Digital Commons Network^™

The Regulation Of Platelet Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase By Oxidized Phospholipids, Rachael Griffiths

Theses and Dissertations

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFAH) is elevated in atherosclerosis and may play a role in pathogenesis of this disease. Molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of this lipoprotein-associated PLA2 are indistinct. Mildy oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and monocytes (the primary source of PAFAH) are co-localized in early atheromas. Monocytes are activated by oxidized phospholipids (oxPL) in the oxLDL particle. We hypothesized that oxPL-activated monocytes are the source of increased levels of PAFAH in atherosclerosis. We found that PAFAH expression is significantly induced by OxPAPC and in particular long-chain fractions of oxPAPC in monocytes and cytokine-differentiated DC, but not cytokine-differentiated MO. Furthermore, …

College Students' Use Of Science Content During Socioscientific Issues Negotiation: Impact Of Evolution Understanding And Acceptance, Samantha R. Fowler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the evolution science content used during college students' negotiation of biology-based socioscientific issues (SSI) and examine how it related to students' conceptual understanding and acceptance of biological evolution. Specific research questions were, (1a) what specific evolutionary science content do college students evoke during SSI negotiation, (1b) what is the depth of the evolutionary science content reflected in college students' SSI negotiation, and (2) what is the nature of the interaction between evolution understanding and evolution acceptance as they relate to depth of use of evolution content during SSI negotiation? The Socioscientific Issues …

Deep-Sea Fishes Of The Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Trophic Structure And Interactions, Tracey Sutton, Joel C. Hoffman, Jeanna Kidwell, Odd Aksel Bergstad, Tone Falkenhaug, F. M. Porteiro, M. Heino, C. I. H. Anderson, J. Horne, Ann Bucklin

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Because deep-sea fisheries are increasing as coastal fisheries decline, fisheries scientists need baseline data on deep-sea ecosystems prior to further development of deep-water fisheries. We present preliminary results and ongoing efforts to characterize the trophic structure and energy flow of the pelagic ecosystems of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, from Iceland to the Azores. This study is one component of the international CoML field project MAR-ECO (www.mar-eco.no). We found a diverse deep-pelagic fish fauna (205 spp.), with unexpectedly high bathypelagic fish biomass and spatial complexity. Based on literature reports of species present, crustacean planktivory is the dominant trophic guild (79% of …

Spatial Distributions Of Bathypelagic Fishes Along The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, C. I. H. Anderson, J. Horne, Tracey Sutton

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

The spatial distribution of organisms plays a key role in facilitating biological processes, such as trophic interactions, which influence pelagic ecosystem structure and function. This study combines discrete trawl net sampling with continuous, full water column, acoustic measurements to investigate the distribution of bathypelagic (1000- 3000 m depth) nekton biomass along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from Iceland to the Azores in the North Atlantic. Two, previously unknown, distinct bathypelagic acoustic scattering layers (ASLs) were observed using 18 kHz echosounder data. One, extending down on average ~200 m from 2000 m depth, appears ubiquitous wherever bottom depth allows, while the second, found …

A Longitudinal Study Of The Educational Advancement Alliance, Inc. Afterschool And Summer Enrichment Programs, Karen E. Nicholas

Theses and Dissertations

By all accounts there is a crisis in the American educational system. From government officials at all levels to educators, both practitioners and researchers, the question of how to reconnect with America's youth is debated on a daily basis. Solutions to the problems are suggested, debated, and sometimes tested. One of the topics that is often deliberated is the impact of supplemental educational programs. In an effort to address issues of academic skill deficiencies and college preparedness, the Educational Advancement Alliance (EAA) was founded in 1990.

The intent of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the Educational …

2009 Summer Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Commencement on July 25.

Commencement Speaker: Mike Ireland

Subchronic Infusion Of The Product Of Inflammation Prostaglandin J2 Models Sporadic Parkinson's Disease In Mice, Sha-Ron Pierre, Marijke Am Lemmens, Maria E. Figueiredo-Pereira

Publications and Research

Background Chronic neuroinflammation is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). Inflammation involves the activation of microglia and astrocytes that release high levels of prostaglandins. There is a profound gap in our understanding of how cyclooxygenases and their prostaglandin products redirect cellular events to promote PD neurodegeneration. The major prostaglandin in the mammalian brain is prostaglandin D2, which readily undergoes spontaneous dehydration to generate the bioactive cyclopentenone prostaglandins of the J2 series. These J2 prostaglandins are highly reactive and neurotoxic products of inflammation shown in cellular models to impair the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway and cause the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. PD is a …

2009 Uab Summer Research Expo, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Expo Programs

Catalog of undergrauate student research poster presentations with abstracts.

