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Catherine Jeffrey Jones's Idyl: The Comic Strip In Science Fiction And Art, Stephen Hudson Smith Jan 2012

Catherine Jeffrey Jones's Idyl: The Comic Strip In Science Fiction And Art, Stephen Hudson Smith

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Catherine Jeffrey Jones's comic strip Idyl ran for forty-four installments in the National Lampoon from January 1972 through February 1976. The work was typically published as one-page vignettes revolving around the meanderings of nude female figures, talking animals, and sentient vegetation. The large distribution of the magazine resulted in Idyl having an unusual reach and influence. Jones is one of the most recognizable artists in the fields of comic strip and science fiction art. The innovations she spearheaded would have a lasting influence and be critical in the evolution of these genres in the decade following the publication of Idyl. …


A Role Of Angiogenin In Models Of Parkinson's Disease, Trent Steidinger Jan 2012

A Role Of Angiogenin In Models Of Parkinson's Disease, Trent Steidinger

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Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder and is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Gene multiplication of alpha-synuclein causes an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern of PD. A mouse model overexpressing alpha-synuclein demonstrates some of the phenotype seen in PD. In a microarray of these mice, a downregulation of angiogenin was observed prior to symptom onset, demonstrating a potential link of angiogenin to pathology in this model. Angiogenin has also been associated with the onset of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and is neuroprotective in models of ALS through activation of the Akt …


The Hypometabolic Actions Of Hydrogen Sulfide In Mammalian Systems, Asaf Stein Jan 2012

The Hypometabolic Actions Of Hydrogen Sulfide In Mammalian Systems, Asaf Stein

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In recent years, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been identified as a ubiquitous cell signaling molecule. In addition to its diverse physiological roles, H2S has emerged as a possible drug therapy, with a wide range of applications. Along with cytoprotective effects in pathological states such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, H2S has been shown to decrease aerobic metabolism in a reversible manner. This dissertation is focused on exploring H2S-induced hypometabolism and the implications therein for human health and disease. We have shown that rats exposed to 80 ppm H2S gas in combination with low oxygen (10.5% O2) for 6 hr exhibit decreases in …


Serotonin Signaling In Angiogenesis, Ali Zamani Jan 2012

Serotonin Signaling In Angiogenesis, Ali Zamani

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Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a well-known "happy" neurotransmitter. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most prescribed class of antidepressant medications to raise the serotonin level in the brain. However, the majority of serotonin in the human body is present outside of the brain and stored in platelets in blood circulation. Blood coagulation is a common feature of malignant solid tumors and leads to significant serotonin release from activated platelets into tumor environment. Due to the unique feature of platelet in lacking nucleus, the impact of platelet and serotonin on cancer progression has been overlooked by studies focusing on cancer …


Computational Investigation Of Drag Reduction With A Rear Flap On Trucks, Yangyang Hu Jan 2012

Computational Investigation Of Drag Reduction With A Rear Flap On Trucks, Yangyang Hu

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Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the steady state Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations using the second order k — ω turbulence model were performed to investigate the Drag Coefficients (Cd) of the Class 8 trucks under different geometric configurations. The reduction rates of aerodynamic drag using several add-on devices such as base flap, boat tail, underbody skirt, and tractor-trailer gap are investigated through the CFD simulations. Moreover, simulations by using different lengths and angles of the base flap and boat tail were conducted; the comparison indicates that the base flap design is more effective for the drag reduction. The optimized …


Finding A Cure For Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (Veev) Infection: The Search For The Antiviral Genes And Vaccine Development., Svetlana Atasheva Jan 2012

Finding A Cure For Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (Veev) Infection: The Search For The Antiviral Genes And Vaccine Development., Svetlana Atasheva

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Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a re-emerging virus that causes a severe and often fatal disease in equids and humans. To date, despite a continuous public health threat, no vaccines or antiviral drugs against VEEV infection have been developed for human use. In this study we took advantage of accumulated knowledge of capsid protein function in viral replication, assembly and virus-host interactions. Besides being an integral part of the virion, capsid protein is the major determinant of VEEV pathogenesis. This protein is cytotoxic and induces cellular transcriptional shutoff as a countermeasure to the cellular antiviral response. We introduced targeted …


Fmri Investigation Of Intertemporal Discounting In Schizophrenia, Kathy Burton Avsar Jan 2012

Fmri Investigation Of Intertemporal Discounting In Schizophrenia, Kathy Burton Avsar

