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- Creator:
- Wen, Chiaokai
- Description:
- LH14E is a novel small molecule, which may induce cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is important in cancer, developmental biology, and normal cellular functions. Despite extensive efforts, the field has yet to successfully develop effective small-molecule that can inhibit progression of β-catenin-related cancers in the clinic. In this study, I demonstrate a new cell cycle arrest compound which acts on the β-catenin signaling pathway. The small-molecule LH14E reduced β-catenin protein levels by 60% and inhibited β-catenin transcriptional activity by 37% in HeLa human cervical cancer cells. Under treatment with LH14E, CCND1 gene expression was reduced by 39%. LH14E also reduced cell numbers to 60% of control, indicating a reducing in the rate of cell proliferation. The effects of LH14E on the cell growth rate in serum-free medium was comparable to Cisplatin and Mitomycin C, two well-studied first-line chemotherapy drugs. I also found evidence that LH14E reduced mitochondrial activity in HeLa cells. The evidence presented here supports LH14E’s potential as a cancer therapeutic and prompts further investigation of LH14E in vivo.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Habibi, Ania
- Description:
- Transmembrane (TMEM)-176A and -176B proteins have been reported to play a role in human immune cell function. Similarity in structure, high homology, and a close genetic relationship enable the two proteins to physically come together to form heteromeric and homomeric multimers. A recent study in rodent immune cells discovered the ability of Tmem176A and -176B to come together to form functional ion channels near the trans-Golgi Network (TGN). Here, they may influence intracellular signaling events that could ultimately be regulating immune functions. Abnormal accumulations of such multimers have been found to restrain dendritic cell maturation and activation. Therefore, TMEM176A and -176B may serve as potential targets for immune cell regulation. Additionally, increased protein levels of TMEM176A and -176B have been linked to cancer pathology. However, the specific role of these two proteins as they relate to immune tolerance and cancer pathology remains to be elucidated. We hypothesize that TMEM176A and -176B are involved in the evasion of immune surveillance of cancer cells. This study was aimed at creating TMEM176A and -176B knockdown cell lines for use as culture models in future studies. To this end, RNA interference (RNAi) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats with Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR/Cas9) techniques were used to identify the most efficient means to knock down the endogenous expression of TMEM176A or -176B. Subsequently, stable knockdown iii cell lines were created. RNAi did not significantly or consistently reduce the expression of TMEM176A or -176B in HEK293T cells. CRISPR/Cas9, however, successfully conferred mutations in the targeted regions of TMEM176A and -176B in three stable HEK293T cell lines using pX459-TMEM176A gRNA1 or pX-TMEM176B gRNA1. However, qualitative analysis revealed only a subsequent reduction of TMEM176A expression in two cell lines generated by pX-TMEM176A gRNA1 transfection. Therefore, pX459-TMEM176A gRNA1 is the best candidate for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown in HEK293T cells. These culture models, if used in future studies, could shed additional light on the role of the two TMEM176 proteins in evasion of immune surveillance of cancer cells.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Schiff, Rachel Sara
- Description:
- This thesis explores how Jewish individuals use and create communities online to enrich their Jewish identity. The Internet provides Jews who do not fit within their brick and mortar communities an outlet that gives them voice, power, and sometimes anonymity. They use these websites to balance their Jewish identities and other personal identities that may or may not fit within their local Jewish community. This research was conducted through analyzing a broad range of websites. The first chapter, the introduction, describes the Jewish American population as a whole as well as the history of the Internet. The second chapter, entitled “The Black Hats of the Internet,” discusses how the Orthodox community has used the Internet to create a modern approach to outreach. It focuses in particular on the extensive web materials created by Chabad and Aish Hatorah, which offer surprisingly modern twists on traditional texts. The third chapter is about Jewish online dating. It uses JDate and other secular websites to analyze how Jewish singles are using the Internet. This chapter also suggests that the use of the Internet may have an impact on reducing interfaith marriage. The fourth chapter examines marginalized communities, focusing on the following: Jewrotica; the Jewish LGBT community including those who are “OLGBT” (Orthodox LGBT); Punk Jews; and feminist Jews. The conclusion explores the impact of the Internet on the Jewish idea of “kehilla” (community). The use of the Internet has moved the Jewish community beyond brick and mortar buildings.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of American Studies
- Creator:
- Robertson, Brett W.
