells by 100% (p<0.05). Strawberry anthocyanins at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 μg/mL were reduced to 75.36, 57.98, and 31.46 percent of the control (100%) (p<0.05).

Chemoprotective and …

Changes In Sleep Architecture And Cognition With Age And Psychosocial Stress: A Study In Fischer 344 Rats, Heather M. Buechel

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Changes in both sleep architecture and cognition are common with age. Typically these changes have a negative connotation: sleep fragmentation, insomnia, and deep sleep loss as well as forgetfulness, lack of focus, and even dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown that psychosocial stressors, such as isolation from family and friends or loss of a loved one can also have significant negative effects on sleep architecture and cognitive capabilities. This leaves the elderly in a particularly vulnerable situation: suffering from cognitive decline and sleep dysregulation already, and more likely to respond negatively to psychosocial stressors. Taking all of these factors …

The Cellular Nucleic Acid Binding Protein In Aging And Disease, Robin Webb

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

The ZNF9 gene on chromosome 3 encodes the cellular nucleic acid binding protein (CNBP), a ubiquitously expressed, 177 amino acid (≈19.5kDa) protein that is highly conserved among vertebrates. The function of the protein is largely unknown, however an expansion in the first intron of the protein results in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), a multisystemic disease featuring cardiac arrhythmia, muscle wasting, cataracts, and a range of neuropathologies. Remarkably, we recently discovered that CNBP is involved in regulating the activity of β-secretase, the enzyme that produces the first cleavage event in the generation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). The progressive fibrillization …

The Disordered Regulation Of Calcineurin: How Calmodulin-Induced Regulatory Domain Structural Changes Lead To The Activation Of Calcineurin, Victoria B. Dunlap

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Calcineurin (CaN) is a highly regulated Ser/Thr protein phosphatase that plays critical roles in learning and memory, cardiac development and function, and immune system activation. Alterations in CaN regulation contribute to multiple disease states such as Down syndrome, cardiac hypertrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, and autoimmune disease. In addition, CaN is the target of the immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and cyclosporin A. Despite its importance, CaN regulation is not well understood on a molecular level. Full CaN activation requires binding of calcium-loaded calmodulin (CaM), however little is known about how CaM binding releases CaN’s autoinhibitory domain from the active site. Previous work has …

Putting Theory Into Practice: Predicting The Invasion And Stability Of Wolbachia Using Simulation Models And Empirical Studies, Philip R. Crain

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

A new strategy to fight mosquito-borne disease is based on infections of the maternally-transmitted, intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. Estimates predict that Wolbachia infects nearly half of all insect species, as well as other arthropods and some nematodes. Wolbachia manipulates the reproduction of its host to promote infection, most commonly causing a form of conditional sterility known as cytoplasmic incompatibility. Generally, Wolbachia infections are benign and do not inflict significant costs upon its host. However, studies demonstrate that some infections are associated with substantial costs to its host. These same infections can also induce pathogen interference and decrease vector competency …

Equine Serum Antibody Responses To Streptococcus Equi And Streptococcus Zooepidemicus, Rafaela De Negri

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Sz) and Streptococcus equi (Se) share 98% DNA sequence homology, but display different pathogenic properties. Infection by one organism does not cross-protect against the other. To better understand pathogenic differences between these organisms and gain information about which proteins are expressed in horses infected experimentally with Se, intrauterine Sz or naturally with respiratory Sz we compared antibody specificities of convalescent sera using ELISA. These comparisons were based on sets of 8 and 14 immunoreactive recombinant proteins of Se strain CF32 and Sz strain NC78, respectively. Sera from donkeys that were previously naturally affected with strangles and later developed …

Nutrition Knowledge And Dietary Habits Of Farmers Market Patrons, Lindsey M. Mayes

