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R-Α-Lipoic Acid And 4-Phenylbutyric Acid Have Distinct Hypolipidemic Mechanisms In Hepatic Cells, Bo He, Régis Moreau

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The constitutive activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) leads to the overproduction of apoB-containing triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins in HepG2 cells. R-α-lipoic acid (LA) and 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA) have hypolipidemic function but their mechanisms of action are not well understood. Here, we reported that LA and PBA regulate hepatocellular lipid metabolism via distinct mechanisms. The use of SQ22536, an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase, revealed cAMP’s involvement in the upregulation of CPT1A expression by LA but not by PBA. LA decreased the secretion of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) in the culture media of hepatic cells and increased …

The Impact Of Sex Offender Registration Laws On Offenders’ Reintegration Into Society, Stephanie Rose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information related to the experiences of sex offenders required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act of 2006 is predominantly based on quantitative data, and the majority of information relates to the factors that contribute to sexual offenses, recidivism rates, and public opinion of the sex offender registry. There is a lack of research on the lived experience of sex offenders who are required to register, specifically those in rural Pennsylvania. Research is also lacking on how sex offenders and the professionals with whom they interact perceive the registry. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was …

Expressions Of Sexual Deviance In Black Serial Killers, Lucia J. Weatherall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of Black serial killers (BSKs) has increased, but empirical studies have not focused on this unique population, including their expressions of sexual deviance. The purpose of this case study was to understand the common socialization experiences and the expressions of sexual deviance in BSKs. Two conceptual frameworks were used to identify the concepts to explore: Bandura’s social learning theory of aggression and Agnew’s general strain theory. Data collected came from archival court and police records in Texas. A content-analysis approach was used to analyze the archival data, organized by criminal background, sexual deviance, familial data, and social development. …

'It's You Who Are. What? / A Hummingbird.' And 'No Longer Was He Young And Raw Though The Error Remained Young And Raw', Mark Anthony Cayanan

English Faculty Publications

The two poems belong to a lyric sequence that loosely tracks the emotive trajectory of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice.

Potentiality Of Saccharomyces Boulardii In Fermentation Of Bio-Ethanol Derived From Fruit Wastes, Anand Pai, Priyodip Paul, Srividya Nayak, Kuldeep K. Singh

Open Access archive

An astronomical increase in vehicular usage has led to the depletion of existing fossil fuels and forced researchers to find alternative sources of fuels. Extensive studies are utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae for bioethanol production. Therefore, in the present study, the potential application of Saccharomyces boulardii derived bioethanol from fruit wastes was explored. The orange, sweet lime, and banana peels were subjected to various pre-treatment procedures and used as substrates for yeast mediated fermentation. The cellulosic de-linearization of fruit peels induced by alkaline and steam pre-treatments was analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic analysis. The chemical nature of fruit waste-derived bioethanol was …

Implications Of Caesarean Section For A Family In India, Anitha P. Shetty, Naveen Kumar, U. Sreehari

Open Access archive

Background Pregnancy is a normal and healthy state which women desires and undergoes at some time in their lives. Complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth accounts to nearly half a million every year in the developing world. WHO in 1985 recommended that Caesarean Section (CS) rates should not exceed 10- 15% of normal deliveries for any hospital. Perception, awareness and knowledge among family members in a patriarchal society plays an important role in decision making. Therefore, this study is done to get insights into perception of post caesarean women and their family members about financial impact to their households. Methodology …

Embryonic Mortality In Sheep: A Review, Pavitra Chundekkad, Barbara Błaszczyk, Tomasz Stankiewicz

Open Access archive

Despite extensive research on the reproductive health of domestic animals, embryonic mortality continues to be a problem that brings about significant losses for both commercial breeding and scientific research. This review paper discusses the genetic and environmental factors that affect embryo mortality rates in sheep along with the different techniques developed to overcome this issue. Additionally, one of the objectives of this study is to emphasize the importance of the use of time-lapse cinematography and color Doppler ultrasonography as quick and reliable methods for early detection of pregnancy and embryonic death.

