Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Telomerase Inhibitors On Malignant Breast Cancer Cells, Alexander J. Fisch, Osman V. Patel

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

Current therapies have nominal effect on the most intrusive-type of breast cancers (triple-negative) that have a higher tendency to metastasize or recur. Recent studies reveal an enzyme, telomerase, as key for unlimited cell growth (immortality) and replication. Therefore, our objectives were to assess (i) short- and (ii) long-term effects of a novel anti-telomerase agent (GV6) developed at our institute and compare it to a known analogue, BIBR1532 on MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. Cell viability was measured on days 5, 9, 14, 18 and 27 after treatment with GV6 (n=4), BIBR1532 (n=4) or Solvent alone (Control, n=3). The number of …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Tibia Of Paralouatta Varonai, An Extinct Cuban Primate, Andrea Morrow

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

Primates inhabited the Caribbean islands for millions of years, from at least the Miocene up until several thousand years ago. One genus, Paralouatta was endemic to the island of Cuba. The fossils of Paralouatta varonai, one of the two known species of that genus, have been well described, including evidence for possible semiterrestriality in the skeletal remains. Currently, all known New World monkeys are arboreal, spending almost all of their time in trees. This work offers additional comparative analyses of the fossilized tibia of Paralouatta varonai, specifically looking at the distal articular surfaces to determine the locomotion of the …

Den Site Characteristics And Kit Survival Of American Marten In Manistee National Forest Michigan, Rachel Hughart, Joe Jacquot, Paul Keenlance

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

We tracked and documented the den sites and number of kits for three female American marten within Manistee National Forest from April through August 2013. Kits were monitored using remote, motion-triggered trail cameras, and kit activity times were documented. The mothers were located two to three times per week using radio telemetry. A total of 7 kits documented with only 6 surviving into the rigorous tracking season and only 4 known survivors into mid-July. Nineteen unique den sites were documented in three different areas of marten use (Olga Lake, Pine River and Caberfae), and 12 of those had cavities at …

Natural Treatment Systems As Sustainable Ecotechnologies For The Developing Countries, Qaisar Mahmood, Arshid Pervez, Bibi Saima Zeb, Habiba Zaffar, Hajra Yaqoob, Muhammad Waseem, Zahidullah, Sumera Afsheen

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

The purpose of natural treatment systems is the re-establishment of disturbed ecosystems and their sustainability for benefits to human and nature. The working of natural treatment systems on ecological principles and their sustainability in terms of low cost, low energy consumption, and low mechanical technology is highly desirable. The current review presents pros and cons of the natural treatment systems, their performance, and recent developments to use them in the treatment of various types of wastewaters. Fast population growth and economic pressure in some developing countries compel the implementation of principles of natural treatment to protect natural environment. The employment …

Use And Unintended Consequences Of Antidepressant Medications By Depressed Older Adults, Eun Sun Noh

Open Access Dissertations

Background

National guidelines suggest 12-18 months of antidepressant treatment for depressed patients to maximize the benefits of treatment; however, patterns of medication use according to the guidelines are less well understood, especially in older adults who are at higher risk of adverse drug events. In addition, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended as a first-line therapy for older adults because of their favorable adverse event profile; however, several observational studies have suggested an association between SSRI use and an increased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. While this link remains controversial, it is important to evaluate the risk of GI …

Benthic-Pelagic Coupling As A Function Of Changing Organic Inputs In Coastal Ecosystems, Lindsey Fields

Open Access Dissertations

Benthic-pelagic coupling links the sediments and the water column in shallow coastal marine ecosystems. Measurements of benthic-pelagic coupling have been made for decades in shallow, estuarine ecosystems, but relatively few measurements have been made in transitional inner continental shelf areas. Accordingly, the Providence River Estuary and mid-Narragansett Bay have many measurements while ecosystems on the Southern New England inner continental shelf have few. However, even in estuarine areas, the reactions and response times of benthic-pelagic coupling to recent anthropogenic and climate-induced changes are poorly constrained.

