Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Does Stress Make You Fat?, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., Thomas Rhodes, Michelle Pazienza, Catherine Nunez

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

ACTH is a major hormone of the stress axis or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It is derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) the precursor to the melanocortin family of peptides. POMC produces the biologically active melanocortin peptides via a series of enzymatic steps in a tissue-specific manner, yielding the melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs), corticotrophin (ACTH) and β-endorphin. The melanocortin system plays an imperative role in energy expenditure, insulin release and insulin sensitivity. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells circulate in the blood stream and as progenitor cells have the potential to differentiate into many cell types such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Here we …

Acth Promotes Osteogenesis Of Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through The Melanocortin-2 Receptor, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., Sylvana Rodriguez, Louis Ragolia

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

Adrenocorticotropin Hormone (ACTH) is an endocrine hormone that is secreted by the pituitary and stimulates the secretion of cortisol from the adrenal cortex. It is among the several melanocortin peptide hormones that are derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) such as α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), γ-MSH and the endorphins. ACTH is also produced by cells outside the central nervous system and has been found to play a role in osteogenesis. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) obtained from bone marrow of the Wystar Kyoto (WKY) rat, we confirmed that ACTH increases osteogenesis in a dosedependent manner. Immunoblot of crude membrane fractions was used …

Particle Association Of Enterococcus And Total Bacteria In The Lower Hudson River Estuary, Usa, Elizabeth A. Suter, Andrew R. Juhl, Gegory D. O'Mullan

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

Bacterial particle association has important consequences for water-quality monitoring and modeling. Parti-cle association can change vertical and horizontal transport of bacterial cells, as well as patterns of persis-tence and production. In this study, the abundance and particle association of total bacteria and the fe-cal-indicator, Enterococcus, were quantified between June and October 2008 in the lower Hudson River Es-tuary (HRE). Twelve sites were sampled, including mid-channel, near shore, and tributary habitats, plus a sewage outfall. Total bacterial cell counts averaged 9.2 × 109 ± 6.4 × 109 cell·l–1 (1 standard deviation), com-parable to previous sampling in the HRE. Unlike earlier studies, …

High Glucose Enhances The Proliferation Effects Of Stress Hormones In Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., Nancy Abrego, Louis Ragolia

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the progenitor cells to connective tissue cells, epithelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. These cells are currently being investigated as a cellular source for tissue regeneration and repair. The systemic and local tissue environment may have significant influence on the success of such efforts. We hypothesized that elevated glucose and exposure to stress hormones would influence the proliferation of MSC. MSC from the bone marrow of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were grown under both low glucose (5 mM) and high glucose (20 nM) conditions in the presence and absence of the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, and adrenocorticotropin …

Stress Axis Hormones Induce Triglyceride Filled Nodule Formation In Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., Michelle Vigliotti, Pamela Tello

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

Homeostatic stress, such as that which occurs in diabetes, is associated with increased risk for the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques of the artery wall are associated with both lipid accumulation and fibrous and/or calcified tissue accumulation. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) which are capable of differentiating into adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts. MSC of the bone marrow are pushed toward the chondrogenic and adipogenic phenotypes in the presence of the stress hormones glucocorticoid and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). This led us to hypothesize that the proliferative VSMC of the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) diabetic rat, when exposed …

Adrenocorticotropin Hormone Expression In The Developing Chicken Limb, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., Michelle Vigliotti

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

In previous studies using mammalian models we have found both clinical and laboratory evidence of a role for melanocortins in endochondral ossification. The melanocortin system has remarkable conservation among vertebrates and melanocortin receptors are expressed with significant sequence homology in teleosts to mammals. The overall goal of these studies is to provide a more accessible model of melanocortin involvement in endochondral growth. We hope to determine if melanocortins play a role during endochondral ossification of the developing chicken limb. Like in mammals melanocortins are widely distributed throughout the body of chicken and participate in a wide range of physiological functions …

Limulus In The Limelight: Exploring An Ancient Species, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

In an era when sports numbers shatter historical ceilings (especially in baseball) and fall by the wayside like fall leaves, a most enduring record of life continues to crawl along emerging from the sea early each spring pronouncing their incredible "record" of existences... over 350 million years. Now there is a number that even the rarified air of baseball salaries can admire. Yet, today the remarkable sea creature which endured over 100 million years of dramatically changing earth history prior to the existence of the dinosaurs, and which is comprised of only four species globally, is being tested for its …

Habitat Use Of Sympatrically Nesting Fish Crows And American Crows, Brook Lauro, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

We examined habitat use of sympatric Fish Crows (Corvus ossifragus) and American Crows (C. brachyrhynchos) nesting in the vicinity of waterbird breeding locations at the Rockaway Peninsula, New York City. Fish Crows nested significantly more often at natural habitats, including coastal dunes and salt marsh islands; American Crows nested significantly more often at residential and recreational areas. In regard to potential foraging areas, Fish Crows nested closer to waterbird colonies and to the water's edge while American Crows nested closer to a garbage source and to lawns. Fish Crows nested significantly more often in deciduous trees …

