Life Sciences Commons^™

Calopogon Pulchellus R. Br., Edgar Nelson Transeau

Specimens by Name

No abstract provided.

Calopogon Pulchellus R. Br., Edgar Nelson Transeau

Specimens by Name

No abstract provided.

Corallorrhiza Wisteriana Conrad, Ernest L. Stover

Specimens by Name

No abstract provided.

Corallorrhiza Wisteriana Conrad, Ernest L. Stover

Specimens by Name

No abstract provided.

Calcium Transient Assays For Compound Screening With Human Ipsc-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Evaluating New Tools, Neil J. Daily, Radleigh Santos, Joseph Vecchi, Pinar Kemanli, Tetsuro Wakatsuki

Mathematics Faculty Articles

Calcium (Ca2+) plays a central role in regulating many biological processes in the cell from muscle contraction to neurotransmitter release. The need for reliable fluorescent calcium indicator dyes is of vast importance for studying many aspects of cell biology as well as screening compounds using phenotypic high throughput assays. We have assessed two of the latest generation of calcium indicator dyes, FLIPR Calcium 6 and Cal-520 AM for studying calcium transients (CaTs) in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) -derived human cardiomyocytes. FLIPR Calcium 6 and Cal-520 dyes both displayed robust CaTs with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and were non-toxic …

A Comparison Of Electronic And Traditional Cigarette Butt Leachate On The Development Of Xenopus Laevis Embryos, Tatiana Tatum Parker, James Rayburn

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Potential developmental toxicities of three different cigarette butt leachates were evaluated using the frog embryo teratogenesis assay–Xenopus (FETAX). Xenopus laevis embryos were exposed to regular cigarette butt (RCB), menthol (MCB) and electronic (ECB) in concentrations ranging from 0 to 4 butts/l for RCB and MCB and 0–10 butts/l for ECB. The embryos were from stage 8 to 11 and were exposed for a 96-h period in static renewal test conditions. Median lethal concentration (LC50), malformation (EC50), non-observed adverse effect concentration (NOAEC), and lowest observed adverse effect concentration (LOAEC) were calculated. Results from these studies suggest that each tested leachate is …

Nebraska Retailing Activity Changes Since 1990 And The Effect Of The Great Recession By Town/City Size Classes, Anil Giri, Bruce B. Johnson

Cornhusker Economics

Retailing is an important sector of our state’s economy and is watched carefully as an indicator of overall economic performance. This retailing activity, however, is not evenly distributed across different town/ city size classes. Large cities and towns serve as retail centers for larger geographic areas as well as for some nearby small towns. In other words, small trade centers experience trade leakage relative to their population and large centers experience retail gain relative to their population. Relative retail activity can be measured and hence compared using Pull Factor (PF) as a metric.

In essence, PF measures the relative market …

Calsequestrin Depolymerizes When Calcium Is Depleted In The Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Of Working Muscle, Carlo Manno, Lourdes Figueroa, Dirk Gillespie, Robert H. Fitts, Chul-Hee Kang, Clara Franzini-Armstrong, Eduardo Rios

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Calsequestrin, the only known protein with cyclical storage and supply of calcium as main role, is proposed to have other functions, which remain unproven. Voluntary movement and the heart beat require this calcium flow to be massive and fast. How does calsequestrin do it? To bind large amounts of calcium in vitro, calsequestrin must polymerize and then depolymerize to release it. Does this rule apply inside the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of a working cell? We answered using fluorescently tagged calsequestrin expressed in muscles of mice. By FRAP and imaging we monitored mobility of calsequestrin as [Ca²⁺] in the …

Transforming Growth Factor-Β In Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Good, Bad, Or Irrelevant?, Alan Daugherty, Zheying Chen, Hisashi Sawada, Debra L. Rateri, Mary B. Sheppard

Physiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ms-Read: Quantitative Measurement Of Amino Acid Incorporation, Kyle Mohler, Hans-Rudolph Aerni, Brandon Gassaway, Jiqiang Ling, Michael Ibba, Jesse Rinehart

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Ribosomal protein synthesis results in the genetically programmed incorporation of amino acids into a growing polypeptide chain. Faithful amino acid incorporation that accurately reflects the genetic code is critical to the structure and function of proteins as well as overall proteome integrity. Errors in protein synthesis are generally detrimental to cellular processes yet emerging evidence suggest that proteome diversity generated through mistranslation may be beneficial under certain conditions. Cumulative translational error rates have been determined at the organismal level, however codon specific error rates and the spectrum of misincorporation errors from system to system remain largely unexplored. In particular, until …