Effects Of Selection For Cooperation And Attention In Dogs, Márta Gácsi, Paul Mcgreevy, Edina Kara, Ádám Miklósi

Cooperative Behavior Collection

Background: It has been suggested that the functional similarities in the socio-cognitive behaviour of dogs and humans emerged as a consequence of comparable environmental selection pressures. Here we use a novel approach to account for the facilitating effect of domestication in dogs and reveal that selection for two factors under genetic influence (visual cooperation and focused attention) may have led independently to increased comprehension of human communicational cues.

Method: In Study 1, we observed the performance of three groups of dogs in utilizing the human pointing gesture in a two-way object choice test. We compared breeds selected to work while …

Suppression Of Rft1 Expression Does Not Impair The Transbilayer Movement Of Man5glcnac2-P-P-Dolichol In Sealed Microsomes From Yeast., Jeffrey S. Rush, Ningguo Gao, Mark A Lehrman, Sergey Matveev, Charles J Waechter

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

To further evaluate the role of Rft1 in the transbilayer movement of Man(5)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-dolichol (M5-DLO), a series of experiments was conducted with intact cells and sealed microsomal vesicles. First, an unexpectedly large accumulation (37-fold) of M5-DLO was observed in Rft1-depleted cells (YG1137) relative to Glc(3)Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol in wild type (SS328) cells when glycolipid levels were compared by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis analysis. When sealed microsomes from wild type cells and cells depleted of Rft1 were incubated with GDP-[(3)H]mannose or UDP-[(3)H]GlcNAc in the presence of unlabeled GDP-Man, no difference was observed in the rate of synthesis of [(3)H]Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-dolichol or Man(9)[(3)H]GlcNAc(2)-P-P-dolichol, respectively. In addition, no …

A New Species Of Polyphylla Harris From Peninsular Florida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) With A Key To Species Of The Pubescens Species Group, Paul Skelley

Insecta Mundi

Polyphylla starkae Skelley, new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Melolonthini), is described from peninsular Florida, USA. Observations on its life history and a key to related species are provided.

The Milliped Families Spirostreptidae (Spirostreptida) And Paradoxosomatidae (Polydesmida) In The Middle East; First Records Of The Diplopoda From Saudi Arabia, Rowland M. Shelley

Insecta Mundi

The class Diplopoda, represented by the families Spirostreptidae (Spirostreptida) and Paradoxosomatidae (Polydesmida), is recorded from Saudi Arabia for the first time. Archispirostreptus transmarinus Hoffman, 1965 (Spirostreptidae) inhabits the Jabal Al-Hijaz Mountains in the southwest, and the Paradoxosomatidae, represented by an unidentifiable, indigenous female, occurs in a “wadi” in the center of the country. Other Middle Eastern familial records are documented, and occurrences in the Arabian Peninsula are mapped. Males, necessary to identify the paradoxosomatid, may be encountered if samplings are timed to coincide with seasonal rains.

Records For Bittacus Hangingflies And Panorpa Scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Bittacidae And Panorpidae) In Florida, Louis A. Somma, James C. Dunford

Insecta Mundi

We provide new county records for four species of panorpids (Panorpa americana Swederus, Panorpa lugubris Swederus, Panorpa sp. undetermined, and one undescribed species from the Panorpa rufescens Rambur species group) and two species of bittacids (Bittacus pilicornis Westwood, Bittacus punctiger Westwood), and call attention to a previously published county record for another species, Panorpa rufa Gray, in Florida. Additionally, we reject a previously published record for the scorpionfly Panorpa claripennis Hine in Florida, which we overlooked in our 2008 preliminary checklist of Florida mecopterans. The record for P. lugubris in Miami-Dade County is the southernmost record for any …

Pleasing Fungus Beetles Of The West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Paul Skelley

Insecta Mundi

The pleasing fungus beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae) of the West Indies is reviewed. Keys to adults of all genera and species, descriptions, illustrations, and distribution maps are presented. Representative larvae for most genera are also diagnosed and illustrated.

Four new genera are described: Altisessor (type species Altisessor ater, new species), Antillengis (type species Oocyanus brunnipes Kuhnt 1910), Cubyrus (type species Ischyrus sapphirus Skelley 1998b), and Notaepytus (type species Ischyrus flavitarsis Lacordaire 1842). Within Dacne Latreille 1796, a new subgenus is created: Ameridacne (type species Dacne brodzinskyi Skelley 1997a).