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been strongly associated with weight management, improved overall health, and decreased incidence of chronic disease. Availability of locally grown produce is associated with a higher intake of fruits and vegetables; there were 7,864 farmers markets operating in the U.S. in 2012, a 9.6% increase from 2011. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographics, nutrition knowledge, and dietary habits of farmers market patrons at ten diverse markets in Kentucky. A total of 153 surveys were collected; the average age of study participants was 46 ± 21 year. Respondents reported …

Mass Selection With An Optical Sorter For Head Scab Resistance In Soft Red Winter Wheat, Hussein M. Khaeim

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Fusarium head blight (FHB) or head scab, caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe [telomorph: Gibberella zeae Schwein.(Petch)], is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Numerous strategies for scab resistance breeding are in use, including phenotypic selection for low severity and marker-assisted selection for resistance QTL. The most destructive consequences of scab are evidenced through a reduction in grain quality, and the presence of mycotoxins, the most common of which is deoxynivalenol (DON). Thus, there is great interest among breeders in selecting for resistance to both of these traits. To this end, a study was …

Effect Of Amylose And Protein Oxidation On The Thermal, Rheological, Structural, And Digestive Properties Of Waxy And Common Rice Flours And Starches, Jing Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The effects of oxidation by sodium hypochlorite (0, 0.8, 2, and 5%, NaOCl), the presence of endogenous proteins, and amylose content on waxy and common rice flours (WF, CF) and starches (WS, CS) were investigated in terms of in vitro starch digestibility, morphology and surface properties, and thermal and rheological characteristics.

The concentration of NaOCl had an effect on all the samples including WF, CF, WS, and CS. The carbonyl and carboxyl group contents increased up to 25 and 10 folds (P < 0.05) of oxidized starches (WS, CS), respectively. Only mild oxidation (P < 0.05) occurred in flours (WF, WS). In addition, endogenous proteins were oxidized according to amino acid analysis and SDS–PAGE results. Glu+Gln, Gly, His, Arg, Tyr, and Lys were more sensitive to NaOCl oxidation. Disulfide bonds, hydrophobic force, and hydrogen bonds were involved in protein polymerization after NaOCl oxidative modification. In granular state, the in vitro starch digestibility of WF, WS, and CS decreased by 5% NaOCl oxidation. After gelatinization, …

Forest Harvest Equipment Movement And Sediment Delivery To Streams, Daniel Whiteside Bowker

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Streamside management zones (SMZs) have become important management techniques to prevent the introduction of sediment to stream networks. This study examined the current Kentucky best management practice (BMP) guidelines for SMZs by outfitting mobile forest harvest equipment with global positioning system (GPS) receivers, enabling modeling of equipment traffic and spatial analysis of stream sediment delivery. Three SMZ configurations were implemented during commercial timber harvest, along with four different techniques of crossing ephemeral channels, in order to determine where and why sediment was introduced to the stream network. Results indicate that increasing the SMZ buffer width leads to decreased sediment delivery, …

Cardiorespiratory Responses In Healthy-Weight And Obese Women And Children, Elizabeth Ann Easley

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

A criterion method to evaluate cardiorespiratory health is measuring peak oxygen consumption (VO₂ peak) from a maximal graded exercise test (GXT). While VO₂ peak is a valuable measure, heart rate recovery (HRRec) and endothelial function (EF) also describe cardiorespiratory health and fitness. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether differences exist in VO₂ peak, HRRec, and EF between healthy-weight (HW) and obese (OB) women and children and to determine if there were significant correlations among these variables. A total of 60 women and children participated in this study. Anthropometric, body composition, resting heart rate and …

The Effects Of Hydrostatic Pressure On Early Endothelial Tubulogenic Processes, Ryan M. Underwood

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

The effects of mechanical forces on endothelial cell function and behavior are well documented, but have not been fully characterized. Specifically, fluid pressure has been shown to elicit physical and chemical responses known to be involved in the initiation and progression of endothelial cell-mediated vascularization. Central to the process of vascularization is the formation of tube-like structures. This process—tubulogenesis—is essential to both the physiological and pathological growth of tissues. Given the known effects of pressure on endothelial cells and its ubiquitous presence in the vasculature, we investigated pressure as a magnitude-dependent parameter for the regulation of endothelial tubulogenic activity. To …

