Faculty Publications and Presentations

CHARTING THE LATE CRETACEOUS SEAS: MOSASAUR RICHNESS AND MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSIFICATION

Marcus R. Ross — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:45 PST

Abundant, readily identifiable, and biostratigraphically resolved specimens make mosasaurs ideal candidates to test fluxes in generic richness and morphological trends among marine vertebrates during the late Cretaceous. More than 1800 globally distributed mosasaur specimens are allocated to fifteen substage-level stratigraphically correlated assemblages. These data are quantitatively analyzed to illuminate trends within the group. Following their first appearance in the Cenomanian, mosasaurs experienced a significant radiation in the Coniacian and Santonian. Richness levels continued increasing into the Maastrichtian while mosasaurs incrementally exploited new predatory niches recognized via accumulation of novel dental morphologies. Their extinction at the end of the Cretaceous occurred at the zenith of mosasaur morphological and ecological diversity.

Garden of the Gods at Colorado Springs: Paleozoic and Mesozoic Sedimentation and Tectonics

Marcus R. Ross et al. — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:03:27 PST

Exposed along the southeast fl ank of the Colorado Front Range are rocks that beautifully illustrate the interplay of sedimentation and tectonics. Two major rangebounding faults, the Ute Pass fault and the Rampart Range fault, converge on the Garden of the Gods region west of Colorado Springs. Cambrian through Cretaceous strata upturned by these faults reveal in their grain compositions, textures, and bedforms radically different styles of sedimentation. The Cambrian/Ordovician marine transgressive deposits appear to have come to rest on a passive and tectonically inactive craton. In contrast, coarse-grained Pennsylvanian/Permian marine deposits of the Fountain Formation and Lyons Sandstone reveal deposition by suspension and tractive currents in a very dynamic tectonic setting. These styles are contrasted with the alternating eustatics of the Western Interior Seaway which led to the local Cretaceous section. Finally, the powerful imprint of the Laramide orogeny is evident in the sandstone dikes of Sawatch Sandstone which are found within the hanging wall of the Ute Pass fault.

Mechanisms of Adsorption of Copper and Silver Ions on Carbon Materials in an Open Circuit

Mikhail M. Goldin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:07:14 PDT

Measurements of Platinum Electrode Potential in Blood and Blood Plasma and Serum

Mogely Khubutiya et al. — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:03:01 PDT

The method of electrochemical pretreatment of platinum electrode with the goal of standardizing the initial state of electrode surface and its open-circuit potential (OCP) in the blood and other biological media is proposed. The platinum electrode potential is measured in 0.14 M Na2SO4 aqueous solution, in the blood and blood plasma and serum. By the examples of OCP measured in the blood serum of patients with acute poisoning, acute cerebral pathology and patients treated by the method of hyperbaric oxygenation, it was found that the values of blood serum OCP were different for studied pathological states and healthy people.

Effective numbers of electrons as a criterion of carbon suitability as a hemosorbent

Mogely Khubutiya et al. — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:52:16 PDT

The number of medical applications of electrochemistry has grown in recent years due to the increased applications of electrochemical concepts to various systems of the organism. This includes electrochemically controlled hemosorption detoxification, where the removal of toxicants is controlled by changing the potential of the hemosorbent. It is important to avoid Faradaic processes in the course of hemosorption, which can lead to the addition of electrochemically modified toxicants to blood. The probability of their occurrence should depend on the open-circuit potential of the activated carbon. In order to elucidate the identification of Faradaic reactions, a model system was investigated. The adsorption of copper ions, tert-butanol and acetone on samples of electrochemically modified AG-3 activated carbon hemosorbent with various open-circuit potentials was used as a model of the detoxification processes. The effective number of electrons transferred in the elementary act of adsorption was shown to be a non-zero quantity for all three cases, which corroborates an electrochemical mechanism of hemosorption. For the cupric ions, ranges of open-circuit potentials were identified corresponding to different mechanisms of adsorption and Faradaic processes.

