Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Reinforcer-Paired Stimuli On Operant Behavior: Review, Demonstration, And Conceptual Analysis, Timothy Lowell Edwards

Masters Theses

The presentation of stimuli that have been paired with reinforcers may function as a motivating operation in that the efficacy of the reinforcers appears to increase and the class of responses that have been historically followed by those reinforcers increases in strength. This phenomenon has important implications for a number of behavioral concerns including drug addiction and eating disorders. A review of the existing literature examining this phenomenon presented herein suggests that the phenomenon is reliable and robust but that it is reinforcer-specific. In the animal study that is subsequently described, rats show a higher proportion of responding on average …

The Reduction Of Glycerol Flow In A Porous Medium Through A Barrier Coating Application, Thomas Tran

Masters Theses

Coatings for paper are categorized into two groups: pigmented or functional. Functional coatings provide functionality in addition to the normal coating properties. Functional coatings can be used for friction control, release properties, abrasion resistance, and barrier properties. A coating that is designed to control barrier properties can be categorized into a sub-group of functional coatings called barrier coatings.

Barrier coatings can retard or eliminate the flow of fluids thru a coated substrate. The barrier can be effective in repelling or resisting the transmission rate of numerous fluids including moisture, oil, oxygen, grease, and glycerol. Barrier coatings have many useful applications …

Mitochondrial Fission Induces Glycolytic Reprogramming In Cancer-Associated Myofibroblasts, Driving Stromal Lactate Production, And Early Tumor Growth., Carmela Guido, Diana Whitaker-Menezes, Zhao Lin, Richard G Pestell, Anthony Howell, Teresa A Zimmers, Mathew C Casimiro, Saveria Aquila, Sebastiano Ando', Ubaldo E Martinez-Outschoorn, Federica Sotgia, Michael P Lisanti

Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Recent studies have suggested that cancer cells behave as metabolic parasites, by inducing oxidative stress in adjacent normal fibroblasts. More specifically, oncogenic mutations in cancer cells lead to ROS production and the "secretion" of hydrogen peroxide species. Oxidative stress in stromal fibroblasts then induces their metabolic conversion into cancer-associated fibroblasts. Such oxidative stress drives the onset of autophagy, mitophagy, and aerobic glycolysis in fibroblasts, resulting in the local production of high-energy mitochondrial fuels (such as L-lactate, ketone bodies, and glutamine). These recycled nutrients are then transferred to cancer cells, where they are efficiently burned via oxidative mitochondrial metabolism (OXPHOS). We …

Alternative Annual Forage Crop Options For Northern Great Plains Cattle Producers: A South Dakota Case Study, Md Parvez, Scott Fausti, Thandiwe Nleya, Patricia Johnson, Kenneth Olsen, John Rickertsen

Economics Staff Paper Series (1969 - 2017)

In the Northern Great Plains region, crop and livestock producers view forage crop production as an important component of their farm management system. During periods of increased environmental risk, alternative annual forage crops may provide producers with a risk reducing alternative to traditional forage crops. An alternative forage crop production study (20 varieties) was conducted by South Dakota State University. Production yield data was analyzed using alternative decision making criteria when outcomes are uncertain. Empirical results provide insight on forage crop planting decisions with respect to the importance of optimal harvest timing, and the ranking of alternative forage crops as …

Humboldt Bay And Eel River Estuary Benthic Habitat Project, Susan Schlosser, Annie Eicher

Local Reports and Publications

The Humboldt Bay and Eel River Estuary Benthic Habitat Project (Habitat Project) was intended to support an ecosystem-based management approach to natural resources in the Humboldt Bay ecosystem. The Habitat Project report provides a summary of intertidal and subtidal habitat information, building on previous assessments, plans and profiles.

Effects Of Physiological Dynamic Compression Loading On Gold Nanoparticle Permeation Of Articular Cartilage, Britton Mccaskill

All Theses

Articular cartilage is essential part of the human body that aids in support and locomotion. It has unique biochemical and biomechanical properties that allow it to act as a shock absorber to disperse and distribute loading of the joints. However, it has a limited capacity to repair itself because it is not vascularized and must receive its nutrients from the surrounding synovial fluid. Articular cartilage damage can lead to many pathological conditions, including osteoarthritis. Currently, there are many surgical treatment methods that repair some of the damage if it is localized, but for widespread degradation seen in osteoarthritis, there are …

Eco-Theatre And New Media: Devising Toward Transnational Balance, Marnie Jane Glazier

Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to address the pivotal ecological and technological realities of the twenty-first century, currently giving rise to new patterns of existence and new paradigms of human inquiry. This study will ask how technological innovation and environmental urgency have altered the ways in which human beings think, and thus perceive the world around them, changing human behavior, or non-behavior, and calling forth new imperatives for the arts, and namely for the Theatre. Most significantly, the dissertation attempts to traverse the shadow-lands, between our ecologies and our technologies, exploring those essential points of convergence in the borderlands where Eco-Theatre and …