Effect Of Vitamin D Analogue On Rosuvastatin-Induced Myopathy In Wistar Rats, Bharti Chogtu, Balaji Ommurugan, Sereen R. Thomson, Sneha G. Kalthur

Open Access archive

Objectives. Statin-induced myopathy is one of the major causes of poor adherence and discontinuation of this medication. There are contrary results regarding association of vitamin D insufficiency with statin-induced myopathy. This study was done to determine the effect of the vitamin D3 analogue alfacalcidol on Rosuvastatin-induced myopathy in rats. Methodology. Animals were divided into six groups with 6 rats in each group. Groups I and II acted as controls, Group III and Group IV were administered Rosuvastatin 120 mg/kg/day and 160 mg/kg/day, Groups V and VI were administered alfacalcidol 0.1 μg/kg/day in addition to Rosuvastatin 120 mg/kg/day and 160 mg/kg/day, …

Epidural Clonidine As An Adjuvant To Local Anesthetic In Lower Abdominal And Lower Limb Surgeries: A Randomised Controlled Study, Palak Arora, Jesni Joseph, Madhusudan Upadya, Sonal Bhat

Open Access archive

Background: Acute pain leads to adverse physiological and psychological disturbances. Hence, this study was done to evaluate and compare the onset and duration of sensory anesthesia, motor paralysis and duration of analgesia using 0.5% plain bupivacaine, with clonidine (2μg/kg) in patients posted for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under epidural anaesthesia. Materials and methods: 62 Patients posted for elective lower abdominal, gynaecological and lower limb surgeries under epidural anesthesia, aged 18 to 60 years, height more than 150 cms of ASA physical status 1 or 2 were included. All patients were randomized into two groups of 31 individuals each. …

An Experimental Study On Topical Application Of 2% Lignocaine Jelly For Preventing Coughing And Sore Throat Post Extubation In Elective Surgeries In Smokers Vs. Non-Smokers, Shilpi Padhi, Sonal Bhat

Open Access archive

Incidence of cough and sore throat post-extubation is known to be increased in cigarette smokers. Simple methods with minimal side-effects like application of 2% lignocaine jelly is observed to reduce such complications in the normal population. The rationale of this study is to directly compare such effects between smokers and non-smokers.It is an observational study including 60 participants aged between 20 to 60 years with ASA 1 and 2 physical status undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. The patients were randomized in to two groups - smokers and non-smokers. Lignocaine 2% jelly was applied to endo-tracheal tube cuffs in both …

Cannabinoids As An Alternative Option For Conventional Analgesics In Cancer Pain Management: A Pharmacogenomics Perspective, Anmi Jose, Levin Thomas, Gayathri Baburaj, Murali Munisamy

Open Access archive

The global cancer burden is significantly increasing at an alarming rate affecting patients, relatives, communities, and health-care system. Cancer patients require adequate pain relief and palliative care throughout the life course, especially in terminal illness. Although opioid treatment is successful in majority of patients, around 40% do not achieve enough analgesia or are prone to serious side effects and toxicity. The treatment of medical conditions with cannabis and cannabinoid compounds is constantly expanding. This review organizes the current knowledge in the context of SNPs associated with opioids and nonopioids and its clinical consequences in pain management and pharmacogenetic targets of …

The Neuropeptide Drosulfakinin Regulates Social Isolation-Induced Aggression In Drosophila, Pavan Agrawal, Damian Kao, Phuong Chung, Loren L. Looger

Open Access archive

Social isolation strongly modulates behavior across the animal kingdom. We utilized the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to study social isolation-driven changes in animal behavior and gene expression in the brain. RNA-seq identified several head-expressed genes strongly responding to social isolation or enrichment. Of particular interest, social isolation downregulated expression of the gene encoding the neuropeptide Drosulfakinin (Dsk), the homologue of vertebrate cholecystokinin (CCK), which is critical for many mammalian social behaviors. Dsk knockdown significantly increased social isolation-induced aggression. Genetic activation or silencing of Dsk neurons each similarly increased isolation-driven aggression. Our results suggest a U-shaped dependence of social isolation-induced aggressive …

Spatial And Climatic Variables Independently Drive Elevational Gradients In Ant Species Richness In The Eastern Himalaya, Aniruddha Marathe, Dharma Rajan Priyadarsanan, Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Kartik Shanker

Open Access archive

Elevational gradients are considered important for understanding causes behind gradients in species richness due to the large variation in climate and habitat within a small spatial extent. Geometric constraints are thought to interact with environmental variables and influence elevational patterns in species richness. However, the geographic setting of most mountain ranges, particularly continuity with low elevation areas may reduce the effect of geometric constraints at lower elevations. In the present study, we test the effects of climatic gradients and continuity with the low elevation plains of the eastern Himalayan mountain range on patterns of species richness. We studied species richness …

