Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Inflammation: The Key To Health And Disease, Prakash Nagarkatti Ph. D, Donald J. Dipette M. D.

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Solution Chemical Synthesis Of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Materials, Xiaohua Ji, Terry M. Tritt, Xinbing Zhao, Joe W. Kolis

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Brainstem Raphe Pallidus And The Adjacent Area Contain A Novel Action Site In The Melanocortin Circuitry Regulating Energy Balance, Liugen Lei, Yan Gu, Jonathan G. Murphy, Pinxuan Yu, James L. Smart, Malcolm J. Low, Wei Fan

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

The central melanocortin system plays a critical role in the regulation of energy balance in rodents and humans. The melanocortin signals in both the hypothalamus and brainstem contribute to this regulation. However, how the melanocortin signals of the hypothalamus interact with those intrinsic to the brainstem in the regulation of energy balance is poorly understood. The brainstem raphe pallidus (RPa) and adjacent areas contain melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R)-bearing neurons and sympathetic premotor neurons regulating thermogenesis. Here we report that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-immunoreactive (IR) fibers are in close apposition to MC4-R neurons in the RPa. Retrograde tracing studies revealed a unique …

Regulation Of L-Type Voltage-Dependnet Calcium Channels By The Rem Gtpase, Chunyan Pang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The Rem, Rem2, Rad, and Gem/Kir GTPases, comprise a novel subfamily of the small Ras-related GTP-binding proteins known as the RGK GTPases, and have been shown to function as potent negative regulators of high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca²⁺ channels upon overexpression. HVA Ca²⁺ channels modulate Ca²⁺ influx in response to membrane depolarization to regulate a wide variety of cellular functions and they minimally consist of a pore-forming α1 subunit, an intracellular β subunit, and a transmembrane complex α₂/δ subunit. While the mechanisms underlying RGK-mediated Ca²⁺ channel regulation remain poorly defined, it appears that both membrane …

Treatment Of Industrial Wastewater Containing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients With A Membrane Bioreactor, With The Aim Of Reducing Resource Consumption, Pádraig Colm Ó'Maolcatha

Theses

The biodegradation of a selected active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) during wastewater treatment in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was examined experimentally. A comparison study was conducted by operating a conventional activated sludge (CAS) pilot plant in parallel to the MBR. The MBR was operated under varying conditions of pH (pH6 and pH8), MLSS (6g/L and l0g/L) and SRT (20 days and 30 days) according to a full factorial design of experiments. In the CAS, pH and SRT were altered as above but MLSS was maintained at 3-4g/L. Comparable average API removal results of 95.5% and 95.7% were obtained for the MBR …

Bringing In The Green: Pharma Stands To Win Hearts, Minds, And Tax Credits By Launching An Eco Bandwagon, Porcher L. Taylor Iii, David E. Kitchen

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Faculty Publications

A green mind-set can lead to a black bottom line. Becoming nvironmentally friendly can help boost brand image and ROi -- and pharma can get there with a few easy steps.

First, with about 90,000 sales representatives on the road, the industry could lead a revolution in transportation if it bought hybrid cars. By replacing the current fleet, the benefits would be substantial. Each hybrid is cheaper to maintain, more fuel-efficient, and leaves a far smaller greenhouse-gas footprint on the environment. Imagine extrapolating these benefits to thousands of ca rs: That's an environmentally friendly signature that shows leadership in the …

Models Of Phototransduction In Rod Photoreceptors, Harihar Khanal, Vasilios Alexiades

Publications

Phototransduction is the process by which photons of light generate an electrical response in retinal rod and cone photoreceptors, thereby initiating vision. We compare the electrical response in salamander rods from increasingly more (spacialy) detailed models of phototransduction: 0-dimensional (bulk), 1-dimensional (longitudinal), 2-dimensional (axisymmetric), and 3-dimensional (with incisures). We discuss issues of finding physical parameters for simulation and validation of models, and also present some computational experiments for rods with geometry of mouse and human photoreceptors.

