Life Sciences Commons^™

Full Issue: Volume 10, Number 2

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

No abstract provided.

Optimization Of The Extraction Of Procyanidin B-2 Rich Extract From Unfermented Cocoa Using Response Surface Methodology And Interaction Of Procyanidin B-2 Rich Cocoa Extract With Collagenase And Elastase As Biomarkers Of Skin Aging, Marco Eduardo Toc Sagra

LSU Master's Theses

Skin ageing is a natural process accelerated by environmental exposure that generate reactive oxygen species and activates enzymes that degrade the integrity of the dermis. Cocoa powder (Theobroma cacao) is a good source of polyphenols, particularly procyanidins and flavan-3-ols, with potential enzyme inhibitory activities. In this study we determined whether cocoa extraction standardized to its procyanidin B-2 content has a potential application as anti-ageing bioactive compound. Oil-bath-assisted extraction (OBAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were optimized for procyanidin B-2 rich extract using response surface methodology and water as solvent. Methanol (70% in water) extraction was the control to which other extraction …

Evaluation Of Estrous Response Patches As A Tool To Determine Optimum Timing For Artificial Insemination And If Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Is Needed At Timed-Ai In Beef Cattle, Danilo Demeterco

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments evaluated using an estrous-detection patch to identify animals that are in standing estrus at split-timed AI (STAI) and the necessity of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection at STAI on a 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. In experiment 1 (n=216) and in experiment 2 (n=101), multiparous lactating crossbred beef cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and post-partum interval to 2 treatment groups: CTRL=timed-AI (TAI) at 72h post CIDR removal, or TRT=STAI at 72 or 84h post CIDR removal. All females received GnRH plus a CIDR on d0, prostaglandin-F2α, CIDR removal, and an Estrotect estrous-detector patch on d7. At …

Effects Of Timing Of Local Anesthesia On Physiological Responses In Calves After Dehorning, Amanda Jane Mathias

LSU Master's Theses

The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated the importance of minimizing pain associated with dehorning to limit the amount of distress and changes in the animal’s behavior and physiological states (AVMA, 2014b). The following studies aim to determine the effect of timing of lidocaine administration on physiological responses in calves after dehorning. The first study compared cortisol and substance P levels in calves dehorned immediately after administration of lidocaine and meloxicam, calves dehorned 10 minutes after the administration of lidocaine and meloxicam, and calves that were administered lidocaine and meloxicam and not dehorned. It was concluded waiting 10 minutes after …

Variations In Crowding, Saccadic Precision, And Spatial Localization Reveal The Shared Topology Of Spatial Vision, John A. Greenwood, Martin Szinte, Bilge Sayim, Patrick Cavanagh

Dartmouth Scholarship

Visual sensitivity varies across the visual field in several characteristic ways. For example, sensitivity declines sharply in peripheral (vs. foveal) vision and is typically worse in the upper (vs. lower) visual field. These variations can affect processes ranging from acuity and crowding (the deleterious effect of clutter on object recognition) to the precision of saccadic eye movements. Here we examine whether these variations can be attributed to a common source within the visual system. We first compared the size of crowding zones with the precision of saccades using an oriented clock target and two adjacent flanker elements. We report that …

A National Audit Of Smoking Cessation Services In Irish Maternity Units, C. Reynolds, B. Egan, Shona Cawley, S. Sheehan, M. Turner

Articles

Irish Medical Journal

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Determination Of Potency Of Tetanus Immunoglobulin Products By Commercial Tetanus Anti-Toxoid Test Kits, Wichuda Jariyapan, Kanitta Puwanardnaranuban, Saywarul Jadoonkittnan

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Replacement of using experimental animals in scientific research with alternative methods is encouraged, according to the ‘3Rs’ principles (replacement, reduction and refinement). This study presented results for determination of potency of tetanus i...

New Fluorinated Chalcone And Pyrazolines Analogues: Synthesis, Docking And Molecular Dynamic Studies As Anticancer Agents, Jasril Jasril

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Some of chalcones and pyrazolines analogues are known to have a good potency as anticancer agents. In this work, a fluorinated chalcone and two pyrazolines were successfully synthesized under microwave irradiation. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic.

Chapter 16 - Birds, Janice M. Glime

Bryophyte Ecology Volume 2: Bryological Interaction

Explore the contents of Bryophyte Ecology, Volume 2, Chapter 16 - Birds by clicking the links above. For the Contents section of this ebook, as well as Volumes 1 through 5, please visit the Bryophyte Ecology Main Page.

Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists.

Chapter 12 - Terrestrial Insects, Janice M. Glime

Bryophyte Ecology Volume 2: Bryological Interaction

Bryophyte Ecology, Volume 2, Chapter 12 - Terrestrial Insects is coming soon. For the Contents section of this ebook, as well as Volumes 1 through 5, please visit the Bryophyte Ecology Main Page.

Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists.

Using Remote Site Incubators For Re-Introduction Of Arctic Graylng (Thymallus Arcticus) To The Big Manistee Watershed, Sunflower Wilson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Remote Site Incubators (RSIs) were developed for the incubation of salmonid eggs directly at a field site to enhance success and imprinting of young. These have been employed in the re-establishment of Arctic Grayling in Montana and are being laboratory tested for possible reintroduction of this species in the Big Manistee River, MI. Arctic Grayling, Rainbow and Brook Trout eggs, obtained from state hatcheries, were reared in a laboratory using flow through lake water to assess egg and fry survival using RSIs. Dead eggs and fry were removed daily and observations of developmental stages recorded. Rainbow Trout eggs were evaluated …

Investigating Mirna Functions In Arabidopsis By Short Tandem Target Mimic (Sttm), Yiyou Gu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

MicroRNA (miRNAs) and other endogenous small RNAs play important role in regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. Till now, several techniques have been developed for miRNA function analysis. Because of the characteristic of miRNAs, the most applicable method for miRNA function research is blocking the whole miRNA family specifically. Here, we report an artificial non-coding transcript termed Short Tandem Target Mimic (STTM) for blocking miRNA activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. The STTM composed of two miRNA target sites with three nucleotides bulge in the miRNA cleavage site, the two-miRNA targets separated by spacer linker. We used this technique blocking several important endogenous …

An Integrative Description Of Mesobiotus Ethiopicus Sp. Nov. (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Parachela: Macrobiotidae: Harmsworthi Group) From The Northern Afrotropic Region, Daniel Stec, Reinhardt Møbjerg Kristensen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new species of the Mesobiotus harmsworthi group is described from Ethiopia. An integrative taxonomy approach was applied by combining morphological and morphometric analyses-imaging under phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy with molecular analysis (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI markers)-to cross-verify the status of the population as a new species. The specimens of Mesobiotus ethiopicus sp. nov. are most similar to two taxa of the harmsworthi complex: M. harmsworthi obscurus (Dastych, 1985) and M. peterseni (Maucci, 1991). Nevertheless, the new species can be easily distinguished from the first of these taxa by the absence of additional teeth in the …

The Effect Of Road Crossings On Stream-Associated Salamanders Within Holly Springs National Forest, Caleb Ashton Aldridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Road crossings have significant effects on wildlife, but there is limited information on how road crossings affect stream-associated salamanders. Stream-associated salamanders are vital to their ecological communities and are likely to experience the effect of roads more readily than other species due to their physiological characteristics. To test the effects of road crossings on stream-associated salamanders, I surveyed 12 pairs of confluent streams – one stream crossed by a road and the other not in each pair – within Holly Springs National Forest, Mississippi. Surveys in the summer of 2015 were used to measure abundance and species richness of stream-associated …

Influence Of Disease-Related Knowledge And Personality Traits On Parkinson’S Patient Empowerment, Pramon Viwattanakulvanid, Tanattha Kittisopee

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, has an impact on both the physical and mental functions of persons with Parkinson’s (PwP), who tend to lose their sense of empowerment, cognitive state of perceived competence and pe...

Stability Determination Of An Alternative Approach To Use Of Liquid Drug Substance As Oil Phase In Microemulsion Formulations: Methyl Salicylate, Warunee Leesajakul, Sunee Channarong, Pathamaporn Chuetee

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The objective of this study was to investigate the stability of microemulsions using methyl salicylate as oil phase in the presence and the absence of hydrophobic additives and/or drug after six-month storage at ambient temperature. The investigated addi.

