Digital Commons Network^™

The Potential To Control Haemonchus Contortus In Indigenous South African Goats With Copper Oxide Wire Particles, A. F. Vatta, P. J. Waller, J. B. Githiori, G. F. Medley

Faculty Publications

The high prevalence of resistance of Haemonchus contortus to all major anthelmintic groups has prompted investigations into alternative control methods in South Africa, including the use of copper oxide wire particle (COWP) boluses. To assess the efficacy of COWP against H. contortus in indigenous South African goats, 18 male faecal egg-count-negative goats were each given ca.1200 infective larvae of H. contortus three times per week during weeks 1 and 2 of the experiment. These animals made up an "established" infection group (ESTGRP). At the start of week 7, six goats were each given a 2-g COWP bolus orally; six goats …

Aebp2 As A Potential Targeting Protein For Polycomb Repression Complex Prc2, Hana Kim, Keunsoo Kang, Joomyeong Kim

Faculty Publications

AEBP2 is a zinc finger protein that has been shown to interact with the mammalian Polycomb Repression Complex 2 (PRC2). In the current study, we characterized this unknown protein and tested its potential targeting roles for the PRC2. AEBP2 is an evolutionarily well-conserved gene that is found in the animals ranging from flying insects to mammals. The transcription of mammalian AEBP2 is driven by two alternative promoters and produces at least two isoforms of the protein. These isoforms show developmental stage-specific expression patterns: the adult-specific larger form (51 kDa) and the embryo-specific smaller form (32 kDa). The AEBP2 protein binds …

Why Some Species Of Birds Do Not Avoid Inbreeding: Insights From New Zealand Robins And Saddlebacks, Ian G. Jamieson, Sabrina S. Taylor, Lisa N. Tracy, Hanna Kokko, Doug P. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

When dispersal options are limited and encounters with relatives are likely, individuals need to recognize and avoid mating with kin to avoid the fitness costs of close inbreeding. New Zealand robins and saddlebacks are genetically monogamous and possess life-history traits that predict they should show zero tolerance of close inbreeding. However, of 11 population-years of pedigree data, there was evidence of inbreeding avoidance in only 1 year. We also found no indication that incestuous pairings were avoided or that individuals were choosing genetically dissimilar mates based on microsatellite DNA analysis. Furthermore, a review of the literature revealed that inbreeding avoidance …

The Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Glycoprotein D (Gf) Cytoplasmic Terminus And Full-Length Ge Are Not Essential And Do Not Function In A Redundant Manner For Cytoplasmic Virion Envelopment And Egress, Cheol Lee Hyun, Vladimir N. Chouljenko, Dmitry V. Chouljenko, Marc J. Boudreaux, K. G. Kousoulas

Faculty Publications

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) acquires its final envelope by budding into cytoplasmic vesicles thought to be derived from trans-Golgi network membranes. This process is facilitated by interactions among the carboxyl termini of viral glycoproteins and tegument proteins. To directly investigate the relative importance of the carboxyl terminus of glycoprotein D (gD) in the presence or absence of gE, a recombinant virus (gDΔct) was constructed to specify a truncated gD lacking the carboxy-terminal 29 amino acids. Furthermore, two additional recombinant viruses were constructed by mutating from ATG to CTG the initiation codons of gE (gEctg) or both gE and …

Risk Of Secondary Malignant Neoplasms From Proton Therapy And Intensity-Modulated X-Ray Therapy For Early-Stage Prostate Cancer, Jonas D. Fontenot, Andrew K. Lee, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

Purpose: To assess the risk of a secondary malignant neoplasm (SMN) from proton therapy relative to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using X-rays, taking into account contributions from both primary and secondary sources of radiation, for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: A proton therapy plan and a 6-MV IMRT plan were constructed for 3 patients with early-stage adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Doses from the primary fields delivered to organs at risk of developing an SMN were determined from treatment plans. Secondary doses from the proton therapy and IMRT were determined from Monte Carlo simulations and available measured data, respectively. The risk …

High-Throughput Single Cell Arrays As A Novel Tool In Biopreservation, Kenneth L. Roach, Kevin R. King, Korkut Uygun, Steven C. Hand, Isaac S. Kohane, Martin L. Yarmush, Mehmet Toner

