Other Life Sciences Commons^™

Atomistic Simulations And Network-Based Modeling Of The Hsp90-Cdc37 Chaperone Binding With Cdk4 Client Protein: A Mechanism Of Chaperoning Kinase Clients By Exploiting Weak Spots Of Intrinsically Dynamic Kinase Domains, John Czemeres, Kurt Buse, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

A fundamental role of the Hsp90 and Cdc37 chaperones in mediating conformational development and activation of diverse protein kinase clients is essential in signal transduction. There has been increasing evidence that the Hsp90-Cdc37 system executes its chaperoning duties by recognizing conformational instability of kinase clients and modulating their folding landscapes. The recent cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Hsp90-Cdc37- Cdk4 kinase complex has provided a framework for dissecting regulatory principles underlying differentiation and recruitment of protein kinase clients to the chaperone machinery. In this work, we have combined atomistic simulations with protein stability and network-based rigidity decomposition analyses to characterize dynamic …

Virtual Reality As A Training Tool To Treat Physical Inactivity In Children, Adam W. Kiefer, David Pincus, Michael J. Richardson, Gregory D. Myer

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Lack of adequate physical activity in children is an epidemic that can result in obesity and other poor health outcomes across the lifespan. Physical activity interventions focused on motor skill competence continue to be developed, but some interventions, such as neuromuscular training (NMT), may be limited in how early they can be implemented due to dependence on the child’s level of cognitive and perceptual-motor development. Early implementation of motor-rich activities that support motor skill development in children is critical for the development of healthy levels of physical activity that carry through into adulthood. Virtual reality (VR) training may be beneficial …

Science And Sentiment: Affecting Change In Environmental Awareness, Attitudes, And Actions Through The Daily Nature Project, Elizabeth D. Haynes Poronsky

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Knowledge about what motivates pro-environmental behavior is important to organizations that seek to encourage environmental stewardship. Research suggests that targeting emotions and beliefs about nature can be more effective in changing environmental actions than increasing knowledge. Daily Nature, a site on the social media platform Facebook, features a daily nature photograph, a quote from a notable historical person and a related lyrical written passage. The popularity of this site lends credence to the appeal of interdisciplinary formats, and underscores the benefits of encouraging emotional and aesthetic ties to nature.

Effect Of Metal Ion Substitution On Electrochemical Properties Of Cobalt Oxide For Energy Applications, Dalal Alqahtani

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Metal oxides are being used for various applications, such as batteries, supercapacitors, and catalysts. This research is mainly to produce high-performance energy storage devices capable of working at high temperatures and causing no pollution in the environment. To this end, the effect of metal ion substitution on the electrochemical properties of Co₃O₄ for energy applications was studied. Different metal oxides, such as FeCo₂O₄, MnCo₂O₄, Co₃O₄, NiCo₂O₄, CuCo₂O_4, and ZnCo₂O₄, were synthesized using a hydrothermal …

Evaluation Of A Direct Pcr Method And The Qiagen Investigator 24plex Go! Kit For Typing Blood, Saliva And Touch Dna On Multiple Substrates, Angelita Pierre-Noel

Student Theses

In forensic DNA typing, omitting the DNA extraction procedure and adding the sample directly to the polymerase chain reaction (direct PCR) mixture has several advantages. Without extraction and purification, there is less of a risk of sample loss, sample mix up, or contamination. This study tested the feasibility of direct PCR using the Qiagen® Investigator® 24plex GO! Kit, a megaplex kit that amplifies 22 polymorphic STR markers and the Amelogenin sex determination alleles. Test samples included blood, saliva and skin cells on porous substrates, specifically denim, white cotton, polyester fabric, and paper tissue. Glass slides were used to represent non-porous …

No Evidence For Trace Metal Limitation On Anaerobic Carbon Mineralization In Three Peatland Soils, Jason K. Keller, Jillian Wade

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Peatlands store roughly one-third of the terrestrial soil carbon and release the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH₄) to the atmosphere, making these wetlands among the most important ecosystems in the global carbon cycle. Despite their importance, the controls of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and CH₄ within peatlands are not well understood. It is known, however, that the enzymes responsible for CH₄ production require cobalt, iron and nickel, and there is a growing appreciation for the potential role of trace metal limitation in anaerobic decomposition. To explore the possibility of …

Quantitative Pcr Assays For Detection Of Five Arctic Fish Species: Lota Lota, Cottus Cognatus, Salvelinus Alpinus, Salvelinus Malma, And Thymallus Arcticus From Environmental Dna, Torrey W. Rodgers, John R. Olson, Stephen L. Klobucar, Karen E. Mock

