Digital Commons Network^™

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Δ Agonist Gw1516 Attenuates Diet-Induced Aortic Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, And Atherosclerosis In Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice, Lazar A. Bojic, Amy C. Burke, Sanjiv S. Chhoker, Dawn E. Telford, Brian G. Sutherland, Jane Y. Edwards, Cynthia G. Sawyez, Rommel G. Tirona, Hao Yin, J. Geoffrey Pickering, Murray W. Huff

Paediatrics Publications

OBJECTIVE - The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ regulates systemic lipid homeostasis and inflammation. However, the ability of PPARδ agonists to improve the pathology of pre-established lesions and whether PPARδ activation is atheroprotective in the setting of insulin resistance have not been reported. Here, we examine whether intervention with a selective PPARδ agonist corrects metabolic dysregulation and attenuates aortic inflammation and atherosclerosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS - Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice were fed a chow or a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet (42% fat, 0.2% cholesterol) for 4 weeks. For a further 8 weeks, the HFHC group was fed either HFHC …

The Human Papillomavirus E7 Proteins Associate With P190rhogap And Alter Its Function, Biljana Todorovic, Anthony C. Nichols, Jennifer M. Chitilian, Michael P. Myers, Trevor G. Shepherd, Sarah J. Parsons, John W. Barrett, Lawrence Banks, Joe S. Mymryk

Paediatrics Publications

Using mass spectrometry, we identified p190RhoGAP (p190) as a binding partner of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7. p190 belongs to the GTPase activating protein (GAP) family and is one of the primary GAPs for RhoA. GAPs stimulate the intrinsic GTPase activity of the Rho proteins, leading to Rho inactivation and influencing numerous biological processes. RhoA is one of the best-characterized Rho proteins and is specifically involved in formation of focal adhesions and stress fibers, thereby regulating cell migration and cell spreading. Since this is the first report that E7 associates with p190, we carried out detailed interaction studies. We show …

Validation Of Predicted Mrna Splicing Mutations Using High-Throughput Transcriptome Data., Coby Viner, Stephanie N Dorman, Ben C Shirley, Peter K Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Interpretation of variants present in complete genomes or exomes reveals numerous sequence changes, only a fraction of which are likely to be pathogenic. Mutations have been traditionally inferred from allele frequencies and inheritance patterns in such data. Variants predicted to alter mRNA splicing can be validated by manual inspection of transcriptome sequencing data, however this approach is intractable for large datasets. These abnormal mRNA splicing patterns are characterized by reads demonstrating either exon skipping, cryptic splice site use, and high levels of intron inclusion, or combinations of these properties. We present, Veridical, an in silico method for the automatic validation …

Splicing Mutation Analysis Reveals Previously Unrecognized Pathways In Lymph Node-Invasive Breast Cancer., Stephanie N Dorman, Coby Viner, Peter K Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Somatic mutations reported in large-scale breast cancer (BC) sequencing studies primarily consist of protein coding mutations. mRNA splicing mutation analyses have been limited in scope, despite their prevalence in Mendelian genetic disorders. We predicted splicing mutations in 442 BC tumour and matched normal exomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas Consortium (TCGA). These splicing defects were validated by abnormal expression changes in these tumours. Of the 5,206 putative mutations identified, exon skipping, leaky or cryptic splicing was confirmed for 988 variants. Pathway enrichment analysis of the mutated genes revealed mutations in 9 NCAM1-related pathways, which were significantly increased in samples with …

Localized, Non-Random Differences In Chromatin Accessibility Between Homologous Metaphase Chromosomes., Wahab A Khan, Peter K Rogan, Joan Hm Knoll

Biochemistry Publications

BACKGROUND: Condensation differences along the lengths of homologous, mitotic metaphase chromosomes are well known. This study reports molecular cytogenetic data showing quantifiable localized differences in condensation between homologs that are related to differences in accessibility (DA) of associated DNA probe targets. Reproducible DA was observed for ~10% of locus-specific, short (1.5-5 kb) single copy DNA probes used in fluorescence in situ hybridization.

