Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Manganese (Mn) On Cell Proliferation And Migration In The Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (Mcf-7) Human Breast Cancer Cell Line In Vitro, Justin Lloyd Wendel

Theses and Dissertations

Manganese (Mn) is a common environmental element necessary for mammalian physiological processes. However, dietary excess or deficiency can lead to detrimental health effects. Therefore, I investigated the effect Mn has on breast cancer progression in vitro. Utilizing MCF-7 breast cancer cells an MTT assay was performed to identify proliferative potential. After 5 days, results showed 100 nM manganese chloride (MnCl2) had a significant (p<0.01) increase in cell number over control. Using a scratch wound-healing assay, 100 nM MnCl2 was found to increase cellular motility as well as induce a possible change in morphology and cytoskeletal organization. Given Mn was shown to localize in the mitochondrial, we investigated Mn-induced ROS expression. 500 nM Mn significantly decreased (p<0.05) ROS levels. Collectively, I provide evidence that Mn may potentially drive less aggressive cancer cells towards a more invasive phenotype.

Material Selection And Testing For A Radiation Therapy Catheter, Philip James Wadlow

Master's Theses

Three different polymers (a high-density polymer and two other polymers) were tested for use as an x-ray catheter in a radiation therapy application. This report describes the testing of these three materials to determine which material is the best option for a long use catheter. Tests included tensile, simulated clinical life, and other tests. Some testing was performed using nitrogen and an industrial coolant. Testing revealed significant non-circularities for some catheters. With increasing pressure, the circularity of these catheters increased. The tensile tests were performed on samples with varying doses of radiation. Tensile testing showed significant decreases in ultimate tensile …

The Proteomic Response Of Gill Tissue In Tidally And Subtidally-Acclimated California Mussels, Mytilus Californianus, To Acute Emersion-Induced Anoxia, Aubrie N. Fowler, Lars Tomanek

Master's Theses

Intertidal mussels regularly experience emersion-induced anoxia, in contrast to normoxic conditions experienced during submersion. We therefore hypothesized that acclimation to a tidal rhythm, as opposed to a rhythm of constant submersion, preconditions the proteome of the California mussel, Mytilus californianus, to respond differently to emersion-induced anoxia. Following acclimation, mussels either continued to receive the acclimation conditions (control) or were exposed to 100% nitrogengas (anoxia) during aerial emersion. We collected gill tissue for subsequent analysis of protein abundance with 2D gel electrophoresis and protein identification with tandem mass spectrometry. Relative to subtidally-acclimated mussels, tidally-acclimated mussels showed a greater propensity to …

Elevational And Seasonal Patterns In Methylmercury Production Across The Montane Landscape Of Whiteface Mountain In The Adirondack Region Of New York, Jacqueline R. Gerson

Dissertations - ALL

Global mercury contamination results from direct primary atmospheric and secondary legacy emissions, which can be deposited to ecosystems, converted to methylmercury, and bioaccumulated along food chains. I examined soil samples collected across an elevational gradient on Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack region of New York State to determine spatial patterns in methylmercury concentrations across a forested montane landscape. I found that soil methylmercury concentrations were highest in the mid-elevation coniferous zone (0.39 ± 0.07 ng/g) compared to the alpine (0.28 ± 0.04 ng/g) and deciduous zones (0.17 ± 0.02 ng/g), while the percent mercury as methylmercury in soils decreased linearly …

Challenging Behaviors Of Children With And Without Developmental Disabilities In Early Childhood And Parent Management Behaviors, Ellen Gottuso

Dissertations - ALL

The purpose of this research was to examine the association between challenging behaviors in preschool children with and without developmental disabilities or delays and parent management behaviors. It was hypothesized that a lower incidence of challenging behaviors in preschool children with and without developmental disabilities would be associated with high use of parent management behaviors. The Early Child Behavior Screen as well as the Parenting Young Children (PARYC): Self-Report Parenting Measure were used to capture children’s challenging behaviors and parents’ management behaviors, respectively. The current study surveyed 56 total parents. Out of the parents that responded, 46 were female, 48 …

The Effects Of Genetic And Environmental Variation On Growth And Flowering, Kelly Marie Schmid

