Digital Commons Network^™

Serum Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels At 16 Days Following Embryo Transfer In Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles To Predict Pregnancy Outcome, Zahra Basirat, Ali Bijani

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) concentration on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer to predict pregnancy outcome. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, B-hCG levels were measured in 97 pregnant women that underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran from January 2008 to December 2009. Type, duration, causes of infertility, and age of patients, B-hCG levels on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer, the number of embryos, and pregnancy outcome were assessed. RESULTS: Incidence of viable pregnancies in B-hCG levels …

Association Of Consanguinity With Congenital Heart Diseases In A Teaching Hospital In Western Iraq, Zaid R. Al-Ani

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of consanguinity as a risk factor for congenital heart diseases (CHDs). METHODS: Patients with suggestive signs of CHD admitted to the Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Anbar Governorate, Iraq from January 2009 to January 2010 were subject to diagnostic investigations. Case data includes: name, age, gender, and cause of admission. Parents data includes: age, residence, degree of consanguinity, and history of family recurrent CHDs. Three controls to one case (3:1) were selected to compare their consanguinity with the CHD cases. Odds ratio was used for the measurement of consanguinity and other variable risks on CHD …

Psoriasis Induced By Infliximab In A Saudi Patient With Ankylosing Spondylitis, Iehab B. Alabed, Khalid A. Qushmaq, Muhammad A. Khan

Saudi Medical Journal

Although the therapeutic uses of tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists have added a highly effective treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and associated spondyloarthropathies, they are associated with many untoward effects. We describe a Saudi patient with ankylosing spondylitis who developed severe psoriatic lesions in treatment with infliximab. He had no personal, or family history of psoriasis, and no other triggering factors known to induce psoriasis.

Vasocontractile Effect Of Seraseal In Rat Thoracic Aorta, Umit Karacayli, Ismail M. Vural, Melik Seyrek, Oguzhan Yildiz

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Entrapment Of Proteins In Glycogen-Capped And Hydrazide-Activated Supports, Abby J. Jackson, Hai Xuan, David S. Hage

David Hage Publications

Affinity chromatography uses a biologically-related binding agent as a stationary phase to undergo specific interactions with a target analyte (1–3). The selectivity of this approach is dependent on the way in which the binding agent is attached to the support (4). It is common for a binding agent such as a protein to be covalently immobilized through amine, sulfhydryl, carboxyl or carbonyl groups (4–6). However, covalent immobilization can produce multisite attachment or improper orientation of the binding agent, which may cause an apparent change in this agent’s activity. These issues can be minimized in some cases by coupling the binding …

Hopelessness, Depression, And Early Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction In U.S. Adults, D. Phuong Do, Jennifer B. Dowd, Nalini Ranjit, James S. House, George A. Kaplan

Faculty Publications

Objective - This study examines whether the psychological traits of hopelessness and depressive symptoms are related to endothelial dysfunction.

Methods - Data come from a subsample of 434 respondents in the 2001-2003 Chicago Community Adult Health Study (CCAHS), a population-based survey designed to study the impact of psychological attributes, neighborhood environment, and socio-economic circumstances on adults age 18 and over. Circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction including e-selectin, p-selectin and s-ICAM1 were obtained from serum samples. Hopelessness was measured by responses to two questions and depressive symptoms were measured by an 11-item version of the CES-D. Multivariate regression models tested whether …

Neighborhood Effects On Health: Concentrated Advantage And Disadvantage, Brian K. Finch, D. Phuong Do, Melonie Heron, Chloe E. Bird, Teresa Seeman, Nicole Lurie

Faculty Publications

We investigate an alternative conceptualization of neighborhood context and its association with health. Using an index that measures a continuum of concentrated advantage and disadvantage, we examine whether the relationship between neighborhood conditions and health varies by socio-economic status. Using NHANES III data geo-coded to census tracts, we find that while largely uneducated neighborhoods are universally deleterious, individuals with more education benefit from living in highly educated neighborhoods to a greater degree than individuals with lower levels of education.

