Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Treatments For Onychomycosis, Jonathan Knobel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Background: Onychomycosis is a highly prevalent nail infective disorder. Many treatments, with varied success rates and side effects, are used. Objectives: To assess the most recommended treatment for Onychomycosis with the optimal cure rate and least severe side effects. Search Methods: PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO Multisearch, and Google Scholar were used to gather information. Search terms such as “Onychomycosis,” and “Effective treatments for Onychomycosis” etc. were used. Results: Effective treatments include oral, topical, nail avulsion, and laser treatments. Topical treatments have low cure rates and minimal side effects. Oral treatments have various side effects but the highest mycological and clinical cure …

Is Deep Brain Stimulation A Desirable Therapy For Parkinson’S Disease?, Chana Steinberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that currently impacts 6.1 million people globally. Although it has different presentations, its core features are tremors, postural instability, bradykinesia (slowing of movement), and psychological disabilities such as mood disorders and cognitive decline. A primary treatment is Levodopa, but it has limited success. A promising treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been shown to induce significant improvements in motor skills where Levodopa has failed to help. Deep Brain Stimulation works via implanted electrodes. It has been used successfully in many studies to decrease motor issues associated with Parkinson’s, but potential side effects pose …

Optimal Treatment Of Osteoporosis, Yehoshua Wiederkehr

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Osteoporosis affects tens of millions of people in America and is the most common disease of the bones. New treatments are constantly sought, as existing ones have documented side effects. This review seeks to pinpoint the most effective and safe treatment for osteoporosis by looking at head-to-head trials and research regarding combination therapies. This review also looks at the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic treatments and whether any options are beneficial. The importance of an open patient/provider relationship proves itself, as many medications and treatment plans depend on personal factors that need to be measured and weighed by a medical professional together …

The Development And Future Of Prosthetics Controlled By Myoelectrical Impulses, Chaya Podemski

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Objective: To document the developmental history of prostheses to better understand the circumstances that led to enabling amputees to experience touch through sensory reinnervation surgery in conjunction with an innovative bionic arm; and to prove that sensory reinnervation is the key to further progress. Methods: The topic was researched extensively using scholarly databases and read relevant accounts of experimental studies and outcomes. Results: By examining the progress made in the field of prostheses, it has been determined that a sensory reinnervation technique is at the forefront of bionic limb technology and predict that it will continue to be utilized and …

Can Androgenetic Alopecia Be Reversed And What Are The Effective Treatments?, Michelle Aminova

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Androgenic alopecia (AGA), also known as male and female pattern baldness, is the loss of hair on the scalp for both men and women. The onset of hair loss for men suffering from this condition can occur as early as their teens or early 20s. Symptoms include a receding hairline and gradual disappearance of hair at the vertex and frontal scalp. When women have female pattern baldness (FPB), their hair doesn’t appear thinning until they reach their 40s or older. Generally, women experience a thinning of the hair over the whole scalp, with the most extensive hair loss at the …

Are Clear Aligners Better Than The Conventional Orthodontic Fixed Appliances?, Adelle Perkelvald

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Clear aligner therapy (CAT) has become an attractive alternative for orthodontic treatment as more adolescents and young adults pursue othodontic care. CAT is comprised of removable transparent appliances that offer a more aesthetic appearance to prospective patients. Recent studies have shown that CAT efficiency and efficacy for orthodontic procedures for cases of mild to moderate malocclusions are of equal or greater caliber to those of conventional fixed appliances. Clear aligners are also found to be less painful, better for periodontal health, and more accessible in comparison with fixed appliances. For those meeting the criteria for CAT, clear aligners may be …

Investigating The Genetic Diversity Of Immune Genes In Non-Native Populations Of American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana), Luisa Nereyda Segovia

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is a highly invasive species that has successfully colonized habitats around the world. The genetic variability of immune genes within invasive populations, like that of bullfrogs, may contribute to how resistant a population is to pathogens. The objective of this project was to characterize the genetic diversity of an immune gene in invasive bullfrog populations in California to better understand how persistent these populations might be over time. To characterize immune gene variability, I isolated exon 2 of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class II Beta chain gene and a neutral mitochondrial marker, …

