Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Liv-1 And E-Cadherin (Cdh1) In Prostate Cancer Cells, Lei Cao

Master's Theses

BACKGROUND

The zinc importer LIV-1 is widely distributed, mainly in hormonally controlled tissues. Attention has focused on its role in breast cancer, especially its regulation by estrogen and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its link to the Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) marker, E-cadherin (CDH1). EMT is important for tumor progression and metastasis. CDH1 expression is under complex control, including by two transcriptional repressors, Snail and Slug. Contrast to CDH1, elevated MMP-9 expression has been linked to increased metastasis and tumor stage.

METHODS

The role of LIV-1 in prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and DU145 was investigated. Cells were treated with or …

Transgene Delivery Via Microelectromechanical Systems, Aubrey Marie Mueller Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The invention of pronuclear microinjection initiated the field of transgenic research. Over 30 years later microinjection remains the most straight-forward and most commonly used transgene delivery option. In this work we address the current progress of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) used as transgenic delivery mechanisms. The nanoinjector is a specially designed MEMS device which uses electrostatic charge to manipulate transgene molecules. The process of nanoinjection was designed as an alternative to microinjection which causes less damage to developing embryos, improves embryo survival, birth rates, and overall efficiency of injections. In vivo testing of nanoinjection demonstrates it is both safe and effective. …

A Reexamination Of The Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus Collaris Collaris) In Arkansas, Ashley A. Grimsley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Loss of suitable habitat is a threat to species worldwide. Habitat destruction, including loss, change, and fragmentation of habitat, is the leading cause of species extinction. Eastern collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris collaris) are habitat specialists on glades. Both C. c. collaris and glade habitats are rare and of special concern in the state of Arkansas. Many glade populations have already been extirpated in the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri. Increasing knowledge of the distribution, habitat structure, and population dynamics of C. c. collaris is important to ensure the survival of this species in Arkansas.

A literature review of …

Hypoxia-Sensitive Gene Expression In The Gastrocnemius Muscle Following Chronic Hind Limb Ischemia, Andrew Tilton

Biological Sciences

Chronic ischemia, caused by the formation atherosclerotic plaque occlusions in major conduit arteries, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in western societies. Vascular remodeling can help compensate for the adverse effects of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Vascular remodeling relies heavily on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a critical protein that contributes to all forms of vascular formation and remodeling including angiogenesis, arteriogenesisand vasculogenesis. VEGF itself is up-regulated by the transcription factor, hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), which becomes activated in low oxygen environments.

Through the use of animal chronic hindlimb ischemia models, these genes can be evaluated as …

Human Skeletal Muscle Feed Arteries: Evidence Of Regulatory Potential, S. J. Ives, R. H. I. Andtbacka, Song-Young Park, A. J. Donato, J. R. Gifford, R. D. Noyes, L. A. Lesniewski, R. S. Richardson

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Aim

Recently, it has been recognized that human skeletal muscle feed arteries can be harvested during exploratory surgery for melanoma. This approach provides vessels for in vitro study from a wide spectrum of relatively healthy humans. Although, the regulatory role of skeletal muscle feed arteries in rodent models has been documented, whether such vessels in humans possess this functionality is unknown.

Methods

Therefore, skeletal muscle feed arteries (~950 μm OD) from 10 humans (48 ± 4, 27–64 years) were studied using pressure myography. Vessel function was assessed using potassium chloride (KCl), phenylephrine (PE), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) concentration–response …

Nanoherbals In Human Healthcare: A Proposed Research And Development Roadmap I, Ahmad S, Hashim U

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Bioactive secondary metabolites derived from herbs are examined for their suitability of conversion into nanoforms having flexible morphological controls, surface stabilizations and surface functionalization. This can lead to stable chemical conjugations based on molecular recognition for their possible applications in the form of smart pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmaceuticals and many other related areas of human healthcare using green chemistry routes. Using the principles of nanoscience and technology in association with genomics and proteomics, an attempt has been made to decipher whether a suitable form of drug discovery and targeted drug delivery like schemes arefeasible in case of such nano phytochemicals using …

