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Immunomodulatory Roles Of Endotoxin And Glutaraldehyde In The Development Of Latex Allergy, Michael D. Howell Dec 2002

Immunomodulatory Roles Of Endotoxin And Glutaraldehyde In The Development Of Latex Allergy, Michael D. Howell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although much data has been obtained related to the clinical manifestations of latex allergy and the characterization of the protein allergens, little is known regarding the natural history of the disease. These studies were undertaken to demonstrate the immunological relevance of both dermal and respiratory exposure in the development of latex allergy and to investigate the role of co-exposure by these routes to other agents in the health care environment on the development of NRL sensitization.;An initial study in female BALB/c mice demonstrated comparable rates of induction of latex specific IgE following dermal and respiratory latex exposure, demonstrating the importance …

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Differentially Expressed Genes In The Mutualistic Neotyphodium Coenophialum-Tall Fescue Interaction, Linda Joy Johnson Dec 2002

Differentially Expressed Genes In The Mutualistic Neotyphodium Coenophialum-Tall Fescue Interaction, Linda Joy Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum), an agronomically important forage grass, is typically associated with a mutualistic asexual fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum. Endophytic fungal growth is confined to the intercellular spaces of the plant and induces no symptoms. The endophyte partner enhances its host's fitness by improving nutrient acquisition as well as by providing protection from various abiotic and biotic stresses. However, grass-endophyte partnerships are detrimental to grazing livestock, due to the production of an array of fungal alkaloids. To investigate this interaction at the molecular level, suppressive subtractive hybridization was used to identify differentially expressed genes from the symbiosis. In total, twenty-nine …

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Characterization Of Metallothionein Expression In Response To Cadmium In The 267-B1, Normal Prostate Cell Line, Madhuri G. Neriyanuri Dec 2002

Characterization Of Metallothionein Expression In Response To Cadmium In The 267-B1, Normal Prostate Cell Line, Madhuri G. Neriyanuri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of the study was to characterize the mRNA and protein expression of the MT gene in response to Cd2+ exposure in the 267-B1 immortalized normal human neonatal prostate cell line. The cells were exposed to 18muM Cd2+ for 4hr and rescued for 48hr in P4-8F normal medium. Samples were obtained at 0, 1, 2, 4hr exposure and 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48hr recovery. Basal levels of mRNA for MT-1E, MT-1X, and MT-2A genes in 267-B1 cells were similar to the expression of the G3PDH where as MT-3 had a low basal level expression. Exposure to …

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Opportunities And Occupations In Animal And Veterinary Sciences Based On The Current Careers Of West Virginia University Alumni, Stacey Michelle Hawkins Dec 2002

Opportunities And Occupations In Animal And Veterinary Sciences Based On The Current Careers Of West Virginia University Alumni, Stacey Michelle Hawkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the career opportunities for graduates completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at West Virginia University as measured by the first and current careers of alumni. The target population consisted of all alumni that graduated between the years 1991 and 2001. Over 61.6% of the West Virginia University Animal and Veterinary Science graduates were satisfied with both their first career selection as well as their current career. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree two-thirds of the graduates decided to pursue a post-graduate degree. Professional careers, …

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Effect Of Dietary Protein On Plasma Uric Acid, Body Weight, And Oxidative Stress In Broilers, Maribel Machin Aug 2002

Effect Of Dietary Protein On Plasma Uric Acid, Body Weight, And Oxidative Stress In Broilers, Maribel Machin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Uric acid is an important antioxidant due to its role as a free radical scavenger, and methods to elevate its plasma concentration may be important in animal health. In a preliminary study, the effect of dietary protein on plasma uric acid (PUA) was determined in 3-wk-old chicks. Twenty-four broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 4 diets: low protein (LP) containing 10% casein, medium protein (MP) containing 20% casein, high protein (HP) containing 45% casein and a commercial diet (COD) for 2-wks. PUA concentration increased in chicks fed HP diet and declined in chicks fed LP. In the principal study, PUA …

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Survival And Recovery Characteristics Of Arcobacter Butzleri In Groundwater Microcosms, Robert Darrell Mcelwain Aug 2002

