Digital Commons Network^™

Monoamine Transporter Photoaffinity Ligands Based On Methylphenidate And Citalopram: Rational Design, Chemical Synthesis, And Biochemical Application, Nageswari Yarravarapu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Monoamine transporters (MATs) are a family of proteins that include the dopamine transporter (DAT), serotonin transporter (SERT), and norepinephrine transporter (NET). Specifically, dysregulation of MAT function is associated with a host of disease states including drug abuse, major depressive disorder, and anxiety. Additionally, several drugs acting as MAT inhibitors are clinically available to treat multiple disorders. However, details regarding the transport inhibition mechanism created by these drugs, as well as their discrete ligand-binding pockets within their target MAT proteins, remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap in turn hinders rational development of novel therapeutics for numerous MAT-associated disorders. The objective of …

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Pilin Glycosylation: The Role Of The Pilin Glycan In Pilus Solubility, Function, And Assembly Blank, Tara Allison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains producing group I type IVa pili comprise over 50% of the clinical isolate population. The pilus lateral surface of these strains is characterized by the attachment of an O-antigen repeating unit to each pilin monomer. O-antigen (glycan) structural analysis provided information on two possible characteristics, charge and size. Solubility experiments of fully, partially, and non-glycosylated P. aeruginosa 1244 pili showed that a full length glycan was required for maximum pilus solubility. Reduced solubility suggested an increased pilus surface hydrophobicity which was supported by protein modeling. While having no effect on the wild type strain, ionic strengths found …

Rethinking Multiplicity After Deleuze And Badiou, Becky Vartabedian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is built around two questions. The first concerns a structure for analyzing Gilles Deleuze's (1925-1995) work with multiplicity and Alain Badiou's (1937- ) presentation of the same concept: On what grounds is it possible to understand the relationship between Badiou's and Deleuze's work on multiplicity and its ontological significance? I answer with Deleuze's mechanism of the problem-solution couple, a framework that accommodates the affirmation of diverse solutions to any philosophical or ontological problem. Using the problem-solution couple as a framework for organizing the relationship between Deleuze and Badiou provides an alternative to the traditional positioning of these programs …

How Power-Laws Re-Write The Rules Of Cyber Warfare, David L. Bibighaus

Journal of Strategic Security

All warfare contains and element of randomness. This article will argue that, the kind uncertainty encountered in cyber warfare (Power-Law randomness) is fundamentally different from the uncertainty the military has evolved to deal with in the physical world (Gaussian-Randomness). The article will explain the difference between these two kinds of randomness, and how cyber weapons appear to operate under Power-Law randomness. It then will show how in cyberspace, key aspects of strategic thought are based on a flaws assumption of randomness. Finally, this article shall argue that if the American military is going to be effective in cyberspace, it must …

Pleasure, Cory Wimberly

Philosophy Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Redox Active Lipophilic Ruthenium Complexes As Potential Anti-Cancer Drugs, Nagham Alatrash

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

The dinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes (RPCs) [(phen)2Ru(tatpp)Ru(phen)2][PF6]4 (P4+) and the monomeric [(phen)2Ru(tatpp)]Cl2 (MP2+) are promising candidates for anti-cancer drug development in terms of the observed anti-tumor activity in vivo and in vitro. These complexes contain the redox-active tatpp (9,11,20,22-tetraazatetrapyrido[3,2-a:2'3'-c:3'',2''-1:2''',3''']-pentacene) ligand which seems to be the critical component for biological activity. These complexes cleave DNA when reduced in situ to a radical species. Both complexes exhibit selective cytotoxicity toward cultured malignant cell lines and showed inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. This work expands on this platform by preparing and examining more lipophilic analogues of P4+ and MP2+. Specifically, four lipophilic …

What Makes A Man: Physical Attraction Among Young Homosexuals, Aaron Mccauley

Undergraduate Research Journal

Little research is available when examining homosexual attraction, particularly physical attraction. Existing research approaches the topic through a heterosexual bias or an evolutionary stance. This study was designed to provide a base for further research. Five participants completed the interview process of the research design. The interviews consisted of open-ended, opinion style questions and with participants rating the attractiveness of a series of photos to further explore homosexual physical attraction. The results suggest that homosexual attraction may be based both in evolutionary processes and societal factors. More research is needed, however, for a better understanding of physical characteristics within homosexual …

Women’S Involvement In The Sandinistas And The Farc, Derek Comba

Undergraduate Research Journal

Historically, women have been constantly excluded from combat in war except in times of dire need. Even today women are not allowed in the overwhelming majority of armies from around the world, and the ones that do allow women do not allow them on the front lines. Women have always been seen as not capable of war or as not needing to fight since the men can fight for them. Yet, time and time again it appears that guerrilla, insurgent, and terrorist groups have let women into their ranks. While large numbers of women fought in both the Sandinista National …

