Global Warming - A Concerning Component of Climate Change [Working Title]
The frontline of climate change in the African diaspora has been championed by the efforts of wom... more The frontline of climate change in the African diaspora has been championed by the efforts of women. Although visibility has been given to women on the continent, the heroic efforts of African American women have often been largely ignored. Just as in the developing world, women of color have disproportionally experienced the repercussions of the assaults of a changing climate—rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, and increasing pollution are threatening food security, increasing infant mortality, exacerbating poverty, and maternal death rates exposing other health inequalities. This chapter will explore the life’s work of three climate champions at Historically Black College or Universities (HBCUs) via teaching the next generation of climate activists. We use a conceptual framework that situates their work in three broad areas: (1) risk reduction and emergency preparedness; (2) curriculum, education, and health policy; and (3) outreach and environmental capacity. We will ex...
Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on ... more Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on cultivar and leaf age. To assess contributions of inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes in short-term resistance to oxidative damage, activities of glutathione reductase (CR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and transcript levels for plastidic CR, Cu,Zn SOD, and cytosolic APX were determined. Responses to paraquat exposure from three different leaf age classes of pea were studied. Resistance was correlated with leaf age, photosynthetic rates, enzyme activities, and pretreatment levels of plastid CR and plastid Cu,Zn SOD transcripts. In response to paraquat, small increases in activities of CR and APX were observed in the more resistant leaves. These changes were not reflected at the mRNA leve1 for the plastidic CR or Cu,Zn SOD. Paraquat-mediated increases in cytosolic APX mRNA occurred in all leaf types, irrespective of resistance. Developmentally cont...
A acids (AAs) are powerful nephrotoxin and human carcinogen associated with chronic kidney diseas... more A acids (AAs) are powerful nephrotoxin and human carcinogen associated with chronic kidney disease and upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas. Aristolochic acid I (AA-I) is the most abundant type of the aristolochic acids. Published data suggest that AA-I is a substrate for renal organic anion transporters (OATs). However, the mechanisms contributing to the renal excretion of AA-I are not totally understood. In this investigation, the renal handling of AAI was evaluated in isolated perfused rat kidney (IPK) model. IPK experiments were performed to characterize the renal excretion of AAI and to probe mechanism of AAI excretion. In phase I studies AAI was added as a bolus dose, targeting an initial concentration of 20 μM. In phase II AA-I was co-perfused with probenecid, a classic OAT inhibitor. AA-I demonstrated net reabsorption by the kidney. Co-administration of probenecid increased the renal clearance and excretion ratio of AA-I ~2fold. Mean total recovery (% dose) of AA-I from...
Differnential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on... more Differnential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on cultivar and leaf age. To assess contributions of inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes in short-term resistance to oxidative damage, activities of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and transcript levels for plastidic GR, Cu,Zn SOD, and cytosolic APX were determined. Responses to paraquat exposure from three different leaf age classes of pea were studied. Resistance was correlated with leaf age, photosynthetic rates, enzyme activities, and pretreatment levels of plastid GR and plastid Cu,Zn SOD transcripts. In response to paraquat, small increases in activities of GR and APX were observed in the more resistant leaves. These changes were not reflected at the mRNA level for the plastidic GR or Cu,Zn SOD. Paraquat-mediated increases in cytosolic APX mRNA occurred in all leaf types, irrespective of resistance. Developmentally con...
Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in... more Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—convened by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute—review current data and propose deliberation about why the academic “pathways” leak more for URM than white or Asian STEM students. They suggest expanding to include a stronger focus on the institutional barriers that need to be removed and the types of interventions that “lift” students’ interests, commitment, and ability to persist in STEM fields. Using Kurt Lewin’s planned approach to change, the committee describes five recommendations to increase URM persistence in STEM at the undergraduate level. These recommendations capitalize on known successes, recognize the need for accountability, and are framed to facilitate greater progress in the future. The impact of these recommendations rests upon enacting the first recommendati...
