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The Effects Of Angiogenic Growth Factors On Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation And Differentiation To Vascular Cell Fates, William Anthony D'Angelo

Master's Theses

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into several cell lineages, including mural cells, which surround and support blood vessels, and possibly endothelial cells, which form the blood vessel walls. In this study, we investigated the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), two of the best-characterized angiogenic factors, on MSC proliferation and differentiation. We hypothesized that treatment with these two factors could inhibit mural cell character and promote differentiation toward an endothelial cell fate. C3H/10T1/2 cells (a line of MSCs derived from mouse embryonic tissues) were treated with bFGF and …

Conservation Genetics Of Threatened Gopher Tortoises, Gopherus Polyphemus: An Assessment Of Genetic Variation And Parentage In Two Populations In South Mississippi, Angela Huang Getz

Master's Theses

Despite the protection of gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus, in the western portion of their range for over twenty years, populations of the De Soto National Forest (DNF) in southern Mississippi experience low recruitment and lower hatching success than populations in the eastern portion of the range, and the causes of this are unknown. Previous work has shown that Mississippi populations of the DNF have lower levels of genetic diversity than eastern populations, which prompted the suggestion that reduced levels of genetic variation may play a part in low hatching success. Small populations can become more susceptible to the effects …

Recent Characterizations Of Mscs And Its Homologs Provide Insight Into The Basis Of Ion Selectivity In Mechanosensitive Channels, Grigory Maksaev, Elizabeth S. Haswell

Biology Faculty Research

The bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscS provides an excellent model system for the study of mechanosensitivity and for investigations into the cellular response to hypoosmotic shock. Numerous studies have elucidated the structure, function and gating mechanism of Escherichia coli MscS, providing a wealth of information for the comparative analysis of MscS family members in bacteria, archaea, fungi and plants. We recently reported the electrophysiological characterization of MscS-Like (MSL)10, a MscS homolog from the model flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we summarize our results and briefly compare MSL10 to previously described members of the MscS family. Finally, we comment on how …

Interactions Between Protozoan Prey (Phylum Protista) And Their Mosquito Predators (Order Diptera, Family Cuclicidae) Prey Size And Predator Behavior Effects, Jeffrey Jay Skiff

Master's Theses

Mosquitoes (Diptera. Culicidae) are insects that are medically important as adults as they vector numerous diseases. Yet, understanding the ecology of the larval stage can lead to surveillance and control of adult populations. Aedes albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, Cu/ex corona/or, and Culex quinquefasciatus are four species of mosquito that co-occur in discarded automobile tires. Mosqui-to larvae feed on microorganisms (including protozoans) and particulate organic matter Most larval feeding experiments. howt:ver, have dealt exclusively with bacteria, fungi , and particulate organic matter Although bactena and fungi are important sources of nitrogen and lipids, they may be 111sufficient sources of carbon, which may …

The R2p Is Dead. Long Live The R2p. Libya, Syria, And The Responsibility To Protect, Nadir Edul Dalal

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Generation Of A Transgenic Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Expressing The Transcriptional Repressor Inducible Camp Early Repressor (Icer), Theodora Tsatsos

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) has been known to moderate cAMP antiproliferative actions. It has ovarian- specific properties and its gene product has been shown to act as a tumor suppressor. It has been previously shown that ICER has been targeted for expression in the ovaries via a transgenic mouse model to create an increased level of ovulation. In this paper, we cloned the following ovarian-specific promoters: CYP19A1, FSH, ZP3, and GDF9. Plasmid DNA was constructed with the aforementioned ovarian specific promoters using a three-fragment vector construction method and EGFP was used as a marker to follow whether plasmid DNA …

Compound Identification Using Penalized Linear Regression., Ruiqi Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, we propose a new method for compound identification using penalized linear regression. Compound identification is often achieved by matching the experimental mass spectra to the mass spectra stored in a reference library based on mass spectral similarity. In the context of the linear regression, the response variable is an experimental mass spectrum (i.e., query) and all the compounds in the reference library are the independent variables. However, the number of compounds in the reference library is much larger than the range of m/z values so that the data become high dimensional data with suffering from singularity. For …

Genetic Characterization Of The K2 Serotype Capsule Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Atcc 43816 And The Development Of A Bioluminescent Strain., Jacob Brandon Scott 1987-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative enterobacterium that is a major cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infections. We performed a genetic characterization of K. pneumoniae strain ATCC 43816, which is a well-studied strain with a K2 serotype capsular polysaccharide. To provide the ability to monitor bacteria within a host, we will develop a bioluminescence strain of K. pneumoniae by integrating the lux operon into the chromosome. METHODS: The ATCC 43816 capsule cluster sequencing was performed by closing gapE, in the Next Generation Sequencing by long range peR for template and primer walking. We constructed a bioluminescent K. pneumoniae by using …

