Digital Commons Network^™

The Radiosensitization Effect Of Parthenolide In Prostate Cancer: Implications For Selective Cancer Killing By Modulation Of Intracellular Redox State, Yulan Sun

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Parthenolide (PN), a major active component of the traditional herbal medicine feverfew, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. More remarkably, the cytotoxicity of PN seems selective to tumor cells but not their normal cell counterparts. In the present study, we investigate whether and how PN selectively enhances tumor sensitivity to radiation therapy by using prostate cancer cells LNCaP, DU145 and PC3, as well as normal prostate epithelial cells PrEC.

Our study demonstrates that inhibition of NF-κB pathway and suppression of its downstream target MnSOD are common mechanisms for the radiosensitization effect of PN in prostate cancer cells. …

An Examination Of The Effectiveness Of A Professional Development Program On Teacher Knowledge And Practice To Address Adolescent Health Issues, Narima Aliya Shahabudeen

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Synthesis Of Novel Glycosylidene-Based Quinolines, Peter H. Dobbelaar

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Physiological Correlates Of Race-Related Stress And Health Among African Americans And Latinos, Daniel Cruz

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Markov Transition Model To Dementia With Death As A Competing Event, Liou Xu

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The research on multi-state Markov transition model is motivated by the nature of the longitudinal data from the Nun Study (Snowdon, 1997), and similar information on the BRAiNS cohort (Salazar, 2004). Our goal is to develop a flexible methodology for handling the categorical longitudinal responses and competing risks time-to-event that characterizes the features of the data for research on dementia. To do so, we treat the survival from death as a continuous variable rather than defining death as a competing absorbing state to dementia. We assume that within each subject the survival component and the Markov process are linked by …

Tillage Depth Effects On Soil Physical Properties, Sugarbeet Yield, And Sugarbeet Quality, J. D. Jabro, W. B. Stevens, W. M. Iversen, R. G. Evans

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Tillage depth influences the soil–water–plant ecosystem, thereby affecting crop yield and quality. The effects of tillage depth on soil physical properties and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) yield and quality were evaluated. A field study composed of two tillage depths [10 cm, referred to as shallow (ST), and 20 cm, referred to as deep (DT)] was conducted on a Lihen sandy loam soil in spring 2007 at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) irrigated research farm near Williston, North Dakota. Soil bulk density (ρb), gravimetric water content (θw), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were measured three times during the growing season …

Permanent Genetic Resources Added To The Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2010–31 March 2010, D. Aurelle, M. R. Pooler, T. A. Rinehart, B. E. Scheffler, Molecular Ecology Resources Primer Development Consortium

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

This article documents the addition of 228 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Anser cygnoides, Apodemus flavicollis, Athene noctua, Cercis canadensis, Glis glis, Gubernatrix cristata, Haliotis tuberculata, Helianthus maximiliani, Laricobius nigrinus, Laricobius rubidus, Neoheligmonella granjoni, Nephrops norvegicus, Oenanthe javanica, Paramuricea clavata, Pyrrhura orcesi and Samanea saman. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Apodemus sylvaticus, Laricobius laticollis and Laricobius osakensis (a proposed new species currently being described).

Soybase, The Usda-Ars Soybean Genetics And Genomics Database, David Grant, Rex T. Nelson, Steven B. Connon, Randy C. Shoemaker

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

SoyBase, the USDA-ARS soybean genetic database, is a comprehensive repository for professionally curated genetics, genomics and related data resources for soybean. SoyBase contains the most current genetic, physical and genomic sequence maps integrated with qualitative and quantitative traits. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) represent more than 18 years of QTL mapping of more than 90 unique traits. SoyBase also contains the wellannotated ‘Williams 82’ genomic sequence and associated data mining tools. The genetic and sequence views of the soybean chromosomes and the extensive data on traits and phenotypes are extensively interlinked. This allows entry to the database using almost any …

Eupatorium Capillifolium Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antifungal Activity, And Insecticidal Activity, Nurhayat Tabanca, Ulrich R. Bernier, Maia Tsikolia, James Becnel, Blair Sampson, Chris Werle, Betül Demirci, Kemal Hüsnü Can Başer, Eugene K. Blythe, Cecil Pounders, David E. Wedge

