Digital Commons Network^™

Emerging Roles Of Adamts Metalloproteinases In Regenerativemedicine And Restorative Biology, Ferah Armutcu, Kadi̇r Demi̇rcan

Turkish Journal of Biology

ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs) proteinases degrade proteoglycans and thereby have the potential to alter tissue architecture and regulate cellular function. Recent studies about the roles of these enzymes have produced new perspectives for the molecular mechanisms behind regenerative biology with clinical potential to generate therapeutic targets to resolve tissue injury. ADAMTS enzymes play an important role in the turnover of extracellular matrix proteins in various tissues and their dysregulation has been implicated in disease-related processes such as inflammation and fibrosis. Increasing evidence indicates that they may be of key significance in the physiological and pathological central …

Controlled Nitric Oxide Release For Tissue Repair And Regeneration, Yan Nie, Zongjin Li

Turkish Journal of Biology

The discovery that nitric oxide (NO) plays crucial roles in mammalian systems has spurred considerable interest in its translational application. However, the major problem with its application in clinical settings is the high reactivity of NO, which makes it difficult to supply NO with spatiotemporal accuracy while maintaining its bioactivity. To deliver NO at a specified rate to a preferred location for a precise period of time is highly demanded. The significant technological advancements in controlled release make it possible to control NO release at the target site with a sustained release rate and an optimum concentration, and then provide …

Marine Infectious Disease Dynamics And Outbreak Thresholds: Contact Transmission, Pandemic Infection, And The Potential Role Of Filter Feeders, Gorka Bidegain, Eric N. Powell, John M. Klinck, Tal Ben-Horin, Eileen E. Hofmann

CCPO Publications

Disease-causing organisms can have significant impacts on marine species and communities. However, the dynamics that underlie the emergence of disease outbreaks in marine ecosystems still lack the equivalent level of description, conceptual understanding, and modeling context routinely present in the terrestrial systems. Here, we propose a theoretical basis for modeling the transmission of marine infectious diseases (MIDs) developed from simple models of the spread of infectious disease. The models represent the dynamics of a variety of host-pathogen systems including those unique to marine systems where transmission of disease is by contact with waterborne pathogens both directly and through filter-feeding processes. …

Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Gene Flow Patterns Among Woodland Salamander Populations Inhabitating Contrasting Landscapes, Alexander C. Cameron

Masters Theses

Dispersal is a fundamental evolutionary process that serves as a mechanism by which local populations remain connected through space. Habitat loss and fragmentation remain widespread threats to biodiversity globally, and therefore it is imperative to understand how dispersal patterns are affected by anthropogenic modifications of the environment. Using a panel of 10 novel microsatellite loci, I estimated gene flow patterns over historical and contemporary timescales among populations of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) in a previously unstudied portion of the species range. Four focal populations reside within a highly fragmented urban center whereas the remaining four focal populations persist in …

Differences In Rhodococcus Equi Infections Based On Immune Status And Antibiotic Susceptibility Of Clinical Isolates In A Case Series Of 12 Patients And Cases In The Literature, Praveen Gundelly, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Julie A. Ribes, Alice C. Thornton

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Rhodococcus equi is an unusual zoonotic pathogen that can cause life-threatening diseases in susceptible hosts. Twelve patients with R. equi infection in Kentucky were compared to 137 cases reported in the literature. Although lungs were the primary sites of infection in immunocompromised patients, extrapulmonary involvement only was more common in immunocompetent patients (P > 0.0001). Mortality in R. equi-infected HIV patients was lower in the HAART era (8%) than in pre-HAART era (56%) (P > 0.0001), suggesting that HAART improves prognosis in these patients. Most (85–100%) of clinical isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, clarithromycin, rifampin, aminoglycosides, ciprofloxacin, and imipenem. …

Emerson On Plato: Literary Philosophy, Dialectic, And The Temporality Of Thought, Jesse I. Bailey

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

For Emerson, Plato is the quintessential philosopher. I will argue that, to the extent that Emerson wanted his essays to have philosophical depth, he considered his work to be an extension of the work found in Plato’s dialogues.