Water Quality Characterization And Mathematical Modeling Of Dissolved Oxygen In The East And West Ponds, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Krishnanand Maillacheruvu, D Roy, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

The current study was undertaken to characterize the East and West Ponds and develop a mathematical model of the effects of nutrient and BOD loading on dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in these ponds. The model predicted that both ponds will recover adequately given the average expected range of nutrient and BOD loading due to waste from surface runoff and migratory birds. The predicted dissolved oxygen levels in both ponds were greater than 5.0 mg/L, and were supported by DO levels in the field which were typically above 5.0 mg/L during the period of this study. The model predicted a steady-state …

An Examination Of Predatory Pressures On Piping Plovers Nesting At Breezy Point, New York, Brook Lauro, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

This study examines predatory threats to Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) nesting at Breezy Point, Gateway National Recreation Area, New York. Several methods used include: 1) an evaluation of reproductive success data with documentation of predation to eggs and chicks, 2) predator surveys, and 3) an artificial nest study. The range of breeding pairs nesting from 1988-1996 was 11-19, with an average of 15.8 (SE ± 0.79) pairs/season. The average number of eggs hatched and chicks fledged per year for pairs was 2.2 ± 0.23 and 0.8 ± 0.16 respectively. Reasons for egg losses often went undetected (68%) but …

Managing Birds And Controlling Aircraft In The Kennedy Airport–Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Complex: The Need For Hard Data And Soft Opinions, Kevin Brown, R. Michael Erwin, Milo E. Richmond, P A. Buckley, John Tanacredi Ph.D., Dave Avrin

Faculty Works: CERCOM

During the 1980s, the exponential growth of laughing gull (Larus atricilla) colonies, from 15 to about 7600 nests in 1990, in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a correlated increase in the bird-strike rate at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City) led to a controversy between wildlife and airport managers over the elimination of the colonies. In this paper, we review data to evaluate if: (1) the colonies have increased the level of risk to the flying public; (2) on-colony population control would reduce the presence of gulls, and subsequently bird strikes, at the airport; …

Effect Of Circular Motion Exercise On Bone Modeling And Bone Mass In Young Rats: An Animal Model Of Isometric Exercise, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., J. K. Yeh, Q. Niu, J. Iwamoto, J. F. Aloia

Faculty Works: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies

The aims of the study are to develop a non-invasive animal model of circular motion exercise and to evaluate the effect of this type of exercise on bone turnover in young rats. The circular motion exercise simulates isometric exercise using an orbital shaker that oscillates at a frequency of 50 Hz and is capable of speeds from 0-400 rpm. A cage is fixed on top of the shaker and the animals are placed inside. When the shaker is turned on, the oscillatory movement should encourage the animals to hold on to the cage and use various muscle forces to stabilize …

Phytosociological Analysis Of Restored And Managed Grassland Habitat Within An Urban National Park, Andrew M. Greller, Celestine Durando, Leslie F. Marcus, D. Siril A. Wijesundara, Michael D. Byer, Robert Cook, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

Floyd Bennett Field (FBF), 579 ha in extent, is a division of Gateway National Recreation Area. It is the site of a former airfield, constructed by filling salt marshes with dredged materials. Except for the portion known locally as the “North Forty,” all sections of FBF have been cut over to maintain low vegetation. A grassland management plan (GRAMP) for 165 ha was initiated in 1986, to maintain habitats for open-country birds. Over the next few years, encroaching woody vegetation was removed manually and mechanically from the management area. Since then, it has been maintained as a grassland and receives …

Changes In Reproductive Morphology And Physiology Observed In The Amphipod Crustacean, Melita Nitida Smith, Maintained In The Laboratory On Polluted Estuarine Sediments, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D., B. Borowsky, P. Aitken-Ander

Faculty Works: CERCOM

An earlier study showed that the amphipod crustacean Melita nitida Smith maintained on sediments dosed with waste crankcase oil developed physiological and morphological abnormalities. Most notably, mature females developed abnormal setae along the edges of their brood plates. The present study was conducted to determine whether similar abnormalities might be induced in animals maintained on polluted field sediments containing petroleum by-products among other toxic substances. In the laboratory, heterosexual pairs were maintained on three sediments taken from Jamaica Bay (New York) plus one control sediment and one toxic substratum (Ulva lactuca (L.) thalli). The results mirrored the results of …

Rare And Endangered Plants At Gateway National Recreation Area: A Case For Protection Of Urban Natural Areas, Richard Stalter, Michael D. Byer, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

The diversity of native plant species in urban environments is usually overlooked when biodiversity levels are considered. Inventories of native plants reveal many to be rare species surviving the harsh conditions encountered in urban ecosystems. Knowledge of their existence and an inventory of their distribution will assist in maintaining these populations. Protection strategies for rare plant species are outlined for urban National Parks.