Transgene Delivery Via Microelectromechanical Systems, Aubrey Marie Mueller Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The invention of pronuclear microinjection initiated the field of transgenic research. Over 30 years later microinjection remains the most straight-forward and most commonly used transgene delivery option. In this work we address the current progress of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) used as transgenic delivery mechanisms. The nanoinjector is a specially designed MEMS device which uses electrostatic charge to manipulate transgene molecules. The process of nanoinjection was designed as an alternative to microinjection which causes less damage to developing embryos, improves embryo survival, birth rates, and overall efficiency of injections. In vivo testing of nanoinjection demonstrates it is both safe and effective. …

The Evolution Of Mutualism Between Alpheid Shrimp And Gobiid Fishes: A Balance Between Benefits And Costs, Patrick Lyons

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

I describe several assays designed to examine how costs and benefits interact in the development of mutualisms between species. A mutualism occurs between alpheid shrimp and gobiid fishes. These shrimp have poor vision but good burrowing ability. Individual shrimp share their burrows with a goby that, with good vision but no burrowing ability, acts as a watch-out warning shrimp when predators approach. In the Caribbean, a single species, Nes longus, which has been described as a mutualist, follows these behaviors. Others, such as Ctenogobius saepepallens, casually use shrimp burrows, rarely warn shrimp of danger, and are better described as commensalists. …

Investigation Into Pathological Responses Of Two Phenotypes Of The Scleractinian Coral, Montastraea Faveolata, To Putative Marine Vibrio Pathogens, Angela Michele Richards Donì

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Corals of the genus Montastraea in the Caribbean are highly susceptible to disease, although not all neighboring colonies appear to be affected on the same time scales. Stressed corals are unable to function optimally and are less likely to be reproductively successful than those that are not stressed. Montastraea spp. corals, like all corals from the order Scleractinia, are adapted to the narrow ranges in temperature and irradiance found in tropical waters. These environmental factors play an important role in a coral colony's ability to maintain homeostasis and excursions from their normal ranges for extended periods of time can trigger …

Nothing New Under The Sun: The Use Of Projections In Theatre, Stephanie Troise Walter

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Projections, a popular form of spectacle seen in live theatrical productions today, have suddenly become a much overused mode of spectacle. Once a specialized form of avant-garde expression, projections can now be found everywhere from rock concerts, to small experimental stages, and large theatrical production houses. Although critics and theatre historians claim that this is the result of a generation of entertainers and designers weaned on television and film, the actual use of some form of projected imagery has been traced back as far as the Paleozoic era. In this thesis, I provide a history of the techniques used to …

Substrate Chemistry, Mechanics And Morphology Influence Stem Cell Differentiation And Biomineralization, Aneel K. Bherwani

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Abstract 1:DPSC were obtained from pulp tissues of extracted wisdom teeth under protocols approved by the Stony Brook University Internal Review Board. Primary cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and used from 3rd-5th passage. For experiments on differentiation, cultures were grown in alpha-MEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 0.2 mM L-ascorbic acid 2- phosphate, 2 mm glutamine, 10 mM beta-glycerol phosphate either with or without 10 nM dexamethasone. After 21-days samples were examined using confocal microscopy of cells stained with Alexafluor 488-linked phalloidin and propidium iodide, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX). Using …

Impact Of Early Life Stress And 5-Httlpr On Adulthood Stress Reactivity: Investigation Of Changes In Cortisol, Gene Expression And Dna Methylation, Elif Aysimi Duman

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Early life stress (ELS) is considered one of the important risk factors for adulthood psychopathology and has been associated with impairments in stress response systems such as the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA). Over the last decade, studies on Gene-Environment interactions (GxEs) also suggested moderation of this relationship by genetic factors, such as the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). Although there are many studies investigating these associations, the underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms are not yet clear. The aim of this dissertation is to identify some of these mechanisms through the use of intermediate phenotypes such as cortisol reactivity, stress-related gene expression and DNA methylation. …

Hormonal Induction Of Polo-Like Kinases (Plks) And Impact Of Plk2 On Cell Cycle Progression In The Rat Ovary, Feixue Li, Misung Jo, Thomas E. Curry, Jing Liu

Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Publications

The highly conserved polo-like kinases (Plks) are potent regulators of multiple functions in the cell cycle before and during mitotic cell division. We investigated the expression pattern of Plk genes and their potential role(s) in the rat ovary during the periovulatory period. Plk2 and Plk3 were highly induced both in intact ovaries and granulosa cells in vivo after treatment with the luteinizing hormone (LH) agonist, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In vitro, hCG stimulated the expression of Plk2 in granulosa cells, but not Plk3. This induction of Plk2 expression was mimicked by both forskolin and phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Moreover, …