The Case For Using Duolingo As Part Of The Language Classroom Experience (Duolingo Como Parte Del Curriculum De Las Clases De Lengua Extranjera), Pilar Munday

Languages Faculty Publications

This article explores the idea of using an already existing language learning app, Duolingo, to complement traditional college level Spanish as second language courses. These types of apps use adaptive learning technologies, which are able to tailor the tasks to the level of each student. In the case of this study, Duolingo was used as part of the program of studies in two Spanish university courses, one a beginner’s Spanish course (level A1) and the other an advanced intermediate course (B2). The students used the app online, either in its mobile version or in their web browser. I will describe …

#Instagramele: Learning Spanish Through A Social Network, Pilar Munday, Yuly Asencion Delaney, Adelaida Martín Bosque

Languages Faculty Publications

Social networking (SN) tools have the potential to contribute to language learning because they promote linguistic interactions in person-to-person communication, increasing the opportunities to process input in the L2, engaging learners in negotiation of meaning and requiring learners to produce L2 output, as proposed in the interactionist theory by Long (1985, 1996). These virtual personal connections with other learners and language experts around the world could provide a rich environment for sociocultural language exchanges (following the principles of the sociocultural approach proposed by Lantolf, 2002, based on the work of Vygotsky, 1978) that may increase motivation for learning, develop L2 …

Making Black And Brown Lives Matter: Incorporating Race Into The Criminal Procedure Curriculum, Cynthia Lee

Saint Louis University Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Urban Centers On American Goldfinches (Spinus Tristis) Overwintering At High Latitudes, Corrie Jean Navis

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) are partial migrants that overwinter in northern regions where winters can be extreme. To understand the role of urban development in facilitating use of a harsh climate, I conducted winter point count surveys (n = 297) at urban and rural sites across latitudes in Michigan. The following winter I trapped individuals in urban and rural settings to sample baseline and stress-induced plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels. Analyses revealed no interaction of latitude and urbanization in the winter distribution of American Goldfinches. Similarly, CORT concentrations did not differ between individuals trapped in urban and rural settings. …

Fields V. Twitter, Inc. Reply To Opposition To Motion To Dismiss

Section 230 Archives

No abstract provided.

The Write Stuff - Winter 2016 (Vol. 13, No. 1), Research Medical Library

Write Stuff 2016

• Publishing patient information in case reports
• Changes to NIH grant policies, grant application forms and instructions, and SF424 guidelines
• Microsoft Word 2013: Tips for using Comments, Change Tracking, and other features
• Citing unpublished material in a research paper
• Winter and spring schedule for the Research Medical Library webinar program
• Unusual terms used in scientific writing and publishing: Uniform requirements/ICMJE recommendations

Philippine Sports Torts: Adopting A Standard Of Care For Sports Competitions And Establishing Vicarious Liability For Professional Coaches, Ignatius Michael D. Ingles

Marquette Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Inconsistency Appeals On The Influence Of Direct-To-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertisements: An Application Of Goal Disruption Theory, Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Jason T. Siegel

Psychology | Faculty Scholarship

Scholars across multiple domains have identified the presence of inconsistency-arousing information in direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertisements, and have suggested that these appeals, which highlight differences between people’s actual and desired lives, may create psychological disequilibrium. However, experimental assessment of the distinct influence of inconsistency-arousing information in this domain is rare. Guided by goal disruption theory (GDT)—a framework that outlines people’s reactions to goal expectation violations—we created DTC advertisements designed to make people’s life inconsistencies salient. The influence of these ads on people’s perceptions of, and intentions to use, prescription drugs was then assessed. Results from an SEM analysis support …

Automated Solid-Substrate Cultivation Of The Anaerobic Bacterium Clostridium Thermocellum, Mathew J. Ruwaya

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The organism Clostridium thermocellum grows on cellulosic substrates and produces ethanol, acetate, lactate, formic acid, and CO₂. The organic acids produced alter the growth environment in which the bacteria grows and ultimately inhibit bacterial growth. One method which has been used successfully to maintain the system at acceptable growth conditions is to intermittently flush out the spent media and metabolic products and replace with new fermentation media. Our goal was to design and build an automated system that will automatically flush the spent media from the growing culture and resupply new media without manual intervention. An automated control …

Hawks And Owls, Brian E. Washburn

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Hawks and owls can negatively impact a variety of human interests, including important natural resources, livestock and game bird production, human health and safety, and companion animals. Conflicts between raptors and people generally are localized and often site-specific. However, the economic and social impacts to the individuals involved can be severe. Despite the problems they may cause, hawks and owls provide important benefits and environmental services. Raptors are popular with birdwatchers and much of the general public. They also hunt and kill large numbers of rodents, reducing crop damage and other problems.

