Digital Commons Network^™

Centromere Remodeling In Hoolock Leuconedys (Hylobatidae) By A New Transposable Element Unique To The Gibbons, Lucia Carbone, R. Alan Harris, Alan R. Mootnick, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, David I.K. Martin, Mariano Rocchi, Oronzo Capozzi, Nicoletta Archidiacono, Miriam K. Konkel, Jerilyn A. Walker, Mark A. Batzer, Pieter J. De Jong

Faculty Publications

Gibbons (Hylobatidae) shared a common ancestor with the other hominoids only 15-18 million years ago. Nevertheless, gibbons show very distinctive features that include heavily rearranged chromosomes. Previous observations indicate that this phenomenon may be linked to the attenuated epigenetic repression of transposable elements (TEs) in gibbon species. Here we describe the massive expansion of a repeat in almost all the centromeres of the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys). We discovered that this repeat is a new composite TE originating from the combination of portions of three other elements (L1ME5, AluSz6, and SVA-A) and thus named it LAVA. We determined that …

To Facebook, Or Not To Facebook, John Hilton Iii, Kenneth Plummer

Faculty Publications

A significant shift in computer-mediated communication has taken place, in which in some cases, social media is becoming the dominant form of communication. Organisations who wish to communicate effectively are turning to social media; however, there are challenges associated with using it. This article chronicles the attempts of one educational institution to implement the use of social media in their organisation.

Creating 3d Web-Based Game Environment Using Bim Models For Virtual On-Site Visiting Of Building Hvac Systems, Zhigang Shen, Landu Jiang, Kevin Grosskopf, Charles Berryman

Faculty Publications

A web-based 3D game project was presented in this paper to demonstrate the process of using building information modeling (BIM) to create an interactive 3D on-line 'Green' training environment. The system architecture, the implementation process and major components of this virtual training environment were discussed. Existing studies on BIM-based collaborations mainly focused on local-file-sharing approach using proprietary applications. Limited research focused on using BIM as an online gaming platform to create a web browser-based interactive 3D virtual environment for collaboration, learning and/or training. The gap was partially caused by the lack of understanding how to implement a BIM-based game in …

Crushed By Our Iniquities, Hyveth Williams

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Diversities In Virulence, Antifungal Activity, Pigmentation And Dna Fingerprint Among Strains Of Burkholderia Glumae, Hari S. Karki, Bishnu K. Shrestha, Jae Woo Han, Donald E. Groth, Inderjit K. Barphagha, Milton C. Rush, Rebecca A. Melanson, Beom Seok Kim, Jong Hyun Ham

Faculty Publications

Burkholderia glumae is the primary causal agent of bacterial panicle blight of rice. In this study, 11 naturally avirulent and nine virulent strains of B. glumae native to the southern United States were characterized in terms of virulence in rice and onion, toxofalvin production, antifungal activity, pigmentation and genomic structure. Virulence of B. glumae strains on rice panicles was highly correlated to virulence on onion bulb scales, suggesting that onion bulb can be a convenient alternative host system to efficiently determine the virulence of B. glumae strains. Production of toxoflavin, the phytotoxin that functions as a major virulence factor, was …

Startups And Patent Trolls, Colleen Chien

Faculty Publications

While patent assertion entities (or patent “trolls”) have received a lot of attention, little of it has focused on the distributional impacts of their demands. The impact on PAEs on startups is crucial, because startups contribute to job creation and innovation, making them potential targets and sources of patents. To assess the impact of trolls on startups, I analyzed a comprehensive database of patent litigations from 2005 to the present, conducted a non-random survey of 223 tech company startups, and interviewed nearly twenty entities with relevant knowledge of startup patent issues.

I find that although large companies tend to dominate …

The Power Of Administrative Ethics: Moving Beyond Moralism And Instrumentalism, Ciarán O’Kelly, Melvin J. Dubnick

Faculty Publications

This paper makes the case for an approach to administrative ethics that regards it as a form of political power within contexts of organization and organizational change (reform). After articulating the logic of this perspective, it is applied to two cases of reform (No Child Left Behind in the US and National Health Service reform in the UK) where reformers have used the power of metrics and high-stakes accountability to force change — and in the process have altered the respective ethical landscapes.