Things Are Getting Hairy: Enterobacteria Bacteriophage Vb_Pcam_Cbb, Colin Buttimer, Hanne Hendrix, Hugo Oliveira, Aidan Casey, Horst Neve, Olivia Mcauliffe, R. Paul Ross, Colin Hill, Jean Paul Noben, Jim O'Mahony, Rob Lavigne, Aidan Coffey

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

© 2017 Buttimer, Hendrix, Oliveira, Casey, Neve, McAuliffe, Ross, Hill, Noben, O'Mahony, Lavigne and Coffey. Enterobacteria phage vB_PcaM_CBB is a "jumbo" phage belonging to the family Myoviridae. It possesses highly atypical whisker-like structures along the length of its contractile tail. It has a broad host range with the capability of infecting species of the genera Erwinia, Pectobacterium, and Cronobacter. With a genome of 355,922 bp, excluding a predicted terminal repeat of 22,456 bp, phage CBB is the third largest phage sequenced to date. Its genome was predicted to encode 554 ORFs with 33 tRNAs. Based on prediction and proteome analysis …

A Comparison Of The Quality Of Informed Consent For Clinical Trials Of An Experimental Hookworm Vaccine Conducted In Developed And Developing Countries., David J. Diemert, Lucas Lobato, Ashley Styczynski, Maria Zumer, Amanda Soares, Maria Flávia Gazzinelli

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Informed consent is one of the principal ethical requirements of conducting clinical research, regardless of the study setting. Breaches in the quality of the informed consent process are frequently described in reference to clinical trials conducted in developing countries, due to low levels of formal education, a lack of familiarity with biomedical research, and limited access to health services in these countries. However, few studies have directly compared the quality of the informed consent process in developed and developing countries using the same tool and in similar clinical trials. This study was conducted to compare the quality of the informed …

Molecular Alterations In Skeletal Muscle In Rheumatoid Arthritis Are Related To Disease Activity, Physical Inactivity, And Disability., Kim M Huffman, Ryan Jessee, Brian Andonian, Brittany N Davis, Rachel Narowski, Janet L Huebner, Virginia B Kraus, Julie Mccracken, Brian F Gilmore, K Noelle Tune, Milton Campbell, Timothy R Koves, Deborah M Muoio, Monica J Hubal, William E Kraus

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: To identify molecular alterations in skeletal muscle in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that may contribute to ongoing disability in RA.

METHODS: Persons with seropositive or erosive RA (n = 51) and control subjects matched for age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity (n = 51) underwent assessment of disease activity, disability, pain, physical activity and thigh muscle biopsies. Muscle tissue was used for measurement of pro-inflammatory markers, transcriptomics, and comprehensive profiling of metabolic intermediates. Groups were compared using mixed models. Bivariate associations were assessed with Spearman correlation.

RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients with RA had 75% greater …

Two New Genera Of Songbirds Represent Endemic Radiations From The Shola Sky Islands Of The Western Ghats, India, Sushma Reddy, V. V. Robin, C. K. Vishnudas, Pooja Gupta, Frank E. Rheindt, Daniel M. Hooper, Uma Ramakrishnan

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

A long-standing view of Indian biodiversity is that while rich in species, there are few endemics or in-situ radiations within the subcontinent. One exception is the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, an isolated mountain range with many endemic species. Understanding the origins of the montane-restricted species is crucial to illuminate both taxonomic and environmental history.

Effect Of Phytosanitary Irradiation On The Quality Of Two Varieties Of Pummelos (Citrus Maxima (Burm.) Merr.), A. Jain, J. Ornelas-Paz, D. Obenland, K. Rodriguez (Friscia), Anuradha Prakash

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Phytosanitary treatments prevent the introduction of pests such as fruit flies into pest free zones, and are often required for international trade. Irradiation is increasingly being considered as an alternative to cold and chemical phytosanitary treatments, such as methyl bromide. In this study, the effect of low dose gamma irradiation on the post-harvest quality of two varieties of pummelos (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.), an emerging crop of interest in the US was evaluated. Two varieties of pummelos grown in California were irradiated at the phytosanitary target dose of 150 Gy and a higher dose of 1000 Gy to exaggerate …

Evolutionary Adaptations Of Biofilms Infecting Cystic Fibrosis Lungs Promote Mechanical Toughness By Adjusting Polysaccharide Production, Kristin Kovach, Megan Davis-Fields, Yasuhiko Irie, Kanishk Jain, Shashvat Doorwar, Katherine Vuong, Numa Dhamani, Kishore Mohanty, Ahmed Touhami, Vernita D. Gordon

