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- Title
- Belly dancing: praxis and self-identity.
- Creator
- Pilaski, Rachael, Fewkes, Jacqueline H., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
The history and problematic Orientalist contexts of belly dance within the United States has been discussed previously in academia; my project is a more ethnographic approach than many of these previous works. This particular study focuses on belly dance communities in South Florida to understand how the dancers, students, and instructors appropriate and re-appropriate the praxis of belly dance to fit within their own personal contexts. Through this work we see how contemporary belly dancing...
Show moreThe history and problematic Orientalist contexts of belly dance within the United States has been discussed previously in academia; my project is a more ethnographic approach than many of these previous works. This particular study focuses on belly dance communities in South Florida to understand how the dancers, students, and instructors appropriate and re-appropriate the praxis of belly dance to fit within their own personal contexts. Through this work we see how contemporary belly dancing both challenges and reinforces Orientalist perspectives. I used Edward Said‟s notions of Orientalism as an analytical framework to interpret information gathered from participant-observation sessions, interviews with informants, and text analysis. I found that Orientalism influenced the history of contemporary American belly dance and that current practices reflect this history and its Orientalist origins.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003530
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Bio-active organic compounds in the venom of an Endemic Jamaican Ant, Crematogaster vicina.
- Creator
- Burnett, Brian M, Wetterer, James K., Dragojlovic, Veljko, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Bioprospecting, the search for useful compounds found in nature, has led to the discovery of novel drugs and pharmaceuticals. For my thesis research, I analyzed the organic compounds in the venom of Crematogaster vicina Andre, an endemic Jamaican ant. Prior chemical analysis of Crematogaster species revealed diverse, bio-active organic compounds, which included long chained conjugated dienones, furanocembranoid, and diterpenes. I postulated that these types of compounds are characteristic of...
Show moreBioprospecting, the search for useful compounds found in nature, has led to the discovery of novel drugs and pharmaceuticals. For my thesis research, I analyzed the organic compounds in the venom of Crematogaster vicina Andre, an endemic Jamaican ant. Prior chemical analysis of Crematogaster species revealed diverse, bio-active organic compounds, which included long chained conjugated dienones, furanocembranoid, and diterpenes. I postulated that these types of compounds are characteristic of the Crematogaster venom. I used Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Sci-Finder database and SDBS database to test my hypothesis with C.vicina venom. I identified one bio-active organic compound of high abundance and similar characteristics of the organic compounds found in venom of the Crematogaster species from Europe: 1, 2 –Dihydro-4-ethylamino-1-methylpyrimidin-2-one, which I isolated as di (phosphate methyl ester).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003508
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Biodiversity of Fish Families on Palm Beach County Reefs from 2003 to 2018.
- Creator
- Barnes, Kyle J., Moore, Jon, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
For fifteen years the Palm Beach County Reef Research Team has been collecting data on the fishes seen at various reefs in Palm Beach County. The aim of this study was to determine the overall health of these reefs by comparing associated fish stocks biodiversity at two reef sites in Palm Beach County from 2003 to 2018. To compare the fish biodiversity over time as well as between reefs sites, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analyses was used. To evaluate general changes, a t...
Show moreFor fifteen years the Palm Beach County Reef Research Team has been collecting data on the fishes seen at various reefs in Palm Beach County. The aim of this study was to determine the overall health of these reefs by comparing associated fish stocks biodiversity at two reef sites in Palm Beach County from 2003 to 2018. To compare the fish biodiversity over time as well as between reefs sites, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analyses was used. To evaluate general changes, a t-test was used to compare the total abundance of fish between 2003 and 2018. The results of the NMDS show that the reefs’ fish assemblages do not significantly differ over time. Then, using the years as replicates, the t-test showed a few families differed on an individual basis. The results of this study show that the two selected reefs maintain similar fish stocks.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00068
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- BIOLOGICAL BENEFIT OF THE MCAT TRANSGENE IN PROGEROID MICE.
- Creator
- Frydman, Sylvia, Niedernhofer, Laura, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
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Aging is the number one risk factor for numerous chronic diseases driving increased morbidity and healthcare costs globally. Thus, finding ways to uncouple chronical aging with risk of disease is imperative. Extensive evidence links aging with increased oxidative stress. The free radical theory of aging posits that reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase with age and cause oxidative damage to cellular components, thereby driving aging. In support of this, overexpressing the endogenous...
