Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Light And Water Availability On The Performance Of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges Tsugae), Mauri Hickin

Open Access Master's Theses

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis [L.] Carriere) is a dominant shade-tolerant tree in northeastern United States that has been declining since the arrival of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand). Determining where A. tsugae settles under different abiotic conditions is important in understanding the insect's expansion. Resource availability such as light and water can affect herbivore selectivity and damage. We examined how A. tsugae settlement and survival were affected by differences in light intensity and water availability, and how adelgid affected tree performance growing in these different abiotic treatments. In a greenhouse at the University of Rhode Island, …

Inducing Heterochronic Shift In Ciona Intestinalis, Bonnie Colantuono

Open Access Master's Theses

Solitary and colonial ascidians show heterochrony in the development of adult organs. This project is a first step towards reproducing this heterochronic shift using Ciona intestinalis as a model and gaining insight into the number of genes involved in this process. In the first part of this thesis, an inducible transgene was constructed to reproduce the shift. The transgene was designed with a heat shock protein (HSP70) promoter to induce the expression of a gene at any time in development. A control transgene was constructed, but after two experiments, the transgene did not show the ability to be induced. With …

Landscape Pattern And Change Through Integration Of Remote Sensing And Stone Wall Feature Identification, Rebecca J. Trueman

Open Access Master's Theses

Stone walls are relics of an agricultural civilization that once flourished in New England. By identifying the locations of both historical and present day stone walls, compositions of post-agricultural landscapes common across the New England region can be assessed with inclusion of historic human-land use interactions. I selected the town of New Shoreham, known as Block Island, as the study site for this thesis. Block Island is located approximately 14.5 km south of the Rhode Island mainland. The Island has rich land use history which resulted in an extensive network of stone walls still present across the landscape. Through visual …

Designing A Biosensing Device Based On Wavelength Selective Emitters, Fabian Liebscher

Open Access Master's Theses

In this study, a new approach to design biosensors based on selective thermal emitters is developed. This approach allows the detection of biological molecules or chemical compounds in solution using the unique thermal emissivity spectra of each molecule. However in the last decades the applied and developed biosensors mainly use changes in electrical properties such as current or voltage or changes in optical characteristics caused by surface Plasmon resonance or fluorescence. After years of research, these sensors still show disadvantages such as high cost and time- consumptions. Biosensors based on selective thermal emitter provide an opportunity to avoid these weaknesses …

Development Of A Multivalent Subunit Vaccine Against Tularemia Using Tobacco Mosaic Virus (Tmv) Based Delivery System, Sukalyani Banik, Ahd Ahmed Mansour, Ragavan Varadharajan Suresh, Sherri Wykoff-Clary, Meenakshi Malik, Alison A. Mccormick, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Francisella tularensisis a facultative intracellular pathogen, and is the causative agent of a fatal human disease known as tularemia. F. tularensis is classified as a Category A Biothreat agent by the CDC based on its use in bioweapon programs by several countries in the past and its potential to be used as an agent of bioterrorism. No licensed vaccine is currently available for prevention of tularemia. In this study, we used a novel approach for development of a multivalent subunit vaccine against tularemia by using an efficient tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) based delivery platform. The multivalent subunit vaccine was formulated …

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa-Induced Bleb-Niche Formation In Epithelial Cells Is Independent Of Actinomyosin Contraction And Enhanced By Loss Of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane-Conductance Regulator Osmoregulatory Function, Amber L. Jolly, Desire Takawira, Olufolarin O. Oke, Sarah A. Whiteside, Stephanie W. Chang, Emily R. Wen, David J. Evans

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can infect almost any site in the body but most often targets epithelial cell-lined tissues such as the airways, skin, and the cornea of the eye. A common predisposing factor is cystic fibrosis (CF), caused by defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR). Previously, we showed that when P. aeruginosa enters epithelial cells it replicates intracellularly and occupies plasma membrane blebs. This phenotype is dependent on the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) effector ExoS, shown by others to induce host cell apoptosis. Here, we examined mechanisms for P. aeruginosa-induced bleb formation, focusing on its …

Off-Label Use Of Transmucosal Ketamine As A Rapidacting Antidepressant: A Retrospective Chart Review, Linda Nguyen, Patrick J. Marshalek, Cory B. Weaver, Kathy J. Cramer, Scott E. Pollard, Rae Reiko Matsumoto

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of subanesthetic doses of ketamine using an off-label, transmucosal administration route in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients who met the inclusion criteria for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Seventeen such patients who received subanesthetic doses of ketamine were included. Patient demographics, efficacy (drug refill, clinician notes), side effects, and concurrent medications were assessed.

