Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing Restriction-Modification Systems And Dna Methyltransferases In The Halobacteria, Matthew Ouellette

Doctoral Dissertations

The Halobacteria are a class of archaeal organisms which are obligate halophiles. Several studies have described the Halobacteria as highly recombinogenic, yet members even within the same geographic location cluster into distinct phylogroups, suggesting that barriers exist which limit recombination. Barriers to recombination in the Halobacteria include CRISPRs, glycosylation, and archaeosortases. Another possible barrier which could limit gene transfer might be restriction-modification (RM) systems, which consist of restriction endonucleases (REases) and DNA methyltransferases (MTases) that both target the same sequence of DNA. The REase cleaves the target sequence, whereas the MTase methylates the site and protects it from cleavage. This …

Osmoregulation And Salinity Preference In Juvenile Sandbar Sharks (Carcharhinus Plumbeus) In Winyah Bay, Sc, Usa, Jessica Wingar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) have been caught in salinities ranging from 7 – 40. In Winyah Bay, a partially mixed estuary in Northeast SC, juvenile sandbar sharks tidally alternate between higher tides in middle bay and lower tides in lower bay. To assess salinity preference and duration in eight acoustically-tagged juvenile sandbar sharks in different salinities, acoustic receivers with salinity loggers were placed throughout Winyah Bay. Juvenile sandbar sharks were caught in salinities from 17.2 to 36.1 and acoustic detections were recorded from 11.5 to 24.7 by salinity loggers in middle bay. Smaller juvenile sandbar sharks used lower salinities, …

Qualitative Case Study On Challenges Recoupled Parents Encounter Raising Step Children With Asd, Sonia Ruth Cann-Milland Ms, Penny Round Dr

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study is to address the lack of research into the challenges and issues recoupled parents face when raising their step/biological children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) together in a stepfamily environment. Data shows clinicians, community support services, and policy makers are recognising that stepfamilies are the fastest growing family form to date and hypothesising stepfamilies will become the norm as the most prominent family form in most western countries. Ongoing research recognises the importance of understanding parents’ experiences and perspectives of having a child with ASD, and resourcing and managing their child’s everyday needs, behaviour and …

New Bruises, Katelyn Aquilo

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The following manuscript is a collection of poetry based on experiences. Religious hypocrisy and abuse thread throughout the collection with both first hand experiences and fictional ones. It is divided into three parts: the hometown, the bodily abuse, and then, finally, the religion.

Formulation Of Hybrid Knowledge-Based/Molecular Mechanics Potentials For Protein Structure Refinement And A Novel Graph Theoretical Protein Structure Comparison And Analysis Technique, Aaron Maus

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Proteins are the fundamental machinery that enables the functions of life. It is critical to understand them not just for basic biology, but also to enable medical advances. The field of protein structure prediction is concerned with developing computational techniques to predict protein structure and function from a protein’s amino acid sequence, encoded for directly in DNA, alone. Despite much progress since the first computational models in the late 1960’s, techniques for the prediction of protein structure still cannot reliably produce structures of high enough accuracy to enable desired applications such as rational drug design. Protein structure refinement is the …

Assessing The Use Of Soil Phosphate Analysis As An Archaeological Prospection Tool At The Ames Site (40fy7), Fayette County Tennessee, Kathryn Rose Proctor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Archaeologists are increasingly integrating multiple survey techniques to reduce errors and biases in attempts to locate archaeological deposits and to gain a better understanding of people's use of space. This study assesses the utility of soil phosphate analysis as an archaeological prospecting tool in western Tennessee through soil analyses at the Ames site (40FY7) in Fayette County, Tennessee. The spatial distribution of available phosphorus and percent loss on ignition are compared to mapped magnetometry data over two areas with confirmed archaeological deposits. The loss on ignition results did not visually correspond with areas of archaeological activity; however, the spatial distribution …

