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Myoglobin Post-Translational Modifications And Fresh Beef Color Stability, Yifei Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Surface color of fresh beef is the major trait influencing consumers’ purchase decisions. Fresh beef color is determined by the myoglobin (Mb) redox stability. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play a critical role in regulating Mb structure and functionality. This thesis focuses on the PTMs in Mb and their impact on fresh beef color stability.

In the first experiment, Mb PTMs in beef longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle during postmortem aging and their influence on fresh beef color stability were examined. Beef LL muscle from nine (n = 9) beef carcasses (24 h postmortem) were subjected to wet-aging for 0, 7, 14 …

Effect Of Conventional Or High Protein Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In Either Dry- Rolled Or Steam- Flaked Corn Based Diets On Finishing Performance Of Steers, Lauren A. Ovinge, L.J. Mcphilips, B.M. Boyd, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A 2 × 3 factorial finishing study evaluated feeding 0 or 30% high protein distillers grains or conventionally produced distillers in either steam- flaked or dry- rolled corn based diets. Feeding conventional distillers grains in dry rolled corn based diets resulted in improved feed conversion, with no difference between high protein distillers grains as compared to conventional DDGS when included in dryrolled corn diets. In steam flaked corn- based diets, feeding high protein distillers and conventional distillers tended to increase feed conversion. Feeding conventional distillers or high protein distillers grains resulted in greater DMI and ADG as compared to diets …

A Comparative Study Of Surface Hardness Between Two Bioceramic Materials In An Experimental Apexification Model Under Wet And Dry Conditions, Maria Priya Paul, Swathi Amin, Arun Mayya, Rajaram Naik

Open Access archive

Background: The placement of a wet cotton pellet against Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is often recommended to ensure the completion of its setting reaction. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the setting behaviour of MTA Angelus and NeoMTA by comparing their hardness after placing them in dry and moist conditions. Methodology: A simulated open apex was created on 40 polyvinyl tubes. The apical 4 mm of the tubes was filled with the two materials, NeoMTA Plus (Avalon Biomed Inc. Bradenton, FL, USA) and MTA Angelus (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil) (n=20 per group). Both groups were subdivided into two subgroups based …

Sesamol-Loaded Plga Nanosuspension For Accelerating Wound Healing In Diabetic Foot Ulcer In Rats, Karthik Gourishetti, Raghuvir Keni, Pawan Ganesh Nayak, Srinivas Reddy Jitta

Open Access archive

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer is an intractable complication of diabetes, characterized by the disturbed inflammatory and proliferative phases of wound healing. Sesamol, a phenolic compound, has been known for its powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycaemic and wound healing properties. The aim of the present study was to develop a sesamol nano formulation and to study its effect on the various phases of the wound healing process in diabetic foot condition. Methods: Sesamol-PLGA (SM-PLGA) nanosuspension was developed using nanoprecipita-tion method. TEM, in vitro drug release assay and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies were performed for the optimised formulation. Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in …

Targeting Sars-Cov-2 Rna-Dependent Rna Polymerase: An In Silico Drug Repurposing For Covid-19, Krishnaprasad Baby, Swastika Maity, Chetan H. Mehta, Akhil Suresh

Open Access archive

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), took more lives than combined epidemics of SARS, MERS, H1N1, and Ebola. Currently, the prevention and control of spread are the goals in COVID-19 management as there are no specific drugs to cure or vaccines available for prevention. Hence, the drug repurposing was explored by many research groups, and many target proteins have been examined. The major protease (M pro), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) are two target proteins in SARS-CoV-2 that have been validated and extensively studied for drug development in COVID-19. The RdRp …

A Comparative Study On Efficacy Of Azithromycin And Doxycycline In The Treatment Of Acne Vulgaris At A Tertiary Care Centre, Shanti Gurung, Navin Patil, Karthik Rao, Gunjan Chaudhary

Open Access archive

Comparing the efficacy of doxycycline and azithromycin in the treatment of patients with acne vulgaris. A total of 110 patients with acne vulgaris participated in this comparative, prospective, longitudinal study and were randomly assigned to two groups (azithromycin and doxycycline). Grading of scores were determined and recorded at baseline using the sign and symptom scores validated by Jerry KL Tan whereas the severity of acne was evaluated by counting the number of lesions. Patients were followed up for a period of 4 weeks. Clinical assessment was made at the end of 4 weeks and data was analysed. Pre and post …