RESULTS: Fourteen probes (from chromosomes 1, 5, 9, 11, 15, 17, 22) targeting genic and intergenic regions were developed and hybridized to cells from 10 individuals with cytogenetically-distinguishable homologs. Differences in hybridization between homologs were non-random for 8 …

Interpretation Of Mrna Splicing Mutations In Genetic Disease: Review Of The Literature And Guidelines For Information-Theoretical Analysis., Natasha Caminsky, Eliseos J Mucaki, Peter K Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

The interpretation of genomic variants has become one of the paramount challenges in the post-genome sequencing era. In this review we summarize nearly 20 years of research on the applications of information theory (IT) to interpret coding and non-coding mutations that alter mRNA splicing in rare and common diseases. We compile and summarize the spectrum of published variants analyzed by IT, to provide a broad perspective of the distribution of deleterious natural and cryptic splice site variants detected, as well as those affecting splicing regulatory sequences. Results for natural splice site mutations can be interrogated dynamically with Splicing Mutation Calculator, …

Brain Metastases From Breast Cancer: Lessons From Experimental Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies And Clinical Implications., Donna Murrell, Paula J Foster, Ann F Chambers

Medical Biophysics Publications

Breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain presents difficult clinical challenges. This diagnosis comes with high mortality rates, largely due to complexities in early detection and ineffective therapies associated with both dormancy and impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current gold standard for diagnosis and assessment of brain tumors. It has been used clinically to investigate metastatic development as well as monitor response to therapy. Here, we describe preclinical imaging strategies that we have used to study the development of brain metastases due to breast cancer. Using this approach, we have identified three …

Links Between White Matter Microstructure And Cortisol Reactivity To Stress In Early Childhood: Evidence For Moderation By Parenting., Haroon I Sheikh, Marc F Joanisse, Sarah M Mackrell, Katie R Kryski, Heather J Smith, Shiva M Singh, Elizabeth P Hayden

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (measured via cortisol reactivity) may be a biological marker of risk for depression and anxiety, possibly even early in development. However, the structural neural correlates of early cortisol reactivity are not well known, although these would potentially inform broader models of mechanisms of risk, especially if the early environment further shapes these relationships. Therefore, we examined links between white matter architecture and young girls' cortisol reactivity and whether early caregiving moderated these links. We recruited 45 6-year-old girls based on whether they had previously shown high or low cortisol reactivity to a stress task at …

Experiments On Surfactants And Thin Fluid Films, Peter Megson

HMC Senior Theses

We investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of a surfactant monolayer on a thin fluid film spreading inward into a region devoid of surfactant, a system motivated by the alveolus of the human lung. We perform experiments that simultaneously measure the fluid height profile and the fluorescence intensity due to our fluorescent surfactant, NBD-PC. We perform experiments on both a Newtonian layer of glycerol and a shear-thinning fluid layer consisting of xanthan gum mixed with glycerol. We can very successfully extract height profiles on the xanthan gum fluid, although the simultaneous measurement of fluorescent intensity profiles proved problematic, as the laser tended …

Pcr Based Fetal Sex Determination In Bovine Circulating Maternal Plasma, E. Barkat, M. Labram, L. Rickords

Biology Posters

PCR-based fetal sex determination by use of fetal DNA in maternal plasma in bovine is a novel scientific method that has some cost advantages in the animal production industry. In this study, our objective was to determine fetal sex in pregnant cows and establish the lower boundary at which Y-chromosome specific fetal DNA could be detected in the circulating maternal plasma using Bov97M primers. In this experiment, our results showed that 10 pg was the limit in which the Y-chromosome specific DNA was detectable in the circulating maternal plasma. Future experiments will be conducted to determine the earliest gestational age …

Preventing Parasites: Developing A Deworming Protocol And Screening Animals At The Willow Park Zoo, Sydney Greenfield

Biology Posters

The primary object of this project was to research AZA and American Association of Zoo Veterinarian guidelines, write up a deworming protocol and schedule for the zoo, and finally begin screening collection animals.

The Progressive Movement And Conservation (1890s - Present), John Freemuth

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Progressive movement of the 1890s to the 1920s was a seminal movement affecting the U.S. policy in many areas. Specifically, the original conservation movement, part of the larger Progressive movement during this same time period (1890-1920), had a profound influence over natural resource policies that remain to this day. Perhaps best seen as a response to the changes brought by the modernization of life in the United States, key aspects of the Progressive movement were electorial reform to counter political corruption, the women's movement, fear of corporate power, and the need to control that power.

