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Handheld Stand-Alone Microfluidics Compatible Field Use Fluorimeter For Analyzing The Concentration Of Analytes In A Sample, Matthew B. Anctil

Engineering

This thesis presents the work performed to produce a handheld fluorometric tool for the analysis of microfluidics lab chips. The first section of this thesis describes the methods used for the design and development of this fluorometric tool. Each of the major components was tested individually to determine how effectively it would perform under different circumstances and configurations. Compensations were made for the weaknesses identified in each of the major components. The second section describes the laboratory testing of the developed photofluorimeter. Initial testing was carried out using a photo fluorescent tracer dye known as fluorescein sodium salt. Additional testing …

Study Of The Role Of Circulating Tumor Cells (Ctc) And Circulating Cellular Microenvironment Components In Metastasis Formation And Their Clinical Value, Zheng Ao

Open Access Dissertations

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are tumor cells found in cancer patients’ peripheral blood. They hold significant clinical value for cancer prognosis and management. While enumeration of CTC has been proven to provide reliable prognosis value for cancer management, further molecular and functional characterization of CTC may provide insights into both the biology of metastasis and critical clinical information such as the dynamic changes in molecular expression of tumor cells during treatment. Here, we will discuss how molecular and functional characterization of CTC can be utilized for such clinical applications, and the methodology development for such applications including a thermo-responsive release …

Post-Stroke Depression Among Stroke Survivors Attending Two Hospitals In Kampala Uganda, Martha Sajatovic, Kathyleen Smyth

Faculty Scholarship

Background: The burden of stroke worldwide is increasing rapidly. There is paucity of data on post-stroke depression (PSD) among stroke survivors in Uganda, despite the high prevalence of PSD reported elsewhere. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we assessed adult participants with confirmed first stroke with a standardized questionnaire. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to assess for depression among non-aphasic patients while the Aphasic Depression Rating Scale was administered to aphasic patients. Univariable and multivariable analyses performed to describe associations with PSD. Results: Forty three females (58.9%) and 30 males (41.1%) who had a stroke participated. Fifty eight (79.5%) had …

Synthesis Of Carbon-11 Labeled Organic Molecules For Pet Studies, So Jeong Lee

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

PET has played a key role in the field of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine over the past decades. PET represents a non-invasive molecular imaging technique to study and visualize human physiology by detecting positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals labeled with short half-live radioisotopes (i.e. | 11C, 13N, 15O, and 18F) that visualize in vivo biochemical processes and metabolic pathways (i.e. | glycolysis and protein/DNA synthesis). PET is also an emerging method for measuring body function and tailoring disease treatment in living human by detecting biochemical changes preceding anatomical changes occurring a disease. The capability of imaging quantitatively and with high sensitivity without …

Impact Of Sleep And Circadian Disruption On Energy Balance And Diabetes: A Summary Of Workshop Discussions, Deanna M. Arble, Joseph Bass, Cecilia Diniz Behn, Matthew P. Butler, Etienne Challet, Charles Czeisler, Christopher M. Depner, Joel Elmquist, Paul Franken, Michael A. Grandner, Erin C. Hanlon, Alex C. Keene, Michael J. Joyner, Ilia Karatsoreos, Philip A. Kern, Samuel Klein, Christopher J. Morris, Allan I. Pack, Satchidananda Panda, Louis J. Ptacek, Naresh M. Punjabi, Paolo Sassone-Corsi, Frank A. Scheer, Richa Saxena, Elizabeth R. Seaquest, Matthew S. Thimgan, Eve Van Cauter, Kenneth P. Wright

Clinical and Translational Science Faculty Publications

A workshop was held at the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases with a focus on the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on energy balance and diabetes. The workshop identified a number of key principles for research in this area and a number of specific opportunities. Studies in this area would be facilitated by active collaboration between investigators in sleep/circadian research and investigators in metabolism/diabetes. There is a need to translate the elegant findings from basic research into improving the metabolic health of the American public. There is also a need for investigators studying the impact …

Analysis Of Ac/Ds Activation Tagged Mutants In Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum), Ipeleng Randome