Improving Cervical Cancer Nodal Boost Radiation Therapy By Quantifying Uncertainties And Exploring Advanced Radiation Therapy Modalities, Zhiqian Yu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Radiation therapy for patients with intact cervical cancer is frequently delivered using primary external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) followed by two fractions of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). Although the tumor is the primary radiation target, controlling microscopic disease in the lymph nodes is just as critical to patient treatment outcome. In patients where gross lymphadenopathy is discovered, an extra EBRT boost course is delivered between the two ICBT fractions. Since the nodal boost is an addendum to primary EBRT and ICBT, the prescription and delivery must be performed considering previously delivered dose. This project aims to address the major issues of …

Mechanisms Underlying The Heterogeneous Sensitivities Of Cancer Cells To Proteasome Inhibitors, Matthew C. White

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The mechanisms underlying cellular response to proteasome inhibitors have not been clearly elucidated in solid tumor models. Evidence suggests that the ability of a cell to manage the amount of proteotoxic stress following proteasome inhibition dictates survival. In this study using the FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®) in solid tumor cells, we demonstrated that perhaps the most critical response to proteasome inhibition is repression of global protein synthesis by phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2-α subunit (eIF2α). In a panel of 10 distinct human pancreatic cancer cells, we showed marked heterogeneity in the ability of cancer cells to induce …

Targeting Histone Deacetylases (Hdac) For The Treatment Of Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Gonzalo Lopez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Targeting Histone deacetylases (HDAC) for the treatment of genetically complex soft tissue sarcoma

Histone deactylase inhibitors (HDACi) are a new class of anticancer therapeutics; however, little is known about HDACi or the individual contribution of HDAC isoform activity in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). We investigated the potential efficacy of HDACi as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in a panel of genetically complex STS. We found that HDACi combined with chemotherapy significantly induced anti-STS effects in vitro and in vivo. We then focused our study of HDACi in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), a subtype of highly aggressive, …

The Impact Of Family History On Medullary Thyroid Cancer In Men2a Patients, Nicole D. Mohrbacher

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The American Thyroid Association recently classified all MEN2A-associated codons into increasing risk levels A-C and stated that some patients may delay prophylactic thyroidectomy if certain criteria are met. One criterion is a less aggressive family history of MTC but whether families with the same mutated codon have variable MTC aggressiveness is not well described. We developed several novel measures of MTC aggressiveness and compared families with the same mutated codon to determine if there is significant inter-familial variability. Pedigrees of families with MEN2A were reviewed for codon mutated and proportion of RET mutation carriers with MTC. Individuals with MTC were …

The Influence Of Immunization Route On The Adjuvant Effect Of Alpha-Galactosylceramide, Ameerah M. Wishahy

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Potent vaccine formulations ideally include adjuvants to activate innate immune responses and enhance antigen-specific adaptive immunity. The synthetic glycolipid alpha-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) effectively activates the innate immune mediating NKT cells to produce cytokines and activate downstream immune cells, resulting in development of humoral and cell mediated immune responses to co-administered antigens. While a single intravenous immunization of α-GalCer strongly activates NKT cells, multiple doses by this route are well documented to induce anergy in NKT cells. Anergy is defined as the deficiency in NKT proliferation and cytokine production, including IL-4 and IFNγ. However, our studies have shown that two doses of …

A Policymaker's Guide To Feed-In Tariffs: Encouraging A Responsible Transition To Renewable Electricity In California, Roland P. Thayer

Pomona Senior Theses

The feed-in tariff is a flexible, yet effective mechanism in promoting the proliferation of renewable electricity in California. The tariff creates a stable investment environment that protects both the utilities and the renewable electricity generators. Not only does the system foster capacity growth, but also technological advancement to the point where renewable electricity can compete in the market without assistance. From an environmental standpoint, the feed-in tariff contributes significantly towards achieving the emissions reduction goals set forth by AB32 without causing harmful increases to electricity prices.