Sc Inbre: A Catalyst For Biomedical Research Development In South Carolina, Lucia A. Pirisi-Creek M.D, Scott Little, Ph.D.

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Call For A Statewide Bioinformatics Institute, John R. Rose

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

With The Help Of South Carolina Research Universities, Scra Demonstrates Leadership In Applied Research And Commercialization Within Sc, Bill Mahoney

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

University Of Texas At Tyler Catalog, 2008 - 2010, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Object Detection And Classification With Applications To Skin Cancer Screening, Jonathan Blackledge, Dmitryi Dubovitskiy

Articles

This paper discusses a new approach to the processes of object detection, recognition and classification in a digital image. The classification method is based on the application of a set of features which include fractal parameters such as the Lacunarity and Fractal Dimension. Thus, the approach used, incorporates the characterisation of an object in terms of its texture.

The principal issues associated with object recognition are presented which includes two novel fast segmentation algorithms for which C++ code is provided. The self-learning procedure for designing a decision making engine using fuzzy logic and membership function theory is also presented and …

Advancing Epidemiological Science Through Computational Modeling: A Review With Novel Examples, Scott M. Duke-Sylvester, Eli N. Perencevich, Jon P. Furuno, Leslie A. Real, Holly Gaff

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Computational models have been successfully applied to a wide variety of research areas including infectious disease epidemiology. Especially for questions that are difficult to examine in other ways, computational models have been used to extend the range of epidemiological issues that can be addressed, advance theoretical understanding of disease processes and help identify specific intervention strategies. We explore each of these contributions to epidemiology research through discussion and examples. We also describe in detail models for raccoon rabies and methicillin-resis-tant Staphylococcus aureus, drawn from our own research, to further illustrate the role of computation in epidemiological modeling.

On Matched Pairs Sign Test Using Bivariate Ranked Set Sampling: An Application To Environmental Issues, Hani M. Samawi, Mohammad F. Al-Saleh, Obaid Al-Saidy

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

The matched pairs sign test using bivariate ranked set sampling (BVRSS) is introduced and investigated. We show that this test is asymptotically more efficient than its counterpart sign test based on a bivariate simple random sample (BVSRS). The asymptotic null distribution and the efficiency of the test are derived. The Pitman asymptotic relative efficiency is used to compare the asymptotic performance of the matched pairs sign test using BVRSS versus using BVSRS. For small sample sizes, the bootstrap method is used to estimate P-values. Numerical comparisons are used to gain insight about the efficiency of the BVRSS sign test compared …

Electrical Detection Of The Temperature Induced Melting Transition Of A Dna Hairpin Covalently Attached To Gold Interdigitated Microelectrodes, Greg P. Brewood, Yaswanth Rangineni, Daniel J. Fish, Ashwini Bhandiwad, David R. Evans, Raj Solanki, Albert S. Benight

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The temperature induced melting transition of a self-complementary DNA strand covalently attached at the 5' end to the surface of a gold interdigitated microelectrode (GIME) was monitored in a novel, label-free, manner. The structural state of the hairpin was assessed by measuring four different electronic properties of the GIME (capacitance, impedance, dissipation factor and phase angle) as a function of temperature from 25 degrees C to 80 degrees C. Consistent changes in all four electronic properties of the GIME were observed over this temperature range, and attributed to the transition of the attached single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from an intramolecular, folded …

Idiopathic Lesions And Visual Deficits In The American Lobster (Homarus Americanus) From Longs Island Sound, Ny, Christopher Robert Magel