Comparing Implementations Of Magnetic-Resonance-Guided Fluorescence Molecular Tomography For Diagnostic Classification Of Brain Tumors, Scott C. Davis, Kimberley S. Samkoe, Julia A. O’Hara, Summer L. Gibbs-Strauss, Keith D. Paulsen, Brian W. Pogue

Dartmouth Scholarship

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) systems coupled to conventional imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography provide unique opportunities to combine data sets and improve image quality and content. Yet, the ideal approach to combine these complementary data is still not obvious. This preclinical study compares several methods for incorporating MRI spatial prior information into FMT imaging algorithms in the context of in vivo tissue diagnosis. Populations of mice inoculated with brain tumors that expressed either high or low levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were imaged using an EGF-bound near-infrared dye and a spectrometer-based MRI-FMT …

Bioluminescent Escherichia Coli Strains For The Quantitative Detection Of Phosphate And Ammonia In Coastal And Suburban Watersheds, Cristina V. Cardemil , '01, D. R. Smulski, R. A. Larossa, Amy Cheng Vollmer

Biology Faculty Works

Accumulation of phosphate and ammonia in estuarine systems and subsequent dinoflagellate and algal blooms has been implicated in fish kills and in health risks for fishermen. Analytic chemistry kits are used to measure phosphate and ammonia levels in water samples, but their sensitivity is limited due to specificity for inorganic forms of these moieties. An Escherichia coli bioluminescent reporter system measured the bioavailability of inorganic nutrients through fusion of E. coli promoters (phoA or glnAp2) to the luxCDABE operon of Vibrio fischeri carried either on the chromosome or on a multicopy plasmid vector, resulting in emission of light in response …

One Year Survival With Poorly Differentiated Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma Following Chemoembolization With Gemcitabine And Cisplatin., Daniel B Brown, Carin F Gonsalves, Charles J Yeo, Agnes K Witkiewicz, Brian I Carr

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

While hepatic arterial chemoembolization is efficacious for a number of malignancies, there is scant data regarding treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We report a complete radiographic response at one year from diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. Gemcitabine/cisplatin based chemoembolization may be of potential benefit for patients with liver-dominant metastases from pancreatic carcinoma. Given the typical survival of 6 months or less in this patient group with standard therapies, further research is warranted.

Anger, Fear, And Escalation Of Commitment, Ming-Hong Tsai, Maia J. Young

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Two studies examined how discrete emotions influence escalation of commitment. Study 1 demonstrated that anger was associated with more escalation of commitment than fear in a personnel hiring-appraisal context. In addition, it revealed the mediating effect of risk perception; angry compared to fearful individuals perceived lower risk in their initial decision, which in turn increased the tendency to escalate commitment. Study 2 replicated the pattern of results of Study 1 in a financial decision-making situation. Contrary to conclusions drawn from the results of prior research, the current studies suggest that not all negative emotions alleviate escalation of commitment.

Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy In The Undergraduate Curriculum, Adam R. Urbach

Chemistry Faculty Research

Circular dichroism spectropolarimetry (CD) is a method of optical spectroscopy that seems in most practical ways like UV−visible spectroscopy. The main difference between the two methods is that CD, instead of measuring the absorbance of light as a function of wavelength, measures the difference in absorbance of left versus right circularly polarized light as a function of wavelength. A CD spectrum is an observation of the structure of a chiral compound; it often serves as a “fingerprint” of the structure of biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. For this reason, CD has been broadly applied in biochemistry and …

Legal Regulations Relating To The Passive And Active Legal Capacity Of Persons With Intellectual And Psychosocial Disabilities In Light Of The Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities And The Impending Reform Of The Hungarian Civil Code, István Hoffman, György Könczei

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.

Molecular Requirements For Ethanol Differential Allosteric Modulation Of Ligand-Gated Ion Channels Based On Selective Gβγ Modulation, Gonzalo E. Yevenes, Gustavo Moraga-Cid, Ariel Avila, Leonardo Guzman, Maximiliano Figueroa, Robert W. Peoples, Luis G. Aguayo

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

It is now believed that the allosteric modulation produced by ethanol in glycine receptors (GlyRs) depends on alcohol binding to discrete sites within the protein structure. Thus, the differential ethanol sensitivity of diverse GlyR isoforms and mutants was explained by the presence of specific residues in putative alcohol pockets. Here, we demonstrate that ethanol sensitivity in two LGIC members, the GlyR adult α₁ and embryonic α₂ subunits, can be modified through selective mutations that rescued or impaired Gβγ modulation. Even though that both isoforms were able to physically interact with Gβγ, only the α₁ GlyR was functionally …

Effects Of Hypothyroidism On Cell Proliferation And Neuroblasts In The Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus In A Rat Model Of Type 2 Diabetes, Sun Shin Yi, In Koo Hwang, Ji Won Choi, Moo-Ho Won, Je Kyung Seong, Yeo Sung Yoon

