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Analyzing Surface Protein Expression And Internalization, William Truong, Josergio Zaragoza

Bioengineering Senior Theses

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are currently the largest class of membrane receptors and are targeted by a majority of the modern drug therapeutics. In addition, they partake in many physiological and pathological processes such as inflammation, growth, and hormone responses. Most importantly, GPCRs are targets of many disease-specific pathways such as Alzheimers, hypertension, leukemia, and depression. As a result, there is an immense interest in studying GPCRs as this area provides further knowledge into the specific disease pathways and allows the discovery of novel therapeutics. In order to have a better understanding of pathways, scientists have studied GPCR activation. The …

Direction Of Aminoacylated Transfer Rnas Into Antibiotic Synthesis And Peptidoglycan-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance, Jennifer Shepherd, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Prokaryotic aminoacylated‐transfer RNAs often need to be efficiently segregated between translation and other cellular biosynthetic pathways. Many clinically relevant bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa direct some aminoacylated‐tRNA species into peptidoglycan biosynthesis and/or membrane phospholipid modification. Subsequent indirect peptidoglycan cross‐linkage or change in membrane permeability is often a prerequisite for high‐level antibiotic resistance. In Streptomycetes, aminoacylated‐tRNA species are used for antibiotic synthesis as well as antibiotic resistance. The direction of coding aminoacylated‐tRNA molecules away from translation and into antibiotic resistance and synthesis pathways are discussed in this review.

Accuracy Improvement Of Quantitative Analysis By Spatial Confinement In Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, L. B. Guo, Z. Q. Hao, M. Shen, W. Xiong, X. N. He, Z. Q. Xie, M. Gao, X. Y. Li, X. Y. Zeng, Yongfeng Lu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

To improve the accuracy of quantitative analysis in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, the plasma produced by a Nd:YAG laser from steel targets was confined by a cavity. A number of elements with low concentrations, such as vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn), in the steel samples were investigated. After the optimization of the cavity dimension and laser fluence, significant enhancement factors of 4.2, 3.1, and 2.87 in the emission intensity of V, Cr, and Mn lines, respectively, were achieved at a laser fluence of 42.9 J/cm2 using a hemispherical cavity (diameter: 5 mm). More importantly, the correlation coefficient of the …

Projecting Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration Of The Southeastern United States In The 21st Century, Xia Song, Hanqin Tian, Xiaofeng Xu, Dafeng Hui, Guangsheng Chen, Greg Sommers, Luke Marzen, Mingliang Liu

Biology Faculty Research

How terrestrial ecosystems respond to future environmental change in the 21st century is critically important for understanding the feedbacks of terrestrial ecosystems to global climate change. The southeastern United States (SEUS) has been one of the major regions acting as a carbon sink over the past century; yet it is unclear how its terrestrial ecosystems will respond to global environmental change in the 21st century. Applying a process-based ecosystem model (Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model, DLEM) in combination with three projected climate change scenarios (A1B, A2, and B1 from the IPCC report) and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide, nitrogen deposition, and …

Um Professor Honored By Czech University For Research Contributions, Erin Garrett

University of Mississippi News

Samir Ross receives Silver Medal from Brno University in recognition of natural products research

Studies On Tracheorelaxant And Anti-Inflammatory Activities Of Rhizomes Of Polygonatum Verticillatum, Haroon Khan, Muhammad Saeed, Hassan Mehmood, Najeeb-Ur Rehman, Naveed Muhammad, Ikram-Ul Haq, Nadeem Ashraf, Kamal Eldin H El-Tahir, Anwar Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: The present study describes the tracheorelaxant and anti-inflammatory effects of Polygonatum verticillatum which may support its medicinal use in hyperactive airway complaints and inflammatory disorders.
Methods: The tracheorelaxant activity of crude extract of the rhizomes of P. verticillatum (PR) was assessed in isolated guinea-pig tracheal tissues immersed in tissue organ bath filled with Tyrode's solution and a continuous supply of carbogen gas (95% O2 and 5% CO2). The contractile and relaxant responses of the tissue were measured using isometric transducers coupled with Power-Lab data acquisition system. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, while the …

Analysis Of Unannotated Equine Transcripts Identified By Mrna Sequencing, Stephen J. Coleman, Zheng Zeng, Matthew S. Hestand, Jinze Liu, James N. Macleod