Noninvasive Near-Infrared Diffuse Optical Monitoring Of Cerebral Hemodynamics And Autoregulation, Ran Cheng

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Many cerebral diseases are associated with abnormal cerebral hemodynamics and impaired cerebral autoregulation (CA). CA is a mechanism to maintain cerebral blood flow (CBF) stable when mean arterial pressure (MAP) fluctuates. Evaluating these abnormalities requires direct measurements of cerebral hemodynamics and MAP. Several near-infrared diffuse optical instruments have been developed in our laboratory for hemodynamic measurements including near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), hybrid NIRS/DCS, and dual-wavelength DCS flow-oximeter. We utilized these noninvasive technologies to quantify CBF and cerebral oxygenation in different populations under different physiological conditions/manipulations. A commercial finger plethysmograph was used to continuously monitor MAP. For investigating …

Post Use Analysis Of Firefighter Turnout Gear- Phase Iii, Meredith Laine Cinnamon

Theses and Dissertations--Retailing and Tourism Management

The purpose of this research was to perform a post-use evaluation of retired firefighter turnout gear. Garments were categorized as 10-12 years old, 13-17 years old and 18-21 years old. Inspection and test procedures required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1851 and NFPA 1971 were followed to determine if the current recommended 10 year wear life (retirement age) is appropriate. Testing included a visual inspection (closure system functionality, light evaluation, leakage evaluation and flashlight test) and performance properties (Thermal Protective Performance (TPP), flammability, breaking strength, tear strength, seam strength and water penetration) completed on 108 garments. Ten-year retirement, care, …

Polychlorinated Biphenyl Ligands Of The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Promote Adipocyte-Mediated Diabetes, Nicki A. Baker

Theses and Dissertations--Nutritional Sciences

Numerous epidemiology studies suggest a correlation between exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the development and severity of type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, mechanisms remain largely unknown. Previous studies demonstrated that PCBs that are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) promote the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), that are linked to insulin resistance in adipocytes. To explore potential mechanisms linking PCB exposures to diabetes, we developed a mouse model of glucose and insulin intolerance induced by acute and chronic exposures to PCB-77. We hypothesized that PCB ligands of AhR result in adipocyte-specific elevations in TNF-α …

The Effect Of Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation On Muscle Fatigue In Knee Extensor Exercise, Seungyong Lee

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

To examine the effect of acute beetroot juice supplementation on the rate of fatigue as measured by changes in peak torque.

Placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study, 35 recreationally active subjects consumed beetroot (BR) juice or black currant juice (PL) 12 and 2.5 hours before the exercise procedure. Peak torque was measured on the BIODEX dynamometer by performing 50, maximal effort, concentric knee extensions at 90°/s. Blood pressure (BP) was recorded before and after exercise.

No significant difference between BR and PL in the rate of fatigue measured by change in peak torque. By stage 3, subjects retained 87.6±6.9% of strength with …

Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Willingness-To-Pay For Alternative Deworming Regimens In Horses, Marion Angélique Robert

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Parasite control is important to horse health and horse owners should feel highly concerned about the proper treatment of parasites. In the past 30 years, veterinary science has made important advances in treating parasites and provided new products and strategies to optimize treatment and prevention. However, horse owners and managers have been slow to adopt these new recommendations.

This study investigates why the transition has not occurred as expected. It examines issues related to the decision-making process of horse owners and managers as they relate to deworming strategies. In addition, it investigates current deworming approaches as well as attitudes towards …

The Effects Of Actigen® And Threonine Supplementation On Growth Parameters, Immune Function, And Intestinal Health In Monogastrics, Lindsay Good

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objectives of these experiments were to evaluate the main effects and interactive effects between dietary supplementation of a mannan oligosaccharide based product, Actigen® (ACT), and different levels of threonine in monogastrics, as evidenced by growth parameters, immune function, and intestinal health characteristics.