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Natural plant extracts often contain compounds that are useful in pest management applications. The essential oil of Eupatorium capillifolium (dog-fennel) was investigated for antifungal and insecticidal activities. Essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major components were determined to be thymol methyl ether (=methyl thymol) (36.3%), 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (20.8%) and myrcene (15.7%). Antifungal activity of the essential oil was weak against the plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae, and C. gloeosporioides in direct bioautography assay. The E. capillifolium oil showed promising repellent activity against …

Preschool Teachers' Perceptions Of Obesity At Ages 3-5 Years, Jessica D. Mackinney

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was not only to investigate the knowledge of preschool teachers on the topic of obesity, but also to determine whether or not they find obesity to be a significant problem facing 3-5 year old children. Results indicate that preschool teachers agree that obesity is a concern; however, they are unclear on the causality of obesity. Preschool teachers feel the long-term consequences of being obese at ages 3-5 years affect future academic, social, and physical growth, but they do not feel intervention should take place at the preschool level. This study contributed to a better understanding …

The Relationship Between Cognitive Distortions And Psychological And Behavioral Factors In A Sample Of Individuals Who Are Average Weight, Overweight, And Obese, Christina Berchock Shook

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study was designed to investigate the relationship between the frequency of cognitive distortions, as measured by the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD), and psychological and behavioral factors, as measured by the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD), which includes negative health habits, psychiatric indications, and treatment prognostics among a sample of individuals who were average weight, who were overweight, and who were obese. The sample of 385 men and women was recruited primarily from a health and fitness center. The results of this study indicated that negative health risk behaviors such as inactivity and overeating, as well as depression …

Description Of The Tadpole Of Proceratophrys Renalis (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) (Anura: Cycloramphidae), Filipe Augusto C. Do Nascimento, Barnagleison S. Lisboa, Gabriel O. Skuk, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

The tadpole of Proceratophrys renalis is described based on specimens from Maceió, State of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. At stage 35 the body is slightly dorso-ventrally depressed, ovoid in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views. Oral disc is ventral with lateral emarginations, surrounded by a single row of marginal papillae with a large gap on the upper labium. Labial tooth row formula is 2(2)/3(1). The analysis of internal oral anatomy revealed two possible characters that readily distinguish P. renalis from P. boiei, supporting the recent ressurection of P. renalis. Comparisons with available descriptions of the larvae for other species in the …

View From The Trenches: The Struggle To Free William Richards, Jan Stiglitz

Faculty Scholarship

This article discusses the circumstantial evidence against a wrongly convicted man and the California Innocence Project's efforts to seek his release.

Human Rights Implications For The Climate Negotiations, David Hunter

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Symposium: The Confluence of Human Rights and the Environment INTRODUCTION: According to John Holdren, the Science Advisor to President Obama, humanity can only respond to climate change in three ways. We can mitigate climate change, for example by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; we can adapt to climate change, for example by defending our coastlines; or we can suffer from climate change. Given current emission levels and projected climate change impacts, we are inevitably going to do some of all three. A human rights approach, the subject of this Article, puts the focus on those who will suffer from climate change, …

Modeling Family Leisure And Related Family Constructs: A National Study Of U.S. Parent And Youth Perspectives, Raymond A. Poff, Ramon Zabriskie, Jasmine A. Townsend

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to begin the development of a broad model that could examine the structural relationships between family leisure involvement, family functioning, family communication, family leisure satisfaction, and satisfaction with family life among a large sample of families (n = 898) from the United States. Findings from both parent and youth perspectives were consistent with previous studies that examined the same variables individually and provided a possible picture of how these family variables might relate to one another in the broader context of family leisure. Slight differences between the parent and youth models added further insight …

In-Frame Mutagenesis Of Genes Encoding A Selenium-Dependent Molybdenum Hydroxylase And Putative Accessory Proteins In Enterococcus Faecalis, Christopher J. Mallard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enterococcus faecalis is a well known nosocomial drug resistant pathogen that is responsible for urinary tract infections, bacteremia, wound infections and endocarditis through the formation of biofilms. It has been shown that 68 genes present within the core genome of E. faecalis are upregulated in biofilm formation. One of those 68 genes is a putative seleniumdependent molybdenum hydroxylase (SDMH). Adjacent to this gene are a series of open reading frames that have been postulated to play a role in the maturation of a labile selenium cofactor. The biosynthesis of this labile cofactor has yet to be studied at either the …

