Life Sciences Commons^™

Electroporation Of Mammalian Cells By Nanosecond Electric Field Oscillations And It's Inhibition By The Electric Field Reversal, Elena C. Gianulis, Jimo Lee, Chunqi Jiang, Shu Xiao, Bennet L. Ibey, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

The present study compared electroporation efficiency of bipolar and unipolar nanosecond electric field oscillations (NEFO). Bipolar NEFO was a damped sine wave with 140 ns first phase duration at 50% height; the peak amplitude of phases 2-4 decreased to 35%, 12%, and 7% of the first phase. This waveform was rectified to produce unipolar NEFO by cutting off phases 2 and 4. Membrane permeabilization was quantified in CHO and GH₃ cells by uptake of a membrane integrity marker dye YO-PRO-1 (YP) and by the membrane conductance increase measured by patch clamp. For treatments with 1-20 unipolar NEFO, at 9.6-24 …

Introduction To Fifth Special Issue On Electroporation-Based Technologies And Treatments, Damijan Miklavčič, Lluis M. Mir, P. Thomas Vernier

Bioelectrics Publications

This special issue of the Journal of Membrane Biology contains reports on recent developments in the field of electroporation by participants in the International Workshop and Postgraduate Course on Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments held in November 2014 in Ljubljana. This was the eighth session of what is now an annual event, first organized in 2003.

Life-History Aspects Of Moxostoma Cervinum (Blacktip Jumprock) In The Roanoke River, Virginia, Dezarai A. Thompson, John S. Bentley, Steven L. Powers

Virginia Journal of Science

Life-history aspects of Moxostoma cervinum(Blacktip Jumprock) were identified using specimens from recent collections and the Roanoke College Ichthyological Collection. The largest specimen examined was a female 161.27 mm SL and 66 months of age. Spawning appears to occur in May, with a mean of 2477.6 oocytes (SD = 2825.3) up to 1.54 mm diameter in gravid females. Sexual maturity appears to occur by 1-2 years of age in males and 2-3 years of age in females. Male to female ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. Chironomidae composed the bulk of the diet; while detritus, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Acari …

Bracing Of The Trunk And Neck Has A Differential Effect On Head Control During Gait, S. Morrison, D. M. Russell, K. Kelleran, M. L. Walker

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

During gait, the trunk and neck are believed to play an important role in dissipating the transmission of forces from the ground to the head. This attenuation process is important to ensure head control is maintained. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of externally restricting the motion of the trunk and/or neck segments on acceleration patterns of the upper body and head and related trunk muscle activity. Twelve healthy adults performed three walking trials on a flat, straight 65-m walkway, under four different bracing conditions: 1) control-no brace; 2) neck-braced; 3) trunk-braced; and 4) neck-trunk …

Hip Strengthening Compared With Quadriceps Strengthening In Conservative Treatment Of Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic, Chyrsten L. Regelski, Brittany L. Ford, Matthew C. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Clinical Scenario: Patellofemoral pain is a common injury that affects both athletic and sedentary populations. Clinicians may treat patellofemoral pain more effectively through a comprehensive understanding of the most effective exercise protocols. Clinical Question: In patients with patellofemoral pain, are hip abductor and external rotator muscle strengthening exercises more effective in reducing pain and improving patient-reported function compared with isolated quadriceps strengthening? Summary of Key Findings: A comprehensive and systematic database search was conducted for studies of level 2 evidence or higher. The search yielded 253 studies; of these studies, four randomized control trials and one comparative control trial fit …

A Novel Cardiac Muscle-Derived Biomaterial Reduces Dyskinesia And Postinfarct Left Ventricular Remodeling In A Mouse Model Of Myocardial Infarction, Daniel M. O'Connor, Nivedita K. Naresh, Bryan A. Piras, Yaqin Xu, Robert S. Smith, Roy C. Ogle

Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation after myocardial infarction (MI) leaves the myocardium structurally weakened and, as a result, susceptible to early infarct zone dyskinesia and left ventricular (LV) remodeling. While various cellular and biomaterial preparations have been transplanted into the infarct zone in hopes of improving post-MI LV remodeling, an allogeneic cardiac muscle-derived ECM extract has yet to be developed and tested in the setting of reperfused MI. We sought to determine the effects of injecting a novel cardiac muscle-derived ECM into the infarct zone on early dyskinesia and LV remodeling in a mouse model of MI. Cardiac muscle ECM was …

