Digital Commons Network^™

Molecular Mechanisms Involved In Regulation Of Glial Cell Proliferation, Jennifer C. Guercio

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Glioma, the most common and aggressive type of brain cancer, involves faster glial proliferation. Increased activity of large conductance calcium and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels has been shown to accelerate glial proliferation. Our previous studies have shown that Acid Sensing Ion Channels (ASICs) inhibit BK current at physiological pH levels, and that this inhibition can be relieved at acidic pH (Petroff et al, 2008). ASICs can therefore act as endogenous pH-dependent regulators of BK channel activity. Both normal glia and glioma tissue express BK and ASIC channels. We hypothesized that ASICs may function as endogenous inhibitors of glial cell growth …

The Antiviral Activity Of Curcumin On Herpes Simplex Virus-1, Susan A. Pungitore

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Herpes simplex virus 1 is a common human pathogen that causes an initial productive infection followed by a lifelong latent infection of sensory neurons. Although the active infection is self-limiting in healthy populations, HSV can pose serious health risks to immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, drug-resistant strains of HSV-1 have emerged in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) afflicted populations, necessitating the development of efficacious treatment options to combat HSV-1 infections. In recent years, plant derived products have gained popularity as promising antiviral agents. Studies of plant-derived compounds, including polysaccharide extracts from algae and hydrolyzable tannins, indicated that antiviral activity may be contributed …

Inhibition O F Herpes Simplex Virus-1 By Black Tea Extract, Sadé Diahann Randall

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Tea is a highly consumed beverage with numerous health benefits, such as antioxidant and antiviral properties. The compounds within tea that are believed to be associated with these benefits are polyphenols. Black tea polyphenols are known as theaflavins, and in previous studies have exhibited inhibitory effects on influenza and human immunodeficiency virus 1. Herpes simplex virus -1 (HSV-1) is an extremely common virus and has the ability to cause recurrent infections. A vast majority of adults have been exposed to the virus and could be asymptomatic. The purpose of this study was to determine the lowest inhibitory concentration of black …

A Leishmania Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase As A Potential Anti-Parasitic Drug Target : Purification, Characterization And Inhibitor Interactions, Aysenur Sayakci

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The disease, Leishmaniasis, is caused by the protozoal parasite Leishmania, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected Phlebotomine female sandfly. It is a significant health problem in tropical regions of the world and new therapeutic approaches for treating this disease are urgently needed.

Protozoal MAPKs (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases) play important roles in parasite viability and infectivity and as such, represent viable drug targets. It has been demonstrated that LmxMPKl is an essential MAPK required for the parasite to establish infection and for proliferation of the amastigote stage (the mammalian stage of the parasite) of the parasite. In …

The Bean Field Quandary : Environmental Ethics In Emerson And Thoreau, Nicole Elaine Wittenburg

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This thesis discusses Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and their oppositional environmental perspectives. Specifically, the analysis focuses on Emerson’s Nature, “Self-Reliance,” “The Transcendentalism” “Circles”, and “Hamatreya,” and Thoreau’s Walden and The Maine Woods. In these texts, Emerson conveys a predominantly anthropocentric viewpoint throughout his writings, while Thoreau’s view is ecocentric. In addition, both of their works contain contradictions regarding the environment. At times, Emerson speaks of nature as subservient to mankind but then shifts his tone to that of reverential awe for nature. Thoreau is conflicted by humanity’s impact on the environment, promoting vegetarianism but then renouncing farming. …

Techniques For Improving Parameter Estimation In Esr, Troy R. Broderick

Physics

This paper is to address the need for better estimates of the ESR spectral parameters of biological systems. In this paper I focus on models of spectral lineshapes and will be applying these techniques to more complicated lineshapes. Multifrequency ESR is a powerful technique for identifying and characterizing dynamic modes in natively unfolded biopolymers in general and loop regions in particular. I will introduce the reader to properties of ESR, formalisms and common techniques in the field. A common result for a simple ESR line is a Lorentzian distribution that is characterized by a mode and width. Information about the …

Aeschylus’ Tragedy Of Law: Kinship, The Oresteia, And The Violence Of Democracy, Grace Hobbs

English

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Magic In Fantasy Literature: Exposing Reality Through Fantasy, Martin Cahill

English

No abstract provided.

