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Pot1‐Independent Single‐Strand Telomeric Dna Binding Activities In Brassicaceae, Eugene V. Shakirov, Thomas D. Mcknight, Dorothy E. Shippen

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Telomeres define the ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes and are required for genome maintenance and continued cell proliferation. The extreme ends of telomeres terminate in a single‐strand protrusion, termed the G‐overhang, which, in vertebrates and fission yeast, is bound by evolutionarily conserved members of the POT1 (protection of telomeres) protein family. Unlike most other model organisms, the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana encodes two divergent POT1‐like proteins. Here we show that the single‐strand telomeric DNA binding activity present in A. thaliana nuclear extracts is not dependent on POT1a or POT1b proteins. Furthermore, in contrast to POT1 proteins from yeast and vertebrates, …

Investigating The Roles Of Ndj1 And Tid1 In Distributive Segregation Using Non-Exchange Chromosomes, Jonathan V. Henzel

Master's Theses

Meiosis is a specialized cell division that leads to a reduction of ploidy in sexually reproducing organisms through segregation of homologous chromosomes at the first meiotic division. Improper segregation of chromosomes during meiosis results in anueploidy, which is usually fatal during embryonic development. The meiotic process is therefore tightly regulated. Typically, proper segregation of homologs at meiosis I requires pairing of homologous chromosomes, followed by crossover recombination between homologs. Crossovers enable proper chromosomal segregation during the first meiotic division in part by establishing tension in the meiotic spindle. However, in the absence of crossovers, some cells maintain the ability to …

Design, Fabrication, And Implementation Of A Single-Cell Capture Chamber For A Microfluidic Impedance Sensor, Joshua-Jed Doria Fadriquela

Master's Theses

A microfluidic device was created for single-cell capture and analysis using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels and a glass substrate to develop a microfluidic single-cell impedance sensor for cell diagnostics. The device was fabricated using photolithography to create a master mold which in turn will use soft lithography to create the PDMS components for constant device production. The commercial software, COMSOLTM Multiphysics, was used to quantify the fluid dynamics in shallow micro-channels.

The device will be able to capture a cell and sequester it long enough to enable measurement of the impedance spectra that can characterize cell. The proposed device will be …

Acute Nitrate Exposure Causes Proteomic Changes Consistent With The Regulation Of Reactive Oxygen And Nitrogen Species, Lauren R. Hitt, Lars Tomanek

Master's Theses

Nitrate is the most common ionic form of nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems. Although nitrate is known to affect ecosystems at high levels through eutrophication, hypoxia and loss of biodiversity, it is considered to be physiologically inert to the individual aquatic organism. To test the physiological effects of nitrate on aquatic life, we exposed gill tissue of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, to nitrate and characterized changes in protein expression, using a gel-based proteomics approach. Of the 642 protein spots detected, we found that 24 proteins (15 identified) changed expression in response to a 6-hour exposure to nitrate concentrations ranging from …

An Approach Based On Wavelet Decomposition And Neural Network For Ecg Noise Reduction, Suranai Poungponsri

Master's Theses

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal processing has been the subject of intense research in the past years, due to its strategic place in the detection of several cardiac pathologies. However, ECG signal is frequently corrupted with different types of noises such as 60Hz power line interference, baseline drift, electrode movement and motion artifact, etc. In this thesis, a hybrid two-stage model based on the combination of wavelet decomposition and artificial neural network is proposed for ECG noise reduction based on excellent localization features: wavelet transform and the adaptive learning ability of neural network. Results from the simulations validate the effectiveness of this …

The Relationship Between Plasma Steroid Hormone Concentrations And The Reproductive Cycle Of The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus Oreganus, Craig Michael Lind

Master's Theses

To gain a better understanding of the role of steroid hormones in vertebrate reproduction, we quantified steroid hormone concentrations in a free ranging population of the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus. Plasma steroid hormone concentrations were quantified for both male and female snakes throughout the active season (Mar-Oct). We measured testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and corticosterone (B) concentrations in male and female snakes. 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured in females only. We also observed breeding behaviors (e.g. consortship, courtship, and copulation) in the field and measured testis and follicle size in male and female snakes from museum collections. …

Computers For The Masses: The American Socio-Technological Change Of The 1970'S And 1980'S, Robert Bryan Goodman

Master's Theses

This thesis developed out of my personal curiosity on the subject of high-technological development. Specifically, high-technology’s shift from primarily a military tool to a consumer product raised several questions to answer since first taking an interest in the subject. My lifestyle, like many other Americans in my generation, incorporates computers, cell-phones, and video game consoles as not only an innovative tool, but a standard and necessary mode of production. In our contemporary society, technology is obtainable everywhere. As an entertaining tool in the form of video games to a productivity tool in our workplaces, most individuals have assimilated consumer electronics. …