Biology Faculty Publications

Biofilms are communities of microbes embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, largely polysaccharides. Multiple types of extracellular polymeric substances can be produced by a single bacterial strain. The distinct polymer components of biofilms are known to provide chemical protection, but little is known about how distinct extracellular polysaccharides may also protect biofilms against mechanical stresses such as shear or phagocytic engulfment. Decades-long infections of Pseudomonas. aeruginosa biofilms in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients are natural models for studies of biofilm fitness under pressure from antibiotics and the immune system. In cystic fibrosis infections, production of the extracellular …

Engineering A Fluorescent Protease Sensor For In Vivo Protein Detection, Thomas C. Kinard

Honors Scholar Theses

This report details the results of an ongoing project to engineer a mutant form of Red Fluorescent Protein (RFP) variant mCherry that acts as a real-time in vivo protease sensor. The sought-after mutant only becomes fluorescent when exposed to Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) Protease, this system’s model protease. This will be accomplished via the insertion of the TEV Protease Recognition Site (TEV-PRS) in such a position that, before cleavage, will prevent the protein from folding to fluorescent conformation, but upon cleavage, will allow for fluorescent conformation to occur. The cylindrical structure of the protein, composed of beta-pleated sheets, contains “loops” …

Phlpp Regulates Hexokinase 2-Dependent Glucose Metabolism In Colon Cancer Cells, Xiaopeng Xiong, Yang-An Wen, Mihail I. Mitov, Mary C. Oaks, Shigeki Miyamoto, Tianyan Gao

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Increased glucose metabolism is considered as one of the most important metabolic alterations adapted by cancer cells in order to generate energy as well as high levels of glycolytic intermediates to support rapid proliferation. PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP) belongs to a novel family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases that function as tumor suppressors in various types of human cancer. Here we determined the role of PHLPP in regulating glucose metabolism in colon cancer cells. Knockdown of PHLPP increased the rate of glucose consumption and lactate production, whereas overexpression of PHLPP had the opposite effect. Bioenergetic analysis using Seahorse …

How To Maximize Energy Content In Forage Grasses, S. Ray Smith, Kelly Prince

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

In a recent paper, Kathryn Watts and Jerry Chatterton (2004) gave an excellent overview of the basic factors affecting carbohydrate levels in forages and how these factors affect forage management.

• Sugars are the substrates for all plant growth, thus, they are critical to plant growth and development.
• Sugars are produced by photosynthesis during daylight.
• At night plants use energy from sugars formed by photosynthesis to grow.
• Whenever the rates of photosynthesis exceed plant growth rates, carbohydrates accumulate.
• At times, plant stresses decrease growth rates more than photosynthesis and carbohydrates accumulate.
• Factors that contribute to plant stress include water and nutrient …

Building A Year Round Grazing System, Christopher D. Teutsch

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

There are three basic ways to increase net returns in ruminant livestock operations. The first is to increase the price we get for our product. Unfortunately in a commodity based system we have little or no control over the price that we receive. The second is to increase total production. By producing more units that have a slim profit margin we can increase net returns. However, at some point we become resource limited; we run out of land or time. The third is to control production costs. Of these three ways to increase net returns, this one has the greatest …

Promote Growth And Animal Health With Isoflavones In Red Clover And Other Legumes, Michael D. Flythe, Glen E. Aiken

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

The field of nutrition has continued to expand since the 18th century. We once thought that the only important components in foods and feeds were proteins, carbohydrates, fats and salts. Evidence was slowly pieced together to show that certain minor components were essential for life, and the vitamins were discovered. Like the doctors that first suspected vitamins were essential, some cattlemen have long noted advantages in animal performance and health on certain diets in ways that cannot be explained by a simple forage analysis. Today, we are learning the roles that phenolic plant secondary metabolites, sometimes called polyphenols, play in …

Foreword [2017], S. Ray Smith, Krista Lea

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Occupational Styrene Exposure On Auditory Function Among Adults: A Systematic Review Of Selected Workers, Francis T. Pleban, Olutosin Oketope, Laxmi Shrestha

Public Health, Health Administration, and Health Sciences Faculty Research

A review study was conducted to examine the adverse effects of styrene, styrene mixtures, or styrene and/or styrene mixtures and noise on the auditory system in humans employed in occupational settings. The search included peer-reviewed articles published in English language involving human volunteers spanning a 25-year period (1990–2015). Studies included peer review journals, case–control studies, and case reports. Animal studies were excluded. An initial search identified 40 studies. After screening for inclusion, 13 studies were retrieved for full journal detail examination and review. As a whole, the results range from no to mild associations between styrene exposure and auditory dysfunction, …

