text: Undergraduate Honors Theses http://hdl.handle.net/1813/2936 2017-05-28T01:13:24Z Optimization of non-viral transfection methods for equine mesenchymal stem cells http://hdl.handle.net/1813/46193 Optimization of non-viral transfection methods for equine mesenchymal stem cells Ballantyne, Rachel Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have exciting medical potential, especially those that are genetically modified. Non-viral methods for genetic modification present several advantages over viral methods, and hence, such methods have been optimized for MSCs from a variety of species. Although equine MSCs have great importance, prior to this study, effective non-viral transfection parameters for these cells had not been determined. Here both chemical and physical transfection methods were optimized for equine MSCs, using red fluorescent protein as a reporter gene. Chemical reagents were optimized for reagent-to-DNA ratio, transfection solution plating volume, and cell density. Additionally, ideal voltage, cell concentration, DNA concentration, buffer, and pulse number settings were discovered for electroporation. The method resulting in highest gene expression was electroporation with one 30-msec pulse at 170 volts in Opti-Mem buffer. This technique resulted in transfection of 54% of the cell population, a percentage that is on the higher end of nonviral MSC transfection efficiencies. The transfection parameters determined in this study will undoubtedly be useful to all researchers who wish to genetically modify equine MSCs. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Know Your Worth: Angel Financing of Female Entrepreneurial Ventures http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44579 Know Your Worth: Angel Financing of Female Entrepreneurial Ventures Shapsis, Melanie 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Web Interface Design for Chinese Characters http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44577 Web Interface Design for Chinese Characters Wang, Qian 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Modifying critical thresholds in Simcast to achieve better late blight management for moderately susceptible potato and tomato crops http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44576 Modifying critical thresholds in Simcast to achieve better late blight management for moderately susceptible potato and tomato crops Wu, Yuanhan 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Promoting Reconciliation in Post-Civil War Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Religiously Inspired NGOs http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44575 Promoting Reconciliation in Post-Civil War Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Religiously Inspired NGOs Dadi, Rehan 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Tracing Decay of Fine Root Carbon into Aggregate Fractions of Forest Soils http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44574 Tracing Decay of Fine Root Carbon into Aggregate Fractions of Forest Soils Breitenstein, Steven 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Effects of Front-of-Package Marketing and Corrective Labels on Consumer Perceptions of the Healthfulness of Nutritional Bars http://hdl.handle.net/1813/43915 Effects of Front-of-Package Marketing and Corrective Labels on Consumer Perceptions of the Healthfulness of Nutritional Bars Fernan, Catherine 2016-05-19T00:00:00Z The development of a quantitative assay for the detection of grapevine red blotch-associated virus in Vitis vinifera identifies significant differences in virus distribution http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44551 The development of a quantitative assay for the detection of grapevine red blotch-associated virus in Vitis vinifera identifies significant differences in virus distribution Setiono, Felicia Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV) is associated with red blotch disease which undermines optimal growth and development of grapevine (Vitis vinifera). Despite GRBaV's significant economical and biological impacts, existing diagnostic methods lack sensitivity and consistency. This study has developed, optimized and employed a reliable quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection of GRBaV in a variety of host tissue types. Primers specific to GRBaV and an internal host control (NADP-dependent Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)) were selected for use in qPCR based on their performance in initial validation tests. Controls consisted of 1) the internal GAPDH which served as relative reference of total input DNA and as a marker for template quality, 2) a dilution series of cloned target viral DNA, and 3) negative controls of water and total nucleic acid from uninfected vines. This method was then used to quantify the amount of GRBaV in multiple infected greenhouse- (GG) and field- (FG) grown vines. Absolute and relative quantification methods were shown to be strongly correlated (R2 > 0.84) for both GG and FG. Viral DNA quantities varied in different tissue types and from one plant to another between and within a location, but most significantly between GG and FG, where only 56.0% of the total samples from the latter were determined as positive compared to 98.4% for the former. Petioles were consistently found to contain higher amounts of GRBaV compared to their corresponding leaves (P≤0.0368). Leaves proximal to the main stem were also found to contain higher amounts of GRBaV compared to leaves located in the apical part of the cane (P≤0.0017). Based on these findings, it is recommended that total nucleic acid extracted from multiple petioles of fully developed leaves are used for robust and reliable GRBaV diagnosis using qPCR. The described qPCR assay and recommended sampling procedures will contribute to efforts in GRBaV containment and red blotch disease control. 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Cornell Prime Dots (C' dots): Ultrasmall PEGylated fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles for cancer theranostics http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44550 Cornell Prime Dots (C' dots): Ultrasmall PEGylated fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles for cancer theranostics Mendoza, Carlie Cancer is a prevalent concern in today's society. It is the second most common death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. Currently, cancer treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy. Within the past decade, there has been a huge upsurge in novel ideas and technology to combat this disease. From the 2000s, the Wiesner lab group has been working on silica-based nanomaterials for cancer "theranostics". The first generation of Cornell dots (C dots) was fluorescent PEGylated silica nanoparticles used as diagnostic and therapeutic probes in cancer patient care. These particles have already been tested in first-in-human FDA-approved clinical trials, making them the first inorganic-polymer hybrid diagnostic bio-probe to enter clinical trials. They can be injected in the body, flow through the bloodstream, and be excreted without major side effects. The next generation C' dots have been synthesized in aqueous solution to be even brighter particles than before. Brighter particles allow for clearer visualization in the body, which is especially beneficial when locating, imaging and excising a tumor. This is a valuable component of our particles because it allows for the effective treatment of cancer cells, while allowing healthy, living cells to remain unharmed. 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Look before you leap: Visual navigation and terrestrial locomotion of the intertidal killifish Fundulus heteroclitus http://hdl.handle.net/1813/44548 Look before you leap: Visual navigation and terrestrial locomotion of the intertidal killifish Fundulus heteroclitus Bressman, Noah Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus; Cyprinodontiformes) are intertidal killifish that can breathe air and locomote on land. Our goals were to characterize the terrestrial locomotion of mummichogs and determine their method of navigation towards water in a terrestrial environment. We used high-speed video to record behavior during stranding experiments and found that mummichogs use a tail-flip jump to move overland, similarly to other Cyprinodontiformes. However, mummichogs also prop themselves upright into a prone position between each jump, a previously undescribed behavior. After becoming prone, mummichogs rotate about their vertical axis, directing the caudal fin towards the water. Then, they roll back onto their lateral aspect and use a tail-flip behavior to leap into a caudally-directed, ballistic flight path. We conducted experiments to determine the sensory stimulus used to locate a body of water by placing mummichogs on a square platform with one side adjacent to a sea table. Under artificial light, mummichogs moved towards the sea table with a higher frequency than towards the other sides. Under dark conditions, mummichogs did not show a preference for moving towards the sea table. When the surface of the water was covered with reflective foil, mummichogs moved towards it as if it were a body of water. These results suggest that mummichogs primarily use visual cues, specifically reflected light, to orient towards the water. The uprighting behavior that mummichogs perform between terrestrial jumps may provide an opportunity for these fish to receive visual information that allows them to safely return to the water. 