Digital Commons Network^™

Potency Testing For Ntd Vaccines: Determining Relative Potency For The Na-Gst-1 Human Hookworm Vaccine, Amar R. Jariwala, Brian Keegan, Pavithra Raghavendra, Jordan L. Plieskatt, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez, Jeffrey M. Bethony

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Posters and Presentations

Over the next decade, a new generation of vaccines will target the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) . The goal of most NTD vaccines will be to reduce the morbidity and decrease the chronic debilitating nature of these often-forgotten infections - outcomes that are hard to measure in the traditional potency-testing paradigm . The absence of measurable correlates of protection, a lack of permissive animal models for lethal infection, and a lack of clinical indications that do not include the induction of sterilizing immunity required us to reconsider the traditional bioassay methods for determining vaccine potency . Owing to these limitations, …

Cal Poly Professor Selected Radcliffe Institute Fellow, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Report Documents Ocean-Saving Research By Cal Poly Professor And Others, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Lipid Phosphate Phosphatase 3 Enables Efficient Thymic Egress, Béatrice Bréart, Willy D. Ramos-Perez, Alejandra Mendoza, Abdelghaffar K. Salous, Michael Gobert, Yong Huang, Ralf H. Adams, Juan J. Lafaille, Diana Escalante-Alcalde, Andrew J. Morris, Susan R. Schwab

Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Faculty Publications

The signaling lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) stabilizes the vasculature, directs lymphocyte egress from lymphoid organs, and shapes inflammatory responses. However, little is known about how S1P distribution is controlled in vivo, and it is not clear how a ubiquitously made lipid functions as a signal that requires precise spatial and temporal control. We have found that lipid phosphate phosphatase 3 (LPP3) enables efficient export of mature T cells from the thymus into circulation, and several lines of evidence suggest that LPP3 promotes exit by destroying thymic S1P. Although five additional S1P-degrading enzymes are expressed in the thymus, they cannot compensate for …

The Intersection Of Catholic Social Teaching, Internationalization, And Marriage And Family Therapy: Lessons From The Borderlands, Ana Ulloa Estrada

Journal of Catholic Education

This article explores the relevance and challenge of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and internationalization to the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at the University of San Diego. These issues are discussed in the context of a graduate level course on human diversity that culminated in a 1-day cultural immersion and service learning trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Students learned firsthand about the legacies of colonialism, poverty, and injustice as well as the resilience and potential of rural Mexican communities to transform these experiences into new cultural and business practices, healing, and survival against many odds. Excerpts from student essays suggest …

Uab's Gravitt Honored For Advising, Jim Bakken

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Toxicity Of Triamcinolone Acetonide And Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate On Human Lens Epithelial Cells (Hle B-3), Ashish Sharma, Ashkan Pirouzmanesh, Jayaprakash Patil, M. F. Estrago-Franco, Leandro Cabral Zacharias, Usha P. Andley, M. Cristina Kenney, Baruch D. Kuppermann

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

May 16, 2011 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Genistein's Effect On Acrosome Reaction Of Ram Sperm, Samantha L. Gerecke

Student Theses and Dissertations

Capacitation and acrosome reaction are important processes that sperm cells must undergo in the female reproductive tract in order for fertilization of the ova to occur. Genistein, a phytoestrogen, has been shown to inhibit protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) receptors, an important signal transducer involved in capacitation and acrosome reaction of sperm cells, leading to decreased fertility. In this study, genistein was added to electroejaculated ram sperm in concentrations of 100 µM, 1 mM, and 2 mM, estradiol-17â (100 µM) to serve as a positive estrogenic control. Sheep serum was used to initiate sperm capacitation, and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 was used …

Parental Death During Childhood And Adult Cardiovascular Risk In A Developing Country: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study, C. Mary Schooling, Chaoqiang Jiang, Tai Hing Lam, Weisen Zhang, Kar Keung Cheng, Gabriel M. Leung