Discrete Targeting Of Peptide And Non-Peptide Neurotransmitters By A Single Neuron, Daniel Kueh

Dissertations

The heart excitor (HE) motor neuron in the medicinal leech, Hirudo, releases acetylcholine (ACh) and a peptide, FMRFamide, to regulate the contractile activity of the heart tube and associated side vessels. Consistent with Dale’s Principle, it was assumed that both neurotransmitters were coreleased by all presynaptic varicosities. However, discrete peptide-positive and peptide-negative varicosities can be found consistently at particular sites of innervation on the heart tube. Dual-labeled HE neurons were produced by pressure injecting Neurobiotin into single HE neurons and applied antibodies against FMRFamide on the same preparations. Consistent with initial expectations, peptide-labeled varicosities were numerous and widely distributed …

Technical Desiderata For The Integration Of Genomic Data Into Electronic Health Records., Daniel R Masys, Gail P Jarvik, Neil F Abernethy, Nicholas R Anderson, George J Papanicolaou, Dina N Paltoo, Mark A Hoffman, Isaac S Kohane, Howard P Levy

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The era of "Personalized Medicine," guided by individual molecular variation in DNA, RNA, expressed proteins and other forms of high volume molecular data brings new requirements and challenges to the design and implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). In this article we describe the characteristics of biomolecular data that differentiate it from other classes of data commonly found in EHRs, enumerate a set of technical desiderata for its management in healthcare settings, and offer a candidate technical approach to its compact and efficient representation in operational systems.

Genome Wide Analysis Of Hepatic Gene Silencing In Mammalian Cell Variants, Jeffrey L. Kurkewich

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Using microarray data, a genome wide analysis of hepatic gene-silencing in four hepatoma variant cell lines was carried out. The purpose of this analysis was to identify candidate genes that may be able to restore liver function in non-functional cell variants, ultimately giving insight into the mechanisms behind global hepatic gene expression. Based on a selection scheme allowing only for genes activated or repressed at least 5 fold in 2 out of the 4 variant cell lines, 225 genes were found to be repressed while a total of 76 genes were found to be activated. Of the repressed genes identified, …

Spatial Distribution And Modulation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase In A Hypertensive Rat Model, Andrew Yannaccone

Theses and Dissertations

There are gaps in the fundamental understanding of the expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the microvasculature. We examined co-localization of NOS1 (nNOS), NOS2 (iNOS) and NOS3 (eNOS) in the spinotrapezius muscle of young adult male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) rats according to fiber type using immunohistochemistry and brightfield microscopy. Data regarding fiber distribution, population and morphology data were collected. Alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine capillary density and average number of capillaries around a fiber. Gel electrophoresis and Western blot techniques were used to compare myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein expression with fiber type population …

Wildland Fire In Ecosystems Effects Of Fire On Cultural Resources And Archaeology, Krista Deal, Leaonard Debano, Michael L. Elliot, Charles Haecker, Ann Trinkle Jones, Roger Kelly, Kristine M. Lee, Daniel F. Mccarthy, Elizabeth Oster, Trisha Rude, Samantha M. Ruscava-Barz, Kevin C. Ryan, Nelson Siefkin, Rebecca S. Timmons, John R. Welch

Joint Fire Science Program Synthesis Reports

This state-of-knowledge review provides a synthesis of the effects of fire on cultural resources, which can be used by fire managers, cultural resource (CR) specialists, and archaeologists to more effectively manage wildland vegetation, fuels, and fire. The goal of the volume is twofold: (1) to provide cultural resource/archaeological professionals and policy makers with a primer on fuels, fire behavior, and fire effects to enable them to work more effectively with the fire management community to protect resources during fuels treatment and restoration projects and wildfire suppression activities; and (2) to provide fire and land management professionals and policy makers with …

Animal Research In Medical Sciences: Seeking A Convergence Of Science, Medicine, And Animal Law, John J. Pippin

Laws and Legislation Collection

As the intersection of animal law and animal research becomes congested, it is appropriate to establish the scientific context in which laws regarding the use and care of research animals will operate. There are at least three components of this context that set the terms of the debate: ethics, science, and the legal status of animals. The following discussion will not address ethics; not because it isn’t important, but because it exists along a spectrum of objective and subjective positions that are often unassailable by argument and data. I can assure you as a former animal researcher that even in …

