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Iron Acquisition In Rhodococcus Erythrolpolis: The Isolation Of Mutant(S) That Do Not Produce A Siderophore., Jaishree M. Vellore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rhodococcus, a soil bacterium, displays a diverse range of metabolic capabilities with a number of potential practical applications. To exploit the metabolic potential of Rhodococcus, their basic physiology, genetics, and especially the acquisition of essential nutrients like iron, must be understood.

R. erythropolis strain IGTS8 releases a small compound called a siderophore, that scavenges ferric iron from the environment. To learn more about the genetic control of iron acquisition, mutant(s) defective in siderophore production were isolated. Mutants were generated, by inserting a mutagenic plasmid, pJCS506, into the bacterial cell using electroporation. The plasmid, which cannot replicate in these …

Antibiotic Resistance: Multi-Drug Profiles And Genetic Determinants., Lashan Denise Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were assembled for isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis collected from the Mountain Home Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) clinical laboratory in Johnson City, Tennessee. The goal of the study was to identify isolates for genetic characterization using comparisons of susceptibility profiles. Isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis collected from July 1984 through 1994 were analyzed for β-lactamase production using a Cefinase disk assay.

A multi-drug profile consisting of 11 β-lactam antibiotics was performed on the 41 M. catarrhalis isolates. Kirby Bauer disk assays were performed for 7 cephalosporin and 4 non-cephalosporin antibiotics.

In summary, 2 observations implicate more complex resistance …

Colombia's Paramilitaries: Criminals Or Political Force?, David Spencer Mr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The intent of this monograph was to explore the multiple dimensions of Colombia's ongoing crisis and inform the public debate regarding the challenges faced by the statesmen, intellectuals, military strategists, and others who take on the responsibility to deal with that crisis. Hopefully, it will also generate serious reflection about the tough choices Colombian, U.S., and other global leaders face. The author points out, first, that the Colombian paramilitary self-defense forces represent some important sectors of society, and enjoy more popular support from Colombian society than the insurgents. Second, the paramilitaries have developed into a powerful irregular force that is …

Esdp And Missile Defense: European Perspectives For More Balanced Transatlantic Partnership, Martin Aguera Mr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Security cooperation with Europe has been the bedrock of American strategy for more than 50 years. Today, that relationship is undergoing both stress and refinement as Europe moves toward a more unified political and security identity, and as the United States responds to a changing global security environment. While many issues have the potential to complicate U.S.-European security cooperation, few are more pressing than the U.S. pursuit of missile defense and Europe's construction of European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). The author explains the relationship between missile defense and ESDP and shows that, rather than serving as wedges between the …

Transforming Defense An Era Of Peace And Prosperity, Conrad C. Crane Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The ideas and issues presented in this collection of papers from the Twelfth Annual Strategy Conference conducted by the U.S. Army War College in April 2001 will educate and inform anyone interested in the past and future course of American defense reform. Though conference attendees had many differing opinions about the barriers to defense transformation and how to overcome them, a broad consensus formed that some change is essential to meet future security requirements. They observed at the time that it is ironic that the peace which creates the prosperity and wealth to fund transformation and permits a window of …

Resistance Of Commercial Hybrids And Lines Of Sorghum, Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench., To Diatraea Saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Jose M. Waquil, Jose A. S. Rodrigues, Fredolino G. Santos, Alexandre S. Ferreira, Francys M. F. Vilella, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Commercial sorghum hybrids and Embrapa’s lines were evaluated regarding resistance to sugarcane borer. Two field experiments were conducted in Sete Lagoas, MG, under natural infestation, during the second cropping season in a randomized complete block with 3 replicates. The plants were evaluated regarding to stand, maturity cycle, plant height, and number of broken or lodging stalks and yield. The borer incidence, number of galleries, number of healthy and damaged nodes were also evaluated to calculate the Infestation Index and Intensity Infestation Index. Among the commercial sorghum hybrids, Br 304 and CMSXS 9701 were the least infested wile Z 732 and …

