2923 research outputs found
Sort by
Norton
Get PDFTiffany Clinton is a sophomore, majoring in graphic design and minoring in studio art. Making art has always been a passion as well as a stress reliever for Tiffany. Her favorite mediums are acrylic paint and colored pencil
Cloud Watching
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.latech.edu/quatrain-gallery-volume-5/1023/thumbnail.jp
Permanence. Anxiety. Acceptance.
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.latech.edu/quatrain-gallery-volume-5/1016/thumbnail.jp
Asia Sunset
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.latech.edu/quatrain-gallery-volume-5-cropped/1020/thumbnail.jp
The Role of MED12, Notch1, and Notch3 in Adipose Stem Cell Self-Renewal and The Integrated Use of Stem Cells in Public Educational Materials
Get PDFHuman adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells offer significant therapeutic potential as an ethically sound, easily accessed source of adult stem cells. To harness their medically relevant properties, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms that control their fate. Cell state and differentiation of stem cells is determined by interactions of signaling pathways, chromatin modifiers, and transcription factors working to regulate cell-type specific gene expression profiles. Specifically, both the MED12 subunit of the Mediator complex and the Notch signaling pathway are known to individually influence hASC self-renewal. We investigated the relationship between Notch signaling and transcriptional cofactor, MED12, to elucidate a potential regulatory relationship and better understand the mechanisms that determine cell fate in hASCs.
Using siRNA mediated knockdowns, we analyzed the expression and activation changes of Notch signaling in self-renewing adipose stem cells in the presence of reduced MED12. Knockdown validation, Notch expression and signaling pathway activation was quantitated via qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Subsequently, we observed that MED12 is required for the activation of the Notch3 signaling pathway, while Notch1 signaling is not significantly influenced by the reduction of MED12, suggesting a novel regulatory interface between MED12 and the Notch3 signaling pathway. Understanding the relationship between MED12, Notch1, and Notch3 and their influence on self-renewal will increase understanding of hASC cell fate mechanisms, indicating a need for further investigation, and aiding in better determining their potential for applications in regenerative medicine.
Furthermore, to advance support for scientific investigation and essential stem cell research, public education of the basic science and medical relevance of stem cells must also be addressed. An interactive children’s book was developed to integrate basic science research and stem cell concepts inside and out of formal educational facilities. Specifically designed as an educational book for students, a tool for educators, and a resource for the community, this book aims to effectively communicate fact-based stem cell content, address misconceptions, and promote positive engagement and interest in the sciences.
This thesis provides evidence of a novel regulatory relationship between Notch signaling and MED12 and contributes, via educational resource, to advancing support for essential stem cell research. Collectively, this aids in the elucidating the potential use and benefits of adipose stem cells in clinical therapeutics and regenerative medicine
Crossing The Blood-brain Barrier Using Peptide Vectors For The Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injury
Get PDFHere, the BBB-crossing ability of a Trojan horse peptide conjugated to a short therapeutic peptide was evaluated, with the aim to halt the progression of TBI-associated neuronal damage in a mouse experimental model of TBI. An associated study was also conducted to develop a new biosensor to probe hydrogen peroxide – a biomarker of chronic inflammation in the brain. The long-term goal of this study was to assess the regenerative or neuroprotective effect of this potential therapeutic peptide on neural disease pathology, thus expanding the known library of BBB-crossing peptides, and developing new tools for the study of inflammation, such as the biosensor used in this project. First, the receptor-targeting peptides were designed and synthesized, followed by studying their uptake into different cell types of the BBB in vitro and quantifying the degree of the uptake. Subsequently, a therapeutic anti-inflammatory peptide was conjugated to the main peptide of interest, i.e., the Trojan horse peptide, and then its uptake was validated in vivo in mouse models of TBI. The focus was on executing this uptake via a non-invasive mode of administration i.e., intranasally, over a short, 7-day timeframe. The ultimate goal of this study was to test if this peptide conjugate could also cross the BBB and localize in the brain just as was demonstrated when studied by itself. Through histological analysis of TBI-injured, peptide-treated mouse brains, it was determined that the peptide localizes in the olfactory bulbs in the brain, regardless of whether the brain was injured. No evidence was found for localization in other brain regions in this preliminary study. A new biosensor was developed in a collaborative project. It was shown to accurately sense acute oxidative stress in vitro through the detection of hydrogen peroxide in cultured mouse macrophage cells. This probe shows great promise in detecting hydrogen peroxide in an extracellular assay of inflammation in the future
Lamb for the Slaughter
Get PDFAnnie Gremillion is a senior majoring in speech-language pathology at Louisiana Tech University. Since Annie was young, she has made a hobby out of writing. Whenever she has the opportunity, she enjoys practicing prose and occasionally dabbling in poetry
What Happened at the House on Colquitt Road
Get PDFSavannah Barker is a freshman from Shreveport, majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. She has been writing poetry for about five years. She enjoys many forms of art such as painting, but Savannah’s biggest dream is to publish a poetry book someday
Comfort Food
Get PDFIsabelle Byrnes-Bartell is a junior at Louisiana Tech University. She is the President of the campus’ Poetry Society and the Editor in Chief for Tech’s chapter of Her Campus. In 2018 she received two Regional Silver Keys in writing portfolio and personal essay from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, as well as a Regional Honorable Mention in short story