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a crop of immense economic and nutritional importance worldwide and also a good model organism for genomic studies of other dicot species. The recent completion of the tomato genome sequence is a great milestone towards learning about the tomato genome. Elucidation of the function of the different genes using different functional genomic tools is therefore important in adding to this resource. To this end, we have developed an Ac-Ds transposon ‘activation tagging’ (ATag) system to be able to transpose transposon inserts, bearing a strong 35S-enhancer element, all around the genome. An Ac-Ds ATag construct was used …

Bimetallic-Waveguide Coupled Sensors For Tunable Plasmonic Devices, Kunal K. Tiwari

Physics Dissertations - Archive

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been a widely used optical technique for the real time and label free sensing applications in biomedicine, homeland security, food safety, environmental monitoring, etc. Surface plasmons (SPs) being extremely sensitive to the surrounding media, their characteristics can be modulated by tuning their dielectric environment. The unique property of the nematic liquid crystalline materials that their dielectric constant can be tuned by externally applied electric fields formed the basis for development of tunable plasmonic sensor for monitoring changes at metal/dielectric interfaces. Even though sensors with high sensitivity are available, it remains highly desirable to enhance sensor …

Moss In The Classroom: A Tiny But Mighty Tool For Teaching Biology, Erin E. Shortlidge, James R. Hashimoto

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Here we present a mechanism to infuse ecology into the classroom using a broadly adaptable system. We developed a novel moss-based project that introduces research-based experiences for middle school students, and can be modified for integration into K-16 classrooms. The project is ecologically relevant, facilliating opportunities for students to experience intimate interactions with ecosystem subtleties by asking their own questions. We describe and suggest how students can develop, build, test, and assess microcosm experiments of their own design, learning the process of science by “doing science.” Details on project execution, representative examples of distinctive research-question-based projects are presented. We aim …

Characterization Of Gut Associated Circulating Invariant Natural Killer T Cells (Inkt) In Chronic Inflammation Of The Intestine, Venus Allahyarzadeh

Master's Theses

The incidence of chronic intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and celiac disease is steadily rising in pediatric patients in the United States. Although there is an influx of helper T cells to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in these diseases, the immunopathologic mechanisms of specific T cell subsets are not clearly understood and diagnosis between these diseases is difficult. We hypothesized that the frequency of specific subsets of circulating invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and their surface trafficking receptor (TR) phenotype indicate location and degree of inflammation in patients and further help to distinguish between …

Development Of Novel Nuclear Imaging Systems For Bioscience Applications, Tuoyu Cao

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Biological systems are incredibly complex and their scientific study can be facilitated by the assessment of multiple independent parameters from the same location, ideally in way that provides quantitative and time-synchronized data, with high spatial sampling, and throughout a living subject. Our group has advanced this in vivo, quantitative, multimodal imaging approach by developing and combining various nuclear imaging modalities that provide complementary data to better understand the physiology of humans, animal models, and even plants. Multi-modality imaging in clinical and pre-clinical settings has been shown to provide better diagnostic interpretation compared to stand-alone imaging systems. In recent years, combining …

Genetic And Structural Analyses Of Poliovirus Protein 2catpase, Emmanuel Noble Asare

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The specificity of encapsidation of members of the genus Enterovirus of the Picornaviridae family depends on an interaction between capsid proteins and nonstructural protein 2CATPase. In particular, in the context of a chimeric virus, the N252 residue of poliovirus (PV) 2CATPase interacts with VP3 E180 of coxsackievirus A20. PV 2CATPase has important roles both in RNA replication and encapsidation, but in the context of just the poliovirus polyprotein, N252 does not function in assembly. The aim of my study was to search for additional residues near N252 in 2CATPase that are required for PV encapsidation. I predicted a three-dimensional protein …

Impact Of Sleep And Circadian Disruption On Energy Balance And Diabetes: A Summary Of Workshop Discussions, Deanna M. Arble, Joseph Bass, Cecilia Diniz Behn, Matthew P. Butler, Etienne Challet, Charles Czeisler, Christopher M. Depner, Joel Elmquist, Paul Franken, Michael A. Grandner, Erin C. Hanlon, Alex C. Keene, Michael J. Joyner, Ilia Karatsoreos, Philip A. Kern, Samuel Klein, Christopher J. Morris, Allan I. Pack, Satchidananda Panda, Louis J. Ptacek, Naresh M. Punjabi, Paolo Sessone-Corsi, Frank A. Scheer, Richa Saxena, Elizabeth R. Seaquest, Matthew S. Thimgan, Eve Van Cauter, Kenneth P. Wright

