Defining the Role for ZBP-89 in ATM-mediated DNA Damage Response to Irradiation in the Intestine

ZBP-89 (ZNF148, Zfp148) is a zinc-finger transcription factor that inhibits cellular proliferation when overexpressed in cell lines. ZBP-89 forms a protein-protein interaction with p53 and Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). However, it is unclear how the interaction modulates the function of these two proteins in vivo. Double strand DNA breakage induced by -irradiation induces ATM phosphoinositol kinase activity, which initiates a cascade of events culminating in cell cycle arrest, DNA repair or apoptosis. Elevated levels of ZBP-89 induce growth arrest and apoptosis in gastrointestinal cell lines. Therefore, we hypothesize that ZBP-89 facilitates cell growth arrest and activation of the DNA repair pathway after ATM activation. To test this hypothesis, we irradiated 4 groups of mice—1) C57BL/6 mice without any genetic deletion; 2) mice with one or both copies of ATM deleted from the intestinal mucosa; 3) mice with the ATM deletion and one copy of Zfp148 deleted; 4) ATM deletion with both copies of Zfp148 deleted. After the intestines were fixed, paraffin-embedded and sectioned, I performed the de-paraffinization step for immunohistochemistry of ZBP-89, p53 and H2AX. To stain for ZBP-89 protein, I performed an antigen retrieval step using sodium citrate, followed by blocking with 3% hydrogen peroxide and serum. I then added the primary antibody then the secondary antibodies. I used diaminobenzidine (DAB), a chromogenic detection method to visualize the antigen-antibody complex. I then counterstained with hematoxylin. We predict that the mice with a deletion of ZBP-89 will exhibit more tissue damage as a result of the irradiation and DNA damage. Results are pending

Imports versus Domestic Production: A Demand System Analysis of the U.S. Red Wine Market

This research estimates price and expenditure elasticities of U.S. red wine imports from five countries--Italy, France, Spain, Australia, and Chile--which are compared to elasticities of domestically produced red wine using the first-difference version of the almost ideal demand system (AIDS). Expenditure elasticity results indicate that if U.S. total expenditures on red wine increase, domestic producers would gain most. Empirical results for conditional own-price elasticities of demand indicate that U.S. and Chilean red wines are elastic while U.S. demand for red wines from other countries are highly inelastic. Due to the magnitude of consumption of U.S. domestic red wines relative to imports, an increase in the price of U.S. wine results in a decline in quantity demanded that is six times larger than that for French and Italian red wines and over 20 times larger than that of other import countries. Results suggest that U.S. red-wine producers could increase their total revenue by decreasing prices, while Italian and French producers can increase total revenues by increasing prices.imports, red wines, Almost Ideal Demand System, AIDS, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade,

Effects of Diffusion on Photocurrent Generation in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Films

We have studied photocurrent generation in large carbon nanotube (CNT) films using electrodes with different spacings. We observe that the photocurrent depends strongly on the position of illumination, with maximum observed response occurring upon illumination at the electrode edges. The rate of change of the response decays exponentially, with the fastest response occurring for samples with the smallest electrode spacing. We show that the time response is due to charge carrier diffusion in low-mobility CNT films

Neoplatonism and the Florentine Renaissance

This thesis demonstrates the correspondence between the visual arts and the literary sources of a given period in art history. During the Florentine Renaissance this correspondence lay between the Neoplatonism of Marsilio Picino and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and the Visual art of the predominant artists; specifically, Sandro Botticelli and Michelangelo Buonarrotti. The impulse that is common to these creative minds is the Neoplatonic conception or the visual image. It is through a study or this tacit dimension that we are able to some extent to view the meaning of Renaissance art

A role for CITED2, a CBP/p300 interacting protein, in colon cancer cell invasion

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116311/1/feb2s0014579307012264.pd

B493: Consumer Acceptance of Washed Maine Potatoes

The broad objective of this study was to determine the feasibility as well as the problems associated with washing Maine potatoes. This is particularly important at this time in view of the general preference of housewives for clean potatoes as determined by a national survey by the United States Department of Agriculture and the increasing supplies of washed potatoes from competing areas in markets Maine normally serves. Specific objectives of this study were to determine (1) the keeping qualities of washed potatoes, (2) the costs associated with washing Maine potatoes including equipment, fuel, water, and shrinkage, and (3) the acceptance of washed Maine potatoes by the wholesale and retail trade.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1079/thumbnail.jp