Efficacy Of Nutritional Interventions To Lower Circulating Ceramides In Young Adults: Fruvedomic Pilot Study, Alice T. Matthews, Oluremi A. Famodu, Melissa D. Olfert, Pamela J. Murray, Christopher F. Cuff, Marianne T. Downes, Norman J. Haughey, Sarah E. Colby, Paul D. Chantler, I. Mark Olfert, Joseph W. Mcfadden

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommends a diet largely composed of fruit and vegetables. Consuming a diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in refined carbohydrates and saturated fat may reduce an individual’s risk for type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, low-grade chronic inflammation, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Several recent studies have implicated the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide as an associative and causative biomarker for the development of these conditions. Considering that the intake of fruit and vegetables is frequently inadequate in young adults, we performed a pilot investigation to assess the efficacy of a free-living …

Analysis Of Transient Hypermorphic Activity Of E(Spl)D During R8 Specification, Adam T. Majot, Ashok P. Bidwai

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Drosophila atonal (ato) is required for the specification of founding R8 photoreceptors during retinal development. ato is regulated via dual eye-specific enhancers; ato-3’ is subject to initial induction whereas 5’-ato facilitates Notch-mediated autoregulation. Notch is further utilized to induce bHLH repressors of the E(spl) locus to restrict Ato from its initial broad expression to individual cells. Although Notch operates in two, distinct phases, it has remained unclear how the two phases maintain independence from one another. The difference in these two phases has attributed to the hypothesized delayed expression of E(spl). However, immunofluorescence data indicate that E(spl) are expressed during …

Effects Of Starch Concentration On Calcium‐Enhanced Black Bullhead Catfish Protein Gels, Ilgin Paker, Kristen E. Matak

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Calcium‐enhanced protein recovered from black bullhead catfish was used to develop gels containing increasing amounts of potato starch (0–20 g/kg protein paste) and the effects of starch on functional, textural, and color properties were tested. Energy required to unfold protein groups was greater with the addition of 5 g starch/kg protein paste. Gels containing starch were harder, chewier, and less springy (p < .05) than gels without starch. For most measurements, regression analysis showed that increasing the starch concentration beyond 5 g/kg did not contribute to further significant textural changes. Torsional shear stress and strain along with Kramer shear force increased as the concentration of starch increased (R2 = .79, .79, and .53, respectively). The addition of ≥10 g starch/kg protein paste resulted in darker gels and gels got darker as more starch was added (R2 = .71). Results showed no …

Estimating Yield Gaps At The Cropping System Level, Nicolas Guilpart, Patricio Grassini, Victor O. Sadras, Jagadish Timsina, Kenneth Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Yield gap analyses of individual crops have been used to estimate opportunities for increasing crop production at local to global scales, thus providing information crucial to food security. However, increases in crop production can also be achieved by improving cropping system yield through modification of spatial and temporal arrangement of individual crops. In this paper we define the cropping system yield potential as the output from the combination of crops that gives the highest energy yield per unit of land and time, and the cropping system yield gap as the difference between actual energy yield of an existing cropping system …

Modeling Pollen-Mediated Gene Flow From Glyphosate-Resistant To -Susceptible Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia Trifida L.) Under Field Conditions, Zahoor A. Ganie, Amit J. Jhala

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A field experiment was conducted to quantify pollen mediated gene flow (PMGF) from glyphosateresistant (GR) to glyphosate-susceptible (GS) giant ragweed under simulated field conditions using glyphosate resistance as a selective marker. Field experiments were conducted in a concentric design with the GR giant ragweed pollen source planted in the center and GS giant ragweed pollen receptors surrounding the center in eight directional blocks at specified distances (between 0.1 and 35 m in cardinal and ordinal directions; and additional 50 m for ordinal directions). Seeds of GS giant ragweed were harvested from the pollen receptor blocks and a total of 100,938 …

Gene Silencing Of Argonaute5 Negatively Affects The Establishment Of The Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis, Maria Del Rocio Reyero-Saavedra, Zhenzhen Qiao, Maria Del Socorro Sanchez-Correa, M. Enrique Diaz-Pineda, Jose L. Reyes, Alejandra A. Covarrubias, Marc Libault, Oswaldo Valdes-Lopez

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The establishment of the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia is finely regulated at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels. Argonaute5 (AGO5), a protein involved in RNA silencing, can bind both viral RNAs and microRNAs to control plant-microbe interactions and plant physiology. For instance, AGO5 regulates the systemic resistance of Arabidopsis against Potato Virus X as well as the pigmentation of soybean (Glycine max) seeds. Here, we show that AGO5 is also playing a central role in legume nodulation based on its preferential expression in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean roots and nodules. We also …