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

A workshop was held at the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases with a focus on the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on energy balance and diabetes. The workshop identified a number of key principles for research in this area and a number of specific opportunities. Studies in this area would be facilitated by active collaboration between investigators in sleep/circadian research and investigators in metabolism/diabetes. There is a need to translate the elegant findings from basic research into improving the metabolic health of the American public. There is also a need for investigators studying the impact …

Barriers For Immunization Against Hpv In Developing Countries (India), Sandhya Ghanta

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are high in less developed and developing countries. In some countries, the acceptance of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is low. Previous studies revealed that lack of awareness, income, and education were major barriers for accepting the HPV vaccine. Apart from the above-mentioned barriers, some socio-cultural barriers for accepting the HPV vaccine exist in less developed and developing countries. This study surveyed 250 women in India of age groups 18 years and above. The sample population for the study was …

The Clustered Protocadherin Endolysosomal Trafficking Motif Mediates Cytoplasmic Association, Adam Shonubi, Chantelle Roman, Greg R. Phillips

Publications and Research

Background Clustered protocadherins (Pcdhs) are a large family of neural cadherin-like proteins encoded by individual exons located within three gene clusters. Each exon codes an extracellular, transmembrane, and proximal cytoplasmic domain. These “variable” regions may be spliced to a constant cytoplasmic moiety encoded at the end of a cluster. Pcdh extracellular domains mediate homophilic cell-cell binding but their cytoplasmic domains cause intracellular retention and may negatively regulate Pcdh cell-cell binding. Pcdhs can be found at the cell surface in neurons and other cells but are also, unlike classical cadherins, prominently trafficked to the endolysosome system. It was previously found that …

The Search For A Better Life: One Marine’S Story, Brittany Gaston

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation Of Water-Soluble Iminophosphorane Ruthenium(Ii) Compounds. A Potential Chemotherapeutic Agent For Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Malgorzata Frik, Alberto Martínez, Benelita T. Elie, Oscar Gonzalo, Daniel Ramírez De Mingo, Mercedes Sanaú, Roberto Sánchez-Delgado, Tanmoy Sadhukha, Swayam Prabha, Joe W. Ramos, Isabel Marzo, María Contel

Publications and Research

A series of organometallic ruthenium(II) complexes containing iminophosphorane ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Cationic compounds with chloride as counterion are soluble in water (70–100 mg/mL). Most compounds (especially highly water-soluble 2) are more cytotoxic to a number of human cancer cell lines than cisplatin. Initial mechanistic studies indicate that the cell death type for these compounds is mainly through canonical or caspase-dependent apoptosis, nondependent on p53, and that the compounds do not interact with DNA or inhibit protease cathepsin B. In vivo experiments of 2 on MDA-MB-231 xenografts in NOD.CB17-Prkdc SCID/J mice showed an impressive tumor reduction (shrinkage) of …

Individual-Level Variation And Higher-Level Interpretations Of Space Use In Wide-Ranging Species: An Albatross Case Study Of Sampling Effects, Sarah Gutowsky, Marty Leonard, Melinda Conners, Scott A. Shaffer, Ian Jonsen

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Marine ecologists and managers need to know the spatial extent of at-sea areas most frequented by the groups of wildlife they study or manage. Defining group-specific ranges and distributions (i.e., space use at the level of species, population, age-class, etc.) can help to identify the source or severity of common or distinct threats among different at-risk groups. In biologging studies, this is accomplished by estimating the space use of a group based on a sample of tracked individuals. A major assumption of these studies is consistency in individual movements among members of a group. The implications of scaling up individual-level …

11/05/2015 Obituary Records, Hawaii Obituaries

Obituaries

List of Obituaries for individuals who passed away on 11/05/2015. Scroll down to see the names and obituary description.

Sarah Liljegren Honored With Nsf Career Award, Edwin Smith

University of Mississippi News

Associate professor of biology is sixth faculty member to receive the prestigious funding

Risk-Taking Behavior And Its Impact On Treatment, Vaccination And Diagnosing, Daniel Maxin

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

We present results from two recent mathematical biology studies that address the effect of risk-taking behavior on epidemic models. We show that when risk-taking prevails over riskavoidance, it is possible to show a detrimental and counterintuitive effect from increasing vaccination and treatment rates over certain critical time intervals. In addition, when risk-taking has a cumulative effect within the population, a lower transmission rate from diagnosed infected individuals may prevent the intended effect of vaccination.

