Digital Commons Network^™

Current Review Of In Nivo Gbm Rodent Models: Emphasis On The Cns-1 Tumour Model, Valerie L. Jacobs, Pablo A. Valdes, William F. Hickey, Joyce A. De Leo

Dartmouth Scholarship

GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) is a highly aggressive brain tumour with very poor prognosis despite multi-modalities of treatment. Furthermore, recent failure of targeted therapy for these tumours highlights the need of appropriate rodent models for preclinical studies. In this review, we highlight the most commonly used rodent models (U251, U86, GL261, C6, 9L and CNS-1) with a focus on the pathological and genetic similarities to the human disease. We end with a comprehensive review of the CNS-1 rodent model.

A Retinoic Acid–Dependent Checkpoint In The Development Of Cd4+ T Cell–Mediated Immunity, Karina Pino-Lagos, Yanxia Guo, Chrysothemis Brown, Matthew P. Alexander, Raúl Elgueta, Kathryn A. Bennett, Victor De Vries, Elizabeth Nowak, Rune Blomhoff, Shanthini Sockanathan, Roshantha A. Chandraratna, Ethan Dmitrovsky, Randolph J. Noelle

Dartmouth Scholarship

It is known that vitamin A and its metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), are essential for host defense. However, the mechanisms for how RA controls inflammation are incompletely understood. The findings presented in this study show that RA signaling occurs concurrent with the development of inflammation. In models of vaccination and allogeneic graft rejection, whole body imaging reveals that RA signaling is temporally and spatially restricted to the site of inflammation. Conditional ablation of RA signaling in T cells significantly interferes with CD4⁺ T cell effector function, migration, and polarity. These findings provide a new perspective of the role of …

Trade-Offs Between Gear Selectivity And Logistics When Sampling Nekton From Shallow Open Water Habitats: A Gear Comparison Study, Ronald Baker, Thomas J. Minello

Gulf and Caribbean Research

We compared logistical issues and the catch composition, density, and size structure of nekton samples collected with a drop sampler, benthic sled, and a fine mesh cast net in shallow non-vegetated habitats of Galveston Bay, Texas. Approximately 16 cast net replicates were collected and sorted for every one drop or benthic sled sample. The drop sampler collected the greatest number of species and provided the highest density estimates for the majority of crustaceans and small demersal fishes; the sled provided comparable density estimates for penaeids and small demersal nekton, while under-representing more mobile fishes. Densities of small benthic nekton were …

Mitochondria, Amyloid Β, And Alzheimer's Disease, Ryan Douglas Readnower, Andrew David Sauerbeck, Patrick G. Sullivan

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Hypometabolism is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and implicates a mitochondrial role in the neuropathology associated with AD. Mitochondrial amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation precedes extracellular Aβ deposition. In addition to increasing oxidative stress, Aβ has been shown to directly inhibit mitochondrial enzymes. Inhibition of mitochondrial enzymes as a result of oxidative damage or Aβ interaction perpetuates oxidative stress and leads to a hypometabolic state. Additionally, Aβ has also been shown to interact with cyclophilin D, a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which may promote cell death. Therefore, ample evidence exists indicating that …

The Role Of Pragmatic Language Use In Mediating The Relation Between Hyperactivity And Inattention And Social Skills Problems, Melinda A. Leonard, Richard Milich, Elizabeth P. Lorch

Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The current study explored whether pragmatic language use was associated with, and perhaps accounted for, the social skills problems children with varying levels of hyperactivity and inattention experience.

Method: A community sample of 54 children aged 9 to 11 years participated. Pragmatic language use, hyperactivity and inattention, and social skills were examined utilizing data collected from standardized parent-report rating scales.