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Sequencing of equine mRNA (RNA-seq) identified 428 putative transcripts which do not map to any previously annotated or predicted horse genes. Most of these encode the equine homologs of known protein-coding genes described in other species, yet the potential exists to identify novel and perhaps equine-specific gene structures. A set of 36 transcripts were prioritized for further study by filtering for levels of expression (depth of RNA-seq read coverage), distance from annotated features in the equine genome, the number of putative exons, and patterns of gene expression between tissues. From these, four were selected for further investigation based on predicted …

Prefrontal Cortical Microcircuits Bind Perception To Executive Control, Ioan Opris, Lucas Santos, Greg A. Gerhardt, Dong Song, Theodore W. Berger, Robert E. Hampson, Sam A. Deadwyler

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

During the perception-to-action cycle, our cerebral cortex mediates the interactions between the environment and the perceptual-executive systems of the brain. At the top of the executive hierarchy, prefrontal cortical microcircuits are assumed to bind perceptual and executive control information to guide goal-driven behavior. Here, we tested this hypothesis by comparing simultaneously recorded neuron firing in prefrontal cortical layers and the caudate-putamen of rhesus monkeys, trained in a spatial-versus-object, rule-based match-to-sample task. We found that during the perception and executive selection phases, cell firing in the localized prefrontal layers and caudate-putamen region exhibited similar location preferences on spatial-trials, but less on …

Ceballos Coordinates Summer Research Program For Area Students, University Relations

Campus News Archive

Area high school students will work with Michael Ceballos on summer research projects.

Identification Of Yeast Cell Cycle Regulated Genes Based On Genomic Features, Chao Cheng, Yao Fu, Linsheng Shen, Mark Gerstein

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Time-course microarray experiments have been widely used to identify cell cycle regulated genes. However, the method is not effective for lowly expressed genes and is sensitive to experimental conditions. To complement microarray experiments, we propose a computational method to predict cell cycle regulated genes based on their genomic features – transcription factor binding and motif profiles.

Results: Through integrating gene-expression data with ChIP-chip binding and putative binding sites of transcription factors, our method shows high accuracy in discriminating yeast cell cycle regulated genes from non-cell cycle regulated ones. We predict 211 novel cell cycle regulated genes. Our model rediscovers …

Macro Description Of Public Beach Attributes That May Effect Turtle Nesting In Playa De Coco, La Flor (Pacific, Southwest Nicaragua) And Pacuare And Tortuguero, (Caribbean, Costa Rica), July 2013, Falk Huettmann

Faculty

We observed several macro beach features of four public sea turtle nesting beaches for Playa Coco (latitude11.15382, longitude 85.80051; geographic datum WGS84) and La Flor (latitude 11.14282, longitude 85.79418) in southwest Nicaragua (Pacific), and Pacuare Reserve (latitude10.20123, longitude, 83.25925) and Tortugero (latitude 10.59583, longitude 83.52520) in Costa Rica (Caribbean). Recorded features included the intensity of tourism, number of different predator species of sea turtle hatchlings, number of tourists, and line transects for density of plastic, wood, metal, and crab burrows. Light and sound disturbances at night were also recorded as well as man-made objects left overnight on the shore of …

Grid-Based Habitat Plot Data For The Public Nesting Sea Turtle Beach Of Pacuare, Caribean Sea, Costa Rica July Of 2013, Falk Huettmann

Faculty

This GRID habitat survey was done at a globally relevant public sea turtle nesting beach: Pacuare (Playa Vigilada). It is situated at the Caribean Sea in Costa Rica ((latitude10.20123 longitude 83.25925; geographic datum WGS84). We did our grid-based habitat survey on 18th of July in 2013. The individual GRID points are geo-referenced by latitude and longitude (decimal degrees, +- 10 meters acuracy) and were visited only once (no 3 repeats because it consists of sand and private property) and no species information was taken (sand beach habitat). From 25 regular GRID points 15 were inaccessable because the nearby jungle and …

Grid Survey Habitat Data For Playa El Coco Beach (Nesting Sea Turtles) - Pacific, Southwestern Nicaragua July Of 2013, Falk Huettmann