The feed-in tariff model has been used in countries all over the world and …

Molecular Diagnosis Of Metabolic Fast Growth Related Diseases In Broiler, Adnan Ali Khalaf Al-Rubaye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS) and lameness are important metabolic diseases that affect rapidly growing broilers. The research reported in the first section of this dissertation focused on developing qPCR assays to identify differences in the expression levels of four candidate genes possibly associated with PHS: angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1): urotensin receptor 2D (UTS2D); serotonin receptor/transporter type 2Bn (HTR2B); and angiotensinogen cleaving enzyme (ACE). Expression levels of these candidate genes were examined in four different tissues. We established ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14) and RNA polymerase subunit 2B (RP2B) as suitable reference genes because they showed the most consistent deltaCt …

Levels Of Selection In A Polymorphic Species, Marisa L. Korody

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Functional Characterization Of Type-B Response Regulators In The Arabidopsis Cytokinin Response, Kristine Hill, Dennis E. Mathews, Hyo Jung Kim, Ian H. Street, Sarah L. Wildes, Yi-Hsuan Chiang, Michael G. Mason, Jose M. Alonso, Joseph R. Ecker, Joseph K. Kieber, G. Eric Schaller

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cytokinins play critical roles in plant growth and development, with the transcriptional response to cytokinin being mediated by the type-B response regulators. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), type-B response regulators (ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS [ARRs]) form three subfamilies based on phylogenic analysis, with subfamily 1 having seven members and subfamilies 2 and 3 each having two members. Cytokinin responses are predominantly mediated by subfamily 1 members, with cytokinin-mediated effects on root growth and root meristem size correlating with type-B ARR expression levels. To determine which type-B ARRs can functionally substitute for the subfamily 1 members ARR1 or ARR12, we …

Biopiracy And Vaccines: Indonesia And The World Health Organization's New Pandemic Influenza Plan, Shawn Smallman

International & Global Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Viral samples of avian influenza are essential to preparing pre-pandemic vaccines. In 2007, the conflicting interests of the developed and developing nations led Indonesia to briefly stop sharing viral samples. The result was a struggle in which the two blocs argued for different paradigms for viral sample sharing. The first paradigm, articulated by the developed world, depicted the issue as one of health security, in which international law mandated the sharing of viral samples. The second paradigm, advanced by the developing world, depicted viral sample sharing as a form of biopiracy, which violated countries' sovereign control of their biological resources. …

An Assessment Of Hydroelectric Feasibility At Colonel Charles D. Maynard Dam In Tucker, Arkansas, Connor Quigley

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

The primary purpose of this report is to analyze the economic feasibility of converting the Colonel Charles D. Maynard Lock and Dam to a hydroelectric facility. This report takes a traditional cost-benefit analysis approach and includes a sensitivity and scenario analysis.

Preparation And Characterisation Of Gold Nanocomposites For Use As Heterogeneous Catalysts In Green Chemistry., Anne E. Shanahan

Doctoral

Three supported gold nanocomposites, gold on titanium dioxide (Au/TiO2), gold on single walled Au/SWCNT and gold on carbon black (Au/P90) were prepared and systematically characterised using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy/Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM/STEM/TEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), (Nitrogen) N2 adsorption, Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to probe the nanoparticle and support physical and chemical characteristics as well as the metal-support interactions. For all composites, the Au nanoparticles were found to be crystalline with a well-defined and narrow particle-size distribution centered between 4-10nm.

EDX analysis provided the …

An Environmental Assessment Of Energy Biomass For Bates College And Environmental Implementation Recommendations, Katrina T. Orlov

Standard Theses

Bates is considering whether or not to build a biomass cogeneration plant to help meet its pledge to become carbon neutral by 2020. However, questions about sustainability, as well as questions raised about whether or not biomass power is actually carbon neutral need to be seriously considered. In the short and mid-term, biomass actually has a greater negative impact on climate change than fossil fuels, especially natural gas, which Bates currently uses. In fact, moving from natural gas to biomass energy production could double Bates’ carbon emissions. The exception to this is the production and harvesting of short-rotation woody crops, …

Ecosystem Services Of Waste-Material And Designed Artificial Reefs, Benjamin N. Prueitt

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

Artificial reefs in the United States, including the West Florida Shelf (WFS) are often composed of waste-materials used to improve ecosystem services of reef habitats. Recent efforts have been made to extend the use of artificial reefs by designing reefs to mimic natural bottom of the WFS to be used as mitigation sites. The objective of this project is to compare designed and waste-material artificial reefs by assessing benthic cover. The study revealed waste-material and designed artificial reefs had similar benthic assemblages and provide similar ecosystem services. The primary difference, more abundance of sponges on the waste-material and more algae …

Biomass Gasification: An Alternative Solution To Animal Waste Management, Hanjing Wu

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The overall goal of this research was to evaluate gasification of animal waste as an alternative manure management strategy, from the standpoints of syngas production and biochar application.

