Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Biocompatibility Of Random Or Aligned Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate Scaffolds Combined With Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Sevi̇l Köse, Fati̇ma Aerts Kaya, Emi̇r Baki̇ Denkbaş, Petek Korkusuz, Fahri̇ye Duygu Çeti̇nkaya

Turkish Journal of Biology

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a polymer used to restore tissues or regenerate bones. However, its compatibility with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has not been examined. PHB membranes of random (r-PHB) or aligned (a-PHB) electrospun nanofibers that generate bone and spinal axon scaffolds were combined with human MSCs. The adhesion and proliferation of cells on these membranes were examined. The orientation of cells on PHB membranes was analyzed by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MSCs maintained their characteristic properties on the membranes, adhered to the membranes, and preserved their viability. The cell morphology was different when …

Osteogenic Differentiation Of Electrostimulated Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded On Silk-Fibroin Films, Anil Sera Çakmak, Soner Çakmak, James White, Waseem Raja, David Kaplan, Menemşe Gümüşdereli̇oğlu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Electric field is known as an important regulator to guide the development and regeneration of many tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the osteogenic differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultivated on silk-fibroin films in response to different parameters, i.e. Frequency, voltage, distance between electrodes, and/or culture conditions (growth medium or osteogenic medium). Silk films were prepared in the presence of platinum wires to study the impact of exogenous electrostimulation on the cells for up to 14 days. The experimental groups can be defined as high voltage in osteogenic differentiation medium, low voltage in osteogenic …

Network Topology Analysis Of Post-Mortem Brain Microarrays Identifies More Alzheimer’S Related Genes And Micrornas And Points To Novel Routes For Fighting With The Disease, Sreedevi Chandrasekaran, Danail Bonchev

Study of Biological Complexity Publications

Network-based approaches are powerful and beneficial tools to study complex systems in their entirety, elucidating the essential factors that turn the multitude of individual elements into a functional system. In this study we used critical network topology descriptors and guilt-by-association rule to explore and understand the significant molecular players, drug targets and underlying biological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. Analyzing two post-mortem brain gene microarrays (GSE4757 and GSE28146) with Pathway Studio software package we constructed and analyzed a set of protein-protein interaction, as well as miRNA-target networks. In a 4-step procedure the expression datasets were normalized using Robust Multi-array Average approach, …

Antibacterial Properties Of F-Doped Zno Visible Light Photocatalyst, Joanna Podporska-Carroll, Adam Myles, Brid Quilty, Declan Mccormack, Rachel Fagan, Steven Hinder, Dionysios Dionysiou, Suresh Pillai

Articles

Nanocrystalline ZnO photocatalysts were prepared by a sol–gel method and modified with fluorine to improve their photocatalytic anti-bacterial activity in visible light. Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) were employed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of synthesized materials. The interaction with biological systems was assessed by analysis of the antibacterial properties of bacteria suspended in 2% (w/w) powder solutions. The F-doping was found to be effective against S. aureus (99.99% antibacterial activity) and E. coli (99.87% antibacterial activity) when irradiated with visible light. Production of reactive oxygen species is one of the major factors that …

Role Of The Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan, Neurocan, In Inhibition Of Sensory Neurite Regeneration, Madison Klump, Umang Khandpur, Chris Calulot, Adrian Centers, Diane M. Snow

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

In the adult mammalian brain and spinal cord, neuronal injury results in failed neurite regeneration, in part due to the up-regulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). CSPGs are molecules consisting of a protein core with covalently bound glycosaminoglycans (GAGS), specifically, chondroitin sulfate side-chains. The majority of CSPGs produced after injury originate from reactive astrocytes found in the glial scar surrounding the injury site. Although this milieu is very complex and involves more than just CSPGs, axonal regrowth may be improved if the expression of specific, highly inhibitory CSPGs produced after injury were attenuated selectively. Neurocan is one type of CSPG …

Mental Health Help-Seeking Intention And Organizational Climate In A Population Of Military Service Members, Mishaw Tyron Cuyler

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Historically, psychological effects of war such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been understated and misdiagnosed throughout the world. Military members that displayed symptoms of PTSD such as anxiety, depression, and sadness were thought to lack the strength and courage necessary to be a soldier. As a result, many soldiers suffering from symptoms of PTSD would suffer in silence and not seek the requisite help for mental health care. This Dissertation examines the mental health help-seeking intention of U.S. military service members using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Additionally, this Dissertation considers the effects that leadership support climate …

การผลิตโปรตีเอสจากวัสดุเหลือทิ้งทางการเกษตรโดย Bacillus Pumilus, พัชราภรณ์ การงาน

