Digital Commons Network^™

Farnesol Secretion As A Possible Driving Force For Maintaining Candida Albicans As A Diploid, Kenneth Nickerson, Cory Boone, Kory Parker

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Candida albicans is a pathogenic dimorphic fungus which is invariably found as a diploid in patients. C. albicans secretes the sesquiterpene farnesol both as a quorum sensing molecule which blocks the yeast to hypha conversion and as a virulence factor for pathogenicity. 20-25 μM farnesol kills other competing yeasts and fungi, often by triggering apoptosis, and yet wild type diploid C. albicans tolerates 300-500 μM farnesol. The recent availability of 10 haploid strains of C. albicans (5 mating type aand 5 mating type α) allowed us to compare their production of and sensitivity to farnesol. On average, the heterozygous diploid …

Steroid Receptor-Coregulator Transcriptional Complexes: New Insights From Cryoem, Ping Yi, Xinzhe Yu, Zhao Wang, Bert W O'Malley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Steroid receptors activate gene transcription through recruitment of a number of coregulators to facilitate histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and general transcription machinery stabilization. Understanding the structures of full-length steroid receptor and coregulatory complexes has been difficult due to their large molecular sizes and dynamic structural conformations. Recent developments in cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) technology and proteomics have advanced the structural studies of steroid receptor complexes. Here, we will review the insights we learned from cryoEM studies of the estrogen and androgen receptor transcriptional complexes. Despite similar domain organizations, the two receptors have different coregulator interaction modes. The cryoEM structures now have …

Probing The Role Of Astrocytes In The Pathology Of Fragile X Syndrome With Human Stem Cells, Baiyan Ren

Theses & Dissertations

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder related to intellectual disability and the most common monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder. FXS is mainly caused by an expansion of CGG repeats in the 5’-untranslated region of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene, leading to the loss of expression of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Loss of FMRP in astrocytes has been found to contribute to structural and functional synaptic deficits in the Fmr1-KO mouse model. The contribution of human astrocytes, however, to the …

Engineering Advanced Micro And Nanofiber Materials For Biomedical Applications, Alec D. Mccarthy

Theses & Dissertations

At the functional crossroads of engineering and biomedical sciences lies the interdisciplinary field of biomedical engineering. Principles of biomedical engineering are vast, and the rigorous application of engineering towards clinically-relevant medicine has the ability to take novel concepts from bench to bedside. Arguably one of the most promising and productive sub-fields within the biomedical engineering discipline is biomaterial engineering. Here, novel biomaterials, synthesized from natural, synthetic, or hybrid materials, can be used in tissue repair and regeneration, hemostasis, as anatomical support and drug delivery vessels, or as diagnostic devices.

Of particular interest are applications of nanofiber and microfiber objects, which …

Review Article: Synthesis Of Fe3o4 Nanoparticle And Its Application For Glassy Carbon Electrode Modification, Agung Slamet Nugraha, Asep Bayu Dani Nandiyanto

Chimica et Natura Acta

Nanomaterials have various unique properties and characteristics so that they can apply in many sectors. One of the most popular nanoparticles today is magnetite nanoparticles. Magnetite particles have several properties such as being super magnetic, having a high saturation field, chemical stability, biocompatibility, and low production costs. The purpose of this article is to review the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles and their application to Glassy Carbon Electrode (GCE) modification. This modified GCE can applied as an electrochemical sensor to detect various organic and inorganic substances. In this study, type synthesis methods of magnetite nanoparticles which taken from kind literature well …

The Feasibility Of Industrial Wastewater Reuse Onsite In The Tri-City Area, Shayla Bergeron

Master's Projects and Capstones

Industries typically discharge wastewater to a centralized wastewater treatment plant, but given ongoing water scarcity from repeated droughts, onsite wastewater reuse within the industrial facility’s plant is an attractive alternative. However, information on economic and technical feasibility on wastewater reuse onsite is limited. A literature review showed that membrane bioreactors are a promising wastewater reuse treatment technology due to their reduced footprint and high quality produced effluent. A watershed assessment of the Tri-City area was conducted to evaluate future water supply. A case study was then performed on industrial dischargers in the Tri-City area applying this technology. Finally, the costs …

Joint Management Of Upland & Aquatic Habitat For The California Red-Legged Frog & California Tiger Salamander, Kyle E. Verblaauw