To meet the overall objective, the thermogravimetric characteristics of dairy manure, as a thermochemical conversion feedstock, were studied firstly. Then, gasification technology was applied to dairy manure and feedlot manure using a fluidized-bed laboratory-scale gasifier. In addition, biochar derived from the feedlot manure was examined for its effects on nutrient leaching as a soil amendment. Finally, a life cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions of two feedlot manure management …

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics In Agriculture: Model Development And Application From Daily To Decadal Timescales, Matthew P. Pelton

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil carbon (C) is the largest terrestrial C pool globally, containing more C than the atmosphere and biosphere. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a source and sink of CO₂ emissions to and from the atmosphere, thus influencing future climate change. Understanding SOC dynamics is also important for maintaining C stocks to sustain and improve crop yields. An existing model to estimate changes in SOC due to respiration was modified to operate in three computational platforms: MS Excel, MS Excel with Visual Basic for Applications, and supercomputing. This model was validated against CO₂ flux data from a 9-year field …

Causal Explanation Of Human Behavior In The Social Sciences, Maria R. Zavada

Department of Philosophy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The social sciences have something to offer our understanding of human behavior. However, the social sciences have been subjected to a great deal of criticism, both internally and externally. Cultural anthropology provides a microcosm of the problems within the social sciences and serves as an apt case study. There are many problems with the social sciences, some as fundamental as whether or not the social sciences are indeed sciences, and others that address specific issues with goals, methods, and data collection.

Using anthropology as a case study, I articulate the connection between the methodological problems in anthropology and the philosophical …

Examining The Painful And Provocative Events Scale And Testing The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory Of Suicidal Behavior In Undergraduates And Cyberbullying Victims, Matthew R. Mcnally

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Suicide is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Individuals are hypothesized to acquire the capability for suicide through the experiencing of painful and provocative events. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Painful and Provocative Events Scale (PPES), a measure that seeks to identify experiences that lead an individual to acquire the capability for suicide through an increased tolerance for pain and a decreased fear of death. An exploratory factor analyses conducted to examine the factor structure of a revised Painful and Provocative Events Scale yielded a two-factor structure. …

Embodied Revelation: The Threat Of Sudden Cardiac Death For Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Candidates, Vera Barton-Caro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a severe, chronic condition characterized by high mortality and high morbidity. Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death for people with heart failure as well as the primary cause of death in the United States. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) represent the standard of care as the only effective therapy for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, a significant proportion of qualifying heart failure patients declines this life-saving device. Nurses are charged with advocating for well-informed patient decisions. Yet, there is little extant literature that addresses the decision-making process for patients considering an ICD. …

Evaluation Of The Newburg Sandstone Of The Appalachian Basin As A Co2 Geologic Storage Resource, Jack Eric Lewis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The West Virginia Division of Energy is currently evaluating several deep saline formations in the Appalachian basin of West Virginia, which may be potential carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration targets. The Silurian Newburg Sandstone play, developed in the 1970's, primarily involves natural gas production from reservoir rock with welldeveloped porosity and permeability. High initial pressures encountered in early wells in the Newburg indicate that the overlying Silurian Salina Formation provides a competent seal. Due to the large number of CO2 point sources in the region and the favorable reservoir properties of the formation; including an estimated 300 billion cubic feet (bcf) …

The Explosion Of Ethnic Retributive Violence In Czechoslovakia At The End Of The Second World War, Bryson David Taylor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The end of the Second World War was not the end of the explosion of human rights abuses from the Nazi occupation of Eastern Europe. In Czechoslovakia as well as Poland, there were outbreaks of retributive violence driven toward the German ethnic minorities present within their liberated boundaries. In both cases, the governments of Poland and Czechoslovakia began a state sponsored, and Potsdam Conference approved program, of "orderly and humane" expulsions. While most twentieth and twenty first century historians have attributed these actions in Czechoslovakia as a continuation of the historical relationship between the Czechs and Germans of Bohemia and …

Evaluating The Intra-Variability And Inter-Variability Of Fibers In Cotton T-Shirts Using Microspectrophotometry, Brianne Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the differentiation of cotton fibers by the means of intra-garment and inter-garment comparison while utilizing Microspectrophotometry. Five different colors of cotton fibers were used: gold, kelly green, orange, red and royal. Ten t-shirts of each color were used in this study. Phase I of this study involved using the CRAICRTM QDI QDS II(TM) Stereomicrospectrophotometer to produce a spectrum of the front, back, sleeve and armpit of the t-shirt. These sections were then compared to the color chips in the Munsell Book of Color by observing them with the naked eye. …