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

โปรตีเอสเป็นเอนไซม์ที่เร่งปฏิกิริยาการย่อยสลายโปรตีนให้เป็นกรดอะมิโน และเปปไทด์สายสั้นๆ ซึ่งสามารถนำไปประยุกต์ใช้ในการบำบัดน้ำเสียที่มีโปรตีนนมสูงจากร้านกาแฟได้ ซึ่งแบคทีเรียในสกุล Bacillus เป็นแบคทีเรียที่ผลิตโปรติเอสได้ดี โดย Bacillus pumilus มีความสามารถในการผลิตโปรติเอสปริมาณสูง ซึ่งคัดแยกได้จากบ่อน้ำพุร้อนทางภาคเหนือของประเทศไทย วิทยานิพนธ์นี้สนใจการผลิตโปรตีเอสจาก B. pumilus และศึกษาปัจจัยของแหล่งคาร์บอน และไนโตรเจน รวมถึงภาวะที่เหมาะสมต่อการผลิตโปรติเอส การผลิตโปรติเอสจาก B. pumilus มีค่ากิจกรรมของเอนไซม์โปรติเอสสูงที่สุด เท่ากับ 2.545 ยูนิตต่อมิลลิลิตร โดยเลี้ยงในอาหารสำหรับผลิตโปรติเอสประกอบด้วย 1 เปอร์เซ็นต์ โมลาส 1 เปอร์เซ็นต์ รำข้าว ภาวะในการเลี้ยงที่เหมาะสม คือ ค่าความเป็นกรด-ด่างเริ่มต้นในการเลี้ยงเท่ากับ 8.0 บ่มที่อุณหภูมิ 30 องศาเซลเซียส ความเร็วรอบ 250 รอบต่อนาที เป็นเวลา 24 ชั่วโมง ราคาอาหารเป็นหนึ่งในปัจจัยสำคัญสำหรับการผลิตโปรติเอส ดังนั้นการใช้วัสดุเหลือทิ้งทางการเกษตรเป็นแหล่งอาหารเลี้ยงเชื้อ เป็นการลดต้นทุนในการผลิตโปรตีเอส จึงเหมาะกับการนำไปประยุกต์ใช้ในระดับอุตสาหกรรม และการประยุกต์ใช้ในการบำบัดน้ำเสีย

Induction And Development Of Anther-Derived Gametic Embryos In Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) By Optimizing The Macronutrient And Agar Concentrations In Culture Medium, Mohammad Reza Abdollahi, Samereh Najafi, Hasan Sarikhani, Sayyed Saeed Moosavi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Anther culture response of a cucumber cultivar (Beta Alpha) and three Iranian landraces of cucumber (Basmenj, Isfahani, and Korki) on MS culture media with an altered macronutrient strength (half, full, 1.5-fold, and double-strength) or various concentrations of agar (0, 3.5, 7, and 14 g L-1) was evaluated in two separate experiments. The effect of different concentrations of agar on the development of callus-derived embryos was also assessed. The androgenic potentials of various cucumbers were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by the different macronutrient strengths and agar concentrations, although anther culture responses could vary according to the cucumber type. A doubled strength of macronutrients in culture medium resulted in the highest percentage of callogenesis (100%) in Isfahani cucumber, while use of full strength of macronutrients produced the highest percentage of embryogenic calli (83.33%) in the mentioned landrace compared to other tested forms. The maximum number of gametic embryos (1.26 and 1.23 embryos/anther) differentiated from Isfahani anther cultures on full- and half-strength MS medium, respectively. In the second experiment, the highest percentages of callogenesis were obtained in MS culture media solidified with 14 g L-1 and 7 g L-1 agar for Basmenj, with 3.5 g L-1 agar or liquid medium for Isfahani, with 7 g L-1 agar for Beta Alpha, and with 14 g L-1 agar for Korki. Culture media solidified with 7 g L-1 agar produced the highest percentage of embryogenic calli compared to other treatments. Anther culture of Korki cucumber on culture medium with 14 g L-1 agar produced the maximum number of embryos per anther compared to other cucumbers. Improved production of mature somatic embryos (torpedo and cotyledonary embryos) was achieved with higher agar concentrations (7 and 14 g L-1) for the cucumber cultivar and all landraces.