Back To The Future: The Mechanics Of Temporality In H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, Rebecca Matt

English

No abstract provided.

To Build A Nation: An Assessment Of Post-Development Thought And The Example Of Bolivia, Samantha Leuschner

Geography and Planning

No abstract provided.

Information Flow In The Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Cellular Automata, Akshay Thakre

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Decision making in natural systems, such as the body's immune response to a potential pathogen or a bacterial colony's initiation of fruiting due to food scarcity, is distributed over many cells that posses only local information, and not determined globally. Understanding how accurate decisions can be made in such systems where no individual decisions maker has complete information has important implications in distributed software and can provide insights into the biological evolution of complexity. In this work, the process of distributed decision making is modeled using the majority problem in cellular automata, and information theoretic measures of Kolmogorov complexity are …

Oncolog, Volume 57, Number 05, May 2012, Bryan Tutt, Sunni Hosemann

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Advances in Gene Mapping Technology May Accelerate Cancer Drug Development: As new technology makes DNA sequencing faster and less expensive, researchers aim to exploit these abilities to develop novel targeted cancer therapies
• Compass: Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Surgery and/or systemic therapy can help manage disease
• HOUSE CALL: Do Nutritional Supplements Help Prevent Cancer ?: For many people, the risks may outweigh the benefits
• INBRIEF: Drug Provides Symptom Reduction and Survival Advantages for Myelofibrosis Patients

Sexual Selection Dynamics In A Smoky Hills Population Of Crotaphytus Collaris, Katherine Talbott

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Recent studies in behavioral ecology have suggested environmental pressures might influence sexual selection dynamics to the extent that sexually-selected signals reflect local adaptation. I experimentally tested this hypothesis by manipulating a potential male ornament and observing the sexual selection dynamics in a Smoky Hills population of eastern collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris). Sexual selection dynamics were investigated by characterizing habitat structure, describing individual lizard spatial distribution, and investigating morphological predictors of adult male territorial success. Habitat occupied by lizards had significantly different and higher percentages of rock cover, and significantly different and lower percentages of vegetation cover, than unoccupied habitat. No …

Gas Exchange And Leaf Anatomy Of Andropogon Gerardii Ecotypes Over A Climatic Gradient Of The Great Plains, Jacob T. Olsen

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The phenotype of two Andropogon gerardii subspecies, big bluestem and sand bluestem, varies broadly throughout the Great Plains of North America, giving rise to ecotypes within the species. This study sought to discriminate between genetic and environmental variation of big bluestem and sand bluestem by examining gas exchange and leaf anatomy in common gardens across a climatic gradient of the Great Plains. Thirteen populations of big bluestem and one population of sand bluestem, constituting five ecotypes, were planted in community plots and a single plant plots in a common garden at each of four sites ranging from western Kansas to …

A Comparison Of Three Bicycle Pedal Types And Power Output, Brandon Kuhn

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this study was to examine the power output over a 30-second maximum effort bicycle sprint with three different pedal types; clipless, toe-strap, and flat. The participants for this investigation were eight (7 males and 1 female) mountain bikers with ages between 20 and 55 ( Age = 40) from the Central Kansas Mountain Bike Club. Each participant was required to provide his or her own bicycle and the researchers provided the training stand, Saris CycleOps PowerTap rear wheel, and Garmin Edge 500 cycling computer used for data collection. Testing procedure consisted of a warmup, 30- second maximal …

Investigation Of A Locus On Chromosome 9 For Contributions To Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome In Broilers, Sriram Krishnamoorthy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although the ascites syndrome in chickens has been investigated for years, it continues to inflict financial losses to the world poultry industry. It is estimated that 8% of the 361 million broiler deaths are due to ascites leading to losses of millions of dollars annually. Efforts to curb the incidence of ascites are typically designed to slow early growth. This limits the birds' ability to show its true genetic potential and impacts later yields. In 1994 lines divergent for susceptibility to ascites were established from a commercial sire line through sibling selection of birds reared at local altitude after testing …