Liver Lesions In Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes Americanus) From Jamaica Bay, New York: Indications Of Environmental Degradation, Thomas P. Augspurger, Roger L. Herman, Jeff S. Hatfield, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

Liver sections of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) collected from Jamaica Bay and Shinnecock Bay, New York, in 1989, were examined microscopically to determine the pervasiveness of liver lesions observed previously in Jamaica Bay winter flounder. Neoplastic lesions were not detected in fish from Jamaica Bay or the Shinnecock Bay reference site. Twenty-two percent of Jamaica Bay winter flounder examined (n=103) had unusual vacuolization of hepatocytes and biliary pre-ductal and ductal cells (referred to hereafter as the vacuolated cell lesion). The lesion, identical to that found in 25% of Jamaica Bay winter flounder examined in 1988, has previously been …

Variability In Growth And Age Structure Among Populations Of Ribbed Mussels, Geukensia Demissa (Dillwyn) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae), In Jamacia Bay, New York (Gateway Nra), David R. Franz, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

Growth rates, body weight, density and biomass of ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa (Dillwyn), were determined at Spartina alterniflora marsh-flat sites in Jamaica Bay, New York (Lower Hudson Estuary). Cumulative growth and annual growth increments varied but rates were lower at sites within the central bay relative to peripheral sites. Local variability both in size at Ring-1 and size-specific annual growth rates probably account for the variability in cumulative length. No pattersn were noted in frequency distributions of shell size but congruence in age structure was observed among neighboring sites in some areas of the bay. Mussel densities were greater within …

Rotating Biological Contractors As An Effective Removal System Of Waste Petroleum Hydrocarbons From Untreated Wastewaters, John Tanacredi Ph.D., R. C. Cardenas

Faculty Works: CERCOM

A staged, partially submerged rotating biological disk system was assessed to determine its performance in the reduction of detectable concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH0 attributable to waste crankcase oils (WCCO) in wastewater effluent. Results indicate that such biological systems for the removal of WCCO aromatic hydrocarbons may be a viable alternative to secondary treatment systems commonly being employed.

Characterization Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Pahs) By The Kinetics Of Depuration In Bivalve Molluscs, Mercenaria Mercenaria, C Sato, H Kim, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

The objectives of this study were to examine depuration aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a hard-shell clam Mercenaria mercenaria, and to characterize PAHs by the depuration kinetics. In this investigation, clams were exposed to artificial sea water containing a mixture of eight PAHs (i.e., naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, flouranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene) for 48 hours. The clams were then transferred into clean (PAH-free) artificial seawater for release, and sampled at predetermined intervals. The target PAHs were extracted from the clam tissue and quantified by a gas chromatograph equipped with a capillary glass column and FID.

The results …

Biodepuration Of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons From A Bivalve Mollusk, Mercenaria Mercenaria L, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D., Raul R. Cardenas

Faculty Works: CERCOM

Mercenaria mercenaria, exposed in vitro for 48 h to nine parent polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in waste crankcase oil (WCCO) and analysed by multiparametric analysis over a 45- day depuration period in an activated carbon filtration aquaria system, did not depurate PAHs, but rather maintained them at detectable levels. Uptake of PAHs was shown to be directly related to clam weight. A cluster analysis of empirical results reaffirmed a biostabilization in PAH groupings in clam tissue over a 45-day depuration period and exhibited no evidence of a decreasing trend in total PAHs when subjected to ANOVA. Due to the …

Naphthalenes Associated With Treated Wastewater Effluents In An Urban National Wildlife Refuge, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

Our coastal enviornments have become the invariable recipient of petroleum and petroleum wastes. Demands for petroleum products coupled with a lack of economic incentive to recycle waste oil, will increase the probability of greater concentrations of petroleum derived hyrdrocarbons entering our estuaries (CEQ Report, 1983).

Tidal Flat Ecology: An Experimental Approach To Species Interactions By K. Riess, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

A periodic pause to intensely observe a singularly unique ecosystem sharpens one's awareness of this diverse world of ours, especially, as the author notes, if one observes a transitional ecosystem whose ecological treasures are hidden or maybe obscured by a tidal sediment's resemblance to a large, rotten cheese! "It smells, is slimy and sticky, is punched with holes and crowded with various worms." Sounds good to me! Reise's "pause" encompasses 10 years in which he investigated the Wadden Sea mudflats near the border between West Germany and Denmark. He uses this site to discuss the biotic and abiotic interactions within …

Petroleum Hydrocarbons From Effluents: Detection In Marine Environment, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

The marine environment has become the primary disposa ground for an increasing quantity of petroleum wastes. Mushrooming demands for petroleum products and the lack of economic incentive to recycle waste oil will increase the concentrations of detrimental petroleum hydrocarbons in the marine environment

Although a continuous, low-level discharge of waste petroleum hydrocarbons into the marine environment may not be as dramatic as a major oil spill, the consequences could be more devastating over an extended period. As noted by Blumer, earlier interpretations of the environmental effects of oil must not be reevaluated in the light of recent evidence of its …