Damage Identification

Management Methods

Economics

Species …

Gap And Tight Junction Stabilization In Cardiac Transplantation, Ryan Finnegan

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Organ procurement, cold storage and ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) promote inflammation, which induces endothelial cell (EC) activation and dysfunction post transplantation. EC gap junctions (GJs) breakdown as a consequence of these injuries and play a key role in graft injury post transplantation. Here we explore the therapeutic potential of adding a novel gap junction (GJ) stabilizing peptide, ACT1, to UW preservation solution as a therapeutic agent to improve endothelial cell health. ACT1, is a small peptide Cx43 mimetic, which impairs the association of ZO-1 with Cx43 thus promoting GJ integrity. Methods: Mouse cardiac ECs (MCECs) were exposed to 6 …

Killer Feminism, Patricia White

Film & Media Studies Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Religion In The United States Tax Code: Defining Religion In The Age Of The Internet, Michael Degnan

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Agency From A Stone: Shelley’S Posthumanist Experiments In "Mont Blanc", Betsy Bolton

English Literature Faculty Works

This article reads Shelley’s ‘Mont Blanc’ as an extended exploration into possible modes of relationship linking the human mind to the material world. The modes of relationship considered by Shelley anticipate many of the structures and strategies developed by posthumanist theory, including structural coupling, strategic anthropomorphism, imagistic translation, and human-nonhuman assemblages. After summarizing Kantian and post-Kantian readings of ‘Mont Blanc,’ the essay works through an extended close reading of the poem to elucidate its proto-posthumanist elements.

“Animal Spirits”, Peter Schmidt

English Literature Faculty Works

In “Animal Spirits” looks in some depth at several of Williams’s poems about dogs or cats written over the course of his career, from “Sub Terra” (1917); “Poem (As the cat)” (from the 1930s); the dogs of Paterson; and “To a Dog Injured in the Street,” which exemplifies the elegiac poetics and representational paradoxes of Williams’s late triadic style. Cats for Williams exemplify energy in precise control, its perfection in form—and that was his lifelong quest. Dogs, on the other paw, embodied for Williams the boundary-breaking force of uncorraled creativity breaking form. Both spirits, figured as animals, were totems central …

Choline Diet And Its Gut Microbe–Derived Metabolite, Trimethylamine N-Oxide, Exacerbate Pressure Overload–Induced Heart Failure, Chelsea L. Organ, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Shashi Bhushan, Zeneng Wang, Jessica Bradley, Rishi Trivedi, David J. Polhemus, W.H. Wilson Tang, Yuping Wu, Stanley L. Hazen, David J. Lefer

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Background—Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbe–dependent metabolite of dietary choline and other trimethylamine-containing nutrients, is both elevated in the circulation of patients having heart failure and heralds worse overall prognosis. In animal studies, dietary choline or TMAO significantly accelerates atherosclerotic lesion development in ApoE-deficient mice, and reduction in TMAO levels inhibits atherosclerosis development in the low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mouse. Methods and Results—C57BL6/J mice were fed either a control diet, a diet containing choline (1.2%) or a diet containing TMAO (0.12%) starting 3 weeks before surgical transverse aortic constriction. Mice were studied for 12 weeks after transverse aortic constriction. Cardiac …

Elevated Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 And Placental-Like Growth Factor Levels Are Associated With Development And Mortality Risk In Heart Failure, Muhammad Hammadah, Vasiliki V. Georgiopoulou, Andreas P. Kalogeropoulos, Malory Weber, Xi Wang, Michael A. Samara, Yuping Wu, Javed Butler, W.H. Wilson Tang

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Background—Vascular endothelial dysfunction may play an important role in the progression of heart failure (HF). We hypothesize that elevated levels of vascular markers, placental-like growth factor, and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with HF. We also assessed possible triggers of sFlt-1 elevation in animal HF models. Methods and Results—We measured plasma placental-like growth factor and sFlt-1 in 791 HF patients undergoing elective coronary angiogram. Median (interquartile range) placental-like growth factor and sFlt-1 levels were 24 (20–29) and 382 (277–953) pg/mL, respectively. After 5 years of follow-up, and after using receiver operator characteristic curves …

Unraveling The Dose-Response Puzzle Of L. Monocytogenes: A Mechanistic Approach, S. M.Ashrafur Rahman, Daniel Munther, Aamir Fazil, Ben Smith, Jianhong Wu