Degradation And Nitrogen Cycling In The Context Of Biodiversity-Ecosystem Function Relationships In The Inquiline Bacterial Community Of Darlingtonia Californica, Megan Teigen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) research aims to explain how species and their environments interact with each other. Microbial communities engage in vital biogeochemical pathways in a variety of natural ecosystems, and yet there are large knowledge gaps about the specific metabolic pathways in which they are involved. Degradation specifically contributes to nitrogen cycling globally through the breakdown of large organic nitrogen compounds into small inorganic nitrogen that is necessary for the survival of many other organisms. In this study, I focused on the degradative function of the inquiline microbial communities found within the carnivorous pitcher plant, Darlingtonia californica. Darlingtonia grows in …

Prevalence Of Rickettsia Sp. Phylotype G022 And Rickettsia Tillamookensis In Ixodes Pacificus Nymphs From Northern California, Erin Rose Trent

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Back in 2011 an unknown Rickettsia species was discovered in adult Ixodes pacificus and became known as Rickettsiaspecies phylotype G022. Preliminary analyses placed it among the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia, indicating unknown pathogenicity. Another Rickettsia species previously found in I. pacificus, R. tillamookensis, was only recently the subject of research efforts after its original discovery in the 1960s. The main focus of this research was to determine the prevalence of phylotype G022 in nymphal I. pacificus to gain further insight into this tick-Rickettsia relationship. The prevalence of R. tillamookensis was also a topic of this …

Optimization Of In-Vitro Tissue Culture And Transformation System For Sweet Sorghum Cultivars Using Immature Inflorescence, Logayn Abushal

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Sweet sorghum is a multi-purpose crop that can be used for human food, animal feed, and bio-fuel production. This crop is drought-tolerant and can therefore be grown in arid and semi-arid regions especially in marginal areas in Egypt. Nevertheless, production of Sweet sorghum cannot coup with the increasing demand in consumption as a food, and fuel due to a lag in scientific research regarding its genetic improvement. Therefore, genetic improvement of Sweet sorghum is innately required so that new traits of economic importance could be introduced; however, this can only be achieved through the establishment of a robust in-vitro …

Effects Of Copper Fungicides Spray On Nutrient Contents In Soils Of Cocoa Growing Areas Of Southwestern Nigeria, Musibau O Azeez, Olusola O Adesanwo, Joseph A Adepetu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of copper fungicides spray on physical and chemical properties of soils of cocoa growing areas of southwestern Nigeria. Samples were collected from selected cocoa farms and adjacent plots across three states (9 samples from Osun State, 9 samples from Ondo State and 7 samples from Ekiti State), within rainforest zone of Nigeria. The physical and chemical properties of the soil samples were determined. Copper contents of the cocoa plantation soils were significantly higher (16.23 mg Cu/kg) than the adjacent plots (6.31 mg Cu/kg) indicating accumulation of Cu in the soil because of …

Placental Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor, Protein Kinase B And Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin Are Downregulated In Hiv-1 Positive Women On Antiretroviral Drugs, Winifrida B. Kidima, Gatambwa D. Mukandala, Osiana Leonard, Daniel Nkungu

Tanzania Journal of Science

HIV-1 and ARV drugs uptake during pregnancy may change placental phenotype during pregnancy affecting fetal growth. We investigated the influence of maternal HIV-1 and ARV drugs on expression of placental genes important for fetus growth. A total 51 HIV-1 positives and 46 HIV-1 negative pregnant women were studied. Placental gene expression changes of insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1) R, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protein kinase B (AKT-1), sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporters (Slc38a1, Slca38a2, Slc38a4), inhibin A, adrenomedullin and 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type (HSD)-2 were assessed by RT-qPCR. There was a significant decrease in mRNA expression of placental …

Biodiesel Generation From Palm Kernel Biomass Via An In-Situ Transesterification Approach, Chikaodili D Ikechukwu, Ikhazuagbe H Ifijen, Nyaknno U. Udokpoh

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study investigated an in-situ transesterification of palm kernel biomass at variable reaction times (4 h, 5 h and 6 h) and catalyst loading (2 wt%, 3 wt.% and 5 wt.%). The biodiesel yields were observed to vary with these parameters. GC-MS analysis showed high fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) contents for all the prepared biodiesel samples (C-18:1, C-14:0, C-16:0, and C-18:0). 2 wt.% catalyst loading and 4 h reaction time were observed to be the best reaction conditions from the experimented parameters that gave the best biodiesel yield at 300 rpm mixing intensity. The in-situ method recorded a higher …

