Digital Commons Network^™

Prdm16 Deficiency Leads To Age-Dependent Cardiac Hypertrophy, Adverse Remodeling, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, And Heart Failure, Dasan Mary Cibi, Kathleen Wung Bi-Lin, Shamini Guna Shekeran, Reddemma Sandireddy, Nicole Tee, Anamika Singh, Yajun Wu, Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, Jean Paul Kovalik, Sujoy Ghosh, Patrick Seale, Manvendra K. Singh

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Although hypertrophy is traditionally regarded as an adaptive response to physiological or pathological stress, prolonged hypertrophy can lead to heart failure. Here we demonstrate that Prdm16 is dispensable for cardiac development. However, it is required in the adult heart to preserve mitochondrial function and inhibit hypertrophy with advanced age. Cardiac-specific deletion of Prdm16 results in cardiac hypertrophy, excessive ventricular fibrosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired metabolic flexibility, leading to heart failure. We demonstrate that Prdm16 and euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase factors (Ehmts) act together to reduce expression of fetal genes …

Daily Eastern News: October 20, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Mind The Gap: Addressing Structural Equity And Inclusion On Wikipedia, Michael Barera

UTA Libraries Staff Publications - Archive

Wikipedia's often-quoted mission and purpose is a quote from co-founder Jimmy Wales: "Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing." Almost twenty years since the creation of English Wikipedia, which now has more than six million articles, there are over 54 million articles on more than 300 different language Wikipedias. However, there are still major gaps in content: some topics are covered incredibly well, others barely at all. In this presentation, Michael Barera will discuss some of the content gaps on Wikipedia …

Management Of The National Drug Administration Through The Use Of Biosimilar Medicines. Expenditures, Numbers Of Reimbursed Packages And Shares Of Biosimilar Products In The Infliximab Market A Year Prior To And A Year After The Introduction Of The National Drug Policy 2018–2022, Olga Barszczewska, Anna Piechota, Jadwiga Suchecka

European Management Studies

Purpose: Savings resulting from the use of biosimilar medicines (biosimilars) are important to the management of national drug administration. In September 2018, the Council of Ministers adopted the National Drug Policy (NDP) for 2018–2022. One of the priorities of the document set forth by the Ministry of Health was to increase the proportional use of biosimilars. The purpose of this article is to assess the changes and the dynamics in infliximab (Remicade®) expenditures and the share of biosimilars within the infliximab market before and after the announcement of the NDP. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis is based on the example of infliximab, …

Draft Genome Of Bugula Neritina, A Colonial Animal Packing Powerful Symbionts And Potential Medicines, Mikhail Rayko, Aleksey Komissarov, Jason C. Kwan, Grace Lim-Fong, Adelaide C. Rhodes, Sergey Kliver, Polina Kuchur, Stephen James O'Brien, Jose Lopez

Biology Faculty Articles

Many animal phyla have no representatives within the catalog of whole metazoan genome sequences. This dataset fills in one gap in the genome knowledge of animal phyla with a draft genome of Bugula neritina (phylum Bryozoa). Interest in this species spans ecology and biomedical sciences because B. neritina is the natural source of bioactive compounds called bryostatins. Here we present a draft assembly of the B. neritina genome obtained from PacBio and Illumina HiSeq data, as well as genes and proteins predicted de novo and verified using transcriptome data, along with the functional annotation. These sequences will permit a better …

Lc-Ms/Ms Method Development For The Quantitation Of Methylmalonic Acid Using Aqueous Normal Phase Chromatography, Daniel Joseph Biocini

Master's Theses

The aim of the study was to develop a quantitative assay for methylmalonic acid (MMA), an important biomarker for clinical diagnosis of vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. The techniques of liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) are used for separation and quantitation of MMA, as well as its endogenous isomer succinic acid. The MS/MS method was developed using an infusion set-up and manual tuning experiments. Relevant transitions were detected for the two analytes and MMA-d3, then a preliminary MS/MS method was developed. The preliminary LC method was further optimized. Various gradients, mobile phases (MPs), and additive combinations were used across …

Investigation Of Dna Interstrand Crosslink Repair Using Bis-Epoxide Analogs, Sanjay Rakesh Kalliat