Dissertations - ALL

The ability to respond to seasonal cues, including changes in daylength and temperature, can be vital for sessile organisms. One of the mechanisms plants use to deal with seasonal variation is adjusting their allocation to vegetative growth and reproduction, and the timing of the transition to flowering. To respond to selection and adapt to changing environments, populations must harbor genetic variation for these traits. This research addresses the following questions: (1) How much quantitative genetic variation for flowering time exists within a population? (2) Does photoperiod affect the timing of and allocation to growth and flowering? (3) Is their genetic …

Manganese-Reducing Bacterial Communities From A Hypersaline Estuary In South Texas Under Conditions Of Changing Salinity, Omar R. Elizondo, Rebecca Vasquez Villarreal, Sonia Y. Del Rio, Kristine L. Lowe

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Manganese reducing bacteria were quantified and enriched from sediments at two sites (ABC and LMT050) in the Laguna Madre of South Texas. Bacteria were tested for Mn(IV) reduction under different salinities. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to profile bacterial communities from Mn(IV) saline enrichments. Results showed that the density of manganese reducing bacteria at ABC was 30X greater than LMT050. The ABC bacteria were able to reduce Mn(IV) at similar rates at different salinities; however, at LMT050, Mn(IV) reduction rates decreased at higher salinities. Three population genotypes were observed by DGGE. All were present and similarly abundant in …

Functional Vasodilation And Vascular Reactivity In Arteriolar Collaterals In The Spinotrapezius Of Males And Females, Britta C. Nelson

Biomedical Engineering

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) occurs when there is narrowing or blockage of the peripheral arteries that carry blood to the extremities, most commonly the legs. The most common symptom of PAOD is intermittent claudication, or ischemic pain during exercise. Women with PAOD experience a greater extremity functional impairment than men. Since impaired vasodilation might cause the ischemic pain from PAOD, we should evaluate vasodilation post ligation in males and females in collateral vessels, which connect two arterial segments to maintain blood flow to an otherwise hypoxic area. First, we need to examine collateral vasodilation in unoperated male and female …

The Impact Of Climate Change In Bangladesh On The Rice Market And Farm Households, Mst Ashrafun Nahar

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bangladesh is trying to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic rice production but climate change effects on agricultural production makes it challenging to attain the goal. The country is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change since it is the major cause to rise in sea level, more warm summer, and happening food and cyclone in the country.

This study develops an Aggregate Farm Household Model to analyze the impact of potential land loss and yield reduction from climate change on production, consumption, prices, welfare, and the ability of government to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production. The model is calibrated to …

Surface Modifications Of Capillary-Channeled Polymer (C-Cp) Fiber Stationary Phases For Protein Separations, Liuwei Jiang

All Dissertations

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is one of the most important and commonly used techniques for protein separation and purification. Stationary phase is the most important component of HPLC since it is where the separation takes place. Traditional HPLC columns that are packed with highly porous micro-particular silica beads suffered from several drawbacks, including high column pressure, low stability of stationary phase, peak broadening and tailing. Large amount of research has been done to develop new HPLC stationary phase for protein separation. Capillary-channeled Polymer (C-CP) fibers have been studied as HPLC stationary phase for protein separation in the Marcus research …

Sustainable Enrollment Management: A Dynamic Network Analysis, Forrest Murray Stuart

All Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate higher education enrollment management (EM) as a complex adaptive system (CAS) and to provide colleges and universities a foundational understanding of what a sustainable EM system looks like from a Dynamic Network Analysis (DNA) perspective. Additionally, I aimed to describe how formal network structures either promote or inhibit sustainable EM. To this end, the following research questions guided this study: 1. To what extent is the research site organized to enable effective and efficient information flow? 2. Which combinations of independent network measures (adaptive leadership, social capital, and clique structure) produce …

Quantifying Sustainability In Wastewater Treatment: Examples In Algaculture, Muriel Steele

All Dissertations

In the wastewater industry the concept of sustainability addresses how complex systems, aimed at mitigating or preventing pollution, involve tradeoffs in life cycle impacts. Advanced treatment systems designed for high quality effluent often come at the cost of increased chemical and energy use, and alternatives which minimize the impacts in all categories are desirable. Algaculture is a promising technology for sustainable wastewater treatment, but quantifying the impacts of these systems is prudent before they are implemented on a large scale. This work enhances the growing body of research on the topic, contributing assessments of algaculture wastewater treatment systems using model-based …