Publications and Research

Background In observational studies from western countries childhood emotional adversity is usually associated with adult cardiovascular disease. These findings are open to contextual biases making evidence from other settings valuable. We examined the association of a potential marker of childhood emotional adversity with cardiovascular disease risk factors in a developing country. Methods We used multivariable regression in cross-sectional analysis of older (≥50 years) men (n = 7,885) and women (n = 20,886) from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (2003–8) to examine the adjusted association of early life (<18 years) parental death (none, one or two deaths) with blood pressure, fasting glucose, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and white blood cell count (WBC). We used seated height and delayed 10-word recall to assess content validity of parental death as a measure of childhood emotional adversity. We also examined whether associations varied by sex. Results Early life parental death was associated with shorter age- and sex-adjusted seated height. It was also associated with lower 10-word recall score adjusted for age, sex, socio-economic position, leg length and lifestyle. Similarly, adjusted early life parental death was not associated with blood pressure, fasting glucose, LDL-cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol but was associated with lower BMI (−0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.62 to −0.19 for 2 compared with no early life parental deaths) and triglycerides. Associations varied by sex for WHR and WBC. Among men only, early life parental death was associated with lower WHR (−0.008, 95% CI −0.015 to −0.001) and WBC (−0.35 109/L, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.13). Conclusions In a non-western population from a developing country, childhood emotional adversity was negatively associated with some cardiovascular risk factors, particularly among men. Our study suggests that some of the observed associations in western populations may be socially rather than biologically based or may be population specific.

Compost Tea And Milk To Suppress Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera Xanthii) On Pumpkins And Evaluation Of Horticultural Pots Made From Recyclable Fibers Under Field Conditions, Matthew Debacco

Master's Theses

Powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera xanthii) a common problem for vegetable growers, and the cost of controlling the disease with fungicides to the growers and the environment is high. An alternative approach for control using methods approved for organic production are sprays based on teas made from compost, both actively aerated (ACT) and non-aerated (NCT) compost teas, and sprays made from diluted milk. We evaluated these sprays for control of powdery mildew on pumpkins in field trials in Connecticut in 2008 and 2009, and in greenhouse trials in 2009. We also evaluated the compost teas and milk in the greenhouse …

Optimization Of Culture Conditions For Equine Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells And Their Differentiation Into Osteoblasts, Elizabeth R. Ackell

Master's Theses

The horse industry is a multibillion dollar industry where the health of the animals is of great focus for horse owners.  Bone fractures are an aspect of equine health failure that is continually catastrophic and often fatal.  In addition to discussing fracture, this review will outline the process by which bone tissue is regularly maintained and self-healed.  Also, traditional methods of healing fractures that have limited use and success will be discussed.  The lack of success that is common with the traditional methods has led to the need for additional research to identify more successful and economical ways of healing …

Improving Ammonia Emission Modeling And Inventories By Data Mining And Intelligent Interpretation Of The National Air Emission Monitoring Study Database, Jiqin Ni, Eric L. Cortus, Albert J. Heber

School of Agricultural & Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Ammonia emission is one of the greatest environmental concerns in sustainable agriculture development. Several limitations and fundamental problems associated with the current agricultural ammonia emission modeling and emission inventories have been identified. They were associated with a significant disconnection between field monitoring data and knowledge about the data. Comprehensive field measurement datasets have not been fully exploited for scientific research and emission regulations. This situation can be considerably improved if the currently available data are better interpreted and the new knowledge is applied to update ammonia emission modeling techniques. The world’s largest agricultural air quality monitoring database with more than …

Nfatc1 Regulation Of Trail Expression In Human Intestinal Cells, Qingding Wang, Yuning Zhou, Heidi L. Weiss, Chi-Wing Chow, B. Mark Evers

Surgery Faculty Publications

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL; Apo2) has been shown to promote intestinal cell differentiation. Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) participates in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes, including differentiation. Here, we examined the role of NFAT in the regulation of TRAIL in human intestinal cells. Treatment with a combination of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187 (Io) increased NFAT activation and TRAIL expression; pretreatment with the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA), an antagonist of NFAT signaling, diminished NFAT activation and TRAIL induction. In addition, knockdown of NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3, and NFATc4 blocked PMA/Io increased …

Inflammatory Gene Variants In The Tsimane, An Indigenous Bolivian Population With A High Infectious Load, Sarinnapha Vasunilashorn, Caleb E. Finch, Eileen M. Crimmins, Suvi A. Vikman, Jonathan Stieglitz, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan, Hooman Allayee

ESI Publications

The Tsimane of lowland Bolivia are an indigenous forager-farmer population living under conditions resembling pre-industrial European populations, with high infectious morbidity, high infection and inflammation, and shortened life expectancy. Analysis of 917 persons ages 5 to 60+ showed that allele frequencies of 9 SNPs examined in the apolipoprotein E (apoE), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) genes differed from some European, African, and north Asian-derived populations. The apoE2 allele was absent, whereas four SNPs related to CRP and IL-6 were monomorphic: CRP (rs1800947, rs3093061, and rs3093062) and IL-6 (rs1800795). No significant differences in apoE, CRP, and IL-6 variants across age …