Antidiabetic And Aldose Reductase Inhibitory Potentials Of Land Caltrops Aqueous Extract In Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Rats, Bheemesh Vangalapati, Poornima A. Manjrekar, Anupama Hegde

Open Access archive

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy is a late stage complication in diabetic patients and one which dramatically affects quality of life. Persistent hyperglycemia results in sorbitol accumulation due to increased activity of aldose reductase (AR), which leads to changes in membrane permeability and leakage of glutathione (GSH) from the lens which in turn results in the development of cataract and retinopathy. Hence, the present study was designed to assess the effect of Tribulus terrestris on AR activity and GSH level in diabetic rat lens, random blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and insulin. Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced by intra-peritoneal (i.p) injection of …

The Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signal Dsf Hijacks Arabidopsis Thaliana Sterol Biosynthesis To Suppress Plant Innate Immunity, Tuan Minh Tran, Zhiming Ma, Alexander Triebl, Sangeeta Nath

Open Access archive

Quorum sensing (QS) is a recognized phenomenon that is crucial for regulating population-related behaviors in bacteria. However, the direct specific effect of QS molecules on host biology is largely understudied. In this work, we show that the QS molecule DSF (cis-11-methyl-dodecenoic acid) produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris can suppress pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) in Arabidopsis thaliana, mediated by flagellin-induced activation of flagellin receptor FLS2. The DSF-mediated attenuation of innate immunity results from the alteration of FLS2 nanoclusters and endocytic internalization of plasma membrane FLS2. DSF altered the lipid profile of Arabidopsis, with a particular increase in the phytosterol …

Change In Snow Leopard Predation On Livestock After Revival Of Wild Prey In The Trans-Himalaya, Sumanta Bagchi, Rishi K. Sharma, Yash V. Bhatnagar

Open Access archive

Human-wildlife conflict arising from livestock-losses to large carnivores is an important challenge faced by conservation. Theory of prey-predator interactions suggests that revival of wild prey populations can reduce predator's dependence on livestock in multiple-use landscapes. We explore whether 10-years of conservation efforts to revive wild prey could reduce snow leopard's Panthera uncia consumption of livestock in the coupled human-And-natural Trans-Himalayan ecosystem of northern India. Starting in 2001, concerted conservation efforts at one site (intervention) attempted recovery of wild-prey populations by creating livestock-free reserves, accompanied with other incentives (e.g. insurance, vigilant herding). Another site, 50km away, was monitored as status quo …

A Walk Through Malegalalli Madumagalu – Lines That Uncover New Ontologies, Deepta Sateesh

Open Access archive

The Western Ghats is a contentious landscape described in the familiar language of disciplines and boundaries, a language that has influenced the way in which development and environmental projects have been designed. It is possible the contentions arise from a particular ontology, created by a way of seeing the Ghats that divides nature from culture, relying on a view from above that distances one from place, an outsider’s view. This way of seeing differs from an understanding that emerges when engaging in the Ghats on foot. This paper grapples with this difference through a literary engagement with one of Kuvempu’s …

A Study Of Thyroid Profile (T3, T4, Tsh) In Patients With Cirrhosis Of Liver, Prakash Harischandra, Harish A. Rao

Open Access archive

Background: The conversion of Thyroxine (T4) to active triiodothyronine (T3) takes place in the peripheral tissues. Several studies suggested that an important role is played by the liver in the thyroid hormones metabolism. Methods: Study design: It is a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study with comparison arm Study setting: Study is conducted in hospitals associated with Kasturba medical college, Government Wenlock hospital, KMC Attavar and KMC Ambedkar circle. Sampling method: convenience sampling Sample: 90 cases, 30 controls Results: Thyroid hormone abnormalities exist in liver cirrhosis patients. Conclusion: There are significantly lower levels of T3, T4 in cases, that is cirrhotic …

Optimization Of Pediatric Ct Brain Protocol To Achieve Reduced Patient Dose, Julnar Karappara, Prakashini Koteshwar, Nitika C. Panakkal, Suresh Sukumar

