To determine whether homology-dependent gene silencing or cosuppression mechanisms underlie copy number control (CNC) of Ty1 retrotransposition, we introduced an active Ty1 element into a naïve strain. Single Ty1 element retrotransposition was elevated in a Ty1-less background, but decreased dramatically when additional elements were present. Transcription from the suppressing Ty1 elements enha...

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is expressed in the embryonic heart, cardiac neural crest (CNC) and neural tube, and germline knockout (KO) of Cx43 results in aberrant cardiac outflow tract (OFT) formation and abnormal coronary deployment. Prior studies suggest a vital role for CNC expression of Cx43 in heart development. Surprisingly, we found that conditional knockout (CKO) of Cx43 in the dorsal neural tu...

The purpose of this study was to produce a novel pH sensitive hydrogel with superior thermal stability, composed of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). CNC was extracted from kenaf fiber through a series of alkali and bleaching treatments followed by acid hydrolysis. PAA was then subjected to chemical cross-linking using the crosslinking agent (N,N-methylenebisacrylamide) ...

The neural crest is an embryonic stem cell population that gives rise to a multitude of derivatives. In particular, the cranial neural crest (CNC) is unique in its ability to contribute to both facial skeleton and peripheral ganglia. To gain further insight into the molecular underpinnings that distinguish the CNC from other embryonic tissues, we have utilized a CNC-specific enhancer as a tool ...

In the context of multiple neuroendocrine tumor syndromes, reproductive abnormalities may occur via a number of different mechanisms, such as hyperprolactinemia, increased GH/IGF-1 levels, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, hypercortisolism, hyperandrogenism, hyperthyroidism, gonadotropin hypersecretion, as well as, tumorigenesis or functional disturbances in gonads or other reproductive organs. Pr...

A series of dynamic small-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments for in situ polymerization process of polyacrylamide–cellulose nanocrystal (PAM–CNC) nanocomposite hydrogels were performed to investigate the relationship between rheological properties and synthesis parameters including chemical cross-linker concentration, polymerization temperature, initiator concentration, and CNC aspect rati...