11/04/2015 Obituary Records, Hawaii Obituaries

Obituaries

List of Obituaries for individuals who passed away on 11/04/2015. Scroll down to see the names and obituary description.

Discovery Of Novel Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors And Survivin Inhibitors As Potential Anticancer Agents, Min Xiao

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and accounts for the majority of skin cancer death. Although considerable advances have been made in melanoma treatment in recent years, there are many problems associated with current therapies. Drug resistance to targeted therapies is almost inevitable after short term treatment. Immunotherapies generally have low response rate and the effects vary among patients. Therefore, the need to develop new and more effective treatment for melanoma is high.

The work presented here focuses on discovery of novel anticancer agents for melanoma by targeting two important cancer targets: tubulin and survivin. Microtubules play …

Characterization Of Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetric Electrodes Using Paraffin As An Effective Sealant With In Vitro And In Vivo Applications, Eric Ramsson, Albert Dionise, Daniel Cholger, Nicholas Poirer, Avery Andrus, Randi Curtiss

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is a powerful technique for measuring sub-second changes in neurotransmitter levels. A great time-limiting factor in the use of FSCV is the production of high-quality recording electrodes; common recording electrodes consist of cylindrical carbon fiber encased in borosilicate glass. When the borosilicate is heated and pulled, the molten glass ideally forms a tight seal around the carbon fiber cylinder. It is often difficult, however, to guarantee a perfect seal between the glass and carbon. Indeed, much of the time spent creating electrodes is in an effort to find a good seal. Even though epoxy resins can …

Homosexuality: Innate And Immutable? What Science Can And Cannot Say, A. Dean Byrd

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Maturity Characteristics Of Pacific Saury During Fishing Season In The Northwest Pacific, Wen-Bin Huang, Yu-Chun Huang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Pacific saury is a commercially important fish in the Northwest Pacific. This study examined the maturity characteristics, gonadosomatic index (GSI), condition factor (CF), and ovarian developmental stage of the saury stock in three months of the fishing season (from May to December) in the Northwest Pacific. The maturity characteristics of saury varied among these three months (May, July, and October) in 2009. In May, large GSI and CF values with advanced ovarian developmental stages but small knob lengths (KnL) and body weights (BW) were found. Also in this month, the large-sized saury (> 29 cm) possessed large GSI values and …

Oswald Research And Creativity Program, Uk Office Of Undergraduate Research

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

The Crayfish Snakes Of North America, Jake A. Pruett

Bakerman Student Research Awards

One of the greatest feats of evolutionary innovation, the amniotic egg, allowed vertebrate organisms more freedom from the aquatic environment by being able to place their eggs on land. Amniotes became a diverse group occupying a myriad of habitats around the globe. Over time, there have been multiple independent invasions of aquatic systems by terrestrial amniotes from a variety of taxa. Reptiles (the historically recognized group) are a diverse group of organisms with aquatic representative taxa on every continent except Antarctica. Within reptiles, the ophidia (snakes) are found all across the globe and in most aquatic habitats. There have been …

A Computational Study Of The Evolution Of Cretan And Related Scripts, Peter Revesz

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

Crete was the birthplace of several ancient writings, including the Cretan Hieroglyphs, the Linear A and the Linear B scripts. Out of these three only Linear B is deciphered. The sound values of the Cretan Hieroglyph and the Linear A symbols are unknown and attempts to reconstruct them based on Linear B have not been fruitful. In this paper, we compare the ancient Cretan scripts with four other Mediterranean and Black Sea scripts, namely Phoenician, South Arabic, Greek and Old Hungarian. We provide a computational study of the evolution of the three Cretan and four other scripts. This study encompasses …

Oswald Research And Creativity Program, Uk Office Of Undergraduate Research

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Homology Based Motif Generation, Cameron Baker

Theses

Generating motifs from known active sites and matching those motifs to an uncharacterized protein is a classic way of determining protein function. Until now, the generation of motifs has been based purely on enzymatic function. This approach does not account for situations where highly different active sites can arrive at the same function by processes like convergent evolution. As such, a secondary metric on which to base the generation of motifs is necessary. This metric exists in the form of UniProt designation for homologous proteins on a global scale or PFam for designation of homologous proteins at the active site …