Ecology Center Publications

The North Slope of Alaska contains arctic fish populations that are important for subsistence of local human populations, and are under threat from natural resource extraction and climate change. We designed and evaluated four quantitative PCR assays for the detection of environmental DNA from five Alaskan fish species present on the North Slope of Alaska: burbot (Lota lota), arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus), and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). All assays were designed and tested for species specificity and sensitivity, and all assays detected …

After The Flood: Fish Farming And Climate Change Adaptation In Chitwan, Nepal, Signe Stroming

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Last summer, Nepal’s Terai region experienced some of the worst flooding in recent memory. Climate change is expected to increase the number of natural disasters that Nepal experiences in coming years, and more vulnerable demographics will be more adversely affected. Fish farming is a highly profitable and slowly growing industry based primarily in the Terai, that many believe is less vulnerable to climate-related risks than conventional forms of agriculture, and thus a possible livelihood adaptation strategy. In this study, I conducted semi-structured interviews with ten farmers in Madi, Chitwan, to understand the daily challenges and threats to fish farming, the …

Can Mine Reclamation With An Exotic Grass Species Precede Successful Restoration In Intermountain Grasslands? A Case Study With Agropyron Cristatum., Mark Mariano

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

We performed four experiments to test whether or not native plants germinated with physical and chemical contact with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.), a grass species native to Eurasia which has been widely used for mine reclamation in North America. In our study area Butte, Montana, A. cristatum was planted on capped mine waste and, in many cases, has formed a monoculture with a large buildup of leaf litter. We found there to be a much higher mean litter depth on these lands when compared to wild grasslands. Leaf litter proved to be a significant barrier for the establishment …

Recognizing Challenges And Opportunities In The Quest To End Hunger, Jennifer Williams Zwagerman

Texas A&M Law Review

As an attorney and professor that does not focus on intellectual property law, I was a bit apprehensive about providing a keynote address for a Symposium focusing on “Agriculture, Intellectual Property, and Feeding the World in the 21st Century.” As I thought about this topic, knowing that there were other speakers who would focus more on the IP issues and technical aspects of various topics, I kept coming back to the importance of technology as we worktowards the goal of feeding the world, and the many ways in which innovation plays a role in meeting that goal. It also brought …

Itraq-Based Proteomics Analysis And Network Integration For Kernel Tissue Development In Maize, Long Zhang, Yongbin Dong, Qilei Wang, Chunguang Du, Wenwei Xiong, Xinyu Li, Sailan Zhu, Yuling Li

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Grain weight is one of the most important yield components and a developmentally complex structure comprised of two major compartments (endosperm and pericarp) in maize (Zea mays L.), however, very little is known concerning the coordinated accumulation of the numerous proteins involved. Herein, we used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based comparative proteomic method to analyze the characteristics of dynamic proteomics for endosperm and pericarp during grain development. Totally, 9539 proteins were identified for both components at four development stages, among which 1401 proteins were non-redundant, 232 proteins were specific in pericarp and 153 proteins were specific in …

T-Time: A Data Repository Of T Cell And Calcium Release-Activated Calcium Channel Activation Imagery, Cody Arbuckle, Milton L. Greenberg, Adrienne Bergh, Rene German, Nick Sirago, Erik J. Linstead

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND: A fundamental understanding of live-cell dynamics is necessary in order to advance scientific techniques and personalized medicine. For this understanding to be possible, image processing techniques, probes, tracking algorithms and many other methodologies must be improved. Currently there are no large open-source datasets containing live-cell imaging to act as a standard for the community. As a result, researchers cannot evaluate their methodologies on an independent benchmark or leverage such a dataset to formulate scientific questions.

FINDINGS: Here we present T-Time, the largest free and publicly available data set of T cell phase contrast imagery designed with the …

How Science Makes America Great, Kenneth Nickerson

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

The proposed Federal Budget cuts funding for NIH, NSF, and CDC by 16% each and for the EPA by a whopping 31%. Ouch! The situation seems ironic because of President Trump’s slogan “Make America great again!”, which I agree with wholeheartedly. In addition to being a scientist, I also love history (especially military history) and science is at the top of my list of what has made the United States great. ... Why do we do it? I’m in science because it is rewarding. It is invigorating to discover how nature works. Scientists may act individually and in relative obscurity, …

A Healthy Brain: Use It Or Lose It!, Elizabeth B. Fauth, Maria C. Norton

All Current Publications

Challenging your muscles makes for strong healthy muscles, and challenging your brain cells makes for a strong healthy brain. Build up your brain’s cognitive reserve – create a well-connected, high-capacity brain – through overall healthy behaviors (diet and exercise) and making mentally challenging activities part of your daily life. The more options your brain has to get its signals sent, the better able it is to handle areas of damage. A well-connected brain may be better able to delay or prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Creativity As A State Of Consciousness: Creativity And Altered States Of Consciousness, Kari A. D'Amico, Kari A. D'Amico

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Part of a larger research initiative focused on altered states of consciousness as it relates to creativity, this inquiry is a continuation of my independent study completed fall 2016. This project is designed to further develop research in the area of creativity as it relates to altered states of consciousness. It offers a new paradigm for how we might present the concept of altered states of consciousness within the field of creativity. This altered state is in contrast to what will be defined as an ordinary state of consciousness. The product and qualities expressed in an altered state of consciousness …

Niche By Basma Kavanagh, Vivian M. Hansen

The Goose

Review of Basma Kavanagh's Niche.