Show moreAging is the number one risk factor for numerous chronic diseases driving increased morbidity and healthcare costs globally. Thus, finding ways to uncouple chronical aging with risk of disease is imperative. Extensive evidence links aging with increased oxidative stress. The free radical theory of aging posits that reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase with age and cause oxidative damage to cellular components, thereby driving aging. In support of this, overexpressing the endogenous antioxidant catalase specifically in mitochondria (mCAT transgene) improves health and lifespan of mice. I hypothesized that if ROS is a root cause of aging then the mCAT transgene would slow aging in a murine model of a human progeroid syndrome (Ercc1-/Δ mice). Unfortunately, mCAT expression was not highly expressed in all tissues. Nevertheless, mCAT+/-;Ercc1-/Δ mice showed improvements in functional tests and health evaluations relative to Ercc1-/Δ mice supporting the conclusion that ROS plays an important causal role in aging. matching, pre-transplant assessments and allocation of organs. In addition, I will discuss ethical principles that can be used to aid transplant teams in the difficult task of allocating of organs. I will also evaluate alternative options to the current transplant process such as an opt-out vs. an opt-in system and controlled financial payment for organs. Finally, I will analyze current policies regarding living donors and suggest avenues for future research into alternative resources for organs.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00016
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Biological electron transfer: an investigation of riboflavin.
- Creator
- Caplan, Stacee Lee, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Most living organisms utilize electron transport chains in order to obtain energy. Riboflavin, commonly known as vitamin B2, is the central component of the redox coenzymes flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). These cofactors serve as a prosthetic group to flavoproteins and function as the energy-carrying molecules in electron transfer reactions. In this study, the different ionization and oxidation states of riboflavin were identified and quantified as a...
Show moreMost living organisms utilize electron transport chains in order to obtain energy. Riboflavin, commonly known as vitamin B2, is the central component of the redox coenzymes flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). These cofactors serve as a prosthetic group to flavoproteins and function as the energy-carrying molecules in electron transfer reactions. In this study, the different ionization and oxidation states of riboflavin were identified and quantified as a function of solution potential and pH. To accomplish this task, spectroelectrochemical reductions of riboflavin at different pH were performed. Spectroscopic data offer clues concerning the identity of underlying species, such as oxidation/ionization states and the controlling equilibria. The large data sets obtained from these experiments were analyzed and the acid dissociation constant for reduced riboflavin was determined.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77660
- Subject Headings
- Solution (Chemistry), Electron spectroscopy, Chemical reaction, Conditions and laws of, Charge transfer in biology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Bioprospecting for useful compounds in the venom of Crematogaster ants.
- Creator
- McCurdy, Robert E., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Bioprospecting, the search for useful compounds in nature, has led to the discovery of many important pharmaceuticals. Most current bioprospecting efforts work with chemicals derived from marine invertebrates and terrestrial plants. I looked for useful compounds in a relatively unstudied source, the venom of Crematogaster ants, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Further studies can more accurately identify these chemicals using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and...
Show moreBioprospecting, the search for useful compounds in nature, has led to the discovery of many important pharmaceuticals. Most current bioprospecting efforts work with chemicals derived from marine invertebrates and terrestrial plants. I looked for useful compounds in a relatively unstudied source, the venom of Crematogaster ants, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Further studies can more accurately identify these chemicals using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11607
- Subject Headings
- Genetic resources conservation, Ants, Venom, Physiological effect, Chromatographic analysis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The bizarreness effect and memory: implications for eyewitness testimony.
- Creator
- Wiseman, Jennifer., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Mistakes in combining components of stimuli are called binding or memory conjunction errors. They occur when people mistakenly associate two previously seen stimulus features that were not previously seen together. It is hypothesized that bizarre items will be better remembered than common items. Participants saw 18 continuous events, each containing four actions performed by four different actors. One week later they returned for a recognition test and were shown more video clips. There were...