- Description:
- This thesis examined tensions present between graduate teaching associates (GTAs) and their students. In particular, this research focused on how former GTAs in a department of Communication Studies manage their identity online, with their students (past and present) as “Facebook friends.” Research at the intersection of computermediated and instructional communication has yet to discover what dynamics are present with the advent of relationship formation through social media between college-level instructors and their students. A large body of literature has addressed how social media can be used as a teaching tool for college-level instructors, yet little research exists on the implications of accepting students as ‘friends’ outside of the physical classroom. 10 former GTAs participated in this study. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed using elements of grounded theory. Guided by Relational Dialectics Theory (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996) and Communication Privacy Management Theory (Petronio, 2002), four categories were identified based on the participants’ responses: rules and boundaries for engagement issued by instructors for Facebook friend requests with students, privacy management by instructors on Facebook, impression management by instructors on Facebook, and relationship change between students and instructors after they become Facebook friends. Each of these categories included themes that integrate narrative examples from the interviews with theoretical concepts. An analysis of the categories is provided, while also addressing the implications of this research that can iii be used for GTAs and instructors. This thesis concluded with suggestions for future research.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Communications
125. Development and Validation of an Intellectual Attraction Scale for Use in the College Classroom
- Creator:
- Shore, Chelsea
- Description:
- The purpose of this thesis was twofold. The first purpose was to develop a valid and reliable measure for intellectual attraction for use in the context of higher education. Intellectual attraction is conceptualized as the desire to engage in interaction with an instructor because of what or how he or she thinks about topics related to a course. The second purpose was to determine whether the current three-factor model for interpersonal attraction could be improved with the addition of a fourth factor. These purposes were addressed in three pilot studies and one experiment. First, the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provide partial support for the 12-item Intellectual Attraction Scale. Positive correlations with student intellectual stimulation provided evidence of concurrent validity. Negative correlations with class related boredom provided evidence of discriminant validity. Evidence for the predictive validity of the measure was not obtained as the measure was not related to students’ expressed academic concern. Second, the results of a confirmatory factor analyses revealed that neither the three-factor model nor the four-factor model of interpersonal attraction fit the data well. However, the four-factor model was marginally better than the three-factor model. Collectively, these results provide support for the Intellectual Attraction Scale as a reliable and valid measure of intellectual attraction for use in the context of higher education. Future research should continue to explore its relationship with interpersonal attraction overall.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Communications
- Creator:
- Bathgate, Katie
- Description:
- Variation in physiological characteristics and performance ability between individuals depends on environmental influence and genetics. By using monozygous twins with different exercise training backgrounds, we are able to control for genetics to better comprehend the impact of exercise on physiological features and performance variables. One pair of male monozygous twins participated in this study. The trained twin (TT) had a 35-year history of training and competing in endurance sports. The untrained twin (UT) had not participated in regular or structured physical training since high school (~35 years ago). Both participants underwent a battery of physical tests for body composition, bone density, flexibility, lung capacity, strength, power, endurance performance (VO2max), and anaerobic performance (Wingate). The greatest differences between participants were found for body composition, strength, and aerobic capacity. UT produced more peak torque (254 Nm vs. 137 Nm, 59.9% difference) and had greater grip strength (right hand=56.5 vs. 44.3kg, 24.2% difference; left hand=51.7 vs. 43.7kg, 16.8% difference). However, UT had a lower absolute (3.67 vs. 4.66 L/min, 23.9% difference) and relative (35.1 vs. 47.5 ml/kg/m, 30.1% difference) VO2max. UT also had a higher body fat percentage (BF%) (27.8% vs. 19.2%, 36.6% difference). In conclusion, long-term endurance training positively influenced VO2max and body composition, but was associated with lower isometric leg extensor and handgrip strength.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Kinesiology