Faculty Publications

Microwell array cytometry is a novel high-throughput experimental technique that makes it possible to correlate pre-stress cell phenotypes and post-stress outcomes with single cell resolution. Because the cells are seeded in a high density grid of cell-sized microwells, thousands of individual cells can be tracked and imaged through manipulations as extreme as freezing or drying. Unlike flow cytometry, measurements can be made at multiple time points for the same set of cells. Unlike conventional image cytometry, image analysis is greatly simplified by arranging the cells in a spatially defined pattern and physically separating them from one another. To demonstrate the …

Sampling And Dynamics Of Pseudacteon Tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) In Louisiana, Donald C. Henne, Seth J. Johnson

Faculty Publications

The population dynamics ofa fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) parasitoid (Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier) was studied in Louisiana. The objectives of this study were to understand the daily and seasonal population dynamics of P. tricuspis in the context of environmental variables, determine whether P. tricuspis populations were synchronized over local and regional scales, determine the sex ratios and frequency distributions of P. tricuspis at disturbed S. invicta mounds, and determine the minimum sample size and sampling methodology that would provide an estimate of the true relative abundance of P. tricuspis at any location. Daily patterns of relative abundance of P. tricuspis …

Shilianhua Extract Inhibits Gsk-3Β And Promotes Glucose Metabolism, Jun Yin, Aamir Zuberi, Zhanguo Gao, Dong Liu, Zhijun Liu, Jianping Ye

Faculty Publications

The extract of plant Shilianhua (SLH; Sinocrassula indica Berge) is a component in a commercial product for control of blood glucose. However, it remains to be investigated whether the SLH extract enhances insulin sensitivity in a model of type 2 diabetes. To address this question, the SLH crude extract was fractionated into four parts on the basis of polarity, and bioactivities of each part were tested in cells. One of the fractions, F100, exhibited a strong activity in the stimulation of glucose consumption in vitro. Glucose consumption was induced significantly by F100 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, L6 myotubes, and H4IIE hepatocytes …

Gene Order Phylogeny And The Evolution Of Methanogens, Haiwei Luo, Zhiyi Sun, William Arndt, Jian Shi, Robert Friedman, Jijun Tang

Faculty Publications

Methanogens are a phylogenetically diverse group belonging to Euryarchaeota. Previously, phylogenetic approaches using large datasets revealed that methanogens can be grouped into two classes, “Class I” and “Class II”. However, some deep relationships were not resolved. For instance, the monophyly of “Class I” methanogens, which consist of Methanopyrales, Methanobacteriales and Methanococcales, is disputable due to weak statistical support. In this study, we use MSOAR to identify common orthologous genes from eight methanogen species and a Thermococcale species (outgroup), and apply GRAPPA and FastME to compute distance-based gene order phylogeny. The gene order phylogeny supports two classes of methanogens, but it …

Association Between Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D And Breast Cancer Risk, Katherine D. Crew, Marilie D. Gammon, Susan E. Steck, Dawn L. Hershman, Serge Cremers, Elzbieta Dworakowski, Elizabeth Shane, Mary Beth Terry, Manisha Desai, Susan L. Teitelbaum, Alfred I. Neugut, Regina M. Santella

Faculty Publications

Vitamin D has been associated with decreased risk of several cancers. In experimental studies, vitamin D has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation and induce differentiation and apoptosis in normal and malignant breast cells. Using a population-based case-control study on Long Island, New York, we examined the association of breast cancer with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels, a measure of vitamin D body stores. In-person interviews and blood specimens were obtained from 1,026 incident breast cancer cases diagnosed in 1996 to 1997 and 1,075 population-based controls. Plasma 25-OHD was measured in batched, archived specimens by Diasorin RIA. The mean (SD) …

The Structure Of The Cornified Claw Sheath In The Domesticated Cat (Felis Catus): Implications For The Claw-Shedding Mechanism And The Evolution Of Cornified Digital End Organs, Dominique G. Homberger, Kyungmin Ham, Tolulope Ogunbakin, Jonathan A. Bonin, Brooke A. Hopkins, Michelle L. Osborn, Imtiaz Hossain, Heath A. Barnett, Kenneth L. Matthews, Leslie G. Butler, Hermann H. Bragulla

Faculty Publications

The morphology of cornified structures is notoriously difficult to analyse because of the extreme range of hardness of their component tissues. Hence, a correlative approach using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, three-dimensional reconstructions based on x-ray computed tomography data, and graphic modeling was applied to study the morphology of the cornified claw sheath of the domesticated cat as a model for cornified digital end organs. The highly complex architecture of the cornified claw sheath is generated by the living epidermis that is supported by the dermis and distal phalanx. The latter is characterized by an ossified unguicular hood, which overhangs …

