McNair Scholars Program Research and Publications
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2097/39826
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Item Open Access Investigation of Serum Copeptin Concentrations in Diabetic Dogs(2019) Springfield, D.J.; Schermerhorn, ThomasBackground: Copeptin is a peptide product of pre-provasopressin released simultaneously from the pituitary gland along with ADH (anti-diuretic hormone). Copeptin is a biomarker in serum that parallels ADH concentrations. Water balance in diabetic dogs is an important factor but the role and response of ADH is unknown. Our goal is to investigate the pathology and physiology of diabetes by exploring more about copeptin. Hypothesis/Objectives: To validate a commercial ELISA for measurement of canine copeptin in serum. Animals: Banked serum samples from diabetic and non-diabetic dogs presented to us from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Methods: Diabetic and non-diabetic dog serum was analyzed with owner’s consent. A canine copeptin competitive ELISA from MyBioSource was used and the manufacturer instructions were followed. Samples were frozen at -20°C then thawed at 4°C before analysis. We used a computer-controlled spectrophotometric plate reader (EPOCH Biotek) at a wavelength of 450nm to analyze the ELISA and a 4-PL standard curve was created to view the linearity of standard concentrations. Results: Our results revealed the diabetic serum contained a higher concentration of copeptin compared to the non-diabetic serum; successfully validating the ELISA. The limit of detection was 50 pg/mL with an inter-assay CV at 12% and an intra-assay CV at 14%. Linearity was determined by diluting samples into 1:2 and 1:4 dilution. Conclusion: The validation of the ELISA gives us a resource to use for further studies in diabetic dogs and its relationship to copeptin.Item Open Access Messages of Race and Sexuality in Octavia E. Butler’s FledglingBorders, Maggie; mbordersIn her final novel, Fledgling, Octavia E. Butler examines race, sexuality, and desire in a vampire novel that is radically different from others in that literary genre. Fledgling’s protagonist Shori, a young Black vampire, physically appears to be in her early teens. The novel begins with Shori waking up from a violent and traumatic attack that removed her memory of her vampire family or people, called Ina. The Ina have very different romantic relationships than traditional humans do. Several scholars have explored different aspects of Fledging. Kristen Lillvis examines Fledgling in relation to social issues, Mildred Mickle discusses its connection to addictions, and Gregory Hampton examines how race and gender politics affect the heroines of both Fledgling and Parable of the Sower. Fledgling may appear to be a simple fantasy or science fiction novel, but it is also a comment on Black female sexuality.