Show moreMistakes in combining components of stimuli are called binding or memory conjunction errors. They occur when people mistakenly associate two previously seen stimulus features that were not previously seen together. It is hypothesized that bizarre items will be better remembered than common items. Participants saw 18 continuous events, each containing four actions performed by four different actors. One week later they returned for a recognition test and were shown more video clips. There were old, new action, and conjunction items. A conjunction item was composed of a familiar actor performing a familiar action that had previously been performed by someone else. For each clip, participants were asked if they saw this person perform this action before. Participants responded "yes" to conjunction same context items more often than they did to conjunction different context items.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77698
- Subject Headings
- Eyewitness identification, Context effects (Psychology), Memory
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Brand Name vs. Generic Medications.
- Creator
- Warrayat, Reem, Kennedy, Ashley Graham, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
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I will be looking in depth between the similarities and differences of brand name and generic medications. I will see what makes one a brand name and one a generic and how similar and different the drugs can be from each other before they are considered an entirely different drug. After that, I will talk about the FDA guidelines, and how my research shows evidence for something entirely different. Finally, I will then look at case studies, my own experience, and surveys to see which drug is...
Show moreI will be looking in depth between the similarities and differences of brand name and generic medications. I will see what makes one a brand name and one a generic and how similar and different the drugs can be from each other before they are considered an entirely different drug. After that, I will talk about the FDA guidelines, and how my research shows evidence for something entirely different. Finally, I will then look at case studies, my own experience, and surveys to see which drug is preferred more among people and why they chose what they do, and if they think one type is better than the other.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003697
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Breeding season and fecundity of Gopherus polyphemus in South Florida.
- Creator
- Strattan, Melody., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is a threatened species native to the southeastern United States. The breeding season of G. polyphemus is reportedly from April to June. However, out of season hatchlings in Jupiter, Florida, suggest that in South Florida, the very southernmost part of the gopher tortoise's range, the warmer climate allows a longer period of reproduction or a year-round breeding season. My research sought to find evidence for an extended breeding season and to collect...
Show moreThe gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is a threatened species native to the southeastern United States. The breeding season of G. polyphemus is reportedly from April to June. However, out of season hatchlings in Jupiter, Florida, suggest that in South Florida, the very southernmost part of the gopher tortoise's range, the warmer climate allows a longer period of reproduction or a year-round breeding season. My research sought to find evidence for an extended breeding season and to collect fecundity data on the South Florida tortoises by capturing female tortoises and X-raying them at different times of the year to check for the presence of eggs. Although I found no conclusive proof of an extended breeding season, I present additional circumstantial evidence for it, as well as information regarding the fecundity of tortoises in the spring.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11604
- Subject Headings
- Gopher tortoise, Reproduction, Gopher tortoise, Breeding, Wildlife conservation, Wildlife management
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Caloric restriction in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Creator
- Hoxha, Sany., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
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Caloric restriction (CR), the reduction of nutrient intake short of malnutrition, extends the lifespan of various organisms and can improve measures of human health. Whether mechanisms of lifespan extension are conserved between humans and model organisms is unknown. In mammals, implementing CR is easily achieved by providing a restricted group with a fraction of the food consumed by an "ad libitum" fed group, which has unlimited food access. Due to the difficulty in directly controlling...
Show moreCaloric restriction (CR), the reduction of nutrient intake short of malnutrition, extends the lifespan of various organisms and can improve measures of human health. Whether mechanisms of lifespan extension are conserved between humans and model organisms is unknown. In mammals, implementing CR is easily achieved by providing a restricted group with a fraction of the food consumed by an "ad libitum" fed group, which has unlimited food access. Due to the difficulty in directly controlling Drosophila food intake, caloric restriction, performed similarly to the mammalian paradigm, has never been tested in flies. Here, we demonstrate a system that allows measurement of food intake throughout life. This system will be used to measure fly lifespan under caloric restriction analogous to current mammalian studies. Our work will help tease apart the differences between the various caloric and dietary restriction paradigms in Drosophila, strengthening our understanding of how fly models relate to mammalian systems.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359316
- Subject Headings
- Aging, Physiological aspects, Nutrition disorders in old age, Oxidative stress, Pathophysiology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CAN BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE BE A PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR FOR CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE PATIENTS NEARING DEATH?.