The Impact Of Lipid Percentage On Fibrous Cap Stability In Atherosclerotic Lesions, Anita Lorraine Crompton

Master's Theses

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common cause of sudden cardiac death. Much of the disease is not completely understood, which makes treatment and prevention difficult. Many researchers are using technology, such as advanced imaging techniques and finite element analysis, to better understand the disease. While there is much progress being made to look at the analysis of actual excised diseased arteries, there is still not a standardized model to predict the future of any one lesion. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of creating a standardized model to predict the mechanical stability of the fibrous …

Viability Of Alternative Genetic Improvement Strategies Using Whole Genome Selection On Commercial Dairy Operations, Levi W.M. Gassaway

Master's Theses

The objective of this thesis was to determine the viability of alternative genetic improvement strategies (GIS). Each alternative GIS combined the use of whole genome selection (WGS) with common reproductive methods (non-sexed semen artificial insemination (AI), sexed semen AI, embryo transfer utilizing non-sexed semen AI) that can be found on a commercial dairy operation. The viability of each GIS was determined using a discounted gene flow model, designed with parameters of a typical western dairy operation, to evaluate the following variables: reproductive method, selection intensity, accuracy of prediction and female age-class. Of the GIS investigated, a heifer-based strategy that used …

Preparation For Nerve Membrane Potential Readings Of A Leech, Laboratory Setup And Dissection Process, Jason Patrick Caulfield

Master's Theses

A well documented laboratory setup, leech preparation process, and bio-potential data recording process are needed. Repeatability and quality data recordings are essential and thus dictate the requirements of the laboratory setup and processes listed above. Advances in technology have both helped and hindered this development. While very precise equipment is required to record the low voltage bio-potentials, noisy electronic equipment and wires surrounding the work area provide high levels of interference. Proper laboratory setup and data recording processes, however, limit the unwanted interference. Quality data can only be recorded from a properly handled and prepared leech subject. Proper setup and …

Do Canines Experience The Effects Of Heart Rate Turbulence?, Melanie Ann Gurunathan

Master's Theses

Background

The canine cardiac system has been the model against which many Class III cardiac devices are validated. Thus, it is expected that the canine heart has very similar electrical model to that found in humans. In 1999, the absence of Heart Rate Turbulence (HRT) after a single Pre-Ventricular Contraction (PVC) was linked to high-risk patient after acute myocardial infarction. Studies of HRT were performed on high-risk patients with Holter-Monitors as were most subsequent HRT studies. If HRT could potentially be used as a risk factor of heart disease, it is interesting to study whether HRT is present following a …

Preparation And Characterization Of Electrospun Poly(D, L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Scaffolds For Vascular Tissue Engineering And The Advancement Of An In Vitro Blood Vessel Mimic, Tiffany Richelle Pena

Master's Theses

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ELECTROSPUN POLY(D,L-LACTIDE-CO-GLYCOLIDE) SCAFFFOLDS FOR VASCULAR TISSUE ENGINEERING AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF AN IN VITRO BLOOD VESSEL MIMIC

Tiffany Richelle Peña

Currently, an estimated 1 in every 3 adult Americans are affected by one or more cardiovascular complications. The most common complication is coronary artery disease, specifically atherosclerosis. Outcomes of balloon angioplasty treatments have been significantly improved with the addition of drug eluting stents to the process. Although both bare metal and drug eluting stents have greatly increased the effectiveness of angioplasty and decreased the occurrence of restenosis, several complications still exist. For this reason, the stent …

Designing A Microbial Prolyl Peptidase Delivery System For The Treatment Of Celiac Disease, Matthew J. Shurtleff

Master's Theses

Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy resulting from the ingestion of gluten and gluten-like proteins from wheat, barley and rye in afflicted individuals. Indigestible gluten-derived peptides rich in proline residues are known to be responsible for eliciting the inappropriate immune response characteristic of the disease. In this investigation, surface level expression of prolyl peptidase activity by genetically engineered probiotic lactobacilli was postulated to be a possible treatment for this disease. Plasmid-based reporter vectors were constructed utilizing a novel, homology-based cloning technique to assess the expression and localization signals from the S-layer protein gene of Lactobacillus acidophilus. These plasmids were mutated …

Interaction With Lc8 Is Required For Pak1 Nuclear Import And Is Indispensable For Zebrafish Development., Christine M Lightcap, Gabor Kari, Luis E Arias-Romero, Jonathan Chernoff, Ulrich Rodeck, John C Williams

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Pak1 (p21 activated kinase 1) is a serine/threonine kinase implicated in regulation of cell motility and survival and in malignant transformation of mammary epithelial cells. In addition, the dynein light chain, LC8, has been described to cooperate with Pak1 in malignant transformation of breast cancer cells. Pak1 itself may aid breast cancer development by phosphorylating nuclear proteins, including estrogen receptor alpha. Recently, we showed that the LC8 binding site on Pak1 is adjacent to the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) required for Pak1 nuclear import. Here, we demonstrate that the LC8-Pak1 interaction is necessary for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced nuclear import …

Center For Terrorism Law: Monthly Activity Report, 2009-06, St. Mary's University School Of Law Center For Terrorism Law

Monthly Report

No abstract provided.

Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Production In Excitable Cells: Modulators Of Mitochondrial And Cell Function, David F. Stowe, Amadou K.S. Camara

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The mitochondrion is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Superoxide (O₂^•−) is generated under specific bioenergetic conditions at several sites within the electron-transport system; most is converted to H₂O₂ inside and outside the mitochondrial matrix by superoxide dismutases. H₂O₂ is a major chemical messenger that, in low amounts and with its products, physiologically modulates cell function. The redox state and ROS scavengers largely control the emission (generation scavenging) of O₂^•−. Cell ischemia, hypoxia, or toxins can result in excess O₂^•− production when the redox …

Enhancing Ocean Literacy Using Real-Time Data, Lisa G. Adams, George Matsumoto

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Demonstration Of Bias-Controlled Algorithmic Tuning Of Quantum Dots In A Well (Dwell) Midir Detectors, Woo-Yong Jang, Majeed M. Hayat, J. Scott Tyo, Ram S. Attaluri, Thomas E. Vandervelde, Yagya D. Sharma, Rajeev Shenoi, Andreas Stintz, Elizabeth R. Cantwell, Steven C. Bender, Sang Jun Lee, Sam Kyu Noh, Sanjay Krishna

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The quantum-confined Stark effect in intersublevel transitions present in quantum-dots-in-a-well (DWELL) detectors gives rise to a midIR spectral response that is dependent upon the detector's operational bias. The spectral responses resulting from different biases exhibit spectral shifts, albeit with significant spectral overlap. A postprocessing algorithm was developed by Sakoglu that exploited this bias-dependent spectral diversity to predict the continuous and arbitrary tunability of the DWELL detector within certain limits. This paper focuses on the experimental demonstration of the DWELL-based spectral tuning algorithm. It is shown experimentally that it is possible to reconstruct the spectral content of a target electronically without …

Private Public Interest Environmental Law: History, Hard Work, And Hope, John E. Bonine

Pace Environmental Law Review

No abstract provided.

Best Brief: The United States Of America, Gabrielle Janssens, Michael Minkler, Monica Bauman

Pace Environmental Law Review

No abstract provided.

Spatial, Seasonal, And Size-Dependent Variation In The Diet Of Sacramento Pikeminnow In The Main Stem Of Chorro Creek, Central Coast California, Brian G. Dugas

Master's Theses

This study examined the diet composition of ninety-nine Sacramento pikeminnow (150-410 mm [5.9-16 in] fork length [FL]) collected from the upper and lower main stem of Chorro Creek, Morro Bay Watershed, California in 2006. The goal of this study was to characterize the spatial and seasonal variability in the diet of Sacramento pikeminnow within Chorro Creek and to determine what proportion of the diet is represented by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and their anadromous form (steelhead). Prey was identified in 88% of the samples collected in the early season and 84% of the samples collected in the late season. Fish …

Old Disease, New Targets--Part-I, Solid Malignancies, Shiyam Kumar, Nehal Masood, Asim Jamal Shaikh

Department of Radiation Oncology

Targeted agents are now an integral part of treatment regimens for some cancers. Trastuzumab is established in treatment of human epidermal receptor 2 (Her2) positive breast cancers, with improvements in both, the disease free and over all survival. Monoclonal antibody (MoAB) against vascular growth factor receptor (VEGF), bevacizumab and cetuximab a MoAB against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are establishing their role in a many cancers after making their mark in colorectal cancer. Sorafenib and sunitinib have success stories in renal carcinoma. The Sorafenib Hepatocellular Carcinoma Assessment Randomized Protocol (SHARP) trial has established sorafenib role in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, while …

A Study Of The Effect Of Splinting On Pain During Tip Pinch For Osteoarthritis Of The First Carpometacarpal Joint, Leana Tank

Masters Theses

The following research project focused on the effect of a prefabricated neoprene first carpometacarpal splint on osteoarthritis pain with tip-pinch, strength measurements of tip-pinch and functional performance. The following questions were explored throughout this study:

1. There will be a significant decrease in mean pain levels when the subject’s hand is splinted as compared to mean pain levels when the hand is not splinted.