\u3ci\u3eEragrostis Curvula\u3c/i\u3e Effects on Above and Below-Ground Plant Species Richness and Diversity

Monitoring and managing the soil seed bank is fundamental to land management as it constitutes the future generations of invasive plant communities. Invasive plants have traits that result in high recruitment through increased seed generation, short seed dormancy and phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, invasive plants with growth forms that inhibit the growth and recruitment of other species can lead to monocultures and associated reduction in above-ground biodiversity, potentially negatively impacting the soil seed bank diversity and ecosystem functions and services. Eragrostis curvula is one such species that has many of these invasive traits, including high propagule generation, and can exclude plant species from establishing in the above-ground population, thus negatively impacting above-ground biodiversity, as measured by species richness and Shannon diversity index. However, our findings suggest it has not significantly impacted the soil seed bank species diversity or richness across eight sites within the Snowy Monaro region when competition is removed as a limiting factor. Our findings provide valuable information on a path to invasive plant species management. If E. curvula above-ground biomass is controlled, other species dormant in the soil seed bank may recruit in the ecosystem, provided they remain viable in the soil seed bank. However, to date, our research has not investigated the species composition of these sites in detail. With such a high density of potentially germinating seeds in a soil seed bank and the adverse effects the species can have on the above-ground species diversity and richness, E. curvula needs integrated management to mitigate its spread and ecosystem and economic impact

Laying the Groundwork for a National Impact Investing Marketplace

The practice of impact investing is rapidly gaining momentum, but the level of activity among individual and institutional investors, including philanthropists and foundations, has barely penetrated projections of market potential. The marketplace that should connect impact investors with investees or social ventures does not function effectively. Developing cost-effective ways to engage new investors and break down barriers to investment is an essential part of growing the industry. Developing cost-effective ways to “prime the pump” for social ventures to become investor-ready — through a capacity-building process that includes outreach, education, and technical assistance — is an essential part of growing the industry. The Impact Finance Center partnered with foundations and other investors in Colorado to create “CO Impact Days and Initiative” to demonstrate how to address this need for a more efficient and effective marketplace. CO Impact Days and Initiative was designed to expand regionally and be replicated

Influence of spin waves on transport through a quantum-dot spin valve

We study the influence of spin waves on transport through a single-level quantum dot weakly coupled to ferromagnetic electrodes with noncollinear magnetizations. Side peaks appear in the differential conductance due to emission and absorption of spin waves. We, furthermore, investigate the nonequilibrium magnon distributions generated in the source and drain lead. In addition, we show how magnon-assisted tunneling can generate a fullly spin-polarized current without an applied transport voltage. We discuss the influence of spin waves on the current noise. Finally, we show how the magnonic contributions to the exchange field can be detected in the finite-frequency Fano factor.Comment: published version, 15 pages, 10 figure

Electron Quasiparticles Drive the Superconductor-to-Insulator Transition in Homogeneously Disordered Thin Films

Transport data on Bi, MoGe, and PbBi/Ge homogeneously-disordered thin films demonstrate that the critical resistivity, $R_c$, at the nominal insulator-superconductor transition is linearly proportional to the normal sheet resistance, $R_N$. In addition, the critical magnetic field scales linearly with the superconducting energy gap and is well-approximated by $H_{c2}$. Because $R_N$ is determined at high temperatures and $H_{c2}$ is the pair-breaking field, the two immediate consequences are: 1) electron-quasiparticles populate the insulating side of the transition and 2) standard phase-only models are incapable of describing the destruction of the superconducting state. As gapless electronic excitations populate the insulating state, the universality class is no longer the 3D XY model. The lack of a unique critical resistance in homogeneously disordered films can be understood in this context. In light of the recent experiments which observe an intervening metallic state separating the insulator from the superconductor in homogeneously disordered MoGe thin films, we argue that the two transitions that accompany the destruction of superconductivity are 1) superconductor to Bose metal in which phase coherence is lost and 2) Bose metal to localized electron insulator via pair-breaking.Comment: This article is included in the Festschrift for Prof. Michael Pollak on occasion of his 75th birthda