Open Access archive

The number of CT scans have increased and the usage of CT in children is also rapidly increasing. As children are more prone to the effects of radiation, it is necessary to optimize the dose received by the patient. The purpose of this study was to develop a low dose, age-specific protocol for pediatric CT brain without jeopardising image quality. A total of 69 Subjects referred for routine CT brain were included in the study and categorized into three groups according to their age [1-4, 5-9, 10-16 years]. All the scans were performed in a 64 slice brilliance CT Philips …

Detection Of Torque Teno Virus (Ttv) And Ttvlike Minivirus In Patients With Presumed Infectious Endophthalmitis In India, Poonam Naik, Vivek Pravin Dave, Joveeta Joseph

Open Access archive

Human anelloviruses (Torque Teno Virus (TTV) and TTV Like Mini Virus (TLMV)) are now being reported at a high prevalence across the world, with a controversial disease-inducing potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of these anellovirus in vitreous of patients with presumed infectious endophthalmitis. After informed consent, vitreous fluid from patients with endophthalmitis (n = 103) and non-infectious pathologies (n = 102) were analyzed for the presence of TTV and TLMV DNA by qPCR with the limit of quantification defined as 100 copies per reaction. Among the patients clinically diagnosed with endophthalmitis, 29 of the …

Germline Genetic Determination Of Cancer Outcome, Benjamin N. Ostendorf

Student Theses and Dissertations

Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of melanoma patients. However, despite the enormous promise of immunotherapy, a major fraction of patients with advanced melanoma still succumb to this deadly disease. In addition, systemic immunotherapy can lead to relevant toxicities. Therefore, it is an unmet need to identify the factors that modulate the outcome and response to therapy of melanoma patients. One major factor accounting for individual differences in the host response to cancer is the genetic makeup of the germline. A thorough assessment of the role of germline genetics in melanoma outcome is lacking, partly because of the difficulty in assessing …

Small-Molecule Activation Of Yap For Inner-Ear Regeneration – And Beyond, Nathaniel Kastan

Student Theses and Dissertations

Hippo signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that restricts organ growth during development and suppresses regeneration in mature organs. Using a highthroughput phenotypic screen, we have identified a potent, non-toxic, and reversible inhibitor of Hippo signaling. An ATP-competitive inhibitor of Lats kinases, the compound causes Yap-dependent proliferation of murine supporting cells in the inner ear, murine cardiomyocytes, and human Müller glia in retinal organoids. The compound promotes the initial stages of the proliferative regeneration of hair cells, a process thought to be permanently suppressed in the adult mammalian inner ear. In conjunction with the Tri- Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, we …

Cell Memory And Fate In Human Development, Anna Kresovich Yoney

Student Theses and Dissertations

Development of a single cell, the fertilized egg, into an entire organism is a fascinating example of biological organization that gives rise to many forms of multicellular life. Cell-cell signaling is central to development, particularly in organisms such as vertebrates, where embryonic cells become progressively restricted in their potential through a hierarchy of decision points guided by the signals they receive. All cells contain the same genetic information in the form of DNA, and we now know that the DNA is modified epigenetically to impart distinct functions to each adult cell type. However, we are just beginning to uncover how …

Hybridization In Ants, Ian Butler

Student Theses and Dissertations

Interspecific hybridization is a relatively common occurrence within all animal groups. Two main factors make hybridization act differently in ants than in other species: eusociality and haplodiploidy. These factors serve to reduce the costs of interspecific hybridization in ants while simultaneously allowing them to take advantage of certain benefits. Eusociality may mitigate the effects of hybridization by allowing hybrids to be shunted into the worker caste, potentially reducing the effects of hybrid sterility. In haplodiploid species, males do not have a father. They instead develop from unfertilized eggs as haploid clones of their mother. This means that interspecifically mated queens …

Diverse Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists: Relationships Between Signaling And Behavior, Amelia Dunn

Student Theses and Dissertations

The opioid system, comprised mainly of the three opioid receptors (kappa, mu and delta) and their endogenous neuropeptide ligands (dynorphin, endorphin and enkephalin, respectively), mediates mood and reward. Activation of the mu opioid receptor is associated with positive reward and euphoria, while activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) has the opposite effect. Activation of the KOR causes a decrease in dopamine levels in reward-related regions of the brain, and can block the rewarding effects of various drugs of abuse, making it a potential drug target for addictive diseases. KOR agonists are of particular interest for the treatment of cocaine …