2. There will be a significant decrease in mean pain levels for the second session as compared to the first.

3. There will be a significant increase in mean tip pinch strength measurements when the subject’s …

Where To Sample? Ecological Implications Of Sampling Strata In Determining Abundance And Impact Of Natural Enemies Of The Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus Hampei, Juliana Jaramillo, Adenirin Chabi-Olaye, Christian Borgemeister, Charles Kamonjo, Hans Michael Poehling, Fernando E. Vega

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Several parasitoids of African origin have been introduced to coffee producing areas of the Americas and Asia as biological control agents of the coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These parasitoids have become established in the field but their effect on the CBB has been limited. A two-year field study in Western Kenya has found Prorops nasuta (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) to be the predominant parasitoid emerging from CBB-infested coffee berries collected on coffee trees or from the ground. P. nasuta comprises more than 75% of the total natural enemies collected. The density of P. nasuta was 90% higher in …

Diversity, Distribution And Role Of Wild Crucifers In Major Cabbage And Kale Growing Areas Of Kenya, R. Kahuthia-Gathu, B. Löhr, H. M. Poehling, P. K. Mbugua

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

An investigation of the diversity and distribution of wild crucifer species and their importance for cultivated crucifers was conducted during 2005 and 2006 in the highland and mid-altitude semi-arid areas of Kenya. Thirteen species of wild crucifers in nine genera were recorded: Raphanus raphanistrum, Erucastrum arabicum, Sisymbrium officinale, Crambe kilimandscharica, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Rorippa nudiuscula, Ro. micrantha, Ro. microphylla, Lepidium bonariense, Coronopus didymus, Brassica rapa, B. juncea and an unidentified Brassica species. Highland areas had significantly higher species diversity and species richness than mid-altitude semi-arid areas. Species richness, diversity and evenness varied with season and location. Raphanus raphanistrum was the dominant …

Periodic And Chaotic Traveling Wave Patterns In Reaction-Diffusion/Predator-Prey Models With General Nonlinearities, S.C. Mancas, Roy S. Choudhury

Publications

Traveling wavetrains in generalized two–species predator–prey models and two–component reaction–diffusion equations are considered. The stability of the fixed points of the traveling wave ODEs (in the usual ”spatial” variable) is considered. For general functional forms of the nonlinear prey birthrate/prey deathrate or reaction terms, a Hopf bifurcation is shown to occur at two different critical values of the traveling wave speed. The post–bifurcation dynamics is investigated for five different functional forms of the nonlinearities. In cases where the bifurcation is supercritical, the post– bifurcation behaviour yields stable periodic orbits of the traveling–wave ODEs in the spatial variable. These correspond to …

Patterns Of User Activity In The Different Features Of The Blackboard Cms Across All Courses For An Academic Year At Brigham Young University, Michael E. Griffiths, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

In the past decade, course management systems (CMS) have become an integral part of most institutions of higher education. While there has been a significant amount of research looking at CMS usage at the course level, there has been less research looking at the institution-wide CMS usage from a CMS activity database perspective. This article shares findings from a study which analyzes over 36 million student and instructor clicks within the Blackboard CMS across the entire campus of Brigham Young University (BYU) during one full academic year. This research reports overall levels of user activity across campus, patterns of user …

The Link, Vol 3, No. 6, June 2009, Illinois State University, Center For Teaching, Learning, And Technology

The Link

Newsletter for the Illinois State University Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology

Production Efficiency Of Jasmine Rice Producers In Northern And North‐Eastern Thailand, S Rahman, A Wiboonpongse, S Sriboonchitta, Y Chaovanapoonphol

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The paper jointly evaluates the determinants of switching to Jasmine rice and its productivity while allowing for production inefficiency at the level of individual producers. Model diagnostics reveal that serious selection bias exists, justifying use of a sample selection framework in stochastic frontier models. Results from the probit variety selection equation reveal that gross return (mainly powered by significantly higher Jasmine rice price), access to irrigation and education are the important determinants of choosing Jasmine rice. Results from the stochastic production frontier reveal that land, irrigation and fertilisers are the significant determinants of Jasmine rice productivity. Significantly lower productivity in …

Champagne Seas—Foretelling The Ocean’S Future?, J Hall-Spencer, E Rauer

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Imagine you are an ocean researcher and you want to study the ecological impacts of ocean acidification. You know from studies carried out under controlled laboratory conditions that lowered pH can impact the physiology, growth, and development of certain organisms. What you want to know next is how these changes in individual species translate into the direct and indirect ecological changes that occur in the open ocean. Here we summarize the results from a new approach to understanding the ecological implications of ocean acidification: observational studies and IN SITU experimentation at ocean sites with low pH and high CO2.