- Creator:
- Acosta, Alyssa
- Description:
- The goal of this research is to understand emotional labor within bureaucratic contexts that create tensions for supervised visitation providers who must balance how to be both impersonal and caring during daily work tasks. By using qualitative research methods, such as in-depth interviewing, I attempt to understand how such emotionally charged contexts of labor create stress, require emotional labor, and can lead to burnout as employees attempt to comply with rules constructed by organizations. I look at the differences in occupational training given to supervised visitation providers from both the court and the organization. Additionally, I reviewed policy documents and used quotes to illustrate claims the documents made about the role of a supervised visitation provider. The common themes throughout the providers’ responses are about the need to manage emotions in the presence of families, conflicted training, a need for improvement in the trainings provided, enjoyment of visitation provider work, and burnout. My analysis of these themes focuses on understanding how supervised visitation providers manage their emotions in their daily work, and how the two training experiences produce conflicting expectations of how to respond to their clients in highly emotional interactions. I am also examining how providers draw from their emotional labor to manage the expectations placed upon them.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Sociology
- Creator:
- Ros, Taylor
- Description:
- The purpose of this study was to investigate the PAP effect of kettlebell swings versus kettlebell jump squats on countermovement jump performance. The participants in this study were 7 female Division 1 basketball players (age = 19.14±1.86y, height = 172.21±10.46cm, mass = 70.56±7.25kg). A kettlebell that was 20% of the participant’s body mass was used for the conditioning activities, kettlebell swings (KBS) or kettlebell jump squats (KBJ). Three visits were completed to test each condition: control, KBS, KBJ. Participants completed 3 base line CMJs, then proceeded to the conditioning activity. The conditioning activity consisted of 5 repetitions followed by 1 minute rest, followed by 5 repetitions, then 3 minutes of rest before performing 3 CMJs. ANOVA tests indicated no significant interactions or main effects for any variable in CMJ performance. Although no significant differences were found, future research should examine the acute effects of these exercises with different critical variable manipulations.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Kinesiology
- Creator:
- Younts, Marina I.
- Description:
- The present thesis explores the phenomenon of global migration as related to displacement from geographical locale of birth and upbringing, particularly focusing on the affect of such separation on senses of identity and belonging. Contemporary matters are highlighted through an analysis of works by the twentieth century artist Marc Chagall, whose unique experience of transition between cities, governments, and cultures was set against the backdrop of wars, revolutions, and personal tragedy that cumulatively formed an individual style that proves to be fluently expressive at present time. Particular emphasis is stressed on the painter’s persistent citing of Christian references, specifically the crucifixion, and explanation of such transfixion is brought forth through a visual dissection of three exemplary paintings and factual support through scholarly research.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Visual Arts
- Creator:
- Briggs, Ashley E.
- Description:
- Transgender individuals face discrimination in many aspects of life, including police contact as well as within correctional facilities. This study examines the selfreported contact of transgender individuals with the criminal justice system and how the contact varies by gender identity. Criminal justice system contact includes victimization and harassment by police, incarceration history, abuse and harassment while incarcerated, the denial of healthcare while incarcerated and various health related outcomes associated with incarceration. This study utilized data from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS), a large convenience sample of transgender adults in the United States. Results show significant differences between the gender identity groups and their incarceration history, victimization and harassment by other inmates and correctional staff while incarcerated, the denial of medical care while incarcerated and the health outcomes of positive HIV status and sex work involvement. The femaleidentified population was the most likely gender identity group to report discrimination overall. This finding implies that the reported contact of transgender individuals with the criminal justice system are shaped and impacted by their gender identity and not all transgender individuals receive the same treatment by the criminal justice system.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Sociology