Blood-Derived Plasminogen Modulates The Neuroimmune Response In Both Alzheimer's Disease And Systemic Infection Models, Sarah K. Baker

Student Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects 44 million people worldwide. To date, there are no effective treatments that prevent progression or death from the disease. It is clear that AD development is multifactorial and can arise from genetic or lifestyle factors and that vascular dysfunction and inflammation play a role in the progression of the disease. Many cardiovascular factors associated with an increase in systemic infection have been linked to a risk of AD development and progression. However, the link between vascular risk factors, systemic inflammation, and the neuroinflammation characteristic of AD are not fully understood. …

Time-Restricted Feeding Extends Longevity In Drosophila Melanogaster, Daniel Cabrera

Student Theses and Dissertations

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a dietary intervention in which daily feeding patterns align with behavioral patterns, synchronizing feeding times with periods of higher activity, e.g. humans eating only during the day or rodents (nocturnal animals) at night. TRF has been shown to improve cardiac health in Drosophila melanogaster, reduce metabolic markers in rodent models, and reduce glycemic indices in prediabetic men. However, the mechanism and long-term effects of this intervention remain elusive. To understand the effect of TRF on longevity we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, which is a useful model for longevity, sleep and circadian studies because of …

Dissection Of Neurons And Circuits Involved In Regulating Innate Behaviors, Movement And Higher Cognitive Functions In Mice, Luca Parolari

Student Theses and Dissertations

Elucidating the mechanisms through which brain circuits influence behavior is a fundamental tenet of Systems Neuroscience. Advancements in this field are critical to help us understand the inner workings of our brains, and eventually who we are as humans. Describing the physiologic functioning of neural circuits is also necessary to recognize their malfunctions, and to develop strategies to correct them. In many cases, however, alterations in the activity of brainwide circuits can be traced back to specific neuronal populations, and acting selectively upon these cells can restore the normal activity within the system, ultimately correcting the aberrant behavior. Thus, understanding …

Visualizing Protease Activation, Retrochmp3 Activity, And Vpr Recruitment During Hiv-1 Assembly, Kate Bredbenner

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis covers my contributions to the field of HIV-1 assembly and the field of science communication. Over the course of my studies, I have determined when the HIV-1 protease becomes active during the assembly of new virions, elucidated the mechanism by which the protein retroCHMP3 has an antiviral function, and examined the kinetics of recruitment of the HIV-1 accessory protein Vpr. I have also added significantly to science communication research through a study which evaluated the effectiveness of science summary methods. HIV-1 virions assemble at the plasma membrane of infected cells. The assembly of new viruses is driven by …

Mechanisms Of Evasion: Anti-Tumor Immune Suppression & Trna-Dependent Growth In Cancer Metastasis, Lisa Brooke Noble

Student Theses and Dissertations

Metastatic disease presents diverse therapeutic challenges for cancer patients, clinicians, and scientists. Cancer cells have developed sophisticated mechanisms of evasion to survive the selective pressures provided by the metastatic cascade. Two themes of success encompass modulating their surrounding microenvironment, or manipulating cell autonomous regulatory programs not intended for differentiated somatic cells. Both challenges are addressed in this body of work which focus on gastrointestinal and breast cancer metastasis. During cancer progression, tumour cells employ mechanisms that suppress both adaptive and innate immune responses. While our understanding of the molecular basis of adaptive immune suppression by cancer cells has led to …

Molecular Mechanisms And Antigen Receptor Requirements For Lymphocyte Adaptation To Intestinal Tissues, Mariya B. London

Student Theses and Dissertations

The intestine plays a crucial role in food digestion, nutrient absorption, water retention, and waste excretion. It contains the most populous immune cell reservoir in the body and is continuously exposed to a large and diverse number of diet- and microbiota- derived antigens. The highly stimulating luminal environment is separated from the core of the body, the lamina propria (LP), by just a single layer of epithelial cells. The intestinal immune system is thus tasked with being able to tolerate innocuous stimuli while mounting an effective response against potential pathogens in a controlled manner. To ensure appropriate balance between tolerance …