Chronic Inflammatory Responses To Microgel-Based Implant Coatings, Amanda W. Bridges, Rachel E. Whitmire, Neetu Singh, Kellie L. Templeman, Julia E. Babensee, L. Andrew Lyon, Andrés J. García

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Inflammatory responses to implanted biomedical devices elicit a foreign body fibrotic reaction that limits device integration and performance in various biomedical applications. We examined chronic inflammatory responses to microgel conformal coatings consisting of thin films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel microparticles cross-linked with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate deposited on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Unmodified and microgel-coated PET disks were implanted subcutaneously in rats for 4 weeks and explants were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. Microgel coatings reduced chronic inflammation and resulted in a more mature/organized fibrous capsule. Microgel-coated samples exhibited 22% thinner fibrous capsules that contained 40% fewer cells compared to unmodified PET disks. …

Describing The Phenomena Of Principals' Experiences With Implementation Of Response To Intervention, Lorrie Belk Butler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional method of identifying students with disabilities has led to a new innovation being implemented at the school level. Response to Intervention (RTI) is an alternative approach that received federal approval with the passage of Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act (IDEIA) 2004. On July 1, 2010, RTI became the required process for determining identification of students with learning disabilities for all schools in the state of Florida. Implementation of this approach requires significant changes in how schools operate. Using a phenomenological study design, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of elementary …

Mesoscopic Methods In Engineering And Science, Alfons Hoekstra, Li-Shi Luo, Manfred Krafczyk

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Matter, conceptually classified into fluids and solids, can be completely described by the microscopic physics of its constituent atoms or molecules. However, for most engineering applications a macroscopic or continuum description has usually been sufficient, because of the large disparity between the spatial and temporal scales relevant to these applications and the scales of the underlying molecular dynamics. In this case, the microscopic physics merely determines material properties such as the viscosity of a fluid or the elastic constants of a solid. These material properties cannot be derived within the macroscopic framework, but the qualitative nature of the …

The "Just War" Theory: Application To United States And Israeli Militarism, Daniel C. Maguire

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Whom The Gods Would Destroy, They First Make Myopic: Religion And Ethics In Cross-Disciplinary Ecological Dialogue, Daniel C. Maguire

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Remote Controlled Hydrogel Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization, And Applications, Nitin S. Satarkar

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

There is significant interest in the development of hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites for a variety of biomedical applications including drug delivery, sensors and actuators, and hyperthermia cancer treatment. The incorporation of nanoparticulates into a hydrogel matrix can result in unique material characteristics such as enhanced mechanical properties, swelling response, and capability of remote controlled (RC) actuation. In this dissertation, the development of hydrogel nanocomposites containing magnetic nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes, actuation with remote stimulus, and some of their applications are highlighted.

The primary hydrogel nanocomposite systems were synthesized by incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into temperature responsive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) matrices. Various nanocomposite properties …

Local Synaptic Network Interactions In The Dentate Gyrus Of A Cortical Contusion Model Of Posttraumatic Epilepsy, Robert F. Hunt Iii

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Posttraumatic epilepsy is a common consequence of brain trauma. However, little is known about how long-term changes in local excitatory and inhibitory synaptic networks contribute to epilepsy after closed-head brain injury. This study adapted a widely used model of experimental brain injury as a mouse model of posttraumatic epilepsy. Behavioral seizure activity and alterations in synaptic circuitry in the dentate gyrus were examined in mice after experimental cortical contusion brain injury. Spontaneous behavioral seizures were observed in 20% of mice after moderate injury and 36-40% of mice weeks after severe injury. In the dentate gyrus, most mice displayed regionally localized …

A Phenomenological Description Of The Lived Experience Of Creating Art For Women With Breast Cancer, Laurie Stark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conventional approaches to cancer treatment typically do not address the personal experiences of the women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a structural description of the lived experience of women with breast cancer who create art, specifically through painting, sketching or drawing. A phenomenological approach was employed to explore the meaning of creating art for four women with a diagnosis of breast cancer. The philosophical underpinnings for this study were based on the phenomenological method of bracketing which allows the researcher and subjects to focus on lived experience. This qualitative methodology provided a means to …

