Digital Commons Network^™

Research Progress On Physiological Activities And Its Mechanismof Beta-Cryptoxanthin, Sheng Ran, Sun Zhigao, Huang Qiaojuan, Hao Jingmei, Fang Ming, Yu Fengsheng

Food and Machinery

The beta-cryptoxanthin is composed of multiple prenyl units, belonging to the oxidation of carotenoid. It widely exists in persimmon, citrus and other plants, and also can be produced by microbial fermentation..Based on beta-cryptoxanthin, the mechanism of its absorption and physiological activities was reviewed, in order to provide reference for improving research and clinic application of beta-cryptoxanthin.

Hydrogen Evolution Properties On Individual Mos2 Nanosheets, Yu Gao, Juan Zhou, Yu-Wen Liu, Sheng-Li Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been acknowledged to play important roles in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for hydrogen energy technology. Both computational and experimental results have suggested that the promising catalytic activity of MoS₂ for the HER could be attributed to the sulfur edges of two-dimensional nanosheets, while their basal planes were catalytically inert. In order to verify this conclusion, we prepared single MoS₂ sheet electrodes which were made of individual MoS₂ sheets attached on the self-assembly monolayers (SAM) of SH(CH₂)₁₅COOH at Au ultramicroelectrodes (Au/SAM/MoS₂). The single MoS₂ sheet …

Center For Biological Diversity V. Jewell, Kirsa Shelkey

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Following years of pressure to list the upper Missouri River population of Arctic grayling as an endangered or threatened species, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service issued a 2014 Finding that listing the fish was “not warranted at this time.” The Service relied on voluntary Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances in the Big Hole River Basin to determine that listing criteria under the Endangered Species Act was not met and therefore listing was not necessary. Ultimately, the court deferred to agency expertise and found that the Service’s decision not to list the Arctic grayling was reasonable.

Year In Review: The Top Stories At Roger Williams University In 2016, Jill Rodrigues

Featured News Story

Celebrate RWU’s many successes in 2016 with a look back at the most-read stories of the year.

Novel Models Of Visual Topographic Map Alignment In The Superior Colliculus., Ruben A Tikidji-Hamburyan, Tarek A El-Ghazawi, Jason W. Triplett

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The establishment of precise neuronal connectivity during development is critical for sensing the external environment and informing appropriate behavioral responses. In the visual system, many connections are organized topographically, which preserves the spatial order of the visual scene. The superior colliculus (SC) is a midbrain nucleus that integrates visual inputs from the retina and primary visual cortex (V1) to regulate goal-directed eye movements. In the SC, topographically organized inputs from the retina and V1 must be aligned to facilitate integration. Previously, we showed that retinal input instructs the alignment of V1 inputs in the SC in a manner dependent on …

Using A Novel Partitivirus In Pseudogymnoascus Destructan, Vaskar Thapa, Gregory G. Turner, Susan Hafenstein, Barrie E. Overton, Karen J. Vanderwolf, Marilyn J. Roossinck

KIP Articles

No abstract provided.

Can Sub-Saharan Africa Feed Itself?, Martin K. Van Ittersum, Lenny G. J. Van Bussel, Joost Wolf, Patricio Grassini, Justin Van Wart, Nicolas Guilpart, Lieven Claessens, Hugo De Groot, Keith Wiebe, Daniel Mason-D'Croz, Haishun Yang, Hendrik Boogard, Pepijn A. J. Van Oort, Marloes P. Van Loon, Kazuki Saito, Ochieng Adimo, Samuel Adjei-Nsiah, Alhassane Agali, Abdullahi Bala, Regis Chikowo, Kayuki Kaizzi, Mamoutou Kouressy, Joachim H. J. R. Makoi, Korodjouma Ouattara, Kindie Tesfaye, Kenneth G. Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Although global food demand is expected to increase 60% by 2050 compared with 2005/2007, the rise will be much greater in sub- Saharan Africa (SSA). Indeed, SSA is the region at greatest food security risk because by 2050 its population will increase 2.5-fold and demand for cereals approximately triple, whereas current levels of cereal consumption already depend on substantial imports. At issue is whether SSA can meet this vast increase in cereal demand without greater reliance on cereal imports or major expansion of agricultural area and associated biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Recent studies indicate that the global increase …

Generation Of Germ-Free /Ciona Intestinalis For Studies Of Gut-Microbe Interactions, Brittany A Leigh, Assunta Liberti, Larry J Dishaw

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Microbes associate with animal hosts, often providing shelter in a nutrient-rich environment. The gut, however, can be a harsh environment with members of the microbiome settling in distinct niches resulting in more stable, adherent biofilms. These diverse communities can provide orders of magnitude more gene products than the host genome; selection and maintenance of a functionally relevant and useful microbiome is now recognized to be an essential component of homeostasis. Germ-free (GF) model systems allow dissection of host-microbe interactions in a simple and direct way where each member of the symbiosis can be studied in isolation. In addition, because immune …