Anticipating The Effects Of Increasing Rivers’ Water Salinity For Sustainable Conservation Of Tilapia Resources In Rural Coastal Zone Of Benin, West Africa, Toundji O. Amoussou, Ana F. Filipe, Chibuye F. , Kunda, Dorothé Y. Njé, Vinsoun Millogo, Elliot H. Alhassan

Tanzania Journal of Science

The current research aimed at using the application of multi-factor models to support fisheries management decisions for successful resources’ conservation. The study was based on the tilapia species Coptodon guineensis, which is among the most widely exploited in Benin coastal zone. In an attempt to suggest conservation strategies, the phenotypic variability of 356 accessions of this species was assessed in relation with water salinity, and several interactions. The fish were collected through small-scale experimental fishing using cast nets and gillnets. The findings indicated that the salinity observed in the sampled rivers is due, at proportions ranging from 0.13% to 47%, …

Optical And Chemical Properties Of Fragaria Ananassa And Galena: Potential Photosensitizers In A Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, Ibukun S Akinsola, Aderemi B Alabi, Coppede Nicola

Tanzania Journal of Science

Dye is one of the major components for high power conversion efficiency in a dye-sensitized solar cell. There are challenges natural dyes encounter, especially with quick degradation of the dye molecules. This work considered mineral dye in comparison with plant dye to address the challenge of degradation of natural plant dyes. The optical properties and functional groups of the two natural dyes were studied in this work. The absorption spectra, the optical band gaps and the absorption coefficients of the dyes were reported and found to be suitable for use as photosensitizers in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), as they …

Preparation, Characterization, And Antimicrobial Activities Of Mixed Ibuprofen-Salicylic Acid Metal-Drug Complexes, Mercy O Bamigboye, Ikechukwu P Ejidike, Racheal O Awolope, Joshua A Obaleye, Favour K. Ejimofor

Tanzania Journal of Science

Most variants of bacteria are resistant to traditional antibiotics which are organic. To overcome the growing infections, bacteria resistant infections, and multiple drug resistance (MDR) rates, transition metals with biological importance were coordinated to organic ligands (Ibuprofen and Salicylic acid) with anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, metal complexes of mixed Ibuprofen and Salicylic acid were prepared using a standard method to give of the type [M(Ibu)(Sal)X] (where M = Fe2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and X = Cl2, Ibu = Ibuprofen, Sal = Salicylic acid). The complexes were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, conductivity measurements, melting points, FT-IR, and X-ray diffraction. The metal …

Capsaicinoids From Capsicum Annuum As An Alternative Fabh Inhibitor Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: In Silico Study, Gabriella Chandrakirana Krisnamurti, Dewi Ratih Tirto Sari, Yohanes Bare

Makara Journal of Science

The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide reached 1.5 million in 2018; thus, TB is considered a deadly disease. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and involves lipid synthesis. Considering the importance of lipid metabolism in bacteria, FabH may be an essential protein target for repressing lipid synthesis. Capsaicinoids from Capsicum annuum demonstrate potent antibacterial activity. This study predicted the ability of capsaicinoid compounds to inhibit FabH. In silico analysis was performed by retrieving the structure of FabH from PDB and those of selected capsaicinoid derivatives from PubChem. The compounds were docked using AutoDock Vina in PyRx 0.8 software. The …

Genome-Wide Analysis Of Methylome In The Mouse Brain Using Long-Read Sequencing Technology, Zachary Even, He Huang, Ramkumar Mathur, Xusheng Wang

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that transfers a methyl group onto the C-5 position of the cytosine to form 5-methylcytosine. DNA methylation regulates gene expression by recruiting proteins involved in gene repression or by inhibiting the binding of transcription factor(s) to DNA, especially in regulation of Allele Specific Expression (ASE). In this study, we used Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing technology to profile methylome in the two inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2). Compared with bisulfite conversion followed by Illumina Sequencing, long-read sequencing technology allows us to achieve much longer read length of 4,653.675 base pairs on average …

Evaluating A Test For Shedding Propensity Using Tape Lifts From Different Skin Locations, Xiao M. Chen