Combined Biological And Chemical Mechanisms For Degradation Of Insensitive Munitions, Jolanta Barbara Niedźwiecka

All Dissertations

The insensitive munitions (IM) 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and nitroguanidine (NQ) have been used in newly developed explosives as a replacement for the more sensitive munition, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). These new formulations are less sensitive to external shocks, for example heat or strikes, and as such they are safer to store, transport and use in battle conditions. While these compounds have not yet been considered as groundwater contaminants, they may be released to the environment during detonation tests or in wastewater streams from manufacturing facilities. Explosives are toxic and mutagenic in humans and wildlife, thus it is important to understand their degradation pathway …

Nutrient Related Mechanisms Of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Sarah Elizabeth Cisewski

All Dissertations

The intervertebral disc (IVD) separates the vertebrae allowing flexibility, strength, as well as a wide range of mechanical motion in the spine. Millions of Americans are afflicted with IVD degeneration which can cause low back pain and limited functionality of the spine. Deviation from physiological nutrient levels due to abnormal mechanical loading and age is believed to be one of the main mechanisms for low back pain associated disc degeneration. Since the IVD is the largest avascular structure in the body, transport of nutrients (e.g., O2 and glucose) is primarily done through the passive transport mechanism of diffusion. Transport of …

The Role Of Community Participation For Green Stormwater Infrastructure Development, Nicole Barclay

All Dissertations

The primary objective of this research is to understand the role of community participation in green stormwater infrastructure development. Even though the literature affirms the need for community participation to facilitate its implementation, no study in the engineering literature examines this idea with an in-depth, descriptive case study. It is important to understand how technical and non-technical factors interact to promote or hinder its implementation. This work uses the qualitative case study methodology to fulfil the objective and answer the research questions. The case study is based on the Proctor Creek Watershed, Atlanta Georgia, a rapidly growing urban area located …

Evaluation Of High Sugar Ryegrass Varieties, Mariano Alende

All Dissertations

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is an important forage in Southeastern US. However, as in other winter annuals, concern exists about the balance between water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and protein, which can lead to ruminal nutrient asynchrony. Lately, efforts have been done to increase the WSC content of ryegrass, and cultivars known as “high sugar varieties” have been released to the market. Several productive and environmental advantages have been suggested for these cultivars. The objective of our research was to compare conventional versus high sugar varieties under several conditions and from different approaches, to evaluate the potential of the high sugar …

Molecular Level Design Of Self-Healing Polyurethanes, Ying Yang

All Dissertations

Self-healing synthetic materials emerged a couple of decades ago and continue to attract scientific community driven by the opportunity to develop life-like materials and sustainable technology. Inspired by living organisms which utilize metabolic processes to achieve adaptive, reproductive, and self-healing functions, self-healing synthetic materials require dynamic and precise control of sequential chemical and physical events similar to biological systems. The study presented in this dissertation is inspired by the role of carbohydrates in biological systems as energy storage molecules and structural components. The objective is to obtain self-healing by incorporating carbohydrate molecules into crosslinked polyurethane networks with sophisticated network design, …

Synthesis And Applications Of Highly Concentrated Silver Nanoparticles With An Ultra-Thin Silica Shell, Daniel R. Willett

All Dissertations

The synthesis of chemically clean silver nanoparticles by hydrogen reduction of silver(I) oxide in water was first reported in our lab by David Evanoff a little over a decade ago, during which these nanoparticles have provided the backbone for research performed in this laboratory. Despite the seemingly relative simplicity of the reaction, much of the intricacies behind it are still being discovered. Presented here we report a proposed mechanism in which the reaction proceeds via a silica catalyzed pathway. In addition, we take advantage of this discovery to greatly increase the concentration of particles obtained as well as generate an …

Tlr3 Signaling In Human Bdca-3 Dendritic Cells Results In The Formation Of Several Ilt3 And Ilt4 Populations, Nicholas J. Colletti