Measuring Fragmentation In Dissociative Identity Disorder: The Integration Measure And Relationship To Switching And Time In Therapy, M. Rose Barlow, James A. Chu

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Some people with dissociative identity disorder (DID) have very little communication or awareness among the parts of their identity, while others experience a great deal of cooperation among alternate identities. Previous research on this topic has been sparse. Currently, there is no empirical measure of integration versus fragmentation in a person with DID. In this study, we report the development of such a measure.

Objective: The goal of this study was to pilot the integration measure (IM) and to address its psychometric properties and relationships to other measures. The IM is the first standardized measure of integration in DID. …

Cohen Center To Bridge Cultures Of Technology And Humanism

Madison Magazine

No abstract provided.

Overlease Plots, Tree & Amur Honeysuckle Data, 1999-2014, Kendra Mcmillin, Gerard Hertel

William Overlease Plant Succession Study Documents

No abstract provided.

Plum Run And Its Watershed: A Short Course In Stream Ecology, Winfield Fairchild, Tim Lutz, Joan Welch, Danielle Difederico, Mike Mcgeehin, Katherine Broadbent, Danielle Varnes

Plum Run Stream Organism Survey Documents

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Childhood Body Size, Composition, Blood Pressure And Adult Cardiac Structure: The Fels Longitudinal Study, Roy T. Sabo, Miao-Shan Yen, Stephen Daniels, Shumei S. Sun

Biostatistics Publications

Objectives

To determine whether childhood body size, composition and blood pressure are associated with adult cardiac structure by estimating childhood “age of divergence.”

Methods

385 female and 312 male participants in the Fels Longitudinal Study had echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular mass, relative wall thickness, and interventricular septal thickness. Also available were anthropometric measurements of body mass index, waist circumference, percentage body fat, fat free mass, total body fat, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, taken in both childhood and adulthood. The age of divergence is estimated as the lowest age at which childhood measurements are significantly different between patients …

Music Therapy For Patients Who Have Undergone Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant, Chelsea G. Ratcliff, Sara Prinsloo, Michael Richardson, Laura Baynham-Fletcher, Richard Lee, Alejandro Chaoul, Marlene Z. Cohen, Marcos De Lima, Lorenzo Cohen

Journal Articles: College of Nursing

Objectives. This study examines the short- and long-term QOL benefits of a music therapy intervention for patients recovering from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods. Ninety allogeneic HSCT patients, after transplant, were randomized to receive ISO-principle (i.e., mood matching) based music therapy (MT; n = 29), unstructured music (UM; n = 30), or usual care (UC; n = 31) for four weeks. The ISO principle posits that patients may shift their mood from one state to another by listening to music that is "equal to" the individual's initial mood state and subsequently listening to music selections that gradually shift in …

Second-Parent Adoption: North Carolina Same-Sex Couples And Foster Care Adoptions, Mark Maxwell

2010-2016 Archived Posters

A qualitative phenomenological study about the experiences of same-sex couples with children adopted from foster care in a southeastern U.S. state. Interview data from 8 couples were coded and analyzed. Emerging themes included legal, social, and financial struggles and the couple􀀂s trailblazing experiences to become their children􀀂s legal parents. Implications for positive social change included informing same-sex parents, policy makers and social workers about the families􀀂 experiences and needs.

The Human-Animal Bond And Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress, Melissa White

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study explored the lived experiences of Operational Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) service members with combatrelated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms who had a companion animal postdeployment. Twelve OEF and OIF veterans participated in semi-structured interviews analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological approach. Four themes emerged: (a) rich descriptions of deployment events, (b) the experiences of returning from a deployment, (c) participants’ perceptions on their pets’ influence on posttraumatic stress symptoms, and (d) other comments and opinions related to participants’ experiences. These findings illuminate the experience of combat-related posttraumatic stress and the importance of animals in the therapeutic …

Chapter 8: Adapting To Climate Change, Constance I. Miller, Christopher W. Swanson, David L. Peterson