Mining The Meanings And Pulling Out The Processes From Psychology Of Religion’S Correlation Mountain, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite

Faculty Publications

The article illustrates how rigorous quantitative studies in three distinct and promising areas opened the door to additional related qualitative work. Using qualitative narratives from a landmark sample of 184 diverse religious families, the authors discuss and illustrate two research methods and that have been useful to them: triangulating data in the context of family, and seeking truth through progressive questioning. Next, consistent with the paper's primary purpose, the authors highlight three areas where the strong, correlation-based research foundation provided by quantitative social scientists of religion has created some prime, complementary opportunities for follow-up work by qualitative researchers. …

Mekk3 Regulates Ifn-Γ Production In T Cells Through The Rac1/2-Dependent Mapk Cascades, Xiaofang Wang

UCHC Articles - Research

MEKK3 is a conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase belonging to the MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) family. MEKK3 is constitutively expressed in T cells, but its function in T cell immunity has not been fully elucidated. Using Mekk3 T cell conditional knockout (T-cKO) mice, we show that MEKK3 is required for T cell immunity in vivo. Mekk3 T-cKO mice had reduced T cell response to bacterial infection and were defective in clearing bacterial infections. The Ag-induced cytokine production, especially IFN-γ production, was impaired in Mekk3-deficient CD4 T cells. The TCR-induced ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPKs activation was also defective in Mekk3 …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - May 15, 2011, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the May 15, 2011 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - watercooler

Contents Include

• College of Medicine Conducting Research on Prevention of Birth Defects

• Dr. Pettyjohn Honored with Distinguished Alumni Award

• "Perfect Matches: New Doctors Pairing Off in Record Numbers"

• USA Medical Student Presents Research At Pediatric Academic Society Conference

• Decorated WWII Veteran Part of Grandson’s Medical School Graduation

• "Marathon Man" - Press-Register Features Dr. Phillip Fields

• Medical School Graduates Participate in Honors Convocation Ceremony

Salve Regina University Sixty-First Annual Commencement Program, 2011, Salve Regina College

Commencement Programs

The Commencement program details the order of exercises, academic honors, and graduates.

Doctor Of Medicine Commencement: May 15, 2011, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

Doctor of Medicine Commencement program from May 15, 2011.

Preimplantation Factor (Pif) Correlates With Early Mammalian Embryo Development-Bovine And Murine Models, Christopher W. Stamatkin, Roumen G. Roussev, Mike Stout, Victor Absalon-Medina, Sivakumar Ramu, Chelsi Goodman, Carolyn B. Coulam, Robert O. Gilbert, Robert A. Godke, Eytan R. Barnea

Faculty Publications

Background: PreImplantation Factor (PIF), a novel peptide secreted by viable embryos is essential for pregnancy: PIF modulates local immunity, promotes decidual pro-adhesion molecules and enhances trophoblast invasion. To determine the role of PIF in post-fertilization embryo development, we measured the peptide's concentration in the culture medium and tested endogenous PIF's potential trophic effects and direct interaction with the embryo.Methods: Determine PIF levels in culture medium of multiple mouse and single bovine embryos cultured up to the blastocyst stage using PIF-ELISA. Examine the inhibitory effects of anti-PIF-monoclonal antibody (mAb) added to medium on cultured mouse embryos development. Test FITC-PIF uptake by …

Profiling Sterols In Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis: Utility Of Girard Derivatization And High Resolution Exact Mass Lc-Esi-Msn Analysis, Andrea E. Debarber, Yana Sandlers, Anuradha S. Pappu, Louise S. Merkens, P. Barton Duell, Steven R. Lear, Sandra K. Erickson, Robert D. Steiner

Chemistry Faculty Publications

In this study we profile free 3-oxo sterols present in plasma from patients affected with the neurodegenerative disorder of sterol and bile acid metabolism cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), utilizing a combination of charge-tagging and LC-ESI-MSn performed with an LTQ-Orbitrap Discovery instrument. In addition, we profile sterols in plasma from 24-month-old cyp27A1 gene knockout mice lacking the enzyme defective in CTX. Charge-tagging was accomplished by reaction with cationic Girard's P (GP) reagent 1-(carboxymethyl) pyridinium chloride hydrazide, an approach uniquely suited to studying the 3-oxo sterols that accumulate in CTX, as Girard's reagent reacts with the sterol oxo moiety to form charged hydrazone …

Coastal Inundation Due To Storm Surge As Sea Level Changes Along The Northern South Carolina And Southern North Carolina Coast, Justin Hartnett