Results: Pragmatic language use fully mediated the relation between hyperactivity and social skills problems, and partially mediated the relation between inattention and social skills problems. Further, pragmatic language use provided a unique contribution in the estimate …

Role Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Placental Growth Factor And Cytokines On Outer Blood Retinal Barrier Breakdown., Sangeetha Sukumaran

Masters

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of the VEGF family of growth factors and
cytokines TNF- α and IL-1β on oBRB function. The human RPE line ARPE-19 was
employed as an in vitro model of the oBRB. Two-Dimensional gel electrophoresis was
employed to study the effect of growth factors on the RPE proteome. The barrier properties of
the oBRB were evaluated by expression of the TJ proteins occludin or Zo-1, or claudins-1, 2,
3 and 4, determined by western blotting analysis. Claudins 2, 3 and 4 were found to be
significantly up-regulated by TNF-α, while interleukin …

A Machine-Learning Approach For Workflow Identification From Low-Level Monitoring Information, Thorsten Stein

Theses

Knowing which workflows are executed within Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) is essential for successful IT management. In many cases, SOAs grew out of previous existing IT architectures; existing components are used as single services and therefore as parts of newly created workflows. Since such workflows consist of newly developed and legacy services, traditional workflow management systems often cannot be applied. This thesis presents a method for gathering information about the executed workflows within such heterogeneous environments. An implementation of a framework is presented. This framework allows the training of machine-learning algorithms with workflow models and the mapping of low-level monitoring …

Composition - Structure - Property Relationships In Strontium / Zinc Doped Glass-Ceramics., Mark Looney

Theses

Calcium silicate ceramics are amongst a group of ceramic materials currently utilised as bone graft materials. However, current calcium silicate grafts offer little therapeutic potential and poor mechanical properties. The objective of this project was to examine the composition-structure-property relationships arising from the incorporation of therapeutic ions of strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) into calcium silicate glass-ceramics (GC) in order to allow for healthy bone regeneration and antibacterial efficacy. Five compositions were studied with varying mole fractions of Sr and Zn. The GC’s were characterised using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD) at room and ascending temperatures, x-ray tomography …

The Bioinformatics Work Flow Framework For One Step Gene Identification And Analysis Of Complex Genomic And Metagenomic Sequence Data, John Timothy Carroll

Theses

Abstract

Vioinformatics is the application of computer science and related disciplines to the field of molecular biology. There are currently many web and desktop tools available for biologists to perform bioinformatic tasks. These tools often require users to manually and repeatedly co-ordinate multiple applications to produce a result, which is time consuming and error prone for the user. As a result, workflow tools have been developed to automate these tasks. Many of these tools require expert knowledge of the techniques and supporting databases within the area of bioinformatics. Biologists learning to use these workflow tools can find it difficult as …

African Customary Law, Customs, And Women's Rights, Muna Ndulo

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

The sources of law in most African countries are customary law, the common law and legislation both colonial and post-independence. In a typical African country, the great majority of the people conduct their personal activities in accordance with and subject to customary law. Customary law has great impact in the area of personal law in regard to matters such as marriage, inheritance and traditional authority, and because it developed in an era dominated by patriarchy some of its norms conflict with human rights norms guaranteeing equality between men and women. While recognizing the role of legislation in reform, it is …

Life, Death, And Neuroimaging: The Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Defense's Use Of Neuroimages In Capital Cases - Lessons From The Front, John H. Blume, Emily C. Paavola

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

The use of neuroimaging in capital cases has become increasingly common. An informal survey of cases produced over one hundred opinions from reported decisions alone discussing the use of computed tomography (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans, and similar technology in capital cases. This article gives practical advice to defense counsel considering the use of neuroimaging in a capital case. We discuss how, in the right case, this technology can be a valuable investigative tool used to produce an important component of a successful mitigation story. However, …

Suicidal Behavior, Language Acquisition, And Deafness: Evaluating The Potential Relationship Between Age Of Language Acquisition And Prevalence Of Suicidal Behavior In A Deaf Population With Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder, Jared A. Embree