"What About The Men? Investigating Alcohol Consumption, Masculinities, And Risky Sex In Peri-Urban Eswatini, Aaron Jackson Levine

Dissertations and Theses

This study focuses on the narratives Swazi men create around drinking, masculinity, and sexual behavior. Alcohol myopia theory, motivational-expectation theory of drinking, and Connell's theory of masculinities were used to create research that details how alcohol and the cultural environment of gendered social drinking intertwine and interact with each other to form the gender structure of eSwatini. Twenty Swazi men were sampled by convenience, given semi-structured interviews, and questioned about their perceived and internal reasoning for the drinking of themselves and others, the observed drinking behaviors of others, their own drinking behaviors, how they viewed women in and accepted women …

High-Dose Tslp Induces Co-Receptor Internalization And Signal Shutdown In Ph-Like B-All With Overexpression Of Crlf2, Wayanne Watson

Loma Linda University Student Journal

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Approximately half of all Ph-like B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is characterized by overexpression of CRLF2 (CRLF2 B-ALL). CRLF2 B-ALL is associated with high rates of relapse and is more prevalent in Hispanic children with Native American ancestry. CRLF2, together with the IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Ra), comprises a receptor complex that is activated by the cytokine, TSLP. Receptor activation by TSLP induces JAK2/STAT5 and PI3/AKT/mTOR signals that promote survival and proliferation of leukemia cells. To study the role of TSLP in CRLF2 B-ALL, we developed a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of CRLF2 B-ALL that allows us …

A Feather In Your Caps: Probable Caps Treated With Rituximab, Lawrence Liu

Loma Linda University Student Journal

INTRODUCTION: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare complication occurring in 1% of patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). [4] It presents with widespread intravascular thrombosis leading to the failure of multiple organs (commonly the kidneys, lungs, brain, heart, and others. These thromboses are caused by antiphospholipid antibodies which are thought to induce a hypercoagulable and prothrombotic state by acting on endothelial cells, platelets, and fibrinolysis. Furthermore, the autoantibodies act to activate the complement system and ramp up the immune system creating a hyper-inflammatory state which explains why most patients with CAPS will also meet criteria for SIRS. [1]

Diagnosis …

The Function Of Hymns In The Liturgical Life Of Malcolm Quin's Positivist Church, 1878–1905, Paul Watt

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

The publication of Auguste Comte’s positive philosophy in the 1830s and 1840s took the world by storm and has come to be regarded as one of the principal turning points in nineteenth-century intellectual culture. A particularly large number of disciples and imitators of Comte’s philosophy sprang up all over Europe, especially in the United Kingdom. They established churches and networks in Comte’s memory and wrote tracts, pamphlets and books on history, philosophy, aesthetics, literature, theology and the bourgeoning field of sociology based on Comte’s works. One such disciple was the musician Malcolm Quin. A singer, organist and hymn-writer, Quin was …

Small Satellite Missions For Planetary Science, Carolyn R. Mercer

Small Satellite Conference

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Science Mission Directorate is committed to developing science missions based on small-format spacecraft, including CubeSats and those that can be launched from a standard evolved expendable launch vehicle (EELV) secondary payload adapter (ESPA) ring. This paper describes the investments in small-format spacecraft (SmallSats) that NASA’s Planetary Science Division has made to date, including nineteen concept studies used to determine if deep space SmallSat missions could credibly conduct high quality science. The results of those studies were used to solicit SmallSat missions under the Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program. This paper describes …

Chronic Condition Patterns In The Us Population And Their Associations With Health Outcomes, Dandan Diane Zheng

Open Access Dissertations

Advances in modern medicine have substantially increased life expectancy and improved the outcomes of previously fatal diseases. As a result, more and more people are living into old age and developing chronic conditions. Persons with multiple chronic conditions are more likely to be hospitalized, have poor daily functioning, and elevated risk of death. A disproportionate share of health expenditures is incurred by individuals with multiple chronic conditions. Visual impairment (VI) is among the most disabling conditions. VI and visual disorders often co-occur with other disabling chronic conditions. The health effects of living with multiple chronic conditions in the presence of …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - August 4, 2019, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the August 4, 2019 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's Newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