Androgenic Responses Of 64 Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.)Genotypes To Shed-Microspore Culture In The Autumn Season, Esi̇n Ari, Hi̇lal Bedi̇r, Selcen Yildirim, Tolga Yildirim

Turkish Journal of Biology

The recent gradual increase in interest and demand for multipurpose ornamental peppers has encouraged intensive breeding studies, especially for use in landscape. However, information in the literature about haploidy is limited. Thus, first, we intend to identify proper morphological markers for quick selection of suitable flower buds containing convenient microspores in two sample ornamental pepper genotypes with and without anthocyanin in external appearance. Secondly, the androgenic responses of 64 genotypes are determined in the autumn season through shed-microspore culture. Based on DAPI-assisted results, the calyx/bud ratio can be used as an effective morphological marker for proper bud selection in both …

Classroom Context And The Relations Between Social Withdrawal And Peer Victimization, Ellyn Bass, Jonathan Santo, Josafa M. Da Cunha, Cara Neufeld

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study examined the relationship between social withdrawal (isolation and unsociability) and peer victimization by exploring the moderating influences of gender, classroom norms of social withdrawal, individualism, and collectivism. One hundred fifty-eight adolescents (Mage 5 14.11, SD 5 1.10; 46.3% boys) in 7th and 8th grade from Curitiba, Brazil, completed peer assessments of isolation, unsociability, peer victimization, and self-reports of classroom individualism and collectivism. Isolation and unsociability were aggregated into classroom norms. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Isolation and unsociability positively predicted victimization. Unsociability was a positive predictor of victimization in low-unsociability classrooms. Isolation was negatively associated with victimization …

Overcoming Treatment Resistance In Heterogeneous Tumors, Nikhil Hebbar

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Most primary tumors are heterogeneous and are often composed of therapy-sensitive and emerging therapy-resistant cancer cells. Rather unexpectedly, treatment of therapy-sensitive tumor cells in heterogeneous tumor microenvironments resulted in apoptosis of the therapy-resistant cancer cells. We identified a novel Par-4 amino-terminal fragment (PAF, which includes amino acids 1-131 of Par-4) that is produced and released by therapy-sensitive cancer cells following therapy-induced caspase-dependent cleavage of the tumor suppressor Par-4. PAF caused paracrine apoptosis in therapy-resistant cancer cells. Unlike Par-4-inducible apoptosis, which is dependent on the cell surface GRP78 receptor, PAF produced cancer-selective apoptosis independent of cell surface GRP78 function. Par-4 contains …

Vietnamese Ganoderma: Growth, Peculiarities, And Low-Molecular Composition Compared To European And Siberian Strains, Olga Tsivileva, Thao Nguyen, Long Vu, Nikolai Yurasov, Marina Chernyshova, Alexander Petrov, Viktor Galushka, Alexei Markin, Oleg Koftin

Turkish Journal of Botany

The species from the genus Ganoderma are known to be extremely important macrofungi in fundamental biological, medicinal, and socioeconomic aspects. The present communication describes the brief morphological description, macro- and microscopic details, and chemical constituents of the representatives of five species of Ganoderma mushroom collected from different sites in Vietnamese National Parks. These species were Ganoderma colossus, G. Neojaponicum, G. Cattienensis, G. Lucidum, and G. Applanatum. Three additional herbarium strains of Ganoderma from European and Siberian regions have been implemented in the present framework for the purposes of comparison. Cultural characterization on solid and liquid fermentation, and scanning electron microscopy …

Open Educational Resources Textbook List, Zachariah Claybaugh, Chelsea Stone

Librarian Publications

Discipline specific OER textbook list for departments at SHU, compiled by Zach Claybaugh and Chelsea Stone.

Associations Between Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables Among Older Consumers And Farmers Market Shopping, Shu-Feng Tsao

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

The number of farmers’ markets in the United States has increased over 300% in past two decades. Many studies have also shown a positive association between an increased access to farmers’ markets and consumption of fruits and vegetables. However, few studies have explored relationships between older consumers aged 55+ whose fruit and vegetable consumption and their attendance at farmers’ markets. In Taiwan, no previous studies regarding farmers’ markets had been conducted from nutritional perspectives. The aims of this study were to determine general characteristics of farmers’ markets shoppers and their perceptions regarding the markets in Lexington, Kentucky and Taipei City, …

Michigan Academician, Volume 43, Issue 3

Michigan Academician

No abstract provided.