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Since 2008, the Deaf Off Drugs and Alcohol (DODA) Program has provided culturally appropriate cessation and recovery support services via e-therapy to Deaf/HH individuals with a clinically diagnosed substance use disorder (SUD). The information collected by the DODA program presented an opportunity to study the relationship between delayed language acquisition and suicidal ideation and attempts in a population that has historically been understudied, yet has increased prevalence in both suicidal behavior and significantly delayed language acquisition compared to the general population. Of the 107 prelingually Deaf consumers in the program, 18 reported language acquisition later than age ten. This study …

Destructive Coordination, Charles K. Whitehead

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

An important goal of financial risk regulation is promoting coordination. Law's coordinating function minimizes costly conflict and encourages greater uniformity among market participants. Likewise, privately developed market standards, such as standard-form contracts and rules incorporated into widely-used vendor technology systems, help to lower transaction costs partly by increasing coordination.

By contrast, much of financial economics is premised on a world without coordination. Basic tools used to manage financial risk presume that changes in asset prices follow a random walk and individuals buy and sell assets independently. Thus, a bedrock premise of traditional risk management is that a portfolio manager’s actions …

Molecular Details Of The Catalytic Activity Of Carboxylesterases, Xiaozhen Yu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carboxylesterases (CEs; EC 3.1.1.1) are ubiquitous enzymes responsible for the detoxification of xenobiotics. CEs hydrolyze carboxyl esters into their corresponding alcohol and carboxylic acid. Because of their biological functions, especially their roles in converting inactive prodrugs, such as the anti-cancer drug CPT-11, to their active metabolites, a good understanding of the mechanism of the hydrolysis reaction will give us a better direction for drug design. In this study, we used a multidisciplinary approach (computational simulation, molecular biology techniques and enzyme kinetic methods) to study the dynamic motions of CEs and the potential role of these motions in the catalytic mechanism …

Influence Of Vegetation On Sediment Bacterial Community Structure, Microbial Enzyme Activities And Phosphorus Retention In Constructed Freshwater Wetlands, Rani Menon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural activities are major sources of non-point pollutants causing eutrophication. Constructed wetlands are used as a best management practice for sequestration of nutrients from agricultural runoff. This dissertation focuses on the influence of vegetation on bacterial community structure, microbial enzyme activities, and phosphorus retention capacity of constructed wetland systems. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using unvegetated or vegetated mesocosms with Juncus effusus, Carex lurida or Dichanthelium acuminatum var. acuminatum in monoculture or mixed culture.

To study the influence of vegetation on the bacterial community structure and microbial enzyme activities, sediment samples were taken from monoculture mesocosms in the greenhouse. β-1,4-glucosidase, …

Part A: Studies Towards Total Synthesis Of An Anticancer And Antifungal Natural Product, Pseudolaric Acid B; Part B: Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Berkeleyamide A And Its Derivatives, Swapnil Jayant Kulkarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Part A: Studies towards total synthesis of an antifungal and anticancer agent, Pseudolaric acid B. Marked by the uncontrolled cell proliferation, cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, accounting for about 7.0 million deaths in 2007. Cancer is second leading cause of death worldwide, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer chemotherapy has evolved through many years of painstaking research, and as a result, today we are able to cure at least some of cancers. One of the major impediments in the development of new drugs for treating cancer is that most of the approved drugs are themselves toxic and …

Avian Cerebellum Specialization In Relation To Acrobatic Courtship Displays In Manakins (Pipridae), Steven Ray Wilkening

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The courtship displays of male manakins (Pipridae) involve an array of acrobatic and postural elements. Previously it was found that species with elaborate displays exhibit specializations in motor planning and coordination areas of the brain. Several studies have suggested a relationship between cerebellum (Cb) morphology and distinct motor-related functions for the anterior Cb (somatosensory, flying, hopping/walking), posterior Cb (vision, audition, flying, hopping/walking), and vestibular Cb (flying, hopping/walking, vestibular). The anterior, posterior and vestibular Cb as well as basic morphological features of the Cb were measured and tested for a relationship with courtship display complexity in manakins. I compared Cb morphology …