Seventeen new species are described: Altisessor ater, Altisessor centralis, Altisessor …

Rapid Fixation Of Non-Native Alleles Revealed By Genome-Wide Snp Analysis Of Hybrid Tiger Salamanders, Benjamin M. Fitzpatrick, Jarrett R. Johnson, D. Kevin Kump, H. Bradley Shaffer, Jeramiah J. Smith, S. Randal Voss

Biology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Hybrid zones represent valuable opportunities to observe evolution in systems that are unusually dynamic and where the potential for the origin of novelty and rapid adaptation co-occur with the potential for dysfunction. Recently initiated hybrid zones are particularly exciting evolutionary experiments because ongoing natural selection on novel genetic combinations can be studied in ecological time. Moreover, when hybrid zones involve native and introduced species, complex genetic patterns present important challenges for conservation policy. To assess variation of admixture dynamics, we scored a large panel of markers in five wild hybrid populations formed when Barred Tiger Salamanders were introduced into …

Positional Identification Of Variants Of Adamts16 Linked To Inherited Hypertension, Bina Joe, Yasser Saad, Norman H. Lee, Bryan C. Frank, Ovokeraye H. Achinike, Truong V. Luu, Kathirvel Gopalakrishnan, Edward J. Toland, Phyllis Farms, Shane Yerga-Woolwine, Ezhilarasi Manickavasagam, John P. Rapp, Michael R. Garrett, David Coe, Suneel S. Apte, Tuomo Rankinen, Louis Pérusse, Georg B. Ehret, Santhi K. Ganesh, Richard S. Cooper, Ashley O'Connor, Treva Rice, Alan B. Weder, Aravinda Chakravarti, Dabeeru C. Rao, Claude Bouchard

Faculty Publications

A previously reported blood pressure (BP) quantitative trait locus on rat Chromosome 1 was isolated in a short congenic segment spanning 804.6 kb. The 804.6 kb region contained only two genes, LOC306664 and LOC306665. LOC306664 is predicted to translate into A Disintegrin-like and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs-16 (Adamts16). LOC306665 is a novel gene. All predicted exons of both LOC306664 and LOC306665 were sequenced. Non-synonymous variants were identified in only one of these genes, LOC306664. These variants were naturally existing polymorphisms among inbred, outbred and wild rats. The full-length rat transcript of Adamts16 was detected in multiple tissues. Similar to ADAMTS16 …

Water Resources Assessment Of The Mora River, Bruce M. Thomson, Abdul-Mehdi Ali

Water Resources Field Methods Reports

During the second week of June 2009, the UNM Masters of Water Resources students, staff, and collaborators studied the Mora River watershed by measuring flows and water quality characteristics at over 20 surface water sites in the watershed. The main objective of the study was to conduct a river assessment of the Mora River and its corresponding acequia systems. It is expected that this report will serve as a baseline for future research on the hydrology, water quality, and to a lesser extent, the socioeconomic characteristics of the river and its watershed. The Mora River watershed drains 1,476 square miles …

Period-Doubling Bifurcation In An Array Of Coupled Stochastically Excitable Elements Subjected To Global Periodic Forcing, Robert Rovetti

Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science Faculty Works

The collective behaviors of coupled, stochastically excitable elements subjected to global periodic forcing are investigated numerically and analytically. We show that the whole system undergoes a period-doubling bifurcation as the driving period decreases, while the individual elements still exhibit random excitations. Using a mean-field representation, we show that this macroscopic bifurcation behavior is caused by interactions between the random excitation, the refractory period, and recruitment (spatial cooperativity) of the excitable elements.

Sheep Updates 2009, Brown Besier, L. J. E. Karlsson, J. C. Greeff, A. C. Schlink, Mark Ferguson, Greg Lee, Sue Hatcher, Bruce Michael, Rob Woodgate, Darren Michael, Mandy Curnow, Julia Smith, John Young, Andrew Thompson, Chris Oldham

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:

1. Scouring Management and Worm Control, Brown Besier, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2.Breeding sheep for resistance to breech strike:- Selection results in WA, LJE Karlsson, JC Greeff & AC Schlink, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3.Future Ewe - matching genetics to the production system, Mark Ferguson, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

4. Within-flock selection of ewes: opportunities for gains in reproduction, Greg Leeand Sue Hatcher, NSW Department of Primary Industries & Australian CRCforSheep Industry Innovation (Orange)

5. Managing Merinos …

Students Receive International Scholarship Awards, Garrett Rapp

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Pre-Pcr Whole Genome Amplification Of Single Pollen Grains Using Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida), Candace Dillon

Theses and Dissertations

Studies of gene flow in natural plant populations often focus on either historical or abiotic dispersal methods (e.g. wind, water, gravity), but there is little information available on contemporary, animal-mediated pollen dispersal patterns. Emerging molecular laboratory techniques allow unprecedented insights into spatial patterns of pollen-mediated gene flow. However, to date, technical challenges have limited their widespread application. The genome of a pollen grain can be amplified via whole genome amplification (WGA) prior to traditional amplification via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to prevent the stochastic effects associated with low copy number amplification. Even still, WGA can suffer from low success rates …

