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A Comparative Study On The Active Constituents, Antioxidant Capacity And Anti-Cancer Activity Of Cruciferous Vegetable Residues, Alaa A. Gaafar, Zeinab A. Salama, Farouk K. El-Baz

Baghdad Science Journal

This study is pointed out to estimate the effectiveness of two solvents in the extraction and evaluating the active ingredients and their antioxidant activity as well as anti-cancer efficiency. Therefore, residues from four different Brassica vegetables viz. broccoli, Brussels sprout, cauliflower, and red cherry radish were extracted using two procedures methods: methanolic and water crude extracts. Methanol extracts showed the highest content of total phenolic (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and total tannins (TT) for broccoli and Brussels sprouts residues. Methanolic extract of broccoli and Brussels sprouts residues showed the highest DPPH· scavenging activity (IC50 = 15.39 and 18.64 µg/ml). The …

Ecology And Evolution, David J. Lohman

Open Educational Resources

Introduction to the basic principles of ecology and evolutionary biology emphasizing quantitative approaches and hypothesis testing. Scientific reasoning, computer literacy, and writing skills are developed in the laboratory.

Addressing The Batch Effect Issue For Lc/Ms Metabolomics Data In Data Preprocessing., Qin Liu, Douglas Walker, Karan Uppal, Zihe Liu, Chunyu Ma, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Dean P Jones, Tianwei Yu

Faculty Research 2020

With the growth of metabolomics research, more and more studies are conducted on large numbers of samples. Due to technical limitations of the Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) platform, samples often need to be processed in multiple batches. Across different batches, we often observe differences in data characteristics. In this work, we specifically focus on data generated in multiple batches on the same LC/MS machinery. Traditional preprocessing methods treat all samples as a single group. Such practice can result in errors in the alignment of peaks, which cannot be corrected by post hoc application of batch effect correction methods. In this …

Highly Swelling Ph-Responsive Microgels For Dual Mode Near Infra-Red Fluorescence Reporting And Imaging, Mingning Zhu, Dongdong Lu, Qing Lian, Shanglin Wu, Wenkai Wang, L. Andrew Lyon, Weiguang Wan, Paulo Bártolo, Mark Dickinson, Brian R. Saunders

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Near infra-red (NIR) fluorescence is a desirable property for probe particles because such deeply penetrating light enables remote reporting of the local environment in complex surroundings and imaging. Here, two NIR non-radiative energy transfer (NRET) fluorophores (Cy5 and Cy5.5) are coupled to preformed pH-responsive poly(ethylacrylate-methacrylic acid-divinylbenzene) microgel particles (PEA-MAA-5/5.5 MGs) to obtain new NIR fluorescent probes that are cytocompatible and swell strongly. NIR ratiometric photoluminescence (PL) intensity analysis enables reporting of pH-triggered PEA-MAA-5/5.5 MG particle swelling ratios over a very wide range (from 1–90). The dispersions have greatly improved colloidal stability compared to a reference temperature-responsive NIR MG based on …

Enzyme-Responsive Nucleic Acid Nanocapsules (Nans) For The Delivery Of Therapeutic Oligonucleotides And Small Molecule Drugs, Alyssa Hartmann

Doctoral Dissertations

The first chapter of this work describes a novel, enzyme-responsive nanocapsule for the intracellular delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids and small molecule drugs. The stepwise assembly of this new construct, referred to as a nucleic acid nanocapsule (NAN), is presented. The cellular uptake properties of the NAN are investigated through confocal microscopy. Additionally, the functionalization of the NAN with a therapeutic nucleic acid is described. For these experiments, the NAN was functionalized with a DNAzyme, a catalytically active DNA molecule that can specifically bind and cleave a target mRNA sequence. The DNAzyme utilized in these studies is specific for the …

Metabolism Of Jq1, An Inhibitor Of Bromodomain And Extra Terminal Bromodomain Proteins, In Human And Mouse Liver Microsomes†, Feng Li, Kevin R Mackenzie, Prashi Jain, Conrad Santini, Damian W Young, Martin M Matzuk