Principles, Applications, And Biosafety Of Plant Genome Editing Using Crispr-Cas9, Kaoutar El-Mounadi, María Luisa Morales-Floriano, Hernan Garcia-Ruiz

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The terms genome engineering, genome editing, and gene editing, refer to modifications (insertions, deletions, substitutions) in the genome of a living organism. The most widely used approach to genome editing nowadays is based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9). In prokaryotes, CRISPR-Cas9 is an adaptive immune system that naturally protects cells from DNA virus infections. CRISPR-Cas9 has been modified to create a versatile genome editing technology that has a wide diversity of applications in medicine, agriculture, and basic studies of gene functions. CRISPR-Cas9 has been used in a growing number of monocot and dicot …

Mixed Ancestry From Wild And Domestic Lineages Contributes To The Rapid Expansion Of Invasive Feral Swine, Timothy J. Smyser, Michael A. Tabak, Chris Slootmaker, Michael S. Robeson Ii, Ryan S. Miller, Mirte Bosse, Hendrik-Jan Megens, Martien A.M. Groenen, Samuel Rezende Paiva, Danielle Assis De Faria, Harvey D. Blackburn, Brandon S. Schmit, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive alien species are a significant threat to both economic and ecological systems. Identifying the processes that give rise to invasive populations is essential for implementing effective control strategies. We conducted an ancestry analysis of invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa, Linnaeus, 1758), a highly destructive ungulate that is widely distributed throughout the contiguous United States, to describe introduction pathways, sources of newly emergent populations and processes contributing to an ongoing invasion. Comparisons of high-density single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes for 6,566 invasive feral swine to a comprehensive reference set of S. scrofa revealed that the vast majority of feral swine were …

The Role Of European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) In The Dissemination Of Multidrug- Resistant Escherichia Coli Among Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Jennifer E. Anders, Nicolas A. Blouin, James C. Carlson, Jeffrey T. Lejeune, Lawrence D. Goodridge, Baolin Wang, Leslie A. Day, Anna M. Mangan, Dustin A. Reid, Shannon M. Coleman, Matthew W. Hopken, Bledar Bisha

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Antimicrobial use in livestock production is a driver for the development and proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Wildlife interactions with livestock, acquiring associated AMR bacteria and genes, and wildlife’s subsequent dispersal across the landscape are hypothesized to play an important role in the ecology of AMR. Here, we examined priority AMR phenotypes and genotypes of Escherichia coli isolated from the gastrointestinal tracts of european starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) found on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). European starlings may be present in high numbers on cAfos (>100,000 birds), interact with urban environments, and can migrate distances exceeding 1,500 km in North …

Reporting The Limits Of Detection And Quantification For Environmental Dna Assays, Katy E. Klymus, Christopher M. Merkes, Michael J. Allison, Caren S. Goldberg, Caren C. Helbing, Margaret E. Hunter, Craig A. Jackson, Richard F. Lance, Anna M. Mangan, Emy M. Monroe, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Joel P. Stokdyk, Chris C. Wilson, Catherine A. Richter

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is increasingly being used to detect the presence and relative abundance of rare species, especially invasive or imperiled aquatic species. The rapid progress in the eDNA field has resulted in numerous studies impacting conservation and management actions. However, standardization of eDNA methods and reporting across the field is yet to be fully established, with one area being the calculation and interpretation of assay limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ).

Aims: Here, we propose establishing consistent methods for determining and reporting of LOD and LOQ for single‐species quantitative PCR (qPCR) eDNA studies.

Materials …

Safety, Immunogenicity, And Efficacy Of Intramuscular And Oral Delivery Of Era-G333 Recombinant Rabies Virus Vaccine To Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus Fuscus), Amy T. Gilbert, Xianfu Wu, Felix R. Jackson, Richard Franka, Gary F. Mccracken, Charles E. Rupprecht

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Attenuated strains of rabies virus (RABV) have been used for oral vaccination of wild carnivores in Europe and North America. However, some RABV vaccines caused clinical rabies in target animals. To improve the safety of attenuated RABV as an oral vaccine for field use, strategies using selection of escape mutants under monoclonal antibody neutralization pressure and reverse genetics–defined mutations have been used. We tested the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of one RABV construct, ERA-g333, developed with reverse genetics by intramuscular (IM) or oral (PO) routes in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Twenty-five bats received 5×10⁶ mouse intracerebral …