The BioNebulizer is an instrument that breaks cells and large molecules using the shearing forces... more The BioNebulizer is an instrument that breaks cells and large molecules using the shearing forces created by laminar flow of high-pressure gas in the microcapillary channels generated by the instrument. Within 4 min, 90% of the carrot suspension culture cells that passed through the nebulizer were broken. Cytosol and organelles were released from the broken cells leaving cell wall ghosts. Nuclei were further purified by means of a discontinuous Percoll gradient. This method yielded an average of 2 x 10(5) nuclei from 2 g of suspension culture cells (approximately 2 x 10(6) cells). The isolated nuclei actively incorporated [8,5'-3H]-GTP into RNA.
Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in... more Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—convened by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute—review current data and propose deliberation about why the academic “pathways” leak more for URM than white or Asian STEM students. They suggest expanding to include a stronger focus on the institutional barriers that need to be removed and the types of interventions that “lift” students’ interests, commitment, and ability to persist in STEM fields. Using Kurt Lewin’s planned approach to change, the committee describes five recommendations to increase URM persistence in STEM at the undergraduate level. These recommendations capitalize on known successes, recognize the need for accountability, and are framed to facilitate greater progress in the future. The impact of these recommendations rests upon enacting the first recommendati...
Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on ... more Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on cultivar and leaf age. To assess contributions of inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes in short-term resistance to oxidative damage, activities of glutathione reductase (CR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate perox- idase (APX) and transcript levels for plastidic CR, Cu,Zn SOD, and cytosolic APX were
Previously we reported the presence of a soluble phosphatidyl- inositol 4-kinase (PI 4-kinase) in... more Previously we reported the presence of a soluble phosphatidyl- inositol 4-kinase (PI 4-kinase) in carrot (Daucus carofa L.) suspen- sion culture cells (C.M. Okpodu, W. Cross, W.F. Boss 119901 Plant Physiol 93: S-63). We have purified the enzyme over 1000-fold using Q-Sepharose ion exchange, hydroxylapatite, and G-1 O0 gel filtration column chromatography. The M, of the enzyme was esti- mated
Global Warming - A Concerning Component of Climate Change [Working Title]
The frontline of climate change in the African diaspora has been championed by the efforts of wom... more The frontline of climate change in the African diaspora has been championed by the efforts of women. Although visibility has been given to women on the continent, the heroic efforts of African American women have often been largely ignored. Just as in the developing world, women of color have disproportionally experienced the repercussions of the assaults of a changing climate—rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, and increasing pollution are threatening food security, increasing infant mortality, exacerbating poverty, and maternal death rates exposing other health inequalities. This chapter will explore the life’s work of three climate champions at Historically Black College or Universities (HBCUs) via teaching the next generation of climate activists. We use a conceptual framework that situates their work in three broad areas: (1) risk reduction and emergency preparedness; (2) curriculum, education, and health policy; and (3) outreach and environmental capacity. We will ex...
Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on ... more Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on cultivar and leaf age. To assess contributions of inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes in short-term resistance to oxidative damage, activities of glutathione reductase (CR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and transcript levels for plastidic CR, Cu,Zn SOD, and cytosolic APX were determined. Responses to paraquat exposure from three different leaf age classes of pea were studied. Resistance was correlated with leaf age, photosynthetic rates, enzyme activities, and pretreatment levels of plastid CR and plastid Cu,Zn SOD transcripts. In response to paraquat, small increases in activities of CR and APX were observed in the more resistant leaves. These changes were not reflected at the mRNA leve1 for the plastidic CR or Cu,Zn SOD. Paraquat-mediated increases in cytosolic APX mRNA occurred in all leaf types, irrespective of resistance. Developmentally cont...