Recently, a climate-induced oligotrophication has weakened the relationship between the benthos and the water column …

Girl Talk: Analyzing Discourse Among Urban Middle School Girls, Carey Delauder Bledsoe

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation is a qualitative study of an all-girls’ advisory in a coeducational, urban middle school located in a mid-sized city in the northeast. The advisory group met daily over the course of the 2010-2011 academic year. Drawing from data collected over one year of fieldwork--including participant observation, analysis of discourse, dynamic interviews, and the analysis of social constructs --this study explores how a group of mostly African American and Latina students created a caring community in order to increase their academic and social success.

Each chapter of the dissertation examines the challenges and obstacles the girls in the advisory …

Gender-Twisting And Bros Talking: Discursive Performance Of Gender, Power, And Recognition In The Sex Ed. Class, Odile Mattiauda

Open Access Dissertations

In American Schools, students are rarely offered educational experiences about gender and sexuality. Programs that do address sexuality are rarely based on moral beliefs and democratic values of tolerance and inclusivity. Sexuality education is predominantly taught by health teachers, rather than human sexuality educators, and their focus is on facts, statistics, and controversial issues such as the prevention of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. This limited perspective on sexuality neglects the important role of gender identity and sexual orientation (Donovan, 1989; Haffner & De Mauro, 1991; Nelson Trudell, 1993)

Using teacher-researcher-participant-observer qualitative methodology, I examined the discourse …

Applying Qbd And Pat In Biological Manufacturing For “Continued Process Verification”, Prakash Bedre

Open Access Dissertations

The objective of this research topic is to show QbD and PAT tools such as multivariate analysis can perform “Continued Process Verification by using a Real-Time Multivariate Process Monitoring (RT-MSPM) system. There are not one but many challenges The pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical manufacturers are facing multiple challenges such as changing regulatory requirements, healthcare reforms, economic pressure and availability of advance manufacturing technology to make better quality products at reduced costs.

Due to the recent technological developments, significant opportunities exist for improving pharmaceutical development, manufacturing and quality assurance through innovation in product and process development, process analysis, and process controls. The …

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood Anxiety: Examining A Parent Consultation Model, Allison M. Smith

Open Access Dissertations

Strong evidence supports the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of clinical anxiety in children. As parents may play an etiological role in the development, progression, and maintenance of childhood anxiety, researchers have noted that including parents in child treatment confers some benefit upon child outcomes. Conducting CBT solely with the parents of anxious children may be equally beneficial and potentially more cost-effective than treatment modalities with only the child. The present study examined the efficacy of a ten-session parent-only CBT intervention delivered individually to parents of anxious children (ICBT) in comparison to a ten week wait-list control …

Critical Events In Human Metapneumovirus Infection: From Entry To Egress, Brent A. Hackett

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory pathogen in Paramyxovirus family that demonstrates extremely high morbidity in the population, with most individuals having been infected by the age of five. Despite the prevalence of this negative-sense RNA virus in the population for decades, it was only identified in 2001. As such, there is currently no specific treatment for HMPV and the potentially severe consequences of infection for elderly and immunocompromised individuals and particularly infants make development of antivirals targeting HMPV of high significance. HMPV constitutes a quarter of all respiratory hospitalizations among infants, placing it second only to RSV, in addition …

A Novel Selective Lipid Uptake Pathway Contributing To Ldl-Induced Macrophage Foam Cell Formation, Jason M. Meyer

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by cholesterol-rich plaques within the intima of medium and large arteries. Cholesterol deposition is thought to occur by infiltration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) into lesions followed by uptake into macrophages, generating lipid-loaded “foam cells.” Foam cells can also be generated in vitro by treatment of macrophages with LDL or oxidized LDL (oxLDL). The purpose of the current investigation was to determine the contribution of selective cholesteryl ester (CE) uptake versus whole-particle uptake during LDL-induced foam cell formation in cultured macrophages. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) exhibited significant cholesterol accumulation when treated with LDL as indicated …