Gosnell Studies And Communicates Ecological Concerns, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Scientists who study environmental problems know that the more you work in the field, the more insight you gain into how to solve problems. In other words, the more field experience you have, the deeper your understanding of nature.

One scientist who has had a lot of field experience is Dr. Stephen Gosnell, and his interest in the environment began when he was still a child. “I had interest really early. I grew up in rural South Carolina in a very small town called Landrum. I was outside on a regular basis, playing in the streams and creeks around me,” …

Beyond The Obvious: Emerging Contaminants And Biogeochemistry As A Cause And Solution For Nitrogen Pollution, Stephanie L. Devries

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Following a comprehensive review of the occurrence and impacts of antibiotics and related pharmaceutical compounds on the terrestrial N-cycle, three experiments were performed to explore the topic of biogeochemistry as a source or a sink for N-pollution. The first of these experiments addresses the question of whether environmentally relevant concentrations of antibiotics (µg·kg^-1) have a significant effect on denitrification or N₂O production, a question that has not been well addressed in previous studies. Having determined that there is a significant shift, the second study aims to comprehensively follow changes to soil N pools and N_{2 …}

Bioethics In The Work Of Ernest Everett Just: + Missing - Some 400 Pages, Theodore Walker

Perkins Faculty Research and Special Events

Biology + ethics = bioethics. Here we see that Howard University biologist Ernest Everett Just (born 1883, died 1941) connected biology to ethics.

According to Just, various forms of specific biology (including especially cell biology) plus “general biology” are necessary for explaining adequately the origin of ethical behaviors. Social ethical behaviors, especially mutual aid and cooperative interactions with others and the environment, are essential to evolutionary advances among living creatures, ranging from humans to cells. Accordingly, theory of ethics (moral theory) should have roots in biology.

Also, Just wrote an unpublished book-length manuscript—“some 400 typed pages” (Just 1940)—on seeking the …

Human-Nonhuman Chimeras, Ontology, And Dignity: A Constructivist Approach To The Ethics Of Conducting Research On Cross-Species Hybrids, Jonathan M. Vajda

The Hilltop Review

Developments in biological technology in the last few decades highlight the surprising and ever-expanding practical benefits of stem cells. With this progress, the possibility of combining human and nonhuman organisms is a reality, with ethical boundaries that are not readily obvious. These inter-species hybrids are of a larger class of biological entities called “chimeras.” As the concept of a human-nonhuman creature is conjured in our minds, either incredulous wonder or grotesque horror is likely to follow. This paper seeks to mitigate those worries and demotivate reasonable concerns raised against chimera research, all the while pressing current ethical positions toward their …

Oceanographic Data In Rhode Island Waters Ocg 150, Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Combined Sewer Overflow (Cso) On The Abundance Of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria In The James River, Enjolie Levengood, Sunauz Moezzi, Rima B. Franklin

Rice Rivers Center Research Symposium

Antibiotics have been used to treat bacterial infections worldwide since their discovery in the early 20th century and are vital to human health. Unfortunately, the heavy use of antibiotics has led to the increased natural selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In urban rivers, the spread of resistance resistance is through through the direct acquisition of resistance genes by either either either cell-to -cell contact or DNA uptake via a process called horizontal gene transfer transfer(HGT) 2.HGT, resistance genes, and resistant bacteria are in greater abundance in wastewater systems, and are released into the environment in wastewater plant effluent2,3. One problematic …

Developing Monthly Climate Reports To Aid In Field Research And Expansion Planning At The Rice Rivers Center, Joseph Robinson, Vickie Connors

Rice Rivers Center Research

No abstract provided.