Structural And Functional Studies Of Slo K+ Channels: Mechanisms Of Gating By Intracellular Signaling, Manuel D. Leonetti

Student Theses and Dissertations

Eukaryotic K⁺ channels from the SLO family (SLO1, SLO2 and SLO3) provide a link between intracellular signaling and the electrical activity of a cell. The opening and closing (gating) of the three different SLO homologs is controlled by the synergistic action of membrane voltage and specific intracellular cues: Ca²⁺ binding in SLO1, Na⁺ binding in SLO2 and pH increase in SLO3. It is known that intracellular signals activate SLO channels by acting on the large cytoplasmic domains (CTDs) of these proteins, which follows the transmembrane ionconduction pore. However, a molecular description of the mechanisms of intracellular gating …

Aging, Neuromuscular Decline, And The Change In Physiological And Behavioral Complexity Of Upper-Limb Movement Dynamics, S. Morrison, K. M. Newell

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Aging is characterized by a general decline in physiological and behavioral function that has been widely interpreted within the context of the loss of complexity hypothesis. In this paper, we examine the relation between aging, neuromuscular function and physiological-behavioral complexity in the arm-hand effector system, specifically with reference to physiological tremor and isometric force production. Experimental findings reveal that the adaptive behavioral consequences of the aging-related functional decline in neurophysiological processes are less pronounced in simple motor tasks which provides support for the proposition that the motor output is influenced by both extrinsic (e.g., task related) and intrinsic (e.g., coordination, …

Identification And Characterization Of A Spore-Like Morphotype In Chronically Starved Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Cultures, Elise A. Lamont, J. P. Bannantine, Anibal Armien, Don Sanjiv Ariyakumar, Suelee Robbe-Austerman

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Mycobacteria are able to enter into a state of non-replication or dormancy, which may result in their chronic persistence in soil, aquatic environments, and permissive hosts. Stresses such as nutrient deprivation and hypoxia provide environmental cues to enter a persistent state; however, a clear definition of the mechanism that mycobacteria employ to achieve this remains elusive. While the concept of sporulation in mycobacteria is not novel, it continues to spark controversy and challenges our perceptions of a non-replication. We investigated the potential role of sporulation in one-year old broth cultures of Mycobacterium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). We show that dormant cultures …

Light-Limited Access To Fructose Alters Metabolic Function And Adipose Tissue Catecholaminergic Activity In Mice, Naima Salem Rodwan

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Consumption of high levels of fructose produces glucose intolerance, sympathetic nervous system activation, and renal dysfunction. A diet high in fructose may play a role in the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that time (light/dark) limited access to fructose influences body fat, metabolic function, and adipose tissue catecholaminergic activity in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were given standard chow and assigned to one of three groups: Control (n=10, water 24h); FL (n=11, 10% fructose solution during 12h light period); and FD (n=10, 10% fructose solution during 12h dark period). Metabolic …

Full Issue: Volume 6, Number 1

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Of Strength And Body Composition To Vertical Jump Ability In Division 1 Female Volleyball Players., Alyssa Shedlarski

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Jump ability is important in volleyball; therefore analysis of factors that influence jump performance is necessary to ensure maximal jump ability. Purpose: To analyze how strength characteristics associated with jumping are affected by percent body fat, lean body mass and free fat mass. Methods: Data from eleven female NCAA DI volleyball players as part of an ongoing athlete monitoring program collected from 2007-2010 was analyzed. Data was separated into weakest and strongest based on isometric peak force allometrically scaled. In all cases the weakest data corresponded to testing during the athletes first year at ETSU. Body composition was measured using …

Mathematical Modeling Of Peristaltic Flow Of Chyme In Small Intestine, Daniel N. Riahi, Ranadhir Roy

