Phytoestrogens

Collectively, plants contain several different families of natural products among which are compounds with weak estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity toward mammals. These compounds, termed phytoestrogens, include certain isoflavonoids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans. The best-studied dietary phytoestrogens are the soy isoflavones and the flaxseed lignans. Their perceived health beneficial properties extend beyond hormone-dependent breast and prostate cancers and osteoporosis to include cognitive function, cardiovascular disease, immunity and inflammation, and reproduction and fertility. In the future, metabolic engineering of plants could generate novel and exquisitely controlled dietary sources with which to better assess the potential health beneficial effects of phytoestrogens

Inhibition of cancer cell invasion and metastasis by genistein

Genistein is a small, biologically active flavonoid that is found in high amounts in soy. This important compound possesses a wide variety of biological activities, but it is best known for its ability to inhibit cancer progression. In particular, genistein has emerged as an important inhibitor of cancer metastasis. Consumption of genistein in the diet has been linked to decreased rates of metastatic cancer in a number of population-based studies. Extensive investigations have been performed to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying genistein’s antimetastatic activity, with results indicating that this small molecule has significant inhibitory activity at nearly every step of the metastatic cascade. Reports have demonstrated that, at high concentrations, genistein can inhibit several proteins involved with primary tumor growth and apoptosis, including the cyclin class of cell cycle regulators and the Akt family of proteins. At lower concentrations that are similar to those achieved through dietary consumption, genistein can inhibit the prometastatic processes of cancer cell detachment, migration, and invasion through a variety of mechanisms, including the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway. Several in vitro findings have been corroborated in both in vivo animal studies and in early-phase human clinical trials, demonstrating that genistein can both inhibit human cancer metastasis and also modulate markers of metastatic potential in humans, respectively. Herein, we discuss the variety of mechanisms by which genistein regulates individual steps of the metastatic cascade and highlight the potential of this natural product as a promising therapeutic inhibitor of metastasis

Automated Segmentation of the Knee Using a Convolutional Neural Network

For this project an algorithm was developed that is able to successfully segment the knee which includes the femur, tibia, and patella along with their respective cartilage structures. This algorithm is currently being updated to include the meniscus which is found within the knee. The algorithm was trained on the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) dataset which consisted of around 20 patients with a variety of different quality MRIs. Each patient dataset that we used to train our algorithm on had between 30 to 160 sagittal images which brought the total number of training images to 3583. Thus far, the algorithm includes six different trained models, one for each structure defined above—the meniscus will be added as the seventh model. Now that we have trained models that are able to segment the knee, we can import a set of new sagittal images to the algorithm and it will start to predict and “stack” these slices in order to create a 3D representation of the knee. These 3D representations will ultimately be used for subject-specific finite element simulations to evaluate joint mechanics

Developing an Ear-Born Virtual Fencing System for Livestock

Virtual fencing is a new solution to an old problem, how to manage grazing livestock in a way that is cost effective and minimizes negative environmental impacts. For the past year and a half, I have been a member of a team developing a virtual fencing system for cattle that aspires to be easily implemented and cost competitive with traditional fencing options. While some work by others has focused on use of neck collars similar to perimeter fencing in dogs, our recent testing in cattle has revealed that the ear is more sensitive to electrical stimulus than the neck. An ear-born device should have less adverse impact on normal behavior and will be easier for ranchers to implement because they are familiar with using ear tags/clips. The specific objectives of my SURF research are as follows: 1) establish the location for shock delivery on the ear that maximizes effectiveness with device applicability; 2) determine how environmental conditions will affect the surface of the ear and electrical stimulus delivery; and, 3) compare the animals\u27 response to various shocking patterns to determine the most reliable, consistent and effective way to prompt an animal to leave an exclusion zone and learn to avoid that zone in the near future

Synthesis of Aziridinomitosenes for Exploration as Potential Chemotherapeutics

Aziridinomitosenes (AZMs) are a group of potential chemotherapy compounds that are structurally and functionally similar to the anti-tumor agent Mitomycin C (MC). Both act by forming cross-links with the DNA of cancerous cells, thereby inhibiting cell replication and resulting in cell death. However, it is likely that AZMs do not require a reductive activation mechanism, which presumably contributes to some of MC’s adverse side effects. Additionally, past AZM investigations have shown that substituting a methyl group at the C7 electrophilic center creates the most potent analog. In order to enable further testing, C6-methyl and unsubstituted AZM analogs are being prepared using a 20 step sequence. Key structural features being incorporated into the compound include a quinone group, a carbamate at C10, and an aziridine ring at C1. Progress accomplished thus far includes the formation of the tetracyclic core that includes the aziridine ring, as well as installation of the C10 hydroxy group. These and other related results will be presented

Host-Guest Interactions of Thiocarboxylate Ligand Containing Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are highly porous and crystalline inorganic-organic hybrid materials, which have high surface areas and low density. In recent years, MOFs have become a popular subject of materials research due to their potential utility in host-guest chemistry. MOFs are a type of molecular sieve, much like zeolites, and can be used in gas storage and separation. It is these adsorptive properties that make MOFs so useful. In this study, we prepared crystalline and micro-crystalline MOFs containing both carboxylate and thiocarboxylate ligands under various synthetic conditions. The resulting ligands and MOFs were characterized by NMR, XRD, IR, and SDT. Subsequently, the MOFs were also studied for their host-guest chemistry of dye molecules such as methylene blue and p-nitrophenol in an aqueous environment