Master's Theses

DNA interstrand crosslinking is a form of lesion that affects biological processes such as DNA replication and transcription. Due to this phenomenon, interstrand crosslink (ICL) agents such as cisplatin and other platinum-based compounds find application in chemotherapy. However, ICL repair is not well understood in mammalian cells and has only been characterized thoroughly for prokaryotes such as Escherichia coli. We worked to explore the utility of bis-epoxides in the investigation of ICL repair. This involves synthesizing novel bis-epoxides that could potentially induce ICLs and test their efficacy in ICL formation using a DNA repair assay. It is known that bis-epoxides …

Inducing The Overview Effect Using Virtual Reality, Nhat Quang Le

Master's Theses

Astronauts who return from space missions have reported and demonstrated a significant increase in their feelings of connection to humanity and the planet. This shift towards a more humanistic, global perspective in astronauts was termed the “overview effect” by White (2014). There is a lack of research on the overview effect despite the significant, positive changes in those who have experienced it. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of and a possible induction method for the overview effect. We hypothesized that it might be possible to induce the overview effect using virtual reality (VR). In the current study, 81 …

Effects Of Urbanization And Habitat On The Diet And Reproduction Of Red-Shouldered Hawks In Central California, Catherine Y. Fisher

Master's Theses

Urbanization alters biological community interactions and trophic structures compared to natural habitats; these changes may be reflected in the diets of apex predators such as raptors. The red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a dietary generalist that is expanding from natural and rural habitats into urbanized areas. In this study, direct observation was used to quantify the diet and reproductive success of red-shouldered hawks in Santa Clara County, California during the 2019 breeding season. GIS methods were used to quantify the nesting habitat and level of urbanization at each nest. Hawk diet consisted of mammals (50.4% by frequency and 77.7% by …

A Putative Chordate Luciferase From A Cosmopolitan Tunicate Indicates Convergent Bioluminescence Evolution Across Phyla, Michael Tessler, Jean P. Gaffney, Anderson G. Oliveira, Andrew Guarnaccia, Krista C. Dobi, Nehaben A. Gujarati, Moira Galbraith, Jeremy D. Mirza, John S. Sparks, Vincent A. Pieribone, Robert J. Wood, David F. Gruber

Publications and Research

Pyrosomes are tunicates in the phylum Chordata, which also contains vertebrates. Their gigantic blooms play important ecological and biogeochemical roles in oceans. Pyrosoma, meaning “firebody”, derives from their brilliant bioluminescence. The biochemistry of this light production is unknown, but has been hypothesized to be bacterial in origin. We found that mixing coelenterazine—a eukaryote-specific luciferin—with Pyrosoma atlanticum homogenate produced light. To identify the bioluminescent machinery, we sequenced P. atlanticum transcriptomes and found a sequence match to a cnidarian luciferase (RLuc). We expressed this novel luciferase (PyroLuc) and, combined with coelenterazine, it produced light. A similar gene was recently predicted from a …

Reflections On Bodies And Absences In The Covid-19 Interregnum, Matthew Weinstein

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This is a meditation on the role of absence during the COVID-19, especially the ways absences are felt and experienced. It explores the roles of bodies as both symbols and material. Bodies are both thought through the logic of borders and difference but also as the raw resources of scientific investigations. This is all examined within and against “education” both in my and in my students’ (pre and in-service teachers) classes and our anxieties of not knowing the what or how we of our jobs in these conditions.

Utilization Of Cloud Computing Technologies By Final Year Students Of The Federal University Of Technology, Owerri: Implications On Academic Performance, Felix Mmanuoma Eke Phd, Emeka Ogueri, Chikaodi Lovena Nwakwuo, Anne Anthony Edem

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper examined utilization of cloud computing and its relationship on the academic performance of final year students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. A 4-point Lickert scale of Strongly Agree; Agree; Disagree; Strongly Disagree was used to obtain responses from the 285 sample respondents. The result shows that majority of 206(72%) out of 285 utilizes cloud computing for e-mail and other social media platform. Following in descending order, 96(33.6%) for University portal; 95(33.3%) for e-learning; 88(30.9%) for digital archiving; 88(30.9%) for research application; 87(30.5%) use it to search online database; 85(29.8%) for online file storage. This therefore resulted …

Tadpole Of The Amazonia Frog Edalorhina Perezi (Anura: Leptodactylidae) With Description Of Oral Internal And Chondrocranial Morphology, Filipe A.C Do Nascimento, Rafael O. De Sá, Paulo C. De A. Garcia