Examining Programming For At-Risk Youth In Museums: Literature Review And Three Case Studies, Sarah Adlis Benedetti

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Association Between Concomitant Use Of Bisphosphonates And Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors And Increased Risk Of Osteoporotic-Related Fractures: Among Community-Dwelling Postmenopausal Women, Abner Nyandege

Theses and Dissertations

Osteoporosis and depression are prevalent among older postmenopausal women 65 years or older. Bisphosphonates (BPs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly used medications to treat these conditions. Inhibitory effects of BPs on osteoclasts are responsible for the reduction in fracture risk. SSRIs, however, are associated with increased fracture risk through decreasing osteoblasts and increasing osteoclastic activity. These effects of SSRIs could attenuate the beneficial effects of BPs. This dissertation describes the concomitant use of BPs and SSRIs among postmeopausa women and reports findings from examining the association between concomitant use of BPs …

Role Of Nuclear Factor E2 Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) In Development Of Steatosis And Drug Transporter Alterations, Vijay Rs More

Open Access Dissertations

Steatosis is fat deposition in liver arising from conditions like obesity, diabetes, and/or alcohol consumption. It is a benign condition with normal liver function, and can often be reversed. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver steatosis can further progress to irreversible steatohepatitis to cirrhosis and substantial loss of liver function. Nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor known to combat oxidative stress in the cell. The contribution of Nrf2 to other cellular functions, such as lipid homeostasis is emerging. The work herein assessed how enhanced Nrf2 activity impacts progression of hepatic steatosis with long-term high fat diet …

Pharmacodynamic Mechanisms Of Tolfenamic Acid Induced Sp1 Degradation Relative To Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, Lina I. Adwan

Open Access Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continues to disrupt the lives of millions of patients and caregivers around the world. The few drugs currently used for AD have modest effects on the symptoms and do not prevent the progression of the disease into total memory loss and death. With the increase in the number of AD cases and the high social and economical costs of the disease, there is a great need to find disease-modifying therapeutics that target the core pathology of the disease as well as improve the symptoms and the patients’ everyday quality of life. Two types of pathological aggregates are …

Readiness For Hpv Vaccination: A Comparison Of Male And Female College Students, Anne C. Fernandez

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in both sexes, accounting for approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide. Receiving the HPV vaccine can substantially reduce the risk of HPV infection and subsequent disease. At this time the majority of Americans reach adulthood without being vaccinated. Increasing HPV vaccination among young adults requires empirical assessment and understanding of HPV-related beliefs and behaviors among this population. To achieve this goal, three studies were conducted.

Study 1: This study examined demographic and psychosocial correlates of HPV …

Compounds From A. Platanoides Bark, V. Corymbosum Roots & Topical Formulations Using Maple Syrup, Raed Omar

Open Access Dissertations

The United States is the world’s largest producer of blueberries and the world’s second largest producer of maple syrup. Maine is the nation’s leading producer of wild blueberries, harvesting 82.6 million pounds of wild blueberries. Similarly, the New England region represents roughly 75% of the total U.S. production of maple syrup. These plants play a vital role in New England’s economy and are commonly consumed; however, these plants benefit more than the economy. The secondary metabolites of these plants are both antioxidants, and also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-viral agents. Blueberries are commonly consumed and have been investigated exhaustively. On the …

The Ecology Of Freshwater Bivalves In The Lake Sapanca Basin, Turkey, Ertan Ercan, Özcan Gaygusuz, Ali̇ Serhan Tarkan, Martin Reichard, Carl Smith