Psychological Drivers Of Risk-Reducing Behaviors To Limit Human–Wildlife Conflict, Stacy A. Lischka, Tara L. Teel, Heather E. Johnson, Courtney Larson, Stewart Breck, Kevin R. Crooks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Conflicts between people and wild animals are increasing globally, often with serious consequences

for both. Local regulations or ordinances are frequently used to promote human behaviors that minimize these conflicts (risk-reducing behaviors), but compliance with ordinances can be highly variable. While efforts to increase compliance could be improved through applications of conservation psychology, little is known about the relative influence of different factors motivating compliance. Using concepts from psychology and risk theory, we conducted a longitudinal study pairing data from mail surveys with direct observations of compliance with a wildlife ordinance requiring residents to secure residential garbage from black bears …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Binaural Interaction Component (Bic) Using Speech And Non-Speech Evoked Abr, Kaushlendra Kumar, M. S. Divyashree, Ritik Roushan, Manita Thomas

Open Access archive

Background and Objective: Binaural hearing serves as an advantage in daily communication by facilitating better localization of sounds and perception of speech in the presence of noise. BIC of ABR has been used to understand the binaural representation of different stimuli, such as transient clicks, and complex signals, such as speech. The present study aimed to investigate the test-retest reliability of the binaural interaction component for click and speech evoked ABR. Methods: 30 individuals with normal hearing served as participants for the present study. ABR for click and speech stimuli (/da/) were recorded from these participants in monaural and binaural …

Comparison Of Biomechanical Parameters Between Medial And Lateral Compartments Of Human Knee Joints, Ashwin Kumar Devaraj, Kiran Kumar V. Acharya, Raviraja Adhikari

Open Access archive

Background: The knowledge of biomechanics helps in predicting stresses in different parts of the knee joint during daily activities. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical parameters of the knee joint, such as contact pressure, contact area, and maximum compressive stress, at full extension position during the gait cycle. Methods: The three-dimensional finite element models of human knee joints are developed from magnetic resonance images (MRI) of multiple healthy subjects. The knee joints are subjected to an axial compressive force of 1150 N at full extension position. Results: The maximum compressive stresses on the medial and …

Comparative Evaluation Of The Origin, Evolution, Transmission, Diagnosis, And Vaccine Development Of Three Highly Pathogenic Human Coronaviruses (Sars-Cov, Mers-Cov And Sars-Cov-2), Prabhu Dutta Shaw, Nicky Patel, Shailee Patil, Richard Samuel

Open Access archive

Coronavirus infection in humans is not uncommon. The first coronavirus (HCoV-229E) in humans was isolated in 1965. Subsequently, three more coronaviruses were recognized: HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E. These viruses are endemic in humans and cause common cold and mild respiratory infections throughout the year. The three coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 are highly pathogenic coronaviruses that cause very severe respiratory diseases in human. SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerging coronavirus posing pandemic COVID-19 disease that has disrupted the human life in many ways. In this review, the origin, evolution, transmission, vaccine development, and clinical characteristics of these highly pathogenic human coronaviruses …

Optical Biopsy And Optical Pathology: Affordable Health Care Under Low-Resource Settings, Swathi Rao, Reena John, Ajeetkumar Patil, V. K. Unnikrishnan

Open Access archive

In this paper the potential of optical spectroscopy based techniques for regular screening and early diagnosis of “Killer” diseases (various types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, etc.) is discussed with focus on routine use under low-resource settings. A brief account of work carried out in our laboratory to design, assemble and optimize Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) based optical devices for routine screening, early diagnosis and discrimination of premalignant/malignant conditions in oral and other cancers is presented. An ultra-sensitive protein profiling system based on highly efficient High Performance Liquid Chromatograpy-Ultrasensitive Laser Induced Fluorescence (HPLC-LIF) detection, and its extensive use in monitoring various …

Neuroprotective Effect Of Mulmina™ Against Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Decline In Normal Rats, Manas Kinra, Niraja Ranadive, Karthik Gourishetti, Pawan Ganesh Nayak

Open Access archive

The aim of the present study was to evaluate a marketed formulation against chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction. The formulation, Mulmina™, contains natural compounds which are known to help in improving function as well as in preventing cognitive decline. All of the phytocon-stituents in the formulation have been tested individually but this is the first study where such a formulation has been evaluated against chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline (CICD) in a mouse model. CICD was induced by cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg), methotrexate (5 mg/kg), and 5-fluorouracil (5 mg/kg) (CMF), administered intraperitonially. CMF was administered in three cycles, with one injection per week for three …