Biology Faculty Publications

The genus Edalorhina consists of two species of small forest-floor frogs inhabiting the Amazon basin. The tadpole of Edalorhina perezi, the most widely distributed species, was previously described based on a single and early stage (Gosner 25) individual. Herein, we provide a description of the tadpole in Gosner stages 35–36 including internal morphology data (i.e., buccopharyngeal cavity and larval skeleton) based on samples from two populations from Ecuador. Edalorhina shares a generalized morphology with most members of its closely related taxa; however, it is distinguished from the other species by having an almost terminal oral disc. The presence of …

Bioactivating A Bone Substitute Accelerates Graft Incorporation In A Murine Model Of Vertical Ridge Augmentation, Jinlong Chen, Xue Yuan, Zhijun Li, Daniel J Bahat, Jill A Helms

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Compared to autologous bone grafts, allogeneic bone grafts integrate slowly, which can adversely affect clinical outcomes. Here, our goal was to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying graft incorporation, and then test clinically feasible methods to accelerate this process.

METHODS: Wild-type and transgenic Wnt "reporter" mice were used in a vertical ridge augmentation procedure. The surgery consisted of tunneling procedure to elevate the maxillary edentulous ridge periosteum, followed by the insertion of bone graft. Micro-computed tomographic imaging, and molecular/cellular analyses were used to follow the bone graft over time. Sclerostin null mice, and mice carrying an activated form of β-catenin …

Brown Spot In Table Grape Redglobe Controlled In Study With Sulfur Dioxide And Temperature Treatments, Cassandra A. Young, Robin A. Choudhury, Carlos H. Crisosto, W. Douglas Gubler

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Brown spot is a postharvest disease of grapes caused by Cladosporium species in the San Joaquin Valley of California. It spreads during cold storage and transport, resulting in severe economic losses to late table grape cultivars, which are grown mainly for export to countries such as China and Mexico. We examined the effect of temperature and sulfur dioxide (SO2) treatments on fungal growth and infection of Redglobe berries by three Cladosporium species: Cladosporium ramotenellum, C. cladosporioides and C. limoniforme. Redglobe is especially popular for export. Fungal colonies growing on potato dextrose agar in petri plates stored at −2°C grew slower …

Role Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase In Isoflurane Conditioning-Induced Neurovascular Protection In Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Umeshkumar Athiraman, Keshav Jayaraman, Meizi Liu, Tusar Giri, Jane Yuan, Gregory J Zipfel

Open Access Publications

Background Delayed cerebral ischemia remains a common and profound risk factor for poor outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of our current study is to define the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in isoflurane conditioning-induced neurovascular protection after SAH. Methods and Results Ten- to 14-week-old male wild-type mice (C57BL/6) as controls and eNOS knockout male mice (strain # 002684) were obtained for the study. Animals underwent either sham surgery, SAH surgery, or SAH with isoflurane conditioning. Anesthetic post conditioning was performed with isoflurane 2% for 1 hour, 1 hour after SAH. Normothermia was maintained with the homeothermic …

Wetland Edge Trampled By American Bison (Bos Bison) Used As Basking Site For Painted Turtles (Chrysemys Picta), Keith Geluso, Carter Kruse, Mary Harner

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Prairies of the Great Plains once were influenced by large-scale disturbances, such as fire and herbivory by large ungulates, that promoted ecosystem functioning. American Bison (Bos bison) created many types of disturbances as they traversed grassland landscapes. Trampling, a common type of bison disturbance, occurred when large herds moved through an area denuding aboveground vegetation, exposing prairie soils, and restarting succession. Bison reintroductions now allow researchers to use contemporary observations to examine influences of these large, hoofed mammals on system functions. Herein, we report on the immediate benefit of trampling along a wetland edge for another vertebrate species. …

Global Visibility Of Open Access Institutional Repositories Of Saarc Countries: An Explorative Study, Madan Singh, Ramesh Kuri, Gireesh Kumar T. K. Dr., Kunwar Singh Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The concept of open access extends perceived advantages to its stakeholders, especially in the preservation of scholarly publications through digital repositories. Open Access (OA) improves collaboration among the authors with the support of global networks. There has been remarkable progress worldwide in creating institutional repositories to provide open access to resources. Open access institutional repositories (OAIR) provide a stable platform to showcase an individual's intellectual works without a hitch. This study explores the visibility of open access institutional repositories of SAARC countries that are reflected in the Directory of Open Access Institutional Repository (DOAR). Collected data has been analyzed and …