Results: Benefit from low-dose transmucosal ketamine was noted in 76% of subjects (average age 48 years, 88% female), with a dose duration lasting 7–14 days. No notable side …

In Planta Production Of Flock House Virus Transencapsidated Rna And Its Potential Use As A Vaccine, Yiyang Zhou, Payal D. Maharaj, Jyothi K. Mallajosyula, Alison A. Mccormick, Christopher M. Kearney

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

We have developed a transencapsidated vaccine delivery system based on the insect virus, Flock House virus (FHV). FHV is attractive due to its small genome size, simple organization, and non-pathogenic characteristics. With the insertion of a Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) origin of assembly (Oa), the independently replicating FHV RNA1 can be transencapsidated by TMV coat protein. In this study we demonstrated that the Oa adapted FHV RNA1 transencapsidation process can take place in planta, by using a bipartite plant expression vector system, where TMV coat protein is expressed by another plant virus vector, Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV). Dual infection in …

Survey Of California Pharmacists' Awareness Of And Readiness For The New Authorities Granted By Sb 493: A Pilot Study, Clipper Young, Kajua B. Lor, Gordon C. Mccarter, Robert J. Ignoffo

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

The recent passing of Senate Bill (SB) 493 – effective on January 1, 2014 – addresses a primary care provider shortage in California by declaring pharmacists as health care providers and authorizing new roles for them in patient care. The aims of this pilot study were to examine California registered pharmacists’ awareness and knowledge of the expanded authorities granted by SB 493 as well as to assess their perception of their own readiness to exercise these new authorities. A cross-sectional, observational study was designed, and a 40-question survey was administered electronically through Qualtrics to adjunct faculty, clinical faculty, and alumni …

Inserting Pharmacists In Primary Care Roles In An Ambulatory Care Setting, Keith Yoshizuka, Katherine K. Knapp, Patricia A. Shane, Debbie H. Lu

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

In this report, we suggest how pharmacy personnel may be used to alleviate some of the pressures currently impacting health system administrators. We look back to the role(s) of the hospital pharmacy and the hospital pharmacist historically and outline changes that have occurred and how these changes may be helpful to address several problem areas in the ambulatory care venue.

Insomnia And Exacerbation Of Anxiety Associated With High-Epa Fish Oil Supplements After Successful Treatment Of Depression, Lauren B. Blanchard, Gordon C. Mccarter

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

A 54-year-old male consulted his general practitioner for increasing general anxiety and mild panic attacks despite effective treatment for recurrent major depressive disorder, which included a fish oil supplement enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The patient would awaken suddenly at night with shortness of breath and overwhelming worry. During the daytime, he felt a general, nonspecific anxiety and frequently experienced sympathetic activation upon confronting routine challenges. He also experienced dyspnea-induced feelings of panic. He reported that he stopped taking the fish oil supplements after several more months of symptoms, and his anxiety and insomnia then largely disappeared. Several weeks later, …

Business Meeting Minutes, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Secretary's and Treasurer's Report

Introduction Of Florida Bass Alleles Into Largemouth Bass Inhabiting Northeastarkansas Stream Systems, W. J. Brockway, Ronald L. Johnson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Florida bass (Micropterus floridanus) have been introduced throughout much of the southern U.S. over the past 50 years. This species readily hybridizes with the extant largemouth bass (M. salmoides). Within Arkansas, the Florida bass is currently stocked in the southern half of the state. Previous studies of a northern Arkansas hatchery and a reservoir revealed the existence of Florida bass alleles in each. Other studies in Oklahoma and Texas have revealed the presence of Florida bass alleles in stream systems proximal to lakes stocked. Our goal was to investigate, using microsatellite analysis of 7 diagnostic loci, the presence of Florida …

Journal Of The Arkansas Academy Of Science - Volume 69 2015, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Aquatic Effects Of A Localized Oil Spill On Lake Conway, Ar And Its Tributaries, M. E. Kennon, J. L. Bouldin

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Oil spills, no matter where they occur, elicit environmental concern and avoiding these disasters should be a priority. Old pipelines that are not regularly maintained and carry large amounts of crude oil long distances are of particular concern. One such pipeline is the 65 year-old Pegasus pipeline owned by ExxonMobil. On March 29, 2013, 795,000 L of Wabasca Heavy Canadian crude oil spilled into a neighborhood of Mayflower, Arkansas, when the Pegasus pipeline ruptured. This spill led to the evacuation of many homes in the surrounding neighborhood. Drainage ditches in the affected neighborhood drained oil into a nearby cove of …