Review: A Creationist Review and Preliminary Analysis of the History, Geology, Climate, and Biology of the Galápagos Islands

Timothy R. Brophy — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:21:34 PDT

Protection against Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis Is Mediated by Interleukin-10-Producing T Cells that Are Controlled by Dendritic Cells

Ya Li et al. — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:43:02 PDT

Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) can be induced in the Lewis rat by cardiac myosin or its cryptic S2-16 peptide epitope (amino acids1052 to 1076). To investigate cellular mechanisms and the role of antigen-presenting cells in regulation of myocarditis, we induced protection against EAM in Lewis rats by administration of S2-16 peptide in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA). Protection to EAM was associated with activation of S2-16-reactive splenocytes secreting high levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and reduced levels of interferon- and IL-2. Adoptive transfer of S2-16:IFA-induced splenocytes producing IL-10 suppressed myocarditis induction in syngeneic recipients, suggesting their regulatory cell nature. However, exposure of S2-16:IFA-induced cells to inflammatory cytokine IL-12 converted them to Th1 effectors that transferred EAM. Differentiated function of S2-16-reactive T cells in protected rats resulted from increased IL-10 production by dendritic cells (DCs). Purified DCs from S2-16:IFA-treated rats promoted S2-16-reactive CD4 T cells to produce increased IL-10 and reduced interferon-. In addition, adoptive transfer of IL-10-producing DCs from S2-16: IFA-treated rats also induced protection to EAM in recipient rats. These studies demonstrated DCs and key cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-12, regulated the fate of T cells in myocarditis development in the Lewis rat.

Induction of Myocarditis and Valvuluitis in Lewis Rats by Different Epitopes of Cardiac Myosin and its Implications in Rheumatic Carditis

Jeffrey E. Galvin et al. — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:59:47 PDT

Immune responses against cardiac myosin and group A streptococcal M protein have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease. Although cardiac myosin is known to produce myocarditis in susceptible animals, it has never been investigated for its role in production of valvular heart disease, the most serious sequelae of group A streptococcal infection in acute rheumatic fever. In our study, cardiac myosin induced valvulitis in the Lewis rat, and epitopes responsible for production of valvulitis were located in the rod region. Human and rat cardiac myosins induced severe myocarditis in the Lewis rats as expected. A purified S2 fragment (amino acid sequences 842 to 1295) produced the most severe myocarditis as well as valvulitis. Different regions of light meromyosin produced valvulitis (residues 1685 to 1936) or myocarditis (residues 1529 to 1611). Because streptococcal M proteins produced valvular heart disease in Lewis rats and have been linked to anti-cardiac myosin responses, we reacted myosin-sensitized lymphocytes isolated from the hearts of Lewis rats with peptides of streptococcal M5 protein in tritiated thymidine assays. Infiltrating lymphocytes responded most strongly to peptides within the B repeat region of streptococcal M protein. These data show direct evidence that immune responses against cardiac myosin lead to valvular heart disease and the infiltration of the heart by streptococcal M protein reactive T lymphocytes.

Cytotoxic mAb from Rheumatic Carditis Recognizes Heart Valves and Laminin

Jeffrey E. Galvin et al. — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:37:50 PDT

Anti-streptococcal antibodies cross-reactive with N-acetyl-bD-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and myosin are present in the sera of patients with rheumatic fever (RF). However, their role in tissue injury is not clear. In this study, we show that anti-GlcNAc/anti-myosin mAb 3.B6 from a rheumatic carditis patient was cytotoxic for human endothelial cell lines and reacted with human valvular endothelium and underlying basement membrane. Reactivity of mAb 3.B6 with the valve was inhibited by human cardiac myosin > laminin > GlcNAc. The mAb 3.B6 epitopes were localized in fragments of human cardiac myosin, including heavy meromyosin (HMM), the S1 subfragment, and two light meromyosin (LMM) peptides containing amino acid sequences KEALISSLTRGKLTYTQQ (LMM 1) and SERVQLLHSQNTSLINQK (LMM 33). A novel feature of mAb 3.B6 was its reactivity with the extracellular matrix protein laminin, which may explain its reactivity with the valve surface. A laminin A-chain peptide (HTQNT) that includes homology to LMM33 inhibited the reactivity of mAb 3.B6 with human valve. These data support the hypothesis that cross-reactive antibodies in rheumatic carditis cause injury at the endothelium and underlying matrix of the valve.

Immunological Relationship Between the Class I Epitope of Streptococcal M Protein and Myosin

Anthony Quinn et al. — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:13:58 PDT

The class I epitope of streptococcal M protein is an epidemiological marker for acute rheumatic fever (ARF)-associated serotypes of group A streptococci and is recognized by anti-M protein monoclonal antibody (MAb) 10B6. Using MAb 10B6, we determined the relationship between the class I epitope of M protein and the a-helical coiled-coil protein myosin. MAb 10B6 reacted by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting with human cardiac myosin and rabbit skeletal myosin and its heavy meromyosin (HMM) subfragment. Overlapping synthetic peptides of M5 protein were used to identify the region of M5 protein recognized by MAb 10B6. Two C repeat peptides (C2A and C3) containing the amino acid sequence KGL RRDLDASREAK reacted with MAb 10B6. Partial sequence identity, RRDL, was found in the HMM fragment of myosin, which reacted with MAb 10B6. However, not all peptides of M5 protein and myosin containing the RRDL sequence reacted with MAb 10B6. ARF sera and sera from uncomplicated pharyngitis (UNC) reacted with C repeat region peptides of M protein, while acute glomerulonephritis sera were not as reactive. Affinity purified human antibody to peptide C3 reacted with myosin. The data demonstrate that the class I epitope of Mprotein is immunologically cross-reactive with myosin and the HMM subfragment, and antibodies to peptide C3 and myosin were present in ARF and UNC sera.