Survival And Recovery Characteristics Of Arcobacter Butzleri In Groundwater Microcosms, Robert Darrell Mcelwain

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Arcobacter butzleri may be an etiological agent of gastroenteritis. However, relatively little is known about the persistence and ecology of this genus, particularly in groundwater. In laboratory studies it was determined that the survival of A. butzleri in groundwater can exceed that of the traditional indicator organism, Escherichia coli. An inverse relationship between survival and water temperature was observed for both organisms, but the persistence of A. butzleri exceeded that of E. coli at 5, 15, and 25°C. Selective media for the isolation of Arcobacter spp., while sensitive enough to recover stressed cells, proved ineffective at reducing background flora. Only …

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Organic Carbon And Fertility Of Forest Soils On The Allegheny Plateau Of West Virginia, Anthony Blaine Jenkins Aug 2002

Organic Carbon And Fertility Of Forest Soils On The Allegheny Plateau Of West Virginia, Anthony Blaine Jenkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Soil series occurring above 1020 m in elevation in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia were sampled and analyzed for soil organic and soil microbial biomass carbon as well as various fertility parameters. Additionally, vegetative biomass estimates were made at the sampling sites. The soil series sampled (established and tentative) are frigid, well and moderately-well drained inceptisols and spodosols, covered by northern hardwood or spuce-dominated forests. The purpose of the work was to document soil organic carbon (SOC), vegetative organic carbon (VOC), and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) of selected horizons, and nutrient stock ranges for these extensive series, …

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Development Of The Induced Gonadotropin Surge Mechanism In The Prepubertal Heifer, Timothy David Maze Aug 2002

Development Of The Induced Gonadotropin Surge Mechanism In The Prepubertal Heifer, Timothy David Maze

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A longtitudinal study was performed in prepubertal heifer calves to determine when the individual components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis were capable of functioning. In study 1, the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary of prepubertal dairy heifers were challenged with exogenous hormones (estradiol and GnRH, respectively) to determine at what age gonadotropin surges could be induced. Two-, four-, six-, and eight-month-old heifer calves were challenged with GnRH or estradiol. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein every 15 minutes for 6 hours or hourly for 30 hours, for the two treatments, respectively. Heifers in each age group released LH in response to …

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Modeling Of Soil Phosphorus Sorption And Control Of Phosphorus Pollution With Acid Mine Drainage Floc, Bharpoor Singh Sekhon Aug 2002

Modeling Of Soil Phosphorus Sorption And Control Of Phosphorus Pollution With Acid Mine Drainage Floc, Bharpoor Singh Sekhon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study was conducted to investigate and model phosphorus sorption in soils and to study the effectiveness of acid mine drainage (AMD) floc in controlling phosphorus (P) loss to surface runoff from soils. Phosphorus sorption capacity of surface and subsurface horizons of four benchmark soil series - Berks, Huntington, Lindside, and Monongahela - of West Virginia was measured. The soils of these four series were loaded with increasing amounts of P up to 60% of their P retention capacity. Though amount of P released to the solution increased with increase in degree of P saturation, most of the soils did …

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Interaction Between Positive And Negative Effectors Of Embryonic And Postnatal Muscle Growth In The Chicken And The Mouse, Scott Allen Gahr Aug 2002

Interaction Between Positive And Negative Effectors Of Embryonic And Postnatal Muscle Growth In The Chicken And The Mouse, Scott Allen Gahr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Myostatin, belonging to the TGF-beta family, negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth. The current study was conducted to assess the efficacy of in ovo administration of exogenous myostatin antagonist (MA) to enhance skeletal muscle growth and improve feed efficiency of broilers.;Growth hormone secretion is under the control of a pair of hypothalamic factors, growth hormone releasing hormone and somatostatin. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) and its endogenous ligand represent a novel third mechanism regulating the release of growth hormone. Early chicken embryonic development, prior to day 14, has been proposed to be independent of GH. However, recent evidence shows that …

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Stress Response Genes In The Human Proximal Tubules, Doyeob Kim Aug 2002