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Schizophrenia is most recognizable by positive symptoms of hallucinations and delusions, but the cognitive deficits and negative symptoms contribute more to functional deficits. The delay discounting (DD) task, with choices between a small immediate reward and a larger delayed reward, tapping into both executive function and reward processing, may prove useful in identifying cognitive and reward processing abnormalities relevant to schizophrenia. In the present study, we used the discounting parameter, k, to assess whether patients with schizophrenia preferred more immediate rewards than healthy controls. We used a model fit statistic, R2, as a measure of choice consistency, quantified using a …


Methylxanthine-Induced Neuroprotection In Neural Stem Cells, Stacy I. Ejem Jan 2012

Methylxanthine-Induced Neuroprotection In Neural Stem Cells, Stacy I. Ejem

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Neonatal brain injury is a significant health concern of premature low birth weight babies that often leads to devastating developmental complications. Many of these babies do not survive and those that survive could end up with social and mental disorders. Premature babies are susceptible to brain injury due to their unique and underdeveloped anatomy. The insufficiency of the neonatal defense and antioxidant system prevents the body from buffering against ROS, causing oxidative stress. Adenosine, known as a modulator of cerebral blood flow, has been shown to be neuroprotective; it prevents excessive neuronal firing. However, depending on the cell type and …


Influences Of Habitual Diet, Ethnicity, And Age On Circulating Total Ghrelin, Amy Ellis Jan 2012

Influences Of Habitual Diet, Ethnicity, And Age On Circulating Total Ghrelin, Amy Ellis

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Ghrelin is a hormone known to stimulate appetite and food intake. Although certain macronutrients differentially suppress ghrelin on an acute basis, it is unknown whether habitual macronutrient intake affects circulating ghrelin. Thus, the first experimental aim was to determine whether 8-week habituation to diets differing in carbohydrate or fat would affect fasting ghrelin or ghrelin response to a mixed meal. Recent reports also suggest that ghrelin regulation may relate to propensity for obesity. Obesity is more prevalent among AA compared to EA, with the highest rates among AA females. This disparity becomes apparent before puberty, and childhood obesity tends to …


Distribution/Localization And Relative Quantitation Of C-Terminal Αa-Crystallin Truncation Products Within Lenses Of Icr/F Rats Treated With Dietary Supplemented Genistein, Kyle Anthony Floyd Jan 2012

Distribution/Localization And Relative Quantitation Of C-Terminal Αa-Crystallin Truncation Products Within Lenses Of Icr/F Rats Treated With Dietary Supplemented Genistein, Kyle Anthony Floyd

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The ocular lens functions to focus light coming into the eye onto the retina. Lens development begins in utero, and continues over an individual's lifetime. Lens fiber cells and their proteins are only synthesized once and have no repair mechanisms, so they remain for an individual's lifetime. The α-crystallins, the most abundant lens proteins, act as chaperones to keep damaged/unfolded proteins in-solution. Cataract disease is associated with protein damage, leading to a light scattering opacity. It has been suggested that truncation of αA-crystallin leads to a loss of chaperone function. Cataract disease is the leading cause of blindness in the …


Functional Collaboration Between Igf-1 Receptor And Growth Hormone Signaling Pathway, Yujun Gan Jan 2012

Functional Collaboration Between Igf-1 Receptor And Growth Hormone Signaling Pathway, Yujun Gan

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GH receptor (GHR) binds GH in its extracellular domain (ECD) to activate the GHR-associated cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, JAK2. IGF-1 binds IGF-1R, a disulfide-linked heterotetramer with tyrosine kinase activity in its intracellular domain (ICD). Classically, IGF-1 is a GH effector in a “linear” GH→GHR→IGF-1→IGF-1R pathway. Our recent studies suggest IGF-1R also subserves GH signaling in several novel ways: 1) GH induces a GHR-JAK2-IGF-1R complex, whose formation is independent of tyrosine phosphorylation of any of the partners; 2) Cotreatment with IGF-1 augments acute GH signaling; 3) deletion of IGF-1R in primary osteoblasts or human prostate cancer cells blunts acute GH signaling. In …


Regulation Of Neuronal Cell Death By Bh3-Only Proteins, Arindam P. Ghosh Jan 2012

Regulation Of Neuronal Cell Death By Bh3-Only Proteins, Arindam P. Ghosh

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Apoptosis in metazoan organisms plays critical roles in normal development, tissue homeostasis and immunity, and its disturbed regulation leads to many pathological states, including cancer, autoimmunity, infection and degenerative disorders. Apoptosis can be triggered by the engagement of `death receptors' of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family on the cell surface or by diverse intracellular signals that act upon the BCL2 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2) protein family, which controls the integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane through the complex interactions of family members. Both the pathways lead to cellular demolition by dedicated proteases termed caspases. Different BH3-only proteins (or combinations of …


