Biology Commons^™

Understanding The Gender-Based Mechanism Of Mso In Als Mice: A Metabolic Characterization Of The Sod1-G93a Mouse Model, Monica Ann Bame

Wayne State University Dissertations

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron death and a corresponding loss of neuromuscular connections resulting in muscle atrophy. Patients become paralyzed shortly after symptom onset and typically die within one to five years of pulmonary complications. ALS is a relatively rare disease, with an overall incidence of approximately 2 in 100,000 people per year and a prevalence of about 5 in 100,000 people. It is typically associated with increasing age and has a slight male prevalence, with a male to female ratio of approximately 3:2. ALS is classified as either familial (the less …

An Epidemiological Model Of Rift Valley Fever With Spatial Dynamics, Tianchan Niu, Holly D. Gaff, Yiannis E. Papelis, David M. Hartley

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

As a category A agent in the Center for Disease Control bioterrorism list, Rift Valley fever (RVF) is considered a major threat to the United States (USA). Should the pathogen be intentionally or unintentionally introduced to the continental USA, there is tremendous potential for economic damages due to loss of livestock, trade restrictions, and subsequent food supply chain disruptions. We have incorporated the effects of space into a mathematical model of RVF in order to study the dynamics of the pathogen spread as affected by the movement of humans, livestock, and mosquitoes. The model accounts for the horizontal transmission of …

Feasibility Study Of Trans-Cranial Direct Current Stimulation In Presence Of Brain Tumor, Abhilash Nair

Dissertations and Theses

Trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation has been shown to modulate cortical neuronal activity. Weak constant current is applied to the scalp using electrodes, leading to sub-threshold changes in neuronal membrane potential. Before actual clinical stimulation is performed, such systems are validated by simulating the stimulation and the resulting current flow patterns using finite element solvers. However, the reliability of such models depends upon the accuracy with which the underlying anatomy has been modeled [1]. In earlier studies it has been shown that the current flow patterns within the brain are altered due to the presence of lesioned brain tissues[2]. Here we …

Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. The leishmaniases are a diverse group of diseases with four major clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and diffuse. Approximately 21 Leishmania species and 30 sandfly vectors have been implicated in human leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 are developing countries. Currently, 350 million people live in leishmaniasis-endemic areas around the world. The true incidence of the disease is not known. However, the estimated incidence for visceral leishmaniasis is 500,000 cases per year, and for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 1.5-2 million cases per year. Visceral leishmaniasis causes 70,000 deaths each year. In the Americas region, …

The Role Of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma And Its Regulation By Hematopoietic Progenitor Kinase 1, Xianzhou Song

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with less than 5% of five year survival rate. New molecular markers and new therapeutic targets are urgently needed for patients with PDA. Oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase Axl has been reported to be overexpressed in many types of human malignancies, including diffuse glioma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, and carcinomas of lung, colon, prostate, breast, ovary, esophagus, stomach, and kidney. However, the expression and functions of Axl in PDA are unclear. We hypothesized that Axl contributes to the development and progression of PDA. We examined Axl expression in 54 human PDA samples …

Role Of Prostaglandin E2 In The Regulation Of Pancreatic Stellate Cells Hyper Activity Associated With Pancreatic Cancer, Chantale Charo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal type of cancer due to its high metastasis rate and resistance to chemotherapy. Pancreatic fibrosis is a constant pathological feature of chronic pancreatitis and the hyperactive stroma associated with pancreatic cancer. Strong evidence supports an important role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and COX-2 generated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) during pancreatic fibrosis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) are the predominant source of extracellular matrix production (ECM), thus being the key players in both diseases. Given this background, the primary objective is to delineate the role of PGE2 on human pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) hyper activation associated …

Na/K-Atpase Mimetic Pnaktide Peptide Inhibits The Growth Of Human Cancer Cells, Zhichuan Li, Zhongbing Zhang, Joe X. Xie, Xin Li, Jiang Tian, Ting Cai, Hongaun Cui, Hanfei Ding, Joseph I. Shapiro Md, Zijian Xie