Stress Response Genes In The Human Proximal Tubules, Doyeob Kim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The heat shock proteins (hsps) are believed to provide protection against a variety of insults such as elevated temperature, heavy metals and chemical agents. The goal of this study was to determine if the immortalized HK-2 human proximal tubule cell line could provide a model system to study the stress response of the proximal tubule cell. Heat stress, elevated temperature at 42.5°C for 1 hr, caused a marked increase only in hsp 70 mRNA and protein, but not that of hsp 27 or hsp 60 mRNA and protein. Similar results were obtained when the cells were subjected to 100 muM …

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Effects Of Edge And Coarse Woody Debris On Small Mammal Communities In Riparian And Upland Habitats In Northern West Virginia, Joseph Daniel Osbourne Aug 2002

Effects Of Edge And Coarse Woody Debris On Small Mammal Communities In Riparian And Upland Habitats In Northern West Virginia, Joseph Daniel Osbourne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The effects on biological communities of human-induced disturbances such as road construction for logging and military activities are a topic of much controversy in modern society. Furthermore, the response of small mammal communities to edge and coarse woody debris (CWD) volume in riparian and upland habitats of the central Appalachian Mountains has received little attention. The objectives of this study were to: (1) Perform a faunal survey of the Camp Dawson Collective Training Area in Preston County, West Virginia with an emphasis on rare and endangered species, (2) Estimate small mammal abundance, diversity, and condition in response to CWD manipulation, …

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Effect Of Peptidoglycan-Polysaccharide Complex On Reproductive Efficiency And Mastitis In Sheep, Ida Holaskova Aug 2002

Effect Of Peptidoglycan-Polysaccharide Complex On Reproductive Efficiency And Mastitis In Sheep, Ida Holaskova

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bacterial infections associated with mastitis reduce pregnancies in cattle. Effects on pregnancy and incidence of mastitis in sheep were investigated after immunization with peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS) and killed cells from Strep. pyogenes. Rambouillet (n = 100) and mixed breed (n = 18) ewe lambs were immunized (∼d42 and 22 before breeding) with PG-PS (30mugPG/kg/bw) or killed cells or were not immunized (Control, n = 117). IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA. Ewes were bred at synchronized estrus. All immunized and half of non-immunized ewes were challenged with PG-PS (60mugPG/kg/bw) d5 after breeding. Although proportion of ewes pregnant at d42 did not …

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Anatomical And Physiological Properties Of The Superior Paraolivary Nucleus In The Rat, Randy Joseph Kulesza Jr. Aug 2002

Anatomical And Physiological Properties Of The Superior Paraolivary Nucleus In The Rat, Randy Joseph Kulesza Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON) is a group of neurons located within the superior olivary complex, a constellation of brainstem nuclei involved in auditory processing. The major inputs to the SPON arise from the contralateral ear and SPON axons target primarily the ipsilateral inferior colliculus. However, little is known regarding the neurochemical phenotypes present in the SPON and how these neurons respond to auditory stimuli. Understanding the neurochemical and physiological properties of the constituent neurons will provide insight into the functional role of the SPON and will contribute to our understanding of the neural circuitry involved in hearing. Immunocytochemical, stereological, …

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Relative Abundance, Temporal Distribution, And Functional Feeding Groups Of Aquatic Insects In Two First-Order Southwestern Pennsylvania Streams, Judith S. Steinberg Aug 2002

Relative Abundance, Temporal Distribution, And Functional Feeding Groups Of Aquatic Insects In Two First-Order Southwestern Pennsylvania Streams, Judith S. Steinberg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two first to second order streams (Kent Run and Munnell Hollow) at Ryerson Station State Park, Greene County, Pennsylvania, were compared as to water parameters (dissolved oxygen, hardness, temperature, pH, and current velocity), species diversity, and abundance of both immature and adult insects. Samples were taken biweekly for one year from May, 1999 through April, 2000 for a total of 26 sampling periods. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA. Kent Run had lower dissolved oxygen, higher pH and hardness, lower temperatures, and higher current velocity. A total of 137 taxa were collected at both streams. Of the total …

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Vanadate-Induced Cell Cycle Regulation And Its Signal Transduction Pathway, Zhuo Zhang Aug 2002