Student Theses

The shedding propensity of a person can assist data interpretation in casework when assessing the possibility of passive transfer for DNA analysis. Past studies on shedding propensity evaluated palmar skin (washed and unwashed) deposits. This study compared different skin locations with respect to shedding propensity, and explored the potential of tape-lifts as a skin surface collection method. Eight different skin types and samples were collected with adhesive tape disks from 28 participants over three non-consecutive days; the washed and unwashed fingers from both hands, toe, and arm, neck below ear, and nape. Samples were extracted, quantified, amplified, genotyped, and evaluated …

Evaluating Apoptosis, Autophagy, And Hormonal Effects On Oocyte Regulation And Cyst Breakdown, Jessica M. O'Connell

Theses - ALL

Infertility in women is caused by a depletion of eggs below the threshold for functional ovulation. Unlike men where sperm production is maintained throughout their reproductive lifespan, a women's proliferation of eggs ceases prior to birth. Interestingly during development, a fetus has up to 7 million eggs and two-thirds of these eggs die via apoptosis before they are born, further signifying the importance of the quantity control of eggs to maintain fertility. The remaining eggs break apart from each other and become enclosed individually by pre-granulosa cells together forming primordial follicles. Over time, the number of oocytes will continue to …

The Role Of Rab11 Or Rab8-Associated Membranes During Kupffer's Vesicle (Kv) Lumen Formation In Vivo, Eric Ingram

Theses - ALL

In early embryonic development, cells undergo a series of shape changes called tissue morphogenesis by which tissues develop into an organ. One mechanism that is potentially vital to tissue morphogenesis is abscission, the cleavage of the cytokinetic bridge. Our lab has proposed that abscission is required for tissue morphogenesis in vivo, specifically in the zebrafish left-right organizer, Kupffer's vesicle (KV). The Hehnly Lab's testable model for KV morphogenesis is that a population of cells, some in cytokinesis, group together in a pre-rosette structure and then self-assemble to form a rosette-structure where cells orient their cytokinetic bridges toward the rosette center. …

Intralocus Sexual Conflict Over Optimal Nutrient Intake And The Evolution Of Sex Differences In Life Span And Reproduction, Michael Hawkes, Sarah M. Lane, Scott K. Sakaluk, John Hunt, Clarissa M. House, Kim Jensen, James Rapkin

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

1. Despite widespread variation in life span across species, three clear patterns exist: sex differences in life span are ubiquitous, life span is commonly traded against reproduction, and nutrition has a major influence on these traits and how they trade-off. One process that potentially unites these patterns is intralocus sexual conflict over the optimal intake of nutrients for life span and reproduction. If nutrient intake has sex-specific effects on life span and reproduction but nutrient choice is genetically linked across the sexes, intralocus sexual conflict will occur and may prevent one or both sexes from feeding to their nutritional optima.
2. Here …

Investigating The Behavioral And Social Context Of Sound In The Surface Foraging Strategies Of Humpback Whales (Megaptera Novaeangliae), Sarah Weiss

Theses - ALL

Humpback whales are known for the plastic and variable nature of their acoustic communication, social interactions, and foraging behaviors. Distinct foraging strategies are used to capture different prey types at the surface and on the seafloor. Sounds produced during foraging are thought to facilitate intraspecific social communication. Previous studies have identified specific sound types produced by humpbacks associated exclusively with benthic foraging strategies, suggesting functions related to foraging behavior. In this study, we use suction cup acoustic tags (DTAGs) deployed on humpbacks in the western North Atlantic from 2006-2009 to investigate the social sound production associated with surface foraging ecology, …

Assessment Of Virus-Induced Myocarditis In Human Heart Tissue Samples, Gabriel Galeotos

Honors Theses

The heart is a major organ whose function is to transport nutrients and waste throughout the body. This organ can become infected by pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Infection of the middle heart layer, or myocardium, is often caused by a viral agent. This disease has three stages: viral infiltration, adaptive immune system activation, and finally either viral clearance or cardiac cell remodeling. During this process the immune system will begin to secrete cytokines, which are signaling molecules that alert other members of the immune pathways, and also participate in cardiac remodeling. Evaluating the correlation between the cytokine …

Studying The Behavioral Role Of The Kcnn2 Gene In Zebrafish Embryos, Gina Dragonette

Honors Theses

Introduction: Mutations in the KCNN2 gene have been linked to phenotypes of movement disorders and autism. The goal of this experiment was to use the CIUSPR-Cas9 system to create a deletion within the KCNN2 gene and to observe the effect on the expression of movement in zebra fish embryos.