USA researchers receive Bander Award in support of pulmonary-related research

Save the Date: Pediatric Grand Rounds Aug. 16

Munn named chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USA College of Medicine

Sarcoma treatment provides multidisciplinary learning opportunities for residents and medical students

A New “Vorhiesi” Group Species Of Vaejovis From The Galiuro Mountains, Southern Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Richard F. Ayrey, Brandon Myers

Euscorpius

A new scorpion species, Vaejovis stetsoni sp. n. is described from Galiuro Mountains, Graham County, Arizona. This is the smallest species of the “vorhiesi” group discovered so far, most similar to V. brysoni Ayrey & Webber. The pedipalp fixed finger has five ID denticles and the movable finger has six, like in most other southern Arizona Vaejovis. The most unique characteristics of this species are its small size (18.35 mm) and a large subaculear tubercle.

Hyti: Thermal Hyperspectral Imaging From A Cubesat Platform, Robert Wright, Paul Lucey, Luke Flynn, Miguel Nunes, Thomas George, Sarath Gunapala, David Ting, Sir Rafol

Small Satellite Conference

The HyTI (Hyperspectral Thermal Imager) mission, funded by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office InVEST (In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies) program, will demonstrate how high spectral and spatial long-wave infrared image data can be acquired from a 6U CubeSat platform. The mission will use a spatially modulated interferometric imaging technique to produce spectro-radiometrically calibrated image cubes, with 25 channels between 8-10.7 μm, at a ground sample distance of ~70 m. The HyTI performance model indicates narrow band NEΔTs of

University Cubesat Project Management For Success, Lucinda Berthoud, Michael Swartwout, James Cutler, David Klumpar, Jesper A. Larsen, Jens Dalsgaard Nielsen

Small Satellite Conference

CubeSats have been developed by many different institutions since they were introduced by California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University in 1999. Given the 40% failure rate of university missions, it is important to discover what project arrangements may give the CubeSat the best chance of success. The aim of this paper is to offer those wishing to start a CubeSat program some indications of what successful project management at a university may look like. This paper provides case studies of 3 universities who have launched more than 4 satellites: University of Michigan, the Montana State University, and Aalborg University …

Development Of A High-Altitude Balloon Cubesat Platform For Small Satellite Education And Research, Jill Davis, Alexander Reynolds, Yezad Anklesaria, Henry Pernicka, Jillian Schmidt

Small Satellite Conference

The Missouri University of Science and Technology Satellite Research Team began its high-altitude balloon program as a high school summer camp in 2014. Since then, a new course has been added to the Aerospace Engineering curriculum, where students fly “BalloonSat” payloads to altitudes of ~100,000 feet. In order to enhance the educational outcomes and enable advanced SmallSat research, the BalloonSat payloads have been redesigned into a CubeSat form-factor payload to replace the previous high SWaP design. As new CubeSat teams may face technical challenges and daunting regulations, the “BalloonCubeSat” concept enables groups to test CubeSat systems and build their programs …

Diabetes, Bonsitu Hubena

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that can affect different body systems. There are two categories of diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, insulin production is diminished or absent due to autoimmune attack on the beta cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes occurs as a result of insulin resistance due to beta cell failure. Although the cause is unknown, some of the contributing factors of diabetes include environmental, genetics, race, and family history. In addition, research has shown a significant linkage between obesity and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that predispose individuals to diabetes as well …

Gld2 Activity Is Regulated By Phosphorylation In The N-Terminal Domain, Christina Z. Chung, Nileeka Balasuriya, Emad Manni, Xuguang Liu, Shawn Shun Cheng Li, Patrick O’Donoghue, Ilka U. Heinemann