Faculty

This GRID survey was done at the beach of Playa de Coco - near a globally relevant sea turtle nesting beach (La Flor). Playa el Coco (latitude 11.15382, longitude 85.80051, geographic datum WGS84) is situated at the Pacific Ocean in southwestern Nicaragua, approx. 20 km far from San Juan Del Sur and approx. 30 km far from the Costa Rican border, just adjacent to La Flor. We did our grid-based habitat survey on 8th and 9th of July in 2013. The GRID points are geo-referenced by latitude and longitude (decimal degrees, WGS84, +- 10 meters acuracy) and were visited only …

Microbial Ecology, Nitrogen, And Nitrous Oxide Trends In Marginal Soils Used For Cellulosic Biofuel Production In Eastern Nebraska, Carla M. Ahlschwede

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

There is a growing demand for diverse biofuels in the United States. Potential feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol include corn (Zea mays, L.) stover and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, L). Lands used to provide for corn production can provide some cellulosic feedstock through corn stover, but crop residue removal can have negative impacts on soil quality. Furthermore, arable land must supply both fuel and food. To meet both demands, lands considered marginal for row-crop production will likely be used to produce dedicated bioenergy crops such as switchgrass. Marginal lands are typically placed in conservation programs because they are prone …

Exploitation Of Channel Catfish In Nebraska Flood-Control Reservoirs, Christopher Lee Wiley

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, is a popular sportfish in North America, and is the third most-sought fish species in Nebraska. Exploitation rates of channel catfish populations have been estimated to be substantial in states neighboring Nebraska. Despite the popularity of channel catfish, little is known about the exploitation of channel catfish populations in Nebraska. The objectives of this study were to estimate the exploitation rates of channel catfish populations, identify the length bias of angling for channel catfish, and identify the self-imposed length limits for channel catfish at flood-control reservoirs of Nebraska. The software package Program Mark was used to …

Acquisitions Unit Annual Report 2012-2013, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Annual Report of the Acquisitions Unit, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island for FY13. Covers personnel, work flow, special projects, and serial, monograph, and e-resource acquisitions. Supplemental files include data on library materials expenditures by a number of variables as well as important working documents from the year.

Paired Interactions Between Kir Channels And Tertiapin-Q, Chul Ho Yang

Theses and Dissertations

Kir channels serve diverse and important roles throughout the human body and malfunctions of these channels are implicated in various channelopathies. Specific inhibitors for different subtypes of Kir channels are not available. However, Tertiapin-Q (TPNQ), a polypeptide isolated from honey bee venom, differentially inhibits certain subtypes of Kir channels with nanomolar affinity: ROMK1 (Kir1.1) and GIRK1/GIRK4 (Kir3.1/Kir3.4). Modification of TPNQ to increase selectivity for target channels bears great therapeutic potential. The in silico studies based on TPNQ-docked channel models, ROMK1_IRK2 (Kir1.1_Kir2.2) and GIRK2 (Kir3.2), predicted specific paired residue interactions and were experimentally validated here. In ROMK1 E123A mutant, the TPNQ …

Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy: Modeling And Interferogram Processing, Cara Perkins

Theses

This work presents a radiometric model of a spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) and a corresponding interferogram-processing algorithm for the calculation of calibrated spectral radiance measurements. The SHS relies on Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) principles, and shares design similarities with the Michelson Interferometer. The advantages of the SHS design, including the lack of moving parts, high throughput, and instantaneous spectral measurements, make it suitable as a field-deployable instrument. Operating in the long-wave infrared (LWIR), the imaging SHS design example included provides the capability of performing chemical detection based on reflectance and emissivity properties of surfaces of organic compounds. This LWIR SHS …

Genetic Determinants Of Habitual Physical Activity And Overweight And Obesity, Harold Lee

Master's Theses

We tested 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with obesity from genome wide association studies for their association with physical activity (PA). Healthy European-American women (n=265) and men (n=230) (23.5±0.3yr, 24.6±0.2kg•m^-2) were genotyped for MC4R (rs17782313), FTO (rs9939609), TMEM18 (rs6548238), NEGR1 (rs2815752), SH2B1 (rs7498665), and KCTD15 (rs11084753), and completed the Paffenbarger PA Questionnaire. We examined gene interactions by summing the number of obesity effect alleles. RESULTS: Normal weight subjects with MC4R T expended 1981.2±741.7kcal∙wk^-1 less than non-carriers in total PA (p=0.008), 1825.9±650.2 kcal∙wk^-1 less in sports/recreation (p=0.027), and 1231.3±552.7 kcal∙wk^-1 less …