Relationship Between Coastal Vegetation Biomass With Elevation And Salinity Gradients, Ying Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Surges and waves generated by hurricanes and other severe storms can cause devastating damage to property and loss of life in coastal areas. Vegetation in wetlands and coastal fringes can reduce storm surges and waves while complementing traditional coastal defense approaches such as permanent levees, seawalls and gates. The effectiveness of marsh vegetation in attenuating storm surge energy and reducing soil erosion depends on the level of primary production at the time of the storm surge and the ability of marsh vegetation to recover rapidly from damage caused by the storm surge. Marsh production depends on a variety of abiotic …

Characterization Of Nanoparticle-Induced Airway Oxidant Stress And The Antioxidant Effects Of Sorrel (Hibiscus Sabdariffa): An Omics Approach, Christa Young Watson

Dissertations

Nanotoxicology is the study of the potential toxic effects of anthropogenic and biogenic nanostructures on living organisms. The influence of nanostructures such as nanoparticles on the human airway has gained interest due to increased susceptibility of translocation into other regions of the body. Adverse effects such as oxidative stress and inflammation have been found after the inhalation of airborne nanoparticles in airway epithelial cells. Oxidative stress and inflammation in mice models have been attenuated through the consumption of antioxidant containing plant compounds called phytochemicals. In this dissertation, we have evaluated the hypothesis that nanoparticles regardless of origin can elicit oxidative …

Retaining International College Students: Promoting Proactive Institutional Support Services For Successful Adjustment, Craig Cameron Curty

Dissertations

This study investigates whether institutions with centralized international student support offices have higher retention rates and higher overall grade point averages for undergraduate F1 visa status non-native English speaking international students. Modeled on Astin's (1984) Student Involvement Theory, the research study proposes and tests a model of undergraduate F1 visa status non-native English speaking international student frequency of involvement and whether an international student office (ISO) moderates this relationship by increasing undergraduate F1 visa status non-native English speaking international student frequency of involvement leading to positive academic outcomes, specifically focusing on overall grade point average (GPA) and retention. If this …

El Cuy, Supertiñosa, Y El Comic Hispanoamericano, Pete Lockwood

La BloGoteca de Babel

No abstract provided.

The Prevalence Of Adhd In Candidates For Gastric Bypass Surgery: Are Overeating And Obesity Accounted For By The Attention Deficits And Impulisivity Of Adhd?, Andrea M. Parry

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and general psychological characteristics in an adult, presurgery population of patients seeking Gastric Bypass (GB). An ADHD diagnosis was defined as clinically significant scores as measured by the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS). Other psychological characteristics were assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – Second Edition (MMPI-2). The sample was selected from a homogeneous adult outpatient population. Participants meeting inclusion criteria presented for psychological assessment preparatory to GB surgery at the office of Dr. Steven Walfish. Participants were excluded if they failed to …

Does The Quality Of The Patient-Physician Relationship Moderate Predictors Of Poor Adherence In Urban, Underserved And Vulnerable Patients With Chronic Illness?, Laura Russo-Innamorato

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Escalating prevalence rates and rising economic costs of chronic illnesses necessitate a better understanding of factors affecting patient adherence in the primary care setting. Despite technological advances and evidenced-based treatments, clinical outcomes are often poor. Data drawn from archival data of the “A Healthier You” wellness program designed to serve a predominately underserved population were examined to assess whether or not positive predictors of adherence could moderate the impact of negative predictors such as depression. Limitations of the study methodology precluded significant interpretations but suggested significant discrepancies between patient and physician perceptions of trust in the relationship and the satisfaction …

Genotoxin-Induced Acetylation Of The Werner Syndrome Protein (Wrn) And Effect On Its Dna Metabolic Function, Enerlyn Meliza Lozada Santiago