Vanadate-Induced Cell Cycle Regulation And Its Signal Transduction Pathway, Zhuo Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Vanadate is potent toxic and carcinogenic agent. The mechanisms of its toxic and carcinogenic actions are still under investigation. Cell cycle arrest is an important mechanism in maintaining genomic stability and integrity in response to environmental stress. The present study investigated the possible mechanisms involved in vanadate-induced cell cycle arrest and its signal transduction pathway. The results show that vanadate caused G2/M phase arrest A549 cells. p21 and cdc25C affected on cyclin B/cdc2 complex, resulting in the cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. p38 and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) were involved in the regulation of these cell cycle regulatory …

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Comparison Of Buffered Grazing Systems For Beef Cattle, Charles R. Wolfe Iii May 2002

Comparison Of Buffered Grazing Systems For Beef Cattle, Charles R. Wolfe Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To evaluate the productivity of a rotational versus continuous grazing system for beef production within a buffer grazing system, thirty crossbred beef cows and their calves were randomly assigned to one of two grazing systems replicated twice over three years of the experiment. Each replication of the rotational system was stocked with 8 cow/calf pairs while the continuous system was stocked with 7 cow/calf pairs. The grazing season was divided into 3 periods to aid in analysis. Period 1 was further divided into grazing cycles consisting of 4 weeks each. Pasture growth during cycle I was found to be higher …

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Modulation Of Thiols And Pulmonary Immune Responses Due To Diesel Exhaust Particle (Dep) Exposure, Nabil Hussain Al-Humadi May 2002

Modulation Of Thiols And Pulmonary Immune Responses Due To Diesel Exhaust Particle (Dep) Exposure, Nabil Hussain Al-Humadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Environmental exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) has been of concern because of its potential contribution to the increased prevalence of acute and chronic airway diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of thiol changes (due to DEP exposure) in immune responses. Rats were exposed to OVA, DEP, or both by intratracheal instillation (IT) and/or inhalation. IT-DEP exposure significantly increased the inflammatory parameters and thiol levels in both Sprague-Dawley and Brown Norway rats. Exposure to DEP and/or OVA resulted in significant increases in neutrophils, LDH, total protein, and albumin content in lavage fluid. Alveolar macrophage (AM) …

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Physical Emergence, Scott Leon Smith May 2002

Physical Emergence, Scott Leon Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An examination of the physical development of characters through improvisation and experimentation. The physical process of acting is a vital part of creating characters for the stage. This thesis is about the discovery of the value of that system, and finding a trust in the process of physical character development.

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Efficiency Of Shear-Induced Agglomeration Of Particulate Suspensions Subjected To Bridging Flocculation, Sushant Agarwal May 2002

Efficiency Of Shear-Induced Agglomeration Of Particulate Suspensions Subjected To Bridging Flocculation, Sushant Agarwal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the problem of shear-induced agglomeration of particles such as fillers and pigments in polymer solutions, where polymer molecules adsorb on the surface of particles and form a bridge between them causing agglomeration. The rate of agglomeration is usually obtained by multiplying the rate of collision of particles by the collision efficiency. In a laminar flow field, the collision frequency is readily given by Smoluchowski's expression. If agglomeration takes place by coagulation, the collision efficiency is well studied and the influences of hydrodynamic and colloidal forces are well understood. In case of polymer bridging, the collision efficiency is …

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Design And Implementation Of Web-Based Gis For Forest Fragmentation Analysis, Fei Wang May 2002

Design And Implementation Of Web-Based Gis For Forest Fragmentation Analysis, Fei Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The advantages and limitations of current web GIS software for forest fragmentation information and analysis functionality were investigated using Landsat Thematic Mapper data of 1987 to 1999 for a test site in northern West Virginia. ESRI's ArcIMS technology was used to build a Web-based forest fragmentation analysis system to query, represent, and analyze the status of forest fragmentation using landscape metrics. Both ArcIMS HTML and Java fragmentation analysis tools were constructed. The web GIS was evaluated with respect to accessibility, navigation, interactive cartographic functionality, and spatial analysis functionality. The current ArcIMS approach was found to offer only limited support for …