The Truth Between The Teeth: An Analysis Of Interproximal Tooth Wear At The Ables Creek Cemetery, Amy Reynolds Warren

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Current archaeological knowledge suggests that, by the Late Mississippian period, inhabitants of the southeastern United States had adopted maize agriculture and that maize was a key component of the normal diet. However, in some regions where wild food resources were easily attainable, there is evidence that the transition to agriculture was delayed or did not occur at all. This thesis examines Late Mississippian skeletal collections from two sites in eastern Arkansas, Ables Creek and Upper Nodena. Analysis of differences in interproximal tooth wear facet size and caries rates between the two populations reveals that the diets at these roughly contemporary …

Characterization Of Novel Histone H2b Mutants Associated With Chromosome Segregation Defects In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Thiruchelvam Rajagopal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Histones are small basic proteins that associate with DNA to form the basic unit of chromatin, the nucleosome. Histones H3 and H4 form a tetramer that is bound by two H2A-H2B dimers to form the histone octamer, to which approximately 146 bp of DNA wrap around to form the nucleosome. High resolution structural information and recent advances in the understanding of histone post-translational modifications have illuminated the many regulatory functions chromatin exerts in the cell, from the transcriptional control of gene expression to chromosome segregation. However, the specific role that histones play in these processes is not well understood. Previous …

Trauma At Akhetaten (Tell El-Amarna): Interpersonal Violence Or Occupational Hazard, Rebecca Marie Hodgin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The New Kingdom individuals excavated from the site of Akhetaten, modern day Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt, exhibit traumatic injuries relating to construction of the new city. This site is important for Egyptological and bioarchaeological interpretations because the city was only occupied for approximately 15 years. The cemetery provides an archaeological instant in history providing information on the individuals who lived, worked, and died at Akhetaten. A total of 233 individuals have been excavated and analyzed to date. The incidence of forearm fractures as chronic ulnae stress fractures instead of parry fractures are indicated by the presence of Schmorl's nodes, …

The Effect Of Classroom Structure And Practice On Transition To Middle School, Eric Paul Schexnaildre

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The passage from elementary school to middle school, along with physical, social, and emotional changes associated with adolescence, often results in personal and social, organizational, and academic declines. The classroom structure of elementary school varies between a team teaching setting and a self-contained setting, and each instructional environment has the potential to impact all areas of development for each student. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fifth grade classroom setting (team teaching vs. self-contained) and sixth grade student behavior. The gender and the socio-economic status of transitioning students also served as variables of the study. …

Complicated Conversations On The Dis/Ease Of Mental Illness: The Ebb And Flow Of Bipolar Disorder, Doreen Louise Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This work is a conversation about mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. It is a complicated, convoluted conversation that covers a broad spectrum of facets. The central theme is to uncover the role that bipolar disorder has played in impacting schools, communities, and families and how that role aggravates and perplexes students, teachers, parents, community leaders. This dissertation does not try to create any answers or solutions. It is an investigation, an exploration of why mental illness creates such confusion in our minds. How did this confusion develop and what perpetuates its continuation? Can or even should we, consider it a …

The Evolution Of Unconstitutionality In Sex Offender Registration Laws, Catherine L. Carpenter, Amy E. Beverlin

UC Law Journal

More is not always better. Consider sex offender registration laws. Initially anchored by rational basis, registration schemes have spiraled out of control because legislators, eager to please a fearful public, have been given unfettered freedom by a deferential judiciary. This Article does not challenge the state’s legislative power to enact sex offender registration laws. Instead, this Article posits that, even if sex offender registration schemes initially were constitutional, serially amended sex offender registration schemes—what this Article dubs super-registration schemes—are not. Their emergence demands reexamination of the traditionally held assumptions that defined original registration laws as civil regulations. Two intertwined causes …

Identification And Confirmation Of Ssr Markers And Qtl For Seed Calcium Content And Hardness Of Soybean, Moldir Orazaly

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The health benefits and the nutritional values of soyfood products have expanded the demand for food-grade soybean varieties. For whole soyfood products such as natto, small seeded varieties with proper texture are essential. Seed calcium content and hardness are main factors in determining the seed texture. Utilizing molecular markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for marker assisted selection (MAS) has been an efficient technique for breeders. To find molecular markers associated with a trait is an initial step. The confirmation of QTL in different environments and in different genetic backgrounds is important for MAS. The objectives of this research …