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Mathematical models based on axisymmetric Newtonian incompressible fluid flow are studied for the peristaltic flow of chyme in the small intestines, which is an axisymmetric cylindrical tube. The flow is modeled more realistically modeled by assuming that the peristaltic rush wave is a non-periodic mode composed of two sinusoidal waves of different wavelengths, which propagate at the same speed along the outer boundary of the tube. Both cases of flow in a tube and in an annulus that are modeled and investigated in the present paper correspond respectively to the cases of flow of chyme in the small intestine in …

Teaching Ethnobotany In China, Gordon C. Tucker

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

China has a rich and well documented tradition and diverse usage of plants. China provides examples of the incorporation of plant derived drugs in medicine. The diverse usage of plants is also reflected in the many kinds of Chinese food that are consumed by people of various nations around the world. China is one of the "cradles" of agriculture, the birth place of the cultivation of many important crops, including rice, millet, soybeans, and water chestnuts, and is the only undisrupted major ancient civilization in the world. Some plants find use in almost every aspect of Chinese life, such as …

Harnessing Opportunities In Non-Animal Asthma Research For A 21st-Century Science, Gemma L. Buckland

Experimentation Collection

The incidence of asthma is on the increase and calls for research are growing, yet asthma is a disease that scientists are still trying to come to grips with. Asthma research has relied heavily on animal use; however, in light of increasingly robust in vitro and computational models and the need to more fully incorporate the ‘Three Rs’ principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement, is it time to reassess the asthma research paradigm? Progress in non-animal research techniques is reaching a level where commitment and integration are necessary. Many scientists believe that progress in this field rests on linking disciplines …

Human Movement Variability, Nonlinear Dynamics, And Pathology: Is There A Connection?, Nikolaos Stergiou, Leslie M. Decker

Journal Articles

Fields studying movement generation, including robotics, psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience utilize concepts and tools related to the pervasiveness of variability in biological systems. The concept of variability and the measures for nonlinear dynamics used to evaluate this concept open new vistas for research in movement dysfunction of many types. This review describes innovations in the exploration of variability and their potential importance in understanding human movement. Far from being a source of error, evidence supports the presence of an optimal state of variability for healthy and functional movement. This variability has a particular organization and is characterized by a …

New Insights Into Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency And Reconstruction Through The Assessment Of Knee Kinematic Variability In Terms Of Nonlinear Dynamics, Leslie M. Decker, Constantina O. Moraiti, Nikolaos Stergiou, Anastasios D. Georgoulis

Journal Articles

Purpose

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) occur frequently, particularly in young adult athletes, and represent the majority of the lesions of knee ligaments. Recent investigations suggest that the assessment of kinematic variability using measures of nonlinear dynamics can provide with important insights with respect to physiological and pathological states. The purpose of the present article was to critically review and synthesize the literature addressing ACL deficiency and reconstruction from a nonlinear dynamics standpoint.

Methods

A literature search was carried out in the main medical databases for studies published between 1990 and 2010.

Results

Seven studies investigated knee kinematic …

Rhythmic Leptin Is Required For Weight Gain From Circadian Desynchronized Feeding In The Mouse, Deanna M. Arble, Martha H. Vitaterna, Fred W. Turek

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The neuroendocrine and metabolic effects of leptin have been extensively researched since the discovery, and the later identification, of the leptin gene mutated within the ob/ob mouse. Leptin is required for optimal health in a number of physiological systems (e.g. fertility, bone density, body weight regulation). Despite the extensive leptin literature and many observations of leptin’s cyclical pattern over the 24-hour day, few studies have specifically examined how the circadian rhythm of leptin may be essential to leptin signaling and health. Here we present data indicating that a rhythmic leptin profile (e.g. 1 peak every 24 hours) leads to excessive …

Effect Of Sodium Nitrite, Sodium Erythorbate And Organic Acid Salts On Germination And Outgrowth Of Clostridium Perfringens Spores In Ham During Abusive Cooling, Mauricio A. Redondo

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The effect of sodium nitrite (NaNO₂), sodium erythorbate, sodium chloride (NaCl) and organic acid salts (potassium lactate and sodium diacetate) on C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in ham was evaluated. The research was divided in two parts. The first experiment consisted of potential C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in ham containing combinations of NaNO₂ (0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm) and sodium erythorbate (0 or 557 ppm) during cooling. This experiment included the evaluation of residual nitrite levels as affected by temperature (heat shock at 75°C for 20 min and subsequent cooling from 54.4°C …