Anti-Cytomegalovirus Activity Of Atanyl Blue Prl, An Anthraquinone Derivative, Zohaib Alam

Theses and Dissertations

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in immunocompromised patients and an important cause of birth defects if acquired in utero. The licensed CMV antivirals, ganciclovir, cidofovir and foscarnet, all target the viral DNA polymerase. For each drug prolonged use is associated with significant toxicities and development of drug resistance. None are approved for use during pregnancy. Therefore, development of new anti-CMV drugs that target different pathways would be beneficial. All herpesviruses encode an alkaline nuclease. That genetic disruption of the CMV alkaline nuclease, UL98, reduces CMV replication by 1,000-fold suggests that UL98 may be a useful …

Spatial And Temporal Estimation Of Nanomechanical Properties Via Atomic Force Microscopy, Eric Mccullough

Theses and Dissertations

Engineering the next generation of smart materials will require new methods of surface characterization, analysis and identification that can be performed not only in three dimensional space but also in the temporal dimension. Of particular interest is the understanding of mechanical properties of complex systems at the micro and nanoscales. Current techniques for such measurements are hampered by challenges including their inability to probe systems in complex microenvironments, non-destructively, or at nanometer resolution. This thesis outlines work in the development of techniques to study diverse systems and determine their mechanical properties using the Atomic Force Microscope as the primary tool. …

Grid Habitat Plot Survey Data For The Nesting Sea Turtles Beach La Flor Beach, Pacific, Southwestern Nicaragua July Of 2013, Falk Huettmann

Faculty

This GRID habitat plot survey was done at a globally relevant sea turtle nesting beach: La Flor (latitude 11.14282, longitude 85.79418, geographic datum WGS84). This sand beach is located at the Pacific Ocean in southwestern Nicaragua, approx. 20 km far from San Juan Del Sur and approx. 30 km far from the Costa Rican border. We did our grid-based habitat survey on the 11th of July in 2013. The GRID points are geo-referenced by latitude and longitude (decimal degrees, WGS84, +- 10 meters acuracy) and were visited only once (no 3 repeats were done because it consists of sand and …

Strategies To Improve Oral Health Systems In Rural Vietnam, Dylan Vu

UROP Posters

Oral health care systems seek to prevent and treat problems related to the mouth as well as restore teeth and the tissues that support the teeth. Oral health is important because it is closely related to general health and affects quality of life, food consumption, and physical appearance (Uetani et al., 2006). Poor, rural areas of the world especially do not have the oral health care system to keep up with the worsening oral health statuses of their people due to a lack of resources and/or infrastructure (Kandelman et al., 2012). Such is the case of Vietnam, where according to …

Semi-Interpenetrating Network Gelatin Fiber Sca Old For Oral Mucosal Delivery Of Insulin, Leyuan Xu

Theses and Dissertations

Common therapy for diabetes mellitus is subcutaneous administration of insulin that is subject to serious disadvantages, such as patient noncompliance and occasional hypoglycemia. Hence, oral administration of insulin could be more convenient and serve as a desired route. However, oral administration of insulin is severely limited by the low bioavailability of insulin through the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, a semi-interpenetrating network gelatin fiber scaffold (sIPN GF) was fabricated for oral mucosal delivery of insulin as an alternative route. This sIPN GF was engineered from an electrospun gelatin fiber scaffold (GF), which was further crosslinked with polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA) …

Learning The Ropes: The Role Of Peers, Mentors, And Extracurricular Participation In College Persistence, Adriene Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Although college attendance rates continue to rise in the United States during the 21st century, college completion percentages still lag behind. This put those not able to persist through higher education at a disadvantage, particularly because of the financial and opportunity costs of attending college without successful completion. Using data collected from 20 semi-structured interviews, I examine how social support helps students navigate and succeed during college. From the data I find that the various social relationships students cultivate in college with peers, upperclassmen and college-educated family members, as well as through involvement in on-campus groups and organizations can provide …

