Digital Commons Network^™

Intrinsic Ph-Sensitivity Of Cells In The Retrotrapezoid Nucleus: Possible Role Of Glia In Respiratory Drive, Nicole Edwards

Honors Scholar Theses

An increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) and protons (H+) are the primary signals for breathing. Cells that sense changes in CO2/H+ levels and increase breathing accordingly are located in a region of the caudal medulla oblongata called the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN). Specifically, select RTN neurons are intrinsically pH sensitive and send excitatory projections to the respiratory rhythm generator to drive breathing. Glial cells in the RTN are thought to contribute to this respiratory drive, possibly by releasing ATP in response to increases in CO2/H+ levels.

However, pH sensitivity of RTN glial cells has yet to be determined.

Therefore, the goal …

Characterizing The Role Of Phaeobacter In The Mortality Of The Squid, Euprymna Scolopes, Brian Shawn Wong Won

Honors Scholar Theses

The subject of our study is the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, which is known for its model symbiotic relationship with the bioluminescent bacterium, Vibrio fischeri. The interactions between E. scolopes and V. fischeri provide an exemplary model of the biochemical and molecular dynamics of symbiosis since both members can be cultivated separately and V. fischeri can be genetically modified 1. However, in a laboratory setting, the mortality of embryonic E. scolopes can be a recurrent problem. In many of these fatalities, the egg cases display a pink-hued biofilm, and rosy pigmentation has also been noted in the deaths of …

Optimization Of Protein Expression Of Four Transcription Factors Using Chaperone Proteins, Kaitlin Wilson

Honors Scholar Theses

Embryonic stem cells are unique in their ability to grow indefinitely while maintaining both pluripotency and self-renewal capabilities. These stem cells could be the answer to solving many of the debilitating and devastating diseases suffered by humans. Recently, the use of human derived embryonic stem cells has been effective in animal models in the treatment of spinal cord injuries (Kierstead et al., 2005).

Although the study of embryonic stem cells has become increasingly popular in the last decade, there is still much research to be done to increase the expression of valuable embryonic proteins which will induce pluripotency in the …

Characterization Of A Hypothetical Protein Critical For The Symbiotic Interaction Of Aeromonas Veronii And Hirudo Verbana, Kaitlin Vaughan

Honors Scholar Theses

The digestive tract symbiosis of the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, is a model system for studying the genes required for microbial colonization of digestive tracts, as H. verbana has only two species of bacteria that dominate the crop microbiota, Aeromonas veronii and a Rikenella-like bacterium. Signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) of the A.

veronii strain, HM21R, revealed genes required for the colonization of the digestive tract. One of these mutants, JG573, has an interrupted gene that is predicted to encode a hypothetical protein. The region flanking the transposon insertion of this mutant was sequenced by primer walking.

Comparison of the flanking DNA …

Behavioral Implications Of Knockout For The Dyslexia-Risk Gene Dcdc2 In Mice, Dongnhu Truong

Honors Scholar Theses

Several genetic linkage and epidemiological studies have provided strong evidence that DCDC2 is a candidate gene for developmental dyslexia, a disorder that impairs a person’s reading ability despite adequate intelligence, education, and socio-economic status. Studies investigating embryonic intra-ventricular RNA interference (RNAi) of Dcdc2, a rat homolog of the DCDC2 gene in humans, indicate disruptions in neuronal migration in the rat cortex during development. Interestingly, these anatomical anomalies are consistent with post mortem histological analysis of human dyslexic patients. Other rodent models of cortical developmental disruption have shown impairment in rapid auditory processing and learning maze tasks in affected subjects.

The …

Lost In Translation: Emotion And Expression Through Technology, Shaylyn Joy

Honors Scholar Theses

My Thesis study was designed to bring to topic certain issues involved with CMC (computer-mediated communication.) Often we are presented with confusing or misleading situations when it comes to expressing our emotions through technological means. It is important that we are aware of certain issues such as the use of emoticons, expressing sarcasm, and the ongoing trend of Internet slang. These various aspects can create confusion in CMC, leading to a loss in translation. My survey study was designed to probe deeper into these issues by asking general questions and by analyzing sample CMC scenarios.