Methods for the Isolation of Sensory and Primary Cilia—An Overview

Kimberly A. P. Mitchell et al. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:43:39 PST

Detailed proteomic analyses of mammalian olfactory and rod photoreceptor sensory cilia are now available, providing an inventory of resident ciliary proteins and laying the foundation for future studies of developmental and spatio-temporal changes in the composition of sensory cilia. Cilia purification methods that were elaborated and perfected over several decades were essential for these advances. In contrast, the proteome of primary cilia is yet to be established, because purification procedures for this organelle have been developed only recently. In this chapter we review current techniques for the purification of olfactory and photoreceptor cilia, and evaluate methods designed for the selective isolation of primary cilia.

Ohio Conservation Plan: Plains gartersnake, Thamnophis radix

Norman Reichenbach et al. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:48:07 PST

This plan outlines strategies and methods used in an ongoing study initiated in 1999 to restore a selfsustaining population of the Plains gartersnake (Thamnophis radix) in Ohio. Restoring a self-sustaining population would require increases in the current population to where the ratios of T. radix to T. sirtalis are approximately 1:1 in multiple locations in Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (KPWA). This ratio would be similar to what was seen earlier by Reichenbach and Dalrymple (1986) at one site in KPWA.

The plan was developed by a team of enthusiastic conservationists representing, the Division of Wildlife (ODW), the Columbus and Cleveland Zoos, Westerville North High School Field Study Class, Liberty University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Tennessee. A thorough review of the plan will be made in 2012 with revisions and updates as needed.

Direct Binding of Cytosolic NDP Kinases to Membrane Lipids is Regulated by Nucleotides

Kimberly A. P. Mitchell et al. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:12:41 PST

In spite of their complete lack of any structural features that characterize membrane proteins, cytosolic nucleoside-diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) have been found repeatedly to associate with membranes. In some instances the recruitment of cytosolic NDPKs to membranes was attributed to interactions with peripheral or integral membrane proteins, but in many cases the mechanism underlying the association of NDPKs with membranes remained unknown. We show here that cytosolic NDPKs bind directly to membrane lipids in a dynamic process that is controlled by its substrates, nucleoside tri- and diphosphates, and can be fully reconstituted with chemically defined, protein-free phospholipids and recombinant NDPK, or with purified NDPK. Our results uncover a novel mechanism for the reversible targeting of soluble NDPKs to membranes, where they may act as a reservoir of high energy phosphate, supporting the operation of membrane-based processes that utilize nucleotides other than ATP, such as intracellular traffic and phospholipid biosynthesis.

NDP Kinase Moves into Developing Primary Cilia

Kimberly A. P. Mitchell et al. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:55:23 PST

Inmunofluorescence staining of murine NIH3T3 fibroblasts grown at high density shows that conventional nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinases A and B localize to a sensory organelle, the primary cilium. Similar results are obtained with Xenopus A6 kidney epithelial cells, suggesting that NDP kinases are a universal component of the primary cilium. The translocation of NDP kinase into primary cilia depends on size, taking place only when cilia reach a critical length of 5-6 μm. In mature cilia, NDP kinases are distributed along the ciliary shaft in a punctate pattern that is distinct from the continuous staining observed with acetylated α-tubulin, a ciliary marker and axonemal component. Isolation of a fraction enriched in primary cilia from A6 cells led to the finding that ciliary NDP kinase is enzymatically active, and is associated with the membrane and the matrix, but not the axoneme. In contrast, acetylated α-tubulin is found in the axoneme and to a lesser extent, in the membrane. Based on the tightly regulated translocation process and the subciliary distribution pattern of NDP kinase, we propose that it plays a role in the elongation and maintenance of primary cilia by its ability to regenerate the GTP utilized by ciliary microtubule turnover and transmembrane signaling.