Honors Theses

This study made use of the storm surge model in Peng, Xie, and Pietrafesa (2004) and Xia et al. (2004), to predict coastal inundation along northern South Carolina and southern North Carolina as sea level rises. Hurricane Hazel (1954) was used as the reference hurricane in this study, which made landfall at 33.85°N, 78.57°W, as a category 4 hurricane. Data was plotted and analyzed using Matlab, to produce inundation maps for four sea level rises (0.2m, 0.6m, 1.0m, and 2.0m). The greatest net storm surge was produced during a 2m sea level rise, which in return caused the greatest amount …

The Enemy Within: Homosexuality In The Third Reich, 1933-1945, Eliot H. Boden

Constructing the Past

From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi regime in Germany ruthlessly targeted homosexuals, particularly men, as enemies of the state. While Nazi doctrine officially repudiated same-sex romance, actual policy toward homosexuals in the Third Reich was by no means consistent. This paper examines the components of Nazi racial doctrines and the subtle ways in which the hyper-masculine ethos of the regime in fact encouraged male bonding and homosexual behavior. The differing views of prominent Nazi leaders on the issue of homosexuality are also discussed. The paper concludes by comparing the punishment of homosexual behavior among German soldiers in the Schutzstaffel (SS), …

Anthropogenic Impact On Meiofauna In Myrtle Beach Area Estuaries, Melissa Martinez

Honors Theses

The population of South Carolina has been steadily increasing for years, especially in coastal areas. In fact, Horry County, which contains Myrtle Beach, has shown a population increase of 37% in the last decade. With significant population increase comes a proportional increase in urbanization, defined by more industries, more buildings, and more natural areas encroached upon. Not only does urbanization physically impact the natural environment, there are also chemical impacts through the release of anthropogenic waste and chemicals. Through runoff and direct input, these chemicals can eventually reach the estuaries and may cause some changes in those communities. For this …

A Comparison Of Fish Growth Rates In A Pristine And An Urbanized Salt Marsh Estuary, Katherine Stohl

Honors Theses

Fish grow as they age, but not all fish grow at the same rate. Internal and external factors such as stress and food availability can change the growth rate. This study looks to see if the growth rates vary between North Inlet and Murrell’s Inlet, SC for red drum and striped mullet. Red drum grew faster and showed a typical length-frequency graph in North Inlet. The cause of the difference in growth was not tested, but human influence on the estuaries was considered to be a possible factor.

Mitochondrial Dna Inheritance In Bivalves: A Comparative Study Involving The Unique System Of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance, Sarah Heishman

Honors Theses

A comparative study of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance (DUI) in the bivalve mollusks Mytilus edulis and Geukensia demissa has yielded unanticipated results. Around the world, it has been reported that members of the taxonomic family Mytilidae (along with the families of Unionidae and Veneridae) consistently exhibit DUI. However, the hard-to-place Geukensia demissa, which is a member of this family, has had varying reports of its DUI status. Most reports involving G. demissa vary with the location in which it is being studied, which prompts more questions than it answers. Due to many months of unsuccessful DNA purification attempts, sequencing and an …

Recovery Of The Long-Spine Sea Urchin, Diadema Antillarum, In Discovery Bay, Jamaica, 27 Years After Its Mass Mortality, Jessica Keller

Honors Theses

The long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, is a well-studied keystone herbivore on Caribbean coral reefs. The sea urchin controls benthic algae populations by grazing on macroalgae. Destruction caused by Hurricane Allen in 1980, along with the mass mortality of this urchin in 1983, greatly impacted Caribbean reef systems. In Discovery Bay, Jamaica, Diadema densities have been heavily studied over the years, allowing a review of their recovery and a prediction of their future. In Discovery Bay, densities were recorded to be up to 9.3 and 13.9 ± 2.8 m-2 at 5 m depth on the forereef before the mass mortality. …

Analysis Of The Water Fluoridation Controversy, Megan Presutti

Honors Theses

Analysis of the water fluoridation controversy.

Problem Solving And Functional Fixedness: A Comparison Between Eco-Reps And Non Eco-Reps, Keith G. Richard

Honors Theses

A quasi experiment was conducted to examine functional fixedness and creative problem solving. The purpose of this research was to attempt to identify differences in cognitive ability between recyclers and non recyclers. This researcher investigated whether recycling group affiliation or priming for functional fixedness would affect task performance among college students. A tower building activity was developed for this study to determine if members of a college recycling group, the Eco-Reps, would complete a problem solving activity faster than non Eco-Reps. Some participants in each group were primed for functional fixedness. This researcher hypothesized that Eco-Reps would complete the task …