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z PPP Procurement in Canada: An Analysis of Tendering Periods http://hdl.handle.net/1813/43914 PPP Procurement in Canada: An Analysis of Tendering Periods Casady, Carter 2016-05-19T00:00:00Z The effectiveness of anti-alcohol PSAs in Reducing Drunk-Driving Fatalities: 1995-2010 http://hdl.handle.net/1813/43913 The effectiveness of anti-alcohol PSAs in Reducing Drunk-Driving Fatalities: 1995-2010 Miller, Emily 2016-05-19T00:00:00Z The Effect of Temperature Change on Viral Pathogenesis of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) in Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) http://hdl.handle.net/1813/40531 The Effect of Temperature Change on Viral Pathogenesis of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) in Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Fellman, Rebecca Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) prevalence in Great Lakes fish populations varies seasonally, with greater prevalence during spawning seasons. Chronic infections appear to be associated with neural tissue, while acute forms target endothelial tissue. Given the potential immunosurpessive effect of water temperature variation in natural environments, I investigated the effect of a 5ºC temperature change on disease development due to VHSV infection in fathead minnow Pimephales promelas. Fish were exposed to VHSV genotype IVb and either a temperature increase from 10ºC to 15ºC, decrease from 20ºC to 15ºC, or a stable temperature of 15ºC. I evaluated prevalence of gross lesions and death, tested fish for VHSV via cell culture of pooled visceral tissue, and performed quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays on brain tissue and pooled visceral tissue extracts. Fish that experienced temperature decrease had greater VHSV prevalence than those that experienced temperature increase, and more tested positive by qRTPCR of brain tissue than those that experienced no change, suggesting greater prevalence of infections. Visceral organ samples from fish that experienced either temperature change contained higher viral RNA N-gene copy numbers than those from fish that experienced stable temperature, while brain tissue samples contained similar viral RNA copy numbers among all groups. In fish that contained more viral RNA copies in viscera than brain, those fish that experienced either temperature change had a greater difference between the two quantities than those that experienced no temperature change. The severity of chronic infections was not affected by temperature change, but the severity of acute infections was increased in fish that experienced any temperature change. These results suggest that fish that encounter temperature changes, especially decreases, of 5ºC are at higher risk of contracting chronic VHSV infections and severe acute VHSV infections, helping to explain seasonal fish die-offs attributed to VHSV, especially in fish that encounter temperature change during the spawning season. 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z HCF-1 inhibits SKN-1 to Modulate Stress Resistance but Not lifespan in Caenorhabditis Elegans AND Determination of Enrichment Regions for H3K27me3 and Other low-signal, High-noise ChIP-seq Data http://hdl.handle.net/1813/40487 HCF-1 inhibits SKN-1 to Modulate Stress Resistance but Not lifespan in Caenorhabditis Elegans AND Determination of Enrichment Regions for H3K27me3 and Other low-signal, High-noise ChIP-seq Data Picard, Colette L. 1) Caenorhabditis elegans host cell factor-1 (HCF-1) is an evolutionarily conserved longevity determinant. HCF-1 modulates both lifespan and stress resistance by inhibiting the C. elegans homolog of the mammalian FOXO transcription factors, DAF-16. However, the involvement of other components in HCF-1 mediated longevity and stress resistance has not yet been characterized. We show that SKN-1, the C. elegans homolog of the mammalian Nrf proteins and a major orchestrator of the phase II detoxification response that defends against oxidative stress, is regulated by HCF-1 to modulate oxidative stress resistance but not lifespan. Our findings imply a novel regulatory relationship between HCF-1 and SKN-1 that is revealed only in the presence of oxidative stress. 2) Chromatin modifications are a major mechanism through which cells regulate gene expression. ChIP-seq allows for genome-wide profiling of any DNA-binding protein, including histones. To analyze these data, researchers have developed statistical tools that can identify genomic regions enriched for the DNA-binding protein of interest. Some histone marks, however, bind across broad regions of the genome and produce diffuse and high-noise data profiles that are often difficult to analyze. In this paper, I investigate the ability of peak-callers to analyze ChIP-seq data from H3K27me3, a histone mark known to produce broad regions of enrichment. Further, I present an alternative method that is both faster and simpler than the than the other peak callers investigated. This alternative method offers promise in identifying enriched genomic features when a histone mark, like H3K27me3, generates very diffuse and noisy ChIP-seq data patterns. 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Expression of Downstream Targets of mTOR in Response to a Model of Maternal Undernutrition and Hypoxia http://hdl.handle.net/1813/40486 Expression of Downstream Targets of mTOR in Response to a Model of Maternal Undernutrition and Hypoxia Groth, Jessica L. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key player in a signaling pathway that regulates cell growth in response to nutrients, hypoxia, and other upstream regulators. To examine the effects of nutrient restriction, hypoxia, and their possible interactive effects on placental mTOR, a series of experiments were carried out on immortalized human placental trophoblasts. To assess the temporal response, trophoblasts grown in nutrient replete (complete; C) and nutrient restricted (NR) media were harvested at 0 to 96h; phosphorylated s6 ribosomal protein (s6rp) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) protein levels were measured using western analysis. To assess the independent and interactive effects of NR and hypoxia (Hx) on mTOR, trophoblasts were grown in C and normoxia (20% oxygen;Nx), C media and Hx (1% oxygen), NR -Nx, NR -Hx and harvested at72h; total and phosphorylated s6rp protein levels were measured using western analysis. NR had a negative temporal effect on phosphorylation of s6rp and 4E-BP1. Maximal change occurred at 48h for p-s6rp and at 72h for p-4E-BP1. NR alone had no effect on total protein expression of s6rp under Nx or Hx, whereas Hx decreased total protein expression of s6rp in C media samples at 72h. NR alone decreased ps6rp but Hx alone had no effect on p-s6rp at 72h. NR and Hx interacted to affect p-s6rp such that Hx reduced p-s6rp in C media but slightly increased it in NR media. The interactive effect of Hx and NR suggest that the mechanisms by which nutrients and Hx affect mTOR signaling have not been fully elucidated, and may shed light on how these two conditions contribute to placental complications such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Suicidal Behaviors in Youths and Young Adults : On the Causal Effect of Local Unemployment http://hdl.handle.net/1813/39961 Suicidal Behaviors in Youths and Young Adults : On the Causal Effect of Local Unemployment Kellogg, Maxwell 2015-04-29T00:00:00Z Putting a Dent in Our Understanding of Maize Kernel Morphology http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37318 Putting a Dent in Our Understanding of Maize Kernel Morphology Murray, Matthew D. Much of our modern maize germplasm was originally brought about by the combination of northern flint lines and southern dent lines. Yet commercial production in the US today is dominated by dent or semi-dent kernel type maize (Corn Belt dent), which has hard outer walls of endosperm surrounding a soft floury interior that when dried compacts to form the characteristic dent in the top of the kernel. One major exception is flint type corn, which is grown in areas of North America, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and many parts of Africa. Flint maize is characterized by its rounded vitreous outer endosperm and soft granular center and has desirable qualities such as cold tolerance, disease and insect resistance as well as longer storage capacity than many dent lines. The Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population parent inbred lines represent many of the major kernel types found in maize. In 2006 the entire NAM population of recombinant inbred lines were grown and scored visually for kernel type, in five locations. The NAM population contains 25 parents, of which, there are nine flint, nine semi-dent, four dent, two sweet and one popcorn parent lines, with a common dent parent, B73. Linkage mapping with ~7400 intervals markers was used to examine the genetics of kernel morphology. This yielded several areas of the genome that are significantly associated with the difference in kernel type seen in NAM. Several other major and minor QTL are shared across many families. Genome wide association study (GWAS) was also used in the maize association panel. Suggested peaks from both linkage mapping and GWAS highlight 13 candidate genes in starch and protein related pathways in the endosperm. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Identifying Genes that Interact with Calcineurin During Egg Activation in Drosophila melanogaster http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37317 Identifying Genes that Interact with Calcineurin During Egg Activation in Drosophila melanogaster Zuckerman, Rebecca M. When an egg is fertilized, before the new embryo can begin to develop, the egg must be "activated." The process of activation triggers the egg to complete meiosis, to begin translating new proteins, to degrade proteins and RNAs that are no longer required, and to modify its membranes to form a harder outer covering. The universal signaling event is an increase in calcium levels that occurs in the egg at this time. In many cell types, calcium causes changes through a conserved signaling pathway by binding to a protein called calmodulin, which in turn regulates the activities of other proteins. Calcineurin, a phosphatase, is one of those other proteins. It has been proven experimentally that calcineurin plays a critical role in regulating egg activation in fruit flies and in frogs. For example, Drosophila females expressing a constitutively active calcineurin (cnA-act) in their germline are sterile. To identify the proteins in the pathway by which calcineurin regulates egg activation, the Toshiro Aigaki lab tested whether there were Drosophila genes that interact genetically with calcineurin mutations. To do this, they searched for chromosomal regions whose deletion suppresses the sterility of cnA-act female flies. Fourteen large chromosomal regions were identified. To define the precise gene(s) within each region that suppresses the sterility of cnA-act females, I have tested smaller deletions, and then individual mutations, within the five regions I am examining for interaction with cnA-act. For three of the deletions, I have identified a gene or genes whose mutants significantly restore fertility of cnA-act females, and thus is a candidate to act within the calcineurin pathway. The first is CG6927, a gene that is expressed in the ovary but currently has no known function. The second is eIF3-S8, a transcription initiation factor. The third is RpS24, a ribosomal protein. The fourth is CG42565, which like CG6927, has no known function. In the other two regions, I have narrowed down the cnA-act interacting genes to a small number of candidates, instead of the hundreds of genes within the original large region. I am currently testing the remaining candidates. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Isolation of Bacteria from Compost for Potential Use in Biodecaffeination http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37316 Isolation of Bacteria from Compost for Potential Use in Biodecaffeination Divine, Robert Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl xanthine) is a bioactive compound present in common foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and chocolate. Though many consumers value caffeine for its physiological effects, others may prefer decaffeinated products to avoid caffeine. Decaffeination technologies have a great economic and environmental impact; however, current methods have various disadvantages, such as cost, waste, and solvent use. Microbial methods, known as biodecaffeination, have been explored as alternatives. Various microbes that are able to metabolize caffeine have been isolated from coffee plant roots. To this point, compost has not been looked at as a potential source for decaffeinating microbes. Our objective was to isolate and identify microorganisms from compost and to address their potential as biodecaffeinators. Compost samples were obtained and then grown in nutrient broth. Cultures were streaked onto a selective agar that contained caffeine as its only carbon source. Partial 16S rDNA sequences were obtained for a subset of the colonies isolated from the caffeine agar. Preliminary results suggested that the isolated strains were Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Sphingobacterium, Streptomyces, and Paenibacillus, and that they may be capable of metabolizing caffeine. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z An Investigation of Microclimatological Conditions Along Elevation Transects Near Ithaca, NY http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37315 An Investigation of Microclimatological Conditions Along Elevation Transects Near Ithaca, NY Raymond, Colin S. A field campaign was conducted in complex topography near Ithaca, NY with the aim of determining and describing both qualitatively and quantitatively the variables that affect nighttime temperatures there. Observations were compared against a weighted average of nearby private-weather-station readings and Rapid Refresh [RAP]-model gridpoint forecasts for the corresponding time periods. Local nowcasts or forecasts for locations along the transects — generated from a similarity analysis of station and transect-location metadata — showed generally poor skill, though the consistently greater errors at higher elevations suggest the potential for fruitful additional adjustments beyond the scope of this study. A distinct reversal in the upslope wind corresponding to lapse rates near the moist-adiabatic value supports the hypothesis of a triggered hilltop cold-air pool. Nights with strong potential-temperature inversions had remarkably similar synoptic-scale conditions, which bore the hallmarks of a valley inversion being entrained from above by warm southeast winds. Bolstering this hypothesis was the definite linear relationship found between observed lapse rates and region-wide temperature trends on clear nights, but not cloudy ones. To better account for these findings, a new forecast scheme was then implemented, combining regressions of observed along-transect lapse rates on upslope winds, modeled open-sky lapse rates, and region-wide temperature trends; it demonstrated improved skill over the station-based one, suggesting that further work to enable standardization of microclimatic forecasts based on a simple set of externally measured variables would be both possible and productive. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Identification of Major Histocompatibility Complex Haplotypes in Icelandic Horses http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37314 Identification of Major Histocompatibility Complex Haplotypes in Icelandic Horses Violette, Nathaniel P. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a region of the vertebrate genome that encodes many immune-related proteins. The most well-known proteins that are encoded in this region are the MHC class I and MHC class II cell surface proteins. These proteins are integral in producing the adaptive immune response. Using polymorphic microsatellites within the MHC, MHC haplotypes were characterized from an extended Icelandic horse family of half and full siblings. The herd is composed of one stallion, fifteen dams, and three sets of foals from each dam. A total of nine microsatellite loci were tested: two in the MHC class I region, two in the MHC class III region, and five in the MHC class II region. The Icelandic herd displayed a large degree of diversity in this region even though the population has been isolated and affected by bottleneck events in the past. From the 32 possible unique haplotypes belonging to the one founder stallion and 15 mares, 26 unique haplotypes were identified. A MHC recombination event occurred on one of the paternal chromosomes. The stallion also exhibited segregation distortion in the distribution of the stallion's MHC haplotypes inherited by the foals but not the sex ratio of the offspring. These findings suggest that the Icelandic horse population has a greater degree of diversity in the MHC region than most other commonly studied horse breeds. This diversity may come from a recombination mechanism that produces unique haplotypes by crossing over of existing haplotypes in the population at a higher rate than found in larger populations. Another possible explanation would be that less favorable MHC haplotypes are allowed to persist in the less immunologically selective environment of Iceland. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Effects of Photoperiod on Novelty Preference in Preadolescent Siberian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) Pups http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37313 Effects of Photoperiod on Novelty Preference in Preadolescent Siberian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) Pups Barrett, Colleen A. Photoperiod (day length) has been shown to have significant effects on the physical and behavioral development of seasonally breeding mammals and to modulate the timing of their dispersal from the natal burrow or den. Behaviors associated with dispersal, such as novelty preference and exploratory behaviors, have been shown to be modulated by anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in mice. Whereas photoperiodic modulation of serum AMH concentrations in female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) has been demonstrated, novelty preference and exploratory behaviors have not been previously investigated in this species. Through the manipulation of day length (DL) in Siberian hamsters, this study sought to determine if photoperiod-induced differences in serum AMH concentration correlate with behaviors that are associated with dispersal. Although AMH was significantly different in males and females, and day length had a significant effect on AMH in males, our evaluations of novelty preference and exploratory behaviors revealed no effects of sex or photoperiod when evaluated at 21 days of age. The information acquired from this study will contribute to the understanding and characterization of the associations among DL, AMH, and the behaviors associated with the dispersal of adolescent mammals. Utilizing this study's results, future research is required to determine the age at which sex differences in novelty preference and exploratory behavior are first apparent in Siberian hamsters and to evaluate variations in AMH associated with age, sex, and photoperiod. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Start to Finish Detection of Cryptosporidium for in Field Use on Water Samples via Lauroylsarcosine sodium Salt (LSS) Extraction, Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), and DNA Precipitation http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37312 Start to Finish Detection of Cryptosporidium for in Field Use on Water Samples via Lauroylsarcosine sodium Salt (LSS) Extraction, Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), and DNA Precipitation Wessling, Emily Today, many diseases that are rare in developed nations are still prevalent in other countries due to limited technological access and resources. Among these diseases is Cryptosporidiosis, a common gastro-intestinal infection with currently no known treatments. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium. This parasite spreads through the environment as an oocyst, causing self-limiting diarrhea in healthy humans. These symptoms are often more dangerous in immuno-compromised individuals and children, whose immune systems are still developing. The rugged Cryptosporidium oocysts are able to survive treatment with most disinfectants. Thus, to prevent outbreaks, there must be early detection, followed by rapid treatment of the water supply and/or limited exposure to infected water supplies. Current methods of parasite testing for water samples are limited in their function by cost, access to materials, and ability to run equipment. Improvements in cost-effective, easy to use alternatives to traditional techniques, such as the use of lauroylsarcosine sodium salt (LSS) for DNA extraction and the loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method of amplification, will facilitate the detection of Cryptosporidium in the field and in impoverish nations.In this experiment, a five primer LAMP reaction was used in combination with the LSS reaction to eliminate otherwise essential electrical equipment in the detection process, expediting and easing in-field detection. The LSS was found to decrease the efficiency of the LAMP reaction, but its effects were mediated by changing the buffer used in the LAMP reaction. Amplicons were visualized using gel electrophoresis in this experiment. However, methods of detection were tested for incorporation into the test. These techniques will lead to the future of cost efficient detection of Cryptosporidium in water samples. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Targeted Screen for Functional Interactions between β-tubulin and +TIP Mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37311 Targeted Screen for Functional Interactions between β-tubulin and +TIP Mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dedousis, Demitri The microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in key cellular processes, including cellular polarization and transport. Microtubules are composed of repeating α and β tubulin dimers. TUB2 is an essential yeast gene that encodes β-tubulin. Microtubule polymerization dynamics in yeast are regulated by +TIPs, like Bim1p and Bik1p. Genetic analysis of multiple genes concurrently allows for the identification of interactions between genes. This study seeks to investigate interactions between Bim1p/Bik1p and Tub2p by using random spore analysis (RSA) to search for synthetic interactions caused by the association of bim1Δ/bik1Δ and tub2 mutants. Using the RSA results and a set of criteria, tub2 mutants were grouped into interaction types, such as synthetic sensitive and synthetic enhanced. This study also investigated associations between a tub2 mutation's interaction type and other tub2 phenotypes, which revealed an association between synthetic sensitivity and cold sensitivity for tub2 and bik1Δ. A protein model of tub2 mutations in β-tubulin was also used to demonstrate that tub2 mutations that did not interact with bim1Δ/bik1Δ tended to cluster together in the same location on β-tubulin. This study shows that RSA can be used to identify synthetic interactions, which can be analyzed in terms of protein structure and relationship with other traits of the mutations. The microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in key cellular processes, including cellular polarization and transport. Microtubules are composed of repeating α and β tubulin dimers. TUB2 is an essential yeast gene that encodes β-tubulin. Microtubule polymerization dynamics in yeast are regulated by +TIPs, like Bim1p and Bik1p. Genetic analysis of multiple genes concurrently allows for the identification of interactions between genes. This study seeks to investigate interactions between Bim1p/Bik1p and Tub2p by using random spore analysis (RSA) to search for synthetic interactions caused by the association of bim1Δ/bik1Δ and tub2 mutants. Using the RSA results and a set of criteria, tub2 mutants were grouped into interaction types, such as synthetic sensitive and synthetic enhanced. This study also investigated associations between a tub2 mutation's interaction type and other tub2 phenotypes, which revealed an association between synthetic sensitivity and cold sensitivity for tub2 and bik1Δ. A protein model of tub2 mutations in β-tubulin was also used to demonstrate that tub2 mutations that did not interact with bim1Δ/bik1Δ tended to cluster together in the same location on β-tubulin. This study shows that RSA can be used to identify synthetic interactions, which can be analyzed in terms of protein structure and relationship with other traits of the mutations. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z The Invisible Workforce: What strategies allow temporary workers to overcome employer opposition to union organizing? http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36865 The Invisible Workforce: What strategies allow temporary workers to overcome employer opposition to union organizing? Haribhakti, Shivali The purpose of this research is to see what strategies allow temporary workers to overcome employer opposition to organizing. Three case studies of temporary workers attempting to organize are analyzed to see if the workers are successful in attaining their demands. It is shown that workers succeed in bettering their working conditions through recognizing their importance to the employer, cultivating community support, and having positive attitudes towards unionization. This research provides valuable information to the social science community as it includes an appendix of rich primary sources and transcripts of personal interviews with temporary workers. 2014-05-19T00:00:00Z Through Athena's Eyes: The William Henry Sage Collection of Casts http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36699 Through Athena's Eyes: The William Henry Sage Collection of Casts Hume, Hannah Claire Martin This Anthropology honors thesis combines Anthropology, Archaeology, and Museum Studies to discusses the history and analyzes the importance of the William Henry Sage Collection of Casts, which was brought to Cornell University by A. D. White in the early 1890s and placed on display in 1894. The Cast Collection, some whose fragmented pieces reside in Goldwin Smith Hall to this day, was a pinnacle collection of the University and brought much fame and acclaim to the institution. However, it was never stagnant and saw many phases of reinterpretation and curation. Through such modification, each iteration of the collection was used to echo the educational mood and focus of the contemporary University. Interestingly, regardless of prominence, level of care, or mode of display, students throughout time have often developed personal relationships with the individual statues of the Cast Collection. They may fear or love the pieces, but most admit it all has something to do with looking through the statue's eyes. 2014-05-01T00:00:00Z Sel1L‐Hrd1‐Mediated OS9 Degradation During Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36401 Sel1L‐Hrd1‐Mediated OS9 Degradation During Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Shu, Xin Misfolded or unfolded proteins generated by inefficient protein folding or ER stress is translocated from the ER to cytosol for proteasome degradation, a process termed endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD). OS9, a lectin protein, has been shown to deliver misfolded or unfolded glycoproteins to the most conserved ERAD complexes in the mammalian system, the Sel1L-Hrd1 ERAD complex (Mehnert et al., 2010). Our study on OS9 shows that despite being an effector of the complex, OS9 itself is degraded by the same complex in response to ER stress. OS9 protein level decreases drastically upon the treatment of Tunicamycin (TM), Thapsigargin (Tg) or Dithiothreitol (DTT) . The addition of MG132 completely blocked the degradation, showing OS9 is degraded by proteasome. We then show the degradation of OS9 is abolished in Hrd1 knock-out (Hrd1-/- ) MEF cells, and significantly attenuated in Sel1L-/- cells when cells were treated with 6hr of cycloheximide (CHX), suggesting both Sel1L and Hrd1 are required for the degradation of OS9, but Hrd1 plays a more important role in the process. We also find that the protein level of OS9 is significantly higher in Sel1L-inducible knock out (IKO) mice than in WT mice, confirming that OS9 is degraded by Sel1L-Hrd1 complex in vivo. Using co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), we find that Sel1L associates with OS9 in a glycosylation independent manner and that it can be ubiquitinated by overexpressed Hrd1. In addition, our data suggest the protein stability of OS9 is mediated through the XBP1-Hrd1 axis. These data suggest that OS9 is degraded through the Sel1L-Hrd1 complex under ER stress. Not only does this study identifies a potential endogenous substrate of the Sel1L-Hrd1 complex, given the fact that OS9 is an effector of the complex, this study may also provide insights into a possible self-regulatory mechanism of the complex through regulating OS9. 2014-04-01T00:00:00Z Is a Woman's Place in the House? An Analysis of Shared Gender and Political Representation in the U.S. House of Representatives http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36336 Is a Woman's Place in the House? An Analysis of Shared Gender and Political Representation in the U.S. House of Representatives Tisosky, Chelsea 2014-05-01T00:00:00Z "Stand Your Ground" Laws and the Demand for Legal Fire Arms http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36335 "Stand Your Ground" Laws and the Demand for Legal Fire Arms Pittell, Harlan 2014-05-01T00:00:00Z Family Structure and Child Well-being: Examining how the father-child relationship mediates the linkages between family structure and child well-being http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36334 Family Structure and Child Well-being: Examining how the father-child relationship mediates the linkages between family structure and child well-being Rivera, Vanessa 2014-05-01T00:00:00Z Satisfaction with an Online Weight Gain Intervention for Women during Pregnancy: e-Moms of Rochester http://hdl.handle.net/1813/36333 Satisfaction with an Online Weight Gain Intervention for Women during Pregnancy: e-Moms of Rochester Xu, Jiayi Weight management during pregnancy is critical to health of both mothers and infants. Online weight management interventions have advantages of convenience, accessibility, and flexibility. Objective: This paper examines the satisfaction of pregnant women with the weight management online intervention in the e-Moms of Rochester project and evaluates the satisfaction level by study arm and by demographic characteristic. Methods: e-Moms of Rochester is a randomized controlled trial designed to help pregnant women achieve a recommended weight gain during pregnancy via an online intervention. The satisfaction survey was available online to the participants after their delivery. 942 out of 1512 pregnant women completed the satisfaction survey. Among the 942 participants, 621 women were in the intervention arm while the other 321 were in the control arm. The satisfaction level was measured on a 10-point Likert-scale from "0-strongly disagree" to "10-strongly agree". A score of 0-4 was counted as low satisfaction, 5-7 as medium satisfaction and 8-10 as high satisfaction. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for evaluating representativeness, satisfaction level across website features, and comparison of satisfaction by study arm and by demographic characteristic. Results: 70%-91.2% participants had a moderate to high satisfaction with different website features. However, 59.3% participants rated social support negatively. The Resources (mean=7.29) and Articles & FAQ (mean=7.28) had the highest satisfaction levels on helpfulness. The weight gain tracker was rated highest in terms of ease of use (mean= 8.35). The satisfaction levels of helpfulness of Resources and Reminder were significantly different by arm (p= 0.035; p= 0.002). Satisfaction levels for some website features were significantly different as well by demographic characteristic. Conclusion: Overall, participants felt satisfied with the project website except for the aspect of social support. The sections of Articles & FAQ and Resources were the most helpful. Weight gain tracker was the easiest to use in the intervention group. The intervention group had higher satisfaction level with Resources and Reminder. Pregnant women, who were low-income, young, Hispanic, African American or had a lower education level, were more satisfied with the website features. And these women who were African American, young, with lower education, or with lower income, had significantly higher ratings of social support in this e-Moms Roc project. 2014-05-01T00:00:00Z Virus-Plant Protein Interactions: The Importance of the Potato leafroll virus Readthrough Protein http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33751 Virus-Plant Protein Interactions: The Importance of the Potato leafroll virus Readthrough Protein Mahoney, Jaclyn Potato leafroll virus' (PLRV's) C-terminal domain of the readthrough protein (RTP) is known to be involved with active retention of the virus in plant phloem. In this investigative study we used a combined proteomics and molecular virology approach to determine the identity and function of those plant proteins that are interacting with the readthrough domain of the RTP. Using a novel, on-plate co-immunoprecipitation method, we compared those plant proteins co-immunoprecipitating with the wild type form of PLRV with those that co-immunoprecipitate with a mutant form of the virus lacking the readthrough domain using N. benthamiana as a model system. Controls were thoroughly characterized to identify proteins that were non-specifically interacting with virus. Our research yielded four candidate proteins that appear to interact with the readthrough domain of the RTP and hence, are likely involved with phloem retention. The candidate proteins are as follows: 14-3-3 protein (AT1G78300.1), probable 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 3, membrane steroid-binding protein 2, and elicitor-inducible protein EIG J7. These four proteins were detected in the WT PLRV infected N. benthamiana as having 2.5-fold or greater enrichment as judged by spectral counts over a mutant that lacked the readthrough domain (ΔRTP) or control N. benthamiana tissue, and were also found in the host potato system with 2.5-fold or greater enrichment in WT PLRV infected potato as compared to healthy potato. These candidate proteins will be the focus of future validation studies to determine the function of these plant proteins in PLRV infection. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Southwestern Pecan Orchard Soil Standards http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33750 Southwestern Pecan Orchard Soil Standards Grandle, Katherine The Rio Grande Basin in southern New Mexico and western Texas has become a large source of commercially produced pecans over the past few decades, yet agronomic research specific to soil management and fertilization in this area has not yet been fully developed. This project aims to review the currently published optimal soil analysis ranges as well as to identify significant relationships between soil characteristics and yield which merit further investigation. Over the 2012 growing period, 106 production blocks in Dona Ana County were observed. Soil analysis was conducted on each block prior to budbreak and after harvest to review soil changes over the full growth cycle; yield and tree counts were also collected. Due to alternate bearing in pecans, yield has been analyzed in four population groupings: "ON" blocks only, "OFF" blocks only, all blocks using a two year yield average, and all blocks using a dummy variable to isolate the alternate bearing yield differences. Mixed regression models were used to identify optimal levels and significant relationships within all four groupings. Of the production blocks observed, the soil analysis results fell within only 22% of the published optimal ranges, which are not crop specific. Boron, Bulk Density, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, and Zinc were all identified as exhibiting significant, largely negative, relationships with yield, suggesting that these variables may be inhibiting production. The observed relationships merit further investigation and optimal soil analysis ranges must be developed in order to ensure correct interpretation of results and subsequent soil management practices. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z The Association of Negative Energy Balance, Sub-Clinical Hypocalcemia, and Periparturient Disease with Rate of Weight Loss and 30-Day Milk Production in Dairy Cattle http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33749 The Association of Negative Energy Balance, Sub-Clinical Hypocalcemia, and Periparturient Disease with Rate of Weight Loss and 30-Day Milk Production in Dairy Cattle Johnson, Shanna The objective was to analyze the association of abnormal blood metabolite levels (prepartum and postpartum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and calcium) and periparturient diseases (clinical ketosis, mastitis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, metritis, lameness and periparturient paresis) with rate of weight loss and milk yield during the first thirty days in milk. A total of 105 Holstein cows from three farms in New York were analyzed. Blood samples, back fat measurements, body condition scores, lameness assessments, and records for body weight, milk yield, and disease occurrence were collected beginning approximately a week before parturition until thirty days in milk. Back fat and body condition scores were not correlated with each other and were not included in the final analysis. The associations between the interaction of each blood metabolite with disease and change in body weight and milk yield were stratified by parity and evaluated with the MIXED procedure in statistical software. All cows that developed disease experienced exacerbated weight loss and reduced milk production than healthy herd mates. Each parity group had a different indicator metabolite for faster weight loss (parity 1 = prepartum NEFA, parity 2 = BHB, parity 3 = postpartum NEFA), but calcium was not a reliable indicator for any group. Elevated prepartum NEFA and BHB levels were associated with reduced milk production for cows of parity > 2, while blood metabolites were only useful for heifers which concurrently developed disease. By using these tests, farmers can intervene early to optimize animal health and economic return. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z The Impact of Myostatin Genetic Polymorphism on Muscle Conformation in the Horse http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33748 The Impact of Myostatin Genetic Polymorphism on Muscle Conformation in the Horse SanGiacomo, Nicole In this study, we tested the recent hypothesis that a previously discovered polymorphism in the myostatin (MSTN) gene could contribute to muscle mass in the Thoroughbred racehorse. The relationship between skeletal and muscle measurements was quantified and compared to the genotypic analysis of myostatin in the horse. A sample of 101 Thoroughbred racehorses, from a variety of locations, was assessed using a previously published set of 35 body measurements. An additional 8 Thoroughbred horses were examined using a recently developed set of muscle measures in order to better quantify the muscle mass of the animals. In addition, photographs were taken of each individual horse (n=109), in order to assess the muscle conformation. Hair samples were also collected for determination of MSTN genotype. Photographs and MSTN genotype were then assessed and compared, prior to statistical analysis, in order to determine the existence and correlation between muscle conformation and the MSTN genotype. Skewed measures, and failed genotypic analyses were eliminated from statistical analysis, resulting in a total of 86 individuals. This study demonstrated that there is no direct correlation among conformation, body measurements, muscle measurements and MSTN genotype. Horses with a polymorphism in MSTN do not exhibit phenotypic differences of the magnitude seen in MSTN alleles of cattle and dogs. Subtle changes may be detected in future work with an expanded set of measures, larger population of horses, or by controlling environmental effects due to diet and exercise. The MSTN locus is currently used as a commercial marker of performance in the Thoroughbred although the physiological mechanism of its action is unknown. This research has eliminated the possibility of gross effects on body size and conformation, though subtler changes in muscle mass may exist. We expect future studies to further this exploration in hopes of determining why the MSTN polymorphism is not associated with altered body size or conformation in the equine species. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Possibilities for the Emergence of Civic Ecology Practices in Response to Social-Ecological Disturbance: The Case of Nuisance Chironomids in Singapore http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33747 Possibilities for the Emergence of Civic Ecology Practices in Response to Social-Ecological Disturbance: The Case of Nuisance Chironomids in Singapore Lee, Mou Jian My research aims to investigate the possibilities for the emergence of civic ecology practices in Singaporean reservoir communities in response to chironomid disturbances, using the framework of civic ecology practices. In recent years, unprecedented mass emergence of chironomids have occurred around two of Singapore's reservoirs, disrupting the lives of surrounding communities. Civic ecology practices would have been a valuable source of resilience toward this disturbance for these communities, because the practices would integrate individual, community, and environmental outcomes, through grassroots stewardship initiatives. However, civic ecology practices seemed to be absent among the communities. I observed public behavior around the reservoirs, as well as analyzed news articles, social media content, and government documents, to uncover social-ecological mechanisms underlying the nuisance issue. This allowed me to explain the lack of civic ecology practices, understand the potential of the reservoir social-ecological systems for adapting to the disturbance through civic ecology practices, and detect barriers to the emergence of those practices. I found that the initial conditions were not present for the emergence of civic ecology practices in those reservoir social-ecological systems, because the chironomid disturbance was not sufficiently disruptive. Nevertheless, the systems' potentials lied in various resources related to government, technology, and cultural values. Barriers include negative assumptions about the chironomids and politicization of the nuisance issue. My research will not only further understanding of how Singapore can build social-ecological resilience as it transforms in the 21st Century, but also how other complex urban ecosystems can do so too. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Spatial Consequences of Plant Induced Resistance to Herbivory http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33676 Spatial Consequences of Plant Induced Resistance to Herbivory Rubin, Ilan 2013-07-26T00:00:00Z Analysis of Selection Patterns in Germline Stem Cell Genes (Stonewall, Otefin) in Drosophila pseudoobscura http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33441 Analysis of Selection Patterns in Germline Stem Cell Genes (Stonewall, Otefin) in Drosophila pseudoobscura Forbes, Lisebeth Previous experiments have shown two germline stem cell genes, bam and bgcn, to be under strong positive selection in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans (Bauer DuMont et al. 2007). This prompted the question of whether the same pattern of selection observed in these two species was present in the germline stem cell genes of other Drosophila lineages? The Aquadro Lab has been sequencing many germline stem cell genes in Drosophila species, and the answer to this question so far has been that some lineages show strong positive selection and some do not. This observation led the Aquadro Lab to begin to test hypotheses about the driver – or drivers – of the positive selection in the germline stem cell genes across some Drosophila lineages. One hypothesis proposed by Bauer DuMont et al. (2007) is that coevolution with pathogens such as the reproductive parasite, Wolbachia pipientis, infecting the germline could be driving this observed selection. This project looked for signs of selection in the germline stem cell genes stonewall and otefin, two genes that have shown signs of positive selection in other Drosophila species, which the Aquadro Lab has previously tested. These two genes were sequenced in Drosophila pseudoobscura, a species of Drosophila that is not currently known to be infected with Wolbachia. This project shows that both genes do not show evidence of long term, repeated positive selection, but both genes do show evidence for a more recent selective sweep. 2013-07-15T00:00:00Z The Effects of Small Molecule VU573 and Barium on Malpighian Tubule Electrophysiology of the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33440 The Effects of Small Molecule VU573 and Barium on Malpighian Tubule Electrophysiology of the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti Longo, Anthony VU573 is a synthetic organic molecule weighing 350 daltons, found to block inwardly-rectifying potassium (Kir) channels in high-throughput screening. In order to evaluate VU573 as a novel pesticide capable of inducing mosquito renal failure, electrophysiological analyses were carried out on isolated Malpighian tubules from the female yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. Using the Malpighian tubule electrophysiology protocol developed in the laboratory of Klaus W. Beyenbach, exposure to 10µM peritubular VU573 was found to (1) hyperpolarize the basolateral membrane of isolated tubules by an average of 6.76 ± 1.27 mV (p<0.00012) and (2) increase cell input resistance by an average of 7.02 ± 1.31 kΩ (p<0.002) in conditions of potassium overload (34mM [K+] peritubular). These results confirm a block of A. aegypti Kir1 (AeKir1) expressed at the basolateral surface of stellate cells, which seem to be less involved in transport than their counterparts—the principal cells. Additional experiments establish that the 10µM VU573 dosage is equally as effective as the 50µM dosage (p=0.88). Furthermore, I-V plots taken of Malpighian tubules demonstrate that different tubules exhibit different degrees of rectification, from no rectification (Ohmic) to very strong rectification. The barium ion is known to strongly block all Kir channels. With the same protocol used for VU573, 5mM barium was tested and found to (1) hyperpolarize the tubule basolateral membrane by 11.91 ± 3.82 mV (p<0.008) and (2) increase cell input resistance by 123.58 ± 12.93 kΩ (p<0.0003). The much smaller resistance increase with VU573 compared to barium, coupled with the laboratory of Peter M. Piermarini's finding of AeKir1 on stellate cells, suggests that AeKir1 channels are less involved with potassium transport and likely serve other functions, such as potassium sensing or cellular housekeeping. Taken in all, VU573 is effective at blocking AeKir1 but would need to be refined further to have an even more potent antidiuretic effect. 2013-07-12T00:00:00Z Immunohistochemical quantification of serotonin and serotonin transporters in the lumbar region of the mouse spinal cord after spinal cord injury http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33438 Immunohistochemical quantification of serotonin and serotonin transporters in the lumbar region of the mouse spinal cord after spinal cord injury Hong, Diana Central pattern generators (CPGs) are important neuronal networks that are made up of interneurons that organize rhythmic motor output such as respiration, mastication, and locomotion. Locomotor CPGs are located in the spinal cord of all vertebrates. Interneurons have been shown to be a necessary part of regulating the coordination of the left and right flexor and extensor muscles that generate the normal walking movement. The V2a interneurons, in particular, play an important role in maintaining a left-right alternating hindlimb pattern at high speeds. Two key players of the CPGs are serotonin (5-HT) and serotonin transporters (SERT). 5-HT plays an important role in enabling the network to generate the locomotor rhythm in rodents, while SERT is responsible for high affinity uptake of 5-HT to terminate its activity in the synaptic cleft. Using double immunohistochemical methods, I determined that not only are 5-HT and SERT co-localized in 5-HT terminals, but also 5-HT and SERT–labeled terminals are located on V2a interneurons. Using Sholl analysis, I determined that SERT and 5-HT show similar co-localization patterns on the V2a interneurons. Although spinal cord injury (SCI) typically does not inflict physical damage to the cells that make up the hindlimb CPG, it results in a loss of motor function by removing descending input from the brain. This in turn can induce changes in CPG cellular activity and transmitter sensitivity. Thus, I sought to observe how SCI affects expression levels of 5-HT and SERT. After SCI, a loss of motor function occurs due to the changes in cellular activity and sensitivity in the CPG. Using single immunohistochemical methods, I determined that both 5-HT and SERT decrease significantly in area and intensity after SCI. 2013-07-12T00:00:00Z A Comparison of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, and Rous Sarcoma Virus Plasma Membrane Binding Requirements for Retrovirus Assembly http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33435 A Comparison of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, and Rous Sarcoma Virus Plasma Membrane Binding Requirements for Retrovirus Assembly Chen, Steven Plasma membrane (PM) association is an essential step in the retroviral life cycle that involves the complex association of the Gag polyprotein with cellular machinery, RNA, and specific lipid signatures of the inner leaflet. Here, I describe the first systematic comparison of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), and Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) Gag membrane binding properties using in vitro liposome binding assays, in vivo virus release assays, and localization studies using confocal microscopy of 293T cells. By doing so, I hoped to address two main questions. First, what drives EIAV Gag association with the plasma membrane? And second, why is EIAV Gag not myristoylated? My results showed that EIAV Gag membrane association is driven by electrostatic interactions and a preference for cholesterol-containing membranes. These results highlight the universal importance of electrostatic interactions for retroviral Gag PM targeting and may underline a shared association with lipid raft microdomains for budding. I also used EIAV matrix (MA) and HIV-1 MA mutants to confirm HIV-1's dependence on myristoylation for virus release and localization to the plasma membrane. These same mutants have also led me to propose a model for EIAV MA helix 1 inhibition of myristoylation. Finally, a part of my thesis work has been dedicated to the development of a novel silica-bead binding assay to study protein-lipid interactions. I describe this work in Appendix 1. 