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Despite the ecological importance and globally threatened status of freshwater bivalves, the freshwater mussel fauna of Turkey has hitherto received little attention. The aim of this study was to describe the ecology of freshwater mussels of the Lake Sapanca basin (northwest Turkey) to provide baseline data against which to measure future trends. Five native mussel species belonging to 3 genera were encountered in surveys: Anodonta cygnea, A. anatina, Unio pictorum, U. crassus, and Dreissena polymorpha. In addition, an invasive species from Asia, A. woodiana, was recorded in the region for the first time. A. cygnea and U. pictorum were the …

Passer Hispaniolensis Subpopulations In Turkey: Allozyme Variations And Brief Ecobiological Notes, Fulya Saygili, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, Spanish Sparrows were recorded in numerous locations and specimens were collected from Samsun, Çorum, and Denizli provinces in Turkey. The breeding subpopulations preferred various nesting sites, including wooded areas and White Stork nests. These sparrows were primarily observed in flocks of variable size and were rarely solitary. The largest flock recorded was found in juniper and pine woods in Denizli. We collected data on 23 allozyme loci to compare the genetic variation among the 3 Spanish Sparrow subpopulations. The low F_{ST} (0.1363) and high Nm (1.5842) values calculated from these data indicated that gene flow among the …

New Records Of Dolichopodidae (Diptera, Empidoidea) From Inner Western Anatolia (Turkey), Alper Tonguç, Murat Barlas, Igor Yakovlevich Grichanov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Fifteen new records of Dolichopodidae from the inner western Anatolia region resulting from recent expeditions are presented. The following species are recorded from Turkey for the first time: Argyra argyria (Meigen, 1824); Hercostomus griseifrons Becker, 1910; Poecilobothrus principalis (Loew, 1861); Orthoceratium lacustre (Scopoli, 1763); Scellus notatus (Fabricius, 1781); Medetera perfida Parent, 1932; Neurigona abdominalis (Fallén, 1823); Peloropeodes acuticornis (Oldenberg, 1916); Rhaphium albifrons Zetterstedt, 1843; Campsicnemus barbitibia Stackelberg, 1947; Campsicnemus crinitarsis Strobl, 1906; Campsicnemus filipes Loew, 1859; Sympycnus simplicipes Becker, 1908; Syntormon zelleri (Loew, 1850); and Teuchophorus chaetifemoratus Pollet & Kechev, 2007.

Biodiversity Of Filariae (Nematoda: Filariata), Parasites Of Birds In Uzbekistan, Kalandar Saparov, Firuza Akramova, Djalaliddin Azimov, Vladimir Golovanov, Abdurakhim Kuchboev

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In Uzbekistan, 53 species in 4 families of nematodes of the suborder Filariata Skrjabin, 1915 (Aproctidae [9], Splendidofilariidae [12], Diplotriaenidae [20], Oswaldofilariidae [12]) were found to infect 14 orders of birds. Passeriformes harbored 23, the greatest number of species. The rate of infection was significantly lower in birds confined to aquatic environments.

Autonomous Systems, Karolis Kosas

Theses and Dissertations

The ubiquity of digital media provides an unprecedented possibility to redefine the process and methods of design. Through experience from a series of creative projects, I investigate how certain aspects of the web allow for design to attain a degree of autonomy, thus producing results that go beyond anticipation and expertise of the author. Utilizing an unlimited capacity to store the content and retrieve immediate feedback, the designer’s role can be shifted to that of an initiator defining rules and boundaries, from which the process can evolve independently based on the input of users and data. The design output in …

Wst 2309g : Women, Men, And Culture, Women's And Gender/Sexuality Studies

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum) On Soil Phosphorus Availability And Organic Acids, Angela R. Possinger, Loren B. Byrne, Nancy Breen E. Breen

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

As a cover crop, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) may increase soil-P availability. Buckwheat was grown in low-P and P-fertilized field plots, and organic anions were measured in rhizosphere soil. Soil-P availability was not affected by buckwheat, but the concentration of rhizosphere tartrate2– was significantly higher (p < 0.005) in low-P vs. P-fertilized plots. This suggests that organic-anion root exudation may have a role in buckwheat-rhizosphere P dynamics.