Uv-A And -B Blocking Agents For Psoriasis Phototherapy, Sruangsuda Mawaha

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

UV-A and -B blocking agents are essential components for the formulation of topical cream for psoriasis phototherapy. In this research, many natural compounds were discovered as potent UV-A and UV-B blocking agents, but small number could absorb narrowband UV-B. Quercetin hydrate, oxyresveratrol and curcumin were good UV-A blocking agents, while catechin, hesperetin, lutein and naringenin were proper for UV-B blocking agents. Berberine chloride hydrate, demethoxycurcumin and mansonone G were UV-A and -B blocking agents. From random combination, the mixture of mansonone G 0.010 % w/v and quercetin hydrate 0.0025 % w/v was disclosed to be a right choice for this …

Bioactive Compounds With An Inhibitory Activity Against Osteoclast Differentiation And Mechanisms, Supatta Chawalitpong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

โรคกระดูกพรุนเป็นปัญหาสุขภาพที่สำคัญอย่างหนึ่งของสังคมผู้สูงอายุ สาเหตุหลักของภาวะดังกล่าวเกิดจากความไม่สมดุลของเซลล์ที่ทำหน้าทีสร้างกระดูก (osteoblast) และเซลล์ที่ทำหน้าที่สลายกระดูก (osteoclast) การลดลงของมวลกระดูกในผู้สูงอายุนำมาซึ่งความเสี่ยงในการแตกหักของกระดูก จุดประสงค์ของการศึกษาครั้งนี้ คือ การคัดกรองสารออกฤทธิ์ทางชีวภาพที่มีฤทธิ์ในการต้านการเปลี่ยนสภาพของเซลล์สลายกระดูกและกลไกการออกฤทธิ์ของสารนั้นๆ ในกลุ่มสารทดสอบอนุพันธ์สาร (3S)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-7-phenyl-(6E)-6-heptene (DHPH) และ กรดไซเปอเรโนอิก (Cyperenoic acid) ซึ่งสกัดได้จากส่วนเหง้า Curcuma comosa Rox. และราก Croton crassifolius Geiseler. ตามลำดับ มีฤทธิ์แรงในการต้านการเกิดเซลล์สลายกระดูก ในระดับ in vitro ใช้เซลล์จากไขกระดูกที่ถูกกระตุ้นด้วย receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) DHPH มีฤทธิ์ในการยับยั้งการเปลี่ยนสภาพไปเป็นเซลล์สลายกระดูก โดยยับยั้งการเกิด TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (TRAP+ MNCs) ที่ระดับความเข้มข้นยับยั้งกึ่งหนึ่ง (IC50) 325±1.37 นาโนโมลาร์ การยับยั้งดังกล่าวสอดคล้องกับการลดต่ำลงของสัญญาณภายใต้การกระตุ้นของ RANKL โดยรวมถึงวิถี Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) เช่น ERK (p44/42) และ p38 แต่ไม่มีผลต่อวิถี NF-κB โดยผลของสารดังกล่าวยังส่งผลกระทบต่อระดับของ transcription factor เช่น nuclear factor of activation T cells (NFATc1) และ c-Fos ซึ่งมีความสำคัญมากในการเปลี่ยนสภาพเป็นเซลล์สลายกระดูก DHPH ลดการกัดกร่อนกระดูก (bone resorption) บนแผ่นกระดูก (bone slices) นอกจากนั้นสาร DHPH ยังสามารถเพิ่มกิจกรรมของเอนไซม์ alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการเปลี่ยนสภาพของเซลล์สร้างกระดูกในเซลล์ชนิด MC3T3-E1 ในกรณีของกรดไซเปอเรโนอิกนั้น พบว่าสามารถลดการเกิด TRAP+ MNCs ที่ระดับความเข้มข้น IC50 ที่ 36.69±1.02 …

Studies On Organogenesis During Regeneration In The Earthworm, Eudrilus Eugeniae, In Support Of Symbiotic Association With Bacillus Endophyticus, Elaiya Raja Subramanian, Dineshkumar Sudalaimani, Johnson Retnaraj Samuel Selvan Christyraj, Kalidas Ramamoorthy M, Nino Gopi D, Jackson Durairaj Selvan Christyraj, Kasimani Renganathan, Sundar Krishnan, Sudhakar Sivasubramaniam