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

JQ1 is a small-molecule inhibitor of the bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) protein family that potently inhibits the bromodomain testis-specific protein (BRDT), which is essential for spermatogenesis. JQ1 treatment produces a reversible contraceptive effect by targeting the activity of BRDT in mouse male germ cells, validating BRDT as a male contraceptive target. Although JQ1 possesses favourable physical properties, it exhibits a short half-life. Because the details of xenobiotic metabolism play important roles in the optimization of drug candidates and in determining the role of metabolism in drug efficacy, we investigated the metabolism of JQ1 in human and mouse liver microsomes. …

Impacts Of Tourism On The Ecophysiology Of The Endangered Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana (Cyclura Cychlura), Alison C. Webb

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Increased interest in ecotourism over recent years has led to more direct human-animal interactions and a striking concomitant increase in the provisioning of non-natural food, that may have unintended consequences for the wildlife involved. The critically endangered Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana provides a valuable model to address the potential impact of food provisioning on health as there are populations that represent a graded variation in human presence, with sites experiencing high, low, or no tourism. To assess the potential impacts of tourism on iguana physiology I first reviewed the relevant literature on iguana physiology and then performed three investigations focusing …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Biological Studies Of Novel Organoantimony(V) Cyanoximates, Kevin Anthony Pinks

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The requirement of new antimicrobial treatments has become an urgent field recently. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria are now resistant to common antibiotics. To antagonize such bacteria 8 novel organoantimony(V) cyanoximates were synthesized to be characterized and submitted for biological activity studies. Eight organoantimony(V) cyanoximates were characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, IR-, ¹³C{¹H} NMR, some with UV-visible spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray analysis. Antimicrobial Disk studies indicated Sb(Ph)₄(ACO) and Sb(Ph)₄(ECO) had significant antimicrobial effect against all three strains: two gram-negative a) Escherichia coli strain S17 and b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1, alongside a …

Development Of Plant Extract-Based Composite Fibers And Aerogels, Raul C. Barbosa

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study is to use the solid templating process of pullulan nanofibers in order to produce biocompatible, biodegradable, and antibacterial aerogels. The developed aerogels were produced using cross-linked pullulan nanofibers, which provide a water-stable structure allowing them to be used as wound dressing material. The morphology, thermal properties, water solubility, and thermal and physical properties of the nanofibers and aerogels were characterized. Furthermore, the antibacterial effect against gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, and the biocompatibility using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) were investigated.

Mutations Within And Between Early Cell Division Proteins And Their Effects On Division Regulation In Escherichia Coli, Kara Schoenemann

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cell division is a highly regulated process that must coordinate multiple implicit activities in different locations in the cell simultaneously. E. coli utilizes a macromolecular machine known as the divisome to accomplish cytokinesis. Assembly of the divisome begins with the assembly of a simpler structure known as the proto-ring. The proto-ring consists mainly of three essential proteins: FtsZ and its membrane tethers FtsA and ZipA. In this work, I aimed to understand the early regulation of division in E. coli by investigating the structure/function relationships of the proto-ring proteins, as well as their interactions with one another and how these …

Electrochemically-Modulated Surface Plasmon Waves At A Nano-Scale For Investigations And Applications Of Redox Assemblies., Aymen Hasan Qatamin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, an electrochemically-modulated surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR) technique was developed for challenging investigations and applications in different redox assemblies. The principle of the technique is based on the nano-scale confined and sensitive interplay between a surface plasmon wave and a redox-active probe featuring an optical transition when undergoing a faradaic redox process. Such faradaic process is electrochemically controlled by modulating the surface electric potential of the SPR platform to create an optical output signal that is substantially immune to the negative impacts of background environment and enabling the identification and quantification minute properties linked to a molecular event …

Investigating Nest Box Utilization By Bumble Bees And Reproductive Development Of Male Bumble Bees, James Daniel Herndon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bumble bees (Bombus Latrielle) are a wide-spread group of pollinating insects that are important species to conserve across many environments to ensure both ecological and economic resiliency because they pollinate important agricultural, horticultural, and wild flora. Surprisingly, fundamental questions still remain about this important charismatic group of pollinators. The investigations in this thesis are but two of many topics that require further research. The topics investigated are understanding bumble bee nest site preferences and reproductive development of both sexes of bumble bees. The first experiment (Chapter 2) investigates whether nest boxes elevated off of the ground and attached to …