Production And Degradation Of 4-Ethylphenol In Lactobacillus Sp. Pep8 Cultures And In Blended Swine Lagoon Enrichments, Clinton W. Copp

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

4-Ethylphenol (4-EP) is a malodorant of swine waste and is derived from a component of lignin called p-coumaric acid (p-CA). The production of 4-EP from lignin in swine waste is untested. Additionally, the effect of Fe (III) on 4-EP levels is unknown. Four experiments were performed to determine if Lactobacillus sp. pep8 cultures, as well as enriched swine lagoon slurries, could liberate p-CA from lignin and convert p-CA to 4-EP. Furthermore, it was tested if the addition of Fe (III) influences the conversion of p- CA to 4-EP.

Experiment 1 tested Lactobacillus sp. pep8 cultures to determine if the addition …

Forage News [2012-08], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• KFGC Field Day - Hart County - September 6
• Drought and Forages
• Choose the Best Variety for Fall Plantings
• Plan to Attend the AFGC Meeting in Covington, KY - Jan. 7-9, 2013
• High Nitrates Especially in Drought Stressed Corn
• Biofuels will Continue to Drive Feed Prices
• Mother Nature Throws a Wrench into 2012

Low Gene Expression Of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 In Brainstem Astrocytes In Major Depression, Gregory A. Ordway, Attila Szebeni, Michelle J. Chandley, Craig A. Stockmeier, Lianbin Xiang, Samuel S. Newton, Gustavo Turecki, Michelle M. Duffourc, Meng Yang Zhu, Hobart Zhu, Katalin Szebeni

ETSU Faculty Works

The noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is the principal source of brain norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter thought to play a major role in the pathology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and in the therapeutic action of many antidepressant drugs. The goal of this study was to identify potential mediators of brain noradrenergic dysfunction in MDD. Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is a critical mediator of noradrenergic neuron differentiation during development and has neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects on mature catecholaminergic neurons. Real-time PCR of reversed transcribed RNA isolated from homogenates of LC tissue from 12 …

Status And Prosociality In Egalitarian Societies, Zachary Garfield

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Egalitarian societies have been the subject of significant academic attention for their unique cultural qualities, both as a representation of a distinct political category, and as a base line in the context of biological and cultural evolution. Although the domains and degrees of egalitarianism vary cross-culturally, certain characteristics seem universal. Egalitarian societies are nonstratified social systems that lack hereditary statuses with ascribed coercive power. In egalitarian societies leadership is achieved and dependent upon personal qualities and individual behavior. Leaders are granted authority but lack coercive power and rely on techniques such as persuasion to exert influence over others. Multiple theories …

Techmatters: Get More Animated: Online Tools For Creating Cartoon Videos In The Classroom, Krista Graham

LOEX Quarterly

No abstract provided.

The Plant Based Diet: Increasing Overall Health Through Simple Diet, Tyler Sorensen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Design, Synthesis And Evaluation Of Inhibitors Of The Enoyl-Acp Reductase From Staphylococcus Aureus And Yesinia Pestis, Sonam Shah

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Infectious diseases, caused by pathogenic biological agents, are the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in low-income countries. Two such pathogenic bacteria that are our centers of interest are Staphylococcus aureus, the most common cause of hospital acquired infection and Yesinia pestis, the priority pathogen that causes plague. In order to develop drugs against these pathogens, we focus on the fatty acid biosynthesis (FASII) pathway, a validated target for drug discovery due to structural differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic fatty acid synthesis machinery. Previously, a library of diphenyl ethers synthesized by our lab exhibited potent inhibition of the enzyme enoyl-ACP …

Functions Of Interferon Stimulated Gene, Isg54, Marcin Stawowczyk

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The ability of interferons to protect cells from viral infection depends on the activation of multiple interferon-stimulated genes that together induce an anti-viral state. One of the genes is Interferon Stimulated Gene 54 (ISG54/IFIT2), coding for a 54kDa protein with a highly segmented structure rich in tetratricopeptide (TPR) motifs. We discovered that ISG54 promotes apoptosis in cancer cell lines, and that shRNA knockdown of ISG54 significantly reduced cell death in response to interferon. ISG54-mediated apoptosis proceeds by the mitochondrial pathway and requires the presence of Bax and Bak proteins. The anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-xL) effectively blocks ISG54-mediated apoptosis. In addition, …

