Digital Commons Network^™

Infant Mortality And Child-Naming: A Genealogical Exploration Of American Trends, Al Mccormick

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

Parallel with anthropological literature, analysis of genealogical data shows a strong relationship between infant mortality rates and allowing deceased infants to remain unnamed. This was especially true for infants dying shortly after birth. Findings suggest the question, "When does life begin?" has had social as well as biological and religious answers.

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Conference Call Session May 25, 2010, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Only the Personnel Report is available from this May 25, 2010 conference call of the WMU Board of Trustees.

Regulation Of Positive Regulatory Domain I- Binding Factor 1 And Its Role In Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Shruti Desai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The human positive regulatory domain I binding factor 1 (PRDI-BF1/PRDM1) promotes differentiation of mature B cells into antibody secreting plasma cells. In contrast ectopic expression of PRDM1 in lymphoma cells can lead to inhibition of proliferation or apoptosis. However, little is currently known about the regulation of PRDM1. The first study presented demonstrates that in lymphoma cells stimulation through the B cell receptor rapidly induces endogenous PRDM1 at the level of transcription. This study provides evidence that the PRDM1 promoter is preloaded and poised for activation in the B cell lines. The transcription factor PU.1 is shown to be required …

Parental Support And South Africa’S Rural High School Performance, Moloko Raxina Kgare

Sandanona

The presenter will begin by explaining what parental support means, its importance and impact on the high school performance. She will explain causes of parents’ decision to distance themselves from their children, the school management and teachers.

Early Warning Systems: A Review, Joseph E. Quansah, Bernard Engel, Gilbert L. Rochon

Journal of Terrestrial Observation

No abstract provided.

Foreword, Chris Johannsen

Journal of Terrestrial Observation

No abstract provided.

Senate Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, May 24, 2010, Senate Executive Committee

All Faculty Senate 2007-2014 Committee Minutes and Reports

Minutes from the Senate Executive Committee meeting held on May 24, 2010.

Inhibition Of Abcb1 (Mdr1) Expression By An Sirna Nanoparticulate Delivery System To Overcome Drug Resistance In Osteosarcoma, Michiro Susa, Arun K. Iyer, Keinosuke Ryu, Edwin Choy, Francis J. Hornicek, Henry Mankin, Lara Milane, Mansoor M. Amiji, Zhenfeng Duan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: The use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in treating osteosarcoma has improved patients’ average 5 year survival rate from 20% to 70% in the past 30 years. However, for patients who progress after chemotherapy, its effectiveness diminishes due to the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) after prolonged therapy.

Methodology/Principal Findings: In order to overcome both the dose-limiting side effects of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and the therapeutic failure resulting from MDR, we designed and evaluated a novel drug delivery system for MDR1 siRNA delivery. Novel biocompatible, lipid-modified dextran-based polymeric nanoparticles were used as the platform for MDR1 siRNA delivery; and the efficacy …

The Effect Of Step Load Moving On The Surface Of A Cylindrical Cavity Using Neural Networks, Hamed Saeidi, Mansour Nikkhah-Bahrami

International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics

Potential functions and Fourier series method in the cylindrical coordinate system are employed to solve the problem of moving loads on the surface of a cylindrical bore in an infinite elastic and isotropic medium. The steady state dynamic equations of medium are uncoupled by applying potential functions. The medium responses are obtained by using an appropriate numerical method of Laplace transform inversion. The solution has an integral form; therefore, a feedforward backpropagation neural network is designed and trained using the response evaluated numerically in a finite set of random points to approximate stress and displacement components in the medium. It …

Artificial Neural Network Model For Prediction Of Liquefaction Potential In Soil Deposits, F. Farrokhzad, A. J. Choobbasti, A. Barari

International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics

With the increase in population, the evaluation of liquefaction is becoming more important for land use planning and development. In soil deposits under undrained condition, earthquakes induce cyclic shear stresses, may lead to soil liquefaction. Artificial neural network (ANN) is one of the, artificial intelligence (AI) approaches that can be classified as machine learning. Simplified methods have been practiced by researchers to assess nonlinear liquefaction potential of soil. In order to address the collective knowledge built up in conventional liquefaction engineering, an alternative general regression neural network model is proposed in this paper. To meet this objective, a total of …