Modulation Of Morpho-Functional Characteristics Of Astrocytes Using Chemically-Functionalized Water-Soluble Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Manoj K. Gottipati Jan 2012

Modulation Of Morpho-Functional Characteristics Of Astrocytes Using Chemically-Functionalized Water-Soluble Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Manoj K. Gottipati

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In this thesis, I report the use of chemically functionalized water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (ws-SWCNTs) for the modulation of morpho-functional characteristics of astrocytes. When added to the culturing medium, ws-SWCNTs were able to make astrocytes larger and stellate/mature, changes associated with the increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity. Thus, ws-SWCNTs could have more beneficial effects at the injury site than previously thought; by affecting astrocytes, they could provide for a more comprehensive re-establishment of the brain computational power.


Becoming Scholars: Examining The Link Between Moral Problem-Solving And Academic Authorship Practices In Future Educational Leaders In One Southern State, Jennifer L. Greer Jan 2012

Becoming Scholars: Examining The Link Between Moral Problem-Solving And Academic Authorship Practices In Future Educational Leaders In One Southern State, Jennifer L. Greer

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The public expects its educational leaders - from instructional leaders and principals to college administrators and deans - to be moral exemplars. Nowhere is moral behavior more central to the central mission of teaching and learning than in the realm of academic integrity, where decisions are made daily about grading, testing, promotion, admissions, placement, and awards. Moral problem solving, one essential and teachable component of moral behavior, has been studied in teachers and, to a lesser extent, principals. Yet little empirical research has been conducted on moral problem solving, or reasoning, among educational leadership graduate students in training for positions …


Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano Jan 2012

Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano

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Birmingham, Alabama has experienced several mosquito-borne epidemics, including Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile virus (WNV). Despite the outbreak of these diseases, the city lacks a mosquito surveillance program that would assist in vector control efforts. In order to assess the possible advantages of implementing a surveillance system for the city, three neighborhoods were chosen for surveys based on the fact that past epidemics have been concentrated in these areas. During the two surveillance years, 2009 had more abundance of mosquitoes and more species variability than the 2010 season. Overall, as abundance of mosquitoes increased in a particular site, …


Effects Of Stress On Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling, Ryan Marshall Corrick Jan 2012

Effects Of Stress On Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling, Ryan Marshall Corrick

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Growth hormone (GH) regulates body composition via stimulation of protein synthesis and catabolism of adipose tissue, generally promoting maintenance of lean body mass. Following severe injury, GH resistance contributes to muscle protein wasting, adversely impacting morbidity and mortality. In this dissertation research, we sought to determine the mechanisms of GH resistance following injury. To accomplish this, we evaluated GH signaling in a mouse model of severe injury. In the first section of this thesis, we demonstrate severe impairments in hepatic GH signaling occurring in association with an apparent, hemorrhage-dependent cleavage of the GH receptor (GHR). In the second section, we …


Scaffold-Mediated Size Determination Of Bacteriophage Capsids By Mobile Genetic Elements, Altaira Davida Dearborn Jan 2012

Scaffold-Mediated Size Determination Of Bacteriophage Capsids By Mobile Genetic Elements, Altaira Davida Dearborn

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Bacteriophage can mediate the transfer of unrelated mobile genetic elements (MGE) from a carrier bacterial cell to the susceptible population around it. This transfer results in the spread of virulence or other accessory genes encoded on the MGE. During viral particle assembly, the MGE can discourage the formation of viable bacteriophage progeny by limiting the size of the particles to those large enough to encapsidate the MGE, but too small to fit the complete bacteriophage genome which is three times larger. Here, I present models for size determination by an external scaffolding protein which is independent of and dominant over …


Evaluation Of The Association Of Low-Level Prenatal Blood Lead Exposure And Auditory Brainstem Response Among Infants, Timothy A. Dignam Jan 2012

Evaluation Of The Association Of Low-Level Prenatal Blood Lead Exposure And Auditory Brainstem Response Among Infants, Timothy A. Dignam

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Hearing loss is one of the most common major abnormalities present among infants. Two to four infants per 1,000 are born in the United States with severe-to-profound newborn hearing loss (Chu 2003). Undetected, hearing loss delays speech, language, and cognitive development. Numerous studies have shown that prenatal lead exposure is associated with a variety of neurobehavioral and electrophysiological abnormalities (Abbate 1995, Bellinger 2004, Koller 2004). Studies focusing on hearing have primarily described pediatric cases or occupationally exposed adults where blood lead levels (BLLs) are much higher than currently seen in the United States (Otto 1985; Bleecker 2003; Schwartz 1987). Hearing …


