Digital Commons Network^™

Rotational Quenching Rate Coefficients For H2 In Collisions With H2 From 2 To 10,000 K, T.-G. Lee, N. Balakrishnan, R. C. Forrey, P. C. Stancil, G. Shaw, D. R. Schultz, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Rate coefficients for rotational transitions in H₂ induced by H₂ impact are presented. Extensive quantum mechanical coupled-channel calculations based on a recently published (H₂)₂ potential energy surface were performed. The potential energy surface used here has been demonstrated to be more reliable than surfaces used in previous work. Rotational transition cross sections with initial levels of J≤8 were computed for collision energies ranging between 10^-4 and 2.5 eV, and the corresponding rate coefficients were calculated for the temperature range 2≤T≤10,000 K. In general, agreement with earlier calculations, which were limited to 100-6000 K, …

Gender Specific Differences In The Pros And Cons Of Smoking Among Current Smokers In Eastern Kentucky: Implications For Future Smoking Cessation Interventions, Dana A. Hazen, David M. Mannino, Richard Clayton

David M. Mannino

This study investigated gender differences in the perceived “pros” and “cons” of smoking using the constructs of decisional balance (DB) and stage of change from the Transtheoretical Model. The population distribution for stage of change among a population-based, cross-sectional survey of 155 current smokers over 40 years was: precontemplation (22.6%), contemplation (41.9%), preparation (35.5%). Results of stepwise regression models indicated significant gender differences in DB were in the preparation stage of change; scores on the DB measure increased 3.94 points (95% CI: 1.94, 5.93) for male smokers. Interventions targeting the “pros” and “cons” of smoking may need to be gender …

Gender Specific Differences In The Pros And Cons Of Smoking Among Current Smokers In Eastern Kentucky: Implications For Future Smoking Cessation Interventions, Dana A. Hazen, David M. Mannino, Richard Clayton

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

This study investigated gender differences in the perceived “pros” and “cons” of smoking using the constructs of decisional balance (DB) and stage of change from the Transtheoretical Model. The population distribution for stage of change among a population-based, cross-sectional survey of 155 current smokers over 40 years was: precontemplation (22.6%), contemplation (41.9%), preparation (35.5%). Results of stepwise regression models indicated significant gender differences in DB were in the preparation stage of change; scores on the DB measure increased 3.94 points (95% CI: 1.94, 5.93) for male smokers. Interventions targeting the “pros” and “cons” of smoking may need to be gender …

Down-Regulation Of Ppargamma1 Suppresses Cell Growth And Induces Apoptosis In Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva, Xin Wang, R. Chase Southard, Natalie K. Wallis, Michael W. Kilgore

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and is highly expressed in many human tumors including breast cancer. PPARgamma has been identified as a potential target for breast cancer therapy based on the fact that its activation by synthetic ligands affects the differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis of cancer cells. However, the controversial nature of current studies and disappointing results from clinical trials raise questions about the contribution of PPARgamma signaling in breast cancer development in the absence of stimulation by exogenous ligands. Recent reports from both in vitro and in vivo studies …

Manufactured Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles Decrease Expression Of Tight Junction Proteins In Brain Vasculature, Lei Chen, Robert A. Yokel, Bernhard Hennig, Michal Toborek

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Manufactured nanoparticles of aluminum oxide (nano-alumina) have been widely used in the environment; however, their potential toxicity provides a growing concern for human health. The present study focuses on the hypothesis that nano-alumina can affect the blood-brain barrier and induce endothelial toxicity. In the first series of experiments, human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) were exposed to alumina and control nanoparticles in dose- and time-responsive manners. Treatment with nano-alumina markedly reduced HBMEC viability, altered mitochondrial potential, increased cellular oxidation, and decreased tight junction protein expression as compared to control nanoparticles. Alterations of tight junction protein levels were prevented by cellular …

Educational Spending: Kentucky Vs. Other States, William Hoyt, Christopher Jepsen, Kenneth R. Troske

CBER Research Report

Excerpts from the executive summary:

The passage of the Kentucky Educational Reform Act (KERA) in 1990 had a dramatic impact on the funding of primary and secondary education in the state. The amount of money spent on education increased significantly with the passage of KERA with districts in rural areas of the state experiencing the largest growth in spending (Hoyt, 1999). This has led to a decline in the disparity between rural and urban districts in education spending. However, despite the increase in educational spending, Kentucky still lags behind the typical state in the U.S. in spending per student (Troske, …

Forage News [2008-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Improved Grass Varieties Benefit Farmers
• Alfalfa and the Environment
• Grass May Help Balance Hot Dairy Diets
• Ethanol Maker Files for Bankruptcy Relief
• Pricing Hay: Consider Plant Nutrient Value
• Performance and Physiology of Steers Grazing Toxic Tall Fescue as Influenced by Feeding Soybean Hulls and Steroidal Implants
• Upcoming Events