The Potential Impact Of Plain Packaging Of Cigarette Products Among Brazilian Young Women: An Experimental Study, Christine M/ White, David Hammond, Jim Thrasher, Geoffrey T. Fong

Faculty Publications

Background: Tobacco use is responsible for 5.4 million deaths every year worldwide and is a leading cause of preventable death. The burden of these deaths is rapidly shifting to low and middle-income countries, such as Brazil. Brazil has prohibited most forms of tobacco advertising; however, the cigarette pack remains a primary source of marketing. The current study examined how tobacco packaging influences brand appeal and perceptions of health risk among young women in Brazil.

Methods: A between-subjects experiment was conducted in which 640 Brazilian women aged 16–26 participated in an online survey. Participants were randomized to view 10 cigarette packages …

Defining The Role Of Ultrasound In Drug Delivery, William G. Pitt

Faculty Publications

Ultrasound is a very effective modality for drug delivery because energy that is noninvasively transmitted through the skin can be focused on a specific location and employed to release drug at that site. Most of the drug delivery techniques employ one or both of the results of ultrasonic insonation – the generation of thermal energy, called hyperthermia, or the oscillation of gas bubbles, called acoustic cavitation. Cavitation perturbs cell membrane structures via several modes and increases the permeability to drugs or other solutes. Microconvection, caused by stable cavitation, shears cell membranes. The shock waves and fluid jets of inertial cavitation …

Dnt1 Acts As A Mitotic Inhibitor Of The Spindle Checkpoint Protein Dma1 In Fission Yeast, Yamei Wang, Wen Zhu Li, Alyssa E. Johnson, Zhou Qing Luo, Xue Li Sun, Anna Feoktistova, W. Hayes Mcdonald, Ian Mcleod, John R. Yates, Kathleen L. Gould, Dannel Mccollum, Quan Wen Jin

Faculty Publications

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe checkpoint protein Dma1 couples mitotic progression with cytokinesis and is important in delaying mitotic exit and cytokinesis when kinetochores are not properly attached to the mitotic spindle. Dma1 is a ubiquitin ligase and potential functional relative of the human tumor suppressor Chfr. Dma1 delays mitotic exit and cytokinesis by ubiquitinating a scaffold protein (Sid4) of the septation initiation network, which, in turn, antagonizes the ability of the Polo-like kinase Plo1 to promote cell division. Here we identify Dnt1 as a Dma1-binding protein. Several lines of evidence indicate that Dnt1 inhibits Dma1 function during metaphase. First, Dnt1 interacts …

A Conserved Two-Component Regulatory System, Pids/Pidr, Globally Regulates Pigmentation And Virulence-Related Phenotypes Of Burkholderia Glumae, Hari Sharan Karki, Inderjit Kaur Barphagha, Jong Hyun Ham

Faculty Publications

Burkholderia glumae is a rice pathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial panicle blight. Some strains of this pathogen produce dark brown pigments when grown on casamino-acid peptone glucose (CPG) agar medium. A pigment-positive and highly virulent strain of B.glumae, 411gr-6, was randomly mutagenized with mini-Tn5gus, and the resulting mini-Tn5gus derivatives showing altered pigmentation phenotypes were screened on CPG agar plates to identify the genetic elements governing the pigmentation of B.glumae. In this study, a novel two-component regulatory system (TCRS) composed of the PidS sensor histidine kinase and the PidR response regulator was identified as an essential regulatory factor for pigmentation. Notably, …

Representation Formulas For L Norms Of Weakly Convergent Sequences Of Gradient Fields In Homogenization, Robert Lipton, Tadele Mengesha

Faculty Publications

We examine the composition of the L norm with weakly convergent sequences of gradient fields associated with the homogenization of second order divergence form partial differential equations with measurable coefficients. Here the sequences of coefficients are chosen to model heterogeneous media and are piecewise constant and highly oscillatory. We identify local representation formulas that in the fine phase limit provide upper bounds on the limit superior of the L norms of gradient fields. The local representation formulas are expressed in terms of the weak limit of the gradient fields and local corrector problems. The upper bounds may diverge according to …

Oncology Nurses' Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors In End-Of-Life Care: Providing Vital Family Care, Renea L. Beckstrand, Joan Collette, Lynn Callister, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy

Faculty Publications

Purpose/Objectives: To determine the impact of obstacles and supportive behaviors in end-of-life (EOL) care as perceived by hospital-based oncology nurses.

Design: A 69-item mailed survey.

Setting: National random sample.