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Cells contain a large pool of non-pumping Na/K-ATPase that participates in signal transduction. Here, we show that the expression of α1 Na/K-ATPase is significantly reduced in human prostate carcinoma as well as in several human cancer cell lines. This down-regulation impairs the ability of Na/K-ATPase to regulate Src-related signaling processes. Supplement of pNaKtide, a peptide derived from α1 Na/K-ATPase, reduces activities of Src and Src effectors. Consequently, these treatments stimulate apoptosis and inhibit growth in cultures of human cancer cells. Moreover, administration of pNaKtide inhibits angiogenesis and growth of tumor xenograft. Thus, the new findings demonstrate the in vivo effectiveness …

Caenorhabditis Briggsae Recombinant Inbred Line Genotypes Reveal Inter-Strain Incompatibility And The Evolution Of Recombination, Joseph A. Ross, Daniel C. Koboldt, Julia E. Staisch, Helen M. Chamberlin, Bhagwati P. Gupta, Raymond D. Miller, Scott Everet Baird, Eric S. Haag

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae is an emerging model organism that allows evolutionary comparisons with C. elegans and exploration of its own unique biological attributes. To produce a high-resolution C. briggsae recombination map, recombinant inbred lines were generated from reciprocal crosses between two strains and genotyped at over 1,000 loci. A second set of recombinant inbred lines involving a third strain was also genotyped at lower resolution. The resulting recombination maps exhibit discrete domains of high and low recombination, as in C. elegans, indicating these are a general feature of Caenorhabditis species. The proportion of a chromosome's physical size occupied by …

Loss Of Expression Of Neutrophil Proteinase-3: A Factor Contributing To Thrombotic Risk In Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, Anna M. Jankowska, Hadrian Szpurka, Mark Calabro, Sanjay Mohan, Andrew E. Schade, Michael Clemente, Roy L. Silverstein, Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: A deficiency of specific glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored proteins in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria may be responsible for most of the clinical features of this disease, but some functional consequences may be indirect. For example, the absence of certain glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored proteins in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria cells may influence expression of other membrane proteins. Membrane-bound proteinase 3 co-localizes with glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-linked neutrophil antigen 2a, which is absent in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Design and Methods: We compared expression of proteinase 3 and neutrophil antigen 2a by flow cytometry and western blotting in normal and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria cells and measured cytoplasmic …

Effects Of Canola And Corn Oil Mimetic On Jurkat Cells, Gabriela Ion, Kayla Fazio, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman

Biochemistry and Microbiology

BACKGROUND: The Western diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega-3 fatty acids. Canola oil contains a healthier omega 3 to omega 6 ratio than corn oil. Jurkat T leukemia cells were treated with free fatty acids mixtures in ratios mimicking that found in commercially available canola oil (7% α-linolenic, 30% linoleic, 54% oleic) or corn oil (59% linoleic, 24% oleic) to determine the cell survival or cell death and changes in expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and receptors following oil treatment.

METHODS: Fatty acid uptake was assessed by gas chromatography. Cell survival and cell death were …

Avian Community Ecology And The Shifting Baseline In Sugarcreek Metropark, Jennifer Lynne Hays, Thomas P. Rooney, Jeffrey L. Peters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Abundance And Trends Of Woodpecker Populations In The Wright State Biology Preserve, Brittany Damron, Thomas P. Rooney

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Carbon Sequestration In Soils Of The Wright State University Biology Preserve, Laurie Wissler, Thomas P. Rooney

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia Coli To The Wild Type Strain, Matthew Thomas Schreiner

Senior Honors Theses

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem that has rendered many antibiotics ineffective. Bacteria can gain resistance through spontaneous mutations and horizontal gene transfer. A better understanding of the overarching effects of antibiotic resistance on resistant strains is necessary when considering possible solutions to this issue. Tetracycline and doxycycline resistant strains of E. coli were compared to a wild type K-12 strain to determine if resistance engenders any fitness costs. The different strains were compared using antibiotic sensitivity tests, growth rate analysis and metabolic tests. The resistant strains actually grew at a slightly faster rate than the wild type strain. However, …

Stem Cell Biology And Strategies For Therapeutic Development In Degenerative Diseases And Cancer, Angel A. Alvarez '98

Doctoral Dissertations

Stem cell biology is an exciting field that will lead to significant advancements in science and medicine. We hypothesize that inducing the expression of stem cell genes, using the embryonic stem cell gene nanog, will reprogram cells and dedifferentiate human mesenchymal stem cells into pluripotent stem cells capable of neural differentiation. The aims of initial studies are as follows:

Aim 1: Demonstrate that forced expression of the embryonic stem cell gene nanog induces changes in human mesenchymal stem cells to an embryonic stem cell-like phenotype.