Master's Projects and Capstones

As federally and state protected amphibians, the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and the California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) are recipients of ample management focus. Both species face a variety of threats, including habitat loss and alteration, introduction of non-native species, spread of disease, and effects of climate change. While management plans for the California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog exist, they frequently do not consider both species in tandem and often contain multiple shortcomings. This document aims to address the shortfalls of current management by providing practical recommendations for jointly managing the upland and …

Air Quality And Mental Health: Evidence, Challenges And Future Directions, K Bhui, J Newbury, R Latham, M Ucci, Z Nasar, B Turner, C O'Leary, Hl Fisher, E Marczylo, P Douglas, S Stansfeld, S Jackson, S Tyrrel, A Rzhetsky, R Kinnersley, P Kumar, C Duchaine, F Coulon

School of Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Examining The Interaction Of Adverse Childhood Events, Dental Issues, Asthma And Autism, Cathy Koetting

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertation supervised by Dr. Rebecca Kronk

Purpose: Adverse childhood events (ACEs) have a profound and long-term effect on the health outcomes of many children and adults. However, few studies have focused on specific ACEs and health outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of the study was to investigate if ASD moderated the relationship between ACEs and specific health outcomes in children who had been the subject of a child welfare system report.

Design and Methods: Using the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II), a secondary analysis was performed on a sample of …

A Bible Study Series: The Family-Centered, Church-Supported Paradigm Shift For Raising Children In The Faith At Salem Lutheran Church, Michael J. Nielsen

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Nielsen, Michael J. “A Bible Study Series: The Family-Centered, Church-Supported Paradigm Shift for Raising Children in The Faith at Salem Lutheran Church.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2021. 160 pp.

In many Christian churches there is the question: “How do we keep our children after confirmation?” The answer is a simple one: Parents. This MAP examines the relationship of the family and the church when it comes to raising children in the faith. Biblically parents are called to be the primary faith formers in the lives of their children. A multi-part Bible study was created to teach …

Distribution, Abundance And Natural Enemies Of The Invasive Tomato Leafminer, Tuta Absoluta (Meyrick) In Kenya, G. Kinyanjui, F. M. Khamis, F. L.O. Ombura, E. U. Kenya, S. Ekesi, S. A. Mohamed

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has become a serious menace to sustainable production of tomato in Kenya. A survey was conducted between April 2015 and June 2016 to determine its distribution, abundance, infestation, and damage levels on tomato, and associated natural enemies. Trap counts of T. absoluta moths were recorded in all surveyed 29 counties, which indicated its nationwide distribution irrespective of altitude. Tuta absoluta was present in both open fields and greenhouses. The highest moth/trap/day was 115.38 ± 15.90. Highest leaf infestation was 92.22% and the highest number of mines and larvae per leaf were 3.71 ± 0.28 and 2.16 ± …

Development Of A Muc16-Targeted Near-Infrared Antibody Probe For Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Of Pancreatic Cancer, Madeline T. Olson

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) is an extremely lethal disease with an overall survival rate of 10%. Surgery remains the only potentially curative treatment option, but resections are complicated by infiltrative disease, proximity of critical vasculature, peritumoral inflammation, and dense stroma. Surgeons are limited to tactile and visual cues to differentiate cancerous tissue from normal tissue. Furthermore, translating preoperative images to the intraoperative setting poses additional challenges for tumor detection, and can result in undetected and unresected lesions. Thus, PDAC has high rates of incomplete resections, and subsequently, disease recurrence. Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) has emerged as a method to improve intraoperative detection …

The Rotator Cuff Tendon-To-Bone Interface: Maturation, Aging, And 3d Bioprinting For Regeneration, Xiping Jiang

Theses & Dissertations

Rotator cuff tendon injuries often occur at the tendon-to-bone interface (i.e., enthesis) area with a high prevalence for the elderly population. In addition, regeneration of the gradient structure of the enthesis is still a significant clinical challenge. Our studies aim to identify the histological, molecular, and biomechanical alterations of the rotator cuff enthesis with maturation and aging, and develop a novel therapeutic method using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technique to regenerate a functional enthesis. Striking variations of the entheses were observed both histologically and biomechanically during the maturation process. The histological features did not show many differences at the insertion site …