Characterization Of Lysophosphatidic Acid Subspecies Using A Novel Hplc Esi-Ms/Ms Method, Eric Mayton

Theses and Dissertations

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid with a plethora of biological functions, including roles in cell survival, proliferation, and migration. Although high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC ESI-MS/MS) technology has been used to measure the levels of LPA in human blood, serum and plasma, current methods cannot readily detect the minute levels of LPA from cell culture. In this study, a novel HPLC ESI-MS/MS method with enhanced sensitivity was developed which allows accurate measurements of LPA levels with a limit of quantitation at approximately 10 femtomoles. The method was validated by quantitation of LPA levels in …

Understanding Of Functions Of Selenoproteins And Dietary Selenium By Using Animal Models, Marina V. Kasaikina

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that is incorporated into proteins in the form of the 21^st amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec). Se supplementation was reported to have beneficial roles in prevention of cardiovascular and muscle disorders, cancer prevention and enhancement of the immune function. However, recent studies also showed that excessive dietary Se increases the risk of development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, better understanding of Se and selenoprotein functions is required. We used three approaches to address this problem.

First, we used high-throughput sequencing to examine composition of the gut microflora in mice maintained on selenium-deficient, selenium-sufficient, …

Ischemia Impairs Vasodilation In Skeletal Muscle Resistance Artery, Kyle Remington Struthers

Master's Theses

Functional vasodilation in arterioles is impaired with chronic ischemia. We sought to examine the impact of chronic ischemia and age on skeletal muscle resistance artery function. To examine the impact of chronic ischemia, the femoral artery was resected from young (2-3mo) and adult (6-7mo) mice and the profunda femoris artery diameter was measured at rest and following gracilis muscle contraction 14 days later using intravital microscopy. Functional vasodilation was significantly impaired in ischemic mice (14.4±4.6% vs. 137.8±14.3%, p<0.0001 n=8) and non-ischemic adult mice (103.0±9.4% vs. 137.8±14.3%, p=0.05 n=10). In order to analyze the cellular mechanisms of the impairment, a protocol was developed to apply pharmacological agents to the experimental preparation while maintaining tissue homeostasis. Endothelial and smooth muscle dependent vasodilation were impaired with ischemia, 39.6 ± 13.6% vs. 80.5 ± 11.4% and 43.0 ± 11.7% vs. 85.1 ± 10.5%, respectively. From this data, it can be supported that smooth muscle dysfunction is the reason for the observed impairment in arterial vasodilation.

Analysis Of Band 4.1b In Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion And Signaling, Youngsin Jung

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Band 4.1B is a cytoskeletal adaptor protein that regulates various cellular behavior; however, the mechanisms by which Band 4.1B contributes to intracellular signaling are unclear. This project addresses in vivo and in vitro functions for Band 4.1B in integrin-mediated cell adhesion and signaling. Band 4.1B has been shown to bind to β8 integrin, although cooperative functions of these two proteins have not been determined. Here, functional links between β8 integrin and Band 4.1B were investigated using gene knockout strategies. Ablation of β8 integrin and Band 4.1B genes resulted in impaired cardiac morphogenesis, leading to embryonic lethality by E11.5. These embryos …

Cross-Talk Of Retinoic Acid And Adrenergic Hormone Signaling May Influence Development Of Cardiac Conduction And Rhythmicity In Utero, Sabikha Alam

HIM 1990-2015

Stress hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline, have been shown to be critical for heart development. Mice lacking dopamine greek lower case letter beta]-hydroxylase (Dbh), an enzyme responsible for synthesis of these adrenergic hormones, die during mid-gestation due to cardiac failure. Prior research showed that adrenergic cells are found within the electrical conduction system of the heart, and adrenergic deficiency leads to slowed cardiac conduction during embryogenesis. Microarray analysis of wild-type (Dbh+/+) and knockout (Dbh-/-) mouse hearts revealed significant differences in expression of retinoic acid (RA) signaling genes. RA signaling has also been shown to be critical for heart development. These data …