Methods: Linearized Cas9 DNA and guide DNA underwent in vitm transcription (IVT) reactions to produce RNA to be injected into zebrafish embryos at the one cell stage. KCNN guide RNAs were produced for the KCNN2 and KCNN3 genes (to prevent KCNN3 protein function from compensating for loss ofKCNN2's protein function), and …

Recurrent High-Impact Mutations At Cognate Structural Positions In Class A G Protein-Coupled Receptors Expressed In Tumors, Eunna Huh, Jonathan Gallion, Melina A Agosto, Sara J Wright, Theodore G Wensel, Olivier Lichtarge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of human proteins. They have a common structure and, signaling through a much smaller set of G proteins, arrestins, and effectors, activate downstream pathways that often modulate hallmark mechanisms of cancer. Because there are many more GPCRs than effectors, mutations in different receptors could perturb signaling similarly so as to favor a tumor. We hypothesized that somatic mutations in tumor samples may not be enriched within a single gene but rather that cognate mutations with similar effects on GPCR function are distributed across many receptors. To test this possibility, we systematically aggregated …

Monitoring Photosynthetic Activity Using In Vivo Chlorophyll A Fluorescence In Microalgae And Cyanobacteria Biofilms In The Nerja Cave (Malaga, Spain), Yolanda Del Rosal, Juan Muñoz-Fernández, Paula S.M. Celis-Plá, Mariona Hernández-Mariné, Félix Álvarez-Gómez, Salvador Merino, Félix L. Figueroa

International Journal of Speleology

The characterization of the most common photosynthetic biofilms in the Nerja Cave by the continuous monitoring of the in vivo chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence and the incorporation of the irradiance as a new environmental variable related to previous studies in the cave, have allowed us to improve our knowledge about the photosynthetic pattern of the biofilms of the cave. Effective quantum yield (ΔF/F_m′) and relative electron transport rate (rETR) were determined during periods of the light, whereas the maximal quantum yield (F_v /F_m) was determined during dark periods. Increases in …

Functional Characterization Of Arabidopsis Synaptotagmin-4 Protein Through Reverse Genetics Strategy, Zahid Jawed

Theses and Dissertations

Calcium ion plays a significant role in plant signal transduction pathways, including regulation of stress-induced gene expression. Sensor proteins such as proteins with calcium-binding C2 domains can perceive changes in cellular calcium level. Functional analysis of such sensor proteins will give us a better understanding of plant stress signaling. Synaptotagmins are a group of proteins containing C2 domains that are capable of binding calcium ions and regulate gene expression in response to external abiotic stress stimuli. Here, we used a reverse genetic approach to analyze the function of synaptotagmin – 4, which is one of the five identified synaptotagmin proteins …

Environmental Impacts Of Contact Lens Waste, Abigail Wilhelmi

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

Contact lenses have been used for decades to correct vision, and over 150 million people use contact lenses today. The materials used to make contact lenses have evolved drastically, but ultimately resulted in a specific plastic, silicone-derived hydrogel, which provides maximal comfort and clear vision, while also maintaining the eye health of the user. Contact lenses have enhanced the lives of many people, but a topic that is often left out of contact lens discussions is that of plastic waste. Single-use plastic and increased plastic pollution have recently been areas of concern and expanded research. Contact lenses are often forgotten …

A Cross-Ecoregion Evaluation Of Nitrogen Fixation And Denitrification In Streams And Rivers Of The United States Of America, Amy Marcarelli, Erin K. Eberhard, Michelle Kelly, Kevin Nevorski

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

It is typically assumed that dinitrogen (N2) fixation and denitrification are mutually exclusive processes in riverine ecosystems because N2 fixation is favored in high light, low nitrogen (N) environments but denitrification is favored under anoxic, high N conditions. Yet recent work in marine and lake ecosystems has demonstrated that N2 fixation can happen under high N conditions and in sediments, challenging this assumption. We conducted a cross-ecoregion study to test the hypothesis that N2 fixation and denitrification would co-occur in streams and rivers across a range of reactive N concentrations. Between 2017 and 2019, we sampled 30 streams in 13 …