Genome Degradation In Brucella Ovis Corresponds With Narrowing Of Its Host Range And Tissue Tropism, Renee M. Tsolis, Rekha Seshadri, Renato L. Santos, Felix J. Sangari, Juan M. García Lobo, Maarten F. De Jong, Qinghu Ren, Garry Myers, Lauren M. Brinkac, William C. Nelson, Robert T. Deboy, Samuel Angiuoli, Hoda Khouri, George Dimitrov, Jeffrey R. Robinson, Stephanie Mulligan, Richard L. Walker, Philip E. Elzer, Karl A. Hassan, Ian T. Paulsen

Faculty Publications

Brucella ovis is a veterinary pathogen associated with epididymitis in sheep. Despite its genetic similarity to the zoonotic pathogens B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, B. ovis does not cause zoonotic disease. Genomic analysis of the type strain ATCC25840 revealed a high percentage of pseudogenes and increased numbers of transposable elements compared to the zoonotic Brucella species, suggesting that genome degradation has occurred concomitant with narrowing of the host range of B. ovis. The absence of genomic island 2, encoding functions required for lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, as well as inactivation of genes encoding urease, nutrient uptake and utilization, and outer …

The Structure Of The Cornified Claw Sheath In The Domesticated Cat (Felis Catus): Implications For The Claw-Shedding Mechanism And The Evolution Of Cornified Digital End Organs, Dominique G. Homberger, Kyungmin Ham, Tolulope Ogunbakin, Jonathan A. Bonin, Brooke A. Hopkins, Michelle L. Osborn, Imtiaz Hossain, Heath A. Barnett, Kenneth L. Matthews, Leslie G. Butler, Hermann H. Bragulla

Faculty Publications

The morphology of cornified structures is notoriously difficult to analyse because of the extreme range of hardness of their component tissues. Hence, a correlative approach using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, three-dimensional reconstructions based on x-ray computed tomography data, and graphic modeling was applied to study the morphology of the cornified claw sheath of the domesticated cat as a model for cornified digital end organs. The highly complex architecture of the cornified claw sheath is generated by the living epidermis that is supported by the dermis and distal phalanx. The latter is characterized by an ossified unguicular hood, which overhangs …

Structure And Functions Of Keratin Proteins In Simple, Stratified, Keratinized And Cornified Epithelia, Hermann H. Bragulla, Dominique G. Homberger

Faculty Publications

Historically, the term 'keratin' stood for all of the proteins extracted from skin modifications, such as horns, claws and hooves. Subsequently, it was realized that this keratin is actually a mixture of keratins, keratin filament-associated proteins and other proteins, such as enzymes. Keratins were then defined as certain filament-forming proteins with specific physicochemical properties and extracted from the cornified layer of the epidermis, whereas those filament-forming proteins that were extracted from the living layers of the epidermis were grouped as 'prekeratins' or 'cytokeratins'. Currently, the term 'keratin' covers all intermediate filament-forming proteins with specific physicochemical properties and produced in any …

My Two Boots ... A Walk Through The Wetlands. An Annual Outing For 700 Middle School Students, Julie Cwikla, Mark Lasalle, Sybil Wilner

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Transcriptomic Analysis Of The Entomopathogenic Nematode Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora Tto1, Byron J. Adams, Xiaodong Bai, Todd A. Ciche, Sandra Clifton, Randy Gaugler, Parwinder S. Grewal, Saskia A. Hogenhout, John Spieth, Paul W. Sternberg, Richard K. Wilson

Faculty Publications

Background: The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and its symbiotic bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens, are important biological control agents of insect pests. This nematode-bacterium-insect association represents an emerging tripartite model for research on mutualistic and parasitic symbioses. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying these biological processes may serve as a foundation for improving the biological control potential of the nematode-bacterium complex. This large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis effort enables gene discovery and development of microsatellite markers. These ESTs will also aid in the annotation of the upcoming complete genome sequence of H. bacteriophora. Results: A total of 31,485 high quality ESTs were generated …

Ionic Selectivity In L-Type Calcium Channels By Electrostatics And Hard-Core Repulsion, Dezso Boda, Douglas Henderson, Monika Valisko, Bob Eisenberg, Dirk Gillespie