Chronic Exposure Of The European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) To Cry1ab Bacillus Thuringiensis Toxin, Josette Chafaux, Maryvonne Seguin, Jeffrey J. Swanson, Denis Bourguet, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Transgenic corn expressing the insecticidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner is gaining support as an effective control technology for use against lepidopteran pests, particularly European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). However, there is concern that widespread adoption of transgenic plants will rapidly lead to B. thuringiensis toxin resistance. Thus, long-term selection of O. nubilalis populations with the Cry1Ab B. thuringiensis toxin has been undertaken in several laboratories in the United States and in Europe. We present results from two independent selection experiments performed in laboratories at the University of Nebraska and at the Institut National de la Recherche …

Conceptual Constraints On Thinking About Genocide, David Moshman

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Our thinking is unavoidably constrained by our conceptual structures. To the extent that we reflect on and reconstruct our concepts, however, we can sharpen our thinking. The first section of this article considers the nature of concepts, highlighting a standard distinction between prototype-based and formal concepts.

Drawing on these insights from cognitive psychology, the second section suggests that the ability to recognize and understand genocides is greatly restricted by Holocaust-based conceptions of genocide. In turn one can enhance one’s understanding via the construction and application of formal concepts of genocide.

Extending this argument, I observe in the third section that …

Intracellular Signaling Molecules Activated By Epstein-Barr Virus For Induction Of Interferon Regulatory Factor 7, Luwen Zhang, Lihong Wu, Ke Hong, Joseph S. Pagano

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) is the principal oncogenic protein in the EBV transformation process. LMP-1 induces the expression of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7) and activates IRF-7 protein by phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. LMP-1 is an integral membrane protein with two regions in its C terminus that initiate signaling processes, the C-terminal activator regions 1 (CTAR-1) and CTAR-2. Here, genetic analysis of LMP-1 has determined that the PXQXT motif that governs the interaction between LMP-1 CTAR-1 and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) is needed to induce the expression of IRF-7. Mutations in the PXQXT motif …

Interferon Regulatory Factor 7: A Key Cellular Mediator Of Lmp-1 In Ebv Latency And Transformation, Luwen Zhang, Joseph S. Pagano

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7) was cloned within the biological context of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) latency, and has an intimate relation with EBV. EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) regulates IRF-7 both by inducing the expression of IRF-7 and by activating IRF-7 protein through phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in a post-translational manner. The activated IRF-7 then functions to regulate both EBV and cellular target genes involved in latency, transformation and immune regulation. IRF-7 appears to be a key cellular latency protein involved in both the pathogenesis and persistence of EBV infection.

Identification Of A Cellular Protein That Interacts And Synergizes With The Rta (Orf50) Protein Of Kaposi’S Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus In Transcriptional Activation, Shizhen Wang, Shuhong Liu, Ming-Hoi Wu, Yunqi Geng, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Lytic reactivation of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8, from latency requires transcriptional transactivation by the viral protein RTA encoded by the ORF50 gene. Very little is known about how RTA functions and the cellular factors that may be involved in its transactivation function. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified a human cellular protein that can interact with KSHV RTA. The cellular protein, referred to as the human hypothetical protein MGC2663 by GenBank, is encoded by human chromosome 19. This protein is 554 amino acids (aa) in size and displays sequence similarity with members of the …

Will Voluntary And Educational Programs Meet Environmental Objectives? Evidence From A Survey Of New York Dairy Farms, Gregory L. Poe, Nelson L. Bills, B. C. Bellows, Patricia Crosscombe, Richard K. Koelsch, Michael J. Kreher, Peter Wright

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper presents the results from a survey of New York dairy farms that links manure management practices and farmer willingness to participate in voluntary environmental programs, focusing on those operations that are not automatically designated as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. A wide divergence is found between actual and recommended manure management practices on individual dairy farms (high), the apparent ability of farms to divert financial resources to environmental practices (mixed), and the willingness to participate in voluntary programs at various annual costs per cow (low). These findings have policy implications for the USDA/USEPA National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations.