Regulatory T Cells In The Fvb.Mdr1a-/- Model Of Colitis, Scott Tanner Jan 2012

Regulatory T Cells In The Fvb.Mdr1a-/- Model Of Colitis, Scott Tanner

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Regulatory T cells (Treg) are necessary for the maintenance of immune homeostasis, and have been implicated in several autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Most murine studies focusing on the function of Tregs have been done on the C57BL/6 or BALB/c background, creating a bias towards these two strains. In addition, it has been shown that C57BL/6 and BALB/c Tregs function in different manners. To further investigate potential strain differences in Treg phenotype and function, we chose to analyze FVB/N Tregs. Several differences were observed, including de-creased FVB/N Treg suppression in a non-cell contact dependent manner, decreased FVB/N and …


Soy And Breast Cancer, Mandeep K. Virk-Baker Jan 2012

Soy And Breast Cancer, Mandeep K. Virk-Baker

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The incidence of breast cancer is lower in Asia as compared to Western countries. However, the breast cancer risk among Asian immigrants living in Western countries reaches nearly as high as the Western country, suggesting environmental factors (e.g. diet and lifestyle) may be important for this geographical disparity. One dietary change of Asian immigrants is a reduction in soy consumption. Soy is rich in isoflavones, which compete with estrogen for receptor (ER) binding, and may protect against breast cancer. S-(-)equol, a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein (DZ) has a higher bioavailability and greater affinity for ER than DZ. The …


Suppression Of A Nonsense Mutation In A Mouse Model Of Hurler Syndrome, Dan Wang Jan 2012

Suppression Of A Nonsense Mutation In A Mouse Model Of Hurler Syndrome, Dan Wang

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Nonsense suppression therapy utilizes compounds that suppress translation termination at disease-causing premature termination codons (PTCs) to restore full-length, functional protein synthesis. This approach may provide a treatment for many diseases caused by nonsense mutations including Hurler syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type I - Hurler, MPS I-H). MPS I-H is a lysosomal storage disease caused by severe &alpha-L-iduronidase deficiency and subsequent lysosomal glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation. In this work, we investigated the effectiveness of nonsense suppression therapy as a treatment for MPS I-H. We first generated a targeted knock-in mouse model that carries the Idua-W392X nonsense mutation homologous to the human IDUA-W402X mutation frequently …


Subsistence Homesteads In Jefferson County: A Successful "Experiment"?, Susan Elizabeth Hunter Jan 2012

Subsistence Homesteads In Jefferson County: A Successful "Experiment"?, Susan Elizabeth Hunter

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This work focuses on the history of subsistence homesteads built by the federal government in the 1930s. The homesteads were routinely referred to as "experiments." It is the intention of this author to examine the Jefferson County homesteads as successful or unsuccessful homesteads. Current research on this topic is sparse. The research contained in this thesis rests mainly on primary sources and focuses on the construction of the homes and the economic and social issues surrounding the homesteads. A brief synopsis of the condition of each of the Alabama homesteads is also included. This subsistence homestead program emerged from the …


Retinoids And Abnormal Alveolar Development, Masheika L. James Jan 2012

Retinoids And Abnormal Alveolar Development, Masheika L. James

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Extremely preterm infants are at high risk for a form of chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is characterized by impaired alveolar development. Exposure to hyperoxia and deficiency of vitamin A (VA) contribute to the development of BPD in preterm infants. Randomized controlled trials indicate VA supplementation decreases BPD and/or death. However, 25% of preterm infants continue to remain VA deficient despite supplementation, probably due to impairment in VA transport, VA is stored in the liver as retinyl esters which are transported to the lung and irreversibly metabolized into all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the active metabolite. A combination of …


The Role Of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response In Glioma Cell Death, Guyla G. Johnson Jan 2012

The Role Of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response In Glioma Cell Death, Guyla G. Johnson

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Malignant gliomas, including glioblastomas, are the main primary adult brain tumor. Even with current therapies, the median survival time for patients diagnosed with glioblastomas is only about 12 months. Therefore, it is imperative to identify pathways that can induce glioma cell death. This dissertation provides evidence defining how Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response (ERSR) induction promotes cell death selectively in malignant glioma cells (MGCs). I present data showing a correlation between ER Ca2+ storage abnormalities, ER ribosome-translocon expression and activity, ERSR intensity and cell death in MGCs. These data show ERSR induction with thapsigargin (THAP) results in a larger loss of …