The Ecology of the Peaks of Otter Salamander (Plethodon Hubrichti) in sympatry with the Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon Cinereus)

Norman Reichenbach et al. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:26:55 PST

The Peaks of Otter Salamander, Plethodon hubrichti, is found along a 19 km length of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia, USA, often in sympatry with the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, P. cinereus. In a sympatric area of Bedford County, Virginia, we conducted a mark-recapture study on a 10 × 10 m site. Surface densities of salamanders increased as the number of days without precipitation prior to a collection event increased. This suggests vertical movements in response to surface moisture. When salamanders returned to the surface after rain, individuals appeared to “shuffle” between rocks and likely, leaf litter. That is, we were more likely to find a different individual beneath a particular rock rather than the previous resident during sequential collection periods. There was no significant difference between the species in microhabitat use by adults; adults were primarily found under rocks. However, neonate and young-of-the-year P. hubrichti were found beneath rocks more frequently than P. cinereus. Linear movements, home ranges, growth rates and adult survival rates were similar for both species. Density for P. hubrichti in sympatry with P. cinereus was 0.6/m2, which is lower than previously recorded for P. hubrichti in allopatry (1.6–3.3/m2). Cumulative ratios of numbers of the two species were stable over nine collection events but showed the least change (≤ 2%) after the third collection. We recommend using ratios of the two species at a series of sympatric sites as one measure to determine whether P. cinereus is encroaching upon the distribution of P. hubrichti.

Receptor Activation Regulates Cortical, but not Vesicular Localization of NDP Kinase

Betty C. Gallagher et al. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:06:05 PST

We used immunofluorescence techniques to determine the localization of nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. We found that cytoplasmic NDP kinase can be separated into two populations according to subcellular localization and response to extracellular stimuli. Specifically, within minutes of stimulation of resting fibroblasts with serum, growth factors or bombesin, a portion of NDP kinase becomes associated with membrane ruffles and lamellipodia. Another pool of NDP kinase accumulates independently of stimulation around intracellular vesicles. Transfection of cells with activated Rac mimics, whereas expression of dominant negative Rac inhibits, the effects of extracellular stimulation on the translocation of NDP kinase to the cell cortex. Neither Rac mutant affects the vesicle-associated pool. Association of NDP kinase with vesicles depends on microtubule integrity and is disrupted by nocodazole. In cell-free assays NDP kinase binds tightly to membrane vesicles associated with taxol-stabilized microtubules. Binding of NDP kinase to this fraction is reduced by ATP and abolished by GTP, as well as guanine nucleotides that are NDP kinase substrates. Thus, the localization of the two NDP kinase pools identified here is regulated independently by distinct cellular components: the appearance of cortical NDP kinase is a consequence of Rac activation, whereas vesicular NDP kinase is responsive to microtubule dynamics and nucleotides, in particular GTP. These results suggest that in fibroblasts NDP kinase participates in Racrelated cortical events and in GTP-dependent processes linked to intracellular vesicle trafficking.

Open Circuit Potential Shifts of Activated Carbon in Aqueous Solutions During Chemical and Adsorption Interactions

Mikhail M. Goldin et al. — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:33:52 PDT

Interaction of certain inorganic and organic compounds with activated carbon and the effect of such interaction on open circuit potential of activated carbon were studied. Open circuit potential shifts were observed for an overwhelming majority of the substances and brands of activated carbons investigated. Both negative and positive potential shifts were observed. It was shown that open circuit potential shifts for organic substances depend on degree of coverage of the activated carbon surface. Whereas adsorption of investigated organic compound on activated carbon led to positive potential shifts, desorption of adsorbates from the activated carbon surface led to potential shifts in the opposite direction. Furthermore, time dependencies of open circuit potential shifts were similar for different carbon brands. The magnitude of the shifts depended on the adsorbate, adsorption activity of the adsorbent, and the steric configuration of potential-determinative pores and adsorbate molecules.

Redox Potential Measurement in Aqueous Solutions and Biological Media

Mark M. Goldin et al. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:24:58 PDT

Activated Carbon Open Circuit Potential Shifts in Aqueous Solutions

Mikhail M. Goldin et al. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:11:08 PDT

Interaction of certain organic compounds with activated carbon and its effect on the carbon open circuit potentials were studied. It was shown that shifts in open circuit potentials depended on the filling of the activated carbon surface. Whereas adsorption of the investigated compounds on the carbon led to positive potential shifts, their elimination (desorption) from carbon surface led to shifts in the opposite direction. It was also observed that the time dependence of potential shifts is similar for different carbon brands. The magnitude of shifts depended on adsorption activity and porometric characteristics of the carbon adsorbent, as well as the nature of the adsorbate.

Mechanism of Shifts of Potentials of Hemosorbents Based on Activated Carbons Caused by Adsorption of Organic Toxicants

Mark Goldin et al. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:03:56 PDT