Predicting Risk To Biodiversity As A Function Of Aquifer Pressure In Gab Mound Springs, A. J. Tyre, Brigitte Tenhumberg, H.P. Possingham

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Plants and aquatic invertebrates endemic to mound springs of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) of Australia are of national biodiversity significance. Springs occur in groups, and current survey data suggest that local extinction and recolonisation within a group does occur naturally. Mound spring fauna are therefore good examples of true metapopulations, and any study of the environmental impacts on these systems must take this into account. Use of GAB water leads to drawdown of the pressure in the aquifer. This can potentially impact mound spring flora and fauna in two ways. First, as pressure decreases, so does flow from spring …

The History Of Life In Nebraska: A Time-Travel Adventure, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

It is difficult for humans, whose lives are measured in years and decades, to fathom the age of the Earth, whose history is patiently but inexorably written on thin pages of landscape, each lasting millions of years or more. As an exercise in Earth-time, let a single mile represent a million years. Thus .5 mile would represent 500,000 years, .10 mile equals 100,000 years, .01 mile (52 feet) equals 10,000 years; .001 mile (5.2 feet) equals 1,000 years, and about 6 inches equal 100 years. A decade would equal about half an inch. It is 450 miles from the 60th …

The Diagnostic Challenge And Management Of Pulmonary Kaposi's Sarcoma In Renal Transplant Recipients, Ayman B. Krayem, Siraj O. Wali, Yaseen S. Samman

Saudi Medical Journal

Kaposi9s sarcoma is a multicentric low grade tumor that usually begins with the development of violaceous skin lesions and is associated with the presence of human herpes virus 8. Kaposi9s sarcoma has been described in immunocompromised patients, particularly following renal transplantation, with cutaneous involvement being the most salient finding. Infectious and non-infectious pulmonary disorders in immunocompromised patients can simulate the radiological manifestations of pulmonary Kaposi9s sarcoma. This report highlights the dilemma in reaching an accurate diagnosis of pulmonary Kaposis sarcoma as a complication of immunosuppression post-renal transplant and reviews the management of immunosuppression related Kaposi9s sarcoma.

Evaluation Of Commonly Used Tribal And Traditional Remedies In Saudi Arabia, Baker H. Al-Awamy

Saudi Medical Journal

There are several compounds used in traditional prescriptions and as cosmetics, among several tribes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nothing pertinent in the literature exists regarding the components and health hazards of these compounds. There are no health education programs to warn the community especially high-risk populations (such as sickle cell anemia and diabetes mellitus patients) of the hazards involved in the use of the traditional preparations. Tradition and folk medicine continue to be used in many developing countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For physicians who are not accustomed to dealing with this entity, particularly when the …

Pulmonary Changes In Liver Transplant Candidates With Hepatitis C Cirrhosis, Mohamed S. Al-Moamary, Tanja Gorka, Ibrahim H. Al-Traif, Hamdan H. Al-Jahdali, Abdullah A. Al-Shimemeri, Bander Al-Kanway, Abdulmajed A. Abdulkareeem, Abdulmajed A. Abdulkareeem

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have shown that pulmonary abnormalities are common in patients with end-stage liver disease. However, most of these studies were conducted on patients with heterogeneous etiologies. Therefore, we studied these changes in a homogenous group of hepatitis C cirrhotic patients who were potential candidates for liver transplantation. METHODS: The charts of 81 patients from King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with hepatitis C cirrhosis who were evaluated for liver transplantation were reviewed. The following data was retrieved: echocardiography with micro-bubble study, arterial blood gases, and pulmonary function tests of 81 candidates and reviewed over …