- Creator
- Pisarra, Cory, Wetterer, James, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
The cardiac ventricles release brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) when the cardiomyocytes are exceptionally stressed. Past research has indicated that BNP can be a used as a prognostic indicator in heart failure patients (Doust et al., 2005). The hypothesis is that higher BNP readings will result in a shorter amount of time that the patient has to live. 210 patients with a heart condition were admitted to the Hospice of Palm Beach County and had their blood drawn to determine their BNP level;...
Show moreThe cardiac ventricles release brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) when the cardiomyocytes are exceptionally stressed. Past research has indicated that BNP can be a used as a prognostic indicator in heart failure patients (Doust et al., 2005). The hypothesis is that higher BNP readings will result in a shorter amount of time that the patient has to live. 210 patients with a heart condition were admitted to the Hospice of Palm Beach County and had their blood drawn to determine their BNP level; however, only 35 patients qualified for the final analysis. The 35 patients had BNP readings ranging from 63 pg/ml to 50000 pg/ml with the average being 6620 pg/ml, whereas the normal range is <100 pg/ml. The time between the last BNP reading and the date of death ranged from 1 day to 732 days with the average being 118 days; furthermore, the trend indicated that the higher the BNP level the shorter the patient had to live which agrees with the hypothesis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00042
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Caregiver Burden and its Effects on the Diet and Nutritional Status Of Family Caregivers Of the Older Adult with Dementia.
- Creator
- Nwiloh, Abigail, Trivigno, Catherine, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Dementia is a disease commonly found in older adults which impairs proper cognitive function and the ability of dementia patients to carry out daily tasks. Hence, there is a need for caregivers who can assist the patients by taking them through their daily living activities. Prior research has primarily been focused on the impact of this disease on the patient's quality of living without shedding ample light on the struggles that caregivers face. Caregivers undergo high-stress levels relative...
Show moreDementia is a disease commonly found in older adults which impairs proper cognitive function and the ability of dementia patients to carry out daily tasks. Hence, there is a need for caregivers who can assist the patients by taking them through their daily living activities. Prior research has primarily been focused on the impact of this disease on the patient's quality of living without shedding ample light on the struggles that caregivers face. Caregivers undergo high-stress levels relative to the number of tasks they carryout for their patients and other contributing factors. Burdens that each dementia caregiver faces can take a toll on their physical and emotional health. This paper highlights the effects of caregiving on the caretakers’ nutrition and physical health and proposes a method for investigating the impacts of telehealth nutritionist intervention on the diets of caregivers and their dementia patients.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003717
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CASSAVA AND TROPICAL DIABETES.
- Creator
- Rich, Praewpailin, Kennedy, Ashley, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics and is a major staple food among developing countries. Cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides which turn into cyanide and are toxic to the body when ingested in a high content. Cyanide poisoning causes many symptoms including severe abdominal pain which is also one of the symptoms occurring in patients with pancreatitis. Tropical diabetes or fibrocalculous pancreatitis diabetes mellitus is secondary to tropical...
Show moreCassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics and is a major staple food among developing countries. Cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides which turn into cyanide and are toxic to the body when ingested in a high content. Cyanide poisoning causes many symptoms including severe abdominal pain which is also one of the symptoms occurring in patients with pancreatitis. Tropical diabetes or fibrocalculous pancreatitis diabetes mellitus is secondary to tropical pancreatitis which is a form of non-alcoholic chronic calcific pancreatitis found primarily in tropical regions. The symptoms include severe abdominal pain. In this study, I will hypothesize that there is a link between early life ingestion of cassava, inadequate protein intake, tropical chronic pancreatitis and tropical diabetes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003721
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CASSIOPEA XAMACHANA PRESENCE IN JELLYFISH BAY, IN THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER, MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCES.
- Creator
- Bonilla, Kristene, Moore, Jon, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Increases in jellyfish blooms worldwide have been linked to synergistic effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. Cassiopea sp. are epibenthic jellyfish found in significantly higher densities and larger in size in areas that have high human populations. This study quantified the spatial and class-size distribution of Cassiopea xamachana in the Loxahatchee River, in an area referred to as Jellyfish Bay, by analyzing bell diameters and abundance, percent of submerged aquatic...