Humanized Mice For Brain Infection Of Emerging Viruses, Edward Makarov

Theses & Dissertations

Studies on the pathogenesis of emerging viruses that present a global threat are critical for pathogen classification and therapeutic development. Humanized mice enable investigation of viral pathogens, including Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), Zika virus (ZIKV), Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Dengue virus (DENV), offering an advanced understanding into the mechanisms of viral perseverance in its natural human host cells and for therapeutic discovery. Realizing the diverse dynamics of various viral infections with the capacity to establish an innovative acuity for therapeutics and mechanics when utilizing humanized mice contributes a formerly inaccessible insight into human-specific viral pathogenesis and treatment. We recently developed …

A Pkcα-Mediated Growth Suppressive Mek-Erk Signaling Axis In Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Navneet Kaur

Theses & Dissertations

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases are involved in regulation of fundamental cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, and transformation. Increasing evidence points to anti-proliferative and tumor suppressive role of PKCs. Our laboratory and others have reported that the classical PKC isozyme, PKCαnegatively regulates proliferation and tumorigenesis in the intestinal epithelium. Our laboratory has further determined that PKCα signaling induces a program of cell cycle withdrawal in intestinal epithelial cells that involves downregulation of the pro-proliferative proteins, cyclin D1 and Id1, and upregulation of the cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, p21^Cip1. Unexpectedly, …

Immunological Factors Associated With Siv/ Shiv Persistence In Diverse Tissue Niches, Omalla A. Olwenyi

Theses & Dissertations

The significant challenge towards a successful HIV cure lies in eradicating persistent viral reservoirs across diverse tissue niches. As a result, HIV-infected individuals have to resort to lifelong antiretroviral therapy. Recent news of supposed HIV eradication in a second patient has further re-invigorated the fields of HIV cure. However, a few barriers remain, such as the lack of currently available assays to accurately quantify viral reservoirs, limited information on cellular factors associated with persistence, and varied dynamics of the viral reservoir in various body compartments. Lastly, HIV-infected individuals live different lifestyles stemming from comorbid substance abuse including consumption of morphine, …

Metabolic Heterogeneity And The Roles Of Cody And Ccpa In Central Metabolism And S. Aureus Biofilm Formation., Logan L. Bulock

Theses & Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is a metabolically versatile human pathogen, causing disease in many areas of the body. Its versatility can be attributed to the fact that it utilizes a variety of tools to adapt to many different environments, including toxins to scavenge from the host and multiple transporters to compete for its preferred carbon sources. S. aureus can also survive in harsh conditions through biofilm development, which are notoriously recalcitrant to antibiotics and immune defenses. Biofilms exhibit marked heterogeneity, with division of labor for production of matrix components and differential gene expression among various niches within the biofilm.

In this study, …

Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3 In Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress And Stress Granule Dynamics In Pancreatic Cancer, Andrew Kisling

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer is predicted to be the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths within the next decade. Nuclear receptor coactivator 3 (NCOA3/SRC3/AIB1) regulates an array of metabolic and signaling pathways and has been established by our group and others as a critical regulator pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis. A recent study demonstrated NCOA3 regulation by the IRE1α-XBP1 axis of the unfolded protein response (UPR), suggesting a link between NCOA3 and cellular stress management. Furthermore, NCOA3 has been shown to directly bind to a scaffolding protein of stress granules (SGs). Since SG assembly is regulated by the UPR, we hypothesized that NCOA3 …

Usp11 And Usp7 Deubiquitinases Regulate Sprtn Auto-Proteolysis And Sprtn-Mediated Dna-Protein Crosslink Repair, Megan C. Perry

Theses & Dissertations

DNA repair pathways that recognize and remove damaged DNA are vital for maintenance of genomic stability and prevention of tumorigenesis. Conversely, these pathways may be robust in tumor cells, thus diminishing the anti-cancer potential of available therapies. DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are particularly deleterious DNA adducts that occur when proteins become irreversibly covalently bound to the DNA. DPCs represent a diverse group of lesions, as any protein can be crosslinked to the DNA duplex by non-specific crosslinking agents like reactive aldehydes and radiation. Additionally, functional DNA-binding proteins such as topoisomerases may become permanently crosslinked to DNA ends by abortive enzymatic processes …

Functional Characterization Of Cancer-Associated Dna Polymerase Ε Variants, Stephanie R. Barbari