Sample: 1,005 nurse members of the Oncology Nursing Society who had provided EOL care for patients with cancer.

Methods: Three mailings yielded 380 usable responses from 912 eligible respondents, resulting in a 42% return rate.

Main Research Variables: Size and frequency of EOL care obstacles and supportive behaviors for patients with cancer in a hospital setting.

Findings: Results of this research demonstrate the need for more EOL education and help in …

Quaternary Ammonium Silane-Functionalized, Methacrylate Resin Composition With Antimicrobial Activities And Self-Repair Potential, Shi-Qiang Gong, Li-Na Niu, Lisa K. Kemp, Cynthia K.Y. Yiu, Heonjune Ryou, Yi-Pin Qi, John D. Blizzard, Sergey Nikonov, Martha G. Brackett, Regina L.W. Messer, Christine D. Wu, Jing Mao, L. Bryan Brister, Frederick A. Rueggeberg, Dwayne D. Arola, David H. Pashley, Franklin R. Tay

Faculty Publications

The design of antimicrobial polymers to address healthcare issues and minimize environmental problems is an important endeavor with both fundamental and practical implications. Quaternary ammonium silane-functionalized methacrylate (QAMS) represents an example of antimicrobial macromonomers synthesized by a sol–gel chemical route; these compounds possess flexible Si–O–Si bonds. In present work, a partially hydrolyzed QAMS co-polymerized with 2,2-[4(2-hydroxy 3-methacryloxypropoxy)-phenyl]propane is introduced. This methacrylate resin was shown to possess desirable mechanical properties with both a high degree of conversion and minimal polymerization shrinkage. The kill-on-contact microbiocidal activities of this resin were demonstrated using single-species biofilms of Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 36558), Actinomyces naeslundii (ATCC …

Driving Towards Success In The Air Force Cyber Mission: Leveraging Our Heritage To Shape Our Future, David Fadok, Richard Raines

Faculty Publications

Ongoing debates address what constitutes cyber warfare and whether or not we really are at war in cyberspace. This article does not enter into those issues; rather, it suggests how the Air Force and Air University should move forward to lead and support our nation’s cyber security needs. Thus, it focuses on analogous lessons learned from history, our position today and what it needs to be, and plans for getting there with respect to our cyberspace capabilities.

A Novel Allosteric Inhibitor Of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (Mif), Fengwei Bai, Oluwatoyin A. Asojo, Pier Cirillo, Mihai Ciustea, Michel Ledzidet, Paul A. Aristoff, Lin Leng, Raymond A. Koski, Thomas J. Powell, Richard Bucala, Karen G. Anthony

Faculty Publications

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a catalytic cytokine and an upstream mediator of the inflammatory pathway. MIF has broad regulatory properties, dysregulation of which has been implicated in the pathology of multiple immunological diseases. Inhibition of MIF activity with small molecules has proven beneficial in a number of disease models. Known small molecule MIF inhibitors typically bind in the tautomerase site of the MIF trimer, often covalently modifying the catalytic proline. Allosteric MIF inhibitors, particularly those that associate with the protein by noncovalent interactions, could reveal novel ways to block MIF activity for therapeutic benefit and serve as chemical …

Breast Tumour Initiating Cell Fate Is Regulated By Microenvironmental Cues From An Extracellular Matrix, Sharmistha Saha, Pang-Kuo Lo, Xinrui Duan, Hexin Chen, Qian Wang

Faculty Publications

Cancer stem cells, also known as tumour-initiating cells (TICs), are identified as highly tumorigenic population within tumours and hypothesized to be main regulators in tumour growth, metastasis and relapse. Evidence also suggests that a tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in the development and progression of cancer, by constantly modulating cell–matrix interactions. Scientists have tried to characterize and identify the TIC population but the actual combination of extracellular components in deciphering the fate of TICs has not been explored. The basic unanswered question is the phenotypic stability of this TIC population in a tissue extracellular matrix setting. The in vivo …

Reforming Software Patents, Colleen Chien

Faculty Publications

While many believe the patent system has hit a historic and unprecedented low, discontent with patents, and in particular with software patents, is nothing new. In 1966, a Presidential Commission recommended prohibiting software patents because of the PTO’s inability to vet them. In 1883, the Supreme Court railed against “speculative schemers who make it their business to watch the advancing wave of improvement and gather its foam in the form of patented monopolies, which enable them to lay a heavy tax.” In 1836, the Ruggles Report documented how lax patent standards, “encourag[ed] fraudulent speculators in patent rights, deluging the entire …