Show moreIncreases in jellyfish blooms worldwide have been linked to synergistic effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. Cassiopea sp. are epibenthic jellyfish found in significantly higher densities and larger in size in areas that have high human populations. This study quantified the spatial and class-size distribution of Cassiopea xamachana in the Loxahatchee River, in an area referred to as Jellyfish Bay, by analyzing bell diameters and abundance, percent of submerged aquatic vegetation, and nutrient levels to determine if anthropogenic factors play a role in their presence there. Porewater samples from the bay had higher phosphorous levels compared to the rest of the river. This was indicative of wastewater runoff and may also indicate P-limitation. Nitrate levels were slightly lower than the average values and Cassiopea spp. preferentially take up nitrogen for their symbiotic zooxanthellae, so the higher densities of Cassiopea spp. in the embayment could be soaking up that nitrogen.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00005
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CATALYTIC RUTHENIUM TETROXIDE OXIDATION OF ALKENES UNDER ANHYDROUS CONDITIONS.
- Creator
- Ansley, Harrison, Dragojlovic, Veljko, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Oxidative cleavage of alkenes was carried out with catalytic ruthenium tetroxide in anhydrous t-butyl alcohol at room temperature. Mild conditions caused a slower and less exhaustive oxidation of the double bond so that aldehydes were the major reaction products.
- Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013637
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Caught red-handed, but not guilty: the entrapment defense and culpability.
- Creator
- Mockler, Katherine L., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
There is a debate among scholars regarding how courts should judge defendants caught in government decoy and sting operations. As a retributivist, I believe we should only punish those who are culpable. Following this assumption, I argue that courts should punish entrapped people if they are culpable and that the subjective test, which holds that a defendant is culpable if he was predisposed to commit the crime, should be the standard by which courts judge defendants who claim entrapment. The...
Show moreThere is a debate among scholars regarding how courts should judge defendants caught in government decoy and sting operations. As a retributivist, I believe we should only punish those who are culpable. Following this assumption, I argue that courts should punish entrapped people if they are culpable and that the subjective test, which holds that a defendant is culpable if he was predisposed to commit the crime, should be the standard by which courts judge defendants who claim entrapment. The objective test, which focuses on the propriety of the government conduct, fails to accurately assess culpability because, under this test, the guilt of the defendant depends largely on what the average person would have done under the same circumstances. I also propose that if government conduct reached the level of outrageous, defendants found to be predisposed may claim that the government violated their right to due process.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/209995
- Subject Headings
- Undercover operations, Government investigations, Criminal justice, Administration of, Entrapment (Criminal law)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The celebration of uncertainty through gothic moments in Emily Brontèe's Wuthering Heights.
- Creator
- Copeland, Kimberly., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
While critics have argued that the Gothic moments in Emily Brontèe's Wuthering Heights merely illuminate the psyches of her characters, I show that these moments allow Brontèe to reveal a unique tension and overflow of emotion that arises between her two main protagonists. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, these displays --scenes of ghostly hauntings, bloody violence, and excessive emotion--create a desirable uncertainty about the limits of life and love in this novel. This...
Show moreWhile critics have argued that the Gothic moments in Emily Brontèe's Wuthering Heights merely illuminate the psyches of her characters, I show that these moments allow Brontèe to reveal a unique tension and overflow of emotion that arises between her two main protagonists. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, these displays --scenes of ghostly hauntings, bloody violence, and excessive emotion--create a desirable uncertainty about the limits of life and love in this novel. This uncertainty constitutes an escape from and an alternative to the conventional romantic relationship prescribed by social and narrative standards in which two people fall in love, get married, have children and die. In my thesis, I argue that the revelation of this desired uncertainty is made possible by Brontèe's use of Gothic devices and could not have been as successfully achieved by any other literary mode.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/209987
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Symbolism in literature, Gothic revival (Literature), English fiction, History and criticism
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Cells and cocktails: antioxidants rescue carcinogen induced mitotic defects in both chromosomally stable and unstable cells.