A acids (AAs) are powerful nephrotoxin and human carcinogen associated with chronic kidney diseas... more A acids (AAs) are powerful nephrotoxin and human carcinogen associated with chronic kidney disease and upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas. Aristolochic acid I (AA-I) is the most abundant type of the aristolochic acids. Published data suggest that AA-I is a substrate for renal organic anion transporters (OATs). However, the mechanisms contributing to the renal excretion of AA-I are not totally understood. In this investigation, the renal handling of AAI was evaluated in isolated perfused rat kidney (IPK) model. IPK experiments were performed to characterize the renal excretion of AAI and to probe mechanism of AAI excretion. In phase I studies AAI was added as a bolus dose, targeting an initial concentration of 20 μM. In phase II AA-I was co-perfused with probenecid, a classic OAT inhibitor. AA-I demonstrated net reabsorption by the kidney. Co-administration of probenecid increased the renal clearance and excretion ratio of AA-I ~2fold. Mean total recovery (% dose) of AA-I from...
Differnential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on... more Differnential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on cultivar and leaf age. To assess contributions of inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes in short-term resistance to oxidative damage, activities of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and transcript levels for plastidic GR, Cu,Zn SOD, and cytosolic APX were determined. Responses to paraquat exposure from three different leaf age classes of pea were studied. Resistance was correlated with leaf age, photosynthetic rates, enzyme activities, and pretreatment levels of plastid GR and plastid Cu,Zn SOD transcripts. In response to paraquat, small increases in activities of GR and APX were observed in the more resistant leaves. These changes were not reflected at the mRNA level for the plastidic GR or Cu,Zn SOD. Paraquat-mediated increases in cytosolic APX mRNA occurred in all leaf types, irrespective of resistance. Developmentally con...
Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in... more Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—convened by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute—review current data and propose deliberation about why the academic “pathways” leak more for URM than white or Asian STEM students. They suggest expanding to include a stronger focus on the institutional barriers that need to be removed and the types of interventions that “lift” students’ interests, commitment, and ability to persist in STEM fields. Using Kurt Lewin’s planned approach to change, the committee describes five recommendations to increase URM persistence in STEM at the undergraduate level. These recommendations capitalize on known successes, recognize the need for accountability, and are framed to facilitate greater progress in the future. The impact of these recommendations rests upon enacting the first recommendati...
The BioNebulizer is an instrument that breaks cells and large molecules using the shearing forces... more The BioNebulizer is an instrument that breaks cells and large molecules using the shearing forces created by laminar flow of high-pressure gas in the microcapillary channels generated by the instrument. Within 4 min, 90% of the carrot suspension culture cells that passed through the nebulizer were broken. Cytosol and organelles were released from the broken cells leaving cell wall ghosts. Nuclei were further purified by means of a discontinuous Percoll gradient. This method yielded an average of 2 x 10(5) nuclei from 2 g of suspension culture cells (approximately 2 x 10(6) cells). The isolated nuclei actively incorporated [8,5'-3H]-GTP into RNA.
Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in... more Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—convened by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute—review current data and propose deliberation about why the academic “pathways” leak more for URM than white or Asian STEM students. They suggest expanding to include a stronger focus on the institutional barriers that need to be removed and the types of interventions that “lift” students’ interests, commitment, and ability to persist in STEM fields. Using Kurt Lewin’s planned approach to change, the committee describes five recommendations to increase URM persistence in STEM at the undergraduate level. These recommendations capitalize on known successes, recognize the need for accountability, and are framed to facilitate greater progress in the future. The impact of these recommendations rests upon enacting the first recommendati...
Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on ... more Differential sensitivity to the oxidant paraquat was observed in pea (Pisum sativum L.) based on cultivar and leaf age. To assess contributions of inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes in short-term resistance to oxidative damage, activities of glutathione reductase (CR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate perox- idase (APX) and transcript levels for plastidic CR, Cu,Zn SOD, and cytosolic APX were
Previously we reported the presence of a soluble phosphatidyl- inositol 4-kinase (PI 4-kinase) in... more Previously we reported the presence of a soluble phosphatidyl- inositol 4-kinase (PI 4-kinase) in carrot (Daucus carofa L.) suspen- sion culture cells (C.M. Okpodu, W. Cross, W.F. Boss 119901 Plant Physiol 93: S-63). We have purified the enzyme over 1000-fold using Q-Sepharose ion exchange, hydroxylapatite, and G-1 O0 gel filtration column chromatography. The M, of the enzyme was esti- mated
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