Obstructive Lung Disease Models: What Is Valid, Jill M. Ferdinands, David M. Mannino

David M. Mannino

Use of disease simulation models has led to scrutiny of model methods and demand for evidence that models credibly simulate health outcomes. We sought to describe recent obstructive lung disease simulation models and their validation. Medline and EMBASE were used to identify obstructive lung disease simulation models published from January 2000 to June 2006. Publications were reviewed to assess model attributes and four types of validation: first-order (verification/debugging), second-order (comparison with studies used in model development), third-order (comparison with studies not used in model development), and predictive validity. Six asthma and seven chronic obstructive pulmonary disease models were identified. Seven …

Young People's Blood Alcohol Concentration And The Alcohol Consumption City Law, Brazil, Raquel De Boni, Carl G. Leukefeld, Flavio Pechansky

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

The paper assesses blood alcohol concentration and risk behaviors for traffic accidents before and after the implementation of a law which prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages on city gas stations. In Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, young people go out at night and drive to gas station convenience stores to buy alcoholic beverages which are consumed on the premises of parking lots in gas stations. Data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires and breath analyzers in two cross-sectional collections with purposive samples of youngsters in May and July 2006 (n=62, and n=50, respectively). There were no significant differences between the groups …

Changes In The Distribution Of Income Among Single Mother Families: Murphy Brown Meets Inequality, Christopher Bollinger, James P. Ziliak

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

We document the demographic and economic forces underlying changes in income inequality among single mother families over the past three decades in the United States. Using decomposable measures of after-tax income-to-needs inequality, we examine within- and between-group inequality based on education attainment, age, past marital status, race, and employment status. We also conduct income factor decompositions to quantify the relative contributions of earnings, transfers, other income, and taxes to inequality. Our results from the March Current Population Survey show that income-to-needs inequality rose nearly 30 percent between 1979 and 2005. The demographic decompositions indicate that most of the change in …

Borderline Personality Disorder: An Overview Of History, Diagnosis And Treatment In Adolescents, Linah Al-Alem, Hatim A. Omar

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a cluster B personality disorder. It is characterized by erratic behaviors, emotional instability and one of its hallmarks is self injurious behavior, which starts in adolescence. Patients with BPD are difficult to treat, most have a history of child sexual abuse, about a quarter present with sexual abuse from a caretaker. Although personality disorders are diagnosed only in adults, BPD manifests itself in adolescence in the form of uncontrollable anger, self mutilations, dissociation and other such behaviors. Hence, there is a growing number of scientists discussing the possibility of diagnosing BPD in adolescents. Here, we …

Aluminum Bioavailability From Tea Infusion, Robert A. Yokel, Rebecca L. Florence

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The objective was to estimate oral Al bioavailability from tea infusion in the rat, using the tracer ²⁶Al. ²⁶Al citrate was injected into tea leaves. An infusion was prepared from the dried leaves and given intra-gastrically to rats which received concurrent intravenous ²⁷Al infusion. Oral Al bioavailability (F) was calculated from the area under the ²⁶Al, compared to ²⁷Al, serum concentration × time curves. Bioavailability from tea averaged 0.37%; not significantly different from water (F = 0.3%), or basic sodium aluminum phosphate (SALP) in cheese (F = 0.1 to 0.3%), but greater than acidic SALP …

Pgrmc1: A New Biomarker For The Estrogen Receptor In Breast Cancer, Rolf J. Craven

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Estrogen receptor (ER) status is a critical biomarker in breast cancer, in large part because the ER is the target of tamoxifen and similar drugs. In the previous issue of Breast Cancer Research, Neubauer and colleagues used a proteomic approach to identify proteins that are differentially regulated by ER in breast tumors. The authors showed that ER-negative tumors have elevated levels of PGRMC1 (progesterone receptor membrane component-1), a hormone receptor component and binding partner for P450 proteins. In contrast, PGRMC1 was phosphorylated in ER-positive tumors. The staining patterns of ER and PGRMC1 were mutually exclusive in breast tumor sections, and …

Differential Gene Expression Associated With Postnatal Equine Articular Cartilage Maturation, Michael J. Mienaltowski, Liping Huang, Arnold J. Stromberg, James N. Macleod

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage undergoes an important maturation process from neonate to adult that is reflected by alterations in matrix protein organization and increased heterogeneity of chondrocyte morphology. In the horse, these changes are influenced by exercise during the first five months of postnatal life. Transcriptional profiling was used to evaluate changes in articular chondrocyte gene expression during postnatal growth and development.

METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from the articular cartilage of neonatal (0-10 days) and adult (4-5 years) horses, subjected to one round of linear RNA amplification, and then applied to a 9,367-element equine-specific cDNA microarray. Comparisons were made with …

Crystallization And Structure Of A Plant Peptide Deformylase, Robert L. Houtz, David W. Rodgers, Lynnette M. A. Dirk, Mark A. Williams

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Patents

This invention relates to the crystal structure of a plant peptide deformylase polypeptide and methods of using the structure to design compounds that modulate the activity of the polypeptide.

Distributing Discipline: Race, Politics, And Punishment At The Frontlines Of Welfare Reform, Richard Fording, Joe Soss, Sanford F. Schram

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

Numerous studies have confirmed that race plays an important role in shaping public preferences toward both redistribution and punishment. Likewise, studies suggest that punitive policy tools tend to be adopted by state governments in a pattern that tracks with the racial composition of state populations. Such evidence testifies to the enduring power of race in American politics, yet it has limited value for understanding how disciplinary policies get applied to individuals in implementation settings. To illuminate the relationship between race and the application of punitive policy tools, we analyze sanction patterns in the TANF program. Drawing on a model of …

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Markers Are Associated With Obesity In Nondiabetic Subjects, Neeraj K. Sharma, Swapan K. Das, Ashis K. Mondal, Oksana Hackney, Winston S. Chu, Philip A. Kern, Neda Rasouli, Horace J. Spencer, Aiwei Yao-Borengasser, Steven C. Elbein

Clinical and Translational Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Adipocyte and hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is activated in dietary and genetic models of obesity in mice. We hypothesized that ER stress was also activated and associated with reduced insulin sensitivity (S_I) in human obesity.

Research Design and Methods: We recruited 78 healthy, nondiabetic individuals over a spectrum of body mass index (BMI) who underwent oral and iv glucose tolerance tests, and fasting sc adipose and muscle biopsies. We tested expression of 18 genes and levels of total and phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, c-jun, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 in adipose tissue. We compared …

Stearoyl-Coenzyme A Desaturase 1 Gene Expression Increases After Pioglitazone Treatment And Is Associated With Peroxisomal Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Γ Responsiveness, Aiwei Yao-Borengasser, Negah Rassouli, Vijayalakshmi Varma, Angela M. Bodles, Neda Rasouli, Resat Unal, Bounleut Phanavanh, Gouri Ranganathan, Robert E. Mcgehee Jr., Philip A. Kern

Clinical and Translational Science Faculty Publications

Context and Objective: Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD1) is the rate-limiting enzyme that converts palmitoyl- and stearoyl-coenzyme A to palmitoleoyl- and oleoyl-cownzyme A, respectively. SCD-deficient mice are protected from obesity, and the ob/ob mouse has high levels of SCD. This study was designed to better characterize SCD1 gene and protein expression in humans with varying insulin sensitivity.

Design, Participants, and Setting: In a university hospital clinical research center setting, SCD1 gene expression was measured in sc adipose and vastus lateralis muscle of 86 nondiabetic subjects; 10 wk of pioglitazone (45 mg daily) and metformin (1000 mg twice daily) treatment were assessed …

Focus On Rna Isolation: Obtaining Rna For Microrna (Mirna) Expression Profiling Analyses Of Neural Tissue, Wang-Xia Wang, Bernard R. Wilfred, Donald A. Baldwin, R. Benjamin Isett, Na Ren, Arnold J. Stromberg, Peter T. Nelson

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are present in all known plant and animal tissues and appear to be somewhat concentrated in the mammalian nervous system. Many different miRNA expression profiling platforms have been described. However, relatively little research has been published to establish the importance of 'upstream' variables in RNA isolation for neural miRNA expression profiling. We tested whether apparent changes in miRNA expression profiles may be associated with tissue processing, RNA isolation techniques, or different cell types in the sample. RNA isolation was performed on a single brain sample using eight different RNA isolation methods, and results were correlated using a conventional …

Technical Variables In High-Throughput Mirna Expression Profiling: Much Work Remains To Be Done, Peter T. Nelson, Wang-Xia Wang, Bernard R. Wilfred, Guiliang Tang

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

MicroRNA (miRNA) gene expression profiling has provided important insights into plant and animal biology. However, there has not been ample published work about pitfalls associated with technical parameters in miRNA gene expression profiling. One source of pertinent information about technical variables in gene expression profiling is the separate and more well-established literature regarding mRNA expression profiling. However, many aspects of miRNA biochemistry are unique. For example, the cellular processing and compartmentation of miRNAs, the differential stability of specific miRNAs, and aspects of global miRNA expression regulation require specific consideration. Additional possible sources of systematic bias in miRNA expression studies include …

Are Adolescents Smoking Identities Valid Descriptors Of Their Smoking Behaviour? (2008), Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Chris G. Richardson, Pamela A. Ratner, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background

•Smoking identities represent psychosocial constructions of how adolescents who smoke perceive themselves in relation to their smoking behaviour