Faculty Publications

A physical model of selective "ion binding" in the L-type calcium channel is constructed, and consequences of the model are compared with experimental data. This reduced model treats only ions and the carboxylate oxygens of the EEEE locus explicitly and restricts interactions to hard-core repulsion and ion–ion and ion–dielectric electrostatic forces. The structural atoms provide a flexible environment for passing cations, thus resulting in a self-organized induced-fit model of the selectivity filter. Experimental conditions involving binary mixtures of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal ions are computed using equilibrium Monte Carlo simulations in the grand canonical ensemble. The model pore rejects …

Universal Constant For Heat Production In Protists, Matthew D. Johnson, Jens Völker, Holly V. Moeller, Edward Laws, Kenneth J. Breslauer, Paul G. Falkowski

Faculty Publications

Using a high sensitivity differential scanning calorimeter in isothermal mode, we directly measured heat production in eukaryotic protists from 5 phyla spanning over 5 orders of magnitude in carbon biomass and 8 orders of magnitude in cell volume. Our results reveal that metabolic heat production normalized to cell mass is virtually constant in these organisms, with a median of 0.037 pW pg C ^-1 (95% confidence interval = 0.022-0.061 pW pg C ^-1) at 5 °C. Contrary to allometric models, the relationship between heat production and cell carbon content or surface area is isometric (scaling exponents, 1.056 and 1.057, …

Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Amplify Ultrafine Particle Mediated Cellular Oxidative Stress And Cytotoxicity, Shrilatha Balakrishna, Slawo Lomnicki, Kevin M. Mcavey, Richard B. Cole, Barry Dellinger, Stephania A. Cormier

Faculty Publications

Background: Combustion generated particulate matter is deposited in the respiratory tract and pose a hazard to the lungs through their potential to cause oxidative stress and inflammation. We have previously shown that combustion of fuels and chlorinated hydrocarbons produce semiquinone-type radicals that are stabilized on particle surfaces (i.e. environmentally persistent free radicals; EPFRs). Because the composition and properties of actual combustion-generated particles are complex, heterogeneous in origin, and vary from day-to-day, we have chosen to use surrogate particle systems. In particular, we have chosen to use the radical of 2-monochlorophenol (MCP230) as the EPFR because we have previously shown that …

Occurrence Of Mitochondria-Targeted Late Embryogenesis Abundant (Lea) Gene In Animals Increases Organelle Resistance To Water Stress, Michael A. Menze, Leaf Boswell, Mehmet Toner, Steven C. Hand

Faculty Publications

Anhydrobiotic animals survive virtually complete loss of cellular water. The mechanisms that explain this phenomenon are not fully understood but often include the accumulation of low molecular weight solutes such as trehalose and macromolecules like Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins. Here we report for the first time the occurrence of a mitochondria-targeted LEA gene (Afrlea3m) product in an animal species. The deduced molecular mass of the 307-amino acid polypeptide from the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana is 34 kDa. Bioinformatic analyses reveal features typical of a Group 3 LEA protein, and subcellular localization programs predict targeting of the mature peptide to …

Increased Gene Expression Of A Facilitated Diffusion Urea Transporter In The Skin Of The African Lungfish (Protopterus Annectens) During Massively Elevated Post-Terrestrialization Urea Excretion, Carrie Y.C. Hung, Fernando Galvez, Yuen K. Ip, Chris M. Wood

Faculty Publications

The full-length cDNA sequence of a putative urea transporter (IfUl) of the facilitated diffusion UT-A type has been cloned from the African lungfish Protopterus annectens. The IFUTcDNA is 1990bp in length and its open reading frame encodes a 409 amino acid long protein, with a calculated molecular mass of 44,723 Da. The sequence is closest to those of amphibians (∼65% amino acid homology), followed by mammals and elasmobranchs (∼60%), and then teleosts (∼50%). IfUT was clearly expressed in gill, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle and skin. Upon re-immersion in water after 33days of air exposure ('terrestrialization'), lungfish exhibited a massive rise …

Nutrient Enrichment Drives Gulf Of Mexico Hypoxia, Donald F. Boesch, Walter R. Boyton, Larry B. Crowder, Robert J. Diaz, Robert W. Howarth, Laurence D. Mee, Scott W. Nixon, Nancy N. Rabalais, Rutger Rosenberg, James G. Sanders, Donald Scavia, R. Eugene Turner

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Gatorland: Survival Of The Fittest Among Florida’S Mid-Tier Tourist Attractions, Dorothy Mays