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Dendritic cells (DCs) represent a population of innate immune cells that are highly efficient at promoting immune responses. DCs are capable of presenting antigens to both CD4 and CD8 T cells. DC presentation and interaction with T cells can result in either immune stimulation or tolerance. This study intends to phenotype a rare subset of DCs found in the human blood and is distinguishable by the expression of various surface markers including: lineage markers (Lin), HLADR, CD1c, and CD141 or BDCA-3. Stimulating BDCA-3 DCs with Poly I:C, a toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 agonist, resulted in the up-regulation of various canonical …

Dissemination And Spread Of New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-1 Superbugs In Hospital Settings, Erum Khan, Seema Irfan, Binish Arif Sultan, Amna Nasir, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective:
To find out frequency of isolation of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae and the predominantly responsible metallo-beta-lactamasegene in a hospital setting.
Methods:
The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2009 to June 2012 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised non-duplicate clinical carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae isolates obtained from different collection units across Pakistan. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion screening of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae was confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration using E-test. Polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to detect blaKPC, blaNDM-1, blaIMP, and blaVIM genes. In addition variable number tandem repeat typing was performed on selected cluster of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1- positive …

Three Siblings With Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Series, Muhammad Owais Rashid, Naeemul Haq, Saad Farooq, Zareen Kiran,, Sabeehuddin Siddique, Shahid Pervez, Najmul Islam

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: In 2015, thyroid carcinoma affected approximately 63,000 people in the USA, yet it remains one of the most treatable cancers. It is mainly classified into medullary and non-medullary types. Conventionally, medullary carcinoma was associated with heritability but increasing reports have now begun to associate non-medullary thyroid carcinoma with a genetic predisposition as well. It is important to identify a possible familial association in patients diagnosed with non-medullary thyroid carcinoma because these cancers behave more destructively than would otherwise be expected. Therefore, it is important to aggressively manage such patients and screening of close relatives might be justified. Our case …

Rare, Threatened And Endangered Species Of Oregon (2016), James S. Kagan, Sue Vrilakas, John A. Christy, Eleanor P. Gaines, Lindsey Wise, Cameron Pahl, Kathy Howell

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Extinction is a natural process. Today, however, plant and animal species are disappearing world-wide at an accelerated pace. Based on current trends, half of the species on earth will be extinct within the next 100 years. The major reasons for this are human caused changes to the environment, which continue to increase - in Oregon and throughout the world.

Once lost, a species can never be recovered, and there is no way of knowing how useful it may have been. We do know that human beings and many of their industries depend on plant and animal products. About 50% of …

The Effect Of Stereoscopic Three-Dimensional Images On Recall Of Second Language Vocabulary, Regina Kaplan-Rakowski

Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of stereoscopic three-dimensional (S3D) images on productive and receptive recall of foreign language vocabulary. S3D images are highly-realistic and differ from non-stereoscopic three-dimensional (NS3D) images in that they provide the impression of the added third dimension of depth. This within-subject study exposed the participants (N = 82) in a controlled setting to a series of carefully designed and randomly distributed NS3D and S3D images. The subjects were then given immediate productive and receptive tests of foreign language vocabulary items that were represented by NS3D and S3D images. Quantitative data …

Women's Work: Stitching New Identity Narratives In Conflict And Post-Conflict Settings, Arielle Semmel

Dissertations

Here, I bring communication theories into conversation with peace and conflict scholarship. Specifically, I explore how the ways in which women narrate their experiences of violent conflict through sewing collectives can inform conflict transformation work. I engage in this exploration within the framework of narrative theory, using Kenneth Burke’s dramatistic pentad to analyze the narratives presented in a selection of textile pieces created by women in Chile, South Africa, and Northern Ireland. I situate this project within literature pertaining to feminist approaches to rhetoric, discussions of bridgework in identity negotiation from intercultural communication, concerns related to conflict transformation, and work …

Japanese Shôjo: Emergence And Developments Of Shôjo In 1910s Through 1930s Japan, Mayuko Itoh

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

From the 1910s through the 1930s, education for girls in Japan changed rapidly. The education for girls centered on practical matters such as houskeeping, but girls made communities in the magazines for girls where they can develop modern self identity. Through their communication, the image of shôjo, or girls was created. In this thesis, I will analyze the magazine community from 1910s through 1930s where shôjo culture developed. By presenting the significant characteristics of the community and its teachings, I will explain how the shôjo community connotes notions of both past and future. Then, I will compare the shôjo …