An In-Class Role-Playing Activity To Foster Discussion And Deeper Understanding Of Biodiversity And Ecological Webs, Loren B. Byrne

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

In a general sense, biodiversity is an intuitively simple concept, referring to the variety of Earth’s organisms. Ecologists, however, conceptualize biodiversity in a more nuanced, multidimensional way to reflect the enormous diversity of species, niches, and interspecific interactions that generate spatiotemporal complexity in communities. Students may not fully comprehend or appreciate this deeper meaning if they fail to recognize the full range of species in a community (e.g., the often-ignored microbes and small invertebrates) and how their varied interactions (e.g., mutualism, parasitism) and activities (e.g., ecosystem engineering) affect an ecosystem’s emergent structure (e.g., food webs) and function (e.g., decomposition). To …

Passive Energy Recapture In Jellyfish Contributes To Propulsive Advantage Over Other Metazoans, Brad J. Gemmell, John H. Costello, Sean Colin, Colin J. Stewart, John O. Dabiri, Danesh Tafti, Shashank Priya

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Gelatinous zooplankton populations are well known for their ability to take over perturbed ecosystems. The ability of these animals to outcompete and functionally replace fish that exhibit an effective visual predatory mode is counterintuitive because jellyfish are described as inefficient swimmers that must rely on direct contact with prey to feed. We show that jellyfish exhibit a unique mechanism of passive energy recapture, which is exploited to allow them to travel 30% further each swimming cycle, thereby reducing metabolic energy demand by swimming muscles. By accounting for large interspecific differences in net metabolic rates, we demonstrate, contrary to prevailing views, …

Fluid Interactions That Enable Stealth Predation By The Upstream-Foraging Hydromedusa Craspedacusta Sowerbyi, K. Lucas, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, K. Katija, E. Klos

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Unlike most medusae that forage with tentacles trailing behind their bells, several species forage upstream of their bells using aborally located tentacles. It has been hypothesized that these medusae forage as stealth predators by placing their tentacles in more quiescent regions of flow around their bells. Consequently, they are able to capture highly mobile, sensitive prey. We used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to quantitatively characterize the flow field around Craspedacusta sowerbyi, a freshwater upstream-foraging hydromedusa, to evaluate the mechanics of its stealth predation. We found that fluid velocities were minimal in front and along the sides of the bell …

Propulsion In Cubomedusae: Mechanisms And Utility, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, Kakani Katija, Jamie Seymour, Kristen Kiefer

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Evolutionary constraints which limit the forces produced during bell contractions of medusae affect the overall medusan morphospace such that jet propulsion is limited to only small medusae. Cubomedusae, which often possess large prolate bells and are thought to swim via jet propulsion, appear to violate the theoretical constraints which determine the medusan morphospace. To examine propulsion by cubomedusae, we quantified size related changes in wake dynamics, bell shape, swimming and turning kinematics of two species of cubomedusae, Chironex fleckeri and Chiropsella bronzie. During growth, these cubomedusae transitioned from using jet propulsion at smaller sizes to a rowing-jetting hybrid mode …

Uncovering An Obscure Trade: Threatened Freshwater Fishes And The Aquarium Pet Markets, Rajeev Raghavan, Neelesh Dahanukar, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne, K. Krishna Kumar, Sanjay Molur, Alison M. Rosser

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

While the collection of fish for the aquarium pet trade has been flagged as a major threat to wild populations, this link is tenuous for the unregulated wild collection of endemic species because of the lack of quantitative data. In this paper, we examine the extent and magnitude of collection and trade of endemic and threatened freshwater fishes from India for the pet markets, and discuss their conservation implications. Using data on aquarium fishes exported from India, we try to understand nature of the trade in terms of species composition, volume, exit points, and importing countries. Most trade in India …