Role Of Computerized Tomography In Diagnosis Of Atypical Gall Bladder And Common Bile Duct Stones, Tareq K. El-Husseini, Ibrahim A. Al-Shebrien

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of computerized tomography as an adjuvant to ultrasound in the diagnosis of atypical gallbladder and common duct stone disease. METHODS: Real time ultrasound scanning for the gallbladder and common duct was performed in the routine manner. High resolution computerized tomography images were subsequently obtained for the region of interest. RESULTS: Computerized tomography resolved undetermined results as follows: 1. Non shadowing gallbladder debris (6 points), 2. Focal gallbladder wall thickening (2 points), 3. Stone obscured by calcified gallbladder wall (3 points), 4. Non visualized gallbladder double arc shadow (4 points), 5 and 6. Impacted gallbladder neck …

An Evaluation Of Theophylline Dosing. Suggested By The Saudi National Protocol For Children With Severe Asthma, Samira I. Islam, Ahmed S. Ali, Nadia M. Fida

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of Saudi national protocol on the diagnosis and management of asthma for optimizing theophylline use in children with severe asthma. To also review theophylline clearance and provide guidelines for individualization of doses. METHODS: Theophylline level was estimated in blood samples of 66 children with severe asthma who were admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital during the period 1998-1999. The theophylline doses given to these patients was reviewed and patients were categorized into 2 groups: Group one had received doses recommended by Saudi national protocol ± 10%, group 2 had received doses <90% of that recommended by Saudi national protocol. The distribution of theophylline levels in blood samples of each group was estimated. Theophylline steady state level was used to estimate theophylline clearance using a standard pharmacokinetic equation. RESULTS: Out of the total samples from group one, 70% of theophylline levels were within therapeutic range, while only 10% of the total samples of group 2 were within therapeutic range. The mean theophylline clearance in children (1-8 years) was estimated as 0.092 ± 0.023 and was found significantly higher than the mean theophylline clearance (0.069 ± 0.014) which is observed in older children (9-13 years). CONCLUSION: Saudi national protocol theophylline dose guidelines had a favorable impact on the optimization of theophylline use in children with severe asthma. Guidelines that ensure accurate adjustment of doses on individual basis in view of drug level were suggested.

Screening For Hypertension. Assessing The Knowledge, Attitudes And Practice Of Primary Health Care Physicians In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ahmad S. Al-Khashman

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the performance of primary health care physicians in screening people for hypertension in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by assessing their knowledge, attitudes and practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study including 20 primary health care centers were selected randomly in Riyadh city during September 1996. The participation of 107 primary health care working doctors in these centers were invited to complete a 38 item questionnaire which contained essential knowledge regarding hypertension, screening for hypertension, their attitudes and practice in screening for hypertension. RESULTS: One 3rd of the doctors knew the correct …

The Magnitude Of Osteoporosis In Middle Aged Women, Raeda J. Al-Qutob, Salah M. Mawajdeh, Allam A. Khalil, Amy B. Schmidt, Akram O. Hannak, Basel K. Masri

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to increase the body of knowledge regarding osteoporosis in the Jordanian context by investigating the magnitude of osteoporosis amongst perimenopausal women, as well as the risk factors associated with the disease. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty one women between the ages of 40 to 60 years were randomly selected from the Orthopedics and Rheumatology out patient clinics at the Major Teaching Hospital in Amman, Jordan. A structured questionnaire, which focused upon risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis, was administered by a trained staff nurse to all women. Index women were then referred to a private …

A New Autosomal Recessive Syndrome. Early Onset Of Pancytopenia, Distinct Facial Features, Growth Retardation And Developmental Delay, Fatma S. Al-Batniji, Madeha A. Mahmoud, Rizgullah H. Al-Asiri, Abdulrahman F. Al-Swaid, Abdulrahman M. Al-Marshedy

Saudi Medical Journal

The association of dysmorphic features and failure of one or more bone marrow cell lines is well known. Examples are Fanconi9s anemia and Diamond-Blackfan anemia. This report describes 3 similarly affected children from consanguineous parents, all showing low birth weight, severe growth retardation, distinct facial features, microcephaly, mental retardation and onset of severe pancytopenia in infancy without increased chromosomal breakage. We conclude that these cases represent a new familial autosomal recessive bone marrow failure syndrome.