Understanding The Genetic Consequences Of Rapid Range Expansion: A Case Study Using The Invasive Microstegium Vimineum Trin. (Poaceae), Stephen Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Global temperature changes are predicted to influence the distributions of plants and can have significant consequences for population genetic structure. Both the nature of these consequences and the processes that shape them are of interest for both conservation genetics and the development of realistic management programs. Rapid range expansion occurs on short temporal scales not conducive to conventional phylogeographical analyses. This paper presents the findings from a population genetic study of the invasive grass Microstegium vimineum Trin. A. Camus throughout the James River Basin of Virginia. Genotypic analysis using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers were used to test …

Factors Limiting Benthic Algal Abundance In Virginia Streams Of The Coastal Plain, Michael Brandt

Theses and Dissertations

Algae are important components of stream food webs and often used in biomonitoring assessments. Little is known regarding the factors that limit their abundance in streams of the VA Coastal Plain. The surficial geology of the Coastal Plain is predominately sandy deposits which comprise the dominant substrate in streams of this region. In a comparative study of five streams located near the VCU Rice Center, we quantified substrate composition, light availability, and nutrient concentrations to assess their relative importance in determining benthic algal abundance. The proportion of stream area comprised of hard substrates was a significant predictor of variation in …

Novel Allosteric Inhibitors Of Thrombin, Bijoy Desai

Theses and Dissertations

Thrombin is a critical enzyme involved in blood coagulation and haemostasis. For this reason the study of its interactions with substrates, inhibitors and modulator is essential. It is also a unique enzyme in the serine protease family because unlike enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin its activity is modulated by various endogenous and exogenous ligands. This is due to the presence of “exosites” on the thrombin surface. Exosite II, unlike exosite-I, has not been characterized for its allosteric effect. In order to understand the structural basis of interaction and inhibition of inhibitor 4AS, which possibly interacts with exosite-II, native bovine thrombin …

Gsu View, 2009-07-23, Office Of Public Affairs

GSU View

Newsletter published by Governors State University 2007-current.

Trumpeter Swan Survey Of The Rocky Mountain Population Winter 2009, James A. Dubovsky

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Observers counted 5,265 swans (white birds and cygnets) in the Rocky Mountain Population of trumpeter swans during January and February 2009, which was a 14% increase from the 4,637 counted during winter 2008. The number of white birds (4,377) and cygnets (888) increased 15% and and 10%, respectively, from counts last year. In the tri-state area, the number of total swans decreased dramatically in Montana (-54%), were slightly higher in Wyoming (+3%), and increased (+24%) to a record-high count in Idaho. The number of birds wintering in areas near restoration flocks was the highest since 1996. The numbers of birds …

Summer Mustang, July 23, 2009

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Orange, Brown, And Pink, Rit University News

University Publications

The Tiger Beat takes you behind the scenes with the members of RIT University News-- the news and public relations division of Rochester Institute of Technology. Get the "story behind the story" and an insider's look at who we are and what we do to publicize RIT news.

Fabrication And Characterization Of Bioactive, Composite Electrospun Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Intended For Cleft Palate Repair, Parthasarathy Madurantakam

Theses and Dissertations

Tissue Engineering is a scientific discipline that aims to regenerate tissues and organs that are diseased, lost or congenitally absent. It encompasses the use of suitable synthetic equivalents of native extracellular matrix that may or may not be supplemented with cells or relevant growth factors. Such scaffolds are designed to reside at the site of implantation for a variable period of time during which they induce the regeneration of native tissue. During this time, they also provide a template for new cells to attach, infiltrate, differentiate into appropriate phenotype and eventually restore function of the concerned tissue. Among the factors …

Yy1'S Role In Dna Methylation Of Peg3 And Xist, Jeong Do Kim, Keunsoo Kang, Joomyeong Kim

Faculty Publications

Unusual clusters of YY1 binding sites are located within several differentially methylated regions (DMRs), including Xist, Nespas and Peg3, which all become methylated during oogenesis. In this study, we performed conditional YY1 knockdown (KD) to investigate YY1's roles in DNA methylation of these DMRs. Reduced levels of YY1 during spermatogenesis did not cause any major change in these DMRs although the same YY1 KD caused hypermethylation in these DMRs among a subset of aged mice. However, YY1 KD during oogenesis resulted in the loss of DNA methylation on Peg3 and Xist, but there were no changes on Nespas and H19. …