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

In 1999 a mass mortality of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) occurred in western Long Island Sound (WLIS). Although the etiology remains unknown, warm bottom water temperature, hypoxia, heavy metal poisoning, and pesticides have been suggested as casual factors. Subsequently, lobsters from WLIS have continued to display symptoms of morbidity that include lethargy and cloudy grey eyes, caused by idiopathic lesions. The effects of these lesions on lobster vision are unknown. We therefore used electoretinography (ERG) to document changes in visual function in lobsters obtained from WLIS, while simultaneously using histology to quantify the extent of damage. Of the lobsters …

Editorial, First Science And Policy Issue, Jscas

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Analysis And Deliberation To Evaluate Biodiesel Occupational And Environmental Exposures, Nora M. Traviss

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Many U.S. organizations interested in a renewable and domestic source of energy are considering switching from petroleum diesel to biodiesel blends for transportation and heavy-duty equipment use. Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils or waste grease. While there is a considerable body of evidence on the negative health effects of petroleum diesel exhaust exposures in occupational and urban settings, there has been little research examining the impact of biodiesel fuel on occupational and environmental exposures. This dissertation combined a collaborative exposure assessment of B20 (20% soy-based biodiesel/80% diesel) at a rural recycling center with a policy intervention to …

Size-Controlled Synthesis Of Monodisperse Core/Shell Nanogels, William H. Blackburn, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Small, monodisperse nanogels (similar to 50-nm radius) were synthesized by free-radical precipitation polymerization and were characterized using a suite of light scattering and chromatography methods. Nanogels were synthesized with either N-isopropylacrylamide or N-isopropylmethacrylamide as the main monomer, with acrylic acid or 4-acrylamidofluorescein as a comonomer and N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) as a cross-linker. By varying the surfactant and initiator concentrations, particle size was controlled while maintaining excellent monodispersity. An amine-containing shell was added to these core particles to facilitate subsequent bioconjugation. Successful conjugation of folic acid to the particles was demonstrated as an example of how such materials might be employed in a …

Synthesis Of Multifunctional Nanogels Using A Protected Macromonomer Approach, Neetu Singh, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Nanoparticles possessing multiple functionalities provide synthetic handles for varied surface chemistries, making them useful for a range of applications such as biotargeting and drug delivery. However, the combination of interfering functionalities on the same particle is often challenging. We have employed a synthetic scheme involving chemical protection/deprotection to combine interfering functional groups on the same hydrogel nanoparticle. The synthesis of amine-containing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanogels was carried out via free radical precipitation polymerization by incorporating a Fmoc-protected amine poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomer. The Fmoc group was then removed to obtain free amines, which were shown to be available for conjugation. We further …

Reduced Acute Inflammatory Responses To Microgel Conformal Coatings, Amanda W. Bridges, Neetu Singh, Kellie L. Burns, Julia E. Babensee, L. Andrew Lyon, Andrés J. García

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Implantation of synthetic materials into the body elicits inflammatory host responses that limit medical device integration and biological performance. This inflammatory cascade involves protein adsorption, leukocyte recruitment and activation, cytokine release, and fibrous encapsulation of the implant. We present a coating strategy based on thin films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel microparticles (i.e. microgels) cross-linked with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. These particles were grafted onto a clinically relevant polymeric material to generate conformal coatings that significantly reduced in vitro fibrinogen adsorption and primary human monocyte/macrophage adhesion and spreading. These microgel coatings also reduced leukocyte adhesion and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, …

Analysis Of Residual Solvents In Pharmaceuticals By Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography, Cristina Marie Crimi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Multinomial Logistic Regression: An Application To Estimating Performance Of A Multiple Screening Test For Bowel Cancer When Negatives Are Unverified., Chris Lloyd, Don Frommer

Chris J. Lloyd

This paper describes a method of estimating the performance of a multiple screening test where those who test negative do not have their true disease status determined. The methodology is motivated by a dataset on 49,927 subjects who were given K=6 binary tests for bowel cancer. A complicating factor is that individuals may have polyps present in the bowel, a condition that the screening test is not designed to detect but which may be worth diagnosing. The methodology is based on a multinomial logit model for Pr(S|R_6), the probability distribution of patient status S (healthy, polyps or diseased) conditional on …