The Role Of Infrastructure Management In Reducing Hiv Disparities In Clinical Settings, Goulda Downer

National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center Publications

National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center (NMAETC) Howard University College of Medicine in Collaboration with the National Medical Association (NMA) and Clinical Directors Network, Inc. (CDN) presents a Symposium on The Role of Infrastructure Management in Reducing HIV Disparities in Clinical Settings

Estimating Seismic Parameters Associated With Previous Earthquakes By Scptu Soundings In The Nmsz, Tianfei Liao, Paul W. Mayne

International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics

Although the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) is the most active seismic region in the eastern United States, paleoliquefaction features are often used to analyze the previous seismic activities, due to the long recurrence interval of large earthquakes. A new methodology is proposed in this paper to estimate the seismic parameters associated with previous earthquakes based on the results of seismic cone penetration tests (SCPT), using the simplified procedure of liquefaction analysis and the attenuation relationships developed for the corresponding seismic areas. This methodology is validated through the paleoliquefaction studies at two sites associated with the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake …

Estimated Birth Weight And Adult Cardiovascular Risk Factors In A Developing Southern Chinese Population: A Cross Sectional Study, C. Mary Schooling, C. Q. Jiang, T. H. Lam, B. J. Cowling, S. L. Yeung, W. S. Zhang, K. K. Cheng, G. M. Leung

Publications and Research

Background: Birth weight is negatively associated with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, but the associations are less well-established in developing populations where birth weight is often unavailable. We studied the association of birth weight and cardiovascular risk, using birth rank as an instrumental variable, in Southern China.

Methods: We used published data on birth weight by birth rank from an appropriate population and baseline data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study phases 2 & 3 (2005-8) to examine the adjusted associations, using instrumental variable analysis, of birth weight with clinically measured cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome in older …

Morphological And Molecular Characterizations Of Psychrophilic Fungus Geomyces Destructans From New York Bats With White Nose Syndrome (Wns), Vishnu Chaturvedi, Deborah J. Springer, Melissa J. Behr, Rama Ramani, Xiaojiang Li, Marcia K. Peck, Ping Ren, Dianna J. Bopp, Britta Wood, William A. Samsonoff, Calvin M. Butchkoski, Alan C. Hicks, Ward B. Stone, Robert J. Rudd, Sudha Chaturvedi

KIP Articles

No abstract provided.

Epistatic Relationships Between Sara And Agr In Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm Formation, Karen E. Beenken, Lara N. Mrak, Linda M. Griffin, Agnieszka K. Zielinska, Lindsey N. Shaw, Kelly C. Rice, Alexander R. Horswill, Kenneth W. Bayles, Mark S. Smeltzer

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

Background: The accessory gene regulator (agr) and staphylococcal accessory regulator (sarA) play opposing roles in Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation. There is mounting evidence to suggest that these opposing roles are therapeutically relevant in that mutation of agr results in increased biofilm formation and decreased antibiotic susceptibility while mutation of sarA has the opposite effect. To the extent that induction of agr or inhibition of sarA could potentially be used to limit biofilm formation, this makes it important to understand the epistatic relationships between these two loci.

Methodology/Principal Findings: We generated isogenic sarA and agr mutants in clinical isolates of S. …

Cd4 T-Cell Suppression By Cells From Toxoplasma Gondii-Infected Retinas Is Mediated By Surface Protein Pd-L1, Elizabeth Charles, Sunil Joshi, John D. Ash, Barbara A. Fox

Dartmouth Scholarship

In the inflamed retina, CD4(+) T cells can cause retinal damage when they are not properly regulated. Since tissue expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and costimulatory molecules is a key mechanism for regulating effector T cells, we tested the hypothesis that upregulation of these proteins in the retina contributes to the regulation of CD4 T cells. Here we report that in retinas infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, MHC class II is upregulated on infiltrating leukocytes as well as on resident retinal cells, including photoreceptors. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that B7 costimulatory family members (CD80, CD86, …