Crispr/Caste: Functional Genomic Studies Of The Major Evolutionary Innovations Of Ants, Waring Trible

Student Theses and Dissertations

Ants are social organisms that live in groups and depend intimately on their nestmates for growth and survival. Ants have evolved a number of highly sophisticated, social phenotypes that allow them to form coherent colonies. This thesis explores two particularly derived features of ant biology: complex chemical communication and caste plasticity. To study these features, I had a particular focus on generating and characterizing germ-line mutants. I believe that the study of mutants, and applying molecular biology methods more generally, can lead to insights in ant biology that would not be possible with more traditional methods. I first describe my …

Representations Of Reward And Movement In Drosophila Dopaminergic Neurons, Aryeh Zolin

Student Theses and Dissertations

The neuromodulator dopamine is known to influence both immediate and future behavior, motivating and invigorating an animal's ongoing movement but also serving as a reinforcement signal to instruct learning. Yet it remains unclear whether this dual role of dopamine involves the same dopaminergic pathways. Although reward-responsive dopaminergic neurons display movement-related activity, debate continues as to what features of an individual's experience these motor-correlates correspond and how they influence concurrent behavior. The mushroom body, a prominent neuropil in the brain of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, is richly innervated by dopaminergic neurons that play an essential role in the formation of …

Identification Of Gene Expression Changes In Sleep Mutants Associated With Reduced Longevity In Drosophila, Zikun Wang

Student Theses and Dissertations

Sleep deprivation has become a common problem in modern society, yet the physiological consequences of sleep deprivation remain poorly understood. Sleep disruption has been shown to shorten lifespan in multiple animal species. In my thesis study, I investigated the relationship between sleep and longevity using Drosophila melanogaster. By analyzing the sleep and longevity profiles from a panel of sleep mutants, I discovered a robust positive correlation between daily sleep time and median longevity. This discovery led to my hypothesis that sleep disruption as a result of genetic mutation would elicit certain gene expression changes that ultimately would lead to shortened …

Genetic Functional Dissection Of The Synaptic Output Of A Dual-Function Integrating Neuron, Aylesse Sordillo

Student Theses and Dissertations

Animals must vary their behavior in response to changes in their environment, but behavior also remains consistent over time. This thesis focuses on a single interneuron, RIM, and a single behavior, the reversal, to better understand how the circuits driving motor outputs accomplish the seemingly contradictory tasks of generating appropriate and variable behaviors. In the compact and well-defined nervous system of C. elegans, the interneuron RIM is an important part of the reversal behavior circuit that contributes to sensory integration, behavioral variability, generation of behavioral states, and learning. RIM releases both glutamate and the biogenic amine tyramine (~noradrenaline) and forms …

Monogenic Defects Of The Type I Interferons Signaling Pathway In Humans: Molecular And Clinical Implications, Nicholas Hernandez

Student Theses and Dissertations

The germ theory of disease, which dictates that microorganisms colloquially referred to as "germs" can invade humans or other hosts and cause disease, has remained the dominant conceptualization of infectious disease since the late nineteenth century. Since that time, growing appreciation for the extent of subclinical infections, that is, infections where the germ is detectable in its host without causing overt disease, and the Mendelian inheritance patterns of some infectious diseases have reinvigorated the study of the human genetic basis of infectious disease. This theory, so far demonstrated for a number of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, holds that germs …

A Network Approach To Understanding Mirna Regulation In Adipose Tissue, Sean O'Connor

Student Theses and Dissertations

Adipose tissue is a complex organ that is essential for lipid storage and energy homeostasis in mammals. While transcription factors that govern adipogenesis, inflammation, non-shivering thermogenesis, and endocrine function in fat tissue have been well-described, comparatively less attention has been given to post-transcriptional regulators. Here, we employ two contrasting approaches to identify miRNAs that influence adipocyte phenotype. First, miRNAs were sequenced from 6 fat pads, primary preadipocytes, and primary mature adipocytes. Comparative analyses of abundance across adipose tissue type and stage of differentiation revealed a number of miRNAs that influence key metabolic processes. miR-335 inhibited adipogenesis, miR-192 promoted pro-thermogenic and …