Bammsat-On-Bexus: A Technology And Operation Demonstration Of A Biocubesat Platform On A Stratospheric Balloon Flight Educational Program, Aqeel Shamsul, Giovanni Sinclair, Adrien Bolliand, Amin Chabi, Miguel Martinez De Bujo, Mateusz Zalasiewicz, David C. Cullen, Mike Cooke, T. Etheridge

Small Satellite Conference

This paper reports the current use of the REXUS/BEXUS educational program. The program allows university students across Europe to carry out scientific and technology experiments on research sounding rockets and balloons. BAMMsat-on-BEXUS (BoB) is an experiment from Cranfield University and University of Exeter performing a technology and operation demonstration of a bioCubeSat on a stratospheric balloon at an altitude of ~30km above the ground. BEXUS stands for Balloon Experiments for University Students and is realized under an agreement between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), European Space Agency (ESA), and EuroLaunch. The term bioCubeSat could be …

2019 Southeastern Fishes Council State Reports

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Short- And Long-Term Impacts Of A Deliberative Pedagogy In Introductory Biology And Chemistry Courses, Liz Rain-Griffith

Dissertations and Theses

There have been multiple national calls for curricular reform in college-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including a need to instill democratic skills in students. Democratic skill building can be embedded in STEM classrooms through intentional "deliberative pedagogies" which include skills in: communication, collaboration, and application. We developed and implemented a deliberative pedagogy, Deliberative Democracy (DD), across introductory majors and non-majors biology courses and a majors chemistry course. In two separate studies, I took a longitudinal, qualitative research approach to understand introductory biology and chemistry students' experiences and perceptions of DD. For the first study, I tracked a cohort …

The Development Of A New Entry Point Into Enantiomerically Enriched Sulfinyl Derivatives, Jessica Shaw

Theses and Dissertations

Optical probes may be used as reliable tools for detecting and imagining the inside of cells for medical diagnostics. Among available options, the use of thiol probes is of interest as thiols are present in nearly all cells and their levels are tightly regulated, thus any variation is associated with disease. A proper thiol bioimaging probe must have a thiol cleavage group/reactive group and a fluorophore. It is found that novel sulfinate aryl ester (phenoxysulfinate esters) probes selectively cleave thiols at physiological pH and show much promise as effective tools for bioimaging.

In this context, the synthesis of the related …

Preparation And Intestinal Absorption Of L-Dopa-D-Phenylglycine, H.-P. Wang, Y.-B. Fan, H.-H. Lu, W.-L. Hsu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

L-Dopa-D-phenylglycine was synthesized in this laboratory as L-dopa derivative for improving its intestinal absorption. As designed for transport through the intestine via oligopeptide transporter (PepT1), the competition of this dipeptide with known substrates for PepT1 in brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) was investigated. At the presence of L-Glycinyl-L-proline (L-Gly-L-Pro), L-Glycinyl-L-phenylalanine (L-Gly-L-Phe) or cephradine, the uptake of L-dopa-D-phenylglycine in BBMV was reduced to 54.1 ± 4.5%, 57.6 ± 5.2% or 62.9 ± 10.2%, respectively. The inhibition by these dipeptides and the tripeptide mimetic amino-β-lactam was significantly higher than by amino acids L-Phenylalanine (L-Phe) or L-dopa. The results suggested that the intestinal H …

Component Analysis Of Black Ant (Polyrhachis Lamellidens) Extracts From Supercritical Fluid Extraction, Y.-D. Cheng, C.-H. Tseng, H.-P. Wang, C.-C. Liao

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The Black ant Polyrhachis lamellidens Fr. Smith (Formicidae), found wild throughout China and Taiwan, has long been used as folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hepatitis, sexual hypofunction and antiaging. In this study, we extracted several components from this insect by using the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique under different temperature, pressure, and extraction time. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and identified by a mass library search. This paper presents a comparison of extraction quantity and composition by different extraction conditions. The results show that thirty-nine known compounds were isolated from P. …

Chemical And Biological Study Of The Residual Aerial Parts Of Sesamum Indicum L, A.E.-S. Khaleel, M.H. Gonaid, R.I. El-Bagry, A.A. Sleem, M. Shabana

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The chemical composition of the residual aerial parts of the Egyptian crop of Sesamum indicum L. after collection of the seeds, was studied. Sesamin, sesamolin, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside were isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of the alcoholic extract. Ferulic acid, rhamnetin, verbascoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide and mequelianin (quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide) were isolated from the butanol fraction. The content of the major constituents, namely sesamin and sesamolin, were determined by HPLC method. The alcoholic extract as well as its petroleum ether and butanol fractions were tested in vivo for the antioxidant, antihyperglycaemic and anticoagulant activities. The alcoholic extract exhibited a higher activity than …