A Role For The Polarity Protein Par3 In Erbb2-Induced Breast Cancer, Bin Xue

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Polarity protein Partitioning defective protein 3 (Par3) is an evolutional conserved scaffold protein in metazoans. Par3 together with Par6 and aPKC form Par complex and localize at the subapical domain of epithelial cells. Par3 plays important roles during establishment of apical membrane and tight junctions in epithelia. In my thesis, I identified Par3 as a novel metastasis suppressor in breast cancer. ErbB2, also known as HER2, is an important proto-oncogene in breast cancer. Approximately 25% of breast cancers have ErbB2 amplification or overexpression and correlate with poor prognosis. Downregulation of Par3 cooperated with ErbB2 to induce cell invasion in mammary …

The Functions And Consequences Of Intergroup Aggression Among Argentine Tufted Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Apella [Sapajus] Nigritus), Clara Joann Scarry

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Intergroup encounters provide dramatic examples of cooperative behavior, in which unrelated individuals may coordinate aggression when mutual benefits arise from defending access to resources. While between-group competition over mates and resources are pivotal factors in theoretical models of the evolution of primate behavior, systematic study of these interactions has been limited due to the relative rarity of intergroup encounters and the logistical difficulties of studying multiple social groups simultaneously. Here I examine the nature and consequences of between-group competition in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella [Sapajus] nigritus) in Iguaz?? National Park, Argentina. I followed four neighboring groups, collecting explicit measures …

Negotiating Conflicting Rhetorics: Rancheras And Documentary In The Classroom, Dora Ramirez-Dhoore

English Literature Faculty Publications and Presentations

As a young teenager, I remember sitting in the back seat of my parent's car, rolling my eyes at the noise coming from the radio speakers. On the airwaves being sent directly from Texas and Florida and behind the overbearing static sound, I could make out the TAN, TAN of the ending of the rancheraⁱ song my father was singing and enjoying. My mother would be next to him singing and whistling along, ignoring the static sound that was louder than the music and that would invariably give my teenage self a headache.ⁱⁱ My sister and I, two …

Drugs, Crime, And The Epigenetics Of Hedonic Allostasis, Anthony Walsh, Hailey Johnson, Jonathan D. Bolen

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Researchers have found staggering numbers of drug addicts among incarcerated populations and have conceded that drug abuse is an important correlate of deviant behavior, but few included an understanding of the biological process leading to drug addiction. Chronic drug abuse and criminality are housed within a much broader propensity of some individuals to engage in a variety of antisocial behaviors, and this article clarifies the link and proposed shared mechanisms between criminal behavior and drug abuse through a molecular-genetic and neurobiological lens. Multiple genes, enzymes, and transcription factors are involved in drug addition, with over 100 genes known to be …

Poor Women And The Protective State, Khiara M. Bridges

UC Law Journal

This Article puts poor, pregnant women’s current experience with the state into conversation with the science of prenatal and early childhood brain development and looks at the effect on women’s autonomy of government regulation of individual behaviors that may harm fetal brain development. Drawing upon ethnographic fieldwork with poor, pregnant women that reveals that indigent women’s current experience with the regulatory state is one in which their autonomy is already grossly compromised, this Article argues that the infringement on vulnerable populations’ privacy rights is guaranteed should the government attempt to manage or reduce assaults on prenatal brain development through the …

Fluid Structure Interaction Simulation Of Left Ventricular Flow Dynamics Under Left Ventricular Assist Device Support, C.W. Ong, B.T. Chan, E. Lim, Noor Azuan Abu Osman, A.A. Abed, S. Dokos, N.H. Lovell

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

For patient’s receiving mechanical circulatory support, malfunction of the left ventricular assist device (LVADs) as well as mal-positioning of the cannula imposes serious threats to their life. It is therefore important to characterize the flow pattern and pressure distribution within the ventricle in the presence of an LVAD. In this paper, we present a 2D axisymmetric fluid structure interaction model of the passive left ventricle (LV) incorporating an LVAD cannula to simulate the effect of the LVAD cannula placement on the vortex dynamics. Results showed that larger recirculation area was formed at the cannula tip with increasing cannula insertion depth, …

Research And Authorship Responsibilities, L.M. Looi

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

No abstract provided.

Safety, Efficacy And Metabolism Of Traditional Medicinal Plants In The Management Of Obesity: A Review, M. Kazemipoor, C.W.J. Wan Mohamed Radzi, G.A. Cordell, I. Yaze

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Obesity is an important global health concern, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Modern methods of treatment, such as synthetic drugs and surgery, still have to be improved to show safety and efficacy. The main concerns with such treatments are the high costs and serious complications. As a result, there is great interest in the use of plant-based medicinal agents as an alternative therapy. This study aims to provide a review of the studies on accessible botanical sources for the treatment of obesity. Based on published studies, this review attempts to explain how these medicinal plants act …