Drag Reduction In Wave-Swept Macroalgae: Alternative Strategies And New Predictions, Patrick T. Martone, Laurie Kost, Michael L. Boller

Biology Faculty/Staff Publications

Premise of the study: Intertidal macroalgae must resist extreme hydrodynamic forces imposed by crashing waves. How does frond flexibility mitigate drag, and how does flexibility affect predictions of drag and dislodgement in the field? Methods: We characterized flexible reconfiguration of six seaweed species in a recirculating water flume, documenting both shape change and area reduction as fronds reorient. We then used a high-speed gravity-accelerated water flume to test our ability to predict drag under waves based on extrapolations of drag recorded at slower speeds. We compared dislodgement forces to drag forces predicted from slow- and high-speed data to generate new …

Nebline, May 2012

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Lincoln’s Biosolids Land Application Program is 20 Years Old

Farm Views

Urban Agriculture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Horticulture

Environmental Focus

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Principles Of Carbon Catabolite Repression In The Rice Blast Fungus: Tps1, Nmr1-3, And A Mate–Family Pump Regulate Glucose Metabolism During Infection, Jessie Fernandez, Janet D. Wright, David E. Hartline, Cristian Fernando Quispe, Nandakumar Madayiputhiya, Richard A. Wilson

Fungal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

Understanding the genetic pathways that regulate how pathogenic fungi respond to their environment is paramount to developing effective mitigation strategies against disease. Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a global regulatory mechanism found in a wide range of microbial organisms that ensures the preferential utilization of glucose over less favourable carbon sources, but little is known about the components of CCR in filamentous fungi. Here we report three new mediators of CCR in the devastating rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae: the sugar sensor Tps1, the Nmr1-3 inhibitor proteins, and the multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE)-family pump, Mdt1. Using simple plate …

University Athletics Council Steering Committee, 2011-2012 Year End Report, Athletics Council

All Faculty Senate 2007-2014 Committee Minutes and Reports

Year-End report for 2011-2012 from the University Athletics Council Steering Committee detailing the outcomes of their meetings for the year.

"Property" In The Constitution: The View From The Third Amendment, Tom W. Bell

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

During World War II, after Japan attacked the Aleutian Islands off Alaska’s coast, the United States forcibly evacuated the islands’ natives and quartered soldiers in private homes. That hitherto unremarked violation of the Third Amendment gives us a fresh perspective on what the term “property” means in the United States Constitution. As a general legal matter, property includes not just real estate—land, fixtures attached thereto, and related rights—but also various kinds of personal property, ranging from tangibles, such as books, to intangibles, such as causes of action. That knowledge would, if we interpreted the Constitution as we do other legal …

You Can Breastfeed But . . . : A Rhetorical Analysis Of Images And Commentary On Breastfeeding, Jonna Ziniel

Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of breastfeeding images and the commentary about those images, from a rhetorical perspective. Specifically, I use a feminist lens in order to analyze images of breastfeeding in both magazine and online environments, as well as online commentary about the images. I examine both celebrity and non-celebrity images of breastfeeding from popular pregnancy and parenting magazines, non-traditional parenting magazines, company web sites, and online articles and blog sites. Chapter one presents a statement of purpose, research questions, and an examination of the current literature pertinent to the study including sections on breastfeeding benefits, the sexualized woman's …

Compensation Theory: Can Club Soccer Players Appropriately Balance Energy Intake And Output In And Out Of Season?, Marco Ruggiero

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic affecting both adults and children. Obesity and overweight prevalence is increasing, with a corresponding decline in physical fitness and general physical activity level (McHugh, 2010). The college setting presents an important opportunity for health promotion during a critical developmental stage for weight gain (Nelson et al., 2007). While exercising and a balanced diet are the basis of most obesity-prevention campaigns, little research has been done on how physical exercise may increase food consumption. The purpose of this study was to examine whether college club soccer players can appropriately balance energy intake and output in and …