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Food-borne disease outbreaks caused by Listeria monocytogenes continue to impose heavy burdens on public health in North America and globally. To explore the threat L. monocytogenes presents to the elderly, pregnant woman and immuno-compromised individuals, many studies have focused on in-host infection mechanisms and risk evaluation in terms of dose-response outcomes. However, the connection of these two foci has received little attention, leaving risk prediction with an insufficient mechanistic basis. Consequently, there is a critical need to quantifiably link in-host infection pathways with the dose-response paradigm. To better understand these relationships, we propose a new mathematical model to describe the …

Sexbots; An Obloquy, Thomas Simmons

Faculty Publications

Sexbots may displace humans in the sex trade (or on a wider scale) sometime between the 2020s and the 2050s. Although some perquisites may derive from the proliferation of sexbots (lower levels of sexually transmitted diseases, for example), significant social harms can also be predicted. In anticipation of those harms, lawmakers may endorse targeted regulation or outright bans. The uncertain limits of Lawrence v. Texas and its progeny of sex-toy decisions will present vague constitutional shoals to these aims. The legislating-of-sexbots crusade will also make for strange bedfellows, politically speaking, as social conservatives aiming to maintain traditional values ally with …

Roles Of Accumbal And Septal Circuitry In Stimulus-Induced Reinstatement Of Cocaine Seeking, Ellen Morgan Mcglinchey

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Chronic relapse is a tremendous obstacle in battling addiction. Animal models of relapse (e.g. reinstatement of extinguished lever pressing) are critical for uncovering the neural substrates of addiction. Understanding the neurocircuitry of relapse may provide potentially viable targets to reduce relapse rates and treat addiction. Elucidating the circuits involved in stimulus-induced reinstatement is of particular importance because drug-associated stimuli (e.g. discrete or contextual drug-associated cues) evoke drug craving and perpetuate drug seeking. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) and lateral septum (LS) are two subcortical structures known to contribute to drug addiction and relapse behaviors. However, NAc and LS afferents recruited during stimulus-induced …

Diffusion Mri And Pharmacological Enhancement Of Motor Recovery After Stroke, Rachel Ann Weber

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The primary goal of these studies is to enhance recovery of motor function following stroke and to understand the relationship between dMRI measures and the cellular, functional, and behavioral changes acutely and chronically following rehabilitation. We hypothesize that dMRI will be a sensitive tool to identify microstructural changes acutely and chronically following stroke and that promoting mitochondria biogenesis will lead to better functional recovery and induce structural and functional plasticity following rehabilitative training. Towards this goal, we used a combination of sensitive behavioral, immunohistochemical and mitochondrial-related molecular markers, and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to investigate the time course of …

Iambic Metapoetics In Horace, Epodes 8 And 12, Erika Zimmerman Damer

Classical Studies Faculty Publications

When in Book 1 of his Epistles Horace reflects back upon the beginning of his career in lyric poetry, he celebrates his adaptation of Archilochean iambos to the Latin language. He further states that while he followed the meter and spirit of Archilochus, his own iambi did not follow the matter and attacking words that drove the daughters of Lycambes to commit suicide (Epist. 1.19.23–5, 31).¹ The paired erotic invectives, Epodes 8 and 12, however, thematize the poet’s sexual impotence and his disgust during encounters with a repulsive sexual partner. The tone of these Epodes is unmistakably that of …

Burial Klinai And Totenmahl?, Elizabeth P. Baughan

Classical Studies Faculty Publications

How can burial furnishings help to clarify the meanings of banqueting imagery in funerary art and the place of banqueting in funerary ideologies? Should tombs furnished with klinai or replicas of banquet couches be understood as representations of banqueting, meant to equip the dead for an eternal ‘Totenmahl’? Or do funeral couches mark their occupants as members of the elite class that enjoyed banqueting and/or luxury furniture while alive? These questions are not so easily answered, because klinai in the ancient Greek world were multifunctional furnishings, used for sleeping and resting as well as for dining and revelry, …

Data Persistence In Eiffel, Jimmy J. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

This dissertation describes an extension to the Eiffel programming language that provides automatic object persistence (the ability of programs to store objects and later recreate those objects in a subsequent execution of a program). The mechanism is orthogonal to other aspects of the Eiffel language. The mechanism serves four main purposes: 1) it gives Eiffel programmers a needed service, filling a gap between serialization, which provides limited persistence functions and database-mapping, which is cumbersome to use; 2) it greatly reduces the coding burden incurred by the programmer when objects must persist, allowing the programmer to focus instead on the business …