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Of Three-Toed Box Turtles, Terrapene Carolina Triunguis (Reptilia: Testudines), From Arkansas And Oklahoma, C. T. Mcallister, D. Motriuk-Smith, R. S. Seville, C. Hudson, M. B. Connior, H. W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We collected 50 three-toed box turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) from 9 counties of Arkansas and 4 counties of Oklahoma, and examined their feces for coccidial parasites. Nine of 24 (38%) turtles from Arkansas and 8 of 26 (31%) from Oklahoma were found to be passing oocysts of Eimeria ornata. This represents two new geographic distributional records for this coccidian. Measurements of individual isolates of E. ornate as well as morphological characteristics are provided with comparison to its original description and to another Terrapene coccidian, Eimeria carri. In addition, we noted an adelid pseudoparasite being passed by a single T. c. …

Testicular Histology And Sperm Morphometrics Of The Bird-Voiced Treefrog, Hyla Avivoca (Anura: Hylidae), From Arkansas, S. E. Trauth, C. S. Thigpen, M. B. Connior

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We examined the testicular histology and spermatozoal dimensions of the bird-voiced treefrog, Hyla avivoca (Anura: Hylidae), from samples collected in May, June, and July from localities in three counties (Calhoun, Conway, and Little River) in Arkansas. Calling frogs were necropsied in the lab, and testes were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy. Spermatocysts within seminiferous tubules of all males contained large aggregates of spermatozoa. Primary spermatogonia, the largest of all germ cells, ranged from 13.3 – 17.8 μm in diameter (= 15.37 ± 1.22; n = 20). Measurements of sperm dimensions yielded the following length parameters (range, mean ± …

Vertebrate Natural History Notes From Arkansas, 2015, C. Renn Tumlison, M. B. Connior, H. W. Robison, C. T. Mcallister, L. A. Durden, D. Blake Sasse, D. A. Saugey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Many important details of vertebrate biology are unknown to the scientific community because the observations are not part of a larger theoretical study. Yet, knowledge of such details not only fills gaps in understanding but also creates a framework for hypothesis building. We have collected observations of importance that can add to the growth of knowledge. Compiled here are important recent observations representing all vertebrate classes in Arkansas.

Acanthocephalan Parasites Of Select Fishes (Catostomidae, Centrarchidae, Cyprinidae, Ictaluridae), From The Arkansas And White River Drainages, Arkansas, C. T. Mcallister, M. A. Barger, T. J. Fayton, M. B. Connior, D. A. Neely, H. W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Helminth Parasites Of The Blackspotted Topminnow, Fundulus Olivaceus (Cyprinodontiformes: Fundulidae), From The Interior Highlands Of Arkansas, C. T. Mcallister, C. R. Bursey, T. J. Fayton, W. F. Font, H. W. Robison, M. B. Connior, D. G. Cloutman

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Crepidostomum Cornutum (Digenea: Allocreadiidae) From Midget Crayfish, Orconectes (Procericambarus) Nana (Decapoda: Cambaridae), From Northwestern Arkansas, C. T. Mcallister, W. F. Font, H. W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

New Host And County Records Of The Fish Leech Cystobranchus Klemmi (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) In Arkansas, C. S. Thigpen, S. E. Trauth, L. I. Bagwell, J. D. Konvalina, S. A. Schratz, C. T. Mcallister, D. E. Moser, D. J. Richardson, H. W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

New Records And Life History Observations Of The American Badger (Taxidea Taxus) In Arkansas, R. Tumlison, D. B. Sasse

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Recent History Of Mountain Lion (Puma Concolor) Observations In Arkansas, With Notes On The Individual Killed In Bradley County, Arkansas In 2014, R. Tumlison, M. Barbee

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Atypical Head Markings Of The Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys Ouachitensis) In The Upper Ouachita River Of Arkansas, R. Tumlison, A. Surf

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Evaluation Of The Diarylthiourea Analogs As Novel Anti-Cancer Agents, Shengquan Liu, Maggie C. Louie, Vanishree Rajagopalan, Guangyan Zhou, Esmerelda Ponce, Tran Nguyen, Linda Green

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Osteopathic Medicine

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Adjuvant And Neoadjuvant Anti-Telomerase With Anthracycline Based Chemotherapy On Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Luke T. Pardy

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in women in the US. In addition, 20% of all breast cancer cases in the U.S. are from the subtype known as Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), which is the most aggressive and invasive form of the disease. This type of breast cancer has the worst prognosis, a decreased survival rate, and no targeted therapy. Over the decades, interest in pre- (Neoadjuvant) and post- (Adjuvant) chemotherapy treatments, in the management of TNBC has increased. Therefore, we evaluated the Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant effects of anti-telomerases (BIBR 1532 and GV6) with anthracycline-based …

Front Matter

McNair Scholars Journal

No abstract provided.

Interaction Of Tetraspanin Kai1/Cd82 And Tetraspanin Cd151 In Hepatocyte Growth Factor C-Met Receptor Regulation In Prostate Cancer Cell Lines, Marina Ibarra

McNair Scholars Journal

No abstract provided.

Technology And Its Effect On Healthcare, Sarah Manis

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.