Paediatrics Publications

The de-regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with multiple human diseases, yet cellular mechanisms governing miRNA abundance remain largely elusive. Human miR-122 is required for Hepatitis C proliferation, and low miR-122 abundance is associated with hepatic cancer. The adenylyltransferase Gld2 catalyses the post-transcriptional addition of a single adenine residue (A + 1) to the 3ʹ-end of miR-122, enhancing its stability. Gld2 activity is inhibited by binding to the Hepatitis C virus core protein during HepC infection, but no other mechanisms of Gld2 regulation are known. We found that Gld2 activity is regulated by site-specific phosphorylation in its disordered N-terminal domain. …

Podophyllum Peltatum: Relationship Of Colony Size And Age, Emily Holst, Heidi Keswick, David P. Warners

Student Papers and Reports

No abstract provided.

Identifying Cancers For Cdk8/19 Inhibitor Therapy, Igor Roninson, Balázs Győrffy, Zachary T. Mack, Alexander A. Shtil, Michael S. Shtutman, Mengqian Chen, Eugenia Broude

Faculty Publications

CDK8 and CDK19 Mediator kinases are transcriptional co-regulators implicated in several types of cancer. Small-molecule CDK8/19 inhibitors have recently entered or are entering clinical trials, starting with breast cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To identify other cancers where these novel drugs may provide benefit, we queried genomic and transcriptomic databases for potential impact of CDK8, CDK19, or their binding partner CCNC. sgRNA analysis of a panel of tumor cell lines showed that most tumor types represented in the panel, except for some central nervous system tumors, were not dependent on these genes. In contrast, analysis of clinical samples for …

Self-Monitoring Interventions For Elementary Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders And The Effects On Improving On-Task Behavior, Lauren Hayes

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Self-monitoring is a technique used for students that allows them to pay close attention to their own behavior. Self-monitoring consists of two parts; students tracking their own data and comparing data to their previous data in order to see improvement in their behavior. Explicitly teaching students self-monitoring skills promotes independence and responsibility for ones own actions. Learning these skills is essential for students with behavioral problems. Provided is a literature review and research on the effects of self-monitoring interventions for elementary students with emotional/behavioral disorders.

Application Of Micro-Scale 3d Printing In Pharmaceutics, Andrew Kjar, Yu Huang

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

3D printing, as one of the most rapidly-evolving fabrication technologies, has released a cascade of innovation in the last two decades. In the pharmaceutical field, the integration of 3D printing technology has offered unique advantages, especially at the micro-scale. When printed at a micro-scale, materials and devices can provide nuanced solutions to controlled release, minimally invasive delivery, high-precision targeting, biomimetic models for drug discovery and development, and future opportunities for personalized medicine. This review aims to cover the recent advances in this area. First, the 3D printing techniques are introduced with respect to the technical parameters and features that are …

Multivariate Assessment Of Metal Contamination In Mtoni Sedimentary Environment, Tanzania, Matobola Mihale

Tanzania Journal of Science

Enrichment factor, geo-accumulation factor, contamination factor, degree of contamination, modified degree of contamination and potential contamination index were applied to assess the contamination of metals (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb ) in the Mtoni estuary sediments in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The sediment samples were sampled as appropriate, treated using established methods and analysed using inductively coupled plasma-high resonance mass spectrometry. The calculated enrichment factor values indicated contamination varying from minor (EF > 1) to severe contamination (EF > 50). The determined geo-accumulation index, contamination factor, degree of contamination, modified degree of contamination and potential contamination …

Morphological And Molecular Identification Of Pratylenchus Goodeyi Associated With Banana In Tanzania, Doreen Mgonja, Gladness Temu, Magreth Mziray, Beatrice Kashando, Ambilikile Mwenisongole, Minza Masunga, Sylvester Lyantagaye4, Nessie Luambano