Faculty Publications

A combination of factors in mid-20^th century Florida gave rise to a unique form of business: the roadside attraction. A burgeoning middle class, widespread ownership of automobiles, and the new phenomenon of the two-week vacation sent tourists to Florida by the millions. Roadside attractions shared a number of common characteristics, including their dependence on impulse visits, the undercapitalized nature of their operations, and emphasis on a unique or exciting feature. While many of these attractions flourished in the mid-20^th century, a series of changes beginning with the Federal Highway Act of 1956 ushered in conditions which would drive …

Island Area And Species Diversity In The Southwest Pacific Ocean: Is The Lizard Fauna Of Vanuatu Depauperate?, Alison M. Hamilton, Joseph H. Hartman, Christopher C. Austin

Faculty Publications

One island group suggested to be an exception to the species-area Relationship is the Vanuatu Archipelago, a group of 13 large and 80 small islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean. To test the hypothesis that the lizard fauna of the Vanuatu Archipelago does not meet the predictions of the species-area relationship, and thus is depauperate, we compare diversity among several island groups in the southwest Pacific: Fiji, the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. We found that the lizard diversity of Vanuatu meets the pattern of diversity predicted by the species-area relationship. The Solomon Islands, …

Creation Care And The Christian, Jo Ann Davidson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Gst Polymorphism And Excretion Of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amine And Isothiocyanate Metabolites After Brassica Consumption, Susan E. Steck, James R. Hébert

Faculty Publications

Brassica vegetable intake has been associated with decreased risk and well-done meat intake has been associated with increased risk of cancers at multiple organ sites in epidemiologic studies. Experimental studies suggest a role of modulation of phase I and phase II metabolizing enzymes as one mechanism for these associations. Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are carcinogens formed in meat that has been cooked to well-done and at high temperatures. Phase I metabolizing enzymes catalyze the activation of HAAs, and phase II metabolizing enzymes serve to detoxify the active carcinogens. The glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) are a family of phase II metabolizing enzymes …

Pah-Dna Adducts, Cigarette Smoking, Gst Polymorphisms, And Breast Cancer Risk, Kathleen M. Mccarty, Regina M. Santella, Susan E. Steck, Rebecca J. Cleveland, Jiyoung Ahn, Christine B. Ambrosone, Kari North, Sharon K. Sagiv, Sybil M. Eng, Susan L. Teitelbaum, Alfred I. Neugut, Marilie D. Gammon

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) may increase breast cancer risk, and the association may be modified by inherited differences in deactivation of PAH intermediates by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Few breast cancer studies have investigated the joint effects of multiple GSTs and a PAH biomarker.

OBJECTIVE: We estimated the breast cancer risk associated with multiple polymorphisms in the GST gene (GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1) and the interaction with PAH-DNA adducts and cigarette smoke.

METHODS: We conducted unconditional logistic regression using data from a population-based sample of women (cases/controls, respectively): GST polymorphisms were genotyped using …

Is It Time For The Restatement Of Contracts, Fourth?, Peter A. Alces, Christopher Byrne

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Swearing In The Cinema: An Analysis Of Profanity In Us Teen-Oriented Movies, 1980-2006, Dale Cressman, Mark Callister, Tom Robinson, Chris Near

Faculty Publications

The exposure of children to profanity continues to be a concern for parents, media researchers, and policy makers alike. This study examines the types, frequency, and usage of profanity in movies directed at and featuring teenagers. A review of relevant literature explores the nature, use, and psychology of profanity, its potential social effects, and its prevalence in the media. A content analysis was conducted of the ninety top-grossing domestic teen films in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s (thirty from each decade) in the US based on domestic gross box-office amounts. Results indicate no change in preferences in types of profanity …

Mammaglobin As A Potential Molecular Target For Breast Cancer Drug Delivery, Lian Zuo, Ly Li, Qian Wang, Timothy P. Fleming, Shaojin You

Faculty Publications

Background Mammaglobin (MAM) has been used as a specific molecular marker for breast cancer diagnosis. Recently, several groups of researchers proposed a number of therapeutic strategies targeting this molecule. Some of the strategies are based upon an essential but not demonstrated hypothesis - mammaglobin is associated with the surface of breast cancer cells, which strongly disputes the therapeutic strategies. Results We conducted a computer-based predictive analysis and identified a small fragment at the N-end of MAM as a potential transmembrane domain. We provided several evidences to demonstrate the presence of the membrane-associated MAM. We isolated the membrane protein components from …