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Modulatory Efferent Morphology And Target Allocation With Co-Innervating Leech Motor Neurons, James Melchior

Masters Theses

The leech, Hirudo, has two efferents that converge upon the heart tube (HT) muscle; the segmentally iterated heart excitor motor neurons (HE), and the modulatory heart accessory neurons (HA). Using intracellular dye injections and antibody labeling, we were able to visualize and distinguish the morphologies of these two efferents. We found that HA(5) provides dense coverage of the anterior segments of heart tube muscle and extends along the HT into the posterior segments 6 and 7, while HA(6) projects centrally for several segments before extending into the periphery. HA(5) and HA(6) homologs show little or no overlap on HT …

Mapk Survival Signaling In Melanoma, Matthew W. Vanbrocklin

Dissertations

Extracellular signals activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades potentiating biological activities such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Constitutive activation of MAPK signaling pathways is implicated in the development and progression of many human cancers, including melanoma. Mutually exclusive activating mutations in NRAS or BRAF are found in ∼85% of all melanomas resulting in constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway (RAS-BRAF-MEK-ERK-RSK). We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of this pathway with small molecule MEK inhibitors selectively induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells both in vitro and in vivo, but not in normal melanocytes. These results support the notion that the …

The Effects Of Aging And Activity On Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression In Skeletal Muscle, Nathan Peplinski

Dissertations

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is an extracellular signaling protein that is produced by skeletal muscle and is important for the motor neurons that control muscle movement. GDNF has been shown to keep neurons alive under conditions that they would otherwise not persist. In skeletal muscle, GDNF has been shown to be one of the most potent neurotrophic factors that influence motor neuron survival. While the role of GDNF has been well studied during early development, not much is known about what happens to GDNF expression in the adult and with advanced aging. Previous results from our lab have …

Cross Platforms Display Calibration And Profiling Mac Os And Windows, Reem El Asaleh

Masters Theses

The monitor is an important part in many digital applications including graphic design, digital photography and prepress proofing. In fact, designers and prepress personnel rely on their monitor for good color decision for a printed job.

The aim of this research is to achieve a consistent color across platform using the same hardware (CPU, monitor video controller, etc.). Also to describe the main issue that affects the accuracy of monitor profiles. ICC profiles were generated for monitor in Windows and Mac OS platform using GretagMacbeth ProfileMaker Pro version 5.0 and X-Rite MonacoPROFILER ICC profiling softwares. In the laboratory environment, we …

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Deinking And Dew Waxing, Suraboon Hoontrakool

Masters Theses

The main purpose of this project is to study how the supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂) fluid can be used to extract sticky compounds and commercial printing inks. This study will focus on the upscale unit operation that Western Michigan University had recently installed supercritical fluid extraction system. This also includes determination of extraction efficiency, optimizing operating condition, the effect of ScCO₂ on the fiber tensile strength for recycling paper after the sticky compounds are removed and the effect of ScCO₂ to the fiber physical strength property at different temperatures.

The investigation of supercritical fluid extraction equipment …

Characterization Of Molecular Events Following Heavy Metal Cadmium Exposure: A Cellular Regulatory Symphony In Response To Early Cadmium Insult, Chin-Ju Jean Hsiao

Dissertations

Cadmium, a non-essential toxic heavy metal, has been classified as a human carcinogen and one of the most hazardous substances in our environment. Since it can circulate within the food chain, has a long biological half-life and can bio-accumulate, it has the potential to induce detrimental health effects linked to toxicity, cancer and chronic diseases.

In recent years progress has been made to dissect and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of cadmium exposure. However, few studies have focused on investigating potential protective and/or defense mechanisms naturally applied by cells upon initial exposure, prior to any damage or toxic …

Structure-Function Studies Of Self- Assembling Flagellin Proteins Fromsalmonella Typhimurium And Aquifex Pyrophilus, Venkata Raghu Ram Malapaka

Dissertations

The eubacterial flagellum is a complex structure with an elongated extracellular filament that is primarily composed of a single protein termed flagellin. The highly conserved N-and C- termini of flagellin are important in its export and assembly, whereas the middle "hypervariable" region is highly variable in size across different species and is largely dispensable. InSalmonella typhimurium phase 1 flagellin (FliC), this hypervariable region encodes two solvent-exposed D2 and D3 domains. The functional role of this knob-like structural feature in motility remains unclear. The structural and physiological role of the hypervariable region in flagellar assembly, stability and cellular motility was investigated. …

Early Stage Detection Of Marine Oil Oxidation, Loren Lapointe

Honors Theses

A method involving overnight stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mode was developed to determine the presence of aldehydes (cis-4-heptenal, trans,trans-2,4-heptadienal, trans-2-octenal, cis-6-nonenal, trans-2-cis-6-nonadienal, trans-2-nonenal, and trans,trans-2,4-decadienal) in fresh and aged commercial fish oil (untreated and treated with antioxidant blends). Aldehyde standards were quantifiable to >100ppb levels using this method. Only trans,trans-2,4-heptadienal was shown to be present in the commercial fish oil and its presence was used to compare the performance of the two different antioxidant treatments in the fish oil. Includes Powerpoint.

Stability Of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor One Alpha Protein In The Cell, Jennifer Watry

Honors Theses

Eukaryotic Elongation Factor One Alpha (eEF1A) is an abundant protein found in every cell of every organism and is involved in functions concerning protein synthesis and degradation, the cytoskeleton, and signaling. How these functions are regulated is not yet understood for this protein. Regulation of the protein may be controlled by transcription of the genes encoding the protein or the stability and modification of the protein. The goal of this project was to determine the stability of eEf1A proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. Protein stability was determined by treating tissues with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Gel electrophoresis and …

Borate Autocasting: Kinetics Model And Effect Of Carbon Dioxide On Reaction Rate, Ali Zuhair Fadhel

Masters Theses

Borate autocausticizing is a promising approach to the operational and environmental improvement of Kraft pulping and its chemical recovery. Its advantages include partial or total elimination of the lime cycle, pulp strength improvement, and energy savings. Borate autocausticizing involves the use of an amphoteric salt, sodium metaborate, to de-carbonize sodium carbonate and produces trisodium borate, the reaction occurs at high temperatures. Tran and Cameron (1999) suggest that the reaction follows the path below.

NaBO₂ + Na₂CO₃ → Na₃BO₃ + CO₂

This thesis systematically analyzes the reaction kinetics of borate autocausticizing. The uniqueness …