Aim 2: Demonstrate that induced expression of nanog up-regulates the expression of multiple embryonic stem …

Effect Of Animal Facility Construction On Basal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal And Renin-Aldosterone Activity In The Rat, Hershel Raff, Eric D. Bruder, William E. Cullinan, Dana R. Ziegler, Eric P. Cohen

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Nearby construction can cause subtle, but important activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in laboratory rats.

Although loud noise and intense vibration are known to alter the behavior and phenotype of laboratory animals, little is known about the effects of nearby construction. We studied the effect of a nearby construction project on the classic stress hormones ACTH, corticosterone, renin, and aldosterone in rats residing in a barrier animal facility before, for the first 3 months of a construction project, and at 1 month after all construction was completed. During some of the construction, noise and vibrations were not obvious to investigators …

The Pax Gene Eyegone Facilitates Repression Of Eye Development In Tribolium, Nazanin Zarinkamar, Xiaoyun Yang, Riyue Bao, Frank Friedrich, Rolf Beutel, Markus Friedrich

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

The Pax transcription factor gene eyegone (eyg) participates in many developmental processes in Drosophila, including the Notch signaling activated postembryonic growth of the eye primordium, global development of the adult head and the development of the antenna. In contrast to other Pax genes, the functional conservation of eyg in species other than Drosophila has not yet been explored.

Results

We investigated the role of eyg during the postembryonic development of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Our results indicate conserved roles in antennal but not in eye development. Besides segmentation defects in the antenna, Tribolium eyg knockdown animals …

Effects Of Xs® Energy Drink On Aerobic Exercise Capacity Of Athletes, Kevin M. Sheehan, Lynn K. Hartzler

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A small increase in performance is often the difference between winning and losing for athletes, and energy supplements are marketed to give them a competitive edge. One such supplement is XS® Energy Drink which contains B vitamins, caffeine, taurine, and an herbal adaptogen blend. XS® Energy Drink is primarily designed and marketed as an alertness stimulus; however, it is also marketed to athletes as a performance enhancing supplement. The hypothesis of this investigation was that the consumption of XS® Energy Drink before exercise would increase aerobic capacity (an increase in Vo2max) and time to fatigue, and would decrease time for …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

President's Message, Justin K. Wyatt

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Scas Officers And Council Members 2010 - 2011

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Properties And Uses Of Sodium Titanates And Peroxotitanates, David Hobbs

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Nanocarriers For Biomedical Applications, Shuyi Li, Lynsa Nguyen, Hairong Xion, Meiyao Wang, Tom C.-C. Hu, Jin-Xiong She, Steven M. Serkiz, George G. Wicks, William S. Dynan

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Removal And Sequestration Of Iodide From Alkaline Solutions Using Silver-Doped Carbon Nanotubes, Adrian L. Pishko, Steven M. Serkiz, Apparao M. Rao

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Scas Officers And Council Members 2010-2011

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Gold Nanospheres As Inhibitors Of Amyloid- Β Protein Aggregation Involved In Alzheimer’S Disease, Mihyun Lim, Deborah Soto-Ortega, Rahina Mahtab, Melissa Moss

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Sirna-Mediated Inhibition Of The Hiv-1 Transactivator Of Transcription, Alexander Jureka, Pricilla Simon, William Jackson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Physiological Markers Of Activity-Based Anorexia In Sprague Dawley Rats, Crystal Lange, Michelle Vieyra

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Inverse Correspondence Of Amh And Fsh Levels In Women Presenting For Infertility Treatments, Amara Iverson, Abdelmonium Younis, William Butler, William Roudebush

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.