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Comparison Of Broiler Breeder Production And Fertility In A Colony Cage System With Two Different Floors Versus A Slat-Floor System, Joseph Wayne Massey May 2002

Comparison Of Broiler Breeder Production And Fertility In A Colony Cage System With Two Different Floors Versus A Slat-Floor System, Joseph Wayne Massey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two separate trials were conducted to compare egg production, egg weight, shell thickness, albumin height, fertility, and mortality of naturally mated broiler breeders maintained on either a slat and litter floor or in two tiered colony cages. In the first trial there was no difference (P > 0.05) in egg production between the two treatments. There was also no significant difference in hen mortality. Higher (P < 0.05) egg shell quality, albumin height, and shell thickness were observed in the cage maintained hens. Lower fertility (P < 0.05) was observed in the cage maintained hens. In the second trial production parameters were compared in naturally mated broiler breeders maintained on slat and litter floor, in colony cages on the original slats, and in colony cages on a modified slats. The modified slats were constructed from plastic and had a two piece design which produced a slight cushioning on the top of the slats. Egg production and mortality were not different (P > 0.05) among the three treatments. Eggshell thickness, albumin height, and shell thickness were lower (P > 0.05) in the litter and slat floor but not between the two cage treatments (P > 0.05). Fertility was higher (P …

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Effects Of Intertrial Interval And D-Amphetamine On Temporally Organized Behavior Of Pigeons, Lori Marie Lieving May 2002

Effects Of Intertrial Interval And D-Amphetamine On Temporally Organized Behavior Of Pigeons, Lori Marie Lieving

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present experiment examined the effects of intertrial interval and d-amphetamine on pecking of pigeons maintained by an interval bisection task. The side-tracking group responded based on the location of the key and the color-tracking group responded based on the color of the key. Intermediate stimulus durations were tested, separated by either a 10- or 100-s intertrial interval and a range of d-amphetamine doses and saline were administered. Acquisition of performance in the side-tracking group occurred in fewer sessions relative to the color-tracking group. In both groups, the proportion of long responses increased as a function of stimulus duration. These …

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Assessing The Perceived Impact Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On Physical Therapy Education, Mia L. Erickson May 2002

Assessing The Perceived Impact Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On Physical Therapy Education, Mia L. Erickson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) is becoming more common in allied health education. Research on CAI has provided mixed results. The purpose of this study was to compare uses of CAI in entry-level physical therapist (PT) and physical therapist assistant (PTA) programs. Secondary purposes included determining faculty attitudes toward CAI, determining how faculty select and evaluate CAI, and describing faculty perceptions of CAI and the computer-based licensing exam. Results indicate no significant differences in the amount of CAI in PT and PTA programs. Positive aspects reported include improved knowledge of technology and improved independence with information gathering. Negative aspects reported include …

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Effects Of Morphine, D-Amphetamine, And Food Deprivation On Temporally Organized Behavior, Todd William Knealing May 2002

Effects Of Morphine, D-Amphetamine, And Food Deprivation On Temporally Organized Behavior, Todd William Knealing

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two experiments examined the effects of morphine and d-amphetamine on behavior that was temporally organized under several schedule arrangements. Two body weights were assessed for each experiment. Experiment 1 made use of fixed-interval (FI) schedules, the peak procedure, and a two-key (free-operant psychophysical) procedure. Indexes of timing performance under each of these schedules were assessed and compared. Timing indexes were decreased by both drugs in the two-key procedure, but were not reliably altered in the peak procedure. Both drugs produced clear rate-dependent effects on behavior in both procedures. In Experiment 2, FI performance was assessed both alone and with a …

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Antitumor Activity Of Antimalarials In Human Breast Cancer Cells, Qun Zhou May 2002