The Role Of C-Reactive Protein In Arthritic Disease, Nicholas Ryan Jones Jan 2012

The Role Of C-Reactive Protein In Arthritic Disease, Nicholas Ryan Jones

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C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that is commonly used to evaluate systemic inflammation level. Blood CRP level also correlates very well with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease severity. However, CRP has many biological actions that lead one to suspect that it may be playing a role in the development or pathology of the disease. We have directly addressed whether this is the case by the use of novel mouse models (CRP deficiency or transgenic overexpression). We have shown that CRP positively affects collagen-induced arthritis development and progression. In order to thoroughly address the question, we have also reported …


Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones Jan 2012

Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones

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Iron is an essential nutrient for the vast majority of organisms; yet, the availability of iron is limited to microorganisms due to the insolubility of ferric hydroxides and to pathogens by iron withholding strategies of their hosts. Many bacteria produce small, high-affinity iron chelators called siderophores to scavenge iron from the environment. In addition, many bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to steal host iron contained in heme, hemoglobin, or transferrin. Mycobacteria are unique genera of bacteria represented by the notorious pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, respectively. Tuberculosis remains a global health …


Differential Expression Of Proteins In Keratoconus: Potential Role Of Human Antigen R (Hur) In Regulation Of Ss-Actin Gene, Roy Joseph Jan 2012

Differential Expression Of Proteins In Keratoconus: Potential Role Of Human Antigen R (Hur) In Regulation Of Ss-Actin Gene, Roy Joseph

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DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF PROTEINS IN KERATOCONUS: POTENTIAL ROLE OF HUMAN ANTIGEN R (HuR) IN REGULATION OF ß-ACTIN ROY JOSEPH VISION SCIENCES ABSTRACT Keratoconus (KC) is a condition of unknown cause in which the cornea assumes a conical shape as a result of non-inflammatory thinning of the corneal stroma. The disease progresses at a variable speed with corneal thinning inducing irregular astigmatism, myopia, and corneal protrusion. Contact lenses, and ultimately keratoplasty, are often required to restore vision. Despite intensive investigations into the pathogenesis of KC, the exact cause of the disease is presently poorly understood. Keratoconus apparently arises due to number …


Influence Of Surface Treatment Of Y-Tzp And Luting Cements On Retention Of Y-Tzp Crown, Mehdi Karimipour-Saryazdi Jan 2012

Influence Of Surface Treatment Of Y-Tzp And Luting Cements On Retention Of Y-Tzp Crown, Mehdi Karimipour-Saryazdi

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Clinicians for a single tooth restoration, due to improved esthetics, often select all ceramic crowns. Zirconium Oxide has been utilized for many years to full fill the requirement of esthetics, high mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments and luting agents on retention of a zirconium oxide crown. Material and Methods: Ninety extracted teeth were obtained. Teeth were mounted in Ortho JetTM resin (Lang Dental Manufacturing Co., Inc. IL, USA). Occlusal surface was cut flat using Isomet (Buhler Ltd). Diamond burs were used to cut axial walls under water …


Is P53 A Target Of Hpv-18 E6 In The Viral Life Cycle?, Eun-Young Kho Jan 2012

Is P53 A Target Of Hpv-18 E6 In The Viral Life Cycle?, Eun-Young Kho

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The large family of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) infects the cutaneous or mucosal epithelia causing benign hyper proliferative diseases. Infections by the high-risk (HR) HPV genotypes in the anogenital tracts can progress to high grade lesions and cancers in men and women. Because the viral productive program requires squamous differentiation of epithelia, HPV encodes oncoproteins that recondition the differentiated cells that have withdrawn from the cell cycle to support viral DNA amplification. The HR HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes are selectively expressed in cervical carcinomas and are necessary to maintain the malignant state. In vitro, constitutive expression of the HR HPV …


Regulation Of Cell Death By Autophagy In Glial Neoplasms, Latika R. Kohli Jan 2012

Regulation Of Cell Death By Autophagy In Glial Neoplasms, Latika R. Kohli

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Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive malignancies of the peripheral nervous system. The majority of MPNSTs arise in patients of the autosomal dominant genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) although they also arise sporadically. In the absence of any effective chemotherapeutic options and with surgery constituting the mainstay of treatment, MPNST patients face an extremely poor prognosis. This underscores the need to develop novel therapeutic strategies against this tumor type. It is well accepted that the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis can be exploited to derive maximal therapeutic benefit, especially through combinatorial therapies. However, this interaction is extremely …