Smokejumper Obituary: Kersh, Richard C. (La Grande 1976), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Nitrogen Sustainability: Impediments To Action And Communication, Eric E. Jorgensen

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

“Sustainability” is widely used to imply the presence of explicit consideration of environmentally friendly needs and that high societal-value is placed on those needs. However, it is abundantly clear after 30 years that talking about sustainability and achieving it are two entirely different things. The core concept underlying sustainability is that current human practices and activities be conducted so as to not degrade prospects for future generations. With nitrogen, conflicts about sustainability in-theory and sustainability in-practice are close to the surface because of nitrogen’s central role in food production and economic activity. Measures of nitrogen inputs commonly range as high …

High Throughput In Vivo Functional Validation Of Candidate Congenital Heart Disease Genes In Drosophila., Jun-Yi Zhu, Yulong Fu, Margaret Nettleton, Adam Richman, Zhe Han

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Genomic sequencing has implicated large numbers of genes and de novo mutations as potential disease risk factors. A high throughput in vivo model system is needed to validate gene associations with pathology. We developed a Drosophila-based functional system to screen candidate disease genes identified from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) patients. 134 genes were tested in the Drosophila heart using RNAi-based gene silencing. Quantitative analyses of multiple cardiac phenotypes demonstrated essential structural, functional, and developmental roles for more than 70 genes, including a subgroup encoding histone H3K4 modifying proteins. We also demonstrated the use of Drosophila to evaluate cardiac phenotypes resulting …

The Relationship Of High-Intensity Cross-Training With Arterial Stiffness, Jamie F. Burr, Jenny L. Beck, John J. Durocher

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Background

Central arterial stiffness is a cardiovascular risk factor that can be readily affected through engagement in physical exercise training, with resistance and aerobic exercise having disparate affects. Despite the growing popularity of high-intensity cross-training (HICT), little is currently known about the effects of this mixed modality exercise stimulus on arterial stiffness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the arterial stiffness of habitual HICT participants vs. aerobically active and sedentary controls using a cross-sectional design.

Methods

A total of 30 participants were recruited: 10 middle-aged long-term participants of HICT (CrossFit) and 20 age, sex, and height matched …

Cognitive And Movement Measures Reflect The Transition To Presence-At-Hand, Dobromir Dotov, Lin Nie, Kevin Wojcik, Anastasia Jinks, Xiaoyu Yu, Anthony Chemero

Journal Articles

The phenomenological philosopher Martin Heidegger's proposed transition from readiness-to-hand to presence-at-hand and the hypothesis of extended cognition were addressed empirically in an experiment on tool use. It involved a video game of steering erratically moving objects to a target while performing a secondary cognitive task. A strong perturbation of the hand-pointer linkage in the video game induced the transition from ready-to-hand to present-at-hand. In Experiment 1, this perturbation resulted in decreased motor performance and improved recall of task-irrelevant features. Experiment 2 replicated these results and addressed additional questions. Measures of movement variability based on the multifractal formalism confirmed the …

Policing A Negotiated World: A Partial Test Of Klinger’S Ecological Theory Of Policing, Travis A. Taniguchu, Christopher Salvatore

Department of Justice Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The primary goal of the current study is to examine a portion of Klinger’s theory. Specifically, we test the influence of organizational and environmental contextual factors, guided by Klinger’s theory, on one measure of officer vigor. To date, few studies have taken this approach to examine Klinger’s theory. The study builds on prior research that has tested aspects of Klinger’s theory and adds new analytic strategies that prior studies have not used. The results of this study have implications for both theory and practice, and they add to the growing literature examining the influence of ecological and organization factors on …

Microbial Interactions In The Phyllosphere Increase Plant Performance Under Herbivore Biotic Stress, Muhammad Saleem, Nicole Meckes, Zahida H. Pervaiz, Milton B. Traw

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

The phyllosphere supports a tremendous diversity of microbes and other organisms. However, little is known about the colonization and survival of pathogenic and beneficial bacteria alone or together in the phyllosphere across the whole plant life-cycle under herbivory, which hinders our ability to understand the role of phyllosphere bacteria on plant performance. We addressed these questions in experiments using four genetically and biogeographically diverse accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, three ecologically important bacterial strains (Pseudomonas syringae DC3000, Xanthomonas campestris, both pathogens, and Bacillus cereus, plant beneficial) under common garden conditions that included fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.). …