Saccharomyces Boulardii And Bismuth Subsalicylate As Low-Cost Interventions To Reduce The Duration And Severity Of Cholera, Johnathan Sheele, Jessica Cartowski, Angela Dart, Arjun Poddar, Shikha Gupta, Ajay Gupta

Computer Science Faculty Publications

We conducted a randomised single-blinded clinical trial of 100 cholera patients in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to determine if the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii and the anti-diarrhoeal drug bismuth subsalicylate (BS) were able to reduce the duration and severity of cholera. Subjects received either: S. boulardii 250 mg, S. boulardii 250 mg capsule plus BS 524 mg tablet, BS 524 mg, or two placebo capsules every 6 hours alongside standard treatment for cholera. The length of hospitalisation plus the number and volume of emesis, stool and urine were recorded every 6 hours until the study subject was discharged (n=83), left against …

Global Analysis Of Gene Expression And Projection Target Correlations In The Mouse Brain, Ahmed Fakhry, Tao Zeng, Hanchuan Peng, Shuiwang Ji

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Recent studies have shown that projection targets in the mouse neocortex are correlated with their gene expression patterns. However, a brain-wide quantitative analysis of the relationship between voxel genetic composition and their projection targets is lacking to date. Here we extended those studies to perform a global, integrative analysis of gene expression and projection target correlations in the mouse brain. By using the Allen Brain Atlas data, we analyzed the relationship between gene expression and projection targets. We first visualized and clustered the two data sets separately and showed that they both exhibit strong spatial autocorrelation. Building upon this initial …

Peptide Inhibitor Of Complement C1 (Pic1) Rapidly Inhibits Complement Activation After Intravascular Injection In Rats, Julia A. Sharp, Pamela S. Hair, Haree K. Pallera, Parvathi S. Kumar, Clifford T. Mauriello, Julius O. Nyalwidhe, Cody A. Phelps, Dalnam Park, Nicole M. Thielens, Stephen M. Pascal, Waldon Chen, Diane M. Duffy, Frank A. Lattanzio, Kenji M. Cunnion, Neel K. Krishna

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The complement system has been increasingly recognized to play a pivotal role in a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, therapeutic modulators of the classical, lectin and alternative pathways of the complement system are currently in preclinical and clinical development. Our laboratory has identified a peptide that specifically inhibits the classical and lectin pathways of complement and is referred to as Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1). In this study, we determined that the lead PIC1 variant demonstrates a salt-dependent binding to C1q, the initiator molecule of the classical pathway. Additionally, this peptide bound to the lectin pathway initiator …

A Framework And System For A Multi-Model Decision Aid For Sustainable Farming Practices, Kasi Bharath Vegesana

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Decision support systems (DSS) for farmers address the need for modeling multiple processes and scenarios that affect farmer decision making. Existing DSS have various drawbacks that stop them from being deployed as decision support tools. This research proposes a multi-model simulation framework that can be used to analyze farm management practices at the crop level, individual farm level and at the community level to show the impact and alternatives for smallholder farming practices. A generic crop growth model is proposed, based on existing equations. We run sensitivity analysis on the model to identify important variables. The outputs from the crop …

De Novo Protein Structure Modeling And Energy Function Design, Lin Chen

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The two major challenges in protein structure prediction problems are (1) the lack of an accurate energy function and (2) the lack of an efficient search algorithm. A protein energy function accurately describing the interaction between residues is able to supervise the optimization of a protein conformation, as well as select native or native-like structures from numerous possible conformations. An efficient search algorithm must be able to reduce a conformational space to a reasonable size without missing the native conformation. My PhD research studies focused on these two directions.

A protein energy function—the distance and orientation dependent energy function of …

Numerical Geometry Of Map And Model Assessment, Willy Wriggers, Jing He

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

We are describing best practices and assessment strategies for the atomic interpretation of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps. Multiscale numerical geometry strategies in the Situs package and in secondary structure detection software are currently evolving due to the recent increases in cryo-EM resolution. Criteria that aim to predict the accuracy of fitted atomic models at low (worse than 8 angstrom) and medium (4-8 angstrom) resolutions remain challenging. However, a high level of confidence in atomic models can be achieved by combining such criteria. The observed errors are due to map-model discrepancies and due to the effect of imperfect global docking strategies. …