2013-07-11T00:00:00Z Distributional Learning of Categories in Infants: From Phonemes to Actions http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33434 Distributional Learning of Categories in Infants: From Phonemes to Actions Chang, Lucas 2013-07-11T00:00:00Z Effects of the HDAC Inhibitor, Curcumin, on Position Effect Variegation in Drosophila http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33433 Effects of the HDAC Inhibitor, Curcumin, on Position Effect Variegation in Drosophila Grant, Crystal 2013-07-11T00:00:00Z Arabidopsis Salicylic Acid-Binding Metalloendopeptidases TOP1 and TOP2 Regulate H2O2 Accumulation and Programmed Cell Death during the Immune Response against the Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33386 Arabidopsis Salicylic Acid-Binding Metalloendopeptidases TOP1 and TOP2 Regulate H2O2 Accumulation and Programmed Cell Death during the Immune Response against the Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae Zampogna, Giulio Salicylic acid is a phytohormone indispensable for plant immunity. Interactions between hosts and pathogens create selective pressures—a cycle whereby hosts evolve novel defenses and alarm systems while their pathogen counterparts evolve enhanced weaponry and stealth tactics. Not uncommonly, plants lose the war against pathogens and succumb to disease. If a plant does survive a pathogen attack, it may be left with battle scars that reduce vegetative growth and fruit yield and quality. Without question, human survival depends on the abilities of plants to defend themselves against and survive pathogen onslaughts. With an increased understanding of plant immunity, humans will gain the ability to modulate and augment plant defenses to minimize disease and yield losses. Arabidopsis thaliana thimet oligopeptidase (TOP) family TOP1 and TOP2 metalloendopeptidases bind salicylic acid and may, therefore, play critical roles in plant immunity. Our research demonstrates that TOP1 and TOP2 regulate hydrogen peroxide accumulation, programmed cell death intensity, and possibly chloroplast integrity during the hypersensitive response following infection by the hemibiotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. We hypothesize that TOP1 and TOP2 are central hubs in reactive oxygen species production and redox regulation, and, as such, may influence physiological responses during both abiotic and biotic stresses. 2013-06-18T00:00:00Z The Origin and Evolution of "Prep" and its Socioeconomic Relevance http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33212 The Origin and Evolution of "Prep" and its Socioeconomic Relevance Lingala, Anu Preppy, Ivy League, WASPy, Country Club—all are used synonymously as terms for the classic collegiate look of the early to mid-twentieth century American menswear that has since been popularized, commercialized, and hyped to excess. In 2010, the Japanese cult preppy style bible Take Ivy was printed in English for the first time. The iconic book documenting fashion at American Ivy League universities was originally published in 1965, and sparked a craze for casual Americana in the authors' homeland of Japan. Studying fashion at an Ivy League school at the time of the book's 2010 re-issue inevitably piqued my interest in the associated preppy phenomenon, and I began to look into "prep" in America. I found that its definition seems to remain consistent regardless of who is recounting it: conventionally clean-cut, yet just a bit lazy. "A list of articles in the Preppie wardrobe would be tedious, but the following are some of the more familiar items: LL Bean boots, Top-Sider moccasins, tasseled loafers; pure wool socks, black silk socks, no socks; baggy chinos, baggy brick red…trousers, baggy Brooks Brothers trousers, baggy boxer underpants; shirts of blue, pink, yellow, or striped Oxford, sometimes buttoned down, some made for a collar pin, usually from Brooks or J. Press…jackets of tweed, corduroy, poplin, seersucker with padless shoulders, a loose fit around the waist…a shapeless beige raincoat bleached by years of use and irresistant to rain" (Aldrich, 1996: 16) But beyond its unwavering characterization as a clothing descriptor, "prep" becomes blurry. The existing literature discussing preppy style tends to glaze over its actual origins and complex evolutionary history. Different sources attribute the beginnings of "prep" to institutes ranging from preparatory schools, Ivy League universities, and White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) society, and each declares the "golden age" of preppy fashion as a different decade spanning 1890-1970. In the recent Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style, Jeffery Banks and Doria de la Chapelle wistfully describe "the windswept and privileged style known as preppy" as having "origins rooted in the grounds of the elite Ivy League universities of the 1920s, where young, WASPy, and wealthy gentlemen invented a relaxed new way for collegians to dress" (2011: 3). However, in her book discussing WASP style, A Privileged Life, Susanna Salk claims that it was born in the 1950s among the preparatory schools of the Northeast (2007: 106). The authoritative American Fashion Menswear alternatively contends that Brooks Brothers was the original proponent of preppy style during the years 1896-1930, along with the privileged elite college students attending Ivy League Universities who helped establish the most current trends in menswear. (Bryan, 2009: 83). These excerpts provide just a sampling of the confusing and contradictory arguments regarding the development of "prep." Thus, the aim of this paper is twofold. First, I seek to clarify and substantiate the origins of prep style, its relationship with American collegiate culture and the national class structure, and its evolution as a fashion subculture. A great deal of writing analyzes the correlation between upper class society and northeastern universities, and some material also exists on the basis and popularity of preppy fashions in collegiate culture. However, the connection bridging these interactions is rarely discussed in the existing literature, or is only mentioned on a superficial level, with no apparent evidentiary support. Through a review of literature and historical materials, I will delve into the complex symbiotic relationship between these three aspects of American society (prep style, collegiate culture, and the upper class) as it developed throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Next, I strive to attain a clear understanding of the cultural and socioeconomic significance of preppy fashion at that time in history, its function as an essential arbiter of class for the American aristocracy. I will consider the modern relevance of this historically critical relationship by looking at the development of contemporary fashion marketing and commercialization, ethnographic observation of the modern university climate, and interviews with current college students. Through my research, I determine that the declining value of this style as an indicator of class in our society is a consequence of the dilution of "prep" fashion by mass media and merchandising in the fashion industry. However, I find that, while not as precise of a gauge as it once was, prep style remains relevant as a means of providing insight regarding the wearer's socioeconomic status and aspirations. 2013-04-12T00:00:00Z Characterization of the Thermobifida fusca Xylanase 11A Carbohydrate-Binding Module by X-ray Crystallography http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29613 Characterization of the Thermobifida fusca Xylanase 11A Carbohydrate-Binding Module by X-ray Crystallography Wolski, Paul Xylanase 11A is an enzyme that degrades xylan. It was isolated from Thermobifida fusca, a thermophilic bacterium found in compost. Xyl11A also contains a family IIb carbohydrate-binding module (CMB), which has been found to be capable of binding to both cellulose and xylan, unlike some other family IIb CBMs. For this reason, this binding domain was chosen for characterization by X-ray crystallography. The gene for this binding domain was cloned into Escherichia coli and purified with column chromatography. Crystals were found in some crystallization screens, and diffraction of these crystals is currently pending. 2012-07-31T00:00:00Z Morphological Correlates of Signal Variation in Weakly Electric Mormyrid Fish http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29608 Morphological Correlates of Signal Variation in Weakly Electric Mormyrid Fish Cheng, Catherine Weakly electric fish occupy a special place in the field of neuroethology as a model system for the study of the neurobiological basis of natural behavior. Comprising two orders of freshwater teleosts, the Gymnotiformes and the Mormyriformes, weakly electric fish have evolved diverse electric organ discharges (EODs) that are used for electrolocation of objects and for sex- and species recognition, courtship, aggression, and appeasement, among other behaviors (Bullock 1982; Heiligenberb & Bastian 1984). Aside from the variety of EODs, the elements of electric communication that make it a model system include the presence of a highly specialized electrosensory system with a subpopulation of receptors and neurons dedicated to communication signal sensing, as well as the structure of the electrical signals themselves, which is relatively simple and amenable to study by experimental manipulation (Hopkins 1988). This paper presents the results of two studies on mormyrid fish and the electric organs (EOs) responsible for weak electrogenesis. In mormyrids, the electric organ is composed of four columns of serially stacked, dish-shaped electrocytes, two on each side of the spinal cord (Bennett 1970; Bass 1986). The central theme of this thesis is the relationship between electric organ morphology and EOD waveform. The first chapter presents a study of Paramormyrops kingsleyae that shows geographic variation in signals correlated with variation in electric organ anatomy. The second chapter is a descriptive study of larval and juvenile Brienomyrus brachyistius that identifies morphological correlates of EOD change in the course of development. 2012-07-25T00:00:00Z An Analysis of How Dairy Farmers Divide Their Time among Twelve Key Management Areas and Farm Profitability http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29537 An Analysis of How Dairy Farmers Divide Their Time among Twelve Key Management Areas and Farm Profitability Braun, Carolyn The relationship between the time dairy farm managers spent on twelve key management areas and dairy farm financial performance was analyzed. The twelve key management areas analyzed were (1) milk quality, (2) milk quantity, (3) reproduction, (4) cow comfort, (5) nutrition, (6) reducing the incidence of metabolic disorders, (7) dry cow comfort, (8) calf management, (9) financial records, (10) financial management (11) crop production and (12) human resources management. Studies in the past have analyzed the factors that affect farm financial performance. However, these studies have never looked at the breakdown of manager hours spent on the factors and how that affects profitability. A multiple regression analysis was performed using a best subsets regression to determine the variables to include in the model. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant. The time managers spend on milk quality, milk quantity, reducing the incidence of metabolic disorders and financial management had a negative relationship with net farm income without appreciation. Time spent on cow comfort, nutrition, dry cow comfort, calf management, financial records and human resources management had a positive impact on net farm income without appreciation. In this study, time spent on reproduction and crop production was not statistically significant and therefore not included in the final model. The results of this study will help dairy farm managers structure the areas they focus on in order to improve farm efficiency which will in turn lead to an increase in financial performance for the farm. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Psychopaths Online: Modeling Psychopathy in Social Media Discourse http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29536 Psychopaths Online: Modeling Psychopathy in Social Media Discourse Boochever, Rachel This is an exploratory study examining the relationship between discourse patterns in social media and undergraduate students' levels of psychopathy when compared to discourse patterns in narratives produced in a laboratory. It expands on previous research findings that psychopathic murderers exhibit narcissistic tendencies and psychological distancing in their discourse when compared to non-psychopathic murderers. Undergraduate students' emails, SMS messages, and Facebook messages were collected and analyzed in relation to their scores on the Self-Report Psychopathy Test III (SRP III). Findings support both main hypotheses: that discourse patterns in social media are distinctly different from discourse patterns in narratives produced in a laboratory, and that psychopathic tendencies are identifiable in social media discourse. Consistent with previous studies, students higher in psychopathy showed evidence of psychological distancing, produced less comprehensible language, potentially reflecting their low reading achievement levels, and produced more anger and swear words, consistent with the emotional deficits and disagreeableness central to psychopathy. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Examining Conceptions of Singledom among Older Ever-Singles http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29535 Examining Conceptions of Singledom among Older Ever-Singles McErlean, Kimberly With an aging population, the host of alternatives to marriage, and the number of people who remain single, ever-single older adults are an important group to understand and their responses can be valuable in helping senior living communities and others work with and provide for this segment of the population. This article draws from interviews with 12 ever-single men and women between the ages of 65 and 87 to explore their changing perspectives of themselves as ever-single, the positives and negatives they perceive with their status, and the social norms surrounding relationships. Many of the participants saw their singlehood as a process and something that opened up opportunities for them that might not have been possible had they been married. Singlehood was seen as having both upsides—such as independence—and downsides—such as lack of companionship—but all participants expressed happiness with the way their lives had turned out. While many participants indicated that marriage was an expectation in the times that they were growing up and that remaining single used to be stigmatized, almost all respondents suggested that society was moving towards acceptance of alternative lifestyles to marriage. The responses from the interviewees illustrate the process involved with being and becoming a single adult. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z


text: BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile World Congress -- Gigamon ®, a leader in traffic visibility solutions with the innovative Visibility Fabric™ architecture, announced the development of an advancement that transforms Big Data into manageable data for mobile carriers. This method is intended to facilitate a cost-effective solution for connecting single or multiple 40Gb and 100Gb pipes to 10Gb and 1Gb analytic tools. This technology under development will be able to take the network traffic flowing through the large pipes, and control the volume of data being forwarded to the tools. This breakthrough process will faithfully reproduce the data on a smaller scale, retaining its stateful condition with session awareness. Single tools can then effectively process throughput of what was originally 100Gb or 40Gb traffic flows. This concept and Gigamon's existing features to address Big Data are currently on show at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. When commercially available, this new innovation will work in tandem with Gigamon's Flow Mapping ® and GigaSMART ® applications technologies. Flow Mapping enables advanced filtering of individual network traffic packets that are forwarded according to a set of user-defined rules that are optimized to provide customers with unique granularity and scalability. GigaSMART applications modify, manipulate, transform and transport packets, along with the information they carry, in order to enhance and improve the value of the network traffic before delivering it to the appropriate management, monitoring and security tools. "As data traffic from mobile devices and applications continues to grow rapidly, mobile carriers have searched for a way to efficiently, effectively, and economically monitor that traffic for performance and quality of service", said Dana Cooperson, VP & Practice Leader of Network Infrastructure Telecoms at Ovum. "As connections grow to 40G and 100G, the Big Data velocity and volume challenge is further intensified. Gigamon's approach tackles mobile carriers' Big Data challenges by intelligently breaking down the problem into smaller, more manageable chunks, while maintaining carrier control over QoE."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Wrong? In what way? Isn't competitiveness the whole point of a race?
Without being particularly fast, I'm super-competitive when participating in events. I don't see anything wrong with it at all, quite the opposite really. I agree with Dylan - as long as good race etiquette and good manners are observed then it's fine.
I'd always stop to help someone in trouble though. A friend and I once stopped halfway through a trail marathon and got out the first aid kit to patch up a lady who had fallen off her bike. And if the person I was racing to the finish line fell over, I'd stop and help them up rather than run off and leave them.
well in a running event this person would say how i would make him run faster and faster ...is not that the whole point of competing, or did i do something wrong
I enjoy competing, especially if I have seen them several times before....
However I always shake their hand if they beat me again!!! Lol ;-D
Not computing...
odd thread
The operative word is 'race'......


text:
HBO Go soon streaming through Roku
HBO will start streaming to Roku TV set-top boxes by the end of the month, Roku and Time Warner announced today.
HBO Go will be free through Roku online video streaming devices to viewers who already get HBO through their cable TV service, offering access to some 1,400 titles.
Roku boxes -- the least expensive of which is now available for $50 -- can pipe in entertainment from 300 "channels" including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus and Pandora. HBO, which launched HBO Go earlier this year through mobile apps, announced in August it planned to expand the service across several platforms, including video game systems and Internet-connected TVs. Today's news comes a week after Microsoft announced that HBO Go will be available for HBO subscribers who are also paying members of the Xbox Live gaming service.
- Goodbye Milwaukee: Covering tech has been a blast
- Top 30 movies vanishing from Netflix soon
- Date set for a new iPad reveal next week
- Galaxy Tab 7.7 on sale Thursday
- Inventors' pinball ideas have pop
- Free video game rentals at Redbox
- Milwaukee engineer builds a case to land LEGO gig
- Build & fly paper airplanes for Red Bull glory
- Sony's new Vita impressive if a bit overwhelming
- Local musician makes 'SoundClouder' of the day
More Tech Coverage
Latest personal technology stories from the Journal Sentinel


text:
Amsale / Preowned Learn More
Amsale 'Nouvelle'
/ Resell It & Make Up To: $990 Learn More
This dress is from the 2015 Amsale collection. The belt shown in the pictures is not included. There is a separate flower that can be sewn onto the dress (included). I'm 5'0" tall and wore 3" heels with this dress. I'm a size 2 lbs) and had the dress tailored to fit me for the wedding. This dress was recently dry cleaned (worn once at the wedding). The dress has been hanging in its garment bag since (smoke free/pet free home). This dress has boning structure inside with a separate inner zipper which makes it very flattering and fitted, but is still comfortable for dancing.
- Condition: preowned
- Profesionally Cleaned: yes
- Alterations: yes
- US Street Size: 02
- Dress Tag Size: 10
- Bust: 34C
- Waist: 30
- Hips: 35
- Tallest Wearable Height: 5' 3"
- Fabric: silk chiffon
- Silhouette: fit to flare
- Neckline: sweetheart
- Features: not white
- Dress Length: full
Once you have placed your order the Seller will be notified to pack and ship the gown. The seller will then ship the item to us and our inspection and authentication team will check that it is authentic and matches to the seller's description. The item will then be shipped to you upon approval.
Dress Q & A
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Try It On - No Risk Return Policy: Have your cake & eat it too. Returns accepted on all items. More details