Nanoscale Functionalization And Characterization Of Surfaces With Hydrogel Patterns And Biomolecules, Hariharasudhan Chirra Dinakar

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The advent of numerous tools, ease of techniques, and concepts related to nanotechnology, in combination with functionalization via simple chemistry has made gold important for various biomedical applications. In this dissertation, the development and characterization of planar gold surfaces with responsive hydrogel patterns for rapid point of care sensing and the functionalization of gold nanoparticles for drug delivery are highlighted.

Biomedical micro- and nanoscale devices that are spatially functionalized with intelligent hydrogels are typically fabricated using conventional UV-lithography. Herein, precise 3-D hydrogel patterns made up of temperature responsive crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) over gold were synthesized. The XY control of the hydrogel …

Identification Of Novel Antimalarials From Marine Natural Products For Lead Discovery, Stephenie M. Alvarado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An estimated 500 million cases of malaria occur each year. The increasing prevalence of drug resistant strains of Plasmodium in most malaria endemic areas has significantly reduced the efficacy of current antimalarial drugs for prophylaxis and treatment of this disease. Therefore, discovery of new, inexpensive, and effective drugs are urgently needed to combat this disease. Marine biodiversity is an enormous source of novel chemical entities and has been barely investigated for antimalarial drug discovery. In an effort to discover novel therapeutics for malaria, we studied the antimalarial activities of a unique marine-derived peak fraction library provided by Harbor Branch Oceanographic …

Concentric Layout, A New Scientific Data Layout For Matrix Data Set In Hadoop File System, Lu Cheng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The data generated by scientific simulation, sensor, monitor or optical telescope has increased with dramatic speed. In order to analyze the raw data speed and space efficiently, data preprocess operation is needed to achieve better performance in data analysis phase. Current research shows an increasing tread of adopting MapReduce framework for large scale data processing. However, the data access patterns which generally applied to scientific data set are not supported by current MapReduce framework directly. The gap between the requirement from analytics application and the property of MapReduce framework motivates us to provide support for these data access patterns in …

Design And Simulation For Encoded Pn-Ofc Saw Sensor Systems, John Pavlina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors provide versatility in that they can offer wireless, passive operation in numerous environments. Various SAW device embodiments may also be employed for retrieval of the sensed data. Single sensor systems typically use a single carrier frequency and a simple device embodiment since tagging is not required. However, it is necessary in a multi-sensor environment to both identify the sensor and retrieve the information. Overlapping sensor data signals in time and frequency present problems when attempting to collect the sensed data at the receiver. This dissertation defines a system simulation environment exclusive to SAW sensors. The …

Designing Of Energy Efficient Indoor Environments Using A Localized Radial Basis Function Meshless Method, Victor Huayamave

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Around the world, the energy over consumption issue has been one of the key socio-economic and political challenges, which has drastically worsened over the last few years. Over the years engineers and environmentalists have proposed several approaches to improve energy efficiency. One is to reduce energy demand by improving consumption habits and a second approach is to introduce the use of a "greener" concept by using biomaterials in a diverse and more efficient manner in engineering construction to create energy efficient environments. This work will investigate the effects of using "green" stabilized earth materials to provide and enhance thermal regulation …

Evolutionary Perspective Of Nicotine To Nornicotine Conversion, Its Regulation And Characterization Of Ein2 Mediated Ethylene Signaling In Tobacco, Manohar Chakrabarti

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine and anatabine are four major alkaloids in tobacco, of which nicotine is predominant. In many tobacco cultivars and also in other Nicotiana species, nicotine is converted to nornicotine, which in turn gives rise to potent carcinogen NNN. Nicotine to nornicotine conversion via nicotine-N-demethylation is mediated by the CYP82E family of P450 enzymes. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) converts in senescing leaves, while its diploid progenitors N.tomentosiformis and N.sylvestris convert in both green and senescing and only in senescing leaves, respectively. Previously it has been shown that N.tomentosiformis has different active conversion loci in green and senescing leaves. …