Theses & Dissertations

Replicative DNA polymerases ε (Polε) and δ (Polδ) achieve high fidelity DNA synthesis through a precise balance of polymerization and exonucleolytic proofreading. Errors that escape proofreading are corrected by DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Ultramutated human cancers with proficient MMR carry alterations in the exonuclease domain of Polε, which were initially predicted to abolish proofreading. However, functional studies in yeast of the most recurrent Polε-P286R variant suggested defects beyond a loss of exonuclease activity. Indeed, biochemical analysis of the yeast Polε-P286R analog revealed increased polymerization capacity in addition to decreased proofreading, which enables efficient mismatch extension and bypass of replication-blocking non-B …

Molecular Investigation Into The Biologic And Prognostic Elements Of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma With Regulators Of Tumor Microenvironment Signaling Explored In Model Systems, Tyler Herek

Theses & Dissertations

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is heterogenous group of mature T-cell neoplasms characterized by distinctive transcriptional and genetic lesions. Herein, we investigated DNMT3A mutations in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, n = 176) and novel molecular subtypes (i.e., PTCL-GATA3, n = 61 and PTCL-TBX21, n = 80) within PTCL- NOS and observed significant biological and prognostic differences associated with DNMT3A mutations. DNMT3A-mutated PTCL-TBX21 cases showed inferior overall survival (OS; p < 0.005), with DNMT3A mutations (DNMT3A-MT) skewed toward the methyltransferase domain and in the dimerization domain (S881-R887). Transcriptional profiling demonstrated significant enrichment of activated CD8⁺ T-cell cytotoxic gene signatures in the tumor microenvironment of DNMT3A-MT PTCL-TBX21 cases. Genome-wide methylation analysis of DNMT3A-R882/Q886 versus wild-type in PTCL-TBX21 cases demonstrated hypomethylation in target genes regulating T-cytotoxic genes, TCR …

Understanding The Impact Of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection On Host Vesicular Trafficking, Lisa M. Jorgenson

Theses & Dissertations

Chlamydia trachomatis is a highly evolved obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. During infection, organisms reside within a host epithelial cell in a membrane-bound vacuole called the inclusion. The inclusion membrane contains both pathogen and host components, including unique chlamydial type III effector proteins called Incs and host lipids like cholesterol and sphingomyelin. The inclusion membrane serves as the main barrier between the bacteria and the host cytosol, and thus, functions as the platform supporting host-chlamydial interactions. Via the inclusion membrane, C. trachomatis intercepts components of host vesicular traffic including many host SNARE proteins, which are a conserved family of eukaryotic proteins …

Influence Of Grassland Management And Grazing By Different Farm Animals On Animal Performance And Flora Alterations, W. Jentsch, H.-D. Matthes, A. Admasu, H. Möhring

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objectives of this study were to test the possibilities of using different farm animals for landscape care on extensive pasture, taking into account their particular performance, and to analyse alterations of the flora in consequence of grazing by different animals and various pasture management. Salers had the highest (836g/d) and Galloways (584g/d) the lowest live weight gain as compared with the other breeds (771g/d). Lambs had higher live weight when grazing together with cattle and horses (mixed grazing) than under one species grazing. The number of legume increased and that of grass decreased. Following 3 years the grazing animals …

Animal Production From Tropical Pastures Renovated By Subsoiling And Fertilization In The Cerrados Of Brazil, Valéria P. B. Euclides, Manuel C. M. Macedo, M. P. Oliveira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A grazing trial was conducted, to study the effects of fertilization on the maintenance of the productivity of four tropical grasses. The paddocks were subsoiled, and dived into halves: one (LF1) received 400 kg/ha of a fertilizer formula 0-20-20.and the other (LF2) 800 kg/ha of the same fertilizers, in January 1995. Annually, 50 kg/ha of N was applied. The productivity on LF2 pastures was greater than that on FL1 pastures, averaging 520 and 410 kg of liveweight gain/ha/year. A double strategy should be followed to sustain animal production in the savanna: maintain soil P over a critical value of 3.0 …