Am 6545: A Novel Peripheral Cb1 Antagonist, Seth Hosmer

Honors Scholar Theses

Obesity and other related metabolic disorders are a common problem in the United States. Consequently, several drug therapies have been developed in an attempt to address this problem. Many older appetite suppressants, such as amphetamines, were dangerous and potentially addictive. For the last few years, the endocannabinoid system was investigated as a potential target for appetite suppression. Unfortunately, early cannabinoid CB1 antagonists came with an unacceptable side effect profile of their own, which is largely due to central actions of these drugs. In an attempt to reduce the side effect profile, researchers are investigating peripherally acting cannabinoid antagonists, which do …

Cooperation & Competition Between Navigation Systems In The Rat Brain: The Role Of The Hippocampus And Striatum During A Dissociative Maze Task, Benjamin Gruenbaum

Honors Scholar Theses

While many tend to think of memory systems in the brain as a single process, in reality several experiments have supported multiple dissociations of different forms of learning, such as spatial learning and response learning. In both humans and rats, the hippocampus has long been shown to be specialized in the storage of spatial and contextual memory whereas the striatum is associated with motor responses and habitual behaviors.

Previous studies have examined how damage to hippocampus or striatum has affected the acquisition of either a spatial or response navigation task. However even in a very familiar environment organisms must continuously …

Alternative Task Bar: A Usability Study, Jordan Cote

Honors Scholar Theses

An alternate approach to the task bar is proposed, one which makes use of modern computers' graphical abilities. This was accomplished with OpenGL, which is typically used in 3D scene generation. The application was integrated into the Desktop Environment in a novel way, in order to produce an arbitrary shaped window. The application was presented to survey participants, who were asked questions to reveal the feasibility of this type of task bar. Responses were positive, which encourages further development.

Knockdown Of Kiaa0319 Reduces Dendritic Spine Density, Daniel Young Kim

Honors Scholar Theses

Developmental Dyslexia is a reading disorder that affects individuals that possess otherwise normal intelligence. Until the four candidate dyslexia susceptibility genes were discovered, the cause of cortical malformations found in post mortem dyslexic brains was unclear. Normal brain development is crucial for the proper wiring of the neural circuitry that allow an individual to perform cognitive tasks like reading. For years, familial and twin studies have suggested that there was a genetic basis to the causation of dyslexia. Kiaa0319 was among the candidate dyslexia susceptibility genes that were ascertained. KIAA0319 is located on Chromosome 6p22.2-22.3 and has been found to …

Fort Richardson Ordnance Detonations And The Harbor Porpoise: A Case Study In Marine Mammal Bioacoustics, Heather Heenehan

Honors Scholar Theses

Hearing is extremely important for cetaceans because it is their “principal sense” (Weilgart, 2007) thus the harbor porpoise and other marine animals are highly dependent on sound for survival. This is why we should care about the impact of noise on animals like the harbor porpoise. Since sound travels so well in water, an explosion, sonar, boat noise, etc. can affect a very large area and thus many different species of marine mammals. Although military actions such as low frequency sonar have made recent news, noise has been affecting cetaceans, especially beaked whales, since at least 1991 (Weilgart, 2007).

This …

A Replicon Trans-Packaging System Reveals The Requirement Of Nonstructural Proteins For The Assembly Of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (Bvdv) Virion, Delin Liang, Limei Chen, Israrul H. Ansari, Laura H. V. G. Gil, Christina L. Topliff, Clayton L. Kelling, Ruben O. Donis

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

A selective trans-packaging system was developed to produce and isolate bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) pseudo-particles with complementing reporter replicons and their packaging proteins expressed in trans with recombinant vaccinia virus. The encapsidation of replicon rNS3-5B was dependent not only on the in trans expression of structural proteins C, Erns, E1 and E2, but also the nonstructural proteins, p7 and contiguous precursor NS2-3-4A. Nonstructural p7, NS4B, NS5A or NS5B could be expressed in cis and in trans with precursor NS2-3-4A without significantly affecting virion assembly efficiency. NS2-3-4A was identified as an in trans functional precursor in virion assembly. BVDV …

Differences In Resting And Exercising Pulmonary Function Among Sedentary, Resistance-Trained And Aerobically-Trained, Early Symptomatic, Hiv-1 Seropositive Men, Craig C. Talluto

Open Access Dissertations

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 can compromise pulmonary function at all stages of the disease. The present study examined whether there were differences in resting and exercising pulmonary function among sedentary, resistance-trained and aerobically-trained, early symptomatic, HIV-1+ men. Forty five subjects, 15 per group, were enrolled. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed differences in demographics for age [F (2, 42) = 5.14, p