A New Exact And More Powerful Unconditional Test Of No Treatment Effect From Binary Matched Pairs, Chris Lloyd

Chris J. Lloyd

We consider the problem of testing for a difference in the probability of success from matched binary pairs. Starting with three standard inexact tests, the nuisance parameter is first estimated and then the residual dependence is eliminated by maximisation, producing what I call an E+M P-value. The E+M P-value based on McNemar's statistic is shown numerically to dominate previous suggestions, including partially maximised P-values as described in Berger and Sidik (2003). The latter method however may have computational advantages for large samples.

Dosimetric Evaluation Of Helical Tomotherapy Treatment Planning For Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Karen Chu, George Rodrigues, Slav Yartsev, A. Rashid Dar, Edward Yu, Robert Ash, Brian Yaremko, Marc Mackenzie, Harvey Quon, Glenn Bauman, Wilson Roa

Edward Yu

Helical tomotherapy (HT) is a novel technique to deliver intensity modulated radiation therapy guided by 3D megavoltage CT imaging. The purpose of our study is to assess the dosimetric parameters related to HT and 3DCRT in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eleven patients from the London Regional Cancer Centre and the Cross Cancer Institute with NSCLC underwent individualized treatment planning on both HT and 3DCRT. Corresponding HT and 3DCRT plans for each patient were analyzed using dose-volume histograms for GTV, PTV (median dose 60Gy/30 fractions), and critical structures (lung V5-30, esophageal V50-60, and spinal cord D1). Observed differences in …

Cascading Infrastructure Failures: Avoidance And Response, George H. Baker, Cheryl J. Elliott

George H Baker

No critical infrastructure is self-sufficient. The complexity inherent in the interdependent nature of infrastructure systems complicates planning and preparedness for system failures. Recent wide-scale disruption of infrastructure on the Gulf Coast due to weather, and in the Northeast due to electric power network failures, dramatically illustrate the problems associated with mitigating cascading effects and responding to cascading infrastructure failures once they have occurred.

The major challenge associated with preparedness for cascading failures is that they transcend system, corporate, and political boundaries and necessitate coordination among multiple, disparate experts and authorities. This symposium brought together concerned communities including government and industry …

Long-Term Consequences Of The Delay Between Virologic Failure Of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy And Regimen Modification, Maya L. Petersen, Mark J. Van Der Laan, Napravnik Sonia, Joseph J. Eron, Richard G. Moore, Steven G. Deeks

Maya Petersen

Objectives: Current treatment guidelines recommend immediate modification of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected individuals with incomplete viral suppression. These recommendations have not been tested in observational studies or large randomized trials. We evaluated the consequences of delayed modification following virologic failure. Design/methods: We used prospective data from two clinical cohorts to estimate the effect of time until regimen modification following first regimen failure on all-cause mortality. The impact of regimen type was also assessed. As the effect of delayed switching can be confounded if patients with a poor prognosis modify therapy earlier than those with a good prognosis, we used a …

Functional Generalized Linear Models With Applications To Neuroimaging, Philip T. Reiss, R. Todd Ogden

Philip T. Reiss

No abstract provided.

Statistical Issues In Proteomic Research, Jeffrey S. Morris

Jeffrey S. Morris

No abstract provided.

Immediate Implant Placement In Extraction Sites With Periapical Lesions: A Retrospective Study, Yuan-Lung Hung

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Immediate implant placement into fresh extraction sites has become a relatively routine clinical procedure with a favorable prognosis. However, immediate placement into extraction sockets with lesions has not been extensively documented in humans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the survival rate of implants placed into extraction sockets with visible periapical lesions.

Patient charts of 544 immediately placed implants from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Center for Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry were examined. Eighty-six of the 544 implants had been placed immediately into extraction sockets with periapical lesions and they were included in this study. …