Revitalizing Nutrition Education Through Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (Vena): Skill Building For Cultural And Linguistic Competence Final Report, Erika Lichter Scd, Diane Friese Mlis, Bridget O'Connor Mpp, Kay Dutram Ms, Rd

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Il-22 Signaling Contributes To West Nile Encephalitis Pathogenesis, Fengwei Bai, Penghua Wang, Lauren A. Zenewicz, Jianfeng Dai, David Gate, Gong Cheng, Long Yang, Feng Qian, Xiaoling Yuan, Ruth R. Montgomery, Richard A. Flavell, Terrence Town, Erol Fikrig

Faculty Publications

The Th17 cytokine, IL-22, regulates host immune responses to extracellular pathogens. Whether IL-22 plays a role in viral infection, however, is poorly understood. We report here that Il22^-/- mice were more resistant to lethal West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis, but had similar viral loads in the periphery compared to wild type (WT) mice. Viral loads, leukocyte infiltrates, proinflammatory cytokines and apoptotic cells in the central nervous system (CNS) of Il22^-/- mice were also strikingly reduced. Further examination showed that Cxcr2, a chemokine receptor that plays a non-redundant role in mediating neutrophil migration, was significantly reduced in Il22^{-/- …}

Book Review Of Leading God’S People: Wisdom From The Early Church For Today, By Beeley, C.A. (2010), Stan Patterson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Discrimination Of Colon Cancer Stem Cells Using Noncanonical Amino Acid, Xinrui Duan, Honglin Li, Hexin Chen, Qian Wang

Faculty Publications

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be responsible for tumor recurrence. Metabolic labelling of newly synthesized proteins with non-canonical amino acids allows us to discriminate CSCs in mixed populations due to the quiescent nature of these cells.

The International Trade Commission And Patent Disputes, Colleen Chien

Faculty Publications

Testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary. Video of this event available here (requires Windows Media Player): http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/Hearings%202012/hear_07182012.html

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Employment Discrimination As A Means For Social Cleansing, E. Gary Spitko

Faculty Publications

In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010,” which provided for repeal of the policy prohibiting gay people from serving openly in the military, after consideration of a Department of Defense review on the implementation of such a repeal. This article examines the history of the exclusion of openly gay people from military service in the United States from the early twentieth century up until the time of the repeal. The author concludes from this review that the dominant purpose of the military’s exclusion of openly gay people was to …

The Ten Commandments 2.0, Adam J. Copeland

Faculty Publications

Since the Ten Commandments still enjoy a primary place in both church teaching and cultural debate, it will be both helpful and faithful to interpret them anew in the light of our new media and new technologies. Adam Copeland does just that in this article.

Life On Screen And Other Musings On Faith, Food, & Media, Mary E. Hess

Faculty Publications

Media and food have this in common: a healthy diet of either one nourishes us, while an unhealthy diet causes problems. Just as we eat together in families, we should find ways to engage media together as well.

Exploring Barriers To Organ Donation In The African American Communities Of California, D. R. Law, Susan Mcniesh

Faculty Publications

There are a disproportionate number of African-Americans on transplant waiting lists across the country. The outcomes of a transplant are greatly improved when the donor and the recipient are from the same ethnic group. Sadly, the demand for cadaver organs in the African-American community exceeds the supply. Researchers in the past have sought to identify barriers to organ and tissue donation. To date, the studies have been conducted in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. This study examines whether the previously identified barriers are applicable in the African-American communities of California. A revised version of the Bone …

A Screen-Based World: Finding The Real In The Hyper-Real, Andrew Root

Faculty Publications

What is real? In our media-filled world, have we mistaken the image for the real thing? The church is called to proclaim the real, not by rejecting the use of sign and image, but by affirming those that speak the truth of our existence.

How Not To File A Complaint, Douglas E. Abrams

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bullying Victimization As A Disability In Public Elementary And Secondary Education, Douglas E. Abrams

Faculty Publications

This article discusses two reasons why likening bullying victimization to an educational disability makes sense. First, face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying impose on student victims the sort of educational deprivation that the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) addresses in the disabilities arena. Second, today’s belated public sensitivity to school bullying victims resembles the belated public sensitivity to students with disabilities that led to passage of the IDEA in 1975.