Digital Storytelling As A Cultural-Historical Activity: Effects On Information Text Comprehension, Maryann E. Tatum

Open Access Dissertations

New literacies in reading research demand for the study of comprehension skills using multiple modalities, through a more complex, multi-platform view of reading. Taking into account the robust roll of technology in our daily lives, research suggests that educators need activities to connect students' lack of reading skills with their growing multimodal literacy. During the post-reading phase of a directed reading activity (DRA), students were engaged in digital storytelling, where they created digital videos and slideshows based on information text read during DRA. Previous studies highlighting the use of digital storytelling have been limited to narrative formats and the influence …

2009 May 9

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

2009 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony Of The Farquhar College Of Arts And Sciences, Fischler School Of Education And Human Services, Huizenga School Of Business And Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Senor Recital: Mesia Austin, Percussion, Mesia Austin

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Ms. Austin studies percussion with John Lawless.

Urban Conagraculture, Dale J. Luebbert

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Current pressures in today’s world caused me to investigate strategies of change in the organization of society to promote a more effi cient existence. Globalization, a movement characterized by the dissemination of economies, ethnicities, media, ideas, technologies, and production; has become today’s reality. The shift from imperialism to globalism has caused a decline in the power and importance of nation states and a rise in the power of multi-national corporations operating within this globalized society.

The investigation focuses on globalism’s physicality and the fact that its existence is reliant upon access to inexpensive energies, which is not today’s reality. This …

Towards A New Developmental Synthesis: Adaptive Developmental Plasticity And Human Disease, P. D. Gluckman, M. A. Hanson, P. Bateson, A. S. Beedle, C. M. Law, Z. A. Bhutta, K. V. Snokhin, P. Bougneres, G. R. Chandak, P. Dasgupta, G. D. Smith, P. T. Ellison, T. E. Forrester, Scott F. Gilbert, E. Jablonka, H. Kaplan, A. M. Prentice, S. J. Simpson, R. Uauy, M. J. West-Eberhard

Biology Faculty Works

The Lancet has rightly drawn attention to the goals of reducing the burden of maternal and childhood undernutrition,¹ focusing mainly on short-term outcomes such as infant survival and stunting.² However, the longer term effects on adult health³ of a poor start to life suggest a further perspective. Developmental effects have been viewed traditionally in the context of major disruptions such as caused by teratogens, prematurity and growth retardation, but there is increasing appreciation of the role of developmental plasticity, which provides individuals with the flexibility to adjust their trajectory of development to match their environment.

Predictors Of Response And Genetic Resistance/Susceptibility In Pigs To Infection With Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Donald G. Levis, Rodger K. Johnson,, Thomas A. Rathje, Fernando A. Osorio

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The primary objective of this study was to determine differences in growth rate and expression of specific immune function genes and levels of cytokines between pigs that are more resistant and more susceptible to PRRSV infection. The data generated in this replication were combined with data from a previous replication. At 34 ± 5 days of age (8.2 ± 1.8 kg body weight), 220 weaned pigs free of PRRSV were transported from their farm of origin to the wean-to-finish barn at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory. The pigs were randomly allotted to one of 16 pens (2.4 m x 4.3 m) …

2009 Report Of Gifts (117 Pages), South Caroliniana Library--University Of South Carolina

University South Caroliniana Society - Annual Report of Gifts

No abstract provided.

Developing An Assay To Profile Upregulated Trek-1, A Stretch-Activated Potassium Channel, In Prostate Cancer, Susan Abigal Surber

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. The disease prognosis is significantly limited by the finite therapeutic treatments. The limited treatment options are made worse by the significant reduction in the quality of life that often results from the severe side effects produced by these treatments.1 Therefore, any improvements of current treatments would be advantageous to the clinical setting. Recently, TREK-1, a tandem-pore domain (K2P) potassium channel, has been shown to be upregulated in prostate cancer, but absent in normal prostate tissue.2 The observation that TREK-1 expression is correlated with tumor malignancy suggests that …

An Examination Of The Correlation Between Shoot Apical Meristem Size And Leaf Heterophylly In Pisum Sativum, Cynthia Mary Halfman

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study is a quantitative examination of the ramifications of leaf development as influenced by the size of the shoot apical meristem. I wish not to delve into a genetic examination of the shoot apical meristem but rather into the possible correlation between the apical meristem size and leaf heterophylly. If changes in shoot apical meristem size influence heterophylly in leaves, then as shoot apical meristem changes, leaf characteristics will change. This change may result from two different relationships.