Pityriasis Lichenoides Et Varioliformis Acuta In Pregnancy, Mamdoh A. Eskandar

Saudi Medical Journal

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta is an uncommon disease, especially during pregnancy. In review of the obstetric literature, there was no report of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta during pregnancy. A 25-year-old female was seen at 24 weeks of gestation for consultation about a cutaneous disease. She was admitted at 30 weeks of gestation because of threatened premature labor, and some active cutaneous papules presented themselves at that time. After the treatment, cutaneous papules remitted. But at 35 weeks of gestation, she had spontaneous labor. Both the mother and infant were doing well at 5 months postpartum. If pityriasis lichenoides …

Lingual Granuloma Gravidarum, Othman M. Elmustafa, Ahmed A. Badie

Saudi Medical Journal

Granuloma gravidarum or pregnancy tumor is a benign lesion of the gingival mucosa which occurs during pregnancy. It is a pyogenic granuloma. This case report presents the clinical, histopathological features and the treatment of a grauloma gravidarum in a Sudanese patient in the puerperium.

The Microbiology Of Nasal Nostril Area In Healthy Muslim Prayers, Khalifa E. Sharquie, Jamal R. Al-Rawi, Sarmad A. Al-Hashimi, Zuhair I. Al-Ani

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Cushing's Syndrome And Adrenal Suppression From Percutaneous Absorption Of Clobetasol Propionate In Infants, Mathew P. Cherian, Mohammad Abduljabbar

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Problem-Based Learning And Current Textbooks: Trains On Motorways?, Mahfooz A. Farooqui, Omar A. Al-Rawas, Samy A. Azer

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Clinicopathological Patterns And Distribution Of Schistomsomiasis In Asir Region, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Abdul-Wahed Meshikhes

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Direct Imaging Of Human Swi/Snf-Remodeled Mono- And Polynucleosomes By Atomic Force Microscopy Employing Carbon Nanotube Tips, Gavin R. Schnitzler, Chin Li Cheung, Jason H. Hafner, Andrew J. Saurin, Robert E. Kingston, Charles M. Lieber

Barry Chin Li Cheung Publications

Chromatin-remodeling complexes alter chromatin structure to facilitate, or in some cases repress, gene expression. Recent studies have suggested two potential pathways by which such regulation might occur. In the first, the remodeling complex repositions nucleosomes along DNA to open or occlude regulatory sites. In the second, the remodeling complex creates an altered dimeric form of the nucleosome that has altered accessibility to transcription factors. The extent of translational repositioning, the structure of the remodeled dimer, and the presence of dimers on remodeled polynucleosomes have been difficult to gauge by biochemical assays. To address these questions, ultrahigh-resolution carbon nanotube tip atomic …

Rumination And Cigarette Smoking: A Bad Combination For Depressive Outcomes?, Malia Richmond, Bonnie Spring, Beth Kaplan Sommerfeld, Dennis E. Mcchargue

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Ruminative coping has been shown to heighten the risk and severity of depression. The authors hypothesized that ruminators who smoke would experience greater depressive symptoms than ruminators who do not. The rationale is that, by heightening attentional focus, nicotine may increase ruminators' ability to focus on negative thoughts, augmenting depressed mood. Participants (N = 145) self-reported smoking status, rumination, and current and lifetime depressive symptoms, including depressed mood. Results showed that rumination accounted for a larger amount of variance in current and past depressed mood and severity of lifetime depressive symptoms among smokers than nonsmokers. Noncorrelational, experimental research should …