A Global Analysis Of Complexity–Biodiversity Relationships On Marine Artificial Structures, Elisabeth M.A. Strain, Peter D. Steinberg, Maria Vozzo, Emma L. Johnston, Marco Abbiati, Moises A. Aguilera, Laura Airoldi, J. David Aguirre, Gail Ashton, Maritina Bernardi, Paul Brooks, Benny K.K. Chan, Chee B. Cheah, Su Yin Chee, Ricardo Coutinho, Tasman Crowe, Adam Davey, Louise B. Firth, Clarissa Fraser, Mick E. Hanley, Stephen J. Hawkins, Kathleen E. Knick, Edward T.C. Lau, Kenneth M.Y. Leung, Connor Mckenzie, Catriona Macleod, Sandisiwe Mafanya, Francesco P. Mancuso, Luciana V.R. Messano, Lais P.D. Naval-Xavier, Terrence P.T. Ng, Kathryn A. O'Shaughnessy, Paula Pattrick, Mathew J. Perkins, Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, Francesca Porri, Donald J. Ross, Gregory Ruiz, Ido Sella, Rochelle Seitz, Raviv Shirazi, Martin Thiel, Richard C. Thompson, Jean C. Yee, Chela Zabin, Melanie J. Bishop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Aim: Topographic complexity is widely accepted as a key driver of biodiversity, but at the patch-scale, complexity–biodiversity relationships may vary spatially and temporally according to the environmental stressors complexity mitigates, and the species richness and identity of potential colonists. Using a manipulative experiment, we assessed spatial variation in patch-scale effects of complexity on intertidal biodiversity. Location: 27 sites within 14 estuaries/bays distributed globally. Time period: 2015–2017. Major taxa studied: Functional groups of algae, sessile and mobile invertebrates. Methods: Concrete tiles of differing complexity (flat; 2.5-cm or 5-cm complex) were affixed at low–high intertidal elevation on coastal defence structures, and the …

Effectively Connecting Poverty Alleviation With Rural Revitalization By Science And Technology, Zhang Yaping

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is the initiator and practitioner of poverty alleviation by science and technology in China. Since 1980's, CAS has been supporting the development of county economy through science and technology in poverty-stricken areas. As the task of poverty alleviation is nearing completion, consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation and promoting the effective connection between poverty alleviation and Rural Revitalization Strategy will become an important approach in the future.

Typical Study On Sustainable Development In Relative Poverty Areas And Policy Outlook Of China, Fan Jie, Zhou Kan, Wu Jianxiong

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Based on the systematic review of the research progress on China's relative poverty, this study discussed the distribution characteristics of the relative poverty areas (RPAs), the basis of regional function types, and proposed the policy recommendations. There are three main periods concerning sustainable development research on RPAs: (1) The concept of "relative poverty" was adopted for the first time to carry out scientific research on regional sustainable development. (2) It supported the RPAs to become an important type of the area to promote sustainable development policies in underdeveloped areas in China. (3) It deployed a protracted battle in advance to …

Brain Function Distinguishes Female Carriers And Non-Carriers Of Familial Risk For Autism, Adam T Eggebrecht, Ally Dworetsky, Zoë Hawks, Rebecca Coalson, Babatunde Adeyemo, Savannah Davis, Daniel Gray, Alana Mcmichael, Steven E Petersen, John N Constantino, John R Pruett

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high population-level heritability and a three-to-one male-to-female ratio that occurs independent of sex linkage. Prior research in a mixed-sex pediatric sample identified neural signatures of familial risk elicited by passive viewing of point light motion displays, suggesting the possibility that both resilience and risk of autism might be associated with brain responses to biological motion. To confirm a relationship between these signatures and inherited risk of autism, we tested them in families enriched for genetic loading through undiagnosed ("carrier") females.