Macroinvertebrate Community Composition, Food Web Structure, And Emergence Rate In Neotropical Cloud-Forest Streams In Mindo, Ecuador, Anna M. Harris

Masters Theses

Tropical cloud forest streams are one of the most threatened and understudied ecosystems in the world. Understanding how these ecosystems function is essential for effective conservation. In this study, macroinvertebrate community composition, functional feeding group analysis, ecosystem attributes, and physicochemical parameters were used to evaluate biophysical stream conditions of 3 low-order Neotropical cloud forest streams at Reserva Las Gralarias in Mindo, Ecuador. Additionally, food web structure was analyzed via stable isotope analysis and aquatic insect emergence rate was also examined. As stream size increased from 1st to 3rd order, the macroinvertebrate communities shifted from being collector-gatherer dominated (65.2 to 29.8%, …

Reef Society And The Tyranny Of Data, Robert Wintner

Animal Sentience

Modern science now approaches divergent processes in many areas, including health assessments of marine eco-systems and social aspects of marine species. Scientific data have long enjoyed a reputation for objectivity but incidents of science-for-hire, data spinning/skewing and political jading are more frequent than ever. In the field of reef creature sensitivity, technical treatises can “logically” explain away what a person of average education can clearly observe on any given reef. Western medicine discounted anecdotal evidence of any cure outside the 4% margin of error until those cures demanded attention and in some cases application. Modern science must now enter an …

Still Wondering How Flesh Can Feel, Gwen J. Broude

Animal Sentience

Reber believes he has simplified Chalmers’s “hard problem” of consciousness by arguing that subjectivity is an inherent feature of biological forms. His argument rests on the related notions of continuity of mind and gradual accretion of capacities across evolutionary time. These notions need to be defended, not just asserted. Because Reber minimizes the differences in mental faculties among species across evolutionary time, it becomes easier to assert, and perhaps believe, that sentience is already present in early biological forms. The more explicit we are about the differences among these mental faculties and the differences across species, the less persuasive is …

Review Of Cultural Forests Of The Amazon: A Historical Ecology Of People And Their Landscapes By William Balée, Maria Gabriela Zurita-Benavides

Tipití: Journal of the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America

No abstract provided.

Fraternity, Dignity, And Democracy: Forms Of Value In Northeast Brazil’S Health Care Reform Movement, Jessica Jerome

Tipití: Journal of the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America

This essay applies Terence Turner’s insight that production is the key to understanding social value to the context of an urban poor community in Fortaleza, Brazil. It uses this insight to address a contemporary tension in the community between democratic values espoused by city and state politicians and local forms of value which glorify fraternity and dignity. I argue that older women’s daily activities (such as courtyard maintenance, siestas, and dinner potlucks) produce the values of dignity and fraternity, which women regard as essential to sustaining their households’ viability. It is the dispossession of these values by government sanctioned forms …

Hematological Disorders And Pulmonary Hypertension, Rajamma Mathew, Jing Huang, Joseph M. Wu, John T. Fallon, Michael H. Gewitz

NYMC Faculty Publications

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a serious disorder with a high morbidity and mortality rate, is known to occur in a number of unrelated systemic diseases. Several hematological disorders such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia and myeloproliferative diseases develop PH which worsens the prognosis. Associated oxidant injury and vascular inflammation cause endothelial damage and dysfunction. Pulmonary vascular endothelial damage/dysfunction is an early event in PH resulting in the loss of vascular reactivity, activation of proliferative and antiapoptotic pathways leading to vascular remodeling, elevated pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and premature death. Hemolysis observed in hematological disorders leads to free hemoglobin which …

Isotopic Analysis Of Sporocarp Protein And Structural Material Improves Resolution Of Fungal Carbon Sources, Janet Chen, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, Erik A. Hobbie

Faculty Publications

Fungal acquisition of resources is difficult to assess in the field. To determine whether fungi received carbon from recent plant photosynthate, litter or soil-derived organic (C:N bonded) nitrogen, we examined differences in δ13C among bulk tissue, structural carbon, and protein extracts of sporocarps of three fungal types: saprotrophic fungi, fungi with hydrophobic ectomycorrhizae, or fungi with hydrophilic ectomycorrhizae. Sporocarps were collected from experimental plots of the Duke Free-air CO2 enrichment experiment during and after CO2 enrichment. The differential 13C labeling of ecosystem pools in CO2 enrichment experiments was tracked into fungi and provided novel insights into organic nitrogen use. Specifically, …

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (Egfr) As An In-Hospital Mortality Predictor In Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients In Iccu, Esthika Dewiasty, Idrus Alwi, Dharmeizar Dharmeizar, Kuntjoro Harimurti

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

No abstract provided.