Predicting Carbon Isotope Discrimination In Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L.) From The Environmental Parameters- Light, Flow, And [Dic], Meredith L. Mcpherson, Richard C. Zimmerman, Victoria J. Hill

OES Faculty Publications

Isotopic discrimination against ¹³C during photosynthesis is determined by a combination of environmental conditions and physiological mechanisms that control delivery of CO₂ to RUBISCO. This study investigated the effects of light, flow, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration, and its speciation, on photosynthetic carbon assimilation of Zostera marinaL. (eelgrass) using a combination of laboratory experiments and theoretical calculations leading to a mechanistic understanding of environmental conditions that influence leaf carbon uptake and determine leaf stable carbon isotope signatures δ¹³C. Photosynthesis was saturated with respect to flow at low velocity ~ 3 cm s^-1, but …

Living On The Margin In The Anthropocene: Engagement Arenas For Sustainability Research And Action At The Ocean-Land Interface, B. C. Glavovic, K. Limburg, K-K. Liu, K-C. Emeis, H. Thomas, H. Kremer, B. Avril, J. Zhang, M. R. Mulholland, M. Glaser, D. P. Swaney

OES Faculty Publications

The advent of the Anthropocene underscores the need to develop and implement transformative governance strategies that safeguard the Earth's life-support systems, most critically at the ocean-land interface - the Margin. The seaward realm of the Margin is the new frontier for resource exploitation and colonization to meet the needs of coastal nations and humanity overall. Here, we spotlight the pivotal role of the Margin for planetary resilience and sustainability, highlight priority issues, and outline a research strategy which aims to: (a) better understand Margin social-ecological systems; (b) guide sustainable development of Margin resources; (c) design governance regimes to reverse unsustainable …

Heterotrophic And Autotrophic Contribution To Dinitrogen Fixation In The Gulf Of Aqaba, Eyal Rahav, Barak Herut, Margaret R. Mulholland, Natalia Belkin, Hila Elifantz, Ilana Berman-Frank

OES Faculty Publications

We evaluated the seasonal contribution of heterotrophic and autotrophic diazotrophy to the total dinitrogen (N₂) fixation in the photic zone of a pelagic station in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. N₂ fixation rates were highest during a Trichodesmium bloom in winter (0.7 nmol N l^-1 d^-1), decreased 7-fold 1 wk later throughout the upper 200 m (~0.1 nmol N l^-1) d^-1), and were significantly coupled with both primary and bacterial productivity. N₂ fixation rates were generally higher in the upper 200 m (~0.4 nmol N l^{-1 …}

The Relative Importance Of Methanogenesis In The Decomposition Of Organic Matter In Northern Peatlands, J. Elizabeth Corbett, Malak M. Tfaily, David J. Burdige, Paul H. Glaser, Jeffrey P. Chanton

OES Faculty Publications

Using an isotope-mass balance approach and assuming the equimolar production of CO₂ and CH₄ from methanogenesis (e.g., anaerobic decomposition of cellulose), we calculate that the proportion of total CO₂ production from methanogenesis varies from 37 to 83% across a variety of northern peatlands. In a relative sense, methanogenesis was a more important pathway for decomposition in bogs (80 ± 13% of CO₂ production) than in fens (64 ± 5.7% of CO₂ production), but because fens contain more labile substrates they may support higher CH4 production overall. The concentration of CO₂ produced from methanogenesis (CO …

Iron Supply And Demand In Antarctic Shelf Ecosystem, D. J. Mcgillicuddy Jr., Peter N. Sedwick, Michael S. Dinniman, K. R. Arrigo, T. S. Bibby, B. J. W. Greenan, Eileen E. Hofmann, John M. Klinck, W. O. Smith Jr., S. L. Mack, C. M. Marsay, B. M. Sohst, G. L. Van Dijken

OES Faculty Publications

The Ross Sea sustains a rich ecosystem and is the most productive sector of the Southern Ocean. Most of this production occurs within a polynya during the November-February period, when the availability of dissolved iron (dFe) is thought to exert the major control on phytoplankton growth. Here we combine new data on the distribution of dFe, high-resolution model simulations of ice melt and regional circulation, and satellite-based estimates of primary production to quantify iron supply and demand over the Ross Sea continental shelf. Our analysis suggests that the largest sources of dFe to the euphotic zone are wintertime mixing and …