Change In Phenolic Compound Content, Reductive Capacity And Ace Inhibitory Activity In Noni Juice During Traditional Fermentation, S.-C. Yang, T.-I. Chen, K.-Y. Li, T.-C. Tsai

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Morinda citrifolia L., also known as noni, has a long history of traditional use in the Hawaiian and Taihitian islands as cure-all medicine. Recently, commercial noni juice products have been imported from different countries and delivered directly to consumers with claims of multiple health benefits, including anti-cancer and immuno-stimulating activities. In this study, phenolic compounds content, free radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities were determined in two noni juices with different extent of maturity from traditional fermentation process. Ripe noni fruits gave higher juice yield with a lighter color. In general, juice from ripe fruits contained higher total quantities …

Modulation Of Activated Murine Peritoneal Macrophages Functions By Emodin, Aloe-Emodin And Barbaloin Isolated From Aloe Barbadensis, M. Vanisree, S.-H. Fang, C. Zu, H.-S. Tsay

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Activated murine macrophages produce high level of nitric oxide by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is an important mechanism in macrophage-induced inflammation. In the present study, we isolated emodin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin compounds from Aloe barbadensis and investigated their inhibitory effects on the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-12) from murine macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Our results showed that the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of emodin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin on NO, TNF-α and IL-12 from activated peritoneal macrophages were 120, 30 and 200 μM respectively. Our experimental results showed …

Study Of Hypocholesterolemic And Antiatherosclerotic Properties Of Medicago Sativa L. Cultivated In Egypt, A.E. Khaleel, M.Z. Gad, S.A. El-Maraghy, M.S. Hifnawy, E. Abdel-Sattar

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Alfalfa was reported to be hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic. Saponin glycosides were suggested to be responsible for this activity by neutralizing cholesterol in the stomach, enabling it to be excreted from the body. This makes alfalfa superior to the current anti-cholesterol medications which act by blocking cholesterol synthesizing apparatus. This study was undertaken in an attempt to prepare an alfalfa extract with high saponin content and free or low content of other toxic constituents found in alfalfa (canavanine and coumestrol), which causes serious side effects. A patent process was used to render alfalfa toxin free and to produce a drug present …

Metabonomic Study With A High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupling To A Triple Quadruple Mass Spectrometer To Identify Biomarkers From Urine Of High-Fat Fed And Streptozotocin Treated Rats, Y.-H. Chen, C.-H. Chen, C.-J. Lin, C.-C. Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

High performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass (MS/MS) detector was employed to scan the urinary metabolites of Wistar rats (n=5 each group) fed with either control diet or high fat diet with a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) for 14 weeks. Principle component analysis (PCA) of the LC-MS data was performed for pattern re-cognition and it clearly showed that the dosed animals displayed different metabolic responses even though they received the same treatment. Components responsible for the separation were identified with MS/MS. Glucose and malonic acid were among some other components in Krebs cycle to …

Biological Activities Of Low-Molecular Weight Compounds Found In Foods And Plants, H. Shiratsuchi, S. Chang, A. Wei, A.H. El-Ghorab, T. Shibamoto

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Among 27 essential oils tested, 11 oils exhibited strong antioxidant activity (95-100%) with dose response, which was comparable to that of α-tocopherol. The essential oils showing such activity were ylang-ylang, rose, parsley seed, jasmine, celery seed, basil, anise star, clove leaf, bergamot, thyme, and cinnamon leaf. Among antioxidant components found in these essential oils, eugenol, benzaldehyde, and thymol exhibited comparable activity to that of known natural antioxidant α-tocopherol. Benzyl alcohol, maltol, γ-butyrolactone, and terpinene-4-ol had moderate antioxidant activity. Low-molecular weight heterocyclic compounds, which are the chemicals responsible for cooked flavor, comprise one fourth of the over 400 volatile compounds identified …

New Directions In Early Modern English Drama: Edges, Spaces, Intersections, Aidan Norrie, Mark Houlahan

Late Tudor and Stuart Drama

New Directions in Early Modern English Drama examines some of the people, places, and plays at the edge of early modern English drama. Engaging with topics such as child actors, alterity, sexuality, foreignness, and locality, this volume demonstrates that the people and concepts long seen as on the edge of early modern English drama made vital contributions both within the fictive worlds of early modern plays, and without, in the real worlds of playmakers, theatres, and audiences.