Exploring Molecular Simulations Of A Plausible Prebiotic Reduced Phospholipid Using Hyperchem Software, Lucas Leinen, N. W. Fitch, K. L. Even, Patrick Videau, Michael Gaylor

Research & Publications

How the first cells emerged from the primordial milieu is one of the great questions in science. Biomolecular emergence scenarios abound in the literature, but the lack of bioaccessible phosphate and molecular oxygen on the primordial Earth has posed formidable challenges for deducing emergence pathways. One idea gaining wide acceptance invokes delivery of the phosphide mineral schreibersite ((Fe,Ni)3P) to Earth via meteorite impacts ca. 4.2 billion years ago, whereupon they were corroded to reduced phosphorous oxyacids and phosphonates in primordial aquatic environments. We previously proposed that these reduced phosphorus forms could readily combine with putative geochemical species in shallow mineral-rich …

Quorum Sensing In Candida Albicans: Farnesol Versus Farnesoic Acid, Wayne R. Riekhof, Kenneth Nickerson

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Candida albicans is a clinically important dimorphic fungus that exhibits either a budding yeast or a mycelial-hyphal or pseudohyphal growth, depending on environmental conditions. The yeast-to-mycelia morphologic transition, which is generally regarded as an important virulence determinant, depends on the inoculum size of liquid cultures. The yeast form is favored when cultures are inoculated at > 10⁶ cells∙mL^–1, whereas the mycelial form is favored at inoculum densities < 10⁶∙mL^–1. Farnesoic acid (FA) and farnesol (FOH) are two related sesquiterpene quorum- sensing molecules that, upon accumulation, prevent the yeast-to-mycelial conversion. Oh et al. showed that C. albicans …

Deciphering Fungal Dimorphism: Farnesol’S Unanswered Questions, Kenneth Nickerson, Audrey L. Atkin

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Candida albicans excretes E,E-farnesol as a virulence factor and quorum sensing molecule that prevents the yeast to hyphal conversion. Polke et al. (2016) identified eed1Δ/Δ as the first farnesol hypersensitive mutant of C. albicans. eed1Δ/Δ also excretes 10X more farnesol and while able to form hyphae, it cannot maintain hyphae. This mutant enables new research into unanswered questions, including the existence of potential farnesol receptors and transporters, regulation of farnesol synthesis, and relationships among farnesol, germ tube formation and hyphal maintenance. The eed1 farnesol hypersensitivity can be explained by higher internal concentrations of farnesol or lower thresholds for response. One …

Survivorship And Growth Among Three Developmental Stages Of Black Mangrove (Avicennia Germinans) Seedlings In Southernmost Texas, Frank W. Judd, Kenneth R. Sunny, Robert I. Lonard, Ruben A. Mazariegos

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Black mangrove is useful for shoreline stabilization in Texas and Mexico but there is insufficient information regarding propagule survivorship and seedling growth. We compared survivorship and growth of three develop-mental groups of black mangrove seedlings planted on three dredge spoil islands in the Lower Laguna Madre of Texas, to better understand optimum planting strategy. Each spoil island had 100 seedlings without emergent radicles, 100 seedlings with emergent radicles, and 75 head-started seedlings. Survivorship of seedlings with and with-out emergent radicles was low, (0-16%). Survivorship of head-started seedlings was higher, (60 – 62.7%). Varia-tion in survivorship among developmental categories was significant …

Where Policy And Practice Collide: Comparing Us,South African And European Union Approaches Toprotecting Children Online, Monica Bulger, Patrick Burton, Brian O'Neill, Elisabeth Staksrud

Articles

That children have a right to protection when they go online is an internationally well-established principle, upheld in laws that seek to safeguard children from online abuse and exploitation. However, children’s own transgressive behaviour can test the boundaries of this protection regime, creating new dilemmas for lawmakers the world over. This article examines the policy response from both the Global North and South to young people’s online behaviour that may challenge adult conceptions of what is acceptable, within existing legal and policy frameworks. It asks whether the ‘childhood innocence’ implied in much protection discourse is a helpful basis for promoting …

Assisted Suicide, Valerie Ontiveros

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Assisted suicide is when a physician helps a terminally ill patient die without pain. As of right now, it is illegal in most states. Organizations about this issue were organized in the late 1930's (Humphry). According to Pro-Con. Org, 79% of patients requested assisted suicide even before they came terminally ill –if it got to that point.

Many states have different laws on assisted suicide. In no doubt, these patients go through a tremendous amount of pain and no one but themselves should decide when enough is enough. Technological advances have allowed this generation to help aid a person when …

Poison In Pink, Sydney V. Cook

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Humans slather, spray, mist, and cleanse their bodies with personal care products like lotion, hairspray, cologne, and shampoo every day. Our cupboards are stocked full of them, but few of us understand what is in those jars and bottles. We trust that if it’s on the shelf at the store, it’s safe. However, this is not always the case, and many personal care products contain chemicals that are harmful to human and environmental health.

My multi-disciplinary Environmental Studies thesis project combines evidenced-based research, interviews, nonfiction narrative, and science communication to create part of a book manuscript intended to educate general …