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

We observed how the hypothyroid state affects diabetic states and modifies cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). For this, 0.03% methimazole, an anti-thyroid drug, was administered to 7-week-old, pre-diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats by drinking water for 5 weeks, and the animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks of age. At this age, corticosterone levels were significantly increased in the ZDF rats compared to those in the control (Zucker lean control, ZLC) rats. Methimazole (methi) treatment in the ZDF rats (ZDF-methi rats) significantly decreased corticosterone levels and diabetes-induced hypertrophy of adrenal glands. In the DG, …

Manipulation Of Suspended Single Cells By Microfluidics And Optical Tweezers, Nathalie Neve De Mevergnies, Sean S. Kohles, Shelley R. Winn, Derek C. Tretheway

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Chondrocytes and osteoblasts experience multiple stresses in vivo. The optimum mechanical conditions for cell health are not fully understood. This paper describes the optical and microfluidic mechanical manipulation of single suspended cells enabled by the μPIVOT, an integrated micron resolution particle image velocimeter (μPIV) and dual optical tweezers instrument (OT). In this study, we examine the viability and trap stiffness of cartilage cells, identify the maximum fluid-induced stresses possible in uniform and extensional flows, and compare the deformation characteristics of bone and muscle cells. These results indicate cell photodamage of chondrocytes is negligible for at least 20 min for laser …

Multi-Frequency Processing For Lumen Enhancement With Wideband Intravascular Ultrasound, Rory A. Carrillo

Master's Theses

The application of high frequency ultrasound is the key to higher resolution intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images. The need to further improve the IVUS spatial resolution may drive the transducer center frequency even higher than the current 40 MHz range. However, increasing the center frequency may be challenging as it leads to stronger scattering echoes from blood. The high level of blood scattering echoes may obscure the arterial lumen and make image interpretation difficult. Blood backscatter levels increase with transmission center frequency at a much greater rate compared to arterial tissue. These different frequency dependencies provide a potential method to distinguish …

Converting Glx2-1 Into An Active Glyoxalase Ii, Pattraranee Limphong, Nicole E. Adams, Matthew F. Rouhier, Ross M. Mckinney, Melissa Naylor, Brian Bennett, Christopher A. Makaroff, Michael W. Crowder

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

Arabidopsis thaliana glyoxalase 2-1 (GLX2-1) exhibits extensive sequence similarity with GLX2 enzymes but is catalytically inactive with SLG, the GLX2 substrate. In an effort to identify residues essential for GLX2 activity, amino acid residues were altered at positions 219, 246, 248, 325, and 328 in GLX2-1 to be the same as those in catalytically active human GLX2. The resulting enzymes were overexpressed, purified, and characterized using metal analyses, fluorescence spectroscopy, and steady-state kinetics to evaluate how these residues affect metal binding, structure, and catalysis. The R246H/N248Y double mutant exhibited low level S-lactoylglutathione hydrolase activity, while the R246H/N248Y/Q325R/R328K mutant exhibited …

Predictors Of Obesity Among Post Graduate Trainee Doctors Working In A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Public Sector In Karachi, Pakistan, Sajid Mahmood, Muhammad Kazim Rahim Najjad, Nasir Ali, Naeem Yousuf, Yasir Hamid

Community Health Sciences

Objectives: To identify the predictors of obesity among post graduate trainee doctors working in a tertiary care hospital of public sector at Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted at one of the tertiary care hospitals of public sector in Karachi. Information was collected from 117 post graduate trainee doctors via pre-tested self administered questionnaire and standard tools were used for height and weight measurement. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) > or =23 by using South Asian cut-off points. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis, and logistic regression technique was applied to come …

(Wp 2010-01) The Role Of Primary Commodities In Economic Development: Sub-Saharan Africa Versus Rest Of The World, Fabrizio Carmignani, Abdur Chowdhury

Economics Working Papers

We study the nexus between natural resources and growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and find that SSA is indeed special: resources dependence retards growth in SSA, but not elsewhere. The natural resources curse is thus specific to SSA. We then show that this specificity does not depend on the type of primary commodities on which SSA specializes. Instead, the SSA specificity appears to arise from the interaction between institutions and natural resources.

Standardised Library Instruction Assessment: An Institution-Specific Approach, Shannon M. Staley, Nicole A. Branch, Tom L. Hewitt

Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction
We explore the use of a psychometric model for locally-relevant, information literacy assessment, using an online tool for standardised assessment of student learning during discipline-based library instruction sessions.