How Effective Are Cleanwave® Uv-C Portable Toothbrush Sanitizers In Removing Streptococcus Mitis From Toothbrushes?, Rafaila Ramirez

Undergraduate Research Journal

The oral cavity is home to a wide variety of microorganisms1. More than 700 bacterial species have been detected within the oral cavity. Thus, it is not surprising that some of these microorganisms are transferred to a toothbrush during use. Furthermore, studies have shown that various microorganisms can grow on toothbrushes after use. More microorganism development occurs on toothbrushes stored in a moist environment such as a closed container. Since toothbrushes can become a potential portal of entry for organisms, the purpose of this study was to see how effective the CleanWave® UV-C Portable Toothbrush Sanitizer was in re-moving the …

Same Sex Marriage In The United States, Macarena Sáez

Contributions to Books

This Chapter gives a brief analysis of the status of same-sex marriage in the United States prior to the US Supreme Court decisions of 2013 and the current status of litigation and political reforms triggered, in part by the court decisions. It shows that marriage is a central institution in the country’s rationale of family law in ways that separate it from other Western countries that have allowed same-sex marriage.

Library Annual Report

Library Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Rna-Binding Protein Celf1 Controls Marcks Mra Translation In Oral Cancer Cells, Mehul Z. Patel

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Post-transcriptional gene regulation plays an important role in controlling gene expression patterns in mammalian cells. CUG-binding and Embryonic Lethal vision-type RNA-binding protein 3 (ETR)-like Factor (CELF1), also known as CUGBP1, is a RNA-binding protein involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation through nuclear (alternative splicing) and cytoplasmic (mRNA turnover and translation) mRNA processing events. Primarily, CELF1 is known for its contribution to the development of myotonic dystrophy (DM1). But, published observations from our laboratory and others determined that CELF1 is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as well as multiple other cancers. Unpublished proteomic pulsed-stable isotope labeling by amino …

Biological Implications Of Glycation In Breast Cancer, Katherine Rose Walter

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that affects close to two million women each year. Of these women, seventy percent express estrogen receptor alpha, a member of the nuclear receptor subfamily that is activated in response to estrogen. Our research has shown an alternate mechanism by which estrogen receptor alpha is activated and subsequently elicits its cancer promoting effects. The process of glycation involves the non-enzymatic addition of sugar moieties to biological macromolecules which produce reactive metabolites known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These metabolites have been shown to be responsible for many of the complications associated with diabetes …

The Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease And Associated Mitral Valve Prolapse: The Role Of Dchs1 And Filamin-A, Kimberly Melissa Sauls

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) affects 1 in 40 people worldwide and is the leading cause of mitral valve surgery. MVP is defined as the displacement of one or both leaflets during ventricular systole and commonly leads to mitral regurgitation as well as other secondary cardiac defects including arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Structural changes observed in MVP patients include myxomatous degeneration of the mitral leaflets, which is characterized by collagen fragmentation and accumulation of proteoglycans. Additionally, hyperproliferation and activation of interstitial cells (to myofibroblasts) also contribute to valve enlargement and degeneration, respectively. The molecular and genetic etiology …

Method Development For The Identification Of Alternatively Sialylated Glycoproteins In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Stephen Matthew Roper

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Non-small cell lung cancer represents 85% of all lung cancers with an average 5 year life expectancy of 15-20%. A wealth of data suggests that altered glycosylation contributes to the progression of these tumors and efforts to improve the specificity of biomarkers have logically shifted towards glycoproteomic investigations. For this purpose, recent innovations in experimental strategies and analytical techniques could be combined to provide a more detailed characterization of glycans than previously achievable. These new methods have not yet been assessed for feasibility in experimental procedures useful for discovery phase efforts. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the utility of novel …

Talking Less But Saying More: Teaching Us History Online, Carolyn J. Lawes

History Faculty Publications

After years of teaching in person at a large public university in Virginia, I decided to move my undergraduate U.S. history courses for that school online. I did so for one reason: the online format allows me to off er a better history class.