In nursery piglets, ACT supplementation decreased average daily feed intake (P=0.04), but had no effect on body weight or feed conversion ratio. There were no noted differences between threonine levels on performance traits. There were no consistent differences in complete blood count or cytokine gene expression profiles in the blood. The highest level of threonine, …

Examination Of Hippocampal N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors Following Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure In Vitro, Anna R. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Chronic intermittent ethanol exposure (CIE) is associated with degeneration of hippocampal neurons. The present study used hippocampal cultures to examine the loss of NeuN immunoreactivity, a relaible marker or neuronal density, after 1, 2, or 3 cycles of 5 days EtOH exposure (50 mM), followed by a 24-hour period of EWD or continuous EtOH exposure. NeuN immunoreactivity was decreased by 13%, 19%, and 16% in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus after 3 cycles of CIE respectively; thionine staining confirmed significant cellular losses within each hippocampal subregion. Two cycles of CIE in aged tissue cultures resulted in significant decreases in …

Use Of Mtb-100tm, Provided Through A Mineral Mix, To Reduce Toxicity When Lactating Beef Cows Graze Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue, Melanie E. Hoar

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Two experiments were conducted at the University of Kentucky, Eden Shale Farm, Owenton, KY to evaluate the use of MTB-100^TM (Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY) to alleviate the symptoms of fescue toxicity when lactating Angus x Beefmaster cows and their calves grazed endophyte-infected KY-31 tall fescue. Experiment 1 provided a carbohydrate based toxin adsorbent, MTB-100^TM, ad libitum in a commercial mineral supplement to project a daily consumption rate of 0, 20 or 40 g of MTB-100^TM per cow. Cows were weighed, assigned a body condition score (BCS) and hair coat score (HC), rectal temperatures were recorded and …

Dna-Binding Site Recognition By Bhlh And Mads-Domain Transcription Factors, Joshua R. Werkman

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Herewithin, two transcription factor (TF) regulatory complexes were investigated. A bHLH–MYB–WDR (BMW) DNA-binding complex from maize was the first complex to be studied. R, a maize bHLH involved in the activation of genes in the anthocyanin pathway, had been characterized to indirectly bind DNA despite the presence of a functional DNA-binding domain. Findings presented here reveal that this is only partially correct. Direct DNA-binding by R was found to be dependent upon two distinct dimerization domains that function as a switch. This switch-like mechanism allows R to be repurposed for the activation of promoters of differing cis-element structure.

The …

Effect Of Estradiol Supplementation On Blood Estradiol And Metabolite Levels, And Hepatic Protein Expression, In Growing, Mature, And Senescent Beef Cattle, Edwena D. Miles

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Estradiol (Compudose®, COM) implants are extensively used in beef cattle production systems to alter body composition and feed efficiency. Little information exists about the physiological mechanisms affected by COM treatment in growing, mature, and senescent female cattle. Moreover, no reports describe the level of blood estradiol resulting from COM treatment. The effect of COM on levels of plasma estradiol and blood metabolites and proteins, and relative content of glutamine synthetase (GS) and other amino acid nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes in liver tissue, was studied using three experimental models relevant to cow-calf production regimens: senescent cows (Trial 1), young mature (young) versus senescent …

Antilisterial Characteristics Of Volatile Essential Oils, Leeann L. Slaughter

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

This study explored the in vitro and in situ antilisterial inhibitory activity of 16 essential oils during indirect exposure: Spanish Basil oil (Ocimum basilicum), Bay oil (Pimenta racemosa), Italian Bergamot oil (Citrus bergamia), Roman Chamomile oil (Anthemis nobilis), Sir Lanka Cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Citral, Clove Bud oil (Syzygium aromaticum), Cumin Seed oil (cuminum cyminum), Eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus), Eugenol, Geranium extract (Pelargonium graveolens), Marjoram oil (Origanum majorana), Neroli extract (Citrus aurantium), Peppermint oil (Mentha piperita L.), …