Unworking Milton: Steps To A Georgics Of The Mind, Steven Swarbrick

Publications and Research

Traditionally read as a poem about laboring subjects who gain power through abstract and abstracting forms of bodily discipline, John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667, 1674) more compellingly foregrounds the erotics of the Garden as a space where humans and nonhumans intra-act materially and sexually. Following Christopher Hill, who long ago pointed to not one but two revolutions in the history of seventeenth-century English radicalism—the first, ‘the one which succeeded[,] . . . the protestant ethic’; and the second, ‘the revolution which never happened,’ which sought ‘communal property, a far wider democracy[,] and rejected the protestant ethic’—I show how Milton’s Paradise …

Strolling The Lingnan Garden = 涓流彩園錄, 2014-2015, Lingnan Gardeners, Kwan Fong Cultural Research And Development Programme, Lingnan University

Lingnan Gardeners Publications 嶺南彩園刊物

This current collection is a documentation of the Lingnan Gardeners project in Phase One, from September 2014 up till December 2015. The 13 issues of Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter are collected here, which give some sense of what was happening month by month, in words and pictures. Included are also some related articles on the project – academic interviews, reflections on exchange visits, thoughts after gardening, as well as information about our partners.

本結集是嶺南彩園項目從2014年9月至2015年12月第一期活動的總結。這裡收集了13期《嶺南彩園通訊》，每月發生的活動和留影記錄在這裡。還收錄了一些與項目相關的文章，有學術訪談、交流回顧、參與者感言、夥伴機構介紹。

Development Of The Neuron Assessment For Measuring Biology Students’ Use Of Experimental Design Concepts And Representations, Annwesa P. Dasgupta, Trevor R. Anderson, Nancy J. Pelaez

PIBERG Publications

Researchers, instructors, and funding bodies in biology education are unanimous about the importance of developing students’ competence in experimental design. Despite this, only limited measures are available for assessing such competence development, especially in the areas of molecular and cellular biology. Also, existing assessments do not measure how well students use standard symbolism to visualize biological experiments. We propose an assessment-design process that 1) provides background knowledge and questions for developers of new “experimentation assessments,” 2) elicits practices of representing experiments with conventional symbol systems, 3) determines how well the assessment reveals expert knowledge, and 4) determines how well the …

Development And Application Of Foraminiferal Carbonate System Proxies To Quantify Ocean Acidification In The California Current, Emily B. Osborne

Theses and Dissertations

The oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon has mitigated climate change, but has also resulted in a global average 0.1 decline in surface ocean pH over 20th century known as ocean acidification. The parallel reduction in carbonate ion concentration ([CO32-]) and the saturation state of seawater (Ω) has caused many major calcium carbonate-secreting organisms such as planktonic foraminifera to exhibit impaired calcification. We develop proxy calibrations and down core records that use calcification and geochemical characteristics of planktonic foraminifera as proxies for the marine carbonate system. This study focuses specifically on the surface ocean chemistry of the California Current Ecosystem (CCE), …

Socio-Emotional Development In Latin America: Family And Peer Relations, Ellyn Bass, Lina María Saldarriaga, Jonathan Santo

Psychology Faculty Publications

The goal of this special issue is to build a context-specific foundation of knowledge which accurately represents the Latin American experiences and perspective of socio-emotional development. Ultimately, we hope that the research contained in this issue will inform discussions of issues relating to socio-emotional development among children and adolescents, including awareness-raising and policy-building efforts, as well as to stimulate further research among Latin American populations. To this end, this final special issue aims to explore research on socio-emotional development in relation to family and peer relations from underrepresented contexts. In doing so, we have invited articles examining a range of …

Effects Of Temperature, Irradiance And Pco2 On The Growth And Nitrogen Utilization Of Prorocentrum Donghaiense, Zhangxi Hu, Margaret R. Mulholland, Ning Xu, Shunshan Duan

OES Faculty Publications

Environmental factors such as temp erature, irradiance, and nitrogen (N) supply affect the growth of Prorocentrum donghaiense, but the interactive effects of these physical factors and the effects of atmospheric CO₂ (pCO₂) on growth and N uptake have not been examined. We compared growth kinetics of P. donghaiense grown on 4 different N substrates (nitrate [NO₃ -], ammonium [NH₄ +], urea, and glutamic acid [glu]) with respect to temperature, irradiance, and pCO₂. Temperature (15 to 30°C) had a positive effect on growth (max. growth rates: 0.17 to 0.65 d …

Some Key Elements On Entomophagy In Africa: Culture, Gender And Belief, S. Niassy, H. D. Affognon, K. K.M. Fiaboe, K. S. Akutse, C. M. Tanga, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Edible insects are a natural renewable food resource and, within the context of food security could be one solution for Africa. Although, entomophagy is still being practiced in Africa, there is a degree of rejection in certain milieu due to negative images associated with insects and poor awareness efforts. In order to understand the key elements that govern entomophagy in Africa, we conducted an online survey on edible insects in African countries and documented the importance of insects, cultures and believes associated to their use. We eventually looked at gender participation in entomophagy. Study showed that insect consumption can be …