Method
A quantitative approach to data collection and analysis was used, employing standardised multiple-choice survey questions followed by individual, cognitive interviews with undergraduate students. The assessment tool was administered to five general education psychology classes during library instruction sessions.

Analysis
Descriptive statistics were generated by the assessment tool. Results. The assessment tool proved a feasible means of measuring student learning. While student scores improved on every survey question, there was uneven …

The Economic And Financial Policies To Fight Against Climate Change: The Case Of Maghreb, Nathalie Hilmi, Alain Safa

Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily September 1, 2010, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 135, Issue 3

Genome Sequence Of The Model Mushroom Schizophyllum Commune, Robin A. Ohm, Jan F. De Jong, Luis G. Lugones, Andrea Aerts, Erika Kothe, Jason E. Stajich, Ronald P. De Vries, Eric Record, Anthony Levasseur, Scott E. Baker, Kirk A. Bartholomew, Pedro M. Coutinho, Susann Erdmann, Thomas J. Fowler, Allen C. Gathmen, Vincent Lombard, Bernard Henrissat, Nicole Knabe, Ursula Kues, Walt W. Lily

Biology Faculty Publications

Much remains to be learned about the biology of mushroom-forming fungi, which are an important source of food, secondary metabolites and industrial enzymes. The wood-degrading fungus Schizophyllum commune is both a genetically tractable model for studying mushroom development and a likely source of enzymes capable of efficient degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. Comparative analyses of its 38.5-megabase genome, which encodes 13,210 predicted genes, reveal the species's unique wood-degrading machinery. One-third of the 471 genes predicted to encode transcription factors are differentially expressed during sexual development of S. commune. Whereas inactivation of one of these, fst4, prevented mushroom formation, inactivation of another, …

Creative Exercises In General Chemistry: A Student-Centered Assessment, Scott E. Lewis, Janet L. Shaw, Kathryn A. Freeman

Faculty Articles

Creative exercises (CEs) are a form of assessment in which students are given a prompt and asked to write down as many distinct, correct, and relevant facts about the prompt as they can. Students receive credit for each fact that they include that is related to the prompt and distinct from the other facts they list. With CEs, students have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and the opportunity to select the information that they believe is related to the prompt. In addition, CEs encourage students to connect concepts because any relevant information presented can assist them in completing the …

Psychological Profiles In A Female Bariatric Surgery Sample, Aimee L. Donato

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Morbid obesity is an epidemic. Current literature suggests that people with morbid obesity tend to show increased levels of psychological dysfunction. This is especially pertinent to the clinicians who work with morbidly obese patients who seek bariatric surgery as the method for weight control. Surgery should be performed on patients who are psychologically ready to adjust to the stringent post-operative lifestyle.

The purpose of the present study was (1) to compare two groups of bariatric patients (a White group and a non-White group) on pre-surgery measures: specific scales on the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD), the Beck Depression Inventory II …

New Biologically Active Compounds From Kenyan Propolis, Assya Petrova, Milena Popova, Christina Kuzmanova, Iva Tsvetkova, Hristo Naydenski, Eliud Muli, Vassya Bankova

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

From propolis samples from Kenya, two new arylnaphtalene lignans were isolated, tetrahydrojusticidin B 1 and 6-methoxydiphyllin 2, along with four known phenolic compounds 5-8, found for the first time in propolis. The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on their spectral properties. The geranylstilbenes 7 and 8 demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus, and the geranylflavon macarangin 6 possessed antiradical activity against DPPH radicals. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

"We're Locking The Door": Family Histories In A Sample Of Homeless Youth, Shahid Alvi, Hannah Scott, Wendy Stanyon

The Qualitative Report

It is well known that the pathways to homelessness for young people are embedded in often ongoing negative childhood experiences. Many of these experiences are rooted in multiple and intersecting problems including, but not limited to: family conflict, abuse, addictions, and mental health issues. The authors draw upon qualitative interviews conducted with 15 homeless male and female youth between the ages of 16 and 24 in a suburban area of Southern Ontario, Canada. We describe these young people's perceptions of family experiences and find support for Elliott Currie's (2004) proposition that a broader ethos of individualism and intolerant parenting underpins …

Montana Kaimin, September 1, 2010, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Summaries Of Arkansas Cotton Research 2009, Derrick M. Oosterhuis

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.