Evaluating Food Safety Systems Development And Implementation By Quantifying Haccp Training Durability, Marienne A. Anandappa

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

HACCP-based food safety programs have been widely acclaimed, accepted and implemented as an effective means of managing food safety risks. While HACCP training is a cornerstone of managing HACCP programs, there is little information about the effectiveness of HACCP training and the durability of HACCP knowledge. Findings reveal a link between involvement level in HACCP activities and the accuracy of HACCP knowledge over time. Opportunities for peer training in HACCP, irrespective of overall experience in the food industry provide favorable circumstances for maintaining accuracy of HACCP knowledge. The optimal window for engaging employees in HACCP is directly following the completion …

Transformations, Bioavailability And Toxicity Of Manufactured Zno Nanomaterials In Wastewter, Sewwandi Rathnayake

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

In order to properly evaluate the ecological and human health risks of ZnO Manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) released to the environment, it is critical to understand the likely transformation products in the wastewater treatment process and in soils receiving biosolids. To address this critical knowledge gap, we examined the transformation reactions of 30 nm ZnO MNMs in single component and multi-component systems, with phosphate and natural organic matter (NOM). We also assessed the influence of nano ZnO transformation on the bioavailability, and toxicity of ZnO transformation products to Triticum aestivum. The data revealed that ZnO MNMs react with phosphate at …

Calendula Officinalis Growth And Production Of Secondary Compounds In Greenhouse And Soil-Based Herbal Organic Production Systems, Victoria M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Calendula officinalis is a useful model crop because calendula flowers are used both ornamentally and medicinally. Organic production systems have many challenges; among these is the synchrony of nitrogen mineralization with the requirements of the crop. Organic greenhouse substrates have significantly different initial nitrogen levels which influence the performance of calendula, the highest initial N and plant performance was found in the organic compost peat substrate (OCP). The addition of supplemental nitrogen improved performance, but only OCP performed as well as the conventionally fertilized peat-based substrate. The nitrogen mineralization patterns in a soil-based greenhouse pot experiment showed that highly processed …

Reduced Tillage And Living Mulches For Organic Vegetable Production, Alex G. Hessler

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Reduced tillage and living mulches are alternative management strategies that can improve soil quality by minimizing disturbance and building soil organic matter. Weed suppression by these two practices alone is often insufficient to avoid crop yield losses, but their performance in an integrated system is not well understood. This project investigated the production of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in conventional tillage and strip tillage with a living mulch of teff (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) and Korean lespedeza (Kummerowia stipulacea Maxim.). Yields of pepper and bean were …

Effect Of Ergot Alkaloids On Bovine Foregut Vasculature, Nutrient Absorption, And Epithelial Barrier Function, Andrew P. Foote

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Ergot alkaloids present in endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue are thought to be the causative agent of fescue toxicosis, a syndrome affecting cattle in the eastern United States. Many of the observed signs of fescue toxicosis are thought to be attributed to peripheral vasoconstriction; however, there are data indicating that ergot alkaloids can alter blood flow to the gut. An experiment was conducted using right ruminal artery and vein collected from heifers shortly after slaughter. Vessels were mounted in a multi-myograph to determine the vasoconstrictive potentials of ergot alkaloids present in E+ tall fescue. Results indicated ergot alkaloids have the potential …

Critical Events In Human Metapneumovirus Infection: From Entry To Egress, Brent A. Hackett

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory pathogen in Paramyxovirus family that demonstrates extremely high morbidity in the population, with most individuals having been infected by the age of five. Despite the prevalence of this negative-sense RNA virus in the population for decades, it was only identified in 2001. As such, there is currently no specific treatment for HMPV and the potentially severe consequences of infection for elderly and immunocompromised individuals and particularly infants make development of antivirals targeting HMPV of high significance. HMPV constitutes a quarter of all respiratory hospitalizations among infants, placing it second only to RSV, in addition …