Augustus, Justinian, And The Artistic Transformation Of The Roman Emperor., Zachary Scott Rupley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project is to discuss and describe the transformation of the image of Roman Emperor through artistic representation and cultural demonstration. The ultimate goal is to determine why the presentation of the office changed so greatly. I have selected certain works of art depicting the first Roman Emperor, Gaius Octavian Caesar, best known as Augustus, and Justinianus, the greatest Roman Emperor. More than 500 years separates these two men, whose only connection, at first sight, is that both served as Roman Emperor. I will analyze each piece of art, discuss its history, determine what each piece …

Examining Orders Of Protection: An Analysis Of The Court System In A Rural Tennessee County., Jaclyn Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To provide safety to domestic violence victims, law reform efforts provided victims with a civil remedy in which a judge orders the abuser to stay away from the victim.

The research uses 1 rural county judicial system data to evaluate protective orders. Findings indicate that 42% of petitions are dismissed by petitioner's request or failure to prosecute. Moreover, court fees are not recouped in 79% of the cases.

Logistic regression analysis indicate that an intimate relationship between the parties and payment of court costs by petitioner increased the probability of dismissal of petition upon petitioner's request; use of a gun …

A Social Control Based Analysis Of The Effect Of Community Context Upon Self Reported Delinquency Rates., Jacqueline Marie Parlier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social disorganization and social control are two seemingly competing theories attempting to explain crime and delinquency. In this study, social control and social disorganization are measured in a sample of college students via self-report surveys using questions derived from Hirschi's social control questionnaire and a previously employed social disorganization measure. Factor and reliability analyses were examined to validate each of these key constructs. Zero-order correlations, regression analyses, and path analysis were then used to test the key propositions of these theories. These tests provide full and qualified support for these theories. Implications for future research and criminal justice policy are …

A Quantitative Study Of School Characteristics That Impact Student Achievement On State Assessments And Those Assessments' Associations To Act Scores In Tennessee., Phillip L. Swanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a significant relationship exists between particular home, student, and school characteristics and ACT scores and the relationship these characteristics subsequently have with the TVAAS grades assigned to each high school's ACT scores. These home, student, and school variables were socioeconomic status, percentage of minority, graduation rate, per-pupil expenditure, Gateway English II scores, and Gateway Algebra I scores. By looking at these variables and the influence they hold on the education of students, I sought to ascertain the fairness that is present when schools and districts are given grades through the TVAAS …

Salamanders Of The Mio-Pliocene Gray Fossil Site, Washington County, Tennessee., Grant Stanley Boardman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Screening efforts at the Gray Fossil Site, Washington County, Tennessee, have yielded a unique and diverse salamander fauna for the southern Appalachian Mio-Pliocene; including at least five taxa from three modern families (Ambystomatidae, Plethodontidae, and Salamandridae) supporting the woodland-pond interpretation of the site. All specimens represent the earliest record of their respective families in the Appalachian Mountains; with the Notophthalmus sp. vertebrae being the only Mio-Pliocene skeletal fossil known for the family Salamandridae in North America. Three types of plethodontid salamander are present, with one type representing the earliest known desmognathine. The desmognathine fossils lend credence to the 'Appalachian' origin …

Schema., David B. Mazure

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis supports the Master of Fine Arts exhibition at the Slocumb Galleries in Ball Hall at East Tennessee State University, from February 23^rd through February 27^th 2009. The exhibition is comprised of eight graphite drawings, one ink drawing, eight vinyl prints, two hundred sixty lenticular prints, over fifty digital inkjet prints, and one video installation. The exhibition presents the artist's exploration into using drawings and prints as installation as they relate to quantum physics and universal scale. Subjects discussed, on a project-by-project basis, include thought, ideas, methods, influences, and process by which the work in the exhibition …

2009 Lynn University Commencement Program - Undergraduate Day Students, Lynn University

Commencement Programs

The commencement program for Lynn University's 2009 Undergraduate Day Students, held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 in the Count and Countess de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center.

The commencement speaker was Jean Chatzky, Financial journalist, author and financial editor for NBC's Today Show.