METHODS: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined brain responses to passive …

Survivor Microbial Populations In Post-Chlorinated Wastewater Are Strongly Associated With Untreated Hospital Sewage And Include Ceftazidime And Meropenem Resistant Populations, Rachelle E. Beattie, Troy Skwor, Krassimira R. Hristova

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent has been implicated in the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), including pathogens, as the WWTP environment contains multiple selective pressures that may increase mutation rates, pathogen survivability, and induce gene transfer between bacteria. In WWTPs receiving hospital sewage, this selective effect may be more pronounced due to increased concentrations of antibiotics, ARB, and clinical pathogens from hospital sewage. To determine the extent to which hospital sewage contributes to the microbial community of disinfected wastewater which is released into the environment, we used 16S rRNA sequencing of hospital sewage, WWTP influent, primary effluent, Post-Chlorinated Effluent, …

Evaluation Of An Immunomodulatory Probiotic Intervention For Veterans With Co-Occurring Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study, Lisa A. Brenner, Jeri E. Forster, Kelly A. Stearns-Yoder, Christopher E. Stamper, Andrew J. Hoisington, Diana P. Brostow, Merideth Mealer, Hal S. Wortzel, Teodor T. Postolache, Christopher A. Lowry

Faculty Publications

Background: US military Veterans returned from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) with symptoms associated with mild traumatic brain injury [mTBI; i.e., persistent post-concussive (PPC) symptoms] and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interventions aimed at addressing symptoms associated with both physical and psychological stressors (e.g., PPC and PTSD symptoms) are needed. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a probiotic intervention, as well as to begin the process of evaluating potential biological outcomes.

Constitutive Genetic Deletion Of Hcn1 Increases Alcohol Preference During Adolescence, Michael C. Salling, Neil L. Harrison

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN), which underlies the hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih), has diverse roles in regulating neuronal excitability across cell types and brain regions. Recently, HCN channels have been implicated in preclinical models of substance abuse including alcohol. In the prefrontal cortex of rodents, HCN expression and Ih magnitude are developmentally regulated during adolescence and may be vulnerable to alcohol’s effects. In mice, binge alcohol consumption during the adolescent period results in a sustained reduction in Ih that coincides with increased alcohol consumption in adulthood, yet the direct role HCN channels have on alcohol consumption are unknown. Here, …

Novel Information About The Kinetic Effects Of Equine Shoe Modifications And Kinematic Effects Of Human Digital Devices For Improved Performance In Both Species, Pengju Wang

LSU Master's Theses

Equine shoes are frequently modified to enhance traction for horses that travel on paved surfaces for work, pleasure, or entertainment. Little is known about other common shoe modifications used to enhance traction like calks, tungsten carbide granules, or plastic composition. This information is vital to shoe design to protect the safety and welfare of all service, working, and leisure horses. The objective of the first part of this thesis was to quantify the effect of shoes with and without traction adaptions on kinetic measures in non-lame, light breed horses at a trot. Kinetic data was collected with a force platform …

Comparison Of High-Tech Augmentative And Alternative Communication Interfaces: Do Age And Technology Experience Matter?, Surani Gopika Nakkawita

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with stroke-induced aphasia can use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) when they cannot meet their communication needs using spoken language (Dietz, Weissling, Griffith, McKelvey, & Macke, 2014; Purdy & Van Dyke, 2011). Of the various interfaces found in the different AAC systems, the grid display and the visual scene display (VSD) have been used by individuals with aphasia (Hough & Johnson, 2009; Dietz et al., 2018). However, there is a scarcity of research examining the comparative usefulness of these interfaces.

This prospective study attempted to understand how neurologically healthy individuals of different ages and …

Public Schools At-Risk: Examining A Century Of U.S. Media Coverage Of "Unsatisfactory Student Performance" And The Rise Of School Privatization, Jeffrey Frenkiewich, Joseph J. Onosko

Democracy & Education

Throughout the 20th century, community-owned and operated public schooling was viewed in the United States as an essential mechanism for advancing the country’s democratic ideals, institutions, and economic interests. But the first decades of the 21st century has witnessed a historic shift away from this commitment to public schools, as federal and state lawmakers created taxpayer-funded policies supportive of private school vouchers and for-profit charter schools. The authors examine more than 100 years of national newspaper coverage related to the perennial problem of ‘unsatisfactory student performance,’ particularly changes in terminology used to describe these students and explanations for their ‘unsatisfactory …

Taboo: Volume 19 Issue 4 - Full Issue, Kenneth Varner, David Carlson, Andromeda Hightower

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Consequences Of Stereotype Threat And Imposter Syndrome: The Personal Journey From Stem-Practitioner To Stem-Educator For Four Women Of Color, Kristina Henry Collins, Erica F. Price, Lisa Hanson, Dianne Neaves

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.