Performance Of Nellore Cattle Under Two Grazing Management Systems, L. De A. Corrêa, Maurício M. De Alencar, Rogério T. Barbosa, P. F. Barbosa, Geraldo M. Da Cruz, I. U. Packer, C. A. Cordeiro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing intensification on birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW, standartized to 205 days), average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG), and gestation length (GL) of calves, cow weight at calving (CWC) and at weaning (CWW), cow condition score at calving (CCC) and at weaning (CCW), and BW/CWC (BWR), WW/CWC (WWRC) and WW/CWW (WWRW) ratios. One hundred and sixty eight Nellore calves born in 1998 and 1999, out of dams maintained in two grazing management systems were evaluated: an extensive 1.0 animal unity (AU). ha^-1 system on unfertilized …

Orchardgrass Pastures For Early-Weaned Beef Calves, J. C. Waller, H. A. Fribourg, C. Dixon, A. E. Fisher, B. V. Conger

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) grown alone or with ladino white (Trifolium repens) and red (T. pratense) clovers, provides a high quality March to June pasture. However, many beef producers have their cows calving in January-March, thus producing offspring that are too young to utilize spring forage well. As an alternative, some producers have their cows bred so that calves are born in autumn (September-November). By spring, these calves are old enough to consume pasture forage. The few earlier studies on early weaning of fall-born calves consist of drylot feeding of high quality hay or concentrates. …

Relationships Among College-Level Science Course Enrollment, Environmental Perception, And Pro-Environmental Attitude: Evidence From The Us General Social Survey, Mazbahul G. Ahamad, Fahian Tanin

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Understanding pro-environmental attitudes is critical to encouraging pollution-minimizing behaviors. Therefore, identifying associated factors is essential for understanding different types of pro-environmental attitudes. We aimed to investigate the associations among individuals’ college-level science course enrollment and their perceptions of the level of spending to improve and protect the environment, as well as their pro-environmental attitudes. We used nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey data from 2,348 individuals obtained from the General Social Survey in the United States. An ordered logistic model was used to examine the associations among college-level science course enrollment, environmental perception, and pro-environmental attitude. We found that science course enrollment …

Sustainable Irrigation Based On Co-Regulation Of Soil Water Supply And Atmospheric Evaporative Demand, Jingwen Zhang, Kaiyu Guan, Bin Peng, Ming Pan, Wang Zhou, Chongya Jiang, Hyungsuk Kimm, Trenton E. Franz, Robert F. Grant, Yi Yang, Daran R. Rudnick, Derek M. Heeren, Andrew E. Suyker, William L. Bauerle, Grace L. Miner

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Irrigation is an important adaptation to reduce crop yield loss due to water stress from both soil water deficit (low soil moisture) and atmospheric aridity (high vapor pressure deficit, VPD). Traditionally, irrigation has primarily focused on soil water deficit. Observational evidence demonstrates that stomatal conductance is co-regulated by soil moisture and VPD from water supply and demand aspects. Here we use a validated hydraulically-driven ecosystem model to reproduce the co-regulation pattern. Specifically, we propose a plant-centric irrigation scheme considering water supply-demand dynamics (SDD), and compare it with soil-moisture-based irrigation scheme (management allowable depletion, MAD) for continuous maize cropping systems in …

Creating Positive Impact: The Power Of Greater Purpose And Consciousness Of Connectedness, Joseph Leah, Chris Laszlo

Engaged Management ReView

As the idea of business as a positive force in society continues to grow, we ask: Under what conditions do business leaders transform their companies into organizations that create positive value for all stakeholders, generate above-average economic returns, and serve personal well-being, community health, a fair and inclusive society, and a thriving natural environment?

This study aims to explore the underlying factors and motivations of business as a force for good, and to identify practical guidance for business leaders wishing to create a positive impact through their organizations. Our prior research led us to hypothesize that a leader’s mindset—or consciousness—is …

The Use Of Social Intelligence As A Tool For Improving The Relevance Of Libraries In The Society, Iyal Usman, Florence Olabisi Ajani Ph.D, Abdulakeem Sodeeq Sulyman

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The roles libraries play in contributing to the progress of the society cannot be overemphasized because libraries are one of the institutions needed for the over-all attainment of 21st-century goals. This paper argues that the use of Social Intelligence in the library services would aid the creation of new experience for library users and other stakeholders, which will result in increasing the credibility and recognition of libraries across various societies. Its main objective is to create awareness for the potential benefits of Social Intelligence to the library practices in the society. It uses the Social Intelligence Model of Daniel Goleman …