•These smoking identities converge (or diverge) with established taxonomies used to describe youth smoking behaviour

•The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of adolescents’ ‘smoking identities’ by comparing them to established smoking behaviour categorizations and perceived addiction to tobacco

Action Required: Revisiting Better Practices In Smoking Cessation Interventions For Pregnant Girls And Women (2008), Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Lorraine Greaves, Joan Bottorff, Lenora Marcellus, Charmaine Enns, Richard Stanwick

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background

•Despite considerable efforts by health care professionals, and an overall reduction in smoking prevalence, it is estimated that approximately 20% to 30% of pregnant women still smoke during pregnancy

•To date, smoking cessation interventions to reduce smoking during pregnancy and postpartum have been relatively unsuccessful. Despite the influx of research examining smoking and pregnancy over the last five years, the prevalence of smoking among pregnant and postpartum women has only slightly decreased

•Advice to quit smoking by health care providers, is associated with increased smoking cessation attempts in the general population. Also, studies have shown that smoking cessation interventions …

Childhood Lymphohematopoietic Cancer Incidence And Hazardous Air Pollutants In Southeast Texas, 1995–2004, Kristina W. Whitworth, Elaine Symanski, Ann L. Coker

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the second leading cause of death among U.S. children with few known risk factors. There is increasing interest in the role of air pollutants, including benzene and 1,3-butadiene, in the etiology of childhood cancers.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess whether census tracts with the highest benzene or 1,3-butadiene ambient air levels have increased childhood lymphohematopoietic cancer incidence.

METHODS: Our ecologic analysis included 977 cases of childhood lymphohematopoietic cancer diagnosed from 1995–2004. We obtained the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 1999 modeled estimates of benzene and 1,3-butadiene for 886 census tracts surrounding Houston, Texas. We ran Poisson regression …

Forage News [2008-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• KFGC Awards
• Clayton Geralds Wins KFGC Forage Spokesman Contest
• 29th Alfalfa Conference Program Set
• Forages at KCA
• 9th Grazing Conference Proceedings
• Decision Aid Added to Website
• Enough Hay…
• Animal Grazing Habits
• Time to Focus On Switchgrass Economics
• Limiting Access Time to Hay Can Stretch the Roll
• Horse Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Can Be Controlled With Diet
• Upcoming Events

Roofing Foreman Dies From Telescopic Boom Lift Fall, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Falls

On a winter day in 2008, a male roofer/ foreman died after falling from a telescopic boom lift. He and four other roofing crew members were installing a new roof at a residence undergoing restoration. They had arrived at the job site at approximately 7:45 AM.

At approximately 8:00 AM, the foreman and two roofers were installing flashing on the roof of an alcove on the south side of the house while two other roofers were in a pickup truck putting on coveralls. The crew on the roof needed red rosin underlayment (paper) which was in the pickup truck. Using …

Sequiterpene Synthase Gene And Protein, Joe Chappell, Bryan T. Greenhagen

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

The invention relates to sesquiterpene synthases and methods for their production and use. Particularly, the invention provides nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence of citrus valencene synthase (CVS) which codes for at least one CVS. The invention further provides nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence coding for amino acid residues forming the tier 1 and tier 2 domains of CVS. The invention also provides for methods of making and using the nucleic acids and amino acids of the current invention.

Forage Spokesman Information, Clayton Geralds, Brady Jarvis

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Supplementing Cattle On Pasture: When, What And How Much?, Roy Burris

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The biggest advantage of maintaining cattle in the southeast is our ability to grow forages. It is generally an economic advantage to make maximum use of our forage and then supplement only when needed to meet our production goals. Judicious use of extra nutrition to grazing cattle can allow us to meet an objective which was best stated by Hoveland in 1986:

“Our objective is to maintain pasture at the highest quality that the environment will allow and efficiently convert as much of the pasture as possible into saleable animal product.”

Fencing And Watering Systems: Simpler Is Better, Ralph Quillin

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Sustainability and Grazing Management have taken on a new importance in the Americana farm community. The key components of the sustainable approach, profitability, agronomic, social and ecological responsibility and quality of life are becoming obtainable goals for this and future farming generations.

Practical Grazing Management And Feed Strategies To Alleviate Fescue Toxicosis, Glen Aiken

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Tall fescue grown in Kentucky is productive and persistent and that is why the state has 5 million acres of the stuff! Fescue has tolerances to drought, low fertility, and overgrazing that are attributed to a fungal endophyte which infects most tall fescue plants. Unfortunately, these advantages of tall fescue that livestock producers appreciate are offset by reduced calving percentages and calf weight gains caused by consumption of ergot alkaloids produced by the endophyte. Ergot alkaloids affect the physiology of cattle to cause elevation in body temperature, reduced sweating, retention of winter hair coats and uncontrollable growth of summer hair …