Assessment Of Knowledge Of Use Of Electronic Cigarette And Its Harmful Effects Among Young Adults, Vidushi Gupta, Madhu Sharma, Natarajan Srikant, Nidhi Manaktala

Open Access archive

Background - The practice of young adults smoking e-cigarette may have been adopted as a way of smoking cessation or just to follow a trend. Most people still remain unaware of the detrimental effects of e-cigarette. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of the habit of smoking e-cigarette and the awareness of its harmful effects among adults aged 18.23 years. Methods - A questionnaire adopted from a study conducted in Italy was used in the study following due permission. After taking their consent, participants were requested to fill the survey irrespective of their smoking status. Results - …

Protective Effect Of Mucuna Pruriens Against Arsenic-Induced Liver And Kidney Dysfunction And Neurobehavioral Alterations In Rats, Preethi Concessao, Laxminarayana Kurady Bairy, Archana Parampalli Raghavendra

Open Access archive

Background and Aim: Intoxication of arsenic in rats is known to result in neurological effects as well as liver and kidney dysfunction. Mucuna pruriens has been identified for its medicinal properties. The aim of the study was to investigate the protective effect of aqueous seed extract of M. pruriens on sodium arsenite-induced memory impairment, liver, and kidney functions in rats. Materials and Methods: The experiment was divided into short-term treatment (45 days) and long-term treatment (90 days), with each group divided into nine sub-groups consisting of six animals each. Sub-groups 1 and 2 served as normal, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) controls, …

Evaluation Of Plaque Removal Efficacy Of Dental Floss With/Without Chlorhexidine Gel Coating In Patients With Gingivitis-A Clinical And Microbological Study, Monika Pal, Santhosh Kumar, Padmaja A. Shenoy, T. A.K. Chaitanya

Open Access archive

BACKGROUND: Chlorhexidine has shown anti-plaque and antimicrobial effects when used as a mouthwash and appears to be effective when used as a topical antiseptic agent. AIM: The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine gel coated dental floss with that of uncoated dental floss. METHODS: This parallel, single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial Included 30 patients with moderate to severe gingivitis. The total population was randomly divided into three groups, with ten patients in each group. Group A received dental floss with 1% chlorhexidine gel, and Group B received only dental floss, while in Group C no dental floss …

Influence Of Diethyl Ether On The Performance And Emissions Of A Compression Ignition Engine Fuelled With Biodiesel, N. Kapilan, S. Sadashiva Prabhu, M. Vasudeva

Open Access archive

India is one of the major importers of petroleum products and hence government of India has taken several steps to find suitable alternative fuels to the fossil fuels. The biodiesel derived from non-edible oils is considered as an immediate substitute for the fossil diesel. In this work, biodiesel was produced from non-edible honge oil and used as substitute for the diesel. The engine tests were carried out on a diesel engine which is most widely used for agricultural purpose. From the engine tests, we observed that the diesel engine performance with biodiesel is lower than the diesel due to lower …

Ban Of Cosmetic Testing On Animals: A Brief Overview, D. Sreedhar, N. Manjula, Ajay Pise, Shilpa Pise

Open Access archive

Introduction: Animals have been used in biomedical researchfor many years because they are considered as important experi-mental subjects due to their physiological similarity to human beings. Cosmetics are considered to be luxury products; they are not part of the essential commodity. Testing cosmetic ingredients on animals is primarily to check whether the product is safe for human use. Due to the increased concern for animals, to protect them from unnecessary pain and injuries many countries have passed,enacted Act made Rules and Regulations. Objective: In the present study an attempt was made to explore various country statuses that have banned, in …

Immune Control Of Animal Growth In Homeostasis And Nutritional Stress In Drosophila, Preethi P, Ajay Tomar, Sukanya Madhwal, Tina Mukherjee

Open Access archive

A large body of research implicates the brain and fat body (liver equivalent) as central players in coordinating growth and nutritional homeostasis in multicellular animals. In this regard, an underlying connection between immune cells and growth is also evident, although mechanistic understanding of this cross-talk is scarce. Here, we explore the importance of innate immune cells in animal growth during homeostasis and in conditions of nutrient stress. We report that Drosophila larvae lacking blood cells eclose as small adults and show signs of insulin insensitivity. Moreover, when exposed to dietary stress of a high-sucrose diet (HSD), these animals are further …