- Creator
- Griffin, Isabel Sloan., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Tumor cells are characterized by an increase in genomic instability, brought about by both chromosomal rearrangement and chromosomal instability. Both of these broad changes can be induced by exposure to carcinogens. During mitosis, cells can exhibit early and late lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles or anaphase bridges, all of which contribute to genomic rearrantement. We have studied the link between exposure to carcinogen and prevalence of mitotic defect in both chromosomally stable...
Show moreTumor cells are characterized by an increase in genomic instability, brought about by both chromosomal rearrangement and chromosomal instability. Both of these broad changes can be induced by exposure to carcinogens. During mitosis, cells can exhibit early and late lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles or anaphase bridges, all of which contribute to genomic rearrantement. We have studied the link between exposure to carcinogen and prevalence of mitotic defect in both chromosomally stable and unstable cell lines as well as ecamined the restorative effects of antioxidants in preventing mitotic defects. We have exposed MES-SA uterine cancer cells to vinyl chloride followed by exposure to an antioxidant : ascorbic acid, B-carotene, or lycopene. Treated cells were then scored for the prevalence of mitotic defects within the population and compared to controls. We have also investigated whether pre-treatment with the antioxidants will weaken the effects of carcinogen exposure in these cell lines.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359304
- Subject Headings
- Cellular signal transduction, Cell differentiation, Medical genetics, Cancer, Genetic aspects, Antioxidants, Therapeutic use, Cancer, Chemoprevention, Apoptosis, Molecular aspects, Genetic regulation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Cellular effects of knocking down expression of dynactin's p150Glued subunit.
- Creator
- Praver, Joseph, Quintyne, Nicholas, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Dynactin is made up of 11 different peptide units with a distinct ultrastructure consisting of a shoulder/sidearm complex and a rod-like domain. It functions as a cofactor for cytoplasmic dynein, assisting in the processes of long-range vesicle movements, microtubule anchoring, endomembrane localization, and mitotic progression. Previous studies have shown that dynactin binds to microtubules at the centrosome, keeping a radial arrangement during interphase. The p150Glued subunit contains two...
Show moreDynactin is made up of 11 different peptide units with a distinct ultrastructure consisting of a shoulder/sidearm complex and a rod-like domain. It functions as a cofactor for cytoplasmic dynein, assisting in the processes of long-range vesicle movements, microtubule anchoring, endomembrane localization, and mitotic progression. Previous studies have shown that dynactin binds to microtubules at the centrosome, keeping a radial arrangement during interphase. The p150Glued subunit contains two distinct microtubule-binding domains: CAP-Gly and Basic. While both of these sequences can interact with microtubules, CAP-Gly has a much greater affinity for binding to microtubules, suggesting that the two domains may be active for different functions within the cell. Using shRNA, I looked at the overexpression and knockdown of p150Glued and examined the effect that had on the cell. Knockdown has been shown to cause defects in centrosome organization and mitotic index.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003599
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CELLULAR SENESCENCE INCREASES IN THE ERCC1-/Δ MOUSE MODEL OF ACCELERATED AGING.
- Creator
- Bukata, Christina, Wetterer, James K., Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Aging is the result of the progressive and intrinsic accumulation of detrimental changes in an organism over time. Understanding the molecular pathways that contribute to aging is critical for the development of therapeutic agents to treat age-related disorders. As an animal ages, it accumulates senescent cells, cells that are unable to grow or divide but remain metabolically active. They secrete Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) factors, which can disrupt tissue and cause age...
Show moreAging is the result of the progressive and intrinsic accumulation of detrimental changes in an organism over time. Understanding the molecular pathways that contribute to aging is critical for the development of therapeutic agents to treat age-related disorders. As an animal ages, it accumulates senescent cells, cells that are unable to grow or divide but remain metabolically active. They secrete Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) factors, which can disrupt tissue and cause age related diseases. The Ercc1-/Δ mice are an accelerated aging, progeriod model, and thus it was hypothesized that cellular senescence would increase in the Ercc1-/Δ mice. Through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, the expression of senescence biomarkers p16INK4a, p21, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured to confirm that Ercc1-/Δ mice do experience an increase in cellular senescence. Additionally, we were able to determine that there are gender differences regarding the accumulation of senescent cells in various body parts.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012609
- Format
- Document (PDF)