A Descriptive Study Of Dual Enrollment In Public High Schools Enrolling Grades 9-12 In New York State And Implications For Policy Changes, Lynn M. Kattato

Education Doctoral

There is a need to increase college readiness among high school graduates to promote college success and degree attainment (Blume & Zumeta, 2013; McMahon, 2009; Reindl, 2007). Sixty percent of first semester college students are not college ready and prepared to succeed in college (National Center for Public Policy on Higher Education, 2010). Dual enrollment programs are a noted pathway to increase college readiness among high school students (Hoffman, 2003; Pretlow & Wathington, 2014). Forty-seven states have dual enrollment policies. New York has no statewide policy and dual enrollment programs vary among public high schools throughout the state. This descriptive …

The On-Site Analytical Study, Photographic Documentation, And Conservation Treatment Of An Egyptian New Kingdom Child Coffin, Nicole Peters

Art Conservation Master's Projects

The caveats associated with archaeological conservation often include the provision of optimal photographic documentation techniques and the presence of analytical equipment and expertise required for in-depth material analyses on site. These tools can influence and inform an intensive conservation treatment in a limited period of time. A team of five conservators and specialists were assembled to aid in the on-site conservation treatment of an Amarna Period decorated child coffin. During which time, complete photographic documentation, wood species identification, plaster composition analysis, X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry, polarized light microscopy, and conservation treatment commenced. Collaborative research and examination resulted in a holistic and …

Decorating With Dna: Analysis And Treatment Of A Victorian-Era Hairwork Wreath, Janelle Batkin-Hall

Art Conservation Master's Projects

A framed hairwork wreath in the style of mourning art, and belonging to the author, was initially investigated through a Buffalo State College Independent Research Project (CNS-615) to identify and characterize the fabrication materials used in its construction. Thirty-one material samples were collected and analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), and X-radiography. Fabrication materials include human hair; textiles are cotton, silk, cuprammonium rayon, and possibly polyester Dacron; dyes contain aluminum, iron, tin, and copper mordants; colorants and pigments are zinc, copper, arsenic, manganese, iron, and smalt. As part of a Senior Specialization …

Triadic Interaction Between Social Cognitive Theory, Social Presence Theory, And Community Of Inquiry: An Online Course Instructional Design Assessment Model Evaluating Students’ Perceptions Of Social Presence, Collaborative Learning, Social Interaction, And Satisfaction With Their Learning Experience, Jamie L. Cuda

Education Doctoral

Community colleges have a mission of affording students open access to higher education. Student attrition in online courses at community colleges directly reduces student access to higher education and successful course and program completion and negatively impacts student success and institutional outcomes. From a social cognitive theory, social presence theory, and community of inquiry perspective, students’ perceptions of social presence, collaborative learning, social interaction, and satisfaction with their learning experience are critical components of student learning. This quasi-experimental study examines the impact of an instructional strategy, team-based learning, on students’ perceptions of social presence, collaborative learning, social interaction, and satisfaction …

Molecular Mechanisms Linking Autonomic Dysfunction And Impaired Cardiac Contractility In Critical Illness, Gareth L. Ackland, John Whittle, Andrew Toner, Asif Machhada, Ana Gutierrez Del Arroyo, Alberto Sciuso, Nicholas Jenkins, Alex Dyson, Richard Struthers, J. Robert Sneyd, Gary Minto, Mervyn Singer, Ajay M. Shah, Alexander V. Gourine

More Faculty of Health Research

Objectives: Molecular mechanisms linking autonomic dysfunction with poorer clinical outcomes in critical illness remain unclear. We hypothesized that baroreflex dysfunction alone is sufficient to cause cardiac impairment through neurohormonal activation of (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase dependent) oxidative stress resulting in increased expression of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2, a key negative regulator of cardiac function. Design: Laboratory/clinical investigations. Setting: University laboratory/medical centers. Subjects: Adult rats; wild-type/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunit-2-deficient mice; elective surgical patients. Interventions: Cardiac performance was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography following experimental baroreflex dysfunction (sino-aortic denervation) in rats and mice. Immunoblots assessed G-protein-coupled receptor recycling proteins expression …