Predicting Effects Of Ocean Warming, Acidification, And Water Quality On Chesapeake Region Eelgrass, Richard C. Zimmerman, Victoria J. Hill, Charles L. Gallegos

OES Faculty Publications

Although environmental requirements of seagrasses have been studied for years, reliable metrics for predicting their response to current or future conditions remain elusive. Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) populations of the Chesapeake region lie near the southern limit of their range in the Western North Atlantic, exposing them to increasing thermal stress as the climate warms. However, CO₂ stimulated photosynthesis may offset some of the negative effects of temperature stress. The combined effects of temperature, CO₂, and light availability controlled by water quality and epiphytes were explored using GrassLight, a bio-optical model that provided a predictive …

Characterization Of Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter Fractionated By Ph And Polarity And Their Biological Effects On Plant Growth, Rachel L. Sleighter, Paolo Caricasole, Kristen M. Richards, Terry Hanson, Patrick G. Hatcher

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background: Humic substances are ubiquitous in the environment, complex mixtures, and known to be beneficial to plant growth. To better understand and identify components responsible for plant growth stimulation, a terrestrial aquatic DOM sample was fractionated according to pH and polarity, obtaining acid-soluble and acid-insoluble portions, as well as acid-soluble hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions using C18. The various fractions were characterized then evaluated for their biological effects on plant growth using bioassays with corn at two carbon rates.

Results: Approximately 43% and 57% of the carbon, and 31% and 69% of the iron, was found in the acid-insoluble and acid-soluble …

Plant Species Rather Than Climate Greatly Alters The Temporal Pattern Of Litter Chemical Composition During Long-Term Decomposition, Yongfu Li, Na Chen, Mark E. Harmon, Yuan Li, Xiaoyan Cao, Mark A. Chappell, Jingdong Mao

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

A feedback between decomposition and litter chemical composition occurs with decomposition altering composition that in turn influences the decomposition rate. Elucidating the temporal pattern of chemical composition is vital to understand this feedback, but the effects of plant species and climate on chemical changes remain poorly understood, especially over multiple years. In a 10-year decomposition experiment with litter of four species (Acer saccharum, Drypetes glauca, Pinus resinosa, and Thuja plicata) from four sites that range from the arctic to tropics, we determined the abundance of 11 litter chemical constituents that were grouped into waxes, carbohydrates, …

Evaluation Of A Modified Monod Model For Predicting Algal Dynamics In Lake Tai, Jian Huang, Qiujin Xu, Xixi Wang, Beidou Xi, Keli Jia, Shouliang Huo, Hongliang Liu, Changyou Li, Bingbing Xu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Several modified versions of the Monod model have been proposed to simulate algal dynamics in lakes by keeping the parent model's advantages of simplicity and low data requirement. This study evaluated the performance of a widely-used modified Monod model in predicting algal dynamics at various time scales in Lake Tai, a typical shallow lake in east China, using multiple time series. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration was used as a surrogate for algal (CyanoHABs: cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms) growth and the independent variables were total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and either water temperature or air temperature. The evaluation indicated that the …

Mass Loss And Chemical Structures Of Wheat And Maize Straws In Response To Ultravoilet-B Radiation And Soil Contact, Guixiang Zhou, Jiabao Zhang, Jingdong Mao, Congzhi Zhang, Lin Chen, Xiuli Xin, Bingzi Zhao

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The role of photodegradation, an abiotic process, has been largely overlooked during straw decomposition in mesic ecosystems. We investigated the mass loss and chemical structures of straw decomposition in response to elevated UV-B radiation with or without soil contact over a 12-month litterbag experiment. Wheat and maize straw samples with and without soil contact were exposed to three radiation levels: a no-sunlight control, ambient solar UV-B, and artificially elevated UV-B radiation. A block control with soil contact was not included. Compared with the no-sunlight control, UV-B radiation increased the mass loss by 14-19% and the ambient radiation by 9-16% for …

Moving Beyond Cardio: The Value Of Resistance Training, Balance Training, And Other Forms Of Exercise In The Management Of Diabetes, Marni J. Armstrong, Sheri R. Colberg, Ronald J. Sigal

Human Movement Sciences Faculty Publications

Traditionally, aerobic training has been a central focus of exercise promotion for diabetes management. However, people with diabetes have much to gain from other forms of exercise. This article reviews the evidence and recommendations on resistance, balance, and flexibility training, as well as other, less traditional, forms of exercise such as yoga and Tai Chi.