Turkish Journal of Biology

Organogenesis and animal adaptation upon loss of body parts are crucial events in regeneration of all traits, and both are uncovered areas in biology. The organogenesis of the mouth and anus during regeneration was studied in Eudrilus eugeniae. It was found that the earthworm regenerates a functional mouth and anus in six days. During the course of organogenesis, the earthworm adopts unique starvation behavior for 5 days, and the starvation triggers the gut microflora of E. eugeniae to produce riboflavin. One of the efficient riboflavin-producing bacteria, Bacillus endophyticus, confirmed through 16S rRNA sequencing, has been isolated from its gut. The …

Hyper-Activation Of Pp60(Src) Limits Nitric Oxide Signaling By Increasing Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels During Acute Lung Injury, Sanjiv Kumar, Xutong Sun, Satish Kumar Noonepalle, Qing Lu, Evgeny Zemskov, Ting Wang, Saurabh Aggarwal, Christine Gross, Shruti Sharma, Ankit A. Sesai, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

The molecular mechanisms by which the endothelial barrier becomes compromised during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated acute lung injury (ALI) are still unresolved. We have previously reported that the disruption of the endothelial barrier is due, at least in part, to the uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increased peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of RhoA. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which LPS induces eNOS uncoupling during ALI. Exposure of pulmonary endothelial cells (PAEC) to LPS increased pp60^Src activity and this correlated with an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production, but also an increase in …

The Mtt Viability Assay Yields Strikingly False-Positive Viabilities Although The Cells Are Killed By Some Plant Extracts, Di̇dem Karakaş, Ferda Ari, Engi̇n Ulukaya

Turkish Journal of Biology

The MTT assay is one of the often used cell viability/cytotoxicity assays. However, when the methanol extracts of plants are used to test their cytotoxic potential, interference may occur, resulting in false-positive viability results. Therefore, in this study, the reliability of the MTT assay was investigated in the case of plant use. The methanol extracts of three different plants (Hypericum adenotrichum, Salvia kronenburgii, and Pelargonium quercetorum) were tested in breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) using the MTT assay and the results were compared to the ATP assay, which is a much more sensitive and reliable assay due to …

Exploration Of The Binding Pocket Of Histone Deacetylases: The Design Of Potent And Isoform-Selective Inhibitors, Abdullahi̇ İbrahi̇m Uba, Kemal Yelekçi̇

Turkish Journal of Biology

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that act on histone proteins to remove the acetyl group and thereby regulate the chromatin state. HDACs act not only on histone protein but also nonhistone proteins that are key players in cellular processes such as the cell cycle, signal transduction, apoptosis, and more. "Classical" HDACs have been shown to be promising targets for anticancer drug design and development. However, the selectivity of HDAC inhibitors for HDAC isoforms remains the motivation of current research in this field. Here, we explored Class I HDACs and HDAC6 by sequence alignment and structural superimposition, catalytic channel extraction, and …

Characterization Of Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Core Histones By Top-Down Mass Spectrometry Reveals Unique Algae-Specific Variants And Post-Translational Modifications, Aliyya Khan, Carlo Eikani, Hana Khan, Anthony Iavarone, James Pesavento

School of Science Faculty Works

The unicellular microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has played an instrumental role in the development of many new fields (bioproducts, biofuels, etc.) as well as the advancement of basic science (photosynthetic apparati, flagellar function, etc.). Chlamydomonas' versatility ultimately derives from the genes encoded in its genome and the way that the expression of these genes is regulated, which is largely influenced by a family of DNA binding proteins called histones. We characterize C. reinhardtii core histones, both variants and their post-translational modifications, by chromatographic separation, followed by top-down mass spectrometry (TDMS). Because TDMS has not been previously used to study Chlamydomonas proteins, …

Mapping The Albuquerque Aquifer’S Potentiometric Surface In 2016, Lucas Curry

Water Resources Professional Project Reports

This professional project will examine and map the water levels in Albuquerque for the year 2016 using ArcGIS. The potentiometric surface of Albuquerque’s aquifer will be estimated using data from the USGS, the City of Albuquerque, Sandia National Labs, and Rio Rancho. Problem Statement:

The aquifer underlying the city of Albuquerque is a complex system that continues to be studied, and its capacity was vastly overestimated until the 1990s when local water levels began to drastically decrease. Following the implementation of water conservation measures in the city, Albuquerque further changed its approach to water management in 2008 by incorporating surface …