Antitumor Activity Of Antimalarials In Human Breast Cancer Cells, Qun Zhou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previously we showed that quinidine arrested MCF-7 cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle and led to a G1 to G0 transition followed by apoptotic cell death (Wang et al., 1998). The present experiments demonstrate that MCF-7, MCF-7ras, T47D, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-435 cells transiently differentiate before undergoing apoptosis in response to quinidine. The cells accumulated lipid droplets and the cytokeratin 18 cytoskeleton was reorganized. Hyperacetylated histone H4 appeared within 2 h of the addition of quinidine to the medium, and levels were maximal by 24 h. Quinidine treated MCF-7 cells showed elevated p21/WAF1, hypophosphorylation and suppression of retinoblastoma protein, …

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Influence Of Mass Of Ruminal Contents On Voluntary Intake And Digesta Passage Of A Concentrate And A Forage Diet, Marcela Ana Whetsell May 2002

Influence Of Mass Of Ruminal Contents On Voluntary Intake And Digesta Passage Of A Concentrate And A Forage Diet, Marcela Ana Whetsell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To evaluate the influence of mass of rumen contents on voluntary intake and rumen function, five ruminally cannulated steers (500 kg) were fed a hay diet ad libitum in a 5 x 5 Latin square experiment. Mass of ruminal contents was altered by adding varying weights of modified tennis balls to the rumen before the initiation of each experimental period. Treatments consisted of 50 balls with a specific gravity (SG) of either 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4 and the total weight of the balls was 7.45 kg, 8.50 kg; 9.25 kg, 10.55; and 11.55 kg, respectively. Daily DMI was …

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Analysis And Robust Decentralized Control Of Power Systems Using Facts Devices, Karl E. Schoder May 2002

Analysis And Robust Decentralized Control Of Power Systems Using Facts Devices, Karl E. Schoder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Today's changing electric power systems create a growing need for flexible, reliable, fast responding, and accurate answers to questions of analysis, simulation, and design in the fields of electric power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. The Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) technology program utilizes power electronics components to replace conventional mechanical elements yielding increased flexibility in controlling the electric power system. Benefits include decreased response times and improved overall dynamic system behavior. FACTS devices allow the design of new control strategies, e.g., independent control of active and reactive power flows, which were not realizable a decade ago. However, FACTS …

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Small Mammal Communities On A Reclaimed Mountaintop Mine/Valley Fill Landscape In Southern West Virginia, Howard Douglas Chamblin May 2002

Small Mammal Communities On A Reclaimed Mountaintop Mine/Valley Fill Landscape In Southern West Virginia, Howard Douglas Chamblin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mountaintop mine/valley fill is a large-scale form of strip mining whose effects on small mammals had not previously been examined. Small mammals were captured by Sherman trap and drift fence array (pitfall and funnel traps) on 3 treatments representing the mined landscape and intact forests representing the unmined condition. Peromyscus ( P. leucopus and maniculatus) dominated Sherman captures and were the most common array capture. Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus), woodland jumping mice (Napaeozapius insignus), woodland voles (Microtus pinetorum), northern short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda), and pygmy shrews (Sorex hoyi) were more common in forest treatments; Peromyscus, house mice (Mus musculus), southern …

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Nest-Site Resources For Cavity-Nesting Birds In The Southern Allegheny Mountain Forests Of West Virginia, Harry A. Kahler May 2002

Nest-Site Resources For Cavity-Nesting Birds In The Southern Allegheny Mountain Forests Of West Virginia, Harry A. Kahler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cavity-nesting birds may be negatively impacted by a lack of proper nesting sites. Southern Allegheny Mountain forests of West Virginia are unique due to the juxtaposition and diversity of forest cover types. Management must focus on monitoring wildlife population levels as well as habitat requirements within each cover type. Cavity tree abundance significantly differed among central hardwood (x¯ = 16.4; SE = 5.3), northern hardwood (x¯ =12.7; SE = 6.8), and boreal forest cover types (x¯ = 7.2; SE = 3.6) ( P < 0.0001). Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) were most likely to have tree cavities, yet beech may be influenced by increased mortality from recent outbreaks of beech bark disease initiated by the beech scale insect (Cryptacoccus fagisuga). Nesting bird community density, richness, and abundance do not differ among mature forests of the 3 cover types. Cavity-nesting species dependent on available tree holes were found most in the central hardwoods (P = 0.009). Forest managers should consider landscape level effects, as well as forest stand composition, when recommending silvicultural treatments.

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