Pharmacogenomics Study In A Taiwanese Methadone Maintenance Cohort, S.-C. Wang, H.-H. Tsou, I.-K. Ho, K.-M. Lin, Y.-L. Liu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Pharmacogenomics is the study of drug treatment responses in subgroups of patients on the basis of their genetic variants or genetic expression information. In 2006, the government of Taiwan launched a methadone maintenance treatment program, which is usually prescribed for patients with heroin dependence. In this study, 366 patients who had taken methadone continually in the previous 7 days were examined. Data from the Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP), Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS), and Treatment Emergent Symptoms Scale (TESS) were obtained from the patients' report records. The genes CYP2B6, CYP3A4, and CYP2C19dwhich encode the liver …

Extraction, Bioavailability, And Bioefficacy Of Capsaicinoids, M. Lu, C.-T. Ho, Q. Huang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Capsaicinoids are active constituents responsible for the pungent and spicy flavor in chili peppers. During the past few decades, various extraction methods of capsaicinoids from peppers have been developed with high yields. Through biological studies, pharmacological benefits have been reported such as pain relief, antiinflammation, anticancer, cardio-protection, as well as weight loss. In this paper, the extraction methods and bioavailability of capsaicinoids are reviewed and discussed. In addition, the pharmacological effects and their underlying mechanisms are also studied. © 2016

Autophagy-Inducing Effect Of Pterostilbene: A Prospective Therapeutic/Preventive Option For Skin Diseases, R.-J. Chen, Y.-H. Lee, Y.-L. Yeh, W.-S. Wu, C.-T. Ho, C.-Y. Li, B.-J. Wang, Y.-J. Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Pterostilbene is a naturally occurring analog of resveratrol with many health benefits. These health benefits are associated with its antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and chemopreventive effects attributed to its unique structure. The skin cancer chemopreventive potential of pterostilbene is supported by a variety of mechanistic studies confirming the anti-inflammatory effects in skin cancer models. Molecular biological studies have identified that pterostilbene targets pleotropic signaling pathways, including those involved in mitogenesis, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. Recently, pterostilbene has been reported to induce autophagy in cancer and normal cells. Through autophagy induction, the inflammatory-related skin diseases can be attenuated. This finding …

Comparative Genomics And Transcriptomics Of 4 Paragonimus Species Provide Insights Into Lung Fluke Parasitism And Pathogenesis, Bruce A. Rosa, Young-Jun Choi, Samantha N. Mcnulty, Hyeim Jung, John Martin, Takeshi Agatsuma, Hiromu Sugiyama, Thanh Hoa Le, Pham Ngoc Doanh, Wanchai Maleewong, David Blair, Paul J. Brindley, Peter U. Fischer, Makedonka Mitreva

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Paragonimus spp. (lung flukes) are among the most injurious foodborne helminths, infecting ∼23 million people and subjecting ∼292 million to infection risk. Paragonimiasis is acquired from infected undercooked crustaceans and primarily affects the lungs but often causes lesions elsewhere including the brain. The disease is easily mistaken for tuberculosis owing to similar pulmonary symptoms, and accordingly, diagnostics are in demand.

RESULTS: We assembled, annotated, and compared draft genomes of 4 prevalent and distinct Paragonimus species: Paragonimus miyazakii, Paragonimus westermani, Paragonimus kellicotti, and Paragonimus heterotremus. Genomes ranged from 697 to 923 Mb, included 12,072-12,853 genes, and were 71.6-90.1% complete according …

From Aristotle To Wunderkammer: The Development Of Entomology And Insect Collections, Erica Fischer

Honors Projects

This project aimed to analyze the development of insect classification and the shift from the realm of the amateur naturalist to professional science. It looked to address questions regarding entomology as a developing science and how effectively it reflects larger changes in the field of biology and the development of natural history collections. This work was for a synthesis of time periods from the beginnings of classification in the ancient world through the 20th century, a more general timeline than is typically approached. The research needed for the completion of this paper was based on secondary source research in the …