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Loss of function of the WRN protein causes the genetic disorder Werner Syndrome that is characterized by increased cancer and premature aging. WRN belongs to the RecQ helicase family that plays key roles in preventing genome instability. In response to treatment with genotoxins, WRN is subject to post-translational modification. The relationship of post-translational modification of WRN with its function in DNA metabolism is unknown. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that WRN contributes to the maintenance of genomic integrity through its involvement in DNA replication. Consistent with this notion, WS cells are sensitive to DNA replication inhibitors and DNA damaging agents …

Three Dimensional Modeling And Animation Of Facial Expressions, Alice J. Lin

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Facial expression and animation are important aspects of the 3D environment featuring human characters. These animations are frequently used in many kinds of applications and there have been many efforts to increase the realism. Three aspects are still stimulating active research: the detailed subtle facial expressions, the process of rigging a face, and the transfer of an expression from one person to another. This dissertation focuses on the above three aspects.

A system for freely designing and creating detailed, dynamic, and animated facial expressions is developed. The presented pattern functions produce detailed and animated facial expressions. The system produces realistic …

Polyamine Modulation In Alcoholism: Examination Using A Novel Screening Procedure Designed To Predict Anti-Relapse And Neuroprotective Efficacy, J. Ben Lewis

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Alcohol dependence is a major public health concern. Despite the FDA’s approval of multiple anti-relapse drugs, relapse rates remain unacceptably high. Furthermore, cognitive deficits among chronic drinkers are evident and are suggested to contribute to relapse risk. Current evidence suggests that several critical features of alcoholism and alcohol-associated neurodegeneration are mechanistically linked to glutamatergic actions; specifically, they appear positively affected by glutamatergic inhibition, particularly inhibition via polyamine modulation of a subpopulation of n-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. The current project was designed to evaluate the performance of two putative polyamine modulators (JR-220 and CP-101,606) in a variety of screens designed …

The Justifications For Nondegradation Programs In U.S. Environmental Law, Robert L. Glicksman

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

The concept of non-regression is not one that is familiar to environmental law in the United States. Nevertheless, Congress and federal agencies have adopted programs to prevent degradation of existing high quality environments and to prevent revisions of individual emissions restrictions by making them more lenient. The first programs are known as nondegradation or anti-degradation programs. The others preclude “backsliding” by prohibiting slippage in performance by regulated entities complying with regulations that are later loosened. This chapter explores the history and current status of nondegradation and anti-backsliding programs under U.S. water and air pollution control legislation. It describes the justifications …

Fixing The Flaws In The Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, Peter H. Meyers

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

The Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was a pioneering no-fault federal tort reform innovation when it was created two decades ago, but it is no longer the fast, generous, and less adversarial program that Congress originally created or that the Supreme Court recently described in Bruesewitz v. Wyeth. This article describes the serious problems that exist in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program today, and proposes several legislative and other suggestions to fix these problems. Important lessons on how to improve the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program can be learned from several other recent federal compensation programs, including the Smallpox Compensation Program …

Analytic & Numerical Study Of A Vortex Motion Equation, Daniel Bueller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A nonlinear second order differential equation related to vortex motion is derived. This equation is analyzed using various numerical and analytical techniques including finding approximate solutions using a perturbative approach.

Algebraic Aspects Of (Bio) Nano-Chemical Reaction Networks And Bifurcations In Various Dynamical Systems, Teng Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dynamics of (bio) chemical reaction networks have been studied by different methods. Among these methods, the chemical reaction network theory has been proven to successfully predicate important qualitative properties, such as the existence of the steady state and the asymptotic behavior of the steady state. However, a constructive approach to the steady state locus has not been presented. In this thesis, with the help of toric geometry, we propose a generic strategy towards this question. This theory is applied to (bio)nano particle configurations. We also investigate Hopf bifurcation surfaces of various dynamical systems.