Correlation Of Frailty Status With Influenza Vaccine Seroconversion And Seroprotection Among Elderly Population, Sukamto Koesnoe, Ummu Habibah, Edy Rizal Wahyudi, Murdani Abdullah

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

No abstract provided.

Opportunities And Challenges In Developing Nuclear Security In Africa, James Larkin Mfr

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Those involved in nuclear security recognize that regions of significant instability in Africa have an impact on the safety and security of the continent's nuclear material and un-enriched uranium; however, some countries outside of continental Africa have taken counterproductive approaches to this issue. Despite challenges, the nuclear security community continues to develop and apply appropriate levels of nuclear security where needed. The community also takes every opportunity to make significant contributions to the global discourse on nuclear security culture.

Population Density, Habitat Dynamic And Aerial Survival Of Relict Cave Bivalves From Genus Congeria In The Dinaric Karst, Olga Jovanović Glavaš, Branko Jalžić, Helena Bilandžija

International Journal of Speleology

Caves are some of the least-known ecosystems on Earth and long-term ecological studies and population size estimates are very rare. Genus Congeria is a Tertiary relict that comprises three species from Dinaric karst area; C. kusceri, C. jalzici and C. mulaomerovici, each with very limited distribution. They are the only known cave bivalves and in contrast to many other cave species, they form populations with high densities. We estimated that the population of C. kusceri in Jama u Predolcu is between 72,454 and 72,906 individuals. The highest density occurred between one and three meters depth, and reached maximum …

High Levels Of Iron Supplementation Prevents Neural Tube Defects In The Fpn1(Ffe) Mouse Model., Bethany A Stokes, Julia A Sabatino, Irene E. Zohn

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Periconception maternal nutrition and folate in particular are important factors influencing the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Many but not all NTDs are prevented by folic acid supplementation and there is a pressing need for additional strategies to prevent these birth defects. Other micronutrients such as iron are potential candidates, yet a clear role for iron deficiency in contributing to NTDs is lacking. Our previous studies with the flatiron (ffe) mouse model of Ferroportin1 (Fpn1) deficiency suggest that iron is required for neural tube closure and forebrain development raising the possibility that iron supplementation could prevent NTDs.

METHODS: …

Child Labour In Indonesia: Supply-Side Determinants, Dayang Haszelinna Binti Abang Ali, G. Reza Arabsheibani

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

This study analyses the determinants of working among 10-17 years children and to investigate the presence of Luxury Axiom. Child tends to work as they gets older, has biological ties to the household head and lives in a rural area. The higher levels of household heads education lead to the childrens been less likely to work. With regard to the Luxury Axiom, household income is negatively impact the work decision. Birth order is positively related to working and the probability of working decreases by the presence of employed adult. Finally, the impact of the childs activities varies by provinces.

Local Government Forestry Expenditure And Forest Land Cover: A Preliminary Lesson From Decentralized Indonesia, Firda Hidayati

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

Even though government of Indonesia invests billions of rupiah to tackle deforestation, its effectiveness has been questionable. This study analyses changes in rates of forest cover in Indonesia and their association with forestry expenditures (FE) spent by the provincial governments. Based on 2007 to 2010 data, linear multiple regression results indicate that FE is not enough to tackle the negative change in forest land cover that could represent deforestation. Moreover, it was found that FE have negative association with forest land cover and therefore, can be associated to deforestation. This negative association remains when other factors that affect forest land …

Ric-8a, A G Protein Chaperone With Nucleotide Exchange Activity Induces Long-Range Secondary Structure Changes In Gα, Ravi Kant, Baisen Zeng, Celestine J. Thomas, Brian Bothner, Stephen R. Sprang

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cytosolic Ric-8A has guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity and is a chaperone for several classes of heterotrimeric G protein α subunits in vertebrates. Using Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange-Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) we show that Ric-8A disrupts the secondary structure of the Gα Ras-like domain that girds the guanine nucleotide-binding site, and destabilizes the interface between the Gαi1 Ras and helical domains, allowing domain separation and nucleotide release. These changes are largely reversed upon binding GTP and dissociation of Ric-8A. HDX-MS identifies a potential Gα interaction site in Ric-8A. Alanine scanning reveals residues crucial for GEF activity within that sequence. HDX confirms that, …

Study Skills Self Monitoring For Adolescents With Adhd, Rachel Michelle Lesse

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see how self-monitoring affected academic progress among high school aged students with ADHD. Students were monitored throughout their study skills class period, where they learned to monitor themselves by assessing a variety of factors, such as personal grades, missing assignments, and personal reflection. Of the three students monitored, two increased grades in most of their academic subjects, and all increased their homework production post intervention. The study did not go without various limitations, however future implications are discussed as to the importance of this study.