Carg-Driven Gadd45Α Activated By Resveratrol Inhibits Lung Cancer Cells, Qiwen Shi, Werner Geldenhuys, Vijaykumar Sutariya, Anupam Bishayee, Isha Patel, Deepak Bhatia

Pharmacy Faculty Publications

We report anticarcinogenic effects of suicide gene therapy that relies on the use of resveratrol-responsive CArG elements from the Egr-1 promoter to induce GADD45α. In A549 lung cancer cells, endogenous GADD45α was not induced upon resveratrol treatment. Therefore, induction of exogenous GADD45α resulted in growth inhibition. Resveratrol transiently induced Egr-1 through ERK/JNK-ElK-1. Hence, we cloned natural or synthetic Egr-1 promoter upstream of GADD45α cDNA to create a suicide gene therapy vector. Since natural promoter may have antagonized effects, we tested synthetic promoter that contains either five, six or nine repeats of CArG elements essential in the Egr-1 promoter to drive …

Acupuncture May Exert Its Therapeutic Effect Through Microrna-339/Sirt2/Nfb/Foxo1 Axis, Ia-You Wang, Hui Li, Chun-Mei Ma, Jia-Lu Wang, Shu-Feng Zhou

Pharmacy Faculty Publications

Recently, we have found that a number of microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins are involved in the response to acupuncture therapy in hypertensive rats. Our bioinformatics study suggests an association between these miRNAs and proteins, which include miR-339 and sirtuin 2 (Sirt2). In this paper, we aimed to investigate whether Sirt2 was a direct target of miR-339 in neurons. In human SH-SY5Y cells, the luciferase assay implied that Sirt2 was likely a target of miRNA-339. Overexpression of miR-339 downregulated Sirt2 expression, while knockdown of miR-339 upregulated Sirt2 expression in human SH-SY5Y cells and rat PC12 cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-399 …

Is Prophylactic Oxybutynin Safe And Effective In Reducing The Severity Of Palmar Hyperhidrosis In Adults?, Kristin K. Amicone

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Is prophylactic oxybutynin safe and effective in reducing the severity of palmar hyperhidrosis in adults?”

STUDY DESIGN: This review is based on two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one non-randomized crossover study published in 2008, 2011, and 2012. The studies compared the safety and efficacy of oxybutynin in reducing the severity of palmar hyperhidrosis.

DATA SOURCES: All articles used were published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, and found using PubMed, Ebscohost, and Cochrane Review databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: For all studies, the safety and effectiveness of oxybutynin on palmer hyperhidrosis …

Tipping Point Of A Conifer-Based Ecosystem Under Severe Drought, Kaicheng Huang, Chuixiang Yi, Donghai Wu, Tao Zhou, Xiang Zhao, William J. Blanford, Suhua Wei, Hao Wu, Du Ling, Zheng Li

Publications and Research

Drought-induced tree mortality has recently received considerable attention. Questions have arisen over the necessary intensity and duration thresholds of droughts that are sufficient to trigger rapid forest declines. The values of such tipping points leading to forest declines due to drought are presently unknown. In this study, we have evaluated the potential relationship between the level of tree growth and concurrent drought conditions with data of the tree growth-related ring width index (RWI) of the two dominant conifer species (Pinus edulis and Pinus ponderosa) in the Southwestern United States (SWUS) and the meteorological drought-related standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index …

An Epigenetic Hypothesis For The Genomic Memory Of Pain, Sebastian Alvarado, Maral Tajerian, Matthew Suderman, Ziv Machnes, Stephanie Pierfelice, Magali Millecamps, Laura S. Stone, Moshe Szyf

Publications and Research

Chronic pain is accompanied with long-term sensory, affective and cognitive disturbances. What are the mechanisms that mediate the long-term consequences of painful experiences and embed them in the genome? We hypothesize that alterations in DNA methylation, an enzymatic covalent modification of cytosine bases in DNA,serve as a “genomic” memory of pain in the adult cortex. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for long-term regulation of gene expression. Neuronal plasticity at the neuroanatomical, functional, morphological, physiological and molecular levels has been demonstrated throughout the neuroaxis in response to persistent pain, including in the adult prefrontal cortex (PFC). We have previously reported …

Editor And Journal Information

Virginia Journal of Science

Editor and journal information for Virginia Journal of Science, vol. 66, no. 4, Winter 2015

Front Matter

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Cover, Florida Field Naturalist

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides Borealis) Reintroduction Into The Pine Flatwoods Communities Of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida, Katie O'Gara, Jessica Miles, Rebecca May

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.

First Records Of Brown Pelican (Pelecanus Occidentalis) Nesting In Polk County, Florida, Ann F. Paul, Ann B. Hodgson

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus Occidentalis) In Jacksonville, Florida, Kelsey Cooper, E. Natasha Vanderhoff

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Cover, Florida Field Naturalist

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Between Two Worlds, Kim Hill, Robert Frank Iii '14

Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine, 2002-2017

While embracing their new lives as students, two veterans find their past service in Iraq and Afghanistan informs their IWU experience in subtle and surprising ways.

Accuracy Assessment Of A Jay Watch Post-Reproductive Survey Of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma Coerulescens), Karl E. Miller, Craig A. Faulhaber, Jay O. Garcia

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.