Structural And Functional Studies On Thrombin Allostery, Prafull Gandhi

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Thrombin is an allosteric serine protease endowed with important physiological functions in the blood. Once activated, α-thrombin plays procoagulant, prothrombotic, and anticoagulant functions in blood. Its important role in blood coagulation can be emphasized by the fact that thrombin interacts with numerous substrates, cofactors, ligands, and inhibitors. Two well-documented allosteric pathways, involving the Na+ binding site and the exosite I, regulate thrombin catalytic efficiency and substrate specificity. Identifying structural epitopes of substrate binding, the exact pathway and the molecular basis of allosteric regulation remains challenging. The case of protease-activated receptor: PAR1) is particularly relevant in view of the plethora of …

Physical Models In Community Detection With Applications To Identifying Structure In Complex Amorphous Systems, Peter Ronhovde

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

We present an exceptionally accurate spin-glass-type Potts model for the graph theoretic problem of community detection. With a simple algorithm, we find that our approach is exceptionally accurate, robust to the effects of noise, and competitive with the best currently available algorithms in terms of speed and the size of solvable systems. Being a "local" measure of community structure, our Potts model is free from a "resolution limit" that hinders community solutions for some popular community detection models. It further remains a local measure on weighted and directed graphs. We apply our community detection method to accurately and quantitatively evaluate …

Modeling And Detection Of Uterine Contractions Using Magnetomyography, Patricio La Rosa

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

In this dissertation, we develop a novel mathematical framework for modeling and analyzing uterine contractions using biomagnetic measurements. The study of myometrium contractility during pregnancy is relevant to the field of reproductive assessment. Its clinical importance is grounded in the need for a better understanding of the bioreproduction mechanisms. For example, in the last decade the number of preterm labors has increased significantly. Preterm birth can cause health problems or even be fatal for the fetus if it happens too early, and, at the same time, it imposes significant financial burdens on health care systems. Therefore, it is critical to …

Determination Of The Structural And Functional Mechanisms Of Perfluorocarbon-Based Nanoemulsion Particle Interactions With Model Biomembrane Systems, Sun Joo Lee

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Perfluorocarbon based nanoemulsion particles: PFC-NEPs) are very small sized: ~ 250 nm in diameter) greasy droplets that are enclosed by emulsifying phospholipid monolayer. PFC-NEPs have been extensively developed for target-specific delivery of therapeutic agents such as imaging agents and drug molecules. Because of the extremely small sizes of PFC-NEPs and fluid nature of their surface, the structure of these particles at atomic resolutions has yet to be determined by experimental approaches. The aim of this thesis is to determine the atomistic structure of PFC-NEP interfaces with a particular focus on their interaction with model target bilayers. The goal of this …

Mechanism Of Yeast Prion Portein Aggregation And Strain Formation, Tejas Baba Kalastavadi

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Misfolding and aggregation of the prion protein: PrP) causes fatal neurodegenerative diseases in many mammalian species, including humans. Mutations in the gene encoding PrP are associated with ~15% of the incidences, while, the vast majority of the cases are sporadic. Interestingly, prion diseases also display pathological variation, suggesting that there are multiple different strains. To elucidate the mechanism of prion protein aggregation and strain formation, I have taken advantage of the yeast prions [PSI+] and [RNQ+] and their protein determinants Sup35p and Rnq1p, respectively. Using a Sup35-PrP chimera, I have investigated the effect of the disease associated oligopeptide repeat domain: …

Distinct Functions For Type I And Type Ii Interferon In Cancer Immunoediting, Mark Diamond

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The idea that a functionally intact immune system can protect against cancer development forms the basis of the long-postulated and once controversial concept of cancer immunosurveillance. A substantial body of evidence, however, now exists defining a role for immunity in extrinsic tumor suppression - work that broadened our understanding of the tumor-immune interface and led to the cancer immunoediting hypothesis. The interferons, both type I: IFNα/β) and type II IFN: IFNγ), are critical mediators of cancer immunoediting, yet their respective roles in promoting anti-tumor immune responses remain unclear. Herein, we have examined the actions of IFNα/β and IFNγ during tumor …

Genetic And Phenotypic Differentiation Between Winemaking And Wild Strains Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Katie Hyma

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Traditionally, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been associated with wine, beer and bread production, yet wild strains have also been isolated from natural habitats. While all strains of S. cerevisiae as well as other Saccharomyces species are capable of wine fermentation, a genetically distinct group of S. cerevisiae strains is primarily used to produce wine. These strains exhibit an apparent genetic bottleneck, which led to the hypothesis that wine stains have been domesticated from `wild' natural strains. However, it is unknown whether the genetic bottleneck was accompanied by selection for phenotypic differences. In this study we tested for phenotypes correlated with the …