Tanzania Journal of Science

Banana (Musa sp. [L]) is an important staple food and cash crop for about 30 percent of the total population in Tanzania. Root lesion nematodes, particularly Pratylenchus goodeyi, are among the major pests affecting banana production in Tanzania. Morphological, morphometric and molecular approaches are required for accurate identification of nematodes. In this study, 80 P. goodeyi isolates from major banana growing areas in Tanzania were identified. Sequence analysis of part of the small subunit (SSU), large subunit (LSU) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) confirmed the identity of P. goodeyi. DNA sequences were analysed using Geneious …

Kleptoparasitism Of Shoebills Balaeniceps Rex By African Fish Eagles Haliaeetus Vocifer In Western Tanzania, Jasson John, Woo Lee

Tanzania Journal of Science

Kleptoparasitism is a specialised form of foraging interference occurring throughout the animal kingdom and especially is well documented among birds including African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer. However, only one record is reported between fish eagle and shoebill Balaeniceps rex despite their habitat overlap and it remains undescribed. This paper documents kleptoparasitism of shoebills by fish eagles in Malagarasi wetlands, western Tanzania. Kleptoparasitism was highly seasonal occurring in the dry season, especially at low floods. Both adults and non-adult eagles stole prey from shoebills, with non-adults initiating attacks at shorter distances than adults perhaps because of the lack of experience. The …

Prediction Of Wind Power Density For Electricity Generation At Makambako, Tanzania Using Auto-Regression Integrated Moving Average (Arima) Model, Josam Samson, Reuben Kainkwa

Tanzania Journal of Science

Wind speed data used in this study were from Makambako and were recorded at a height of 10 m. In the analysis, the data were extrapolated to 80 m above ground level and wind speed from July to November were found to have an average value of 17.58 m/s. November was found to be the windiest month for the whole duration while the calm month was found to be March. The wind power density was found to be highest in the month of November for the whole study duration. The months of July to November have higher wind power density …

Species Composition, Diversity And Distribution Of Vascular Epiphytes In The Kihansi Gorge Forest, Tanzania, Hashim Mangosongo, Martin Griffiths

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study aimed at assessing the species composition, diversity and distribution of vascular epiphytes in the Kihansi Gorge Forest. Epiphytes sampling was conducted in twenty sampling plots established in the strip of riverine forest within the Kihansi Gorge. All vascular epiphytes growing on trees (phorophytes) rooted in the plots were sampled using ground-based technique as the method of access to the tree canopies.  A total of 476 epiphyte individuals belonging to 20 species and 10 families were recorded in the study area. Among the twenty species recorded, Drynaria laurentii was the most abundant and most widely distributed in the study …

Scorpions Of Sri Lanka (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Iii. Heterometrus Yaleensis Sp. N. (Scorpionidae), František Kovařík, Kithsiri B. Ranawana, V. A. Sanjeewa Jayarathne, David Hoferek, František Šťáhlavský

Euscorpius

Heterometrus yaleensis sp. n. from Sri Lanka, Southern Province, Yale National Park is described and compared with other species of the genus. The presence of a unique dorsointernal carina on the pedipalp chela distinguishes H. yaleensis sp. n. from all other Heterometrus species. Additional information is provided on the taxonomy and distribution of the genus Heterometrus in Sri Lanka, fully complemented with color photos of specimens of both sexes of the new species, as well as of their habitat. In addition to external morphology and hemispermatophore, we also describe the karyotype of H. yaleensis sp. n. (2n=99).

Editing Fusarium Graminearum Genome With Crispr/Cas9 [Poster], Grace Marie Sack, Tilahun Abebe

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Fusarium graminearum is a pathogenic fungus that causes scab or Fusarium head blight disease in barley and wheat. The disease not only reduces yield, but it also contaminates the kernel with harmful toxins. Therefore, the disease causes economic loss and poses a health risk to humans and animals (McMullen et al., 2012). There is no natural resistance to scab disease in barley and there are no effective fungicides to control it. Alternative approaches to protect barley from this devastating disease are badly needed. In recent years, an RNA-guided genome-editing system known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat and CRISPR-associated …