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Forest ecosystems respond to natural climatic variability and human-caused climate change in ways that are adverse as well as beneficial to the biophysical environment and to society. Adaptation can be defined as responses or adjustments made— passive, reactive, or anticipatory—to climatic variability and change (Carter et al. 1994). Many adjustments occur whether humans intervene or not; for example, plants and animals shift to favorable habitats, and gene frequencies may change to favor traits that enable persistence in a warmer climate. Here we assess (general) strategies and (specific) tactics that resource managers can use to reduce forest vulnerability and increase adaptation …

Ambient Measurements Of Biological Aerosol Particles Near Killarney, Ireland: A Comparison Between Real-Time Fluorescence And Microscopy Techniques, D. A. Healy, J. A. Huffmann, David O'Connor, C. Pohlker, U. Poschil, J. R. Sodeau

Articles

Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) can contribute significantly to the coarse particle burden in many environments. PBAPs can thus influence climate and precipitation systems as cloud nuclei and can spread disease to humans, animals, and plants. Measurement data and techniques for PBAPs in natural environments at high time- and size resolution are, however, sparse, and so large uncertainties remain in the role that biological particles play in the Earth system. In this study two commercial real-time fluorescence particle sensors and a Sporewatch single-stage particle impactor were operated continuously from 2 August to 2 September 2010 at a rural sampling location …

Bacterial Nucleoid-Associated Protein Uncouples Transcription Levels From Transcription Timing, Igor Zwir, Won-Sik Yeo, Dongwoo Shin, Tammy Latifi, Henry Huang, Eduardo A. Groisman

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

A Statin-Loaded Reconstituted High-Density Lipoprotein Nanoparticle Inhibits Atherosclerotic Plaque Inflammation, Catherine Martel, Gwendalyn J. Randolph, Et Al

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of Isotope Harvesting At A Projectile Fragmentation Facility: ⁶⁷Cu, Tara Mastren, Aranh Pen, Graham F. Peaslee, Nick Wozniak, Shaun Loveless, Scott Essenmacher, Lee G. Sobotka, David J. Morrissey, Suzanne E. Lapi

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Construction And Radiolabeling Of Adenovirus Variants That Incorporate Human Metallothionein Into Protein Ix For Analysis Of Biodistribution, David T. Curiel, Et Al

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Network Inefficiencies In Autism Spectrum Disorder At 24 Months, J R. Pruett, K Botteron, R Mckinstry, Et Al

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Systems Biology Studies Of Adult Paragonimus Lung Flukes Facilitate The Identification Of Immunodominant Parasite Antigens, Samantha N. Mcnulty, Peter U. Fischer, R Reid Townsend, Kurt C. Curtis, Gary J. Weil, Makedonka Mitreva

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparative Dna Methylome Analysis Of Endometrial Carcinoma Reveals Complex And Distinct Deregulation Of Cancer Promoters And Enhancers, Bo Zhang, Xiao Yun Xing, Jing Li, Rebecca F. Lowdon, Yan Zhou, Nan Lin, Baoxue Zhang, Vasavi Sundaram, Katherine B. Chiappinelli, Ian S. Hagemann, David G. Mutch, Paul J. Goodfellow, Ting Wang

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Ua12/2/16 Spirit Masters Class Of 2014-2015, Wku Spirit Masters

WKU Administration Documents

WKU Spirit Masters' booklet with photos and brief biographies of members.

• Baker, Alexis
• Bowling, Taylor
• Brand, Lizzie
• Brown, Kelvin
• Brown, McGavinn
• Bunnell, Matt
• Champion, Kam
• Doose, Haley
• Gilliam, Natalie
• Greer, Ian
• Hall, Katherine aka KJ
• Havel, Catherine
• Jolly, Ellie
• Linder, Ellen
• Lofton, Kayla
• Manley, Alyson
• Manley, Ashlee
• Marr, Eric
• McCullough, Grace
• McGuirk, Meghan
• McPhearson, Rebecca
• Miles, Nolan
• Miller, David
• Murrell, Meredith
• Peck, Bennett
• Rhea, Charlie
• Richey, Jay
• Ruby, Taylor
• Snyder, Kaitlyn
• Stone, Catherine
• Thompson, Ali
• Willard, Mckinze