The Role Of Actin Depolymerizing Factor In Regulating Actin Dynamics In Toxoplasma Gondii, Simren Mehta

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Apicomplexan parasites utilize a unique process of rapid motility termed gliding, which is coupled to their invasion of host cells. Gliding and invasion are dependent on parasite actin filaments, yet parasite actin is mostly non-filamentous. Filaments have been detected only transiently during gliding, suggesting that parasite actin filaments are rapidly assembled and disassembled during gliding motility. Little is known about what regulates the turnover of parasite actin filaments. In higher eukaryotes the Actin Depolymerizing Factor: ADF)/Cofilin proteins are essential regulators of actin filament turnover. ADF is one of the few actin binding proteins conserved in apicomplexan parasites. To investigate the …

Genetic Analysis Of The Pi3k/Akt/Mtor Signaling Pathway, Janna Hutz

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Cancer is a leading cause of human death, and it is fundamentally attributable to dysfunctional cell signaling. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an important pro-growth intracellular signaling cascade that is often inappropriately activated in a wide array of cancers. Efforts to develop anticancer drugs have therefore focused, in part, on identifying PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors. However, patient response to some such inhibitors is mixed, with some patients experiencing a paradoxical activation of the pathway following treatment. It is therefore necessary to better understand the nature of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and how it varies in different individuals. The work presented here used cell …

Presentation Of Citrullinated Peptides Derived From Unmodified Protein By Antigen Presenting Cells., Jamie Rimer

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Presentation of citrullinated peptides derived from unmodified protein by antigen presenting cells. By Jamie Michelle Rimer Doctor of Philosophy in Biology and Biomedical Sciences: Immunology) Washington University in St. Louis 2010 Professor Emil R. Unanue, Chair Autoimmune responses to citrullinated proteins have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis; however, little is known of the mechanism by which tolerance to citrullinated proteins is established or the biology of citrullination by cells of the immune system. We find that immunization of B10.BR mice with HEL in CFA gives rise to T cells that specifically recognize citrullinated epitopes. We generated …

Development And Study Of Inhibitors Of Heat Shock Protein 70 Induction, Rongsheng Wang

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Tumor and cancer cells that over express heat shock protein 70: HSP70) are found to be multidrug resistant and thermo tolerant, creating a hurdle to existing therapy. Although HSP70 is recognized as an increasingly important drug target, the protein structure of this highly conserved chaperone remains challenging for direct targeting. An alternative strategy is to inhibit the transcription of HSP70. Among known small molecule inhibitors of HSP70 induction, quercetin has very low toxicity and has the advantage of being easily modified for structure-activity studies. One part of the dissertation focuses on the identification of quercetin derivatives with improved specificity and …

Photoacoustic Reporter Gene Imaging And Optical Coherence Computed Tomography, Li Li

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Advances in imaging technologies have always been the major driving forces for the evolution of biomedical research. Compared with other modalities, optical imaging possesses several prominent merits. Because light interacts with tissue at the microscopic level through many distinct physical mechanisms, optical methods allow sensitive exploration of various aspects of the life down to the single-molecule level. From the technical perspective, optical systems utilize safe non-ionizing radiation, could be implemented at relatively low cost, also have the potential to be miniaturized for portable or endoscopic applications. As a result, optical imaging tools are playing an increasingly important role in both …

Explanatory Models In Behavioral Endocrinology, Sylvia Rolloff

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

While the progress of science has been described by some as proceeding by a series of "crucial experiments," I claim that an important factor in the development of many scientific fields is that of what I call "crucial resolutions" of outstanding anomalies. In contrast to crucial experiments, crucial resolutions are proposed to solve persistent anomalies or conflicting theoretical positions - often in advance of experimental confirmation. I illustrate this point using specific examples from the history of endocrinology. I claim this general structure of explanatory models can serve as a template for philosophical and historical investigations in other scientific fields.

92nd Connecticut College Commencement Address, Jeffrey Sachs

Commencement Addresses

Economist Jeffrey Sachs encourages graduates to take their values from Connecticut College - values of community, diversity, knowledge, and mission - and show what they can do to improve the world.