Ovarian Dynamics In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio): A Study Of Growth, Vascularization, And Estrogenic Effects In Follicle-Enclosed Oocytes In Vivo, Gayathri Kaushik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Kaushik, Gayathri. M.S. The University of Memphis. August/2013. Ovarian dynamics in zebrafish (Danio rerio): A study of growth, vascularization, and estrogenic effects in follicle-enclosed oocytes in vivo. Major Professor: Dr. Charles A. LessmanThe timeline of follicle-enclosed oocyte growth and development is not known. To study this, mature female zebrafish, Danio rerio, were injected intraperitoneally with the marker trypan blue (TB). Ovaries were removed at different time post injection. Then, oocyte diameter and TB uptake were determined from brightfield and fluorescence microscopy images, respectively. TB uptake increased steadily up to 48 hours post injection and declined subsequently. In Tg(fli1:EGFP)y1 zebrafish that …

Learning The Meaning Of The Vervet Alarm Calls Using A Cognitive And Computational Model, Nisrine Ait Khayi-Enyinda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This thesis explains how the infant vervet, Chlorocebus pygerthrus, learns the meaning of vervet alarm calls using the Learning Intelligent Distribution Agent's (LIDA) perceptual learning mechanism. We consider an approch of multiple meanings which corresponds to a feeling-based meaning, an action-based meaning, and a referential meaning. The first part of simulations was performed to test the learning of the meaning of these alarm calls while the infant is attached physically to the mother. The second part of simulations was performed to study the infant's understanding of these alarm calls while the infant is detached physically from the mother. The results …

Appearance-Based Predictors Of Suicidal Behavior, Cynthia Anne Stockton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The objectives of this study are to determine the effects of weight, weight perception, and physical attractiveness on suicide ideation among adolescents and adults. Further, this research aims to determine whether this effect differs by gender and race.This study employs the public-use version of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Waves I through IV (N=6,504). Odds ratios are estimated to determine whether actual or perceived weight is a better predictor of suicide ideation, and whether measures of interviewer-rated attractiveness or self-rated attractiveness predict suicide ideation. Analyses reveal that perception of self is the most important predictor of suicide ideation. …

2013: Proceedings Of The 16th International Congress Of Speleology, Czech Republic, Brno, July 21-28, 2013 Volume 2 International Congress Of Speleology Ics Proceedings, International Congress Of Speleology

KIP Talks and Conferences

Produced by the Organizing Committee of the 16th International Congress of Speleology. Published by the Czech Speleological Society and the SPELEO2013 and in the co-operation with the International Union of SpeleologyEdited by Michal Filippi, Pavel Bosák Contents: Preface Session: Exploration And Cave TechniquesRecent Investigations In The Gálapagos Islands, Ecuador / Aaron Addison, Theofilos Toulkeridis, Steven Taylor, Glenn Osburn, Geoffery Hoese, Vicente Delgado -- Quartz Sandstone Caves On Table Mountains Of Venezuela / Marek Audy, Richard Bouda -- Northern Velebit Deep Caves / Darko Bakšić, Dalibor Paar, Andrej Stroj, Damir Lacković -- Best-Practice Training Approaches For Mitigating Caving Hazards And Enhancing …

2013: Proceedings Of The 16th International Congress Of Speleology, Czech Republic, Brno, July 21-28, 2013 Volume 3 International Congress Of Speleology Ics Proceedings, International Congress Of Speleology

KIP Talks and Conferences

Produced by the Organizing Committee of the 16th International Congress of Speleology. Published by the Czech Speleological Society and the SPELEO2013 and in the co-operation with the International Union of SpeleologyEdited by Michal Filippi, Pavel Bosák Contents Preface Session: Karst And Caves In Carbonate Rocks, Salt And GypsumKarst Hydrogeology Of The Haney Limestone, South-Central Kentucky / Sarah M. Arpin, Christopher G. Groves -- An Introduction To Kalahroud Cave, North Of Esfahan, Iran / Shirin Bahadorinia, Sayed Hassen Hejazi, Alireza Nadimi, Derek C. Ford -- Cave System Of Kita Gaćešina - Draženova Puhaljka. The Longest Cave In The Dinaric Karst / …