Modulation Of Behavior In Communicating Emotion, Martin Gardiner

Animal Sentience

King discusses many examples where two animals, as they bond, behave in ways we interpret as expressing love for one another. If one of the bonded animals then dies, signs of loving are replaced by signs we interpret as expressing grief by the animal who remains. I propose a pathway for emotional communication between an animal and an observer that can have a central role in these and other observations by King and in our overall ability to interpret observed behavior in relation to emotion. This pathway provides evidence of emotion in an observed animal by communicating evidence of emotion’s …

Animal Welfare And Animal Rights, M.E. Rolle

Animal Sentience

This overview of Broom’s book, Sentience and Animal Welfare (2014), considers the role the book could play in the animal rights debate. In a thoroughly researched and objectively presented text, Broom lays out information that could place doubt in the minds of decision-makers. By highlighting not just the ways animals resemble humans, but also the ways humans resemble animals, Broom shines a light on a solidly grey area in the animal rights debate.

Influence Of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Isolated From “Amabere Amaruranu” Cultured Milk On Adipogenesis, Justin E. Kotala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was performed to test the in vitro effects of a Lactobacillus rhamnosus isolate from “amabere amaruranu”, a traditional Kenyan cultured milk, on 3T3-L1 and Caco-2 cell lines. Cultures of fully mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with bacterial isolate cell extract (CE), filtered spent broth (FSB) from overnight bacterial culture, or with a PBS control. Expression levels of PPAR³1 and 2, C/EBP±, and ATGL proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were upregulated by FSB treatment. CE treatment did not affect protein expression levels. Expression of MTTP and SREBP-1c proteins in Caco-2 cells showed no change with either treatment. Optical density measurements …

Molecular Regulation Of Vascular Calcification In Murine Models Of Atherosclerosis, Shanshan Gao

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: Calcification occurs often in the atherosclerotic lesions of patients with coronary heart disease and animals with hypercholesterolemia, such as apolipoprotein-E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the development of calcification in atherosclerosis remains unclear. ApoE acts as a lipid transporter, but also has been recognized as a potential regulator of osteogenesis. Little information is available as to whether ApoE has any direct impact on osteogenesis and calcification in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Several signal transduction pathways play a role in regulation of calcification, including the Wnt/β-catenin system and potentially GTAP, an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme responsible for protein …

Microbial Safety, Shelf Life Stability, Quality Preservation, And Consumer Acceptance Of Vacuum-Infused, Irradiated Chicken Breast Meat Treated With Natural Plant Extracts And Organic Acids, Kenneth Franklin Over

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Contamination of poultry products with food borne pathogens is a consistently recurring problem in the United States and the world. Recalls associated with chicken contamination are responsible for considerable economic losses to the poultry industry. Many decontamination steps are currently in place to reduce the likelihood of contaminated products reaching the consumer, but despite these safeguards, contamination events are still uncomfortably frequent. Irradiation is a safe and effective means of ensuring the safety of both ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat poultry but is not utilized in the United States. This is due, in part, to certain irradiation dose-dependent quality characteristic defects associated …

Bacterial Community Dynamics In Marine Sponge Cinachyrella Kuekenthali Under Irradiance And Antibiotics, Nidhi Vijayan

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The Marine sponge Cinachyrella sp used in this study are commonly found in offshore South Florida and Caribbean waters and appeared to be resilient in closed system aquaculture. Marine sponges host diverse bacterial symbionts that are distinct compared to bacteria found in ambient seawater, however the roles of a large fraction of the bacterial community in marine sponges are unknown. Comparison of symbiotic to aposymbiotic (bacteria-free) sponges could provide information about interactions (metabolic and physiologic) between the bacteria and sponge. In this study, a single Cinachyrella kuekenthali individual was subsectioned into explants (N=240) in order to provide identical bacterial communities …

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter (No. 12) = 嶺南彩園通訊 (第12期), Lingnan Gardeners, Kwan Fong Cultural Research And Development Programme, Lingnan University

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter 嶺南彩園通訊

Winter Begins 立冬

Characterization Of Inhibitors Of Fatty Acid Transport Protein-2 In Cell And Animal Models, Nipun Saini

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Obesity is correlated with insulin resistance and elevated levels of glucose, triglycerides and free fatty acids in blood. This affects overall metabolism and leads to disease. In the obese state, fat also accumulates in non-adipose tissue including liver, muscle and pancreas, where it can lead to cellular dysfunction and death. Currently, only a limited number of drugs are available to combat obesity and it is clear that new drugs, which more narrowly target the metabolic pathways involved, are required. Fatty Acid Transport Proteins (FATPs) are bifunctional proteins involved in the uptake and activation of fatty acids by esterification with coenzyme …