Winter Soil Respiration In A Humid Temperate Forest: The Roles Of Moisture, Temperature, And Snowpack, Alexandra R. Contosta, Elizabeth A. Burakowski, Ruth K. Varner, Serita D. Frey

All Materials

Winter soil respiration at midlatitudes can comprise a substantial portion of annual ecosystem carbon loss. However, winter soil carbon dynamics in these areas, which are often characterized by shallow snow cover, are poorly understood due to infrequent sampling at the soil surface. Our objectives were to continuously measure winter CO2 flux from soils and the overlying snowpack while also monitoring drivers of winter soil respiration in a humid temperate forest. We show that the relative roles of soil temperature and moisture in driving winter CO2 flux differed within a single soil-to-snow profile. Surface soil temperatures had a strong, positive influence …

Selecting Optimal Combinations Of Transcription Factors To Promote Axon Regeneration: Why Mechanisms Matter, Ishwariya Venkatesh, Murray G. Blackmore

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Recovery from injuries to the central nervous system, including spinal cord injury, is constrained in part by the intrinsically low ability of many CNS neurons to mount an effective regenerative growth response. To improve outcomes, it is essential to understand and ultimately reverse these neuron-intrinsic constraints. Genetic manipulation of key transcription factors (TFs), which act to orchestrate production of multiple regeneration-associated genes, has emerged as a promising strategy. It is likely that no single TF will be sufficient to fully restore neuron-intrinsic growth potential, and that multiple, functionally interacting factors will be needed. An extensive literature, mostly from non-neural cell …

Larry Walker Retires As Ncnpr Director, Sydney Slotkin Dupriest

University of Mississippi News

UM School of Pharmacy celebrates administrator's 35-year career

Deficiency Of Mkrn2 Causes Abnormal Spermiogenesis And Spermiation, And Impairs Male Fertility., Xu Qian, Lin Wang, Bo Zheng, Zhu-Mei Shi, Xin Ge, Cheng-Fei Jiang, Ying-Chen Qian, Dong-Mei Li, Wei Li, Xue Liu, Yu Yin, Ji-Tai Zheng, Hua Shen, Min Wang, Xue-Jiang Guo, Jun He, Marie Lin, Ling-Zhi Liu, Jia-Hao Sha, Bing-Hua Jiang

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Although recent studies have shed insights on some of the potential causes of male infertility, new underlining molecular mechanisms still remain to be elucidated. Makorin-2 (Mkrn2) is an evolutionarily conserved gene whose biological functions are not fully known. We developed an Mrkn2 knockout mouse model to study the role of this gene, and found that deletion of Mkrn2 in mice led to male infertility. Mkrn2 knockout mice produced abnormal sperms characterized by low number, poor motility, and aberrant morphology. Disruption of Mkrn2 also caused failure of sperm release (spermiation failure) and misarrangement of ectoplasmic specialization (ES) in testes, thus impairing …

Rna Sequencing Reveals A Role Of Tonebp Transcription Factor In Regulation Of Pro-Inflammatory Genes In Response To Hyperosmolarity In Healthy Nucleus Pulposus Cells: A Homeostatic Response?, Zariel I. Johnson, Irving M. Shapiro, Makarand V. Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Transcription factor tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP/NFAT5) is critical for osmo-adaptation and extracellular matrix homeostasis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in their hypertonic tissue niche. Recent studies implicate TonEBP signaling in inflammatory disease and rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. However, broader functions of TonEBP in the disc remain unknown. RNA sequencing was performed on NP cells with TonEBP knockdown under hypertonic conditions. 1140 TonEBP-dependent genes were identified and categorized using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Bioinformatic analysis showed enrichment of matrix homeostasis and cytokine/chemokine signaling pathways. C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) …

Lipid-Based Self-Assembled Nps: The Effects Of Morphology And Targeting Molecules On The Cellular Uptake Using In Vitro Tumor Model, Wafa Aresh

Doctoral Dissertations

While the usage of nanoscale materials for therapeutics and diagnostics is growing rapidly, there remain many challenges to understanding the expected controlling parameters (e.g., size, shape and chemical properties) that significantly affect the performance of the nanomaterials due to complicated in vivo environments. Therefore, a strong interest in the knowledge of the nano–biointeractions and how they contribute to tissue accumulation has been developed. To date, researchers have relied on monolayer cell cultures and animal models to study such nano–biointeractions. However, currently, there is a big gap between the result of the over-simplified in vitro cell response and the complex animal …